When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no [such]room of foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own secured0 for the of redemption (of evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:26-32
Life Point
Ephesians 4:26,27 basically tells us to let go of our anger before bedtime. There is only one problem: What happens when we become good and angry in the morning, at least we have all day to get over it. But when we become angry close to bedtime, we have to make a quick decision about what to do with our anger.
Why is it so unwise for us to go to bed angry? I think it is because while we sleep, what we are angry about has time to take root in us. But the Word admonishes us not leave room for the devil to gain a foothold through our anger. If we refuse to get over our anger by bedtime, we open a door for the devil and give him a foothold. Once Satan gets a foothold in our lives, he sees an opportunity to move on to a stronghold.
I encourage you today to deal with you anger quickly and decisively so the devil sees no opportunity to take advantage of the situation. No matter how you feel, you can choose to forgive and walk in love.
Page: 1939
The Everyday Lift Bible
The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living
Amplified Version
Featuring Notes and Commentary By Joyce Meyer
Monday, August 22, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
the God of the second chance
In Jonah 3:1 we see that the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, and it was no different from the first time (recorded in Jonah 1:2). God told him to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there. God gave Jonah a second chance.
No matter how long we avoid God's instruction, it is still there for us to deal with when we stop running. Eventually we see that being in God's will, not out of His will, is what brings peace and joy to us. We have to surrender our own wills because walking in our self-centered ways keeps up unhappy.
Running from difficult things never works in the long term. I know a woman who ran from everything in life that was difficult. She ignored things she needed to deal with, including abuse in her home. She lived in fear and had a very miserable life. She ultimately carried so much turmoil, she had a complete mental and emotional breakdown. Pretending that her problems did not exist did not make them go away. They were there, pressuring her all the time. God was trying to lead her to deal with her conflicts, but she would not trust Him enough to do so.
God never leads us anywhere He cannot keep us. If God is leading you to deal with a unpleasant situation in your life, do not run from it. He promises to be with you at all times and never to leave you or forsake you.
Surrender to God can be frightening when we first begin to practice it because we do not know what the outcome will be if we yield ourselves to God's will. However, once we have surrendered and begin to experience God's faithfulness and the peace that passes understanding, we learn quickly that God's way is better than any plan we could ever devise.
Not knowing exactly what will happen in the future, but trusting God to take care of us and enjoying peace, is far better than erroneously thinking we have life all figured out while continuing to live in fear and anxiety. To enjoy peace with God we must become comfortable with not always knowing what the future holds.
There is no such thing as trust without unanswered questions. If God is leading you to do something difficult, just begin to take baby steps of faith, and after each one He will show you what to do next. We do not have to have a entire blueprint for the future; we do not need to have all the answers. All we need is to know the One Who knows, and that is Jesus Himself.
Page 1408 The Everyday Life Bible
The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living
Amplified Version
Featuring Notes and Commentary By: Joyce Meyer
Please always remember God loves you, with a unconditional , unchanging, everlasting love. Always run to God, trust Him with you life. have faith in Him.
No matter how long we avoid God's instruction, it is still there for us to deal with when we stop running. Eventually we see that being in God's will, not out of His will, is what brings peace and joy to us. We have to surrender our own wills because walking in our self-centered ways keeps up unhappy.
Running from difficult things never works in the long term. I know a woman who ran from everything in life that was difficult. She ignored things she needed to deal with, including abuse in her home. She lived in fear and had a very miserable life. She ultimately carried so much turmoil, she had a complete mental and emotional breakdown. Pretending that her problems did not exist did not make them go away. They were there, pressuring her all the time. God was trying to lead her to deal with her conflicts, but she would not trust Him enough to do so.
God never leads us anywhere He cannot keep us. If God is leading you to deal with a unpleasant situation in your life, do not run from it. He promises to be with you at all times and never to leave you or forsake you.
Surrender to God can be frightening when we first begin to practice it because we do not know what the outcome will be if we yield ourselves to God's will. However, once we have surrendered and begin to experience God's faithfulness and the peace that passes understanding, we learn quickly that God's way is better than any plan we could ever devise.
Not knowing exactly what will happen in the future, but trusting God to take care of us and enjoying peace, is far better than erroneously thinking we have life all figured out while continuing to live in fear and anxiety. To enjoy peace with God we must become comfortable with not always knowing what the future holds.
There is no such thing as trust without unanswered questions. If God is leading you to do something difficult, just begin to take baby steps of faith, and after each one He will show you what to do next. We do not have to have a entire blueprint for the future; we do not need to have all the answers. All we need is to know the One Who knows, and that is Jesus Himself.
Page 1408 The Everyday Life Bible
The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living
Amplified Version
Featuring Notes and Commentary By: Joyce Meyer
Please always remember God loves you, with a unconditional , unchanging, everlasting love. Always run to God, trust Him with you life. have faith in Him.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
God's Good Plan
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. {Deut. 4:29-30.]
Jeremiah 29:11-13
(Life Point) pg. 1193
The Lord sees not only what you are right now, but also what you can become. He knows the plans He has for you, and, according to Jeremiah 29:11, they are good plans for progress and success, not defeat and failure. Let me encourage you to give God everything about yourself. He will be patient with you as He works His good plans in you.
God's good plan Page. 1193
According to Jeremiah 29-11, God has a plan for each of us, a plan that should give us great hope for our future, It is our destiny. But that plan is a possibility, hot a "positively."
If someone prophesies over us wonderful things in the name of the Lord, what they say to us may express the heart, the will, and the desire of God for us. But that does not mean it is positively going to happen just as it is prophesied. This is because it cannot and will not come to pass if we choose to refuse to cooperate with God or to stray away from His will.
God does have a plan for our lives, but we have to participate in that plan for it to come true. God is not likely to do anything in our lives without our cooperation.
We need to cooperate with God every single day of our lives in order for our potential to be developed. Every day we ought to learn something. Every day we ought to grow. Every day we ought to discover something. Every day we ought to be a bit further along than we were the day before. We should be "lifetime learners."
We must understand that no other human being on the face of the earth can develop our potential for us. We must each discover our own God-given gifts and talents, what we are truly capable of, and then put ourselves to the task of developing those gifts, talents, and capabilities to their fullest extent.
God has a plan for each of us. It is a good plan, an uncommon plan, a grate plan; it is not an average, mediocre plan. I encourage you to seek that plan and cooperate with God so that it will be wonderfully fulfilled in your life.
(Life Point) Page. 1194
Jeremiah 29:13 is an awesome promise; God says, "Then you will seek Me, inquire for , and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Notice that we are to require God "as a vital necessity." In other words, the wonderful life Jesus died for us to have depends on our personal relationship with God. We need Him just as we need food, water, and air to breathe.
When you spend time with God, everyone knows. You become calmer; you are easier to get along with; you do not lose control of your emotions as quickly. Your patience increases, wisdom is manifested through you, and your heart soon understands what God likes and what offends Him. As with any friend, the more time you spend with God, the more you become like Him. Spend time with God today. Make it a priority. Your life depends on it because He is your vital necessity.
The Everyday Life Bible
The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living
Amplified Version
Featuring Notes and Commentary By: Joyce Meyer
And all ways remember God love you, go ahead spend some time with God in His Word, get to know him. He will give you Love, Life, Light, Joy, Peace, Hope, and much, much, more. God is all that and More.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
(Life Point) pg. 1193
The Lord sees not only what you are right now, but also what you can become. He knows the plans He has for you, and, according to Jeremiah 29:11, they are good plans for progress and success, not defeat and failure. Let me encourage you to give God everything about yourself. He will be patient with you as He works His good plans in you.
God's good plan Page. 1193
According to Jeremiah 29-11, God has a plan for each of us, a plan that should give us great hope for our future, It is our destiny. But that plan is a possibility, hot a "positively."
If someone prophesies over us wonderful things in the name of the Lord, what they say to us may express the heart, the will, and the desire of God for us. But that does not mean it is positively going to happen just as it is prophesied. This is because it cannot and will not come to pass if we choose to refuse to cooperate with God or to stray away from His will.
God does have a plan for our lives, but we have to participate in that plan for it to come true. God is not likely to do anything in our lives without our cooperation.
We need to cooperate with God every single day of our lives in order for our potential to be developed. Every day we ought to learn something. Every day we ought to grow. Every day we ought to discover something. Every day we ought to be a bit further along than we were the day before. We should be "lifetime learners."
We must understand that no other human being on the face of the earth can develop our potential for us. We must each discover our own God-given gifts and talents, what we are truly capable of, and then put ourselves to the task of developing those gifts, talents, and capabilities to their fullest extent.
God has a plan for each of us. It is a good plan, an uncommon plan, a grate plan; it is not an average, mediocre plan. I encourage you to seek that plan and cooperate with God so that it will be wonderfully fulfilled in your life.
(Life Point) Page. 1194
Jeremiah 29:13 is an awesome promise; God says, "Then you will seek Me, inquire for , and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Notice that we are to require God "as a vital necessity." In other words, the wonderful life Jesus died for us to have depends on our personal relationship with God. We need Him just as we need food, water, and air to breathe.
When you spend time with God, everyone knows. You become calmer; you are easier to get along with; you do not lose control of your emotions as quickly. Your patience increases, wisdom is manifested through you, and your heart soon understands what God likes and what offends Him. As with any friend, the more time you spend with God, the more you become like Him. Spend time with God today. Make it a priority. Your life depends on it because He is your vital necessity.
The Everyday Life Bible
The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living
Amplified Version
Featuring Notes and Commentary By: Joyce Meyer
And all ways remember God love you, go ahead spend some time with God in His Word, get to know him. He will give you Love, Life, Light, Joy, Peace, Hope, and much, much, more. God is all that and More.
Keep Your Appointment
You will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necesity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:13)
We may have to deal sternly with our flesh to resist the spirit of passivity that tries to keep us from growing in the knowledge of God. A commitment to spend time with God is a serious a commitment as any we will ever make.
If I needed dialysis because of kidney disease and had to be at the hospital twice a week for treatment at 8:00 AM, I certainly would not accept an invitaion to do anything else during those times, no matter how appealing it seemed or how much I wanted to do it. I would know my life depended on keeping my dialysis appointment. We should be that serious about our time with God. The quality of our lives is greatly affected by the time we spend with Him, so that time should have priority in our schedules.
Somethimes we become slack in keeping our appointments with God because we know He is always abailable. We know He will always be there for us, so we may skip or reschedule our time with Him so we can do something that seems more urgent. If we spent more "priority time" with God , we might not have so many "urgent" situations that tend to rob us of our time.
When we spend time with God, even if we don't fell His presence or think we are learning anything, we are still sowing good seeds that will produce good harvests in our lives. With persistence, you will reach the point where you understand more of God's Word, where lyou are enjoying fellowship with Him, and where you are talking to God and hearing His Voice.
GOD'S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: Keep your appointments with God.
Page 11
Hearing from God each morning
365 Daily Devotions
By: Joyce Meyer
And please remember God love you very much, go ahead and run back to your first love.
(Jeremiah 29:13)
We may have to deal sternly with our flesh to resist the spirit of passivity that tries to keep us from growing in the knowledge of God. A commitment to spend time with God is a serious a commitment as any we will ever make.
If I needed dialysis because of kidney disease and had to be at the hospital twice a week for treatment at 8:00 AM, I certainly would not accept an invitaion to do anything else during those times, no matter how appealing it seemed or how much I wanted to do it. I would know my life depended on keeping my dialysis appointment. We should be that serious about our time with God. The quality of our lives is greatly affected by the time we spend with Him, so that time should have priority in our schedules.
Somethimes we become slack in keeping our appointments with God because we know He is always abailable. We know He will always be there for us, so we may skip or reschedule our time with Him so we can do something that seems more urgent. If we spent more "priority time" with God , we might not have so many "urgent" situations that tend to rob us of our time.
When we spend time with God, even if we don't fell His presence or think we are learning anything, we are still sowing good seeds that will produce good harvests in our lives. With persistence, you will reach the point where you understand more of God's Word, where lyou are enjoying fellowship with Him, and where you are talking to God and hearing His Voice.
GOD'S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: Keep your appointments with God.
Page 11
Hearing from God each morning
365 Daily Devotions
By: Joyce Meyer
And please remember God love you very much, go ahead and run back to your first love.
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