Why Are God’s People So Valued In His Eyes?

Text:

Isaiah 61:3 (KJV) 

3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

Observation:

As I read this scripture recently my eyes were opened to receive the truth that God really does see value in all of His created beings. When I think about the extent to which He went to redeem us from the fall of humanity, I am awed by His love, grace, and forgiveness. 

John 3:16 (KJV) 

16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

You become valued in God's eyes when He sees Jesus living in you, and you walking with Jesus day by day, and moment by moment.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) 

21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

God does not leave us the way we are. When we receive Christ into our lives we are changed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 

17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

God has a wonderful purpose for your life. He will take you where you are, and make you useful for His purpose. 

John 3:17 (KJV) 

17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

The process may be slow, but you can trust God to finish the work He begun in you. God is a worker that never fails, and He will never give up on you.

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) 

10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) 

6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer:

Father, I extol and give your name the highest praise because You are God alone. There is none like You, no not one.

Father, I shutter to think of where we would be without Christ in us; the hope of glory. Father, I am so grateful that we don't have to worry about that because of Your promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Father, by the power of the triune God living within us, we give you thanks for making us worthy to be ambassadors for Christ. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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How to Live In A Fallen World

Text:

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB) 

6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 

7  casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you. 

Observation:

Are your circumstances, and the cares that you have weighing you down, and causing you to have anxiety in your mind and soul?

Do you have trials and temptations in your life that are wearing you down? Are the trouble within you, and the circumstances surrounding you robbing you of your peace and security?

Are there things, and people that are robbing you of your peace and joy? There is song that is ringing in my heart, and it provides the answer to all of our cares and circumstances.

"There is a place of full release,

near to the heart of God,

a place where all is joy and peace,

near to the heart of God",

Author: Cleland Boyd McAfee, Near to the Heart of God

The place that I go, and the person who I turn to when troubles vex my mind and soul is to my God; the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When doubts, discouragement, disappointment, and the devil knocks on my door, I go to God. I open my Bible, and begin to pray. Do you realize that you have in your hands TNT (The New Testament), and that TNT is dynamite?

When troubles come knocking at the door of your heart, use dynamite to knock the devil, and his devices out of your life.

You don't have to live under the circumstances in the world. You can rise up, look up, speak up to God, and watch the Lord as He fight the battle against all of your foes and cares.

Don't forfeit your peace or your joy. Cast all your cares on the one who is able to help you, strengthen you, and keep you.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, help us to remember to always take all of our cares to You in prayer. Why try to fight the battle in our strength when we can hold in our hands TNT to destroy the enemy of our minds, body, and soul. Jesus used prayer and the Word, and so should we. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

What Do You Think Makes A True Friend?

Text:

Proverbs 27:9 (KJV) 

9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 

Observation:

We are not made to do life alone. Our pastor said recently, "We are not made to do church alone". 

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) 

24  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 

25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

In our Sunday worship service the sermon was on relationships, and the importance of paying attention to the friends you spend the most time with. We are greatly influenced by the friends we keep.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (HCSB) 

33  Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 

There are times in our lives when we are torn apart by worry and afflictions. These are the times that we need true friends. You may have many friends in the good times, but it is true friends that will stand by you in the hard times.

I got a birthday card from a friend that had this verse.

Proverbs 27:9b (MSG)

"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul." 

We need godly and wise people in our lives. Guard your mind and soul by wisely discerning the people you allow to speak into your life. 

Proverbs 16:21 (HCSB) 

21  Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning. 

Proverbs 16:23-24 (HCSB) 

23  A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech. 

24  Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body. 

Don't believe everything you read or hear. Check it out to see how it aligns with the Bible.

Acts 17:11 (ESV) 

11  Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, I am so thankful that the people of God are family, and that Jesus considers us friends.

John 15:15 (ESV) 

15  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 

Father, help us to have friends who refresh the souls of each other. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

What Is the Condition of Your Mind?

Text:

Isaiah 26:3-4 (HCSB) 

3  You will keep the mind ⌊that is⌋ dependent ⌊on You⌋ in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. 

4  Trust in the LORD forever, because in Yah, the LORD, is an everlasting rock! 

Observation:

The condition of you mind depends upon who you are dependent on, and who you are putting your trust in.

Notice what the Bible says. God will keep the mind that is dependent on Him in perfect peace if that person is trusting in God. That is how I read the verse. How do you read it? Have you received it?

What you believe, and who you believe in, will determine the condition of your life.

No matter what you are going through in your life, there is nothing that is impossible with God.

Romans 3:3-4 (HCSB) 

3  What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God's faithfulness? 

4  Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written: That You may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge. 

This is what God said through the voice of The Prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 26:4 (HCSB) 

4  Trust in the LORD forever, because in Yah, the LORD, is an everlasting rock! 

Prayer:

Father God, I praise and honor you for your greatness and your goodness. Lord, I am so glad that you loved me first.

Father, I am so grateful that your love is forever. Father, I am so thankful that you give to your people perfect peace, and that peace is forever. I trust in You, and I depend upon you with my whole heart. We, the people of God, who agree, say a hearty and full throat, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Do You Have the Gift That Last Forever?

Text:

John 14:16-17 (HCSB) 

16  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 

17  He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 

Observation:

I have heard some people say that I need to see it before I will believe it. I invite you to consider what you are missing if you hold that belief.

Look around you, and everything that you can see will perish. It behooves all of us to not discount the things that are invisible. Where is your focus? This is where the Apostle Paul put his focus.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (HCSB) 

18  So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Are you building you hope on things that are temporal or eternal? I have built my hope in the God who is my maker and my redeemer. I know that He is real because He is alive in me. I love the lyrics of this song, and I share it with you with the prayer that it will speak into your life.

The author is Mary Jane Bane Wilson. If you want some additional encouragement, look up the story of her life. She was an invalid from the age of 4, but she was lifted above her physical shortcomings by the infinite God who came to take up residence in her heart. This is her song.

"1 Time is filled with swift transition,

Naught of earth unmoved can stand,

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God's unchanging hand. 

Refrain:

Hold to God's unchanging hand,

Hold to God's unchanging hand;

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God's unchanging hand." 

2 Corinthians 4:17 (HCSB) 

17  For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 

Prayer:

Father, I bow in humility, and look up to You in awe at your wonder, wisdom, and works.

Father, your Word declares, and I believe, that you are infinite, invisible, and inescapable. Father, I believe that nothing is impossible with you.

Father, I surrender my all to you, and in exchange I am blessed to have all of you; not just for a moment in time, but forever and ever, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Have You Experienced the Joy and Blessing of Sharing?

Text:

Philippians 4:14-17 (HCSB) 

14  Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship. 

15  And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 

16  For even in Thessalonica you sent ⌊gifts⌋ for my need several times. 

17  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 

Observation:

There is a blessing in store for those who pay attention to others, and are willing to help others.

I read something recently, I don't remember the source, but it pointed out that the people who are encouragers are people who also need encouraging.

I can't think of a better example of this than the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul preached encouragement, he practiced encouragement, and he received encouragement.

Notice what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi earlier in this letter. Think about this encouragement, and allow it to speak into your heart.

Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB) 

3  Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 

4  Everyone should look out not ⌊only⌋ for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 

I encourage you to take inventory of your life. How have you been blessed by the Lord? Look at the people near you. Pay attention to their needs. Don't be like the person who said, "I'm too poor to pay attention".

What you give to others will come back to bless you. Notice what Paul said to those who had given to meet his pressing needs.

Philippians 4:16-17 (HCSB) 

16  For even in Thessalonica you sent ⌊gifts⌋ for my need several times. 

17  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 

Be encouraged by the hymn written by Doris Akers.

"You can't beat God giving,

No matter how hard you try

And just as sure as you are living 

And the Lord is in heaven on high

The more you give the more He gives to you

But keep on giving because it's really true that

You can't beat God giving,

No matter how you try."

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for all the blessings that You have given to your children.

Father, I ask that you would open our eyes to see the needs of others, and stir our hearts to be willing to share with them what you have given to us.

Father, help us to be like Jesus in our attitude toward others. Father, help us to know the blessing of giving, and receiving. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

How to Complete the Journey?

Text:

1 John 5:19-20 (HCSB) 

19  We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. 

20  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One. We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Observation:

Living in this world has never been easy for the people of God. You have to know the truth, and live the truth to be able to complete the journey, and fulfill your purpose for being alive. How do we persevere?

The key is preparation. Jesus alerted His disciples of the troubles that they would face in the world.

John 16:33 (HCSB) 

33  I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." 

The enemy of our body and our mind wants to deceive us into turning away from the God who created us, and who has paid the price in full for our redemption.

1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB) 

8  Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 

The enemy will try to use the troubles we face in the world to devour the child of God. Some of his tactics involve using these circumstances:

• Difficulties
• Delays
• Distractions
• Detours
• Disappointment
• Deceptions

Don't succumb to the schemes of the devil. Put on the whole armor of God. When you get thoughts in your head that seek to destroy and devour you, do what Jesus did. Tell the devil the truth as it is written in the Word of God.

Matthew 4:10 (HCSB) 

10  Then Jesus told him, "Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him." 

The best protection for our mind, where the battle is fought and won, is the shield of faith to protect our mind.

Ephesians 6:16 (HCSB) 

16  In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

Are you dressed for the battlefield today?

Ephesians 6:10-11 (HCSB) 

10  Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 

11  Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.

Finally, don't forget to pray always.

Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB) 

18  Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 

Prayer:

Father, we are so grateful that you are always with us.  Father, help us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of your might. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

--

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry