August 26

Spiritual Check Up Day 8 by SGLY Ministry

GOODNESS
I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:14 (NIV)

Today’s Action:
Goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and it should be evident in a believers life. Goodness is the state or quality of being good, which means morally excellent, virtuous; or righteous. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit we should be full of goodness and that goodness should be showing forth in our lives daily.

Spiritual Exercise:
“Good” has many meanings in the dictionary–some are:
beneficial, real, healthy, honorable, enjoyable, pleasant, reliable, excellent, virtuous, devout, proper, correct, skilled, worthy,…

Check yourself today and see if any of the above words fit you.
If some do, seek to acquire more by asking God to give you an increase in your fruitfulness for Him. If few or none do, ask God to begin working in you so you can start producing goodness for Him.

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Today’s Scripture: "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." (Song of Solomon 2:15, NIV)

Catch The Little Foxes

Everyone has opportunities to get upset and be frustrated every single day. Sometimes it’s the little things—we can’t find the car keys, traffic is backed up, somebody was rude, or what should have taken an hour ends up taking four hours. Something happened and now you are frustrated and all bent out of shape. There will always be something that can sour your day, but if you are going to live in victory, you have to maintain the right approach. You can’t let the little foxes spoil the vine. In other words, don’t let the little things in life spoil the harvest God has for your future.

I’ve heard it said, “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond.” Make sure you respond to life with an attitude of faith and expectancy. Sure, things may irritate you, but don’t let that irritation last into the next moment. Let it go. Don’t try to control everything around you. Instead, release it to God knowing that His plans are for your good, and He is leading and guiding you in the path of blessing.

A Prayer for Today: "Father, today I choose to hold on to peace. I won’t let the little things upset me and steal my joy and peace. I choose to trust You and praise You for what You are doing today and in the future of my life in Jesus’ name! Amen."

Joel Osteen

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Being a Chooser By Gail Rodgers

The radio played in the background as I drove home and thought about my day. Suddenly a quote caught my attention. I missed hearing to whom it was credited, but it was good: “No one is born a winner or loser, but each one is born a chooser.”

“How true,” I thought as I maneuvered through the traffic. I was a chooser…in every area of my life. Oh, I may not always choose my circumstances, but I would always be in charge of choosing my responses to those circumstances.

God gently nudged my heart and I began to reflect on some of the thoughts I was choosing to entertain about circumstances and people that day- rather negative, critical, impatient thoughts. He reminded me that a response in life always begins with a thought. Left alone, these thoughts would surely spiral me down and impact my responses in the same way. The choice was mine. God’s Word came to my mind.

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b).

God is so good to remind us that we need to take stock of our thoughts. Thoughts are the seeds in our lives that result in actions and responses. We choose to let them stay or to take them captive and throw them out.

I realized I had been allowing seeds of thought in my mind and heart that I did not want growing in my life. God used that quote on the radio to remind me that I was a chooser. I knew the kind of responses I wanted in my life and these thoughts would not get me there.

God’s Holy Spirit is our Helper. He draws us on to be what we, in our own strength, cannot be. He helps us toss aside the bad seeds that would bear sour fruit if left unattended.

Where are your thoughts today? Being aware of what you are choosing to dwell on puts you in a proactive position. Before thoughts of irritation and frustration grow into angry, bitter roots, choose to ask God’s Holy Spirit to help you take those thoughts captive and to respond to your circumstances with His grace, love and wisdom.

Question: Where are your thoughts today?

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You Have a Bible? by Max Lucado

Do you have a Bible? Read it!

Has any other book ever been described like it? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The words of the Bible have life. Life-giving words! Nouns with pulse rates. The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to the surgeon. He reaches through them to touch deep within you. Haven’t you felt His touch? In a late, lonely hour you read, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.” The sentences comfort like a hand on your shoulder.

Don’t make a decision without sitting before God with open Bible, open heart, open ears. Let the words of Christ live in your heart and make you wise.

You have a Bible? Read it.

From Facing Your Giants

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Sending out Ripples by Gail Rodgers

**Are you living a life of significance? How are you influencing others around you?

I stood on the shore of the lake and watched the kids throw rocks into the water. Whole fistfuls of pebbles or stones flew through the air. Each one hit the water with the same result…ripples. Ripples that circled out and intersected with the other ripples, ripples that went far beyond the spot where each stone landed.

This image of the ripples never fails to bring the same thought to my mind over and over.

Small as each pebble is, not one touches the water without these resulting ripples.

We are like the pebble. No matter how influential or insignificant we see ourselves, we each send out ripples that circle out further than we might ever dream.

Words and deeds of kindness or cruelty, gentleness or abrasiveness, generosity or greed - all ripple out and touch other lives far beyond the boundaries we think they go. Our families, co-workers, neighbors, and even strangers are often touched by an act or a word of ours that we never dreamt would get that far.

My husband is good at skipping rocks across the water. The kids count the skips; the more the better. Sometimes we think we, too, can skip through life, independent, not touching others, hurrying on without time to stop and be concerned about anyone else. The inevitable ripples still flow out.

We do influence, we do touch others, even when we are not aware of it. God even reminds us of our ripples…
“…you be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

As you go through your day today be reminded that you are sending out ripples. You have no idea how far they go. Ask your Heavenly Father to help you bring His heart of love and grace into your setting and be conscious of the ripples you are sending out.

~Heavenly Father, I sometimes forget that I am an influence in the places I walk each day. Help me today to be aware of the ripples I send out with my words and conversations, and even with my tones. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today so that the ripples from my words and actions touch and encircle those around me with strength and encouragement. Help me to be an example of love and faith and purity today because You have placed me in this very spot to bring Your love to the people around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Questions: What kind of ripples are you sending out today? Ask God to help you send out ripples that will encourage those around you.

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Being Spirit Led

And when he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife,?.?.?.?when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say, I beg of you, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you. - Genesis 12:11-13

Are you so afraid of displeasing people that you say yes to a lot of things you know you should be saying no to? If so, your stress is not caused by all the things you have to do, it is because you are afraid of disapproval.

We are afraid to be different, so we desperately try to keep up with all the other people in our lives, and it wears us out. The truth is we just want to go home and sit in a chair, but we don’t want people to think we are a dud, so we keep pushing ourselves to do things we don’t want to do.

Take a minute to stop and look closely at the reasons you are doing the things you currently do. If any of them are being done out of fear, then eliminate them. You will be amazed at how much time you may have if you have a Spirit-led schedule rather than a people-driven one.

Lord, it’s so easy to succumb to the intimidation we feel from others. Help me to be true to myself and live for Your approval alone. Amen.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer.

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God's Blessings

The Power of Prayer

Thought for the Day

"God has blessed all of us in some way. If you spend your time always looking at how someone else is blessed, you may miss how you are. Take time today to notice, accept, and be thankful for God's blessings that surround you."

Today's Word

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Number 6:24-26 NIV)

Today's Prayer

Thank you, heavenly Father, for all of the blessings you have given me. Amen

The Whisper Of God

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Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. --Isaiah 45:22

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, no one is too far gone for Jesus.

I think that statement’s important enough that it’s worth repeating: No one is too far gone for Jesus. No one! And there’s no better evidence of this than the woman that Jesus met at the well.

When Jesus meets this woman she has been used and abused. She has been divorced five times and was living with her boyfriend. She was a mess! At least, she was a mess to the people around her. Even so, Christ reached out to her with the living water of eternal life. And her life was transformed instantly and eternally!

This woman…a woman who had been ravaged by regrets and failures and brokenness…this wasted, burned out woman…was made brand new because of the power of Jesus Christ which began to change her! She wasn’t too far gone for the Lord Jesus!

And the application in your life and my life is clear. No one around us…no matter how wasted, burned out, or strung out they may seem…is too far gone for Jesus Christ.

And you know what else? Neither are you!

In John 4:13, Jesus says, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus says whoever drinks of the water that He gives will have eternal life! Like I said before, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been. None of us is ever too far gone for Jesus Christ.

It’s my prayer that no matter what your past may hold, you will turn to God today!

No one on this Earth is too far gone for Jesus.

Jack Graham

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The Future Begins Today

PHILIPPIANS 3:13 NKJ 13 ...one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Today IS the first day of the rest of your life. And it will be what you and God make it.

Your past does not have to dictate your future. You can begin again. With God you really can have a fresh start.

God can forgive your past -- and help you to forgive yourself. But most importantly, God can change you. He can make you into the kind of person you know you should be.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 NRSV 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Your life can be different. But don't think it will be different if you continue to do things exactly the same as you always have.

For your life to change -- you must MAKE changes.

If you want real change -- God's Word is the key. You must immerse yourself in the Word. What you feed in determines the output of your life.

ACTS 20:32 NLT 32 "And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace -- his message that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

God's Word will build you up. Jesus said it would make you free -- if you continue in it (John 8:31-32).

The Bible is God's answer to man's problems. It gives life and hope and instruction so we can walk in victory.

Prayer is also vital. Prayer is communication with God. All relationships require communication to keep from growing cold.

So, actively involve God in your life. Consult with Him on every decision. God is the best helper you will ever have.

JOHN 14:16 NKJ 16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,

The future can be better. The choice is yours. If you invite and involve God in your future -- it will be bright!

SAY THIS: I invite God into every area of my life and future.

A Bible Devotion

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“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (AMP)

One of the hardest days of my life was moving two thousand miles away from two of my children. My husband had gotten a job in another state and we were moving with our youngest two children. My oldest son was planning a wedding and he wasn’t about to move. Our oldest daughter was finishing up classes at the junior college and had no desire to move away from school and friends.

My husband’s job was a ministry position, and we knew we were making the right choice. Still, I was lacking when it came to being brave and having courage. My heart felt like melted butter in my chest. My desire to be surrounded by my children was out the door. Then I remembered Jesus…

Jesus faced life on earth. He knew what it was like to be away from family. Once He started His ministry He was far from home. Not only that, He had a longing for His Father’s kingdom. Remembering that Jesus understood my heartache helped me to turn to Him. I spent many mornings with my Bible and journal, looking to Him to show up in Spirit and guide me to the perfect passage that would carry me through my day. As He met me during those times, I came to expect Him more.

Six months after we moved, my daughter transferred to a college near us. Three months after that, my son and his new wife moved to live near us too. It’s not something I expected, but I was thankful. I was also thankful that I learned to trust Jesus and hope in Him in new ways. I can’t expect that things will always turn out how I desire, but I do know that when I turn to Jesus He will be there to see me through.

Faith Step: Think of an impossible situation you’re facing. Write down three things that are bothering you about the situation then cross them out and write this: EXPECT JESUS.

—Tricia Goyer

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Bible Verses

Isaiah 30:18 ‘Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God.’

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"And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

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Proverbs 3:3-4 – Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

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A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. — Proverbs 14:30

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Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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Prayers

"For Each New Morning"
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
I thank thee.
Amen.

(From a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson)

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Prayer for Help with the Burdens of Life

Grant me, I pray, your divine helping grace; endow me with patience and strength to endure my tribulations with complete submission to your will. You know my misery and suffering and to you, my only hope and refuge, I flee for relief and comfort; trusting your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when you know it is for the best, you will deliver me from my troubles, and turn my distress into comfort, and I will rejoice in your mercy, and exalt and praise your Holy Name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

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Lord God, Creator of light, at the rising of your sun each morning, let the greatest of all lights - your love - rise, like the sun, within my heart. Amen.

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A Workman Unashamed

2 Timothy 2:14-21

Dear Father, firm foundation,

Help me to avoid disputes about words, which does no good, but merely ruins the hearers.

Help me do my best to present myself to you for your approval, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling your word of truth.

Your firm foundation stands sure, bearing a seal which says two things: "The Lord knows those who are his." "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."

You in your sovereign power and omniscience know my acceptability. For my part let me find assurance in my deep desire to do your will. Purify me that I may be a vessel for noble use in your house, consecrated and useful to Christ, the master of the house, ready for any good work. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4–5, NIV

Lord our God, be our Father and care for your children here on earth, where it is often bitterly hard and where everything seems to turn against us. Keep us faithful in our inner life, drawing all our strength from you, the eternal power of life, and from Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. For Jesus has promised to come to us, and you will send him in our time of need. Let your strong hand be with those who often do not know where to turn. Show us paths we can follow, to the glory of your name in all eternity. Amen.

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Dear Father, Help me learn from the past. Help me take my experience to set goals for the future. Give me the wisdom to see that no matter how much I plan things may go wrong, but this should not stop me from trying.

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Lord our God, be our Father and care for your children here on earth, where it is often bitterly hard and where everything seems to turn against us. Keep us faithful in our inner life, drawing all our strength from you, the eternal power of life, and from Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. For Jesus has promised to come to us, and you will send him in our time of need. Let your strong hand be with those who often do not know where to turn. Show us paths we can follow, to the glory of your name in all eternity. Amen.