Ps. 145:18 "The Lord
is close to all who call on Him."
Prov. 30:5 "Every
word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." NLT
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
REJOICE.
09/01 Psalm
64:1-6
O God, listen to my complaint. Do not let my enemies' threats overwhelm
me. Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from the scheming of those who
do evil. Sharp tongues are the swords they wield; bitter words are the
arrows they aim. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly
and fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set
their traps. "Who will ever notice?" they ask. As they plot their crimes,
they say, "We have devised the perfect plan!" Yes, the human heart and mind
are cunning.
EVIL
We live in a world overrun with evil and wickedness. God is not surprised
nor is He at a loss for how to handle evil and wickedness. Be encouraged
for the Lord has you on His heart this very moment.
09/02 Psalm
64:7-10
But God himself will shoot them down. Suddenly, his arrows will pierce
them. Their own words will be turned against them, destroying them. All who
see it happening will shake their heads in scorn. Then everyone will stand
in awe, proclaiming the mighty acts of God, realizing all the amazing things
he does. The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him. And
those who do what is right will praise him.
JUSTICE
We do not have to worry about the world. Our job is to magnify Jesus. He
is Lord and we live under His Lordship. This momentary suffering will soon
pass and we will be standing before the Lord and see Him face to face.
Eternity will eclipse any suffering or difficulty we have faced. Hope in
the Lord for He is able.
09/03 Mark 4:26-29
Jesus also said, "Here is another illustration of what the Kingdom of God
is like: A farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on with his
other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without
the farmer's help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf
blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the
grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and
harvests it with a sickle."
PARTNERS
We are partners with Jesus. He is the Creator and Lord. We are share with
others what He has done for us. Some listen and hear and there is new life.
Others ignore our message. We are only the message bearers. It is the Holy
Spirit that gives life. Share your message today.
09/04 Mark 4:30-32
Jesus asked, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I
use to illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed. Though this is one of
the smallest of seeds, it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with
long branches where birds can come and find shelter."
LISTEN
All around us is the message of the Jesus. Without Him nothing would exist.
In Him all things exist. Do not fret over your life but instead get busy and
make your life a monument to Him. Glory to God, Jesus is Lord.
09/05 Mark 4:33-34
He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much
as they were able to understand. In fact, in his public teaching he taught
only with parables, but afterward when he was alone with his disciples, he
explained the meaning to them.
GROWTH
You want to grow? Spend time with Jesus. He is the only one who can give us
the spiritual nourishment we need for the normal Christian life. Have a
question? Ask Jesus. Need help? Ask Jesus. He is our personal tutor for
living.
09/06 Mark 4:35-38
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other
side of the lake." He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving
the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm
arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of
water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a
cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you even
care that we are going to drown?"
SPIRITUALITY
Learning the facts of spiritual growth takes real life experiences. Pay
attention to your daily opportunities for growth. What lesson is Jesus
trying to teach you? Prayer, faith, forgiveness or is something you are
asking Him to equip you to do? Pay attention because the storm you are in
may have a significant truth for you to learn.
09/07 Mark
4:39
When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, "Quiet down!"
Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
MASTER
Jesus is the master of creation yet mankind can refuse to acknowledge His
Lordship. Today confess His Lordship over you. Bend your knee and give
Jesus control of your life and commit to serving Him. Our death to sin
brings resurrection to life. Claim real life.
09/08 Mark
4:40-41
And he asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in
me?" And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, "Who is this
man, that even the wind and waves obey him?"
FEAR
All around us are things to fear. The future looms fearfully ahead. Claim
Jesus as your Lord and give Him your fear. He will give you confidence,
peace and joy. Life is to be lived. Jesus will give you real life and a
real life to live.
09/09 Mark
5:1-6
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the
Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an
evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. This man lived among the
tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put
into chains and shackles as he often was he snapped the chains from his
wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him.
All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and
in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones. When Jesus was
still some distance away, the man saw him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell
down before him.
WISDOM
Even demons were required to bow down and worship Jesus. Mankind in his
foolishness ignores Christ but these demons cannot. Bend your knee and
worship Jesus. Get to know Him for He is Lord and Lord of all.
09/10 Mark
5:7
He gave a terrible scream, shrieking, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus,
Son of the Most High God? For God's sake, don't torture me!"
STRENGTH
The demons had no power before Jesus. The demons seek to steal, kill and
destroy. Jesus came to heal and give life. We are seeking life with
abundance and joy. When we submit to Jesus moment by moment, day by day we
acquire the strength to claim life in all of its fullness. Darkness has no
hold over us for we are held by Jesus.
09/11 Mark
5:8
For Jesus had already said to the spirit, "Come out of the man, you evil
spirit."
HOLY SPIRIT
When the demons come out the Holy Spirit comes in. When we give our life to
Jesus the Holy Spirit resides in us. We are called saints and we are
because the Lord has cleansed us and the Holy Spirit resides in us. You are
strong in Jesus.
09/12 Mark
5:9
Then Jesus asked, "What is your name?" And the spirit replied, "Legion,
because there are many of us here inside this man."
CONTROL
The Lord is in control of all things. The demons were in His control.
Jesus called them out and they had to go. We can surrender control of our
life to Jesus. When we do He gives us a new heart and life. The Holy
Spirit lives in us and gives us the ability to have an eternal relationship
with Jesus. In Christ we know God. Jesus gives us access to the Father.
No longer do we just read or hear about Jesus we know Him.
09/13 Mark
5:10-13
Then the spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some
distant place. There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the
hillside nearby. "Send us into those pigs," the evil spirits begged. Jesus
gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered
the pigs, and the entire herd of two thousand pigs plunged down the steep
hillside into the lake, where they drowned.
FRENZY
When we are left to our own designs without Jesus the same thing can happen
to us. People without Christ do terrible things. Stop the frenzy in your
life. Claim Jesus as Lord and begin today to grow in Jesus. Growth takes
time in prayer and application of what we learn to what we do. Begin your
journey now.
09/14 Mark
5:14
The herdsmen fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside,
spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves.
RESPONSE
A miraculous work will astound the multitudes. They did not come to see
Jesus but instead came to see the miracle. People are too often curious
about the miraculous but cling to their self centeredness and refuse to
acknowledge their need. A miracle doesn’t save a person, only Jesus can
save. We must know Jesus as Lord to have salvation. When we ask Christ to
forgive our sin and save us that is Biblical Salvation.
09/15 Mark
5:15
A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, but they were frightened when they
saw the man who had been demon possessed, for he was sitting there fully
clothed and perfectly sane.
FEAR
People fear what they do not understand. These people did not understand
how the one who was so evil and bad could be in his right mind. They did no
worship Jesus. They did not look beyond the man. They just could not
believe what had been for the demoniac. We will never understand God’s love
for us. His love is something we accept. God is thinking about you this
very moment. Let His love have control of you.
09/16 Mark
5:16-17
Those who had seen what happened to the man and to the pigs told everyone
about it, and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them
alone.
REALITY
The reality is that people love the world more than they love Jesus. They
can see and feel things. People want to be in control and yet the very
demand for control is the thing that creates the unease and fear that people
live with all their lives. Give up your demand for control and give control
of your life to Jesus. He will give you His confidence and direction for
every moment of your life.
09/17 Mark
5:18-19
When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed
begged to go, too. But Jesus said, "No, go home to your friends, and tell
them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has
been."
PROCLAMATION
We are to tell everyone about what Jesus has done for us. Jesus is Lord and
we are to proclaim it everywhere we go. Our life is to reflect His
Lordship. Our minds and our hearts are to be focused on Him. When we are
under the control of Jesus we will act like Him.
09/18 Mark
5:20
So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to
tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone
was amazed at what he told them.
PROCLAMATION
When we tell others what Jesus has done for us it will amaze them. Some
will believe what we say and be saved. Many will not accept what we say and
not believe. We do not have to make them believe we only have to tell
them. Our life is the proof.
09/19 Mark
5:21-23
When Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake, a large crowd
gathered around him on the shore. A leader of the local synagogue, whose
name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, pleading with him to heal
his little daughter. "She is about to die," he said in desperation. "Please
come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live."
HUMILITY
A leader came to Jesus and in all humility bowed down to Jesus and begged
Him to come and heal His daughter. How do we claim a miracle? We claim a
miracle by approaching Christ directly, desperately and with determination.
Jesus today I need your work in my life. I remove the distractions of life
from my life and focus on Jesus.
09/20 Mark
5:24-26
Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind. And there was a
woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had
suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years and had spent
everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she
was worse.
DETERMINATION
This woman was determined that Jesus could heal her problem. She knew that
if she could just get Jesus she could find what she had been searching for
all these years. We know what we are looking for and need to take it to
Jesus. Jesus will listen to our great need and will meet us where we are to
take us to where we need to go.
09/21 Mark
5:27-28
She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd
and touched the fringe of his robe. For she thought to herself, "If I can
just touch his clothing, I will be healed."
FAITH
The woman claimed Jesus. What are you struggling with today? What great
problem have you carried in your heart all of your life? Jesus is alive and
He is able to deal with the real difficulties and problems that we face in
life. Take that problem to Jesus and He will heal you.
09/22 Mark
5:29-30
Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been
healed! Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so
he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
QUESTION
This miraculous healing by Jesus was a joy for Him and issued forth from His
fullness. He was desirous of knowing who had claimed this miracle so that
they might fully know Him. We never deplete the resources of Jesus. We may
come a thousand times to Him and yet His power is as effective the
thousandth time as it was the first time. You can reach out and touch
Christ in prayer and Bible study and through obedience. Claim His control
of your life.
09/23 Mark
5:31-34
His disciples said to him, "All this crowd is pressing around you. How
can you ask, 'Who touched me?'" But he kept on looking around to see who
had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of
what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she
had done. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go
in peace. You have been healed."
DECLARATION
Jesus came to save people. He came that you and I might have life. His
declaration as we claim Him is love. Jesus loves us. Jesus is seeking our
best good. He has a plan for our life and that plan is good. Claim your
peace and joy this moment. God loves you.
09/24 Mark
5:35
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus's home
with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the
Teacher now."
WORLD
The
world is always destructive. The world only believes what it can control.
The world cannot control the spirit. As much as it seeks to it just cannot
control the spiritual realm. Even when Jesus was performing miracles before
their eyes they still didn’t believe. You and I are a miracle. Jesus has
given us new life. We have life in Christ. This is the greatest miracle,
His love for us. I thank you Jesus for saving us and giving us new life.
09/25 Mark
5:36-37
But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid.
Just trust me." Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn't let anyone go
with him except Peter and James and John.
EXPERTS
Jesus is the only “expert” on your life. We are urged to read the Bible and
spend time with Jesus because that is the only thing that will let us know
what the Lord wants us to do. Jesus is thinking about you this moment. His
concern is that you have an abundant life. It takes faith, surrender and
obedience for us to appropriate the abundant life that Jesus has for us.
09/26 Mark
5:38-39
When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the
commotion and the weeping and wailing. He went inside and spoke to the
people. "Why all this weeping and commotion?" he asked. "The child isn't
dead; she is only asleep."
MIRACLES
I not an expert on miracles but I do know that Jesus can do anything and He
is committed to us. His life, death, burial, and resurrection bear
testimony to the Lord Jesus. He is totally committed to you and me and will
do whatever it takes for us to accomplish the plan He has for our life.
09/27 Mark
5:40-43
The crowd laughed at him, but he told them all to go outside. Then he
took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples into the room
where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, "Get up, little
girl!" And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and
walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed. Jesus commanded
them not to tell anyone what had happened, and he told them to give her
something to eat.
MIRACLES
Miracles happen and they happen a lot more than we realize. The
intervention of the Lord in the world offering us eternal life in Christ is
the greatest of all miracles. I am often puzzled at “why me” when good
things happen. The answer is because Jesus loves us. He would that each
one of us know Him and be equipped to live the life that the Father created
us to live.
09/28 1 Chronicles 4:10
He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless
me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from
all trouble and pain!"
And God granted him his request.
PRAY
We are to pray. We are to pray about our life as to what the Lord would
have us do. We are to pray as the Lord leads and with boldness as we seek
His face. Opportunity is all around us and we are to seize the moment and
pray.
09/29 Psalm
25:18
Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.
SIN
Sin is a serious subject. It separates us from the Lord. It causes us to
do foolish and harmful things. Ask the Lord to reveal your sin to you. Ask
forgiveness and strength to change. Live life to the fullest and sin not.
09/30 Psalm
69:29
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
PAIN
Pain comes in physical and mental forms. We need deliverance from both. Be
bold in praying for His way with you. Be bold in declaring your need.
Remember those around you that need help but never forget that the Father
loves you. He will help you to deal with the pain in your life. One
reminder, sometimes pain is our friend because it causes us to change. Take
your pain to Jesus.
April
2007 Devotionals
May
2007 Devotionals
June
2007 Devotionals
July
2007 Devotionals
August
2007 Devotionals
contact Clay:
clay@lifesongs.com
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Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
NASB Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New American
Standard Bible, copyright 1975. All rights
reserved by the Lockman Foundation.
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