#dailydevotional

[walkthroughtheword]

Dear Lord, help me to not be afraid. Make me strong against worry and fear and bring peace. Lord, I don't want to be a worrier, I want to be a warrior for you. Thank you for fighting for me when I struggle to do it myself. I pray this all in Jesus' powerful name. Amen!

[byfaithmedia]

You are never alone 📖

[leonbloder]

The Day After

Today, many of us have woken up in a different America than we had imagined only yesterday. 

We are a divided nation, which is evident from the election results. 

Statistically, more than half of the people reading this today are elated, and the rest are despondent.  Some feel this might be the end of America as we know it, and others are triumphant that their ideals were upheld. 

I don't have it in me to share a bunch of platitudes about how this is a time for us to put our differences aside and work together in the business of unity. 

That's an admirable and worthy conversation, but it's for another day.  

Instead, I will speak to the Christian Church, particularly those within it who still believe that the ultimate purpose of anyone who says they follow Jesus is to Love God and Love Everybody. 

We've got some work to do.  

There has been so much divisive and awful rhetoric during this election.  We've demonized one another, become more fearful, walled off from people, not like us, and retreated to our corners to stare balefully out into the world, unable to trust and unwilling to reach out. 

We've allowed politicians to do the destructive work of tearing our society to shreds to gain power over us, and we've done so against our own self-interests.   

This is why those of us who follow Jesus need to follow his Greatest Commandment more than ever.  

Regardless of how you voted in this election, it's time for soul-searching.  Jesus-followers who believe that Jesus meant what he said have a higher purpose, a calling to be emissaries of God's kingdom and not the kingdoms of this world.  

We need to listen to each other more and not spend our days filling our heads and hearts with the language of fear, hate, and division that are so much a part of the media, politicians, and even some pulpits.  

Even the people who voted differently from us have been created in God's image and are beloved by God.  

And if we call ourselves Christians, we cannot shy away from the hard work of being vulnerable, open, and willing to cross our own self-imposed boundaries to discover one another's true humanity and inner light, placed there by a God who wants more for us all. 

We should also be aware that for many of us, there are often implications for election outcomes that go far beyond the simplistic balderdash of candidates who want one thing, and one thing alone, to get elected.  

This means that we should take the needs of others seriously rather than brush them aside in favor of our own.  We need to live as Jesus did for the sake of the world. 

We have work to do.  There's no time like the present to begin.  

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever.  Amen.  

[niikoi]

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/hab.2.14.KJV #bible #quiettime #bibleverse #dailydevotional #jesus #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/CnQfJ1rKzIO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[heavensmysteries]

GALATIANS 1

In Paul's time there were now as many non-Jews as there were Gentiles. This sparked a huge debate (please read Acts 15).

Acts 15: 1 ''Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

Historically, God's covenant people were of one ethnic group-the Jews. Jewish people were set apart by the practices commanded in the Torah. An example would be, by observing the Sabbath. When the Gentiles became saved, many Messianic Jews were meeting in churches in Galatia and commanding the Gentiles to obey the Torah. They argued that in order for the Gentiles to be accepted into God's family, they needed to be circumcised.

Paul was deeply saddened upon hearing this. He wrote that the Gospel could not be altered and those who were infiltrating the Gospel, would be under God's curse. Paul spoke of how the Gospel that the Jews received had not been perverted!

Do you remember the story of Acts 16? Paul and Silas were in prison praying and singing hymns; suddenly, there was a great earthquake and all the prisoner's chains became loose. What astonished me about this chapter is that the jailer wanted to commit suicide. He knew that he would eventually be killed if there were no prisoners inside the jail cells! It would have been extremely hard to prove to the Council and the Chief Magistrates that the gates of the prison cell flew open because of a 'violent earthquake'. What also astonishes me is that after Paul shouted in v.28 "Don't harm yourself, we are all here!" the jailer knew that a Miraculous Power had done this. He fell trembling at their feet and said "What must i do to be saved?"

Acts 16:31

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and all your household."

This is the same Gospel that was preached to the Gentiles, firstly to the Jews. Therefore gospels of Inclusion, Prosperity, Works and other beliefs that do not align with the above, are sent from Satan.

Feel free to ask questions!

[ramsiboy]

Free to Forgive

COLOSSIANS 3:12-17

Jesus, in the ultimate act of selfless love, took all the hurt and pain of sin and death in this world and carried it to the cross. This was an extremely heavy burden to bear. Yet God’s glory and power overcame this burden, conquering death and offering restoration, healing, and forgiveness to all who desire it.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God extends to creation the gift and freedom of forgiveness. Yet the gift of forgiveness is sometimes hard to accept, and oftentimes we do not want to give it freely. Sometimes the wounds of past hurts are deep, and the pain we have to endure from them is overwhelming.

Forgiveness is not easy, but it is powerful and beautiful. Forgiveness does not condone the hurt against you. Forgiveness acknowledges the very real hurt you have experienced and then seeks to let go of feelings of anger and desires for revenge. Holding on to anger, harboring grudges, and wanting an offender to feel our hurt—or even more—can quickly consume our lives and trap us in bitterness and resentment. God wants so much more for us! Forgiveness opens up the door to fully live and experience all the joy, power, and freedom that God lovingly offers us.

May God’s love free you to forgive today.

[deeeryfawn]

LAST PAGE OF FEBRUARY!!! March is waving?? So how was your February? It was definitely a breeze for me. Read your Bible everyday! #devotional #dailydevotional #dailyverse #biblejournal #bib#biblejournalingdaily #biblejournalph #bulletjournalist #bulletjournalcommunity #bulletjournaljunkies #bujoph #bujo #bujo2023 #bujoinspiration #bujoweeklyspread #februarybujo #aesthetic https://www.instagram.com/p/CpMOcLNv0Wu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[canuckster]

#Repost @ourdailybread with @use.repost ・・・ Juror Number 8 The Bible in One Year: Leviticus 17–18; Matthew 27:27–50 Today's Bible Reading: Exodus 23:1–9 Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. Exodus 23:2 “One man is dead. Another man’s life is at stake,” says the judge somberly in the classic 1957 film 12 Angry Men. The evidence against the young suspect appears overwhelming. But during deliberations, it’s the brokenness of the jury that’s exposed. One of the twelve—juror number 8—votes “not guilty.” A heated debate ensues, in which the lone juror is mocked as he points out discrepancies in the testimony. Emotions escalate, and the jury members’ own murderous and prejudicial tendencies come to light. One by one, the jurors switch their votes to not guilty. When God gave His instructions to the new nation of Israel, He insisted on honest courage. “When you give testimony in a lawsuit,” God said, “do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd” (Exodus 23:2). Interestingly, the court was neither to “show favoritism to a poor person” (v. 3) nor to “deny justice to your poor people” (v. 6). God, the righteous judge, desires our integrity in all our proceedings. In 12 Angry Men, the second juror to vote "not guilty" said of the first, “It’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others.” Yet that’s what God requires. Juror number 8 saw the real evidence, as well as the humanity of the individual on trial. With the gentle guidance of His Holy Spirit, we too can stand for God’s truth and speak for the powerless. —TIM GUSTAFSON What tempts you to go along with the crowd? Where is God calling you to stand for truth and justice? Father, help us show Your love to the world as we stand for Your truth. #JurorNumber8 #OurDailyBread #DailyDevotional #VerseOfTheDay #FollowGod #JesusIsKing #DailyDevotionals #DailyBibleVerse #TheGospel #Bible #DailyQuotes #DailyInspiration #DailyDevotion #DailyScripture #DevotionTime #DevotionOfTheDay #ChristianWalk #PraiseGod #JesusLord #GodIsGood #FollowJesus https://www.instagram.com/p/CosGGbWM5Jd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[maglife17]

Prayer for You: May Joy and Miracles Find You!

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 I pray that just as Jacob had a life-changing encounter with God and received a new identity, may you also have an encounter with the Almighty in your circumstances. May God intervene in your life and turn your stories around for good. Jacob, once a deceitful man, had a life-altering encounter with God where he wrestled with Him and came out…

[hiswordsfortoday]

[reayunni-blog]

#devotionaloftheday #dailydevotional #devotional #devotion #bible #biblestudy #tecartabibleapp #ctto https://www.instagram.com/p/CojBUpRPA4M/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[walkthroughtheword]

Dear God, help us to not be afraid to share the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever we go. We know how easy it is to give into those concerns about what someone might say. Instead, give us the courage and boldness to speak with authority and confidence about your love. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name! Amen! 

[byfaithmedia]

Never give up on Jesus!

[leonbloder]

Grace & Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley was a singer/songwriter who became famous in the late 1990s with the release of his only studio album, Grace.

After touring extensively, developing a tremendous following, and receiving critical acclaim, Buckley was ready to begin recording material for his sophomore album. The next day, while waiting for his band to arrive in Memphis, he decided to swim fully clothed in Wolf Harbor, a tributary of the Mississippi.

Tragically, he got caught in the wake of a passing tugboat and dragged underwater, and he drowned. His autopsy showed no signs of drugs or alcohol, and his friend, who remained on shore, verified that he had not intended to end his own life.

The title song of the only album he would ever record had these haunting lyrics:

There's the moon asking to stay Long enough for the clouds to fly me away Well it's my time coming, I'm not afraid, afraid to die My fading voice sings of love But she cries to the clicking of time, oh, time Wait in the fire, wait in the fire Wait in the fire, wait in the fire

Reportedly, Buckley wrote this song after saying goodbye to his girlfriend at the airport and feeling the wave of emotions in the moment.

I've loved this song for a long time because, even though the title is "Grace," Buckley never uses the word once in the song. The lyrics, though, reveal something about Buckley's understanding of grace.

There's something about how he phrases this particular stanza, which is the most crucial part of the song, that speaks to a person who regrets things done and left undone. He feels his beloved's love wash over him, realizing he doesn't deserve its depth.

When he sings "Wait in the fire" repeatedly, he also realizes how this grace is refining him, making him new.

In an interview before his death, Buckley was asked why the idea of grace was so important to him and why he named both the song and the album Grace. This is what he said:

Grace is what matters in anything - especially life, especially growth, tragedy, pain, love, death. That's a quality that I admire very greatly. It keeps you from reaching out for the gun too quickly. It keeps you from destroying things too foolishly. It sort of keeps you alive.

The irony of that last line is not lost on me, considering Buckley's untimely and tragic passing right as he realized his dreams.

But when you look closely at the one line from the song where he sings, "Well, it's my time coming. I'm not afraid, afraid to die." Something is haunting and beautiful about it. It was grace, after all, that gave him the feeling of peace that enabled him to no longer fear what lay ahead.

None of us knows what lies around the bend in life's journey. But when we learn to embrace the grace we are given, we can face whatever comes with serenity.

And the grace we are given by God far surpasses any we might receive from others. God's grace covers us completely, but because we don't often stop to think deeply about just how all-encompassing it is, we frequently miss out on the experience of that realization.

The grace of God surrounds us, is within us, and is also something that we ought to let flow through us to a world in need of it.

May we learn to wait in the fire of the grace of God and be refined, renewed, and become the best and truest versions of ourselves because of it.

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.

[niikoi]

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalms 42:1 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.42.1.KJV #bible #quiettime #bibleverse #dailydevotional #jesus #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/CoyrBNEDKxX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bernardo1969]

When the people of Israel received the law through the prophet Moses in the Mount Horeb, they felt fear of the Lord and that pleased God, so the Sacred Scriptures teach: "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" Deuteronomy 5:29. The Lord protects and blesses those who fear him with their minds and hearts, because the fear of God is the beginning of the spiritual life with God and his wisdom, through this spiritual gift we reject any temptation to sin and seek God's ways. This gift has a special meaning because it provides us with the common sense to understand the mysteries of God and the spiritual realities, this spiritual gift is the gift that opens our eyes to perceive the world with the eyes of God. The fear of God is devotion, constancy, firmness, equanimity, and stability. Throughout the biblical story, forgetting the fear of God was the beginning, in the people of Israel, of the sin of idolatry and rebellion, which brought with it the arrival of oppressive kingdoms such as Babylonian and Assyrian. That is why the Bible summarizes the duties of man in a principle: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man", Ecclesiastes 12:13. With these words, God warned Moses that more important than compliance with the law is a heart that fears the Lord: "When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name" Deuteronomy 6:10-13.