Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

Daily devotion

6/30/2019

Pray the Bible
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21
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Scripture Quote: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14 NIV)

The Bible is the revelation of God's Will. We can only know His will through study and meditation on His Word. Christians can be confident to approach God through prayer. His promises, that are scattered throughout the Bible, are ours to hold on to and firmly believe. Our prayers are the language of God's children and we are correct in petitioning Him to help us in a daily, hourly, constant way. Prayer is the language of dependence on God. Our Father does answer His children because He loves us and wants to help us.

Believers need to understand God's Will so that we are certain that what we ask in prayer is agreeable to His revealed Will. It is very useful to actually use the Bible as a resource for your prayers. If your prayers seem to stop at the ceiling, never actually to get answered, it's a good bet that you are not using Bible verses in the context of your prayers. Repeat God's Word back to Him in the form of petition. Cry out one of David's Psalms, claiming the words for yourself. Or, meditate on passages listed by subject in your index - Let them fill your thoughts - In all probability, a prayer will come to your heart. Prayer is our privilege and our greatest resource.

Today’s meditation: Pray about everything and grow closer to God,

Memory Verse: In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12 NIV)

Daily devotion

6/29/2019

Pray the Bible
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21
click here to read the scripture
Scripture Quote: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14 NIV)

The Bible is the revelation of God's Will. We can only know His will through study and meditation on His Word. Christians can be confident to approach God through prayer. His promises, that are scattered throughout the Bible, are ours to hold on to and firmly believe. Our prayers are the language of God's children and we are correct in petitioning Him to help us in a daily, hourly, constant way. Prayer is the language of dependence on God. Our Father does answer His children because He loves us and wants to help us.

Believers need to understand God's Will so that we are certain that what we ask in prayer is agreeable to His revealed Will. It is very useful to actually use the Bible as a resource for your prayers. If your prayers seem to stop at the ceiling, never actually to get answered, it's a good bet that you are not using Bible verses in the context of your prayers. Repeat God's Word back to Him in the form of petition. Cry out one of David's Psalms, claiming the words for yourself. Or, meditate on passages listed by subject in your index - Let them fill your thoughts - In all probability, a prayer will come to your heart. Prayer is our privilege and our greatest resource.

Today’s meditation: Pray about everything and grow closer to God,

Daily devotion

6/28/2019

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Pray God's Promises
By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading for the day: Psalms 34:6-10

Scripture Quote: “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:3-4 (NIV)

When you pray God's promises, He will fulfill them and confirm His goodness to you. Decide and affirm that the Bible is God's Inspired Word and worthy of your trust - Then study it to learn that the Lord wants good for those who pursue its promises. If we lack anything and we present our need with repentant, faith-filled hearts, we can plead the promises that are suited to our problems. We can see that the Lord is good and that we are truly blessed because we trust in Him.

We will experience trouble in our lives because we live in a world that is full of trouble. Fear, love and obey God, and there won’t be any scarcity of the things that are essential to your happiness, whether spiritual or material. Be careful to pray for those things that are in alignment with God's word. Commit your requests to God, wait patiently for Him and trust that your Creator will move obstacles out of your way and send solutions to your difficulties. Trust solely in God because He truly does want you to enjoy peace and prosperity.

Today’s meditation: God loves you so much more than you can comprehend.

Memory Verse: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Psalms 37:25 (NIV)

Daily devotion

6/27/2019

Praise God

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Psalms 105:1-8
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Scripture Quote: Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 (NIV)

Jesus has gained all our victories and has been our Rock. We can always derive help from the Lord. He is our living Savior in contrast to the dead idols of this world. How can we ever worry and also know that the Lord lives? He gives us life and salvation and provides for our needs. Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God so that we can live a life of joy and peace here and one of unending praise and glory in heaven.

We can stir up our hearts with thanksgiving and continually praise Him now by simply recalling God's compassion and grace towards us. Believers need only remember all the prayers He has answered and the wonderful things He has done for us individually. There is no greater strength or provision than our heavenly father's mighty power. We can always be confident that we are His precious children because He has said in His Word that we are. God established His covenant to be an everlasting covenant - He promised to always be our God. How can we not praise Him with all of our hearts, minds and spirits?

Today’s meditation: God is amazing and deserves all of our praise.

Memory Verse: The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! Psalms 18:46 (NIV)

Daily devotion

6/26/2019

Pious Condemnation Stinks!
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:1-10
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Scripture Quote: Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8 NIV)

Christians can be mean spirited at times by judging and condemning others who are under the influence of sin. It is impossible to connect with or assist another while standing in a dung-heap of self-righteousness. As God's Word points out, we all sin, and if we say or think we don't, the truth is not in us. Offer compassion to those who are overtaken by sin, since we could easily be in their position. It is appropriate to behave tenderly toward another sinner because Jesus told us to treat others the way we would want to be treated.

To fulfill the law of Christ; the law of love, we are compelled to think of our brother's struggles as our own. A needful reproof loses any positive influence if delivered in a pious or wrathful manner – Who are we to censure another anyway? We all need to be restored when caught up in sin, and we each fall into temptation. But, we can deny the enemy and choose to diligently seek each other's best. We are all equal in the eyes of the Lord - Though sinners, everyone, we are precious and dearly loved beyond our own imaginings by the One without sin. Help each other gain victory, and fulfill the law of Christ.

Today’s meditation: We need to seek and yearn for the mind of Christ.

Memory Verse: May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14 NIV)

Daily devotion

6/25/2019

Perseverance Strengthens Faith
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
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Scripture Quote: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12 (NIV)

If situations or circumstances position us into unfair predicaments and trials, which we cannot avoid unless God were to intervene, its best to hang on to the Word and God’s promises. We can always pray for a miracle to deliver us, but that may not work for our ultimate good. If we can endure our trials, while still joyfully worshipping God, He will help us through, rather than out, of our ordeal. We know that nothing is impossible for God, so maybe, after passing the testing of our faith, God could even turn our difficulties to our advantage.

Sometimes it’s necessary that God’s children be afflicted in some way because when we have no trials, we might get increasingly independent of God. Also, when we acquire a certain degree of prosperity, we could rely on all the things our money can buy and begin to value secular gain too much. But as disciples of Christ, we can choose to be happy in our souls, though grievously afflicted in our bodies or our pocketbooks. Believers can never let any kind of persecution injure the love and joy found only in the genuine Church, of which we are each a vital part.

Today’s meditation: Your trials can strengthen your faith.

Memory Verse: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2 (NIV)

Daily devotion

6/23/2019

Passing on Wisdom
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Psalms 78:1-8
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Scripture Quote: Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

The Word is clear in Its admonishment to teach God's truth to our children and grandchildren. Like throwing a life preserver to the drowning person, our faith should be urgently interjected into all aspects of our family life and conversation. Many of us didn't have any wise instruction passed down to us by our parents and grandparents. If we repeat that pattern, it causes a gap in the flow of wisdom; the ball is dropped for future generations.

Through God's Word, we can stand in the gap and get the ball rolling again. Beginning with ourselves, we can become disciplined to receive instruction and to nurture our own spiritual maturity. We can then teach our children God's inspired message and fill our homes with His precepts and His promises. Change takes place one step at a time. Whatever our hearts hold dear will surface as important instruction if we are diligent in sharing with our family. Our society is now reaping the results of its neglectful lack of wisdom in immorality and ignorance of God’s Word, but we can change that if we will.

Today’s meditation: Share God’s wisdom with your children.

Memory Verse: But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15 (NIV)

Daily devotion

6/21/2019

Our Story Is Our Truth

By, Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:10-14
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Scripture Quote: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1Peter 3:15 (NIV)

We may not possess elaborate, eloquent, verbiage to persuade nonbelievers to know Christ. Maybe just that lack, that inability of communication, makes many Christians who love God, afraid to speak up for Him. And it is understandable that a person can fear rejection or ridicule. But His nature, power, will, justice, goodness and truth can pretty much speak for themselves. So, attempting to explain the immensity, omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of our God is too huge for most of us.

However, we Christians can describe how Christ personally delivered us. We can simply explain the impact Jesus has had on our lives. The path we were on can be compared with that of the one we are presently traveling. To tell of the great transformation of our hearts and souls is not a thing that can be dismissed as inadequate. If it happened to us, we will prove evidence of that transformation simply by our current lifestyle. Is our life spent honoring God? Our lives testify to the glory and power of God's mighty forgiveness and incomprehensible desire to save us all from the law of sin and death.

Today’s meditation: Don’t fear to share your evident transformation.

Memory Verse: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.” Romans 8:16 (NIV)

Daily devotion

6/20/2019

Our Spirits Will Soar

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Psalms 71:1-9
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Scripture Quote: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Eagles live to a very old age compared to a lot of other birds. They molt their youthful feathers periodically and, whether fact or fable, their strength is said to be renewed repeatedly with the growth of new feathers. We, on the other hand, wilt hair and lose elasticity in our skin, as our muscles and organs progressively weaken with our increased years. Bodies that eventually disintegrate are part of our inheritance from Adam's fall.

Though our physical strength fades, our faith and hope increase with the years. Experience interacting with the Holy Spirit brings us ever closer to the image of Christ. Through trials and joys, we grow closer to our spiritual roots and come to understand that the part of us that we identify with as our true, inner selves is pure spirit. Separation from the body in death is the beginning of spiritual freedom without encumbrance. We are now new creatures in Christ Jesus, but later, when we will see Him in all His Glory, sin and sorrow will be distant memories and the joy of the Lord will let our spirits truly soar.

Today’s meditation: Look ahead joyfully at the prize that awaits us.

Memory Verse: Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. (Psalms 71:3 NIV)

Daily devotion

6/19/2019

Our Speech Is Powerful

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:2-23 (All Scripture quoted is CEV)
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Scripture Quote: Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

The Bible tells us that when we are with unbelievers, we should always make good use of the time we spend with them - Be pleasant and attempt to hold their interest when we speak the Gospel message. A harsh method of proposing or defending the doctrines of Christianity only serves to repel others from our doctrines, and from the way of salvation. We are to choose our words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions. There is power in our words.

There is certainly an opportunity for us to become careless and misuse our speech. Words can actually bring death or life - Talk unkindly or say too much, and you may have to apologize for everything you say. Christians should definitely stand out as different from modern society. We realize that we are accountable for our actions, but we sometimes forget that we are also accountable for angry comments or participation in gossip. Believers are called to a higher, godly standard when we open our mouths. Deliberately choose to speak words of compassion and encouragement because we desire most of all to emulate Jesus. Speak the truth, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Today’s meditation: Choose your words wisely!

Memory Verse: Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. (Ephesians 4:29)

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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Author

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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