Devotion for Thursday, June 30 2011

Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11 NKJV)

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He a used combination of words that has puzzled translators for centuries. What exactly does "our daily bread" mean?

For one, it show us our need for continual nourishment. Jesus is available for us here and now.

It can also refer to the bread which sustains us. Jesus is the Bread of Life, and He is the one who sustains us.

A third rendering is "our bread for tomorrow." So the verse can be translated as, "Give us tomorrow's bread, today." We have an unspeakable glory waiting for us in heaven. We have peace, joy, wholeness, purity, victory, and love waiting for us in heaven, and we are encouraged to ask for some of it today.

In Jesus, we are given the chance to ask for some of tomorrow's blessings today.

Father, You are wonderful. I come humbly before you and ask for my daily bread. You are the one who sustains me, You are everything, and I need You today. Please, give me my daily bread. In, Jesus Name

Devotion for Wednesday June 29, 2011

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain
Christ...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
(Philippians 3:8 & 10 NKJV).

Keep first things first. Jesus is the First, and He is the Last. He is
the source of our Life, and He is that Life. It's easy to forget about
Him. He rarely forces Himself into our lives.

Relationship is central to the message of Jesus. We are called into an
intimate conversation with Him. Conversing with God is the chief way
that we can interact with Him.

Take a risk today. Talk to God, and listen for a response. Listen for
His voice. He may speak or He may not. But remember, He isn't a liar
and won't contradict His Word. He probably won't tell you what shirt
to wear or what type of tooth paste to buy. He also won't direct you
to sin, but He can definitely speak.

Father, I love You. I would like to know You better. I'd like to hear
Your voice, and know where You are leading me. Please speak to me, I
am listening. In Jesus name, Amen.

Devotion for Monday, June 27, 2011

Don't be a jerk. Be generous with your time. Don't let deadlines make you a deadly person. Frustration and anxiety can make us rude to those we love. (and we should be loving everyone) Proverbs 18:21 (MSG) says, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose."

The anxiety and fear caused by an approaching deadline doesn't come from the deadline. It comes from our misplaced trust. Instead of trusting God to work all things in our favor Romans 8 style, we are believing that things won't work out when we live in anxiety and fear.

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad."Proverbs12:25 (NKJV). Countless people are suffering emotional torture right now because their depression is being caused by their anxiety.

There is only one cure. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:7 (NIV).

Throw all of your worries on Him because He cares. God hasn't forgot about your or your deadline. He cares.

Father, I trust in You. I give You my worries, fears, and anxieties. Please
strengthen me through Your Spirit. In the Name of Jesus, Amen