Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

DAILY DEVOTION

6/28/2021

Repentance

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Psalm 20

Scripture Quote: “Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in afflictions and irons – Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.” Psalm 107:10-14 (NKJV)

            We need only turn from our self-reliance and ask God for help in all areas of our lives – God provides wonderfully, if only we will let Him. He knows our weaknesses and can step in at any time to rescue us from our inevitable mistakes. But then we would be little more than robots. No, we will always have free will and it is up to us to repent of our sins, ask God’s forgiveness and embrace His help with loving gratitude.

            God is faithful and will never let us go. We may suffer from our sin’s consequence, but He will remain in our hearts and help us through. To be intimate with Jesus, we must stay in a perpetual state of repentance so that we may lead the abundant life He has for each of us today.

Meditation for today: “Wanderers, prisoners, sick and storm-tossed people all suffered but were saved when they called upon God.” Max Lucado

Memory Verse: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 (NKJV)

DAILY DEVOTION

6/25/2021

Religiosity

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: John 18:19-24
Scripture Quote: “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.” John 18:28 (NASB)
            The hypocrites, who condemned Jesus’ to die, refused to enter into the pagan headquarters of the Roman Governor. Religious dictates would not permit a Jew to enter the house of a Gentile - Doing so would defile the Jew, which also meant that he could not partake of the upcoming Passover feast. Keeping the ceremonial requirements of their religion was everything to them. Meanwhile, murdering an innocent man was irrelevant. Ironically, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover the hypocrites desired to celebrate so much. The religion of the hypocrites was heartless and had nothing to do with God or truth.
           As Christians, we can sometimes fall into thinking that a bunch of rules is the basis for our own religious “correctness.” It is all too easy to become ritualistic in our prayer life or in our worship. Anything that we honor other than the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will lead us astray. A personal relationship with Christ which demonstrates itself in love, liberty and the practice of imitating Him, will glorify God.
Today’s meditation: Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
Memory Verse: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John18:36 (NASB)

DAILY DEVOTION

6/24/2021

Pride

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Psalm 51:1-17

Scripture Quote: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

            Rather than approaching God to forgive us for a particular sin, it is better to live in a continual state of repentance so that your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s conviction becomes very intense. Also, living in a state of constant repentance just naturally turns us away from the world toward God. We must continually remind ourselves that although we live in the world, our home is not here - We are just passing through.

            Being repentant is more than just knowing you have a problem of being sinful. It also humbles us so that we can see our inability to do anything about our sin without God’s help. We can pray that God will show us His favor and grant us a pure heart, but He must do the work in our hearts.

            Pride so often is the root cause of our sinfulness. We all are full of pride and constantly struggle to find any true humility within ourselves. We must develop an attitude that is willing to look at our blackest thoughts and desires and hand them over to God so that he can cleanse us. It is foolish to think that we can hide our cold heart’s wickedness from our heavenly Father.

Meditation for the day: “Pride is the cancer and ego its seed.” Glenn Phillips

DAILY DEVOTION

6/23/2021

Predestined for Glory

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Ephesians 1:1-8

Scripture Quote: “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will…Ephesians 1:11a (NASB)
Before we first heard of Christ, He had his eye on us, had designs for our glorious living. We have always been a part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Isn’t that an unbeatable wonder?
Many people go through life lost in the maze of busyness and frustration, taking comfort in bigger salaries, houses, or cars, none of which fulfills them. Jesus patiently waits at the door of our hearts. We need only seek Him out and we can find true comfort. His abundant grace is sufficient for every need.
Daily seek to understand the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church. As believers, we can see how imperative it is to trust in Christ and help whoever else we can to come to His saving grace. We have been predestined for glory – Share your faith with someone today so God’s plan and purpose for your life continues perfectly through your obedience. Pray that you might be used by God to expedite the coming of His Kingdom here on earth.
Today’s meditation: It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. “The number one thing that keeps you from becoming what God wants you to be is your past.” – Rick Warren
Memory Verse: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17 (NASB)

DAILY DEVOTION

6/22/2021

Praise God’s Love for Us

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Deuteronomy 30:1-10

Scripture Quote: “Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!” His greatness is beyond discovery!” Psalm 145:3 (NLT)

            Think of all the Lord has done to and through us. Be happy that you are God’s chosen one who is given the mission to serve God, to be custodian of His Word and to be a light to all His people. If you ever stray from His fold, He is always willing to receive you again and again. His love endures forever.

            God wants what all parents do; a happy household of children who are obedient and content. He seeks a truly intimate relationship with each of us and He takes personal pleasure in us. We need only trust and obey and look forward to the time when Jesus brings justice and peace to the entire world. There’s no greater joy than ours as adopted children and heirs of the Almighty. How can we even contain our praises and worship of our Father? And like children, how can we help wanting to please Him.

Meditation for the day: We can only trust God when our focus is on Him and not on our circumstances. He is always with us, helping us to endure all things. There is never a time we are alone once we are adopted into God’s family of believers. What a safe feeling that brings to our hearts.

Memory Verse: “How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them.” Psalm111:2 (NLT)

DAILY DEVOTION

6/21/2021

Power and Glory

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: I Corinthians 15:45-54

Scripture Quote: “It is the same way for the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.” I Corinthians 15:42-43 (NLT)

            David said, “I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” We can do no less. Our lives have been planned by God for a special purpose. He decided our salvation even before we were born. He loves us more than anyone ever has. We can do none other than praise Him in awe and reverence.

            Once we are united with Christ in heaven, we will no longer be weak, or sick, or hurting. Because Christ rose from the dead, he is a life giving spirit. He became a new form of existence. He is the source of the spiritual life and He creates our own resurrection where we will be given transformed, eternal bodies suited to our new eternal life. It’s so cool to know that we are winners in the end, no matter what happens in between.

Meditation for today: “It is not our strength of faith that saves us, but the truth of our faith – not the weakness of our faith that condemns, but the lack of faith in the One who died.” Jim Rogers

Memory Verse: “O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting?”            I Corinthians 15:55 (NLT)

DAILY DEVOTION

6/18/2021

Persistence

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Genesis 32:22-32

Scripture Quote: “This left Jacob all alone in the camp and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn.” Genesis 32:24 (NLT)

            It took an all night struggle with the angle of the the Lord to change Jacob’s attitude of fear to one of perseverance. He would not stop wrestling with that angel, even with a dislocated hip, until the angel promised to bless him. Jacob was persistent. God encourages persistence in all areas of our lives, including the spiritual. Where in your spiritual life do you need more persistence?

            Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. How many times have we given up after a few half-hearted attempts and decided that God can not be found? But knowing God takes faith and persistence. Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded if we continue to seek Him.

            We must never give up in our search for a deeper, closer walk with God. We can continue to ask him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love and peace for our heart – He will give them to us.

Meditation for the day: As we persist in learning more about God and His ways, we learn what we should be praying for and what things are good and pleasing to God.

Memory Verse: “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.” Mathew 7:7 (NLT)

DAILY DEVOTION

6/17/2021

Peer Pressure

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Leviticus 19:9-18

Scripture Quote: “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth.” Philippians 3:17-19 (NLT)

            Many so-called friends will call us freakish because we have turned our lives over to Jesus. When we stop laughing at the off-color jokes, or refuse to participate in the conversations centered on gossip and blasphemous language, we will be pressured on all sides to conform and quit acting “holier than thou”. You will be criticized by your peers; there is no doubt about it.

            The good news is that we can find a new set of friends who also dedicate themselves to serving God – Know this; we will be in much better company if we choose to walk with the Lord and his people. Keeping our eyes on Him, taking the narrow path that leads to life, we will have confident comfort deep down in our soul.

Meditation for the day: “Only the man who follows the command of Jesus single handedly and unresistingly lets his yoke rest upon him, finds his burden easy and under its gentle pressure receives the power to persevere in the right way.” Dietrich Bonhoeffen

DAILY DEVOTION

6/16/2021

Our Eternal God

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Exodus 3:14-21

Scripture Quote: “Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, what is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” Exodus 3:13 (NKJV)

            God is self existing. How can He be explained or compared to anyone or anything else? How can we comprehend His Majesty? We can’t. We can’t think of something not existing in a time frame with a beginning and an end. The concept of eternity seems to be futuristic to us mortals. But the idea of there being no beginning, is just too difficult for us to grasp. We also know that believers in Jesus are to be joined with Him after their deaths to live eternally in heaven - Many questions will be answered in the end.

            Though it amazes us that God has always been, we know that God can not lie and so we trust what the Bible tells us. To be totally dependent and confident in God’s goodness and faithfulness is the only way to accept that He is, indeed, who He says He is – Our amazing God who was and is and ever will be.

Meditation for the day: Does anything about God amaze you? Remember that thing and take time each day to praise Him about it.

DAILY DEVOTION

6/15/2021

Opposition

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day: Exodus 3:13-17

Scripture Quote: “In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost, for there is a wide open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. But there are many who oppose me.” I Corinthians 16:9 (NLT)

We are not simply taking a walk in the park as we serenely live out our lives as Christians. We are often hated and misunderstood with opposition coming at us from every corner. God never promised us a life of ease when we became His adopted child. So when we step out in faith, when opposition comes, we must stand our ground and not be turned aside by fear or intimidation. We must continue to do and say what we know is right.

Instead of fearing our opposition in the variety of forms it is continuously expressed against us, we can choose to go on praying, reading the Word, going to church and forgiving those who would harm us. The enemy will repeatedly come against us, but if he finds strength in faith, he moves on to another who is weaker and more easily manipulated. We can move on to new levels of victory and remember to pray for our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ – All for God’s glory.

Meditation for the day: Fear losing your faith far more than any of Satan’s vile tricks.

2 Timothy 3:16-17New International Version (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

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Bio: Toni Smothers has written articles for “Total Health”, “Let’s Live”, “People In Action” and “The North American Mentor” magazines. She is a member of the Faithwriters.com writing community and was previously the editor for the teen section of their on-line magazine. She has written many programs, sermons, and skits and has edited several websites. Additionally, she has answered hundreds of questions for GotQuestions.org, a biblical resource site. Here is just one of their many testimonials: "Thank you for this insightful website! I was able to look up many questions I have asked over the years since becoming saved. The site is easy to navigate and gave me so much biblical background for answers that I feel my armor has been strengthened. You and your staff be encouraged to continue to speak the truth for God's glory." When Toni is not writing, she can usually be found cuddling with her 10 pound, furry, Morky muse, 'Sweet Pea.' Toni Smothers studied homeopathy extensively and became a proficient layman. She wrote about homeopathy for “Total Health” and “Let’s Live” magazines. Smothers describes her experience befriending a refugee family from Laos in her article published in the travel magazine, “People in Action.” Additionally, “American Mentor” magazine has published some of her poetry. Smothers drew upon her fun experiences as a youth pastor to provide the needed insight to function as the editor of the teen section of “Faithwriters” magazine and she is a member of the Faithwriters.com writer’s community.

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