Tag: Hope

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Do You Know Your Heart?

JANUARY 9

MATTHEW 5:3_Blessed are the poor in spirit…

The poor in spirit really do have a monopoly on humility. It is impossible to be proud or arrogant and be poor in spirit. The poor in spirit measure themselves to Jesus’ standards—they find themselves lacking. They do not measure themselves to the standards of the world. Neither are they anxiously concerned if they do not measure up to what their peers consider to be cool or acceptable in order to be in the clique. 

The poor in spirit grieve as they discover the truth of Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV), “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The poor in spirit come humbly and contritely to the only One who can change them. The only One who can give them a new heart.

The poor in spirit believe there is hope for change because they believe they need change. They are not satisfied with the world’s standards. They seek Jesus’ standards.  

Because they are poor in spirit they open themselves up for a metamorphosis—from which they emerge as something beautiful.

They do not return to the cocoon. 

PRAYER

Powerful True God, Show me my heart, change it, and make it new. Only You can make its hardness soft, and its wickedness kindness. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                    

Christ can transform my heart—and make it like His!

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Why Do You Come?

JANUARY 6

MATTHEW 5:2_And he taught them…

Whenever Jesus taught, multitudes came. Multitudes filled with variety. The desperate came to find freedom from demonic bondage. We think of demonic possession as something very graphic and frightening, but demons are at the core of hate, unforgiveness, bitterness, and stubborn rebellion, just to name a few.

Some came with hope of physical healing. Perhaps their diagnosis was “incurable.” Perhaps there was no money to pay for a doctor. Whatever the reason, they had heard of the miraculous power of The Great Physician. 

Some came out of curiosity. Who was this man that attracted multitudes whenever He spoke? Was He genuine? What kind of magic tricks might He perform today?  

Others in the multitude were Jesus’ enemies. Their hope was to find a loophole in His teaching and to expose Him before the crowd.

Jesus had not come on the scene in the usual method. He spoke differently. He taught differently. And what His enemies hated most, He attracted more followers than they.

When Jesus spoke people listened, were freed, and healed.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, Please teach me to listen when You speak to me through Your Word. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                    

Christ speaks to me—I will learn to listen!

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While I Wait

DECEMBER 29

MATTHEW 7:29_ For he taught them as one having authority…

Freedom is the underlying principle of this entire sermon. You can add this to your freedom count as to how many times this has been said this in the past year.

Jesus taught this sermon as The Great Healer: He gave lessons to ease worry and anxiety, and heal the soul. The healing of the soul is an important part of healing the body.   

Jesus taught as The Great Hope: Apart from Him I can do nothing good or righteous. With Him—nothing shall be impossible. Something else to add to your how many times this has been said the past year is: God controls the time table. Only He knows when my impossibilities will become possible—but I have hope! Hope keeps me on the straight and narrow while I wait.

Jesus taught as The Great Deliverer. He has shown me He can deliver me from darkness to light! Not only that—He can use me to be light!! He can use me to be salt! I can cause others to thirst for truth only Jesus can give.

Jesus taught as The Master Stonemason: One step at the time He taught me to build my life. Truth is the setting and freedom is the foundation. The architectural design for a home is reflected in a beautiful setting.

Jesus taught me how to achieve that.

 PRAYER

Lord of Lords, I want to build my life in Your setting of truth. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ gives me all I need to live like Him—Hallelujah!

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Egg on Their Face

DECEMBER 23

MATTHEW 7:28_And it came to pass…

Something which came to pass as a part of Jesus’ ministry was: multitudes followed Him. We’ve mentioned the multitudes before, but let’s review these categories.

Definitely among the multitude were the spiritually hungry. Hopefully that is the category you fill. You have not spent a year studying Jesus’ teachings because you are spiritually full. These are people who want their lives to count for good before they leave the earth. 

There were the physically sick. These are people who believe Jesus can heal the incurable. They hope to experience His power.

There were the desperate, held in demonic bondage by the father of lies. They were searching for freedom. Had they found it? 

There were the curious who just wanted to see what all the hoop-la was about.

There were the jealous who sought to destroy the One who had stolen their thunder. And it came to pass that these left with egg on their face.

For those who don’t know what that means, it is to be made to look foolish or embarrassed.  

 PRAYER

Wonderful Counselor, I am spiritually hungry for Your truth. Please feed me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ can keep me spiritually full—He feeds me!

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God Events

DECEMBER 22

MATTHEW 7:28_And it came to pass…

Many God events occur in life from birth to death. Some give joy and some pain, but each is designed to strengthen your walk on the narrow path.

With time, it will come to pass that you recognize God’s hand in these events. The good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow, are tools in the hands of The Great Deliverer. He uses them to defeat the circumstances of life which can keep you in a pit. I know you want God to just reach in and pull you up without all these God events, but time is how God works. Your life of freedom will come to pass.

Reading this devotional blog is a God designed event.

Designed to bring you to Jesus.

To obey His creation principles taught in this sermon.

To develop a transformed heart able to truly love. 

As you read these devotionals you become part of the people who gathered on a mountain and listened to Jesus teach. They were a combination of different personalities with a variety of different needs, hopes, and dreams.

I don’t know if Jesus taught this sermon in a day or a week, but time came to pass for everyone listening.     

 PRAYER

Prince of Peace, Help me see Your designed events in my life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ events help me stay on the path—I will!