Daily Devotional

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. – Deuteronomy 8:18

Do you ever wish you could win a ton of money on a TV show, or you had a rich relative that left you tons of money when they died? Even better, wouldn’t it be great if God would just put lots of money into your checking account? Or put a ton of money in your Bible so when you open it up to read, you just pull out bill after bill? If God blessed us this way, it sure would be a lot more exciting and easier. However, today’s Bible verse tells us that God blesses us in a different way.

It tells us that God gives each of us the ability to get wealth. He puts in each of us a way that we can make money. You might be able to make money through your job, or perhaps you could start a business selling candy bars in your lunch room, or even make money on an investment or savings account.

God wants you blessed financially so that you can be a blessing to others. If you have a financial need in your life, begin to ask God to show you ways that you can produce wealth. God will show you a way that you can use things you’re good at to make money. Then be open and willing to act on what God is showing you.

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24

Have you ever had times when you didn’t feel close to God? I know I have. I’ve had days when my stomach has been twisted up in knots wondering about what to do, or whether I was making the right decision. I’ve struggled with wondering where God was when loved ones have died and at times when it felt like things weren’t going well in my family.

There are going to be times in your life when you don’t feel close to God. It might because of difficulty, being busy or any other number of reasons. When your emotions are all over the place, there’s one thing to keep in mind. We don’t contact God with our emotions and feelings. We talk to God through our spirit.

So when our emotions are all over the place, if we can get quiet, we can usually get peace in our spirit. Often we’re too busy and distracted to quiet our emotions and hear from God. If we can get quiet, we can usually find the peace and direction we were looking for.

So if today you don’t feel close to God, be encouraged. God hasn’t moved. He loves you and He desires to talk to you. Your situation isn’t hopeless. Just realize that your relationship with God isn’t based on your performance or how you feel today. It’s based on what Jesus did for you on the cross. That means that you can come to God any time any place and He is ready to hear from you. It doesn’t matter if it’s been two years since you last spoke to Him. He loves you and is ready to speak to you. Don’t let your emotions get in the way. Choose instead to believe God’s word and walk in your relationship with God.

I want you to think back to when you met some of your closest friends. Did you enjoy being around them? You probably laughed a lot with them, or just had so much fun with them that it made you want to be with them more and more.

Our relationship with God should be like that. We should enjoy time in God’s Prescence. Check out how King David described his time with God in today’s Bible verse.

There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God! – Psalm 43:4 (NLT)

David called God the source of all his joy. Wow! What a relationship David must have had with God.

God is calling you to the same kind of relationship with Him as David had. Believe it or not, you can enjoy time with God. And if you don’t, if it seems like a struggle or something you forget to do each day, take some time and get real and honest with God.

Let God know that you’re struggling, but that you’d like to spend time with Him. Then get quiet and let God speak to you. You might have an idea of how to make time with God more enjoyable just pop into your head. That’s God’s leading. He will help you so that you can learn to enjoy time with Him, just as David did.

Today’s Truth: You can learn to enjoy time with God.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. – Matt 5:16 (NLT)

Sometimes people just want to see you walk this Christian life out. They want to see if Jesus really changes your everyday life or if your faith in Jesus is just all talk. Nothing speaks as loudly about your faith as what you do. The things you do everyday shine your message to the world.

Let God help you to show good deeds to those around you. As He does, people will take notice. You’re not doing it to be noticed, but as you do good deeds for Jesus it does make an impact on others around you.

This Bible verse says that they will then praise your heavenly Father. When they see your good works and ask you about the difference in your life, tell them it’s because of Jesus in your life. This will help them to know who to glorify when they see the good things in your life.

God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” -1 Cor 6:20 (CEV)

It takes a lot of work to see yourself as God sees you. It’s easier to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. You see how you don’t say the right thing or do as good in school as a friend does. You see how no matter how hard you practice, you aren’t as good as the other players on the volleyball team. All the comparison can make you feel discouraged.

However, there is hope. Regardless of whether you say the right thing or make the winning point for your team, to God, you have value. God paid a great price for you. You have value because God was willing to give everything He had to bring you into a relationship with you.

Today’s Truth: You have value because God was willing to give everything He had to get you.

So if you have struggled with insecurities, failure, and low self-esteem be encouraged. God doesn’t love you based on your ability, nothing you could ever do would make Him love you more than He already does. So because God loves you in such a deep way, it causes us to want to honor Him.

It makes us want to know Him, to get into His word and to live differently. That’s what today’s Bible verse is saying. Because God paid such a high price for us, we should now live our lives in ways that honor Him.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. – Phil 2:13 (NLT)

Many people believe that following God takes a lot of willpower. However, this Bible verse states that God is able to work in you and gives you both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. That means you don’t have to do it on your own. God helps you live the Christian life.

In the same way, many people think that following God means doing things you don’t want to do. As you follow Jesus and get into God’s word, He places His desires in you. That makes following God easier because it isn’t hard work, it’s something you desire to do as you get close to Him.

Following Jesus isn’t scary or hard work. It’s simply a choice you make. As you choose to follow after Him and His word your desires will line up with His. It isn’t hard work because you want to do things that please Him.

Today be encouraged. You can follow God. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve messed up or done the wrong thing. You can always find a fresh start in Jesus.