Promise for Today - Faith, not Feelings

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

We live in a day and age where what we feel can be easily confused as the truth for our lives because it's broadcast on Facebook or trending on the web or tweeted for all the world to see. We buy into others' opinions like they're gospel.

Heart check! They are not gospel. There's only one true gospel - the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is a great difference between getting bogged down in feelings and having compassion. I'm not saying feelings are bad, I'm just pointing out that feelings should not control our lives, our actions. Don't get sucked into being angry and outraged. Don't get dragged down into a victim mentality over things from the past - your past or anyone else's.

Sometimes, life is very difficult. We don't always understand why things happen the way they do, or why someone does (or doesn't do) a particular something. But there are things that we can KNOW in spite of circumstances. For instance, God reassures us in Isaiah 43:2 NIV, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Throughout the Psalms we find the Truth that God's love is everlasting. It endures forever.

Sometimes, in the midst of the trial, we're hard-pressed to see beyond what we feel... but that's exactly the choice we must make. 

Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to go with what we feel. 

No, we are instructed to stand and believe, and having done all to stand! 

You may not feel like it; do it anyway. Let's talk faith, not feelings.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for Your Word. It is always Truth, and when applied to our lives will surely guard our hearts and steer us in a true course to complete Your plan and purpose. Help us to override our feelings with the measure of faith You have provided to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Gift-Giving

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

James 1:17 NASB

A perfect gift is as much fun to find and give as it is to receive. Some people have a knack for doing it every time. I'm not one of those. I'd like to be - I WANT to be - but I'm not. I'm not even close. However, about once every 3 or 4 years, I wind up in the right place at exactly the right time to find the most perfect gift for one person. It's not even everyone in the same year - it's only one and it's not very often...

When you know the person inside and out, when you've taken the time to learn their character and nature, when you've spent time and energy and love on the recipient, it's so much better. You know what they like and what they don't like. You know what makes them smile. You know how they work; how they live; what drives them.You know their favorite food, their favorite pasttime, maybe even their favorite color or at least what color suits them. Maybe you know their favorite fragrance, favorite beverage, their most favorite indulgence. These are all things that make gift-giving easier.

God knows us inside and out. He knows our character and our nature. He knows our favorite indulgence and favorite beverage. How many times has someone brought you your favorite beverage as a treat just when you wished you had one? You can believe God nudged them to do it. God knows your favorite color - He created it for you. He knows what makes you smile - He gave you the laughter. The Lord God declares in Jeremiah 1, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb." He spent the time and energy and He IS love. He knew exactly what we needed.

And that's why He gave us the most perfect Gift. Jesus.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for the most perfect gift of any Christmas, anywhere. Just at the right place and at the right time. Perfect. Help us to receive and live in accordance with the Gift of Your Son to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Black Friday Guarantee

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NLT (New Living Translation)

Shopping in today's world is nothing like it used to be. Once upon a time, you could walk into a merchant’s facility and plop some money on the counter to buy an appliance or other high-dollar item for so much down and so much a month and expect to live happily ever after. Well, not forever, but you could expect the item to last 15 or 20 years. Nowadays, no matter where or what you purchase, or how you purchase - installment or no installment - you’re offered the opportunity to buy an extended warranty with each purchase. Of course, it’s only good for 2 years or 50,000 miles/hours whatever and whichever comes first. You may even be offered the opportunity to purchase an insurance policy on your installment payment and/or balance, in case something bad happens to you.

Despite what the salesperson has to say, I do not see how this is supposed to inspire any kind of confidence in the product or the workmanship that went into it. The only thing it seems to guarantee is that it WILL break down, or if it doesn’t, it probably will after the “free” annual maintenance check-up – you know, the “free” one that comes with your PAID warranty. Well, let me get to the good news.

Yes, there is always good news when it comes to God. In Scripture, we learn that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And the guarantee to fix anything that may break along the way has already been paid for by the Maker on the original Black Friday at Calvary. Not only that, but there are no exceptions, nothing hidden, no black-out dates, no "gotcha" clauses.

Wait! There's more! It’s not a 90-day warranty or 5-year extended warranty – it’s a lifetime guarantee. All we have to do is say 'Yes' to God's offer of salvation and eternal life with Him. That’s included, too. Already paid for by His Son, Jesus. Guaranteed. Same-day delivery. No standing in line. No waiting.

And don’t worry, "He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us." It's a lifetime guarantee that extends to eternity.

Prayer:

Father,
           There is nothing offered here that even remotely compares to what You offer us on a daily basis - that Your Son already paid the price for us to have on the original Black Friday. Open our eyes to see You, Lord, and to recognize the magnitude of the provision You have made for us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

A Prayer for Thanksgiving DAY

A Prayer for Thanksgiving Day by Debbie McDaniel

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good; his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

All across our nation, Thanksgiving is a day that we set aside in order to do one thing. Be thankful. And usually what goes along with it, is lots of food, family and friends, laughter and fun, times of giving to others in need, maybe some football, or traditions that you’ve recognized through long years. And sometimes too, there is also loneliness. And struggle. Or deep loss. Feelings of hurt and painful circumstances that you’re still trying to hurdle over.

Whatever you’re facing this Thanksgiving Day, in the midst of all of it, may we remember again that God gives us the opportunity each and every day to give worship and thanks to Him. Every morning He gives us breath, is His invitation to come joyfully into His Presence. He reminds us that He alone is God and we belong to Him. He assures us that His plans in our lives are for good, that His love covers us securely, and His faithfulness extends from generation to generation.

No matter what, He’s given us so many reasons to choose thankfulness and joy this day. Let’s do what the Psalmist of this great chapter says:

- Shout for joy.
- Worship the Lord with gladness.
- Come before Him with joyful songs.
- Know that He is God.
- Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
- Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
- Recognize His goodness, love, and faithfulness, through all the generations of our family.

Dear God,
                Thank You for Your goodness and for Your blessings over our lives. Forgive us when we don't thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that You've given. We’re so grateful to You for Your amazing love and care, for Your mercy and grace, for always working on our behalf, even behind the scenes when we’re unaware. Thank You that You are always with us and will never leave us, even through loss and the most difficult of times. Thank You for Your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy, this Thanksgiving Day and every day. We give You thanks and praise, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Promise for Today - Part Two - Powerful Way to Live Free

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Debbie McDaniel.
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The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.” 

Psalm 28:7

We have so much to be grateful for in this life, every single day. But reality is that sometimes constant life demands, battles, and worries give more room to defeat than to a heart of thanks. Or we forget, in the midst of busyness and pressures, just to pause and give thanks for all that God has done and continues to do in our lives.

Sometimes it really is a sacrifice to offer praise and thanks. We may not feel like it. We’re struggling. We’re weary. Or maybe, we feel like He let us down. We think God seems distant, like He’s far away, or doesn’t really care about what’s troubling us. Painful life blows and losses might have recently sent us spiraling.

But here’s what can make a lasting difference. We have a choice, every day, to give Him thanks. And with a heart of thanksgiving, we realize that no matter what we face, God doesn’t just work to change our situations and help us through our problems. He does more. He changes our hearts. Through our hearts of gratitude and focused minds on Him, His power releases the grip our struggles have over us. We’re strengthened by His peace, refueled by His joy.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Maybe you’re in a hard place right now. Maybe you feel like God has left you on your own to fend for yourself, or the battle seems too hard. Maybe there’s never enough money left at the end of the month, and you can’t figure out how to make things work. No matter what, in it all, be assured that God is with you and He cares. Choose a heart of gratefulness today. Make a list of all that God has blessed and filled your life with, that it’s been easy to take for granted at times. Trust He knows what concerns you and is at work even now, to bring you through this uncertain season. This Thanksgiving, thank God for providing all you need.

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We are humbled and so grateful for all You have done, all You are doing, and all You will do as we follow You. We choose to build and strengthen a heart of gratitude; to speak Your Word over every situation rather than to nurse and rehearse the challenges we face daily. Thank You for being the only Firm Foundation that helps us to withstand all the storms of life. We give You all glory and praise, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Promise for Today - Being Thankful is a Powerful Way to Live Free

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Debbie McDaniel.
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The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

Psalm 28:7

No matter what our current situation or the struggles we may be facing, here’s what choosing to be thankful does:

• It gets our eyes off ourselves and helps us to focus back on God.
• It reminds us we’re not in control, but that we serve a Mighty God who is. It keeps us in a place of humility and dependency on Him, as we recognize how much we need Him.
• It helps us to recognize we have so much to be thankful for, even all the little things, which often we may forget to thank Him for. It takes our attention off our problems and helps us instead to reflect on the goodness of His many blessings.
• It reminds us that God is the Giver of all good gifts. We were never intended to be fully self-sufficient in this life. A grateful heart reminds us that ultimately God is our Provider, that all blessings and gifts are graciously given to us by His hand.
• A heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining. For it is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time.
• It makes the enemy flee. The forces of darkness can’t stand to be around hearts that give thanks and honor to God. Our praise and thanksgiving will make them flee.
• It opens the door for continued blessings. It invites His presence. God loves to give good gifts to His children. He delights in our thankfulness and pours out His Spirit and favor over those who give honor and gratitude to Him.

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Prayer:

Father, 

          With glad hearts, we give You praise. With sad hearts, we give You praise. With our whole heart, we give You praise and thanksgiving, for You alone are worthy of it all. Keep us ever mindful that every good and perfect gift comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Sacrifice of Thanks-Sharing

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Glynnis Whitwer.
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"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." 

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NASB)

Enough. That's what I have. Really, more than enough.

More than enough clothes in my closet. Food in my fridge. Shoes spread on the floor. Cans in the cupboard. My children have books, warm jackets, tennis shoes, pencils, and opportunities for more. I have clean sheets, soft pillows, a kitchen table, and indoor plumbing.

My husband and I have never taken our provisions for granted. Every day, we are thankful for the blessings of our home and family. Yet eight years ago, we were increasingly aware of what Luke 12:48b tells us, "When someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." (NLT) We felt an obligation to do something more with our blessings.

So in 2005, our family of five put a plan in place to share what we had. We had enough home, enough time, and enough love. Our gratitude to God for His blessings couldn't be kept to ourselves anymore. We started with some rearranging. Two of our three sons moved furniture around so they could share a room. Then we bought two little white beds, pink curtains, and some dolls. I bought matching calico comforters and guessed at the sizes of dresses.

After months of planning to share what we had, two little orphaned sisters stepped off a plane, gripping the hands of their new daddy, and walked into our hearts and homes.

They wore "African suits" bought from the place of their birth, brightly colored dresses that hung on tiny bodies. So proud they were to own their first new pieces of clothing, wanting to greet their new family in their best. As we wrapped our arms around these little girls, our family of five became seven.

As weeks turned into months, and typical family issues mingled with trauma from our daughters' pasts, we learned God's call to share isn't always easy. Oh, at first it was great, before the first blush of excitement wore off. But the magnitude of sharing our lives with two wounded little girls was harder than we ever imagined.

When worry about the future threatened to overwhelm me, God quietly reminded me that He didn't ask me to have the answers. That's His job. My job is just to share what He has given me–my love, my home, my life–with two not-so-little girls now who call me Mama. With a heart of thankfulness and an open hand of generosity. That's all He's asking me. That's what blesses Him.

God's Word confirms what pleases Him. Hebrews 13:15-16 teaches us that we must link thanksgiving with sharing. But it also says it will be a sacrifice: "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (NASB)

As we walk together as a family, we continue to learn that showing thanks to God involves sharing, and sharing involves sacrifice. God still calls us to share out of our abundance, and it still involves sacrifice. But when we share our lives, our homes, our money, our hearts, our skills, and our time as an outpouring of thanksgiving, God is pleased.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, 

                           Thank You for Your generosity with us. We don't deserve Your favor, and our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. Help us to show our gratitude through words and actions that are pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' Name, Amen.