August 19

Spiritual Check Up Day 1 by SGLY Ministry

LOVE for the Lord
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Matthew 22:37,38 (NKJV)

Today’s Action Prayer:
Dear God, since this is the first and great commandment, I really want to check myself to see if I am obeying it.

I see that my spiritual health depends on filling my heart, mind and soul with love for You.
So I will check myself daily to make sure I am putting You first in everything I think, say and do.
For if I truly love You will all my heart, mind and soul I will want to spend time with You, sharing my thoughts, hopes,and dreams, listening to You speak to me through Your word, joining You in the work You have prepared for me to do, and walking with You on the paths You have chosen for me.

Spiritual Exercise:
As you slip out of bed each morning
slide to your knees and tell the Lord you love Him.
Thank Him for another day.
Do the same before climbing into bed at night.

Ask yourself these questions daily:

Is your spirit healthy and fruitful?
Are you producing Spiritual Fruit?
Are you using your Spiritual Gifts?

Start renewing your spiritual health today!

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Stay in the Race by Max Lucado

Don’t give up! In 1952 Florence Chadwick attempted to swim the ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore—through foggy weather and choppy seas. After 15 hours her muscles began to cramp and her resolve weakened. She begged to be taken out of the water, but her mother riding in a boat alongside, urged her not to give up. She kept trying but grew exhausted. Aids lifted her out of the water. As they paddled a few more minutes, the mist broke. She discovered shore was less than a half mile away. She said, “All I could see was the fog. I think if I could’ve seen the shore, I would’ve made it!”

Friend, don’ t give up! The finish may be only strokes away. God may at this moment be lifting His hand to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet. The shore may be closer than you think. Stay at it. Stay in the race. And don’t give up!

from Facing Your Giants

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The LORD your God is with you; He is mighty to save

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephania: 3:17

Today's reminder for us is "He is Mighty to Save". Whatever is your care and concern for the day, whatever you are worrying about, whatever was going through your mind all night long keeping you wide awake, however bad the situation is, please remember "He is Mighty to Save". Indeed He is.

How powerful these words are! What an assurance we as believers have! Let me repeat the verse once again: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Now let us all say it together: "The LORD my God is with me, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in me, he will quiet me with his love, he will rejoice over me with singing."

Let us say it all through the day - loud and clear: "He is Mighty to Save!" Amen! Have a blessed day! God be with you!

Coffee with Jesus

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God is our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble. —Psalm 46
(Book of Common Prayer)

Letting go and letting God is a difficult little mantra to live by. But many who are in recovery have taught me that this simple prayer is the foundation of hope and strength in our lives. The key lies in this simple fact: When trouble comes our way, most of us grip tightly. Instead of loosening the grip and letting the trouble go, we tighten our hold and use all our strength to control the situation.

Of course, if trouble is pulling at us and we hold on tight, often trying to pull in the opposite direction, the pain and agony of the situation just increases. Before long, the pain is all we know; it becomes the norm. And if we're not careful, holding on tight becomes the only way we know how to live.

If God is our hope and strength, shouldn't we trust God enough to let go? When we allow a little slack, aren't we creating space for the holy to invade and transform the situation? I think so. In fact I know so.

For when I trust in God, let go, and allow God's life and freedom to come my way, the troubles tend to fade. God becomes very present. And I start to live.

Help me to let go of things I am holding onto for dear life, Lord. Let me give them over to you and see that you are the one who is hope and strength. Amen.

The Signposts

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For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good — whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). — 1 Peter 3:10 (AMPC)

Be Slow to Speak by Joyce Meyer

Have you ever regretted something you said as soon as the words were out of your mouth? You can't take back the words you speak to others—and words can damage relationships. The Bible says that if you can control your mouth, you can control your whole body (see James 3:2).

Before you respond to people too quickly, stop and listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say about your situation. James taught, Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry (James 1:19 AMPC). Commit your mouth to God’s service today and use words that speak healing to others. When you do, you will begin to see an increase in your overall joy.

Prayer Starter: God, thank You for your Word and for all the ways that You give me peace and help me fight the devil. Amen.

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Today’s Scripture: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)

Whosesoever

When God sent His Son, Jesus, to the earth, He opened the door of salvation to whoever would believe. That means anyone can come to Him and become a child of His and have everlasting life! He didn’t just come to save certain kinds of people. He didn’t have a bunch of rules and conditions for salvation. Before Jesus came, people had to observe many laws in order to be holy enough to go into the temple. They were constantly performing sacrifices to pay for their sins just so they could be around the presence of God. And even then, their sins weren't washed away; they were only covered up. But when Jesus came, He was the final sacrifice. His blood didn’t just cover up our sins; His blood washes us clean! Now, instead of just going to the temple to be near God, the Scripture says we are the temple, and He chooses to live inside us. Do you receive Him today? If you’ve never asked Him to come into your life, there’s no better time than right now.

A Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus so that I can be free. Thank You for opening the door to eternal life. I accept the sacrifice Jesus paid. Come into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Joel Osteen

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Bible Verses

Romans 8:18 – I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

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For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:18

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Proverbs 15:4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

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James 1:27 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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Prayers

To Keep God in Mind This Day

Lord, let me begin this day in devout meditations, in joy unspeakable, and in blessing and praising You, who has given me such good hope and everlasting consolation.

Lift up my mind above all these little things below, which are apt to distract my thoughts; and keep it above, until my heart is fully resolved to seek You every day, in the path where Jesus has trod before me. Amen.

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Oh Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you"; I pray that I and your whole church, the body of all faithful people, will know your peace, and live in harmony and unity, one with another, in accordance with your wishes. This I pray to you, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

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Praying at All Times

Father, in the name of Jesus my eyes look to You, and You give me my food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of my heart. You are righteous in all Your ways and loving toward all You have made. You are near when I call on You, even to all who call on You in truth. You fulfill the desires of those who fear You; You hear our cry and save us. You watch over all who love You….My mouth will speak in praise of my Lord. Let every creature praise Your holy name forever and ever. Amen

Scripture Reading Psalm 145:15-21

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Our Father who art in heaven, remind us that truth is not what we say it is, it is what You have declared it to be! ... Remind us too that You sent Your beloved Son that we might better understand Your love and desires for all who would accept Him and His teachings, and His sacrifice on the cross, that we might be forgiven our sins, and have the promise of eternal life! ... Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me."* ... "He who has seen Me has seen the Father ... Do you not believe I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The Words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His work ... He who has My commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father."** ... Help my heart to listen, and my daily life to reflect these words of Jesus.

In His name I pray.

Amen.

* (John 1:1) ** (John 14:6, 9-10)

(c) 2001 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use.

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My Father, keep me where my eyes may look expectantly toward the dawn, through the darkness. Take away everything that comes between me and the brightness of the morning. Amen.

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God our Father, in saying that you have written our names on the palm of your hands, you are telling us that each person is unique and special to you. We pray that individuals may discover in themselves the treasures you have given them, and develop and put to good use the qualities they hold in trust from you. I pray and commit myself today to promote goodness and happiness, by treating others with respect and care and understanding. May others treat me today, Father, in the same way as I treat them, and so may we all bring out the best in one another and grow in the way we look at ourselves and others. Amen.

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The Good Fight of Faith

1 Timothy 6:20-21, 11-16

Dear Father, invisible and immortal God,

Guard me that I may guard what you have entrusted to me. Help me to avoid the godless talk and vain reasonings of "knowledge," (which is not real knowledge) lest I miss the mark as regards the faith.

Give me the courage and strength to flee from all wickedness and to pursue instead righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Help me fight the good fight of faith.

In the name of Jesus and to your glory I lift up this prayer. Amen.

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Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25–26, NIV

Dear God and our Father, if only we have you, we desire nothing more in heaven or on earth. Body and soul may fail, but you, O God, are the strength and comfort of our hearts and you are ours forever. May we live in your Spirit and may your light shine over us. Touch our hearts and help us understand the greatness of what you call us to. Help us and free us again and again so that we are not bound by fear, even when we must pass through intense suffering. For your hand shall be with us and shall rescue us. Your hand shall bring about good for us and for all the people around us. Our hearts go out to them and we plead for them too, "Lord, send your Savior to all." Amen.

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Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to understand that sometimes people shut themselves off from others because opening up will only make their pain real.

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Dear heavenly Father, first of all, I want to thank you for Your provision for all of my needs. You have never failed to take care of me. I am grateful. Lord, deliver me from all fear and insecurity about the future. I know You will never fail me and will continue to meet all of my needs. Lord, I want to be like Jesus. Do the work in my heart to set me free from looking to the provision that comes from this world. I know my true source of supply comes through Your hand. Give me grace to not look to men for the security I need. You are my security and I set my eyes upon You, Lord. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Provider. Amen.

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Dear God and our Father, if only we have you, we desire nothing more in heaven or on earth. Body and soul may fail, but you, O God, are the strength and comfort of our hearts and you are ours forever. May we live in your Spirit and may your light shine over us. Touch our hearts and help us understand the greatness of what you call us to. Help us and free us again and again so that we are not bound by fear, even when we must pass through intense suffering. For your hand shall be with us and shall rescue us. Your hand shall bring about good for us and for all the people around us. Our hearts go out to them and we plead for them too, "Lord, send your Savior to all." Amen.