Your Daily Crossroad
Living in Expectation
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
Trouble is everywhere. In this world of chaos filled with disappointments, where can one find comfort? Have you ever REALLY read and meditated on Revelations 21:4. This verse brings comfort to all who believe and brings my attention to:
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Understanding and living in expectation of what God has in store makes even the biggest disappointments more bearable. Paul said it best in Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
I encourage you to live each day in the Expectation of God. Amen!!
For years now my daily motto as been, Great Expectations, and for that this resounded in my ears when I read it this morning. My prayer is that someone find strength and encouragement in those words and truly live each day in the Expectation of God. What a game changer.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Revelation 21:4
The Greatest Exchange Artist
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:2-3)
The Lord is the greatest exchange artist. I know people that will trade you something good in exchange for something good. I even know people that will give you something for nothing in return. But I have never met anyone on this Earth that will give you all their beauty in exchange for your filthy ashes. Nope, not one. They might give you something beautiful but say, “Just keep your ashes please, I don’t want those. Those things are nasty.”
However, I know Someone not of this earth who says – give it to Me. Give Me all your filth, all your nastiness, all your heaviness and mourning, give me all that weighs you down! I will take it. Jesus exchanges your mourning and gives you dancing. He removes your sackcloth and gives you a garment of gladness.
Does this appeal to you? What are you waiting for? The Great Exchanger is waiting for you to bring your ashes to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). Exchange your sickness. Exchange your depression and sorrow. Drop them at His feet and receive beauty and joy and praise!
Ask Jesus today to remind you of what he has taken from you and created in you! Amen!
When I read this I thought it was beautifully written. What has He taken from you and created in you? He never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it. Amen! I pray this blesses you today as it did me.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 61:2-3
Ingratitude with Honesty
In Luke 17:11, ten lepers dare to approach Jesus. They are unclean. They are contagious, at least in close quarters. Jesus sends them to the priest, and on the way their disease is healed. No more disfigurement. No more pain. They can return to their jobs and families. Imagine their joy as they danced into the temple, showing the priest their restored fingers and skin as new as a babe.
One, a Samaritan (foreigners whom Jews considered total outcasts), returns to thank Jesus.
Only one.
There is no doubt the other nine are just as elated, but only one is grateful enough to return and thank Jesus. Nine people are healed on the exterior, but there’s some inner work that still needs to be done.
Sometimes our greatest heart work takes place when we acknowledge where we are the least thankful.
It’s easy to get distracted by life, day in and day out. Whatever your daily distractions are, What if we stepped into our ingratitude with honesty?
Dear Lord, today I saw the mess and heard the noise but failed to be grateful. Let me pause for a moment and point out all the reasons I’m thankful.
Perhaps you’ve been busy at work.
Oh Lord, I gripe about my workload, when just a year ago I was praying for a job. Have I stopped to thank You for provision?
I just celebrated another birthday. When I look in the mirror, I see those years adding up.
Father, I see wrinkles and years gaining, but I failed to thank You for another day. I’d like to change that.
When we step honestly into areas of ingratitude, it has the power to change us. We run back to Jesus, aware of the immense gifts we’ve been given.
Today, let’s listen to our words. Let’s look for the miracles and write them on our hearts.
Father, sometimes I take my miracles for granted, or I think You already know that I’m grateful. For whatever reason, I haven’t expressed that, and I want to do it today. I’m falling to my knees to say how grateful I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
When I read this it challenged me to stop and be honest with myself about the areas of ingratitude in my own life that I fail to give God thanks for because I assume He already knows I’m grateful and that’s not okay. I am choosing to fall on my knees today to say how grateful I am, it is so easy and yet so vital that we stop, take a moment, run to Jesus and just say Thank You. Lets make time today to praise Him.
Today’s Reading is 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Stir Up The Power!
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Peter 1:4, 6-7)
I recently read, There are times when you know what God has called you to do, but you just don’t feel you have the inner resources you need to do it. Somehow you’ve simply run dry. You know the Word says that “out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). But, during those times, you can’t even find the creek bank, much less the river.
The Word of God tells us how to handle those situations through a clear command: “Stir up the gift inside you.”
You stir yourself up! Everything you need is already in you. Jesus put it there. Everything you’ll ever need to accomplish what God has called you to do has been placed inside you by God Almighty.
Faith is in there. Power is in there. Love is in there. Believe that. Speak it out. Say it to yourself now, right out loud:
“In the Name of Jesus, I stir up the gift that’s within me by faith. I’m stirring up my faith. I’m not going to wait until I feel stirred up. I’m stepping out by faith and expecting my feelings to follow!
“I’m stirring up the love of God that’s in me. I’m stirring up the power. I’m stirring up myself and running the devil out of my affairs. I’m stirring myself up in the Spirit of the living God! I am stirred up!” Amen!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Timothy 1:1-8