September 6

Spiritual Vitamins Day 6 by SGLY Ministry

SPIRITUAL VITAMIN C: COMFORT
“Comfort, yes, comfort my people” says your God Isaiah 40:1 (NKJV)

COMFORT MEANS:

to soothe in distress or sorrow
to console, to have compassion
to ease the body or mind

Today’s Thought:
Our world is filled with people who need comfort.

Could you ease someone’s burden today by offering to help them?
Could you lift someone’s spirit today by offering to pray for them?
Could you bring a smile to someone’s face with a kind word?
Could you cause someone to laugh with a cute joke?
Could you let someone know you care by giving them a hug?

Today’s Action:
Today let your Spiritual Vitamin C become Vitamin “See”
Take time to look for an opportunity to comfort someone.

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2 Corinthians 6:2 God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.’

- God’s timing is always impeccable, never too early, and never too late.
- At just the right moment, He steps in and rescues and delivers us.
- Perhaps this very moment is the right time for you?
- May this new day and this new season, bring with it the help that you need.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that You hear my cry and You know just how and when to help. May I recognize the opportunities and the open doors that You bring across my path and may I step forward with boldness, and without fear. Amen.

Kind Regards
Pastor Andrew Roebert

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Hold Your Tongue

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it! —Psalm 34:13–14

You really have the gift of gab,” one man told me many years ago, when I first started in the ministry. He had pointed out something that I already knew: God had given me “a ready tongue,” that is, I speak easily. Words are my tools. The Lord first gave me that gift, and then He called me into the ministry to use that ability to work for Him.

I have no trouble talking. That’s my gift; that’s also been my greatest problem. Because I seem to always have something to say, I have struggled many, many years over the right use of my tongue.

It has not been an easy battle.

Over the years, I heard various people saying things like, “Hold your tongue.” “Do you have to speak every word that comes to your mind?” “Do you always speak first and think later?” “Must you sound so harsh?” Had I truly listened to what people were saying, I might have realized that God was trying to tell me something. But I ignored their comments and continued in my own stubborn ways.

I know I have wounded people with my words in the past, and I am sorry for that. I’m also grateful that God has forgiven me.

Several years ago, I realized that if God was going to use my life, I had to gain control of my tongue—not to just stop talking, but to keep my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking deceit, as the psalmist David says.

I had a choice. I could hurt people with my words—and I could do that well—or I could bring my lips into subjection to God. Obviously, I wanted to be subject to the Lord, but it was still a battle.

Our words are expressions of our hearts—of what’s going on inside us. If we want to know who a person really is, all we need to do is listen to their words. If we listen long enough, we learn a lot about them.

As I learned to listen to my own words, I also began to learn a lot about myself. Some of the things I learned did not please me, but they did help me realize that I had a character flaw that needed to be addressed. My words were not pleasing God, and I wanted them to. Once I confessed my failure to God, the victory came—not all at once and not perfectly, but God is patient with me. I’m growing, and part of my growth is keeping my lips from evil.

No matter how negative you are or have been, or how long you’ve been that way, God wants to change you. In the early days after my confession to God, I still failed more often than I succeeded, but every time I did succeed, I knew I was closer to God’s plan for my life. God can do the same for you.

It won’t be easy, but you can win. And the effort will be worth it.

Lord, help me use my mouth for right things. Put a watch over my mouth lest I sin against You with my tongue. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You. I ask it in Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.

From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer.

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Life-Energizing Thoughts by Joyce Meyer

Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24

The way to put off your old life and put on the new, enjoyable life that God offers us is by renewing your mind and attitude daily. “Daily” sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Don’t you wish scripture said, “Do this once and you will enjoy victory the rest of your life”? However, it doesn’t say that, and if we truly want to live life to the fullest and enjoy each moment of it, we will need to form a habit of thinking life-energizing thoughts instead of life-draining ones.

One of the simplest ways to practice this is by thinking about what you do have instead of what you don’t have. Be grateful for every blessing, no matter how tiny and insignificant it may seem.

God loves you so much and He has an amazing plan for your life! He does not play favorites, doing good things for one person and not another. No matter how bad life has been until now, it can change. Always remember you can overcome evil with good (see Romans 12:21). The darkness cannot overtake the light as long as we keep the light on.

Turn the light on in your mind by filling it with positive, hope-filled, thankful, thoughts based on God’s Word. As you do this, you will experience godly energy filling your soul. It will be in your words, your attitudes, and your actions. Everything in life is connected to the mind, and it is there that you win or lose the battle for having the life you always wanted.

This is an excerpt from The Mind Connection

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Rest

Rest refreshes and renews me.

Rest restores me and gives me energy to be fully present in the world. When I push myself too hard, I feel worn down and depleted with little to give to myself or others. But when I rest, not only do I recharge my body, I recharge my whole being. Respite replenishes the capacity to handle the daily ups and downs of life. Rested, I can more easily practice patience and kindness with myself and everyone else I encounter.

Rest is vital to well-being, so I make time to slow down and take breaks. I seek support when I need it and accept it gratefully. As I care for myself and prioritize rest and sleep, I am restored and free to share my best self.

In the stillness of rest, I experience the peace and tranquility that rejuvenates me.

For those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.—Hebrews 4:10

Daily Word

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God Won’t Break a Promise by Max Lucado

All of a sudden you’re cleaning out your desk. Voices of doubt and fear raise their volume. “How will I pay the bills? Who’s going to hire me?”

Do you think you’ve lost it all? Determine not to make this mistake. You have not lost it all. Romans 11:29 promises God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded. What do you have that you cannot lose?

You can say to yourself, “I am still God’s child. My life’s more than this life. These days are a vapor, a passing breeze. This will eventually pass. God will make something good out of this. I will work hard, stay faithful, and trust Him no matter what.”

Choose to heed the call of God on your life. You are God’s child. Your life is more than this life, more than this broken heart, more than this difficult time. God won’t break a promise. You will get through this!

From You’ll Get Through This

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Give It to God by Our Daily Bread

Then [Hezekiah] went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 2 Kings 19:14

As a teenager, when I became overwhelmed by enormous challenges or high-stakes decisions, my mother taught me the merits of putting pen to paper to gain perspective. When I was uncertain whether to take specific classes or which job to pursue, or how to cope with the frightening realities of adulthood, I learned her habit of writing out the basic facts and the possible courses of action with their likely outcomes. After pouring my heart onto the page, I was able to step back from the problem and view it more objectively than my emotions allowed.

Just as recording my thoughts on paper offered me fresh perspective, pouring our hearts out to God in prayer helps us gain His perspective and remind us of His power. King Hezekiah did just that after receiving a daunting letter from an ominous adversary. The Assyrians threatened to destroy Jerusalem as they had many other nations. Hezekiah spread out the letter before the Lord, prayerfully calling on Him to deliver the people so that the world would recognize He “alone . . . [is] God” (2 Kings 19:19).
Lord, You are my source of wisdom and strength.

When we’re faced with a situation that brings anxiety, fear, or a deep awareness that getting through it will require more than what we have, let’s follow in Hezekiah’s footsteps and run straight to the Lord. Like him, we too can lay our problem before God and trust Him to guide our steps and calm our uneasy hearts.

God is our greatest help in times of distress.

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And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. (NLT) Romans 8:26

God knows that we have weaknesses, but sometimes they can be isolating. Whether your weakness stems from the pain of feeling inadequate or suffering from a loss, remember that you are not alone. We are all weak and we all go through pain and suffering. The good news is that God knows this, and He is with you through the Holy Spirit in you.

Daily Bible Devotion

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O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. — 2 Chronicles 20:12 (AMPC)

Hold Your Position by Joyce Meyer

Like many of us today, the people in today’s verse had come to realize three things for certain: (1) They had no strength to fight their enemies; (2) they didn’t know what to do; and (3) they needed to keep their eyes focused on God.

Once they came to these realizations and freely acknowledged them to God, He said to them: ... Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s… You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord ... (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17).

In the same way, our position should be one of waiting on the Lord with our focus on Him, thanking Him in advance and trusting that He’s working everything together for our good.

Let’s keep our eyes on the Lord today—He’s the one Who’s fighting for us.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for fighting the battles in my life that I can’t. Please help me keep my focus on You, knowing that You’re watching out for me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. — Proverbs 21:23 (AMPC)

Words Are Fuel for Emotions by Joyce Meyer

Words fuel good moods or bad moods; in fact, they fuel our attitudes and have a huge impact on our lives and our relationships. If we speak positive and good things, then we minister life to ourselves. We increase the emotion of joy. However, if we speak negative words, then we minister death and misery to ourselves; we increase our sadness and our moods plummet.

But thankfully, we can control what words we speak and the quality of our lives. Why not help yourself first thing every day? Don’t get up each morning and wait to see how you feel and then talk about every feeling you have to anyone who will listen. If you do that, you are giving your emotions authority over you. Instead, get up praising God for His goodness in your life. Let words of thankfulness fuel a life of peace and joy.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You that I can choose what kind of attitude I am going to have by choosing to speak words of life each day. No matter how I feel or what is going on around me, I’m going to encourage and strengthen my spirit, not my flesh.

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Bible Verses

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

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Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

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Matthew 19:26b – For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.

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Proverbs 19:21 21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

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The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2

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Prayers

Prayer to Dedicate This Day to God

Holy God, as I face another day, I know I am going to face many challenges: to my faith, to my patience, to my love for others. I am going to have constant temptations to lapse into sin. Come to me now, Lord, and stay with me all day. Let your Spirit encompass my mind. Let me know your presence. Steer my hand, direct my words, guide my thoughts in everything I think and say and do. I resolve to live this day as a beacon of your glory, the best I can, with your help. I commit myself to give this day to you. In the name of Christ, be with me and help me. Amen.

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May the God of hope fill me and all of us with the joy and peace that comes from believing, so that we may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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My Desire

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for You, for the living God. You are my God, early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. The desire of my soul is for Your name…and by my spirit within me I will seek You early. You command Your lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night Your song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life. Amen

Scripture Reading Psalm 42 Psalm 63:1-2 Isaiah 26:8-9

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Dear Lord, sometimes life is just too hectic, too fast-paced! I am apt to cry out, "Lord, give me patience, right now!" When will I learn? Often times after such a prayer, I find myself stalled in a traffic jam, or caught in a supermarket line where the person checking out can't find her pen or her identification card. It is getting so that I am almost afraid to pray that prayer, Lord, for You seem to answer it by giving me more opportunities to practice patience! ... Remind me even then, that You didn't tell me to crowd so many activities into my schedule that 24-hour days would not be long enough! In fact, You don't even tell time by hours and minutes, do You? You might even see some things in my schedule that should have been left out. ... Help me Lord, to consult You before I plan my day, and not run ahead of You.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.
© 2000 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use.

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Renouncing Worldliness

Titus 2:4-14

Dear Father,

Help me to be submissive to others' needs, to give them satisfaction, to show entire and true fidelity, so that in everything I may adorn your teaching, my God and Savior, my Teacher.

I want to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live a sober, upright and godly life in this world. I want to wait for (and hasten!) the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good works.

Please purify me, even as Christ is pure, through the blessed hope of his ultimate and world-wide, and yet personal, redemption.

In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

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When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:14–15, NIV

Dear Father in heaven, how shall we thank you for all you give to us, your children, for the great wisdom and power you hold in readiness for us if we are childlike? We want to be glad in your presence. We do not want to weep and complain, though tears often threaten to come. We simply want to ask you to protect us, your children. Protect all your children on earth. Let the pain that breaks over them be taken away, for the sake of the whole world. Even when we must follow a hard road, let all the suffering we endure become part of the fight that brings in the kingdom of heaven, bringing your purpose to the earth and great mercy to the peoples, bringing to all the world the wonderful forgiveness that enables men to be reborn, until at last all are called your children. Sustain us. Help us. Bless us. May the Savior always live among us, reviving and strengthening us in body and soul. Amen.

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Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to know sometimes even if my need is complicated, the answer can be simple.

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Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your patience and love toward me. I have failed You many times, but You have never failed me. Lord, purify my thoughts so that they will be pleasing to You. May Your Words dwell in my heart and my mind so that I will not sin against You. Lord, may I think loving and kind thoughts toward others and may I never be a scoffer and one who demeans others. Deliver me from all foolish thoughts and give me the mind of Christ, so that I am a good witness for You in this world. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.