Grace Within Devotionals

JOHN 14:30 I WILL NOT TALK WITH YOU MUCH MORE, FOR THE PRINCE (Evil genius, ruler) OF THE WORLD IS COMING. AND HE HAS NO CLAIM ON ME. (He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has not power over Me.) This verse teaches the importance of NOT SPEAKING rashly out of our emotions. Jesus told His disciples He would be leaving the world very soon. The suffering He was about to endure was unimaginable, but Jesus was determined not to speak words that would give Satan an opportunity to hinder the plan of God. Nothing takes more self-control than not speaking negatively in a negative situation. The mouth wants to spurt out everything it thinks and feels. But in times like that, you need to go deeper, beyond your emotions, and began to think and speak out of your RENEWED spirit. There are important times to agree with God and SAY what His Word says. DO NOT talk in ways that give the devil power.

PLEASE READ: PSALM 130 Day after day for years Harry shared with the Lord his concern for his son-in-law John who had turned away from God. But then Harry died. A few months later, John turned back to God. When his mother-in-law Marsha told him that Harry had been praying for him every day, John replied, "I waited too long." But Marsha joyfully shared: "The Lord is still answering the prayers Harry prayed during his earthly life." Harry's story is an encouragement to us who pray and wait. He continued "steadfastly in prayer" and waited patiently (Rom. 12:12) The author of Psalm 130 experienced waiting in prayer. He said, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits." He found hope in God because he knew that "with the Lord there is MERCY, and with Him is ABUNDANT redemption." Author Samuel Enyia wrote about God's timing: "God does not depend on our time. Our time is chronological and linear...BUT GOD...is timeless. He will act at the fullness of His time. Our prayer...may not necessarily rush God into action, but...places us before Him in fellowship." We may not see the results of our prayers immediately - but God hears us - When we pray we must believe we receive what we prayed for once we say AMEN!! God has His way of getting us to do what He desires - fellowship with Him in prayer, waiting for the answer in the fullness of HIS TIME - is just one way to humble us. God may delay our request, but He will NEVER disappoint our trust. Pray on - Cease not to pray and should the answer tarry...WAIT. God will come through and He can NEVER come too late.

PLEASE READ: Titus 3:1-11 By the time he was 16, Morris Frank (1908-1980) had lost his sight in both eyes. Several years later, he traveled to Switzerland where he met Buddy, the canine who would help to inspire Frank's involvement with the Seeing Eye Guide-Dog School. With Buddy leading the way, Frank learned to navigate busy sidewalks and intersections. Describing the freedom his guide provided, Frank said, "It was glorious; just Buddy and a leather strap, linking me to life." Buddy gave Frank a NEW kind of access to the world around him. God's Holy Spirit gives us access to ABUNDANT spiritual life in Christ. When we accept Christ as Lord, God washes our sins away and renews us "by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior" (Titus 3:5-6). Once we know Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us experience God's love (Rom. 5:5), understand God's Word (John 14:26), pray (Rom. 8:26), and abound in hope (Rom. 15:13). Today, as you think about your relationship with God, remember that the Spirit is your guide to life in Christ (Rom. 8:14).

COLOSSIANS 1:4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus (the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in ABSOLUTE trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and of the love which you (have and show) for all the saints (God's consecrated ones). It seems like every time I hear the Word, study the Word, I receive more understanding of what it means to live by Faith - have Faith in God - so I now put into practice what I heard, what I read/study, what I know....making it a part of my daily life - in ALL circumstances - the good and the bad, the ups and downs, the sometimes, the maybe, the ifs, ands & buts...I work my Faith all of the time. I am a witness - God's goodness is real....not just sometime, but ALL OF THE TIME...we have to make the decision and choice to LIVE BY FAITH.....I live by MY faith and it's an awesome experience - so powerful. God's will is for us to live by faith. You might be thinking of how far you have to go in order to be all God wants you to be, and you feel overwhelmed. Your mind wants to think, "This is just too much; I will never be able to do all He needs".....first of all God doesn't NEED anything from you BUT to TRUST Him; BELIEVE in Him; and BE CONFIDENT. Don't focus on how far you think you will have to go - you would want to go ALL THE WAY. Don't focus on what you think you have to give up - what could be better in your life than the outcome of your circumstances being based on your Faith in God - He's the miracle worker - not you and others. I was once there.....now I am here and it works....read Colossians 1:4 again. WE MUST have ABSOLUTE trust AND confidence in God's power, in God's wisdom and in God's goodness. I no longer put my stamp of approval on the way I envision my prayers being answered or how a certain situation is going to pan out....I just let God be God - I know he's going to come through.....even when I see it - I can't help but be amazed - not because I didn't believe Him - it's because He's in me and the outcomes, my blessings, my corrections and my disciplines.... says it all. Get started TODAY - Now is the Time to WORK IT LET NEVER BEFORE. Be encouraged by any progress you make - knowing that if it wasn't for the Lord.......Refuse to be discouraged concerning yourself with how far you have to go, or when something you have been praying for is going to come to pass....the fact that you are on your way to perfection is what pleases God.

NOW IS THE TIME....To Be True To Yourself Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord. You are a beloved, unique child of God--one of a kind. God gave you special gifts and talents that you were born to share with the world. But often that vision of who you are is obscured by the wear and tear of everyday life. If you've been feeling a bit insignificant or unworthy, learn to see yourself as God sees you, and take your hopes and dreams seriously once again. Be true to your deepest self, and TRUST THAT GOD has a purpose for your life. Each of us is absolutely unique and irreplaceable in the eyes of God.

  Once we have received Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit will remind us that our future is secure, and our loving, sovereign God will see to it that we have everything we need.

  PRAYER: Dear God, please renew and transform me from the inside out! When feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and self-doubt creep into my heart, help me to see myself the way you do. I want to be held tightly by your truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Faith is POSITIVE....Fear is NEGATIVE Real Faith is not timid....Faith releases God's abilities and it's His abilities that does the Miracle.....What is FAITH: Confidence in God...When you start operating in RIGHTEOUSNESS the Miracles will start to take place. But when you have LOW SELF ESTEEM, if you are living so close to the world that you start to lose your strength because you are focus more on your circumstance than you are focused on Jesus - You are headed straight for disaster (just like Samson). Put YOUR FAITH in God from now on. Wrong thinking will encourage Wrong action...Say what God says - Think like God thinks...God has a way of CONNECTING you...putting you in the right place at the right time IF you are seeking Him. III John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, not his seed begging bread. Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; BUT they that SEEK the Lord shall not want ANY good thing. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is MY shepherd; I shall not want. These are just a few scriptures to get you started. Please read: Deuteronomy 8:7-14,18...28:2-8; 11-13 Luke 6:38 1 Corinthians 16:2 Matthew 6:31-33...10:8...19:29 Malachi 3:10-12 II Corinthians 9:6-8 Joshua 1:8 Ecclesiastes 2:26 Proverbs 13:22 Philippians 4:19 What made YOU is the WORD....What can FIX YOU is the WORD. Have FAITH in God. Be Encouraged

NOW IS THE TIME...To Pay Attention Ephesians 5:14 Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. Wake up to the everyday miracle of life, and don't miss the messages from God hidden in common things. Every moment offers a wonderful opportunity to see God in the details, and you can begin right here and now. Living lessons of abundance hide in the heart of a simple rose. Bugs and bees and butterflies busy themselves in God's glorious creation. A friend's smile or phone call lightens your day. The stars remind you of the vastness of the universe. A cool glass of water refreshes, an image of spiritual refreshments. As children of God - we have the power to see the good in this wonderful world no matter its darkness. God made it all with Wisdom....He made the earth overflow with His wonderful creations which includes you and I. Wake to a new you, new favor, new possibilities, new beginnings, new blessings every morning - giving all the praise and thanks to our Lord. This is the day the Lord has made - we will rejoice and be glad in it..

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. As for God, His way is perfect! The Word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my firm, impenetrable rock and my redeemer. Your word has revived me and given me life. Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The sum of Your Word is truth and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever. I will worship toward Your Holy Temple, and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your Word, and You have magnified Your Word above all Your name! Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorified Me; and he who orders his way aright - who prepares the way that I may show him - to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God. My mouth shall be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the day. Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. Take time to worship and praise our Lord. He is an awesome God who deserves more than that. Glorify Him today and always. Without Him - W E A R E N O T H I N G.....

NOW IS THE TIME....To Read Your Bible Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Spiritual reading is good. But the Bible is something very special. It has nurtured the spiritual lives of millions over the centuries. From the poetry of the Psalms to the parable of Jesus, it offers illuminating words and ideas that can transform your life. We are Spirits....once we became a Child of God - immediately we should have start RENEWING our Mind...reading the Word of God DAILY. We already have "Spiritual" blessings - but we need to transfer them into manifestation. How? Renew your mind about who you are in Christ and embrace your true identify... that's when your behavior will absolutely change....that's when you can call those things that be not as though they were....that's when you can say: NO weapon formed against me shall prosper (and truly experience it)....that's when you will focus on the Promises of God and not the mishaps of this world that constantly invade your territory. When you were Saved - you were suppose to change - not God. In some cases - God is still waiting for you to change/renew your mind....but there's one thing for sure, no matter what - He PROMISED to NEVER leave us nor forsake us....this I believe. If you are new to reading the Bible, purchase a study Bible in a modern translation. It will help you discover spiritual riches immediately. For those who know and love the Bible, commit more time to study. Meditate on its inner meaning to you. Once you were SAVED - Change should have begun in you - WE need to change - not God....this change doesn't happen overnight and will take us a lifetime to achieve...this is why we must RENEW our mind daily reading, studying, meditating on His Word....there is so much sin surrounding us and so much sin still in us. But God is still FAITHFUL even when we are UNFAITHFUL. It's not what we believe, but what we obey....and we can't obey His word if we don't know what His word says. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. We have His power and strength in us to live a Blessed life... trying to live this life in our own strength, our own will is our being stupefied. 2 Timothy 3:16 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.

TO CULTIVATE A MERRY HEART Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. If a merry heart does good like medicine, does a cranky attitude make you sick? Scientists now report that attitudes can actually make a difference in health. So for the sake of YOUR heart and happiness, actively choose to cultivate a more open and joyous attitude toward life. There's nothing like playing with a child, who knows the secrets of wonder. There's nothing like playing with a puppy or stroking a cat, both who are God's animal teachers. There's nothing like laughing with family, friends and strangers....just for the sheer joy of living. In this dark world, some can't seem to find joy - but we are not of "this" world. Our joy doesn't come from what we see around us...Our JOY comes from who is in us - God. Our "Joy" comes from knowing NO MATTER our circumstances, NO MATTER what the news say, NO MATTER what the doctor say, NO MATTER what he or she say, NO MATTER....Know who you are and whose you are - If God Be For Us WHO Can Be Against Us. YOUR joy, peace and happiness is a matter of choice...YOU must make choices that will enable YOU to fulfill the deepest capacities of YOUR real self. Philippians 4:11...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

If you’ve ever been tempted to give up or complain to the Lord, perhaps you don’t understand how much He wants to help you in your difficult circumstances. “He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases Power.” God never intends that we live out of our own strength. That’s why He will sometimes bring us into a time of weakness—to show us we need to exchange our puny, earthly strength for His heavenly power. Whether you are in need of physical or emotional might, He can replenish you with His divine energy. We must learn to WAIT (patiently) on the Lord. Since God has all the power we could possibly need and desires to share it with us, we must understand how to harness it…WAIT ON THE LORD. That’s probably the last thing you want to hear when you’re burdened and overwhelmed. You want relief, not delays….waiting on he Lord is not the same as waiting for the end of a difficult season in life. “Wait” carries with it the idea of hope and expectation. Since we don’t automatically know what to expect from God or how He’s going to work in our life, we need to spend time with Him, share how we feel, and turn our focus toward the Scriptures to understand what He desires to accomplish in and through us. We should quietly listen in anticipation of His answer. Focus on Him and not on our circumstances. We must learn to rely on His promises in order for our anxiety to be replaced with His peace. Your difficult life experiences is telling you there is something you need to learn. In time, God will show you, but the lesson will be learned the hard way—through your failures. Why? Because you are attempting to accomplish your dreams/desires and resolve your issues, according to your plan and in your own power, not His. It might work for a while, but eventually the Lord will sideline you. Enough!! Is Enough!! He will put you in a “time out” to get your attention - during that time you should learn you can’t expect to plot your own course, thinking God will come alongside to help if you get in a mess. He gives strength for the burdens HE allows, not for the ones YOU create and are taking upon yourself apart from His will. If ever God puts you on a “time out” - read Galatians 2:20 and be transformed. Read it now - and experience it’s truth. The only way to keep going in hard times is to ALLOW Christ to live through us. When we come to the end of ourselves and accept the truth-that He will sustain us no matter what-we can accomplish whatever we’re called to do. The Lord never promises to shield us from challenges, but we can be confident that if we have to run, He’ll strengthen us as we go. And if the journey is long, He’ll help us walk through it without losing heart. When we WAIT (patiently) upon Him, believing that He is able and willing to come to our aid, ANYTHING is possible. We all experience “Difficult” seasons in our lives..for some the storms of life is never ending and victory seem impossible. With God ALL THINGS are possible. It’s time to take INVENTORY of self. All of our mess starts with us - RENEW YOUR MIND (for real) - Change your life. Every setback in my life started with my “Thoughts” - I can’t always blame it on the devil..but he was a big influence…having his way….destroying my life..today I ALLOW the presence of God - in every area of my life…I hold on to the Word of God today stronger than ever before - I am very serious about obeying God… If God is willing….so am I.

PROVERBS 3:5-6 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." I usually know what I want, and I like to get it. I'm exactly like most people....when we don't get what we want, our negative feelings flare up....and those feelings began with our thoughts. AND when we don't get what we want, we usually make people around us miserable (including ourselves). Like I always say - our emotions takes us to places we have no business going. This behavior is not something we learn - it may be inborn....children and adults alike....we decide what we want, and when we don't get it, we're angry AND most of the time we think we deserve what we want without realizing that desire not coming to pass could be a blessing in disguise. Too often, we expect life to be perfect and for everything to go smoothly for us. We expect success, happiness, joy, peace and everything else everyday, all day. When we're thwarted, we pout, grumble, whine and complain. Although God does want us to have a good life, I know from experience there will be times when we must be patient and endure not getting our way. These disappointments test our character and level of spiritual maturity. They actually show whether or not we truly are ready for promotion. In looking at this selfish behavior - I wonder why I thought my world should be so perfect. Why do we think we should always be first, while others have to endure a lesser position? Why do we think we are entitled to the perfect life when we aren't perfect beings? Could it be we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to? I never really think I'm better than anyone else - I'm always happy when others are blessed - I just want what I want. So I guess there's plenty of work that has to be done in me: Patience - Contentment - Humbling (this is why I say I am still a work in progress)... A humble mind enables us to take a back seat and wait for God to move us to the front. God's Word says that we INHERIT the promises through FAITH and PATIENCE. Believing God is good, but can we continue to believe God and trust Him when we don't feel that life is fair? Satan plays with our minds. Most of the time, the evil one says negative things to us...I opened an email from an acquaintance and after reading it - my emotions went North, East, South, and West - I got angry. In my own fleshy way I tried to handle it which made me angrier - I mean all sought of negative thoughts were running wild.... until the Holy Spirit stepped in - She sent me to the Word (several times), She made me drop to my knees and call out for help, She took me to the Word that I am sharing with you... and the email was not serious at all, had nothing to do with me personally...I just didn't like what it said...Satan is cunning..he tells us how hard we work or how much we're entitled to and if we listen and believe him, we may begin to feel cheated, disrespected or believe that someone has taken advantage of us or may be trying to....and bam!! We're in rage!! (A heart attack waiting to happen - just what the devil ordered) When we don't get what we want, we fall apart INSTANTLY like a child - saying we deserve it which is a big mistake because self-pity creeps in. We can take the self-pity attitude or we can recognize that we have a choice: allow Satan to destroy us with his lies or accept life the way it is and make the best out of it with the help of God. I don't want to sit around and feel sorry for myself when "Life" doesn't play out the way I desire. I want to work on committing myself fully to the Lord. I want to be PATIENT (wait on the Lord); be CONTENT (thankful for where I am today); be HUMBLE (don't focus on the little picture-see God's hands in all my mess). We must surrender our wills to God - easier said than done, but if we do not, we will continue to sit and feel sorry for ourselves, listening to the whispers of Satan, and miss out with God. God, HELP ME. I often have strong desires, and when I don't get what I want, I get upset. Forgive me. Remind me that Jesus didn't want to die on the cross, but he lived in total submission to Your will. I ask You, through Jesus Christ, to HELP ME live in total submission and be content with what You give me. In Jesus Name - Amen Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

  You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy.  You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.  Hebrews 10:34

  Stay FOCUSED and FULL OF HOPE, knowing that God is fighting your battles for you AND He will continue to do so IF YOU WILL ALLOW HIM TO DO SO!!

  You have a New River flowing......