July Devotionals 1-15

DEVOTIONALS ON THIS PAGE

July 01 – Ever Forgotten Where You Were? When You Lose Your Way

July 02 – Wherein Have You Robbed God?

July 03 – What Can You Take Into Eternity?

July 04 – An Infinite God

July 05 – He Who Dwells in the Shelter of the Most High

July 06 – The Titanic, The Icy Waters, and the Last Words of the Evangelist, Harper

July 07 – Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged

July 08 – God Works in Mysterious Ways

July 09 – The 7 Attributes of God

July 10 – The Names of God

July 11 – A Wayward Spouse – Hosea

July 12 – Meditating in the Word of God

July 13 – So That We May Receive Adoption as Sons

July 14 – A Man Plans His Way

July 15 – With Much Knowledge is Much Sorrow

July 01

Ever Forgotten Where You Were? When You Lose Your Way

There is but a step between me and death.” – 1 Sam 20:3

Sometimes in our busy and hurried world we can lose our way. I am reminded of a story about two painters that were employed to fresco the walls of a magnificent cathedral more than a century ago. Both stood on rude scaffolding constructed for the purpose, some distance from the floor.

One of the men was so intent upon his work, forgetting where he was, stepped back slowly, surveying critically the work of his brush, until he had neared the edge of the plank on which he stood. At that moment, his companion perceiving his friend’s danger, seized a wet brush and flung it against the wall, splattering the picture with unsightly blotches of color.

The painter flew forward, and lunged upon his friend with fierce anger, until he suddenly became aware of the danger he had just escaped. Then, with tears of gratitude, he blessed the hand that had saved him.

How often do we get so absorbed with the pictures of our world that we become unconscious of our own peril? We can get so caught up in our humanity and the pleasantries it has to offer, that we have no idea just how far we have veered from the path that God has planned for us. Often times without knowing it, we may be so very close to our own demise. It is then that God in His mercy often chooses to dash out “beautiful things,” and draw us; at the very time we are complaining of His dealings, into His outstretched arms of love.

God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us. He can see us at the edge of the plank, where we are blinded by the object that has captured our attention. God may use a friend to splatter our best-laid plans, but only for our own good. If we wouldn’t let our best friend fall to their death, why would we expect anything less from our Savior?

The Bible says that God’s mercies are new every day (Lam 3:22). God is merciful. His hands are there to catch us, to break our fall, and He will remove a stumbling block in our lives, even if it makes us angry for a moment. Because when all the dust has cleared, and the story has unfolded, it is often the prayers that God seemingly “ignored” that have often saved us from certain Spiritual death. Let us all pray that we might trust Him today in His infinite knowledge and lean not on our own finite understanding. Maybe then, we could walk away from the edge that threatens to draw us away from the masterpiece that our Father is creating in each of us.

EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

WE HAVE BECOME SO ENGROSSED IN WORK

"We have become so engrossed in the work of the Lord that we have forgotten the Lord of the work"

- A.W. Tozer (1897–1963) American Christian Pastor, Author,

THE LORD WILL GO AHEAD OF YOU

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

- Deuteronomy 31:8

YOUR RIGHT HAND SUSTAINES ME

"You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way."

- Psalm 18:35-36

NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME

"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

- Isaiah 54:17

Photo Credit: italianrenaissance.org/a-closer-look-michelangelos-painting-of-the-sistine-chapel-ceiling/

Words to Think About…

WHAT WOULD YOU CARRY?

An ancient city was besieged, and at length, obliged to the people in the city to surrender. In the city were two brothers, who had obliged the conquering general, and received permission to leave the city before it was set on fire, taking with them as much of their property as each could carry. The two youths appeared at the gates of the city, one of them carrying their father, and the other carrying their mother.

I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

- Deuteronomy 31:6

ENGRAVED ON THE PALM OF HIS HANDS

"Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me."

- Isaiah 49:16

IM SURE OF THIS

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

- Philippians 1:6

KEEP ME SAFE, MY GOD

"Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge."

- Psalm 16:1

YOU ARE MY REFUGE AND SHIELD

"You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."

- Psalm 119:114

HE SHIELDS ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE

"As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him."

- Psalm 18:30

July 02

Wherein Have You Robbed God?

"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.'” - Malachi 3:8-10

WHILE HE WAS GONE, THE ROBBER CAME

Many years ago, a man who had obtained many of this world’s treasures, went on another of his many long journeys. This man had traveled the world over as an adventurer and explorer. He had been to places and collected artifacts that people only dream about.

While he was gone, the Robber came.

The robber had awaited this opportunity. He knew of this man’s reputation as a collector of rare artifacts. This man had accumulated much wealth and priceless artifacts in the Orient, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Now, this collection of world treasures was going to be his.

News travels fast among the curious. People gathered together around the house of the traveler, knowing that he was due home that day by train ride. Many interested people were gathered there to see his reaction to having had the robber steal the valuables he had collected over a lifetime from his home.

The long journey home had worn down the traveler, and he arrived exhausted, yet successful from his new adventure. Tired as was, he didn’t even notice the people gathered around his house. He just walked right past them into the house.

The people took a breath as the man entered his home. A silence came over the crowd. A faint laughter arose from within the house. People thought that the man had gone mad. As they peered into the open door, they called out to the man, “Did the robber take all that you own?”

The man emerged with a smile in his eyes. He said, “Yes, the robber did come. Yes, the robber did take the jade I sought in the Orient, the rare books I collected from Europe, the tribal artifacts I discovered in Africa, and the precious pictures I took in the Holy Land. Yes, the robber did come!”

The people stared in amazement, yet confused about his demeanor when such an apparent tragedy had occurred in this man’s life. The man continued in a booming voice to towards the people gathered around his home, “Yes, the robber did take these things, yet he could never steal the joy I had in finding the jade in the Orient, nor the knowledge from the rare books that I collected, nor the adventure lived in obtaining the tribal artifacts, nor my experience of seeing the Holy Land with my own eyes. Yes, the Robber did come, but he did not take all that I own!”

This powerful story illustrates how we should view our earthly possessions. What would the Robber take from you if he came to your home today?

GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

- Luke 6:38

GOD ENTRUSTED YOU WITH THAT MONEY

"Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?"

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher and Author

THE ROBBER AND THE STOLEN SERMONS

A minister had been preaching one evening, in a village at some distance from his home; when, on his return, he was stopped by a footpad, who presented a pistol, and demanded his money; and the thief, feeling some papers in his pocket, took them also away with him, saying, that for anything he knew, there might be bank-notes among them. These papers were, however, manuscript sermons, written out at length in a fair and legible hand. Some months afterwards, a respectable-looking man called upon the same minister, recalled to his recollection the robbery, stated that he had been the robber, restored the watch and the sum of money equivalent to that which he had taken away, and stated the cause of his making restitution was, that upon looking over the papers, he found a sermon on the words, "Thou shalt not steal." The singularity of this circumstances induced him to read it; and the impression produced by its warnings upon him was so powerful that he abandoned his profligate courses, became an altered man, devoted himself to industrious labour, and took the earliest opportunity of restoring the property he had stolen.

- Moral and Religious Anecdotes by Norman Islay Macleod C. 1870s

MONEY TRANSMUTTED INTO EVERLASTING TREASURE

“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

YOU WILL BE ENRICHED BY YOUR GENEROSITY

“You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service.”

- 2 Corinthians 9:11-13

THE LORD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

- 2 Corinthians 9:7

ALSO, EXCEL IN THE GRACE OF GIVING

“But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

- 2 Corinthians 8:7

DO GOOD, SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

- Hebrews 13:16

EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN

“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”

- Luke 6:34-35

YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED YOUR COMFORT

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.”

- Luke 6:24-25

IN ALL MY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE LORD

"In all of my years of service to my Lord, I have discovered a truth that has never failed and has never been compromised. That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities that one has the ability to out give God. Even if I give the whole of my worth to Him, He will find a way to give back to me much more than I gave."

- Charles H. Spurgeon. (1834-1892) English Pastor Clergyman

Photo Source: olivercowdery.com/smithhome/smithtrs.htm

Words to Think About Giving...

GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. "

- 2 Corinthians 9:7

GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

- Luke 6:38

BUT ONLY IN GIVING

"The most obvious lesson in Christ's teaching is that there is no happiness in having or getting anything, but only in giving."

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist

YOU CAN NEVER LOVE WITHOUT GIVING

“You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”

- Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) Irish Christian Missionary in India

A GENEROUS PERSON WILL PROSPER

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

- Proverbs 11:25

GOD ENTRUSTED YOU WITH MONEY

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”

- John Wesley (1703-1791) English Cleric and Minister

THE WORLD ASKS

“The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?”

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer

THE EXCELLENCY OF CHARITY

“He that rightly understands the reasonableness and excellency of charity will know that it can never be excusable to waste any of our money in pride and folly.”

- William Law (1686-1761) Church of England Cleric

THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

- 1 Timothy 6:9

YOU SHALL GIVE GENEROUSLY

“You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.”

- Deuteronomy 15:10

EVERY GENEROUS ACT OF GIVING

“Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.”

- James 1:17

SHE GAVE OUT OF HER POVERTY

“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.”

- Mark 12:42-44

WILL A MAN ROB GOD?

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. "

- Malachi 3:8

July 03

What Can You Take Into Eternity?

THE PROMISE MADE TO US

"This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life."

- John 17:3

THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

- Luke 18:30

ANCIENT HISTORY RECORDS

"Ancient history records, that a certain city was besieged, and at great length obliged to surrender. In the city there were two brothers, who had, in some way, obliged the conquering general; and in consequence of this, received permission to leave the city before it was set on fire, taking with them as much property as each could carry about his person. Accordingly, the two youths appeared at the gates of the city, one of them carrying their father, and the other their mother."

- Moral and Religious Anecdotes, Rev. George Cheever, D.D. 1870

THE THOUGHT OF ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS

"Transiency is stamped on all our possessions, occupations, and delights. We have the hunger for eternity in our souls, the thought of eternity in our hearts, the destination for eternity written on our inmost being, and the need to ally ourselves with eternity proclaimed by the most short-lived trifles of time. Either these things will be the blessing or the curse of our lives. Which do you mean that they shall be for you?"

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

WHY DO YOU PLANT TREES?

A very poor and aged man, busied in planting and grafting an apple-tree, was rudely interrupted by the interrogation, ""Why do you plant trees, who cannot hope to eat the fruit of them?" He raised himself up, and, leaning on his spade, replied, "Someone planted trees before I was born, and I have eaten the fruit; I now plant for others, that the memorial of my gratitude may exist when I am dead and gone."

- Sunday Scholar Companion Page 175 Richard Sterling

ETERNITY IN THEIR HEARTS

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

- Ecclesiastes 3:11

WHAT MUST I DO TO OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE?

"And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

- Matthew 19:16

RICHES IN CHRIST

A.W. Tozer once said; "We'll hardly get our feet out of time into eternity that we'll bow our heads in shame and humiliation. We'll gaze on eternity and say, 'Look at all the riches there were in Jesus Christ, and I've come to the Judgment Seat almost a pauper.'"

WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE

"Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life."

- John 6:68

WHO HAS ETERNAL LIFE?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

- John 5:24

ETERNAL LIFE WHICH YOU ARE ALLED

"Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

- 1 Timothy 6:12

IF HEAVEN WERE BY MERIT

"If heaven were by merit, it would never be heaven to me, for if I were in it I should say, "I am sure I am here by mistake; I am sure this is not my place; I have no claim to it." But if it be of grace and not of works, then we may walk into heaven with boldness."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

GOD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE

"And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

- Jude 1:21

Photo Source: theconversation.com/pauls-apocalypse-gave-us-heaven-and-hell-several-times-over-40836

Words to Think About Evil…

THE CHORDS OF ETERNITY

"Every day we step on chords that vibrate throughout eternity"

- Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) American Presbyterian Minister

THE BRINK OF ETERNITY

"I love to live on the brink of eternity."

- David Brainard (1718-1747) American Missionary to Native Indians

REMEMBER ALWAYS YOUR END

"Remember always your end, and that lost time does not return."

- Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) Christian Theologian

PRICE TO GAIN ETERNITY

"I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."

- John Wesley (1703-1791) English Cleric and Minister

PROMISES OF GOD

"I believe the promises of God enough to venture an eternity on them."

- Isaac Watts (1674-1728) English Congregational Minister

NOW TO THE KING ETERNAL

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

- 1 Timothy 1:17

WRITTEN TO YOU WHO BELIEVE

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

1 John 5:13

WHOEVER BELIEVES

"So that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life."

- John 3:15

RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE

"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

- Matthew 25:46

TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE

"And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

- John 6:40

ETERNITY'S VIEW

"A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit."

- Classic and Contemporary Excerpts

WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR ETERNAL LIFE

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."

- John 12:50

July 4

An Infinite God

HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE

"Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite."

- Psalm 147:5.

THE HEAVENS CANNOT CONTAIN THEE

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"

- 1 Kings 8:27

DISCOURSE ON THE ETERNITY OF GOD

"When we enjoy God, we enjoy Him in His eternity without any flux… Time is fluid, but eternity is stable; and after many ages, the joys will be as savory and satisfying as if they had been but that moment first tasted by our hungry appetites. When the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you, it shall be so far from ever setting, that after millions of years are expired, as numerous as the sands on the seashore, the sun, in the light of whose countenance you shall live, shall be as bright as at the first appearance; He will be so far from ceasing to flow, that He will flow as strong, as full, as at the first communication of Himself in glory to the creature. God is always vigorous and flourishing; a pure act of life, sparkling new and fresh rays of life and light to the creature, flourishing with a perpetual spring, and contenting the most capacious desire; forming your interest, pleasure, and satisfaction; with an infinite variety, without any change or succession; He will have variety to increase delights, and eternity to perpetuate them; this will be the fruit of the enjoyment of an infinite and eternal God."

- Stephen Charnock (1628-1680) English Puritan Clergyman

HIS GREATNESS IS UNSEARCHABLE

"Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable."

- Psalm 145:3

ONE HOUR WITH GOD INFINITELY EXCEEDS

"Oh! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world."

— David Brainard (1718-1747) American Missionary to Native Indians

HE IS INFINITE YET FINITE

"The truth is, that the concept of God which I had always entertained, and which I had accused Christians of teaching to the world, was a concept of a being who was simply impossible. He was infinite and yet finite; perfect and imperfect; eternal and yet changing - subject to all the variations of emotion, love, sorrow, hate, revenge, that men are prey to ... What a relief it was for me, now, to discover not only that no idea of ours, let alone any image, could adequately represent God, but also that we should not allow ourselves to be satisfied with any such knowledge of Him."

— Thomas Merton (1915-1968) American Catholic Author

INFINATE GLORY

"It is a proper and excellent thing for infinite glory to shine forth; and for the same reason, it is proper that the shining forth of God's glory should be complete; that is, that all parts of his glory should shine forth, that every beauty should be proportionably effulgent, that the beholder may have a proper notion of God."

- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) American Revivalist

ROOTED IN GOD'S INFINITE LOVE

"To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, power, or popularity, but in God's infinite love, to that degree can we let go of our need to judge."

- Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-1996) Dutch Catholic priest, and theologian.

THE MERCY OF GOD INFINITE

"The mercy of God is infinite too, and the man who has felt the grinding pain of inward guilt knows that this is more than academic. 'Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' Abounding sin is the terror of the world, but abounding grace is the hope of mankind. however sin may abound it still has its limits, for it is the product of finite minds and hearts; but God's much more" introduces us to infinitude. Against our deep creature-sickness stands God's infinite ability to cure."

— A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Missionary

EVERYTHING THAT RELATES TO GOD IS INFINITE

"Everything which relates to God is infinite. We must therefore, while we keep our hearts humble, keep our aims high. Our highest services are indeed but finite, imperfect. But as God is unlimited in goodness, He should have our unlimited love."

—Hannah More (1745-1833) English Religious Writer

NOTHING BUT THE INFINITE CAN EVER SATISFY

"Nothing but the infinite can ever satisfy me; I am such a great sinner that I must have infinite merit to wash my sin away; but we have had our sin removed, and found that there was merit to spare; we have had our hunger relieved at the feast of sacred love."

— Charles H. Spurgeon. (1834-1892) English Pastor Clergyman

IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER

"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

- Colossians 1:17

Photo Credit: logosbiblestudy.com/articles/2017/8/27/a-portrait-of-god-in-the-bible

Words to Think About…

I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was, and who is to come. The Almighty.”

- Revelation 1:8

HIS UNDERSTANDING HAS NO LIMIT

“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

- Psalm 147:5

THE LORD IS AN EVERLASTING GOD

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom.”

- Isaiah 40:28

THE LORDS EYES ARE EVERYWHERE

“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

- Proverbs 15:3

THE LORD SEES ALL MANKIND

“From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth…”

- Psalm 33:13

NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THEE

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

- Jeremiah 32:17

HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever.”

- Psalm 33:11

HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE

"Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."

- Psalm 147:5

HE POSSESSES IMORTALITY

"...who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen."

- 1 Timothy 6:16

WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD

The Lord is high above all nations;

His glory is above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God,

Who is enthroned on high,

Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in heaven and in the earth?

- Psalm 113:4-6

THE HIGHEST HEAVEN

“But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built."

- 2 Chronicles 6:18

July 05

He Who Dwells in the Shelter of the Most High

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1

HE WILL HIDE ME IN THE SHELTER

"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock."

- Psalm 27:5

WILL SHELTER THEM WITH HIS PRESENCE

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence."

- Revelation 7:15

A SHELTER FROM THE STORM

"For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall."

- Isaiah 25:4

TIS GRACE HAS BROUGHT ME SAFE

"Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home."

- John Newton (1725-1807), English Slave Trader Who Became an Anglican Minister

OUR GOD IS A GOD WHO SAVES

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."

- Psalm 68:19-20

YOU STORE THEM IN YOUR SHELTER

"Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues."

- Psalm 31:19-20

THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD

"The safest place in all the world is in the will of God, and the safest protection in all the world is the name of God."

Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman, Bible Teacher

YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE

"Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You ar emy hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."

- Psalm 32:6-8

YOU ARE MY REFUGE AND MY SHIELD

"You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees."

- Psalm 119:114-17

THE LORD REMAINS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM

"Everyone’s eyes are on you, as you give them their food in due time. You open your hand and keep on satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all of his ways and graciously loving in all of his activities. The Lord remains near to all who call out to him, to everyone who calls out to him sincerely. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, hearing their cry and saving them."

- Psalm 145:15-19

Photo Source: veilofveronica.blog/2017/01/31/the-still-small-voice-a-call-to-prayer/

Words to Think About...

UNDER THE SHELTER OF HIS WINGS

"Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah"

- Psalm 61:4

THERE IS SHELTER

"In Jesus Christ on the Cross there is refuge; there is safety; there is shelter; and all the power of sin upon our track cannot reach us when we have taken shelter under the Cross that atones for our sins."

- A. C. Dixon (1854–1925) Baptist Pastor, Bible Expositor, and Evangelist

IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

"The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble."

- Psalm 9:9

WHOEVER TRUSTS IN THE LORD

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."

- Proverbs 29:25

UNTIL IT RESTS IN THEE

"Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee."

- Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo

FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

- Isaiah 41:10

PRAYER IS A STRONG FORTRESS

"Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Theologian and Church Reformer

July 06

The Titanic, The Icy Waters, and the Last Words of the Evangelist, Harper

“Death is Swallowed up in Victory” – 1 Corinthians 15:54

It was on April 15th, 1912 that the Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean at 2:20 AM. It has been 100 years since Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, killing more than 1,500 passengers yet little is known of one story that involves a heroic pastor and his passion to save lives and souls.

When the Evangelist John Harper and 6 year-old daughter boarded the Titanic they were headed to preach at the Moody Church in Chicago, named for its famous founder Dwight L. Moody.

When the Titanic hit an iceberg, Harper successfully led his daughter to a lifeboat. Harper ran person to person, passionately telling others about Christ. As the water began to submerge the Titanic, Harper was heard shouting, “women, children, and the unsaved into the lifeboats.”

The Titanic disappeared beneath the deep frigid waters leaving hundreds of people in the icy waters with no realistic chance for rescue.

At a Christian conference in Switzerland, an old man gave his testimony. He told how he had been on the Titanic, which went down in the north Atlantic with some 2,200 passengers on board. He had been 1 of the 700 who survived.

He told the story how he found himself struggling in the cold sea water to stay afloat. Near him swam the American evangelist, Harper, who asked him, “Are you saved? Think about your soul.”

With this, Harper sank under a wave of the icy sea, then after a few seconds reappeared. Again, he asked, “Are you prepared to appear before the Lord?”

The man replied, “I don’t know how to get saved.” Harper told him,

“These were Harper’s last words,” continued the old man. “I watched as he succumbed to the rigors of the icy Atlantic. A boat finally picked me up. I am Harper’s last convert.”

When the Titanic set sail there were 3 classes of passengers listed. Yet immediately after the disaster, the White Star Line in Liverpool, England placed a list of passengers on a board outside its office with only 2 classes of passengers reading, KNOWN TO BE SAVED and KNOWN TO BE LOST.

As the day of our Lord’s return gets nearer we see the earth sinking in an ocean sin and depravity. The Evangelist Harper spent his last moments giving hope to the perishing. Be open to the Lord bringing people in your life that are not saved. You never know if the words you share with them will the last words they hear before stepping into Eternity.

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

- Psalm 116:15

GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

- John 15:13

LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

- John 14:1-3

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

- Romans 8:28

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

- John 3:16-17

JESUS ANSWERED HIM

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”"

- John 3:3

Photo Credit: Unable to Find Source

Words to Think About...

ON LIVING

“Those people, who did the greatest things for God, weren’t really trying at all. They were just being obedient.”

– Rich Mullins 1956-1997 (Christian Singer Song Writer)

ALEXANDER THE GREAT LEFT ORDERS

Alexander the Great left orders that when he was carried to the grave, his hands should not be wrapped in the specially treated clothes used by the embalmers of that day, but rather be exposed to view so that all might see that they were empty!

HE IS NO FOOL

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, for what he cannot lose.”

– Jim Elliot (1927-1956 ~ Missionary murdered by the Iriqui Indians. Written in his journal at age 22:

A 100 YEARS FROM NOW

A Hundred Years from Now What Will Matter Then?

It will not make any difference friend, a hundred years from now, if you live in a stately mansion or a floating river scow;

If the clothes you wear are tailor made, or put together somehow, if you eat big steaks, or beans and cakes a hundred years from now,

It won’t matter your bank account, or what make of car you drive, for the grave will claim all your riches and fame, and the things for which you strive,

There’s a deadline we all must meet, and no one will show up late, it won’t matter all the places you’ve been, each one will keep that date,

We will only have in eternity what we give away on earth, when we go to the grave we can only save the things of eternal worth,

What matters friend the earthly gain, for which some men will bow, for your destiny will be sealed you see, a hundred years from now.

THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."

- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

PREACH THE MESSAGE, BE READY

"Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction."

- 2 Timothy 4:2

July 07

Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" - Matthew 7:1-3

FOR GOD HIMSELF IS JUDGE

"The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah"

- Psalm 50:6

THE SPIRITUAL PERSON JUDGES BY ALL THINGS

"The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one."

- 1 Corinthians 2:15

WITH THE JUDGEMENT YOU PRONOUNCE

"For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

- Matthew 7:2

JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR FAIRLY

"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."

- Leviticus 19:15

WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE PEOPLE

"We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started."

- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Clergyman, Scholar

OR JUDGES HIS BROTHER

"Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."

- James 4:11

RESIST THE URGE TO JUDGE

"Has someone wronged you recently? Resist the urge to judge that person. Instead, pray that God might use you to reach the offender."

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

WHEN A MAN HAS JUDGED HIMSELF

"When a man has judged himself, Satan is put out of office. When he lays anything to a saint's charge, he is able to retort and say, It is true, Satan, I am guilty of these sins, but I have judged myself already for them; and having condemned myself in the lower court of conscience, God will acquit me in the upper court of heaven."

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686) Puritan Preacher

GOD'S TRUTH JUDGES CREATED THINGS

"God's truth judges created things out of love, and Satan's truth judges them out of envy and hatred."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1900-1945) German Christian Executed by Nazis

YOU JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

"You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one."

- John 8:15

GOD JUDGES WHAT WE GIVE

"God judges what we give by what we keep."

- George Mueller 1805-1898) English Evangelist and Helper of Orphans

MEN WHO HAVE JUDGED THEMSELVES

"God is looking for broken men who have judged themselves in the light of the cross of Christ. When He wants anything done, He takes up men who have come to the end of themselves, whose confidence is not in themselves, but in God."

- Harry Ironside (1876-1951) American Bible Teacher, Theologian

DO NOT JUDGE BY APPEARANCES

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

- John 7:24

JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE WORD

"The one who judges according to the word and law of the Lord, and forms his judgments by the rule of charity, always begins with subjecting himself to examination, and preserves a proper medium and order in his judgments."

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

BIBLE BASED WISDOM MUST JUDGE

"Confidence that one's impressions are God-given is no guarantee that this is really so, even when they persist and grow stronger through long seasons of prayer. Bible-based wisdom must judge them."

- J. I. Packer (1926-2020) Canadian Evangelical Theologian

THE RULER OF THIS WORLD IS JUDGED

"Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

- John 16:11

YOU HAVE JUDGED RIGHTLY

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

- Luke 7:43

Photo Credit: :Lucas Cranach d.J. - Christus und die Ehebrecherin.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Words to Think About…

BECAUSE HE JUDGED ME FAITHFUL

"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,"

- 1 Timothy 1:12

I JUDGE ALL THINGS

"I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity."

- John Wesley (1703-1791) English Cleric and Minister

GOD JUDGED IT BETTER

"God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist."

- St. Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Philosopher

REFUSE TO JUDGE THESE THINGS

"But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”

- Acts 18:15

LET GOD BE THE JUDGE

"Yes, let God be the Judge. Your job today is to be a witness."

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

AND YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;"

- Luke 6:37

DO NOT GRUMBLE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER

"Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door."

- James 5:9

I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself."

- 1 Corinthians 4:3

YOU JUDGE NOT FOR MAN

"And said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment."

- 2 Chronicles 19:6

UNLESS WE JUDGE OURSELVES

"Wherever the flesh appears, there is something that Satan can touch, and unless we judge ourselves, can turn to grief of heart in us and dishonour to God."

- G. V. Wigram (1805-1879) English Biblical Scholar

I WILL NOT JUDGE A PERSON

"I will not judge a person to be spiritually dead whom I have judged formerly to have had spiritual life, though I see him at present in a swoon (faint) as to all evidences of the spiritual life. And the reason why I will not judge him so is this -- because if you judge a person dead, you neglect him, you leave him; but if you judge him in a swoon, (faint) though never so dangerous, you use all means for the retrieving of his life."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

NEVER JUDGE BETWEEN FRIENDS

"Never be a judge between thy friends in any matter where both set their hearts upon the victory. If strangers or enemies be litigants, whatever side thou favorest, thou gettest a friend; but when friends are the parties thou losest one."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

July 08

The Right to Become Children of God

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12

THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

- 1 John 3:1

THAT YOU MAY BE BLAMELESS AND INNOCENT

"That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

- Philippians 2:15

EVIDENT WHO ARE THE CHILDRN OF GOD

"By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

- 1 John 3:10

REAL CHILDREN OF GOD

"When we have accepted Jesus Christ, we have become akin to the Father; having become real children of God, we then have the spirit of sonship by which we can come into His presence and make known our wants in a familiar way."

- A.C. Dixon (1854–1925) Baptist Pastor, Bible Expositor

THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEAR WITNESS

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

- Romans 8:16

YOU ARE NO LONGER A SLAVE

"Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

- Galatians 4:7

NOT CHILDREN OF GOD

"We must keep from sin. If Christ has indeed saved us from sin, we cannot bear the thought of falling into it. Those who take delight in sin are not the children of God. If you are a child of God, you hate it with a perfect hatred, and your very soul loathes it."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

"God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite."

- F. F. Bruce (1910 - 1990) Scottish Biblical Scholar

YOU SHALL BE SON'S AND DAUGHTER'S TO ME

“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty."

- 2 Corinthians 6:18

THE CHILDREN OF GOD CAN ADD

The world dares say no more for its device, than "while I live, I hope"; but the children of God can add by virtue of a living hope, "while I expire, I hope."

- Robert Leighton (1611-1684) Scottish Prelate and Scholar, Church Minister,

SON'S OF GOD THROUGH FAITH

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

- Galatians 3:26

Photo Source: jesus-story.net/jesus-children/

Words to Think About…

COUNTED AS OFFSPRING

"This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring."

- Romans 9:8

IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS

"For in Jesus Christ there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; even you may be the children of God, if you believe in Jesus."

- George Whitefield (1714-1770) Church of England Evangelist

GLORY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD

"That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

- Romans 8:21

CHILDREN OF GOD TAKING TIME

"How often we say about our earthly friends, "I really would like to have a good quiet settled talk with them so that I can really get to know them. And shouldn't we feel the same about our Heavenly Friend, that we may really get to know Him? These thoughts have taught me the importance of the children of God taking time to commune daily with their Father, so that they may get to know His mind and to understand better what His will is."

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer

LOVE THE CHILDREN OF GOD

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments."

- 1 John 5:2

THESE ARE THE SONS OF GOD

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

- Romans 8:14

BY THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD

"By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother."

- 1 John 3:10

DO NOT HINDER THEM

"But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

- Matthew 19:14

July 09

The 7 Attributes of God

FOR HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES

"For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

- Romans 1:20

NO ATTRIBUTE OF GOD MORE COMFORTING

"There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

- Hebrews 13:8

HE REMAINS FAITHFUL

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."

- 2 Timothy 2:13

FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING YOU ARE GOD

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

- Psalm 90:2

FOR I THE LORD DO NOT CHANGE

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

- Malachi 3:6

BUT YOU, O LORD, ARE ENTHONED FOREVER

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations."

- Psalm 102:12

BUT YOU, O LORD ARE MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."

INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY

"If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings."

- Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) American Missionary to Burma

GOD'S TIMELESSNESS IS INFINITE

The difference God's timelessness makes is that this now (which slips away from you even as you say the word now) is for Him infinite."

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar

APPOINTED BY INFINITE WISDOM

"Faith upholds a Christian under all trials, by assuring him that every painful dispensation is under the direction of his Lord; that chastisements are a token of His love; that the season, measure, and continuance of his sufferings, are appointed by Infinite Wisdom, and designed to work for his everlasting good; and that grace and strength shall be afforded him, according to his need."

- John Newton (1725-1790) Slave Trader Captain Turned Christian

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

- John 3:16

Photo Source: fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/attributes+of+god

Words to Think About…

THE SEVEN ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

Impartial
Infinite
Patient and Longsuffering
Self-Existent
Transcendent
Faithful
Love

GREAT IS OUR LORD

"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure."

Psalm 147:5

NOT A GOD FAR AWAY

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?"

- Jeremiah 23:23

AN INFINITE GOD

"An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

AND THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE

"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

- John 17:3

THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."

- John 6:63

GOD'S INFINITE MERCY

"Embrace in one act the two truths--thine own sin, and God's infinite mercy in Jesus Christ."

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

INFINITE GRACE

"Oh, what great happiness and bliss, what exaltation it is to address oneself to the Eternal Father. Always, without fail, value this joy which has been accorded to you by God's infinite grace."

- John of Kronstadt (1829–1909) Russian Orthodox Archpriest

INFINITE HOLINESS OF GOD

"It is great folly to cast your sins upon satan who tempted you, or upon your neighbor who provoked you; but it is a far greater sin, nay horrid blasphemy, to cast it upon God Himself. A greater affront than this cannot be offered to the infinite holiness of God."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian

July 10

The Names of God

Throughout the Bible, people have used many names to explain an Eternal God. Sometimes names were given in response to something God had done, other times names were given to describe who He is. This side of Heaven, it is impossible for our human minds to fully comprehend God’s infinite and awe-inspiring Eternal nature. Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better-known names of God in the Bible:

THE NAMES OF GOD

Abba: Father (Romans 8:15)

Alpha and Omega: The Beginning and End (Revelation 22:13)

Adonai: Lord Master (1 Samuel 24:8)

Ancient of Days: (Daniel 7)

Attiyq Youm: The Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13)

Christos: The Anointed One (Psalm 28:8)

El Chuwl: The God Who Gave You Birth (Isiaih 43:1-3)

El Deah: The God of Knowledge (139:13-18)

El, Eloah: God is Mighty, Strong Prominenet (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19)

El Elyon: The God Most High (Psalm 57:2)

El-Gibhor: Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)

El Olam: The Everlasting God (Psalm 90:1-3)

El Roi: The God Who Sees (Genesis 16)

El Shaddai: God Almighty (Genesis 17:11)

Elohim: The Creator (Genesis 1:1)

Jehovah (Yahweh): The Self-Existent One (Genesis 33:20)

Jehovah-Bore: The LORD Creator (Genesis 1:3)

Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD Our Provider (Genesis 22:14)

Jehovah-Nissi: The LORD Our Banner (Exodus 17:15)

Jehovah-Rapha: The LORD Our Healer (Exodus 15:26)

Jehovah-Raah: The LORD Our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

Jehovah-Sabbath: The LORD of Hosts (Isaiah 44:6)

Jehovah-Shalom: The LORD is Peace (Judges 6:24)

Jehovah-Shammah: The LORD is There (Ezekiel 48:35)

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The LORD Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

Jesus: (Luke 2:21)

Wonderful Counselor: (Isaiah 9:6)

Yahweh-M'Kaddesh: The Lord Sanctifies, Makes Holy (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28)

THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME

"Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

- Philippians 2:9-11

EVERYONE WHO IS CALLED BY MY NAME

"Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

-Isaiah 43:7

MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts."

- Malachi 1:11

THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

- Revelation 1:8

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_the_Father

Words to Think About…

THE GOD WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES

God is named Elohim more than 2,500 times in the Old Testament. Elohim means.

"The God who promises and has the

might to keep His promises."

THE NAME OF THE LORD

"The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

- Proverbs 18:10

WALK IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

"All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever."

- Micah 4:5

YOUR NAME, LORD, ENDURES FOREVER

"Your name, LORD, endures forever, your renown, LORD, through all generations."

- Psalm 135:13

CHRIST IS THE HUMILTY OF GOD

"Christ is the humility of God embodied in human nature; the Eternal Love humbling itself, clothing itself in the garb of meekness and gentleness, to win and serve and save us."

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Dutch Missionary

256 NAMES OF GOD IN BIBLE

"There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express."

- Billy Sunday (1862-1935) American Revivalist

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.”

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer, Scholar

July 11

A Wayward Spouse – Hosea

“Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, So that she cannot find her paths." - Hosea 2:6

In the book of Hosea (name means, Salvation), we see a played-out illustration that God's loyalty to His people is unwavering. God's people had turned to worshiping false gods and turned their backs on God's love. God tells His prophet Hosea to go and take an adulterous wife (Gomer) to show that God's love for an idolatrous nation of Israel be displayed in a living metaphor in themes of sin, judgement and forgiving love.

As the Book of Hosea unfolds, Gomer leaves her husband and three children and goes back into a life of sin and adultery. God then tells Hosea to that He has "hedged" up her ways in such a way that her lovers and sinful companions would lose their desire for her. As the story goes, Gomer is left destitute, her lovers have all forsaken her; and she sinks so low that she is being auctioned, naked as a slave.

God tells Hosea to go and buy her as an illustration of God's unconditional love to His people. If you have a wayward spouse, pray that God will "hedge" up their way so that the distractions, lusts and lures of this world will not be able to penetrate the hedge that you pray around them. The book of Hosea is an illustration for dealing with a wayward spouse. God does not want us to give up on wayward spouses like He does not give up on us when we fall. He wants us to continue to love them unconditionally as He goes after His lost ones.

The same term "hedge" used in this passage is also used in Job 1:10 where Satan complains that God has put a "hedge" around Job, and he cannot get to him.

The Book of Hosea assures us of God’s unconditional love for His people. It is also a story of how God is dishonored and angered by the actions of His children.

SO, I BOUGHT HER FOR FIFTEEN PIECES OF SILVER

"So, I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley." [the price of a common slave]

- Hosea 3:2

THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL ALLURE HER

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her."

- Hosea 2:14

GO TAKE YOURSELF AN ADULTEROUS WIFE

"When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, 'Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.’"

- Hosea 1:2

HAVE YOU NOT PUT A HEDGE AROUND HIM

"Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land."

- Job 1:10

THE MAN WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS WIFE

“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

- Malachi 2:16

MARRIAGE SHOULD BE HONORED BY ALL

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

- Romans 7:3

BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEART

He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so."

- Matthew 19:8

WHOSE WIFE SHALL SHE BE?

Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

- Matthew 25-28

AND UNTO THE MARRIED I COMMAND

"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife."

- 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

AND THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

- Genesis 2:24

I HAVE DRAWN THEE WITH LOVINGKINDNESS

"The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness."

- Hosea 11:4

Photo Source: veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/03/reflection-amazing-love-story-of-hosea.html

Words to Think About…

BE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

- 2 Corinthians 6:14

IF A MAN DIVORCES HIS WIFE

“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the LORD."

- Jeremiah 3:1

EVERY MAN THAT DIVORCES HIS WIFE

"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

- Matthew 5:32

A WIFE WHO IS AN UNBELIEVER

"To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her."

- 1 Corinthians 7:12

A HUSBAND WHO IS AN UNBELIEVER

"If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him."

- 1 Corinthians 7:13

WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE

"And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

- Matthew 19:9

THEY MAY BE WON OVER

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives."

- 1 Peter 3:1

BE STILL THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

- Exodus 14:14

FOR A MARRIED WOMAN IS BOUND

"For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage."

- Romans 7:2

MARRIAGE IS HONORABLE

"Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

- Hebrews 13:4

July 12

Meditating in the Word of God

IN HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers."

- Psalm 1:1-3

THE MEDIATION OF MY HEART

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

- Psalm 19:14

MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

- Joshua 1:8

LET MY MEDITATION BE PLEASING TO HIM

"Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; as for me, I shall be glad in the Lord."

- Psalm 104:34

MEDITATION IS THE TONGUE OF THE SOUL

"Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit; and our wandering thoughts in prayer are but the neglects of meditation and recessions from that duty; according as we neglect meditation, so are our prayers imperfect, - meditation being the soul of prayer and the intention of our spirit."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) Cleric in the Church of England

I MEDITATE ON YOU IN THE NIGHT WATCHES

"When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."

- Psalm 63:6

I WILL MEDIATE ON YOUR PRECEPTS

"I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word."

- Psalm 119:15-16

WHEN WE FIND A MAN MEDITATING

"When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful."

- D.L. Moody (1837–1899) American Evangelist and Preacher

MEDITATE ON ALL YOUR WORK

"I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds."

- Psalm 77:12

THE MORE YOU READ THE BIBLE

"The more you read the Bible; and the more you meditate on it, the more you will be astonished with it."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

IF I HAVE OBSERVED ANYTHING BY EXPERIENCE

"If I have observed anything by experience, it is this: a man may take the measure of his growth and decay in grace according to his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and the glory of Christ's Kingdom, and of His love."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

AS MEDIATION IS, SUCH IS A MAN

"Meditation doth discriminate and characterize a man; by this he may take a measure of his heart, whether it be good or bad; let me allude to that; 'For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.' Proverbs 23:7. As the meditation is, such is the man. Meditation is the touchstone of a Christian; it shows what metal he is made of. It is a spiritual index; the index shows what is in the book, so meditation shows what is in the heart."

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686) Puritan Preacher

HIS LOVINGKINDNESS IN THE DAYTIME

"The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life."

- Psalm 42:8

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_meditation

Words to Think About…

MEDITATE ON ALL YOUR DOINGS

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands."

- Psalm 143:5

ANTICIPATE THE NIGHT WATCHES

"My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word."

- Psalm 119:148

BEATEN TO POWDER BY MEDIATION

"The sweet spices of divine works must be beaten to powder by meditation, and then laid up in the cabinet of our memories."

- Abraham Wright (1611–1690) English Theological Writer

FILL UP YOUR TIME IN MEDITATION

"When you cease from labour, fill up your time in reading, meditation, and prayer: and while your hands are labouring, let your heart be employed, as much as possible, in divine thoughts."

- David Brainard (1718-1747) American Missionary to Native Indians

MEDITATE OFTEN UPON THEM

"You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look 'seven times,' that is, meditate often upon them, and you will see their increasing glory, like that increasing cloud'." (1 Kings 18:44)

- John Flavel (c1627-1691) English Puritan Minister

WITH PRAYER AND MEDITATION

"Some women will spend thirty minutes to an hour preparing for church externally (putting on special clothes and makeup, etc.). What would happen if we all spent the same amount of time preparing internally for church - with prayer and meditation?"

- Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) English Christian Evangelist

TAKE TIME MEDITATE BEFORE GOD

"Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard a thing for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded. God will never let you hold a spiritual thing for yourself; it has to be given back to Him that He may make it a blessing to others."

- Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) Scottish Baptist Evangelist

THE SOUL'S PERSPECTIVE GLASS

"Meditation is the soul's perspective glass, whereby, in her long removes, she discerneth God, as if he were nearer at hand."

- Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Writer, Divine, Moral, and Political

ESTABLISH HIS WORDS

“Please receive instruction from His mouth and establish His words in your heart."

- Job 22:22

July 13

So That We May Receive Adoption as Sons

"To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." - Galatians 4:5

HE PREDESTINED US FOR ADOPTION

"He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

- Ephesians 1:5

YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

- Romans 8:15

AND IF YOU BELONG TO CHRIST

"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise."

- Galatians 3:29

AS WE EAGERLY WAIT FOR ADOPTION

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

- Romans 8:23

IN THE MATTER OF GRACIOUS ADOPTION

"Who is to have authority in the matter of gracious adoption? The children of wrath? Surely not, and yet all men are such! No, it stands to reason, to common sense, that none but the parent can have the discretion to adopt."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

AND HE BECAME HER SON

"The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

- Acts 7:21

THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION AS SONS

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."

- Galatians 4:4-5

FOR SHE HAD NO FATHER OR MOTHER

"He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter."

- Esther 2:7

I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM

"I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,"

- 2 Samuel 7:14

NO LONGER A SLAVE, BUT A SON

"Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

- Galatians 4:7

ADOPTION IS HIGHER THAN JUSTIFICATION

"Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification. To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater."

- J. I. Packer (1926-2020) English Theologian, Cleric

AND TO THEM THE ADOPTION

"They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises."

- Romans 9:4

BELOVED, WE ARE NOW CHILDREN OF GOD

"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

- 1 John 3:2-3

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption_(theology)

Words to Think About…

ADOPTION IS THE GREATER MERCY

"Adoption is a greater mercy than Adam had in paradise."

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686), Puritan Preacher

BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"

- John 1:12

I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU

“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me, Says the Lord Almighty."

- 2 Corinthians 6:18

THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

"The spirit of prayer is the fruit and token of the Spirit of adoption."

- John Newton (1725-1790) Slave Trader Captain Turned Christian

TO BE SPECIFIC

"To be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

- Ephesians 3:6

WORTHY OF UNIVERSAL ADOPTION

"Nothing is impossible,' said one of the seven sages of Greece, 'to industry.' Let us change the word, 'industry,' to 'persevering prayer,' and the motto will be more Christian and more worthy of universal adoption."

- Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) American Missionary to Burma

WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE

"Also, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will."

- Ephesians 1:11

WHO ARE SONS OF ABRAHAM

"Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham."

- Galatians 3:7

SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

- Galatians 3:26

FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST

"And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

- Romans 8:17

July 14

A Man Plans His Way

"A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." - Proverbs 16:9

I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

- Jeremiah 29:11

YOUR PLANS WILL BE ESTABLISHED

"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."

- Proverbs 16:3

WITHOUT COUNSEL PLANS FAIL

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."

- Proverbs 15:22

THE PLANS OF THE DILIGENT

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."

- Proverbs 21:5

DO NOT PLAN EVIL AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR

"Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you."

- Proverbs 3:29

PLANS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS WORLD

"As believers, we are cut off from all thought of futures, from making plans in connection with this world. I shall not be ready for Christ to come if I am settled down in Sodom and trying to heap up its dross. Whatever duty the Lord has meant us to be doing, each one should be found at when He comes."

- G. V. Wigram (1805-1879) English Biblical Scholar

WHOEVER PLANS TO DO EVIL

"Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer."

- Proverbs 24:8

PLAN FOR THE FULLNESSS OF TIME

"As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

- Ephesians 1:10

YOUR PLAN PREDESTINED TO TAKE PLACE

"To do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place."

- Acts 4:28

THOUGH THEY PLAN EVIL AGAINST YOU

"Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed."

- Psalm 21:11

ON THAT DAY HIS PLANS PERISH

"When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish."

- Psalm 146:4

IF THERE NOT BE SOME PLAN

"I feel that if God should smite me now, without hope or offer of mercy, to the lowest hell, I should only have what I justly deserve; and I feel that if I be not punished for my sins, or if there be not some plan found by which my sin can be punished in another, I cannot understand how God can be just at all: how shall he be Judge of all the earth, if he suffer offenses to go unpunished?"

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

A PLAN DEVELOPING IN OUR LIVES

"A providence is shaping our ends; a plan is developing in our lives; a supreme and loving Being is making all things work together for good."

- F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) Baptist Pastor and Evangelist

HE HAS A SPECIFIC PLAN

"God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty."

- Peter Marshall (1902–1949) Scottish American Preacher, Pastor

ALL GOD'S PLANS

"All God's plans have the mark of the cross on them, and all His plans have death to self in them.... But men's plans ignore the offence of the cross or despise it. Men's plans have no profound, stern or self-immolating denial in them. Their gain is of the world."

- E. M. Bounds (1835–1913) American Clergyman, Author

HIS PLAN NEED NO EDITING

"God purposed redemption in Christ Jesus before the world began, and His plan does not need any editing by man."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

WHO IS NOBLE PLANS NOBLE THINGS

"But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands."

- Isaiah 32:8

THE PLAN OF THE MYSTERY

"And to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things."

- Ephesians 3:9

Photo Credit: biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/three-wise-men.html

Words to Think About…

MAY HE GRANT YOU

"May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!"

- Psalm 20:4

AH, STUBBORN CHILDREN

“Ah, stubborn children, declares the LORD, who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin."

- Isaiah 30:1

WE WILL FOLOW OUR OWN PLANS

“But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’"

- Jeremiah 18:12

THE PLAN FOR OUR RECOVERY

"The all-seeing eye of God beheld our deplorable state; infinite pity touched the heart of the Father of mercies; and infinite wisdom laid the plan of our recovery."

- David Brainard (1718-1747) American Missionary to Native Indians

I PLANNED FROM DAYS OF OLD

“‘Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins."

- Isaiah 37:26

THE LORD BRINGS COUNSEL

"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples."

- Psalm 33:10

FAITH IS GOD'S PLAN

“Faith is two empty hands held open to receive all of the Lord.”

- Alan Redpath (1907–1989) American Evangelist, Pastor, Author

THEY LAY CRAFTY PLANS

"They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones."

- Psalm 83:3

THE PATH OF LIFE

"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."

- Psalm 16:11

HIS BLESSED PLANS FOR US

"How glorious that, when we resist God's purpose and all but wreck ourselves, He will make us again. Truly we would be a hopeless race but for the fact that we have a mighty God who is able to remake us even when we have rebelled against Him and have thwarted His blessed plans for us."

- Clovis G. Chappell (1882-1972) Tennessee Methodist Clergyman

ALTER PART OF HIS PLAN

"If it were possible for me to alter any part of his plan, I could only spoil it."

- John Newton (1725-1790) Slave Trader Captain Turned Christian

IF YOU PLAN TO BUILD

"If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility."

- St. Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Philosopher

DISPUTING ABOUT HIS PLANS

"I find that doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans."

George MacDonald (1824-1905 Scottish Christian Minister, Author

THE PLANS OF HIS HEART

"The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations."

- Psalm 33:11

July 15

To Every Man That Striveth

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." - 1 Corinthians 9:25

ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:15

STRIVING ACCORDING TO HIS POWER

"For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."

- Colossians 1:29

STRIVE FOR THE NARROW GATE

“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

- Luke 13:24

WITH ONE MIND STRIVING TOGETHER

"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

- Philippians 1:27

TO THIS END WE TOIL AND STRIVE

"For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."

- 1 Timothy 4:10

DO NOT STRIVE IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart-so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer

TO STRIVE IN PRAYER MEANS

"To strive in prayer means to struggle through those hindrances which would restrain or even prevent us entirely from continuing in persevering prayer. It means to be so watchful at all times that we can notice when we become slothful in prayer and that we go to the Spirit of prayer to have this remedied. In this struggle, too, the decisive factor is the Spirit of prayer."

- Ole Hallesby (1879-1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian

SATAN WILL STRIVE TO INTERRUPT PRAYER

"Satan cannot deny but that great wonders have been wrought by prayer. As the spirit of prayer goes up, so his kingdom goes down. Satan's strategems against prayer are three. First, if he can, he will keep thee from prayer. If that be not feasible, secondly, he will strive to interrupt thee in prayer. And, thirdly, if that plot takes not, he will labour to hinder the success of thy prayer."

- William Gurnall (1616-1679) English Anglican Clergyman

STRIVING TO PLEASE MEN

"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."

- Galatians 1:10

MY SPIRIT WILL NOT STRIVE WITH MAN FOREVER

"Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

- Genesis 6:3

STRIVE TOGETHER WITH ME

"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,"

- Romans 15:30

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David%27s_Grief_Over_Absolom_(Bible_Card).jpg

Words to Think About…

STIVING AFTER WIND

"I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind."

- Ecclesiastes 1:14

STRIVING AGAINST SIN

"You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin."

- Hebrews 12:4

NEVER BE CONTENT

"Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge."

- David Brainard (1718-1747) American Missionary to Native Indians

STRIVE FOR THE MARK

"Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you."

- George Whitefield (1714-1770) Church of England Evangelist

STRIVE TO GET THE FACTS

"He who loves will rejoice in the Truth, rejoice not in what he has been taught to believe; not in this Church's doctrine or in that; not in this issue, or in that issue; but "in the Truth." He will accept only what is real; he will strive to get at facts; he will search for Truth with a humble and unbiassed mind, and cherish whatever he finds at any sacrifice."

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist

STRIVING AGAINST GOD

"For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God."

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

STRIVE TO WALK BY FAITH

"Though there is nothing more dangerous, yet there is nothing more ordinary, than for weak saints to make their sense and feeling the judge of their condition. We must strive to walk by faith."

- Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Puritan Preacher and Writer

WHAT DOES A MAN GET?

"For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?"

- Ecclesiastes 2:22

RUN IN SUCH A WAY

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."

- 1 Corinthians 9:24

Continue to July 16-31 Devotionals

How Can I Be Saved?

You’ve probably seen John 3:16 posted somewhere on a sign, written on a freeway overpass, at a concert, at a sporting event, or even read to you as a little child. This verse is a simple one. There are 20 monosyllables (single words) in the verse. The Gospel is meant to be simple for everyone!

Be sure of your Salvation. Right now, and pray this simple prayer with a sincere heart...

“Lord, forgive me for my sins. I confess that I am a sinner. Come into my heart and make me the person you created me to be. I receive your gift of pardon through Jesus dying for me on the cross to save me. – Amen”

It was once determined in a court of law that a pardon is only a pardon when it is accepted. There is a true story about a man that refused his pardon. A judge ruled that a pardon is only a pardon when it is accepted. When you prayed that prayer and accepted God’s pardon for your sins, you became a new creation in Christ.

The Bible teaches that you are saved by faith through Jesus. Grow in the Grace that was just given to you, seek God in His word (The Bible) and go out tell somebody!

JULY 01-15 DEVOTIONALS

Devotions on Living a Deeper Christian Life

DEVOTIONALS ON THIS PAGE

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July 01

Ever Forgotten Where You Were? When You Lose Your Way

Words to Think About…

July 02

Wherein Have You Robbed God?

Words to Think About Giving...

July 03

What Can You Take Into Eternity?

Words to Think About Evil…

July 4

An Infinite God

Words to Think About…

July 05

He Who Dwells in the Shelter of the Most High

Words to Think About...

July 06

The Titanic, The Icy Waters, and the Last Words of the Evangelist, Harper

Words to Think About...

July 07

Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged

Words to Think About…

July 08

The Right to Become Children of God

Words to Think About…

July 09

The 7 Attributes of God

Words to Think About…

July 10

The Names of God

Words to Think About…

July 11

A Wayward Spouse – Hosea

Words to Think About…

July 12

Meditating in the Word of God

Words to Think About…

July 13

So That We May Receive Adoption as Sons

Words to Think About…

July 14

A Man Plans His Way

Words to Think About…

July 15

To Every Man That Striveth

Words to Think About…