BE NICE REGARDLESS

 There is a Bible verse I love and try to live by with God's help and
that is James 1:20(NIV) and it says 'because human anger does not
produce the righteousness God desires.' Isn't that the truth? My next
favorite one is Proverbs 15:1(NIV) which says 'A gentle answer turns
away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.'

Satan is the great divider. He loves causing strife, bitterness,
confusion, misunderstandings, conceit, verbal fights, and physical
fights in all sorts of relationships. If true followers of Christ
really practiced what the Bible said there would be allot fewer
lawsuits, divorces, sibling fights, family divisions, problems at
work, hurt feelings, misunderstandings and marital spats.

If you know how to respond to harsh words or treatment then do it
regardless. Be the "bigger person" and show God's love to mean
spirited people. Try your best to pray for them.

Luke 6:28(NIV) says 'bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you.' That might seem like a "tall order" when you are
really hurt inside. Think about Jesus up on that cross. He did not
deserve the horrible death he died but yet he said "Father forgive
them for they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34). Another verse I
love and it is good to "sear" into your brain is Romans 12:21(NIV)
which says 'Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.'

You may be a very compliant, controlled, gentle person and in your
good nature never get hurt or upset but for the rest of us out there
it is my prayer you will keep looking up to Jesus!

PRAYER: Help me Lord to hold my tongue when I would rather get into a
debate over something that is unnecessary. Help me Lord I need your
strength to imitate you. In Jesus' name. Amen

PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES

 

"I can't stand so and so". Has it ever shocked you to hear someone say this that maybe was in Bible study with you or a prayer group? Maybe it was you who uttered those words. Well sure we are not perfect but if we say we love Jesus we are not to be "willy nilly" going around hating people. I admit it is hard when someone has done something intentionally to hurt you.

Do you have enemies or people you just don't like? Did you know if you claim to love Jesus you are to not hate people even if they have done wrong or hurt you? You are to pray for them. This includes impossible bosses and co workers too by the way. 1 John 4:20(NIV) says ''If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.' Pretty straightforward wouldn't you say?

If you are having trouble loving evil people or those who hurt you, just try to pray for them instead. Keep praying and pray some more. Proverbs 24:17-18(NIV) is a great verse for those of us upset with many of the US elected officials who do not listen to the people and it says 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.' What to do then? Pray, God will take care of those hurting us on His own time table. Live your life in an attitude of prayer.
Keep shining the love of Jesus down on all those around you and make believe Jesus is right there beside you, because He is. 

PRAYER: Lord I choose this day to love like you love and to love when I would rather show hate. It glorifies you when I show love to my enemies. Help me today to shine your light for the world to see. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ORANGE SUITS...PRAY DON'T CONDEMN

Most every state in America probably utilizes "good conduct" prisoners to pick up litter on the highway. When you drive by these males and females they usually are dressed in an orange jumpsuit and carry a large garbage sack. Is your first reaction to be scared? Perhaps you wrongly judge them? Maybe you are thinking they get what they deserve. Has anyone ever stopped to think maybe they need prayer?

These individuals could be incarcerated for a variety of reasons. We
know the break down of the family contributes to many crimes in
society today. But do you know a perfectly honorable person who may
never have done a bad thing in his or her life could end up there for
accidentally shooting someone or a vehicular homicide that was never
planned ? Maybe a mental health issue drove them to commit a crime.
Maybe a car wreck and someone sues. Not all are your typical hardened
criminals ending up at the mercy of the courts but those from
respectable families as well.

Next time you are going about your day and pass a group of these
individuals why not pray for them. Pray for the court system to be
fair. Pray for them to get necessary rehab or treatment. Pray for
healing in their family situation. Pray for them to come to know Jesus
in their heart. Pray for their life to be turned around. Pray also for
families they may have committed a crime against to be able to
forgive.

1 Corinthians 6:11(NIV) says 'And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.'

PRAYER: Father help me to not judge and condemn others but to truly have compassion for those who are locked up and pray their lives may be turned around. I know any person can find themselves in this situation so help me when I am driving down the road and see these prisoners to really say a prayer for them to come to know you as their savior. Keep me Lord on the right path of life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a song to start your day.

http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c


Book reading suggestion: When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent

STOP GLOATING

It seems our world is full of people wanting to get back at people. It is what keeps attorneys in business. Maybe if someone hurt you, you want to get them back. You feel extreme hatred to a person who took the life of a friend or family member in a murder or auto accident and say you want them to receive justice too and get hurt just like they hurt the other person.

It is true that in a court of law people have to account for what they have done wrong. But for we as individuals to wish them ill will is not right either.

Right now our country is buried in scandal and turmoil and people need to be held responsible for the law breaking and atrocious things that have been hidden. Usually it will fall to the person ultimately responsible which in our countries' case would be the President. We need to pray and continue to pray and not be sitting around wishing he would get what is due him. Even though it is "natural" to hate and wish the worst thing when you have been wronged we really need to get our emotions under control. The Bible says in Romans 12:14(NIV) 'Bless them that persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.'

Our most effective tool in anything is prayer. If you are feeling hatred or immense anger over a situation ask God to replace it with supernatural love and pity for that person. This battle is about good and evil. God and the devil. Spiritual warfare. Proverbs 24:17-18(NIV) says 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.' Instead practice the power of prayer. In dealing with our nation's leaders and the corruption that is being uncovered, just pray for the truth to come out and righteousness to be done. Do not allow hatred or anger to control you. Let God do His work.

PRAYER: Lord I know we are commanded to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44 to pray for our enemies. Lord I can only do this through you and with your power. Lord Jesus you ultimately are in control and I need not worry but to trust you have a plan. Forgive me for any anger or hate I may have had. I want to remember to pray and let you do the rest. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link to post your prayers and read others prayers. This site is not run by the government but is independent.

Www.presidentialprayerteam.org

OWE MAN NOTHING BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Tax Day in the USA is once again upon us and many may be rushing to get this done and get to the post office in time so they are not fined. Taxes are a part of life. Unfortunately lately our government has taken advantage of the people's money and tried to get it to use on wasteful programs and immoral programs. Never the less as much as we fight it and continue to fight it we have to faithfully pay what is due even if others cheat. Until something changes in the government we are stuck with this. As a Christian we are obligated. Romans 13:7(NIV) says 'Give to everyone what you owe them. If you owe taxes pay taxes. If revenue then revenue, if respect then respect. If honor then honor.'

More than money we are to love. Romans 13:8(NASB) says 'Owe nothing to anyone but to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.' Sometimes it is hard to love evil rulers and leaders who seem to not care about the people that elected them. They use our money only to do wrong things yet we seem powerless. We're still supposed to love them and pray for them.(See link below).

Today do your part to show love to those around you in your smile and in your kind gestures. And the government may irritate you but God is ultimately the one in control so do not worry just keep praying.

PRAYER: Lord thank you that I have money in order to be able to pay taxes. Thank you for the blessings you have heaped upon my life. Help me to remember to love those who I would tend to want to hate. Lord you are Lord of lords and you are in control. Thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Note: Please remember to pray for this country and your leaders go to www.presidentialprayerteam.org as a helpful tool to do this.

Note:The past two days I have experienced some technical difficulties. If you did not receive either days devotion you may find them all online at www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

Do you ever just feel like getting back at someone for how they treated

you? It could be a spouse, a friend, or someone else. Whatever and

whoever it is not God's plan to retaliate. Romans 12:17(NIV) says 'Do
not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody.' As spoken of yesterday we need to maintain peace

at all costs. But what about someone who said something about you that is not true or is spreading rumors? Don't you have the "right" then to get back?

The first human reaction to when someone hurts you is sadness,hurt, or the

need to say something back to them. Maybe you want to get your way or
the last word. That is not the wisest thing to do. The best way to

defuse an angry outburst or hurt feeling is to 'hold your tongue' and

try to get your emotions under control.

James 1:19(NLT) I often think would be an excellent verse for married
couples to say each and every day and to commit to memory. It simply
says 'Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.' Another
equally excellent scripture is found in Proverbs 15:1(NIV). It reads
as follows 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs
up anger.' Think on that one for a moment why don't you? How much
better to say nothing back than to get the "fire of anger" stoked up
and end up in a yelling match. 2 Corinthians 13:11(NASB) tells us
'Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be
like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with
you.' See there is that word again, "peace". Peace is not achieved by
bickering or belittling. It is achieved by "turning the other cheek".
Letting go of your right to get back basically. The turn the other
cheek thing is actually found in God's word in both Matthew 5:39 and
Luke 6:29. Why not take a moment to look them up.

There may have been moments when you just felt you could not contain
yourself over something someone said about you or to you. I recommend
going to Jesus in prayer and asking God to put love within your heart
for this person no matter the outcome. Keep trying to show God's love
in word and deed.

Matthew 5:44(NLT) says 'But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.' Leave the rest up to God.

PRAYER: Sometimes it seems it is easy to get angry at a person over
something that may be so silly. Help me Lord learn to walk away and
drop it and not cause a fight or a broken relationship. Give me
strength to walk away from potential situations Lord. Put your Spirit
within me. In Jesus' name. Amen.