Christian Daily Devotionals

By Katherine Kehler

“You are the salt of the earth. . .”  Matthew 5:13

"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  Mark 9:50

After I read these verses during my Quiet Time one evening, I began to think about the reasons for salt being good thing.

1. Salt enhances the flavor of food,
2. Salt is used to preserve meat.
3. Salt is used to thaw ice.
4. Salt is a water softener.

So how can we apply these “salty” things to our lives because Jesus said we are the salt of the earth?

We can enhance our surroundings. For example our behavior must be based on Biblical values—integrity, truthfulness, peace, joy and love. Our yards and houses can set a standard of excellence and enhance the neighborhood.

We can preserve by being there to help neighbors, co-workers and family when they need someone to comfort them (be like a healing ointment).  We can share the gospel
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/4laws/law0.html with them so they can come to know the power of Christ within them.

We can melt icy relationships by being kind and loving to those around us even when they are cold to us.  In time they will melt. Love never fails.

We can soften the world around us by smiling and being gentle and kind.  We must make an effort to be friendly to all people—regardless of their race, religion, color, or lifestyle.

So, let me ask you, are you a salty Christian? Are you a nice person? Or have you lost it?  You can become a salty Christian again by repenting and asking the Lord to be in control of your life http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/biblestudies/spiritfilledlife.htm once again.  He will produce salt in your life.

Father, thank you that when you ask anything of us you will always provide the resources. We love you—enable us to love others like you do.  Amen

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/07/kk_salt/

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by Rick Warren

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

When asked what he considered the most valuable skill in employees, the financier John D. Rockefeller replied, “The ability to get along with people!”

One of the most important skills we can develop as we walk with Christ is knowing how to love troublemakers. If you learn how to interact with difficult people, then you’ll be able to pour your energy into areas of ministry rather than constantly putting out fires of conflict.

Here are four methods Jesus modeled when he encounter difficult people:

1. Realize you can’t please everybody. Even God can’t do that! Refuse to play games (Matthew 22:18).

2. Learn to say no to unrealistic expectations. Confront them by “telling the truth in love.”

3. NEVER retaliate (Matthew 5:38-39). It only lowers you to their level.

4. Pray for them (Matthew 5:44). It will help both of you. Let God speak to them.

Question: Which of the four points above do you find most difficult, and why?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/01/rw_difficult-people/

By Dr. Bill Bright

"......the joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10b, (KJV)

At a London train station one day, a woman was stopped by an elderly man.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, "but I want to thank you for something."

"Thank me!" the woman exclaimed.

"Yes'm, I used to be the ticket collector, and whenever you went by you always gave me a cheerful smile and a 'good mornin'." You don't know what a difference it made to me.

"Wet weather or dry, it was always the same, and I thought to myself, "Wonder where she gets her smile from; one can't always be happy, yet she seems to.' I knew that smile must come from inside somehow."

"Then one morning you came by and you had a little Bible in your hand. I said to myself, 'Perhaps that's where she gets her smile from.' So on my way home that night I bought a Bible, and I've been reading it, and I've found Christ. Now I can smile, too, and I want to thank you."

As you and I seek to be God's witnesses today, in dependence on the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we should be mindful constantly of the fact that the joy of the Lord can indeed be our strength. That joy inevitably will shine on our faces, regardless of circumstances.

In the words of an anonymous poem:

"If you live close to God
And His infinite grace,
You don't have to tell;
It shows on your face."

Bible Reading: Psalm 16:6-11

Today's Action Point: I will make a conscious effort to reflect the joy of my indwelling Lord in such a way that it will glow on my very countenance. While it is true that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, it is also true that the reflection of that joy is my responsibility. But I will go a step further. I will tell everyone who will listen about the one who is the source of my joy.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/02/16/bb_strength/

by Mike Woodard

The Winter Olympics will soon come to BC. Any event like the Olympics is filled with people who line up and start competing with an intensity and energy that is admired by millions, but the prize only goes to the one who finishes well ahead of the others.

A race is the test of one’s depth of training and self-discipline and a measure of one’s strength and endurance which has been built up during many months and sometimes years of preparation. Even without the Olympics to motivate us to train, life can bring its own set of challenges that require a discipline and motivation that makes us dig deep within.

There are at least 4 attributes that are needed in order to compete well: vision, discipline, adaptability and personal satisfaction. Vision is sometimes defined as a mental picture of the desired future. The more specific the vision is, the greater the potential benefit of that vision toward success will be.

I had the desire to run a marathon.  It was a great vision, but not really helpful, in terms accomplishing my desire until I set a date, picked a race, and set a time goal for pacing myself.  Only then did my vision begin to become a reality.

Once my vision was more defined, it moved me to action, I began to train in a focused way and to talk about what I was going to do, which provided a sense of accountability to follow through on my vision.  The discipline that I imposed on myself in training for a marathon also began to impact other areas of my life, causing me to be more focused in setting goals and implementing them.  I’m convinced that a true vision will result in focused goals and self discipline towards those goals.

Adaptability and personal satisfaction come as by-products of the vision and its implementation.  It’s surprising how the will to accomplish something causes one to adapt accordingly, and the ultimate satisfaction of seeing the vision “in process” and becoming a reality can help with the rough or challenging moments along the way.

Sometimes people become overwhelmed with the task of creating and implementing a vision because they feel the need to have an ultimate vision for their life.  It’s actually easier to start with “baby steps”:  pick an area of life and get a mental picture of a desired future in that area.  This could be in the area of one’s physical, intellectual, financial, professional, spiritual or relational sphere.

Vision is created twice. The first creation is the mental picture, the shaping of vision which is like the general form of clay in a potter’s hand.  The second creation is defining it so that it can be lived out in a physical reality, taking specific, small steps toward the vision becoming reality.  Both are important.

Stephen Covey in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, calls this, “Beginning with the End in Mind.”  What is your desired future?  Take the time to think and dream before rushing headlong into goal setting and implementation.

King Solomon said, “Without a vision, the people perish.” He must have understood some very fundamental about the human spirit. Each of us longs to for change and a better future. Solomon in all his wealth, position and power realized that the future was realized beyond physical.
What is your vision for 2010? Does that desire go beyond simply the physical aspects of life?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/02/11/mw_finish-well/