Avoid Worldly Competition

By Joyce Meyer - Posted April 19, 2017

Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. 
—Galatians 5:26 

According to the world's system, the best place to be is ahead of everyone else. Popular thinking would say that we should try to get to the top no matter who we have to hurt on the way up. But the Bible teaches us that there is no such thing as real peace until we are delivered from the need to compete with others. 

Even in what is supposed to be considered "fun games," we often see competition get so out of balance that people end up arguing and hating one another rather than simply relaxing and having a good time together. Naturally, human beings don't play games to lose; everyone is going to do his best. But when a person cannot enjoy a game unless he is winning, he definitely has a problem—possibly a deep-rooted one that is causing other problems in many areas of his life. 

We should definitely do our best on the job; there is nothing wrong with wanting to do well and advance in our chosen professions. But I encourage you to remember that promotion for the believer comes from God and not from man. You and I don't need to play worldly games to get ahead. God will give us favor with Him and with others if we will do things His way (see Proverbs 3:3-4). 

What God does for you or for me may not be what He does for someone else, but we must remember what Jesus said to Peter, "Don't be concerned about what I choose to do with someone else—you follow Me" (see John 21:22).

Keep Your Dreams Alive

By Joel Osteen – Posted April 18, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

Where there is no vision, the people perish…
Proverbs 29:18, KJV

TODAY'S WORD:

Throughout life, we will always have forces opposing us to try to keep us from becoming all God’s created us to be. And many times, the adversities and unfair situations are set up by the enemy to try to discourage us and deceive us into giving up on our dreams. Today, you may feel like you’re at an empty place in life. Not much is going your way. You’ve been through difficulties and setbacks. But I believe God wants to restore you. He wants to encourage you, and pour out His spirit on you. He wants to do a new thing in and through you. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your past, God has something new for your future. I always say, when one dream dies, dream another dream. 

Today, remember, God has placed so much inside of you. You have gifts, talents and abilities that no one else has. You may have had more than your share of unfair things happen. But it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish that matters. It’s time to shake off the past and shake off that discouragement. Let faith arise in your heart and keep your dreams alive!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, I know that You have chosen me for such a time as this. I may not understand everything that has happened in my past, but I choose to trust in You. I believe that You are working all things together for my good. Give me faith so I can boldly pursue the dreams You have given me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

DON’T LOOK INSIDE THE ARK

By Joseph Prince – Posted April 19, 2017

1John 2:2

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

In the movie, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, the people who tried to look inside the ark were struck dead. What was inside the ark that brought judgment to those who looked into it?

The Bible tells us that the ark held the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod. (Hebrews 9:4) These items were tokens of man’s rebellion. The two tablets of the Ten Commandments represented man’s rejection of God’s standards. The manna represented man’s rejection of God’s provision, and Aaron’s rod, man’s rejection of God’s appointed priesthood.

God did not want to look at these tokens of rebellion. He wanted to be merciful to His people, so He instructed them to place the items in the ark and to cover the ark with its mercy seat, which is also the place where the blood of the animal sacrifices was sprinkled.

Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle on the mercy seat the blood of the animal that had been sacrificed. The two cherubim on the mercy seat stood as guardians of God’s righteousness and holiness.

Representing God’s eyes too, they looked at the blood on the mercy seat. As long as the blood was there, the entire nation of Israel was forgiven. God’s judgment passed over them and they were blessed for another year. (Leviticus 16)

Today, the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat is not the blood of bulls and goats, but the precious, eternal blood of the Son of God! (Hebrews 9:12) Jesus is our “mercy seat” for “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world”. The word “propitiation” in the original Greek text is the same word as “mercy seat”. (Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5)

Beloved, God does not see your sins and count them against you because He sees His Son’s blood. He sees His Son’s perfect work that has more than satisfied Him. God does not want you to see your sins either. He does not want you to look inside the ark by focusing on your sins. He wants you to focus on Christ and His finished work!

Thought For The Day

Don’t focus on your sins. Focus on Christ and His finished work.

Skin and Stomach Issues

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted April 19, 2017

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25

Recommended Reading: Philippians 4:4-9

Psychologists from the University of Basel have released a study showing the effects of anxiety and depression on the human body. One of the most surprising findings was that depression is more likely to affect our stomachs, and anxiety is more likely to affect our skin. The study was conducted among 6,500 teenagers, and they found arthritis and digestive problems were widespread among those battling depression. Those teens who were anxious had more problems with their skin.

According to Proverbs 12:25, there’s linkage between anxiety and depression, and one of the best cures is a good word from another person who comes alongside us to counsel, affirm, encourage, and direct us. Whenever we open our Bible, we find a good word from God—verse after verse about peace, strength, joy, hope, calmness, faith, and guidance.

If you’re battling anxiety or depression with all their related issues, make sure you get the help you need from others; but most of all, make sure you find those special verses God wants to use in your life to make you glad!

Faith is the vision of the heart; it sees God in the dark as well as in the day.
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