Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: daily devotion
Joyce Meyer (November-16-2022) Daily Devotion: Stop and Smell the Roses.
Much of the world is in a hurry, always rushing; yet very few people even know where they are going in life. People rush to get to yet another event that has no real meaning for them, or that they really don’t even want to attend. We hurry so much we finally come to a place where we cannot slow down.
I can remember the days when I worked so hard and hurried so much that even if I took a vacation, it was almost over by the time I geared down enough to actually rest. Constantly hurrying definitely kept me from having peace in my life, and it still can if I don’t pay attention. Life is too precious to rush through it.
Sometimes I find that a day has gone by in a blur; at the end of it, I know I was very busy all day yet cannot really remember enjoying much, if any, of it. That’s why I’ve committed to learn to do things in God’s rhythm, not the world’s pace. Jesus was never in a hurry when He was here on earth, and God is absolutely not in a hurry now. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (AMPC) states, To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven .
We should let each thing in our lives have its season, and realize we can enjoy that season without rushing into the next one. Our pace of living affects the quality of our lives. When we eat too fast, we don’t properly digest our food; when we rush through life, we don’t properly digest it, either. God has given life to us as a gift, and what a pitiful shame it would be to do nothing but rush through each day and never, as they say, “stop and smell the roses.” Each thing we do in life has a sweet fragrance, and we need to learn to take it in and enjoy the aroma.
Prayer Starter: Father, please give me the grace, energy and time to do life at a pace that allows me to enjoy the journey, and to be fully present in each moment. Thank You for the gift of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Joel Osteen (November-15-2020) Today's Word: Yes is Coming.
Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20, MSG - Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.
Today’s Word: When the loan didn't go through or you didn't get the promotion you worked so hard for, it's easy to get discouraged by so many no's and give up on your dreams. But I believe God is saying, "This is going to be a time of yes for you--yes to the healing, to the promotion, to the breakthrough. What hasn't worked out in the past is suddenly going to fall into place. Closed doors are suddenly going to open. The favor of God is going to reverse the no's and bring you into your yes.
Today's Scripture means the dreams God's placed in your heart, the promises He's spoken over you have already been stamped with yes. God has already set the date to bring it to pass. But it says God needs your yes to make it happen: "God's Yes with our Yes together makes it a sure thing." Put your yes with God's yes and watch what happens.
Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You that one touch of Your favor can turn a no into a yes. Thank You that I can put my yes with Your yes and see the no's turn around. I believe and declare that I'm getting ready for Your hand to bring me all that You have for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Joyce Meyer (November-15-2022) Daily Devotion: Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
It just isn’t possible to find out God’s plan for your life without making a few mistakes along the way. History books are filled with stories of great men and women who did incredible things, but before they reached their goals, they all had moments where they failed.
Thomas Edison tried two thousand different experiments before he successfully invented the light bulb. Can you say persistent? Abraham Lincoln lost several elections before he became president of the United States. We wouldn’t have heard of either of these men if they had quit before they achieved success.
God has created us to keep moving toward His plan for our lives. He wants us to face new challenges, try new things, experiment, and be creative. So don’t be afraid when you fail—your success might be just around the corner (Psalm 37:23-24; Romans 5:3-4). Let’s be brave enough to keep trying.
Prayer Starter: Father, please help me be brave enough to try again, even after I mess up or face failure. Thank You for being my strength and my endurance in every moment. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Joel Osteen (November-14-2021) Today's Word: Your Destiny is Calling.
Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:59–60, NIV - On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John."
Today’s Word: It's interesting that when John the Baptist was born, the neighbors and relatives decided his name should be Zechariah, after the father. But even before John was conceived, the angel Gabriel had told Zechariah that his name was John, and he would walk in the spirit and power of Elijah and prepare the people for the Lord.
We all have "theys" in our life. We should take counsel and listen to advice, but you cannot let other people name your future. Sometimes people will try to name you something you're not. They'll name you addicted, or average, or not that talented. Don't let them put limitations on you and convince you that you can't accomplish your dreams. The principle is: let your heavenly Father name your future. You are who God says you are--blessed, strong, talented, prosperous, forgiven, and healthy. God is telling you what you can become. Your destiny is calling. You have to believe it, then you'll see it.
Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You that You put a promise and dream in my heart. Thank You for calling me to my destiny. I'm not going to be moved by who's not cheering me on. I know You being for me is more than enough to get me to where I'm supposed to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
John Hagee (Novemver-14-2020) Daily Devotion: Job 42:5 - I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.
Veterans often refer to comrades-in-arms as their “band of brothers.” The relationships they share are deeper than those who have not served could ever understand.
Their closeness was forged in the horrors of war. They fought side by side in foxholes, vowed to defend one another to the death, and left no man behind. Their intimacy sprang from the struggle.
In our spiritual battles, we have found a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother. He goes before us to protect and defend. He equips us with the armor to vanquish the enemy in the day of struggle. He will never abandon us in the heat of conflict.
And after He has fought through the fire beside us and waded into the water to rescue us, we truly know Him. We can hear what our pastor says or what our friend has experienced, but when He carries us out of the war zone, we see Him in a way we never did before.
When we have suffered sickness, He became our Healer. When we were lost, He found us. When we were broken, He mended and made us whole. When we were afraid, He was our Defender.
Our troubles teach us His glory. Thank God in the trial, rejoice through the struggle, praise Him in despair. We had heard, but now…we see!
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. May the Lord inhabit your praises until your cup overflows with the power of His presence and the fullness of His joy!
Today's Bible Reading:
- Old Testament - Ezekiel 29:1-30:26
- New Testament - Hebrews 12:1-13
- Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 27:17-18
Joyce Meyer (November-14-2020) Daily Devotion: New Covenant = New Grace.
Praying our way through the day is equally as important as devoting set-apart time to prayer. I believe God wants us to acknowledge Him, make requests, and give Him thanks throughout each day, in the little things and in the big things. Prayer should be as comfortable as breathing.
Just think about how you would feel if your children said, “I love you, Mom!” or “I love you, Dad!” every time they walked by you. When one of my children stops by the house or my office and says, “Hey, Mom, you’re awesome! Just came by to tell you that,” it makes my day.
Just letting people know you think they’re great and you love them is the kind of communication that develops relationships. When we treat the Lord that way, our relationship with Him goes deeper and grows stronger, and we stay connected to Him through “anytime, anywhere” prayer. And He loves it.
Prayer Starter: Father, thank You so much that I can come to You in prayer anytime, anywhere. I want to be more mindful to invite and include You in my life, and to worship You in every moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Joel Osteen (November-13-2022) Today's Word: It’s the Hand of God
Today's Scripture: Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Acts 8:26, NIV.
Today's Word: Philip was having great success preaching the gospel in Samaria. It must not have made sense when an angel told him to go out to that desert road, but there was a man, the treasurer of Ethiopia, traveling by there in a chariot who was reading the book of Isaiah. When Philip explained to him that Isaiah was talking about how Jesus came as the Savior, the man believed, was baptized, and had his life changed forever.
Like this man, because you honor God, right now there’s a Philip chasing your chariot. There are blessings that God has ordained to track you down, people who will use their influence, their knowledge, and their experience to push you forward. When you take time to put God first, to go to the house of the Lord, don’t be surprised if on your way home, if sometime this week, sometime this month, Philip shows up—something unusual happens, an unexpected blessing. It’s the hand of God.
A Prayer for Today: “Father, thank You that You know where the good breaks are, the right connections, the opportunities that will thrust me into my purpose. Thank You that when I keep You first, Your goodness will rain down with blessings. I believe that Philip is already on the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Charles Stanley (November-13-2022) Daily Devotion: The Gift of Prophecy
Romans 12:3-8 - 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Joyce Meyer (November-13-2021) Daily Devotion: Don’t Lose Focus.
Sometimes we lose our focus. We can be walking in love all day, going along just fine, until someone comes along and offends us. As soon as that frustrating moment causes us to forget our focus of love, we stop making progress and come to a standstill — aggravated, upset, and offended.
If you want to be able to make it through frustrating things that usually derail you, understand that the mind is a battlefield. If you don't stop Satan when he gets into your thoughts, you’re not going to stop him from getting into your life, so stay focused. Guard your thoughts. Ask God to help you remain full of love for people, no matter what comes your way today.
Prayer Starter: Father, please give me the grace I need to forgive people quickly and guard my thoughts. Thank You for helping me love people the way You do today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Joel Osteen (November-12-2022) Today's Word: Clean House.
Today’s Scripture - 1 Kings 15:11–12, MSG - Asa conducted himself well before GOD, reviving the ways of his ancestor David. He cleaned house...and threw out all the idols his predecessors had made.
Today’s Word: King Asa took the throne of Judah and boldly removed the idols and pagan altars that his predecessors had allowed. He put a stop to what had been stopping Judah from prospering. When an army of a million men attacked Judah, Asa called out to God for help, and the Lord defeated that army with Judah taking an abundance of plunder.
Do you need to do some house cleaning? Are you letting things hang around that you know are not good? You need to put a stop to it before it stops you. You may need to remove the anger, the jealousy, the bitterness, a critical spirit. Remove it, and God will take you to a new level. He'll make things happen that you could never make happen. Sometimes we think things on the outside are stopping us, but if we would look inside and remove what we know is not the best, we would see God's favor in new ways.
Prayer for Today: "Father, thank You that I can take the bold steps to remove those things I need to get out of my life. I can't do it on my own, so I ask You for help to break and get rid of whatever needs to be removed. Help me clean my house. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
