Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 9, 2015

Title: What Believers Should Become After They Become Christ Followers

Text:

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) 

32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

Observation:

One of the things that we should always remember is how much we have been forgiven by God. 

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, this is what He taught them about forgiveness.

Matthew 6:12 (ESV) 

12  and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

This daily prayer for forgiveness is not about justification. This was settle by Jesus on the cross at Calvary.

Romans 5:1 (ESV) 

1  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

What is in view when we pray for daily forgiveness is for the sin in our heart that cases us to be out of fellowship with God. We need forgiveness every day, and every hour to maintain a right relationship with God, and with others.

I make these  verses my daily prayer of repentance of present sins, and my hope for today and tomorrow.

Psalm 51:10 (ESV) 

10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 

1 John 1:7-9 (ESV) 

7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

8  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Thy name; there is no name in heaven or on earth that is greater than the name of the Lord.

Father, I am so grateful for Your love, and for the gift of forgiveness that I have received from Your heart and hands. Father, help me to be as forgiving to others as You have been to me. In the mighty name of Jesus I 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:

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Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 8, 2015

Title: What Believers Should Leave Behind When They Become Christ Followers

Text:

Ephesians 4:31 (NLT) 

31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 

Observation:

One of the big things that every believer should guard against bringing into his or her new life in Christ is bitterness. It is at the top of the list that leads to the other sins of rage, anger, harsh words, slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Where does bitterness originate?

Acts 8:21-23 (ESV) 

21  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 

22  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 

23  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." 

Paul is warning the believers of the necessity to guard our hearts; it's up to us to get rid of bitterness. How can you tell if you have a root of bitterness that is festering in your heart? What comes out of your mouth will reveal what is in your heart. Examine and get control of your mouth.

James 3:5-6 (ESV) 

5  So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 

6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 

The stakes are too high to allow bitterness to remain in your heart. Take the first step, and get rid of bitterness; get control of your tongue, and the other sins that Paul mentions will follow when you get rid of the elephant in your life. The key is to stay right with God.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. I am so thankful that by the amazing grace  of God those who have received Christ have all that we need to get rid of bitterness, and every sin that besets us.

Father, help us to leave the sins that Christ has died for on the cross; on the cross because they have no place in the life of Your children. When Christ died on the cross our sinful nature died. O, help us to live in victory. In the mighty name of Jesus I 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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Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 7, 2015

Title: How Much Do You Value Your Work?

Text:

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 (ESV) 

6  Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 

7  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 

8  nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 

9  It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 

Observation:

The Apostle Paul assigned a great value to the need for God's people to work. It's the way that God intends for us to provide for our needs. Those who do not work are asking for trouble.

It is not good for people to be idle. I remember a saying that I heard from my youth about the peril of idleness.

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop". Have you ever heard that saying? In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul wrote this; and I quote only the part about idleness.

1 Thessalonians 4:10-11 (ESV) 

10  for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 

11  and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 

What he warned them about in his first letter, he reminds them again in his second letter.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 (ESV) 

11  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 

Let's make it our prayer and our aim to always put a high value on work. It's God's will for all of us. It's the way of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:4 (ESV) 

4  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 

Proverbs 12:11 (ESV) 

11  Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 

This is the bottom line:

Colossians 3:23 (ESV) 

23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed by Thy name. Father, I thank You for all of Your provisions for Your people. Father, I pray that You would create within each of us the desire to work heartily in everything we put out hands to do, and that in everything we will do it as unto the Lord. In the mighty name of Jesus I 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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Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 4, 2015

Title: Who Is Leading You?

Text:

Romans 8:12-14 (HCSB) 

12  So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 

13  for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

14  All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. 

Observation:

The Bible tells us that we should walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 (ESV) 

16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

Is there something hindering you from walking in the Spirit?

Romans 8:5-7 (ESV) 

5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 

6  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 

7  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 

O, my brothers and my sisters, we need the abiding presence of God, and the power of God to be who God wants us to be, and to do what God wants us to do. We can do nothing unless we are led by God's Spirit.

If you belong to God, the Spirit of God lives in you. Surely we need the Spirit of God to do the work of God. The enemy that we face is too big to face in the strength of the flesh.

Romans 8:9 (ESV) 

9  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 

We need to be quiet; be still, listen to, and be led by the Spirit of God. O, the blessing of being Spirit filled, and Spirit led.

Romans 8:10-11 (ESV) 

10  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

11  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 

Prayer:

Father God, I exalt Your name; You are good, and greatly to be praised. Father, I pray that we will be still, and know that You are God, and that we, Your people, will learn how to listen to You, and be led by the Holy Spirit of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I 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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Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 3, 2015

Title: Where Are You in Your Relationship with God?

Text:

Isaiah 55:1-3 (ESV) 

1  "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 

2  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 

3  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 

James 4:8 (ESV) 

8  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

Observation:

When people are having problems in their life it should be a bright light that you need to examine your relationship with the Lord. A friend's comment yesterday prompted me to think about this topic. This is my attempt to ask some thoughtful questions for us to consider:

1. Do you know the Lord?
2. Does He know me as His blood purchased daughter or son?
3. Am I as close to God as I use to be?
4. When is the last time I had a conversation with Him where I told Him how much I love Him?
5. How often do I read the Bible?
6. How often do I pray?
7. How regularly do I gather with the Household of Faith to worship the Lord?

This is not an exhaustive list of questions, but a few that are designed to draw us closer to God.

When we are close to the Lord we may have downcast days, but we will not be defeated. It is because we have an anchor; it is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, and not on sinking sand.

Deuteronomy 33:27 (NLT) 

27  The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, 'Destroy them!' 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Thy most holy and righteous name. Father, I plead mercy and grace for those who have drifted from You, and for those who have never known You.

Father, I cry our for the Holy Spirit of God to open their eyes to their need that only You can fill. Father, have mercy on all of us, and I make this my supplication in the mighty name of Jesus, 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:

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

 

Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 2, 2015

Title: Now is the Time for More Love & Unity

Text:

Psalm 107:1-3 (ESV) 

1  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 

2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 

3  and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 

Observation:

Over the course of my life I have observed how people have tended to have less awe of God the longer I have lived. 

Yesterday, it seemed like I got these impressions throughout the day. I noticed that God was speaking to me through everything I encountered during the entire day.

The seed was planted when I read this scripture in the early hours of the day.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) 

16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

When you draw near to God, how can you help but have awe of Him when you see Him on the throne? Then, you realize that you are welcome into His presence because it is a throne of grace.

Additionally, we can call Him, Our Father; we can do this because of what Jesus has done for us, and in us.

John 1:12 (ESV) 

12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 

What will it take for God's people to come together in love and in unity? If you can say, "Our Father"; you have within you the capability to love God, and to love others. Now is not the time for God's people to be discouraged and disappointed; its time to love one another with the love of the Lord.

Romans 5:5 (NLT) 

5  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful that we have the privilege of drawing near to You; to have access to Your throne room of grace. Father, because You are our God; we lack nothing. Father, help each of us to be willing to love others first. In the mighty name of Jesus I 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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Daily Word of God & Prayer_September 1, 2015

Title: How to Survive the Storms Of Life

Text:

Mark 4:35-41 (ESV) 

35  On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 

36  And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 

37  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 

38  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 

39  And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

40  He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 

41  And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" 

Observation:

In today's text we read of an account where the disciples found themselves in the midst of a terrible storm. Notice they were doing the right thing, and that they were following the right person. In life storms will come; that is just the way life is in this world.

Mark 4:37 (HCSB) 

37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

The key to overcoming the storms of life is to have faith in God. When you are doing the will of God, and following the ways of God don't let the storms of life get you off track. Jesus knows what life looks like on the other side of the storm. This is what he said to his disciples before getting in the boat.

Mark 4:35 (HCSB) 

35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side [of the sea]."

No matter what storms you face in life; Jesus will see you through it safely to the other side. As for me and my house, we will trust in the Lord. I am safe in the presence of God, and kept by the power of God. In God alone we can find peace, safety, and security. Jesus is a rock for the weary to stand upon, and a shelter in the time of the storms of life. Jesus never fails.

Mark 4:40 (HCSB) 

40 Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?"

Prayer:

Father, I am so thankful that you are a God who goes the distance with your people. Father, I am so glad that I can trust in you to get me safely to the other side of the storms of life. What a God! I believe Jesus, 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:

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