daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Learning to Be Content in Every Situation (3/2/2012) - 03/01/12 10:51 PM
Daily Devotional: Learning to Be Content in Every Situation
Prayer Starter: Lord, I only want what You want for me. Like the apostle Paul, I choose to be content in every circumstance.
Philippians 4:11 I'm not saying this because I need anything, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. (CEB)
Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (ESV)
Being content with what you have is difficult in this society. Most have been raised to want more, more, more. There is nothing wrong … (5 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Desiring God More Than His Blessings (3/1/2012) - 02/29/12 10:30 PM
Daily Devotional: Desiring God More Than His Blessings
Prayer Starter: God, I want You to show me the areas of my life where I've given in to jealousy and covetousness, and help me rearrange my priotities. I want to desire You more than Your blessings.
Hebrews 13:5 Your way of life should be free from the love of money, and you should be content with what you have. After all, he has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.
It is so easy to 'pray' for more and more. One more closing, just one more raise and then everything … (1 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Shame (2/29/12) - 02/29/12 02:01 AM
Daily Devotional: The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Shame
Prayer Starter: Lord, I don't want to live under the weight of unhealthy shame. Help me to remember how much You love me. Because You have forgiven me, I don't need to punish myself.
Psalms 25:20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. (ESV)
Psalms 25:20 Please protect my life! Deliver me! Don't let me be put to shame, because I take refuge in You. (CEB)
You have to ask for forgiveness to receive forgiveness. If you don't ask … (2 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: God Can Set You Free from Your Shame (2/28/2012) - 02/28/12 06:13 AM
Daily Devotional: God Can Set You Free from Your Shame
Prayer Starter: Lord, I receive the freedom from shame that You purchased for me on the cross. No more hiding, no more feeling worthless. You have erased my sin and now I want to live free and open before You.
Isaiah 61:7 Instead of shame their portion will be double; instead of disgrace, they will rejoice over their share. They will possess a double portion in their land; everlasting joy will be theirs.
 
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daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Good Roots = Good Fruit! (2/27/2012) - 02/27/12 01:47 AM
Daily Devotional: Good Roots = Good Fruit!
Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to transplant my roots from bad soil and deeply plant them in Christ so that I can be a good tree with good roots, producing good fruit. I know it may be painful, but through faith and patience, I know You can help me make a change in my life.
Colossians 2:7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
 
I need to figure out the bad soil that I am in and move away from it. … (0 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: God Is the Only Lasting Source (2/26/12) - 02/26/12 05:14 AM
Daily Devotional: God Is the Only Lasting Source
Prayer Starter: God, I don't want to waste my time chasing cheap substitutes. You are the only One who can satisfy. Show me how to daily find my true delight and satisfaction in You and only You.
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
… (3 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Giving Your All to God (2/25/12) - 02/25/12 01:11 AM
Daily Devotional: Giving Your All to God
Prayer Starter: God, today I give You my all: my hands, my mouth, my mind, my body, my money and my time. Everything I have is Yours. I want to do Your will today.
 
Proverbs 3:9-10   9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
 
SO many of us want to say: I will do this IF God does this for me, I will give this amount to the … (5 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Controlling Your Tongue (2/24/2012) - 02/23/12 11:39 PM
Daily Devotional: Controlling Your Tongue
Prayer Starter: Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will praise and thank You. Help me use my words to bring and life to those around me and to praise and glorify You.
Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
 
A very difficult prospect for most people and I include myself. Another thing I am working on....keeping my opinion to myself.
… (1 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Are You a Consecrated Vessel? (2/23/2012) - 02/22/12 11:34 PM
Daily Devotional: Are You a Consecrated Vessel?
Prayer Starter: Lord, I am Yours. I want to be a vessel fit for Your use. I dedicate myself to You. I want to be filled with Your Word, fit and ready for every good work You have for me.
2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
 
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daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Give Relationship....Not Religion (2/22/2012) - 02/22/12 12:02 AM
Daily Devotional: Give Relationship....Not Religion
Prayer Starter: God, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that someone needs to follow a list of rules to really be a Christian, but that's not the kind of faith You want from people. Empower me to share Your Gospel with others in a way that leads them not into a religious system, but into a one-on-one, life-changing relationship with You.
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
 
This one has really made me think. I … (1 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Don't Get Burned Out on Too Much Activity (2/21/2012) - 02/20/12 10:30 PM
Daily Devotional: Don't Get Burned Out on Too Much Activity
Prayer Starter: Lord, I realize that doing good works is no replacement for truly knowing You. Help me to find my rest in You as I lay useless activity aside to spend more time with You.
Matthew 11:28-30     28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my … (3 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Let God Be Your Tour Guide (2/20/2012) - 02/20/12 01:43 AM
Daily Devotional: Let God Be Your Tour Guide
Prayer Starter:  God, I don't want to live life like a tourist without a guide, aimlessly going my own way. Only You can show me what to do and how to live, so I choose to follow Your guidance every day.
Psalm 48:14 that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will guide us forever.
 
… (2 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Setting Your Enemies Free (2/19/12) - 02/19/12 04:48 AM
Daily Devotional: Setting Your Enemies Free
Prayer Starter: Lord, when tested, I want to be ready, holding up under pressure, following You no matter what. Show me daily how to put my trust in You, even when I struggle with unanswered questions.
Psalm 7:9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous-
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God!
… (3 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Setting Your Enemies Free (2/18/12) - 02/19/12 04:45 AM
Daily Devotional: Setting Your Enemies Free
Prayer Starter: God, I thank You for helping me walk in forgiveness, but I don't stop there. I ask You to bless those who have hurt me. In the same way that You brought healing to my life, bring healing to them so they can experience Your goodness and walk in Your love.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
… (1 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Making a Decision to Forgive (2/17/12) - 02/17/12 01:22 AM
Daily Devotional: Making a Decision to Forgive
Prayer Starter: Lord, I choose to forgive those who have hurt me. I release them from their debt, in Jesus' name. Heal my heart and make me whole.
Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)
Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings. (CEB)
 
The CEB version is easier for me to … (4 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan (2/16/12) - 02/16/12 03:57 AM
Daily Devotional: When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan
Prayer Starter: Lord, because I know that you are in control and work all things for good, I can be flexible when life doesn't follow my plan. When my plans don't work out, help me to find the good and stay positive.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
When MY plan doesn't work...that doesn't mean God's plan isn't working out. God's plan is always there and working just as he planned.
… (7 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Removing Distractions (2/15/12) - 02/15/12 01:25 AM
Daily Devotional: Removing Distractions
Prayer Starter: Lord, I ask You to help me remove all of the distractions in my life, even if it hurts. Help me to seek You above all else and be led by the Holy Spirit in my daily life. I want to live for You!
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
… (2 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Take God Out of the "Emergency Only" Box!(2/14/12) - 02/14/12 02:32 AM
Daily Devotional: Take God Out of the "Emergency Only" Box!
Prayer Starter: Lord, I know that the Christian life is so much more than an "emergency only" back-up plan. Because You live within me, I want to know You as a personal friend. Rather than just calling You when I'm in trouble, I want to seek You every single day.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
 
Thanking God for everything in life is my goal. Not just the huge sale and new customer, but the sunsets, playing … (2 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: The Evidence of the Holy Spirit (2/13/12) - 02/13/12 07:25 AM
Daily Devotional: The Evidence of the Holy Spirit
Prayer Starter: God, I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day. Help me to live with the freedom, boldness and courage You give in my daily life.
 Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all  filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
… (4 comments)

daily devotional: Daily Devotional: Receiving the Holy Spirit (2/12/12) - 02/12/12 07:07 AM
Daily Devotional: Receiving the Holy Spirit
Prayer Starter: God, I want to live as a Christian who is filled with the power of Your Holy Spirit. Show me how to live in the deep, satisfying joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. I thank You for the power and wisdom to walk through every day and every situation.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
… (1 comments)