August 11, 2026

Just For Today – Part 2 — Day 18 - Put On Righteousness by SGLY Ministry

Just for Today I will put on…RIGHTEOUSNESS
“I put on righteousness and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.” Job 29:14 (NKJV)

Today’s Action:
Putting on Righteousness…what does that mean?

Job was looking back on his life and saying that he had lived a right life, one in which honored God because he clothed himself in righteous living and thinking.

As believers in Christ, we are qualified to even more say the same, as we are are clothed in the Righteousness of Christ, which means that we have the ability to always act in a just, upright manner and be morally correct in all that we do, say and think, whether we are in the world or at home alone because we have the Righteousness of Christ covering us.

So, Just for Today, let’s remind ourselves of who we are because of Who we belong to, and that we are wearing Righteousness at all times no matter where we are.
Let’s say : I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,…Isaiah 61:10 (ESV) and then let’s go forth into our day glorifying God in all we think, say, do!

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Secret Service by Josh McDowell's Family Devo

LOVE BRINGS SATISFACTION, NOT DEPLETION.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Hebrews 13:1-3.

Verse of the Day: “Continue to love each other with true Christian love” (Hebrews 13:1).

“Wanna do something fun?” Mom asked.

Little Judy nodded her head vigorously. Her older brother and sister were both old enough to go to school, and she was left alone every day with Mom.

“You and I,” Mom whispered, though no one else was home, “are going to be … the Secret Service!”

Judy’s eyes widened. She whispered back to her mom, “What’s that?”

“You’ll see,” Mom said. “Come with me.”

Mom led the way into the kitchen. She explained to Judy that the two of them were going to spend the day doing secret acts of love for other people. And they did.

First, they baked a batch of chocolate-chip cookies, tied them with bright red ribbon in wrapping paper, and placed bundles of cookies on everyone’s pillows—including their own, “To keep the secret,” Mom said.

Judy giggled gleefully as they next tiptoed onto the screened porch of their neighbor’s house and left a bundle of cookies by the door for Mrs. Hastings, the woman who lived alone next door.

Finally, they left a bundle of cookies in their mailbox and sat together on the living room sofa, waiting and watching for the mail carrier to come. When the truck pulled up to their mailbox to drop off their mail, Mom and Judy closed the curtains and looked at each other, smiling and laughing at their “secret service.”

“This is so much fun, Mommy,” Judy said.

“Yes, it is,” Mom said. “Do you know why it’s so much fun?”

“Because … ,” Judy said, thinking. “Because it’s fun!”

Mom smiled again. “That’s right,” she said, “because showing love to others is fun. You see, giving love away isn’t like giving cookies away. You have fewer cookies than when you started, don’t you?”

Judy nodded.

“But,” Mom continued, “when you give love away, you don’t lose anything. You don’t have less love than when you started; you have more!”

“Can we be the Secret Service tomorrow, too?” Judy asked.

Mom nodded. “As long as you’ve got enough love left!”

“I have lots and lots,” Judy said. “More than before, just like you said.”

TO DO: Start your own “secret service.” You might clean a room, color a picture, walk a dog, or send new socks or slippers to grandparents with no return address on the package— whatever you think of. Make it your goal to perform your “secret service” sometime in the next seven days.

TO PRAY: “Lord, you poured out your love by sending your Son, Jesus, to die for us. We want to be generous in our love for others this week.”

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Going Outside Your Comfort Zone

Thought for the Day

"There are times when God has something great waiting for you just beyond your reach that you will need to go outside of your comfort zone to realize. Don't let any self-doubt hold you back from realizing what He has in store for you."

Today's Word

"So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you..." (Exodus 3:10-12 NIV)

Today's Prayer

Lord, give me the strength to step outside my comfort zone. Sometimes I am afraid to push myself towards something new. When you walk with me in my journey, I know that there is nothing to fear for I will always land on my feet if I do happen to fall while trying to extend my reach. Amen

The Whisper Of God

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Guidance - God, you, and I dance

GUIDANCE

When I meditated on the word guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person relaxes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word guidance. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i." God, "u" and "I" dance. God, you, and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

-- Author Unknown

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For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. — 1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMPC)

Think Sessions by Joyce Meyer

We need to have daily think sessions, purposely sitting down where it’s quiet, meditating on the truth, and speaking those thoughts out loud. These thoughts from God’s Word are a great place to start!

This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it (see Psalm 118:24). I’m looking forward to encouraging people today!
The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are pleasing to God (see Psalm 19:14).
I have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16).
I am the righteousness of God in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
I am expecting God to do something great in my life (see Jeremiah 29:11).

I want to encourage you to take time to actually think about what you’re thinking about. When you decide to think and speak on purpose every day, you’ll begin to reap the results of a clear, positive mind!

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me become more consistent with spending time in Your Word, and in speaking truth over my life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Listen More Than You Talk

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit. —Proverbs 17:27

We have said in this devotional that in our quest to hear from God we must train ourselves to listen. Sometimes we are talking so much that we simply cannot hear what God wants to say. We can also miss the important things people say to us because we are not listening.

If we learn the discipline of keeping ourselves calm and quiet, we will hear the things that God wants to say to us. My daughter, Sandra, said that recently, after she prayed, she just sat for a minute and asked God if He had anything He wanted to say to her before she began her day. She felt in her heart that He simply said, “Go; I am with you!” She was comforted by that thought, but it especially comforted her over the next few days when she found herself needing to deal with some unexpected bad news. The word God had given her increased her faith and kept her stable and calm as she faced her trials.

If we don’t listen, we won’t hear. Give God an opportunity on a regular basis to speak to you. When you pray, you don’t have to do all the talking. You can spare your words and be considered a wise man or woman of God.

God’s word for you today: You have one mouth and two ears, so that means God wants you to listen twice as much as you talk.

From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer.

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Imitate God

Did you know that the Bible tells you to imitate God?

It surely does!

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 NIV
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
2 just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

No doubt you have seen a child imitating their parent. Sometimes the parent is glad -- sometimes embarrassed.

Just as earthly children imitate their parents, children of God are supposed to imitate their Heavenly Father.

In what way are we to imitate God? Should we try to create planets? (You're probably not quite ready for that! But who knows about the future.)

We are to imitate God by walking in love instead of selfishness. By being givers instead of takers.

SAY THIS: I will imitate God my Heavenly Father, and walk in love.

A Bible Devotion

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Transformed by Seek Ye First the Kingdom

I heard this quote recently, and it stuck with me. “Many books can inform you, but the Bible can transform you.” It reminded me of the passage in Romans.

In Romans 12:2 Paul says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

When we read the Bible and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and minds, more than just learning, we are transformed into new people, who see things in life differently.

Dear Lord, transform us, so that we may know and do your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Bible Verses

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all things for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

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1 Chronicles 16:34, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; His love endures forever.”

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“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” - Proverbs 17:22

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Psalm 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

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Proverbs 16:9 9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

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Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5

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Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

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Exodus 14:14 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

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Prayers

Prayer for Purity of Worship

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you and worthily praise your holy name. Through Christ I pray, Amen.

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Confession

Have mercy on me, Oh Lord, for I am a humble and miserable sinner. [At this point, pause to remember specific sins you have committed during the week and speak or think them.] I renounce all of these sins, heavenly Father, and repent of them, and I promise to make every effort not to repeat them.

Have mercy on me, pardon me for these offences and any I might have omitted from forgetfulness or ignorance; in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I pray for forgiveness. And I pray that your Holy Spirit may dwell with me today and throughout the coming week, to comfort me, to give me strength against temptation, and to guide me into the path of righteousness. Amen.

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Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester (1230 A.D.)

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits thou hast won for me,
For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,
May I know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly
For ever and ever. Amen.

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Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you direct my way unto you, and make me and all of us to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you; to the end that we may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before you, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.

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The Righteous Pray

Father, You made Jesus Who knew no sin to be sin for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in Him. My earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer makes tremendous power available—dynamic in its working. Father, I live in You—abide vitally united to You—and Your words remain in me and continue to live in my heart. I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I have loved. You are turning the desires of my heart into Your desires for me. Then, I ask whatever I will, and it shall be done for me to Your great glory! Amen

Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) James 5:16 John 15 Psalm 119:47-48 (KJV)

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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37, NIV

Lord our God! What can separate us from your love? Can trouble or fear or persecution or hunger or nakedness or peril or the sword? In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Dear Father in heaven, we long for courage. You will answer our prayers and again and again grant us strength, the power of your Spirit, the only power that can strengthen us. We thank you for all you have done for us. Help us onward from victory to victory until everything on earth is won for the good, to your honor among all mankind. Amen.

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Father, we’re so thankful for this new morning and for the truth found in the old hymn: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, Oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchased of God, Born of the Spirit, lost in his love.” Thank You for the assurance that You are in us, with us, around us, and covering us with Your love. How blessed to know that our salvation is secure in You. Guide and direct us as we serve You. Amen.