Today's Beginning

Proverbs 12:25 (NLT), "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up." Thursday... This really can weigh us down. Worry really can but an encouraging word does really cheer us up. Solomon writes in Proverbs 12:25 (NLT), "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up." So what are we worried about today? Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount spent some time on this subject of worry. He knows us and he has a better way to handle the difficulties that we can face every day. In Matthew 6:27 Jesus asks, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Can they? I know that we too many times have tried by worrying but did it work? Verse 27 (NIRV) says, "Can you add one hour to your life by worrying?" Of course not! It is definitely a waste of time. Isn't it? And here is the encouraging word. Verse 31 (AMP) says, "Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) saying, 'What...

Psalm 11:1 (AMP), "In the LORD I take refuge [and put my trust]; How can you say to me, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain." Wednesday... There is so much advice out there and it does make sense. Now King David writes in Psalm 11:1 (AMP), "In the LORD I take refuge [and put my trust]; How can you say to me, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain." If we haven't settled the first part then the second part of this verse can make sense. Yes, running away from my problem can make sense. I mean if someone is going after me then running to the mountains does make sense. But David doesn't stop there. In verses 2-3 he goes on and says, "For look, the wicked are bending the bow; they take aim with their arrow on the string to shoot [by stealth] in darkness at the upright in heart. 'If the foundations [of a godly society] are destroyed, what can the righteous do?'" And that makes sense to the nonbeliever. They don't live from the perspective ...

Proverbs 10:5 (AMP), "He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully." Tuesday... Yes, we do have moments of opportunity. There is so much that a Christ follower has in their life and His Spirit is without a doubt one of them. If we follow His promptings and His wisdom then we will see so many moments of opportunity in so many areas of our lives. Proverbs 10:3 (AMP) says, "The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger [God will meet all his needs], but He will reject and cast away the craving of the wicked." Now Proverbs 10:5 says, "He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully." Yes God through His Spirit and His wisdom gives us moments of opportunity and if w...

Psalm 9;1-2 (NLT), "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O most High."  Monday... This is why I read a Psalm everyday. I had one of those weekends. It was my fault and as I was up and getting ready for a new day I was having some ramifications inside of me in my emotions from the weekend. I was a little down, but then I read this in Psalm 9:1-2 (NLT), "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O most High." And that turned my emotions around. And maybe that will be true of you. You may need a word from God directly to your situation, to your attitude. It starts out by saying, "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart." Not just part but all. The Amplified Bible says, "I will give tha...

Psalm 6:9 (NLT), "The Lord heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer." Friday... He uses many different ways to get our attention. Have you found that be true or maybe you didn't realize that in what you were going through was God's way of getting your attention? David was going through a very tough time and he was very emotional. Psalm 6-7 (NIRV) says, "My groaning has worn me out. All night long my tears flood my bed. My bed is wet because of crying. I'm so sad I can't see very well. My eyesight gets worse because of all my enemies." But then verse 9 says, "The Lord has heard my cry for his mercy. The Lord accepts my prayer." Maybe you are going through a very emotional time. Have you thought that God is maybe striving to get your attention? Verse 10 says, "All my enemies will be covered with shame and trouble. They will turn back in shame. It will happen suddenly." Now over in Matthew 2 in verses 1b-2 (NIRV) it says, "...

Psalm 5:3 (NLT) "Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Thursday... Yes, just keep at it. So what is our problem today? We wake us each morning with different situations facing us and many of them are bigger than we can handle so having a plan is such a smart thing to have. I'm sure there are some mornings you just don't want to get up, so you need a plan. Well King David had one. Psalm 5:3 (NLT) says, "Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Yes, yes, that is such a great plan. Now he starts this Psalm by saying, "O LORD, hear me as I pray." Now God won't hear you if you don't pray. Oh He has the ability to read our thoughts but that is not where the power comes in. David goes on, "pay attention to my groaning." Verse 2, "Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you....