Luke 18:18-23

Luke 18:18-23
A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.


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Truthful Teacher,
O how honest You are! Your Word is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into my innermost thoughts and desires, exposing them for what they really are. Everything about us is bare and wide open; seen by Your ever-living eyes; nothing can be hidden from You to whom we must explain all that we have done.

Like the rich religious leader, we often come to You with zeal and determination to purchase our ticket to heaven. Recognizing that You are the Grand Ticketmaster, we politely approach You and smoothly ask, "Good Master, what will a ticket to heaven cost me?" Unimpressed with our performance, You slash right through the thick flattery and cut to the heart of the matter.

Rather than accepting our personal affluence and influence, You painstakingly point out the one thing we lack, demanding the high price of our personal security and identity. Freely, we can join You on the journey to heaven, but first we'll need to sell our creature comforts, investing the cash in the coffers of heaven - society's rejects - the undeserving, unattractive, and undesirables. Sadly, like the rich religious leader, we turn and walk away without a word. The price is more than we're willing to pay.

Forgive me O Lord for being so short-changed and short-sighted. Please touch my lifestyle with Your love. Show me the possessions that possess me. Willingly and wisely, I'll sell them or give them away, to make a safe investment in Your heavenly kingdom. In return, You'll bless me with Your identity and the eternal security of living with You in heaven forever and ever. Amen.


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Jesus expects us to get rid of anything that has become more important than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of the possessions. Identify the possessions that possess you. Sell them or give them away, investing the proceeds in the coffers of heaven.

Think about these things as you're caught up in the Christmas gift-giving frenzy.

1 Chronicles 29:35

1 Chronicles 29:35

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
        and praise your glorious name.

O Lord, It is a joy to give thanks and bless Your glorious name!   Truthful Teacher, I'm overwhelmed by the truths You teach with me when I open my Bible and my heart. Thank You for correcting my wayward thinking.   Healer of Hearts, there is no Doctor like You in heaven or on earth! Thank You for transplanting Your heart into mine, healing me and giving me a vivacious new life full of love and strength.   Almighty Attorney, You defend me from the allegations brought against me by proud people with personal agendas. Thank You for standing up for me.   Narrator of Life Changing Love Stories, You have written the brilliant biography of my life - a fantastic novel of drama, power, romance, and intrigue. Thank You for my life story.    King of Compassion, approaching Your divine throne, I'm overwhelmed by Your kindness. Your mercy and justice take my breath away.  Thank You for your compassion.   Sufficient Supplier, You show me the secret to a satisfying life: Relying on your promises, looking for Your provision, and depending on Your power. Thank You for satisfying the desires of my heart.   Great God who governs from beyond the galaxies, You are the Mighty Magistrate righteously ruling and reigning over all the earth. Patiently, You pardon people who plea with You. Thank You for Your righteousness.   Irresistible Lover of My Soul, You light up my life, making my heart happy. You are absolutely precious to me! Thank You for loving me intimately.   Victorious Lord, You're the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Blessed Angels. I celebrate the sweet victory You've given me through Jesus Christ. Thank you for the glorious conquest!   Indescribable Light, because You made Your home in my heart the Light is always on. Darkness has disappeared and I never have to stumble again. Thank You for releasing me from darkness.   Negotiator of Great Deals, the bargain You made for me is unbelievable! You'd serve my death sentence so that I could be free. Thank You for defending, saving, and freeing me.   Good and Gentle Shepherd, You are my powerful Protector and one and only Owner. O how Your sweet voice resonates deep within the inner ear of my soul. Thank You for taking care of me.

Peruse your Bible and think about Who God is to you. Thank Him for Who He is.

Psalm 107:22

Psalm 107:22

Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving

      and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

Father in Heaven, As a gesture of appreciation for Your matchless mercy toward me, I'll joyfully show the world the wonder of Your amazing love by:    Self-expenditure - I'll gladly abandon my own dreams for absolute loyalty to You, determinedly following You wherever You lead.     Attitude of gratitude - I'll quickly and gratefully stamp out my personal agenda in order to enliven a broken heart.    Crucifixion of self - Deliberately, I'll kill my spirit of intolerance and indifference in order to allow You to freely work through me to do anything You choose.      Radical love - Because of the extravagant love You've shown me, I'll readily demonstrate extreme compassion to those outcast by society.   Immediate obedience - Out of fear and respect of Your almighty authority, I'll willingly do any assignment You give me without hesitating or complaining.   Full devotion - Attached to no one but You, I'll notice the people and situations that burden You.   Individuality broken - In order to effectively aid and assist You, I'll allow You to crush me and shape me into Your perfect image.   Challenge - I'll intentionally accept assignments that may be beyond my mental and physical abilities, fully trusting You to energize and equip me.   Endurance - The power of Your Word, coupled with praise and prayer will strengthen me.   Thank You, Lord for filling me with the sweet aroma of Your love. Let my life pleasantly emulate Your essence this holiday season, attracting others to Your fine fragrance because of Jesus. Amen.

God gave up His Son for Your benefit, ask Him what He wants You to give up for His benefit this holiday season. Then, obey immediately, without hesitating or complaining, cheerfully offering Him your sacrifice with a thankful heart.   O. Chambers writes in My Utmost For His Highest: We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later - it must be done now ... Always guard against self-chosen service for God ... God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed.

Psalm 100

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

Almighty, All-bountiful, All-gracious God,  It's sheer pleasure to worship You with heartfelt adoration and undivided attention. Your unfailing love has put a song in my heart, a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I believe that You are Lord, my God, Creator of everything. Thank You for making me intricately and uniquely with Your strong hands. I'm Your most valuable possession. O, how I praise You!  My Good and Gentle Shepherd, knowing You intimately is the greatest joy and blessing. Your voice is music to my ears. Willingly, I follow You. With steadfast devotion, You lead me to the lush, rolling meadows in my Bible where I can devour the rich delicacy of Your Word. Faithfully, You guide me through barren deserts to refreshing streams of Living Water that quench my thirsty soul. Along the way, You staunchly defend me from the wolves of wickedness and temptation that threatens to devour me. Thank You for protecting and providing for me.  With unbridled excitement, I enter the heavenly gate and come into the safety of Your beautiful sanctuary. My thankful heart, tells of Your tender kindness and continuous mercy. I sing of Your infinite goodness and everlasting compassion. Your enduring love has set my feet a dancing. O how I love and worship You for all You've done for me, Jesus, my Wonderful Savior, Redeemer and Friend. Amen.

Prepare your heart for Thanksgiving, by pondering God's goodness. Make a list of all the gifts He's given you. Thank Him for each one, offering Him a sacrifice praise!

Matthew 1: 1, 6-11

Matthew 1: 1, 6-11

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

 

King David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,

Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Sovereign God of all my ancestors, Let Your name be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to You. You change the seasons and the years. You take presidents, kings, and prime ministers away, and put new ones in place. I praise You that whenever power changes You remain unchanged.   As much as I find genealogies BORING, I thank You for preserving ancient history so that we can see how You order governments, principalities, and dynasties for Your glory. I believe the kingdoms of the world are Yours, and You appoint whomever You want to rule them. I'm grateful that I can look back and see that there really is nothing new under the sun. Both good and bad leaders are in the lineage of the Messiah. Likewise good and bad leaders will be in place until You return. Precious Lord, knowing You guide the future as You did the past, gives me hope and confidence to believe that this journey will have a joyous end.   I pray that our governmental and church leaders today may know that You are the ruler over everyone. You give power, strength, and glory to whomever You choose in order to accomplish Your heavenly purposes here on earth. Yet, You are not a dictator. Give our leaders a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that they may know You personally and intimately. Open the eyes of their hearts to recognize that everything they have comes from the storehouses of heaven. In awe of who You are, may they willingly choose to bend their knee to Your absolute authority, and lead with righteousness, justice, and mercy.   Thank You for the blessed hope that You are coming, and possibly quite soon, to rule and reign on earth with righteous, justice and mercy forever! Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

There really is nothing new under the sun. I have spent a good bit of time in God's Word trying to understand why He would allow unscrupulous politicians to rule in power, not only in our nation, but throughout the world. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Just as He allowed atrocious leaders in the very bloodline of the pure and perfect Messiah to accomplish His purposes, He will do the same to usher in Christ's return. May this give you hope and confidence in the days ahead; days, which may become quite difficult. As He protected those who were wholeheartedly devoted to Him in ancient history, like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, He will protect those of us who seek Him wholeheartedly today. Guaranteed!   The time to seek Him is NOW! The time to pray for our government and church leaders is NOW. Prayer can change history; but most importantly prayer will change your heart.   To help me understand the genealogy of Jesus and the ancient kings God used to fulfill prophecy, I created the following synopsis.   David, a shepherd boy and a man after God's own heart, was also an adulterer, deceiver and murderer. Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived was not satisfied with what God gave. He preferred innumerous wives and permitted their idols to be brought into the temple. Rehoboam, led by blind ambition sought the counsel of immature friends over the counsel of God and his wise elders. Abijah sounded regal and like a true man of God, but he was no more than a resounding gong, because he did not worship the Lord. Asa, reputed for being a good king, did not finish well because relied on insight from the king of Syria rather than the High King of Heaven. Jehoshaphat, a relatively good and godly man, aligned himself with the vile King Ahab of the northern kingdom and his wicked wife Jezebel. Worst of all, he accepted Ahab's daughter, Athaliah, as a wife for his son Jehoram, an alliance that would bring deadly consequences. Jehoram reigned for eight years and nothing good came from him. Uzziah was a great administrator and popular politician whose downfall was pride. Jotham did just about everything right. Consequently, he became mighty because He prepared his ways before the Lord his God. Yet, still he accomplished little during his 16 year reign. Ahaz was known as the epitome of evil. Hezekiah's track record is just as impressive as his father Ahaz's was ignominious. Just as Ahaz's sin nearly enslaved his people, so Hezekiah's righteousness redeemed his. Manasseh, the wickedest monarch, reigned longer than any other king in Israel's history - 55 years. He blatantly worshipped idols and publicly practiced pagan rituals. He caused his children to walk through fire, used enchantments, and witchcraft, as well as wizards which provoked the Lord's anger. Amon did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father ... but trespassed more and more. His plans were cut short when his own officials conspired against him and assassinated him. Josiah, for as wicked as his father and grandfather were, was exceedingly righteous. Not only did he tear down the altars of the Baals, smash the Asherah poles, and purify and repair the Temple, but he also found the Book of the Law, read it to the people and made a covenant to observe it. More than anything, however, Josiah, like Hezekiah, brought salvation to his people. After finding the Book of the Law, Josiah sent his officials to consult with the prophetess Huldah, who delivered this message: "Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place ... [But] Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God ... Behold I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace."   Click here to learn more about these kings.

Hebrews 10:35-38

Hebrews 10:35-38

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,

   "He who is coming will come and will not delay.

    But my righteous one will live by faith.

   And if he shrinks back,

      I will not be pleased with him."

King of Eternity, You are Lord of my heart! I know that soon, and possibly quite soon, You are coming back, and that makes my heart want to sing: "Hosanna! Glory to the King of kings!"    Lord, as the days become increasingly darker and pitch black with terror, prepare me to enter the final round of life's last contest.  When I can't see through the gloom and doom please give me courage and confidence to stand my ground! I know my stuff, and I know YOU. Don't let me shrink back in fear or throw away my faith just before Satan is forever vanquished. Help me to:   Draw nearer to You with an honest heart fully trusting that my guilty conscience has been sprinkled with Christ's precious blood, and I've been made right and ready to hail Your glorious entrance. (10:22)   Hold on tightly without wavering to the blessed hope of heaven, expecting You to keep Your promise. (10:23)   Think of creative ways to love others and do good deeds, and motivate others to do the same.  (10:24)   Frequently spend time with other believers for encouragement and endurance, especially now that the day of Your return seems so imminent. (10:25)   By doing the right things, I will have nothing to fear or dread because I'll remember that beautiful blessings await me.  You are absolutely sincere and will richly reward me for waiting through tribulations. With a wink of the eye, You'll whisk me away in the wind, taking me to the home I've always longed for. Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Amen.

Are you ready for the final round of life's last contest? Soon, and possibly quite soon Jesus will suddenly show up on the scene. Hebrews 10:22-38 tells us exactly how to prepare. I encourage you to be ready!

Isaiah 51:15

Isaiah 51:15

For I am the LORD your God,
       who churns up the sea so that its waves roar-
       the LORD Almighty is his name.

Lord God Almighty, You are indeed the Sovereign Lord who tosses the sea and makes its waves rumble. From Your throne on high, You saw the earth quaking as millions of people watched in terror the near-apocalyptic destruction from the most catastrophic storm in our lifetime, Hurricane Sandy, desolate New York City. At Your command, the city that never sleeps was suddenly sedated by the mere threat of the strong surging sea.   You have shown this nation repeatedly that power, prestige and possessions cannot save one single soul. In the end, the storm destroyed everything in its site regardless of stature or status. Everyone from the Wall Street elite to the homeless on the street is left equally powerless. Stripped of everything, You are the only One thing left to cling to.   Gracious God, I lift up the many people who were terribly affected by the storm. In Your mercy draw those who narrowly escaped death near to You. Save them by Your mighty hand. Enlarge their hearts so that they will see You in the midst of their losses and crosses. May they find healing balm for every wound in Your Almighty Name.   We are a nation perplexed and anguished by the damage from the raging sea. Use this violent storm to awaken those who need to repent of their sins and give their lives wholly and completely to You. Turn government officials and families back to reading the Bible and praying. Give them an eagerness to know You personally and a readiness to follow You for the rest of their lives.   I see You coming in great power and glory. Your kingdom is near! Heaven and earth may pass away, but You will last forever -Lord God Almighty. I believe You because of Jesus. Amen.

While we can see the devastating storms of nature, there are also unseen storms of the heart that cause turmoil and wreck havoc in our lives. What storms are you facing? Do you know the Lord as Jehovah, Lord God Almighty? Can you let go of your "stuff" and fully rely on His power? Recognize that you are powerless. He is the Only thing that matters.

Proverbs 22:11

Proverbs 22:11

He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the King for his friend.

Jesus, You are my King and Beloved Friend! A pure heart is what I seek! As I read Your Word, speak to me softly showing me how to stay wholesome. Teach me Your rules for clean-heart living. I'll recite them and rejoice in them more than riches. Reflecting on every morsel of wisdom from You, I'll relish everything You tell me about life in order to resist doing wrong. I'll give You my fullest respect by being submissive. Please write Your Words on my heart, O Lord, so that I can live decently as Your cherished friend. Anoint my lips with grace so that the words that flow from them will bring dignity and honor to You. I want to speak softly and tenderly proclaiming truth, humility and righteousness. Tame my tongue to talk pleasantly and peacefully. I only want to express things that are good and helpful to build others up and bless them. With love and forgiveness on my lips, I will praise You, my King. O King of my heart, I know that You love what is good and hate what is wrong. Create in me a clean heart. Give me a gracious tongue. Your throne endures forever and I want to be known as Your forever friend because of Jesus. Amen.

Do you have a pure heart and gracious speech? Jesus says, "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." What are you putting into your heart? This verse made me think of a little childhood tune:   O be careful little ears what you hear O be careful little ears what you hear For the Father up above is looking down in love So be careful little ears what you hear. O be careful little eyes what you see O be careful little eyes what you see For the Father up above is looking down in love So be careful little eyes what you see. O be careful little tongue what you say O be careful little tongue what you say For the Father up above is looking down in love So be careful little tongue what you say.  O be careful, dear reader, what you hear, see and say! Fill your ears and eyes with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy then what comes out of your mouth will please the King. To learn how to have a pure heart, I suggest reading Psalm 119:9-15. To learn how to have gracious speech, I suggest reading Ephesians 4:29-32.

Job 16:19-21

Job 16:19-21

Even now my witness is in heaven;
       my advocate is on high.

My intercessor is my friend
       as my eyes pour out tears to God;

on behalf of a man he pleads with God
       as a man pleads for his friend.

Almighty Attorney, I appeal to You in heaven on high where You witness every move I make. You know everything about me. You have searched my heart. There's no hiding anything from You. You know when I stand or sit, when I come in or go out. I'm never, ever out of the sight of Your holy penetrating gaze.   You've seen my sin, suffering and sorrow. You've listened to my friends angrily attack my character. Their arrogant arguments and long-winded lectures have pierced Your perfect ears. Without knowing all the facts, they lay blame on me based on their biased beliefs. Even though I've not intentionally done anything wrong, they attempt to coerce a confession. I've been judged, rejected and ridiculed. Stripped of my status, my shame has not gone unnoticed. Depressed and disgraced, I pour out my tears to You, O God!   I need an Almighty Attorney to defend me from the allegations brought against me by proud people with personal agendas. They don't know my heart; but, You do because You're my heart's Constant Companion. Knowing me personally, intimately, and deeply, You are the Only One who can honestly reveal all the evidence against me. It's only a matter of time until I die and I need my case heard and settled quickly, once and for all.   I am so grateful to have You as my Witness, Advocate, Intercessor and Friend negotiating for me in the presence of God, the Sovereign Justice. Because I have the most Almighty Attorney in all of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ, even though I'm guilty as charged, no accusations against me can stick! I won't receive the punishment I deserve. Alleluia! Praise the Lord! I will absolutely be pardoned because of Your respectable reputation and righteous name. Amen.

When sin, suffering and sorrow seize your soul, the enemy will attack you, disguising himself as your friend. He will blame your problems on your behavior; but God's Word says their accusations carry no weight. In the end He will listen to the evidence presented against you by Jesus who is His One and Only Witness, your Advocate, Intercessor, and Friend. There is nothing more important than being in right relationship with Him. He will speak on your behalf.   You are going to die. And, it may be very soon. When th at happens, you will fall into the holy hands of the Sovereign Justice, God Himself. It is urgent that you set yourself right in His sight - and if possible in the eyes of others. The only way to do that is by trusting in the respectable reputation and righteousness of the Almighty Attorney, Jesus Christ. He is the Only One who can speak in God's Court. You are utterly dependent on Him.   My faith has found a resting place, Not in device or creed; I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead.   I need no other argument, I need no other plea, It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me.   Enough for me that Jesus saves, This ends my fear and doubt; A sinful soul I come to Him, He'll never cast me out.

Luke 17:1-3

Luke 17:1-3

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves."

O Lord My God, Have mercy on me! Increase my faith and change me from the inside out! Search my heart and reveal my weaknesses so that I can be on guard against sin. Because we live in a fallen world surrounded by all sorts of evil and temptation we're bound to stumble and fall. Sometimes I'll set-up the obstacle, other times I'll trip over it.   O righteous God who searches hearts and minds, search me and point out any offensive way in me. Shine Your light on my heart and reveal my weaknesses and vulnerabilities so that I'll notice the obstructions in front of me. With eyes wide open I'll avoid the dangerous pitfalls that I'm most likely to plunge into.   Where I'm strong give me grace to be sensitive to my surroundings so that I won't hinder others. Show me the weaknesses and susceptibilities of my family and friends. Aware of the difficulties that cause them problems, I'll practice love, patience and self-restraint. Woe to me if I cause someone to fall! I'd be better off dead!   Please cover me with humility, kindness and love to stand firm in all situations. I long to please You and glorify our family name. Amen.

Your faith is strong in an area if you can survive contact with sinners without being shaped into their image. It is weak in an area if you must avoid an activity in order to protect yourself from falling. Whenever in doubt, ask yourself: "Can I do it without sinning? Will my attitudes and actions influence others for the good?"   Identify your strengths and weaknesses. One thing I will do today is ____________________ (action) in order to prevent ______________________ (name of a person) from stumbling.   One thing I will do today is stop nagging in order to prevent my child from stumbling.

Psalm 39:4-5

Psalm 39:4-5

O Lord, let me know my end and how many days I have to live. Let me know that I do not have long to stay here. You have made each of my days as long as a hand is wide. My whole life is nothing in Your eyes. Every man at his best is only a breath. NLV

Heavenly Father~           Creator of all living things~                    Thank You for the fabulous, fragile gift of life.  I will cherish every day as a valuable present from You, my loving Father. Forgive me for tossing miracle moments aside to worry about insignificant incidences. Often I spend more time securing my life on earth, than I do thinking about where I will spend eternity.   Life is short! I don't have long to stay here. Enlighten my mind to Your Holy Spirit and fill my heart with more grace so that I'll be ready when You call my loved ones or me home. This is a picture perfect day that You have made. I'll rejoice and be thankful for it. Living in the blessing of each precious moment, I'll joyfully love and serve others because today could be my last chance. Please just give me more of Jesus to focus on the most important matters today for Your namesake. Amen.

You just don't know when your life will be interrupted by a tragic event. It is imperative that you live each day like it's your last.  Don't miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Give someone a hug today. Call a friend. Be a friend. You too, could find your life suddenly shattered.

Romans 11: 33-36

Romans 11: 33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
       How unsearchable his judgments,
       and his paths beyond tracing out! 
  "Who has known the mind of the Lord? 
       Or who has been his counselor?" 
   "Who has ever given to God,
       that God should repay him?"
    For from him and through him and to him are all things.
       To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Wise and Knowledgeable King, Please expand my view of You. From afar, You are an intriguing blip on the horizon. Reduced by distance, You are too manageable to be marvelous and too small to be significant.  However, as I come closer, I am absolutely astonished by the vast view of who You are and what You have done for me.   I marvel at Your extravagance and generosity I'm awestruck by Your wisdom and knowledge I'm mesmerized by the hidden treasures in Your Word I wonder at Your pathways that are too complex to chart I'm amazed at Your never-ending brilliant mind I'm captivated with Your constant rightness I'm stunned at Your unlimited resources   Up close I can see and experience You as the Creator of everything. I can touch the power that makes all things exist. I can be certain that You intend all things for Your glory. Please dear Lord, draw me closer and keep expanding my view of You. I want to be obviously caught-up in knowing You deeply. As my view of You becomes greater, my view of my man will become smaller. Rather than living to please people, in view of Your grace and mercy I will passionately pursue a purposeful life pleasing to You. I will praise and adore You now and forever more. Amen.

What is your view of God? Do you see Him from a distance and unapproachable, or up close and touchable? Walk nearer to Him and He will expand Your view. One thing I see when I come nearer to God is ________________________________.

Ephesians 3:14-19

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I kneel before You Father astonished by the rich gifts You've lavished on me: the family name, the family image and the family fortune. Being chosen and adopted into Your family is the highest honor and greatest privilege I'll ever receive. Nothing else will ever come close.   Today I'm claiming the priceless family promise of power to change the way I think and perceive myself. You don't see me the way I see myself: unattractive, unworthy, and unlovable. You see me as Your beloved child. Please give me faith to believe and power to grasp:   The width of Your love: wide enough to reach the whole wide world, while also touching the homosexual, the prostitute, the adulterer, the murderer, the addict, the abuser, the abused, the obsessed, the rich, the poor and much wider than I can imagine.   The length of Your love: long enough to cover my entire life, longer than my rebellion, hatefulness, apathy, arrogance, ignorance, and much longer than I can visualize.   The depth of Your love: deep enough to feel my severely broken heart that no one else understands, deeper than my insecurities and fears, and still deeper than I could ever dream.   The height of Your love: high enough to stretch from heaven to earth to show me the way to all Your hidden treasures and higher than my simple mind can possibly understand.   Father, if I could comprehend and claim Your limitless love, then I'd look to You and You alone for love. I'd stop seeking approval from my parents, spouse, children, and friends. I wouldn't fill my life with trinkets and treasures. I'd no longer crave the desires and lifestyle that once held me captive. I'd long for You and You alone.   Dear Lord, please fill me to overflowing with the inexhaustible love of Jesus today. With all my heart, I want to receive and accept the infinite love You bestow on Your children for the glory of Your name forever and ever. Amen.

Have you received and accepted God's lavish gift of love, promised to His children? He's not waiting for you to be perfect. It's yours to claim today, just as you are. If you don't feel worthy of accepting it, please pray and ask Him to give you the power to accept it. It's a life changing gift.

Hebrews 11: 1, 6

Hebrews 11: 1, 6

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Great God in Heaven~ You are the One and Only True and Living God~ You are King of kings, Lord of lords, God of gods~   There is none like You. Ruler of heaven and earth, all authority submits to You. You're the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Just as You empowered, prospered, and protected Noah, Abraham, and Moses, You will empower, prosper, and protect me. Just as You directed and led Joshua, Gideon and David, You will direct and lead me. By studying Your Ancient Words, and paying attention in the classroom of my heart, I've learned that You're always trustworthy and faithful. Though I haven't seen You with my physical eyes, I've seen You with the eyes of my heart. I'm absolutely sure You are who You say You are, and will do what You say You will do. I'm certain You have a special plan for my life that involves something bigger than I can imagine; something only You can do.   Please dear Lord, give me faith to trust You to lead and guide me through tough times and rough terrain to the promised land. Based on history, I'll confidently expect a breathtaking surprise around frightening bends and unfamiliar borders. Earnestly, I'll follow You up the steep peaks of pressure and down the slippery slopes of uncertainty. Please take away my anxiety and fear so that I can enjoy the exhilarating, exciting escapade that leads to rich rewards. With all my heart I want to please You by passionately pursuing You wherever You go. Please bless me today because I believe in the power of Your name. Amen.

How do you know that God exists? What one adjustment will you make in your life to pursue Him today? He promises to reward those who earnestly seek Him.