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    I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God
    I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God
    I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God
    Ebook753 pages226 hours

    I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God

    By Charles F. Stanley

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    The sun rises, the day begins, and the world begins clamoring for your time. But the whisper of God calls you to be with Him?and it's the best part of your day.

    Beloved pastor Charles Stanley has been teaching the Word of God for forty years?lovingly, reverently explaining the wonders of Christ's Good News from the pulpit, in his internationally acclaimed radio program, and in more than thirty-five best-selling books. In I Lift Up My Soul, Dr. Stanley's inspirational gems?filled with personal wisdom and words of encouragement?will lead you to your heavenly Father day after day.

    Each day in I Lift Up My Soul, you will find a verse from Scripture, recommended reading, a guided prayer, and an inspirational and instructional message designed to lift your heart and soul from the earthly to the eternal. Your day will be transformed.

     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateOct 17, 2010
    ISBN9781400203147
    I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God
    Author

    Charles F. Stanley

    El Dr. Charles Stanley fundó In Touch Ministries y sirvió durante más de cincuenta años en la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Atlanta, Georgia. Es autor de más de setenta libros, entre ellos Cada día en su presencia. «En contactos con Dr. Charles Stanley» se transmite en más de 3.600 emisoras de televisión, radio y satélite en todo el mundo en más de setenta idiomas. La galardonada revista devocional In Touch se imprime en cuatro idiomas y se envía a más de un millón de suscriptores. El legado del Dr. Stanley está mejor representado por Hechos 20:24 (NTV): «La vida no vale nada a menos que la use para hacer el trabajo que me asignó el Señor Jesús: el trabajo de contar a otros las Buenas Nuevas acerca de la poderosa bondad y el amor de Dios» (NTV). Porque, como él dijo: «Es la Palabra de Dios y la obra de Dios que cambian la vida de las personas».

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    • 5/5
      This devotional contains some of Charles Stanley's best works in a concise, potent form. The daily reads and daily thoughts are well put together. Plus, having a devotional that comes from the many years of experience that Charles Stanley has it a very huge plus.I very much would recommend this devotional to new, and mature, Christians alike. I like how the verses to read are usually not long. This allows for a simple thought to be reinforced and meditated upon throughout the day. This is my style of thinking which makes this devotional a must-use for me.**I received this complimentary copy from Booksneeze.com. The thoughts here are my own.**

    Book preview

    I Lift Up My Soul - Charles F. Stanley

    I LIFT UP MY

    SOUL

    I LIFT UP MY

    SOUL

    DEVOTIONS TO START

    YOUR DAY WITH GOD

    CHARLES F. STANLEY

    9781400202898_ePDF_0004_001

    I Lift Up My Soul

    © 2010 by Charles F. Stanley

    All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

    Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

    Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

    Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission; those marked TLB are from The Living Bible. © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved; those marked KJV are from the KING JAMES VERSION; those marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

    Material reprinted from previously published volumes—On Holy Ground, Into His Presence, Seeking His Face, Pathways to His Presence—may have been edited slightly from the original.

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

    Stanley, Charles F.

        I lift up my soul : devotions to start your day with God / Charles F. Stanley.

          p. cm.

        ISBN 978-1-4002-0289-8

        1. Devotional calendars. I. Title.

    BV4811.S8155 2010

    242'.2—dc22

    2010020906

    Printed in the United States of America

    10 11 12 13 14 QG 5 4 3 21

    To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

    PSALM 25:1

    Contents

    January 1

    January 2

    January 3

    January 4

    January 5

    January 6

    January 7

    January 8

    January 9

    January 10

    January 11

    January 12

    January 13

    January 14

    January 15

    January 16

    January 17

    January 18

    January 19

    January 20

    January 21

    January 22

    January 23

    January 24

    January 25

    January 26

    January 27

    January 28

    January 29

    January 30

    January 31

    February 1

    February 2

    February 3

    February 4

    February 5

    February 6

    February 7

    February 8

    February 9

    February 10

    February 11

    February 12

    February 13

    February 14

    February 15

    February 16

    February 17

    February 18

    February 19

    February 20

    February 21

    February 22

    February 23

    February 24

    February 25

    February 26

    February 27

    February 28

    February 29

    March 1

    March 2

    March 3

    March 4

    March 5

    March 6

    March 7

    March 8

    March 9

    March 10

    March 11

    March 12

    March 13

    March 14

    March 15

    March 16

    March 17

    March 18

    March 19

    March 20

    March 21

    March 22

    March 23

    March 24

    March 25

    March 26

    March 27

    March 28

    March 29

    March 30

    March 31

    April 1

    April 2

    April 3

    April 4

    April 5

    April 6

    April 7

    April 8

    April 9

    April 10

    April 11

    April 12

    April 13

    April 14

    April 15

    April 16

    April 17

    April 18

    April 19

    April 20

    April 21

    April 22

    April 23

    April 24

    April 25

    April 26

    April 27

    April 28

    April 29

    April 30

    May 1

    May 2

    May 3

    May 4

    May 5

    May 6

    May 7

    May 8

    May 9

    May 10

    May 11

    May 12

    May 13

    May 14

    May 15

    May 16

    May 17

    May 18

    May 19

    May 20

    May 21

    May 22

    May 23

    May 24

    May 25

    May 26

    May 27

    May 28

    May 29

    May 30

    May 31

    June 1

    June 2

    June 3

    June 4

    June 5

    June 6

    June 7

    June 8

    June 9

    June 10

    June 11

    June 12

    June 13

    June 14

    June 15

    June 16

    June 17

    June 18

    June 19

    June 20

    June 21

    June 22

    June 23

    June 24

    June 25

    June 26

    June 27

    June 28

    June 29

    June 30

    July 1

    July 2

    July 3

    July 4

    July 5

    July 6

    July 7

    July 8

    July 9

    July 10

    July 11

    July 12

    July 13

    July 14

    July 15

    July 16

    July 17

    July 18

    July 19

    July 20

    July 21

    July 22

    July 23

    July 24

    July 25

    July 26

    July 27

    July 28

    July 29

    July 30

    July 31

    August 1

    August 2

    August 3

    August 4

    August 5

    August 6

    August 7

    August 8

    August 9

    August 10

    August 11

    August 12

    August 13

    August 14

    August 15

    August 16

    August 17

    August 18

    August 19

    August 20

    August 21

    August 22

    August 23

    August 24

    August 25

    August 26

    August 27

    August 28

    August 29

    August 30

    August 31

    September 1

    September 2

    September 3

    September 4

    September 5

    September 6

    September 7

    September 8

    September 9

    September 10

    September 11

    September 12

    September 13

    September 14

    September 15

    September 16

    September 17

    September 18

    September 19

    September 20

    September 21

    September 22

    September 23

    September 24

    September 25

    September 26

    September 27

    September 28

    September 29

    September 30

    October 1

    October 2

    October 3

    October 4

    October 5

    October 6

    October 7

    October 8

    October 9

    October 10

    October 11

    October 12

    October 13

    October 14

    October 15

    October 16

    October 17

    October 18

    October 19

    October 20

    October 21

    October 22

    October 23

    October 24

    October 25

    October 26

    October 27

    October 28

    October 29

    October 30

    October 31

    November 1

    November 2

    November 3

    November 4

    November 5

    November 6

    November 7

    November 8

    November 9

    November 10

    November 11

    November 12

    November 13

    November 14

    November 15

    November 16

    November 17

    November 18

    November 19

    November 20

    November 21

    November 22

    November 23

    November 24

    November 25

    November 26

    November 27

    November 28

    November 29

    November 30

    December 1

    December 2

    December 3

    December 4

    December 5

    December 6

    December 7

    December 8

    December 9

    December 10

    December 11

    December 12

    December 13

    December 14

    December 15

    December 16

    December 17

    December 18

    December 19

    December 20

    December 21

    December 22

    December 23

    December 24

    December 25

    December 26

    December 27

    December 28

    December 29

    December 30

    December 31

    Personal Notes

    About the Author

    JANUARY 1

    Wake Up to a New Day with the Lord

    SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 143:8 –12

    KEY VERSE: PSALM 143:8

    Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,

    For in You do I trust;

    Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,

    For I lift up my soul to You.

    What is it you crave first thing in the morning? Does a steamy, fresh-brewed cup of coffee or tea catch your attention? Does your morning seem incomplete without your usual cereal or plate of eggs? Do you feel as if you can’t make it out the front door without reading the morning paper or watching one of the cheerful morning shows?

    In Psalm 143:8, David wrote, Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul (NASB). David saw the necessity of seeking God to direct his steps. He looked to God for guidance for the needs of each day.

    A sign of spiritual growth is longing to be with the Lord in a time of Bible study and prayer each day. Whether in the morning or at night, is there a time in your day when you spend time with the Savior? Is it a time that you guard jealously?

    Henry Ward Beecher said, The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.

    Nothing, not even coffee, will begin your day like time alone with God. Seek Him so that you may grow closer to Him. Go into His presence so that you may sing for joy and be glad all your days (Ps. 90:14). When you make plans to meet God, He will place an intimate joy within your heart. Then you will learn to hunger for His Word.

    Father, give me a hunger for Your Word. Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning. I lift up my soul to You.

    (PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 2

    The Goodness of God

    SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 18:18 –23

    KEY VERSE: PSALM 86:5

    You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,

    and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

    Concerning the goodness of God, Henry Thiessen explains, In the larger sense of the term, the goodness of God includes all the qualities that answer to the conception of an ideal personage; that is, it includes such qualities as God’s holiness, righteousness, and truth, as well as His love, benevolence, mercy, and grace.

    The rich young ruler called Jesus Good Teacher, but the Lord was quick to reply, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone (Luke 18:19 NASB). Faithfully, Jesus was doing exactly what the Father had sent Him to do: point men and women to their heavenly Father. He also was involved in training people to seek God not out of fear, but out of a desire to know and experience His goodness and mercy.

    In The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer concludes, Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.

    Often we seek Him because we have heard that He is good. But we stop at this point and miss learning about the deeper goodness of God. Make sure that as you discover more about God’s goodness, you also take time to grow in your devotion to Him.

    Lord, let me grow in my devotion toward You. I wait each day for a divine encounter with You.

    (SEEKING HIS FACE)

    JANUARY 3

    The Call of Faith

    SCRIPTURE READING: GENESIS 12:1– 9

    KEY VERSE: HEBREWS 10:23

    Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

    Suppose you plan a wonderful surprise vacation for your family or friends. The big day finally comes. The car is loaded, everyone has taken care of all those last-minute details, and your tank is full of gas. Everyone piles in the car and fastens seat belts in anticipation of the trip.

    Finally someone asks the fateful question, Hey, where are we going? And you say with great authority, Well, I don’t know exactly. After the bewildered looks and cries of dismay, probably the only one left in the car with you is the dog, and he isn’t looking too certain either. People simply don’t make big trips without knowing where they’re going—unless God asks them to. And that is precisely what God asked of Abram and his family: Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great (Gen. 12:1–2 NASB).

    God gave Abram some very important information, but He did not hand him a road map. Why? He wanted Abram and Sarai to trust Him for the journey. Abram did not know where they were headed, but he knew their future was blessed, more than he could conceive.

    Are you letting God take you in His direction, or are you still insisting on a travel plan?

    Lord, take me in Your direction. Help me learn to walk by faith. I know my future will be blessed, more than I can imagine. No travel plan is necessary for my journey—I need only You as my Guide.

    (ON HOLY GROUND)

    JANUARY 4

    Satisfying Your Heart

    SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 3:12–17

    KEY VERSE: COLOSSIANS 3:15

    Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

    Wasn’t life simpler when you could plunk down a quarter and get a steamy cup of java? Now, to buy coffee, you must make a hundred different decisions. Would you like a latte, cappuccino, espresso, macchiato, or frappuccino? Flavored with mocha, caramel, vanilla, amaretto, or hazelnut? Would you like it caffeinated or decaf? Tall or grande? The options are endless and create a sense of satisfying whatever your heart desires. It is natural for situations to go from simplicity to chaos when the heart is involved.

    However, Scripture has an indictment for the heart, as Jeremiah 17:9 reveals: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

    Sometimes the reason circumstances become more complicated is because the simplest answers are challenging to the heart. Even though you really do know what to do, the decision would take a great deal of courage and commitment. As you wait to find a solution that caters to the whims of your heart, answers become increasingly difficult to find.

    The only answer is for God to direct you. As Colossians 3:15 teaches, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Is it Christ who rules your heart and directs your path? His is the greatest satisfaction your heart will ever know.

    Lord, my heart wanders as it wills. I give it to You, so that You may guide it around the pitfalls of its own longings.

    (PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 5

    Your Talents

    SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 19:12– 27

    KEY VERSE: LUKE 19:17

    He said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.

    An essential ingredient for success in the personal or corporate realm is productivity. Businesses must be profitable if they expect to survive. Employees must work hard and wisely if they are to progress.

    Although the believer’s identity and security in Christ should never be confused with his performance (the Father unconditionally loves and accepts him), God expects him to be productive in the use of his natural talents and spiritual gifts. This is clear in the parable of the talents, where the industrious servant is rewarded and the indolent worker is reprimanded for his lack of initiative and effort.

    The fear of failure is perhaps the greatest obstacle for many Christians. We flunk a course, flub an assignment, disappoint a boss, and decide we must not be made of the right stuff. What heresy! Failure is never final in God’s eyes. Look at David, Moses, Mark, and others who blew it but still found great favor with God. All God desires is that you learn from your mistakes and trust Him to help you.

    A productive, satisfying life can be your experience. There will be unexpected lapses and momentary pauses as you seek to maximize your talents, but in the end, you will hear God say, Well done, my good servant (Luke 19:17 NIV). This is reward enough.

    Father, I praise You that failure is never final in Your eyes. Remove my fear of failure and replace it with divine confidence. Help me learn from my mistakes.

    (ON HOLY GROUND)

    JANUARY 6

    The Life of God

    SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 11:1– 45

    KEY VERSE: JOHN 10:10

    The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

    Think about your best friend for a moment. Try to remember your very first meeting. What if your best friend had handed you a long list of dos and don’ts, telling you any violation would lessen his care for you? Obviously your relationship would never have progressed. Who would want such a friend?

    Yet many Christians act as if this is their view of Jesus. But He did not hand you a list of conditions when you accepted Him. What He gave you was His life.

    In the New Testament, there are several Greek words for life. Bios (origin of biology), generally translated, means lifestyle. Another Greek word for life is zoe, which means life as God has it.

    In John 10:10, Jesus said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (NASB). In John 11:25, He stated, I am the resurrection and the life (NASB). In both cases, Jesus used the word zoe. How awesome to hear from our Lord Himself that the life as God has it is within us, a magnificent gift of His unconditional love.

    Since you have this life, His life, you already have the very best. He dwells within you to encourage and empower you. As long as you are within God’s will, sustaining energy will flow through you from His eternal wellspring. Within His will, you’ll never tire of living for Jesus.

    Father, help me walk in Your will so that sustaining energy from Your eternal wellspring will flow through me.

    (SEEKING HIS FACE)

    JANUARY 7

    Your Best Friend

    SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 15:12–17

    KEY VERSE: PROVERBS 18:24

    A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

    Do you remember having a best friend as a child? This person went everywhere with you, from recess in the schoolyard to adventures around the neighborhood. You had small fights and squabbles occasionally, but you stuck by each other when difficulties came along.

    As an adult, you may have a friend like this today, but you are certainly aware that such friends are rare indeed. The blessing of a friend who understands your deepest thoughts and needs and loves you through the hard times is a gift from the Lord. It is important to recognize, however, that the best friend in the entire world can still let you down at times. It is not a cliché to state that Jesus is your only true Friend.

    Joseph Scriven, an Irishman born in 1819, discovered this truth in a powerful way. The night before he was to be married, his beloved fiancée drowned. Grieving deeply, Scriven decided to move to Canada and begin a new life, dedicated entirely to letting the Lord use him in others’ lives. Out of this experience and several others, he penned the words to the favorite hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

    Can you imagine writing this poetry after going through such pain? Scriven saw the Lord’s faithfulness. He knew firsthand that when all earthly supports and emotional props disappear, Jesus is there to love and comfort eternally.

    Jesus, You are the best Friend I will ever have. Thank You for Your faithfulness and this wonderful relationship we share.

    (INTO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 8

    Encouraging Sagging Saints

    SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 16:10–21

    KEY VERSE: HEBREWS 6:10

    God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

    Stephanas. Fortunatus. Achaicus. Aquila. Priscilla. Although names not on the tip of your tongue, these people were instrumental in the formation of the early New Testament church. Paul mentioned their indispensable labor in his parting instructions to the church at Corinth. Without defining their specific contributions, he remarked that their ministries refreshed and revitalized believers, including himself.

    The local church today frequently errs in the notion that its pastor and staff members are the sole nucleus for the work of the gospel. They have vital functions, but the saints themselves share and participate in the growth of Christ’s body.

    Your name may not be on the bulletin. You may not be a deacon or elder. But you have been equipped with spiritual gifts to strengthen the saints. A note with a brief word of encouragement, a phone call to someone in your Sunday school class, lunch with a discouraged parent, a small gift to someone in need—these are discreet but practical and encouraging ways to lift the spirits of sagging saints.

    Ask God to show you how you might refresh fellow workers. Let Him lead you in appropriate ways to demonstrate His gentle love: God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints (Heb. 6:10 NASB).

    Dear God, teach me to be an encourager and a source of hope to others. Show me how to refresh my fellow workers, demonstrating Your love in appropriate and practical ways.

    (ON HOLY GROUND)

    JANUARY 9

    God’s Plan for Your Future

    SCRIPTURE READING: JEREMIAH 29:11–14

    KEY VERSE: JEREMIAH 29:11

    I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

    Are you aware that God knows exactly where you are and what you are doing right now? What about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next? God is just as aware of what you will be doing at 10:42 a.m. on any random morning five years from now as He is mindful of what you are doing now.

    Contrary to secular thought, we are not bouncing around haphazardly through time and space. The same God who created the universe and everything in it also has a specific plan for every single person on earth. Because He is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He alone knows the ultimate outcome of each decision we make. Therefore, only God can be trusted to guide our daily steps as we seek to follow Him.

    The Lord revealed through Jeremiah, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you . . . thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). These two things—hope and the expectation of a bright future—are in short supply these days. However, we have the assurance of almighty God that He already has a plan to provide us with both.

    In Christ, the hope for our eternal future is secure. However, God is still intimately interested in your day-to-day living as well. Invite Him into your decisions; only He knows how to get you where He wants to take you.

    Father, I am so thankful that You are interested in my day-to-day living. I invite You to guide me in every decision and get me where You want to take me.

    (PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 10

    Personal Intimacy

    SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 142:1–7

    KEY VERSE: PSALM 142:5

    I cried out to You, O LORD:

    I said, "You are my refuge,

    My portion in the land of the living."

    The goal of a married couple is not just to stay married but to develop a personal intimacy that touches body, soul, and spirit. Likewise, the goal of a believer is not just to be a Christian but to cultivate an intimate, devoted relationship with the heavenly Father.

    In both instances, honest, sincere, and consistent communication is the key to such oneness and nearness. The Christian experiences that process through a deepening, growing, expanding experience of praise, worship, and prayer.

    God’s goal in intimacy is not just to answer your petitions, hear your complaints, or solve your problems. Although He does address each of these needs, they are only a part of the Lord Jesus Christ’s ultimate purpose— oneness and union with Him.

    God wants you to know Him; to enjoy Him; to live continually in the light of His favor, wisdom, and truth. He desires a genuine relationship with you, His child. Daily worship and prayer are where you and the Father are drawn into intimate relationship—where His love for you and your love for Him become the bedrock of your faith.

    Make it your goal to know God intimately. Learn to worship and praise Him . . . then watch your prayer life move into a new dimension.

    Heavenly Father, my goal is to know You intimately. Teach me how to worship. Teach me how to pray.

    (INTO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 11

    Joyful in All Things

    SCRIPTURE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:15–18

    KEY VERSE: PHILIPPIANS 4:4

    Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

    Jesus often instructed those He healed to go to the temple and offer a sacrifice to God. In doing so, the people were acknowledging God’s mighty work while giving praise to Him instead of just focusing on the healing itself.

    There was a release of joy and praise as the people went before God, thanking Him for what He had done. Joy is foundational to the Christian life. The Bible teaches us to be joyful in all things.

    Can this mean that even when we fail to see God’s miraculous hand at work in our lives, there is joy? Yes. Imprisoned and away from those he loved, the apostle Paul wrote, Even if I am being poured out as a drink offering . . . I rejoice and share my joy with you all (Phil. 2:17 NASB). It is possible to be joyful, even if your world seems to be coming apart at the seams.

    Because of Christ’s love and devotion to you, you can be joyful in times of disappointment, heartache, and personal loss. Joy is not based on your circumstances; it is based on a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ.

    When you feel sorrowful, take your sacrifices of praise to Him. Let His arms of encouragement engulf you and hold you close. Joy is not just external; it lives deep within your heart.

    Thank You, Lord, that I can be joyful in times of disappointment, heartache, and personal loss. Your joy is not just external. It lives within my heart.

    (SEEKING HIS FACE)

    JANUARY 12

    The Eternal Adventure

    SCRIPTURE READING: 1 JOHN 5:6 –13

    KEY VERSE: 1 JOHN 5:9

    If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

    When someone testifies about something—a product, an event, another’s character—the testimony is only as strong as the character of the person giving it. And when it comes to God, there should be no question about what He says. His words are truth.

    But there is an even greater benefit to knowing God. As we draw near to Him, we learn that He not only provides the guidance we need at every turn in life, but He also gives us clear direction on how to accomplish His plan for our lives.

    John wrote, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son . . . and this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:9, 11). The assurance of our salvation is based on God’s Word. We do not have to be afraid that one day we will fall from His grace. This cannot happen to those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. God’s love is eternal. There is never a moment in time when He turns His love in another direction. It is always focused on us.

    He provides us the assurance we need through what He has testified about His Son. The moment we accept God’s Word as truth and receive Christ as our Savior, we are saved. The eternal adventure begins with great assurance!

    Thank You for salvation and assurance. Thank You, Lord, that Your love is forever focused on me.

    (PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 13

    The Dedication of Your Life

    SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 138:1–8

    KEY VERSE: GALATIANS 6:9

    Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

    Julian of Norwich (1343–1413) lived through plagues, poverty, and war. But a serious illness brought her into a new awareness of God’s personal love. In I Promise You a Crown, a compilation of her writings by David Hazard, she wrote:

    It had come to me that nothing can keep us from knowing the joy of heaven while we remain under the cross—that is, in humble obedience to God no matter what is sent to us. . . . I will tell you what faith showed me in its light. In my struggle, I saw the terror that lies in forsaking the power of the cross. For in making our soul submit, as Jesus submitted, we are remade into the image of Christ. This will never happen if we seek only earthly blessings. When I understood this, I did not want to look up, as if I had already achieved a place in heaven among the blessed. I knew that to do so would make my soul proud and arrogant in itself. And so I made my choice.

    And I can tell you this: I would rather have remained in my terrible pain until the Day of Judgment than to try to come into heaven by any other means than the Way of Jesus. The light of faith had shown me He had bound this bundle of suffering to me. And faith showed me He would unbind me when suffering had done the work of His will in perfecting me.

    Let the dedication of your life be set on pleasing Jesus above all else.

    Dear heavenly Father, I rededicate my life to You today—to serve Your purposes, fulfill Your plans, and please You above all else.

    (INTO HIS PRESENCE)

    JANUARY 14

    The Power Within

    SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26 –31

    KEY VERSE: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27

    God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.

    God has equipped you for every good work. The presence of the Holy Spirit is His guarantee that no matter what you face, He is committed to providing the power and strength you need to accomplish the task, get through the hurt, and end up victorious in Him.

    D. L. Moody had only a fifth-grade education, but he became one of the greatest evangelists of our time. He was never ordained to the ministry, yet God used him to lead thousands to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The book More Than Conquerors tells us: During the nineteenth century when mass media consisted of only printing presses and public oratory, more than 100 million people heard or read the gospel message of D. L. Moody. The evangelist spoke to at least 1.5 million people in London during four months in 1875, long before radio and television.

    God chooses to work through those who seem unqualified so He can shame those who rely on their own abilities (1 Cor. 1:27–29).

    There is only one way God can be glorified in your life, and that is through your willingness to lay aside your talents, skills, and personal desires in order to follow Him in obedience. Sacrifice and submission lead to a life of tremendous hope, freedom, and eternal joy. D. L. Moody could do nothing apart from the Savior, and what he did through the power of the Holy Spirit can never be duplicated.

    O Lord, thank You for equipping me for every good work. Your presence is my guarantee of success. Help me accomplish the task, get through the hurt, and end up victorious in You.

    (ON HOLY GROUND)

    JANUARY 15

    This Grace in Which You Stand

    SCRIPTURE READING: EPHESIANS 2:1–10

    KEY VERSE: EPHESIANS 2:5

    Even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

    There are times when we say words that we wish we could take back. Or perhaps we do something in such a way that we wish we could retrieve our actions and correct them. As these moments mount, we wonder how much longer our favor with God will last. We seek His forgiveness, but we wonder if we are in danger of exhausting God’s grace for our lives.

    The truth is this: you cannot exhaust the grace of God. He loves you, even when you act unlovable. He does hold us accountable for our words and actions. When our words or actions hurt another, we need to admit what we have done and ask God and the person we have

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