09/01/01 Colossians 3:25
But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.
I will reap what I sow. I must never forget that God loves me and Christ forgives me but the activity of my life creates a planted field. I will reap the rewards of the things that I have done. A life that continues with hate, ingratitude, self-centeredness, and stinginess will all bear fruit that will break my heart. It will also break the heart of those that love me.
09/02/01 John 2:5
But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
I read God’s Word regularly. I have a tendency to overlook those commands that I don’t like. When I find myself up the proverbial creek I always can trace it to my not obeying God’s Word. I do well when I do exactly what the Lord says.
09/03/01 James 4:17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
I must stop letting myself off light when I sin. I have a habit of making excuses for my sin. I like to call it a weakness. The truth is that when I sin it is a sin. It’s a matter of the heart. Am I going to obey God or am I going to continue in sin?
09/04/01 Lamentations 3:22-23
The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.
I hear people talk about not bothering the Lord for the little things in their lives. I have learned that the more I talk with Him about the little things and experience His faithfulness day by day the better able I am to trust Him for the big things I need as I face tomorrow. Great is His faithfulness.
09/05/01 Ezekiel 12:1-2
Again a message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, you live among rebels who could see the truth if they wanted to, but they don’t want to. They could hear me if they would listen, but they won’t listen because they are rebellious.
I cannot live my life based on what other people say. The Lord is my shepherd and He tells me in His Word how I should live. Ignore the world. Follow God.
09/06/01 Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
I need prayer and I need to pray. Life happens whether I am ready or not. When I pray for others I am intervening for the trouble and tribulation they will face. When others pray for me they are praying for my strength to stand in the hour of testing. Life is always willing to trip us up. I pray to the Father that life will not trip you up.
09/07/01 Colossians 4:5
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.
I meet lost people every day. When I see them the Lord reminds me of how much He loves them. The problem is they are dead in their trespasses and sin. Unless I can share the Gospel with them they will never know God loves them.
09/08/01 Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
I have a temper. It is a strength when the situation is impossible but most of the time it is a weakness. My worst embarrassments have been when I didn’t control my temper. Kindness and gentleness are strengths when I am witnessing to a lost person. When I let Christ have control of my emotions a lost person often is interested in how I am able to maintain control. They are never interested in Jesus when I try to control them.
09/09/01 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am rejoicing with you in your relationship with the Lord. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Father. Thank you for your encouragement of me. Thank you for the joy that your life is bringing to Jesus.
09/10/01 1 Thessalonians 1:4
We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people.
Jesus loves me. He knows all about me and still loves me. I am grateful for being included in His family. I look forward to spending eternity with you.
09/11/01 1 Thessalonians 2:4
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.
I am an agent for God. He has put a message of salvation in my heart. His call is for me to share with others what He has done in me. The key is I must let Him do a work in me.
09/12/01 1 Thessalonians 3:8
It gives us new life, knowing you remain strong in the Lord.
Christianity grows stronger in groups. It spreads like wildfire amidst persecution. When I share my weaknesses and God’s solution it helps others see the activity of the Lord in their lives. The end result is that we encourage one another by sharing our lives.
09/13/01 2 Thessalonians 1:2
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
I like peace. Life is so chaotic and surprising that peace is a real blessing. I go to the Father with all my problems and he gives me peace. Thank you Lord for your blessed peace.
09/14/01 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other.
When I have a problem with a person I take it to the Lord. The older I get the more quickly I realize that my problems with others is an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. The outcome is that the Lord usually helps me to see them the way He sees them.
09/15/01 2 Thessalonians 1:11
And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.
I like to think of myself as kind. I am what I do. Unless I treat people in a kind manner I am not kind. Good intentions do not accomplish the work of the kingdom.
09/16/01 2 Thessalonians 2:1
And now, brothers and sisters let us tell you about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet him.
Jesus is coming back. Make no mistake about it the Lord has a plan for the world. He is working His plan. I need to be ready.
09/17/01 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.
I am learning to go to the Father immediately when things get tough. Instead of going to Jesus as a last resort I am developing a habit of going to Jesus first. He really is concerned about my life.
09/18/01 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.
Prayer puts me on the front lines of kingdom building. The work of the kingdom must begin and end with prayer. I am the most useful in kingdom work when the immensity of the task has driven me to my knees before the Father.
09/19/01 2 Thessalonians 3:2
Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord.
Nonbelievers hate Jesus. They do everything in their power to stop the work of the kingdom. They bitterly criticize Christians and Christianity. Pray for others. The enemy is trying to destroy our work.
09/20/01 Psalm 77:1-3
I cry out to God without holding back. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I pray, with hands lifted toward heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.
Desperate and hurting I cry out to the Lord. These times when the pain and grief are more than I can bear I cast it on Jesus. Just as he carries my sin, He carries my heavy heart. Peace is a gift from the Father.
09/21/01 Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
Jesus, I desire to be with you so much that I organize my life to spend time with you. My Bible reading is a priority and I do it everyday. My quiet time is always a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of life. I want to be with you Lord.
09/22/01 Psalm 75:1-3
We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles. God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.
In pain and failure I always turn to the Lord. He heals my pain. He fixes my failure. His miraculous intervention in my life is noted and remembered.
09/23/01 Psalm 75:9
But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Israel.
I must remember what God has done. I must share with my children, wife and friends what the Lord does. Telling what Jesus has done in my life helps me to remember His work so that I can sing His praises. Telling about His work in my life enables me to encourage fellow strugglers.
09/24/01 Psalm 76:10
Human opposition only enhances your glory, for you use it as a sword of judgment.
I am safe in the hands of God. My life may be in danger, my existence threatened but the Lord is faithful. Bless the name of the Lord for it is a strong tower.
09/25/01 Psalm 77:13
O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?
I rejoice in the strength of God. Jesus is my friend. With Jesus I can face any foe and survive any failure. The Lord is able and willing to save me from all of life’s difficulties.
09/26/01 Psalm 78:1-4
O my people, listen to my teaching. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past – stories we have heard and know, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did.
I cannot tell what I do not know. My relationship with the Lord must be personal. I must read His Word. I will need to claim His promises. Our God is not a 2nd hand acquaintance.
09/27/01 Psalm 79:8-9
Oh, do not hold us guilty for our former sins! Let your tenderhearted mercies quickly meet our needs, for we are brought low to the dust. Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the honor of your name. Oh, save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name.
Lord thank you for forgiving my sin. I mess up so much and so often. Thank you for repairing my life. You have intervened and made me whole again for the thousandth time. Thank you Lord.
09/28/01 Psalm 84:10-11
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right.
Oh Lord there is peace with you. Life has meaning when you get involved. No longer is life an endless treadmill it has joy and excitement. My life counts. You make life valuable.
09/29/01 Psalm 117:1-2
Praise the LORD, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Lord you never stop. I am glad you don’t. You see beyond the tears and fears of daily life. You see what I was made to do and guide me in that direction. Thank you Lord for loving me. Help me to care for others.
09/30/01 Psalm 73:28
But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
The Lord is good and worthy to be praised. I can tell you first hand that He is a blessing in my life. He wants to be a blessing in your life too. Bless the Lord and praise His Holy name.
