September 1

Spiritual Vitamins–Day 1 by SGLY Ministry

SPIRITUAL VITAMIN A : ARISE!
“Arise, shine for your light has come! Isaiah 60:1 (NKJV)

Today’s Thought and Action:
Arise and Shine today in your little corner of the world!
Go out and light up someone’s life by reflecting the glory of the Lord! It can be just a smile, a kind word or deed, or a prayer said, but if your action is done in the Name of the Lord you will shine for Him!

A PRAYER
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks.
1 Timothy 2:1 NLT
A GOOD DEED
…let your good deeds shine out for all to see,
so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16 NLT
A SMILE
…what a relief it is to see your friendly smile.
It is like seeing the smile of God!
Genesis 33:10

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I Am Not Forgotten By Marion Stroud

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. —Psalm 33:20

Waiting is hard at any time; but when days, weeks, or even months pass and our prayers seem to go unanswered, it’s easy to feel God has forgotten us. Perhaps we can struggle through the day with its distractions, but at night it’s doubly difficult to deal with our anxious thoughts. Worries loom large, and the dark hours seem endless. Utter weariness makes it look impossible to face the new day.

The psalmist grew weary as he waited (Ps. 13:1). He felt abandoned—as if his enemies were gaining the upper hand (v.2). When we’re waiting for God to resolve a difficult situation or to answer often-repeated prayers, it’s easy to get discouraged.

Satan whispers that God has forgotten us, and that things will never change. We may be tempted to give in to despair. Why bother to read the Bible or to pray? Why make the effort to worship with fellow believers in Christ? But we need our spiritual lifelines most when we’re waiting. They help to hold us steady in the flow of God’s love and to become sensitive to His Spirit.

The psalmist had a remedy. He focused on all that he knew of God’s love, reminding himself of past blessings and deliberately praising God, who would not forget him. So can we.
Lover of my soul, who draws close
in the darkest and longest night, please
keep me trusting You, talking to You,
and leaning on Your promises.

God is worth waiting for; His time is always best

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But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here!" (NLT) - Mark 6:50

What do you fear? Is it financial ruin, loneliness, pain, poor health, or the collapse of your family? When you feel afraid, and fear has its strong grip on you, remember this: God is with you. Acknowledging this will allow you to conquer your fear and steady your steps. As you move forward, step by step, your fear will fade away as you recognize that your strength is with God. He is with you.

Daily Bible Devotion

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7 Good Things…You Can Do with Your Voice Author Unknown

You can pray (Psalm 5:2)
You can give thanks (Psalm 18:49)
You can sing unto the Lord (Psalm 13:6)
You can proclaim the Good News (Mark 16:15)
You can feed the spiritually hungry (Proverbs 10:21)
You can encourage and build up others (I Thessalonians 5:11)
You can speak blessing over the life of another (Numbers 6:22-26)
God has given ALL of His children something life-giving to say (through word or deed), we just have been given different ways of saying it…some with a pen, some with a brush, some from a pulpit, some through prayer, some from home, some from the workplace, some privately, some openly, some to a multitude, some to a few, all through love.

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

When trouble strikes, what you want is comfort and protection. You want strength to stand up to it and meet it. You can have both. This text contains the answer. Frequently remind yourself that God is with you, that He will never fail you, that you can count upon Him. Say these words, “God is with me, helping me.” This will give you a sense of comfort. New hope will flood your mind. New ideas will come. A new sense of power will be felt. As a result, you will rise above your trouble. When a particular trouble arises, before you do anything else about it, sit down quietly, repeat this text a half dozen times, and put your full faith in it.
Courtesy of PealeCenterforPositiveThinking.com

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Grasp the Hour This devotional was written by Jim Burns

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Life is a celebration. Don't postpone it. Grasp the hour! Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Here is a list of possibilities to make your day a brighter day.

Seek out a forgotten friend.
Write a love letter.
Share a treasure.
Encourage someone with a kind word.
Keep a promise.
Give to a needy cause.
Forgive an enemy.
Listen.
Apologize if you were wrong.
Try to understand.
Read your Bible.
Pray for your family.
Examine your demands on others.
Appreciate a friend.
Be kind, be gentle.
Laugh a little.
Laugh a little more.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.*

GOING DEEPER:

1. According to Colossians 3:17 almost anything we do or say can be a way of giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ. Make a decision to "grasp the hour" and thank God today. Put a check next to two of the suggestions above and do them today.
2. You may have spoken words or done deeds in your life that don’t give thanks to God. Commit to making every word and deed today an opportunity to give God thanks.

FURTHER READING:
1 Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 5:20, Psalm 34:1, 1 Peter 4:11

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Step Boldly Forward

Thought for the Day

"Be bold in your next step. Do not let fear hold you back from moving along the path God has laid out for you. There will be bumps in the road - some of which you may trip over - but if you never move, you will never get anywhere."

Today's Word

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Today's Prayer

Father, it is with you by my side that I can boldly step forward on the path you have laid out for me. Thank you for giving me the confidence to move from where I am to where you want me to be. Amen

The Whisper Of God

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Prayer Strengthens You

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ 31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...

Too many people think of prayer only as asking God for what they want. But prayer is much more than that. Prayer is communication and communion with Almighty God. Somehow, in the act of prayer we receive a transfusion of God's strength.

LUKE 22:46 NKJ 46 ..."pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Being strong enables you to not enter into temptation. Time spent in prayer strengthens you spiritually. (Temptation strikes us all. But we decide whether to yield to the temptation, or not.)

JUDE 1:20 NKJ 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

According to Jude, praying builds you up, or edifies you. Prayer is a spiritual exercise; the more you do it the stronger you get spiritually.

Some may say that they don't know how to pray. Just begin to talk to God. And listen for His response. God is not so particular about how His children visit with Him. Just do it!

SAY THIS: I choose to spend time with God each day in prayer and receive God's strength and help.

A Bible Devotion

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Face The Day by Seek Ye First the Kingdom

In Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians, he gives them a variety of guidance and instructions. One passage in particular we should all keep in mind as we face the day is:

1 Corinthians 16:13-14, where he writes, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.”

Great guidance for us all.

Dear Lord, be with us as we face each day so that we can follow Paul’s guidance having confidence in you and love for others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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He changes the times and the seasons…. — Daniel 2:21 (AMPC)

Seasons of Change by Joyce Meyer

Years ago, I enjoyed a good job as part of a church staff. I had a thriving ministry, a regular paycheck, and plenty of opportunities to do what I loved and felt called to do. Then there came a time when God spoke to me about leaving that job and taking my ministry “to the north, south, east, and west.” I heard Him say, “This season in your life is complete; I am finished with you in this place.”

In my heart, I knew God had spoken. Nevertheless, I had a mixture of excitement and fear about starting my own ministry. I wanted to venture beyond what I had known to that point, but I was afraid of making a mistake and losing what I had. I wanted to see what God would do, but I was afraid to take such a big step into unknown territory.

Sometimes God gets finished with something and we keep hanging on to it. My spirit wanted to step out, but my flesh wanted to stay. I had a lot of security in the position God was calling me to leave, and I didn’t want to give it up. But eventually I did obey Him and today I enjoy ministry around the world. Remember that God changes things and when He does, we must be willing to follow His leading.

Prayer of the Day: God, please help me as I listen for Your voice. Please lead me when I need to make changes in my life, amen.

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First, Not Finally

Far too often I hear variations of this statement: “I’ve tried everything I know to do, and nothing is working, so now I’ll give it to God (or now I just have to trust God).”

When bad news comes, we are presented with a choice.

We can give it to God first, with a heart full of trust; or we can give it everything we have in our own strength first and eventually, after multiple failed efforts, give it to God.

This important choice to trust doesn’t mean everything suddenly turns to sunshine and roses.

Circumstances do not instantly resolve themselves and fall perfectly into place. That’s not how it works. Instead, we find that our choice to trust God will bring a presence of peace we didn’t have before. This is the kind of peace we read about in Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

When I follow the pattern of first instead of finally, I am comforted. I know God is in control, and trusting Him allows me to approach every difficulty or stress with a much calmer state of mind. When I fall into the pattern of finally instead of first, I ultimately regret that I didn’t give it to God in the first place.

When will we learn to take everything to God, which is what we need to do first instead of finally?

Let’s take our challenges to Him in prayer…

“Lord, we give these situations to you; they are in your hands. You have the answers. We know you are with us, and we trust you with our life challenges. Please lead and guide us, and grant us wisdom. We know these circumstances are not ours to handle alone. Amen.”

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. “

By Kathy Cheek

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Bible Verses

Proverbs 3:31-32 – Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

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John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

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For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16

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Psalm 95:6-7 “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,”

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James 1:17 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

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Prayers

Prayer for Sunday Worship

O God, who makes us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ; Give me this day such blessings through my worship of you, that the days to come may be spent in your service; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer of Abandonment

Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all Your creatures — I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence,
For you are my Father. Amen.

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Prayer of Penitence

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

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A Humble Spirit

Heavenly Father, You are the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity. Your name is Holy. I come boldly before You with a contrite and humble spirit; according to Your Word You dwell with me. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness: according unto the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin in the name of Jesus. Amen

Scripture Reading Isaiah 57:15 (KJV) Psalm 51:1-7 (KJV)

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O Lord of wisdom, kindle me with a love for true knowledge, that I may strive, in the moments I have now, to culture my life. Not by might, not by power, but by thy spirit, O Lord, may I learn and teach thy children. Amen.
May I go in peace, with God and with his other children, and may we love one another as Christ taught us. May I follow the example of good men of old, and may God comfort and help me and all who believe in Him, both in this world and in the world which is to come. Amen.

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Lord, we pray that we may live in such a waythat we value all that is good in our lives and never take anyone or anything for granted. Amen.

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An Everlasting Kingdom

2 Timothy 4:9-22

Dear Father,

Help me not to be in love with this present world. Enable me to live for the sake of your everlasting kingdom.

Help me come to the defense of those who are attacked wrongly or who need defending for your sake.

Stand by us, dear God, and give us the strength to live for you and to proclaim your word fully, as it deserves.

Rescue us from the lion's mouth. Rescue us from every evil and save us for your heavenly kingdom.

Be with our spirits. Grant abundant grace to us in every way.

To you be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV

Dear Father in heaven, open our hearts to see what is good in our lives. May the light in our hearts shine clearly so that we see, recognize, and live in accordance with what comes from eternity and belongs to man's true nature, brought to us through Christ. Keep us from being blinded and deafened by experiences that will pass by. Help us to rise above them even in suffering and to wait patiently for what is becoming new and perfect. Praise to your name that we too can say, "The old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" Amen.

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Dear Father, give me the wisdom to be patient and kind. Give me the wisdom to understand that sometimes people find it difficult to be forgiving. This however, does not mean I can't forgive them.

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Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for all You are doing in my life. Lord, I purpose not to envy nor covet anything that another may have. I am looking to You for my provision. I believe You will supply all my needs. Lord, You are the God of everything, so You have an abundant supply of all that I might ever need or want. Just help me to be content with the things I have today, knowing that You will send additional things as I ask for them and have need of them and walk in faith to receive them. Thank You for always taking care of me. Deliver me from any insecurity or fear and give me the faith to always trust in Your provision. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.