Friday, May 18, 2012 - DSV - Stop Condemning Yourself!

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 The word for you today is - stop condemning yourself! God says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more" (Isaiah 43:25). When God says He forgets your sin and you insist on remembering it, it's like saying your standards are higher than His. That's akin to idolatry! The Bible says, "...God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV). You say, "But I don't feel forgiven." Forgiveness comes by faith, not feelings. As long as you live by feelings Satan has a weapon he can use against you at every turn. You say, "But what I did was so wrong." As long as you truly repent whatever you have done can be pardoned. You say, "But Satan keeps bringing it up." That's because he is called the "accuser" (Revelation 12:10). But notice how you overcome Satan the accuser: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony ..." (verse 11). Next time Satan accuses you, say, "I'm glad you brought that up. Then tell him what the blood of Jesus has accomplished on your behalf. If you do that, he will flee. ~~~~~~~~~ Learn from your failure, grow stronger through it, use it to bless others, move on with your life and stop condemning yourself! ______________________ From The Word For Today

Thursday, May 17, 2012 - DSV - He Is Our Brother

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters." Hebrews 2:11 NKJV Being a follower of Christ is so much more than believing the gospel and reading the Bible. It's about developing a deep and personal relationship with Jesus. It's about calling God our Father, and seeing Jesus as our brother. It's about embracing the love and forgiveness that God has extended - about resting in His grace and learning to love Him back. I know Christians who have been believers most of their lives, yet they still have not comprehended this truth. Their religion is more about making and keeping rules than about accepting and extending grace. They are bitter and judgmental and unbending. I'm still amazed that anyone could come away from Scripture with such a dim and perverted view of God. I'm even more amazed that anyone would want to. It's not only wrong, but it's a complete distortion of everything Jesus taught and stood for. "God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21 NKJV). That is the gospel of Jesus according to Paul. There is not an ounce of condemnation in it. It is God's mercy that draws men to salvation. And it is through that same mercy that we are able to call Jesus our friend and brother. "Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother," says Jesus (Mark 3:35). To those who would follow Him He offered more than a place in heaven; He offered a share in His inheritance. He extends a branch of His family tree and offers to graft us into it. A child of God. A brother of Jesus. A member of the family from now through eternity. That's what being a Christian is about. ~~~~~~~~~ How does it feel to call Jesus your brother? To call God your Father? ____________________ From Embracing Eternity Living Each Day With a Heart Toward Heaven

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - DSV - His Ways Are Right

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right, the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." Hosea 17:9 Those who are in relationship with God will have the eyes to see and the ears to hear (Matthew 13:16) the difference between good and evil in social and moral matters. Those who walk with the Lord gain a marvelous ability to discern truth and to then make choices that reflect that understanding. When we lack understanding, we only have to ask the Lord in prayer for it, and He will generously give us the gift so that we may walk in His way without faltering. When doubts assail you, examine your heart. Is your doubt simply a mental questioning or testing? If so, don't berate yourself. Seek wisdom and continue to test all things. If your doubt arises from hardness of heart, repent and ask God for greater faith. Jesus is the "perfecter of your faith" (Hebrews 12:2). It is only through your trust in Him that your doubts will finally and fully be put to rest. ~~~~~~~~~ Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. - Matthew 13:16 ____________________________ From Women of Faith Study Bible

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - DSV - Unanswered

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1 One of my biggest struggles is unanswered prayer. Maybe you can relate. You ask God to rescue a friend from addiction, to grant salvation to a loved one, to heal a sick child, to mend a relationship. All these things you think must be God's will. For years you pray. But you hear nothing back from Him and you see no results. You remind the Lord that He's powerful. That your request is a good thing. You plead. You wait. You doubt - maybe He doesn't hear you, or maybe He isn't so powerful after all. You quit asking - for days or months. You feel guilty about doubting. You remember that God wants you to take your needs to Him, and you tell Him your requests again. We may sometimes feel we're like the persistent widow in Jesus' parable recorded in Luke 18. She keeps coming to the judge, badgering him and trying to wear him down so he'll give in. But we know that God is kinder and more powerful than the judge in the parable. We trust Him, for He is good and wise and sovereign. We remember that Jesus said we "should always pray and not lose heart". So we ask Him, "Summon Your power, O God; show us Your strength, O God, as You have done before" (Psalm 68:28). And then we trust Him . . . and wait. ~~~~~~~~~ Delay is not denial so keep praying. __________________ From Our Daily Bread

Monday, May 14, 2012 - DSV - Enemys Strategy

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 This morning I was having a rough start getting out of bed. My paralysis was giving me fits. I shook my head and growled, "This body is a pain . . . I hate it!" Why was that so awful? Because the Enemy has a deep hatred of my flesh and blood and all I was doing was agreeing with him. He gets a charge when I bad-mouth my body. And he would like to get you to do the same. Why? Because your body, even underneath wrinkles or fat, and despite the ravages of illness or old age, is made in the image of God. Your heart, mind, hands, and feet are stamped with the imprint of the Creator. Little wonder that the Devil wants you to be ashamed of your body! This morning I had, once again, to plug my ears against the lies of the Tempter and remember that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." I rehearsed the old, familiar truth that God has a plan for this flesh and blood of mine. That's why the Devil considers my body a threat - he understands that when I yield to God my body, albeit paralyzed, my feet and hands are powerful weapons against his forces of darkness. The Devil is only a fallen angel. He is a deceiver. He is doomed for destruction. And until then, he has one goal in mind: your spiritual defeat, emotional malignment, and physical frustration. If he tries to get you to agree with him today . . . don't. ~~~~~~~~~~ I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, O Lord. ______________________ From Diamonds in the Dust

Saturday, May 12, 2012 - DSV - Spiritual Gifts (2 of 2)

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:12 In 1 Corinthians 14, the Corinthians were so adamant on expressing themselves and misusing the gift of tongues that Paul had to devote an entire chapter dealing with this subject. In Corinth, as in most Greek cities, pagan worship was often accompanied by a display of ecstasy, which often manifested itself in babbling and speaking the language of the gods and the goddesses they worshiped. In chapter 12, Paul reminds us that for every gift the Holy Spirit gives, Satan produces a counterfeit gift. Often those who spoke in tongues were not interested in worshiping the Lord. Instead, they sought to glorify themselves, and speaking in tongues was one way to achieve this. Many of the Corinthians were misusing the gifts of the Spirit, and we can fall into this same trap today. This is not to say we need to deny the gifts God has given for His glory and purpose. However, we do need to be sensitive to His Spirit and make sure we do not use any gift as a means to draw attention to ourselves. The Corinthians became enamored with the spiritual gifts - especially the gift of speaking in tongues. The result was spiritual pride and self-glamorizing power and control. How do you discern the gift that God has given you? Begin with prayer. If you are unsure of your spiritual gift, ask God to show you the gift He has given you. Don't believe a lie and think your gift is greater than the one He has given someone else. Each gift is to be used to edify the body of Christ and to glorify God. But when we misuse our gifts, we miss a tremendous blessing. ~~~~~~~~~ The focus of our worship is to be set only on Christ. ___________________ From Leading The Way

Friday, May 11, 2012 - DSV - Spiritual Gifts (1 of 2)

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods." Psalm 96:4 Often half our problems come from wanting our own way and the other half comes from getting it. It is like the little boy who was riding a hobbyhorse together with his sister. The boy said, "If one of us would get off this horse, there would be more room for me." Often we find that we want what others have rather than being content with what God has given us. We may work, scheme, maneuver, and do almost anything in order to have our way. Once we have our way, we wonder, "Was it worth the effort? Did I push too hard and use too much energy on something that I am not sure is right for me?" Maybe you are happy and satisfied for a moment, but your happiness is fleeting if it is not in line with God's will. This can be very true when it comes to spiritual matters. If you act with your own gain and pleasure in mind, you actually end up denying the power of God in your life. When it comes to spiritual gifts, this also is true. We can become so focused on having a certain gift that we miss God's greater blessings. Therefore, make a commitment to stay balanced in your view of the spiritual gifts. Don't belittle or discredit the gifts that He has given someone else. Keep in mind that a spiritual gift should: build up the body of Christ. encourage other believers in the way they should go. bring comfort and hope to those who are hurting and lonely and discouraged. ~~~~~~~~~ Ask God to make you aware of your gift and how He wants you to use it. ___________________ From Leading The Way

Thursday, May 10, 2012 - DSV - Power, Love, and Discipline

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 How do we react to uncertain times? To Danger? To situations filled with the unknown? To wars and rumors of war? To economic uncertainty? To troubles at work? To family problems? To potentially serious illness? Many react with fear and worry. Some even panic. But God has a different perspective. We can find His direction in the words Paul wrote to Timothy: No matter what we face, God wants us to not be timid or afraid. In every situation, He wants us to draw on the spirit He has given us. Paul used three important words to define this spirit! Power. As Christians, we are not weak and powerless. God - the Creator of all things - is our Father. We have access to the greatest power in the universe. If we want to live in victory, we need to believe in that power and exercise it! Love. No matter what we're going through, God's Spirit gives us a love that is beyond human understanding. We can love others, even when they do not seem lovable. Discipline. In uncertain times, it can be easy to feel weak and unstable. But God has given us a spirit that enables us to be confident in every situation. Instead of giving in to fear or panic, we can be calm and well-balanced. As James warned, we must not be double-minded, for the man "who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6). We need to be people who exercise discipline and self-control. Today ask God to remove any fear in your life. Allow His Spirit to give you His power, love, and discipline. ~~~~~~~~~ Father, help me not to give in to timidity, but to stir up the gift You have given me. Thank You for giving me a spirit of power, love, and discipline. In Jesus' name. Amen. _____________________ From Inspiration Ministries

Wednesday, May 09, 2012 - DSV - Are You Hurting?

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 If you're not hurting, before this day is over you'll meet someone who is. Behind the smile you'll find a broken heart or a wounded spirit - and you have the answer: "He heals the brokenhearted." Often it's because someone took the wrong direction, or never consulted God in the first place. After Peter denied his Lord, he went out and wept bitterly. He remembered how wonderful it had been to walk with Jesus. He remembered the Master's words, "You will deny Me three times" (Matthew 26:34). He was so sure that it could never happen to him - but it did. Sound familiar? Maybe you find yourself today in circumstances you never dreamed you would be in. Divorced? Unemployed? Sick? Depressed? No will to live? Never discuss your problem with someone who is incapable of solving it - take it to Jesus. He is a heart specialist. He has walked every path and felt every pain. Everything you need is available through Him today, but you've got to reach for Him, "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22). That doesn't mean He'll take you out, but it does mean He will bring you through. ~~~~~~~~~ Why don't you go to Him today? He's the healer of broken hearts. _____________________ From The Word for Today

Tuesday, May 08, 2012 - DSV - First Fruits

YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL VITAMIN "You shall observe the feast of the harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field." Exodus 23:16 Gardening opens doors for learning and produces a platform for teaching us about God's great provision. Appreciating the elements enough to tackle a garden opens our eyes to God's creativity. Planning helps us to seek and accept God's will for our lives. Tilling the soil and laboring to plant and care for the garden teaches us responsibility and good stewardship. Weeding is a reminder of the spiritual battle we face each day. Waiting for the harvest brings about patience. Last but not least, reaping the harvest encourages us to be thankful, and sharing the harvest brings blessing to others and honors God. Sometimes the best way to give our first fruits to God means giving to those who are in need from our own abundance. Whether food or money, time or love, we can give what has been given to us. If done cheerfully and generously - with no strings attached - giving the first fruits of our labors brings rich reward. God showers His blessing upon us, and the cycle of giving thanks and sharing the bounty begins again. In everything the Lord gives, we can learn principles for our walk with Him if we will allow the lessons to become a part of the gift to us. ~~~~~~~~~ The Lord gives His blessing when He finds the vessel empty. _________________________ From Quiet Moments With God