Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise... then the peace of God will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 NLT
We are constantly surrounded by the opposite of what the Scripture calls us to keep in our minds. The world is full of the lure of thoughts that are false and reckless, against God and tainted, ugly and lacking merit. There are so many unworthy things that catch our attention or capture our time. Chaos thrives in these things ~ not peace. You will not find God in these places ~ unless He is reaching through for a lost soul. Even then, He is far above the ugly and dark; He is Beauty and Light. God is peace.
The commentary of the Transformation Study Bible offers these thoughts:
The Christian who fills his heart and mind with God's Word will have a "built-in radar" for detecting wrong thoughts. . . Right thinking is the result of daily meditation on the Word of God. (Philippians 4:8 commentary)
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Whatever is worthy of praise, meditate on these thoughts of Beauty and Light. ~ dho
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Satan ~ Lent 2010 (Saturday)
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left [Jesus] until an opportune time.
Luke 4:13 NIV
This is not the devotion I wrote yesterday - it is gone, apparently did not "publish" as ususal. I did all the same things but today as I started to write for Sunday, I noticed that Saturday's was not published. Thinking I had made an error, forgetting to click "publish," I checked. Saturday's devotion was simply not anywhere to be found.
As I have been writing as the Spirit leads, I could not even remember what I wrote yesterday morning. Looking through my scant notes revealed no clues. The NLT translation says that the devil left until the next opportunity came. If you are surprised that the devil still acts to disrupt and hinder, attempts to destroy the work of God, think again.
The world would say "it was just a computer glitch" or "you must have made an error" - that's the reason it did not publish. Perhaps those things are true; yet, the devil's ways are sometimes crafty and sometimes just annoying. So, I salute the efforts of darkness lest I forget they exsist and have weapons to do battle everyday, BUT I worship the LORD God who is all powerful and everlasting!
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Do not be caught unaware! Worship the power of the Living God even DURING the next opportunity of evil. ~ dho
Luke 4:13 NIV
This is not the devotion I wrote yesterday - it is gone, apparently did not "publish" as ususal. I did all the same things but today as I started to write for Sunday, I noticed that Saturday's was not published. Thinking I had made an error, forgetting to click "publish," I checked. Saturday's devotion was simply not anywhere to be found.
As I have been writing as the Spirit leads, I could not even remember what I wrote yesterday morning. Looking through my scant notes revealed no clues. The NLT translation says that the devil left until the next opportunity came. If you are surprised that the devil still acts to disrupt and hinder, attempts to destroy the work of God, think again.
The world would say "it was just a computer glitch" or "you must have made an error" - that's the reason it did not publish. Perhaps those things are true; yet, the devil's ways are sometimes crafty and sometimes just annoying. So, I salute the efforts of darkness lest I forget they exsist and have weapons to do battle everyday, BUT I worship the LORD God who is all powerful and everlasting!
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Do not be caught unaware! Worship the power of the Living God even DURING the next opportunity of evil. ~ dho
Friday, March 05, 2010
Prayer ~ Lent 2010
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;. . . strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:31-32 NASB
These words were spoken by Jesus to Peter, after telling Peter that he would deny Him three times. Jesus knew the trouble that was imminent, that Satan was lurking and using everyone he could to help hinder Jesus. Satan underestimated the power of God because there is no power greater. Jesus prayed for Peter, and still intercedes for believers today.
Prayer is the breath of life to our soul. Mother Teresa
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Thank Jesus for praying for you, for breathing life into your soul. ~ dho
Luke 22:31-32 NASB
These words were spoken by Jesus to Peter, after telling Peter that he would deny Him three times. Jesus knew the trouble that was imminent, that Satan was lurking and using everyone he could to help hinder Jesus. Satan underestimated the power of God because there is no power greater. Jesus prayed for Peter, and still intercedes for believers today.
Prayer is the breath of life to our soul. Mother Teresa
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Thank Jesus for praying for you, for breathing life into your soul. ~ dho
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Worship ~ Lent 2010
"
It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself - Spirit. Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself - Spirit. Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." John 4:23-24 The Message
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Worship God - in your own ways - with your very being - simply and honestly. ~dho
*photo©DonnaOswalt,2009
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Compels ~ Lent 2010
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NASB
God chooses to love us, and when we choose to love Him, He gives each of us a new wardrobe to wear ~ heart of compassion, gestures of kindness, attitudes of gentleness, and efforts of patience. God wraps us in a robe of righteousness; such love compels a response.
Our sacrifice of praise ~
God's Perfect Love overwhelms the soul; respond to the Spirit's calling, as His holy and beloved. ~dho
Colossians 3:12 NASB
God chooses to love us, and when we choose to love Him, He gives each of us a new wardrobe to wear ~ heart of compassion, gestures of kindness, attitudes of gentleness, and efforts of patience. God wraps us in a robe of righteousness; such love compels a response.
"Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all."
Living For Jesus by Thomas Obediah Chisholm
Our sacrifice of praise ~
God's Perfect Love overwhelms the soul; respond to the Spirit's calling, as His holy and beloved. ~dho
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Endures ~ Lent 2010
In 2 Chronicles Chapter 6, read Soloman's praises and prayers for the dedication of the Temple. The beginning of Chapter 7 gives us the account of God's power after these prayers as the Temple was filled with God's presence.
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. The priest could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD saying,
"He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!"
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 NLT
When have you known the presence of the LORD, felt His Glory fill the air around you, surround you with His goodness? Probably, you didn't see fire flash from heaven, but God's Glory is undeniable. God endures ~ through all times, and His faithful love endures forever!
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Let your offering of praise be "He is good!" and meditate on His faithful love ~ it is eternal; it endures! ~dho
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. The priest could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD saying,
"He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!"
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 NLT
When have you known the presence of the LORD, felt His Glory fill the air around you, surround you with His goodness? Probably, you didn't see fire flash from heaven, but God's Glory is undeniable. God endures ~ through all times, and His faithful love endures forever!
Our sacrifice of praise ~
Let your offering of praise be "He is good!" and meditate on His faithful love ~ it is eternal; it endures! ~dho
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