Daily Bible Verse

I want you to think back to when you were a kid at Christmas. When it was Christmas, did you hold back at all asking for all the toys you wanted? I know I sure didn’t. I would find a catalog that was mailed to our house full of toys. I’d spend hours looking through the pages, and very carefully circling all the toys that I would like.

Then I’d be sure to tell my parents that I left the catalog full of ideas for them to get me for Christmas. I’d also be sure to give some great hints of toy ideas to my grandparents as well. Why? Because I knew they loved me. And because they loved me, they wanted to get me the things I wanted.

That’s a little like what James is talking about. Now, he’s not saying treat God like vending machine or some kind of automatic toy machine that will just pop out every request or desire you have. However, the Bible tells us that we can ask things according to God’s will.

And just like our grandparents and parents want to get us the things we desire, God does too. And if you ask according to His word, He hears you and goes to work.

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. – James 1:6 (NIV)

So today, ask God for what you need. In the context of this verse, James was talking about wisdom. So if you need wisdom at school or how to deal with a friend, don’t be afraid to ask. Know that God loves you and wants to help you. Ask in faith without doubting and know that He wants to help you out!

I’ve always struggled with anger. I don’t know why, but for some reason, my go to emotion when things don’t go my way is to get angry. For whatever reason, anger is where I struggle. On the other hand, I have no desire to steal or sin sexually. Isn’t it funny though how each person is different when it comes to their struggle with sin?

Maybe you’re like me, and anger is your hang up. But it could be that there’s another area where you struggle with sin. Here’s what James 1:14 says about sin.

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. – James 1:14 (NIV)

Isn’t it interesting how James tells us that each person is tempted. No one is immune to it, and that should be somewhat encouraging. When we’re tempted, it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with us. It just proves that we are human, living in a fallen world.

And when it comes to temptation, being tempted isn’t wrong. What’s wrong is when those desires entice you and you act on those desires.

As Christ followers we should be trying to be more like Him. And how did Jesus combat temptation? When He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He quoted scriptures back to the devil. So if there’s an area that you struggle with temptation, do what Jesus did. Find out what the Bible has to say about that area, and begin to speak God’s word over your life. Know that His word has power. It can help you overcome the temptation that you face.

I wanted to be a drummer for an amazing worship band. I dreamed of the day I’d go on tour, traveling the world, blessing people with my amazing drumming skills and worship music. In my mind, that was success. I thought that having crowds of people watching me drum, cheering me on would bring me the success and fulfillment my heart desired.

A few years later, my friends and I and the band we had formed broke up, and with it all my dreams of what success looked like they would never be fulfilled.

Maybe you’re like I was and feel that success is having a huge platform, with millions of people following you. That’s often how the world views success. That if you have lots of followers then you’re successful. God however, defines success in a different way.

Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success. – 2 Chronicles 26:5 (NLT)

In this verse, we see that Uzziah found success when he sought guidance from God. As he made God a part of his life, he was successful.

Could it be, that the way many people in the world define success isn’t success to God? This verse makes it clear that being successful is more than just having a lot of followers or being famous. Rather, success is making room for God in your life.

When you face big decisions, where do you turn? Are you more concerned with what others will think and say about you? Or are you the most concerned about what God will say to you?

Today, challenge yourself to seek success on God’s terms. Find out what He would have you to do. Seek Him and His plan for your life, and as you do, you’ll be a success God’s way.

Today’s Truth: Seek Success God’s Way

I bet you’re busy. You’re probably involved in sports or the school play. Add perhaps some chores at home, your homework, and hanging out with friends, and you might even feel a little overwhelmed. If so, you’re not alone. Life can get really busy.

If we’re not careful, we can get so busy in our day to day activities that we exclude God. And more than likely, if you have, it wasn’t a decision you made consciously. I’ll bet you didn’t sit down and think, ‘now, I’m not going to include God in my day today’. No, more than likely, you simply get caught up in all the things that life has and you didn’t take time to talk to God that day.

As Christians, we should be wanting to seek God. And yes, we can use being busy as an excuse, but when something is important to us, we can find the time for it. Even if we’re busy.

Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the LORD God so that you can bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the LORD’s name.” – 1 Chronicles 22:19 (NLT)

So if you’ve been guilty of not spending time with God, make the changes necessary in your life today. Challenge yourself to include God in your life each day. It can be as simple as getting up in the morning and asking God for help today. Quickly tell Him how busy you are, but that you want His help not getting stressed out today.

Try to make time each day for Him. Yes, life is busy. Yes, there are distractions now more than ever before, but if we make God our priority, we can find the time for Him each day. Get creative. Ask God for wisdom, ideas and help. Choose today to do what this verse says, and seek God with all your heart!

Today’s Truth: Seek God with all your heart!

I was talking to someone a few days ago, and that person was wrestling with their faith, and they asked a good question. They said, “why do I deserve hell?”. And I thought, you know that is a good thing to ask. Why do they deserve hell?

How would you respond if you were asked something similar?

So, why do I deserve hell? And it might be a little bit of semantics, but we get hell because of God’s perfection. God’s standard is so high and so holy that no one (except Jesus) could meet it.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (NIV)

If God didn’t send people to hell, He wouldn’t be just. We are guilty of sin. We all can’t escape it. And if God didn’t punish sin, then He wouldn’t be a just God.

But here is the good news. Even though we deserve hell, we are given the opportunity to accept God’s grace. God sent His son to do what we couldn’t do, and to live the life we couldn’t live, free of sin. In doing this, He provided a way of escape for us from our sin and the punishment our sin deserved.

So yes, we deserve hell, but we get grace from God. We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it. It’s God’s free gift to us, it’s just up to us to accept that gift and let Jesus become the payment for our sin.

Have you ever thought about your part in spreading the gospel? What would happen if you don’t tell anyone about Jesus? If you stay silent, will the next generation of people know the Lord?

That’s kind of a sobering thought, isn’t it? And it’s not to make you feel guilty or bad or anything like that. However, it’s important to realize that you have an important plan in the kingdom of God. If you don’t do the things that God has placed on your heart, if you’re not open to being used by Him and willing to tell others of His goodness, who will?

It’s important to make sure that you take time to speak of the things God has done in your life. Your friends should know that Jesus is a part of your life and why He is. When you have kids one day, you should tell them about the difference Jesus has made in your life.

We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders he has done. – Psalm 78:4 (NIV)

Today’s verse challenges us to do just that. To tell others that Jesus has made an impact in your life. If you don’t know where to start, you could ask God. Tell Him that you want to tell others of His goodness but aren’t sure how. Ask Him to show you how you can make a difference for Him in your world.

Then step out and boldly show others that Jesus is real and is a part of your life. Don’t be afraid to let others know of His goodness to you.