Something Better
Today's Scripture
"...Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)
In John 11, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was very sick. They thought He would come right away and heal Lazarus. But days passed, and Lazarus died. When Jesus showed up, Mary and Martha were so upset. They said, "Jesus, if You had been here, our brother would still be alive." Against all apparent odds, Jesus went to the tomb and raised Lazarus from the dead.
Sometimes God will wait on purpose till the odds look way against you. You're ready to bury that dream or promise. You don't see any way it could work out. But God's ways are not our ways. Mary and Martha prayed for a healing, but God had a resurrection in mind. Maybe God's not going to answer your prayers the way you thought. Maybe He has something better than you ever dreamed. Trust Him. Odds don't determine what He can and cannot do.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You that You are the keeper of my dreams. I trust that You are totally for me when all the odds are stacked against me. I believe that You are working behind the scenes and bringing a resurrection to what I thought was dead. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
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Say your prayer here or your prayer request. please respect this thread
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Thanks for Life
O mighty God, I was born a weak, defenseless child, but Your angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Your love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Your providence have been marvelously showered upon me. I give You thanks, with all who have come to know You, who call upon Your name. Through Christ I pray,
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 12:13-21
** The Parable of the Rich Fool **
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” -
Open Hearts
Today's Scripture
"But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17)
Everywhere you go these days, people are hurting and discouraged; many have made mistakes; their lives are in a mess. They need to feel God's compassion and His unconditional love.
Is your heart of compassion open to them? Do you take time to make a difference in others' lives? God has given you a heart of compassion, but you must decide to keep it open and allow the love of God to flow through you to those around you.
In order to experience God's abundant life, you must keep your focus on helping other people. Don't allow the enemy to keep you so busy that you overlook the needs of those around you. Make a decision to show God's love and goodness wherever you go.
Be on the lookout for people you can bless. Go out of your way to show God's compassion, and as you do, you will rise higher and experience the best plan God has for your life!
A Prayer for Today
"God, you have my best interests in your heart. I want to learn to show that love to the people in my life. Help me to open my heart and find ways to show compassion and love to those around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer to Dedicate This Day to God
Holy God, as I face another day, I know I am going to face many challenges: to my faith, to my patience, to my love for others. I am going to have constant temptations to lapse into sin. Come to me now, Lord, and stay with me all day. Let your Spirit encompass my mind. Let me know your presence. Steer my hand, direct my words, guide my thoughts in everything I think and say and do. I resolve to live this day as a beacon of your glory, the best I can, with your help. I commit myself to give this day to you. In the name of Christ, be with me and help me.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 2 Corinthians 2:17
"For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ." -
Heavy with Favor
Today's Scripture
"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1)
Notice that today's verse doesn't say that the glory of the Lord is going to come on you one day. It doesn't say, "Maybe when the economy gets better, when you graduate from college, or when you get that good break." No, it says God's glory is already on you!
The word "glory" in the original language indicates that God's favor, blessing and splendor is on you in a heavy way. It's something that is tangible and has weight. Think about it this way: You are not less than, intimidated or weak; you are heavy with God's favor. You are dripping with God's goodness. Your attitude should be, "There's no telling what's in my future! I am weighted down, not with burdens, not with problems. I am weighted down with the favor of God."
When you really understand that you are heavy with favor, then it's easy to be heavy with expectation. It's easy to believe for big things when you know God has favored you in a big way. It's time for you to arise. It's time for you to shine. Let that sink down into your spirit today because it's time for you to arise and shine because His glory, His favor is heavy upon you!
A Prayer for Today
"Heavenly Father, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. I know that Your glory is upon me. I thank You for Your favor upon me, and I thank You for Your anointing power which breaks every yoke and moves me into freedom and blessing in Jesus' name. Amen." -
Prayer for the Morning
Heavenly Father, this morning I pray for those who are beginning to know Christ: may You strengthen them on their journey. I pray for all children, and for those who take care of them, especially those who awaken them to faith.
I pray for the ill and those who are ending their lives in loneliness: Oh Lord, give them the strength they need. I pray for those who are condemned to prison or exile: Lord, sustain their hope. I pray that the fire of your Spirit may renew the energies of all your saints and enable us to welcome those who do not know you. And finally, Lord, may your Church be constantly renewed, in prayer, in your Word and in your worship; in Christ’s name, this I ask,
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 12:4-7
Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” -
Choose Your Friends Wisely
Today's Scripture
"...do not throw your pearls before swine..." (Matthew 7:6)
Do you realize you have treasure on the inside of you? You could say that your pearls are what God has given you to be a blessing to the world around you--your gifts, talents and abilities. When you get around true friends, people who really believe in you, they won't be jealous of your gifts. They won't constantly question who you are. They won't try to talk you out of your dreams. It will be just the opposite.
They'll help you polish your pearls, so to speak. They'll help you develop and grow your pearls. In other words, they'll give you ideas. They'll connect you with people they know. They'll help push you further along. If you stay around people who don't value your gifts nor appreciate what you have to offer, that's casting your pearls among swine. Swine don't value pearls; they trample on them.
Your inner circle, those who are closest to you, should be people who celebrate who you are; people who are happy when you succeed. They should be people who believe the very best in you. Remember, it's not the quantity of friends that's important, it's the quality of friends.
Choose your friends wisely so you can be all that God has called you to be.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for the gifts, talents and abilities You have given to me. Help me to recognize the treasure within. Give me wisdom to discern the right relationships You have ordained for me in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer for Renewal
As I start this day, oh Lord, I wonder: How will this day be different from any other day? Has my faith in you grown into a stale routine, or will I grow this day, closer to you than I have ever been?
Shake me up, Holy God! Rattle the door of my cage, set off my smoke detector, ring my doorbell until I answer the door! Let me read your Word until something new sinks in; let me pray until I hear your voice, until all smugness has given way to gratitude. By the power of your Holy Spirit, renew me afresh in your Word and power, today and every day, energizing me in your great commission. In Christ’s name, I pray.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 26:49-52
Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall die by the sword.” -
Step Out of the Boat
Today's Scripture
"And Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' He said, ‘Come!' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus." (Matthew 14:28-29)
Have you ever thought about why Peter wanted to get out of the boat? Why did he all of the sudden think he could walk on water? Well, you might say, "It's because he saw Jesus open the blind eyes and cleanse the lepers." Yes, that's true. But, the other disciples in the boat saw the same things. Why didn't they want to get out?
Peter understood that it was his time. He stirred his faith up. He believed at that moment that he could do what God placed in his heart. Jesus said, "Peter, do you want to get out of that boat?" He said, "Yes, I do." Jesus replied, "Well, come on out." Notice that Jesus didn't say, "Peter, stay in that boat. Don't you know I'm the Son of God?" No, He said, "Peter, I like your attitude of faith. I like the fact that you believe you can do great things."
Today, have that same kind of boldness! Start believing that your time is here! All the dreams that you've buried, those desires that you thought would never work out, it's time to start believing again. It's your time, and it's time to step out of the boat!
A Prayer for Today
"Dear Father, today I choose to believe Your Word. I believe You are faithful to complete the good work You've started in my life. I choose to hear Your voice and step out of the boat. Thank You for bringing to pass the dreams in my heart in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 6:45
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. -
Prayer for Freedom from Fear
O Lord, I beseech you to deliver me, and all of your children, from the fear of the unknown future; from fear of failure; from fear of poverty; from fear of bereavement; from fear of loneliness; from fear of sickness and pain; from fear of age; from fear of death. Help us, O Father, by your grace to love and fear only you, and fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in you; through our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 2 Samuel 5:17-25
** David Conquers the Philistines **
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.
But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. -
Ask What You Desire
Today's Scripture
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)
It pleases God to give you the desires of your heart! He wants to see you happy, whole, strong and enjoying His blessing. When you make the Word of God your number one priority, when you stay connected to Him through prayer and worship, God promises that He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 tells us again that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts. One of the root definitions of the word "delight" means "soft." This gives the picture of us being soft and mold-able, like clay, in the Potter's hands. As we allow Him to shape and mold our character, as we yield ourselves to Him, our thoughts become His thoughts, our words become His Words, and our desires become His desires.
Today, don't allow the distractions of everyday life keep you from spending time with Him. Abide in Him and let His Words abide in you because He will give you the desires of your heart!
A Prayer for Today
"Father, today I submit every area of life to You. I invite You to have Your way in my heart. Mold me and make me as I surrender every area of my life to You. I praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus' name. Amen." -
It's the Hand of God
Today's Scripture
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (Acts 8:26)
Philip was having great success preaching the gospel in Samaria. It must not have made sense when an angel told him to go out to that desert road, but there was a man, the treasurer of Ethiopia, traveling by there in a chariot who was reading the book of Isaiah. When Philip explained to him that Isaiah was talking about how Jesus came as the Savior, the man believed, was baptized, and had his life changed forever.
Like this man, because you honor God, right now there's a Philip chasing your chariot. There are blessings that God has ordained to track you down, people who will use their influence, their knowledge, and their experience to push you forward. When you take time to put God first, to go to the house of the Lord, don't be surprised if on your way home, if sometime this week, sometime this month, Philip shows up--something unusual happens, an unexpected blessing. It's the hand of God.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You that You know where the good breaks are, the right connections, the opportunities that will thrust me into my purpose. Thank You that when I keep You first, Your goodness will rain down with blessings. I believe that Philip is already on the way. In Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer: For All Who Sin
Mighty Jesus, you are the radiant dawn bringing life into the world, and yet there are those who would hide in the shadows and under cover, in the caves of the flesh, telling each other that the darkness is good, and easy, and comfortable. I pray dear God that you will send your Holy Spirit to all of them, to show them that the fearful jaws of their insecurity become toothless when seen in the sunshine of your Word, and that they might see the true nature of evil, which hides with them in the dark, to keep them company and whisper lies in their ears.
For those who have seen the light and shrunk from it, I pray that they may be restored, and that you will ease the terrible pain that drove them to hide from you, that they might be assured of forgiveness if they will only repent. Lighten the minds of those who have been warped by anger, by bitterness, by selfishness, or by the allure of glittering bangles of wealth or status or pride.
Have mercy on me, dear Jesus, where I have strayed; and bring your light to all our brothers and sisters, that they may seek your mercy also, and find your perfect and eternal life.
Amen.
Scripture for Today: John 1:1-5
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. -
Gifts by Grace
Today's Scripture
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us..." (Romans 12:6)
God has given each of us gifts, and He's given us the grace, the supernatural power to operate in those gifts. In other words, if God has called you to do something, He has equipped you by His grace.
Scripture says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That means when we are doing what we are called to do, when we are operating in our gift, there will be an "easiness" about it. That doesn't mean there won't be any opposition. It doesn't mean there won't be obstacles or that it won't take effort on your part. But what it does mean is that you will have a supernatural empowerment to do it. It will just come naturally and flow out of you.
If you are doing something that always seems hard, always seems heavy and drains the energy out of you, you might want to spend some time in prayer before God and see if that's really what He has for you. Just because it's a "good" thing doesn't mean it's a "God" thing. But when it is God, you'll know it. You'll feel His supernatural grace empowering you and refreshing you every step of the way.
A Prayer for Today
"Father God, thank You for empowering me to live by Your grace. Help me to discern what You have for me and let go of anything that isn't Your best for my life. I love You and honor You in all that I do in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Rise Up!
Rise up, oh children of light, and let us give glory to the Lord, who alone can save our souls. O Lord, as you withdraw sleep from the eyes of my body, grant me wakefulness of mind so that I may stand before you in awe and sing your praises worthily, all of this day.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 145:14
The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
1 Corinthians 2:9
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
2 Samuel 6
** The Ark Brought to Jerusalem **
Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it . . . to the City of David with a great celebration. After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. -
You Were Not an Accident
Today's Scripture
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (Jeremiah 1:5)
God knew you before you were even born. What an amazing thought! He saw your unformed substance and said, "I have a purpose for this life. I have good plans for them!" Then He breathed His life into you and sent you through your mother and father. They may have had issues, but that doesn't have to stop you from becoming all that God intended for you to be. You have been handpicked by Almighty God to be here at this time in history!
Sometimes we hear parents say, "We weren't expecting this child. They were a surprise. They were an accident." No, that child may have been a surprise to the parents, but they weren't a surprise to Almighty God. No child can be born without God breathing His life into them. You may think, "Well, I was unwanted. I was an unplanned pregnancy." No, you wouldn't be here if God didn't give life to your seed.
In God's eyes, there is no such thing as being illegitimate. Remember, He knew you before you were ever born! Find confidence in His love knowing that you are a person of destiny, and you are part of His mighty plan!
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for choosing me before I was ever born. Thank You for knowing me and revealing Yourself to me. I trust that You are working in my life today, even when I can't see it. I stand in faith knowing that You have a mighty plan for me in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer To Spread Cheer
Holy God, as I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, dispense more cheer than gloom, spread more joy than despair. Let me remind those I meet that our final existence will be total joy, and that we may taste this joy through the Spirit even today.
Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child, or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy, and forget momentarily all the temporary unpleasantness in their lives. And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper, “When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.”
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shined in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. -
Get the Right Image
Today's Scripture
"...If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you..." (James 1:5)
God is not keeping a record of all your faults. Sometimes we think He's in heaven, watching to catch us. "I saw that failure. Let me write that down. I heard that comment. Gabriel, put a star by that one--that was really bad. I'll have to withhold My goodness."
No, God is not a faultfinder. He's not an accuser. He doesn't go around saying, "You knew better and still failed, so you're on your own." God is not waiting for you to perform perfectly and then He's going to show you His goodness. He is full of mercy. He'll show you favor that you don't deserve.
When you have the right image of God, you know that He's for you, that He's not basing His goodness toward you on your performance but on His grace alone. Then all the guilt and the condemnation have to go. God will give you the power to overcome anything that's holding you back.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You that You are not a faultfinder, but You are full of mercy. Thank You that You are not waiting for me to perform perfectly and then You'll show me Your love and goodness. I believe that You will empower me to become all You created me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer to Remember God During the Day
Lord God, the heavens are telling of your glory and the wonders of your love, the sun by day, and the moon and stars by night. Yet, as clouds will cover your sky in gloom, as the ceilings of men's buildings hide the sky from my sight, so the cares of this existence block your majesty from my mind.
I look with hope to the day when my knowledge of your glory will never be hidden by the concerns of the world, and I may know you every moment of time, forever; but until then, forgive me for all the time I spend with my face bent to the things of earth, your Spirit ignored and forgotten; for you are always there, willing to show yourself to me and guide me and comfort me, if I only lift up my head and see the sky above.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
** God’s Promise to David **
"The Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever." -
Wake Up
Today's Scripture
"Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe..." (Mark 5:36)
A synagogue leader named Jairus came to Jesus and pleaded, "Will You please come to my house and heal my little daughter who's dying?" Jesus said He would, but then was delayed to the point that news came that the girl had died. Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
When Jesus arrived at the house, everyone was upset and crying. He said to them, "The child is not dead but asleep." He went in and said to the girl, "Wake up," and instantly she stood up and was perfectly well.
You may have dreams you've given up on, promises you think there's no way they can happen now. The good news is they're not dead, they're just asleep. God is about to wake up what you thought was dead. He's going to bring to life dreams you've given up on.
Now do your part and start believing, get your hopes up. Your dreams are waking up right now.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You that no matter what happens in my life, You have the final say. Thank You that I can get my hopes up and choose to not dwell on negative reports. I believe that You are waking up the promises and breathing life into my dreams. In Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer for the Nation
Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage; I humbly pray that we may always prove ourselves a people who remember your favor and are glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here from so many different lands and languages. Grant the spirit of wisdom to those whom we entrust with the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may demonstrate your praise among the nations of the earth. In times of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in days of trouble, do not let our trust in you fail; all which I ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 146:1-4
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.
John 1:6-9
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. -
He Is Your Rescuer
Today's Scripture
"Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?..." (Daniel 6:20, NLT)
Most people won't ever literally come face to face with a hungry lion, but we've all been in situations where we felt as though we are about to be “eaten up” or destroyed.
Daniel lived a life of excellence and found favor with the king. The king kept promoting him and giving him more authority, which made the other administrators jealous and angry. They manipulated the king into signing a law that Daniel could not follow. Daniel prayed and still found himself in the lions' den.
How would you respond in that situation? I'm sure Daniel believed that God would deliver him. I'm sure he hoped it would be before he was thrown into that den.
Have you ever prayed and prayed for something and things just kept getting worse? Daniel trusted that God was working His plan for His glory. In the end, Daniel was protected and his enemies were destroyed.
When it looks as though your friends have turned on you and you are headed for the lions' den, don't be discouraged because God has the final say. Keep believing Him; keep trusting Him. He's promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He'll shut the mouth of the lion; He'll silence your accusers; He'll stand with you in the fire, and He will lead you into victory in every area of your life.
A Prayer for Today
"Father in heaven, You are my Light in dark times. I thank You for Your faithfulness and trust that You have a wonderful plan for my life. No matter how things seem, I will put my hope and trust in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Your Original Software
Today's Scripture
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2, NIV)
Our minds work like a computer. The way you program it is the way it's going to function. You can have the most powerful computer made, but if you put the wrong software in it, it's not going to function like it was designed. We've all had to deal with these computer viruses. All these problems occur not because the computer is defective, but because somebody contaminated the software.
In the same way, when God created you, He stepped back and said, "Another masterpiece." Your hardware is perfect. From the very beginning, He programmed you to be victorious, healthy, strong and creative. He programmed, "Whatever you touch will prosper and succeed." He programmed, "The head and not the tail. Lend and not borrow. Victor and not victim."
That's how your Creator designed you. But the reason we don't always experience this abundant life is because we've allowed viruses to contaminate our software. Because our software is infected, we go around with low self-esteem, negative and doubtful. It's time to reprogram your mind with the Word of God! Meditate on what He says about you, delete the viruses, and get back to your original software!
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for making me in Your image. Help me to see any areas where my thinking is contaminated. I choose to meditate on Your Word daily so I can live the life You've prepared for me in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer for a Generous Heart
Almighty God our heavenly Father,
You are bountiful in your love for us,
you shower us generously with all that we need,
you give us forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus.
By your grace, give us generous hearts
That we may declare your goodness
And offer our lives back to you in thankful worship.
For the sake of him who came among us as
Your gift of love, the same
Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 1:10-13
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. -
Every Day is a Gift
Today's Scripture
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NIV)
Sometimes our days can be so full and busy that we forget how fragile life really is. It's easy to allow little things to creep in and steal our peace and joy. Maybe something doesn't go our way or someone says something upsetting. Even traffic can cause us to lose focus if we let it. We have to remember that each day is a gift. If we choose to focus on what's wrong, we'll miss the beauty that each day has to offer.
Today, don't let the precious moments of life pass you by. Don't wait for holidays and birthdays to show people that you care. Remember, each day is unique and irreplaceable. You have been given time that can be invested or wasted; hours that can be used or misused.
That's why the psalmist prayed to God, "Teach us to number our days." He was saying, "Teach us to value every moment we've been given." As you daily keep a proper perspective, you'll gain a heart of wisdom. You'll draw closer to God and experience the full blessing that He has for you each and every day!
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for the gift of today. I choose to focus on the blessing of each moment instead of allowing the little things to steal my joy. Keep me close to You always as I submit every area of my heart and mind to You in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer for Personal Conduct (from 1 Timothy)
Lord God, I pray that this day my conduct will be like that you have set for your clergy: Above reproach. May I be this day temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, and not violent, but gentle. May I never be quarrelsome, always seeking peace even in disagreement, and may my love be for you and my fellow man, not for money.
I pray that I manage my own household well. If I have any children in my charge, I pray too that I may take the time to see that they are in control and behaving with proper respect. Grant me a good reputation with outsiders, so that I will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. This I pray through my Lord Christ, whose love and attention ever gave us an example of conduct,
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 65:5-8
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. -
Please shift the world towards a higher frequency. The frequency of love.
Teach the world empathy and most important of all forgiveness.
May domination be replaced with cooperation.
Accelerate peace. Lasting peace.
May every human person remember that they are all from the divine spark that we were never apart from the divine source.
Let the religions that teach division fade away.
Help level up the world towards a higher consciousness.
Seed the world with souls, the star seeds that would help us achieve your grand plan.
Thank You. -
Remember What He Has Done
Today's Scripture
"Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." (Psalm 105:5, NKJV)
Anything can become routine if we let it. Anything can feel mundane after a while. Not long ago, I was talking to a professional baseball player. He has been in the big leagues about fifteen years. His life seems so exciting, far from routine, far from ordinary. He said, "No, it's not what you think. We travel all the time. We're always on the road, in hotels, eating out and away from our families."
The truth is, I'm sure he was excited about it all when he first started. There are probably things in your life that you were once excited about. When God opened the door and gave you that new job, that promotion, you were so excited. You called your friends. You knew it was God's favor.
Well, don't let the passion wear off just because you've had it five years! When you met that person and fell in love, you were on cloud nine. You knew it was God's goodness. Don't take it for granted.
Remember what God has done! Stir up the joy in your heart. Stir up praise. Thank Him for His faithfulness and let your attitude of gratitude pave the way to live the life of blessing He has for you!
A Prayer for Today
"Father God, right now I take time to remember and acknowledge Your goodness in my life. I praise You because You are good. Thank You for loving me; thank You for setting me free. Thank You for pouring out Your blessings on me and leading me into everlasting life in Jesus' Name, Amen." -
Prayer for God’s Gifts
Oh Lord and Master of my life, take away from me the spirit of laziness, cowardliness, lust for power, and malicious and idle speech. But rather give me, throughout the day to come, an ample spirit of vitality and force in your service, to the benefit of your glory and the good of my fellow man. Let me act in humility, patience, and decency at all times, seeing my own error and overlooking the faults of others; and let me always know the presence of your Holy Spirit, to remind me of what I have asked, in the name of my savior Jesus Christ,
Amen.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 1:14-18
** The Word Becomes Flesh **
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.