A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 CEB)
Now I know that not everything in life is necessarily enjoyable, but I think we all need to learn to have more fun in our lives. And I bet if you took time to think about it every day, you could find a moment that brought you joy or you can laugh about now.
God wants His children to have some fun. The Bible says a merry heart does good like medicine. I think we all need a healthy dose of laughter every day - many times during the day. You just can't overdose on joy!
I encourage you to deliberately look for something to smile or laugh about every day, and be sure to share a smile or a laugh with someone else and brighten their day too!
Prayer Starter: Lord, Your Word says that a cheerful heart is like good medicine. Thank You for helping me to find the joy and fun in life!
-Joyce Myers
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What is Real Love?
The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8 CEB)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us examples of the many facets of love:
Love endures long, it has the ability to put up with stuff for a long time.
Love is never envious, it doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love is not boastful or vainglorious, it doesn't call attention to itself.
Love is not conceited or rude.
Love doesn't insist on its own way.
Love pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
Love never gives up!
These are just a few ways we're supposed to love others...and it's also the way God loves us. First John 4:8 says that "God is love." He loves us and has saved us, so now we can share His love with others.
To imitate God, we have to look at Jesus, a perfect representation of God who lived out all of the descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13. He always acted in love in every situation, even when people came against Him.
Colossians 3:12-14 says to "clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones.... And [put on] love".... Like Jesus, let's clothe ourselves in love and choose to follow His example, bringing honor and glory to God.
Prayer Starter: God, You have shown me what love is like by loving me first. Help me to follow the example of Jesus and live out all the facets of love in my day-to-day life.
- Joyce Myers
I Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us examples of the many facets of love:
Love endures long, it has the ability to put up with stuff for a long time.
Love is never envious, it doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love is not boastful or vainglorious, it doesn't call attention to itself.
Love is not conceited or rude.
Love doesn't insist on its own way.
Love pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
Love never gives up!
These are just a few ways we're supposed to love others...and it's also the way God loves us. First John 4:8 says that "God is love." He loves us and has saved us, so now we can share His love with others.
To imitate God, we have to look at Jesus, a perfect representation of God who lived out all of the descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13. He always acted in love in every situation, even when people came against Him.
Colossians 3:12-14 says to "clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones.... And [put on] love".... Like Jesus, let's clothe ourselves in love and choose to follow His example, bringing honor and glory to God.
Prayer Starter: God, You have shown me what love is like by loving me first. Help me to follow the example of Jesus and live out all the facets of love in my day-to-day life.
- Joyce Myers
No Fear
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18 CEB)
First John 4:18 teaches that understanding God's love for us will deliver us from our fears. Now this doesn't mean we won't ever feel fear, but faith in God and His love will enable us to 'do it afraid' if we have to.
God wants you to know that He is with you. He will lead and guide you, so you can put your confidence and faith in Him!
Remember, His love is perfect, even when we aren't. He isn't going to love us any more or less because of our mistakes. Isn't it good to know that God loves you right where you are? Doesn't that thought just kind of boost your faith and take your fear down a notch?
You and I are going to feel afraid now and then. When we do, we can get our focus back on God and know that He will lead us through any situation we face.
It's the perfect love of God, not perfect us, that casts out fear every single time
Prayer Starter: God, only Your love can cast out my fear, so I put my faith in You. I know that Your presence is with me and that You will lead me through any fearful situation I face. I receive Your love.
-Joyce Myers
First John 4:18 teaches that understanding God's love for us will deliver us from our fears. Now this doesn't mean we won't ever feel fear, but faith in God and His love will enable us to 'do it afraid' if we have to.
God wants you to know that He is with you. He will lead and guide you, so you can put your confidence and faith in Him!
Remember, His love is perfect, even when we aren't. He isn't going to love us any more or less because of our mistakes. Isn't it good to know that God loves you right where you are? Doesn't that thought just kind of boost your faith and take your fear down a notch?
You and I are going to feel afraid now and then. When we do, we can get our focus back on God and know that He will lead us through any situation we face.
It's the perfect love of God, not perfect us, that casts out fear every single time
Prayer Starter: God, only Your love can cast out my fear, so I put my faith in You. I know that Your presence is with me and that You will lead me through any fearful situation I face. I receive Your love.
-Joyce Myers
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Rely On God
I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. (Galatians 5:16 CEB)
I believe every time we feel frustration, it means we've really stopped relying on God. That might sound like a bold statement to you, but think about it: God's given you and me His Holy Spirit and His grace to help us walk through anything that comes our way. Frustration hits when we stop depending on Him and try to make something happen our own way.
Understanding this really helped me. Every time I became frustrated, I reminded myself that what I was really doing was trying to take the place of the Holy Spirit. I was trying to be Holy Spirit Junior!
Do you struggle with an independent spirit? When you refuse to depend on God, in essence, you're saying, "Okay, God, I appreciate that You're around, but watch me do this." Depending on God for everything may be difficult, but it's the key to the victory we need every single day of our lives.
When God saved us, He didn't help us and then say, "Ok, that's it. You're on your own now!" He's eternally saved us, which means if we depend on Him, He will guide us and help us.
Galations 5:16 urges us to "walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit...then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh".... Notice that it doesn't say "conquer the flesh independently...then you will certainly not gratify the desires of the flesh." No, it says to live in the Holy Spirit.
Choose to stop living independently, and rely on the Holy Spirit. I promise you won't regret it!
Prayer Starter: God, You are all I need. Help me not to trust in myself, but to put my trust in You and to rely only on You.
-Joyce Myers
I believe every time we feel frustration, it means we've really stopped relying on God. That might sound like a bold statement to you, but think about it: God's given you and me His Holy Spirit and His grace to help us walk through anything that comes our way. Frustration hits when we stop depending on Him and try to make something happen our own way.
Understanding this really helped me. Every time I became frustrated, I reminded myself that what I was really doing was trying to take the place of the Holy Spirit. I was trying to be Holy Spirit Junior!
Do you struggle with an independent spirit? When you refuse to depend on God, in essence, you're saying, "Okay, God, I appreciate that You're around, but watch me do this." Depending on God for everything may be difficult, but it's the key to the victory we need every single day of our lives.
When God saved us, He didn't help us and then say, "Ok, that's it. You're on your own now!" He's eternally saved us, which means if we depend on Him, He will guide us and help us.
Galations 5:16 urges us to "walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit...then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh".... Notice that it doesn't say "conquer the flesh independently...then you will certainly not gratify the desires of the flesh." No, it says to live in the Holy Spirit.
Choose to stop living independently, and rely on the Holy Spirit. I promise you won't regret it!
Prayer Starter: God, You are all I need. Help me not to trust in myself, but to put my trust in You and to rely only on You.
-Joyce Myers
Finish Strong
I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4 CEB)
There are a lot of people who step out and begin a journey with God, but I don't think there are nearly as many who finish it.
The apostle Paul said, '...If only I may finish my course with joy...' (Acts 20:24).
I'm determined to finish God's call for me and enjoy every minute of it! That's what I want for you, too, to enjoy every single day of your life and finish what God's called you to do.
But most of this is up to us. It's not all up to God. He has done His part and given us everything we need in Christ. It's up to us to keep learning, growing, and letting the Spirit of God work in us. Take time to consider the things that God has called you to do and ask yourself, "What am I doing today to finish strong what God has set before me?"
God has great plans for you. Receive them by faith and go after them with all your heart. Today, I want you to make a commitment to finish strong. It's a commitment I know God will honor.
Prayer Starter: God, like Jesus, I want to be able to say that I have completed the work You have for me. Thank You for working in me to give me the power and the desire to live for Your pleasure and finish my course with joy!
-Joyce Myers
There are a lot of people who step out and begin a journey with God, but I don't think there are nearly as many who finish it.
The apostle Paul said, '...If only I may finish my course with joy...' (Acts 20:24).
I'm determined to finish God's call for me and enjoy every minute of it! That's what I want for you, too, to enjoy every single day of your life and finish what God's called you to do.
But most of this is up to us. It's not all up to God. He has done His part and given us everything we need in Christ. It's up to us to keep learning, growing, and letting the Spirit of God work in us. Take time to consider the things that God has called you to do and ask yourself, "What am I doing today to finish strong what God has set before me?"
God has great plans for you. Receive them by faith and go after them with all your heart. Today, I want you to make a commitment to finish strong. It's a commitment I know God will honor.
Prayer Starter: God, like Jesus, I want to be able to say that I have completed the work You have for me. Thank You for working in me to give me the power and the desire to live for Your pleasure and finish my course with joy!
-Joyce Myers
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Set Free
The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:10 CEB)
God is in the business of setting us free, and it's glorious to be free from guilt, condemnation, and always wondering what people are thinking of us.
We're set free from the concern of failing when we know who we are in Christ. This brings us the courage to be able to step out and pursue God's promises.
One of the greatest freedoms God has given me is the freedom to be me. For years I tried to be something I wasn't, feeling like I needed to be like this or like that, all the while knowing I wasn't like everyone else. Yet, I kept trying to be like others until I learned through my relationship with God who He created me to be. This also set me free from me, so I can focus on Jesus and reaching out to others the way He wants me to.
Be relentless to stay in faith and receive God's promises. Remember, you belong to Him and He's given you a relentless spirit!
Prayer Starter: God, I want to live a new life, relentlessly pursuing You and Your promises. I trust You to help me become all You created me to be and experience true freedom.
- Joyce Myers
God is in the business of setting us free, and it's glorious to be free from guilt, condemnation, and always wondering what people are thinking of us.
We're set free from the concern of failing when we know who we are in Christ. This brings us the courage to be able to step out and pursue God's promises.
One of the greatest freedoms God has given me is the freedom to be me. For years I tried to be something I wasn't, feeling like I needed to be like this or like that, all the while knowing I wasn't like everyone else. Yet, I kept trying to be like others until I learned through my relationship with God who He created me to be. This also set me free from me, so I can focus on Jesus and reaching out to others the way He wants me to.
Be relentless to stay in faith and receive God's promises. Remember, you belong to Him and He's given you a relentless spirit!
Prayer Starter: God, I want to live a new life, relentlessly pursuing You and Your promises. I trust You to help me become all You created me to be and experience true freedom.
- Joyce Myers
Faith In God
Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. (Romans 12:3 CEB)
Ask yourself today, "What am I doing with my faith?" Are you putting your faith in yourself, or in others, or in your circumstances? That's not living in grace, that's just living by your own strength and works. And it won't get the job done!
But when you release your faith and trust God to do what you can't do, you're putting your faith in Him. Then grace, God's power, will come through the channel of faith and will enable you to do things that will amaze you and others.
Put your faith in God. He wants to give you His grace today.
Prayer Starter: God, I know that life won't always go the way I want it to, but I trust in You. By faith, I receive Your grace, the power You have freely given to help me walk through any situation I face today.
- Joyce Myers
Ask yourself today, "What am I doing with my faith?" Are you putting your faith in yourself, or in others, or in your circumstances? That's not living in grace, that's just living by your own strength and works. And it won't get the job done!
But when you release your faith and trust God to do what you can't do, you're putting your faith in Him. Then grace, God's power, will come through the channel of faith and will enable you to do things that will amaze you and others.
Put your faith in God. He wants to give you His grace today.
Prayer Starter: God, I know that life won't always go the way I want it to, but I trust in You. By faith, I receive Your grace, the power You have freely given to help me walk through any situation I face today.
- Joyce Myers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)