September 9

Spiritual Vitamins Day 9 by SGLY Ministry

SPIRITUAL VITAMIN E: EXHORT
“Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 3:13 (NKJV)

Today’s Thought:
“Exhort” means:
Urge, advise, or caution earnestly; Give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.

The New Living Bible translates the verse this way: “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.”

Today’s Action:
Everyday we need to be alert and do our best to keep ourselves spiritually healthy.
The enemy is always trying to lure us to sin by being deceitful, so let us be concerned, not only for ourselves, but for all, and especially for our fellow believers in Christ.

Let us help each other in our daily walk.
If we see one of our brethren straying off the path or being pulled into temptation let’s give them a loving, helpful hand to lead them back.

Pray, Intercede, Contend, for all–believers and unbelievers.
Give thanks and Praise God Always as this will keep you strong spiritually.
Exhort daily: yourself, the brethren, and all men everywhere.

EXHORT FOR ALL
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV)

EXHORT FOR THE BRETHREN
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [you] by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, [so] ye would abound more and more. 1 Timothy 4:1(NKJV)

EXHORT FOR YOURSELVES
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3

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James 3: 1-12

"From the same mouth come blessing and curse." Keeping with our theme for this week of teaching and prayer, here we are all being called to speak the words of benediction, literally "good words." Of course, we can do that in public worship, but perhaps equally as impactful, is when we give the benediction of "good words" to those we meet.

Speaking words of appreciation to the grocery checker, the landscape worker, the police officer, the crossing guard, our child's teacher, or the teller at the bank, by the power of the Holy Spirit can change the trajectory of a person's life. We can speak informal benedictions to all people because we believe that God is working on every life. Our calling is to give voice to that grace: "God has blessed you," "I'll pray for you"; "God is good"; "Thank you for your kindness." Every time we speak a benediction, we're working with the Spirit to open a life up to the Word, Jesus Christ.

May our words be benedictions Lord, causing people to pause, give thanks, and consider again Your presence in their lives; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

David Mattson

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Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

--Mark 10:27

Are you facing an impossible situation in your life right now?

Maybe your relationship with your spouse or child seems like it’s damaged beyond repair. Or perhaps you feel like your financial situation will never recover. Or maybe you’re questioning whether your health will ever be the same as it once was.

Whatever you may be going through today, let me assure you of this: God delights in using impossible situations like yours to display His power and glory.

Today… if you’re in a dead-end, nowhere-to-run, hopeless, impossible, helpless situation… you’re a prime candidate for the power of God to move in your life. Don’t say, “My life, my home, my family, my future is impossible,” because as Jesus says in today’s verse, “All things are possible with God.”

Remember the man who Jesus healed at the pool in Bethesda? He had been paralyzed for 38 years! Nothing anyone had done in all that time had helped this poor, crippled man. Can you imagine the feelings of despair and hopelessness that this man must have struggled with all that time?

Yet in Jesus’ divine and perfect plan, He chose to do something powerful and wonderful in this man’s life. And He can do the same in yours!

In the midst of hopeless situations, there’s nothing that would please the evil one more than for you to throw up your hands in despair… for you to say, “That’s it, I quit!” But remember what Galatians 6:9 says: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

No matter what you may be going through today, please don’t grow weary. Please don’t give up. Wait on the Lord… and remember that all things… even the most hopeless things… are possible with God!

If you’re in a hopeless situation today, you’re a prime candidate for the power of God to move in your life!

Jack Graham

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In the Face of Pressure

Thought for the Day

"There are times that can cause us great anxiety as outside pressures seem as if they might overwhelm while we wait for the Lord to act in our lives. Stand strong in the face of these pressures and know that the Lord IS working for you and WILL act when He feels the timing is best."

Today's Word

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." (Psalm 31:24 NIV)

Today's Prayer

Give me the strength, Father, to face the pressures that I do as you work for me. Amen

The Whisper Of God

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Will God Be There?

“The Lord…sent them…ahead of him to every town and place where he was to go.” Luke 10:1

Three friends, newly retired from teaching, had taken the long-dreamed-of plunge: they volunteered for an educational project to a part of the world they had only read about in National Geographic magazine. But one glance at the globe was enough to unleash a trainload of questions. Is the water pure? Is in-country travel safe? What if we get sick? Are the people friendly? What is the political situation? While some of their questions could be factually answered, others fell into that grey area best described by the qualifiers “maybe, usually, yes, but.”

Whether it be a mission trip or a new job, child-raising or a geographic move, the Christian must ultimately rest on the promise, “where God leads, God provides.” Although Jesus gave quite explicit advice to “mission trip participants” he once sent on a daring adventure, the most reassuring words describing that experience remain, “The Lord…sent them…ahead of him to every town and place where he was to go.”

As we follow God’s call into frequently dim corners of life, we can be sure that Jesus is intimately involved. Sometimes he goes ahead, sometimes he walks alongside and sometimes his plan is to follow in our footsteps. But he’s always there.

Father, because I can’t see your physical presence, I sometimes doubt your actual presence. Thank you for the promise that you will never leave me nor forsake me.

By Marilyn Ehle

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Bible Verses

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?' Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:5-8

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Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

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Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

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Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

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Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

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For where two or three gather together as My followers, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20

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Prayers

Let me not forget my prayers as I go out into the world. Holy Spirit, be with me, and let me praise you and remember you in my every action and thought, for the entire day long. In Christ's name I ask this, Amen.

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Loving Father, help me to realize that I am not living in the right way nor the right place if I am discontented, or happy in trifles and untruth. Help me to find my place, and with thy help may I stand firm and confident. Amen.

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The Preeminence of Christ

Hebrews 1:1-14

Dear Father, father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Thank you for speaking through the prophets of old, bit by bit, in first one way, then another. Help me not to be slow of heart but to believe all they have said. Thank you most of all for speaking to us through your Son. You made him heir of all things and through him you created the world. We give glory to you because this one who shines forth with your glory and bears the very stamp of your nature. He upholds the world by his power. Thank you for him, this one who is our Savior, the one who purifies us from our sins. Thank you for exalting him high above all angels, for giving him a name more excellent than theirs, and for causing him to sit on your right hand in your majestic splendor.

Our wonderful Lord wields a scepter of righteousness! His throne is for ever and ever. Thank you for this changeless and faithful Savior of ours! Thank you!

In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10–11, NIV

Lord God, we thank you that it is your will to strengthen us through your presence, through Jesus Christ, the leader of your cause, who is and remains victor among men on earth. Our souls need strength and our hearts need confidence so that in our time we can draw near to you and to your kingdom. Bless us with the Holy Spirit whenever we begin to grow weary. Your Holy Spirit can give us the strength to believe and hope, the strength to see the salvation that is coming to give joy to all the world. Amen.

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Dear Lord, thank you for today. Please give me the wisdom to understand that strength is not how strong you are physically but how strong you are mentally.

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Dear heavenly Father, I want to thank You for saving my soul and I am grateful to be Your child. I am so glad to have sweet fellowship with You. Lord, it is a privilege to be a part of the family of God! I am so happy to know that my name is written in the book of life. Lord, may I always have a joyful spirit so that those who do not know You, might be drawn to want to know You, through my life of happiness. Thank You Lord, for the many delights I have known because of my wonderful Savior, Jesus. I ask that I might know You even deeper and more intimately. Let Your Word become as honey when I read it. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Praying man Father, help us to accept Your invitation to come and drink freely from Your inexhaustible supply of life-giving water. May it overflow to those around us as it springs forth in our words, our actions and in our thoughts. Amen.