God's Love And Presence

[Lily]

Birthing Your Dreams and Visions

Where there is no vision, the people perish.…
— PROVERBS 29:18 KJV

It is important to have dreams and visions for our lives. We atrophy without something to reach for. God has created us to have goals. We need to look beyond where we are.

Our dreams and visions are simply hope for a better tomorrow. When God plants a seed of something in our heart, at that point it is a possibility, but not a “positively.” That seed must be cared for properly.

Quite often the Lord attempts to place something in our heart, and we fail to conceive that He really means what He is saying. We must remember that we cannot get pregnant with a dream or a vision unless we are able to conceive. Practically speaking, that refers to our thoughts.
We must believe a thing to be possible. We must be able to conceive it in our thoughts. If we do get past the conception, there is still the pregnancy to go through. There is much planning and preparation before the birth. Satan does everything he can to get us to abort our dreams and visions.

God has a vision for your life, and He desires to plant it in your heart. Don’t have a “spiritual abortion.” Give birth to all that God has placed within you.

Say This:
“I will not give up the dreams and visions God has placed within my heart. I am determined to see them through to the end.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

The Time Is Now!

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
— JOHN 10:10

We must learn to be “now” people and not relegate everything to the future.

I believe it is time to possess the land, time to get very serious. We need to take a more aggressive stand concerning possessing what Jesus died to give us. We can think about it, dream about it, talk about it, but it is time to actually have and enjoy all that Jesus has in mind for each of us.
The blessings of God don’t simply fall on us. We must stand our ground and possess what is rightfully ours. We can easily get the mistaken idea that we are to limp along here on earth while just looking forward to the blessings of heaven later on.

Have an aggressive faith toward the covenant blessings that God has promised. Start confessing that you are blessed and that the good things of God flow to you in abundance.

The Greater One lives in you. You can do whatever you need to do by His power. Believe it! Don’t wait to believe it until later on, but do it now.
Make a decision to be a “now” person.

Say This:
“I believe now, I obey now, I give now, I pray now. I am possessing the land — not later, but now!”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

The Power of Weakness

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
— HEBREWS 4:15,16

The only power that weakness has over us is the power we give it by fearing it. God promises to strengthen us in our weaknesses if we trust Him and turn to Him. (Isaiah 41:10.) We must have faith concerning weaknesses and not fear them. God’s grace will be sufficient in our need. (2 Corinthians 12:9.)

We can come to Jesus just as we are. He takes us “as is” and makes us what we ought to be.

Our weaknesses are a greater problem for us than for God. He understands them and is willing to give us grace. We receive grace through the channel of faith.

I encourage you to start receiving and stop grieving over your weaknesses. It is time to go forward.

Pray This:
“Father, thank You for strengthening me in my weaknesses. I believe Your grace is sufficient for every situation I face. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

In God’s Waiting Room

My times are in Your hands.…
— PSALM 31:15

If we could understand God’s timing, we could better cooperate with His plan for our lives. However, we may never completely understand. When we don’t know, we must be satisfied to know the One Who knows. If we are going to walk with Him and enjoy His blessings, we must learn to let God be God.

Most of us attempt to take the lead role in our relationship with the Lord. He has a position, and He will not change it. We must change. He has the lead role. He gives the instructions, and we follow — even though we don’t always like the way He chooses to take us.

Timing is an important issue in our walk with God. Why does it take God so long to do what we ask Him to do? Trust always requires unanswered questions which keep us growing in faith.

God has a plan and a timing. While we are in God’s waiting room, He is getting us ready for what He already has prepared for us. We must grow up and mature. It takes time. As we reach new levels of maturity, God releases new levels of blessings.

You may be in the habit of taking care of yourself. Retire from self-care. God wants to take care of you. He is faithful, and you can depend on Him.

Pray This:
“I trust You, Lord. I know that You love me and that Your plan and timing for me are perfect. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Let God Be God — of the Present

Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God.
— PSALM 20:7

There are many facets of faith. The most brilliant facet, however, is trust!

Trust is something we have, and we decide what to do with it. We decide in whom or in what to put our trust.

We must remember Who delivered us in the past and know Who will deliver us in current troubles, then take our trust and put it in the right place, which is in God alone.

Trust has certain identifying characters. Trust is not upset, because it has entered into God’s rest. Trust is not confused, because it has no need to lean to its own understanding. Trust does not indulge in carnal reasoning, it lets God be God.

In whom have you placed your trust? In what have you placed your trust? Is your trust in your job, employer, bank account, natural talents, or friends?

Perhaps your trust is in yourself, your past record of successes, education, or possessions. All of these things are temporal. They are subject to change. Only the Lord changes not. He alone is the Rock that cannot be moved.

Choose to place your trust in God. It requires a greater faith, but it pays outstanding dividends.

Say This:
“I trust in the Lord with all of my heart and mind. I will not rely on my own insight or understanding.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Grace, Grace, and More Grace


But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully).…God sets Himself against the proud…but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
— JAMES 4:6

All human beings have evil tendencies, but James teaches us that God will give us more and more grace to meet these tendencies.
I spent much of my Christian life trying to meet my own evil tendencies. All my trying brought much frustration. I had to come to a place of humility. I had to learn that God gives grace to the humble — not the proud.

We have our own ideas about what we can accomplish, but often we think more highly of ourselves than we ought. We should have a humble attitude, knowing that apart from God, we can do nothing.

If you are planning your own way, trying to make things happen in the strength of your own flesh, then you are frustrated. You probably have said, “No matter what I do, nothing seems to work!” Nothing will ever work until you learn to trust in God’s grace.

Relax. Let God be God. Stop being so hard on yourself. Change is a process, it comes little by little.

You are on your way to perfection. Enjoy the trip!

Pray This:
“Father, I receive Your grace today. I receive the power of the Holy Spirit to meet my evil tendencies. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

No Flesh Shall Glory

And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, so that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.
— 1 CORINTHIANS 1:28,29

It remains to be seen what God can do through a man or woman who will give Him all the glory.
God often chooses unlikely people through whom to work. He does so because there is a better chance that He will get the glory if He uses people who are nothing and have nothing going for them in the natural.

All good does issue from God, and in us (in our flesh) there is no good thing. Whatever good that does occur through us is a manifestation of God flowing through us and should provoke in us a thankful heart that God has chosen to use us.

We should not be looking for human honor or mortal fame, but rather, we should be seeking God’s approval. If we will live our lives to glorify God and not seek glory for ourselves, He will take care of making sure that we are blessed and honored.

Seek to be well-known in the spiritual Kingdom — not necessarily among men.

Do This:
If you believe you are called by God, seek humility. God will see to your fame in His timing and in His own way.


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

What Is God Doing in My Life?

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
— PROVERBS 3:5

Do you find yourself saying, “God, what are You doing in my life?”

Confusion occurs when we try to figure out what we do not understand. As believers, we have a unique privilege, which is to remain in peace even when we do not understand what has happened, what is happening, or what is going to happen in the future. We can be content to know the One Who knows, even if we do not know the answer ourselves.

We serve the All-Knowing God Who keeps one eye on us all the time. God is never surprised; He knows everything before it happens.
We should grow in trust not questions. We are generally more concerned with temporal things, and God is concerned with eternal things.

Something may be God’s will for us, but not His perfect timing. We must learn to wait on Him.

I had to learn early to lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord. Through experience, I have learned to say, “God, I do not know what You are doing, but I am sure You do. I trust You.”

Trust God and by doing so you will maintain your peace.

Say This:
“God has a good plan for my life. I choose to trust and wait on Him even when I don’t understand what He is doing.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Casting All Your Cares

Therefore humble yourselves…casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
— 1 PETER 5:6,7

Worry, anxiety, and care have no positive effect on our lives. They do not bring a solution to problems. They do not help us achieve good health, and they prevent our growth in the Word of God.

One of the ways that Satan steals the Word of God from our heart is through cares. The Bible says we are to cast our cares onto God, which is done by prayer. We cannot handle our own problems; we are not built for it. We are created by God to be dependent upon Him, to bring Him our challenges and to allow Him to help us with them.

We must not take the care upon ourselves. Keeping our cares is a manifestation of pride. It shows that we think we can solve our own problems and that we don’t need the Lord.

We show our humility by leaning on God. Worry, anxiety, and care are not manifestations of leaning on God, but they clearly state by their mere existence that we are attempting to take care of ourselves.

Pray about everything and worry about nothing. You will enjoy life much more.

Pray This:
“Father, show me each time I take a care instead of casting it. Then I will immediately cast it on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

How To Be Content

…I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
— PHILIPPIANS 4:11

The Bible teaches us to be content no matter what our circumstances may be. (Hebrews 13:5 KJV.)

We are not to be upset about anything, no matter what is happening. Instead we are to pray about it, and tell God our need. While we are waiting for Him to move, we are to be thankful for all that God has done for us already. (Philippians 4:6.)

I have discovered that the secret of being content is to ask God for what I want, and know that if it is right He will bring it to pass at the right time, and if it is not right, He will do something much better than what I asked for.

We must learn to trust God completely if we ever intend to enjoy peaceful living. We must meditate on what God has done in our life instead of what we are still waiting on Him to do.

God loves you. He is a good God Who only does good things. Be content knowing that His way is perfect, and He brings with Him a great recompense of reward for those who trust in Him. (Hebrews 10:35 KJV.)
Trust God. Hide yourself in the secret place (in Him).

Pray This:
“Lord, I choose to trust You completely. Whatever the situation, I make the decision to be peaceful and content. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

The Mercy of God

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous — with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
— MATTHEW 5:7

Mercy appears to be somewhat a matter of sowing and reaping, and I am sure we all want to reap mercy. Therefore, we should learn how to sow it toward a plentiful harvest available when we need it.

What is mercy? It is an attribute of God’s character that is seen in how He deals with His people. Mercy is good to us when we deserve punishment. Mercy accepts and blesses us when we deserve to be totally rejected. Mercy understands our weaknesses and infirmities and does not judge and criticize us.

I went through a period in my walk with God in which He was trying to teach me the importance of mercy and being merciful. He taught me that I was unable to give mercy to others because I did not know how to receive mercy from Him.

The love of God works the same way. Many are unable to walk in love; one of the reasons is that they have never received the love of God for themselves, so they have none to give away.

Receive God’s mercy and love; you cannot give away something you do not have.

Do This:
Begin receiving mercy on a regular basis. As you do, you will find that you have mercy to give to others.


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Are You Holding a Grudge — or Is a Grudge Holding You?

…forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
— EPHESIANS 4:32

When we hold things against people, are we really hurting them? Isn’t it really ourselves we are hurting?

Jesus frequently spoke of the need to forgive others. If we are to walk the narrow path, we will have to learn to be quick to forgive. The quicker we forgive, the easier it is. We must do it before the problem gets rooted in our emotions. It will be much more difficult to pull out if it has long, strong roots.

Holding grudges against other people does not change them, but it does change us. It makes us sour, bitter, miserable, and difficult to be around. When we think we are holding a grudge, it is actually the grudge that is holding us. It is Satan’s deceptive way of keeping us in bondage. He wants us to think we are getting even, that we are protecting ourselves from being hurt again.
None of that is true!

I want to encourage you to ask God for grace to forgive anyone against whom you are holding a grudge. Determine from this point on to keep your heart and life free from this negative emotion.

God has a great plan for your life, but you will only enter into it by staying on the narrow path.

Say This:
“I choose to follow Jesus’ example by forgiving others. Therefore, I enter into a new realm of peace and enjoyment of life.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Blessed Are the Merciful

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
— MATTHEW 5:7 KJV

Being merciful can be defined as giving good that is undeserved. Anyone can give people what they deserve. It takes someone full of Jesus to give good to people when they do not deserve it.

Revenge says, “You mistreated me, so I’m going to mistreat you.” Mercy says, “You mistreated me, so I’m going to forgive you, restore you, and treat you as if you never hurt me.” What a blessing to be able to give and receive mercy.
To be merciful is to see “the why behind the what.” In other words, mercy doesn’t just look at what a person does, but seeks to understand why he did what he did.

Being merciful does not mean we don’t deal with issues. It means we have a forgiving, understanding attitude while we deal with them.
God is merciful to us, and He is giving us a chance to be blessed by giving mercy to others.
Do you ever need God or man to show you mercy? Of course, we all do on a regular basis. The best way to get mercy is to be busy giving it away.

Give judgment, and you will receive judgment. Give mercy, and you will receive mercy.
Remember, you reap what you sow. Be merciful! Be blessed!

Pray This:
“Father, thank You for Your mercy. I receive it by faith and determine to give it to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Only Imperfection Is Intolerant of Imperfection!

Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but.…I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

— PHILLIPPIANS 3:12,14
“If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others.” This statement was made by François Fénelon in the seventeenth century. When I read that statement in a book recently, it gripped my heart, and I knew it was something I needed to meditate on.

The apostle Paul stated that he pressed on toward the mark of perfection. I believe all those who truly love the Lord are compelled to do that. He is perfect, and our journey into Him compels us to be like Him. We want to do things the right way — the way that would be pleasing to Him.
Perhaps a good measuring stick of our perfection is how patient we are with the imperfections of others. When I am impatient with others because of their imperfections, if I take a moment and consider my own imperfections, I usually get patient again very quickly.

If you have an imperfection, don’t be down on yourself. God will help you. If you are impatient with the imperfections of others, remember that only imperfection is intolerant of imperfection.

Say This:
“I determine to be tolerant of the imperfection of others, because I realize that I also have imperfections which God is perfecting in me.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

The School of Obedience

…I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.
— DEUTERONOMY 30:19

God has created us with a free will. That means that we have the awesome responsibility of choosing His way or rejecting it.
God loves us more than we can begin to understand. He wants the best for us, but His Word says that He sets before us a choice. He respects our right to choose and will neither manipulate us nor control us.

The Holy Spirit seeks to work in our lives to lead us down the good path God has planned, but if we are rebellious and disobedient and persist in walking our own way, we will be allowed to do so, even though it grieves the heart and Spirit of God.

There are many believers who have never enjoyed the good life God has prearranged for them simply because they have refused to be obedient to Him. Far too many of God’s children are not living the abundant life He wills for them because they choose to walk their own way.
You will be faced with many opportunities to obey or disobey. God has promised that if you choose to walk in His will, you will walk in the good life.

Only you can make your decision.

Do This:
Choose to obey God. Choose a lifestyle of obedience, and you will experience the good life that God has planned for you.


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Whom Will You Serve?

…If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and…follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].
— MARK 8:34

Jesus is coming back for a glorious Church without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. (Ephesians 5:27 KJV.) One of the best ways to become glorious quickly is through prompt and extreme obedience.

Obedience and selfishness are opposing forces. If we are to be glorious, we must be obedient. In order to be obedient, we must be willing to say no to self daily. We must learn to say, “Yes, Lord, yes,” and to say it quickly!

We need to learn to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He lives in us and is constantly attempting to lead and guide us. He gently lets us know when we are going in the right direction or the wrong direction.

Obedience to the Lord requires developing sensitivity to His ways, which comes through His Word. We are not just to read the Word, but to do the Word. (James 1:22.)

Make a decision today that you are going to come up higher into a new level of obedience. The rewards of an obedient lifestyle are well worth the price.

Choose you this day whom you will serve — the flesh or the Spirit.

Pray This:
“Father, I choose to be obedient in every area of my life. I will follow Your plan and not my own. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

The Anointing

But it is God Who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit].
— 2 CORINTHIANS 1:21

The anointing is one of the most important things in our life and ministry. It causes us to have supernatural ability and strength. The anointing is God’s power — His ability resting on us to help us do things with ease that would otherwise be hard.
I believe one of Satan’s greatest tricks is that of getting us to run around trying to get something we already have and to be something we already are!

Every one of us has a purpose — a gifting and a calling — and we don’t need to be overly concerned about what it is or compare it with anyone else’s.

First John 2:20 tells us that we have been anointed — past tense. Once we know we are anointed, we can learn how to release the anointing in us. I believe we experience the anointing as we use our gifts.

God did not share His power with us so we could sit and do nothing with it. We are empowered by the anointing for service. We have a destiny!
You will never be anointed to be anyone else. Be careful of comparison and competition. Just be yourself.

Say This:
“My eyes are on God. I am walking in obedience to Him. Nothing can hold me back. I am anointed for His purpose.”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Time Management and Priorities

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately,…as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time.…
— EPHESIANS 5:15,16

We are the generation God has set apart to participate in the end-time harvest that is prophesied in His Word. God is searching for people He can trust to be accountable for the anointing, power, and authority that will be evident in these last days.

Learning to walk in obedience where we are prepares us for the next level into which God wants to take us. Obedience prepares us for promotion. We cannot wait until the “glory days” hit and then get prepared. Preparation precedes promotion.

God is speaking to His people today saying, “Get your house in order.” What does this mean in a practical way? I believe it means that we are not to live fragmented, useless lives with no purpose and direction. We must be accountable and responsible for the abilities God has given each of us. We must make a firm decision to stop wasting our time, because time is a gift from God.

Time management is vital to preparation and equipping. Funnel your time into your purpose. Don’t look at your time as your own, but see it as God’s — something He has entrusted to you to use wisely.

Say This:
“I will no longer procrastinate or be slow of heart to believe. I will move when the Lord says, ‘Move!’”


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Lily]

Discipline and Self-Control

For we are…recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined…for us…that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
— EPHESIANS 2:10

Everyone wants the good life; not everyone wants to live a disciplined and self-controlled lifestyle. Without discipline and self-control, we will never enjoy the good life that God has prepared for us.

To live a disciplined life we cannot do what we feel like doing. Discipline and self-control require denial of the flesh, but they lead to the good life, the kind of life in which we find peace, joy, power, and many other good things.

You and I don’t have to live a disciplined life. God will still love us with or without discipline on our part. But if we want to live the good life He desires for us, we must choose discipline and self-control. Neither of these things is easy on the flesh, but the victory we enjoy is worth the suffering we must endure to obtain it.

Discipline is a choice, not a law. It is a tool we believers use to lead ourselves into victory.
I exhort you to be a disciplined person who operates in the fruit of self-control.

Do This:
Practice self-control in every area of your life. Discipline the flesh, then enjoy the good life that comes. It’s a choice.


Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word: Devotional

 

[Hosanna]

That's a good one I like it.