September 11

Spiritual Vitamins Day 11 SGLY Ministry

Fight the good fight 1 Timothy 6:12  SPIRITUAL VITAMIN F: FIGHT
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called…” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)

Today’s Thought:
Why does it say “fight”?
Because some days it is a fight just to exercise our faith.
Satan throws his darts, the world sets its snares, our flesh is weak, and so we become discouraged.

But…we need to remember that the battle is won in our minds!

Romans 12:2 says: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Therefore, we must fight the good fight of faith
AND contend with the daily cares and struggles of the Christian life!
We need to remind ourselves
that this life AND our daily circumstances are just temporary. The best is yet to come!

So, Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2 NKJV

Today’s Action:
Today’s Vitamin F is Fight.
Fight to focus on keeping your faith strong and healthy.
Read the word and pray to strengthen your faith for “the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV

Remember! We have an eternal life in Christ but we need to fight the good fight of faith while we are still alive here on the earth!
So, let’s set our focus on keeping our faith fit today so we will be strong and able to “Fight the good fight of faith” today and everyday until we “lay hold on eternal life,…”

FAITH STRUGGLES AGAINST THE FLESH
See that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12

FAITH FIGHTS SATAN’S STRATEGIES
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians 6:16

FAITH OPPOSES THE WORLD
And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 1 John 5:4

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You Are Not A Failure

EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You may have failed, but you are not a failure.

It is not the essence of what and who you are. Failure is just something that happened to you.

God created you, and He made you able to do good. Maybe you have not yet discovered what you were created for, but God has a plan for you. When you fit into God's plan you will find that God truly made you "a work of His art."

A donkey could compare itself to a race horse and think it was a failure. But a donkey was created for other things than running fast.

Find out what you were created to be and do. Then rejoice as you do it.

SAY THIS: I am God's unique work of art -- still in progress.

A Bible Devotion

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A Healthy Habit

Mark 5:18-20: “…The man…begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him…” (vv.18-19).

For most of my life I avoided using the word, “no.” Sometimes it meant I participated in situations I knew were contrary to God’s will for me. Often it meant I hid my opinions or feelings when they differed from someone else’s thoughts. I neglected my own physical and spiritual needs for rest, because I could not refuse the request to work late “just one more time.” I felt used and burned up.

Eventually I realized I could no longer function effectively always giving in. I began to say “no” at appropriate times. At first it felt extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but in time I developed a healthy habit.

One of my journal entries indicates my progress. I wrote: “No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no……..” No’s filled the page. The last line read: “And IT’S OK!” Musical notes lined the margins.

I am singing a new song.

Lord, help me to have the courage to say “no”
when I believe it is sensible to do so.
I want to follow your example.
Joan Webb

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Go To God First by Seek Ye First the Kingdom

When we have challenges in life, relationship problems, emotional problems or others, our first inclination is to find an expert in that problem area and get help from them. That is not necessarily a wrong solution, but we need to remember that these people are experts at understanding sciences that God created. He is the source and he should be our first stop in helping us with our challenges.

Psalm 121:1,2 says, “I look up to the mountains- does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth!”

Dear Lord, You are the ultimate authority, power and source of solutions for us. Help us remember to come to you first, trust in your love for us and promise to be there for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Bible Verses

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

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The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. —Proverbs 10:9

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Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." — James 4:13-15

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Colossians 3:23 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

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A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

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Prayers

Prayer for the Morning

Heavenly Lord, you have brought me to the beginning of a new day. As the world is renewed fresh and clean, so I ask you to renew my heart with your strength and purpose. Forgive me the errors of yesterday and bless me to walk closer in your way today. This is the day I begin my life anew; shine through me so that every person I meet may feel your presence in my soul. Take my hand, precious Lord, for I cannot make it by myself. Through Christ I pray and live, Amen.

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Prayer for Protections (from Psalm 3)

O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cry aloud to you, and you answer me from your holy hill. I lie down and sleep, and I wake again, for you have sustained me. I will not fear the men of this world, even if thousands set themselves against me.

Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For salvation belongs to you alone. May your blessing be ever on your people. Amen.

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Now all glory to God, who is able to keep us from falling away and will bring us with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

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Gracious heavenly Father, You have created each of us for Your purposes. ... You have a plan for my life. It is up to me to build a relationship with You, to discover what You want for me. My greatest worth and happiness depend on this. ... Remind me that I am made in Your image, just as Jesus was when "He emptied Himself,"* and became flesh and blood. ... His Spirit was His connection to You, just as my spirit becomes when I acknowledge You as God and accept Jesus' sacrifice for my sins. ... He had a soul, just as I have -- mind, will, and emotions -- one's unique personality. ... Jesus chose to always seek Your will, and to be obedient to it. I have the same choice, for I can know Your will through the Word and by Jesus' example, with the Holy Spirit's guidance. ... I have a physical, destructible body, just as Jesus had. How I take care of it, and use it, is a test of my commitment to You, for You have called me "to be holy as You are holy,"** for my greatest fulfillment, and for Your purposes. ... Open my eyes to see this, Lord. Walk with me, and help me to desire to share Your love and Your Word, that together we can make this a better world.

In the name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

* (Phil. 2:5-7) ** (I Peter 1:16)

© 2000 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use.

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“A Prayer For Blessing Others”

Father, we pray that You will give us Biblical thoughts and expressions of blessing that we can share with those whom we seek to influence. Not only can we pray for them, but we can also bless them in the name of Jesus. We are instructed to bless even those who curse us, hard as that may be to do. When Jesus instructed His disciples to enter the house where they lodged and place their blessings upon that family saying, “Peace be to this house” Your peace rested upon it. So, we too have power with our prayerful words to make a positive difference in one’s life as we speak blessings upon them. Grant us confidence and meaningful expressions of blessings as we reach out in the name of Christ, for it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

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Dear Lord, please help me through this day. I have a heavy burden that has been placed upon me and I need you to help me carry it through.