Abiding TV

"Be devoted to one another in love..."
Romans 12:10, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

Think about the people God has placed in your life. They’re not there by accident. God brings people to you for a purpose. We should live with this awareness that “I am here to add value to people. I am here to help them succeed.” Don’t go around always thinking, “I wonder what that person can do for me. I wonder what they have to offer.” No, we should have the attitude, “What can I do for them? How can I help them come up higher? Can I teach them something I know? Can I connect them with someone who can help them?” Don’t make the mistake of going through life ingrown. Instead, be a dream releaser. Use your talent, your influence and your experience not just to accomplish your goals, but to help release a dream in someone else.

Remember, there is nothing more rewarding than to lay down at night knowing that you helped someone else become better. You not only fulfilled your purpose for that day, you did your best. It may have just been a two-minute phone call where you encouraged someone; but when you live as a dream releaser, you’ll see your own dreams come alive as well!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for equipping me to be a blessing to others. Show me ways to be a dream releaser and help others to rise up higher. Help me to use my influence to encourage others and honor You always in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own

— 1 Corinthians 6:19


The first key to overcoming stress is to recognize or admit we are experiencing it, and look for the source of it.

There was a time in my life when I was constantly having headaches, backaches, stomach aches, neck aches, and all the other symptoms of stress, but I found it very difficult to admit I was pushing too hard physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

I wanted to do all of the things I was doing and wasn’t willing to ask God what He wanted me to do. I was afraid that He would lead me to give up something I wasn’t ready to give up yet.

Although the Lord gives power to the faint and weary, if you are worn-out from continually exceeding your physical limitations, you will have stress.

Our bodies are the sanctuary (home) of God, and we are in disobedience when we push ourselves past God-ordained limitations and live in continual stress. We all have limits and we need to recognize what they are and eliminate excess stress from our lives.

If you wear out your body, you can’t go to a department store and purchase another one, so take care of the one you have!

Prayer Starter: Father, I lift my schedule and activities up to You. Show me areas where I need to change. Help me to do my part to eliminate stress and take care of my body, the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your grace to change! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

It is not what we say we will do as Christians but what we actually make happen. Indeed, actions do speak louder than words. So what are you doing to show your loyalty to the body of Christ? Do you talk about how the church needs a new Sunday School teacher, or do you actually volunteer to teach the class? At some point, it is time to step up and do your part for the kingdom and be salt.

What does the Bible mean by “salt of the earth?” Salt crystals stick together in the bitter cold and the relenting heat. Salt prevents corruption. God’s people are not to live by the world’s standards but by the commands presented in the Bible. We are to be in the world, not of this world. We are to be set apart for a higher calling.

This doesn’t mean that God wants you to be a snob—too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good. He simply wants you to be so saturated with the love of the Lord that people want to be like you! They want to know more about Jesus because of what they see in you!

Rise to the challenge of the higher standard set before you and know that God’s richest blessings will infiltrate your life in an all-consuming way when you choose to be kingdom-minded! Reach out to someone next to you and make a difference in their lives for the kingdom. It will do you both a lot of good!

Source:  Daily Truth Devotional

Today's Bible Reading

Old Testament

Malachi 1:1-2:17

New Testament

Revelation 21:1-27

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 149:1-9

Proverbs 31:10-24

SUNDAY
30
Romans 8:31-39

The limitless, unfailing love of God is difficult for man to grasp. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that divine love is sure, eternal, and in no way dependent upon our worthiness or good behavior. If we are born-again believers, nothing can lessen the Father’s love for us. However, since we struggle to wrap our minds around this truth, He sometimes increases our perception by using earthly examples.

For many years, I had a German schnauzer named Rommel. Every afternoon as I pulled my car into the driveway, Rommel ran to greet me. Many times he would appear to stand at attention by the front of the house as if to say, “Welcome home, sir. Everything is under control here!”

Now sometimes I had to correct or discipline Rommel for something he had done or for the occasional accident around the house. However, no matter what I did, whether it was a reprimand or withholding attention from time to time, he never seemed to love me any less. Rommel was always happy to see me and longed for my company.

One day while I was playing with him, the Lord taught me a lesson. I looked at my faithful dog and said, “Rommel, no matter what I do, you always love me. I’d like to be that kind of friend.” If a dog can exemplify this simple truth, we should aim for nothing less.

But this realization also taught me something about Jesus: He never changes, and His love never waivers. No matter what I do or how I fail, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Bible in One Year: Revelation 13-17

December 30, 2018
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love (1John 4:18 NKJV).

Fear is the devil’s doorway into the life of a believer. When you allow fear entrance to your life, spiritual forces are released that open you up to the works of the enemy.

Fear is simply faith that has been perverted. Fear is actually faith in the devil’s ability to harm you. You should never allow fear to have any place in your thoughts. The way to combat fear is with the Word of God and love, because we know that perfect love casts out fear.

God loves you and His plans for you are good. It is never God’s plan that you suffer from any kind of torment brought on by fear. The root of fear is doubt that God really loves you. But when you take the time to meditate on God’s perfect, pure, and unconditional love for you, that love will cast out the fear.

Once you have a revelation of the depth of your Father God’s love for you, you will fear nothing.
The Word of God says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). What is to fear when God is on your side?

Meditate on the cross. Think about the love God has for you. Receive that love. Soak in that love. When you know and believe in God’s love towards you, fear has to leave. So clothe yourself in the love of God and get rid of the fear!

Confession: My heavenly Father loved me so much that He sent His only Son to die for me, and to win for me complete victory on the cross. I receive that love today. And being made perfect in that love, I declare that fear and torment have to go!

Author: Jerry Savelle

Exodus 4:2–3

So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

God wants to take the natural things in your life and make them supernaturally blessed. He does this by asking you to give Him what you already have in the natural, and He will do the supernatural.

That is why the Lord told Moses to cast his rod on the ground. And when Moses cast his rod on the ground, which represents him giving the rod to the Lord, that same rod became the rod of God. With that rod, the Red Sea was opened (see Exodus 14:16). And when that rod was used to hit a rock, water flowed out of the rock (see Exodus 17:5–6). It was no longer a natural rod, but the supernatural rod of God!

But why did the rod become a serpent when Moses cast it to the ground?

Moses never realized that there was a “snake” in his rod. You see, because of the fall of man, there is a touch of the curse—a snake—in every natural thing, including your career, natural strength, talents and ministry.

So how do you deal with the “snake” that is in all the natural things in your life?

First, cast it to the Lord. Then, do what the Lord told Moses next: “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (Exodus 4:4).

Now, it could be fatal to take a snake by its tail because it can easily turn its head around and bite you. So why did God say that?

When you take it by the tail, God will take the head! He wants you to let Him handle the head, and not grab it or hold on to it tightly in fear or self-effort. That is how you see your career, strength, talents and ministry supernaturally blessed.

Beloved, there is a snake, a touch of the curse, in everything in the natural. But give what is natural to the Lord and see the touch of the curse replaced with the supernatural touch of God!

Stop waiting for it; walk in it. | Pastor Steven Furtick

Bill Winston 2018 - Never let what your eyes see determine what your heart believes!

Paul Washer - God sets up the plan, but we have to walk it out

Kevin Brown grew up in the depths of poverty, hunger and desperation. As a child, he was so desperately hungry he would do just about anything to eat. It’s a story shared by millions of children all over America, where we literally have starving kids who go to school just for a hot meal.

 But Kevin was determined to defy the odds, growing up with a passion for helping young people succeed and a spirit to serve. On this episode of “Your World,” we’ll hear his story, and walk through the pangs of starvation with him – his life growing up empty.

 As we discover the truths about this struggle and this kind of desperation, our guest will reveal how something happened that transformed his life of starvation into a life of more than enough!

Are your hopes high enough? Find out on Believer’s Voice of Victory, as Kenneth Copeland teaches you how to build hope to build faith. Don’t plan to win a few and lose a few—play to win every time. That’s the simplicity of faith!

A Father Heart by Sylvia Blessings