thoughts by Suzanne Benner Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Daily Devotionals by Thoughts about God

Published June 18, 2018

Full

“They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 6:5)

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8)

What fills up your being? The book of Acts gives us a compelling description of Stephen. I long to be characterized as he was.

Consider what these qualities would mean in a person’s life:

Full of faith – Faith in God is not wishful thinking or hoping that all our personal desires will be fulfilled. Faith believes that God created us, loved us, redeemed us and is in the process of transforming us.

Full of the Holy Spirit –A life full of the Spirit is in tune with God’s desires and purposes and follows His leading rather than demanding her own way or seeking her own wants or needs.

Full of God’s grace –Patient and generous, she gives herself in service to others without expecting anything in return.

Full of God’s power –Able to withstand the attacks of Satan and the world, her foundation cannot be shaken because it is rooted in Jesus Christ our Rock and our Redeemer.

How do you define faith? What do you most want to be full of and why?

Father we want to be full of You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with faith. Fill us with Your grace. Fill us with Your power. Amen

Are you walking a Holy Spirit Filled life?

by Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/suzanne-benner_full/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals by Email

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Walk in Love

Published May 31, 2018

Walk in Love

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

The call to imitate God sounds impossible. Yet, just as a small child imperfectly mimics a parent’s actions, disciples of Jesus copy Him. In these verses in Ephesians, lies a key way to imitate God: walk in love.

Love, by definition, gives time, attention, and compassion. Love spends energy, intellectual resources, and money. Love sacrifices personal interests, wants, and needs for the interests, wants, and needs of others.

Indeed, love requires sacrifice. Jesus’ sacrifice for us reveals what real love looks like. John explains what “love” is in his first letter. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

The call to “walk in love” goes far beyond loving nice, similar-to-us, or likable people. God calls us to love dirty, unattractive, and needy people, too. He commands us to love greedy, ungrateful, and adversarial people. God directs us to love these people because that is who we once were. Paul tells the believers in Rome, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

To walk in love is to daily put others ahead of ourselves. We walk in love, not because others deserve our love, but because Jesus first loved us. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

Holy Spirit, fill me with your presence so that I might walk in love as Christ loves me. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/s-benner_walk-in-love/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals by Email

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Born to Worship

Published April 8, 2018

Born to Worship

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:25

Human beings were created to worship. Unfortunately, we are easily misled into worshiping men who were created rather than our Creator, God Almighty. We must guard against worshiping men or allowing people to worship us.

The New Testament gives examples of our propensity to worship men in Acts 10:25, 26:

“As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’”

Even the apostle John was tempted to worship a created being:

“And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’” (Revelation 22:8, 9)

Why are we so prone to worship men? When are you tempted to allow others to worship you?

Holy God, You alone are worthy of our worship. May I never worship anyone but You, nor allow anyone to worship me. Amen.

Thought: Ask God to show you if there’s anything in your life that you are worshiping.

by Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

https://thelife.com/devotionals

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/s-benner_born-to-worship/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals by Email

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Published March 26, 2018

Nothing Can Separate Us

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

Are you facing trouble or hardship or persecution? Is conflict in your marriage, a loss of a job or illness weighing you down? Has your family disowned you or your friend deserted you? Are you experiencing a famine of food or a famine of hope? Is there danger or death looming on the horizon?

Then let me remind you that:

God chose you. (Romans 8:29-30)
God is your powerful ally. (Romans 8:31)
God gave up His Son for you, so He will look after you. (Romans 8:32)
Nothing can separate you from God’s love. (Romans 8:39)

We can be confident of these truths because, “Jesus Christ, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

Can death separate us from God’s love?
No, because through Jesus we have the promise of eternal life. (John 3:16)

Can life isolate us from God’s love?
No, because God has promised to be with us always. (Matthew 28:20)

Can angels or demons keep us from God’s love?
No. Though there are spiritual forces at work in our world, God is greater than them all. (Matthew 10:28)

Can present troubles or future fears cut us off from God’s love?
No, because God is the great “I AM”, the God who is and was and is to come. (Revelation 1:8)

Can any powers that man or Satan exert over us defeat God’s love?
No, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

Thank you Holy God that because of Jesus, nothing can separate me from Your love. Amen!

by Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/suzanne-benner_nothing-separate/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals by Email

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Who Alone is Worthy

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

Published February 15, 2018

Who Alone is Worthy

“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’ Revelation 4:8

The book of Revelation gives us a myriad of examples of how to worship God and outlines many reasons why He is worthy of our praise. Revelation chapter four portrays living creatures constantly glorifying God with the words, “Holy, holy, holy.” Elders fall prostrate before God and relinquish their glory, power, and wealth to Him.

As the self-existent One, God is worthy of our praise. Before the world began, He was; in this moment, He is; at any and every future time, He will be. He is holy and unique, unlike any other.

God sits enthroned above all heaven and earth. God reigns more powerful than any other ruler, physical or spiritual, seen or unseen. God created all things. By His word and by His will, all creatures exist. His power alone sustains every living thing.

God is worthy. We need no other reason to worship Him.

Holy God, You alone are worthy of my praise. I worship You because You are holy and because You created and sustain all things. Like the elders, I humble myself and acknowledge that any glory, power, or wealth I have comes from You. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner

Used by Permission
https://thelife.com/devotionals

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/suzanne-benner_who-alone-worthy/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals by Email

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Love Notes for You

Published January 20, 2018

Love Notes for You

God has written a letter to you. The Bible isn’t just a storybook about God, the people of Israel, and a man named Jesus. It is a love letter from God to you.

When Jesus walked on earth He said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9) John wrote it that the crux of the gospel message is a love note.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

I encourage you to open your Bible today and look for evidence of God’s all-consuming love for you, like these verses from Romans:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38, 39)

What are some of your favorite “love notes” from God? Do you live in a way that shows that you believe God loves you with an everlasting love?

Loving Heavenly Father, thank you that You have left me little notes to remind me of how much You love me. Help me to keep reading Your Word so that I will see them and remember.

Thought: Ask God to give you an opportunity to show His love to someone in your world today. When you feel God prompting you, act on it.

by Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/suzanne-benner_love-notes-for-you/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

The Lie that Leads to Pride

Published January 10, 2018

The Lie that Leads to Pride

“In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.’ But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.” Ezekiel 28:2

By God’s Holy Spirit, the words of the Old Testament prophets reach across time and speak into our current experience. Often the prophetic oracles spoken by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, or others, held layers of meaning, with both a current and distant fulfillment. These messages from God hold truth — principles for living a holy life in the 21st century.

In Ezekiel’s prophecy against the ruler of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:1-19), we discover powerful words about the attitude that lead to pride: “By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud” (Ezekiel 28:5). And also: “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor” (Ezekiel 28:17).

Pride corrupts power, great skill, wealth, beauty, and wisdom. The insidious work of pride rises from a faulty belief. When we think our knowledge, our beauty, our influence, our abilities, or our belongings come from ourselves, we believe a lie.

The Bible clearly teaches that every good thing we possess comes from God. Paul challenged the Corinthian church when they bragged that one person was better than another. “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

We fall into the trap of pride when we trust in the gift — beauty, skill, wisdom — rather than the Giver, God Almighty. Let us heed Ezekiel’s warning by humbly acknowledging that our abilities and advantages come from God.

Holy God, You are the giver of all good gifts. Everything I have and everything I am comes from you. Forgive me for thinking that I produced or earned or deserved anything I have. Keep me from pride. Amen.

Consider this — Read Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5 How does God deal with proud people?

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

https://thelife.com/devotionals

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/suzanne-benner_lie-leads-pride/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

The Beginning of Wisdom

Published December 28, 2017

The Beginning of Wisdom

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7

Beyond the connection between fearing God and righteous living, the Bible presents a tight link between the fear of the Lord and wisdom.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.” (Psalm 111:10)

“The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28)

“A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil.” (Proverbs 14:16)

“The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom.” (Proverbs 15:33)

Once we’ve accepted that we need to fear the Lord, we pursue the path of wisdom. At the same time, seeking wisdom helps us understand what it means to fear God.

“My son, if you accept my [wisdom’s] words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1-5)

We will understand the fear of the Lord by:

• Accepting God’s words
• Storing up God’s commands
• Turning our ears to wisdom
• Applying our hearts to understanding
• Crying aloud for understanding
• Searching for wisdom as for hidden treasure

Seeking wisdom and fearing God requires a concerted effort. The two go hand in hand. Wisdom begins with fearing the Lord. We must acknowledge His authority to rule our lives and submit to His will. Then, as we listen to and accept God’s words, as we apply His commands to our hearts and ask Him to give us understanding, we start to make sense of the difficult concept of fearing God.

God, lead me on the path to wisdom. Teach me to fear You. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/suzanne-benner_beginning-wisdom/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Expecting God to Speak

Published November 28, 2017

Expecting God to Speak

“So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Acts 10:33

Even more than Cornelius’ actions, it’s his attitude that inspires me. Cornelius served as a centurion in the regiment based in Caesarea. Although a Gentile, he feared the Jewish God as the one true God. Cornelius worshiped God, prayed regularly, and gave generously to the needy. So, when God sent an angel to Cornelius, he immediately obeyed the angel’s instructions to send for Peter. Cornelius expected God to speak through Peter. He gathered his family and friends in that spirit of expectation. They were ready to listen — ready to obey.

Every day, when I read God’s word, I want to come with that same spirit of expectation. God’s Holy Spirit teaches, corrects, encourages, comforts, and convicts us through His written Word, the Bible. Though recorded thousands of years ago, the Bible remains living and active (Hebrews 4:12) to all who seek truth.

Cornelius also understood that God was present in his home among the group of God-fearing, truth-seekers assembled. Whenever and wherever we seek God diligently and with open hearts, He is present.

God longs to speak to us. Let us come to Him, ready to listen and expecting Him to speak. Let us gladly submit ourselves to Him, ready to obey and eager to be molded into His likeness.

Holy God, I surrender myself to you. I believe you speak to those who seek you. Help me to seek you with my whole being. Make me a good listener. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by permission https://thelife.com/devotionals

We’d love to hear from you. If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/sb_god-speak/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Entrust Youself to God

1 Peter 2:23 “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;... Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Published August 11, 2017

Entrust Youself to God

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
1 Peter 2:23

Deep within us resides a longing for justice. We want evil punished and good rewarded. Yet, all around us we see evil celebrated and good penalized. When society blurs the lines between right and wrong, truth stumbles and justice fails (Isaiah 59:14).

When wrongly accused, Jesus didn’t fight back. He suffered the ultimate injustice. Although Jesus was completely innocent, He was put to death. As Jesus entrusted Himself to God, we should strive to do the same.

Peter tells believers how to handle injustice toward themselves, particularly when injustice comes as a result of their faith in Jesus. Peter repeats the idea of entrusting ourselves to God later in the same letter. “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19).

God is our faithful Creator. God is the One who judges justly. When we rely on God’s faithfulness, His goodness, and His justice, we can keep on doing good even though we are treated unjustly. We can keep on living for the truth and trust God to look after us.

Put yourself in God’s hands. Know that you can trust Him to care for you, regardless of what people say or do to you.

Heavenly Father, it is so hard to not demand my rights or defend myself when someone takes advantage of me. Demonstrate your power in my life by giving me the strength to act as Jesus did. I submit myself to you. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner

Used by Permission https://thelife.com/devotionals

We’d love to hear from you. If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/sb_entrust/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Heavenly Wisdom

Published April 19, 2017

Heavenly Wisdom

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” James 3:17

James describes two kinds of wisdom ? the kind from heaven and the one from earth (James 3:13-18). The wisdom of this world focuses on self. Selfish ambition and bitter envy naturally dwell in human hearts. People generally look out for their own interests.

On the other hand, “wisdom from above” or “God’s kind of wisdom” (NLT) flows from God’s character. In the passage above, James states that after the foundation of purity, being peace-loving appears as the second most important aspect of heavenly wisdom.

Loving peace requires all the elements of God’s wisdom ? purity, the consideration of others, and humble submission to God and His way. In order to truly live out God’s call to peace, we need God’s mercy, as found in His righteous character, and His unbiased and genuine love.

Peace-lovers desire unity and harmony more than being right. They consider listening to others as more important than airing their own opinions. Peace-lovers value people more than tasks.

Yet, loving peace doesn’t mean peace at any cost. Rather, peace-lovers willingly pay the cost of peace by denying themselves. In the journey toward wisdom, loving peace marks a significant milestone, because loving peace highlights the difference between worldly wisdom (self-promotion) and heavenly wisdom (submission to God).

Holy Spirit, make me a peace-lover. I want to live my life with heavenly wisdom, not the wisdom of this world. Amen.

Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

https://thelife.com/devotionals

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Worthy is the Lamb

Published February 27, 2017

Worthy is the Lamb

Jesus is the Lamb who was slain. He died because of our sin. With His blood, shed on the cross, Jesus purchased us for God.

Scripture speaks of the universality of sin:

•   No one is righteous (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10).
•   Everyone turns away from God (Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:12).
•   All people sin (Romans 3:23).

Our own experience confirms this truth. Loved ones betray us. Coworkers steal our ideas or envy our success. Selfishness, anger, and pride linger in our hearts and minds, resisting our efforts to squelch them. Even little children lie — almost as soon as they can speak.

And sin skews our understanding. With this distorted view, we worship people, things, and accomplishments instead of worshiping God alone. Only one person, in all of history, lived a sinless life. Only one person died in order to buy back human beings who were estranged from their Creator. Jesus, the Messiah, gave His life in exchange for ours.

No one else did what Jesus did. Therefore no one else is worthy of our worship. Only Jesus, together with God the Father — the Savior and Creator of the world — is worthy to receive power, wealth, strength, wisdom, glory, honor, thanks, and praise.

Lamb of God, You alone are worthy of my worship. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner

Used by Permission
https://thelife.com/devotionals

If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/4laws/law0.html

Email Visitors, please visit our webpage to leave a comment. We warmly invite your thoughts on this devotional.

Share with a Friend

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today?

If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/

Credit: Potamos Photography – Tom Sens ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/riverofgod. Some Rights Reserved: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Called to Holiness

Published October 24, 2016

Called to Holiness

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:9

You have a calling. A purpose. A role to play in God’s great story.

This calling is to a way of life regardless of your profession. God calls every person who has received His salvation to live a holy life.

In fact, New Testament writers had the habit of referring to believers as “saints” or “God’s holy people.” In every thought, every word, and in every deed, God calls His followers to walk in the way of righteousness.

In his first letter to believers scattered around the world, Peter explains much about our call to holiness (1 Peter 1:1-2).

• We live holy lives, not to try to earn salvation — that’s impossible — but because God is holy and we want to be like Him. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15).

• Holiness is not a life of legalism or rule following. It’s a life of freedom from sin and of surrendering to God’s way. “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:16).

• Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us the power to live holy lives. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

• Holy living brings glory to God as we show others by our words and actions how God has changed us. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

God calls us to be holy, because He is holy, so that our lives will draw others to Him. This high calling lifts our eyes to Jesus, the One who saves us freely and the One who makes us holy with our cooperation.

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me Your own and giving me a purpose. Make me holy as You are holy. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner

Used by Permission
https://thelife.com/devotionals

Email Visitors, please visit our webpage to leave a comment. We warmly invite your thoughts on this devotional.

Share with a Friend

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today?
If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/

Brought to you by www.thoughts-about-god.com

Share this on:

Thoughts by All thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women

Category: <span>thoughts by Suzanne Benner</span>

Share with a Friend

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today?

If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/

Credit: Potamos Photography – Tom Sens ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/riverofgod. Some Rights Reserved: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Share with a Friend

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today? If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/

Brought to you by www.thoughts-about-god.com

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today?
If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/