Toni Writing for The Master - Daily Devotional

DAILY DEVOTION

8/10/2022

We Are Predestined
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

Scripture Quote: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29 NIV)

Isn't it great that the Gentiles were brought into fellowship with the Jews and that it was God’s plan all along? God has always had you and me in mind, even from the beginning of the creation. We were always meant for the salvation of our precious Jesus. God had us Gentiles as much in the contemplation of his mercy and goodness as he had the Jews and He always wanted us included in His plans. God dispensed the blessings of the Gospel so that we might all learn to be holy and without blame before Him. God still wants us all to love each other as He loves us.

Without any Mosaic rite, Gentiles were admitted to all the privileges of God's church and His eternal purposes. It's incredible to try to grasp that before the foundation of the world, God predetermined that we would be His own. We did not have any special goodness or merit in us - God calls His children according to the good pleasure of His benevolent will. He has pardoned the sins of all of us who have turned to Him with repentance and true faith. We will all be gathered into glory one day with our wonderful God. Praise Him with grateful hearts!

Today’s meditation: God has predetermined our calling and we are His.

Memory Verse: And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

8/8/2022

We Are New Creatures
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: John 15:5-11

Scripture Quote: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

Christians know that they are accountable to God's Law. We can't conform to the world's view of a fulfilled life through material gain and the worship of personal comfort and gratification of the lustful desires of their hearts. Instead, we are to fashion our lives after Christ's example, which leads us to find pleasure in more morale and substantial practices. We feel a strong aversion to the low standards of this world and do not wish to follow its vain pleasures.

We are new creatures in Christ Jesus and because of that transformation, God's will has become our dominate motivation. Our renewed minds gave us a disposition to obey Him and a capability to understand His precepts. The precious occasions when we walk solely in His will, we can see the appropriateness and beauty of His commands. Though we wander from Him entirely too often, His grace draws us back to appreciate our need for humility, repentance and awe of His great love for us. Our God rescued us from this world's ways. We are able to embrace the incredible thing He has done in our lives. Because once we were lost and now we are saved - Praise God!

Today’s meditation: Offer yourself to God’s will for your life.

Memory Verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

8/5/2022

We Are Never Powerless
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

Scripture Quote: My loved ones, I make this request with all my heart, that, as those for whom this world is a strange country, you will keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh which make war against the soul; 1 Peter 2:11 (BBE)

When our flesh tells us we are powerless to do what we know we ought to do, we can choose to bring that inner battle to a screeching halt - We can call on Jesus and find that our will and our conscience is already in agreement with Him. The strongest power at our disposal is Christ in us. The excellence, compassion and desire to be a blessing to others is the love in us which is from Jesus. That love is more perfect than anything belonging or originating from us. His power is the source of guidance and joy that teaches us gently, with grace and patience, how to use His power to conform our flesh to God's will.

Sin is a perverse disposition which entered into man at the Fall. The Bible tells us that it is God that works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. If we have complete, unshaken faith in our redemption through the blood of Christ, then our natural choices are less likely to do battle with what we know we ought to do - When our will is God's will, all inner conflict ceases and our choices for good are as natural and harmonious as breathing.

Today’s meditation: Turn to God at first draw of fleshly desire.

Memory Verse: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

8/3/2022

We Are Never Alone
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: John 14:19-27

Scripture Quote: Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. (John 14:16 CEV)

Most people suffer periods of feeling isolated, even within their family or in a group of friends. Humanity is wired to need companionship that is unique only to the Holy Spirit – That’s the way God made us and that need for a missing something can't be satisfied by the company of others. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles just as Jesus promised. Jesus told them that after His death and resurrection He would send them a Comforter. His disciples, even his future followers, are beloved children of God and are never fatherless and are never alone in this world. Our comforter, God's precious Spirit, is our advocate, teacher and beloved guide for all of our lives.

In addition to His presence, the influence of the Holy Spirit enables us to give an accurate depiction of Christ's life and death and a recollection of the particular verses in His Word that help us express His Gospel message to those who haven't heard about the precious gift of salvation. We are Christ's ambassadors, well equipped by His Spirit to offer His great redemption and love to a lost and dying world. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, forever indwelling, equipping, and enabling us to be bold for Jesus. Believers are never alone!

Today’s meditation: We can allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us.

Memory Verse: (John 14:18 CEV) I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you.

DAILY DEVOTION

8/2/2022

We Are Chosen
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

Scripture Quote: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29 NIV)

Isn't it great that the Gentiles were brought into fellowship with the Jews and that it was God’s plan all along? God has always had you and me in mind, even from the beginning of the creation. We were always meant for the salvation by our precious Jesus. God had us Gentiles as much in the contemplation of his mercy and goodness as he had the Jews and He always wanted us included in His plans. God dispensed the blessings of the Gospel so that we might all learn to be holy and without blame before Him. God still wants us all to love each other as He loves us.

Without any Mosaic rite, Gentiles were admitted to all the privileges of God's church and His eternal purposes. It's incredible to try to grasp that before the foundation of the world, God predetermined that we would be His own. We did not have any special goodness or merit in us - God calls His children according to the good pleasure of His benevolent will. He has pardoned the sins of all of us who have turned to Him with repentance and true faith. We will all be gathered into glory one day with our wonderful God. Praise Him with grateful hearts!

Today’s meditation: God has predetermined our calling and we are His.

Memory Verse: And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

7/29/2022

Walk Circumspectly
Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:8-16

Scripture Quote: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)

Christians are very watchful and cautious because we are essentially the receivers and defenders of truth, love, and knowledge of the living God. It is so important to be careful of our conduct in big, as well as small things, since the eye of the unbeliever is evaluating our sincerity. To live a holy and pure lifestyle we must keep Christ as the primary focus of our thoughts, thereby avoiding unwise actions. Harsh words that are thrown out in frustration to an argumentative, intellectual atheist, will only serve to repel that individual further. We will never persuade anyone to accept the doctrines of Christianity with any other approach than prayer for spiritual guidance, the love of Christ in our hearts and humility in our words.

Although we live in the world, we don't argue as the world does. We rely on God's power to give us the exact words that will be effective. We only need to live in accordance with our faith - We don't need to be scholars, or experts on any subject, because we have the absolute guidance of the Creator of the universe and His instruction manual, the Bible, as our qualifications. We only need to Walk with Him, trust in Him and allow God to use us for His purposes.

Today’s meditation: Walk in wisdom and grace before the world.

Memory Verse: Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. Psalms 119:73 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

7/29/2022

Using God’s Armor
By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading for the day: Ephesians 6:10-18

Scripture Quote: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV)

God tells us in His Word exactly how to defeat Satan. He offers us His protection when we take the time to arm ourselves with each component. We must know and accept His truth so that Christ’s righteousness shines through us. God’s Word is the gospel of peace and the sword with which we conquer Satan’s tricks. It prepares us to stand against the enemy’s lies so we must know and cherish it. Also, keep your faith strong, Christ’s sacrifice, which is your salvation, should be firmly uppermost in your mind. And always pray in the Spirit for God’s help and for His Will to be done.

All of God’s tools are given to His children and they are our strength. He is with us through our struggles with the enemy and He will give us the courage and competence to withstand whatever Satan throws at us. We only need to believe in and implement God’s powerful armor so we can stand firm in His shelter.

Today’s meditation: Satan yearns to deceive and destroy the Christian - With God’s help, we can always be prepared.

Memory Verse: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

7/28/2022

Upheld by His Power
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Scripture Quote: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

God causes us to triumph through Christ in everything we do. Our conversion leaves no doubt that God is with us and that we have been changed into something new. Our complete dependence on His strength and purposes proves our personal insufficiency and need of Him. We don't possess any power to enlighten another's mind or change a heart. We are only instruments in the hand of God. God alone can fulfill the promise of salvation as a result of belief in Christ. We are God's neon signs and it is only by God's sufficiency that we have been able to do anything to advance His Kingdom here on earth.

The more we experience trials, the more we are upheld by His power. When we prosper in our labors, Christ's help is seen and acknowledged. He says that the weaker we are, the greater His grace is manifested. The power of Christ affords us shelter, protection, safety and rest - There is no greater source of strength. The promise of grace cannot fail. We need only keep our focus on Jesus and be continually watchful and prayerful, depending on the all-sufficient grace of Christ.

Today’s meditation: Our confidence is in God.

Memory Verse: Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

7/27/2022

Unsaved Spouses
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: John 17:19-26

Scripture Quote: For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 1 Corinthians 7:14 (NIV)

There are many Christians who are married to nonbelieving spouses. We are all sad for our friends whose spouses have no patience for our beliefs. It is hard to understand what God's plan is in this spiritually unequal kind of marriage. Christian friends pray for those spouses regularly, always hoping God would send someone or something to jolt them into the reality of Christ’s salvation.

Those Christians who have nonbelieving spouses, shouldn’t give up on them. Living the life of faith in God may just become the means of saving those spouses into eternal life. Bear your cross and look to God for perseverance. We know that God honors a believer's prayers. Keep praying for your spouse until your last breath, if necessary. God's Word gives us hope that our sanctification will cover our spouse like a blanket of divine loving forgiveness. Never give up hope. Christ was sanctified for death so that He might purchase eternal salvation for us. Surely we can claim our spouses for eternity and believe that God's grace is sufficient to accomplish their salvation.

Today’s meditation: Trust in God’s saving grace.

Memory Verse: "Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for.” Job 6:8 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

7/26/2022

Unkind Judgements
By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Mathew 7:1-5

Scripture Quote: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sin.” Mathew 6:14-15 (NIV)

It’s hard to look honestly into our own darkness. We must admit our ugly judgements of others - It’s crazy, because we often are ourselves guilty of the thing we criticize. We are foolish to think that our nasty judgmentalism goes undetected. God hears those mumbled snide remarks. Our heavenly Father knows who we are under the surface of who we project ourselves to be. If we will face our sinfulness, we can ask God's forgiveness. With His help, we can gradually choke out that mean, hypocritical disposition so that we can dispose of any harsh, uncharitable judgements against others.

We can shed the evil within our secret selves, just as a chubby, squirmy caterpillar is transformed into something so much more beautiful and free. To begin, we can refuse to endeavor to elevate ourselves above others. As believers, its just awful to cling to a deluded perspective of ourselves and think that there should be no good quality found anywhere other than ourselves. Do you realize that the other guy is struggling with illusions of grandeur too? God sees it all, yet He will forgive us. He will always guide a yielded, repentant heart to embrace justice and mercy.

Today’s meditation: Be kind to one another.

Memory Verse: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Mathew 7:12 (NIV)

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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