August 18

Just For Today – Part 2 — Day 25 - Put On Zeal by SGLY Ministry

Just for Today I will put on…ZEAL
” For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.” Isaiah 59:17 (NKJV)

Today’s Action:
“clad with zeal as a cloak”…

Zeal is not a word we often hear nowadays.
What is Zeal and why should we put it on ?

Zeal is defined as: an ardent interest or desire in pursuit of something.

Believers should put on Zeal so they can be Zealous for:
“spiritual gifts ” according to 1 Corinthians 14:12
“good works” as Titus 2:14 says

Believers need to say:
” my zeal has consumed me” with regard to God’s word as spoken of in Psalm 119:139.

Believers, we need to cover ourselves in the word of God!
We need to:
read it
love it
memorize it
speak it
think on it
live by it daily

So, Just for Today,let’s put on the Zeal of the Lord!
Let’s zealously put on and wear His word in our mind and hearts, so that we can zealously perform the work He has planned for us to do for Him!

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Today's Scripture
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." Luke 10:42 MSG
Thoughts for Today
Are you so busy serving God and doing good things that you don't have time for him?
In Luke 10 we read the story of two sisters: Mary and Martha. Jesus and his disciples visited their home, quite possibly for the first time. Martha busied herself in the kitchen. She wanted everything to be just right for their special guests.
While Martha scurried to prepare the food, Mary sat calmly at the feet of Jesus, absorbing all that he said. Getting to know him better.
Finally, Martha, totally stressed out, barged into the room and told Jesus to send Mary into the kitchen to help her. But Jesus lovingly explained to Martha that Mary had chosen the most important thing, the "main course," and that Martha was fussing too much about less important things.
Was Martha wrong to want to be a good hostess? Of course not. She wanted to serve Jesus well. But she let serving him become more important than knowing him.
Consider this…
Don't we do the same thing?
Sometimes we get so busy in a ministry, or helping people, or working for good causes—all in the name of Jesus—that we fail to put him first. To spend quiet time with him, knowing him better, absorbing his love and joy and peace.
Let's not forget the most important thing—the main course.
Prayer
Father, I know that sometimes I get so busy doing things, even good things, that I neglect spending time with you. Teach me to be more like Mary. In Jesus' name ...
These thoughts adapted from…A Passionate Pursuit of God: Drawing Nearer to Him by Dr. Mike Chapman

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John 14:1 ‘Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.’

- A troubled heart is a heart filled with distress and anxiety.
- We are told that we should not allow our hearts to be troubled.
- As we believe in God and have faith in Him, our hearts can be confident.
- Let go of the fear, and take hold of hope, let go of doubt, and start to believe.

PRAYER: Lord, I place my hope and confidence in You again today. I will trust and not be afraid, and I will believe with my heart and not allow my heart to be troubled or distressed. Amen.

Kind Regards
Pastor Andrew Roebert

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Always An Upgrade — by Joe Stowell
When I’m about to leave the house, sometimes my wife, Martie, stops me and says, “You can’t go to the office dressed like that!” It’s usually something about the tie not matching the jacket or the color of the slacks being out of sync with the sportcoat. Though being questioned about my fashion choices may feel like an affront to my good taste, I have realized that her correcting influence is always an upgrade.

Scripture often calls us to “put on” attitudes and actions that match our identity in Christ. Sometimes we are known by the clothes we wear, but we can make Jesus known by wearing attitudes and actions that reveal His presence in our lives. The apostle Paul advised us to set the fashion standard by modeling the wardrobe of Jesus’ compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness (Col. 3:12). And, he added, “above all these things put on love . . . . And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (vv.14-15).
Clothing ourselves in Jesus’ likeness begins with spending time with Him. If you hear Him say, “You can’t go out like that!” let Him lovingly take you back to the closet so He can clothe you with His likeness. It’s always an upgrade!

Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us. By
Your Spirit teach us to adorn our lives with the
attitudes and actions You have designed for us as a
public statement about our identity with You.
Clothing ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions shows His presence in our lives.

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Direct My Steps

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” Psalm 119:133

Thought

God’s word is a light to our dark path in a morally uncertain world. It must be our standard for right and wrong, righteousness and evil. As God’s will and Word have sway in our life, we are delivered from all sorts of destructive practices that can ruin our lives.

Prayer

Great and Almighty God, who raises the dead and restores the fallen, make my heart delight in your truth and my life more perfectly conformed to your will. Lead me in your way and guide my footsteps in righteousness. Empower me to freedom from any form of bondage that Satan might use to control me and ruin my godly influence. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

by Phil Ware

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Bible Verses

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

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Psalm 34:8 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

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Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,”

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Philippians 4:5-9, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

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God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. 1 John 4:9

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Prayers

Call to Sunday Worship

O Lord, I beseech you mercifully to hear my prayers, and the prayers of all your people who call upon you; and grant that we may both perceive and know what things we ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill them; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Now unto him that is able to keep me from falling, and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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The Lord is Faithful

Lord, You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. You are good to all; You have compassion on all You have made. All You have made praises You, O Lord; we, Your saints, extol You. We are telling of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom…Your dominion endures through all generations. You are faithful to all Your promises and loving toward all You have made. You uphold all those who fall and lift up all who are bowed down. Thank You for Your faithfulness to all generations. Amen

Scripture Reading Psalm 145:8-14

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Almighty God, through thy mercies may I recognize my faults, and correct any evil that is in me. Make me strong, that I may not yield to temptation. May I have regard for thy will and be prepared to take thy messages as they are flashed to the soul. Amen.

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A Sure Foundation

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Dear Father,

May we learn to be content and not to seek material riches. Let not our craving for riches cause us to wander away from the faith and pierce holes in our own hearts.

Help those who have an abundance of this world's goods to not be haughty nor to put their confidence in riches. Help us to set our hearts upon you, the living God, who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy.

Help us all to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous. May we thus lay a foundation for the future, and take hold of the life which is life indeed.

In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

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Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalm 73:23–24, NIV

Thank you, great God and Father, for filling our hearts with trust so that we are of good hope, also for those who have not yet found trust. Thank you for giving us courage to face all the questions that arise in human life and for accepting us again and again when we come to you. You know what lies before us. You know the mountains that have to be moved. You know all the things that frustrate us and try to wear us out, and you will take them away. At last your light will shine into all the darkness. This certainty fills us with gladness and thanksgiving. In this faith we are determined to remain steadfast and to press on to victory. Amen.

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Dear Lord, thank you for today. Please give me the wisdom to know that just because some one moves away it doesn't mean they are leaving you.

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Thank you, great God and Father, for filling our hearts with trust so that we are of good hope, also for those who have not yet found trust. Thank you for giving us courage to face all the questions that arise in human life and for accepting us again and again when we come to you. You know what lies before us. You know the mountains that have to be moved. You know all the things that frustrate us and try to wear us out, and you will take them away. At last your light will shine into all the darkness. This certainty fills us with gladness and thanksgiving. In this faith we are determined to remain steadfast and to press on to victory. Amen.