Do You Know What Happened on the Thursday Before Good Friday?

Text:

Acts 4:29-31 (NKJV) 

 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 

 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 

 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 

Observation:

I woke up this morning on this day of our Lord, Thursday, February 1, 2018. The topic that God spoke to my heart was to write to my people today, and not tomorrow.

So, my mind became still, and I listen to the sweet and tender voice of my Father in heaven who said to me, Herb, my beloved son, write to my people today, and not tomorrow. I will tell you what to say as you listen to me. Listening was your goal in 2017, and now I have given you the vision for 2018 of loving one another as you love God and yourself.

I'm now at my desk before my computer, and I am writing as the Holy Spirit guides me, and as I write what God the Father speaks to my heart. I hear Him saying to articulate this to my people.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) 

 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

I believe this message is for everyone who bears the name of, "CHILD OF GOD." Do you belong to God, and does God belong to you?

If you are a child of God, would you be willing to do what one, who identified himself as being a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ says in God's Holy, and divine Word?

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV) 

 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 

 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 

 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

If you are willing, I ask you to join in a partnership with me in spreading this message to your family and friends the media that is available to you on whatever communication device you have available to you. It's time for God's people to be courageous and bold. Come on somebody, let's shine the light of God upon this dark world.

Let pray, and ask the Holy Spirit who worked in Pentecostal power then, to work in our lives on the Thursday before a Great Friday.

Prayer:

Acts 5:11-15 (NKJV) 

 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 

 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 

 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 

 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 

 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 

Father, we ask you to do it again and begin by doing it in the writer, the readers, and the doers of Your most holy, righteous, and true Word of God, and from the God of the Word. Let all who agree, say, Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Are You Searching for Peace? Come Let Me Show You Where to Find It

Text:

John 16:33 (NKJV) 

 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

Observation:

My friends, the answer to the question in the title is found in the Bible in John 16:33. Read the text listed above for your convenience. Did you see it?

The answer is Jesus. He said, "In Me, you may have peace." Do you have Jesus alive in your heart?

John 1:12 (NKJV) 

 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 

Are you a child of God? If you are, you have the peace of God within you. Notice what the Bible says about the peace of God.

John 14:1 (NKJV) 

 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 

John 14:27 (NKJV) 

 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Application:

Make two columns. One the World, and the other Jesus on a sheet of paper.

The World Jesus

Sickness Jesus

Sorrow Jesus

Sin Jesus

Temptation Jesus

Testing Jesus

Trial Jesus

Isolation Jesus

Your problem Jesus

 The world gives us troubles, but God gives His children peace, and the world cannot take it away. The peace that God gives you will stay with you. Your responsibility is to live in the presence of God who gave you the gift of peace. God gave you this peace when Jesus came into your heart.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that your children will never forget the source of peace and that they will live in Your presence and enjoy the peace of God all of the days of their life.

Father, I pray that Your children will decide today that the devil is a liar, and He cannot steal our peace. Our Savior and Lord have us securely in His arms, and our peace is safe and secure in Jesus. Let all of God's children say, Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

 

What God Says About the Tone of Our Speech? We Are Free to Speak, But You Cannot Control the Consequences of Your Free Speech

Text:

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) 

 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 

 This is the first and great commandment. 

 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 

 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." 

Observation:

Jesus describes love as being of first importance. The passage in our text on love is The Great Commandment. This commandment is the foundation for the wisdom of the Proverbs. Today we will focus on the following Proverb.

Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV) 

 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Today I want to focus on the second commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself ."

How do you talk to people? Do you speak with a soft tender voice that demonstrates the love of God?

2 Kings 22:18-19 (NLT) 

 "But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the LORD and tell him: 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: 

 You were sorry and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD. 

Is God pleased with the angry tone expressed by His people on social media, and in the marketplace?

Does God hear angry and harsh words? Or is His ear bent toward gentle and soft words from our mouth? Do you speak the language of love?

Proverbs 15:1 (MSG) 

 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, help us to love others with the love of the Lord who lives in our heart.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV) 

 Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

If we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, we have God's love in our hearts. We have all that we need to be loving and gentle in our speech.

Proverbs 25:15 (AMP) 

 By long forbearance and calmness of spirit, a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance. 

Father, convict us to change; to love and forgive others in the manner that You have forgiven us. Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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Have You Experienced the Value and Power of Prayer?

Text:

1 Samuel 12:23 (HCSB) 

 "As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. 

Observation:

One of the saddest experiences in life is to look back at the decisions we make in life and say, "If only."

O how we underestimate the reach and power of prayer. When we pray for others that is the most we can do for them. We can eliminate the if only in our lives with prayer. The Bible says in 2 Chron 7:14, "If my people would pray." Let's depend upon God's help, and pray always. You are not without help when you pray; you have a helper.

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV) 

26  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 

27  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

However, there is more. Our Savior, the Lord Jesus, is praying for us in heaven. The writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus tells of His intercession for God's children.

Hebrews 7:25 (HCSB) 

25  Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. 

The Apostle Paul was not too proud to ask others to pray for him because he knew the reach and power of prayer. Be humble enough to ask others to pray for you.

Ephesians 6:19 (HCSB) 

19  Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 

Prayer:

Father, I am so awed that the triune God-head in heaven, and in us pray for us. Father, I am thankful that in Your wisdom, you have told us to pray for one another. Father, hear us when we pray.

Acts 4:31 (ESV) 

31  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

Father, may the power of God fall upon us whenever we unite our hearts and voices in prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

 

What’s On Your Mind?

Text:

Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) 

 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

Observation:

I started my day with God on my mind. I was up very late last night. In fact, I watched the clock on my iPad go from 11:59 p.m. to 12:01 a.m. It was a very peace-filled time as I had the presence of God in my life. God was speaking, and I was listening.

I woke this morning with the word ask on my mind. Last year I took a leadership class taught by John Maxwell, and one of the things I took away from John was to learn to ask better questions.

The last question I wrote down in my notebook was, "What should I write about today? This devotional is the answer to my question.

What has God said about asking?

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) 

 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 

 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 

I wrote down, starting with what was at the front of my brain, and I continued to write, and the questions flowed from my heart to my notebook.

I encourage you to get alone with God with a notebook and pen and write down the questions that are on your mind.

The Word of God says:

Matthew 7:8 (NKJV) 

 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, our dear Father, help us we pray to choose to take some time today to write down on paper the questions that are in our hearts.

O, how blessed are those who take the time to have a conversation with God. And all who agree, will you join in saying a hearty Amen.

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

 

What Is Troubling Your Mind Today?

Text:

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) 

 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Observation:

Things happen to us on a daily basis that can throw us off track. When we lose our focus and our passion, we reach the point of losing hope. That is a place we do not want to be.

Jesus warned His disciple and us that we should expect trouble in this world, but we should not allow it to rob us of our focus on our mission or our passion in fulfilling our mission.

John 16:33 (KJV) 

 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

When the devil attacks your mind and attempts to steal your peace, show him the door. A better plan is to shut the door and put the devil in God's hands.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV) 

 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

The key to living the overcoming life in this world is to live in the presence of God all the time.

James 4:7-8 (NKJV) 

 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

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

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for being an abiding presence in the lives of Your people.

Father, help us to know ourselves as You see us, and keep our hearts and our whole life close to You all the days of our life. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

 

What Is On Your Mind Today?

Text:

Proverbs 4:23-25 (NLT) 

 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 

 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. 

 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 

Observation:

This morning I read Genesis chapters 44 and 45. I have the following verses in the front of my mind.

Genesis 45:4-5 (HCSB) 

 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please, come near me," and they came near. "I am Joseph, your brother," he said, "the one you sold into Egypt. 

 And now don't be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. 

Genesis 45:8 (HCSB) 

 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

After reading and listening to today's One Year Bible Reading Plan, I saw this verse from one of my YouVersion friends.

Proverbs 4:25 (NLT) 

 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 

God made each of us to have a personal relationship with Him. He is our Father, and we are His daughters and sons. How close are you to God? Is God your Father? Is Jesus, the Son of God, alive in you?

No matter what you are going through, if you are a child of God, you are never alone. God promises that He will never leave you. Don't allow suffering in this world to separate you from God.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) 

 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

I close today's meditation on the Word of God with the prayer of Jesus for each of His daughters and sons. My prayer is that you will receive the Word, and live every day of your life in this world in the presence of God.

Prayer:

John 17:25-26 (NLT) 

 "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 

 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them." 

John 17:20-21 (NLT) 

 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 

 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 

--

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰  And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

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