Daily Devotion, Daily Wisdom

baddison

natural for good
March 2, 2016

Devotional:

But the Lord is faithful,[fn]and He will strengthen and protect you [fn]from the evilone. 2 Thessalonians 3:3(NASB)

The Bible repeatedly reminds us that we are in a spiritual war with forces that are strong, malicious, and evil (Ephesians 6:10-12). We should steer clear of every appearance of evil. We shouldn't involve ourselves in anything related to Satan and his work. But we also need to remember that our Lord is greater than Satan and all of his evil angels. He is faithful. He will not abandon us to our enemy. He will strengthen us and protect us from attack if we will let him!

Prayer:
Almighty God, thank you for giving me victory over Satan through the sacrifice of your Son, his resurrection from the dead, and his promised return to take me home to heaven. Please strengthen me and empower me to overcome temptation and resist the deceptive enticements of the Evil One. O Lord, it is only you that I want to worship, serve, and obey. To you belongs all glory forever, and ever, in the name of Jesus. Amen.


Wisdom:
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or [fn]shifting shadow. James 1:17(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 3, 2016

Devotional:

“For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Luke 11:10(NASB)

God answers prayers! Recent research in the recovery of surgery patients for whom others prayed seems to validate this. Our experience suggests it is true. The Bible promises us that it is so. But Luke emphasizes one specific answer to prayer that God-seekers receive. God longs to give us a truly great and wonderful gift: his presence in us through his Holy Spirit. (vs. 13) Because of the indwelling Spirit, God can do unimaginable things for us and through us.

Prayer:
Loving Father, the sacrifice of your Son for my sins is a truly incredible gift. The blessing of salvation through Jesus is more wonderful than words. The gracious gift of your presence in me through your Holy Spirit is comforting and empowering. Thank you for your assurance that as I seek you, you are eager to bless me. In Jesus' name I thank and praise you. Amen.


Wisdom:
“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYERS, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL” 1 Peter 3:12(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 4, 2016

Devotional:

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.Acts 15:35(NASB)

Antioch was a great church in the first century. This church was blessed with both Jewish and Gentile disciples of Jesus who were very talented. These disciples were the first followers of Jesus called Christians. Many of these new Christians taught and evangelized others in their community. These "many others" remind us that the power of the early Church was not limited to its well-known leaders, but also involved the widespread dedication of its members to minister and to use the gifts that God had given them to serve others.

Prayer:
Almighty and powerful God, please raise up an army of committed people who will serve, pray, evangelize, and teach so that others may know the grace you have given us in your Son Jesus. Renew the power of everyday Christians in our day just as it was in the early Church! I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.


Wisdom:
Therefore [fn]consider the members of your earthly body as dead to [fn]immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [fn]amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 5, 2016

Devotional:

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [fn]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lordhas promised to those who love Him.James 1:12(NASB)

I don't know about you, but it is hard for me to appreciate our need to go through trials. In fact, trials in life are just plain hard to tolerate! This is especially true when we are in the middle of them. But as believers in Jesus, we have some key spiritual reasons to persevere under trials. One of the very best reasons to hang in there when things are tough spiritually is God's promise to give us the crown of life that can't be taken away from us.

Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for promising the victor's crown of life to me. Empower me to persevere through the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How blessed is he who considers the[fn]helpless;
The LORD will deliver him in a day of [fn]trouble. Psalm 41:1(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 7, 2016

Devotional:

looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of [fn]our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Titus 2:13(NASB)

One way to view our lives is to see them as a wait. Long or short, we live in anticipation, waiting for our "blessed hope." This hope is rooted in Jesus' promise to return. But more than just his return, our hope is rooted in his glorious appearance as our Savior. On that day, our trust in Jesus as Lord will be validated and our highest dreams realized.

Prayer:
Glorious and faithful God, thank you for sending Jesus the first time to save me from my sins. Please strengthen me as I wait for his glorious return, so that I can live as victoriously now as I will with you in the future. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 8, 2016

Devotional:

The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot. Proverbs 10:7(NASB)

Each of us is creating a legacy. The influence of our lives will leave an imprint on all those the Lord has brought into our lives for us to touch. This proverb reminds us that our legacy will live far beyond us. If our lives are righteous, that legacy will be an ongoing blessing as stories of our lives are passed on to future generations. On the other hand, if our lives have been given over to wickedness, we will leave behind the lingering stench of something useful gone sour and something lasting given over to rot.

Prayer:
O mighty God, may my life be a sweet blessing to my children and my children's children — whether those children are physical or spiritual. May my influence bring you glory and also bring others to know you and your grace. Forgive me when I fail to see the length of the shadow my influence casts and help me to see those you have purposely sent my way to touch with your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
‘For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Leviticus 11:45(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 9, 2016

Devotional:

“God thunders with His voice wondrously, Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.Job 37:5(NASB)

How does God help us know his will? Clearly God has given us the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Scriptures. What about more subtle and less defined ways? Most of us have had a "cluster of divine coincidences" (several events in close proximity to prayer): a friend calls/writes at just the right time; we read an article or hear a sermon that has a comment or two directed at just the area of our concern or confusion; several songs in worship convict us in the area on which we are seeking the Lord's guidance; or we simply feel a pull on our conscience that helps us discern right from wrong in a difficult situation. God really means it when he says that if we will pray for wisdom without doubting he'll give it to us, and that if we are truly seeking him we will find him. His voice does thunder in marvelous ways!

Prayer:
Holy God, please help me discern your will about several important matters in my life. I don't want to make my decisions based on my limited human wisdom. Please lead me by your Spirit in the direction you want me to go and use me to bring you glory and praise. Thank you for caring about my life enough to show me your way more clearly. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [fn]fear Him, And His [fn]righteousness to children’s children, To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them. Psalm 103:15-18(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 10, 2016

Devotional:

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.Romans 8:37(NASB)

Are we really conquerors despite "trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword"? Yes! That is the ultimate Christian assurance. Nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. The Evil One and his allies can kill our bodies, ruin our finances, wrack our bodies with pain, and seek to destroy our relationships. However, the Evil One cannot have our hearts when they are surrendered to Jesus. And when our hearts belong to Jesus, so does our future! The empty tomb of Jesus assures us that our future with him is glorious, victorious, and unending.

Prayer:
Give me eyes to see, O God, and a heart to believe that Jesus' victory over death is my victory, too! I don't want to be derailed from my hope, faith, and love by the difficulties of life. Instead, I want to be a living testimony to your power, victory, and grace. In Jesus' name, and for his glory, I live and pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)Revelation 16:15(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 11, 2016

Devotional:

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience [fn]the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my [fn]prayers night and day,2 Timothy 1:3(NASB)

Paul is near the end of his life, facing persecution in a horrible prison. Many of the young men whom he had mentored have left the faith or have turned against him. How can he give thanks? Paul speaks of his confidence in his own victorious future with Jesus and in his son in the faith, Timothy. What makes this special is that he communicates it to Timothy. He's not content to just give thanks to God in prayer! He also tells Timothy how precious he is in this letter. When was the last time you sent a note of thanks to the people you appreciate, letting them know they give you reason to rejoice before the throne of God?

Prayer:
Matchless Father of all grace, thank you! Thank you for every spiritual blessing I have in Christ. Thank you today for the special people who are such a blessing to me in my walk of faith...(take a minute and just say their names before the Father). Help me grow in my ability to show my appreciation and approval of these precious people, so that they can know what a blessing they are to me. In Jesus' name I thank you. Amen.


Wisdom:
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouragingone another and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 12, 2016

Devotional:

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is onlyfitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows evergreater; 2 Thessalonians 1:3(NASB)

When was the last time you found a new brother or sister in Christ and told that precious person all the things they were doing right? Don't you think that's too long, and that you should let them know today? Let's be more committed to encouraging and affirming others who are in Christ as well as giving thanks to God for them.

Prayer:
Saving Shepherd of lost souls, thank you for the new Christians in our church and in my life. Bless them and protect them from the Evil One and use us, your children and their brothers and sisters, to be there to help and encourage them on their journey to perfection in Christ. In the holy name of Christ Jesus, my Lord. Amen.


Wisdom:
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 14, 2016

Devotional:

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Romans 15:1(NASB)

Dear friend of Jesus, have patience with those around you who are not yet what God intends for them to be — remembering that we are not yet what God intends for us to be. In the process of "bearing with" their failings, you may just find that others are more patient with your failings and more thankful for your faithfulness. Of course, the goal of our being patient isn't to benefit ourselves. Instead, we do it to bless others, knowing that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are hanging on to their faith, hope, and love by the thinnest of threads. Let's never let them go and never cause them to stumble!

Prayer:
Tender Shepherd, give me more patience with those who are struggling and who need your strength and my encouragement. Forgive me for not noticing their struggles the way that you do. Help me show them how patient you are as you perfect them in your holiness. Thank you, O Lord, for your help in this area of my heart as I seek to be a blessing to my brothers and sisters in grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire [fn]fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs13:12(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 15, 2016

Devotional:

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but thatwith all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians1:20 (NASB)

Do you have ultimate goals by which you live? Paul certainly had at least these two: "I don't want to be ashamed but courageous" and "I want Christ to be exalted in my body, by life or by death." What are yours? Could you join Paul in his ultimate goals? How are these ultimate goals good for all of us? What makes it hard to live with these ultimate goals?

Prayer:
Sacrificial and all-powerful God, forgive me for my sins, especially the sin of living with improper priorities. I want your grace and your loving-kindness to be seen in the way I conduct my life. In addition, please give me the courage to say what needs to be said to exalt you and to bring you praise. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [fn]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on theevil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.Matthew 5:44-45(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 16, 2016

Devotional:

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him [fn]until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB)

As Paul faced very difficult circumstances near the end of his life, many of those he had led to the Lord abandoned him. But he was confident that the Lord would not abandon him! He had committed his life to Jesus as Lord. That Lord would ensure that the investment Paul had made would not be wasted. His life, his future, and his eternal destiny were entrusted to the Lord. He was confident that they were also secure in the Lord. He believed with every fiber of his being that on a special day known only to God, Jesus will return and every knee will bow and Paul's faith in the Lord will be joyously validated.

Prayer:
Almighty God, I believe, but please strengthen my faith so that no matter what I may endure, my confidence in you will remain firm and my hope may remain vibrant. I entrust to you all that I am and all that I hope to be, believing fully that you will bring me through whatever lies ahead and bring me into your glorious presence with great joy. In Jesus' glorious name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 17, 2016

Devotional:

Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, And give thanks [fn]to His holy name.Psalm 97:12 (NASB)

Joy! Rejoicing! When we think about the glory of God and the grace that he has shared with us to make us righteous, how can we not rejoice? God is gloriously holy and majestic. He is eternal and just. We, on the other hand, are flawed, mortal, limited, and sinful. Yet in his rich mercy, he has made us righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus so that we could share an eternal home with him. Our response must be praise!

Prayer:
Holy and righteous Father, I praise your name and give thanks for your grace. You are indeed more marvelous than my mind can comprehend and more generous than I can understand. So I offer you my praise, hoping that my life reflects my deep appreciation for all that you are and all that you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!Psalm 84:12(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 18, 2016

Devotional:

But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.Psalm 68:3(NASB)

Let's join our hearts together today, tens of thousands of us, and let's pray for God to make us a joyful and happy people who live righteously to his glory. For those in difficulty, let's pray for our mighty God to give them reasons to rejoice. For those who have been bountifully blessed, let's pray he opens our eyes to see the glorious riches that he has already poured into our lives.

Prayer:
Wondrous Father, LORD God Almighty, thank you so much for your generous blessings. O LORD, please make us a more joyful and happy people. For my Christian brothers and sisters in hardship, I pray for your deliverance, victory, and blessing. For those of us who have been richly blessed, I pray for us to have more appreciative and thankful hearts. Thank you for always hearing my prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 19, 2016

Devotional:

For he hath made him to besin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

When was the last time you thought of yourself as "the righteousness of God"? What does that mean anyway? It means that we have the best of qualities, found in the best of beings! But we know we are not god-like! We know our fallibility and flaws! We know our imperfections and our inconsistencies! How can we be "the righteousness of God"? Jesus, the perfect and sinless Righteous One of God, became our sin for us so we could be his righteousness. More than grace, that's a miracle! And a miracle, dear friend of Jesus, is exactly what you are!!

Prayer:
Thank you, gracious and loving Father, for saving me and making me perfect through your sacrificial gift of your Son. Please use me to communicate your grace and your salvation with someone around me who hasn't accepted your grace. In the name of Jesus, my older brother and Savior, I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 21, 2016

Devotional:

O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.Psalm 90:14(NASB)

What's the secret of having a good day? How about waking up and recognizing that we begin each day just as we ended the previous one — we are in the grip of God's unfailing love. That should make our hearts stir with love and our voices sing with joy. This song should stir God's Spirit within us and lead us to a deep and profound thanksgiving that gladdens all of our days. So rather than waking up tired, cranky, and dreading another day, let's begin this day with a reminder of God's grace in our daily lives and a reminder of God's promises in our hearts. Then, I don't think we're going to have any problem singing the rest of the day!

Prayer:
Glorious Master and Eternal Father, thank you for pouring your love and joy into my heart through your Holy Spirit. Fill my heart and satisfy my life with a sense of your abiding and unfailing love. In the name of my loving Savior, Jesus. Amen.


Wisdom:
He made Him who knew no sin to besin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.2 Corinthians 5:21(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 22, 2016

Devotional:

Rejoice always; 1 Thessalonians 5:16(NASB)

Now wait just a minute. I have some pretty sorry days! Things don't always go well for me! Some of my friends have abandoned me at my worst possible moments. How can I be joyful ALWAYS? "Simple, my child," the Father reminds me. "First, joy is more than always feeling happy, but is instead, a deep abiding sense of being in God's grace and purpose. Second, no matter where you are, no matter how hopeless things may seem, your life is bound for glory — my glory!" In the light of this incredible truth, all other things seem bland, out of touch, and insignificant.

Prayer:
O LORD, please give me a clearer sense of your glory and victory. Please empower my faith to trust the truth of your conquest over hell. Please fill me with your Spirit and bring forth your fruit in my life. Please fill my mouth with joyful praise for all that you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Jesus Christisthe same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 23, 2016

Devotional:

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NASB)

If the Bible is a love story, then its theme is hope. No matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how big the enemy, no matter how deep the sin, no matter how lost the people, no matter how empty the cupboard, no matter how wide the river, no matter ... God repeatedly gives his people reason to hope in a brighter tomorrow. Then God brought the assurance of that tomorrow in Jesus!

Prayer:
Eternal God, please give me patience and endurance as I search your Scriptures to know and understand your truth. I am amazed at the incredible things you did to redeem and bless your people in the Old Testament. I am absolutely astonished at what you were able to do with Jesus' rag-tag bunch of disciples. Please, O God, inspire my hope so that I will expect something great from your hand and then live to see you accomplish it in my day. May this, as well as all other things in my life, be to your honor and glory. In Jesus' mighty name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 24, 2016

Devotional:

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will [fn]prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you [fn]appear as [fn]lights in the world, Philippians 2:14-15 (NASB)

"Don't complain or argue!" We don't normally associate these things with purity and blamelessness. Paul was extraordinarily close to the Philippians and knew them well. He knew their weaknesses and shortcomings. He also knew the destructive power that complaining and arguing have on the life of an otherwise vibrant community of Christians. Let's heed his warning today, as we see church after church taken under by the negative and cynical spirit that pervades modern culture.

Prayer:
Forgive me and cleanse me, O God, from my argumentive spirit. Please empower me with your Spirit to use my speech only to bless and to build up, never to tear down or discourage. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Let no [fn]unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a wordas is good for edification [fn]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 25, 2016

Devotional:

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with [fn]Your saving truth. Psalm 69:13 (NASB)

When was the last time you sang praises to God outside a church or devotional service? Why not open up the Psalms and find several verses that reflect your own praise and thanks to God and give them a tune — your own tune! God doesn't care if your spiritual gift is music or not; he's just listening for your heart to be full of joy as you share your praise and thanksgiving with him.

Prayer:
O gracious Father, giver of every good and perfect gift, forgive me for relegating my thanksgiving and praise to special days and special places. I praise you for creating your human children with the capacity to celebrate goodness, to rejoice in your creation, and to have the capacity to for praise and thanksgiving. Thank you for making our world so full of reasons to offer thanks to you, our Abba Father and Creator. As you continually fill me with your Spirit, may my heart overflow with songs of praise and words of thanksgiving. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Likeclouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts [fn]of his gifts falsely. Proverbs 25:14 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 26, 2016

Devotional:

You have seen it, O LORD, do not keep silent; O Lord, do not be far from me. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord. Psalm 35:22-23 (NASB)

God sometimes seems to be distant and not to be listening to us. Think of the hundreds of years Israel was in bondage praying for God's promised Deliverer. "Isn't God listening?" they must have repeatedly wondered. Yet at the right time, God sent his Son and brought deliverance. Thankfully, God doesn't ask us to pretend that everything is okay when it isn't. He filled the Psalms with cries for deliverance and help. You may find yourself in a position where these words are yours. If you are, realize that thousands of Today's Verse participants are praying today for God's immediate and powerful deliverance of you.

Prayer:
Almighty God, may your name be revered in all the earth just as it is among the angels of heaven. Show the power and might of your Kingdom in our day. Deliver your Church and your children from the hands of the evil one. Bring deliverance to your children who are crying for your help with spiritual, family, health, or financial problems they are having. May our lives be lived to your glory, now and forevermore. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and [fn]patience; Colossians 3:12 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 28, 2016

Devotional:

[fn]For He rescued us from the [fn]domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [fn]His beloved Son, Colossians 1:13(NASB)

God doesn't just hear our cries for deliverance; he sends a powerful Deliverer! God sent Moses in response to the Israelites' cries from Egypt (see Exodus 3). God also sent Jesus in response to the world's cries for deliverance from its bondage to the evil prince of darkness. Our new world, our Kingdom, is built on love — the sacrificial love of a Savior who not only conquered death for us, but gave himself up to do so. Jesus is not only our rescuer (saves us FROM something), he is also our Savior (also saves us FOR something as well)!

Prayer:
Loving and eternal God, in Jesus you reached down to my limited and mortal world and rescued me from its mortal limits. Thank you for breaking the strangle hold of death. Thank you for using love to break down the barriers that kept me from you. Thank you for rescuing me and bringing me into your family and your Kingdom. I offer you my thanks, service, and praise in Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral[fn]excellence, and in yourmoral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2Peter 1:5-7(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 29, 2016

Devotional:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a [fn]hill cannot be hidden; Matthew 5:14(NASB)

For Christians, there is no playing hide and seek with the world. Having been rescued from darkness, we have to let our light shine. That sometimes means that others see God's light reflected in us and learn to glorify God through us. At other times, however, it means that we stand out in a world of darkness and become targets because of our faith. Either way, there is no place to hide. We are light in a world of darkness; we cannot help but shine!

Prayer:
O Holy God, please strengthen me so that with undaunted courage and with the compassion of Jesus I might display your light to the lost world around me. In the name of Jesus, the Light of the world, I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 1 Peter 2:11(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 30, 2016

Devotional:

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12(NASB)

Are you walking in light or darkness? Can you clearly see your path, or do you find yourself stumbling along an uncertain path? Jesus wants us to boldly follow him. The way may not always be easy, but the destination is assured, and your way can be certain. Most of all, you won't ever have to have a night light — you're assured that even in the deepest darkness, you will have his light, the only light that gives life.

Prayer:
Wonderful and tender Shepherd, please give me a faithful heart. Even in my deepest moments of darkness and despair, I want to be able to find your Light and to share his life with others. In the name of the One who is never darkness, Jesus the Light of the world, I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely. But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully. Proverbs 10:5(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
March 31, 2016

Devotional:

Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He isgracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4(NASB)

What a powerful promise! Just as night passes into dawn, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous, dawn comes even in the worst nights of deep spiritual darkness. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that even in those worst times of cultural decay and decadence, Satan's darkness will not rule forever. His darkness cannot stay where Jesus' disciples reflect the character of the Light of the world.

Prayer:
Holy and loving God, help me to shine your light of holiness and Jesus' light of hope to those trapped in darkness. O God, please forgive my sinful failures. Please cleanse me and create a pure heart in me. I don't want to dim or to diminish your light as it shines through me. Help me so that I can more perfectly shine your light to those around me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Therefore [fn]be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,. Ephesians 5:15-16(NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
April 1, 2016

Devotional:

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 (NASB)

We are chosen with a purpose. We are brought out of the darkness of sin and given the wonderful light of salvation so we can help others. You see, we are blessed to be a blessing and given light to shine to others. Most of all, we are called to point others to the one, true, never-interrupted light — Almighty God!

Prayer:
Most holy and loving Father, thank you for giving me your light to push darkness out of my heart. Stir in me a profound and holy awe at being made part of your special people — a priest, a part of your holy nation, a child belonging to you. Your grace to save me is further demonstrated in your desire to use me for your glorious purposes. Thank you for your salvation. In the name of my Savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
April 2, 2016

Devotional:

“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:20-21 (NASB)

What's the power behind your life? One clear way to find out is to come to Jesus and ask him to search you and reveal anything spiritually unhealthy, anything unholy, in you. Opening ourselves up to the light of his scrutiny, to the truth of his Light, gives us a remarkable sense of freedom. We don't have anything to hide. Then God can do some truly remarkable things in us and through us because there are no distorted motives.

Prayer:
Thank you God, for shining your light into my heart through your Son, the Light of the world. Please gently reveal to me the areas of my weakness, my sinfulness, my duplicity, and my deception. I want to live purely before you and purely for you. I humbly request this in the name of Jesus. Amen.


Wisdom:
Do nothing [fn]from [fn]selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; Philippians 2:3 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
April 4, 2016

Devotional:

And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly. Psalm 69:17-18 (NASB)

Jesus came to show God's face and rescue us from our enemies. But today, in difficult parts of the world and in the places many would least expect it, Christians are under attack. God sent Jesus to save us ultimately and totally from sin and its power. Let's pray that our mighty God will work mightily in our world today to deliver his children from the clutches of tyranny, poverty, violence, abuse, and ridicule. Let's also pray that God is praised for doing so!

Prayer:
Holy and righteous Father, please strengthen all your beloved children who find themselves under attack. Make your deliverance for them known and shown in the display of your mighty power. You are our Redeemer and Savior. In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.


Wisdom:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 (NASB)
 

baddison

natural for good
April 5, 2016

Devotional:

Grace to you and peace from [fn]God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil [fn]age, according to the will of our God and Father, Galatians 1:3-4(NASB)

Jesus comes to our rescue! Why? Because he knows the times in which we live in aren't easy. He knows that the world in which we live is caught up in wickedness. That, however, is not the only reality. He gives us great victory through his Cross. No wonder we can greet each other with grace and peace. He purchased them for us.

Prayer:
Father, please help me distinguish between good and evil as I confront them daily in my life. Make evil repulsive to me despite the many ways that Satan tries to make it look seductive. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to my rescue when I was a sinner, unable to save myself. Thank you for sharing your grace and giving me peace. Through the blessed Holy Spirit I offer my thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
He who is steadfast in righteousness will attainto life, And he who pursues evil will bring abouthis own death. Proverbs 11:19(NASB)
 
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