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Our Daily Bread ~ Help Yourself
Read: Psalm 146
Recently, I saw a television ad for a restaurant chain that made a dramatic claim. At those restaurants, the ad said you could “Help Yourself to Happiness.” Wouldn’t it be nice if a helping of potatoes or meat or pasta or dessert would be all that was needed to provide happiness? Unfortunately, no restaurant can fulfill that promise.
Happiness is an elusive thing—as we can see in almost every area of life. Our pursuit of happiness may involve food or a host of other things, but, in the end, happiness continues to escape our grasp.
Why? In large measure it’s because the things we tend to pursue do not touch the deepest needs of our hearts. Our pursuits may provide moments of enjoyment, distraction, or pleasure, but the cry of our hearts goes unheard—the cry for help and hope. That is why the psalmist points us to a better way when he says, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Ps. 146:5).
Help yourself? Yes—if we are seeking the happiness found in the Lord. It is only when we entrust ourselves to God and His care that we can find the happiness we seek. Our hope and help are found only in trusting Him.
in You will I know the real joy and satisfaction that
my heart longs for. Help me to look beyond the
surface things of life to what really matters.
Make Room For Abundance!
Posted by Joel Osteen on 1/4/2013
In Second Kings, there is the story about a widow who doesn’t have money to pay her bills. In those days, if you couldn’t pay your bills, your family was taken and sold as slaves, and that’s exactly what was about to happen. The creditors were coming to take her sons as payment. The only thing she had of any value was a small pot of oil to cook with. The prophet Elisha showed up at her house and told her to do something that seemed strange. He said, “Go out to the neighbors and borrow as many big, empty pots to hold oil as you can possibly find.” He said specifically, “Borrow not a few. Get as many as you can.” He was saying in effect, “Don’t shortchange yourself; make room for abundance.”
The widow went out and borrowed some pots. I can imagine she found five or six of these big, empty pots. When she came home, Elisha told her to pour her oil into one of the empty containers. It appeared as though she would just transfer it from one container to the other, but the scripture says, “Her oil never ran out.” She kept pouring and pouring. God supernaturally multiplied it until all of those containers were completely filled. Here’s my point: She was the one who determined how much oil she would have. If she would have borrowed one container, she would have one full. If she would have borrowed ten, she would’ve had ten full. If she would have borrowed 50, she would’ve had 50 full. It wasn’t up to God how much she increased, it was up to her. God has unlimited supplies. That’s why the prophet said, “Borrow not a few.”
My question today is, “How many containers are you borrowing?” What kind of vision do you have for this new year? Some people have a barely-get-by container. They think, “Oh, man, business is so slow. I’m hoping to just make it through this year.” They’ve got a tiny little container. God says, “Alright, I’ll fill your ‘barely-get-by’ container.” Some of you, like this lady, have five or six containers. You’re
believing to pay your bills, feed your family, and have a little bit left over. That’s good. God will fill those containers. No matter what you’ve been expecting, believe that this year is the year for increase! Know that God can do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond. He is El Shaddai—the God of more than enough. Make room for His far-and-beyond favor because God is saying, “You need to get ready. I’m going to fill your containers!”
It may not have happened in the past, but God has favor in your future. He has new opportunities, good breaks, blessings that will chase you down. You may not see how this could happen, but God has a thousand ways to increase you that you’ve never thought of. God has explosive blessings, blessings that can thrust you years ahead.
Like this woman, God wants to bless you beyond your normal income, beyond your salary, beyond your retirement. God can give you one good break, one promotion, one idea or one inheritance, and all those containers are filled to overflowing. Now make sure you don’t shortchange yourself. God is saying, “Borrow not a few.” Get ready, get your hopes up, get your faith up, and make room for abundance because that’s what God has waiting for you!
Copyright © 2013 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – T Ball Faith
Read: Luke 15:1-7
Whoever dreamed up T-ball is a genius: Every kid on the field gets a taste of the fun and joy of the game before they taste the disappointment of striking out.
In T-ball, a baseball is placed on a rubber tee about waist-high to the 5- and 6-year-old batters. Players swing until they hit the ball and then run. On my first night as a coach, the very first batter hit the ball far into the outfield. Suddenly every player fromevery position ran to get the ball instead of staying where they were supposed to. When one of them reached it, there was nobody left in the infield for him to throw it to! All the players were standing together—cheering with unrestrained exuberance!
Those who have recently come to know Jesus as Savior have an unrestrained joy that is a delight to be around as well. We rejoice with them, and so do the angels in heaven! (Luke 15:7). New Christians are in love with God and excited about knowing Him and learning from His Word.
Those who’ve been Christians for a long time may get discouraged with the struggles of the Christian life and forget the joy of new-found faith. So take the opportunity to rejoice with those who’ve come to faith. God can use them to inspire you to renew your own commitment to Jesus.
For all your sins on Christ were laid;
We’ve been redeemed, we’re justified—
And all because the Savior died. —D. DeHaan
Get Up and Get Going
by Joyce Meyer – posted January 02, 2013
weeping . . . Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping (emphasis mine). —Psalm 6:6, 8
Even before we are totally awake, Satan is bidding to deceive us and is ready to plant defeating thoughts in our mind. He wants us to be hopeless, faithless, and negative. He definitely doesn’t want us to be positive when we get up. He wants us to have a bad attitude and be selfish and self-centered, full of hatred, bitterness, resentment, doubt, unbelief, and fear—to be mad at everybody,
But thank God, through Jesus Christ we have been redeemed from all of those negative patterns. We can resist the devil and trust God’s power in order to live victoriously today.
From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
Commit it to Him
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 1/1/2013
Happy New Year! Joel and I pray that you’ve been blessed and refreshed this holiday season. Welcome to 2013! Can you believe it’s already here?
If you’re like most, you’re probably making your list of goals and to-do’s for the new year. You may have even pulled out last year’s list attempting to pick up where you left off. But no matter what your goals are, I just want to encourage you with this scripture in Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Now when you commit something to Him, that means you put everything about it in His hands. It means you trust Him with the process and the results. It also means that you are willing to lay it down if you sense Him speaking to your heart, “This isn’t the right thing for you right now.”
Maybe you don’t have any specific goals or plans for the new year yet. Maybe you’ve had some circumstances that have thrown you off course or you’ve just felt overwhelmed by life. Your part is to just commit each day to Him and let Him lead you moment by moment. Someone said one time, “My five-year plan is the same as my five-minute plan—hear from the Lord and do what He says.” You’ll never be disappointed by following His leading. Scripture says His plans are always for our good. He wants to give us hope and a good future. He delights in the prosperity of His children. He came to give us everlasting and abundant life.
Today, I want to join my faith with yours as you put this scripture into practice and commit your ways to the Lord that He will direct your steps down the path of success in everything you set your hand to.
We love you so much and pray that you have a happy, blessed and prosperous 2013!
Copyright © 2013 Joel Osteen Ministries
Love Does Not Rejoice at Injustice
by Joyce Meyer – posted November 09, 2012
We should care about others and their pain, pray for them, and do what we can to relieve their suffering. Love is not unfeeling; it cannot look at unjust situations and just simply not care or do nothing. The worldly mentality of “don’t bother me with it, that is your problem” has no place in the lives of Christians.
Obviously, we cannot physically or financially fix everyone’s problem, but we can care. We can work with the Holy Spirit to make sure we don’t allow our hearts to become hardened by all the violence and injustice all around us.
God is love, and He loves righteousness (knowing you are right with God—acting right, talking right, etc.)—therefore, those who walk in love must also love righteousness. Psalm 97:10 states that if we love the Lord, we must hate evil. Those who love righteousness are often persecuted for it—Jesus was, and we are not above our Master (see Matthew 10:24). Don’t hate evil people, just their evil ways. God hates sin, but He loves sinners.
Keep walking in love, hating injustice and unrighteousness, and the favor of God will come upon your life in an astounding way.
From the book New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2006 by Joyce Meyer. Published by InProv. All rights reserved.
Our Daily Bread – A Fragrance
Read: 1 John 4:7-11
Katie nervously walked into the church youth group party that Linda had invited her to attend. She hadn’t been to a church since she was a little girl and didn’t know what to expect at a Valentine dinner with mostly strangers. But her heart started to calm when she found valentines at her plate that had been written for her from everyone there. They had cards for each other too, but it touched Katie’s heart that they would think to do that for her, a visitor to their group.
Katie felt so welcomed that she accepted Linda’s invitation to a church service. There she heard about God’s love for her in spite of her sinfulness, and she embraced Jesus’ forgiveness. The youth group had given her a fragrance of God’s love, and God opened her heart to trust Him.
“If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another,” the apostle John said (1 John 4:11). That’s a love for our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as for those who don’t yet know Him. Ray Stedman wrote, “As God’s love shines into our hearts, we become more open to others, allowing the fragrance of love to drift out and attract those around us.” The youth group did that for Katie.
God can spread the fragrance of His love through us today.
I am able to love others. Please spread the sweet
fragrance of Your love through me to everyone
I interact with today. Amen.
Closer Than You Think
Today’s Scripture:
Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. – Hebrews 10:35, NKJV.
Today’s Word:
Have you been praying and believing for something that seems like it’s taking a lot longer than you thought? Many times, people can miss God’s best simply because they give up before they see their “due season” come. Don’t let that be you! Be encouraged today, your answer is closer than you think. If it seems like things are getting more difficult, remember, when the intensity heats up, that means you are closer to your victory. It always seems darkest just before the dawn arrives.
We serve a faithful God, and He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. Don’t cast away your confidence today because your reward is coming. And just like a new mother forgets about her labor pain once she is finally holding her newborn, you’ll forget about your struggle when you are holding on to your promise. While you are waiting, keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Wake up every morning and say out loud, “I’ve come too far to give up now. My due season is coming. I will reap my harvest.” Stay in faith and look for His hand of blessing because He has promised you victory, and it’s closer than you think!
Prayer for Today:
Father in heaven, today I stand believing that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Give me Your strength to stand in faith until I see every promise fulfilled in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Praying For Our Leaders
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 11/6/2012
Today is Election Day in America. It’s a day we get to exercise our privilege to vote for the leaders of this country. Scripture tells us in Romans 13 that government and authority is established by God and we should honor those who are in authority over us. No matter what happens at the end of the day, we are called to pray for our leaders and respect those who are in authority over us even if we don’t necessarily agree with everything they do.
Second Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (NLT) Today and every day, let’s remember to pray for our leaders. As we do, God promises to hear us and restore our land. Join us today and make this the prayer of your heart:
Father in heaven, today we come to You on behalf of our leaders and those who are in authority over us. We pray first that they would know You, honor You, and seek Your ways. We pray that they would have wisdom and discernment to make good decisions. We pray for safety over them and their families and for peace in their hearts and minds. We pray for unity in this country, and may we always remember that we are one nation under God. Thank You, Father, for hearing our prayers and healing our land in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – The Legacy
Read: Colossians 3:8-17
One day my wife called me at work and said, “Something’s going on next door. Lots of cars are there.” Because of my neighbor’s occupation, I feared the worst, and soon those fears were realized. Our neighbor, policeman Trevor Slot, had just been killed in the line of duty, trying to stop the escape of two bank robbers. Our community was stunned.
Trevor had no time to prepare for his death. Yet he was ready. His faith in Christ was secure, and his reputation as a remarkable man was intact. At his funeral, attended by hundreds of fellow officers, his colleague Detective Brandyn Heugel said, “He was a dedicated police officer, but first and foremost he was a loving husband to Kim and a doting father to Kaitlyn and Abbie.” Indeed the theme of Trevor’s tributes all centered on his great personality and his love and care for his family.
Trevor’s life exemplified the words of Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.” Those traits leave an inspiring legacy.
We don’t know when God will call us home, but we do know this: Each day is an opportunity to leave a testimony worthy of our faith.
May the fire of our devotion light their way;
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey. —Mohr
I Am Lady Fab 