For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.

Psalm 52

For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. v9

In the quiet of the morning, I am ever more aware of God's greatness, His creation, His blessings, etc.  God has done more than I can ever imagine and He is always working in my life, for He is a jealous God...jealous FOR me. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:13

Praise and worship of God is the right and proper response to who God is, what He has done and what He will continue to do.
 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:28-29

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...even though I have sinned and continue to sin....all before Your very eyes. You are so full of mercy for me and gentleness, etc.  Thank You Jesus...I am not deserving of such love.  I don't want to worry, or be impatient or angry but I often do and am these things.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my sin and help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5
Night Vision

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. v8-9

From the devotion, the key takeaway is this:

Notice that he doesn’t give just anyone living wisdom for the fight. He looks for the difference between the intellectual understanding and practical application.  We all know lots of guys, pastors, and full-time theologians who have been given the Intel that God provides and are still getting slaughtered by the enemy. The Bible says the more spiritually undivided you are the better your Intel gets. More integrity, more clarity, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright…. Is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”

Francis Chan uses 2 Peter 1 to emphasize how Jesus wants us to "make every effort"...to be in action.  Help me be in action...help me make every effort.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are....You make every effort all the time...for all of Your children...including myself!  Thank You Jesus!  Forgive me for not making every effort.  Help me turn from my laziness and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me make every effort.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer, including all of these side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.



 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.

Hebrews 4

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. v12-13

The Bible is more than a book - it is God and God is the Bible.  The Bible is all powerful - it can penetrate more than my mind - it can transform my heart and life.  It also reveals to me my sin and my need for Jesus Christ.   I must also understand that God knows all - specifically my sin - He knew everything about my sin even before I was born.  This last point is made in several other places in the Bible:

Psalm 19
Daniel 2
Matthew 10
Luke 8, 12

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and Your Word is Great - I know that You are the Word and the Word is You.  I am blessed to have Your Word so that I can come to You and read and reflect on Your message for me - I desperately need You in my life because I am sinful and broken.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen.  I am harsh with my thoughts and words.  I often do not work as if I am working for You.  I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith. Help me stay near to You and Your Word.  Help me not only read and know the Word but help me DO the Word - do what it says.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. v11-12

God gave the Word and is the Word.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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And God is of course all powerful in our lives as it serves to "renew" our minds and make us more like Jesus Christ.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

...

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, all powerful, all knowing and boundless in love and mercy...regardless of the fact that the object of Your love is broken..speaking specifically of me.  That You could love, suffer, and die for me...broken and sinful.  I am not worth such a blessing.  I am too easily distracted and I am often not bold as I should be with my love of Christ.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  Help me grow in my faith.