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.
June 1
Ephesians 1:15-17
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I
pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might
grow in your knowledge of God.
PRAYER
I pray for you. We pray for each other. Prayer is an exercise of faith.
When we pray we are letting the Lord mold us and shape us. The Lord will
teach us as we pray.
June 2
Ephesians 3:14-16
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees
and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I
pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty
inner strength through his Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
We are a guest of the Lord on this earth. Our time is short and the days
pass fast. Prayer brings us into the presence of the Lord. He is in
control. He is not limited by time. He knows what tomorrow will bring. As
we speak to Him and put our life into His hands we will grow in faith and in
knowledge of Jesus.
June 3
Philippians 1:3-6
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for
you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been
my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first
heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within
you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when
Christ Jesus comes back again.
PRAYER
There is no place for jealousy in the kingdom. We are called to be prayer
warriors for each other and to rejoice as the Lord uses anyone of us. Time
with Jesus is time well spent. Time with Jesus is more time that He can use
us in His work.
June 4
Philippians 1:9-11
I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and
that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I
want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and
blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the
fruit of your salvation– those good things that are produced in your life by
Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
PRAY
Intercede for brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for their well being,
for their strength and wisdom and that they will grow in their likeness of
Jesus. Pray as though someone is depending on you because they are.
June 5
Colossians 1:11-12
We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so
that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be
filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share
the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light.
REALITY
Time with Jesus is time well spent. He is Lord and is willing to lead,
guide and direct our lives. His love for us is beyond our ability as
mortals to comprehend but by faith we can experience that love and live with
His love. Joy and peace are gifts of His love and you and I can claim that
each day. We live in the light when we focus our time, talent and resources
on Christ.
June 6
Colossians 3:12
Since God chose
you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with
tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
CHOSEN
When we accept the gift of life in Christ we are the chosen. His choosing
us results in our daily lives being different than those that have chosen
the world. In Christ we have access to His strength, wisdom, mercy and
grace to deal with our moment by moment existence. We have joy in Christ no
matter what the world does to us.
June 7 2
Peter 1:5-7
So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your
life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of
moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to
self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance
leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and
finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.
CHOICE
Every act, every thought in our lives is a choice. We can choose the power
of God to change us into Christ likeness. We can choose His joy and peace.
We can live a life of value and worth because He values us and gives our
lives eternal worth. Joy in Jesus is our choice.
June 8 Joshua
1:8
Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so
you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you
succeed.
GOD’S WILL
The Lord wants us to spend time with Him. He has given us His Word so that
we might have the answer book to the problems of life that each one of us
faces. Obedience is critical. Without obedience we will doom ourselves to
second class citizenship in the family of God. We will have no power to
face the onslaught of evil in the world. Spend time with Jesus and He will
equip you to deal with your life.
June 9 Psalm
119:11-12
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your principles.
WORD
We are never at the mercy of the world. The WORD of God will always give us
the wisdom we need to face the moment. We read His Word daily. His Word
gives us what we need as we grow into Christ likeness.
June 10 Psalm
105:1
Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world
know what he has done.
GRATITUDE
Our attitude is affected by our gratitude. We determine how we see things.
Will we let the world define the way we evaluate our life and
circumstances? We can claim His wisdom, mercy and grace and the ability to
see our life through His eyes. We are beloved and the object of His care
and concern. Jesus is Lord.
June 11 Proverbs
12:15
Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.
LIFE
The Word calls us to seek good counsel. We are called to live our lives
wisely. People count. Growing in Christ likeness calls us to live in
community. We are not islands. We are created with a need to be of service
and to do the right thing. Doing the next right thing sometimes requires
that we need to seek the advice of others so that we do the best right
thing.
June 12 Matthew
7:7
"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking,
and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.
PRAY
We are called to pray. Pray for the needs of others. Pray for our
friends. Pray for our country. Pray that we might be useable and useful.
Pray as though your life depended on it. Pray that you might become more
like Jesus.
June 13 John
7:37-38
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to
the crowds, "If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and
drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out
from within."
TIME
Time with Jesus is time well spent. Time is our adversary. Time corrupts
our bodies. Jesus is over time. When we turn our hearts and minds to
Christ He will effectively use our time and give us enough time to glorify
Him. It is all about Jesus.
June 14 John
10:3-4
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and
come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he
has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him
because they recognize his voice.
RECOGNITION
Read the Word. Spend time with Jesus in prayer. Obey His revealed Word and
His activity in your heart. When we do this we will not be deceived. We
will always recognize our Lord Jesus as we follow Him.
June 15 Romans
12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform
you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what
God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his
will really is.
THINK
Think about Jesus. Spend time in the Word of the Lord. Look for His
activity in your life. Listen as the Word resounds in your heart. Bend
your knee when the Word speaks to you. Rejoice and praise the Lord. Set
aside the accomplishments and defeats of this world and revel in His love.
Jesus loves you and me. Doing this will renew your mind. His presence will
point specifically to your solution.
June 16
Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what
you need, and thank him for all he has done.
CONFIDENCE
You and I can know that the Lord Jesus will not fail us. We know this by
knowing Him. We read His Word. We obey His commands. We praise Him for
all that He does for us. We remember the good things He does and the times
that He has encouraged us at the very depths of our soul. We have
confidence in His presence because we know He loves us. We talk to Him.
Out of our intimacy with Jesus will flow His peace and strength. He will
remove our fear and replace it with confidence.
June 17 James
1:5
If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask
him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.
WISDOM
Wisdom is not hidden from us. Our Lord wants us to be wise in our well
doing and to be equipped for each day. His wisdom comes from His heart,
bathed in love and offered to us if we want it. Wisdom for today is our
choice. Will I choose His way or not? That is always the question.
June 18 Psalm
62:1
I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him.
SURVIVAL
His Word speaks to the needs of our life each day. Fear, failure,
disappointment, and the future are just some of the obstacles we are
confronted with every day. For us to survive as a victorious servant of the
Lord God we must put on His strength, wisdom and peace. We were made for
this day. He is able to equip us to live it.
June 19 Psalm
62:5-7
I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock
and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My salvation and
my honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can
reach me.
STRENGTH
Our power comes from Jesus. It is not a hope or a wish or a false front it
is in us. His power connects us to Him. Day by day our time with Jesus
builds within an awareness of His presence and concern. He will not leave
us nor has He put us here to be destroyed. We belong to Him and this is our
place.
June 20 Isaiah
40:29-31
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to
the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on
wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not
faint.
STAMINA
When what you are facing is more than you can bear, give it to Jesus.
Giving away our heartache and defeat takes surrender. Time with Jesus
enables us to intellectually let go of it. More time with Jesus in His Word
gives us the power to say and think that yes we can give it to Him. The
Holy Spirit with us effectively equips us to experience His strength and
conquering power in us and to know in our hearts that He is with us. New
strength comes and we continue in Him.
June 21 Isaiah
41:10
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my
victorious right hand.
VICTORY
Victory is His. When we surrender our lives to Him by what we think, say,
and do, we participate in His victory in the daily activities of our lives.
Jesus is Lord. When He is Lord of us we know His victory in us.
June 22 Isaiah
41:13
I am holding you by your right hand – I, the LORD your God. And I say to
you, 'Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.
DO NOT FEAR
The message from Jesus to you today is do not fear. What you are facing is
real but Jesus is able. The life you are living may be disappointing but
Jesus is our victory, peace and joy. Do not fear for the Lord has come and
He is in you.
June 23 Jeremiah
31:25
For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing."
VALUABLE
You count with Jesus. You are valuable to Him. What you are doing day by
day is critical in the Kingdom. Rejoice and let Him have your weariness and
sorrow. Rejoice and know that you are important to Him. Jesus loves you.
June 24 Nahum
1:7
The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows
everyone who trusts in him.
HEART
Jesus knows your heart. He knows what you are going through and He has not
forgotten you. We don’t know how things will work out now but we do know
that the end result will be good. Claim His presence and strength and He
will work in and through you towards your best good. Do not let your heart
be troubled because you are the object of His love.
June 25 Matthew
11:28-30
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you,
because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For
my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."
SURRENDER
Salvation is the Lord’s gift to you. Spiritual victory is the result of you
giving your heart, soul and mind to Jesus. Let Him know all about you and
constantly seek His face. Peace and joy will claim your heart and wisdom
will guide your feet. His work through you will become a daily activity and
your burdens will disappear. There is victory in the presence of the Lord.
June 26 John
14:1
"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.
LORD
Jesus is Lord. Spend time with Him. Seek His face and trust totally in Him
and He will renew you day by day. His power will seek you out. His joy
will become a trusted friend. His wisdom will guide your every step.
June 27 Psalm
9:9-10
The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, have never abandoned
anyone who searches for you.
CONFIDENCE
Too often we think in our hearts that Jesus really can’t use us. We know
our sin and we know all of the promises we have made and never kept. But
the Word of God says that He is our forgiveness and in Him we have the
totality of God more than able to meet our needs and use us. If we want to
know Him and be used by Him let Him begin now. Today is where we start.
Make this your day of change. Place your confidence in Him and begin to
live as though He were in charge of your life because He is.
June 28 Psalm
34:4
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.
NOW
Do it now. Ask the Lord to loose you from all that holds you back from
serving Him. Ask Him to come and live in you and change you to what He
wants you to be. Forget the past and move forward in Him. Do it now and
you will experience the presence of the living Lord who is more than able to
use you and make your life as valuable as you know in your heart it is.
June 29 Psalm
37:23
The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every
detail of their lives.
REVEL
Revel moment by moment in Jesus. He knows you and is more than willing to
discuss every detail of your life. Let Him bring you through the boot camp
of spiritual preparation. Surrender to Him so that you may be properly
equipped and able to deal with your life and serve others. In service you
will find everything you have been looking for all your life. Jesus is Lord
and you belong to Him.
June 30
Colossians 3:13
You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person
who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
FORGIVENESS
Quickly
forgive. Learn the joy of forgiving others and the strength that comes from
bending the knee and letting Jesus cleanse your heart. Do not hold a
grudge. It only ensnares you in the wickedness of the world. Quickly
forgive and you will grow in Christ likeness.
MAY
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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