Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

[Aeliana]

Day 1

BEGIN YOUR DAY WITH GOD

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].
PSALM 5:3

Starting each day right is important. We are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome of any day if we begin it in a positive way than if we get up dreading what lies ahead of us. I encourage you to start each day as I do—with God. Spend as much time with Him as you can, based on your schedule. The only way to get your day off to a good start is to start it with Him. Talk to Him, ask for His help and guidance in all you do, and submit your day to Him for His direction. Take in God’s Word in some form through studying it, reading it, listening to it, or watching someone teach or preach it. Whether it’s one verse of Scripture or an entire chapter in the Bible, it will help you.

Going to God first, before we do anything else, is a way of honoring Him and saying with our actions “Apart from You, Lord, I can do nothing” (based on John 15:5). You might even consider lying in bed for five minutes after you wake up and using that time to talk to God about your day. This is an especially good idea if you have small children or a busy household that is active from the moment you get out of bed. If you do only have a short time in the morning, make an


Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 2

PRAY BOLDLY

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 4:16

If there is anything in your life right now that causes you to need comfort and encouragement, today’s scripture should give it to you. It is wonderful to know that even when we have sinned, we may still go to God’s throne and ask for the help we need because of God’s amazing grace and magnificent mercy.

We always need to ask God to help us resist temptation, because we cannot do it on our own. But when we sin, we should always be quick to repent. This means we should admit our sins, be willing to turn away from them entirely, and go in the right direction. Forgiveness is a wonderful gift, and we should be thankful for it each day. It allows us to go to God without a guilty conscience and boldly ask Him to help us in our time of need. The amplification of today’s scripture says that we will have “well-timed help, coming just when we need it.”

Confession: When I sin, I quickly repent and ask God to help me resist temptation in the future. Because of God’s mercy, I pray boldly, asking God to help me.



Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 3

GOD’S LOVE NEVER CEASES

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
LAMENTATIONS 3:22–23

It always encourages us to know that God loves us. But it is powerful to think that there is never one moment in your life when God does not love you, and that His mercy never ceases.

God wants you to enjoy your life and not live in fear that He is angry with you about every little mistake you make. Learn to receive God’s mercy, and don’t be so hard on yourself. God is faithful, and we can trust everything He says in His Word. Don’t mediate on everything that is wrong with you and how far you have to go to meet God’s standard. Instead, think of how far you have come and celebrate your progress.

Confession: God loves me at all times, and His mercy never ceases.


Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 4

ENJOY TODAY AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW


But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MATTHEW 6:33–34

If we seek God and His ways first—before anything else in life—then He promises to add to us the other things we need. Because of this, we don’t have to worry about tomorrow. Anxiety causes us to waste today worrying about what will happen in the future. But just as God provided the Israelites manna one day at a time (Exodus 16:4), He gives us what we need one day at a time. God wants you to trust Him today to provide what you need for tomorrow.

Worry causes a great deal of stress, and that stress can eventually make us sick. Worry is a total waste of time. Can you think of even one problem you have ever solved by worrying? I can’t. God wants our faith, not our worry. Perhaps you have never thought of it like this, but worry is pride, because when we worry, we are saying, “If I think about this long enough, I can find a way to solve my own problem.” God resists the proud and helps the humble (James 4:6). Cast your care on the Lord, enjoy today, and trust Him for tomorrow’s needs.

Confession: I put God first in my life, and He provides everything else I need, so I don’t waste my time worrying.


Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 5

ASK GOD FOR BIG THINGS

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].
EPHESIANS 3:20


Today’s scripture invites us to ask God for big things. I would rather ask God for a lot and get half of it than ask for a little and get all of it. The first thought we have when it comes to asking God for something big is “I don’t deserve it.” And that is correct; we don’t deserve it. But we ask in Jesus’ name, and when we do, we present to God all that Jesus is, not what we are.

Today’s scripture allows us to dream big dreams and ask God to partner with us in bringing them to pass. I once asked God to let me help every person on the planet with His Word. This request sounded foolish even to me when I prayed it, but now our ministry reaches multiple millions through various media outlets. What if I had asked God to let me help ten thousand people? Had I done that, perhaps I would be helping only ten thousand today.

As long as our prayers are in line with God’s will and are not selfish, we can ask for more than we can even imagine and watch God do big things.

Confession: I am not afraid to ask God for big things, because He is a big God and is able to do more than I can even imagine.


Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 6

PRAY WHEN YOU FACE TEMPTATION

And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed Him. And when He came to the place, He said to them, Pray that you may not [at all] enter into temptation. And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed.
LUKE 22:39–41

Everyone will be tempted in various ways at times. The Bible says that temptations must come, but woe to him through whom they come (Luke 17:1). Why does temptation have to come? One reason is that our faith is strengthened as we resist temptation. Satan tries to lure us away from God by tempting us to sin. He may work directly in his attack, or he may work through a person or circumstances.

Jesus gives us one simple instruction in today’s Scripture passage: Pray that we will not fall into temptation. Notice that He doesn’t say to pray that we won’t be tempted, because as I said, we will all be tempted. Even Jesus was tempted to try to avoid going to the cross. Three times He asked His Father to remove the cup if possible (Matthew 26:39–43). But He also said, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (v. 39 NKJV).

Each time, He went away and prayed. I am sure He was praying for the strength to resist the temptation. Temptation is part of life, but you can resist it in the strength of God. If you know of areas in which you are weak, I recommend that you pray about them regularly, not merely when you feel tempted.

Confession: I can resist temptation through praying and receiving God’s strength to resist.



Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 7

GOD WILL MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS


And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 4:19

Paul makes the promise in today’s scripture to the people who were partners with him in ministry, and it is as relevant to us today as it was to them. He told them in Philippians 4:15–18 that they were the only ones who had received from him and also given back to him. He wanted them to know that he did not seek their gift but the fruit that would increase to their credit.

We often hear this scripture quoted as though God will meet all our needs, without realizing that we need to be faithful in giving to Him. I can truthfully say that in over forty-five years of ministry, God has met all our needs. There have been lean times, but a bill never went unpaid. I believe it is impossible to outgive God. What we give to His kingdom work and to help other people with a cheerful attitude and right motive, He multiplies back to us.

Always remember that if you do the part God asks you to do, He will never fail to do His part.
Confession: I believe God will meet all my needs, and I support those who minister to me.



Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right

 

[Aeliana]

Day 8

KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. EPHESIANS 1:7–10

Many Christians spend their lives trying to get things that already belong to them in Christ. For example, they may try to gain right standing with God through good works and behavior, yet they end up disappointed because they repeatedly fail.

However, when they see the truth of the gospel and realize that because they are in Christ, God already views them as being in right relationship with Him, according to 2 Corinthians 5:21, their struggle ceases and joy increases.

They can learn to rest in Christ’s finished work at Calvary. While hanging on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and He meant that He had become the “atoning sacrifice” (payment) for all our sins—past, present, and future (1 John 2:2; 4:10).

He fulfilled the law, and the door was now open for anyone who would believe to enjoy an intimate, personal relationship with God.You grow in the knowledge of who you are in Christ by studying God’s Word and allowing it to transform your thinking.

Confession: I freely receive the righteousness Jesus died to give me.

Joyce Meyer, Mornings with God: 365 Devotions to Start Your Day Right