Promise for Today - No Bounds

On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

Acts 16:13-14 NLT

Paul and Silas went outside the city because Philippi prohibited bringing an unrecognized religion within the city limits. There they met Lydia, a wealthy woman, who listened to their message and received Jesus Christ as her savior - she and members of her household.

Later, they were harassed by a demon-possessed servant girl (vvs 16-18), until Paul commanded by the demon to leave her and it had to obey. That caused a world of problems for both Paul and Silas, and they wound up in prison after having been stripped and beaten.

You may know the story of Paul and Silas after midnight, praying and singing hymns to God. Acts 16:25-28, The Bible says "and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

ALL of them - not just Paul and Silas. All the prisoners were still there! None of them left. They WERE listening...I think all the prisoners became believers that night! We certainly know the jailer did and all of his household.

The salvation message knows no bounds. It crosses all socio-economic boundaries, from the wealthy to the servant, to the prisoners, and their jailer. All of them listened. All of them believed. All of them forever changed. God's perfect love knows no bounds. Aren't you glad?

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You that Your "whosoever will..." includes everyone, no matter who or what we are. Help us to hear and know the Truth of Your Word and to be as eager to share it with others as Paul and Silas - no matter the circumstances. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - No Matter How Many Times

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

I was thinking about this Scripture today because of the stories I hear from friends and family alike.

She did what?!? She must have learned that from one of the other kids at school – she never heard that at home!

Why would he do that at school?!? And in front of the principal?!? I taught him better than that!!

When will he learn? How many times do I have to tell him?

There is so much material for a comedy routine at a school! When I worked at the elementary school, we used to say we could have our own hit sitcom if we just had a video camera running during the day.

However, on the not-so-funny side of it, I know so many Christian parents who are standing on this promised proverb that is our text for today. Let me encourage them somewhat. I think there are those children who take a little longer to “get old.” And so we wait with patience… sometimes it’s the oxymoronic frustrated patience.

Remember the Scripture in Hebrews 4 that tells how Jesus was tempted in all points just like us, but sinned not? Well, there’s one in Hebrews 5 where the writer sure sounds to me as though he’s exasperated - "I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again…"

Always, it’s a matter of training and sometimes re-training. It’s finding the right combination of words and practice to get the point across. We don’t all learn the same things at the same pace or in the same way - whether we’re children - or children of God. Thank God His mercies are new every morning. Thank God His lovingkindnesses are better than life. Thank God for His Word in John 1:12 that declares, But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. King James calls it the power to become His children.

We have this blessed assurance. He doesn’t give up on us. Philippians 1:6 NLT promises, And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Oh…THAT’S when we’ll learn! So don’t give up. Keep trying - no matter how many times it takes.

Prayer:

Father,
Let us not be weary in well-doing. Strengthen us by Your example, Lord. Let us love as You love and be merciful one to another, so that we may learn. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - It Bears Repeating for the Dark Days

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.
Psalm 90:10 NLT

Some days in this life are so very difficult. Sometimes, it runs in seasons. Thank God He has given us the Bible - His Living Word - to get us through those times. To strengthen and to guide us and to give us hope in the dark days. To give us words that breathe and speak life. I love the rest of this Psalm...

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!"

Prayer:

Father,
           You know the number of our days - You plan our lifespan before we ever draw breath. We want all that we do to be successful in fulfilling Your purpose for our lives. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Practical Applications to Forgiving Others

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"

Matthew 18:21-22 NLT

As promised, the practical applications toward forgiving others. 

How to Start the Process of Forgiveness:

#1 Express and vocalize your forgiveness every day. Say it out loud.
     Example: Today I choose to forgive _______ for _______.
     I choose to let go of it in obedience to God's Word.

#2 Pray daily for the ability to forgive through the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart.

#3 CHOOSE not to meditate and relive the issue every day.
     Do not nurse, curse and rehearse the hurt and unforgiveness.
     Don't tell it over and over.

#4 Reinforce your decision by daily reading God's Word.
     Search out the Scriptures that instruct us about forgiving.

#5 Choose to show compassion, mercy and kindness instead of bitterness from your heart.
     Remember, forgiving others is NOT A FEELING.
     Forgiving others is a choice to be obedient to God's Word.

How to Know When You Have Forgiven Someone

#1 Forgiveness is accomplished when the issue is no longer your issue.

#2 Forgiveness is accomplished when you can pray a blessing and not a curse over the former offender.

#3 Forgiveness is accomplished when you no longer require payback.

#4 Forgiveness is accomplished when you can respond in kindness, and not resentment.

#5 Forgiveness is accomplished when you can give a fresh start.
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Forgiveness is not about feelings. 

Forgiveness is not presented as an option. 

Forgiveness is not just a choice - it's an act of obedience to the words of Christ. 

If we want to be forgiven, we must forgive.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for making provision so that we can be forgiven of our many trespasses against You. Let Your Word manifest in us so that we walk by faith and not by our feelings, and so that we can truly love and forgive others as You have forgiven us. We've asked it before and we ask again. Help us to realize that forgiveness is a choice to submit our will to Yours.. Help us to understand Matthew 18 and forgiving others seventy times seven... Remind us to choose to forgive and speak forgiveness every time it comes up. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Accepting the Terms of Forgiveness

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

Lately, the most popular topic of discussion has been about forgiveness. How do we forgive the unforgivable? I refer people back to the Word. The only Truth that doesn't change with time or man-made laws. Christ died so that we could be forgiven. Without His shed blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. Read Hebrews 9:22 in the NIV. It is SO important to note that even though Christ's blood has been shed, unless we avail ourselves of it and do as He commands, we cannot be forgiven.

Everyone knows this verse in Matthew 6:12, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," part of the Lord's Prayer. How Jesus Himself taught us to pray. Three short verses later, verse 15, Jesus tells us, "But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father WILL NOT forgive your sins." [emphasis mine]

This is not merely a suggestion or just good advice. It is the non-negotiable terms of the covenant of forgiveness. Do we accept His terms?

Tomorrow, I will post the very practical applications my Pastor taught today about how to know if you've forgiven someone and how to start the process of forgiveness.

Prayer:

Father in heaven,
           Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Promise for Today - Inciting

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works...
Hebrews 10:24 NKJV

I love using Bible apps to help dig deeper in God's Word. If we go to BibleGateway.com and search for a single Scripture, we have the option to see it in all English translations. We can see our Promise for Today Scripture at this link: (To see it in all English translations).

I wonder how often this verse has been misconstrued. Just reading it at face value seems very calm in today's vernacular, doesn't it? To consider one another, perhaps being thoughtful in how to stir it up a little to have us think about love and good works. No, that's not it at all.

"To consider" will translate to thoughtfully and attentively think of one another. To take into consideration their personalities. What motivates one person would not necessarily motivate another. So, if we're going to "consider one another", let's do it with continuous care, paying attention, thinking about each other, and helping. Some translations even read to provoke, rouse, or encourage one another to love and good works. Those are not passive.

And to stir up love and good works is also translated as sparking, or to stimulate and INCITE them to love and good works. Incite them?!? That's a whole 'nother side of stirring up. In many Bible translations, it reads "spur each other on". Think about what spurs are used for...

Prayer:

Father,
           In James 1:5, You instruct us to ask for wisdom, assuring us that You will generously give it to anyone who asks and You won't reproach us for asking. Give us a deeper understanding of Your Word so that we may apply it in Your wisdom to our lives and to those around us. Incite us to love and do good works, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Keeping an Eye on Us.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.
Psalm 33:18-22 NKJV

We who choose to follow the Lord can be assured of having His attention. According to His Word, we who trust Him can know and be confident that He rescues His children. He is our help, our Strength, our Protector, and Provider.

He has had the plan for our lives before we ever drew our first breath. Plans that include working ALL things for our good, giving "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." We witness this at funerals for Christ-follower loved ones. God moments in the midst of it all - hearts reconnected, relationships restored, love overflowing to support and strengthen the broken-hearted. God's moments of mercy and grace for which we are so grateful because His eye is on us, according to His trustworthy Word. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Strengthen our hearts as we wait on You, Lord. We ask You to comfort and console all those who mourn, according to Your Word. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen