Promises for Your Everyday Life

[Aeliana]

"They" Is You and Me

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.
Psalms 89:14

God is just. It's His character, who He is, and it's something He wants us to pursue. Justice seeks to make wrong things right. It is us working throughout our lives to fix injustices in the world around us. Every time we see something that's wrong, our first response should be to pray about it. Our second response should be to ask ourselves, "What can I do about it?"

However, it doesn't even occur to most of us. It's like we look at things and think that it's someone else's problem, and we wish "they" would fix it! We wish "they" would do this and that. Have you ever stopped to ask, "Who is they?" I think "they" is us, you and me! You may not be able to fix everything, but you can do something.

Don't look at injustice and do nothing. You must do something because God did not create you for inactivity and passivity. He created you for enthusiasm, zeal and passion. He put gifts in you to be used for His glory and to help other people. Live a life of justice today.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, don't allow me to sit around wishing "they" would do something about the injustice in the world when I can do something. Fill me with boldness, and show me how to right the wrongs in the world around me.


Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

Be the One God Is Searching For

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you will have wars.”
2 Chronicles 16:9

God is looking for people who are passionate about the things He is passionate about. He is looking for people who will wholeheartedly pursue Him. He is looking for people who will love people on their jobs, in their neighborhoods and homes; those who are committed to loving the lost, the poor and the needy.

He's looking for those who are willing to start doing what the Bible tells us to do. Second Chronicles 16:9 says that God is always searching to "show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him." Are you one of those people? If not, I want to encourage you and let you know that you can be that person who God seeks.

Whether you have known the Lord for many years or are just beginning your new life in Him, you can be that person who will passionately seek God and listen to the Holy Spirit. You can be that person who can actively make a difference in the lives of hurting people. Today, rise up, and be the person God is looking for.

Prayer Starter: God, more than anything, I want to be the kind of person that You are searching the world for. Lead me and guide me in the way You want me to go, and shape me into a person who loves others, obeys Your Word, and truly knows You.

Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

You Can't Add One Inch to Your Height!

And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of]his life?
Matthew 6:27

Worrying does us absolutely no good. It doesn't change one thing, and we waste time by being upset over stuff we can't do anything about, things only God can change. The Bible says we can't even add one inch to our height by worrying. Yet, we worry, worry, worry, which gets us nowhere. Every time we get really upset, it takes a lot of emotional energy, tires us out, messes with our health, steals our joy, and still doesn't change one thing.

We need to stop trying to fix things that only God can fix because the only one who's clapping is the devil, saying, "Ha, ha, ha! Got 'em again!" Jesus tells us to "calm down" in John 14:27 and"cheer up" in John 16:33. I think it's a one-two knockout punch to the devil when we do. When you realize you can't fix everything, that calms you down, and when You know that God can, it cheers you up! So don't worry. Instead, calm down, cheer up, and send the devil running!

Prayer Starter: Lord, my worrying really doesn't accomplish anything, so I leave it behind. I'm so thankful that You can fix what I can't. You calm me down and cheer me up!

Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

Face the Truth About Yourself

And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.
Hebrews 4:13

Someone once asked how I live free from my oppressive past. My answer is very simple: God has given me the grace and the willingness to face the truth about myself. I grew up in a war zone. Because of my quick temper, I was upset most of the time.

Because of being upset, I grew up depressed, disappointed and discouraged. I wished I could have a better life, but my wishing didn't solve anything. It wasted my time as I kept blaming my problems on my bad family background.

Finally, God helped me realize that I had to stop wishing and start taking responsibility, to quit blaming other people and my circumstances, and quit making excuses for myself. You might be in a similar situation. Facing the truth about yourself is scary, but you don't have to do it alone.

All your flaws are exposed to God, and if you ask Him for His perspective, He will help you pick yourself up, take responsibility, and live a peaceful life. Today, don't be scared to face the truth about yourself, but let God guide you into a new tomorrow.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I need Your help to face the truth about myself. It's time to stop blaming my problems on my past and on other people, and to meet them head-on with the power of Your Word. Empower me to take responsibility and to change for the better.

Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

Make God Your "One Thing"

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10

Life isn't supposed to be complicated. Jesus didn't die so we could live complicated, frustrated, miserable lives. He died for us so we could enjoy life. The minute everything gets complicated, it steals joy. We need to learn how to stop stressing and stop living an excessively busy lifestyle.

The opposite lifestyle is one of simplicity. Simplicity means "single, consisting of one thing, unmingled." God has dealt with me about living a simpler life. He has shown me that the only way to do this is to just be about "one thing." God just wants us to be about Him. He tells us in His Word that we won't inherit His kingdom if we don't come to Him very simply as a little child and say, "I believe."

That almost sounds too easy, and you might want to complicate it...but don't! God's plan for you is simple. It may not make sense to your mind, but there's nothing complicated about God, and He doesn't want you to be complicated. Come to Him today, saying, "I believe."

Make Him your "One Thing." Prayer Starter: God, I believe in You. I don't want to live burdened by complications, so today, I seek a life of simplicity by making You the "One Thing" that my life consists of. Lead me in Your simple plan for me.


Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

Simplify Your Prayers

Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
James 5:16

I've learned that simple, heartfelt, full-of-faith prayers always get God's attention. Unfortunately, we often overlook this and turn our prayers into a big show. We have to beware of talking to impress ourselves when we're praying. Sometimes I think we just want to sound eloquent. We want to impress God with our phrases and sound holy.

But God just wants to have a little chat with us. He wants us to talk to Him like we would a friend, not with a different tone of voice. If we don't speak Elizabethan English during the day, we don't need to use it when we pray. We also don't have to pray for hours on end. It's good to schedule prayer time, but we should just pray until we're finished and then go about our business until the next time we feel the need to pray some more.

The only way prayer will ever be satisfying is if you simply use it as an opportunity to get God's help and involve Him in everything you do. He's not here to be impressed...He's here to live life with you. Don't perform. Just invite Him in.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, don't let me turn prayer into a performance! I don't want to overdo it and try and pray too long just to impress You. I want to invite You, as my closest friend, into every aspect of my life.

Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

Draw Close to Him

Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?
James 4:5

Do you want to be closer to God? He wants to be closer to us. The proof is that He lives inside of us. How much closer can you be? We can always draw closer in our relationship with God. In fact, we are the ones who determine just how close our relationship with Him will be. Even though He lives in us, the Holy Spirit won't force a relationship with us.

He wants us to make Him welcome in our lives. God created us for fellowship and He greatly desires relationship with us. He longs to talk to us, to listen to us, to teach us and guide us, simply to be a part of our lives. And we are the better for it! We are renewed when we fellowship with God.

The benefits of spending time with the Father are endless. My friend, I encourage you to be relentless in making time for fellowship with the Father. He is waiting. He is saying, "Come to Me..." So go ahead...and see what's in store!

Prayer Starter: God, it amazes me how You desire fellowship with me. I want to be closer to You, too. Thank You for loving me and drawing near to me as I draw near to You.


Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional

 

[Aeliana]

The Reason Jesus Came

Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].
James 4:8

I want you to notice something about the verse above. Notice that we are told to draw near to God before we're told to stop sinning. There are so many people who have it backwards. They think they can never come to God, can never have a relationship with Him, and can never be a Christian because they have issues in their life that they are trying to overcome first.

They are trying to get themselves all straightened out so they can be good enough to have a relationship with Him. But that's wrong. The reason Jesus came is because we can never be good enough without Him. We have to have Jesus in our life. His death, His shed blood, paid for our sins, paid the debt that we owed.

There's no way we can be cleansed of sin until we draw near to God through the name of Jesus. God longs for you to come close to Him today. Don't stay away, believing the lie that you must clean yourself of sin first. Instead, go to God, already cleansed by the sacrifice Jesus made for you.

Prayer Starter: God, I refuse to believe the lie that says that I have to be sinless before I can come to You. Coming to You through the blood of Your Son cleanses me of my sin. I refuse to live in shame and know that I can draw near to You now, receiving Your love and forgiveness.


Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional