Love all your Enemies

"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully
use you and persecute you."
MATTHEW 5:44

The nature of the Kingdom of God is quite different, and its
character reflects that difference. There is not a kingdom on the face of the earth that could ever adopt a philosophy that says "love your enemies." If you accept the premise that Jesus really is
a King then you are compelled to acknowledge that this King and His Kingdom are truly not of this world.

A national defense policy based on "Love Your Enemies" would be political and national suicide for any earthly government. This Heavenly Order is such a radical departure from the ways of the world that it requires some rather deep experiences with God before a person can really enter into the service of the King, because that service is so unlike anything anyone has ever seen or experienced.

Love that is found in 1 John 4 v 7 - 8 will motivate to love those who hate you.

Consider Your Life

Today's verse is very important to me. I am an aggressive person who wants to be involved in everything, but I have learned the hard way that it isn't wise or even possible. We cannot do everything and do anything well. Quality is much better than quantity. Verse 16 begins by saying she "considers" a new field before she buys it. She considers her present duties and is careful not to neglect them by taking on new ones. In other words, she seriously thinks about what she is about to do and does not act emotionally without forethought.

Oh, how much better life would be if we all took time to think about what we are about to do before we do it. It is amazing how many things I don't buy if I just go home and think about it for a while. It is amazing how one good night's sleep changes our minds. Emotions are fickle and ever changing. This is the reason why it is dangerous to do things based on high emotions without giving plenty of consideration to everything involved. Remember to think before you act.

Pray: Lord, I ask You to give me wisdom as to what I give my time and attention. Help me to be busy with the right things and to give my best to those things. Amen.

Ezra 3:3-4

³ They set up the altar on its foundations, because they were afraid of the neighboring peoples,^[b] and they offered entirely burned offerings upon it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings.

⁴ They celebrated the Festival of Booths, as prescribed. Every day they presented the number of entirely burned offerings required by ordinance for that day.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

It's Not About Age

Timothy, Paul's "spiritual" son in the ministry, was very young, and he was fearful and worried about what people thought of his youth. Paul told him to let no man despise his youth. It really does not matter how old or young a person is. If God calls someone to do something, and they have the confidence to go forward, nothing can stop them.

How you respond to your age and, for that matter, how others respond is really up to you. We all age in years, but we don't have to get an "I'm too old" mindset. Moses was 80 years old when he left Egypt to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Confident people don't think about how old they are; they think about what they can accomplish with the time they have left. Remember, confident people are positive and look at what they have, not what they have lost.

Even if you are reading this devotion and let's say you are 65 years old and feel you have wasted most of your life doing nothing - you can still start today and do something amazing and great with your life.

Pray: Lord, You used people of all ages throughout the Bible, and You can use me. Today is a new day, and I am excited about what You have for me to accomplish. Amen.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright ﾩ 2011 by Joyce Meyer.

Don’t fear

Isaiah 43:1-3

But now, says the Lord—

the one who created you, Jacob,

the one who formed you, Israel:

Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are mine.

² 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched

and flame won’t burn you.

³ 

I am the Lord your God,

the holy one of Israel, your savior.

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Jesus, hope of the nations

Jesus, comfort for all who mourn

You are the source of heaven's hope on earth

Jesus, light in the darkness

Jesus, truth in each circumstance

You are the source of heaven's light on earth

In history, You lived and died,

You broke the chains, You rose to life

You are the hope, living in us

You are the Rock, in whom we trust

You are the light

shining for all the world to see

You rose from the dead, conquering fear

Our Prince of Peace, drawing us near

Jesus our hope

Living for all who will receive

Lord we believe!!

Bible Verse

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (ESV)

MEETING GRACE IN WEAKNESS

"I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when
I am weak, then I am strong."
2 CORINTHIANS 12:10

Now it does not say that Paul made himself weak on purpose. We do not have to seek weaknesses, infirmities, tribulations, temptations, or trials. We already have them. The key is how do we
respond to them? We can fight them, or we can embrace them. Paul clearly shows us that it is not always God's will for us to be saved FROM the fire. Often we are called to walk THROUGH the fire,
with no assurance except that His Grace is sufficient. In the fire we learn that "Grace" is a Man, just like Victory is a Man.

To be delivered from weakness is one thing, but to meet Grace in my
weakness is something else entirely.

Stay blessed

-unknown