Do Not Limit God - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

  Do Not Limit God - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Knowing God Series
Speaker: Peter Tan-chi 

What we think about God is the most important thing about us. It will affect our behavior, our disposition, and our eternal destination.

Most of us live defeated lives because we are satisfied with so many little things that pale in comparison to what God can truly do in our lives if we do not limit Him. How do we limit God?

We limit God by unbelief. Most of the time, we unconsciously think and treat God as a puny God—that He is unable to address our biggest problems. The reality is God is greater than any problem we will ever face. Nothing can overcome Him.

We limit God by prayerlessness. Prayerlessness is a form of unbelief. When we do not pray, we choose to put our confidence on what we can do. When we pray, we confess our complete dependence on God’s power.

An example of this was the disciples’ inability to heal a demon-possessed boy. Jesus said, “This kind does not come out except by prayer.” (Mark 9:29) The disciples banked on the authority that Jesus gave them to cast out demons (Mark 3:15) but they totally disregarded prayer.

We limit God by ignorance. Satan’s favorite strategy is deception. He wants us to be completely unaware of the spiritual warfare that is going on. (Mark 9:29) Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18-19 that prayer is our main weapon in this warfare.

We limit God by discouragement. People and circumstances may disappoint us but God will never fail us. Imagine what would have happened if the father gave up on his demon-possessed son. He would never know what he would miss.

How we respond to difficulties is proof of how much we avail of God’s power. Don’t give up too soon. Keep on trusting God. Don’t put a timetable on His power. He knows what is best for us and His timing is perfect.

We limit God by disobedience.  We don’t experience the fullness of God’s amazing plan when we don’t do what He is asking us to do. If we don’t trust His instructions, we won’t experience His power.

God has great plans for us but we have to do our part. We have to learn how to develop a lifestyle of prayer—of complete dependence on Him. God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we can ask or even think. (Ephesians 3:20) That’s how great God is! He is the God of the so much more, so do not limit Him!

Taking Risks-In Touch Daily Devotional

In Touch Daily Devotional

Taking Risks

Acts 9:1-20

Many Christians like playing it safe by gathering as many facts as possible, analyzing the options, and making choices in order to be reasonably certain of the outcome. We tend to label risk “undesirable” because it could end up causing loss and heartache; we fear unwanted results as much as we dread missing out on our dreams. But not only that—we are also afraid of looking foolish or incompetent, incurring financial difficulty, or facing physical danger. From a human viewpoint, eliminating uncertainty makes sense.

But what is God’s perspective? Are there times that Christians are to take risks? The answer is a resounding yes, when He is the one asking us to step out of our comfort zone. From the Lord’s viewpoint, there is no uncertainty, because He has control over all things and He will never fail to accomplish His good purposes (Eph. 1:11).

The Bible is full of real people who took risks to obey the Lord. One was Ananias, whom God sent to minister to the newly converted Saul. Ananias risked his reputation and his life to comply. Another was Saul himself, who was told to preach to the Jews the very gospel he and they had so violently opposed. By focusing on God, His character, and His promises, both men obeyed despite uncertainty, doubt, and fear.

Spiritual maturity is hampered when the Christian refuses to obey God. Sometimes that involves leaving what is safe or familiar. What risk is the Lord calling you to take? He understands your wariness, but He’ll never let you down. Step out in obedience, and watch what He does to grow your faith. 

Enabled to Wait on God - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Enabled to Wait on God - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Pursue Intimacy With God Series
Speaker: Martin Sanders 

Life is filled with moments where we have to wait. Traffic jams, slow Internet connections, poor restaurant services or even elevators that seem to take its time. We seem to have an aversion to anything and everything that requires us to sit down and wait.

On the other hand, there is a special kind of waiting that is always for our good. That is to wait upon the Lord. There are times in our lives when we 

have asked God for specific things to happen. 

As the months and years go by, nothing 

seems to come about. Yet, we are reminded 

time and again that the Father knows best. 

We can trust Him. He uses these intervals to 

work in our lives. He teaches us as we wait.

The delays would require us to constantly cling to God whatever our circumstances may be. This is the essence of true waiting. We are essentially saying to God that nothing else matters but His presence, His love, and His deliverance.

Isaiah 40:25-31 tells us that waiting on the Lord results in renewed strength. The word wait or hope in the original Hebrew has the literal meaning of binding together, suggesting that the act of waiting involves binding ourselves with God or abiding constantly with Him. The result is a renewal of our strength. The word actually means to change or exchange, and hints that in the process of waiting, we exchange our weariness with God’s own infinite strength.

This truth has been demonstrated many times in the lives of remarkable men and women in the Bible. David waited 15 years in preparation for the throne of Israel. Joseph waited around 17 years before he was thrust in a position of power in Egypt, and kept clinging on to God despite the seeming randomness of the events that were happening to him.

Paul waited on the Lord three years before his ministry began. Moses spent 40 years waiting for God in Egypt before he was to deliver an entire nation out of bondage. And Abraham had to wait, against all common sense, on God’s promise to give him a son; at an age where having children boggles the mind. Unfortunately, there are other characters in the Bible that failed miserably such as King Saul. He refused to wait, took matters into his own hands and chose to stay out of God’s sovereign plan.

Waiting upon God does not mean we become passive. It is a quiet expectation of what God can do. We must use these opportune times to be more intimate with Him. Despite the lulls, we must continue to be faithful with the things that He has presently entrusted to us. Even if our circumstances are pressing on against us, we must choose not to compromise our values or nurse bitterness and rebel against Him. For waiting on the Lord is tied to obedience. How exactly do we wait on the Lord?

Confident Faith in God’s Character

The same God who “has measured the waters with the hollow of his hand, and marked the heavens by the span” (Is. 40:12), is also concerned with and devoted to us more than we can imagine. We can cast all our problems and anxieties on Him (1 Pet. 5:7) because we know we can trust Him.

Patient Trust in God’s Timing

Our timing is not His timing, since God perceives time from the standpoint of eternity. Being mindful of the fundamental truth –“From everlasting to everlasting, you are God” (Ps 90:2)—will keep us from being out of sync with His perfect timing, and help us entrust our future to Him.

An Attitude of Expectant Hope

Because of God’s character, and because He sees the beginning to end, we can finally have peace that He will bring about what is good and best for us in our lives.

What are you waiting on? Are there things in your life that you need to take to God today? Are there areas in your life that you need to entrust to God? Whatever it is, may we have the courage and conviction to say to God, “Lord, because You know what’s best, I am willing to wait on you.”

A Moment of Weakness- In Touch Daily Devotional

A Moment of Weakness


2 Samuel 11:1-5

We all face key moments of decision, when our actions can lead to lasting consequences. The issue is, will you be ready when such a time comes?

David wasn’t prepared for the moment of decision that suddenly faced him. At a time when he was restless, lonely, and preoccupied with worries, temptation and sin caught him unprepared. We can guard ourselves against these moments of weakness by remembering one simple word: H-A-L-T.

First, never allow yourself to get too hungry. When the body is weak from lack of food, poor decisions are likely to follow. Respect your body and provide the sustenance it needs.

Second, don’t permit yourself to get too angry. Anger can cloud judgment and lead to regrettable decisions.

A third caution is not to let yourself become too lonely. When you feel isolated, you may find yourself willing to do almost anything to feel accepted or loved.

Fourth, don’t allow yourself to get too tired. Sleep is essential for wise decisions. When you deprive your mind and body of its necessary “down time,” poor choices become probable.

Being wise in these four areas can prevent thoughts of “If only I hadn’t . . .” later on.

Commit now never to make important decisions when you are too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. Instead, be honest at those times and admit you’re unprepared to make sound judgments. Then delay the decision until you can approach it with prayer, patience, and godly wisdom.

The Lord is My Shepherd - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

The Lord is My Shepherd - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Pursue Intimacy With God Series
Speaker: Peter Tan-chi 

Psalm 23 is one of the best-known passages in the Bible. But how many of us really take these verses to heart? Here the psalmist gives us an in-depth picture of what true intimacy with God looks like.

Sheep are neither smart nor strong. For them to survive, they need a shepherd. Scriptures reveal many metaphors that depict our relationship with God: father-son, husband-wife, potter-clay, vine-branches, etc. These are all great metaphors, but none is more endearing and poignant as that of a shepherd and his sheep.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

If God is your Shepherd, you will have all your needs met. Since He knows everything that you need, you will not lack any good thing (Ps 34:10, 84:11).

“He makes me lie down in green pastures;”

He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.” Sheep won’t lie down when they are hungry, anxious, or afraid. In the same way, sheep won’t drink from running water for fear of drowning. A good shepherd leads his sheep into green pastures, literally makes them lie down, and makes a way to let them drink from still waters. Our Shepherd knows how to meet our needs whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Thank Him and trust that where you are right now is your green pasture where your soul can be restored.

“He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Our behavior affects God’s reputation. The problem is, like sheep, we are prone to go astray from God’s will. Since God is more concerned in our character than our comfort, He gives us His Word as our guide on how to live a life that is pleasing to Him (Ps 119:105) and disciplines us when we wander away from it (Heb 12:6).

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Sometimes, in order to find green pastures, the shepherd leads his sheep through the dark valleys. Sheep are not afraid of danger so long as their shepherd is with them. The shepherd’s rod is used to protect them from their enemies while the staff is used to bring them back when they go astray. If straying has already become a habit, the shepherd would need to break the sheep’s leg. He will hold the sheep close to his heart until the wound heals. By then the sheep has already learned its lesson: he must stay close to the shepherd for his good.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Sheep can relax even when danger is imminent, given that their shepherd is near. Like them, our security is not so much in the absence of danger but in the presence of our Shepherd. He doesn’t only protect us from harm, but He also sets us apart for blessing.

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

God’s loving faithfulness will not just follow us but 

will pursue and overtake us. 



His heart is set to bless us.

The New Testament tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11). Is He your Shepherd? The Bible tells us that there are tests by which we can determine this. Do you hear His voice? More importantly, do you follow His leading? (Jn 10:27-28)

Two thousand years ago, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for us (Jn 10:11) and this is what makes a personal relationship with Him possible. Whatever our failures in the past may be, Jesus 

wants to shepherd each one of us and He assures us 

that when we enter His fold, no one will be able to 

snatch us away from His hand (vv. 28, 29). The question is, will you let Him be the Shepherd of your life?

The Thorns of Life - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Thorns of Life - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Pursue Intimacy With God Series
Speaker: Peter Tan-chi 

As we walk with the Lord, we will encounter obstacles. The apostle Paul was no exception. He, too, experienced pain and suffering in what he described as a thorn in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7).

Thorns reveal the level of our intimacy with God. At the same time, thorns are also means of intimacy. Trials are part of human experience, and there are two possible responses when we are faced with pain and trials: either we become bitter and drift farther away from God or we become better by drawing nearer to Him. We must learn how to handle the thorns of life.

The apostle Paul considered his thorn a blessing. The Bible does not exactly say what Paul was suffering from. He might have had a physical ailment, which caused him a great deal of discomfort (Gal 4:13-14). On the other hand, his thorn might have been people who caused him distress (Phil 1:17). Whatever it is, there is one thing we can be sure of: Paul knew that God was using this thorn to keep him from being proud (2 Cor 12:7).

Intimacy with God develops in us an eternal perspective on circumstances. 

We recognize that there are no accidents in the life 

of God’s people—

that things happen for a purpose—and that God’s 

ultimate purpose for us His children is Christ-

likeness.

Paul was honest enough to turn to God and plead with Him three times to take his pain away (2 Cor 12:8). Distress and suffering remind us that we are not in control. But the question is: whom do we run to? Only through a closer fellowship with the Lord can we make sense of our experiences and enjoy His peace despite all trouble. In fact, anything that will make us draw closer to God is a blessing.

However, God did not answer Paul’s prayer the way he would have wanted it. God’s reply to Paul was a ‘NO’ and He offered no explanation. But He gave him the promise of His grace: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9)

God’s children do not live by explanation but by faith. Indeed, it was enough for Paul to know that God’s grace was more than enough for him to do everything that God asks him to do. Through his thorn, Paul was constantly reminded that he needed to depend on God for strength. When we allow God to use our weaknesses, He is glorified.

What are the thorns in your life? Are you wasting your time and energy fighting off these thorns? The truth is, there are thorns that will stay in your life forever no matter how hard you try to get rid of them. But the key here is surrender. Embrace the thorns in your life wholeheartedly and thank God for them, trusting that God is sovereign and good.

Thorns are opportunities to be intimate with God and to glorify Him. Our weaknesses can be our strength provided that we surrender them to God. God is inviting you to offer your weaknesses to Him in exchange of His power. May the way we handle the thorns in our life ultimately bring glory to His name.

The Desired Will of God-In Touch Daily Devotional

In Touch Daily Devotional

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Unlike God’s “determined will,” His “desired will” is resistible and conditional. We have a choice to do things our way or His. The Lord designs a specific plan utilizing a believer’s unique gifts and talents for the kingdom. He wants to share His desired will so that we can live successfully.

First, God wants us to follow the moral laws, like the Ten Commandments, which apply to everyone. Throughout Scripture, we find principles that can add joy and meaning to our lives, such as the instruction always to give thanks and put aside bitterness in favor of forgiveness.(1 Thess. 5:18; Eph. 4:31-32)

Following those basic principles lets us discover the second part of God’s desired will—His intentions for our personal life. One good example is vocation. Before our birth, God predestined us to have specific skills, talents, and spiritual gifts, which suit us for certain types of work. Our vocation may change, but with divine guidance, our work will consistently “fit” us.

Finally, God’s desired will is active in our daily life. What interests us interests Him, no matter how trivial. For example, we’ve all sent up desperate prayers when we couldn’t locate something we needed. Often we find the object within moments because a caring Father leads us right to it.

The Lord wants to work in our life, and He’ll send blessings if we follow Him. Remember, He’s a loving Father; what’s more, He is all-knowing and all-powerful—that is an unbeatable combination, no matter what comes against us. It is impossible to get less than the best when we do things His way.

The Determined Will of God-In Touch Daily Devotional

In Touch Daily Devotional

Ephesians 1:1-14

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Believers who feel frustrated by the Christian life lack two critical pieces of knowledge: an understanding of God’s will and an awareness of the steps to discover His plan for our lives. Over the next couple of days, we will study the nature of God’s intentions and how to access them.

Let’s begin by taking a look at the “determined will” of God, which includes His unchangeable plans for the world. As the sovereign ruler, He is in total control— no government rises to power and no physical ailment occurs unless He allows it. He is determined to carry out the plan that He developed long before creation.

The Lord reveals very little of His determined will to mankind. We can anticipate only those events He has disclosed, such as Christ’s return and the great white throne judgment. (Rev. 19:11; 20:11-15) Much of the knowledge we have comes from our experience and Bible reading. We know, for example, that the Lord has given us limited free will and that He has a plan for redeeming us from the sin in our life.

The Lord will have His way, whether we believe in His sovereignty or not. His plan is far bigger than we can grasp, and it was designed in a way that will glorify Him while revealing our need for Him.

God’s purpose is His glory. Because our limited human perspective sees only the evil of crime, disease, and war, people wonder how He can allow these. But we know “God causes all things

to work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). Just look at the 

cross—God’s greatest expression of good and glory!

Who Controls What?- Encouragement for Today

  Encouragement for Today

"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)

Ask me why my attempts at losing weight haven't been successful and I can give you a list of reasons: It was a stressful summer, I hit a "golden" number on my birthday, how could I say no to the scrumptious food on vacation? And the "best" one (the one that garnered the most sympathy) - I couldn't exercise due to a minor medical procedure on my legs.

But the bottom line is this: I lack self-control in this area of my life.

I know what I should do. Or more accurately, I know what I should NOT do. And yet when faced with a temptation, I give in. Rather than choose a modest portion size, I justify a second helping. Or I set myself up by not anticipating my weakness and buying Little Debbie Swiss Rolls thinking I'll only eat half of one. Oh, how I deceive myself.

The ability to control my own choices is a God-given gift. And yet it's one I misuse some times. Sadly rather than controlling myself, I choose to try to control other things. And end up losing control of myself.

Here was God's original plan: He controls the world. We control ourselves.

That's a great plan when you think it through objectively. God's got unlimited resources, unlimited wisdom, and unlimited power. He should be in charge of the world with that resume.

That's not what happened though. Many generations ago, in a garden with some fruit that was off-limits, we decided we didn't like that plan. In fact, we decided it was our job to control the world. After all, we have to live in it, right? Shouldn't we make the rules? Plus, we really should make sure others stay in line too. My what a big job we have trying to corral everyone! It's exhausting.

So the more we focus on God's job (controlling the world 

and other people) the less we do our job (controlling 

ourselves).

I love today's Scripture verse from Proverbs 25:28, "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." (NIV) This gives me a mental image of an unprotected treasure. So when an enemy tries to attack, there is no defense.

As I apply that to my life, I can see where the enemy sneaks in through my lack of self-control. Especially when I start my excuses. Whether it's excuses for over-eating, not managing my home well or over-committing myself, without self-control I'm like a bombarded city. The more I focus on what I can't control, the less I'm able to manage what I can control.

Thankfully, God has a plan in place to help us with this 

issue. He sent His Holy Spirit to live in us. Galatians 5:22-24 

says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness 

and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those 

who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its 

passions and desires." (NIV)

As we start a new year, I'm taking a fresh look at what I can control and what I can't. I'm acknowledging my need of God's help, but I'm also acknowledging my responsibility. Thankfully I can release the load of trying to control others, because on most days, I'm as much as I can handle.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of free-will and self control. Forgive me when I misuse those gifts. Help me to seek Your Spirit for more self control in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Glynnis Whitwer

Biblical Listening: Trust and Obey -In Touch Daily Devotional

  In Touch Daily Devotional

James 1:19

Yesterday we looked at the various ways people approach God’s Word. If you assessed how you listen to His instructions and determined there’s room for improvement, be encouraged—that realization is the first step toward becoming more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Now, commit to . . .

• Listen carefully.
 By an act of your will, choose to listen purposefully when you read the Bible or hear it preached. Decide to “pray without ceasing” as you go through your day (1 Thess. 5:17).

• Resist all outside clutter. 
One of Satan’s strategies is to get our minds so occupied with peripheral concerns that we compromise our reliance upon Christ. So much of what we deem important plummets down the priority scale when held against the light of truth.

• Evaluate your life against what you’re hearing in Scripture.
 This means taking the initiative to hold up your life against the standard of God’s truth—and agreeing to making any necessary changes.

• Apply the truths that the Holy Spirit impresses upon your heart. 
This is a decision you make—one that indicates just how serious you are about walking with Jesus Christ. God will honor your stepping out in faith, and you’ll see that He can be fully trusted.

Listening to what the Word of God says is important, but life transformation won’t happen unless you personally apply its teachings. Strive to obey Scripture and the Lord’s leading every time. When you do, He takes responsibility for the results, and you will find Him trustworthy.

Rest in His Presence - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Rest in His Presence - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Evidence of Intimacy Series
Speaker: Peter Tan-chi 

Are you always in a hurry, uneasy about the way things are going? Are you trying to control every little detail of your life? Are you tired and stressed? Have you ever considered rest?

An evidence of intimacy with God is REST. When you know that God is with you, you are able to rest. Problems are inevitable, but worries are optional. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus clues us in on how to rest in His presence. He said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Come to Me

Jesus is giving an open invitation to everyone. He wants all people to pair up with Him and He promises them rest. But then no one would partner with someone they do not know. This is why in Matthew 11:27 Jesus establishes who He is and why we should trust him: “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” Here we see Jesus disclosing the kind of authority He has and His exclusive relationship with the Father.

All Who Are Weary and Heavy-laden

If you are humble enough to admit that you need God because you are exhausted and burdened, then you are invited to come to Jesus. Running away from problems or from relationships will not solve the problem. The good news is you don’t have to bear them by yourself; you can come and accept Jesus’ invitation.

I Will Give You Rest

Rest is not in the absence of work, but it is in the presence of God. The distinguishing mark of God’s people is God’s presence in their life (Exo 33:16). God’s people respond to problems differently as they practice the presence of God. Intimacy with God results to restedness.

Take My Yoke Upon You

When we respond accordingly to Jesus’ invitation, He becomes the senior partner and us the junior partner. When we are yoked to Him, we are God’s co-workers (1 Cor 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).

Learn from Me

When we take the yoke of Christ, we walk beside Him and learn from Him. As we walk with Jesus under His yoke, He will teach us and guide us. - (To be equally yoked with the Lord Jesus is actually learning from Him close up and personal with a friend state of relationship, where trust is at active and dynamic.)

For I am Gentle and Humble in Heart

Jesus then describes Himself as someone who has a gentle and humble heart. He wants us to trust in His character and to get to know Him even more.

Find Rest for Your Souls

We are promised true peace in every area of our life – at home, in our career or profession and in our ministry because God is intimately involved in our life and cares for us. In Christ, rest is a certainty.

For My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light

God’s yoke is easy and light because it is just right; it is perfectly “fitted” for us.

In the Bible there was a man who allowed God to be his senior partner. From his humble shepherd boy beginnings, David understood that when God has a plan for you, no one can overrule it.

David rested in God. He trusted God’s plans and waited for them to come into fruition rather than forcing himself in it (1 Sam 16:1, 10-13; 18- 21). David did his part but he didn’t try to control people or manipulate events in order to get his way, because he was secure in God.

Are you stressed and tired? Perhaps it is time to rest and trust in God as David did. Come rest in His presence today.

Be Blameless and Pure

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

The Basic Principle of Prosperity -In Touch Daily Devotional

In Touch Daily Devotional

Psalm 24:1-2

The basic principle of real prosperity is elementary. In fact, it boils down to four simple words: God owns it all.

Even for mature Christians, this truth can be difficult to grasp fully and put into practice. After all, it runs counter to the thinking of modern culture. However, Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is the Creator and therefore the one who rightfully holds the deed to everything in creation.

According to Haggai 2:8, the Lord also lays claim to the silver and gold—in other words, all currency is His. Psalm 50:10 puts it a different way, telling us that He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Since God consistently reiterates that He is the exclusive owner of all creation, we should respond appropriately when using His resources—including money. In other words, we should have exactly the same response as when using something that belongs to our neighbors: ask permission to use it; honor the owner’s instructions and do just as he has designated; take no unnecessary risks; handle it the way we would want others to handle one of our possessions; and return it in a timely manner, preferably in better condition or more plentiful than before.

And then say “Thank You.”

First Timothy 6:10 says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Understanding that God is the rightful owner and we are simply managers of His resources will help us have the proper attitude about wealth—namely, gratefulness rather than entitlement. 

God Won't Forsake Us

God's Viewpoint about Money- In Touch Daily Devotional

In Touch Daily Devotional

1 Timothy 6:9-11

God knew how obsessively the issue of money would occupy our minds, so He placed special emphasis on it in His Word.

Did you know there are some 2,350 verses about money—more than any other topic? And did you realize more than half of Jesus’ parables use money as object lessons? Knowing where our greatest interest and temptations would be, God spelled out what we would need to know in order to handle our resources with His wisdom.

The Lord is personally interested in the details of our life, including our financial security. That is why His Word includes instructions about giving and attitudes He wants us to have. We are to give . . .

• Generously. Most likely, you have what some would view as blessing beyond measure. Many who have abundance succumb to a temptation to hoard. Honor God with your first 

fruits—right off the top—and then bless others with 

your abundance.

• Cheerfully. We should put the Lord’s monetary principles into effect joyfully, not under compulsion or guilt. Remember that He knows your heart and motives.

• Confidently.God keeps His promises. Malachi 3:10 tells us that when we give to support the Lord’s work, He will open the windows of heaven and impact every area of your life.

See what Scripture has to say about money and its usage, and put into practice biblical principles for handling treasure. God wants His children to take steps to follow Him. When He sees that you are being faithful in small ways, He will trust you in greater ways.

The Cure for Anxiety

 

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink ; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing ?  "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?  

"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life ?  "And why are you worried about clothing ? Observe how the lilies of the field grow ; they do not toil nor do they spin,  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith !

  "Do not worry then, saying,'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will wear for clothing?'  "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things ; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow ; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)