What Would It Take To Satisfy You?

Text:

Psalm 90:14 (ESV) 

14  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

Observation:

Do you realize that the miracle of joy can be yours if you look to the source of real joy? What is the source of that joy?

Psalm 16:11 (ESV) 

11  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) 

4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

The amazing thing about the joy of the Lord is that it is not dependent on our circumstances. 

You may experience sadness in the depths of your life, and in the darkness of your longest night, you may experience deep pain. But, you can experience the joy of the Lord in the morning.

Psalm 30:5 (ESV) 

5  For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 

John 16:33 (ESV) 

33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." 

Anybody can experience pleasure and happiness if the conditions and circumstances are good. However, these things can be fleeting, and are temporary. Conversely, the joy of the Lord is not dependent upon ideal conditions and circumstances. The joy of the Lord is forever; it is always available because the Lord is present with His people forever.

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:5b, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." If you have Jesus, you have the joy of the Lord forever.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) 

4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Lord, we give to You praise, and thanks for Your favor, and abundant provisions. Father, I thank You that Jesus is above our circumstances. Therefore, if we are in Him, and He is us, we never have to live under our circumstances.

Father, help us each morning to start our day drawing from the strength of the Lord, who lives in us, to experience every day, and always the joy of the Lord. 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

 

Do You Want To Be A Change Agent?

Text:

Galatians 6:2 (KJV) 

2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

Observation:

If you are alive, you are changing. You are getting older every day that you are still breathing.

What kind of life are you living? Are you making the people, and things that you touch better or worse?

I have a burden on my heart for unity among the local expressions of the Body of Christ. 

That burden has been encouraged by the following message that I received from a friend.

"If we did all the things we were capable of doing we would literally astonish ourselves".

I have a burning desire to be astonished by the possibilities of what God could do in our communities if we, the people of God, came together in love with others in our community.

The reading of the following scriptures have set my heart aflame to see this happen in my community, and in your community.

Romans 12:10 (KJV) 

10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 

Romans 12:12 (KJV) 

12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 

Is there anyone hearing this message who is willing to join us in carrying this burden to the Lord in prayer, and doing what the Lord tells you to do? If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you, and speak to your cries for help. 

Will you pray, and will you wait for His reply? Let us lift our voices to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer:

Father, we come humbly to You, and give You praise and thanksgiving for who You are, and for being a God who hears an answers the prayers of Your people.

Father, we cast our burdens and concerns at Your feet, and we delight to open the eyes of our hearts to see You, and our ears to hear from You. Father, speak to Your people is our plea. 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

 

Do You Realize the Power of Worship?

Text:

John 4:23-24 (KJV) 

23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 

24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

Observation: 

I have heard the voice of God speaking to me in His still small voice, and I have heard Him speaking to me through His servants in the spoken, and written word.

The message I heard caused my heart to focus on the word near. When we draw close to God everything changes. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us. He welcomes our coming to Him, and He fills the open and trusting heart by occupying our whole heart.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) 

1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

How close are you to God? You are only a step away so why not take that step today? Our response to His presence is our praise of His majesty, might and glory.

Psalm 29:1-2 (KJV) 

1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 

2  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 

Prayer:

Father, we ascribe to Your name the honor and the glory that You alone deserve.

Father, we invite You to fill our whole heart with Your presence and power. Father, when You are present in our life everything changes.

Father, we know that the troubles that we face in this fallen world are all under Your control. Our troubles are no match for Your presence and power in our hearts. Father, we acknowledge that You are on top of all of our troubled waters.

Psalm 29:3 (KJV) 

3  The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 

--

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

 

Where Do You Look When You Have A Troubled Heart?

Title: Where Do You Look When You Have A Troubled Heart?

Text:

Psalm 57:1-3 (KJV) 

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. 

2  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. 

3  He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 

Observation:

This Psalm is one that speaks of David, and the fear that he faced by King Saul who had it in his heart to kill David.

You may not be facing and fleeing an enemy that is determined to kill you, but you may be facing forces in your life that are robbing you of peace in your life.

Are you facing something in your life that is causing you to flee, fret, or flounder? Why not do what David did?

Psalm 57:2 (HCSB) 

2  I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills ⌊His purpose⌋ for me. 

Yes, my friend, when you cry out to God, He will hear your cry, and He will help you. What He did for David He will do for you.

Psalm 57:3 (HCSB) 

3  He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me.Selah God sends His faithful love and truth. 

Do we have any witnesses that God hears, and answers prayer? Yes, He will I know He will.

Psalm 116:1-2 (HCSB) 

1  I love the LORD because He has heard my appeal for mercy. 

2  Because He has turned His ear to me, I will call ⌊out to Him⌋ as long as I live. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. O how precious it is to know that the Lord is my daily companion, my friend, and my deliverer. Lord, I trust in You, and I am so thankful that You have never failed me, and never given up on me. If the Lord has done the same for You, give Him some glory today. 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. 

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

 

Who Do You Put Your Trust In?

Title: Who Do You Put Your Trust In?

Text:

Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV) 

3  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

4  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 

Observation:

Do you trust in man? Let's see what flesh can do.

Isaiah 2:22 (ESV) 

22  Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? 

Isaiah 40:6-8 (ESV) 

6  A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 

7  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 

8  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 

Do you trust in God? Let's see what God can do.

2 Chronicles 32:8 (ESV) 

8  With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father. Lord, I exalt Your name above every name on earth, and in heaven. Father God, there is none like you, no not one.

Father, I am so grateful for the privilege to know that You are my redeemer, and that I am loved by You. Father, I pray that all who believe in You will have the desire, and the strength; that You provide, to stay near to You. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. And all who agree say, 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 Are You Spending Your Time?

Text:

Ephesians 5:15-17 (HCSB) 

15  Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 

16  making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 

17  So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 

Observation:

In the matter of the amount of time we have, all of us are equal; we have the same amount available to us. For each of us, we have 24 hours in the day, and 168 hours in the week.

I have learned that we cannot manage time, but we can manage how we use the time that is available to us.

Are you making the most of the time you have each day? I have learned that I can't do everything in one day. So, I have cultivated the habit of weekly planning. What I can do in 168 hours, rather than 24 hours works better for me.

Our focal passage for today encourages us to be careful, and consistent in the way we use time. We cannot save time, but we can use it wisely.

For encouragement I look to the Psalms, and for wisdom I look to the Proverbs. Allow these words to speak to you; may they encourage you, and give you wisdom so that you may walk wisely each day of your life.

Psalm 31:15 (ESV) 

15  My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) 

9  The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. 

How much of your time each day, and each week is spent on things that contribute to building the kingdom of God?

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) 

33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Are you putting first things first in your daily use of time? The rewards for obedience is off the chart.

Prayer: 

Father, we praise You for this day that You have given us; we rejoice to bless Your name today, and everyday. Every day is a day of praise, and thanksgiving because of who You are. Father, You are Jehovah-Yahweh; the God our salvation.

Father, we ask You for the wisdom, and the power to walk consistently in our daily living for as many days as You give us. 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 God Saying To You?

Text:

Psalm 27:14 (HCSB) 

14  Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD. 

Observation: 

Do you realize that God is always speaking? If we are listening, God speaks into our hearts when we draw near to Him.

Romans 10:17 (ESV) 

17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV) 

3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 

4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 

Here are two of the primary ways that God speaks to His people:

God speaks through His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) 

16  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

God speaks through other believers. 

James 3:17 (HCSB) 

17  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 

The Holy Spirit is our teacher, and helper in understanding God's Word.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (HCSB) 

12  Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who ⌊comes⌋ from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 

13  We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 

Are you listening to God speak? This song by Charles Miles is speaking into my heart.

"I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses."

Prayer: 

Father God, we honor Your name. You are Elohim; the God of power and might. You are Adonai;  you are LORD of all, and over all. Father, we give praise, and thanksgiving to Your most holy and righteous name.

Father, I ask that You would give Your people open ears, and tender hearts so that we may hear You speaking into our hearts in the various ways that You speak to Your people. Father, may we be quick to hear, and obey. 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