For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.— Hebrews 4:12
When peop...
Showing posts with label Joyce Meyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joyce Meyer. Show all posts
Marriages are not as good as they could be when someone holds on to offenses and hurts that their spouse has caused. I know it’s difficult to completely open yourself up when you’ve been hurt, but nobody can promise that loving someone won’t hurt. In fact, you can’t really love without being willing to be hurt. It’s not possible.
Real love shows mercy and forgives. Love keeps giving the other p...
What do you usually think of when you hear the word "confession"? Many people think first of the definition that has a negative connotation—being forced to admit you have done something wrong. But when we agree with God's Word by "confessing" it out loud, the result is always positive.
An acquaintance of mine says we cannot defeat Goliath with our mouths shut. When David was preparing to do battl...
Every day we encounter two different kinds of shame, and it’s critical that we know the difference.There is a type of shame that is normal and healthy. For example, if I lose or break something that belongs to someone else, I feel disappointed about my mistake. I wish I had not been so careless or negligent. I am sorry, but I can ask for forgiveness, receive it and go on with my life.Healthy sh...
And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
- Colossians 3:2
The Bible says we are to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth. Having been addicted to approval, I know how difficult it is not to think about it when we feel someone is not pleased with us. Thoughts of that person's anger and rejection seem...
The righteousness of the upright . . . shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in by their own iniquity and greedy desire.- Proverbs 11:6
Here’s an important question for you: When you do things to bless other people, why do you do it? Do you bless others because you love them, or do you do it to get them to love you? There was a time in my life when I tried to "buy" protection f...
…Work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
- Philippians 2:12
We can allow the Holy Spirit to invade our lives. We can be so filled with H...
In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent. — Proverbs 10:19
We all need to learn how to establish and maintain boundaries with our words. Proverbs 10:19 in the NIV states, When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. In other words, people who talk a lot will often find themselves in trouble.Because our words ...
That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you. . . . For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
- 2 T...
…Put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.
- Philippians 3:3
Everyone talks about self-confidence. All kinds of seminars are available on confidence, both in the secular world and the church world. Confidence is generally referred to as "self-confidence" because we all know that we need to feel good ...
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.
- John 10:11
The more I study the men and women in the Bible whom we consider to be "great," the more I see that they all made huge sacrifices and there was nothing convenient about what God asked them to do.
Abraham had to leave his country, his relatives, and his home and go to a place God would no...
This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24
I believe the psalmist discovered the secret to living ordinary days with extraordinary enthusiasm. He simply decided and declared that since the Lord had made each day, and that it was a gift to him, he would enjoy it and be glad. He made a decision that produced the feelings he wanted rather ...
To you it was shown, that you might realize and have personal knowledge that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him. Out of heaven He made you hear His voice, that He might correct, discipline, and admonish you; and on earth He made you see His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.
- Deuteronomy 4:35-36
One night I was lying in bed and heard a noise upstai...
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets.
- Proverbs 1:20
God wants us to use wisdom, and according to today's scripture, wis¬dom is not difficult to obtain; the Holy Spirit wants to reveal it to us; we simply need to pay attention. For example, have you ever needed to make a decision and had your "head" (your intellectual abilities) try to lead you one way while ...
And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?
- Matthew 6:27
It is one thing to know that we should not worry, but it is quite another to be thankful for that truth and then actually stop worrying. One of the things that helped me let go of worry was finally realizing how utterly useless it is. Let me ask you: How m...
We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; we are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
All of us beco...
For my sighing comes before my food, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me. I was not or am not at ease, nor had I or have I rest, nor was I or am I quiet, yet trouble came and still comes [upon me].
- Job 3:24-26
People dread many things, and most don't even realize what dread does to them. It su...
If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.
- Proverbs 1:23
We need to pray and obey God's leading when He speaks to us. Obedience is not to be an occasional event for us; it is to be our way of life. There's a big difference between people who are willing to obey God daily and those who are onl...
Then Jesus, knowing that they meant to come and seize Him that they might make Him king, withdrew again to the hillside by Himself alone.
—John 6:15
If the devil can’t convince you to be idle and passive, he will drive you to do too much. As soon as you are out of balance, he can devour you (see 1 Peter 5:8). The word disciple comes from the word discipline. To be a disciple of Jesus, you mus...
Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.
—Colossians 3:23
Life wasn’t meant to be dull and boring. We are not created by God to merely do the same thing over and over until it has no meaning at all. God is creative. If you don’t think so, just look around you. Many of the animals, bugs, plants, birds, trees, and other livi...
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
