Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Devotional - 04/25/2012 ("The Good Life Without the Sweat")

(This devotional was copied from Joseph Prince...It was too good not to share)

The Good Life Without The Sweat





As children of God, we should never say, “I don’t have any faith.” To say this is to say that God is a liar because His Word already tells us that “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”.

Why then does the faith of some seem to be stronger than others?

Well, faith is like muscles. We are all born with a measure of muscles. But some of us develop our muscles better than others. Bodybuilders, for example, exercise their muscles very regularly to make them grow bigger and stronger.

Likewise, your measure of faith grows when you feed and use it. Each time you hear or read God’s Word, you are feeding your faith. When you confess God’s Word and expect good things to happen to you, you are using it. And the more you use it, the more your faith grows.

So use your faith. You could start with headaches, for example. When you have a headache, instead of always running straight for your painkillers, use your faith. Ask God for healing, and trust and thank Him for the healing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with taking medicine. And if you have to go to the doctor, don’t feel condemned either. Just start using your faith at a level you are comfortable with. If you need to go to the doctor, then go in faith, praying, “Abba Father, I am going to the doctor. I am asking You in Jesus’ name to give the doctor wisdom to give me an accurate diagnosis. My trust is not in him but in You.”

And when you take your medicine, don’t just pop in the pills. In faith, say, “Lord, sanctify this medicine,” then take it. This is because some medicines have negative side effects. So when you ask God to sanctify it, He blesses that medicine. And what will be developing in you, growing bigger and possessing your body until it is too widespread, is divine health!

Beloved, you have been given a measure of faith. Start using it, believing that it is this measure of your faith that causes you to draw from the inexhaustible power of a faithful and loving God!

Devotional - 04/25/2012 (Influences - PT 1)

"My Adolescent Influences: The Good and Bad"


** THE FOLLOWING SHORT DEVOTIONAL IS ONE THAT IS VERY DEAR AND NEAR TO MY HEART. WHEN I WAS A YOUNGER BOY I HAD SOME NOT-SO-GOOD INFLUENCES...HECK...I HAD DOWNRIGHT DIRTY INFLUENCES WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. THERE WERE, HOWEVER, SOME GOOD/GREAT INFLUENCES.

** MY FOLLOWING TOPIC VERSES MAY SEEM LIKE THE WRONG VERSES AT FIRST BUT STAY WITH ME ON THIS...I'M GONNA BRING IT HOME JUST AS REAL AS I CAN...THIS VERY WELL COULD BE LIFE CHANGING FOR YOU. I KNOW THAT AS GOD GAVE ME THE WORDS TO SAY IN THIS DEVOTIONAL, HE WAS PREPARING YOUR HEART TO COME ACROSS THIS AND READ IT. GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY FOR WHAT HE DOES EACH DAY IN YOUR LIFE!

Isaiah 61:1-3 - "(v.1) The spirit of the Lord is sovereign upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. (v.2) He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. (v. 3) To all those who mourn in Israel , He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks the Lord has planted for His own glory."