Promise for Today - Plugging In

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Real Christians don’t just talk about God; they experience God. And they’re able to do that through the power of the Holy Spirit... Jesus gave his followers instructions, but he didn’t expect them to carry them out on their own. It’s like he was saying, “The Holy Spirit is going to give you the power you need to do what I want you to do.”

Just after Jesus made this promise, he was taken up into heaven. And his followers waited and prayed. Then, on the day of Pentecost, God gave them the Holy Spirit.

There’s a direct connection in your life, too, between prayer and the power of God’s Holy Spirit. 

Much prayer, much power. Little prayer, little power. No prayer, no power.

If you don’t ever pray, I guarantee you that you’re not seeing God’s power at work in your life. And you don’t have the energy to get everything done that God wants you to get done.

A while back, I went to the kitchen one morning to make a protein shake. I was pushing all the buttons on the blender and could not get it to work. Then I realized it wasn’t plugged in.

Your life is the same way. You may be a Christian. You may be on your way to heaven. But if you’re not plugged in to the Holy Spirit’s power, you don’t have any energy to do what God has made you to do.

So, today, start plugging into God’s Spirit through prayer. You can pray about anything. The Bible says we’re to come to God as little children. Little children are bold with their parents; they just blurt out whatever is on their heart. In the same way, your heavenly Father wants you to talk to him about anything and everything.

The more you pray, the more you’ll find yourself connected to the power of God’s Holy Spirit and energized to do all he has made you to do.

Talk It Over

God doesn’t expect you to carry out his work on your own; he gives you his Spirit. What does this tell you about God?

When have you experienced a connection in your life between prayer and God’s Spirit? (Maybe you weren’t praying much and didn’t experience God’s Spirit, or perhaps you were praying a lot and could clearly see God at work in your life.)

In what area of your life right now do you need to ask God for more of the Holy Spirit’s power?

 - by Pastor Rick

*************************************

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. We ask that You fill us afresh today -  Holy Spirit, we welcome Your presence in every area of our lives. Remove any spiritual dullness, awaken our souls to Your truth, and guide our steps in Your will. Teach us to walk in the Spirit, to be led by You rather than by our own desires. Let Your wisdom be our guide, Your peace our foundation, and Your power our strength.
        Lord, we surrender our fears, pride, and habits that hinder Your work. Fill the gaps in us where You see need — in our hearts, our minds, and our actions. We pray that You will teach us how to “war” in the Lord, using Your Word as our sword and Your Spirit as our strength.
       Holy Spirit, we trust You completely, knowing that You are our strength and our shield. We desire to be a vessel of Your power, to reflect Your fruit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May Your fruit be ever present in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Void of Power

Guest author, Christopher Glotzbach

******************************************

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5

I was heading over to our rentals to mow. I normally mow with our zero-turn, then hop off to weed eat. But our new tenants have been parking in a way where I have to weed eat a pretty large section. So this time I thought ahead and decided to bring along my push mower. Only problem — I hadn’t used it all year, and it’s battery-operated... And I couldn’t find the batteries. I looked and looked… and looked.
Nothing.

It’s frustrating when things are void of power - and more than frustrating, I would argue, worthless - useless. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be useless. But the reality is, without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are. The Holy Spirit gives us power. Scripture reminds us in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Thankfully, I eventually found the batteries, and the mower fired right up. But you know what? Our tenants were gone, so I didn’t have to use it. So it came with a teachable moment and a reminder that to be useful in the Kingdom, I need to be tethered to the Holy Spirit.

In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us — apart from Him, we can do nothing.

What about you? Where are areas in your life where it might appear to be operating well, but it is void of the Power?

 
My prayer today:

God, 

         Thank You for the reminder that every good and perfect gift is from You. Forgive me when I walk in the thought that I can rely on my own strength, and help me rest in the peace that everything I need — You have. Help me rely not on my own strength, but in the strength that You give through the Holy Spirit. What a beautiful gift that is. Help me to continue to run after You — for You are worthy of it all.
Amen.

Promise for Today - Promise, Purpose, Place, and Plan of Tithing

The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB)

God often blesses the areas of our lives where we put him first. That’s why, when it comes to finances, he calls us to put him first with our money. This is the principle of tithing: Giving the first 10 percent of your income back to God.

The Bible provides a framework for understanding tithing. Four passages explain its promise, purpose, place, and day.

Proverbs 3:9-10 gives the promise about tithing: “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (NIV). When we honor God with the first part of our income, we can trust him to provide for our needs.

Why does God tell us to tithe? Deuteronomy 14:23 says in The Living Bible paraphrase, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (emphasis added). God doesn’t need your money, but he wants what it represents: your heart. He wants you to trust him.

Where should you tithe? Do you tithe to your local food pantry? Or do you tithe to your brother who’s been out of work for three years? No, that’s charity. Tithing isn’t charity; tithing is an act of worship. It goes to God.

Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn . . . Test me in this,’ says the LORD All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’” (NCV). The storehouse is the temple, or the place where you worship God.

When are you supposed to tithe? The Bible points to the first day of the week as a pattern. First Corinthians 16:2 says “On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned” (NLT). When you give to God on the first day of the week, during the first part of your day, and from the first part of your money, you’re declaring, “You’re really number one in my life.”

Notice that the verse says to “put aside.” Tithing should not be an impulsive thing. You’ve got to plan for it so that you are honoring God’s plan and purpose for tithing.

As you put God first and trust him with your finances, you’ll discover that he is faithful to keep his promises and care for your needs.

Talk It Over

In practical terms, what does it mean to you to give God the first part of your income?

Why do you think God wants you to tithe to your church and not to another cause?

How do you need to plan today so that you can be faithful in tithing?

- by Pastor Rick

**************************

Prayer:

Father, 

         We come before You with grateful hearts, thanking You for every blessing You have poured into our lives. Everything we have - strength, resources, and opportunities - comes from Your hand. We honor You with the firstfruits of all we earn, giving You our tithe with love and obedience, not out of compulsion but as an act of worship. 

        Lord, we trust You completely with our finances. Remove any fear, doubt, or selfishness from our hearts. Help us to give cheerfully, knowing that when we honor You, You will continue to provide for all our needs. 
       Bless our tithe and use it for Your glory, for the work of Your kingdom, and for the needs of Your people. May it bring overflow in provision, peace, and purpose. In the words of Malachi 3:10, open the windows of heaven over our lives, so that there may be room enough to receive Your blessing. We offer You praise and grateful hearts for Your faithfulness and ask that our giving be a testimony of our trust in You. In Jesus’ Name we pray,  Amen.

Promise for Today - Where Your Treasure Is

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Yesterday we talked about investing in eternity by using your money to grow your character, to encourage fellowship in the body of Christ, and to serve others in need. There are two more funds that you should invest in so that you can yield eternal dividends in heaven.

God’s Global Fund. 

This is when you use your money to share the Good News and bring people to Jesus. Luke 16:9 says, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (NIV).

Is this verse saying that you can buy friends? Not at all. It means that God wants you to invest in things that help get people into heaven so that when you get to heaven, they will welcome you there. It’s the greatest investment of your life. Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?

God’s Treasury Fund. 

This is when you give money to God as an act of worship.

God’s promise in The Living Bible paraphrase of Proverbs 3:9-10 says this: “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” The “first part of all your income” is your tithe—the 10 percent of your earnings that you give to God through your church.

The Bible says that wherever your treasure is, your heart will also be there. If what’s most important to you are the things of this earth, then every day you are moving further away from your treasure—because every day you are here on earth, you’ve got one less day to invest in eternity. You’re moving further and further away from the things you’re going to leave behind.

But if you’re investing in God’s funds and using your money to serve God’s purposes, then you’re storing up treasure in heaven every day. You’re getting closer and closer to your treasure instead of further away.

Missionary Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

How will you show God that you are ready to start using your money to invest in eternity?

Talk It Over

What can you start doing with your finances that will help bring people to Jesus?

Why does tithing and being faithful with our finances require planning?

When have you used your money to invest in eternity? How have you experienced God’s blessing through that?

- by Pastor Rick

**************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for entrusting us with time, talents, and treasures that are not our own but gifts from Your hand. Teach us to see beyond the temporary and to value what lasts forever. Guard our hearts from distractions that pull us toward selfish gain, and give us wisdom to sow into what matters to You—loving people, sharing Your truth, and serving with humility. Strengthen our faith so that we may persevere in doing good, even when the results are unseen. Help us to live each day with eternity in mind, storing up treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy them. May our lives echo Your love, and may our investments in Your Kingdom bring glory to You.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Wise Investments

They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)

You are going to enjoy forever what you invest in heaven, and you invest in heaven every time you use money for good.

So what’s the best way to store up your treasure in heaven? Any financial advisor will tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, you put your money into different funds for a balanced portfolio.

Today and tomorrow, we’re going to look at five different “funds” you can invest in for eternity. These funds are proven. They have a track record. They’re protected. They are risk-free. And they yield enormous dividends.

God’s Growth Fund. 

This is any time you invest in something that is going to grow your character. Proverbs 10:16 says, “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin” (NLT).

You enhance your life with your money when you use it to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. When you use money to develop your skills and become mature, you are investing in eternity.

God’s Mutual Fund. 

This is every time you use money to encourage fellowship and build relationships with other believers. Romans 12:13 says, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (NLT).

Why does God want you to use some of your money to show love to other believers? There are three reasons: It proves that you’re in God’s family. It creates unity. And it’s a witness to unbelievers.

God’s Service Fund. 

This is when you invest in eternity by using money to serve others. God wants you to take some of your money and use it to help people who are in need.

Proverbs 11:24 says, “One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor” (CSB). In other words, the more you help others, the more God blesses you. Why? Because God is a giver. He is generous, and he wants you to become like him.

You’ll find yourself becoming more and more like God as you invest in your character, other believers, and people in need.

Talk It Over

Do you spend money on things that ultimately damage your character? What could you direct that money toward to build your character instead?

Why is it important to demonstrate to people that you are in God’s family by taking care of other believers?

What is your motivation for being generous? How does your motivation affect your generosity?

- by Pastor Rick

******************************

Prayer:

Father,

          We come before You, asking for Your wisdom, insight, and discernment so that we may serve others with clarity, compassion, and truth. Open our eyes to see the needs of others, to understand their situations, and guide us in how to meet them in love and faithfulness. Grant us the discernment to act with integrity, to speak with truth, and to lead with humility. May Your Spirit fill us with wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy (James 3:17), so that we can grow and help others grow in their walk with You.
     We trust in You completely, knowing that if we lean not on our own understanding but on Your guidance, You will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Help us to avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-reliance, and instead to rely on Your wisdom in every decision that affects others. 

     Father, may our words be a blessing, our actions a testimony, and our hearts a channel of Your grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - No Worries

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

You can be a hero one day and a zero the next day, a millionaire one day and bankrupt the next. No matter how much you make or how much you save, finances are an uncertain part of life.

So you worry. But what does the Bible say about worrying over money?

1. It’s unreasonable. 

Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (NIV). You’re going to have fears in life, but you don’t need to fear a lack of finances. Even bankruptcy does not have to defeat you. Life is more than just the accumulation of things. Be concerned about what’s truly important.

2. It’s unnatural. 

Jesus reminded people that there’s no need for God’s creation to worry: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26 NIV).

3. It’s unnecessary. 

Financial fears come from a misunderstanding about God and what he’s promised to do for you. He’s assumed responsibility for your needs. Jesus said, “See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field . . . will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30 NIV). God is your Father; you are his child. He knows what you need better than you do and will provide for you in ways you may not expect.

When you worry, you’re trying to play God. You’re assuming responsibility for something that God has said he will take care of. Paul says in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (NLT).

God knows what’s going on in your life—and in your wallet. He knows all your needs even before you ask. And you can trust him to take care of you.

Talk It Over

Sometimes money can feel like the most important thing in life. But what things in your life are actually more important than your finances?

How do you balance trusting in God and being a good steward of your finances?

What promises from Scripture encourage you when you start to worry about money?

- by Pastor Rick

****************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          We come before You with hearts full of the choice to trust You. We know You are our provider, and You care for us and our families. Please lift up Your standard against every worry, fear, and anxiety in our hearts.
       We release and place our financial concerns into Your hands, knowing You will meet all our needs according to the riches of Your glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Help us to focus on Your kingdom and righteousness, and to live with gratitude for what You have already given us. Give us the wisdom to manage our resources in ways that honor You, and to be generous to those in need. We pray that You will open doors of opportunity to serve and to give to others in need. Provide for our needs, and bring peace to our hearts. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - When It Comes to Giving...

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)

When it comes to giving, God cares much more about what’s in your heart than what’s in your wallet. You may think you don’t have a lot to give. But what he really wants is your willingness—not your wealth. God cares about your heart in giving because your heart reflects him. He wants you to grow to be more like him and reflect a heart of generosity.

This verse offers four key heart attitudes you should have when you give.

1. Give thoughtfully. Don’t give impulsively. The most spiritual kind of giving is when you think about it, pray about it, and then make up your mind about it. God wants your giving to be important and meaningful in your life—so he wants you to plan for it.

2. Give enthusiastically. Don’t just think, “I have to give.” Give because you know God’s going to do something big in your heart when you become a generous person.

3. Give voluntarily. Any time someone pressures you to give, don’t do it. God’s not going to bless that kind of giving anyway. But when you feel God challenging you to give, that’s the time to give generously and voluntarily.

4. Give cheerfully. Give with joy! One of the Greek words for “offering” has the same root as the word “hilarious.” God wants you to enjoy giving to him and to others.

Next time you’re considering whether to give or how much to give, remember that God’s greatest concern is your heart. When you give thoughtfully, enthusiastically, voluntarily, and cheerfully, then you know that’s a gift God will bless!

Talk It Over

God wants you to give thoughtfully, enthusiastically, voluntarily, and cheerfully. Which of these attitudes is most difficult for you? Which is easiest for you? Why?

What is a healthy, proper way to respond in situations when you feel pressured to give?

What is God doing in your heart through your current giving habits and choices?

- by Pastor Rick

********************************

Prayer:

Father,

        We come before You today with grateful hearts, asking that You shape our giving to be mindful, intentional, and aligned with Your will. Help us see every blessing — whether it is time, resources, talents, or love — as a gift from You, entrusted to us for Your glory and to help build Your kingdom.
      Remove from us any reluctance, fear, or selfishness that might hinder true generosity. Teach us to give not out of obligation, but from a place of joy and love for You. Let our giving reflect Your heart, marked by compassion, kindness, and patience. Guide us in how, when, and where to give, so that our acts of generosity are wise and purposeful, meeting needs without causing harm or imbalance. Whether it is through material support, time, encouragement, or acts of kindness, may our giving overflow with blessing for others and for You.
      Help us to give with a cheerful spirit, knowing that You are our Provider. May our lives become a channel of Your grace, bringing comfort, hope, and encouragement to those around us. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.