Thoughts by All Archives - Page 3 of 153 - Daily Thoughts about God

Published August 24, 2023

What’s Holding You Back?

Please open your Bible and read Acts 1:1-11

One of John Ortberg’s popular books is titled “If you Want to Walk on Water, you have to get out of the Boat“. Although the title alludes to when Peter tried to walk on water (and succeeded, albeit briefly; (Matthew 14:22-33) this quote also applies to the apostles, just after Jesus ascended to heaven.

As Jesus “was taken up before their very eyes“, the apostles “were looking intently up into the sky” (Acts 1:9-10). Just before this, Jesus told them “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (v8) Yet after Jesus ascends apostles just stand there. How often do we do the same? God’s instructions are clear to us, but we just can’t seem to get going.

I can imagine the apostles were worried when Jesus left them. How would they survive without Him? They left their homes, jobs, and everything else behind to follow Him. And now He was leaving? But this is no excuse, and their lack of action prompts two angels to appear to them, who say “Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (v11)

The angels gave them the reason not to worry: Just as Jesus had been taken away, He will return. Luke’s gospel tells us how the apostles responded to the angels: “They worshiped [Jesus] and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:52) Their confidence was restored by God’s promise, which is trustworthy and true. And this confidence prompted them into action!

The question for us today is: Am I standing around, staring up at the sky? Or am I actively living out Jesus’ command to be witnesses to the ends of the Earth?

What’s holding you back from being an active witness? If you want to witness, you have to start witnessing! If your spiritual life lately has felt more like stargazing than navigating, it may be time to re-read the book of Acts and be inspired by the lives of some of the earliest Christian servants. I assure you that you are more ready than you realize, “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:12)

Question: What’s holding you back?

by Darren Hewer
Used by Permission

The Wrestling Match

She understood God loved her. She believed He had her best interest at heart. Connie never doubted His goodness. But she never knew there was an enemy of her soul. She never understood she could be armed and ready in her faith to resist him and stand firm. She didn’t understand how to be proactive in her faith, rather than just reactive in her circumstances.

Could this wall she was feeling in her marriage be more than just the seven year itch that people told her was normal? She didn’t like the irritating edges that ran between her and her husband like sandpaper these days. The arguments were so silly yet they seemed to blow out of proportion so fast. It simply wasn’t like them. She asked God for patience every day. Yet the wall seemed to grow.

Then she read it in God’s Word, the Bible. It jumped off the page.

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10 & 11

There was a battle going on alright and it was clear that it was not simply between her and her husband. Spiritual forces were at work. God sounded the alarm. He gave His assurance that His mighty power was enough to handle the struggle. He would equip His people.

Connie saw the unusual edginess in her marriage in a new light. When the irritation began to rise within her she breathed a prayer asking God for His mighty power to overcome the powers at work to divide her household. She saw her husband in a different light now, not as her opponent. She silently asked God to pour love for him into her heart. Connie took a stand against the devil’s schemes.

Look around your life. Is there a situation where you find yourself repeatedly struggling with another person? Do you find yourself constantly in a wrestling match which leaves you defeated and deflated? Is the reaction between you out of proportion to the grievance? Know that your enemy is not the other person. Know that the Lord’s mighty power can equip you to rise above the conflict.

Not every argument is a scheme to divide your household… but be aware when you are struggling with another person and ask God to make you strong in His mighty power.

by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

What’s that Smell?

I walked in from our garage into the kitchen and immediately smelled something awful! It was permeating the whole house. I figured it was either coming from the garbage or the refrigerator. I checked the trash and didn’t find anything too smelly in there. So my next exploration led me to the fridge, it was full at the time and it took some sorting out to find the culprit!

I found it!

We had a nice science experiment going on in our refrigerator with a few spoonful’s of re-fried beans! I couldn’t believe that such a little amount of food could cause such a great stink in our house!

Smell is a powerful thing.

A small whiff of an odor or fragrance can you take you back to a memory from long ago – your Grandmother’s perfume, laundry hung on the line to dry, bread baking in the oven.

The Bible talks about the aroma that a believer, who is a captive of Jesus Christ gives off. Look at 2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.”

Have you ever stopped to consider what kind of a smell you are giving off? Is it a sweet fragrance of surrender to Jesus Christ or an acrid repugnant odor of sin hidden in your heart?

Holding onto our sin is like carrying around a big smelly bag of trash. We get used to carrying that bag and it actually feels good at times, we feel justified in our attitudes and our behaviors. We don’t even realize that that big bag of trash is causing us to stumble and fall and to miss out on so much more that God wants to give us.

A big bag of smelly sin

How easy and comfortable it is to wallow in our sin, to justify it and excuse it while never realizing that it is weighing us down, tripping us up and holding us captive.

I have found that in my own life, when I allow sin to take root that it quickly takes over and I need to surrender to Jesus Christ and allow Him to dig it out and expel that odorous sin from my life.

Just as a refrigerator cannot rid itself of its own smelly contents, we cannot clean up our life on our own. We need a Savior to rescue us from our depravity, our foolishness and show us where we need to go – that Savior is Jesus Christ.

Have you given over your bag of trash to your Savior? Have you surrendered those areas in your life that are holding you back from wholeheartedly following Him? What’s stopping you?

Exchange that smelly bag of trash for the fragrant aroma of following Jesus – I guarantee you won’t miss it!

by Kristi Huseby
Used by Permission

A Lingering Aroma – A Devotional by Marilyn Ehle

Do You Pray Every Day?

“If we are faithless (do not believe and are untrue to Him), He remains true, (faithful to His Word and righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself”
2 Timothy 2:14

Two little girls were playing dress up in their Gramma’s attic. They were playing pretend church. The younger girl asked the other, “Jane, do you pray every day?” The knowledgeable older child answered, “No, of course not. Some days I don’t need anything.”

We laugh because we realize that prayer is much more than asking for our needs. But how often do we go a whole day or at least part of a day without even greeting or acknowledging our Master.

This negligence hit home to me when we were in Nigeria a few years ago. We had two wonderful weeks of ministry. We would have to pray many times a day because there were so many obstacles every day and God answered our prayers over and over again. We experienced so many miracles.

Then it was time to go home. Early in the morning, we headed for Jos airport. After the usual waiting period and checking and rechecking of our documents, we finally boarded and had an uneventful trip to Lagos. We would be spending the day there before flying home.

It was almost noon when we checked into the hotel at Lagos and as I was standing in the hotel lobby waiting for my husband when I realized with consternation that I had not even greeted my Lord yet. Silently I talked to Him, apologized for my neglect. Thankful that even though I had ignoreRemove featured imaged Him, He was still with me and was waiting for me.

Later, I wondered how long we would tag along with a friend or relative if that person would not even acknowledge our presence or talk to us?

How often do you talk to God?

Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that you are always faithful to us, that you never rude, you never ignore us or neglect us. I pray that your Spirit would develop a longing within us for your companionship so that we would communicate with you moment by moment. That we would treat you like we want to be treated. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Thoughts by All thoughts by Katherine Kehler Thoughts by Women

Our Confidence

Published August 5, 2023

Our Confidence

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

Thoughts on today’s verse

Boy there are some tough times in life! They’re inescapable. That’s when our confidence in the Lord’s salvation and our relationship with him get tested! It is one thing to sing “it is well with my soul” at the end of a peel-the-paint worship service, but it is quite another to be able to sing it when they auction your house off at the courthouse steps or you’ve lost a child to death. That’s when the commitment to be who we want to be overrides the weakness of what we feel. Faith can’t take a holiday when we travel through the suburbs of hell or we’ll never find our way out. So don’t throw it away. Be like Job or Jeremiah who both argued and complained to God. Just don’t quit.

Prayer:

Holy and Almighty God, today is a good day. But I am profoundly aware that some of those I love are wrestling with throwing away their confidence in your love, mercy, grace, peace, and deliverance. Please use me, but even more I pray that you use your Holy Spirit to renew their hearts. I pray that you intervene directly to change the course of events and give them relief. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

by Phil Ware
Used by Permission

You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on http://www.verseoftheday.com

Squawking or Singing

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” Psalm 147:1 (ESV)

Bushy pine trees tower outside the window where I sit in morning worship. On one particular day, getting my mind and heart into an attitude of reverence and adoration was made more difficult by the raucous squawking of birds sitting on those pine branches. More often I hear melodic songs from the birds but that morning the sounds were raspy and discordant. Then through the trees I saw the reason for all this screeching: a squirrel, bushy tail wagging mischievously, was running back and forth on the fence, taunting the birds. Only when he gave up his heckling for the morning did silence—and eventually singing—return.

What is it that turns my melodies of worship into shrill complaint or depressed moaning? Is it the stress of an overfull calendar? Subconscious self-focus? Remembered slights? Unlike the squirrel who runs off, my calendar can’t be ignored, but I can do something about other worship interruptions. I can with intention fix my eyes on Jesus. I can lay my hurt feelings at the cross, blessing those who have annoyed or infringed on my rights.

Sometimes the “squirrels” of life don’t run off.

People still make hurtful comments. Illness continues to sap strength. Relationships cannot be mended. Then, just like the birds, I must fly away into those quiet places with God. According to the old Negro spiritual, “Some bright morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away, and while that is truth, I can “fly away” in the midst of life’s ever present squirrels by simply sitting quietly with God, asking Him to refresh and renew my song. No more squawking!

Lord, remind me when my singing is off key because my heart isn’t tuned to you. Renew that right spirit within me so my songs honor you.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Good and Pleasing to God

“Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Thought

While Paul’s exhortation here is excellent, it is the style of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel, new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as Christians, we need to remind each other of what we are doing right and just simply say, “Hey, you’re doing well, just keep doing what you’re doing!”

Prayer:

Faithful Father, thank you for noticing and keeping record of the things I’ve done that are good and pleasing to you. Please help me to keep doing those things that please you, only do them better, that you may be pleased and glorified. In Jesus name. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission

From: Phil’s daily devotionals on http://www.verseoftheday.com

I am Thanking You Right NOW

Dear GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;
I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I’m thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me.

Author unknown

Living Your Faith

“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

The wonderful gift of the Gospel is that it changes us not only on the inside (our heart), but on the outside as well (our life). In other words, our lives as Christians should be demonstrated in our daily living. Our lives should validate us on the outside what our hearts believe on the inside.

The spiritual path of a believer in Jesus Christ is not a religious experience. It is a life committed to self-discipline, self-denial and self-commitment to the discipleship of Jesus Christ. To be a servant of God, we must give up the pleasures of self-gratification and selfishness, and learn the power of humility, faith, hope, and love to receive the power of God.

But, you may ask, “How do I live my life for God?” Well, God has given us some very clear instructions in His Word as to how we are to live for Him.

These include the command to love one another (John 13:34-35), the call to follow Him at the cost of denying our own desires (Matthew 16:24), the exhortation to care for the poor and needy (James 1:27), and the warning to not fall into sinful behaviors like those who don’t know God (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8).

Jesus summed up a life lived for God when a teacher of the law asked Him the most important of commandments. Jesus replied, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

It is not possible for those who obey Jesus’ teachings to live lives that are essentially not significantly different than their kind and agnostic neighbors. The life of a Christian should outwardly reflect their inner faith.

Look back at the end of each day and ask yourself if your words and actions have mirrored the teachings of Jesus. As you look forward to the day ahead think about what Jesus would say and do in each situation you face and then live a life so that others would know you are a Christian without your having to tell them.

Lord, I have given my heart to you. I know I am clean on the inside, but help me to not get caught up in the wicked sin of the world and act like the unsaved. Help me to draw apart from the ways of the world and live a Jesus reflected life.

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

God, Our Peace

“So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace.” Judges 6:24

The story of God calling Gideon to deliver his people Israel begins unceremoniously. The Midianites are bullying their way through Jewish territory routinely, taking crops, slaughtering animals, and scaring Gideon’s people into the caves and ravines of local mountains. So desperate the times and dire their future, even Gideon, a soldier, threshed grain in the bottom of a dried up wine press so as to avoid detection from his enemies.

And then God’s angel approached him, saying, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” even though Gideon looked more like a scared school boy in a hopeless fight with recess meanies. But the Lord continued, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

When Gideon later realized that he had come face-to-face with the angel of the Lord and lived, he humbled himself and took up God’s call. He also built an altar and called it “The Lord Is Peace.”

I wonder why Gideon called God peace. Was it for sparing his life despite their close encounter? Was it for strength to know he could take on the Midianites and win? In the end Gideon didn’t raise a sword as God worked miraculously through 300 men to turn the Midianites upon themselves. Perhaps in this instance God wanted us to understand his peaceful intentions, his presence to find peace despite adversity all around.

God, you are Yahweh-Shalom, The Lord Is Peace. Help me know your peace and your ways to handle difficult people and situations today.

Thought: One peaceful option for handling conflict is to forgive the perpetrator. Forgive someone who has hurt you.
Can you call God your peace? Do you lean on his peaceful ways to get through trials?

By Dr. Bill Strom
Used by Permission

For Me or For Him?

“How precious are your thoughts concerning me.” Psalm 139:17

It had been anything but a ‘quiet’ time. Although I had closed the door and opened my Bible, my attention skittered between meetings just attended, people needs for which I felt responsible and future events crowding the calendar. Glance at the clock too soon revealed that it was time to leave my private chamber and tend to the day’s responsibilities. ‘So much for spiritual preparation.’ was my somewhat whiny comment to God.as if He had been physically standing before me: “That’s okay, my daughter. I just wanted to sit here with you. I’ve enjoyed our time together.”

We delude ourselves into thinking that our quiet times are primarily for our own benefit. We are intellectually aware that God is always with us, that His eye is not only on the sparrow but on each of us. We claim a personal relationship with Him yet are slow to understand much of what that means.

How different would be our attitudes if we began to learn that we come into His presence to give Him joy.

God, I am so grateful for your personal love for me. To think that you simply desire me to be in your presence is overwhelming. I love you.

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

What We Hope For

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. — Hebrews 11:1

Thought

While the road ahead of us may be clouded with questions and concerns, we can look back and see the many ways God has acted in our behalf to get us to the places we need to be. But more than just us, we see his work through history and we can take assurance that his promises are true and his victory in us is assured.

Prayer

Almighty God, I believe that before there was a world, you existed. I trust that even now you sustain our world with your word of grace. I am confident that before the future arrives you are already there preparing it for us. Help me in those moments when I am not so confident to remember my faith today and to press on trusting that you are there waiting with your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission
From: http://www.verseoftheday.com

Satan’s Strategy

Read: Luke 22:31-62

All of us make tracks through the valley of failure. The question is, How are you going to respond? Plenty of people give up and exchange a vibrant kingdom-serving life for a defeated existence. But failure need not be an end. It’s a chance for a new beginning living in Christ’s strength.

Peter had a life-altering failure. Jesus warned that Satan had asked permission to “sift” the disciple like wheat (Luke 22:31)–vigorous shaking is required to separate wheat kernels from debris. The Enemy wanted to shake Peter’s faith hard in hopes that he’d fall away from Jesus like chaff.

Peter fervently believed the promise he’d made to Jesus: “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not” (Mark 14:29). But Satan knows a few things about the power of fear. What’s more, he realized that the disciple would be wounded by his own disloyalty. A man with tattered pride can’t help but question his usefulness.

When Satan sifts believers, his goal is to damage our faith so much that we’re useless to God. He wants us shelved far from the action of the Lord’s kingdom. Therefore, he goes for our strengths–the areas where we believe ourselves to be invincible, or at least very well protected. And when the Devil succeeds, we are disappointed and demoralized. But we don’t have to stay that way.

If we are willing, God can use failure to do spiritual housecleaning. Peter laid down his pride and instead put on the Holy Spirit’s courage. Thereafter, he risked humiliation, persecution, and death to proclaim the gospel. Failure was the catalyst that brought forth greater faith and true servanthood

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission
http://www.intouch.org/

When I Blow it Again

After listening to someone share how they blew it by losing their patience over a very small matter when their sincere intention was to keep calm in a disagreeable situation, I was reminded how recently a similar thing had happened to me.

Just when I think I am making progress in an area, I turn around and blow it again. I wasn’t looking to lose my control and say things I didn’t mean to say. And yet a simple conversation and small disagreement with my husband spiraled into heated words and I definitely blew it with my tongue. It was so trivial and stupid of me. I blew it again…

I was madder at myself than my husband was. For him it blew over very quickly but I continued to punish myself with the question, why did I do it? I didn’t want to do it! But I did it.

Why am I so prone to sin? Does that sound familiar?

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15 (NIV)

Why can’t I do a better job of reigning myself in? Why did I do something I didn’t even want to do?

Do you hear the condemnation ringing loud in this battle raging within me? There is an answer. There is now no condemnation.

There–is–now–no-condemnation.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

When I blow it again, there is no condemnation because Jesus took care of that for me. I am so thankful for this truth. I need to accept this beautiful gift of no condemnation. It is part of my inheritance as a born again believer and child of God.

I don’t want to blow it again. But I probably will.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

Practicing Patience

“You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised” Hebrews 10:36

During a Bible study on this passage, Ted made this contribution: “Spiritually,” he said, “I’m a sprinter, not a long distance runner.”

Numerous Christians would identify with that for there is little patience, persistence and tenacity among believers. When adversity comes, many of us are prone to give up and lose our wind. That is the reason James 1:2-4, says,

“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”

You will note the emphasis on patience. All of us are faced with problems, testings, temptations, adversities and trials in varying degrees. We can determine, by our attitudes and actions, whether or not our tragedies will turn to triumph. Our heartache and sorrow can become joy and rejoicing simply by our patience, which is the ability to relax in the confidence that God rules in the affairs of men and nations. Everything is under His control.

And as we walk in faith and obedience, we will be a part of His wonderful and perfect plan.

But the question may be asked, how can we increase this rare trait or gift of patience that unlocks the door to supernatural living? The answer is simple. It is found in Galatians 5:22-23 in the listing of the fruit of the Spirit, for one of the nine characteristics mentioned is patience or longsuffering.

Are you patient with your husband, wife, parents, children, neighbors and those with whom you work in the office? Or do you find yourself critical and complaining – more prone to judge than to bless?

As we more and more yield ourselves to God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, the fruit of patience is increased, along with all the other fruit.

Bible Reading: Hebrews 6:12-15

Today’s Action Point: I will invite the Holy Spirit to control and empower my life moment by moment, day by day, knowing that the fruit of the Spirit, including patience, will increase and mature in my life.

by Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

What’s Holding You Back?

Further Reading

The Wrestling Match

Further Reading

What’s that Smell?

Further Reading

Do You Pray Every Day?

Our Confidence

Further Reading

Squawking or Singing

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” Psalm 147:1 (ESV)

Further Reading

Good and Pleasing to God

“Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Further Reading

I am Thanking You Right NOW

Further Reading

Living Your Faith

“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

Further Reading

God, Our Peace

Further Reading

For Me or For Him?

“How precious are your thoughts concerning me.” Psalm 139:17

Further Reading

What We Hope For

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. — Hebrews 11:1

Further Reading

Satan’s Strategy

Further Reading

When I Blow it Again

Further Reading

Practicing Patience

“You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised” Hebrews 10:36

And as we walk in faith and obedience, we will be a part of His wonderful and perfect plan.

Further Reading

Category: <span>Thoughts by All</span>

Further Reading

Further Reading

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” Psalm 147:1 (ESV)

Further Reading

“Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

Further Reading

Further Reading

“How precious are your thoughts concerning me.” Psalm 139:17

Further Reading

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. — Hebrews 11:1

Further Reading

Further Reading

Further Reading

“You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised” Hebrews 10:36

And as we walk in faith and obedience, we will be a part of His wonderful and perfect plan.

Further Reading