"LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM"
DEVOTIONS
Sunday, November 4, 2007
"Pride or Humility" - Which Are You?"
Read: James 4:6, 10 - Devotions - James 4
The Titanic shipbuilders give us a prime example of the scripture, "pride cometh before a fall." They bragged concerning the ship, saying it was unsinkable. They even said "not even God can sink this ship." Well, at midnight on April 14, 1912, the ship with 2,224 souls aboard, plunged into a huge iceberg at 22 knots. And 2 1/2 hours later, it laid at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. What they said could not happen, did happen. That is why humility is an important lesson for all to learn. Pride brings forth failings, but humility brings forth risings. If you are ever in doubt, look up the story of the Titanic.
Kingdom living thoughts: To do nothing, sometimes takes more power, more strength and more courage than to take action.
Monday, November 5, 2007
"Stop Lowering Your Standards"
Read: Isaiah 40:31- Devotions - Isaiah 40:27-31
Sometimes we get wounded, because we are flying too low. The only way an eagle gets wounded is that the eagle forgets his home is above the clouds. And, when it flies low, the enemy has the ability to shoot at the eagles. The same way is true with our souls. Our soul should also look upward toward Christ and sit in the heavenlies. The only way we can get wounded is if we sit below our home.
Kingdom living thoughts: Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your characters, it becomes your destiny.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
"The Thing That Grieves The Spirit - Anger"
Read: Ephesians 4:25-32 - Devotions - Ephesians 4
Be angry! - You have the right to be angry. Anger gives you the ability to rise to another level of doing; speaking; self-starter; righteousness; protection (covering).
Love has anger in it (think about it). The problem is that we do not deal directly with anger, we suppress it. This grieves the Holy Spirit and give place to the devil, when you do not deal with anger. Anger out of control will lead to bitterness, wrath, evil speaking and malice. Anger clogs your base of power. Dealing with anger brings forth total forgiveness and fullness gives you the ability to impart grace. So, remember deal with your anger before your anger deals with you. Note: when you love, it will produce anger when injustice is done to the one that you love. Anger will cause you to rise up to the level of doing (action). So-- be angry, but sin not (suppressing) it.
Kingdom living thoughts: Stop asking questions and just allow God to love you.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
"Unworthy"
Read: James 1: 2-3 - Devotions - Mark 4
Do not get the point where you think you are unworthy. Because, if you think that you will still haven't scratched the surface, words can not described how unworthy we are. If God every gave us a clear picture concerning ourselves, we would be astonished. Allow God to get us alone with Him, so God can expound on all things to us. "Lord, reveal and remove the nasty flesh of myself." should be our prayer. Look at the other side of the hedge. The other side of the hedge maybe more dangerous than the side you are on. So, maybe this hedge (trial, test) is protection that will give you the power of endurance. Also, He may still want to see if you can trust him completely.
Kingdom living thoughts: Trusting God is an act of worship.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
"Who Is Your Friend"
Read: Psalm 34:1-2 - Devotions - Psalm 34
Sometimes our relationship with God is hindered by guilt and/or earthly fear. The key to friendship with God, he said "is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do. In Eden, worship was not an event to attend, but a perpetual attitude. Remember, praise and worship is not for us. It is for Him. We should not do it to feel good or to get a feeling. We should do it, because it make Him feel good.
Kingdom living thoughts: Prayer lets you speak to God. Meditation lets God speak to you. Both are essential to becoming a friend of God. (Psalms 25:14a)
Friday, November 9, 2007
"Unworthy"
Read: Malachi 1:6-14 - Devotions - Malachi 1
Malachi, chapter one verse ten gives us all we need to know concerning what God wants. The Bible says "I have no pleasure in you." God want to find pleasure in you. You are created to bring God pleasure. The people disrespected God by bringing corrupt and shoddy offerings to Him. They were haphazard in their devotion. Make sure your worship is pleasing to the Lord. Remember, you are worshiping the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God Almighty --- not just building, person or thing.
Kingdom living thoughts: God wants honest. Friendship with God needs complete honesty. Becoming fearless and brutally honest will give God pleasure. He does not mind it; he encourages it.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
"Musical Interlude"
Read: Matthew 14:13 - Devotions - Matthew 14
There is no music during a musical rest. But, the rest is part of the making of the music. There are periods of rest in our lives (e.g. sickness, disappointments, frustrated efforts). They bring pauses in our life. Do not fret because God has written them into your life. When a musician has a break, he still is active by counting. So, at the right time, he can begin playing again. Well, during those time, count by worshiping God. Then, at the right time and by keeping your mind on Him like the musician is keeping his mind on the counting of time; you will be ready to receive the next blessing.
Kingdom living thoughts: Friendship based on emotion is shallow indeed. God is real, no matter how I feel.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
"Worthship"
Read: Psalm 27 - Devotions - Psalm 27:1
Jehovah-Jireh - God will provide. God will provide what you need to worship Him. When you put the promises of God on the altar and trust Him, then God replaces the promises with a sacrifice. So, the promises can be fulfilled. This is worship - that is why He is worthy of our worship.
Kingdom living thoughts: Invest in your own worship (honesty with Him)
Monday, November 12, 2007
"Nine Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship"
Read: 1 John 3:16- Devotions - 1 John:3
1). Authenticity - Share our true feelings.
2). Mutuality - Encourage each other.
3). Sympathy - Support each other.
4). Mercy - Forgive each other.
5). Honesty - Speak the truth in love.
6). Humility - admit our weaknesses.
7). Courtesy - Respect our differences.
8). Confidentiality - No gossip.
9). Frequency - make group a priority.
Kingdom living thoughts: Becoming like Christ deals with our character. God is more interested in our character and not our comfort. (Romans 12:10)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
"Qualities of a Solid Inner Circle"
Read: 2 Chronicles 10:8 - Devotions - 2 Chronicles 10
1). Experience - People who have been down the road of life and understand it.
2). Heart of God - People who place God first and uphold His values.
3). Objectivity - People who see the pros and cons of the issues.
4). Love for the people - people who love others and value them more than things.
5). Complementary gifts - people who bring diverse gifts to the relationship.
6). Loyalty to the Leader - people who truly love and are concerned for the leader.
Kingdom living thoughts: A picture can only be developed in a darkroom. Your life can only be developed in dark places (trials, circumstances, situations, test and temptation) Isaiah 49:2
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
"Employing Your Experiences"
Read: Daniel 2:21,23 - Devotions - Daniel 2
1). Family experiences - What did you learn growing up in your family?
2). Educational experiences - What are your favorite subjects in school?
3). Vocational experiences - What jobs have you been most effective and enjoyed the most?
4). Spiritual experiences - What have been your most meaningful time with God?
5). Ministry experiences - How have you served God in the past? 6). Painful experiences - What problems, hurts, and trials have you learned from?
Kingdom living thoughts: A good pilot will focus only on the strip where he wants to land the plane; not on the hazardous parts of the strip.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
"Collaborative Team Player"
Read: Acts 27:30-31- Devotions - Acts 27
1). Perception: See teammates as collaborators - not competitors.
2). Attitudes: Be supportive - not suspicious.
3). Focus: Concentrate on the team - not yourself.
4). Results: Create victories through multiplication.
Kingdom living thoughts: Submissive leadership requires a kind and gentle honesty that will attend to other's needs, to win their love and loyalty. The only leaders qualified to lead are those who have learned to serve.
Friday, November 16, 2007
"How To Gain the Ear Of The People"
Read: Revelation 22 - Devotions - Revelation 22:17
1). Courage: willing to stand alone.
2). Conviction: passion for what you believe.
3). Character: honest and forthright.
4). Connection: drew people to Him.
5). Creditability: got results.
Kingdom living thoughts: Don't show them how much knowledge you have, show them how much you care by giving what you have learned. |
