Posts with the tag “follow”

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" - 1 Samuel 15:22   We tend to think that God uses the people who seem to have it all together. The ones who look righteous, who know the right words to say, and who have a clean track record. But God...  Read More

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28   There are times in life when your circumstances seem to close in, and no matter how hard you look for a way out, you can’t find one. It’s tempting to think that if things aren’t getting better, God must not be moving. But the way God works isn’t always lin...  Read More

"But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.'"- 1 Corinthians 2:9   Imagine for a moment that the most incredible version of your life, the one that surpasses even your wildest dreams, is not only possible but actually what God has planned for you. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we know what’...  Read More

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"- Luke 9:23   Each day presents a new challenge, a battle between your desires and God’s will. It’s not a question of if you will be tempted, but when. The reality is that there will never be a day when Satan is not at work, trying to lure you off the path God has set for you. With...  Read More

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." - Matthew 6:24 When it comes to following God and living out His perfect plan for your life, you can't have it both ways. You can't straddle the line between obedience and compromise, holding on to what God has called you to sacrifice while expecting to reap the blessings He promises. Jesus clearly stated that we cannot serve two masters. We must choose whom we will serve.  Read More

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" - Matthew 16:24 Following Jesus requires sacrifice. It's not always easy, and it often means giving up things that we hold dear. But the call to follow Christ is a call to surrender our desires, our plans, and our comforts for the sake of His kingdom. Jesus made it clear that if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.  Read More

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."- Matthew 19:29   Living a sacrificial life isn’t easy, but God promises to take care of those who give of themselves for His sake. He calls us to lay down our own desires and ambitions, to surrender to His will, and to tru...  Read More

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16   Have you ever considered the depth of God's love for you? It's a love beyond measure, beyond comprehension—a love that surpasses human understanding and defies earthly logic. And yet, it's a love that is freely given, unearned and undeserved. In a world that ...  Read More

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'" - Matthew 16:24    In our journey of pursuing God's best, we've explored the importance of seeking it and the necessity of waiting for it. But there's another aspect to consider: the sacrifice required to obtain it. God desires to give us His best, but often, it comes a...  Read More

"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth." - Deuteronomy 28:1   Your obedience is a pathway to blessings. Throughout Scripture, God has illustrated the profound connection between obedience and His abundant favor. Let's explore two biblical examples that showcase the blessings tha...  Read More

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." - Psalm 119:105    In the journey of faith, God doesn't demand that we see the entire picture. Instead, He invites us to take one step at a time, trusting that He will provide for us along the way. Psalm 118:105 reminds us, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Just think about the analogy of a lamp lighting your path. The lig...  Read More

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20   When we contemplate obedience to God, it's natural to think about the sacrifices and challenges that may come with it. Obedience may require us to step out of our comfort zones, give up certain desires, or persevere through trials. But it's equally impor...  Read More

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." - Ephesians 4:1    When God calls us, it is indeed a significant blessing, an invitation to be part of His divine plan. However, let us not forget that it also comes with great responsibility. Embracing the weight of our calling requires steadfast commitment through the good and bad times.  In to...  Read More

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."   As believers, it is crucial to come together in Christian relationships. We are designed to thrive in community, and the support, encouragement, and accountability of fellow belie...  Read More

“Another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.’” - Matthew 8:21-22  When you choose to wait and delay obeying God, you risk the chance of losing an opportunity of a lifetime. Now, that might sound dramatic, but it is that important. Whatever plan, purpose, or mission God gives you, tha...  Read More

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” - Proverbs 27:1  Yesterday, I asked you the question: what are you waiting for? See, God has a special plan and purpose for your life. He wants to do something incredible in and through you. And make no mistake about it…that plan is custom designed for you. It is not for anyone else. But He needs you to act. He needs you to s...  Read More

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” - 1 Peter 4:12-14  Have ...  Read More

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” - Proverbs 18:10  As a child of God, there are things God actively does on your behalf. Sometimes, we make the mistake of thinking He is just some distant deity that is up on His throne waiting to reign down judgment on all that do not live up to His law.  But that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there ...  Read More

“I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” - Jeremiah 10:23  Over the last three days, we have talked about a God who chases you, a God who loves you, and a God who pursues you (continually). But He doesn’t stop there. Once God has gotten your attention, that is when the fun really starts. Most of the time, when we are running from...  Read More

“Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.” - 3 John 1:11  Have you ever heard the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder?” Basically, what this quote means is that the value of something completely depends on the person in possess...  Read More

“Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.” - 3 John 1:11  Over the last couple of days, we have discussed the “blue check” of social media. For those who do not spend a large amount of time on social media, platforms like Instagram, Twit...  Read More

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” - Hebrews 4:15  Over the last week, we have talked a lot about forgiveness. We have looked at it from all angles: our need to forgive others, our need for God to forgive us (He has), and our need to forgive ourselves. After all, we have all m...  Read More

“’My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” - Isaiah 55:8-9  Have you ever been disappointed with the direction God leads you? Maybe God set you on this journey to pursue His will, and it star...  Read More

“My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.” - Proverbs 1:15Have you been mislabeled? Maybe you have started a club, a company, or a youth sports program. You have a mission for what you want to do and a reason for why you are doing it. But for some reason, the message has gotten lost. And now, you or your brand has been mislabeled.Maybe it is for a lack of trying to hear ...  Read More

“But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scripture says, People should not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4I want to ask you one question today: who is shaping your thinking? What source is influencing your mind and thought patterns? We live in this “information age” where new information is available quite literally in the palm of our hands. We can sea...  Read More

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27There is a great quote from the movie entitled, “A Beautiful Mind.” John Nash, a great mathematician and Nobel Peace Prize winner, made a statement as he was addressing the unfortunate elements of discrimination towards those that face mental disorders or even wrestle with mental health.  He said, “I am not so different fr...  Read More

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’” - John 8:12  Yesterday, we discussed the “heavenly prize” Paul talks about in Philippians 3. If you did not read yesterday’s devotion, I would encourage you to do so. But in short, the heavenly prize God will give y...  Read More

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7   As we stated yesterday, God does not give us a spirit of fear. If we are fearful or lack faith in some area of our life, that is us listening to the enemy and believing that God is not in control and will not take care of us. But instead, we can know He will always provide because t...  Read More

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9   As a believer, I want to encourage you today that your sin does NOT define you. The church has gained a reputation of being hypocritical. And this is not to say that isn’t for good reason. But one of the first points you will hear is when a nonbeliever sees one of C...  Read More

“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given au- thority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus because of the word of God. they had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)Many peopl...  Read More