Peace

This week’s Bible verse: John 14:27 ‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ - God is our Prince of Peace. - He has a gift for you – His peace. - May His peace flood our heart and soul during this season. - Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. PRAYER: Lord, You are MY Prince of Peace. I receive Your gift of peace right now. I reject any fear or anxiety and I choose to walk in the peace You have provided for me. Amen.

Stepping Stones

This week’s Bible verse: Ephesians 4:31-32 ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…. Be kind to one another!’ - There are many things that can rob us of what God has in store. - But we must get rid of these things. - Don’t let the disappointments of life turn you bitter. - Let your stumbling block become a stepping stone. PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for my bitterness, rage and anger. I renounce these things today and I choose to walk in forgiveness in all areas of my life. Amen.

A Meditaion Verse: Hebrews 10: 19-39

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So 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. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Doing My Own Thing

This week’s Bible Verse: Mark 9:35 He sat down and said, 'Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.' - God's ways are different to what we see in the world. - We are not supposed to compete and force our way up the ladder of success. - We are called to serve and through serving to emerge. - So follow His example and serve and see what God will do. PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for wanting my way and wanting to do my thing. Help me to be like You and to serve so that my life may be a blessing to others. Amen.

Taking Time

This week’s Bible verse: Ephesians 5:15 -17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. - Wise people think before they act - Unwise people act before they think - Carelessness is part of an unwise lifestyle - Discerning God’s will takes time - Wise thinking means taking time before acting Prayer: Lord help me to take time in my actions. I need to know what your will is in my day to day. Amen.

Boldness

This week’s Bible Verse: Acts 4:29 'Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness.' - It is not always easy to be bold, especially in the face of opposition. - But God can enable you in the midst of the challenges. - He can give you the words to say and the boldness to say them. - So, no matter what you are facing, ask God to enable you. PRAYER: Lord, You know exactly what I am facing and I ask You to come and enable me and give me the boldness I need. Amen.

Confidence

This week’s reading: Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Sometimes we may think that no understands our struggles - Sometimes we may even believe our struggles are unique - Jesus faced it all, understands it all & has stood firm through it all - Therefore we can have the confidence to stand firm in His name

Refresh Us Lord

This week’s Bible verse:        Jeremiah 31:25

'I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.'

- What is your greatest need today?
- The Lord undertakes to fully satisfy your needs.
- He also undertakes to fully refresh those who feel weak.
- He loves you and wants the best for you.

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that You will come and fully satisfy every need and fully refresh those who feel tired and weak. Amen.

JOY

This week’s reading:           James 1: 2-4


Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Let’s work this passage backwards:

- Maturity is a symptom of perseverance

- Trials a & testing grow perseverance

- JOY in all things is a sign of Christian maturity

- An acronym for JOY is: Jesus-Others-Yourself

- Work things in this order and we will find perseverance, maturity in Christ and JOY.

Prayer: Lord I rejoice in You. Thank you for growing me to Christian maturity, the mark of which is JOY in serving you. Amen.

Thinking About You

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 139:16


'You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.'

- It is wonderful to know that God is thinking about us.

- Each day is another day God planned to give us.

- We must take advantage of each day.

- Take advantage of today!

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that today is another day You have planned for me to enjoy. I take hold of today with all its opportunities and hopes and trust You to be with me. Amen.

Joy in the Word

This week’s Bible Verse: Hebrews 10:16

'This is the promise that I will make to them', says the Lord: 'I will put My teachings in their hearts and write them in their minds.'

- What a joy it is for us to be able to do what God wants us to do.

- Let Him touch your heart and mind.

- Let His words fill you and fill your heart.

- Let your mind and heart be consumed with His goodness and grace.

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that Your words will fill my heart and mind. Help me not to allow the 'things of the world' to dominate my thinking, but may Your presence invade my being. Amen.

Our Reward

This week’s reading:      Galatians 5:22-26


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

- Keeping in step with the Spirit is a blessing for us

- It means walking with Him in faith every moment especially those challenging ones

- Our reward is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

- Keeping in step with the Spirit makes us different people with a different approach to life away from fear, doubt, pride and selfishness.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that my reward for faithful living is to be different. Please help me to keep in step with Your Spirit. Amen.

Being on the Front Foot

This week’s reading:       Hebrews 4:14-16


Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

- Jesus understand our weaknesses

- Normally these could be things which scupper our ability to live fully

- However faith in Jesus puts us onto the front foot which means taking hold of opportunities

Prayer: Lord help me to always be on the front foot. All things that come my way I want to see as part of your plan and I do this by faith. Amen

Live to please God

This week’s reading: Ephesians 5:13-17


But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.
This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

- We are to live as children of the light

- As such we are to live in righteousness and truth

- We also need to find out what pleases God

Prayer: Lord please help me to live for what pleases you. Amen.

Humility

This week’s reading:     Philippians 2:1-4


If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

- We are called to imitate Christ’s humility

- In this, there is no place for pride, anger, jealousy or coveting

- Always looking to the needs of others is a sure way of developing humility

- Walk one day in someone’s shoes as they walk in ours

Prayer: Lord help me to develop a humility like Yours. Help me to see the world through Your eyes so that I may see what You see in Your creation and people. Amen.

Strong & Courageous

This week’s reading:   Joshua 1:9


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

- Being strong and courageous is a command

- Fear is a stronghold

- God’s command comes with a promise – I will be with you

- There is no situation which God cannot overcome

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being with me wherever I go. Please help me to be courageous and strong every day of my life. Amen.

Freedom

This week’s Bible verse: Galatians 5:1


It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

- Freedom is an expensive item

- We all have things we need to be set free from – guilt, doubt, fear, unforgiveness, unhealthy desires, pride

- Going to the Cross, Jesus says: ‘Lay them all on Me. I want to set you free.’

- Our freedom is paid for by His great love

- Slavery is to hold on to them and/or to take them back

Prayer: Lord, thank you for setting me free. Holy Spirit help me to cast off the yoke of slavery, once and for all. Amen.

Making Room for the New

This week’s reading: Leviticus 26:10


'You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.'

-  This is a promise for you in the midst of what you may be facing.

- God wants to bless you and bring blessing on your life.

- So begin to claim this promise for your situation.

- HE can do more than you could ask or imagine.

PRAYER: Lord, I claim this promise for my life and for my family. I trust for Your blessing and favour even though I may not be able to see it right now. Amen.

Building on Truth

This week’s Bible Verse: Matthew 7:24-25

'Whoever hears these words of mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain came down. The water came up. The wind blew and hit the house. The house did not fall because it was built on rock.'

- How we build and on what we build is very important.

- As disciples we should stick to the words and teaching of our Saviour.

- Don't build your life on your ideas.

- Build your life on the truth and you will not be shaken.

PRAYER: Lord, it is my desire to build my life and future on the truth of Your word. Help me in everything I do, to do what would honour You. Amen.

Lord I need You

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 30:10

‘Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!’

- This is a prayer that you can start the day with.

- A prayer for mercy, grace and help.

- We all need mercy, grace and help in our daily lives.

- God wants to give it to you.

- Take a moment and receive it now!

PRAYER: Lord, I need Your help, grace and mercy today. Strengthen and enable me, I pray. Amen.

Praise Him

This week’s reading: 1 Chronicles 16:23-25


Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

- God created us to praise Him

- When we praise Him here on earth we fulfil our purpose

- In heaven one day we are going to be worshipping Him all the time – for eternity

- Praise Him all day long this week with Psalms & songs

Prayer:

Lord I praise and exalt You in everything I do. Amen

Small Things Matter

This week’s Bible Verse: Luke 16:10


'Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot.'

- A person who is faithful in small matters will also be faithful in great matters.

- Small things matter.

- So be diligent in all things and you will see God's faithfulness.

- Your faithfulness will be rewarded.

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to be faithful and trustworthy in all the matters that I have control or influence over. Amen.



Have a good one!

Put God First

This week’s verse: Colossians 3:23

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.'

- Let's put God first in all we do and say.

- Don't be half-hearted in your approach to life.

- Give it your best and do it with all your heart.

- Remember that ultimately HE is the great rewarder.

PRAYER:

Lord, help me, as I approach this new week, to do my best and do the work I do with all my heart.

May I live my life in a way that pleases You. Amen.