Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
God Is Able and Stable
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
My husband, Dave, is a portrait of peace and stability. He often reminds me of a rock, which is one of the names of Jesus.
You see, like a steady rock, Jesus remains unchanging. The writer of Hebrews says that He’s ‘the same, yesterday, today, and forever.”
I used to struggle to live with the same stability as Dave. I was happy one day, and depressed the next. Finally, I realized what makes Dave so peaceful: He trusts in the unchanging God. He knows that no matter what happens, God will stay the same.
The Bible tells us that the Lord our God, who resides within each of us, is mighty (see Zephaniah 3:17), mighty to help us overcome and live by His unchangeable Word and Spirit.
Our God is able…and stable. Why not trust Him today? When you realize that no matter what, God stays the same, and you base your life on His unchanging nature, you can enjoy the continual, calm delight that He has planned for you. Why not start today?
Prayer Starter: God, You are able and stable! You’re the only constant in this life. I know that no matter what happens, I can rely on You and trust in Your unchanging nature.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
“Never stop praying.”
Change Your Definition of Prayer
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Have you ever heard the biblical phrase “pray without ceasing”? To many, that sounds daunting and impossible. How could anyone bow their head, kneel, and pray 24 hours a day?
If that’s what you think, it might be time to change your definition of prayer. Too often we view prayer as a very specific process that can only happen once we’ve gone to a private place and shut the entire world out.
But do you realize that even directing a thought toward God qualifies as silent prayer? It’s true! Prayer is communicating with God, so when the Bible says to “pray without ceasing” it means to always be open to communication with God. That could mean a two-hour prayer session, or it could be something as simple as being aware of His presence as you go throughout your day.
God has not made prayer complicated. He intends for prayer to be an integral part of our everyday lives. Today, change your definition of prayer, and you can experience the joy that comes from constant communication with the God who loves you.
Prayer Starter: God, help me change my definition of prayer and show me ways to communicate with You day in and day out. Thank You for Your constant presence in my life.
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Receiving the Power of God Through Prayer
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Prayer is so powerful because it joins the hearts of people on earth with the heart of God in heaven. When we pray, we connect with God, and He affects our daily lives beyond our comprehension.
I believe prayer is one of the greatest powers available in the entire universe. That may seem like a bold statement, but it’s true!
Prayer opens the door for God to work. It is the activity that you and I can engage in on earth when we need the power of heaven to come into our lives and bring wisdom, direction, encouragement or a miraculous breakthrough. Prayer connects us to the power of God, and that is why it is a greater force than anything else we can ever imagine. Even Jesus needed to pray and receive this power when He was on earth.
Only God’s power can bring peace, instill joy, grant wisdom, impart a sense of value and purpose to a person who doesn’t know what to do in life, and work every kind of miracle.
Do you want to see that power work in your life? Then make prayer a priority.
Prayer Starter: Lord, the power of prayer is absolutely astounding. I want to connect with You and see You work in my life, so I make a commitment now to remain in a constant state of prayer with You.
Romans 6:13 (NIV)
“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”
Living with God’s Thoughts, Will and Emotions
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
As believers, we need to learn how to understand the soul, which is made up of the intellect, will and emotions. Since it is full of “self” and does not want to submit to the Holy Spirit, it must be purified.
Because we are free moral agents, our own minds tell us what we think, but our thoughts are not necessarily God’s thoughts.
Our wills dictate what we want, even if it conflicts with what He wants for us.
Our emotions govern our feelings, when in reality our hearts should only be subject to God and His Word.
God wants us to replace our thoughts, desires, and feelings with His. And we cannot live in victory until we do.
Start by telling God you want to live His way. In Romans 6, Paul urges us to “offer” ourselves to Him. Make a choice today, not to use your soul for yourself, but to instead offer it all to God.
As the soul is purified it is trained to carry God’s thoughts, desires and feelings, and then you will become a powerful outlet for His glory.
Prayer Starter: Lord, my thoughts are sinful, I don’t always want what You want, and my feelings try to rebel against Your Word, but I don’t want to live that way any longer. Father, I offer my soul to You, knowing that when I do, You can purify me and use me to accomplish Your will.
Acts 17:28 (NIV)
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Real Love - the Energy of Life!
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Love is the energy of life. It’s what motivates people to get up each day and keep going. It gives life purpose and meaning.
People often have times in their lives when they believe they are unloved or have no one to love. They develop this mindset because they are looking for fulfillment in ways that seem good at first but often leave them feeling frustrated, disappointed and empty inside.
Does this ever happen to you? Do you ever look for love and end up feeling unfulfilled? Let me ask you this: What kind of love are you pursuing?
You may be looking for love, but really, you’re looking for God, because He is love. Any love you gain that is disconnected from God is not really love and will leave you feeling unfulfilled.
The Bible says that in Him we live, move, and have our being. That tells me that without Him, life is not complete.
Everyone is looking for love, but are you looking for God’s love? It’s the only love that matters, the only love that lasts, and the only love that fulfills.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I don’t want to spend my life unfulfilled, pursuing love that’s not from You. If it’s not found in You, it’s not real love, because You are love. Today, I find my love in You.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Give a Love That Liberates
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Love is liberating. It provides a sense of belonging and a sense of freedom. Love does not try to control or manipulate others or reach fulfillment through the destiny of others.
Jesus said that He was sent by God to proclaim liberty. As believers, that is what we are meant to do also, to free people to fulfill God’s will for their lives, not to bring them under our control.
I have discovered that trying to make people do what I want them to do closes the door for God to speak to their hearts. We need to release the people in our lives to be all they can be for God’s glory, not our own.
Set people free and they will love you for it. Don’t be manipulative. Instead, learn to let God be in control of their lives.
A person who has great love is one who is able to release people and things. Today, don’t be a person who controls, but one who freely gives the liberating love that only comes from God.
Prayer Starter: God, I want the love I give others to be the same liberating love that You give. I give up my desire to control and manipulate. I will simply love those You put in my life and entrust them to You.
Philemon 1:6 (NLT)
“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”
Increase Your Self-Acceptance
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
You may not think highly of yourself, but God wants you to like who you are. Here are 5 practical tips to help increase your self-acceptance and improve your opinion of yourself:
1. Never speak negatively about yourself. The communication of your faith is made effectual by acknowledging every good thing in you through Christ Jesus, not by focusing on the wrong.
2. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Peter encountered this obstacle when he compared himself to another disciple. He said, “Lord, what about this man? Jesus replied, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you?…” (John 21:21-22 AMP). We are not called to compare, only to comply.
3. Let God determine your worth. Remember that you have already been accepted by God.
4. Keep your flaws in perspective. It’s ok to see where you want to improve, but make sure you appreciate your progress.
5. Discover the true source of confidence. If you place your confidence in God, you can’t help but have a healthy attitude. Do your best, and leave the results to Him.
Prayer Starter: God, thank You for accepting me even when I have trouble accepting myself. Help me to acknowledge the good qualities You’ve given me and keep my flaws in perspective as I find my confidence in You.
James 4:7 (NIV)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Dealing with Disappointment
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Many Christians are lying along the roadside of life devastated because they have not learned how to deal with disappointment, but it’s not God’s will for you to live a disappointed, devastated or oppressed life today, or any day.
Part of Jesus’ earthly ministry was to go about in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and deliver all those who were oppressed by the devil. Disappointed people everywhere found new hope when they encountered the power of Jesus. This same power is available to us today.
Use that power to defend yourself against disappointment by focusing on God, meditating on His promises, confessing His Word, and submitting yourself and your situation to Him in prayer. Through Jesus, you can fight the enemy’s attempts to weigh you down, rebuking him so that he can’t destroy you.
When the devil makes one move toward you, keep yourself so spiritually tuned in that you can discern what he is trying to do and then back him down. With the power Jesus made available to you, he has no choice but to run.
Prayer Starter: God, setbacks and discouraging things will come my way, but I will not remain disappointed. As I stay tuned in to You, I will fight off the devil and send him running every time.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
You Are Never Alone
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Grief and loneliness are major problems facing people today. The two often go together because many Christians and unbelievers grieve over being lonely. In my ministry, an increasing number of people request prayer for loneliness.
God’s Word tells us plainly that we are not alone. He wants to deliver, comfort and heal us. But when you encounter painful losses in your life, you can lose sight of this simple truth.
Satan wants you to believe you are alone. He wants you to believe that no one understands how you feel, but his claims are false. In addition to God being with you, many believers understand what you are experiencing mentally and emotionally.
You are not alone now nor will you ever be, no matter what confronts you.
You may not understand much when you are hurting and the pain of loss is ripping through your soul, but know and hold on to this one truth: God loves you, and He has a future for you. Hope in Him and trust Him to turn your mourning into joy (see Isaiah 61:1-3).
Prayer Starter: God, I can’t always see through my grief and loneliness, but I know that You never leave me. Help me to remember that You are near, and guide me to other believers who I can join with to fight off the enemy’s attacks.
1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV)
“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
God Can Deliver
from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
In times of crises, it’s easy to feel like God can’t deliver. To bolster your faith, consider these biblical accounts of when God delivered His children from their afflictions.
In 1 Samuel 17:37, David knew he could defeat Goliath because God had already saved him from a lion and a bear.
In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused the king’s edict to bow to his idol, and continued to worship God. As a result, they were thrown into a fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. But God delivered them so completely from this ordeal that they didn’t even smell like smoke! He even showed up with them in the fire!
Daniel is another example of God’s willingness and ability to deliver. Thrown into the lion’s den for praying to God, Daniel knew such deliverance that he came away from the ordeal unscathed while his enemies were completely vanquished (see Daniel 6).
Do you notice a trend here? God can deliver His children out of any circumstance. Know today that His power to deliver is bigger than your problem.
Prayer Starter: God, time and time again, You have delivered Your children from trouble, and I know You won’t fail now. You are more than able to deal with my situation, so I trust in You.
