For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
( -Romans 8:38-39 )
I can talk about the love of God throughout an entire weekend conference, I can demonstrate all the different ways God has proven His love for us, but I cannot force anyone to receive His love. It is a personal choice that each person has to make. Even when we make mistakes and know that we do not deserve the love of God, we must still receive His love in order to enjoy the fullness of what He wants us to have.
The love of God will carry you through to victory when all of the powers and principalities of hell seem to be against you. The love of God will carry you through the storms of life and into a place of calm peace. But you will never be more than a conqueror (see Romans 8:37) if you do not have a revelation of how much you are loved by God.
We have to know that God loves us even during the times when we make mistakes and fail. His love is not restricted to the days when we think we have performed well. We need to be confident of His love, especially when we have trials and when the devil is mocking us with accusations, such as, "Well, you must have done something wrong."
When the accuser comes, we must know that God loves us. Even if we did do something wrong, even if we did open a door for the devil to enter in, eve if we did act in ignorance, God still loves us. God is on our side (see Romans 8:28), and He is going to show us what we need to do to get out of the messes we got ourselves into.
Page 243
New Day New You
366 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
Please always remember God loves you.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Spiritual Food for Spiritual Hunger
Make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).
-(Romans 13:14)
Food addiction is easy, because food doesn't come with the same stigmas as cigarettes or drugs. Unlike these vices, food has a legitmate-even essential-role in health. Only when it slips into overuse does it become a problem. But it's so easy to get to that point! Food is reliable. Unlike spouses, friends, or great weather, it is always there. But that's the problem. Any time we feel spiritually empty, whether through sadness, depression, or boredom, it's easy to reach for food to fill that void. Soon, we mistake spiritual hunger for physical hunger, and food becomes the immediate answer to any drop in well-being. You know where this leads. The more you try to treat your spiritual longing with food or other feel good stimuli, the greater your soul's cry for spiritual nourishment will be and the greater your disease will become.
Fortunately, there is another source of comfort that is always there when you need it. Unlike bad food or drugs, it doesn't leave you over weight, sick, or lethargic. It's even free. That something is God. He is called the "Father of sympathy" the God of every comfort . . . Who consoles us in very trouble" (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When I hurt, I have learned to run to God first, instead of another person or substance. I'm not saying this is automatic. It took me years to get this straight, and I still sometimes have to remind myself that what I truly need is spiritual nourishment. But learning this habit will do more to keep your mind and body sound and your life on an even keel than anything I know. Your spirit needs nourishment just like your body does. Don't wait until you have a crisis in your life to start feeding it.
Page 241
New Day New You
366 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
-(Romans 13:14)
Food addiction is easy, because food doesn't come with the same stigmas as cigarettes or drugs. Unlike these vices, food has a legitmate-even essential-role in health. Only when it slips into overuse does it become a problem. But it's so easy to get to that point! Food is reliable. Unlike spouses, friends, or great weather, it is always there. But that's the problem. Any time we feel spiritually empty, whether through sadness, depression, or boredom, it's easy to reach for food to fill that void. Soon, we mistake spiritual hunger for physical hunger, and food becomes the immediate answer to any drop in well-being. You know where this leads. The more you try to treat your spiritual longing with food or other feel good stimuli, the greater your soul's cry for spiritual nourishment will be and the greater your disease will become.
Fortunately, there is another source of comfort that is always there when you need it. Unlike bad food or drugs, it doesn't leave you over weight, sick, or lethargic. It's even free. That something is God. He is called the "Father of sympathy" the God of every comfort . . . Who consoles us in very trouble" (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When I hurt, I have learned to run to God first, instead of another person or substance. I'm not saying this is automatic. It took me years to get this straight, and I still sometimes have to remind myself that what I truly need is spiritual nourishment. But learning this habit will do more to keep your mind and body sound and your life on an even keel than anything I know. Your spirit needs nourishment just like your body does. Don't wait until you have a crisis in your life to start feeding it.
Page 241
New Day New You
366 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Dread Drains, Faith Energizes
Cast you burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).
(Psalm 55:22)
Dread is closely related to fear. We might say it is the forerunner to fear. I believe a lot of people dread many things and yet don't realize what a problem it is. We dread everything from getting out of bed to going to work, doing dishes, driving in traffic, and paying our bills.
How we approach any situation makes all the difference as to whether we will enjoy it. We will, or course, be miserable if we approach driving to work in traffic with a negative, complaining attitude. It won't do any good, because we must drive to work anyway. It is actually extremely foolish to dread things we must do and know we will do. The main thing dread does is steal the peace and joy of life. It also drains us of energy and strength we need for the day. Dread drains, faith energizes.
Being negative drains us, while being positive energizes us. Millions of people in the world today are tired. They see doctors who cannot find any real reason for their condition, so they tell them it is stress. Often we take medication for conditions that would be totally solved if we would eliminate worry, fear, and dread from our lives. If we will make a decision to approach every aspect of life, no matter what it is, with a pleasant, thankful attitude, we will see major changes for the better, even in our health.
The future is coming, no matter how much we fear or dread it. God gives us what we need for each day, but He does not give us tomorrow's grace or wisdom today. If we use today trying to figure out tomorrow, we feel pressure because we are using what we have been allotted for today. Probably one of the greatest ways we show our trust in God is by living life one day at a time. We prove our confidence in Him be enjoying today and not letting the concern of tomorrow interfere.
Page 237
New Day New You
366 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
Also please remember that God always loves you, and you can run and call on Him at any time.
(Psalm 55:22)
Dread is closely related to fear. We might say it is the forerunner to fear. I believe a lot of people dread many things and yet don't realize what a problem it is. We dread everything from getting out of bed to going to work, doing dishes, driving in traffic, and paying our bills.
How we approach any situation makes all the difference as to whether we will enjoy it. We will, or course, be miserable if we approach driving to work in traffic with a negative, complaining attitude. It won't do any good, because we must drive to work anyway. It is actually extremely foolish to dread things we must do and know we will do. The main thing dread does is steal the peace and joy of life. It also drains us of energy and strength we need for the day. Dread drains, faith energizes.
Being negative drains us, while being positive energizes us. Millions of people in the world today are tired. They see doctors who cannot find any real reason for their condition, so they tell them it is stress. Often we take medication for conditions that would be totally solved if we would eliminate worry, fear, and dread from our lives. If we will make a decision to approach every aspect of life, no matter what it is, with a pleasant, thankful attitude, we will see major changes for the better, even in our health.
The future is coming, no matter how much we fear or dread it. God gives us what we need for each day, but He does not give us tomorrow's grace or wisdom today. If we use today trying to figure out tomorrow, we feel pressure because we are using what we have been allotted for today. Probably one of the greatest ways we show our trust in God is by living life one day at a time. We prove our confidence in Him be enjoying today and not letting the concern of tomorrow interfere.
Page 237
New Day New You
366 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
Also please remember that God always loves you, and you can run and call on Him at any time.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
God Wants You
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice.
(Romans 12:1)
God wants you! He wants full custody of your heart, not just visitation rights. People often complain that they pray in Jesus' name and nothing happens-but considering the amount of time they spend with Him, it's obvious they're only "dating" Him. I didn't get my husband's name until I married him. Jesus wants a marriage relationship with His church.
Intimacy with God encourages His power to work in our lives. We cannot view intimacy as all smiles and warm, fuzzy feelings. When a relationship is intimate, one person can speak correction to the other and complete honesty can flow between the two of them. In an intimate relationship with God, we have wonderful moments, but we also have moments when He calls us to honestly face things that need to change in our lives.
Some people haven't learned that their own breakthrough to peace happens when they submit to God and obey Him promptly. They are like unbroken colts resistant to a bridle and bit in their mouths, which could be used by God to guide them to a place of security and provision.
Some people are not willing to let God have the reins of their lives, but they will never feel the security or peace they long for until they surrender themselves completely to the Holy Spirit. He wants you; let Him have all of you.
GOD'S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: Give God full custody of your life.
Page 229
hearing GOD each morning 365 Daily Devotions
By: Joyce Meyer
And please remember always that GOD love you, all you have to do is reach out to Him and talk to Him, and if you need help just ask Him and you will receive.
(Romans 12:1)
God wants you! He wants full custody of your heart, not just visitation rights. People often complain that they pray in Jesus' name and nothing happens-but considering the amount of time they spend with Him, it's obvious they're only "dating" Him. I didn't get my husband's name until I married him. Jesus wants a marriage relationship with His church.
Intimacy with God encourages His power to work in our lives. We cannot view intimacy as all smiles and warm, fuzzy feelings. When a relationship is intimate, one person can speak correction to the other and complete honesty can flow between the two of them. In an intimate relationship with God, we have wonderful moments, but we also have moments when He calls us to honestly face things that need to change in our lives.
Some people haven't learned that their own breakthrough to peace happens when they submit to God and obey Him promptly. They are like unbroken colts resistant to a bridle and bit in their mouths, which could be used by God to guide them to a place of security and provision.
Some people are not willing to let God have the reins of their lives, but they will never feel the security or peace they long for until they surrender themselves completely to the Holy Spirit. He wants you; let Him have all of you.
GOD'S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: Give God full custody of your life.
Page 229
hearing GOD each morning 365 Daily Devotions
By: Joyce Meyer
And please remember always that GOD love you, all you have to do is reach out to Him and talk to Him, and if you need help just ask Him and you will receive.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Treat People Well
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will cry out himself and not be heard.
(Proverbs 21:13)
Today's verse means that when I do not pay attention to people in need and do not do anything to help them, the God may not be inclined to answer my call for help when I have a need.
Being good to people extends beyond our friends and family to our communities. I remember reading a statistic one time that said the average age of a homeless person in St. Louis was seven years old. In my city! My response to that twenty years ago might have been, "That is really pathetic." But now, I become aware of realities such as that on and say, "I'm going to do something about that!" People might say, "It's easy for you to say that, Joyce; you've got a big ministry and access to lots of people who can help." You may not have some of the resources we have in the ministry, but you have the same ability to pray that I do. You can give an offering to ministries that are trying to help and meet needs. You can go and volunteer a little bit of time. All of us can do something if we really want to.
I believe a lot of our prayers go unanswered and that we sometimes fail to hear God's voice because we do not extend mercy or compassion to the difficult situations around us. The truth is, we can receive a tremendous harvest just by being nice! It is very important to God that we treat people well. If you have ever been forgotten or mistreated, then you know how painful that is. If you want to pray effective prayers-if you want God's ears to perk up at the sound of your voice-you will have to treat people well and be good to them.
GOD'S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: One of the greatest things you can do is help someone less fortunate than you are.
Page 226
hearing from GOD each morning
365 Daily Devotions
By: Joyce Meyer
Please remember God loves you and He is always there for you all you have to do is call on Him and ask Him to help you.
(Proverbs 21:13)
Today's verse means that when I do not pay attention to people in need and do not do anything to help them, the God may not be inclined to answer my call for help when I have a need.
Being good to people extends beyond our friends and family to our communities. I remember reading a statistic one time that said the average age of a homeless person in St. Louis was seven years old. In my city! My response to that twenty years ago might have been, "That is really pathetic." But now, I become aware of realities such as that on and say, "I'm going to do something about that!" People might say, "It's easy for you to say that, Joyce; you've got a big ministry and access to lots of people who can help." You may not have some of the resources we have in the ministry, but you have the same ability to pray that I do. You can give an offering to ministries that are trying to help and meet needs. You can go and volunteer a little bit of time. All of us can do something if we really want to.
I believe a lot of our prayers go unanswered and that we sometimes fail to hear God's voice because we do not extend mercy or compassion to the difficult situations around us. The truth is, we can receive a tremendous harvest just by being nice! It is very important to God that we treat people well. If you have ever been forgotten or mistreated, then you know how painful that is. If you want to pray effective prayers-if you want God's ears to perk up at the sound of your voice-you will have to treat people well and be good to them.
GOD'S WORD FOR YOU TODAY: One of the greatest things you can do is help someone less fortunate than you are.
Page 226
hearing from GOD each morning
365 Daily Devotions
By: Joyce Meyer
Please remember God loves you and He is always there for you all you have to do is call on Him and ask Him to help you.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Enter His Rest
So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God; For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.
(HEBREWS 4:9-10)
If you are troubled and upset, worried and worn out about all the changes that need to be made in you, why not enter the rest of God? Struggling won't change you-neither will frustration or worry. The more you rest in God, the faster you will see change. If the canvas struggled under the artist's paint brush, the painting would never get finished. The canvas is perfectly still, totally submitted to the artist's wisdom and creativity. That is exactly the way we must be with God. He knows what He is doing and how to do it. We should believe in Him and enter His rest.
Page 217
New Day New You
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
And people remember always that God loves you.
(HEBREWS 4:9-10)
If you are troubled and upset, worried and worn out about all the changes that need to be made in you, why not enter the rest of God? Struggling won't change you-neither will frustration or worry. The more you rest in God, the faster you will see change. If the canvas struggled under the artist's paint brush, the painting would never get finished. The canvas is perfectly still, totally submitted to the artist's wisdom and creativity. That is exactly the way we must be with God. He knows what He is doing and how to do it. We should believe in Him and enter His rest.
Page 217
New Day New You
By: Joyce Meyer
#1 New York Times Bestselling author
And people remember always that God loves you.
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