I Don’t Want To Be Critical- Help Me Lord!

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.Ephesians 4:29

How do you get rid of a critical spirit? I ask myself that because I know I myself don’t intend to be critical or enjoy being critical but sometimes I find myself sinking in the mud so to speak. Why do you or I do this and how can I stop? 

Criticism often happens when you compare. Criticism doesn’t benefit anyone. If you have been critical of someone go to them and apologize. If someone has hurt you with criticism forgive them. 

Focus in this new year on trying to be the person God wants to use for the kingdom. If you find yourself starting to cave to criticism stop and ask the Holy Spirit to transform your thinking and words. 

PRAYER: Father heal my critical spirit. Turn darkness to light and ashes to beauty. Help my words only bring joy not pain or be an irritant to someone. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Day 2

 

"Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."Joel 2:12

Many churches across the US are having 21 Days of Prayer right now with today being day 2. This is something I always looked forward to back at my former church in Alabama. It is a way to regroup your life and focus on God and what you need to do to be closer to Him. 

If done with fasting it can even have a greater impact on your walk with God. Fasting not only food but social media, alcohol, coffee drinks, TV, whatever is in the way of your devotion to God. Think it over. 

Are you more in love with Jesus or with things in the world? Is there an area of your life or a person you have been praying for? This 21 days is perfect time to refocus and get serious about it. 

PRAYER: Lord help me not allow distractions of this world to take my focus off you. Forgive me when I have hurt anyone or opened my mouth when I should have stayed quiet. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Note-

You can stream Church of the Highlands daily 21 Days of prayer by going to www.churchofthehighlands.com/21days. Live weekdays at 6 CST but on demand later. 

Is It Possible To ‘Crush Proof’ Your Heart?

Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it.Proverbs 4:23 NIV Bible Gateway

Have you been emotionally hurt by unkindness, harsh words, being shut out of something or someone’s life? A tough skin is needed to deal with many jolts to our heart strings. 

Learning to understand there are all sorts of people and personalities and not everyone is walking with the Lord and not everyone is full of kindness. Give people the benefit of the doubt but realize not everyone is going to want to be your friend. 

Be thankful rejoice in what blessings you have. Pray for people who hurt you. Pray for those who even think prayer is stupid and a waste of time. Healing of any kind takes time. Be still. 

PRAYER; Help me take each day as it comes. To not get in people’s faces who don’t like me but to pray and be kind. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

A Solid Foundation For 2025?

 

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”Matthew 7:24-27

If a home is built on shifting sand or on the edge of a cliff chances are when rains come it will slide down the cliff. If on top of sink hole it could fall into the ground. 

How is your spiritual foundation for 2025? Don’t concern yourself about the condition of others judging them or criticizing them but instead be concerned for your own condition but of course pray for others you know. How can you get stronger in 2025? 

Be strong and don’t go back to falling into your own self pity mode or being too hard on yourself. Continue pressing on and get strong by feeding your mind with scripture. Not random Bible reading but studying verses and applying them. Continue to run looking up to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. 

PRAYER: Today I want to be able to let go of stupid things I have done or said and not bring guilt on others or judge them. Help me Lord to start anew to grow closer to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Moving Above And Beyond

 

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13 NIV BibleGateway

Here you are on day 3 of a brand new year. A chance to make changes, do things differently, right wrongs and so forth.

I always enjoy when the calendar flips to a new year. It is a nice breaking point to purpose in your heart you will change things up and set new goals for the new year. To branch out try new endeavors no matter what your age.

Move above and beyond any areas in your life that have robbed your God given joy. Surrender things to God only He can do. Happy 2025!

PRAYER: I am grateful for new beginnings and chances to do things different. Guide me as I seek to keep my focus on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Note:In the past few days if you have missed any devotions go to www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com to see them.

Faith Is Believing When Common Sense Says Not To

As it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.Romans 4:17ESV Bible Gateway

I loved watching good Christmas movies and Miracle on 34th Street is a classic. This movie storyline was all about not believing in Santa Claus. The title was a line from the movie. 

Sometimes when you stand in faith or believe in faith you may have skeptics or nay sayers. Think of all the extraordinary stories of faith in The Bible. 

How about the Virgin birth of Jesus? Sarah having a baby well past child bearing age. There are still faith miracles today. Just believe. 

PRAYER: I thank you for helping me believe  that if you have faith nothing is impossible. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Experience A New Beginning

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Happy New Year! Wherever you are today take time to begin the new year with prayer. Don’t be too busy or preoccupied to forget about it. It may be a challenge as in my case at 0 Dark thirty I will be on a tour bus headed for grandstand seats at Tournament of Roses parade but will still figure out how to do it. 

I like how each year gives us a new chance, a fresh calendar, the ability to start over. So why not purpose in your heart you finally will. 

My former church in Alabama Church of the Highlands has 21 Days of Prayer in January 5-25 and people throughout the World participate online. It is something I look forward to each year. If you live in Alabama and can go to one of their campuses in person do so. Their website is www.churchofthehighlands.com/21daysfor info. Now go be blessed. 

PRAYER: Today I am excited about a brand new day to make up for stuff in my past I messed up on and with your help to start doing things God’s way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.