“Give Us Each Day”
“Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.”
” Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less—”
The Lord knows our needs before we are even aware of them. He also knows the areas in our hearts that are weak and needy. His Word, His voice, and His grace are there for us to draw upon for each day that we live. It can be so tempting to concern ourselves with things that we do not yet have to deal with. When we believe that He is faithful to give us exactly what we need, our hearts and minds will be at peace, and we will live in true contentment. Oh how I love the scripture in Psalm 23, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures…”
“God’s Word-Our Shield”
“Every word of God ·is true [passes the test; is refined;
·He guards those [ They are a shield to those] who come to
him for ·safety [refuge].
God’s Word is flawless. God’s Word is true, and God’s Word must be our necessary food! We need not try to analyze it, we need only to believe it. He promises that His Word is a shield to those that place their trust in Him. In your day of battle you are promised that His Word will shield you and keep you. It is in those times when the fiery darts of the enemy come to penetrate your soul that the Word of God that you believe and speak will be a protection, a refuge, and you will walk in victory. Jesus stressed the importance and the blessing of living by the truth.
John 8:31-32 (PHILLIPS)
“If you are faithful to what I have said,
you are truly my disciples. And you will
know the truth and the truth will set you free!”
Oh that we would be diligent to know His Word that we may be free in every area of our lives. Let us never add or subtract from His Word either.
“The Countenance of the Lord”
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the saving health of my countenance and my God.”
2 Timothy 1:7
Amplified Bible (AMP)
” For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
God is well able to keep our minds sound and our countenance full of health and vigor as He radiates His total being through us. Today I pray that you receive this blessing from the book of Numbers. May He bless and keep you. Look to Him and gaze on His radiant face and receive His grace for your day and your life. As you do so you will find your inward man lifted up as His countenance rests upon you with His great peace!
“Cause Me To Hear”
By Dona Hake
I know it to be true that if you go to bed with much on your mind that this is how you wake up. The Lord does not want us to greet our day with the thoughts of yesterday nor the worries about our tomorrows. I love how the Psalmist asks the Lord to cause Him to hear of his Lord’s lovingkindness first thing in the morning.
Psalm 143:8 (AMP)
“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.
Cause me to know the way wherein
I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.”
Let us trust to hear His voice about our day. Are you leaning on His everlasting love today? Are you trusting Him with all of your heart, and not leaning on your own understanding? Let us remember to lean on Him for all the strength and wisdom that is needed for each task of your day. Thank Him as He unfolds His plan for your day yet be willing to allow Him to interrupt it if He has other plans for you. Lift up your soul to Him and allow Him to touch you because He loves you so!
“His Love Flowing Through Us”
I had shared yesterday about the love of our living God. His love is above and beyond what our minds can comprehend. Isn’t it wonderful to know that He is calling us as His vessels of love to a lost and dying world? I had mentioned in the devotional yesterday how as a teen I was so hard to reach for the Lord. My heart and mind had been affected by the hypocrisies that I had seen in Christians around me. May our hearts always be toward Him that we may exhibit His true life, light and love to those around us.
1 John 3:18-19 (ERV)
“My children, our love should not be only words and talk.
No, our love must be real.
We must show our love by the things we do.
That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth.”
“So Great Is His Love!!!”
Romans 5:6-8 (PHILLIPS)
” And we can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves
that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing
for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man,
though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it.
Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we
“What Will You Choose”
Proverbs 8:10-11
Expanded Bible (EXB)
“Choose [Take] my ·teachings [instructions; discipline] instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than ·the finest [choice] gold.
Wisdom is more precious than ·rubies [or pearls].
Nothing ·you could want is equal to [is more delightful than] it.”
In this scripture God is showing us that even the jewels that we could ever possess do not measure in value to His instruction, His wisdom and knowledge. Think about it…NOTHING we could ever desire no matter how wonderful can compare to the worth of His great riches !! Let us ponder this scripture and allow our hearts to be challenged. May we know that we value His Word above anything this world has to offer.
“The Blessing of Hope”
Romans 15:13 (AMP)
“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”
“Trust Him For the Next Step”
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.”
Think about times in your life in which there was change taking place, and you really did not know if you were doing the right thing . Even as you read this there may be change about to take place with your job, and you fear the uncertainties. Maybe you need confirmation regarding a decision you have to make. Some decisions almost seem like you are forced to make them in the dark. So let us read the one verse from Proverbs Chapter Three again…”With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” He promises as we trust Him that He will take hold of our hand and steer us in the right direction.
I love when the Lord uses His own little creatures that He created to teach us about depending upon Him. Today I shared an image of an Indigo Bunting. When I shot this image, I decided to research information on this sweet little bird. I read the most fascinating fact about how they migrate. Did you know that they migrate at night? They start flying south for winter around September, using the stars to guide them along their way. The first thing I thought was how amazing it is that God’s smallest of creatures just do what He created them to do. These precious blue beauties fly, and allow the stars to guide them to their destination. I am sure they would never endeavor to do their migration flight during the day because they cannot see the stars for their direction. Interesting isn’t it?
Next time you feel like you are in the dark about a decision and it seems impossible to know the right way to go, just think about the Indigo Bunting. We have the light of God’s Word to lead and guide us. He is our bright and shining star in any darkness that we may need to take flight in. The voice of the Holy Spirit will faithfully speak to us, and He will show us with every step how to go the right way! Just trust in Him with all of your heart and lean not upon your own understanding.
“A Word Fitly Spoken”
What do you think of when you hear ~~ a word fitly spoken ~~?? When I think of a word fitly spoken, I think of expressing words from my heart to someone, and you just know in your heart of hearts that you have spoken exactly what they needed to hear. Yet, those same words spoken at the wrong time could possibly not be good. Just because you know something to be true does not mean it is the moment to speak it. Today let us ponder and meditate on desiring that our words are spoken in due season. James also had some excellent advice about listening, speaking, and handling offense…James 1:19 (AMP)
“Understand [this], my beloved brethren.
Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener],
slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.”
I think of how many arguments would be avoided if this simple and profound verse was mastered. If one does not give their full attention to the one speaking to them, there will more than likely words that are spoken which could be inappropriate or hurtful. This verse has a wealth of wisdom in it for us. I think it is just as important to listen to another’s heart as well as the words that proceed from their mouth. After you have listened, then think thoroughly before you open your mouth. Many times you may feel that you have the right answer for someone’s problem yet it is not the appropriate time for that word to be spoken.
Let us ask the Lord to have sensitive hearts that we will listen more sensitively to those around us. Many times we may indeed know what that individual may need but we need to ask the Lord for the proper season to share it. I would also venture to say that the one that has mastered being a good listener also understands the value of giving their full attention and making eye contact with the one speaking.
Proverbs 25:11 (AMP)
“A word fitly spoken and in due season is like
apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Listening to someone may be the greatest gift you could give them. Choice words are even a greater gift to one that is in need. After you have listened carefully you will find they will be much more apt to hear your heartfelt and choice response. I believe the Lord can help us to guard our tongues that our words will be as choice silver and gold, and spoken at the proper time.
This is a good way of teaching the kids to forgive each other(Matt. 5:7). I like the power of this gentle scripture and lesson… Thanks!!
thank you Lisa for sharing. I am blessed that this was a blessing to you!
Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.
So glad this is blessing you both!
Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.
It is interesting Selena how the more we worry the bigger and more magnified things get in our minds. Oh how important it is to trust our God for the smallest of things! Thank you for sharing!