Share a Devotional

[Shalico2007]

If you have a devotional of some kind, please feel free to share it here, as you never know, you may be encouraging someone. It doesn't need to be long, just whatever the Lord lays on your heart.

This is for anyone who feels like they're being persecuted by the world:

John 15:18-25 - "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persectued Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My Name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.' "

 

[WannaWitness]

The following is from Matthew chapter 8, verses 23-27:

"Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are perishing!' But He said to them, 'Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?' Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?' "

To me, this is meaningful in that we can look at the "winds" and the "waves" in our lives, and have the faith that Jesus can and will calm them, no matter how big they are. His power is so AWESOME, isn't it!

 

[Shalico2007]

John 11:35 says, "Jesus wept."

Jesus was very humble, Himself; we should follow His example.

 

[WannaWitness]

Here's a little something I personally find encouraging. It's found in Galatians 6:9-10:

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

 

[johnd]

My wife and I read a chapter a day in Proverbs responsively.

There are 31 Proverbs and roughly 31 days in a month. On shorter months we read 2 (in February as many as 4) on the last day of the month. Each month we trade who starts the reading first. Oh, and we light a seven candled menorah (just like the one below only brass) and pray devotionally first.

 

[Shalico2007]

John 14:1-6 says:

" 'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.' Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' "

This verse, to me, gives me hope and encouragement. I hope this blesses you as well. God bless!

 

[angelwind]

1 Samuel 26:1---27:12

Then Saul said to David,
"May you be blessed, my son David!
You shall do great things and also still prevail."

So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

1Sam. 26:25

​

I've been reading again of David and his struggle with Saul. The Lord has used the battle to train David and test his heart before he is given the throne of Israel...David has done better than he knew...even tho he lived in the wilderness, very uncomfortable places and hid in caves...he was learning to overcome and did not know it.


Saul can represent a lot of different things to me...my own flesh for one...opposition from authorities (principalities and powers)...people in general or specific folks who just seem to be out to do evil in this world.

Now today...I have come close to giving up with a battle and in a way I have...just like David does. It seems like it will end badly...the struggle is all I have known...but in Christ I am overcoming much...in Him I shall prevail.

I have found a Ziklag sort of place to retreat to (1Sam. 27:6). I can still manuver from here. but I have withdrawn from the fight with my main opponent of this season...the Lord will take care of it for me.

I am encouraged to know it is not long after this time...when it seemed so dark to David...that Saul fell in battle.


I put this in my journal yesterday...maybe some one else will hear some encouragement there.​

__________________​

 

[Shalico2007]

I am glad and encouraged to see other people sharing Scripture and what it means to them. You never know who you will be helping.

 

[WannaWitness]

This thread is very underrated; I think it should be a joy for people to willingly share Scriptures and to talk about the the MARVELOUS and WONDERFUL things that God has done in our lives.

A little passage in Luke chapter 19 tells us how it is possible for even the so-called "unlovable" of this world to be saved. Zacchaeus was one of those people. Let us begin with verse 1, and go through verse 10...

"Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was short of stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.' So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, 'He has gone to be the guest with a man who is a sinner.' Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.' And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.' "

Can you imagine what that crowd was thinking? How could Jesus do such a thing -- to keep company with such a wicked heathen? Yet nobody knew but the Lord and Zacchaeus what was really going to take place. Jesus knew Zacchaeus was searching for Him. It was that very day that Zacchaeus' life was changed, and turned completely around. This can be cross-referenced with Matthew 9:9-13 when Jesus and His disciples were eating at a table with many tax-collectors. The Pharisees did not like what they were seeing, and asked Jesus' disciples why He was doing this, eating with such dispicable people, these awful tax collectors. Jesus' own response was that it was the sick, not the healthy, that need the doctor. The sinners, or spiritually ill people, are the ones who need the Gospel brought to them.

So what is stopping any of us believers from ministering to those who are lost?

 

[Shalico2007]

1 John 4:1-2 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God."

This Scripture means to me that we are to be very careful about the different types of doctrines that we embrace. The only way we can be sure of what's right is by GETTING INTO GOD'S HOLY WORD; this is the only way that we'll know the truth.

 

[angelwind]

This fits in with other verses I am thinking of today...

 

[Shalico2007]

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

I thank Jesus Christ for His wonderful promises!

 

[Shalico2007]

Psalm 100: "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."

This Scripture pretty much speaks for itself.

 

[angelwind]

Psalm 100: "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."

This Scripture pretty much speaks for itself.

Amen!!!!

 

[Shalico2007]

"Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21

Praise God for his free, wonderful gift of salvation. All we have to do is ask!

 

[Shalico2007]

Isaiah 58:9 "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry and He shall say, Here I am."

Isn't it nice to know that Jesus always gives a listening ear!

 

[angelwind]

From the Lord Himself...who is "truly" blessed:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mt. 5:3-12

 

[Shalico2007]

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

 

[angelwind]

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Gal. 6:8-10

 

[Shalico2007]

Psalm 5:12 "For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous: with favor wilt Thou compass him as with a shield."