Promises for Your Everyday Life

[Aeliana]

Carnal Christians and Spiritual Christians

because you are not yet spiritual. You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves you are not spiritual and you are acting like the people of this world.
1 Corinthians 3:3

There are two kinds of Christians, and you have to choose which one you will be. Will you be a carnal Christian or a spiritual Christian?A carnal Christian is a people-pleaser who cares more about what people think than about obeying God. They are immature, operating out of their emotions and doing whatever they feel like saying and doing.

They are usually in strife, discontent, easily offended and lacking peace.There are far too many Christians living this way today. But you can be different.You can be a spiritual Christian who diligently follows after the desires of the Spirit. You can be that Christian who will feed their spirit with the Word every day.

You can be the Christian who will let God into every area of your life, not just church on Sundays.I urge you today to make a full-time commitment to follow Christ. Let the Lord into everything you do. Walk with integrity, humility and peace. Get along with others. Display the fruit of a spiritual Christian and enjoy the favor of God.Make the choice today. Will you be a carnal Christian or a spiritual Christian?

Prayer Starter: God, I don't want to be a carnal Christian, always led by the flesh. Instead, I want to be led by the Holy Spirit, living a life that pleases You. I choose today to be a spiritual Christian, not a carnal one.


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

 

[Aeliana]

Understanding Human Nature

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
John 2:24-25

One time after I had been involved in a disappointing church situation, God brought John 2:24-25 to my attention. It speaks of Jesus' relationship with His disciples. It plainly says that Jesus did not trust Himself to them.

While He gave Himself to them relationally and lived life with them, He knew that they were not perfect. He understood human nature and He did not trust Himself to them in an unbalanced way. This made me realize that I had placed my trust in people at church that should only belong to God and had set myself up for disappointment.

We can go only so far in any human relationship. If we go beyond godly wisdom, we will likely be hurt. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that some people will never hurt us, only to be disappointed when they don't live up to those standards. No one's perfect. The good news is that God is perfect and will not disappoint. He is always loving and good. Don't give trust to people that belongs to God, but rather, give yourself completely to Him. He alone is trustworthy.

Prayer Starter: God, no human is perfect, but You are. I won't give the kind of trust to people that only belongs to You. You will not disappoint. I find comfort today in Your perfection.


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

 

[Aeliana]

Thoughts and Words Are Intimately Connected

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.
Proverbs 16:23-24

Proverbs 16:23-24 shows us that our thoughts and words are intimately connected. They are like bone and marrow, so close, it is hard to divide them (see Hebrews 4:12). Because of this, it's important that we have pleasant thoughts so we can also have pleasant words.

Our thoughts are silent words that only we and the Lord hear, but those words affect our inner man, our health, our joy and our attitude. The things we think about often come out of our mouths and sometimes make us look foolish, but if we live God's way, our thoughts and words can make our lives more enjoyable.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can let your thought life run in any worldly direction and then 'fake it' by speaking godly words. Either both are pleasing or both are negative and sinful. There is no middle ground. Begin to operate in the mind of Christ, and you will step into a whole new realm of living. As you spend time letting Him adjust your thinking, you won't have to think about speaking pleasant words. It will just happen naturally!

Prayer Starter: God, I realize that my thoughts and words are connected. I don't want to try and 'fake' on the outside what isn't real inside. Please adjust my thoughts so that I can speak pleasant, godly words.

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

 

[Aeliana]

Settle the Dispute

For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
Galatians 5:17

To be successful in accomplishing God's will for our lives, we must have determination. One definition of determine is 'to settle a dispute by an authoritative decision or a pronouncement.' This definition encourages me because I make 'pronouncements' often as a way of building my determination in certain areas.

Sometimes the best way to overcome the temptation to give up is to say to yourself: 'Oh, no you don't! Stop your whining and straighten up right this minute!' Galatians 5:17 tells us that the flesh and the spirit don't get along. Remember, the definition of determine carries the idea of settling a dispute.

This is important because if you are going to commit to anything, you will have to settle the never-ending dispute between your flesh and your spirit. You may not always want to make the effort to be determined, but don't give up or you'll be outside of God's will.

Find the discipline today to make 'pronouncements,' encouraging yourself to stay determined and settle the dispute between your spirit and flesh as you follow God's plan.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I want to settle the dispute between my flesh and spirit, and I can't do it without determination. Strengthen me and give me the right pronouncements to ensure that I never give up.



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

 

[Aeliana]

Understanding Our Emotions

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:8

I talk a lot about how we need to follow the Spirit, not our emotions. However, I find that a lot of people don't even understand how our emotions operate in the first place.Emotions are in the realm of the soul. Our soul is the intangible area between our spirit, the place where God lives, and our physical body.

It is made up of our mind, will and emotions, it tells us what we think, what we want and how we feel. Of these three areas of the soul, it's our feelings that get stirred up the fastest.In other words, our God-given inner voice of insight and understanding become easily drowned out by the cries of our emotions.

The Bible says that this kind of fleshly life doesn't please God. This doesn't mean that God doesn't love us. What it does mean is that He is not satisfied with nor will He accept fleshly behavior.However, once you understand how negative emotions work, you can combat them. Our souls may be strong, but our spirits can be stronger if we strengthen them. Get in the Word today, and give your spirit the strength to overcome your emotions.

Prayer Starter: God, I don't want to let my emotions overpower my spirit. As I spend time with You and read Your Word, give me the power I need to be led by the Spirit, not just how I feel.



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

 

[Aeliana]

More Than Conquerors

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:37

God gives us dreams for the future, but sometimes those dreams can seem impossible. That's when fear starts to set in.If you are determined to never give up on your dream, then you have to take chances, you have to be courageous. And you need to understand that courage is not the absence of fear; it is pressing forward when you feel afraid.

So when you face situations that threaten or intimidate you, you do not need to pray as much for the fear to go away as for boldness and courage so you can move ahead in spite of the fear.The spirit of fear will always try to keep you from going forward. The enemy has used fear for centuries to try to stop people, and he is not going to change his strategy now.

But you can defeat fear, because you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves us.I want to encourage you to be determined to face fear when it comes against you. Stand firm, trusting God and knowing He is always with you.


Prayer Starter: God, even though I might feel afraid, I believe Your Word, which says that I am more than a conqueror. I can accomplish every dream You've given me because You love me and give me the victory.



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