Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

Today's devotion by Toni Smothers

8/28/2015

Toni Smothers tasmothers@gmail.com

In Hope We Are Saved

Scripture Reading for the day: Romans 8:1-18

Scripture Quote: “Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 (NLT)

God doesn’t give us an easy life of comfort, or even protection from our enemies, but His presence is always with us. Many Christians across the world suffer persecution. God offers them, as well as all of us, an inseparable bond of love between Him and His chosen people. Because of this love, we can withstand whatever comes to us in this life. We have the unique advantage of an eternal perspective. We know that we are ultimate victors.

God will give us all things that are good for us. Those good things are all things we really need in order to be conformed to the image of his Son. All the things we need in order to attain everlasting joy, not the pleasures offered in this current life. We are only visitors here and can anticipate a great homecoming in our future.

Meditation for Today: “In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13

Memory Verse: “Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

Today's Devotion by Toni Smothers

8/25/2015

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

Impossible Christianity

Scripture Reading for the day: Hebrews 11:9-16

Scripture Quote: “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son Isaac, though God had promised him, Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Hebrews 11:17-18

            To live as a Christian would be inconceivable without God’s Grace – Its dictates aren’t just difficult, but just plain impossible! But that’s the miracle of it: God and Christianity do exist. Only an Almighty God could have devised such a pure yet complicated lifestyle.

            Born into a narcissistic society as we are, to hear God’s call, to turn from the world to Him, to offer your life for His use to benefit His purpose, is nothing short of a miracle. We are all so utterly full of pride and egotism that God would even choose to love us is simply miraculous.

            Make no mistake, the Christian life has its dues and many times we pay a huge price to remain faithful. But as impossible as it seems, we are sure of our eternal future and that makes it all so worthy of all our love.

Meditation for today: “Attempt something so great for God that it is doomed to failure unless God be in it.” John Haagai

Memory Verse: “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger and in this he brought glory to God.” Romans 4:20 (NLT)

Today's Devotion by Toni Smothers

8/24/2015

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

           His Obedience For Our Righteousness

Scripture Reading for the day: Romans 3:11-18

Scripture Quote: “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 (NASB)

            Christ’s righteousness was earned by living a perfect life in full obedience to the Father’s will - No other person has even come close to His perfection. Yet, God allowed Jesus to take on the sin of the entire world and pay the ultimate price for it by giving up His very life as an acceptable sacrifice before God for our sakes. His righteousness has become our own through God’s infinite mercy.

            If there was ever anything more mysterious than God’s plan for our salvation, I don’t know what that could be. Imputing Jesus’ righteousness to us is the most remarkable, sacrificial, mysterious act of compassion that ever was or will be. It stands apart from the very best thing that has ever happened to you here in this lifetime. You didn’t deserve it, you just accepted it and Christ’s sacrificial death on a cross has reconciled you to the Father as clean and sinless as Christ Himself. The only appropriate response to that is wonder and praise.

Today’s meditation: Christians are a chosen and blessed people. Praise God!

Memory Verse: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24 (NASB)

Today's devotion by Toni Smothers

8/13/2015

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

           Have a Passion for the Word

Scripture Reading for the day: John 15:18-27

Scripture Quote: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:16-17 (NASB)

            Sometimes we can feel as if we’ve lost touch with a relative or friend that we haven’t spoken to in a long time. They become stranger and stranger to us as our separate lives evolve indifferent to the other, until we wonder if we’d have anything in common to talk about should one or the other try to reconnect. Allowing our hectic schedules to separate us from the Word can produce the same kind of foreign feelings and disconnectedness. God speaks to us through his Word and so we must be available to listen if we are to have an intimate relationship with Him. H

In Jesus’ prayer for His disciples He shows us that the secret to sanctification is the importance of God’s Word having residency in our hearts. It is fundamental to our growth process to be entrenched, giving high priority, to the point of being passionate about learning God’s Word. We can only experience the power of God in our lives when we fill ourselves with the truth contained in the Bible. And it’s not just reading the Word, but applying it, taking it with us out into the world in which we reside that makes us separate and different from nonbelievers.

Today’s meditation: “The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears.” Rick Warren

Memory Verse: “I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26 (NASB)

Today's devotional by Toni Smothers

8/12/2015

Toni Smothers                          WWW.WRITINGGORTHEMASTER.COM

Grace

Scripture Reading for the day: Ephesians 3

Scripture Quote: “Just think! Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is, I was chosen for this special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.” Ephesians 3:8 (NLT)

            We can all relate to the feeling of being the least Christian because without God’s Grace and Christ’s sacrifice none of us would be able to do God’s will. Gentile and Jew, all have equal share in the riches inherited by God’s children.

            God’s Word is a two edged sword that mirrors and pierces directly into our inner lives. Our sinfulness and helplessness are completely exposed and we are shown our need for Grace. Once we see ourselves as we really are, we long for Jesus to cleanse us with His righteousness.

            We should ask daily for God’s will to be revealed to us and faithfully perform the unique role each of us is to play in God’s plan. His Grace truly is sufficient. His love is total and reaches every area of our existence as we give it permission to abide in us and take control of us.

Meditation for the day: “All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us, and the change is painful.” Flannery O’Connor

Memory Verse: “This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ came into the world to save sinners – and I was the worst of them.” I Timothy 1:15 (NLT)

Today's Devotional by Toni Smothers

8/11/2015

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

Good Works

Scripture Reading for the day: Titus 2

Scripture Quote: “Can we boast then that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith.” Romans 3:27 (NLT)

How can anything but uncontrollable gratitude flow from our lives once we truly understand our position in Christ? We just naturally glow with the joy of it and we take on more and more of Christ’s attributes as we seek Him out daily. We basically can do nothing other than good things for others because Jesus fills us with a spirit of compassion and confidence in His goodness and mercy. We just want to emulate his love.

Some people can see the good all around them, while others pick up on everything bad that exists. What do you think is the main difference in these two types of people? Jesus Christ makes all the difference - Knowing Him and following Him changes peoples lives! When we fill our minds with thoughts of our perfect Savior, there is no room for evil to take root. We do good works out of sheer appreciation for all the blessings He has given to us. Jesus initiates all the good we do anyway, and as we invite Him to use us, we become filters for His good purpose and glory.

Meditation for today: Our attitudes and conduct speak volumes about what we believe and who rules in our heart.

Memory Verse: “God saved you by His special favor when you believed. Anhd you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8 (NLT)

Today's Devotional by Toni Smothers

8/10/2015

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

God’s Wonderful Blessings

Scripture Reading for the day: Ephesians 1:9-14

Scripture Quote: “No man has ever seen, heard or even imagined the wonderful things God has in store for those who love the Lord.” I Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

Many blessings are available to us – Honor, prosperity, security, freedom from fear, if we love the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. If you expect God’s blessings you must revere Him and fully obey Him. He wants you to trust that He has good things in store for you. He loves you enough to prosper you beyond your wildest dreams. But you must be able to believe and expect His blessings.

The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that we belong to Him and that He will do what he has promised. The Holy Spirit is given to us when we first accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. His power works in us to transform us now and that’s just a foretaste of the total change we will experience in eternity.

Christ is our model and the more we know of Him, the more we will be like Him. Study Jesus’ life in the Gospels to see what He was like on earth nearly 2,000 years ago and get to know Him. Personal knowledge of Christ will change your life.

Today’s Meditation: “When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.” Psalm 112:4 (NLT)

Memory Verse: He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!” Psalm 111:9

Today's Devotional by Toni Smothers

8/9/2015

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

God’s Love Is Everlasting

Scripture Reading for the day: Exodus 33:18-23

Scripture Quote: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 (NASB)

Doesn’t it sometimes surprise you how much God loves us? Spend any time thinking about it and His amazing grace can do no less than astonish us. God sought us out first while we were totally oblivious to our need for Him. Then, all we had to do was just go to Jesus in prayer and confess our sinfulness, ask Him to save us from ourselves and as we came in faith, believing that He truly is God in the flesh, He accepted us into His great and merciful love and guaranteed us that we will be with Him forever. There is nothing that will ever change that.

God loved Moses so much that He let him see His Glory! God IS love. We do not deserve it, but God wants us to have life and to have it abundantly (full of His love). We are fortunate indeed. All we need do is believe and receive.

Today’s meditation: Let your heart be filled with joy and gratitude for what God has done in you.

Memory Verse: “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by

it you may grow in respect to salvation”. 1 Peter 2:2 (NASB)

Today's Devotional be Toni

8/8/2015

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

God’s Justice

Scripture Reading for the day: Ephesians 4:20-32

Scripture Quote: “You are perfectly just in this, but will you, who cannot allow sin in any form, stand idly by while they swallow us up? Should you be silent while the wicked destroy people who are more righteous then they?” Habakkuk 1:13

            When our circumstances become almost unbearable, we can wonder if God has forgotten us. We need to remember that God is always in control. God will judge the wicked according to his will and timing. Do we dare presume to tell God what he is to do on our behalf? If we are truly humble, we will train ourselves to wait on God’s timing and simply believe His protection is always present even when we don’t see it with our limited capacity.

            Additionally, evil is self-destructive so that God can still choose to use if for His purposes because absolutely everything is under His dominion. His choices do not need our approval or understanding.

            If you live by faith, you don’t always get what you want, but you will get what God thinks you need and you will get God’s presence in your daily life. Being able to walk with God now and into all of eternity is the blessing we can focus on rather than our temporary troubles or our misgivings about God’s response time.

Meditation for the day: “I made no resolutions to be a better man – I simply cast myself on the Lord to do with me whatever He wanted.” John Newton (We can do the same.)

Memory Verse: “Be just and fair to all, says the LORD. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you.” Isaiah 56:1

Today's Devotional by Toni

8/7/2015

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

God’s Great Love

Scripture Reading for the day: Psalm 103:6-14

Scripture Quote: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

            As we try to imitate Christ and become more and more like Him, we begin to discover the person God meant us to be. God works in everything involved in our lives, down to the smallest detail. This doesn’t mean that nothing bad will ever happen to us, but God can change things around for our eventual good. He is not necessarily concerned with our happiness, but mostly His purpose and plan for us. This promise is only for His children – Those who love God and are called by Him to receive Christ and the Holy Spirit.

            Ask God to allow you to understand the fullness and beauty of all your life experiences, even the painful and challenging experiences. Think of areas of your life that are still not fully submitted and released to God’s total scrutiny. Understand that we so often unwittingly cling to our familiar abilities and resources, rather than believe that God wants to be your only resource and can handle any situation much better than we ever could. Just ask God’s favor in all areas of your life and then turn everything over to Him.

Meditation for today: Jesus didn’t come looking for us to help Him, but he did come to help us.

Memory Verse: “My future is in your hands.” Psalm 31:14a (NLT)

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

BIBLE STUDY TOOLS

Share your Faith

Plant based food restaurant

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 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.

Archives

February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
June 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014

Categories