RIGHT BELIEVING PRODUCES RIGHT LIVING

By Joseph Prince-Posted February 9, 2017

Luke 19:8

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He was despised because he was a deceitful man, cheating people of their money and resorting to false accusations to get what he wanted.

One day, Jesus visited him. The Bible makes no mention of Jesus rebuking him for his dishonest lifestyle the whole time they were together. Instead, Jesus showed him grace and honor by spending time with him. Before long, Zacchaeus stood up and declared to Jesus that he would restore fourfold to anyone he had taken from illegally, and would even give half of his goods to the poor.

A moment with Jesus completely changed Zacchaeus’ heart. A moment with grace in person—without accusations, condemnation or judgment—caused such an inward transformation that in a short time, Zacchaeus was doing outwardly what was right and in a measure no man would have expected of him!

Many people want to live right. Their concern with right living makes them focus on themselves and the things they struggle with. But it is right believing that produces right living. If you are trying to break free from an addiction that has bound you for many years, believe that Jesus loves you so much that at the cross, He paid the price for you to be completely free from any addiction. Believe that by His stripes you are healed and delivered.

One member in our church had a smoking addiction. But each time he lit up a cigarette, he would believe that God was not judging or condemning him, and that he was still the righteousness of God in Christ. One day, he woke up impressed by the Spirit that that day would mark the start of a smoke-free life. Expecting to be assaulted by the usual cravings to smoke, he prayed this throughout the day: “Thank You, Jesus, for by Your stripes I am healed.” Before he knew it, the day passed without him lighting up or suffering any withdrawal pangs! And since then, he has been totally free of this addiction.

Today, if you want to experience right living, find out what Christ has done for you and what you have in Him—and believe it!

Thought For The Day

Believe what Christ has done for you and what you have in Him.

Defeating Discouragement

by Joyce Meyer - posted February 09, 2017

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God. 
—Psalm 42:5 

In today's verse, the psalmist is clearly discouraged. Discouragement destroys hope, so naturally the enemy tries hard to discourage us. Without hope we give up, which is exactly what the devil wants us to do. 

The Bible repeatedly tells us not to be discouraged or dismayed. God knows that we will not be strong or victorious if we lose our courage, and He wants us to be encouraged, not discouraged. When discouragement tries to overtake you, the first thing to do is to examine your thought life. What kinds of thoughts have you been thinking? Have they sounded something like this? I am not going to make it; this is too hard. I always fail; I may as well give up. God probably doesn't answer my prayers because He is so disappointed in the way I act. 

If these examples represent your thoughts, no wonder you despair! You become what you think. Think discouraging thoughts, and you will get discouraged. Change your thinking and be set free! 

Love Yourself Today: 

Instead of thinking negatively, think more like this: Well, things are going a little slowly, but, thank God, I am making some progress. I am sure glad I'm on the right path. I had a rough day yesterday. I chose wrong thinking all day long. Father, forgive me, and help me to keep on keeping on. This is a new day. You love me, Lord. Your mercy is new every morning. I refuse to be discouraged. Father, You sent Jesus to die for me. I'll be fine—today will be a great day. I ask You to help me choose right thoughts today. 

Something New for You

By Joel Osteen – Posted February 9, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?..."
Isaiah 43:19, NLT

TODAY'S WORD:

It’s a new year, and God has something new in store for you! His plan for your life is not for you to reach one level, get stuck and stay there for 30 or 40 years. His plan is to increase you, open new doors before you, and take you places that you’ve never imagined. He has something big in your future, but He also has something big in store for this year! He’s already planned out big breaks, big opportunities and big ideas for you. You may have seen God’s goodness in the past, but you have not touched the surface of what God has for you in 2017! 

I believe this new thing is going to be far greater than you’ve ever seen before. It’s going to be bigger than you imagined. It’s going to be more rewarding than you thought possible. Receive it by faith and declare, “Yes, God, this is for me today. I’m not going to get stuck where I am. I know You’re a big God, and You have something new coming my way!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for a new day and a new year to glorify You. Thank You for choosing me and using me for Your purpose. I set my love on You today knowing that You have something new in store for me this year in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Overcoming Love, Overwhelming Peace

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted February 9, 2017

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Recommended Reading: Romans 5:6-11

Bud Paxson, co-founder of Home Shopping Network, was so busy building a television empire he didn’t realize his marriage was failing. On Christmas day, 1986, his wife told him she was leaving him. Paxson was devastated. His children insisted he accompany them on a planned vacation to Las Vegas. While there, he picked up a Gideon Bible in his hotel room and read Romans 5:8 about how Christ had paid the debt of our sins. As a businessman, Paxson understood the concept of debt; and that night he was wonderfully saved by the power of the Cross.

What happened at Calvary reverberated through all the ages and reaches us wherever we are, whether in the penthouse or in the gutter. “I regret I had to hit bottom before I was willing to listen to God,” Paxson said, “but I’m thankful God was there waiting for me.”

God is there waiting on you, too, with the greatest demonstration of love the world can ever witness—the cross of Jesus Christ.

The moment I put my faith in Jesus Christ, an overwhelming peace came over me. I knew at that moment that God loved me.
Bud Paxson

 Read-Thru-the-Bible:  Numbers 5 - 6