Today's Godly Reminder - Mark 12:30

In our entire life, love the Lord. With all your thought and understanding, He should be the first one that you are thinking of. We should love Him first and above all else. He is the author of love, that's why He is the first one that should be loved.

Love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. In everything you do, think of Him. You will love doing things once you love Him. He is the source of life. Once you dedicate your life to Him with all your heart, soul and mind, you will have a life that nothing compares in this world.

The Daily Grace - Mightier Than All

Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina is a spectacular waterfall system of 275 falls along 2.7 km (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River. Etched on a wall on the Brazilian side of the Falls are the words of Psalm 93:4, "Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!" (RSV). Below it are these words, "God is always greater than all of our troubles".

The writer of Psalm 93, who penned its words during the time that kings reigned, knew that God is the ultimate King over all. "The Lord reigns", he wrote. "Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting" (vv. 1-2). No matter how high the floods or waves, the Lord remains greater than them all.

The roar of a waterfall is truly majestic, but it is quite a different matter to be in the water hurtling toward the falls. That may be the situation you are in today. Physical, financial, or relational problems loom ever larger and you feel like you are about to go over the falls. In such situations, the Christian has Someone to turn to. He is the Lord, "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20) for He is greater than all of our troubles. Never measure God's unlimited power by your limited expectations.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, Your mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day. Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, increase in knowledge; ripen for spiritual harvest. Let me this day know You as You are, love You supremely, serve You completely, admire You fully.

My sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what my lips tremble to name, what my heart can no longer bear, and what has become for me a consuming fire of judgment. Set me free from a past that I cannot change; open to me a future in which I can be changed; and grant me grace to grow more and more in Your likeness and image.

In utter humility I thank You and glorify You, that You might hear the prayer of one so small as myself, amidst the billions of souls among billions of stars in one of billions of galaxies in Your universe. Let me go forth in Your peace, keeping Your Spirit always in my mind. And bless me, I pray, that I might always follow Your will and live in the radiance of Your blessing.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Galatians 2:16

Yet, we know that a man is not justified and placed in right standing with God by works of the Law. But, only through faith in God’s beloved Son, Christ Jesus. And, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law, no one will ever be justified or declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. 

But we know that God accepts only those who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one can please God by simply obeying the Law. So we put our faith in Christ Jesus, and God accepted us because of our faith.

The Daily Grace - Guidance Needed

We can all certainly identify with the need of guidance. In fact, Jesus addressed this very need during His Upper Room Discourse. He said that after His departure, the Holy Spirit would play a crucial role in the lives of believers. As part of that role, Jesus promised, "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).

What a marvelous provision! In a world of confusion and fear, guidance is often needed. We can easily be misdirected by the culture around us or by the brokenness within us (1 John 2:15-17). God's Spirit, however, is here to help, to direct, and to guide. How thankful we can be that the Spirit of truth has come to give us the guidance that we often so desperately need.

Set your course by His life, and you will reach safe harbor. The Spirit is a reliable guide in all of life's seas. Let Him guide you. We may be weak, but He is mighty. He will hold us always with His powerful hands.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, I will take refuge in Your loving heart. You are my strength in times of weakness. You are my comforter in times of sorrow.

Thank you for the gift of freedom, Lord. Grant that I may always choose to follow You. Keep me ever mindful of Your ways and of Your love and concern for all people.

You have graciously accepted me as a living member of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and You have blessed me with the grace of forgiveness through the sacrifice He made for me and for all people. Send me now into the world in peace, and grant me strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Todays Godly Reminder - James 1:2-3

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

When you encounter trials in life, be glad. This will lead to spiritual maturity and inner peace. It is because your faith is tested because of this. So, this will be the reward.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.