Toni Writing for The Master - Daily Devotional

Daily devotion

12/10/2018

Find Your Treasure

Scripture Reading: Luke 12:16-21 (All Scripture is quoted from NIV)
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Scripture Quote: No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

We must be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Our lives are about so much more than self-gratification and an abundance of possessions. Our worldly comfort level should come in a poor last, below a list of other life goals and priorities. If knowing God is the treasure we seek in our hearts, then our desires will be placed on God's promises and a growing relationship with Him. An earthly-minded person desires things that satisfy the desires of the flesh and offers immediate gratification, but a heavenly-minded person knows that the only truly lasting treasure is from God, our Father.

The master of our heart may be fitly termed the love that reigns within it. The duality of passion is a rarity that confuses the heart. We are built to exist on one side or the other of a fence - Straddlers tend to self-destruct. As Christ followers, we are destined to place life with Jesus above any other inferior substitute. We are not foolish enough to fall for this world’s lure when we know that in the end, we are heaven bound. There is no possession that exists, no deep-seated greed that must be satisfied, absolutely nothing that can replace the love and protection found in our perfect Savior.

Today’s meditation: We are destined for eternity with Jesus!

Memory Verse: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Daily devotion

12/7/2018

Fill Your Heart With God

Scripture Reading: Luke 12:22-31
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Scripture Quote: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

Our salvation, worship of God, study of His Word, and Christian fellowship, could engross our minds and hearts entirely – But, in reality we waste precious time on our own gratifications and our need to compete for first place. We harshly judge other's mistakes, yet we make so many of our own. We are just not thinking of our Lord when we are being competitive or unkind. Also, it’s total foolishness for Christians to spend energy on acquiring more toys that we know must eventually perish, yet we do.

Seeking God's kingdom is so much more than following a particular formula or list of restrictive rules and it is literally intended to keep us busy about our Father's business. Hearts designed for God and eternity are those that stay fixed on another's needs above our own. There are sick friends to visit or take a meal, or lonely soldiers who could use an encouraging note, and there are always various chances to speak His truth to people who have never heard about Jesus. When we fill our thoughts with God and His purposes, He continues to show us all kinds of things we can do to use our time for His glory.

Today’s meditation: Use your spare time to bless someone else.

Memory Verse: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Daily devotion

12/6/2018

Feed Your Soul

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-13
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Scripture Quote: Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,' nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV)

None of us can sustain our soul independent of God who supplies truth suited to its growth and support. Spiritual things cannot support the body because they are not suited to the body's needs - Earthly things cannot support the soul for the same reason. Our soul was awakened to its need and began to hunger and thirst after holiness, which is its proper food. Our souls needed to be purified by God's Holy Spirit and made partakers of Christ, our living bread. Without Jesus, we would be separate from God and doomed to everlasting alienation.

God never inspires a need without a design in place to supply the satisfaction of that need. Those who seek salvation can depend on being satisfied in Jesus. Christians will gradually make an eternal progression into the fullness of God. Since God is infinite, so our discovery of God's character and attributes will be infinite. God will wipe away, in the most affectionate and fatherly way, all tears from our eyes. He will remove all cause of distress and grief. Seek God constantly and He will reward you beyond your grandest imagination.

Today’s meditation: Find and follow God’s truth for your soul.

Memory Verse: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

Daily devotion

12/5/2018

Fear God and Love Him

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:19-31
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Scripture Quote: Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. Jeremiah 10:7 (NIV)

Who can question the existence of the Creator and Giver of all that is good? Nonbelievers often think that the fear of God is what religion is all about, never seeing the generosity and tolerance of our Mighty God. There hasn't ever been a wise scholar, who has been schooled from others with great knowledge in science or theology, to surpass God. God is the creator of all true knowledge because it comes directly from HIMSELF! Sadly, many of these so-called scholars, in all their wisdom and research, have never been able to find the true and loving God. Their walls are scattered with degrees and titles, but their lives are superficial.

Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. We are not scholars and probably would not even be called wise individuals, but Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us.

Today’s meditation: There is no God but You, Father. How great you are, Sovereign LORD!

Memory Verse: No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV)

Daily devotion

12/4/2018

Faithfulness
Scripture Reading: Daniel 2:16-24
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Scripture Quote: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand.”
Daniel 3:17 (NIV)

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a disturbing dream that caused him to seek counsel. His magicians, sorcerers and the like, could not give the king adequate answers. This led the king to order the execution of all the wise men in Babylon. However, there were a few truly wise men, especially one named, Daniel, who were followers of God.

God was merciful to Daniel and his friends who prayed with him by revealing the king's dream and it's interpretation. Daniel confessed to the king that he had no such wonderous powers by himself, but the highest praise was due to his God for revealing these things to Daniel. So, as a result, the king spared the lives of Daniel and his praying friends. The king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him.

Further into the story, we learn that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up an image of gold for all the people to fall down before and worship. Daniel’s three friends were not rebels, but they could only give their worship to their God. When faced with their disobedience, the king ordered them thrown into a blazing furnace. However, even the threat of death by fire did not move their steadfast faith in God. They were miraculously spared by God because of their faithfulness.

Today’s meditation: God rewards faith that is resolute.

Memory Verse: “Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps the faith.” Isaiah 26:2 (NIV)

Daily devotion

12/3/2018

Faithful Prayer

Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:7-13
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Scripture Quote: “I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19 (NIV)

Christians are in training, being taught persistent, believing prayer that intercedes against Satan's rule in the world. Believer's stand for Jesus' Lordship and defy anarchy and misery that Satan wants in every area of life. Our prayers are not the last resort or a form of begging, but they serve to enforce Christ's victory. Satan’s end is certain, but unless Christ's believers, His Bride, continue in prayer against Satan, the church's authority would be completely inoperative.

Faithful prayer, without doubt, overcomes and crushes Satan's plans. The idea of binding and loosing in prayer simply means that what we claim as ungodly will be vanquished and the opposite will be embraced by our Lord, provided we are faithful prayer warriors in pursuit of God's glory. Satan's goal is to inflict all the hurt he possibly can. We are the only means of preventing Satan from achieving his goal. When we pray for someone who is unsaved, we bind Satan's grip on that person and loose the healing power of Christ’s salvation. He could have banished Satan, but instead, God’s using him to strengthen and train Christ’s church in defeating evil in our world today.

Today’s meditation: Pray Christ’s victory without ceasing.

Memory Verse: "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18 (NIV)

Daily devotion

11/30/2018

Faith Like Abram’s

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-9
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Scripture Quote: The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1 NIV)

Think back to the last time you moved your entire household to a new place, perhaps in response to a new job or some other motivating factor. Does the memory hold a residual loathing for the strain and extent of details involved? Many of us can relate to the feeling of being out of our comfort zone. But even so, we’d have the realization that we were expected to arrive in this new place and will eventually work toward calling it home. Abram, however, is told to leave everything familiar – He’s to go to some unknown, far off place.

It was enough for Abram that God said He would show him where to go. Never mind that Abram is told that he will produce a great nation of people, while Abram is childless and he's 75 years old. He’s commanded to go, with the promise of many heirs. It's hard to admit but, how likely would one of us be to leave our country and family because we thought God had spoken to us? I venture we'd be spending more time convincing ourselves that we couldn't possibly be hearing from God. We'd rationalize that we were too old to have children or to make a big move. But, if we hold fast to the claim that we are Believers, do we get to second guess God, or negate His instruction? Think about it.

Today’s meditation: Go deeper - Recognize God’s voice and obey Him.

Memory Verse: Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7 NIV)

November 28th, 2018

11/28/2018

Faith is Our Greatest Gift

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11
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Scripture Quote: “After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away.” Genesis 5:22-24 (NIV)

Some pretty fantastic reading, right? And so, it’s hard to explain our faith to nonbelievers. Within faith subsists the peace of our God that can't be fully understood and inspired biblical stories, some of which are difficult to believe. Both our faith and God's peace exist in the Christian's reality, but are strange concepts to express to a
nonbelieving world in turmoil. A Christian’s faith contains the love of God. His love yearns to touch another's heart and is why Christians feel the natural urge to share their blessing of faith with those they care about. Experiencing the tremendous relief of total forgiveness sometimes doesn’t translate well. Often, in secular society, that relief is seen as a crutch or wishful thinking.

Faith has power and with the hope God offers, we are filled with the conviction of His truth and the reality of His Word. Unseen with the eye, His truth is deeply rooted within, which confirms God's existence and forgiveness. Our faith may be questioned, even ridiculed by others, but a heart once touched by perfection can never be dissuaded.

Today’s meditation: We have God’s blessed assurance.

Memory Verse: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Daily devotion

11/28/2018

Faith Even Through Life’s Storms

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41:1-10
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Scripture Quote: I am the LORD your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you. (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)

Do you live your life in victory, never worrying about your future? If you are like most of us, we do know that we are not meant to worry. However, we still let our bills, or our health, or a myriad of uncertainties in our day to day existence, drive us to distraction. We loose the big picture when we take our eyes off of Jesus and allow everything to shrink down to our worries and ourselves.

Jesus stood up when He was in the boat with His frightened disciples and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm. Do we have a capable protector, who can control even the wind, or is this fiction that we are reading in GOD'S WORD? We know His Word is true – But we begin to doubt. Instead, we could chose to spend our time meditating on the true, firm, unchangeable promises of our God. Jesus is always with us and if we call on Him in faith, He does not disappoint. When troubles tempt you to forget how much your Lord loves you, remember what He has already done for you - There is nothing that can trump that!

Today’s meditation: Hope always in the power of our Savior.

Memory Verse: I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world. (John 16:33 NIV)

Daily devotion

11/27/2018

Excuses

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 15:1-9
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Scripture Quote: “When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!” Deuteronomy 25:19 (NIV)

God entrusted Saul, by way of Samuel, with the fulfillment of God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them because of the sneaky attack they made on the Israelite stragglers coming out of Egypt. But Saul’s men desired to keep the best of the livestock, so Saul did not follow God's instructions entirely. Later, when he was trying to make an acceptable excuse for his disobedience, Saul told Samuel that they would sacrifice the animals to God at Gilgal. But which can we expect that God would prefer, burnt offerings or obedience?

Instead of confessing our sin, don't we also try to make an excuse for them sometimes? It is disobedient to rationalize sinful actions. Saul wasn’t truly repentant, so he was deprived of his reign as king. There are always consequences for sin - Making excuses to God, who knows all our true motives already, is pretty ridiculous. Repentance and obedience are required behaviors for followers of Jesus and gain us tremendous peace and joy. God always forgives a repentant sinner.

Today’s meditation: Walk the narrow path without any need for excuses.

Memory Verse: “The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him.” Deuteronomy 28:9 (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 5 pound, furry, Chihuahua muse, “Princess 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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