Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 6
LEND A HELPING HAND
"He who is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11)
If we help someone become what God wants them to be, God will send someone along to help us be everything God wants us to be.
One day I asked one of our musicians if he would like to do something that needed to be done. He said, "I will do whatever you tell me to do; I am here to serve you."
I said, "But do you want to do this? You don't have to do it; we can find someone else."
He said, "It doesn't matter if I want to or not. Tell me what you want me to do, and I will do it." He was anointed to help others and enjoyed doing whatever needed to be done.
To enjoy your day, be ready to help people with whatever God has called them to do.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 7
OPPORTUNITY BRINGS OPPOSITION
"But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing." (James 1:25)
Many people agree with a sermon or a Scripture, but they don't apply it in their everyday life, so nothing changes. They think that just because they agree with the Word, it should bring change into their life.
But change doesn't happen automatically; a person has to be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only. Jesus said, "Keep awake and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41).
Every time you have an opportunity to believe God for something, you will have a temptation to give up on it. Pray that you will overcome temptation when it comes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 8
ENJOY LIBERTY
"Blessed is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)
Life is miserable when we won't listen to anybody else, or when we get mad every time somebody doesn't agree with us. To be so emotionally ruled and controlled that we are stressed every time something doesn't go our way is bondage. When Jesus sets us free, it means that we are free not to get upset just because we don't get everything we want.
It is wonderful to be free. We can give thanks for the liberty to receive God's help and walk in patience despite our circumstances. We can experience joy no matter what the situation may be.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 9
ENJOY A NEW BEGINNING
"But there is forgiveness with You, that you may be reverently feared and worshiped." (Psalm 130:4)
People sometimes tell me, "I did something wrong, and I just don't know if God can ever forgive me of it." Even when we have made serious mistakes, there is always a place of forgiveness and a new beginning in Christ. When we have a new beginning with Christ, we don't have to mourn over the past. We just have to repent and go on. We don't need to repent again and again.
If you know the character of God, you know He will forgive any sin, no matter how terrible, because to Him sin is sin. Remember, God can make miracles out of mistakes. If you need forgiveness today, simply confess to the Lord what you have done, and enjoy your new beginning. It begins at the moment of forgiveness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 10
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
"Finally, brethren, farewell! Be strengthened; be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same mind one with another; live in peace, and the God of love and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11)
Each one of us needs to accept our responsibility to do what is right in God's eyes, whether others do the right thing or not. Otherwise we will have a standoff:
"Well, if you won't say you're sorry, then I won't say I'm sorry."
"You're not nice, so I'm not gong to be nice."
"You haven't given me a compliment in a year, so I'm not giving you one either."
That attitude gets relationships in trouble. God wants us to live above the pettiness of selfish arguments by loving one another.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 11
START SOMETHING
"[Let your] love be sincere; hate what is evil, but hold fast to that which is good. Love one another with brotherly affection, giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord." (Romans 12:9-11)
If all of us started having a godly attitude, it would catch hold and spread like a virus. Wouldn't it be great if we could spread a good virus?
Imagine the whispers: "Have you heard? There's something wonderful going around. Have you caught it? It is running rampant all over the place. Everywhere you look, people have a new attitude!"
Let's start something today! Let's decide to think like Christ. Let's decide to love everyone we meet today, and pass the word so that everybody catches on to it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 12
START SOMETHING GOOD
"For there shall the seed produce peace and prosperity; the vine shall yield her fruit and the ground shall give its increase and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess all these things." (Zechariah 8:12)
Start something good in someones life today. Sow faith for a healing. Sow hope for a restoration. A sincere compliment can sow confidence in someone who is starving for encouragement. Your forgiveness of an ongoing offense can sew a seed for a miracle breakthrough in that situation.
Pray for someone elses need, or make a special offering to start something positive in the name of the Lord. Remember, God won't ask you to sow anything that He doesn't give you the grace to give. Enjoy the abundant harvest that is returned to your own life when you sow into someone elses life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 13
BE CHRIST'S BOND SERVANT
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Paul said that he would not become the slave of anything or anyone but Jesus Christ: "Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power (1 Corinthians 6:12). He also said, "If I had been trying to be popular with people, I would not now be a bond servant of the Lord Christ" (Galatians 1:10).
If you let other people control you, you will not fulfill the call of God on your life. If you let their rejection frighten you and change your focus, you won't do what God wants you to do. Be a slave only to God, and a servant to people on His behalf.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 14
FOLLOW JESUS
"All who keep His commandments abide in Him, and He in them." (1 John 3:24)
Some people wanted to follow Jesus, but they were afraid they would be put out of the synagogue. Some people are still afraid to follow the Lord because they might be put out of their family, their group, or even their church.
Eventually, there will only be one Person to face -- God. You won't want Him to say, "I had so much for you, but you didn't receive it because you were too concerned about what people thought; you were a people-pleaser." Jesus wasn't swayed by men's opinions, threats, judgments, or criticisms. Follow Jesus, and enjoy life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 15
LISTEN TO GOD
"Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come." (Proverbs 19:20)
You may wonder, "How do I know when to confront someone about an issues, and when to let it go?" If you are too eager to set someone straight, it may not be God motivating you. Correction must be done in love to build up the person and not tear them down. Always pray and wait until you know what God wants you to do.
You must be led of the Spirit. If after prayer you still feel that you are to talk to someone about their behavior, be absolutely sure that you are doing it for their good and not yours. If it is what God has told you to do, you may not even want to do it, but it will be done as an act of obedience to Him. Whatever you do, do it in love.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 16
DON'T GET BURNED OUT
"And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23)
Expect God to show you something new today. Some people resist change, but God created us to need variety in our life. If we do the same thing over and over, we get burned out on it. God will keep our lives exciting if we seek Him every day.
Look for new ways of doing things. If you have been working on the same job for thirty years, driving to it the same way, at least find a new route you can take once in a while to get there. Do something to invite newness into your life so you can discover God's many ways of revealing Himself to you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 17
BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:14)
We live in a society in which people are driven to engage in many activities. We can get almost too tired to move from doing so much in a day, but busyness is not the kind of life to which God has called us.
God will not drive us to do things; He will lead us by putting in our heart what we are supposed to do. If you follow the Holy Spirit, you may have to say no to some activities that you are saying yes to right now. If what you are doing leaves you drained and worn out, you may not have God's anointing to do it. When He leads you do something, He will also energize you to fulfill your true call.
Prune your life of things that drain you, and trust God to lead you to the works that keep you growing and healthy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 18
CHANGE, DON'T COMPLAIN
"All things are legitimate, but not all things are helpful. All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive and edifying." (1 Corinthians 10:23)
People complain about stress, but some people would rather complain that change. It is easy to be frightened at the thought of jumping off life's high-speed treadmill, especially if you aren't sure what to give up in order to slow down your life.
God wants you to enjoy a beautiful life with simplicity, sanity, and clear direction. That only comes by spending time with Him, reading His Word, talking to Him, and listening for His response. If you are too busy to get alone with Him each day, then set some boundaries in your life. Say not to whatever is keeping you from starting your day with God.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 19
REST AWHILE
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Getting stress out of your life takes more than prayer alone. You must take action to make changes and stop doing whatever is causing you to stress. You can learn to calm down in the way you handle things.
Jesus invited us to come to Him if we are over-burdened. He promised to refresh us if we are weary, worn out, or overworked. Take time to go to Jesus anytime you feel that you are going over the edge of peace and into the pit of stress. Let His presence refill and refresh you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 20
COME APART TO STAY TOGETHER
"And the effect or righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever." (Isaiah 32:17)
If you are feeling compelled to do so much that you are physically worn out, you may be driven instead of led. Remember, you have to come apart from a busy routine before you come apart yourself. You have to get away from everything before you come apart physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give yourself time to get a good night's sleep.
It is tempting to do everything that everybody else is doing, be involved in everything, know everything, hear everything, and be everywhere, but it isn't God's best for you. Be willing to separate yourself from compulsive activity before you come apart ate the seams! Spend time with God, and ask Him to give order to your day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-STARTING YOUR DAY RIGHT-
Devotions for Each Morning of the Year
Joyce Meyer
December 21
TAKE A BREAK
"Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." (Psalm 116;7)
We all need a break in the action from time to time. Resting isn't just a good idea-it is a command of God: "Six days you shall do your work, but the seventh day you shall rest and keep Sabbath, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your bondwoman, and the alien, may be refreshed" (Exodus 23:12). The Lord added that "even in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest [on the Sabbath]" (Exodus 34:21).
That means that for one day a week we are to withdraw from common labor and to rest. Don't work that day, even in the busy seasons. Dedicate that day to spending time with God, worshipping Him. Start your week off right be getting back to what is really important-honoring God.
No comments:
Post a Comment