How Bright Is Your Hope?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

2 Peter 3:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Colossians 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

One of the fruits of a bright hope is a peaceful heart. The evidence is gratitude. Why not take a few minutes to recall a few things that give you hope for your future?

My Gratitude List for Today:

1. Freedom

Galatians 5:1 King James Version (KJV)

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

2. Transformation

2 Corinthians 5:17 King James Version (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.

3. Growth

Philippians 1:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, we have hope today because our faith is in the Rock of our Salvation.

"My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand."

Song: The Solid Rock; Author: Edward Mote

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

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Are You An Ambassador for Christ?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 King James Version (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.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Of first importance is your status with God? Have you been born twice? Are you confident that you are in Christ? 

Allow me the privilege of encouraging you by sharing this conversation that Nicodemus had with Jesus.

John 3:1-3 King James Version (KJV)

3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The lyrics of a song put to music by B.B. McKinney speaks to my heart as I reflect upon those who are not yet in Christ. If you are an ambassador for Christ, let's link our hearts together in prayer for those who are not in Christ. 

"Lord lay some soul upon my heart,

And love that soul through me;

And may I bravely do my part

To win that soul for Thee."

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we ask that You awaken in us the burning desire to share Christ with others in our talk and our walk. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

Where Do You Turn When Life Gets Hard?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Psalm 116:1-2 King James Version (KJV)

116 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Do you know the God of the Bible? In whom do you trust? Where is your God? To love the Lord, you must know Him.

Psalm 115:1-3 King James Version (KJV)

115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

The following conversation of Jesus with a Gentile woman informs my understanding of the God of the Bible.

John 4:21-26 King James Version (KJV)

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

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.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

The Bible describes God in human terms that we can understand. He has eyes that can see us, ears that can hear us, and hands that can touch us. God is a great God and a loving heavenly Father.

There is no place I would rather be than in the hands of God.

Psalm 31:15 King James Version (KJV)

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

There is nothing beyond the reach of God, and there is nothing too difficult for our Father in heaven.

Luke 1:37 King James Version (KJV)

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, we offer up to you our prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Father, we acknowledge that You are God, and we are not.

Father, we are so grateful that You have eyes to see us, ears to hear us, and hands that can reach down and touch us.

Father, we rest in the knowledge that nothing is too difficult for You. Father, we stretch our hands and surrender our lives to You. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

Who Can Deliver Us from the Troubles of the World?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Psalm 120:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 120

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 

I took my troubles to the Lord;
    I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

2 

Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
    and from all deceitful people.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

I love reading and meditating on the Psalms because they speak to my heart about problems and opportunities every generation face.

I have discovered over the course of my life that you can expect to have problems living in this world. How we react to problems is often worse than the problem. Today's Psalm is the first of the Psalms of Accent. The best things in life come when we take the upward look.

Notice how the people of God took their troubles to the Lord in prayer. Some people say we need to do more than pray. However, consider the results received from the provisions of the Lord when they ask for God's help through prayer.

Notice how God did not change the circumstances of His people. However, He gave them the endurance to overcome their situations. 

Psalm 120:3-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 

O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
    How will he increase your punishment?

4 

You will be pierced with sharp arrows
    and burned with glowing coals.

5 

How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
    It pains me to live in distant Kedar.

6 

I am tired of living
    among people who hate peace.

7 

I search for peace;
    but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Before pointing the finger at others, it would be well to do some self-examination. God wants to give you endurance that will deliver you from your present and future troubles in the world.

Jeremiah 9:3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Judgment for Disobedience

3 

"My people bend their tongues like bows
    to shoot out lies.
They refuse to stand up for the truth.
    They only go from bad to worse.
They do not know me,"
    says the Lord.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, O how we need to take the upward look and fix our eyes upon Jesus. Father, we need You, and we are so grateful that You are just a prayer away. Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, draw us closer to You.

Jeremiah 33:3 King James Version (KJV)

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

Who or What Is Your Source?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Matthew 6:31-33 King James Version (KJV)

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Today I have the believers in Christ on my mind. It is to those, who by faith, have committed their lives to Jesus. Do you believe this statement by Jesus, "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things?"

The following verse should cause us to examine the object of our faith.

Matthew 6:30 King James Version (KJV)

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Do you have a confident faith in Our Father in Heaven?

Proverbs 3:5 King James Version (KJV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

The Bible says much about faith, but the following is one of my go-to passages when it comes to the belief that pleases God.

1 Peter 5:6-7 King James Version (KJV)

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Who has a confident faith that can say, "I know God sees and cares about me?" Let all who can and are willing unite in a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to our great God.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, we exalt You above every name on earth and heaven. We bow low at Your feet and give You honor, glory, and praise.

Father, we are grateful that we have a God who knows our needs and can meet all of our needs.

Father, therefore, we associate ourselves with Your servant David, a man after Your heart, when he wrote these words in Psalm 23.

Psalm 23:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

How Did Jesus Prepare to Lead and Preach?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Luke 6:12-13 King James Version (KJV)

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

What should a godly preacher do before preaching? If you are a Christ follower, why not do what Jesus did before he taught? In fact, before doing anything, the history of the ministry of Jesus is that he sought his father's will through prayer. Notice from our text that Jesus had a special place to pray, and he spent plenty of time in prayer.

Oh, how we need to be able to sing that old hymn of the faithful about our personal prayer life and connection with Our Father in Heaven.

"O the pure delight of a single hour

  That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

  I commune as friend with friend!"

Hymn: Draw Me Nearer by Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915}

In verses, Luke 6:14-16, you can find the names of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+6%3A14-16&version=KJV

Now, let us turn our attention to what happened after Jesus prayed and preached that great sermon in which he ordained the twelve apostles he had chosen to be world changers.

Luke 6:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

My dear family, friends and neighbors; I beg you, don't attempt to do the work of God without praying. If Jesus needed to pray, then what about you and me.

Luke 6:12 King James Version (KJV)

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Prayer:

Our Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, forgives us for forfeiting the privilege and invitation You have given to us of taking everything to You in prayer. Father, we ask You to stir up within us the desire to be devoted to prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Colossians 4:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

An Encouragement for Prayer

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

A Prayer for the Body of Christ

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul's Request for Prayer

3 Finally, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. ² Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. ³ But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.^[b]

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton