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.