Good Words for Today
When God saves people, he doesn’t do it because of any potential he sees in them. I think most of us secretly feel (though we would never say it) that there must have been something in us worth saving. Human pride dies hard. But it’s not as if God saw a musician and said, “We need a good piano player in the church. I think I’ll save him.” Or “She’s got a lot of money and we could use some extra cash for world missions.” Or “Those twins would make excellent ushers. I want them on my team.” No, no, a thousand times no. God doesn’t save on the basis of your potential. Apart from the grace of God, the only potential you have is the potential for eternal damnation.
“I only pray when I am in trouble. But I am in trouble all the time so I pray all the time.” Isaac Singer
Open our eyes, Lord, because we are so blind to your goodness. We take so much for granted and forget that you are the source of all our blessings. Deliver us from the sin of ingratitude. Number us not among the nine but with the one man who said, “Thank you.” Amen.
Christ is Lord over all the storms of life. He sends the storms, and he rides the waves with you. The Master of the sea is by your side. When the time has come, he will say, “Peace, be still!” and the storm will run out of breath, and the sea will become like glass. Eventually the day will break, and the sun will shine again.
O Lord, give us Christlike courage for these momentous, world-shaking, amazing days. Amen.
Here is my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in and rearrange things. Make me new from the inside out. Thank you for loving me even when I seem to lose my way. Amen.
The life of faith is inherently a life of risk. It is not for those timid souls who want to play it safe all the time. John Calvin put it this way: “How graciously Christ pours out his grace, when he finds the vessel of faith open.” Are we open to receive all that God has for us?
All truth is narrow. If something is true, then many other things must not be true. If everything is true, then nothing is true. If truth depends on your opinion or on the latest Gallup poll, we can never know the truth about anything. That is why Christians insist on the concept of absolute truth. Without it, we have no faith to believe, only some warm, fuzzy sentimental feelings in our heart. That is not enough. We need to reassert once again to this crazy, mixed-up, confused generation exactly what the Psalmist said regarding God, “All your words are true.”
Not every thought needs to be expressed. If you think it, don't say it. If you say it, don't write it. If you write it, don't be surprised.
Will you have the courage to go against the flow? Will you have the courage to stand up for what is right? Will you have the courage to go with Jesus all the way to the cross? If we live, we live. If we die, we die. But whether we live or die, we belong to Jesus. His name is on us. Our future is secure. “The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.”
“Your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you” (1 Peter 4:4 NLT). Did you get that? Your “former friends” may not be your friends any longer because you don’t do what you used to do. You can’t have it both ways. You can either live with the pagans and adopt their morals and their lifestyle or you can live for the Lord. But you can’t do both at the same time. When you decide to go against the flow, don’t expect the world to give you a merit badge for courage.
It’s a good thing to be backed into a corner now and then. Desperate situations make us Christian all over again. We quit talking about how wonderful we are, and we simply cry, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” There is no prayer more basic than that.
Who is the most Christlike person you know? He (or she) is probably busy washing dirty feet because that’s what servants do. Want to be like Jesus today? Find a towel and basin and get started.
I Thessalonians 5:23-24 tells us that one day we will stand before the Lord and be holy through and through. In that day we will be “blameless” before the Lord, deeply and radically cleansed of sin and profoundly renewed by the grace of God. No part of our being will be untouched. In that day, we will be holy and pure in body, soul, and spirit. Most of us have a long way to go and we may despair of ever reaching that happy condition. But “the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (v. 24). Our hope rests in the Lord. He called us, he is faithful, and he will do it. Your current struggles cannot cancel God’s faithfulness. He will finish his work in you.
A Prayer for Christian Marriages Father, we thank you for the gift of marriage. We acknowledge that your ways are perfect and that you make no mistakes. We gladly confess that without you we can do nothing. Help us to submit ourselves to you completely with no strings attached. We pray for happy Christian homes| where Jesus Christ can be seen in our closest relationships. We pray for those who are hurting and lonely that they might receive a fresh touch from your Spirit. Grant healing and hope to us as we pray. We stand united by faith against everything the devil would do to destroy our marriages. We pray that none would be lost, that all would be preserved. We thank you for husbands and wives who love you and who love each other. Grant that our marriages will not merely endure, but that they will grow and prosper and be filled with joy. We pray for marriages that make Jesus beautiful in the eyes of a watching world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!
Father, we rejoice that your provision is greater than our need. We come to you conscious of our weakness and doubt Grant us fresh faith to believe in you. We lean today upon the arm of your omnipotence. Teach us to pray big prayers that you might be honored in a big way among us. Thank you that what you have done is only the beginning! Be glorified in us, in our families, and in our churches, today, tomorrow and forever! Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Forgiveness is a gift I give to someone who doesn’t deserve it. If they deserved forgiveness, they wouldn’t need it.
Life is too short to waste time arguing with fools. When they try to pick a fight, smile and walk away. You’ve got more important things to do.
A non-offensive Jesus is not the Christ of the Bible.
All that God has done to save us comes to fruition in the bloody cross of Jesus Christ. And because the cross is so important, salvation must be by believing and not by achieving. It’s not what we do that saves us; it’s what Jesus did for us 2,000 years ago.
Do you need mercy today? I know where you can find it. Our God is "abounding in mercy" (Psalm 103:8). He's got mercy for yesterday, mercy for today, and mercy for tomorrow. He's got all the mercy you need. Run to Jesus! He will not turn you away.
Nothing cures pride like adversity. When we are face down in the muck and mire of defeat, we can look up and finally admit we need the Lord. There is no growth without pain.
What good is it to have the right convictions about your faith if you aren't willing to stand up for them?
Lord, Give us the grace to treat others As you have treated us. May we do our best for you Right where we are. Teach us the way of obedience And the joy of contentment. Use us for your glory this week. We thank you for putting us Where we can do the most good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We never come to the end of needing forgiveness or needing to forgive someone else.
Jesus ate with sinners, but he didn't sin with sinners. Make sure you know the difference.
Father, we pray to be truly converted inside and out. Free us from our fascination with sin. Remind us of what we were before we met Jesus. May we ever be ashamed of sin and never ashamed of Jesus. May Christ be seen in us today. In His name, Amen.
God is sovereign. He makes no mistakes, and no detail, no matter how small, goes unnoticed by him.
The only people who think forgiveness is easy are those who never tried to do it. To forgive a deep hurt will cost you greatly. The only consolation is, unforgiveness costs far more.
Following Jesus seems easy until you find out where he's going.