#2082 Do What God Tells You
Psalms 119:166 I wait expectantly for your salvation; God, I do what you tell me.
Are you doing what God tells you to do as you wait expectantly on Him?
Month: November 2018
#2081 Serenity Prayer Devotional 29
READ TITUS 2:11-14
No matter how terrible our past has been, we can make changes for the better in our mind, body, and spirit.
Some of us may have come to the conclusion that we just can’t change. But if we are willing to place our life in God’s hands, there is always hope for positive change and a bright future. The apostle Paul wrote: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14).
God has promised us a wonderful future! In the present, he can keep us from constantly falling into sin if we call on him. Our willingness to let go of the things we cannot change in our past will free us to make positive changes for a healthy future
#2080 My Daily Devotions
The Storm Forms
If you are easily offended, you’ll always struggle. All authority is God-sent. Most storms come when we’re offended by someone, especially those in authority over us. When acting as the hands and feet of Jesus, serving others, it’s critical to know you cannot be effective and offended at the same time. Offense will hinder you from seeing the truth and loving another into recovery.
Whenever you stumble over Jesus, you’re amid a self-induced storm. Your entire perspective changes and knocks you off track of what God has for you, and where he desires to take you.
It’s critical when feeling offended, and you will, to go directly to the source and talk to them about it. Don’t run to others and spread the poison. If rehearsed and enabled, offense will become part of your response to just about everything, and the only person it truly hurts is you.
Lord, I’m grateful to know storms come when I’m feeling offended. I pray I will go to the source whenever offense comes, to talk about it and give it to you. Amen.
MATTHEW 11:6
Resting in God
Bible Reading: John 14:12-14 
WE SOUGHT THROUGH PRAYER AND MEDITATION TO IMPROVE OUR CONSCIOUS CONTACT WITH GOD, PRAYING ONLY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL FOR US AND THE POWER TO CARRY IT OUT
We may have lived most of our lives trying to take care of our own needs. Our addictive behaviours may have been misplaced attempts to accomplish this very thing. Once we’ve given up our addictions, it’s still hard to rely on others to do things for us, even when we don’t have the power to handle them ourselves. This tendency to avoid reliance on others may come into play in our prayer lives, making it hard for us to depend on God.
Jesus told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:12-14)
Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth to do anything. He demonstrated this throughout his life by the mighty miracles he performed. We may feel that it would take a miracle to deal with some of our unresolved issues. But we may also be afraid of being disappointed if we rely on God to meet our needs. Jesus has given us an open door and strong assurances that there’s no need too big or too small. We really can rely on him for anything
When our requests are in line with God’s will, he promises to answer.
DAY 328
Facing Our Fears
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ” JOSHUA 1:9
A while back, a woman in our recovery group told me that she had faced one of her fears. “It wasn’t a very big one,” she added. I urged her to tell me more, and she did.
“I’m afraid of bugs. I can’t even bear to touch one,” she told me. “But the other day there were some crickets in my house. I tried to shoo them out, which didn’t work. I thought about squashing them, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Finally, I couldn’t think of any other way to get them out except to catch them and carry them outside. That was so hard, but I did it. I could feel them moving in my closed hand, and I almost lost it, but I held on until I was outside. Afterward, I felt good about facing my fear, even if it was just a small one.” while back, a woman in our recovery group told me that she had faced one of her fears. “It wasn’t a very big one,” she added. I urged her to tell me more, and she did.
“There’s no such thing as a small fear,” I told her. “All our fears are big. Anytime we overcome one of them, we come away better prepared for the next hurdle in our lives. We know for a fact that victory is possible. I can’t wait to see what you’re going to tackle next!”
In a way, we grow by going from fear to fear. With each victory, we gain courage and confidence until we become fearless, able to do without hesitation all God asks of us.
PRAYER
Father, I want to be fearless, but I’m still pretty fearful. Help me as I strive to conquer one fear at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
#328 OBSERVE HOW YOU LIVE 
1 John 1:7 We walk in the light, just as he is in the light. Then we share life with one another. And the blood of Jesus, his Son, makes us pure from all sin.
Our light is a reflection of Christ’s presence in our lives. He helps us to see our way and God shows us how to walk in His way. In the process of recovery, we are never to present ourselves as the light to others, but to always point them to personal relationship with Jesus.
The light of Jesus truth is revealed in and through our lives as we put into practice all we have learned through recovery. The truth of His involvement in our lives becomes evident to others when they get to know us and observe how we live.
- Do your actions align with what you say about your recovery?
Prayer: Lord today as I mix with others let my actions marry up with what I say.
#2079 The Great Commandment
Mark 12:28-34 One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The one that says, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ “The second is: ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.” The teacher of religion replied, “Sir, you have spoken a true word in saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is far more important to love him with all my heart and understanding and strength, and to love others as myself, than to offer all kinds of sacrifices on the altar of the Temple.” Realizing this man’s understanding, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared ask him any more questions.
#2078 It’s In ‘The Book’
Psalms 119:18 Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.
We can be down on the Bible because we are not up on it. We need to get into it and allow it to get into us.
The Bible is full of instructions for living right. I often hear people say “I don’t understand the Bible.”
Step Eleven of the Alcoholics Anonymous steps says “We sought through ‘prayer’ and ‘meditation’ to improve our ‘conscious contact’ with God.
Ephesians 6:18 Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
John 17:9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You.” Who has God put in your sphere of influence?
Mark 11:24 I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything.
Joshua 1:8 Don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.
Psalms 48:9 Lord, here in your Temple we meditate upon your kindness and your love.
Psalms 119:52 I watch for your ancient landmark words, and know I’m on the right track.
Proverbs 4:24 Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Proverbs 29:20 Observe the people who always talk before they think– even simpletons are better off than they are.
1 Corinthians 4:20 God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.
What I want to talk about now is the various ways God’s Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. Remember how you were when you didn’t know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It’s different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say “Jesus be damned!” Nor would anyone be inclined to say “Jesus is Master!” without the insight of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:1-3
If you are struggling to understand the Bible can I suggest you seek to discover God’s purpose for your life, implement it to the best of your ability and work at improving yourrelationship with God by will spending time daily in prayer, reading the Bible and meditating on it.
#2077 Be Guided by God
Proverbs 20:18 Make plans by asking for guidance.
STEP ELEVEN In order to discover God’s purpose for my life, implement it and to improve my relationship with Him, I will spend time daily in prayer, reading the Bible and meditating on it.
Recovery is a spiritual battle. To succeed in it we need spiritual guidance. The best sources of spiritual guidance any of us can us are God’s Word and prayer.
God’s guidance for our futures comes with obedience to Him and His Word in the present. When we focus on Him instead of focusing on the results we want to achieve we see beyond temporary setbacks or roadblocks.
His guidance rarely follows our plans. If I had seen all the things I had to go through in my life to get me to where I am now I am not confident I would still be here. Thankfully I have a Saviour who knows me better that I know myself who guides me daily and knows what is best for me.
- Are you allowing God to guide you where you don’t necessarily want to go?
#2076 The Word For Recovery
People with their minds set on you [God], you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Isaiah 26:3 ~ Revelation 3:21 ~ James 1:2 ~ Philippians 4:6
#2075 Chosen For Recovery
WE ARE CHOSEN TO LOVE OTHERS
John 13:35 “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples–when they see the love you have for each other.”
WE ARE CHOSEN TO TRAIN OTHERS IN HIS WAY OF LIVING
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
WE ARE CHOSEN TO SHOW OTHERS HARD TIMES ARE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Acts 14:22 Putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn’t be easy: “Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”
#2074 How Well Do You Know Him?
John 14:5-7 Thomas said, “Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?” Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”
#2073 The Word For Recovery
God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge–a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. Because of Christ–dying that death, shedding that blood–you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.
“This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure.
“Don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’–out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take. If we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ~ Ephesians 2:13
John 3:19-20 ~ John 3:7-8 ~ Joshua 1:8-9 ~ 1 John 1:7-8