“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
Did you start your day with Jesus today? For 21 days beginning 2 August I made it a point to set my alarm for 5 am MST to join Church of the Highlands(Alabama) live for their bi annual 21 Days of Prayer. It helped establish the habit of making Christ a first priority.
It is very easy to let your day get away with you and realize whoops I forgot to pray and have a quiet time. If honest everyone can admit that happening. I have the You Version Bible App which is a great tool to get you going each day. It is free in the App Store.
Do you need to get a prayer and Bible reading habit going? Also another good tool is Day Alone With God I learned living back in Arizona where you simply make a day or a morning and go somewhere safe without your cell phone and talk to God. I have gotten out of habit of this since leaving Alabama/Tennessee 6 years ago and need to start it up again. Anyway just make sure to get your priorities right. Now go enjoy your day.
PRAYER: Today Lord help me pause to think of all my blessings and to trust you with my prayers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Note: To watch archived 21 Days of Prayer go to www.churchofthehighlands.com/21days
Be Still Mouth
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
Do you have issues with your mouth maybe butting in, lying, gossip, repeating confidential information, anger, trying to get the last word and on the list goes? If you can get your mouth under control your life would be easier and kinder. The mouth would also refer to texting because that is the modern way of talking.
Words can wound people, tear marriages and friendships apart, break up families. It is essential to think before you speak or text. You can look up many verses in the Bible referring to the words you speak or your tongue.
If you have been victimized by someone’s words try to forgive and move on. Ask God to help you control your mouth if it is a problem. Above all use your words to spread joy, hope, and kindness.
PRAYER: Father forgive me when I have hurt others with things I say either intentionally or unintentionally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Alone With Your Thoughts
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”Colossians 3:2
Jumping to conclusions, assumptions, speculating, wrong thinking, judgments can all surface when you are alone with your thoughts. There is a TV reality show called ‘Alone’ where ten survival experts are dropped off on various remote locations usually in Artic and have to survive with limited things they are allowed to bring.
This time of aloneness is a huge challenge as there are no other people, no cell phones, no electricity and they are allowed to bring one photo with them. That’s it. Could you do it? Find food, boil water, build a shelter and so forth. One of biggest challenges is loneliness. That is what causes some contestants to ‘tap out’ and go home. The winner is awarded $500,000.
What do you do to keep your mind not wandering where it shouldn’t be? In order to have and maintain healthy relationships it is essential to keep your mind from bouncing all over the place. Try even a day of aloneness for practice. No cheating. Talk to God. Keep focused on above.
PRAYER: Lord help me practice the discipline of a controlled and a peaceful mind, learning to let go of stinking thinking. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Release Wrong Thinking
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Philippians 4:8 NIV Bible Gateway
It is pretty easy to start thinking wrong. You have control of your mind so turn off the wrong thinking faucet that keeps dripping unhealthy unproductive thoughts and start thinking about God.
Today’s verse says it in a nutshell. Think on things ‘above’ or in other words what the Almighty would be pleased with. Turn off sources of hate and anger in your life that may be causing you to get in a negative hateful mode.
Use caution on social media. It is not the Bible and many people can spew all kinds of lies and filth on it that have no business in your thought life.
PRAYER: I need your help every day Lord to get up and get going and put you at the head not the tail. Forgive me for times I neglect talking to you in prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Do You Know Where You Are Going?
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NIV Bible gateway
Many people today don’t care to go to church as they don’t want to do ‘religious’ things they find dull or boring. Big trick of Satan to paint being a believer boring as when you truly are saved and ‘born again’ you want to find a dynamic church to worship in weekly.
You can accept Christ as savior and then fall away for a time being tricked and tickled by cultures lies and misrepresentation’s. It saddens me to see those raised in a dynamic church get sucked into the darkness this world offers them. Many times they trip in the darkness but still run away from all things Jesus.
Friend do you know for sure if you dropped over dead today when you opened your eyes you would see Jesus? This world is nothing compared to what awaits you. If you gave not asked Christ into your heart why not do it right now. Get on your knees if able and cry out to the most Holy God to set you free from Satans lies, lures, and traps. Also pray for those you know who are blinded by Satans lies to come back to Jesus.
PRAYER: Father thank you for hearing my prayer and setting me free. I pray for the list to encounter Christ and the back slidden to return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus Who?
“Then beware lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”Deuteronomy 6:12
The state of Kentucky boasts many beautiful tourist sites and lots of history like Daniel Boone and Abraham Lincoln. Beautiful small mountains and rolling hills. The Bluegrass State. The state is known for distilleries and horse racing but is also the home to The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. Part of the ‘Bible belt’ meaning lots of churches and so forth.
As I observed mankind on my recent visit to Kentucky to spend time with my adult son Matthew I wondered how many people really knew or cared about a ‘walk with Jesus’ but were having so much earthly pleasure He had been written off. Actually I could be observing any of our 50 states and apply same scenario. How many people truly could care less about eternity. Sad to think I know.
As you go about your day smile at people even those who are outwardly different and hold different views morally, politically and ethically. No one is won to Christ by being smacked over the head with a Bible. God is on the throne and rules and reigns even when it does not seem that way. Love people the way God would. Go places and share His love. Prayer walk areas when you can. Keep on keeping on for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Don’t be surprised. Be ready.
PRAYER: Lord I need you each day to help me walk and talk wisely. Use me to help share Christ with a lost world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Side Effects
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans 6:23
When you take medicine it will usually list the side effects which sometimes are scarier than taking the prescription itself. All sorts of bad things listed that could happen to you probably listed just so you can not sue the pharmaceutical company when you might get something bad going on.
In life there are side effects too of when you don’t follow Christ. Satan will tempt you to sin and lie to you.
Your conscience will speak to you and that is the Holy Spirit. Deep down you know something is not right but feel compelled to keep on. Cry out to God and He will rescue you.
PRAYER: Father you can redeem those who have fallen into sin. Convict hearts to turn back to you or to turn to you for the first time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Little Turtle Trail
I was watching ‘The Last Song’ on a recent flight a film made on Tybee Island, Georgia several years ago. In one scene featured a raccoon scanning for turtles eggs as no momma was protecting them. When they hatched the newborn marched off to the vast Atlantic Ocean hoping to make it to adulthood hood but facing fierce challenges from predators much larger than them.
Why am I talking about God’s creation the sea turtle in my devotion you ask? Because it gave me the idea of how believers and non believers go out into the world mostly unprepared for what lies ahead and the attacks the enemy will throw at you. If you pray, read God’s word, hang out with the right kind of people you have a better chance of making it safely to your Heavenly home after you first have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life
If you were to take your last breath today do you know for sure you would wake up in Heaven?
PRAYER: Today Lord I thank you for your protection if I stay under your protective umbrella so to speak, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lions, Tigers, And Bears Oh My!
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”Psalm 27:1
Have you watched any disaster movies lately? Well I happened across one ironically about a worldwide pandemic where the entire world minus one US Navy Battleship had been eradicated by this disease sweeping the world. The series was filmed in 2018 entitled ‘The Last Ship’ starring the late Eric Dane and albeit a little far fetched after our Covid 19 ordeal it made you think.
First God is on the throne. Nothing happens to us He does not allow. He does not want us fearful biting our nails and reaching for handguns to commit suicide as one sailor did in this fictional series. You can decide what you choose to think about and what you take into your mind. I normally don’t veg out on corny disaster movies but it did give me an idea for my writing.
Hollywood can churn out some real thrillers and blockbusters but the thing to remember is unless it says ‘based on a true story’ or ‘true story’ it is fake and is there to reel in viewers,no pun intended, wanting to be scared. Brother and sisters feed your mind on wholesome entertainment that makes you feel good. As Halloween approaches in just a couple months train yourself in godliness not a diet of horror films. Parents of small children be cautious of books they are allowed to fill their minds with in this approaching season of ghosts and witches. Keep your thoughts on things above. Now go have a good day.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me not hyper focus on the fear the culture tries to feed me but instead to read your word and trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
A Garment Of Praise For The Spirit Of Heaviness
To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.Isaiah 61:3 TLB Bible Gateway
Have you ever just felt weighed down and sometimes you don’t know why? If honest you have to say yes. Sometimes the best thing to do is get out for exercise or better yet start thinking of things you can praise God for.
It’s okay to have slow or unproductive days every now and then. When you get like this stay off of social media as it is no cure for the ho hum sort of day.
Don’t be too hard on yourself for blah days and give yourself permission to just kick back every now and then. Now go think of your blessings and be joyful.
PRAYER: I need you Lord to help me stay focused each day and to keep my eyes on the cross. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Becky Juett Miller 