Ps. 145:18 "The Lord
is close to all who call on Him." NLT
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August 2004 Devotionals
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9/01/04 Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of
trouble.
STRENGTH
When I face insurmountable obstacles that overwhelm me and take me to the
very edge of my trust I cry out to the Lord. He has never failed me. The
Lord Jesus is always close by to help me.
9/02/04 1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us
and to cleanse us from every wrong.
REPENTANCE
Sin entangles me so easily. I can truthfully say that it is a struggle at
times not to sin. I can be so self-centered and so demanding. That gentle
call from the Lord is always faithful to remind me who I belong to. When I
hear His Word I immediately agree with Him, yes I have sinned again. My
heartfelt response is forgive me Father. He does. I am renewed. The Lord
is good.
9/03/04 Psalm 37:17
For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care
of the godly.
FAITHFUL
The Lord is victorious. He has provided everything I need for life in the
Lord Jesus Christ. Each one of his children has a different need and Jesus
will provide what all of the Father’s children need. He has won the
victory. Each one of us live in victory everyday.
9/04/04 Hebrews 3:14
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we
first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
FAITHFUL
Jesus has given me a new heart and put His spirit in me. I can trust Him
to take me straight through life to that day when I will see Him face to
face. The Lord is always faithful and I can live with the confidence that
He will keep me for eternity. Nothing can steal me out of His hands.
Christ has won the victory and I am victorious in Him.
9/05/04 Psalm 32:4
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength
evaporated like water in the summer heat.
DISCIPLINE
The Father will deal with me when I wander from His side. His hand will
reach out and bring me back home. He will not desert me. I will not lose
Him. He will forgive my sin.
9/06/04 2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the
evil one.
STRENGTH
I am a child of the King. Jesus has saved me and grafted me into the
family of God. I belong to Him. The evil one can abuse me, trick me, cause
me to make mistakes and even mess up my work but he cannot take me away
from the Father. Jesus has saved me unto eternity and His victory has been
won. Every day of my life and into eternity I am living in the victory of
Jesus.
9/07/04 Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with
all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in
songs of thanksgiving.
STRENGTH
My strength is in Christ. As I know Him better I become stronger. My
relationship with Him is my strength in troubled times. His presence
brings peace. His love encourages me and equips me to see beyond problems
to solutions.
9/08/04 1 Thessalonians 1:3
As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful
work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
INTERCESSION
We need each other. The Christian life is a life of partnership. We pray
for each other. What a privilege to take brothers and sisters in Christ
before the Lord praying for their daily lives, ministries and safety. I am
praying for you.
9/09/04 Psalm 22:19
O LORD, do not stay away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
STRENGTH
I need the Lord. So many of the things I face each day happen outside of
my control. Life moves so quickly that I need the Lord’s help to keep
focused. My prayer each morning is for the Father’s wisdom, mercy and
grace as I go through the day. When surprises come I often need His
immediate help. Without exception the Lord helps me at my point of need.
9/10/04 Ephesians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ
Jesus. It is written to God's holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful
followers of Christ Jesus.
HOLY
Holy doesn’t mean religious. Holy means that we are different. It means
that we act like Jesus. Jesus cared for people, all people. Christ died
for our sin so that we might have an eternal relationship with Him. The
problem in the Christian community today is that not many Christians want
to die to self and serve. Suffering and discipline are keys in the
Christian faith. Holy simply means that I act and live like Christ.
9/11/04 Psalm 18:32
God arms me with strength; he has made my way safe.
SAFETY
A life focused on Christ is secure from destruction. You and I as the
children of God are outfitted for eternity. This phase of existence, life
on earth, is simply a short step into eternity. I belong to Christ and the
world cannot destroy me.
9/12/04 Acts 13:43
Many Jews and godly converts to Judaism who worshiped at the synagogue
followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them, "By God's grace,
remain faithful."
FAITHFUL
I must be growing in Christ-likeness. Faith is an action and not a
thought. If I am faithful I am living a Christ-like life. Faithfulness is
expressed by the way I live my life each day. A Christ focused life is a
faithful life.
9/13/04 Psalm 18:1
I love you, LORD; you are my strength.
STRENGTH
I must know the Lord to have His strength. If my life is focused on Christ
and my actions are controlled by Him I will be like Him. If I am becoming
more like Jesus I am growing closer to the Father each day. It is out of
this relationship with the Father that I get strength to face every aspect
of my life.
9/14/04 1 Corinthians 10:13
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no
different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep
the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it.
When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give
in to it.
TEMPTATION
God is good. I am a sinner. If I will accept responsibility for my sin and
confess it to the Lord, He will forgive my sin. Everyone faces temptation.
Everyone faces a lot of temptation. Each one of us develops our spiritual
strength based upon our willingness to let the Lord have control of our
life. Habitual sin can be beaten if I am willing to focus on Christ and
let Him have me. It takes time, and discipline under the Father’s hand to
deal with temptation.
9/15/04 Psalm 10:10
The helpless are overwhelmed and collapse; they fall beneath the
strength of the wicked.
RESPONSIBILITY
Wealth is temporary. The wealthy too often prey upon the poor, weak willed
and uneducated. I am called to help the helpless. Each one of us must be
willing to help the unfortunate. Christ calls us to service and sacrifice.
It is tough helping the helpless. It will not be appreciated this side of
the heaven. But when we do for those that cannot do for themselves we are
doing for the Lord. He uses His children on their knees to change the
world.
9/16/04 1 Corinthians 4:5
So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to
whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our
deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God
will give to everyone whatever praise is due.
WORTH
God’s system of evaluation is different than mankinds. You cannot properly
evaluate what another person thinks, feels or does. What we can do is
focus our heart on serving the Lord. In addition we can focus our heart on
being grateful for those we serve. Service is a basic element of growing
in Christ-likeness. As I serve the Lord I will grow. Sometimes our growth
surprises even us. People count with Jesus.
9/17/04 Psalm 84:1
For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and
glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is
right.
RIGHT
Right is not popular. Right will often make you look weak. Right will
sometimes cost you money. When you and I commit ourselves to doing the
next right thing we will find that we are constantly growing in Christ. Do
the right thing.
9/18/04 Luke 16:10
"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in
large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater
responsibilities.
INTEGRITY
Life is happening right now. What I do is important. The way I treat
people is critical. My actions as I live my life each day are an
indication of my relationship with the Lord. People count with Jesus.
9/19/04 Psalm 17:7
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your
strength those who seek refuge from their enemies.
SAFETY
Problems are universal. People are unique. The way that I deal with the
problems I face is important to the Father. The Lord is with me and He is
my shield and protection. He will equip me to face my problems.
9/20/04 1 Corinthians 4:5
So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to
whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our
deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God
will give to everyone whatever praise is due.
JUDGMENT
I am responsible for the way that I live. When I sin I should be quick to
confess my sin and change. I am not responsible for the way that others
live. Judgment belongs to God. I am responsible to care for people and
serve the Father.
9/21/04 Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in
whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and
my stronghold.
PROTECTION
I have everything I need in the Lord Jesus Christ. He will lead me right
now and will never leave me. I can have complete confidence in the Lord.
This world cannot destroy me. Eternity is my home.
9/22/04 Colossians 1:2
It is written to God's holy people in the city of Colosse, who are
faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace
and peace.
BLESSINGS
We are God’s children. His love for us is eternal. Every thought that the
Lord has towards us is a thought for good. Each day we are recipients of
His watch care and blessings. Grace gives us what we need and cannot earn.
Peace keeps us in constant communion with the Father. What a joy to be a
child of God.
9/23/04 Psalm 18:39
You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my
enemies under my feet.
CHALLENGES
Life is filled with problems. The Lord doesn’t eliminate all of our
obstacles and problems. He outfits us to deal with real life. I am able to
deal with whatever challenges I face because the Lord is on my side.
9/24/04 1 Thessalonians 5:24
God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this.
LOVE
I cannot fully comprehend the Father’s love for me. It is a love that is
so deep and so wide that He will stand with me through all of the ups and
downs of my life even when I am the one causing the ups and downs. His
love is so powerful that it can reach into the foolishness I often do and
bring me back to His side. I am beloved of God. And you are too.
9/25/04 Psalm 23:3
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor
to his name.
STRENGTH
God is able. He is able to equip me. He is able to guide me. He is able to
defend me no matter what predicament I face. The Lord is my strength and
His strength is limitless. The Lord is my guide and He always knows the
right path. He will not let me stray too far from His side.
9/26/04 2 Timothy 2:13
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
FAITHFULNESS
I can trust the Lord. Every promise that He gives me He will fulfill. The
Lord Jesus will never fail me. I can live my life with the knowledge that
Jesus is with me. The Lord is knowledgeable about every thing I do and He
is never surprised. Jesus is faithful.
9/27/04 Psalm 29:11
The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.
PEACE
I belong to Jesus. The Lord has made provision for me for eternity that
begins right now. Jesus knows all that I will do and all that I will need.
His love and concern for me is complete. He will equip me to face my life.
His strength is more than adequate for every need that I will have.
9/28/04 Hebrews 10:32
Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ.
Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible
suffering.
FAITHFULNESS
The Lord is with us. We are the focus of His activity. The human condition
means that I will tend towards forgetting how important my relationship
with Jesus is. Jesus is the source of all that I do in my relationship
with the Father. Jesus is God’s everything. I start with Jesus and one day
will see Him face to face. I should be faithful in maintaining my
passionate relationship with Him. One of my prayers is for Jesus to keep
me close and help me to maintain my deep love for Him.
9/29/04 Psalm 44:3
They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own
strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they
succeeded; it was because you favored them and smiled on them.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
The Lord will fight our battles. The Lord will equip us in the hour of
temptation. But for me to be victorious I should be ready now and not wait
for the trial. It is so important for me to maintain a daily, sensitive
relationship with Jesus that equips me to walk with Him moment by moment.
9/30/04 Psalm 33:17
Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory – for all its
strength, it cannot save you.
STRENGTH
Our strength is in the Lord. Everything we have in this world will pass
away. Things cannot help us. Our relationship with the Lord is eternal. It
will not pass away. I am strong in the Lord. I am weak in me. The Lord is
my Savior and strength.
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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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