1.2.12
11:04AM

This topic has been something that has been on my heart for a while, so I figured I should do a daily devotion on it.

I have been talking to and seeing some Christians who claim they love God, yet their actions and words undermine this claim. I am not arguing whether or not these people love Christ, but saying that it is important to consider how much you know the person of Christ and the personality of God. Contemplate whether or not you are reflecting the light and love of Christ in your life and in your actions and words.

Sometimes we need to be hit with the reality of knowing that when Christ comes back, and when we meet Him, He is going to be the Righteous Judge. If God is anything, He is just.

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Thoughts on Daily Devotion.

¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16).

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These are the words of Christ. He is speaking to the church in Laodicea.

Many of us are lukewarm in our faith. I have been seeing people who say that they love God, and yet they profane, they curse people, they hate on people, etc. Now, it is important to remember that we are all people. We have weaknesses and lapses in judgment. However, this is not an excuse. As a Christian, you are a member of the BODY OF CHRIST. When you do such things, not only are you reflecting poorly on the body of Christ, you are also setting a bad example to the people who look up to you and to those observing you.

Now, let’s make it clear that Christ is not saying these things to condemn, but to bring conviction. He is rebuking in love because Beloved, you are going to be held accountable for your actions and your words. This is because God is righteous. Christ is warning us not to be lukewarm and not to compromise. Don’t say or do things that are wrong simply because they are more comfortable at the moment. It is not worth it!

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So my question is: Are you being lukewarm in your faith? Are you compromising and reflecting poorly on the body of Christ? This is an important question to ask yourself.
If so, ask God how to change. It is a process :) Ask Him to bring conviction, encouragement. He wants to help you! He loves us and He rebukes with love to help correct us. He has faith!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
                                              —Philippians 4:13

12.19.11
11:17AM

Edit: I decided to edit this devo & reorganize it.

Wow, I haven’t done one of these in a while; but, as I explained in my last Daily Devo., I haven’t really felt a push to post any specific one. :)

But this morning I woke up & read my Bible, and a passage from Matthew stood out to me. It plays into the message I heard at church yesterday. So, I felt like I should write on it. :) I hope this speaks to one of you!

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Thoughts on Daily Devotion.

“³³Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:33-37).

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Wow! This sounds harsh. In context, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who have just called him Beelzebub, the prince of demons.

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S p e e c h .

This passage from Matthew spoke to me about three different types of speech/three points that all tie together:

1. Know Your Limits/Boundaries:
In context (as mentioned before), the Pharisees were calling Jesus’ works, works of Beelzebub. The Pharisees were thinking evil of Christ, and so they spoke it. They were blaspheming the Holy Spirit!
There is a limit to what one should say. There is a point of no return in slandering others. Be very careful of what you say. While some things are forgivable, other things are not.

³¹And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
                                              —Matthew 12:31-32

2. Gossip/Lies:
As people, it is very easy to speak before thinking and to be careless with our words. Yesterday at church, my pastor spoke on the Ninth Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16). In other words, do not lie/gossip about one another, do not slander each other, etc.

Matthew 12:33-37 speaks on this topic very well. Christ says that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Wow! In other words, what you speak is an enormous indicator of what you think and what is in your heart.

This leads into judgment.

3. Judgment:
Like the Ninth Commandment says, do not be quick to say false things that go against other people. This ties into judging others. Even if your neighbor has “bad character,” it is not up to you to judge him/her out of evil or ignorance.

³Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
                                              —Matthew 7:3-5

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
                                              —Romans 2:1

The things we say to each other should be for the edification of the soul. 

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Jesus goes on to say: But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. (Matthew 12: 36).

This is a big deal! It means that you will be held accountable for every “empty” or “false” word you have said. And how easy it is to speak needlessly or carelessly! This touches onto the three points I mentioned above: understanding boundaries of speech, gossiping, and judging.

Personally, I used to have an enormous problem with gossiping and speaking badly about people. To be honest, gossip/judgment never comes out of a good place. It never did and never does for me. It often comes from a place of arrogance, of jealousy, etc. which is in the heart; such things are poisonous. The Pharisees are an example of this.

This passage shows that the things we say show us what is in our hearts. We should aim to speak kindly about others and pray for purification of heart. That is what I constantly pray for (patience, speech, humility) and over time, as my relationship with Christ has grown, I have found it so much easier to hold my tongue and refrain from speaking evil about others.

So my question for you is: What does your speech show about you?

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I hope that this has inspired one of you to be more careful & to pray about speech! God is long-suffering, loving, and merciful. He will definitely help :)

I just wanted to say, I also love sharing daily devotions. They help me think about the Word more and make me more humble. So thank you very much for reading this <3.

I hope you have a wonderful day and if any if you want prayer or if you have a question, leave a message in my ask :) I will reply privately.

10.30.11
7:40PM

So, I realize I’ve been a little inconsistent with posting thoughts on daily devo.
The thing is, I’ve been doing them every morning, but there are certain ones where I don’t feel the need to share.
But here is my fourth one :)
Hopefully it speaks to you; enjoy!

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Thoughts on Daily Devotion.

“Fret not thyself” (Ps. 37:1).

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Many times, we believe that it is easier to lean on ourselves. We’ve been hurt, betrayed, and disappointed by other people so many times, it’s easy to think that we’re the only ones who won’t let us down. But let me tell you: there’s someone else. God will never let you down.

Here’s the thing about praying and asking God for things.

Every good and perfect gift is from above
                                              —James 1:17

In other words, God knows what’s good for you. If He doesn’t answer a prayer, it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t care or that He’s letting you down. It means that He knows what is best for you and He is preparing that. This leads to another point.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
                                              —Ecclesiastes 3:11

God’s timing is perfect. He knows what He’s doing. Sometimes we think that our prayers aren’t being heard and that God is ignoring us. This is simply not true. God hears everything; He is all-powerful and all-knowing.

So try your best not to get angry or upset with God or with people. If you are hurt, God hears you and your prayers. But, realize that that moment may not come at the time you want it to. Trust that God will make something beautiful out of the situation. He is simply waiting for the right moment, for your sake.
As the Psalm 37:1 says, “Fret not thyself.” Leave your worries to God. Pray and seek Him earnestly.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
                                              —Proverbs 3:5-6

So even when others anger you, betray you, hurt you, or do you injustice… do not fret. Trust in God; He will take care of you. Rather than filling your mind with frustration and pain, why not leave everything to God and set your mind on Him instead? He is trustworthy, reliable, and a much better option than anger or sorrow.

Set your mind on the things above,
not on the things that are on earth.
                                              —Colossians 3:2

Keep your eyes fastened on God’s; find peace and rest in Him.
Next time someone makes you angry or upset, ask God for help. Ask Him for His joy and His peace. If you do so persistently, He will answer you and make your paths straight. :)

Have a wonderful night <3.

10.27.11
10:25PM

So. I’m obviously not very efficient..
I’m working on it :P

I’ve been reading my devo’s every morning, but I just haven’t had time to blog about them early. Sorry about that. c:
This one is going to be short, since its meaning is pretty clear.

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Thoughts on Daily Devotion.

“As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests…shall rest in the waters…the waters shall be cut off” (Joshua 3:13).

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In this passage, the people were to walk straight to the banks before the river would be opened. They did not wait for the stream to divide; if they had, they would have waited in vain.

The point to think over is this:
“We must learn to take God at His Word, and go straight on in duty, although we see no way in which we can go forward. The reason we are so often balked by difficulties is that we expect to see them removed before we try to pass through them.  

If we would move straight on in faith, the path would be opened for us. We stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles.”

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Many times, we expect things to be done for us. Of course, God is merciful and He often fights for us; but, it is also important to remember to have faith. It is not by our power that we accomplish works, but by God’s grace. This is why we “must learn to take God at His word.” While we are taking steps of faith, God is actually the one who is working behind the scenes and making things happen.

If you walk by faith, with God’s Word as a lamp to light your path, you cannot go wrong.

Have a good night <3.

(Source: florescence)

10.26.11
6:35PM

I’m a bit late with my daily devotion post today.
I did read it this morning but didn’t have time to post haha.
So here it is! :)

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Thoughts on Daily Devotion.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves” (Rom. 12:19). 

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“There are seasons when to be still demands immeasurably higher strength than to act.”

Wow. This speaks to me very deeply.
I have definitely been placed in such seasons. There have been many times when people have misunderstood my intentions and have been quick to judge me. I am the type of person who feels things deeply and I have been hurt countless times. However, I am not bitter. Everything has been a process to discovering what love means and to understanding the unconditional love of Christ.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when we feel wronged or misunderstood. Perhaps even on a daily basis. We are mistreated and hurt, and in response, we want “justice.” We want the satisfaction that comes with revenge. However, it is important to understand that this is not the correct way to respond to the unjust actions of others. As Paul says, “avenge not yourselves.” Jesus Himself “responded with deep, unbroken silence… To the grossest insults, the most violent ill-treatment and mockery that might well bring indignation into the feeblest heart, He responded with voiceless complacent calmness.”

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It is easy to lose sight of the right thing to do when everything is centered around oneself. Keep in mind that God is the ultimate judge. Why, then, does it matter when people say negative things about you?
Of course, easier said than done.
To be honest, I still struggle with valuing (too much) the opinions of others. However, at the end of the day, I want everything that I say or do to be for the glory of God. From that perspective, even when others have wronged me or treated me with hatred/contempt, I want to make sure that I respond in love. As Christians, we want to shine the light, love, and truth of Christ. Christ did not condemn others, even as they were insulting and crucifying Him. Instead, He brought conviction and showed the importance of love.

This does not mean that what other people say to you, what they think of you, or how they treat you, will not hurt. It simply means that Christ has been in every place of rejection or hurt that you have been in or will ever be in. He understands the trials you are going through and He wants to meet you with open arms. Every effort and attempt to restrain yourself, to love those who mistreat you, is seen by God. He appreciates your efforts. God calls us to respond in love, as He did. He is our greatest role-model and we want to follow His actions.

I believe that this Daily Devotion ultimately shows the freedom that is found in forgiveness. Although there will be days when we feel hurt, keep in mind that the love of Christ is far more than satisfying. It is up to you whether you want to choose the hurt or to let Christ take it from you. If you choose the latter, He will definitely give you the strength needed to respond in love.

Let us take on the attitude that Paul had: “he cared for only one thing, and that was to be loyal to Christ, to have His smile.” I want to be able to stand before God and say, “I have tried my best to love as You love.” This does not mean that your love has to be perfect. It just means that you are trying your best. God understands your struggles. He has been through them; He has experienced rejection beyond description. It is in seasons like these that we want to bring our problems and pain to God.

Let the opinions of God matter to us more than the actions/opinions of men for there is freedom to be found in the love of Christ.

Have a nice night <3.

(Source: florescence)

10.25.11
9:43AM

I’ve decided to subscribe to daily devotions.
And I want to share & post thoughts. :) Even if they’re brief.
(Especially since I want to do this in the morning & I have class hehe).

Lately it’s really been on my heart to learn how to love better.
I’ve been struggling at college & experiencing fluctuations of depression. This has been causing me to become more impatient and frustrated with others. And as a result, I’ve been even more upset with how I treat people sometimes. But, all of this has been a learning experience to realizing how weak and imperfect I am. I want to reflect the love of Christ in my life; but, that is only possible when my relationship with Him is right. Everything else will follow.

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So. Wow.
Thoughts on Daily Devotion.

“He answered her not a word” (Matt. 15:23).
“He will be silent in his love” (Zeph. 3:17).

Sometimes, in your greatest suffering, God will not say anything.

Although I can honestly say that I have not suffered much compared to others—I have been very blessed and I say that with humility—I have definitely experienced this. I can recall this one night when I was just completely depressed. I’m not going to go into detail, but trust me, I was very upset and very hurt. I had wanted to call friends for comfort; but, I decided to trust in God instead. I don’t know how long I prayed that night, but I distinctly remember that I heard no reply. Despite this, I stayed faithful in prayer.
Over the next few weeks, there was an enormous heart transformation.

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This captures the essence of God’s understanding and love.

“I am silent in My love because I love beyond the power of words to express, or of human hearts to understand, and also for your sakes that you may learn to love and trust Me…”

It is in times like these that we have to understand and trust that God knows exactly what He is doing. He is Sovereign and more faithful than we are. If we stay faithful to Him, He definitely notices. God’s love for His children is so encompassing; we can never fully understand it. Despite this, God still loves unconditionally. He does not love us any less. It is so easy to hold back love for others when we are not being credited or noticed for it, yet God does not to do this to us. That speaks so much about His character.

His love is indescribable. It cannot be defined or molded. That’s what I need. That is the love that I want to have for others: a love that cannot be expressed in words but can be felt deeply in the heart. But, it is important to remember to stay faithful. Sometimes things do not happen or come immediately. For example, in my own personal situation, the change in heart came over the next few weeks. It may even take months or years. But we should be thankful that it comes at all and understand that God’s timing is perfect. That is why there will be times when we cannot understand why certain things happen until later; stay faithful so that God may explain and reveal the truth of your situation to you.

Have a wonderful day <3.

(Source: florescence)