August 24
Spiritual Check Up Day 6 by SGLY
Ministry
LONGSUFFERING
…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all
patience and longsuffering with joy; Colossians 1:11 NKJV
Today’s Action:
Longsuffering with joy…now that is an accomplishment!
For that I would need to be spiritually healthy!
I would need to be strengthened with God’s might by His power, in order
to be joyful during times of endurance.
Often, God has us go through things as a witness to others.
If we are spiritually healthy we will be able to show forth His power
and might to an unsaved world as we are longsuffering with joy or
patiently enduring in times of trial.
Our spiritual health will also encourage our brothers and sisters in
Christ as they watch us exhibit longsuffering with joy.
Spiritual Exercise:
So, today let’s check our level of longsuffering.
Are you able to bear trouble patiently for a long time?
This is what longsuffering means.
It means patient endurance during trials, sometimes trials that take
much longer then we think they should.
It means trusting the Lord when He seems to be silent.
It means believing in His promises when nothing around you gives you a
reason to.
It means having faith in things unseen as you go forth each day without
mumbling or complaining, just standing firm and waiting on the Lord,
bearing up and trusting Him to move in His time.
It means staying positive and praying and praising Him, no matter what
the circumstances are, being a joyful witness to those around you.
It may help to pray this scripture daily: Dear Lord, I pray: “that in
me first, Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to
those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” 1 Timothy
1:16
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You Can Handle Whatever Life Hands You
Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a
surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. —Romans 8:37
For years, I have pondered what being “more than a conqueror” means.
I’m sure other people have other perspectives, but I have come to the
conclusion that being more than a conqueror means having such
confidence that no matter what comes up in your life, you know that
through Christ you can handle it. You know before you are ever faced
with a problem that you’re going to have victory over it. So therefore,
you don’t dread things, you don’t fear the unknown, you don’t live in
anxiety about what’s going to happen in uncertain situations.
It doesn’t really matter what the specifics of the situation are, you
know you can handle it through Christ. For you, defeat isn’t an option!
Begin to think every day, I can handle whatever life hands me. I can do
whatever I need to do in life. I am more than a conqueror. I am equal
to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me. Even before
you get out of bed in the mornings, let these thoughts roll over and
over in your mind, and your confidence will skyrocket and you will find
that indeed, you can do whatever you need to do in life.
Right thinking is the first step toward a better life. Wishing won’t
work. Being jealous of someone who has what you desire does no good.
Self-pity is a waste of time and energy. Discovering God’s will through
an accurate knowledge of His Word and beginning to think as He thinks
is the beginning of a new life for anyone who desires one.
Trust in Him In what specific situation do you need to believe you are
more than a conqueror? Trust that through Christ, you are equal to
anything.
From the book Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer.
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The Power of Prayer
Thought for the Day
"Don't be reluctant to ask people to pray for you when you feel you
need it. Paul asked for prayers to keep him strong and able to carry
out the mission God placed upon him."
Today's Word
"I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the
love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for
me." (Romans 15:30 NIV)
Today's Prayer
Lord, please hear my prayers and the prayers of those who pray with me.
Let me find the mission that you have destined me for and let me have
the strength to see it through once I am set out upon on it. Amen
The Whisper Of God
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For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven
and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power
and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and
self-control. — 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 (AMPC)
Balancing Work and Rest by Joyce Meyer
We have all been given twenty-four hours in each day. It is important
how we use that time—how we regulate the different areas of our lives
to keep them in proper perspective. If we have too much work and not
enough rest, we get out of balance. We become workaholics and end up
weary and worn-out.
I get a lot of satisfaction out of accomplishments and work. I don’t
like a lot of wasted time or useless activities. But because of my
nature, it is easy for me to get out of balance in the area of work. I
have to regularly determine that I will not only work but also rest. It
must be a priority for me to be healthy and close to God.
But it is also possible to have too much rest and not enough work.
Solomon says that through ...idleness of the hands the house leaks
(Ecclesiastes 10:18 AMPC). In other words, people who don’t work enough
end up in trouble. Their finances, spiritual life, possessions, bodies,
and everything else suffer because they don’t do the work necessary to
keep things in order.
Ask God to help you have a healthy and proper balance of work and rest.
Take time to accomplish the tasks before you but be sure to seize your
opportunities to be at peace and enjoy rest. Both are important.
Balance is the key!
Prayer Starter: God, please show me how to bring balance to my life
between work and rest, one step at a time. Amen.
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The Importance Of Words
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and
helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear
them. – Eph 4:29 (NLT)
One time, my grandma made a pumpkin pie and she used chili powder
instead of nutmeg as one of the ingredients. When we ate the pie, we
were surprised at how bad it tasted. One small ingredient in the batter
made a huge impact on the flavor of the pie.
Today’s Bible verse talks about the importance of words. Words are
small things, that make a huge impact. A word can tear someone down or
build them up. And while it’s easy to take our words for granted, we
should be trying to do what we can to speak words of life to others.
Our words should be good and helpful. They should be words that build
others up and encourage them. So today, as you’re speaking, take notice
of the words you use. Ask God to help you use words that are good,
helpful and encouraging!
Pray: God help me to put a guard over my mouth. Help me to remember to
use language that builds others up rather than words that tear people
down. I ask for your help today, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
https://studentdevos.com/
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Bible Verses
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in
the darkness. —1 John 2:9
*****
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may
rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I
am weak, then I am strong.
*****
Psalm 94:18-19 “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing
love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your
consolation brought me joy.”
*****
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the
world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because
you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12
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Prayers
God, My prayer is that you will help me to burn your love on my heart,
so that I may know the peace of loving my fellow man. Let me be sincere
in choosing good over evil. Let me seek my glory in you, Lord Christ,
instead of in my own image, my own fame or status; for status is no
more than vanity, that will disappear in the blink of an eye. Soften my
heart so that I feel true sympathy, and so I value others just as I do
myself.
May your Holy Spirit, who is with me, guide me in everything I think
and do, this day and always. Amen.
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Prayer of Salvation
Most blessed Christ, I thank you that you have answered me and have
become my salvation. No matter how weak or lowly I may feel, I will
always remember your words: that those whom the earth despises — the
stones that the builders rejected — have become the cornerstone of your
church. Let me be strong in faith and strong in your Spirit; for only
by You, Lord Christ, may the gates of righteousness be opened to a
sinner. I pray that I may be part of the foundation of your church on
earth, and that by your grace, the gates of righteousness may be opened
to me and to all who confess your holy name. Amen.
*****
As I travel through the rest of my day, may the God of hope fill me
with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy
Spirit I may abound in hope. Amen.
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Dear Lord, let me praise You! Let me give You honor and glory and
praise! Let my spirit worship You, not just in words or hymns, but with
a very real conviction that You are sovereign, that You are faithful,
and that You love me! ... Even when life's problems overwhelm me,
remind me that You are in the midst of it all with me. You have it all
in Your hands, and You can be trusted.
Praise Your holy name.
Amen.
© 2000 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for
noncommercial use.
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Lord God, May I strive in every way to free thy people, that they may
be uplifted in the progress of life. Amen.
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Lord Jesus, open my eyes to recognize you as you walk beside me,
accompanying me on my journey in life each day. Amen.
*****
And, with all these, take up the great shield of faith, with which you
will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16, NEB
Lord our God, we long to come into your light, to live in your
strength, that we may do what pleases you and furthers your kingdom on
earth. Protect us from evil and do not let us be wounded by the flaming
arrows of the evil one. Make paths for us whenever we do not know how
to go forward. We always know you are our Father. Because you are our
Father, we want to be courageous and persevere to the end so that you
can make our lives bear fruit for you, to the glory of your name. Amen.
*****
Dear Lord, thank you for today. Please help me forgive those who have
done me wrong. Most importantly please help me forgive myself, for I do
myself wrong more often than anyone else.
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Lord our God, we long to come into your light, to live in your
strength, that we may do what pleases you and furthers your kingdom on
earth. Protect us from evil and do not let us be wounded by the flaming
arrows of the evil one. Make paths for us whenever we do not know how
to go forward. We always know you are our Father. Because you are our
Father, we want to be courageous and persevere to the end so that you
can make our lives bear fruit for you, to the glory of your name. Amen.