Encouragement – Day 23 – Pass It On!

2 Cor. 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (3) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (4)

Because of Jesus Christ, we believers have an incorruptible inheritance which places us in a position to be able to call God, our Father! The word incorruptible appears only four times in the Bible:

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (1Co 9:25)In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1Co 15:52)

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1Pe 1:4)

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1Pe 1:23)

We see that our crown will be incorruptible, our raptured bodies will be incorruptible, our inheritance is incorruptible and our salvation is incorruptible! How encouraging is that?

When we are discouraged, we must remember that our trials are for a short time. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 show that our Heavenly Father will provide comfort during our tribulations so that we may in turn pass that comfort on to others going through trouble. I noticed this verse didn’t say to comfort those who are going through what you have experienced but that we are to comfort those who are going through any trouble. In other words, be there for those in need of comfort – period! Pass along to someone else the knowledge and assurance that the Father will comfort them in the same manner He comforted you.

We have encouraged ourselves and defeated ole slewfoot’s attempts to discourage us. We have assurance that our salvation and inheritance of Heaven is incorruptible. Now take those encouraging words to someone who needs to hear them and you will continue to keep yourself encouraged. Share the blessings the Father has given you with those in need of healing words.

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. (Psa 119:74)

Father, I thank You for Your grace
You have brought me through every trial
With mercy, peace and comfort sweet
You walked with me all the while

Encouragement – Day 22 – Be of Good Cheer

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (Mat 14:27)

What a blessing this statement must have been for the apostles to hear from their Saviour! Here they are in a storm and see Jesus walking toward them. They thought they were seeing a ghost! I don’t know about you, but as I place myself in their situation, I would have been afraid also. There are times in our own lives where we don’t “see” the Lord working. Our problems become insurmountable and we focus on the circumstances before us instead of focusing our eyes on the Lord.

Deut. 6:6-8, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”

Have you ever worn a sweat band? I am always aware of that sweat band being around my forehead. It gets damp, it gets itchy and although it provides a purpose, I am always aware of its presence upon my forehead. A frontlet is similar to one of these bands. Can you imagine if God’s Word was as this sweat band between our eyes – constantly making us aware that It is there? If our eyes are focused on the Word, how can they also be focused on the circumstances surrounding us?

Praise the Lord that we have the precious Word of God to read and memorize! We can encourage ourselves daily and be of good cheer when those days come and we don’t see the Lord clearly there beside us. The Word comforts us and assures us that He is there right within view and we should not be afraid. Granted, we may not recognize the Lord in our situation, so we need to really “look” for Him. We find Him in the Word, we find Him in the brethren who encourage us, we find Him in a kind note, we find Him in the beauty of creation surrounding us, etc. Need I say more?

The Word should be constantly upon our foreheads, reminding us of God’s promises and of His presence. We are to be comforted by this and allow it to cheer us up and encourage us. When we do so, it removes all fear of those trials and circumstances.

Be of good cheer, the Lord commands
I’m Your Guide as well as Friend
Do not let your heart be troubled
I’ll be near you til the end.

Encouragement – Day 21 – Count Your Blessings

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Psa 69:30)

No wonder David was the apple of God’s eye! He knew how to love His God… He knew how to thank His God! David was able to recognize when he was discouraged or depressed. The world recognizes in their 12-step programs the need to admit one’s addiction. However, their 12-step programs are only temporary. I speak from experience – I witnessed my father remain sober for almost 30 years, but the feeling of being alone drove him to drink again. The 12-step program did not have a lasting effect on my father. But this is not so with born-again believers! Praise God that we have One whose help can be eternal, if we allow Him to work in our lives.

We, as believers, need to recognize our state of discouragement and depression and go to the Source of healing and encouragement. We have the precious Word of God, in our King James Bible, which contains all the solutions on overcoming discouragement. Let’s learn from David.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psa 42:11)

David knew that his discouraged soul would find health. But David had to take that first step – David had to hope in God and His solutions as well as praise God. What does a discouraged soul have to praise God about? Counting your blessings is a great place to start. Everyone has blessings in their lives – everyone! Are you a born-again child of the King? Have you been spared from an eternity of burning in hell? Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have food on your table (even if it is just peanut butter)? Do you have fairly good health where you can still get around? Do you have loved ones? Do you have a good church family? List these blessings on a post-it note and place it where you can see it several times a day. After reading these blessings over and over, you will be able to say with David that you can praise God.

Now that you are praising God, the next step is to magnify Him with thanksgiving. I love looking up words from King James’ era when our beloved King James Bible was translated. The words from that time period have so much more punch and meaning than if using modern-day English.

Noah Webster’s definition of magnify is:

2. To make great in representation; to extol; to exalt in description or praise. The embassador magnified the king and queen.
3. To extol; to exalt; to elevate; to raise in estimation. Thee that day Thy thunders
magnified. The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly. 1 Chr 29.

So my brother and sister in Christ, extol and exalt the precious Name of Jesus to yourself and anyone who will listen! Share with others God’s blessings and compassion for you! Doing this is a sure-fire way of taking your eyes off your circumstances and discouragement and focusing on the “good” things that the Lord has blessed you with. Do you have the gift of writing? Let others know what God has done for you. Do you have the gift of speaking? Use your gift and magnify the Lord and His goodness toward you. Do you have a gift of ministering to others? Find yourself a dear Senior Saint and share God’s blessings with them. I dare say, these dear Saints are in desperate need of a kind and uplifting word. As you read the words to Mr. Oatman’s song, Count Your Blessings, you can surely appreciate the fact that he had been through a few bouts of discouragement. He learned from David what he had to do to be encouraged.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.Refrain
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

~Johnson Oatman, Jr.

Day 30 – This Is It!

Reading: Romans 5:12

Today’s verse:

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

How many times have we sinned . . . really? If you sin only once a day times one year, that equals 365 sins! In ten years, 365 sins times ten, you will have sinned 3,650 sins! Let’s say you live 70 years. 3,650 sins times 70 years will reveal that your lifetime total sins equals 25,550!! This is true if you sin only once per day! Multiply this total by the possibly countless sins we actually do in one day.

This devotional was designed to help you realize your spiritually lost condition. Going to church will not save you. If it did, this would be something you could do on your own and Eph. 2:8-9 says that salvation cannot be by works because you would “boast” about what you had done. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8) “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)

Being good will not save you. Only One is good and that is God. “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)

Saying pious prayers – praying the same prayers over and over – nor praying 24 hours a day will save you. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7)

Oh dear friend, you have been reading for 30 days. I pray that the Holy Spirit of God has worked in your heart and that you can see your lost, sinful condition. Repent and accept Jesus Christ as your only hope to heaven. If you desire to be saved, to become a born-again Christian, pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I am a sinner. I know now that there is no way I can gain entrance into Your Holy Heaven without the shed blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. I know I deserve hell because of my sin. Thank You Lord for sending this Perfect Sacrifice in my place. I accept Jesus’ work on the cross as punishment for my sin. I believe Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, He died for my sin, He arose from the dead and He now sits at Your right hand until He comes again. Father, I repent from my sins and wish to turn directions. Please save me and welcome me into Your family. I pray that You would guide and direct me as I strive to live my life for You. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Friend, if you prayed this prayer and meant it, you are now born again! You now walk with a new nature! There is a celebration in Heaven occurring right now because you have repented and have been born again! “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)

If you have been born again as a result of these daily devotionals, please post a comment to let me know. I would love to hear from you!!

Dear God….
Today I give Thee all my heart
I pray may Thy Spirit teach
Direct my path and keep me from sin
Every day as I live for Thee.

Day 29 – Every Heart is Wicked

Reading: Jeremiah 17:9, James 2:10, Matthew 23:28, Titus 1:16

Today’s verse:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Some will read this daily devotional and convince themselves that they are “OK” and “not that bad.” How very sad that their own thoughts will convict them to an eternity in hell! Dear friend, do you know realize that the Bible says your heart is deceitful and desperately wicked? I don’t say this to offend you, my friend. I say this to wake you up! Your heart is not “good.” Have you not lied at least once? Yes, even asking your spouse to tell someone on the phone you don’t want to talk to that “you’re not here” IS a lie.

Do you believe in the Ten Commandments and keeping them? The Bible is clear. The Bible says that if you disobey even ONE of those commandments, you’re guilty of ALL of those commandments and sins. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) Now do you see that your heart is desperately wicked? God says you have sin on your heart.

Surely we are all doomed then! Surely there is not one person on earth, from the beginning of time to today that can make it to heaven on their own merit!! You’re right! “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12)

Yes, we ARE doomed. That is why God sent Jesus to die on the cross because there was no way that we could gain entrance to heaven on our own. Man was continually evil – man could not go one day, one week, one year without a sin. ANY sin keeps us from God.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Dear God…
Please open my eyes to my own sin.
Let not logic get in the way
With the work that Your dear Holy Spirit
Is trying to do in my heart today!

Day 28 – Do You Truly Fear God?

Reading: Romans 3:18

Today’s verse:

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom 3:18)

Be honest in your heart today. Do you fear God? If not, you should. When you lie, do you fear the repercussions? The old saying, “Pay day, some day.” holds true. If you don’t fear this, you should! If you are not born again, do you fear the judgment that awaits you when you stand before God? If not, you should!

God says that every man will have to give an account for his own sins. Every man will have to pay for his own sin. Are you one of those?

Job 19:4, “And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.”
Deuteronomy. 24:16, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Galatians 6:5, “For every man shall bear his own burden.”
Romans 14:12, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

The born-again believer does not have to worry about this sin debt. The born-again believer no longer has to try to cover his sin with the blood of sacrificed animals. Our covering is the grace of God – Jesus’ shed blood on the cross and it is THIS precious blood that covers our sins. But to the unbeliever, there is no grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8)

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” (Rom 4:4) So the unbeliever does have a debt to pay because they do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for their debt.

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5) Our faith in Jesus Christ’s shed blood covers our sins in the eyes of the Father. All the Father sees is Jesus’ righteousness, not our own. Our own righteousness (or good works as an unbeliever) are dirty rags in God’s eyes.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Dear one, fear God and His impending judgment. This is the beginning of your wisdom.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: …” (Psalms 111:10a)

Dear God…
Please let fear be stirred within me.
Help me see my sinful heart
The way Thou seest my wickedness.
From Thy truth let me not depart!

Day 27 – The Comforter

Reading: John 14:26

Today’s verse:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

The Third Person of the Trinity is known as the Holy Ghost, also called the Comforter. God knows man’s frailty and how man needs to have descriptive words to define the Godhead. It helps us to get to know the Trinity. God the Father is also known as Abba. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mar 14:36) Jesus had that Daddy-type relationship with His Father. Born-again believers do as well. Jesus is known as the Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) The Holy Spirit is also known as the Comforter in today’s verse. What beautiful attributes for God! Not only is He the born-again believers’ Daddy, but He is the Word (our daily Bible and spiritual bread) and He is our Comforter.

Dear one, do you have that promise? Do you have that kind of relationship with God the Father that you can safely say that you can call Him your Daddy? If not, wouldn’t you want to? Don’t you need a Daddy right about now as you struggle? Don’t you need a Comforter? I’m sure you have come across a born-again believer in your life who appeared calm on the outside during a major trial in his or her life. Maybe that born-again believer has lost a loved one and is calm in the midst of this storm. Does not this make you wonder how they can do it?

It is because they possess the Comforter. The believers who waited in the Upper Room after Jesus ascended into Heaven, received the Holy Spirit. The Comforter was now given to all those who believed in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. What a blessing it is to be able to rely on the Comforter to pull you through your trials. God promises that once we have Him in our hearts, He will never leave us or forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5b “… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Dear God…
I want to have the Comforter
Reside in my heart each day.
Let my search in Thy most holy Word
Be a light to show me the way.

Day 26 – Your Sin WILL Find you Out!

Reading: Numbers 32:23

Today’s verse:

“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Do you think that there’s a “little white lie” that God won’t care about or He won’t find out about? God knows every sin. God is there when you’re all by yourself and reading that dirty magazine or watching that X-rated movie. He is there when you’re alone in your room and your thoughts go to adultery against your spouse. “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.” (Psalms 69:5)

Or do you think that you’re just not “that bad”? “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalms 53:3)

Don’t kid yourself. God knows every sin you have every committed. Because He is holy, He cannot possibly allow any sin into heaven. His heaven is holy as well. The Bible lists three verses that command us to be holy: “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 20:7)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;” (1 Peter 1:15)

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

You won’t be able to get away with your sin if God has commanded you to be holy. Again, don’t kid yourself. Your sin is like a seed. You sow it and whatever grows will show what kind of seed it came from. Just as carrot seeds grow carrots, so will your sin sow eternal damnation in hell. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Dear one, don’t you want to reap eternal life in heaven? The Word will guide you. Don’t depend on your Rabbi, your minister or priest. God will hold you accountable for your own sin. Not someone else. If you don’t know where to start, start with God’s Word. The Bible promises that if you believe on Jesus Christ, you will have eternal life.

Jesus did not want us to doubt that we have eternal life. This verse says “so that ye may know” that you have eternal life! I don’t see any doubt in this verse! Praise God that He loves us so much that He has given us a Book where all the answers are kept to our questions. Won’t you turn to the Bible and let its words cleanse you?

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)

Dear God…
I never want to doubt
Where I shall spend eternity
Therefore show me the way to Christ
So I may spend those days with Thee!

Day 25 – Born Once, Die Twice

Reading: Revelation 20:13-15

Today’s verse:

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14

If you are not born again, you will be born once and you will have to die twice according to the Bible. The first time you are born is when you came from your mother into this world. You are born with flesh. The first time you die is when your body wears out and dies. The body is buried but the unsaved soul will go to hell until the end of Jesus’ thousand-year reign. At the end of this reign (called the Millennium), the souls in hell will be released to stand before Christ to be judged for the works they did while they yet lived on earth. Because they refused to accept Jesus as their Saviour, they will now have to stand before Him to receive the punishment for their sins while they were on earth. This is where the Charles Mansons of the world will receive their harsh punishment for all eternity. This is where the liar will be judged and will receive punishment for those lies for all eternity. This is where you will stand before Christ and He will have to send you to the Lake of Fire where you will burn for all eternity. Verse 14 says this will be your second death. So the unbeliever is born once and will die twice.

The born again Christian is born twice (first in the flesh and the second birth is the spiritual birth) and will die only once when he or she gives up this earthly body to go to Heaven. The Christian does not have to worry about the second death because his or her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. That is why the Christian is born twice and dies only once.

What a beautiful way to look at our lives. Won’t you be one of those who will only taste death once?

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)

Dear God…
I fear that I’m not saved!
I tremble on bended knee.
Forgive my sins and enter in
So I will eternally live with Thee.

Day 24 – Furnace of Fire

Reading: Matthew 13:47-50

Today’s verse:

Matthew 13:50 “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus is speaking in a parable here. There are no names attached to individuals but it is clear that the wicked fish (those who are no born again) will be cast into the furnace of fire (hell) where there will be screaming and pain. Oh my!!

But there are some of you who will think that this does not necessarily mean those who are not born again? Let’s let the Bible answer this one. God’s Word always answers its own questions nor does the Bible contradict itself. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) So dear one, does this dispel your reasoning? Don’t be deceived by your own thoughts and concepts in life. Don’t allow others to tell you what God’s Word says. Find it out for yourself in God’s Word. Toss out everything you have ever learned. It hasn’t done you any good up to now, and it won’t bring you to Christ. Clean your religious slate and approach these readings with an empty glass. Please pray that God will speak to your heart through His word, the Bible.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)

Dear God…
Let me quickly turn to Thee
For answers to all my questions.
May Thy blessed Word direct me
To Thee and Thy home in heaven.