March 5-11, 2012 Devotional Highlights

March 5 – 11, 2012

Devotional Highlights

The Word for You Today:

1. “Mighty Men and Women of God” (3)

· Understand the value of strong relationships and unity

· We need accountability to one another

2. “Discipleship”

· Whoever does not bear his cross…cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)

· We must die to self-indulgence, self-interest, and self-promotion

· Ask yourself before each action, attitude, or word, “Is this pleasing to God?”

3. “The Word for Worrywarts”

· Worry robs us of joy

· Don’t allow working for the Lord to be more important than a relationship with the Lord

· My attitude is more important than my actions

4. “Be Nurturing”

· Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

· We are most influenced by people who make us feel good about ourselves

· We must believe in others, listen to others, and love others unconditionally to give them hope

· People don’t need critics, they need cheerleaders

· Encouragement outweighs correction

· Anxiety in the heart of man cause depression, but a good word makes it glad. (Prov 12:25)

5. “Spiritual Landmarks”

· Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: ²² The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lam 3:21-23)

· Create “markers” of God’s faithfulness in your life to remind yourself of His goodness to you in the past to help you through the present

6. “Don’t Be A Fool”

· The Fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” (Ps 14:1)

· Without a God, you become your own God, self-pride…you are the highest power…you get to make the rules

· Proof God exists:

· Creation – has God’s DNA; shows His power, His hand

· Calvary – His love/His heart

· Conscience – everyone is born with one

· Someday, if there is a God, everyone will stand before Him, accountable for his own life

7. “Don’t Be a Fool” (2)

· You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you. (Luke 12:20)

· When you only take care of your physical body, which only lives 70-80 years, and neglect your soul, which will live forever in heaven or hell, God calls you a fool

· Be always ready to stand before God, for one day you will

Sparkling Gems:

Revelation 3:16: But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

• “spit” – vomit something distasteful and disgusting
• Repent of your lukewarmness, and become passionate about the things of God
• We must be a source of spiritual refreshment to those around us

Ephesians 5:1: Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

• “imitate” – model after, act like
• We must decide to act like God in everything we do
• I must lay aside my unsanctified emotions, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and start acting more and more like Jesus
• We must try to see things from God’s perspective, think like Him, and act like Him
• Help me, Father, to change my way of thinking, and to seek my confidence from You

James 4:5: What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?

• The Holy Spirit is extremely upset when we give our attention to the world
• Make the Holy Spirit a top priority, and guard your relationship with Him – live to please Him

2 Thessalonians 1:7: And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,

• “persecuted” – going through difficult events, heavy pressure
• “rest” – relax, let up, find relief
• Take time away from your problems, a time for recreation and relaxation, a time to be refreshed and renewed

2 Timothy 3:1: You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

• “know” – mandatory recognition, understanding
• “last” – the ultimate end of a thing, final
• “difficult” – perilous, hard to bear, wild and vicious, dangerous, high risk
• The Holy Spirit wants God’s people to be spiritually aware and ready to help others when the end of the age is here
• We must protect our minds by the Word of God and be prepared to protect our family and others by the power of God
• God has chosen us to live in such a time as this, and will enable us to stand firm and minister to others who are hurting

James 1:2-4: Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

• “endurance” – holding one’s ground no matter how difficult the challenge, hanging in there, never giving up, refusing to surrender
• It isn’t a matter of if you win the battle, but when
• Whatever you are going through, it will change – so be patient, hang in there no matter what

Romans 12:3: Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

• Wise leaders recognize their abilities and their limitations
• God wants teams…everyone using their gifts together
• People are placed in our lives as blessings. They have gifts in areas we are weak, and God sends them to bless us when they use those gifts. Likewise, we have gifts they do not have and they need us, so we bless them.