Author: mary

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 2:28-29

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

Hebrews 2:28-29

Worthy of Praise

The kingdom of God is unshakable. It can never be shaken or destroyed. The earth is temporary and everything will pass away, but heaven is eternal. It will always be! Since we have been rescued for the Lord, let us give Him thanks and praise! Let us worship Him always. He is worthy of our praise. He is a devouring (or consuming as some other versions say) fire. He consumes everything- He is that powerful.

Spend some time in prayer today, thanking and praising Him for who He is. Thank Him every morning and every evening. He is worthy of your praise!

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
Thank you for who you are and all you do for your people. I will always praise you! Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 11:2

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 11:2

Focusing on Him

How do we grow our faith in this life? We keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the champion, the one who initiates and perfects our faith. He will continue to shape us into the person He wants us to be. Jesus endured the cross, all of the pain and suffering that went with it so that we may come to know God the Father. If we keep our eyes on Him as our champion, we will stay the course.

The minute we take our eyes off of the Lord, we will begin to fall. Look at Peter. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he could walk across the water to Jesus. The second he focused on the raging sea, he began to sink. If we focus on the world, we will drown. We myst keep our eyes on the King.

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
Help me keep my eyes on you , Oh Lord. May I always focus on you and the cross. Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

A Crowd of Witnesses

As a body of Christ, we are surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses in this life of faith meant to encourage us. We were never meant to go through this life alone. We have each other just as the men and women of old had each other too. The disciples walked together, serving Jesus. If we decide to walk alone, we will feel alone, and we will not be able to minister to others as good without the support of each other.

Spend some time in prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Fellowship with them. Do Bible studies together. Open your lives up to each other. There is no better way to live.

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the crowd of witnesses in my life. May I be a witness to others as well. Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 11:39-40

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Hebrews 11:39-40

A Good Reputation

How do people gain a good reputation? What amount of good do they have to do to be considered good? Who considers them good? The men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 gained their good reputation because of their faith. Their faith determined how good they were, not their words or actions, but their faith alone. They did not even receive all God had planned because it was not yet time. He had even more in mind planned for us.

Take some time today to pray and ask God to increase your faith. Then and only then will you be a person with the “good reputation” that the Bible talks about here.

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
May I gain a good reputation so that others will see you in me. May my faith lead them to you. Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 11:38

They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

Hebrews 11:38

Too Good for this World

I love the end of Hebrews 11. These men and women of faith were too good for this world. They were motivated by eternity. It drove everything they did. It spurred them on in evangelism and discipleship. They led lives of faith, always trusting that God had something better for them. They had to hide because their faith threatened others. They lived their lives as Jesus lived His: serving people, knowing they would eventually come against Him.

What about you? What will be said of your faith at the end of your life? Could others say that you were too good for this world? What an honor that would be! Live your life in such a way that others will see your faith.

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the many people who were too good for this world. May their faith continue to inspire and spur me on. Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 11:35-37

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

Hebrews 11:35-37

Set Your Sights

Even when people follow God and have hope, sometimes they still meet their defeat. Look at the disciples. Most of them met a martyr’s death. They served God throughout their lives, even to the end. You may read these verses and think, “Is it worth it if they were just tortured and killed?” To them it was worth it because they were looking for the eternal, not the temporary. Nothing else mattered.

When the reward is eternity, this temporary life on earth has very little value. When you refocus, your passion will be for the eternal. You will long for things other than this world. Take some time to really refocus and set your sights on heaven instead of this life.

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
Help me set my sights on heaven and the eternal, so the things of life do not become overwhelming. Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 11:32-35a

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.

Hebrews 11:32-35a

So Many Stories

There were so many stories of faith throughout the Bible. These verses just show how many more stories could be told. Look at what these peoples did: overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice (as opposed to so many who didn’t), received God’s promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched flames of fire, escaped death. Those are things that can only be done by those who have faith in the Lord!

God used their weakness and turned it into strength. Only He can do that! He went before the people and their small armies and destroyed large enemies! It is amazing what God can do when His people follow Him!

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
May my faith always be big even though I am small. You are a big God who can do many amazing things. Amen.

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 11:31

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11:31

The God Who Rescues

Before the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, several of the Israelites went to spy on the city to see what trouble awaited them. Rahab, a prostitute, took them in and gave them hospitality, or as this verse says, “a friendly welcome.” God rewarded her for her gentle spirit by rescuing her and her family when the Israelites took over Jericho.

I love stories like this and the fact that even people like Rahab are recognized in the Bible. It shows us that God can take anyone and change their lives. I wish we could see her life after she met the Lord that day she was rescued. God does miraculous things when His people submit to Him.

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
You are the God who saves. Thank you for rescuing me. May I never forget. Amen.

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Today’s Truth

Today’s Truth: His promise to you is eternal

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Cor 4:18

When we look at all the things going on around us, we can get distracted. There are so many things calling for our attention. Many of these things are only temporary. But, the promises of God are eternal.

Placing our eyes and minds on the promises of God, helps us to see the unseen. These things will last forever. If God made a promise to you in the Bible, then you can be sure it’s eternal. It doesn’t matter if you see that promise working at this moment, it is a true and you can stand on it.

Trusting in God’s promises more than what you see around you can be very comforting. You can know that what you see is only temporary.

Today focus in on a promise that God made to you in the Bible. Realize that His promise to you is eternal.

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Verse of the Day

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1-2‬

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1-2‬

Faith in God Devotional

This verse describes the true meaning of faith. It is the reality of exactly what we hope for. What do you hope for? Are the things you hope for things of the world, earthly things that will pass away? Or do you hope for the things of God, things that will be eternal and never end? Do you have faith that God will do what He says He will do? Do you have faith that God is who He says He is?

Faith is essential in this life. Your Christian walk cannot survive without it. It is needed to remain close to the Lord. Your faith is the evidence of what is unseen. While people cannot “see” God and his work, they can see your life. Is it a testimony to who God is? Look at the lives of the people of God throughout the history of the Bible. This verse says that through their faith, they earned a good reputation. Their lives were a testimony of who God is. We still read their stories today. When you walk in the way of the Lord and put your hope and faith in Him, your life will be a testimony for generations to come. This should not bring pressure to be “good” but a desire to live in His joy and peace knowing that your faith will produce a good reputation. So ask yourself today: are you putting your faith in God?

A Prayer to Remember

Dear Lord,
Give me the type of faith that the men of old had. The type of faith that ministers to those around me and leaves a lasting effect on the next generation. May my faith be living and active. Amen