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Prayer

Daily Readings From Becoming A Better You

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Although this was only a 90 day devotional from a larger book, it was still definitely worth the read! I’ve listened to the audiobook of this book as well and it is very encouraging to hear the personal touches that are added throughout the entire book. It’s one thing to just hear encouraging words, but it’s another thing to know that it’s a real person reaching out to you in encouragement!

The book is laid out very well with scripture readings at the beginning, with 5-6 paragraphs tied to a central point (and subpoints along the way). All end with a “today’s prayer” and “today’s thought to becoming a better you”. Regardless of the form of media that you use of a ministry tool, one thing has to be the most important: how you use it is how effective it is in your life. In reading these everyday, it was very useful and effective and helped me each day. On a more personal note, I would read these in the morning and it would help me to frame my mind around something other than what I was dreading ahead of me later in the day! Make any tool that you use that God has provided for you useful by using it to help you ward off every problem in your life!

And always remember when you are done with one, pass it on or recommend! That helps the ones who work so hard to write them!

Check out: Daily Readings From Becoming A Better You – ISBN 978-1-4165-7307-4

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Do We Use Discernment Anymore?

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THE WORD

Romans 8:27 – And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

One of the toughest spiritual gifts to willingly learn and use is the gift of discernment. One of the ways you can understand how discernment works is when you are following the Holy Ghost during a church service to ensure you are obeying the perfect will of God, keeping things in a spiritual order as God would lead, and helping to prevent things that would disrupt the freedom of God from being in control. That is the long way of putting it but is where you might see it used the most.

To put it in an easier way, you would not just let anyone get up and minister to you without having a good spirit dwelling within them. You know (and discern) that through the light of God lives a person’s spirit and are you able to bear witness of that light through what they speak and obey. You can begin to use discernment every day of your life. Whether it comes to what you see or hear or what you do around or say to others, discernment can be used in all venues if you allow the spirit of God to lead you. God would not have you willingly walking around in sin if it can be shown to you to turn from it. We can begin to discern that it is not the right situation to surround ourselves with and can learn to change where we are and what we do. It is possible! As we pray we can begin to discern from people how they either have God’s love or are lost from God’s direction and are in need.

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Learn to be spiritually led each day! The best thing to start with is prayer and thinking upon the good things of God. Once you start there, build yourself up and see how much begins to change. You will be surprised! God would not have you live in darkness. God would have you be a light to it, compelling people to change. Learn to change your environments and get out when you know things are too much for what you are capable of dealing with. Remember, we often make our biggest mistakes when we think we are strong enough to discern it for ourselves and not with the spirit. God is the best leader and guide!

Every Contribution Counts!

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When we look around and consider how many things are going on in the world that we live in, one thing is obvious to me: there are needs to be met. People are sick, people are lost, people are hungry, people need direction, people are depressed, people are fading in the church, etc, etc, etc.

I couldn’t begin to tell you how that if I began to pray in the morning and kept on resolving every thought that came across my mind in prayer that I could never conquer it in a day, week, year, or a lifetime. And yet, in our everyday lives, we count ourselves so small to have no power to help to do anything anymore. Let me be one of the many in this day and time to remind you: Every part counts!

Every person that God created was special. Every person that God made has a given purpose, and something to offer for someone out there. Don’t feel like you come short simply because of the people you are around or the church you go to. If people push you in a corner and don’t make you feel like you can do anything great where you are, do something spectacular on your own. The efforts of one that is willing are sometimes far greater than the efforts of ten thousand that have an attitude.

Be obedient in the gifts and callings of God! Reach out and speak an encouraging word of love today! Don’t forget, and remind yourself of how wonderful that God has been to you, and simply return that selflessness in some way to others! You will not regret it!

Why Trading In Is Such A Good Thing

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I love the art of trading. People will exchange something that they used to place so much of value on at one point for something else that they value more. People will even take a loss at money if it means that much to them sentimentally. We all know the classic adage “one persons junk is another persons treasure”.

You can think of many goods that we trade in and especially why we do it: cars because of mileage, clothes because they are defective, food because of bad packaging, electronics because they don’t turn on, etc.

I’m glad that when I came to God with all my sin that my exchange was for eternal life! What I traded in that day was for a glorious ticket that one day I shall be a part of! That stirs me to my core!

Even since getting saved, I have had many trials and many emotional journeys; and yet, in the midst of those, I have brought all my “bads” and exchanged them for God’s “goods”.

Remember through prayer, fasting, and the reading of God’s word to exchange all the things that are trying to burden you for something far more powerful, endued from on high to help you to bind every hindrance that stands in your way!

Somebody Is Praying

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Psalm 6:9 – The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

Jonah 2:7 – When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

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I am sure that we all have read in various places the bible about how God never leaves us nor forsakes us and that He will be there always even until the end, right? That encourages me when I begin to think about that! It reminds me that there are angels encamped all about me, always watching over me and taking care of me each and every day. I have a word just for you: God has a special plan for you, no matter how you see the outcome of your life each day. The plan never changes, yet our perspective often does.

Whether we ever come to discover it or not, be reminded today that there is someone praying for you! Someone may have given you this to read. There may be a possibility that you may never grace church doors but that does not stop people from calling out your name in prayer! It might not be anyone that you even know; for it could be a friend or a complete stranger! Nonetheless, God calls people each and every day in the gift of prayer, and it is becoming a growing calling in the day that we are living. The question you may be asking is, how do you know? I would have to say because the needs of those around us are growing greater each day and the concern of Gods people is growing more and more.

Know that we love you and are praying for everyone out there! More than that know that God loves you unconditionally and whosoever will come can come to the Father for salvation and eternal life!

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Put Into Practice:

Take a moment today to pray for everyone but yourself. I know you may be thinking, “but what about all the things that I may need?!?” I realize that it takes a lot for us to put ourselves out of the way on the behalf of others, but God is really trying to get us to get to that place. Let me explain:

You see, the revelation that God gave me a long time ago was when I began to obey Him and to help others that not only their lives would be blessed but mine would be for the efforts also. I could very well only pray and praise for me at church, but there is so much more to give and use of the love of God that lives inside of you! Now? I may be in the altar working for an hour before I give my aching head any thought and by the time I am done my headache has passed with the virtue of healing. I may also be preaching or singing to encourage others and all of my fears and worries of trials in my mind just melt away. That is the beauty of when obedience meets the power of life and faith that is living inside of you! Let it come alive!

Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired

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THE WORD

Psalms 103:8 – The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There are so many things that come up every day that make it hard sometimes to emotionally hold it together. I know what it feels like to be on the mountain in my life and still feel unsatisfied. I also know what it feels like to be in the valley and feel forgotten. No matter the current status of happiness that we possess, there is something to help us find the calm in the midst of unexpected storms. What I have found to be true is God and God alone. For most of us our daily routines to make ends meet leave us so numb that we get in a ‘sick and tired’ state. If our focus is to be on the ministry of God then it is my every belief that God will take care of the other issues in my life. What we place so high of an emotional value on should not be more than what God means to us. If we invest fully into God and surrender all, then everything else will be added (and we will not be as sick and tired of things as often!).

Do not let the game of life win and defeat the best part of you. Remember to suffer not in the things that are trying to come against you! Use the tools you have that God has provided for you to have and use for a successful outcome!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Walk over to your medicine cabinet and open the door. When you see (for example) a bottle of medicine that treats headaches you have a confidence in your mind that as you take the medicine that you will find relief from the problem. God’s peace can move in through your worship and prayers to provide relief from anything.

Search within your mind the good times that God has blessed you. Like a medicine, God provided relief and help for you in that time of crisis. And if God did it for you then, God can certainly do it again! All God needs is that trust in the wonderful anointing and his word to bring out the best treatment you could ever find for when you are sick of life!

Prayer And Its Many Factors

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1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

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Where can I even begin to start? Prayer is one of the most favorite things to do in my life. I can honestly say that without the ability to pray I do not know how I would have made it thus far. Prayer has saved me from my every addiction, brought me out of every oppression, and has lifted me out of all depression. It saved me when I was lost, and helped me find my way when I needed direction. It sent down the healing virtues when I was sick in body, and helped me to believe during the most difficult trials in my life.

Prayer stirs me in times when I would otherwise feel hopeless. It also lifts me up when there is an absence of people to fulfill the role to encourage me. It reminds me of the grace and provision of God when I have little or no way to make it through. Does that not stir you? Generally if the answer is anything other than yes than you can know beyond all doubt that prayer has not been something to really bail you out before! Trust me, when it has you will know in your heart about an experience that will have you standing up to tell others about the power of prayer!

Most importantly, it is the divine and open communication to God, and without it we will grow weak in a hurry. Always remember the importance of why it is you call out to God and do it with all of your heart! Do not just ask in words like you would ask someone for a ride somewhere without sincerity. Ask humbly and let a spiritual experience take place in your life! Let the death of your flesh (lowering of self) bring to life within you the increase of a stronger spiritual self. Prayer changes things, and should be done often and earnestly! Never forget it!

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Put Into Practice:

This is by far the turning point in the book and the most important activity that is recommended for you to do. I’m begging you to take the time for this.

Pray a prayer like you never have before. For maybe the first time in your life, just put out there openly and verbally to God all of the things you were always afraid to pray about. Be bold and confess to God about the parts of you that you feel vulnerable. Take some time to sincerely work on the issues within. I am asking you to not get up from the prayer until you feel the presence of God bring you comfort.

There was an experience where I got down and was there for a solid hour, simply crying out in pure humbleness. I cannot recall a single word that even came forth, but I do remember when I got up that the pain and suffering that had been on me was gone. It may take longer than that or only a few minutes, but I beg you begin to make it a habit to not only pray for the needs in your life, but allow God to have time to minister directly to YOU.

Our Fall To Sin

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Genesis 1:27,31

[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

[31] And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Man was created in Holiness, and what God made was good within us! Before sin ever entered the world, what we were made to be was good! God made us! What God has made in you is good as well! Even taking in to consideration that we fail because of sin, we still have the good that God has placed! We often forget that in the midst of life.

Genesis 3:6

[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

By voluntary transgression, man fell to sin. So many times, we voluntarily walk into failure, and God has provided more than enough of ways to avoid sin and temptation to sin. You are only as strong as the spirit that lives within you. With that said, it’s simple: little spirit leaves for little ability to resist. A strong spirit presents a formula for success against the enemy in this world!

Psalms 94:11

[11] The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

The thoughts that we possessed started to become vain. The thoughts that we have every day without God are vain by default, lest we realize what place they should have in our lives. If God is first, He will lead you to see exactly what things should be and should not. That’s the direction of the Holy Ghost that only comes through prayer seeking for direction by faith!

Jeremiah 17:9

[9] The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The heart started to become deceitful. Without the help of the comfort of the spirit, we will become weak from our emotions that want to rule us by default. We should never be driven by emotions. Emotions often times will drive us to irrational motive, which in turn leads to actions we should have never found ourselves at to begin with.

Romans 8:7

[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

We became an enemy through the carnal being. Our minds are either upon God and serving him with our commitment to, or we are resisting because we have (in our mind) chose not to. The art of submission when it comes to the spirit begins with making up your mind. We can never inherit the mind of Christ without first surrendering our wickedness first. I say that not in condemnation, but in common sense. We will eventually lead ourselves to destruction over time without God helping us!

Genesis 6:5

[5] And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

By sin overwhelming us, God recognized that even back then and still does today! In the days we live in now, we know not the appointed day, but God wants us to be prepared each day by not falling into the sin that was clearly warned about all through the days of the bible. The example of the flood in the Old Testament should be example enough that we surely would rather come to God’s love rather than God’s wrath!

Romans 5:12,19

[12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

[19] For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

The first sin was fatal for all mankind and made us sinners as we know it today. And from generation to generation, we still make the same mistakes that were made before us, regardless of the reasons of why. The “why” does not matter; what matters is finding our way to repentance! That’s why Jesus Christ was sent to be an advocate for us to find forgiveness by the mercy and grace of God.

Romans 1:18,20

[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Being unrighteous, all are condemned without defense or excuse. There is nothing that I could throw at God to ever have a great enough of reason or to feel good enough to be justified. We have to obey, we have to repent, and we have to move on from hurt! It’s as simple as that! God sees what you are going through, and will move on your behalf. So why stay in that condition?

Isaiah 1:5-6

[5] Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
[6] From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

The whole nature of our beings is corrupted long-term from never treating the damage that sin takes upon us. Lest we begin to bring to God our problems and issues, we can never begin to heal and recover from what we deal with and go through!

Isaiah 53:6-7

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

All of our sins have been forgiven if you recognize the one who performed it! If we come to God and believe in faith upon Jesus Christ and surrender our lives completely, a magnificent life-changing transformation can begin to take place! Do it today!

The Cost Of No Protection

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I love looking at old armor from pictures. It speaks mounds of information that you could have never thought could communicate about you. Armor has served many purposes throughtout all of time, and has evolved as weapons have improved as well. People in modern days still wear it, and wouldn’t go to battle without it.

When I apply all of this in a biblical sense, having on the armor of God is a valuable thing. The weapons of words of people and spiritual warfare would should hurt much more if we do not consider the protection that we wear.

The covering of God’s protection has many values and purposes! And it is often more beneficial for you to wear the armor than wield the sword of irrational actions. Remember to put on what God has intended for you each day via every day prayer and the reading of the word of God. And if you are a singer, sing a song of worship to God! Trust me, it works!

Picking, Poking, and Prodding

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THE WORD

Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

II Corinthians 10:4 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Life delivers many scenarios where your emotions will be tested often. Whether it is a direct verbal attack or some kind of vague comment you will find that it is easy to get caught off guard. Things can come at home, at the workplace, or even at church; we can never truly predict the where or when of other people’s outbursts. I remind you today to always be prepared and be centered on the love of God to have that preparation.

The love of God brings peace, which surpasses all understanding. This keeps me in a peace where my anger will not rise even when I am picked on. It will surpass even our defense system and protect us from harm. Christ recognized the naysayers that were in the crowd, yet he did not launch back at them. He definitely led by example rather than by retaliation! Keep focused on having love for friends and foes alike! If you present a Godly response to irrational actions it leads by example and not by emotions! This is the true love and witness of God!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

The next time that you are affected by someone taking action or speaking against you, I urge you to take a leap of faith and pray specifically for that person. Some of the first times I began to do this I found myself wanting to justify my reasons for being upset. The more, however, that I continued in prayer, realizing how much God’s love is for everyone, I found that there is a love that I can acquire from God to overcome all persecution! Try it!