Prayers Devotionals

  T here was a little boy who walked home from Sunday school, and the family was sitting around the old potbelly stove talking. The boy told his dad and papa about the lesson. The boy was so excited. He told them he'd gone up to the altar and accepted Jesus as   his personal savior. The boy said he was going to live the rest of his life for Jesus. And the old grandpa said, grandson, it's impossible to live a life for Jesus. It's too hard. The boy lowered his head and sat in the corner. After a long silence, the la d came back and said, Papa, I'm going to live for Jesus for a year. The old man said, Boy, it's impossible. You can't do it. They went back in the corner. After weighing the situation, the grandson said, Papa, how about a month? Nope, you can't do that. The boy said, How about a week? No. A day? No. No. T he boy sat a long time and came back. Papa, can I live a moment for Jesus? The grandfather said, yes. Yes, you can. The boy jumped up and down....

What does Proverbs 1:7 mean? ESV:   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ; fools despise wisdom and instruction . NIV: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge , but fools despise wisdom and instruction . NASB: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ; Fools despise wisdom and instruction . CSB: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ; fools despise wisdom and discipline . NLT: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge , but fools despise wisdom and discipline. KJV: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge : but fools despise wisdom and instruction . NKJV:   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,  But fools despise wisdom and instruction . Verse Commentary: This verse is the cornerstone of the entire book. Solomon is making an absolute statement, against any knowledge that takes precedence over the Lord.   The use of "fear," in this context, is not mea nt to imply...

 Thought of the Day When we get angry, we need to ask myself, “Why am I angry? Is it because my preferences or God’s purposes are being challenged?” The question is whether you want to be kept. As we grow in our relationship with God, so does our spiritual maturity.  Growing isn't always fun - in fact, it can be pretty painful - but during our trials and hard times, we must never forget a simple truth. We can choose to learn from life's difficulties and hardships and mature into the man or woman God has created us to be, or we can choose to be upset and learn nothing. Jesus prayed for our preservation. God wants us to be strong spiritually. God want us to cross the finish line with flying colors. We all know people who have made a profession of faith and were growing so much spiritually that we may have even looked up to them as spiritual leaders. But then one day they crashed and burned. They simply walked away from the faith. We think, “If someone like that could fall, then ...

 Trying to get a perfect score on “following all the rules” is not the key to life. The key to life is knowing Jesus and letting him change us from the inside out. He wants us to obey him out of love, not just follow rules out of fear or pride. The Bible puts it this way: “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Keeping religious score is a waste of time. Loving and obeying Jesus is the only thing that counts.  

 Trying to get a perfect score on “following all the rules” is not the key to life. The key to life is knowing Jesus and letting him change us from the inside out. He wants us to obey him out of love, not just follow rules out of fear or pride. The Bible puts it this way: “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Keeping religious score is a waste of time. Loving and obeying Jesus is the only thing that counts.  

 Two types of thoughts continually vie for your attention. One proclaims God’s strengths; the other lists your failures. One longs to build you up; the other seeks to tear you down. And here’s the great news: you select the voice you hear. Why listen to the mockers? Why heed their voices? Why give ear to pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God? Do what David did. Turn a deaf ear to the old voices. Open a wide eye to the new choices. Who knows, you may be a prayer away from a nevertheless. God loves to give them. Peter stuck his foot in his mouth. Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt. The Samaritan woman had been married five times. Jesus was dead in the grave … Nevertheless, Peter preached, Joseph ruled, the woman shared, Jesus rose — and you? You fill in the blank. Your nevertheless awaits you.

 Accordingly, there are at least three things we can do to benefit from this ministry in our lives. First, we can commit ourselves to studying the Bible, knowing that when we do, the Holy Spirit will often guide our understanding. Second, we can dedicate ourselves to prayer, continually asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, wisdom, understanding, and the will to obey. And third, we can devote ourselves to righteous and holy living, being determined to live according to the truths the Spirit teaches us. A conscience isn’t designed to be our guide; it is a tool of the Guide. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path. He uses a variety of tools to conform us to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29). A lot of believers can quote Scripture, but when they face a daunting trial—like a job loss or frightening diagnosis—their confidence wavers and doubt prevails. Divine promises won’t necessarily take away the pain ...

Problems with the Apostolic Church Why I left the Apostolic Christian Church

  What should you do when you’re criticized or attacked? Take it to the Lord. The Bible says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). Two things you can always pass on to Jesus are criticism and praise we receive. One can deflate you, and the other can inflate you. If you focus on your critics, you will not be doing what God has called you to do. If your eyes are on the opposition, they are not on the Lord. When you’re under attack, take it to the Lord in prayer. My secret is simple. I pray. I trust God I trust Jesus I trust the Holy Spirit 1 day at a time Then pray some more and forgive your enemies or any others that criticize you and let it go. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Stay on the straight and narrow.

 What set Jesus apart as the Messiah? His birth: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born, as prophesied, in Bethlehem to a virgin. Though angels announced His arrival and He reigns over all creation, Jesus entered our world in a lowly manner so He could be identified with the meek and the poor. His wisdom: At age 12, He spent three days with rabbis, asking questions that showed his uncommon understanding. His baptism: Though He didn’t need cleansing, Jesus asked John to baptize Him so He could identify with sinners and demonstrate His love to them. His temptation: Satan tempted Him relentlessly for 40 days, yet He did not sin. His ministry: He challenged man-made religious traditions. And by healing people—regardless of nationality—raising the dead, and forgiving sins, He revealed that God wants to be involved personally in our lives. Leading Pharisees wanted Him dead, but the Father protected His life until the crucifixion.

We have to define what it means to be a sinner, because the Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet there are preachers today who don’t want to tell people they’re sinners. They claim that most people know they’re doing wrong. But do they? I think a lot of people believe everything is fine as long as they try to live a good life. We have to break the bad news: “I’m sorry to tell you this, friend, but you’re a sinner. You’ve broken God’s commands. You’ve fallen short of His standards, and there is nothing you can do to make this right. But God loved you so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for you, and if you will turn from that sin and put your faith in Christ, you can be forgiven.” The bad news helps us fully appreciate the good news. Anything less than this is a false gospel that will give false assurance. That is why Paul wrote, “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God. . . . You are following a different way ...

 “Watching Out for Greed” Scripture: Luke 12:13-21 The third enemy of the heart? Greed. It’s when we feel that we deserve more and more worldly wealth and goods. Greed says, “I owe me.” Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” Why? Because of the four heart conditions we’re considering, greed is the most subtle of all. Greed can take up residence in the heart and live there for years undetected. The unguarded heart is highly susceptible to this debilitating disease. It’s difficult to diagnose—especially to self-diagnose. Jesus went on to uncover the lie that fuels all greed: “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” But doesn’t everybody know that? Do people really believe that their lives are equivalent to what they own? The answer is no and yes. No, not everybody knows that. And yes, there are people who believe that your life is pretty much the sum total of what you own. And many of us today are more prone to this belief than we might i...

 "Wallowing in your own worry, will wreck you." John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. It’s wonderful when you can be lifted up through worship. I’m not talking about mind over matter; I’m talking about faith over circumstances. I’m not talking about positive thinking; I’m talking about honoring God, who is still on the throne no matter what you’re going through. You’re not God’s solution to society, but a solution in society. Imitate Paul, who said, “Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us” (2 Cor. 10:13 NLT). Clarify your contribution. Don’t worry about skills you don’t have. Don’t covet strengths others do have. Just extract your uniqueness. “Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you” (2 Tim. 1:6 NASB). We shouldn’t be intimidated by prayer. We don’t need to wonder if we are doing it “the right way” or if we are saying “the right thing.” God simply wants us to be in an intimate relationship with Him, an...

 What would happen—I know this is a crazy thought—but what would happen if all the churches agreed, on a given day, to change their names to simply church? What if reference to any denomination were removed and we were all just Christians?  Then we Christians would not be known for what divides us; instead we would be known for what unites us—our common Father. Is it a crazy idea? Perhaps. But I think God would like it. It was his to begin with. What if we all prayed the same prayer that will God would bless us all and forgive us all of our sins and make us whole (all at the same time one voice crying out our Great Heavenly Father save us and heal us), that the power of prayer will heal this world and put Satan back in the pit and to never, ever let him out to run free again and purge this planet, just think how wonderful life would be, interesting thought isn’t it. You can take a man—dress him up, put him in the front row in church, and he almost looks like a saint. He may fo...

 With these things in mind, I'd like to encourage you to develop four important new habits so that you can continue to grow spiritually. Read your Bible daily. The Bible is God's Word. It is our source of spiritual food, and provides direction for us in all matters of life. Pray. Let your prayers be a two-way communication in which you bring your requests to Him, and more importantly, where He can speak to you. Attend a church where the Bible is faithfully taught. The church you attend will have a tremendous impact on your spiritual growth, maturity, and fulfillment as a Christian. Share your faith with others. You will be strengthened as a believer, and others will hear the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.

Trust can be delicate and challenging to find. Most people have pieces of history where someone let them down or took advantage of them. There was existing trust extended to another and that trust was shattered in the aftermath of betrayal. It doesn’t matter who you are; I've witnessed a scale where pastors limit their circle in extreme lengths, to people shutting out those that love them most to avoid loss again. Trust is one of the most important attributes of the Christian walk. Trusting God and His process is key to our faith journey, and yet for most of us, our experiences in our past can leave us scared to death or unsure of how to trust. This reading plan will walk you through a trust journey; however, you must first understand why it’s important. Proverbs 3:5-10 is an exploration of that why. The first step in our why is to acknowledge our God and His plans. An understanding of the power, depth, and perfection of His plan must be acknowledged by you and me. When we can embr...

 When you come together in worship with God’s people, something wonderful happens. God is omnipresent, which means that He is present everywhere at the same time. But He manifests His presence and reveals Himself in a unique way when we gather for worship and Bible study. When you unplug from that, you’re missing out on a significant thing God wants to do in your life. Likewise, when the Enemy sifts believers today, his goal is for us to become shelved and ineffective for God's kingdom. That's why he goes after our strengths, especially the areas in which we proudly consider ourselves invincible. But if we're willing, the Lord can use our failures to do spiritual housecleaning, as He did in Peter's life. Failure was the catalyst that grew in him a stronger, more authentic faith. Change the thoughts, and you change the person. If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, what happens when we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s love? Will standing beneath the downpour of...

 When you come to a safe haven you should feel love free from worry, stress, leave the cares of the world at the door before you enter. The question is when you are in your safe haven and there are people that have to ridicule other people right in your safe haven I mean really right in front of the person basically the disappointment is heart breaking. “If any earthly institution or custom conflicts with God’s will, it is your Christian duty to oppose it. You must never allow the transitory, evanescent demands of man-made institutions to take precedence over the eternal demands of the Almighty God.” “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” James 2:2-4 New American Standard Bible 1995  For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and...

  When a baby matures, it also develops. The baby learns coordination, and its body parts develop, grow, and work together. Babies move from milk to solid food. Paul compared this development to that of a Christian: “Everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity” (Hebrews 5:13–6:1). Development is marked by change. If you give earthly excuses about why things are happening in your life, you are living as a natural man. But if your reaction to your situation is to focus on Christ at work in you, you are becoming a mature believer. When you are mature, you will react, think, and act like Christ because you are being conformed into His image.

One of my favorite scenes in Scripture is the dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 7. I wish I could have been there to see it. Imagine being alive at that moment. Can you imagine watching fire come down from heaven? What is God’s glory like? I imagine my heart pounding. I picture myself struggling to even breathe and keep from fainting. Then there’s the thrill of worshiping with other believers in the middle of it all! The temple was the place where heaven intersected with earth. A glimpse of His glory was made visible to human eyes. The New Testament describes something even greater. The fact that I covet the Old Testament experience is an indication that I don’t appreciate the new reality as I should. I would give anything to stand outside the temple and watch God’s glory descend. But I get something so much better: I am literally a part of the temple itself! Somehow by the blood of Jesus, I became worthy of joining with others to form a dwelling place for God! Peter described u...

 Jesus Christ calls us to salvation for a reason. Ephesians 2:8–10 tells us that we are given the gift of salvation for a specific purpose that was determined before we were born. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. If the Lord has a specific work for us to do, we can trust that He will equip us to complete it. Are you fulfilling your calling? Is there something you keep avoiding? Whatever His call requires of you, He will provide you with the resources to get the job done. What’s more, you will experience the matchless joy of knowing that you are right where you belong. Focus on Him. Do not depend on your own thoughts, ideas or understanding. Instead, let Him steer you into His perfect plan. Live out your calling. It is a uniquely designed calling that the Lord has purposefully equipped you to carry out.

If you've dealt with stress for long enough, you realize you can postpone it, deal with it, and live through it, but you can’t overcome it on your own. Stress is chaos of the mind. It’s reacting to changing circumstances that make us feel threatened, scared, worried, or anxious. But even though we can’t overcome stress on our own, we have access to the antidote—peace. Jesus is described as the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9. Jesus was and is the fulfillment of peace. When Jesus was on earth, He promised His disciples that He would give and leave His peace with us even after He returned to heaven. There is no peace apart from Him. Peace is also described as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so it’s obviously and understandably pretty important. There are a lot of people and things that claim to bring peace to our lives: self-care techniques, articles about meditation,  journaling , and tons of other options. And while there’s certainly a place for all of those things, there’s no substitute...

God calls us so that we might participate in His plan. He plants a seed of purpose in our hearts, but why? He calls us because He loves us. He begins writing our story so that others might understand how awesome He is. Before the foundation of the world, each of us was designed in every intricate detail. God had your days ordered before you were ever born. So, tell your story. Let someone know exactly how God has done phenomenal work in your life. Who can you share your story with today?

 You say you forgive but yet in the back of your mind it sets (but don't let it fester) just waiting to bring it forth at the right time to use it as a club to beat down whoever offended you.  So yes be like the apostles (Shaking the dust off one’s feet conveys the same idea as our modern phrase “I wash my hands of it.”)  if they cant forgive you shake it off yourself and let it go and move on, let God and Jesus handle the situation there is no reason you should be keep beating yourself up over it. So apologize anyway if you think your right or wrong and if they hold a grudge over it well then that's on them then, God and Jesus forgave you time after time and will still keep doing it so better for your health your mind and soul to "Let It Go". Best to give yourself a mental attitude adjustment than have God or Jesus to intervene.

What does Hebrews 10:26 mean?   Question: "Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that a believer can lose salvation?"   https://www.bibleref.com/biblepassage/Printer?section=Hebrews_10:26&lang=en   https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=1369   apostatize - apostasy To abandon one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause. To renounce totally a religious belief once professed; to forsake one's church, the faith or principles once held, or the party to which one has previously adhered. intransitive verb To give up or renounce one's position or belief .

What does 2 Thessalonians 3:6 mean?   In this verse Paul instructs his readers to avoid any Christian who makes a practice of being idle instead of heeding what Paul had commanded. His command was intended to exclude the offenders from fellowship of other church members, not necessarily a rej ection of their membership. Paul considered idleness so serious a behavior that he claims the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ for his command. He had previously written to the Thessalonians about idleness. He had instructed them to admonish the idle ( 1 Thessalonian 5:14 ). Apparently, the admonishing had not taken effect, so now Paul commands the Thessalonians to take stronger action.   As a former Pharisee who studied under the famous rabbi Gamaliel ( Acts 22:3 ), Paul was well acquainted with the Old Testament's frequent denunciation of idleness. ( Proverbs 6:6 ; 19:15 ; 24:33–34 ). Unchecked idleness often allows a person to fill their free time with unhelpful practices, such as go...

  Yes, denominations are considered man-made divisions within Christianity, created based on differing beliefs, practices, and organizational structures. The Bible emphasizes the importance of unity among believers, suggesting that these divisions are con trary to the original intent of the Church. https://www.gotquestions.org/denominations-Christian.html