Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: daily devotion

Joel Osteen (November-08-2020) Today's Word: Greater than Your Circumstances. 

Today’s Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17–18, NLT - Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crops fails...yet will I rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Today’s Word: The prophet Habakkuk was saying, "My business has gone down. There's no reason in the natural to be happy, yet will I rejoice in the Lord." We can hear him going through the day, saying, "God, I praise You for Your greatness. You spoke worlds into existence. You're bigger than this sickness, bigger than this financial struggle. I rejoice in the God of my salvation."

Life is too short for you to go through it negative, discouraged, weighed down by pressure. In the midst of difficulties, have a song of praise on the inside. That's what not only keeps you full of faith, but that's what allows God to turn things around. Quit thinking about what's wrong and start thanking God for what's right. Get your song back. If you can't find any reason to be grateful, do as Habakkuk did and rejoice in the God of your salvation. Go through the day thanking God for Who He is.

Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You that I can rejoice in You, knowing that You are the God of my salvation. and victory is on the way. No matter what my circumstances look like, I know You are greater than my circumstances. I declare that You are greater than all. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

John Hagee (November-08-2022) Daily Devotion: John 16:22 - Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

At this very moment, we are as joyful as we want to be. If we are not filled with the joy of the Lord, we cannot blame our bosses, our spouses, or our mothers-in-law. Joy has nothing to do with them, but everything to do with the attitude we choose.

Our joy is determined by our willingness to give God the glory He is due. This is how Daniel found joy in a den of hungry lions while King Darius paced the palace floor.

This is the joy that prompted Paul and Silas to burst into song in their prison cell at midnight. Inside Paul and Silas was the key that sets every captive free.

Circumstances do not manufacture joy. The joy of the Lord is a fact on which we can depend – not a fickle feeling. Happiness is not to be confused with joy. Happiness is an unstable emotion blown about by changing situations; if all is not right in our world, we cannot be happy.

Joy comes to stay. It is not found in our position – it is found in a Person! Jesus gives us joy that no one can take away. If we are not experiencing joy, it is because we relinquished it. We choose our attitude – make it joy!

Today's Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Run your race with joy. The God of hope will fill you with all joy as you set your heart on Him!

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Ezekiel 18:1-19:14
• New Testament - Hebrews 9:1-12
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 106:32-48, Proverbs 27:10

Joyce Meyer (November-08-2022) Daily Devotion: Create the Right Atmosphere

If we want to hear from God, we need to create an atmosphere conducive to His presence. By atmosphere, I mean the environment or predominant mood that surrounds us. Atmosphere is created by attitudes, and certain attitudes can either enhance or hinder our relationship with God. To really hear from Him, we need an atmosphere of peace, and we can maintain peace by our attitudes of faith in God and willingness to forgive those we might be upset with.

When strife is present, we can feel it in the atmosphere. In the same way, we can sense peace in places where people and situations are at peace, and we should work to create and maintain peaceful atmospheres wherever we go, because we cannot hear from God in the midst of turmoil.

To enjoy the fullness of God’s presence, we need to consistently maintain an honoring, loving, atmosphere in our hearts. An attitude of strife and dissension doesn’t create an inviting atmosphere where God will speak, but He will speak in a calm atmosphere where peoples’ hearts—and minds—are at peace and full of love.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to cultivate an attitude and atmosphere of peace in my life. I need and want to hear Your voice more than anything else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Joel Osteen (November-07-2022) Today's Word: Give What You Have. 

Today’s Scripture: Luke 9:13, NIV - He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."

Today’s Word: Late in the day, after Jesus had been teaching thousands of people, He said to His disciples, "You give them something to eat." There was no food out there in the wilderness. It seemed as though what Jesus asked was impossible. But God will never ask you to do something and then not give you the ability to do it. "The people at work are driving me crazy." When God gave you that job, He gave you the ability to be there with a good attitude. "I can't accomplish my dreams. I don't know the right people." The moment God put the dream in your heart, He lined up everything you need to bring it to pass.

Jesus prayed over the loaves and fish, and they supernaturally multiplied, feeding probably fifteen thousand people plus there were basketfuls of leftovers. Give God what you have, and He will multiply it. Are you talking yourself out of something God has put in your heart?

Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You that You take the loaves and the fishes in my life and multiply them whenever I put them into Your hands. Thank You that I can give You my dreams and goals, and You will do something great with them. I gladly surrender my life to You today. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

John Hagee (November-07-2022) Daily Devotion: Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

This day offers the opportunity to be grateful. No matter how difficult this season has been, we can lift hands and hearts to bless the Lord.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your eternal Word. Your hand is mighty to save; Your arm is able to deliver! Thank You for Your faithfulness, for making a way when it seemed impossible.

In lonely hours, thank You for being a friend that sticks closer than a brother. In times of sickness, thank You for the stripes that Jesus took for our healing. In times of oppression, thank You for the authority to overcome.

In times of need, thank You for providing blessings that cannot be contained. In times of anxiety, thank You for the peace that passes understanding. In times of death, thank You for the promise of resurrection and everlasting life.

Thank You that every sunrise brings renewed mercies. For the air that fills my lungs, thank You. For the home that shelters me and my family, thank You. For the food on the table before me, thank You. For breaking generational curses and lifting heavy burdens, thank You.

For the soaring sky and the shimmering sea, thank You. For beloved family and friends, thank You. For Your marvelous gifts to me, I am grateful. I bless You for Your goodness to me.

Today's Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. As you offer Him this prayer of gratitude, may your heart be overwhelmed with the wonder of the mighty God we serve.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Ezekiel 16:43-17:24
• New Testament - Hebrews 8:1-13
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 27:7-9

Joyce Meyer (November-07-2021) Daily Devotion: Restoration Is a Process.

Jesus understands us when nobody else does. He even understands us when we don’t understand ourselves. He knows “the why behind the what.”

People often only see what we do, and they want to know why we are not doing it better or more. Jesus knows why we behave the way we do. He sees and remembers all the emotional wounds and bruises in our past. He knows what we were created for. He knows the temperament that was given to us in our mother’s womb. He understands our weaknesses—every fear, every insecurity, every doubt, all our wrong thinking—and He loves us anyway.

Once we put our faith in Jesus, He begins a process of restoration in our lives that will not be entirely finished until we walk into heaven. One by one He restores to us everything Satan has stolen from us. He doesn’t want us to live in a constant state of striving or anxiety, so we need to aggressively resist the legalistic attitudes that condemn us for not doing enough.

Jesus understands us, He loves us unconditionally, and He’s committed to working with us through the Holy Spirit—and He never condemns us while He’s at it. We can freely receive the restoration He has for us, and rest in knowing that He’s already done all the work to redeem us.

Prayer Starter: Father, who You are making me into is so much more important than the doing that others expect from me. Help me to trust that You’re working on what needs to be done in my life, and to rest in Your love for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

John Hagee (November-06-2022) Daily Devotion: James 4:6 - But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’.

God does not mince words – He hates pride and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13). He sets Himself against the haughty, but He gives grace to those who are humble enough to receive it.

We can choose His offer of grace or His opposition. If God resists us, we face a fight we will never win. When we puff up with pride, take credit for His work, or refuse to give the thanks He deserves, He sets Himself against us. He will not share His glory (Isaiah 42:8).

If we crave God’s grace, we must humbly acknowledge His generosity. Like the one leper, we must turn back to fall at His feet, pour out our soul-deep appreciation, and glorify Him (Luke 17:15).

Every good and perfect gift in our lives comes from the Father of lights (James 1:17). From the prime parking spot to a perfect sunset to a prosperous career – all of it comes from Him.

If our business experienced record growth, that was God’s doing – not our efforts. He gives us health to work. He gives us wisdom and creative ideas. While we sleep, He aligns the pieces that give the increase.

To Him be all glory, honor, and praise! Let us humble ourselves to recognize His handiwork and thank Him for His grace to us.

Today's Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. As you humble yourself to give Him glory for every good thing in your life, may He pour out His grace in even greater abundance.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament: Ezekiel 14:12-16:42
• New Testament: Hebrews 7:18-28
• Psalms & Proverbs: Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 27:4-6

Joyce Meyer (November-06-2022) Daily Devotion: Keep Your Standards High. 

The Old Testament character Daniel was a person of high standards. We know this because in Daniel 1, when the young men from Jerusalem were taken to Babylon to be trained in the royal court, they were supposed to eat the rich food and wine the king provided for them, but Daniel and his friends asked to be exempt. He felt such delicacies would defile them, so he asked for vegetables and water instead. Daniel could have gotten in trouble for not eating the rich food, but instead God gave him favor with the man in charge (see Daniel 1:5–20).

In Daniel 6, King Darius decreed that everyone in the kingdom had to pray to him, and that anybody who prayed to anyone else would be thrown into a den of hungry lions. Daniel was committed to praying to the God of Israel, and he continued to do so despite the king’s decree.

When the king found out about this, he had no choice but to send Daniel to the lions’ den. But God shut the lions’ mouths, and no harm came to Daniel. The next morning, the king ordered Daniel to be removed from the lions’ den. After Daniel emerged unscathed, the king saw that Daniel’s God was the true and living God, and issued a new decree that everyone had to worship only Him. Daniel went on to prosper in the king’s service for many years.

Like Daniel, you might be faced with opportunities to compromise your convictions. Sometimes in the process of healing and growing, you may feel it would be easier to just go back to your old ways instead of moving forward with God. Let me encourage you to be like Daniel and remain faithful and committed to God.

The healing of the soul takes time, and every day may not feel like a great victory. But as you stay in God’s Word and continue to obey Him, the progress He wants for you will take place. You will be walking toward greater and greater healing every day as you keep your standards high.

The king saw that Daniel was a person of integrity and that “an excellent spirit” was in him. Obviously, he believed strongly in keeping his commitments, promises, and vows, and he was willing to endure discomfort—and even risk his life—to do so.

Because of this, he was promoted to a position of great authority and influence. God has put an excellent spirit in you, too, and you can choose to live in excellence every day. The journey to healing isn’t always easy, so I encourage you today to make the decision that you will not compromise. We can see from the story of Daniel that those who remain faithful are rewarded. At the right time and in the right ways, God will honor your faithfulness to Him.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me stay excellent and committed to You in every area of my life. Thank You for Your favor, Your protection, and Your grace to do what’s right. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Joel Osteen (November-05-2022) Today's Word: Be Slow to Speak. 

Today’s Scripture: James 1:19, NIV - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Today’s Word: When somebody gets on your nerves and you feel annoyed, you can't just pop off and say everything you feel. You need to step back, take a deep breath, and think about what you're going to say. Don't speak out of your emotions and let your tongue run wild. Be disciplined and calm down. Some things are better left unsaid. You don't have to win every argument, or comment on every situation, or set everyone straight. Even when you know they're wrong, ask yourself, "Is this worth fighting over?" Just bite your tongue and let it go.

Do you know how many headaches you could save yourself if you would just zip it up and not make hurtful comments you're going to regret later? It takes seconds to say it, but years later the pain may still be felt. It's much better to be slow to speak, to think about what you're going to say, and never damage your relationships.

Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You for Your goodness, love, and faithfulness in my life. I know that my words are powerful and that I must be disciplined to not speak out of my emotions. I choose to be slow to speak, slow to become angry, and quick to let things go. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

John Hagee (November-05-2022) Daily Devotion: Psalm 71:23 - My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed

God deserves our joyous thanks for the indescribable gift of salvation through the sacrifice of His Son. All of the glory goes to the One Who conquered death, hell, and the grave for us!

Not one of us is worthy of the saving grace of God, of the price He paid to redeem us. Yet, no matter who we are or what we have done, He has a divine destiny for each of us filled with glorious things.

From the moment Eve’s teeth sunk into the forbidden fruit, God has been miraculously redeeming humankind. The blood of Jesus flowed at Calvary for the remission of our sins. One generation after another has rejected and attempted to replace Him, but He continues to reach for us.

And because He lives, we live! His resurrection ensures our victory over the world, our flesh, and Satan. The same Spirit that quickened Jesus now makes us more than conquerors through Him Who loves us without reservation.

How incomprehensible that He would come to our rescue! But because He did, we are no longer the sinners we once were. Because He looked past our sinful state to see our desperate need for a Savior, we have been washed white as snow. He became our bridge back to the Father, and we rejoice! We are thankful!

Today's Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Worthy is the Lamb for sinners slain! Worthy is our Redeemer, the Faithful and True! Rejoice for His unspeakable gift to you!

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Ezekiel 12:1-14:11
• New Testament - Hebrews 7:1-17
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 105:39-45, Proverbs 27:3