Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

Daily devotion

1/30/2019

God’s Peace

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:8-14
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Scripture Quote: Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with a peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

Communion with Jesus gives us clarity and affirms how to live with the strength of character and devotion to the Devine. A relationship with our Savior is worth whatever personal adjustments we must make. We can choose to resist the enemy and make a sincere effort to live a godly life, even when the walk can sometimes seem solitary. So then how do we deal with the televised murder of our policemen? And, what is a Christian to think of radical Islamic brutes butchering their women or further feeding their voracious and indiscriminate brutality by slaughtering whomever doesn’t believe in their abominable Islam?

Do those things make you feel especially peaceful? Christ said that He would give us peace that was not like the peace the world offers. That is the peace we must cling to even in our despair over innocents being ravished by evil men. We must seek His peace by understanding that there are things that are completely out of our control. What we can do, however, is we can pray and we can hope - The rest is up to God!

Today’s meditation: In the face of evil, stand strong in God’s peace.

Memory Verse: Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop think- ing about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. Phil. 4:8 CEV

Daily devotion

1/29/2019

Daily devotion

1/28/2019

God’s Help
Scripture Reading for the day: 1 Peter 5:6-11
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Scripture Quote: “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:4-5 (NIV)

If we submit patiently to God, He will lift us up and strengthen our faith. But, if we puff ourselves up in our foolish pride, God quickly humbles us. If you know God to be mighty, you must then understand that He uses His power to punish, as well as reward. Testing God's sovereignty is very foolish. However, a contrite heart and a sincere desire to know and serve God goes a long way in obtaining God's favor.

We must always remind ourselves that Satan does not want us to be strongly connected to our heavenly Father. Because of the attention our faith draws, we can't minimize Satan's pursuit of us. So we are compelled to be aware and watchful of the enemy's deceitful tactics. He is subtle and tempts us according to our individual weaknesses. So when he rears his ugly head, cling even more so to our mighty God. Satan has no power over the Lord. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings passed on to us.

Today’s meditation: We are safe under the tremendous wing of His Grace.

Memory Verse: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Daily devotion

1/25/2019

God’s Oath

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 6:10-15
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Scripture Quote: “People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.” Hebrews 6:16-17 (NIV)

God promises His people faithfulness and justice. If we soundly grasp that the holy, perfect God, LORD of all the universe, promises each of us who love Him, His faithfulness for our entire provision, how can we even contain it without bursting? He has sworn by His own name, which we know lives and endures forever true. If God had sworn by anything finite, that thing might fail and then the promise would die, but He has sworn by what is infinite, His own name which cannot fail. His oath is an eternal promise because God cannot lie or change His mind.

Believers can experience great freedom and joy in our faith and hope as inheritors of God's promises. We can patiently endure life's difficulties and trials of all kinds and persevere with His peace and comfort in our minds and hearts. We can choose to live as imitators of our loving Savior and return to Him our love and devotion. Let us never rest till we are adult Christians - till we are saved from our sin, and are filled with the spirit and power of Christ

Today’s meditation: God never lies.

Memory Verse: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

Daily devotion

1/24/2019

God’s Help

Scripture Reading for the day: 1 Peter 5:6-11
click here to read the scriptures
Scripture Quote: “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:4-5 (NIV)

If we submit patiently to God, He will lift us up and strengthen our faith. But, if we puff ourselves up in our foolish pride, God quickly humbles us. If you know God to be mighty, you must then understand that He uses His power to punish, as well as reward. Testing God's sovereignty is very foolish. However, a contrite heart and a sincere desire to know and serve God goes a long way in obtaining God's favor.

We must always remind ourselves that Satan does not want us to be strongly connected to our heavenly Father. Because of the attention our faith draws, we can't minimize Satan's pursuit of us. So we are compelled to be aware and watchful of the enemy's deceitful tactics. He is subtle and tempts us according to our individual weaknesses. So when he rears his ugly head, cling even more so to our mighty God. Satan has no power over the Lord. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings passed on to us.

Today’s meditation: We are safe under the tremendous wing of His Grace.

Memory Verse: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Daily decotion

1/23/2019

God’s Favor

Scripture Reading: Genesis 39:1-6 (All scripture is from MSG)
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Scripture Quote: GOD was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because GOD was with him; whatever he did GOD made sure it worked out for the best. (Genesis 39:21-23)

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Even though Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold as a slave, God cared and worked for his good. We can also find favor in God's care.

After Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of inappropriate advances, sending him to jail, God still gave Joseph favor while imprisoned. God was always with Joseph and He directed every seemingly bad turn of events into something positive for Joseph. God's kindness and mercy caused the prison warden to put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did. God will do the same for every faithful believer who trusts Him and who waits expectantly for His goodness and mercy.

Today’s meditation: God’s favor can change any circumstance.

Memory Verse: His master recognized that GOD was with him, saw that GOD was working for good in everything he did. (Genesis 39:3)

Daily devotion

1/22/2019

Daily devotion

1/21/2019

God’s Empowerment

Scripture Reading: Exodus 4:1-13
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Scripture Quote: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

Many Christians suffer from feelings of inadequacy, although we know that God empowers His people to live according to His instruction to accomplish His purposes. Jonah tried to run away from God's Will, (Jonah 1:3), and Jerimiah told God that he was too young and couldn't speak well enough, (Jerimiah 1:6). Moses insisted that even though God had chosen him to represent God's people, he couldn’t - Moses denied God’s ability to transform him, sure he would fail to live up to the task. Can you imagine the degree of patience our Heavenly Father must have for dealing with our idiotic resistance to His decrees?

Moses actually counted his inability to articulate as a bigger problem than God could overcome. God did eventually become angry with Moses’ lack of faith, nevertheless, He still appointed Moses as His agent for accomplishing Israel's deliverance. If we insist through our free will that we are incapable, God often condescends to our humanity. There is absolutely nothing that God cannot accomplish, yet, He doesn't force us to believe that. How many miraculous uses for His glory has our own disbelief cost us?

Today’s meditation: Believe that God can and will make us adequate.

Memory Verse: Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" John 11:40 (NIV)

Daily devotion

1/18/2019

God’s Blessing

Scripture Reading for the day: Deuteronomy 28:1-9
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Scripture Quote: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

God wants to pour out blessings on his children, but he expects us to be obedient to His law. Those who run toward God, study His Word and live by His statutes, will have an abundance of blessings. As we journey along in this life we can receive the fulfillment of God's promises pertaining to all circumstances, trials and stages of life. That is what an intimate walk with Jesus looks like. That is not to say that by receiving God's best that we are excluded from the various troubles in this world. But even within trouble, there is a peace and help that God favors us with that stands firm against whatever hardship we must endure. We can let our faith increase every time we feel Him strengthening us. Trials are meant to try and build faith.

We could experience financial prosperity, great health, a large number of beloved family, notoriety, or none of these things. It’s not the end result but rather the ongoing journey with God's Holy Spirit continually blessing us with the assurance of His presence and peace as our constant companion. When we are walking within God's boundaries, following His straight forward direction found in His Word, we are blessed beyond measure. Everything that we have, both spiritual and material, is by Divine appointment.

Today’s meditation: Obedience + Faith = God’s Blessings.

Memory Verse: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Daily devotion

1/17/2019

God’s Anointed

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16:19-22
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Scripture Quote: One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." 1 Samuel 16:18 (NIV)

Jesse's youngest son, David, was not a small lad who faced a humongous giant, as most of us remember from our Sunday School classes. He was seen as a brave man and a warrior in reality. He played the lyre, tended and protected his father's sheep against wild animals, and he was one of Saul's armor-bearers. Armor is heavy and it doesn't seem feasible that Saul would enlist a weak youngster to carry it. No, David was a man and the only reason he didn't wear Saul's armor when he battled the giant, Goliath, was that he hadn't tested it, or trained in it and thought it could be a hindrance rather than an aid.

There wasn't an Israelite man who thought themselves able to defeat Goliath, yet David didn't hesitate at all. What could have given him such confidence? God sent Samuel to anoint David because he knew and approved of David's heart. God had chosen David to be king. With God's blessing on David, how could he not be confident? He was sure to beat Goliath, and anyone else that might stand in opposition to the plans God had for David. It's good to know that God takes such a personal interest in the lives of those he has chosen to follow Him.

Today’s meditation: Thank God He has chosen us to follow Him.

Memory Verse: You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalms 139:2 (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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