Today We Pray

Dear God, who has given me life and breath, and another day: I do not know what this day might bring. For men make plans, and their plans come to naught, as You will it. Thus I take this day out of my hands and submit it to Your will.

Let me follow only Your way. Let me hear only Your voice, not the voices of those who do not believe in Your teachings. Let me celebrate and rejoice with those who do believe in You.

Take my heart and hand. May Your sweet love grow more like You day by day. In His name, I pray, let my day be Yours, and let it be filled with goodness and faith.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Jeremiah 9:23-24

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the Lord."

Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight. Let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength. Let not the one who is rich boast in his temporal satisfactions and earthly abundance. But, let the one who boasts boast in this: that He understands and knows God and acknowledges Him and honors Him as God and recognizes without any doubt. And, He is the Lord who practices lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth.

Don’t brag about your wisdom or strength or wealth. If you feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshiping the Lord. What He like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth. And, He act in loyal love.

The Daily Grace - Who Gets the Credit?

Chris Langan has an IQ higher than Albert Einstein's. Moustafa Ismail has 31-inch biceps and can lift 600 pounds. Bill Gates is estimated to be worth billions. Those who have extraordinary abilities or possessions might be tempted to think more highly of themselves than they should. But we don't have to be wildly smart, strong, or wealthy to want to take credit for our achievements. Any size of accomplishment carries with it this question: Who will get the credit?

During a time of judgement, God spoke to the Israelites through the the prophet Jeremiah. He said: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mightly man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches" (Jer. 9:23). Rather, "let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me" (Jer. 9:24). God wanted His people to prize Him and His excellence above anything else.

If we allow praise to inflate our self-image, we're forgetting that "every good gift. . . comes down from the Father" (James 1:17). It's better to give God the glory - not only because it protects our hearts from pride but also because He rightfully deserves it. He is God, the One "who does great things. . . marvelous things without number" (Job. 5:9). We were created to give God the glory.

Today We Pray

Dear God, who has come to all the nations through Your Son, Christ Jesus, there is no god like you in heaven or earth. You are loving and kind and You keep Your promises to your people if they only have faith and seek to follow your commandments. You have fulfilled your promise to our fathers Abraham and David, who were Your servants, through the mightiest and humblest of all men ever to live: the Word made flesh.

Heal me, my God. I ask for the wisdom of true humility, through the monumental power of Your Holy Spirit. Bring me to a place where my ego is utterly secure in my knowledge and love of You, when I truly am satisfied that all glory is Yours, and I may lead my life on earth in security and humble service. 

Let the whole earth also worship You, all nations obey You, all tongues confess and bless You, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace. And now, O Lord our God, fulfill Your promise to all who confess the name of Jesus Christ. I pray, that we may live in faith of Him, loving You and following Your ways as He did, that we might be sanctified as Your children and heirs.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - James 1:17

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from Heaven. It comes down from the Father of lights, the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens. In Him, there is no variation, no rising or setting, or shadow cast by His turning. It is because He is perfect and never changes.

So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

The Daily Grace - God's Devotion

In 1826, the British author Thomas Carlyle married Jane Welsh, who also was an accomplished writer. She dedicated herself to his success and served him wholeheartedly. Because of a stomach ailment and a nervous disorder, he had a rather ornery temperament. So she made special meals for him and tried to keep the house as quiet as possible so he could do his writing.

Thomas didn't often recognize Jane's helpful spirit nor did he spend much time with her. However, he wrote this about her to his mother: "I may say in my heart that she. . . loves me with a devotedness which is a mystery to me how I have ever deserved. She. . . looks with such soft cheerfulness into my gloomy countenance, that new hope passed into me every time I met her eye".

We too have Someone who loves us with a devotedness that is a mystery how we as sinners ever deserved it! He is God the Father, "who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32). His love is wide, long, deep and high and exceeds our knowledge (Eph. 3:18-19). Understanding and appreciating God's love is so vital hat Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be "rooted and grounded" in it (Eph. 3:17). May that be our experience as well. There is no greater joy than to know God loves you.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, You came so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Grant me, throughout this day, power in my love, strength in my humility, purity in my zeal, kindness in my laughter, and Your peace in my heart at all times. The glory of Your unseen presence and goodness is far greater than we could imagine.

I let go of the worries, resentments and fears that I can sometimes hold on to so tightly. Let me open my hands and my heart to receive freely all the gifts that I need at this time. Indeed, You are my strength in times of weakness and my comforter in times of sorrow.

Stay by my side always, Lord. Gain for me a trusting heart. Thank You for loving me.

Amen