God Is My Father

2 Corinthians 2: 14  (The Message)

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.

The NIV calls it a “triumphal procession.”

2,000 years ago when our Father sent His Son to the cross, He looked up.  Now every day He says, “Look what’s coming!”

God wants us to be excited in anticipation of all the good things He has planned for us.

1 Corinthians 2:9-11 (New International Version)

⁹However, as it is written:
   "No eye has seen,
      no ear has heard,
   no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him"^[a]— 

¹⁰but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Fatherhood of God far surpasses even the best earthly father we have ever known of.  God is a picture of what true fatherhood really is. 

Let me remind you of what your loving Father does for you.

 He saves us from our sins.  (I Tim. 1: 15, Matthew 1: 21)

 He heals us of our weakness, diseases and sicknesses.  (Isaiah 53: 4-5, 

 Mark 6:56, Hebrews 3: 8)

 He delivers us from demonic influence.  (Luke 8: 36)

 He rescues us and preserves us.  (Matthew 8: 24-25, Matthew 14: 29-31a)

 He delivers us from the attacks of the devil.  (2 Timothy 4:18)

 He favors you and protects you.  (Psalms 5:12)

 He makes a way for you.  (Isaiah 45: 2-3)

GPS  (God’s Direction)

Look up the above scriptures 

Prayer Focus:

Thank the Father for being so good to you.

Day 234   Holy Spirit- A Personal Friend

Romans 15:5-6

The Message (MSG)

God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. 

What if this is true?  What if “warm and personal” actually are words that characterize the Holy Spirit?  How about “dependably steady?”

I have found the Holy Spirit to be just that.  He is personal.  He is dependable.  He is steady!  AND if that is not enough, whenever I spend time with Him, I feel as if I am wrapped in a warm blanket of His presence.

When we receive Christ as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside of us.  He is that "up close and personal" for us.  He knows us inside and out.  He knows what makes us sad, what makes us feel helpless, what makes us feel depressed, and he is always there to help us, encourage us and give us hope for the future.

Believe me, you have never had a friend like this—not even your closest can compare.  Be encouraged today that your best friend is always right there with you to help you to be the best “you,” you can be!

GPS  (God’s Directions)

I Corinthians 3:16  He lives inside of us.

John 14: 16  Up close and personal

Romans 15:13  He will fill you with joy.

Prayer Focus:

As you go about your day, talk to your Friend, who lives in you, and then listen for His reply.

Day 3     God Hears Us When We Pray

I John 5: 13-15  (The Message)

^13-15My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in His presence, freely asking according to His will, sure that He's listening. And if we're confident that He's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.

I like that…..”know beyond a shadow of a doubt…..”  That fact has been established on the day I turned my life over to Jesus Christ and made Him the Lord of my life.

So then, knowing this, I can confidently ask my Father anything according to His will and know that He hears me. And not only that----but He gives me the answer.  I ask and He hears and answers.  That's my Father!  That's your Father!

That’s what this quiet time with God is all about. In your quiet time with God, you are getting to know His voice—and He already knows your voice because He created it.

You can talk to God about anything.  You can ask Him questions and you can listen for the answers.  He is not too busy for you and like any well meaning father, He loves to meet  your needs.

GPS (Directions from God’s Word)

Job 22:27

Psalms 6:9

Acts 10:31

Prayer Focus:

Thank God that He is always listening for your voice and be sure to listen for His.

Day 232 Revived from Discouragement

Leviticus 18: 1-5 NLT

Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Say this to your people, the Israelites: I, the LORD, am your God. 3 So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. 4 You must obey all my regulations and be careful to keep my laws, for I, the LORD, am your God. 5 If you obey my laws and regulations, (instructions) you will find life through them. I am the LORD.

Watch this!  The Hebrew meanings for the word “life” are:

to live prosperously

to live with vibrancy

to live free

to  be revived from sickness, fainting, discouragement and even death

Hmmmm.....to be revived from discouragement!  Now there’s something we can all use from time to time.  It all starts with a thought---you know those things that we are to take control of so they don’t run away with us!  If we entertain the wrong thought, it grows into a monster and begins to control our thought-life.  This is where the downward spiral begins.  Do you recognize this scenario?  Like they say:  “Been there--done that!”

As soon as the wrong thought begins to formulate in our mind, we can stop everything and say, “God, what is the truth?”  Yesterday we talked about getting his “instructions.”

GPS (God’s Directions)

• Proverbs 4: 20-22
• II Corinthians 10:5
• John 8: 32

Prayer Focus:

Ask the Lord to show you when you first encounter a wrong thought so you can counteract it with the truth.

Day 231    Follow God’s Instructions

Leviticus 18: 1-5 NLT

Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Say this to your people, the Israelites: I, the LORD, am your God. 3 So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. 4 You must obey all my regulations and be careful to keep my laws, for I, the LORD, am your God. 5 If you obey my laws and regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD.

My translation of this verse actually uses the word “instructions.”  How many times have you said the the Lord concerning a situation you are facing, “Just tell me what to do and I will do it.”  

In the OT, they had so many laws and rules to follow and they were always covering for their inability to be successful by bringing sacrifices to the altar.  Thank God we do not have to do that.  We can just say to God,  “How do you want me to handle this”  or “What’s up with this,” and He will tell us.

Hmmmm......much simpler!!

GPS  (God’s directions)

• I Corinthians 2:16
• Psalms 1:2  Amplified Bible
• Proverbs 4:1

Prayer Focus:

Ask the Lord for His instructions on your greatest concern.  If you don’t receive them today, ask again tomorrow.  Have an expectant heart....an open heart.....a grateful heart.

What??  I Am The Clay?

Jeremiah 18: 5  New International Version

 ⁵ Then the word of the LORD came to me: ⁶ "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

When we go to God in desperation for our present circumstances to change,  He usually takes a good long look at us and says, “Okay, I'm on it, but there are some changes I want to make in you too!"

Who me??  Wait just a minute!!  I am the way I am.   I like what I like.  I know what I know.  It’s just the way I am. 

As you continue to seek God in your private devotional time, you will find yourself growing and changing.  That’s a good thing!  Don’t think He’s not working on those “circumstances” that you brought to Him, because He is, but He also wants to work on you.

It is good to start each daily time with Him by saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”  That gets “you”  out of the way so He can show you His ways.  It is also  good to say, “Teach me Your ways.”  I can promise you that if you ask, He will!!

GPS  (God’s Direction)

• Matthew 26:39 (your posture)

• Psalms 25:4 (your request)

• Romans 8:28 (your result)

Prayer:

Father, not my will but Yours be done in my life.  Today I defer to You and I trust that You know what is best for me. declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

When we go to God in desperation for our present circumstances to change,  He usually takes a good long look at us and says, “Okay, I'm on it, but there are some changes I want to make in you too!"

Who me??  Wait just a minute!!  I am the way I am.   I like what I like.  I know what I know.  It’s just the way I am. 

As you continue to seek God in your private devotional time, you will find yourself growing and changing.  That’s a good thing!  Don’t think He’s not working on those “circumstances” that you brought to Him, because He is, but He also wants to work on you.

It is good to start each daily time with Him by saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”  That gets “you”  out of the way so He can show you His ways.  It is also  good to say, “Teach me Your ways.”  I can promise you that if you ask, He will!!

GPS  (God’s Direction)

• Matthew 26:39 (your posture)

• Psalms 25:4 (your request)

• Romans 8:28 (your result)

Prayer:

Father, not my will but Yours be done in my life.  Today I defer to You and I trust that You know what is best for me.  

Day 230    God Is The Finisher

Hebrews 12:2

New King James Version (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do you have some things that need to be finished in your life?  Well, God is the One who will help you bring things to a finish.

As I was praying about some things that needed to come to an end in my life, the word “capstone” came up in my spirit.

The word “capstone” signifies the finish of construction, or crowning of the completed goal.”

I encourage you to write down in your journal the things that need to come to an end in your life.  Here are some examples:  pain, strife, confusion, offense....just to mention a few.

Then begin to thank God that He is the “Finisher.”  On the cross 2,000 years ago, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  That is why we can say,  “It is finished” today.  We agree with the completed work of the cross and when we do, all that Jesus died for is free to flow into our lives.

Jesus died that we might have eternal life, peace, health, joy, provision and most of all fellowship with God.

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         John 19: 28-30

·         Hebrews 2:10  The Message Bible

·         Nahum 1:7-9

Prayer Focus:

Thank God that He is finishing up those things on your list.

Day 229  God Never Changes

James 1:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Life gets very confusing if we believe that God blesses us sometimes and seems to be no where around at other times.   This is my paraphrase but I believe God is saying in His Word,  “If you don’t understand, stick with Me—and you can ask Me as many questions as you like.  I will explain what I am doing and I promise that you can get ‘there’ from here.”

I have found that life with God is not a sprint but a marathon.  We all reach the finish line if we don’t drop out of the race.  If we listen closely, we will hear His words of encouragement.  Those are like “gold” to us. 

God in His love for us sent His own Son to the cross for us.  Can you even imagine doing that?? And especially for those of us who could care less at the time.  Then think on this scripture:

Romans 8:32 (NIV)

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Now that is good news!!!

GPS  (Directions in God’s Word)

·         Psalms 34:8

·         Malachi 3:6

·         Exodus 34:6

Prayer Focus:

If you have a question for God, write it down in your journal.  Then respectfully ask God your question.  And when the answer comes, thank Him for instructing you.

Day   228     Good is who God is

Ephesians 3:20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰ Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

Every child knows that good means good.  We as adults question the meaning of good because we have had experiences in our lives that we do not understand so we say, “good couldn’t possibly mean good.”

We can choose to believe like a child and trust as a child or we can be skeptical of God’s goodness.  I always say to myself, “Why would I believe my fickle feelings with the All- mighty God has spoken?”  In the above scripture it plainly states that God desires to do “super abundantly, over and above….our highest prayers.”  Gloria Copeland says, “Good is who God is and good is what He does.” 

Let’s solidify this truth  in the foundation of our core beliefs. Either God is good or He is not.  It is something that we must settle.  We can choose to believe our feelings and opinions or we can believe what He says to us in His Word.

GPS  (Directions from God’s Word)

John 10:10  Amplified Bible

Psalms 107:8  NIV

Romans 5:17

Prayer Focus:

Stop to think about some of the good things that have happened to you or for you, and thank God that He was the author of it.  Ask Him about the not-so-good things and He will minister to you.

It's Not What You Know....

……It’s Who You Know.  Is it possible to really know God—His nature, His will, His ways and most of all His love?  It surely is—and I want to help you by giving you some very simple instructions. 

1.      Find a place where you can be alone.  It has to be a place where you can go everyday to be alone.  Here are some examples:  [ an office, a sitting room, or even a coffee shop.]  You choose!  There are no rules!

2.      Choose a time that you can consistently go to  this designated place--- when you know you will not be interrupted by family, by the phone, and by the demands of the day.

3.      Equip your designated place with a Bible, this devotional  (or another favorite devotional) and a notebook.

4.      Tomorrow go to your designated place at your designated time.  (Yes, you can bring your coffee!  God is not religious about that!)

5.      Open your Bible to the scripture designated for the day.  Open your notebook and put the date on the top of the page.  (Your notebook has now become your journal.)  Instead of journaling your past like most folks do, you will be journaling your future.  God is going to reveal to you that “good plan” that He has for you.  How exciting!!

6.      Read the scripture and the verses around it, letting God speak to your heart about your particular situation. 

7.      As certain words give you encouragement, write them on your journal page. 

It’s been about five years since I started this and I am totally blown away with God’s willingness to meet with me.  I know you will be blessed as you pursue your daily time with Him.

God Has A Good Plan For You

     

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (Amplified Bible)

¹¹For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

    ¹²Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.

    ¹³Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

    ¹⁴I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will  release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.

There are times in our spiritual walks when we feel  caught—we cannot move ahead because of circumstances beyond our control. These circumstances can bring frustration, hopelessness, and a sense of powerlessness.

What we must always remember is that when we feel “caught” in our adverse circumstances, that God has already made a way out of them for us!!

Verse 13 in Jeremiah 29 says that we are to seek God, inquire of God, and require of God as a vital necessity.  Then we will find Him as we search for Him with all of our hearts.

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Deuteronomy 4: 29 

·         2 Kings 13:4

·         2 Chronicles 15:4

Prayer Focus:

Thank God that He is accessible to you.

Day 226    My Heart Is Steadfast

Psalm 57:7

New International Version (NIV)

 

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast;  I will sing and make music.

After reading this scripture, I said , “God, what song do you want me to sing today?”

Immediately the song came into my thoughts—

You’re all I need.  You are all I need. 

Jesus, You are all I need.
You satisfy.  My needs supply.
Jesus, You are all I need.

What a sweet chorus!  Not only that but I believe it is one that will keep your heart “stable and fixed” when things seem to be spinning out of control.

I don’t know about you, but I will be singing that song as I go about my day today.

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Psalms 91:1 Amplified Bible

·         Psalms 112:7 NIV

·         Psalms 28:7  NIV

Prayer Focus:

Nestle up into the arms of Jesus today and let His strength permeate your thoughts and your emotions and let Him give you His strength.

 

 

 

  

Day 225   A Promise Of Peace

Isaiah 54:10  Amplified Bible (AMP)

For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.

It seems like every time you turn on the news, the mountains are departing and the hills are shaking.  Perhaps you even feel like your mountains are shaking and departing.  In the midst of all of this, God promises “a covenant of peace and completeness.”

Is it possible?  Like I always say, “God, You shouldn’t have put that verse in the Bible if You didn’t mean it.”  The promise is for us and it is for today!

Here’s how I know for sure:

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Hebrews 13: 5-8

·         Psalms 138:8 Amplified Bible

·         Psalms 91: 1-16

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for His protection and that He is working on what concerns you.

Day 224     In The Day

Psalm 56:9   Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me.

 

This verse says to me that my enemies (sickness, strife, lack……) turns back in the day that I pray.

The Living Bible says, “The very day I call for help, the tide of the battle turns.  My enemies flee!”

Well, it certainly doesn’t look like it!  And it doesn’t feel like it!

That’s when we superimpose the Word of God over our senses.  We do not rely on what we see or what we feel.  The fact of the matter is “the very day I call for help, the tide of the battle turns.”

There comes a time when you settle things.  The Word of God has to take preeminence over what we see or feel.  If our senses are in control, we will be all over the map and we won’t know where to turn next.  We must let God’s Word be our focus….our roadmap to get us to where He wants us to go. 

            To our destiny

            To our healthy place

            To our provision

            To our peace

            To our joy

Open your Bible to any place and just read until the words jump off the page and come alive concerning what you have need of.

GPS  (Directions From God’s Word)

·         Mark 11: 24  KJV     “when you pray”

·         I John 5:14-15  NIV

·         Matthew 7:7

Prayer Focus:

Have a “meeting” with God.  See Him sitting across the table from you.  He’s looking into your eyes and listening for what you are asking of Him.  Know that He hears you and He begins to answer right away, whether you see it instantly or it takes some time.  Rest assured, He is answering.

 

 

IT'S WHAT GOD HAD IN MIND ALL ALONG

Isaiah 53   The Message (MSG)

53 Who believes what we’ve heard and seen?
Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?

^2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.

There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.

He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.

We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.

We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!

He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.

We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.

And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
on him, on him.

^7-9 He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared,he took it all in silence.Justice miscarried, and he was led off—and did anyone really know what was happening?

He died without a thought for his own welfare,beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked,threw him in a grave with a rich man,even though he’d never hurt a soul
or said one word that wasn’t true.

¹⁰ Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

^11-12 Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,”as he himself carries the burden of their sins.

Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.

He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

God, in His love for us provided a wonderful plan.  I pray today that you will personally experience His love in a brand new way.

God bless you,

Karol

This SO encouraged me today.  You can read the chapter in it's entirety in your Bible.  I just pulled out the phrases that were personal to me.  I am so glad that God gets personal!!  After all if it's not personal, what is it??

Happy Easter one and all!

Isaiah 43

New King James Version (NKJV)

43 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you…
And He who formed you….

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

³ For I am the Lord your God,……your Savior;

⁴ Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;

⁵ Fear not, for I am with you;

I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord,

Says the Lord, “that I am God.
¹³ Indeed before the day was, I am He;

¹⁵ I am the Lord, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your King.”

²⁵ “I, even I, am He who blots out your

transgressions for My own sake;