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Today's devotion

7/31/2016

Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com

Christ’s Power Renews

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

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Scripture Quote: Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. 1Peter 1:6-7 CEV

The evil in our world will one day disappear like a bad dream is cut off by wakefulness. Only supernatural support will be available and only God's chosen will be renewed by Christ' power. During our journey through various joys and trials in our lifetimes, we will only truly understand how short lived it all is after we are able to compare our lifespans to eternity. Our perspectives are puny now and all we know is the short time we have experienced. But our time on earth could be compared to a minute point that is too tiny to measure, as opposed to something that has no end and can't be measured due to its enormity.

The Bible tells us that we may be hard pressed on every side, but we are not crushed. We may be very confused, but we need not despair. There will be an end to our suffering, no matter how hard our trials try to overcome us, we have only to endure them for a time - We will emerge matured and strengthened. In the meantime, our faith affords us wonderful blessings and more solid comforts than anything the world offers. We are Christ’s and He is ours - Our faith will be honored by Jesus when time stops and He welcomes all of His faithful home.

Today’s meditation: Look ahead to your forever home with Jesus.

Memory Verse: He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. Psalms 91:4 CEV

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Today's devotion

7/28/2016

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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
Avoid Immorality
By, Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Scripture Quote: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)

Christians have a perfect example of holy living in Jesus. He led a pure life even though he was tempted as we are. Granted, it is difficult to keep oneself in check all the time, but striving to imitate Jesus will make the matter a lot less difficult. We can invite the Holy Spirit to control our thinking and refresh our commitment to the ways of the Lord, which will increase our knowledge of what does and what does not please God.

Devotion to Jesus enables us to be free from inappropriate appetites and passions connected with self-gratification. We can choose not to allow anything into our lives that might lead us away from purity of mind and soul. When we consider the Gospel to be the light in our lives, we invite truth to shine its spotlight on our thoughts and actions. Walking in the light of truth will enrich our lives far better than walking in the darkness of sin.

Today’s meditation: Study the Bible and let its truth be your guide.

Memory Verse: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:14 (NIV)

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Today's devotion

7/28/2016

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Today's devotion

7/27/2016

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Today's devotion

7/26/2016

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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
Mature and Serve
Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-14
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Scripture Quote: This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NIV)
Far from being sage evangelists, Christians, whether laymen or leaders, begin as infants in Christ. We do progress, but actually remain inferior followers, employed under our superior Savior, Jesus Christ - He alone is our Messiah, from whom we receive our calling. All the mysteries, illumination, and purification of our souls is by His Holy Spirit. He has entrusted us with Divine Truth and expects that we will be faithful with the management of His requirements, as we live in the great expectation of His return. We must be ready, because Jesus will come at an hour when we do not expect Him, (Mat. 24:44).
We are Christ's joyful servants who delight in increasing wisdom and prudence, sharing our nourishment with others. So in a certain way, we are all ministers of the Gospel, who depend on the providence of our Heavenly Father, as we proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. When our Savior returns, all false doctrine will pass away. God will show the world that His Word, and that alone, will stand.
Today’s meditation: We are servants called to proclaim God’s truth.

Memory Verse: Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? Matthew 24:45 (NIV)
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Today's devotion

7/25/2016

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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
Gossip
Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: James 3:2-10
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Scripture Quote: Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. Prov. 26:20-22 (NIV)

We may be well spoken and able to communicate with a brilliant choice of words, but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than the most eloquent education. Gossip and idle criticism can be very hurtful to others and ourselves. Even those taught from the school of experience only, when they keep quiet as others prattle on, are taken to be wise - When our lips are shut we are credited with better sense than most. The receiver of gossip is also an agent of discord. If we refuse to receive the slander in the first place, it can't be propagated.

So the government of our tongues is paramount to the Christian life. God has given us two eyes, so we can see much and two ears, so we can hear much. But he gave us only one tongue and fenced it in with teeth, to clearly illustrate that although we hear and see much, we should speak only a little. Christians can choose not to let any gossip or slander come out of our mouths. When we do speak, let our words be encouraging, kind and pregnant with the love of Christ.

Today’s meditation: Speak of honorable, praise worthy things.
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 3:10 (NIV) For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
I
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Today's devotion

7/24/2016

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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com

God’s Empowerment

Toni Smothers

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)

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Today's devotion

7/21/2016

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Today's devotion

7/21/2016

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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
God Supplies Contentment
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Numbers 11:13-17

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Scripture Quote: He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Numbers 11:11 (NIV)

The Israelites were traveling through dessert, without any near prospect of the rich country that God had promised - They were weary and suffered a great deal of discontent. Moses felt the burden of all the complaining Israelite people who looked to him for solutions. The people craved food other than the manna God showered down from the sky each day. They wailed to Mosses for fish and meat and beseeched him to intercede for them to God. It must have been so difficult for Moses to have that multitude of complainers under his care.

God responded to the Israelites with anger - He sent fire to the ungrateful complainers. But, when the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. Imagine the distressing weight Moses must have felt. His only real resource was God's mercy. We can feel utterly overwhelmed by a sense of unrelenting responsibilities in our lives also. Like Moses, we can agonize and fret over all the things that seem to overtake us, or we can turn to the only real resource we have, which is God Almighty. He and He alone is our rock and our redeemer and in Him we receive everything we need to find our contentment.

Today’s meditation: God wants to be your only resource.

Memory Verse: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NIV)

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Today's devotion

7/20/2016

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Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com www.writingforthemaster.com
God Is Omnipotent
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Job 34:10-15

Scripture Quote: Job 1:10-11 (NIV) Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

No doubt the Christian faces the devil and his deceitful schemes against us on a pretty consistent basis. We can, nevertheless, choose to conduct ourselves as multitudes before us have - Like those that will neither sell their souls, their consciences, nor their country, for any price. Even if God should punish us, we will nevertheless trust in him. Like Job, and thousands of others like us have done, whose hearts belong to Christ, we must deliberately choose the path to everlasting life, even in the face of our destruction here on earth.

Who among us would stand as firm in faith after absolutely everything we loved or possessed was taken from us? In all that he lost, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Instead, Job fell to the ground in worship. Satan was utterly disappointed by his reaction. Job defeated Satan without a single thought of him, because he kept his heart and faith in his God - Pray that we could react with such dedicated faith when our trials overcome us.

Today’s meditation: Even in devastation, God’s right to rule stands.

Memory Verse: 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)

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