https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037%3A23-24&version=NIV

Psalm 37:23-24, shares how God is the one who holds and sustains us. It is important that we find satisfaction in obeying Christ.  When we look back on our past, we will see where the Spirit was leading and smiling down upon us.  I have experienced that in my life at work.  I may not have an easy time getting up at 4:30am each day, but do see the Spirit’s honoring of my efforts.

As I share about Christ being the center of our lives, I wanted to share Phil Wickham’s, It’s Always Been You. I then wanted to give a shout out to my father, Michael Honeycutt, who has been a testimony to this fact.  Throughout his 78 years, God has called Dad to Himself, enabling him to raise two daughters and being there for Mother throughout health struggles.

The truth about life is that it will not always be an easy road; but, Christ is there to pick us up when we fall. Just because we fall or have a setback, it doesn’t mean it is the end to our story.  God is faithful to complete what He starts (Phillipians 1:6). What an awesome God we serve!

This week, may we spend it dwelling on the greatness of God. We will only experience disappointment and weariness trying to accomplish everything in our own strength. Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, amen (Hebrews 12:2)!

John 17:21 (NIV): 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

This prayer given by Jesus to the Heavenly Father, John 17:21, shows the importance of us being one in Him. Jesus shared with God that His desire was for us to be one, just as they were one.  That desire for us to be one was so that the rest of the world could know He was sent by the Father; and, subsequently, the world would know we were sent. This can be shown through the Church and marriages being knit together.

The ability to represent God to the world only comes through living in Christ. Jesus was so wonderful in giving us the Holy Spirit! We need to remember that it does not happen by striving or trying harder; it comes through letting Him shine through us (John 8:12).

Jesus mentioned that we were the light of the world. Just like a town that is on a hill needs to be lit, so do we (Matthew 5:14-16). We need to shine for Him and not try to blend in with the world.  Just as Casting Crowns mentioned, in Only Jesus, the sole purpose of our lives needs to be magnifying Christ.

Let us take this week and let God move through the Spirit. I don’t know about you;  but, it is easy to fall into trying to make something of oneself! Let us throw off the old man, and run the race looking to Jesus at the finish line (Hebrews 12:2). Amen!

Psalm 103:1-5 NIV – Of David. Praise the LORD, my soul; all – Bible Gateway https://share.google/C8EPTS9X3QV42FFsc

With this devotional, I would like to remind myself and all of the readers about the goodness of God. In Psalm 103:1-5, it gives a beginning of what we can be thankful for... for our healings, for our salvation, for prevention of disaster, and for His knowing how to adequately satisfy our desires. Seph Schleuter sings about the endless blessings we have in Christ.

The blessings do go into infinity! If we sat down and began thanking the Lord for His goodness in our lives, we would run out of time! Isn’t it amazing that we as humans are very short sighted. Our attention tends to focus on what we still have need of, instead of the omnipotence of God.  We end up putting God into the box of being like us. 

We should start making memorials to recall the times of Jesus’ intervening in our lives.  That was what God wanted the Children of Istael to do, throughout the Old Testament. God is still the same God today, and He deserves our praise and testimony!

The Spirit doesn’t want us coming to a place of complaining and discontentment. We should let the Spirit help us become men and women who are thankful and trust their Heavenly Father.  Just because we experience our wilderness times, let us not go about complaining. How does that glorify God?  Let us magnify the Lord, Psalm 34:3!

Romans 8:37-39 – No, in all these things we are more than conqueror… | Bible Study Tools https://share.google/6Vydo61CaPTLNVeWD

Oh, how He loves us!  Romans 8:37-39 shares how the love God has for us goes beyond what any powers or person will discourage us with; His love is stronger than anything that will cause us to question Jesus. Andrew Ripp sings, I’d Do it Again, a song written as a letter from Christ to the Church.

The scenario was brought up that Jesus would go through the crucifixion for us again, if He had to. It is awesome, though, that Jesus only had to offer Himself up once to cover our sins.  He is the High Priest that offered Himself up once; it isn’t like the high priests of old who had to continually offer sacrifices up for the people, or themselves (Hebrews 7:26-27)

Since this is the case, we can feel confident and without fear (1 John 4:18). This is so reassuring and beautiful!  Dwelling on the subject of Christ’s love increases the desire to draw closer to Him.  When we draw close to Jesus, we experience the filling of His Spirit (James 4:8); God will draw close to us.

May we focus this week, and always, on the fact that we are loved and special in His sight. Since we are so valuable, it gives us incentive to keep ourselves for Him and to devote ourselves daily.  May God bless us as we walk in His love!  Amen!

Matthew 5:14–16 (NLT): 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus is so right about our witness to the world, that it is not right to hide the light of God in our lives!  Lauren Daigel is so accurate sharing about praising the Lord, that our lives need to exhibit living in the Spirit’s power.  When we live in the Spirit, we cannot resist giving the Lord a… “Hallelujah!”

That praise will overflow from us, and it will be constant. It will match the stability of our Lord.  He is the same today, tomorrow, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). I don’t know about you, but I want my joy and praise to not be a roller-coaster.  We will be a sweet-smelling incense to God.  It will spread as a witness to those we meet.

I got to thinking about this as I worked this week.  It shouldn’t bother me that I don’t fit in with any particular group. Instead, my goal is to stand out and be an example to a hurting world. This is not possible in our own strength.

Let us have as a goal this week, to glorify God. He is so worthy!  He is the reason we get up each morning, the reason we should not give up.  Just dwell on His grace and mercy! One day we will wake up in His image (2 Corinthians 3:18)! Amen!

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NIV – Therefore I do not run like someone – Bible Gateway https://share.google/MU6brTrqaKNMrhJEC

In contemplating what to share this week, God impressed the thought of not getting weary of finishing well in what we start.  It is so easy to become depressed and feeling like we are not making a difference, of feeling like people are not noticing.  In contrary, we do not know when we are actually planting a seed.  Most of all, when we live life for Jesus it is never in vain. Please read Titus 2:7-8, and Matthew 5:16.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 points out that we do not live a disciplined life in vain.  We are not like a fighter who goes through training to just receive a prize and recognition.  There is an underlying reason for all of the hard work, of making sure we are following the Spirit’s direction at all times.  We should be an excellent witness, everyday. We want to hear Christ saying we did a good job (Matthew 25:21)!

There is a beautiful thought that is shared in Katy Nichol’s song, When I Fall.  God is there for us in our journey with Him.  Let us remember that in those times we feel like we are going to crash, He is there to catch us.  I remember my father sharing that there were many times he felt like he was going across Niagra Falls on a tightrope.  Instead, we need to recall thst underneath are the everlasting arms of God (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Às we dwell on the fact of how we are being sustained, I would like to give an example of Christ working in my life.  This last week, we received our bonuses and my supervisor had a chance to talk to me.  He shared that they noticed how consistent and trustworthy I was. He compared my work to the Tortoise and the Hare. I didn’t just start out well, but continued on.  That brought an encouragement to me; that shared with me that getting up early at 4:30AM to do my work was not useless.  I am making a difference. If you wouldn’t mind, please scroll down and share with the group of how your diligence unto Christ has paid off.  May we all continue on with Him.

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) – And I am convinced that nothing can | YouVersion https://share.google/sBnlGKNXGFEbc9rcZ

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Today I am greeting you with a heart filled with gratitude, and with a desire to grow in the Lord. As an infant or child trusts in their parents for nourishment and provisions in growth, we need to trust our Heavenly Father. He has called all of us, those who have accepted Him, His children!  If we are children, then we have an inheritance of glory after our suffering (Romans 8:17).

Ben Fuller sang about our true identity; and Romans 8:38-39 mentions how permanent God’s love for us is. There is absolutely nothing that negates the Lord’s love. Since He continually cherishes us, we can be assured of His love for us. The Scriptures remind us that perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18)!

If His love for us is unconditional, and we are not living in fear of what ourselves or others are thinking about us, we can have peace as we approach His throne (Colossians 1:21-22; Hebrews 4:16). I just wanted to encourage everyone to continue coming boldly to Christ for mercy. 

Please feel free to comment below to add anything that ministered to you, or if prayer is needed.  May this week be one of experiencing Christ’s mercy.  In this mercy, may we all find the strength to carry on when we are in need.  This morning, our pastor brought up the section in the Bible about the man with leprosy coming to Jesus.  He was bold enough to ask the Lord if He was willing to bring healing to him.  Christ answered in the affirmative.  May we live in the assurance that the Saviour wants the best for us (Romans 8:28)!

John 14:27 NIV – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give – Bible Gateway https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014%3A27&version=NIV

In this age and society, it is very easy to fall into fear and panic. We have the precious promise from Jesus, though, that He came to bring peace (John 14:27).  In Isaiah 9:6, there is the prophetic statement that Christ would be called the Prince of Peace.

For Christ to be called the Prince of Peace, that should encourage us that one day the Lord will reign on earth as King.  Today, let us let God take first place in our lives through the Spirit. As No Fear mentions, by  Jon Reddick, He is walking through life with us.

This subject came up, this afternoon, as I visited my parents.  We were recalling the fact that the Lord has gone before us.  He understands what it is like to be human, and He has prepared a place for all of us who have called on Him to save us (Hebrews 4:15, John 14:2-3).

The key is for us to lay our pride down, the belief that we are the only ones that can solve issues. Phillipians 4:4-7 encourages us to pray about everything, in an attitude of thanksgiving, instead of worrying about everything.  Let us trust that God will fill us with peace!

Galatians 6:9 NIV – Let us not become weary in doing good, – Bible Gateway https://share.google/Xc3pymYZigKeQqtWS

As Galtians 6:9 mentions, we as Christians need to remain strong in Christ, we should not lose endurance in doing what is right. The Eye of the Storm, by Ryan Stevenson, encourages us to focus on making Christ the anchor in our lives. When everything seems like it is going to be lost, God will anchor us.

Making Christ the anchor of our lives involves giving ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).  We need to be in tune with the Spirit’s leading. The conviction the Lord has given me has been in my thought life.  My mind needs to dwell on what is holy and true (Phillipians 4:8), not on despair and gloom. 

Along the lines of commiting ourselves to God, I wanted to share Matthew 12:30-31.  These verses, which can be an anchor, encourage us to love God with all of our hearts, mind and strength.  Going hand in hand with this, our loving people as ourselves should be evident in how we live.

Finally, I wanted to bring up Galatians 5:22-23. The Fruits of the Spirit.  This week, let us seek Jesus in exhibiting them as we fight the good fight.  After all, faithfulness and self-control are mentioned as fruits.  People should be seeing our love to God by our faithfulness and self-control.  God bless everyone as they walk this road with the Spirit!