God of Your Trouble, God of Your Heart

Daily Devotional 21 April Saturday

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."  – Psalm 32:7

In this day and time, trouble seems to surround us on every side. If it's not a failing economy, it's a failing business, a failing marriage, or failing health. Yet, in the midst of seemingly overwhelming problems, God has promised to deliver us.

If you want God to be God of your trouble, then you must let Him be God in your heart. God honors those who honor Him. If you're facing problems, don't just start kicking and screaming and begging Him to save you from them. Honor Him by going to His Word and doing what He says to do.

Psalm 34 is a good place to start. It says, for example, to seek God (verse 4). As you seek Him, He will deliver you from the things that threaten you.

Secondly, it instructs you to cry out to the Lord. He will save you out of ALL your troubles (verse 6).

Next it tells you to fear the Lord. Verses 11-14 tell you exactly how to do that:
Keep from speaking evil and deceit; depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Remember, if you want God to be God of your trouble, let Him be God of your heart. When you do that, all of heaven will get involved in your deliverance--and your triumph will be guaranteed.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34

Source :  Grace Copeland Ministries

Success.... God's Way

The bible is filled with so many promises from God to them that would only believe.  

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things would be added unto you.  ~ Matthew 6:33

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  ~ Proverbs 16:3
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   ~ Jeremiah 29:11 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.  ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 



When we commit our plans to the Lord, here is what we are saying. We are saying “Lord, we trust you, we give you permission to take our plans into Your hands and we yield them to you willfully.”

The Lord has a “good way” for us to succeed in life. When we find it, He will give us peace and assurance that He is with us in that way. Therefore, we seek His guidance, and listen to His voice. We must allow the Holy Spirit to become our partner in business and follow His leading.

When we seek God, He will reveal His plans and our plans will change to reflect His will and they can do nothing but succeed because they are indeed the Lord’s plans for us. 

ORGANIZE Your Thoughts

You are filled up to the brim with a whole lot of thoughts and ideas.  It's nearly impossible to organize your life when your mind is cluttered with constantly shifting thoughts.  You need to reach a decision at some point and your cluttered brain can prevent you from making a sound one.  

So how do you do that? Simple: Write them down. This will create a visible "map" of what's rolling around in your head and heart.  Sometimes, this can be termed as "mind-mapping."

In addition, putting it all down on paper removes the burden of trying to remember everything. You will feel lighter, and that in itself will make the decision easier.

The easiest way to do write down your thoughts for decisions is to create a Pro/Con list.

With an organized line of thoughts, you can create a game plan wherein you can emerge with a win-win situation.

Why Do We Wait?

When delay comes to your dreams, you’ll most likely start asking the question, “When, Lord? When are you going to answer my prayer?” 

Even as you make a decision to follow the dream God places in your heart, you can expect a delay.  God will not fulfill your dream immediately, because this is another step toward building your faith.

We all have to go through these waiting periods. Even Jesus waited for 30 years in the carpenter’s shop before setting out on his public ministry.

Why do we wait? It teaches us to trust in God. We learn that his timing is perfect. One of the facts we have to learn is this: God’s delay never destroys His purpose.

A delay is not a denial.  Children must learn the difference between “no” and “not yet,” and so must we. Many times we think God is saying, “No,” but he is really saying, “Not yet.”   ~ Rick Warren Ministries

 
 

Habakkuk 2:3  New Living Translation (NLT)

 This vision is for a future time.
    It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
    for it will surely take place.
    It will not be delayed.

Failed Dreams

Your Dose of Everyday Spirituality with Bro. Bo Sanchez

Matters of the Heart - Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

For Holy Week Reflections:  All about H-E-A-R-T
 Light Moments with Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD 

DAILY DEVOTIONS: MAINTAINING SPIRITUAL HEALTH

 
DAILY DEVOTIONS: MAINTAINING SPIRITUAL HEALTH IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE

Proverbs 4:20-24 

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life....... 

Read more:

Source: Daily Devotions: Maintaining Spiritual Health....

A Morning Prayer

 

May all I do today begin with you, O Lord. Plant dreams and hopes within my soul and revive my tired spirit: be with me today. Be at my side and walk with me; be my support, that your hand may be seen in every action I take, that your goodness may be in every word I speak, and that your spirit may inhabit my every thought. Make my thoughts, my work, and my very life blessings for your kingdom. 

 

In Christ's name I pray...... Amen.

 

 

Source: www.dailyprayer.us

Honesty IS the best Policy!

The Bible teaches also that honesty really is the best policy in business dealings. Getting riches by lying will not last:

"Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do justice.''
(Proverbs 21:6-7).

Treasures gotten by wickedness will not profit and God HATES diverse weights use in trade:

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death." (Proverbs 10:2)

"Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and dishonest scales are not good." (Proverbs 20:23).

In Business

So we have already have put God as top priority:  [Matthew 6:33 ~  "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things (that are identified with as being successful) will be added to you.]  

 

Let's now look into the business part.  Keep in mind that the business of business is people.  Though in this modern world, there is a ton of technology, there is less and less humanity.  Remember that people want to do business with people they like, trust and respect.  

 

Southwest Airlines founder, Herb Kelleher, who has done  leadership development with one of their clients,  RIM -Research in Motion Limited
(a Canadian multinational telecommunications company) obviously a fast and innovative technology company;  has these to say:

1)  Deepen human connections.
2)  Build your team.
3)  Meet your customers.

4)  Treat others with respect.

5)  Put people in your priority list.

Remember, likewise that business is all about relationships and human connections.   Say "please" more;  say "thank you" more.

Are You a Good Steward?

The Bible says that someone who is faithful with a little thing will be faithful with much (Luke 16:9-11). So, if we are honest and we do the right thing when no one is looking, we will be able to be trusted when people are looking.

Stewards are mentioned in the Bible quite a bit actually.  The basic message about being a good steward is that God has entrusted us with things down here on earth and it is our responsibility to do something good with them.

"For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
~ Titus 1:7-9

 

Stewards can only serve one master

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” ~ Matthew 6:24

God Wants You to be Rich

God Wants You to be Rich (Click to Watch Video)



Deuteronomy 8:18
Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.


3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.


2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed;


Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.


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When you are connected to God, everything you set your hand to will be fruitful & blessed.  Just like a branch thrives when it is connected to the vine, you’re going to thrive & be prosperous when you are connected to Almighty God.

Depend on Him today & make Him your number one priority. 

Abide in Him & let Him pour out His abundant favor & blessing on you all the days of your life.

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