Daily Devotional€¦ · ly, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ. Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV These were all commended for their

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Hope 2020 Vision Walk By Faith Campaign.

Daily Devotional

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“We walk by faith not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Strengthen Our Faith,

O Lord.

Philippians 4:13 NIV I can do

all this through Him who gives me strength.

Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV Now faith is confidence in

what we hope for and assurance about what

we do not see. This is what the ancients were

commended for.

Through faith in Christ we can do anything that God

asks us to do because He is the One who empowers us

to do it. The question is will we trust Him or not?

There are a lot of great prayers in the Bible, but one of

the best is when a man came to Jesus and asked Him

to rescue his son. He said, “If you can do anything,

take pity on us and help us.” Jesus said, “If you can?

Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe,

help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24 NIV)

What an honest prayer. Jesus never rebukes an

authentic prayer. He is not looking for you to come to

Him with perfect faith. He wants you to just come to

Him in faith. Ask Him to strengthen your faith and then

act on your faith.

Reflection Question: What is Jesus asking you to do

that requires greater faith in Him?

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Prayer: Lord God, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Through the reading and studying of Your Word, grow

and deepen my faith that I believe more and more. I

can do everything through Christ who gives me

strength.

Scripture: Matthew 9:29b Then he touched their eyes

and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”

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Trusting God’s Promises

Romans 10:17 NIV Consequent-

ly, faith comes from hearing the message, and

the message is heard through the Word about Christ.

Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV These were all commended for

their faith, yet none of them received what had been

promised, since God had planned something better for us

so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Isaiah 40:31 NIV But those who hope in the Lord will

renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be

faint.

It is not always easy to trust in God’s promises. The

world is broken, our bodies get broken, our hearts get

broken and it is so easy to be discouraged and even want

to give up on our hopes and dreams. How do you keep

from throwing in the towel? Go back to God’s

demonstrated faithfulness in the past, both from the Bible

and from your past, and be reminded of His

faithfulness. He hasn’t changed. Remember that just like

all who trusted God were rewarded, so your faith will be

one day as well.

Reflection Question: What were some of the ways God

was faithful to you in the past? Praise Him!

Prayer: Lord, when I face difficult situations in the

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with them.

By Faith, we will try new initiatives and bold endeavors

with a purposeful plan to extend the Gospel well

beyond the walls of Hope.

By Faith, we will keep in step with the movement of the

Holy Spirit, to be increasingly known as the Church that

Cares.

By Faith, future generations and most importantly, God

will say of us, “ Well done, good and faithful servants.”

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By Faith, we will see Jesus fulfill His promise, “I will build

my Church and not even the gates of hell will prevail

against it.”

By Faith, we can equip generations to come because we

are equipping families today.

By Faith, we can let those who have nothing, know that

in Christ they have everything and they will trust us, if

we show up, find out who they are, and walk, by faith,

Weekly = Monthly = 2 Years

$1,000 $4,333 $104,000

$500 $2,167 $52,000

$400 $1,733 $41,600

$300 $1,300 $31,200

$250 $1,083 $26,000

$230 $997 $23,920

$200 $867 $20,800

$150 $650 $15,600

$115 $498 $11,960

$100 $433 $10,400

$58 $251 $6,032

$50 $217 $5,200

$25 $108 $2,600

$23 $100 $2,392

$15 $65 $1,560

$10 $43 $1,040

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present or worry about the future, help me to remember

the faithfulness and love you have always provided,

and that you will never change.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how

many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in

Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us

to the glory of God.

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Trusting God’s Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know

the plans I have for you, de-

clares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Proverbs 19:21 NIV Many are the plans in a person’s

heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

In the field of logic they have what is called deductive

reasoning. God is good. God has a plan for your life.

Therefore God’s plan for your life must be good. We

are called to trust His plan. So often we make our plan

and work the plan, never thinking to seek God’s plan

until our plan is not working!

We want to seek the Lord’s plan for our life, making

sure our plans are aligned with His plan. Because it is

His purpose that will ultimately prevail.

Reflection Question: What are you planning right

now that you need to place before the Lord? Whatever

it is, make sure it is aligned with His will.

Prayer: Lord God, though I don’t always see how your

good plan for my life is unfolding, help me to trust in

you until I do.

Scripture: Matthew 6:10 Heavenly Father, Your

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Pledge to give:

1. A 24 MONTH GIVING PLEDGE

You can refer to the My Giving Potential chart on the

next page and you will be amazed at the total of your

potential weekly or monthly giving over two years.

How to give:

1. GIVE ONLINE: Go to our website:

www.sharethehope.org/2020-vision Scroll to the

bottom of the page and click on GIVE.

2. GIVE USING ENVELOPES: Special envelopes are

available in the foyer; take as many envelopes as you

need.

MY GIVING POTENTIAL

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,

and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they

will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation

for the coming age [heaven] so that they may take hold

of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18-19)

Get ready for miracles!

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6. Celebrate your commitment. Pray something like

this:

“Father, this is a big step for us. We’re asking

you to stretch our faith, strengthen our faith, and

deepen our faith through our commitment to be

generous. We thank you for Jesus Christ who

gave everything so that we would be saved,

please use our gifts so that others may be saved.

We thank you for this time and give you all the

glory. In Jesus’ name.” Amen.

OUR COMMITMENT

2 Corinthians 8:3

We ask that you prepare to make your commitment by

filling out your Commitment Card and bringing it with

you or mailing it in to Hope Lutheran Church.

How is this different from my tithe? Please continue to

give your weekly tithe, so we can continue to do the

vital ministry of Hope. When there is an opportunity

like “Walk by Faith”, God asks us to go above and be-

yond our normal weekly gifts to the Church.

PLEDGE TO GIVE

After praying about your Walk by Faith Campaign

commitment please follow these steps:

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kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in

heaven.

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Trusting God’s Provision

Acts 14:17 NIV Yet He has not

left Himself without testimo-

ny: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from

heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you

with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.

1Timothy 6:17 NIV Command those who are rich in this

present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in

wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in

God, who richly provides us with everything for our

enjoyment.

Ann Voskamp wrote a book called “One Thousand

Gifts.” It helps the reader better recognize all that God

so richly provides for us and the power of gratitude to

live fully and joyfully right where we are. A good

exercise is to inventory in your mind or on paper all of

the blessings God has given to you. As you do, you’ll

notice that most of the things that you put on that list,

as wonderful as they are will be temporal gifts. Now

start at the foot of the cross and list out every eternal

and spiritual blessing God has provided for you that will

never be taken from you. If He has provided you with

all of those eternal gifts, you can surely trust Him to

provide the temporal things.

Reflection Question: When you inventory your life,

do you look more at what you have or what you lack?

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sacrifice to the Lord an offering that cost me noth-

ing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)

4. Decide whether you will give by reason or by

revelation.

When I give based on reason, I simply look at how

much I have, figure out a “reasonable” amount to

give, and then commit to give that amount. This

method is the most common way people give to

charities. It is an act of unselfishness, but it requires

no faith, and no sacrifice, so there’s no room for a

miracle. Reason simply asks, “What can I afford to

give?” In contrast, when I give based on revelation,

I pray, “Lord, what do you want to give through

me?” I allow my faith to lead the way. The Bible says,

“Without faith it is impossible to please

God.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV) That’s why God honored

the people of Macedonia: “They gave not only what

they could afford, they gave even more than they

could afford!” (2 Corinthians 8:3) God moves in

powerful ways to demonstrate His faithfulness to us.

5. If married and/or have family be sure to discuss and

pray together. Be in agreement with your spouse

and teach your children about faith and the blessing

of sacrificial giving to the Lord. Ask everyone to

suggest creative ideas for reducing expenses,

increasing income, or selling personal items in order

to contribute more. Read these Bible promises and

instructions together and make a list of what you

learn from reading God’s Word. Proverbs 3:9-10,

Proverbs 11:24-25, Luke 6:38,

1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 2 Corinthians 8:1-12,

2 Corinthians 9:6-12, Matthew 6:19-20

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A GUIDE TO DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

“According to your faith, it will be done to you.”

(Matthew 9:29)

The most important decision you or your family will

make during our Walk by Faith campaign will be your

own giving commitment. How will you know what God

wants you to give? As you pray about it, remember that

giving is about “Equal sacrifice, not equal gifts.” Don’t

compare your commitment with anyone else’s. This is

between you and God.

Here are some practical steps to help you to seek clarity

and wisdom in your decision.

1. Pray this every day: “Lord, show me how to give in a

way that stretches and builds my faith more than

ever. I trust you for a miracle.” God is more

interested in you trusting Him than in the amount

you commit to give. As you pray daily, God will

reveal the amount that you can give.

2. Don’t rush your decision. Spend time alone with God

each day so you can hear what He is telling you. As

you seek His will, God will grow your faith and you

will come closer and closer to what He wants to do

in your heart.

3. Remember “equal sacrifice, not equal gifts.”

Obviously, everyone in our church family doesn’t

have the ability to give the same amount. God

doesn’t expect that. However, God does want all of

us to make a genuine sacrifice for Him. which will be

different for each of us. King David said: “I will not

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Prayer: Ask the Lord to give you eyes to see all the

gifts He has provided—spiritually, relationally and

materially.

Scripture: Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his

own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will He not

also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

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Trusting God’s Peace

Acts 10:36 NIV You know the

message God sent to the peo-

ple of Israel, announcing the good news of

peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Colossians 3:15 NIV Let the peace of Christ rule in

your hearts, since as members of one body you were

called to peace. And be thankful.

“While they were still talking about this (the

resurrection appearance of Jesus), Jesus Himself

stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with

you.’ Luke 24:36

We live in a world that is anything but peaceful. Just

recently we saw the horror of Las Vegas shootings.

The peace Jesus gives is an inner peace that a sinful

world can never take away. Jesus died on a cross so

that our sins are forgiven and we can have peace with

God. Jesus rose from the dead and conquered the

grave so that we can have absolute peace that on the

other side what awaits us is not hell, but heaven.

Jesus gave us a calling and a purpose so that we can

have peace that our lives don’t have to be futile, but

fruitful. Peace of forgiven sin, peace of eternal life,

peace of God’s perfect plan...these are just some of the

promises of peace that God gives through Christ.

Reflection Question: What peace from God do you

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Reflection Question: What

promises from God do I need to

hold on to today so as to stay

faithful?

Prayer: Lord God, keep me in the faith and help me to

always keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and

perfector of my faith. To God be the glory.

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4 The righteous person will

live by his faithfulness.

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need most today?

Prayer: Lord, how I need you, every hour I need you.

When storms and fears rage all around may I know it

is well with my soul.

Scripture: Philippians 4:7 And the peace of

God, which transcends all understanding, will guard

your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Trusting God Through

Pain

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV We do not want you to be

uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we

experienced in the province of Asia. We were under

great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that

we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had

received the sentence of death. But this happened that

we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises

the dead.

James 5:11 NIV As you know, we count as

blessed those who have persevered. You have heard

of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord

finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion

and mercy.

If you are born into this world you will suffer in this

world. Everyone will experience criticism, loneliness,

discouragement, pain and possibly even worse forms

of suffering. Why does God allow for these things to

happen? An important reason is to build in us faith and

character. Did Jesus suffer? In every way human be-

ings can suffer! God brought infinite good through His

suffering. Through your suffering God will teach you to:

1. Rely on Him “This happened that we might not rely

on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.” 2

Corinthians 1:9

2. Help others “He comforts us through all our

troubles, so that we can comfort those in any

trouble…” 2 Corinthians 1:4.

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some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

God promises blessings in this life and the next when we walk by faith.

3. Faithful people are hard to find:

Proverbs 20:6a Many claim to have unfailing

love, but a faithful person who can find?


Trusting God to Live Faithfully for Him

Psalm 12:1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful

anymore; those who are loyal have vanished

from the human race. A lot of people say they

have faith in God, but when things get tough

in their finances, health or their job, instead of

seeking God, they doubt or blame God for

their troubles.

4. Those who walk by faith have the ultimate

victory:

1 John 5:4-5 for everyone born of

God overcomes the world. This is the victory

that has overcome the world, even our

faith. Who is it that overcomes the world?

Only the one who believes that Jesus is the

Son of God.

Stay faithful to the Lord because He has given

you the victory!

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Trusting God to Live

Faithfully for Him

2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV For the eyes of the Lord range

throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts

are fully committed to Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to

please God, because anyone who comes to Him must

believe that He exists and that He rewards those who

earnestly seek Him.

The Bible says some important things about those who

walk by faith:

1. The Lord looks for faithfulness:

2 Chronicles 16:9 God is actively looking for

people who walk by faith so that He can use

them. If we make ourselves available God will

use us for His glory.

2. The Lord rewards faithfulness:

1 Samuel 26:23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

Matthew 25:23 His master replied, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!

Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put

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3. Draw closer to other believers. “On Him we have

set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as

you help us by your prayers.” 2 Corinthians 1:11

So in faith refuse to be discouraged for God is with

you, He is for you, He is working in and through you.

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Trusting God Through

Pain

Reflection Question: What is God teaching you

through your suffering?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I experience suffering, keep

me focused on you and the strength you promise to

give.

Scripture: James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my

brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many

kinds, because you know that the testing of your

faith produces perseverance.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Therefore we do not lose

heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet

inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our

light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an

eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

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Reflection Question: Have you received God’s gift of

grace? Do you live in it each day?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, by faith I receive your gift of

grace to save me from my sins, to hold me in your love,

to mold me to be more like Christ and to show me your

glory.

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5 See to it that no one misses

the grace of God.

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Trusting in God’s Grace

Alone

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been

saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it

is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can

boast.

John 1:16 NIV Out of His fullness we have all received

grace in place of grace already given.

Grace is what we need most. Deep down in the quiet

dark of night we know we have not lived up to our own

standards of goodness, love and holiness let alone

God’s standard. Because of our brokenness,

weakness and lostness, we can’t come to God, so God

came to us in Christ. Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God

has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

And because Christ lives, grace lives. Grace for your

every wrong, grace for your everyday, grace for your

every fear, grace for your every challenge, grace for

salvation, grace for living, grace for dying, grace for

eternity—Grace equals Jesus. Jesus equals grace.

Grace lives because He does, works because He

works and matters because He matters. To be saved

by grace is to be saved by Him—not an idea, not a

creed, not a doctrine, not a church membership, not by

good deeds, but by Jesus Himself who will enfold into

His arms anyone who will receive His gift of grace

through faith.

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Trusting God Is at Work

Colossians 2:15 NIV And hav-

ing disarmed the powers and

authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, tri-

umphing over them by the cross.

Romans 8:25 NIV But if we hope for what we do not yet

have, we wait for it patiently.

When you look at the evil and suffering in the world and

you experience suffering in your own life it is easy to

doubt that God is working at all. No matter how bad

the situation may seem, the Bible says God is still in

charge and working for the good of all who love Him. If

you want to see God at work remember these truths:

• The Holy Spirit is praying for you.

Romans 8:26

• God is always for you. Romans 8:31

• God works in “all things” for your good,

including suffering. Romans 8:28

• God will give you what you need.

Romans 8:32

Anyone can say they have faith and love God when it is

nothing but sunshine and rainbows, but only a strong

faith can declare through your darkness and rain,

“Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” Job 3:15

Reflection Question: When you experience trials do

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work of Jesus’ death and resurrection for me, or am I

still trying to save myself to be acceptable to God?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, by faith I ask that you would

receive and accept me not for anything I have done,

but because of everything Christ has done for me.

Scripture: Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one

else, for there is no other name under heaven given to

mankind by which we must be saved.

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Trusting In Christ Alone

1 Timothy 2:5 NIV For there is

one God and one mediator between God and mankind,

the man Christ Jesus,...

John 14:6 NIV Jesus answered, I am the way and the

truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except

through me.

Deep down we all think we can be our own Savior.

Ever since Adam and Eve bought into Satan’s lie that

“they could be like God”. Mankind’s default mode is to

save himself. We must recognize that our main sin, the

sin underneath the rest of our sins, is our self-salvation

project. That through our good deeds, our moral

goodness, our achievements, our family or career,

even our diligent involvement in church we can earn

our salvation, but Jesus says, you must lose your life

(pride, ego, yourself) in order to find it in Him.

Receiving salvation as a gift requires humility. We

must admit that we can’t save ourselves. That is

humbling to admit. We must repent of our pride in

order to see the necessity and grace of Christ.

To believe in Christ is to receive Him, His finished

work, His grace, His complete forgiveness, His eternal

life, His perfect life, to believe that He has done it all

and you do nothing but receive it all through faith. It is

a gift that is both exclusive—only Jesus can give it, yet

all-inclusive—because it is a gift offered to all.

Reflection Question: Have I trusted in the finished

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you focus on the trial or your God?

Prayer: Lord God, please take this cup of suffering

from me, but not my will be done but yours.

Scripture: John 16:33 “I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace. In this world you

will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the

world.”

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Faith Is Confidence In

God

Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV Now faith is confidence in what we

hope for and assurance about what we do not

see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Jeremiah 17:7 NIV But blessed is the one who trusts in

the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

When you get into an airplane you trust that it’s going

to fly and not drop out of the sky. You can’t see all of

the forces and power that make an airplane fly, forces

like thrust, drag, lift and gravity.

We can’t see them but trust that they are at work. We

have seen that they have worked in the past. The

planes were “faithful” in the past.

That’s a little bit like faith in God. We can’t see all of

His “forces” at work. We may not see heartache that

He has protected us from, future success that He is

currently pruning us for or doors He is preparing to

open for us. God is bigger than any force there is and

He controls them all, so we put our confidence in Him.

Faith isn’t just a far away wish that God will take care of

us, provide for us, protect us, fulfill His promises to us,

faith is confidence and assurance in what we don’t see.

Reflection Question: What can’t you see right now,

but know is true?

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Prayer: Dear God, help us to have confidence in you,

faith in what we can’t yet see.

Scripture: Psalm 71:5 For you have been my

hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your

confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

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Trusting God to Grow

You

1 Corinthians 3:7 NIV So nei-

ther the one who plants nor the one who waters is any-

thing, but only God, who makes things grow.

John 15:4-5 NIV “Remain in me, as I also remain in

you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in

the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain

in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you

remain in me and I in you, you will bear much

fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

When you look at all of the rest of the created order,

growth takes time. From trees to babies, nothing gets

tall and strong overnight. Spiritual growth is no

different. It takes time. Jesus said that if we abide in

Him we will bear fruit but fruit ripens slowly, “Let us not

become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we

will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

If you are not seeing as much fruit as you like, here are

things that are essential to your growth:

1. Abide in Jesus by taking in God’s Word. When

you read God’s Word, it gives essential

nutrients to your spiritual life so you can trust

that God will bear fruit.

2. Cooperate with God as He prunes. Praise God

for the work He is doing in your life—pruning

the dead, sinful things and cutting back the

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God’s inspired Word to us and the only authoritative

truth to build our life and salvation upon. For the

Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation deliver to us our

Lord, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Reflection Question: Am I submitted to the authority

of God’s Word?


Trusting God to Make a Stand

Prayer: Lord God, may your Word be a lamp for my

feet and a light for my path that I may always follow

Christ no matter what the cost.

Scripture: Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles

replied: We must obey God rather than human beings!

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Trusting God to Make a

Stand

Acts 4:18-20 NIV Then they called them in again and

commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the

name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, Which is

right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be

the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about

what we have seen and heard.

Psalm 119:114 NIV You are my refuge and my shield; I

have put my hope in Your Word.

On April 18, 1521 Dr. Martin Luther stood before

Emperor Charles V and other officials of the church,

which in that day, had the power of life and death over

Luther. They wanted him to recant of his writing which

identified numerous errors in the official teaching of the

Roman Catholic Church at that time. The errors

violated the very essence of the Gospel—which is, that

a person is saved only by God’s grace alone, through

faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Knowing that he

could very well be burned at the stake for his

profession of faith, Luther said, “Here I stand. I cannot

do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”

Paul warned “for the time will come when people will

not put up with sound doctrine...They will turn their

ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4

May we also always stand on the truth that the Bible is

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good things so you can have the best.

John 15:2

3. Pray through the “produce”. The Holy Spirit

bears the fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness

and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23 Ask God

to bear these more and more in you.

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Trusting God to Grow

You

Reflection Question: When

and where have you seen the greatest spiritual growth

that God has produced in you this past year.

Prayer: Lord God, feed my soul through your Word

and produce more fruit of the Spirit in my life.

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to

thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so,

because your faith is growing more and more, and the

love all of you have for one another is increasing.

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Reflection Question: Where is my heart with regards

to generosity?

Prayer: Lord God help me to receive everything as a

gift from you and let it overflow into the lives of others.

Scripture: Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed

you that by this kind of hard work we must help the

weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself

said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

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Trusting God to be

Generous

2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV You will be enriched in every

way so that you can be generous on every occasion,

and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiv-

ing to God.

What an amazing promise! People often misrepresent

this verse as a promise to get rich quick monetarily.

First and foremost, God wants to make you rich in faith

so that you can give generously to others your witness,

time, kindness, love and yes, material blessings.

You give to others because you are grateful God first

gave Jesus to you. God doesn’t bless us so that we

can be greedy. He blesses us so that we can be a

blessing. We want to be a river not a reservoir. God

gives to us so we can give away, so He can give, so

we can give away, so He can give and on and on it

goes.

When you give (and serving is a great way of giving),

you are expressing your love for God and for others.

And your generosity results in people being thankful to

God. To give ourselves away does not make sense in

the kingdom of this world, but in the Kingdom of God,

with the cross of Christ at the center, it makes perfect

sense. “For God so loved the world that He gave….”

John 3:16

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Trusting God for More

Ephesians 3:20 NIV Now to

Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all

we ask or imagine, according to His pow-

er that is at work within us,...

John 14:12 NIV “Very truly I tell you, whoever be-

lieves in me will do the works I have been doing, and

they will do even greater things than these, because I

am going to the Father.”

God is eternal. God is infinite. With Him there is

always “more.” More love for you, more grace for you,

more power for you, more peace for you, more life for

you. How do you receive God’s “more” for you? First,

trust Him enough to ask for it. You do not have

because you do not ask, the Bible says. This doesn't

mean that God is a divine vending machine to get

anything we want. It means when we are in God’s will,

abiding in Christ, we will know what to ask for and God

will answer. Second, believe God’s Word and

promises. He says, “I am the Lord, the God of all

mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah

32:27 Third make sure it is beyond what you can do in

your own strength. That way God, “who is at work with-

in us” will get all the glory and not us. You will not want

to take any credit for it, but humbly give God all the

praise.

Reflection Question: Where in your life do you need

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God, who is at work in you, to do more?

Prayer: Lord God, you are able, I am not. Please do a

mighty work in me and give me faith to step out in

obedience.

Scripture: Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through

Him who gives me strength.

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Daily Devotional€¦ · ly, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ. Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV These were all commended for their