Devotions Archives - Page 3 of 13

Generous People Round Up

Posted on Nov 11, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

November 11, 2022

Generous people always “round up.”

A man went out for lunch one Sunday after church and the server was unfriendly – like, way unfriendly. But when it came time to settle up at the end, he felt something. He said, “It’s like the Holy Spirit said to me, ‘Round up! Bless her with a bigger tip than she’d normally get.” So, he did, and didn’t think anything more about it.

The next Sunday in church, he turned around and who was sitting right behind him? You guessed it! His server from last Sunday!

She said, “I knew you went to this church because you always came into the restaurant after church. I didn’t really like God, or like church, or like what I thought I knew about you. That’s why I was unfriendly to you. I knew I wasn’t good to you, but you still were good to me. So, I thought, You know, maybe somebody like me should use a church like that!

She went to church that Sunday … and that Sunday was the day her life changed … just by one small and simple act of rounding up.

That’s what generous people do. Wise old King Solomon said it this way: “All day long selfish people crave and crave, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.” (Proverbs 21:26)
We don’t hold back – we round up!

You see it over and over again in the Bible …

• The Good Samaritan is walking along, and he sees a man beaten and left for dead. He doesn’t say, “Stinks to be you, buddy.” No, he gets him a hotel room and Scripture says, “The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’” (Luke 10:35) He rounded up!

• Zacchaeus – same thing. Zacchaeus was a crook who stole from people. But one day he experienced the life-transforming love of Jesus, and he decided not just to give back, but to round up! He said, “If I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount!” (Luke 19:8) That’s way rounding up!

• And Jesus taught this principle: “If someone demands your shirt, give him your really cool jacket, too. If someone says, go one mile, round up and go two miles!” (Matthew 5:40-41)

And, so, how about you?

• The next time you’re contemplating, Should I give a lower amount or a higher amount on a tip? – be a blessing and round up!

• If you’re going to make a meal for someone, don’t just make a meal, make an appetizer and a dessert. Round up! Come on – you’re generous! It’s who you are!

• If you’re going to give someone a gift card to go out to dinner, hey, babysit their kids too! Because generous people round up!

And so, here’s the thing: If you want to be generous when you have more, learn to be generous when you have less. You pre-decide – because generous isn’t just what we do, generous is who we are.

But I promise you, it’s never going to be accidental. Generous people – they plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. We stand firm. We’ve already decided. We round up.

Why? Because we serve the most generous God you can ever imagine … who pre-decided to send His one and only Son that we might live the ultimate life!

Oct '22

In Your Anger

Posted on Oct 7, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Oct '22

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26: “In your anger, do not sin” – which implies that it’s not a sin to get angry. It’s going to happen. Getting angry is inevitable. Living angry is a choice.

I try to remind myself that there’s simply no upside in getting angry. There’s no win. There’s no victory. I’ve never in my life become more joyful … by getting ticked off at someone. My marriage has never gotten better … by getting annoyed at my wife. I’ve never gotten closer to God … by getting angry.

Let me say it again: Getting angry is inevitable. But living angry is a choice.
That’s why the Bible says you’ve got to be really, really careful when it comes to anger. Because if you hold onto that anger, what you’re actually doing is giving the devil a foothold in your life.

I used to think that “giving the devil a foothold” meant don’t let the devil get his foot in the door – like someone knocks on your door, you open it a crack to see who it is, and the person puts his foot in the opening so you can’t get rid of him.

But the actual Greek word for foothold is even more dramatic than that. It’s the word “topos.” It literally means a place or a room.

So, if you live in anger, you’re actually giving the devil a place inside your mind. It’s like you’re building him a little apartment in your brain. Isn’t that crazy? Here’s how crazy that is – He’s your enemy, your accuser, the prince of lies, and you’re letting him live rent free in your head.

And that’s why there’s a powerful part of this verse that I don’t want you to miss. It says: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

In other words, don’t hang onto it. Don’t let the day come to an end while you’re still holding and harboring your anger. The day of your hurt should also be the day of your healing.

Sep '22

Seeds

Posted on Sep 9, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Sep '22

Think about a seed …

You can have an apple seed on your desk for a lifetime, but it will never become an apple tree … until you put it in the ground. Its potential will never be released … until it’s planted.

As long as it’s sitting there on the desk, it will stay nice and comfortable, and it won’t have to stretch or deal with any adversity. But the seed’s potential will stay locked up on the inside.

If you were to ask that seed, I’m sure it would say, “I don’t want to go into the dirt. It’s dark, it’s lonely, and it uncomfortable when people walk all over you.”

The seed feels as though it’s been buried, as though it’s the end, but what the seed doesn’t know is that it’s not buried – it’s planted!

It has the life force of Almighty God on the inside. That dark place, buried in the dirt – that’s what brings out the beautiful flower, that’s what brings out the fruit, that’s what brings out the growth!

That’s why Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it will produce much fruit.” (John 12:24)

You may feel today like you’re in a dark place. None of us likes to be planted; it’s uncomfortable, it’s lonely. But in those dark places you have to remind yourself that new growth is on the way.

Even though it feels like something’s dying, something else is coming to life. You’re not buried; you’re planted. When you come out, you’re going to bear much fruit.

My challenge to you is this: Be willing to go through the process. Dare to trust God. You’re not buried; you’re planted. It’s just a matter of time before you break out and blossom … into who you were created to be.

Aug '22

You Are Amazing

Posted on Aug 12, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Aug '22

If you’re going to recognize your value, you have to see yourself as amazing, as wonderful!

I read that the football jersey Tom Brady wore during Superbowl LI is worth $500,000. Wait a minute! I can go on Amazon and buy the same exact jersey for $139. Same size, same cut, same color! What’s the difference? Who it belongs to! Only one belongs to Tom Brady. That makes it valuable.

The Bible says you belong to God. You may feel average. You may think you look ordinary and there’s nothing special about you. But because of Who you belong to, that makes you extremely valuable.

My challenge to you today is this: Don’t let anybody make you feel inferior. Don’t let your own thoughts push you down. Put your shoulders back. Stand tall. You belong to God.

So, guess what? You have nothing to prove.

Just be who you are. Be … amazing!

If you do this, I am here to tell you right now …

You will become the masterpiece that God designed you to be.

Jul '22

You Are Fully Loaded

Posted on Jul 8, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Jul '22

July 8, 2022

Let me tell you something … You are like an expensive sports car – you come fully loaded.

When God created you, He put in you everything you would need to live a rich meaningful life. He put in you everything you need to fulfill His plan for your life.

God is a strategic God. He’s not random. He didn’t just create you and say, “Hmmm. Let’s just see what happens. Let’s see what he can do.”

No, God is precise. He’s intentional. Down to the smallest detail. And when He laid out a plan for your life, He studied it carefully. He thought about what you would need, and what it would take to get you there. And then He matched you with your world.

He gave you the talent you would need, the creativity, the strength. You’re the right size, and you have the right looks, the right personality, and the right family. You didn’t get shortchanged. You are completely equipped for the race that’s been designed for you.

Don’t say: “If I had a better personality, I could do something great … If I was more outgoing … If I came from a different family … If I weren’t so small.”

Let me tell you something: If you needed to be taller, God would have made you taller. If you needed a different personality, He would have given you a different personality. If you needed to be a different nationality, you would be different nationality. God doesn’t make mistakes. You’re not faulty. You’re not missing anything. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made.

Jun '22

Winning Against Weariness

Posted on Jun 3, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Jun '22

June 3, 2022

Weariness may be knocking on your door, but don’t open up that door. Don’t verbalize it. Don’t give it life by speaking it and thinking it. Instead …

Take hold of God’s strength.
Today you may be dealing with battle fatigue. It’s taking longer than you thought. You’re tired of fighting, and you don’t think you can go on.

If that’s you, Jesus wants to say these words directly to you today. He says, “Come to Me when you’re weary, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

You don’t have to do it on your own.

The Bible says, “If you wait upon the Lord, He will renew your strength. You will mount up with wings like an eagle. You will run and not be weary, you will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

To “wait upon the Lord” doesn’t mean to sit back passively, lay around feeling helpless, saying, “Okay, God, I give up. I quit.”

Those who “wait upon the Lord” are described in one version as “those who look for God’s goodness, who expect God’s favor, who long for God’s blessing.” Waiting is supposed to be active. Take hold of God’s strength. Say: “Lord, thank You that You’re turning this situation around. Thank You that You’re bigger than my problems. Thank You that You’re stronger than my cancer.”

Listen to me! It starts in your mind. You won’t soar like an eagle if you’re negative in your thinking. You won’t run and not be weary if you’re focused on your problems and thinking how impossible it is. What causes your strength to be renewed is when you live in expectation. It’s when you know God is in control and God is at work in your life.

May '22

Don’t Be Discouraged by the Dark

Posted on May 6, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

May '22

May 6, 2022

The dark doesn’t mean that nothing is happening. The dark doesn’t mean that God is not working, that He didn’t hear your prayer.

Your thoughts will tell you, You would have seen something by now … You would start to feel a little better … One of those companies would have called you back … That addiction wouldn’t be this strong.

But the Bible says, “The moment you pray, the tide of the battle turns.” (Psalm 56:9)

You can’t see it, but when you prayed, you left the p.m., and you came into the a.m. It’s a new day. You may not see any sign of it – that’s okay, the sun is on its way up. You can’t stop the sun from rising, and you can’t stop God from keeping His promises.

Don’t give up. Don’t get discouraged. The moment you began to pray, the tide of the battle began to turn.

Apr '22

God is on Your Side

Posted on Apr 20, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Apr '22

April 20, 2022

You have Almighty God on your side.

David was a teenager when he faced down Goliath. When Goliath saw how small David was, he began to laugh. He said, “Am I dog that you come at me with a stick?” He was saying, “Is that the best you’ve got?”

David looked at Goliath and said, in effect, “I may be small, but I’m stronger than I look. I may be young, but I’m more experienced than I look. I may be skinny, but I’m more powerful than I look.”

David took his slingshot and, with one stone, brought down Goliath.

You may have some Goliaths telling you what you can’t so:

“You’re not strong enough to break that addiction.”
“You can’t beat that sickness.”
“You’ll never accomplish that dream.”
“You’re not big enough!”

You have to do like David, and tell Goliath, “I may look small, but I’m stronger than you think. You haven’t seen the best of me. You look at me and you think I’m just a small David or a weak Gideon. But you’re looking at a Mighty Hero.”

I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but hear me when I say this … That problem is not going to defeat you. That trouble is not going to define you. That loss is not how your story ends. You are going to discover things in you that you didn’t know you had.

I believe even now strength is rising up in you. Dreams are coming back to life. You’re about to see God do things that you couldn’t do, turn situations around that looked permanent, and open doors that person can shut.

Apr '22

Your Place is Waiting

Posted on Apr 1, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Apr '22

April 1, 2022

Jesus loves you. That’s not a cliché; that is a reality. Jesus is crazy in love with you. I can never put into words how much He loves you.

And He wants you to have a place … a place with Him forever in heaven. Now – now that He has removed your sin and burned it away on the cross – Jesus can say, “Done! It’s a done deal. You have a home waiting for you in heaven.”

Let me ask you this question: What’s the difference between Christianity and every other religion? The answer: Religion is spelled, D-O. Do! Do this, do that, and maybe you’ll do enough to get into heaven. But Christianity is spelled, D-O-N-E. Done! The Bible says that Jesus has already done everything that’s needed to get you into heaven.

You say, “Jeff, I must have to do something.” No! It’s taken care of. It’s done. Just accept it and respond with a grateful heart. You can’t beg, bargain, or bribe your way into heaven. You just accept it.

The Bible marvels at this: “Saving us was all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!” (Ephesians 2:8)

You say, “But, Jeff, I still worry … I worry what’s going to happen when I die… Will I be okay? Will God let me into heaven?” Friend, you don’t have to worry! The Bible says, “Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Anyone – that includes you! That includes me! Anyone!

You don’t have to be afraid of death any longer. I can honestly say, I’m not afraid of death. I’m afraid of pain, but not afraid of death. Death is just a transfer and I know where I’m going. A lot of my friends and family are going to be there waiting for me. And, right away, I’m going to run over to Jesus and finally look deep into His eyes and see Him smile. I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid because Jesus said, “Don’t worry. I got this for you. It’s a done deal. Your place is waiting.”

Mar '22

Prayer of Forgiveness

Posted on Mar 4, 2022 by admin in Devotions |

Mar '22

March 4, 2022

Father, I know without a doubt that there are people right here now who are suffering under an immense load of guilt and shame and regret. For some people it’s been eating away at them for years. Let this be the day of their release. Let this be the day of their relief … relief that comes with Your forgiveness.

Now I want to invite you to pray the steps for forgiveness. I want you to say something like this in your mind – just say it to God, in your mind …

Dear God, You know everything about me. You know everything I’m ashamed of. You know my regrets, my mistakes, my habits.

Today, I admit that I need Your forgiveness. I not only admit it, I accept responsibility for it. I’m not going to blame anybody else in my life. I’m not going to make excuses. I’m going to own up to it.

Lord Jesus, thank You for what You did on the cross – for Your body being broken and Your blood being shed – for the cross, where Your blood ran red, and my sins washed white. Thank You for saying, “Father, forgive them.” I do accept Your gift of forgiveness. Please, Lord, help me feel forgiven.

If you sincerely prayed that prayer, then I want to say to you … In the Name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.