Christian Daily Devotionals

by Rick Warren

“The Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

When Jesus said, “Love God with all your heart and soul” (Luke 10:27) he meant that worship must be genuine and heartfelt. It is not just a matter of saying the right words; you must mean what you say. Heartless praise is not praise at all! It is an insult to God.

When we worship, God looks past our words to our hearts. The Bible says, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”(1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

Since worship involves delighting in God, it engages your emotions. God gave you emotions so you could worship him with deep feeling, but those emotions must be genuine, not faked.

God hates hypocrisy. He doesn’t want showmanship or pretense or phoniness in worship. He wants your honest, real love. We can worship God imperfectly, but we cannot worship him insincerely.

Of course, sincerity alone is not enough; you can be sincerely wrong. That’s why both spirit and truth are required. Worship must be both accurate and authentic. God-pleasing worship is deeply emotional and deeply doctrinal. We use both our hearts and our heads.

Today many equate being emotionally moved by music as being moved by the Spirit, but these are not the same. Real worship happens when your spirit responds to God, not to some musical tone. In fact, some sentimental, introspective songs hinder worship because they take the spotlight off God and focus on our feelings. Your biggest distraction in worship is yourself – your interests and your worries over what others think about you.

Christians often differ on the most appropriate or authentic way to express praise to God, but these arguments are usually just personality and background differences. Many forms of praise are mentioned in the Bible, among them confessing, singing, shouting, standing in honor, kneeling, dancing, making a joyful noise, testifying, playing musical instruments, and raising hands.

The best style of worship is the one that most authentically represents your love for God, based on the background and personality God gave you.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/01/24/rw_authentic/

by Katherine J. Kehler

One evening I asked a group of Pioneer Girls what was the first thing that came to their mind when they thought about God.  One girl answered, “An old man with a long beard, sitting on a cloud.”   That was how she perceived God.

I often wonder what people around me think about God. A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”   It is so importance that we have the Biblical view of God and not our own or someone else’s view of God.

This is what the late Dr. William R. Bright wrote about his Biblical view of God.

1.    Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him.
2.    Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything.
3.    Because God is ever-present...He is always with me.
4.    Because God knows everything...I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.
5.    Because God is sovereign...I will joyfully submit to His will.
6.    Because God is holy...I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship and service.
7.    Because God is absolute truth...I will believe what He says and live accordingly.
8.    Because God is righteous...I will live by His standards.
9.    Because God is just...He will treat me fairly.
10.    Because God is love...He is unconditionally committed to my well being.
11.    Because God is merciful...He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.
12.    Because God is faithful...I will trust Him to always keep His promises.
13.    Because God never changes...my future is secure and eternal.

What comes to your mind when you think about God?  Think about it and write it down. Do you need to rethink your view of God?  Is it Biblical?

May You take the scales off our eyes to see clearly how wonderful and loving You are, Oh Lord!. Amen

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/01/17/kk_think/

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by Max Lucado

“May He enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope His call holds for you.” Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

What [does] it mean to be just like Jesus? The world has never known a heart so pure, a character so flawless. His spiritual hearing was so keen he never missed a heavenly whisper. His mercy so abundant he never missed a chance to forgive. No lie left his lips, no distraction marred his vision. He touched when others recoiled. He endured when others quit. Jesus is the ultimate model for every person .... God urges you to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Heaven invites you to set the lens of your heart on the heart of the Savior and make him the object of your life.

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

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Max Lucado
From: Just Like Jesus
Copyright (Word Publishing, 1998)

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://www.maxlucado.com/info/view/about_max_lucado/

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer.

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 ( KJV)

Let's today imagine ourselves in Bethlehem, in company of astounded shepherds and adoring Magi who have gathered to see Him who was born King of the Jews. Together we can sing in faith "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. This is a new opportunity for us adore and admire Him.

Remember first His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son.

God's first promise in the Garden of Eden says "The seed of the woman," not the offspring of man. A woman sinned in the Garden, but in God's grace a woman also had the privilege of ushering in the one who would restore Paradise. Our Savior, although fully human, was in His human nature the Holy One of God. This realization should cause us to reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores humankind to its ancient glory. Jesus is, in fact, our previous, and only, hope of glory.

Remember second His humble parents. His mother is described simply as "a virgin." Not a princess or prophetess. Not rich or powerful. What humble accommodations for a new-born king! Yet she could still sing the sweetest songs of praise and was chosen for her faithfulness to God despite her modest circumstances.

Immanuel, God with us ... in our nature, our sorrow, our life, our death, and now with us forever. Or rather we are with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and glorious triumph.

Question: God with us ... where do you turn when it feels like God isn't with us, even though we know He is?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/12/20/cs_god-with-us/
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