Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Proverbs 11:27

Heavenly Father, Thank you for telling us in your word what is important to you.  We love you so much and want to live in a way that pleases you.  We want to devote our lives to your service now, just as we will be doing forever.  Please help us to do as you said, keeping our minds fixed on you and eternity.  Please give us the desire and strength to resist the urge of the flesh to do as we please.  Please help us to stand firm in righteousness instead of going along with things we know are wrong, even when it's difficult.  We know that whatever happens, that you will work things out for our good and we don't need to see it in advance to believe and trust you.  We know that whatever we give up in this life is worthless compared to the reward of being with you in your kingdom eternally.  Thank you for your great promises to those who are in Jesus, and for helping us to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit--greater is He in us than in the world.  In Your Son's beloved, holy and mighty name, Amen.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

kit: Gingerbread Kisses by Kristmess Designs

The ordinances of the Lord are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb. Psalm 19:10

stacked papers: Gingerbread Kisses by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We stand in awe that you love us so much and have gone to the trouble to communicate with us, your creation.  We are unbelievably blessed by the knowledge of you and your perfect ways in all things.  Thank you for revealing yourself to us and for our incredibly valuable salvation, which we could in no way ever begin to earn or repay.  Your word equips us to do the good works you prepared for us in advance and helps us to know how we go about abiding in Jesus.  We thank and praise you for the wonderful thing you have done in preserving it for us to this very day.  Please give us an ever-increasing desire to study our Bibles, to know you better and to please and obey you in every possible way.  We want to be good and faithful servants, found ready and waiting when Jesus returns.  In His victorious, exalted and glorified name, Amen.

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.  Psalm 5:11

stacked papers: Chill Out by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We treasure your precious and beautiful word.  Please let this verse from the Psalms be our prayer for today, that we will rejoice in knowing and trusting in you and sing with gladness, lifting up your holy name in adoration--not only today, but always, without tiring or wavering in our faith and devotion to you.  In Jesus' beloved, perfect name, Amen.

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as He has taught you, abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.  1 John 2:26-29

Wow - today's passage really has a lot packed into it, doesn't it?  This passage basically summarizes why I write devotionals and why I started my other blog: http://clotheyourselves.blogspot.com/.  There is rampant deception not only in the world, but even within the church.  His "anointing" is the Holy Spirit.  He abides in us and we in Him.  (God is one--Father, Son and Holy Spirit.)  His Spirit teaches us to understand the Scriptures, helps us to remember what we have learned, gives us the desire to please and power to obey God and so much more.  He even "translates" our inadequate prayers so they can be acceptable to God, saying what needs to be said when we don't know.

If we walk in the Spirit, then we will abide in Christ (and the result will be fruit of the Spirit).  If we don't, then we are walking in darkness not light (and our fruit will be bad).  The Bible teaches that if we're content to walk in darkness, then we are not born of God.  Children of the living God love light, not darkness.  We need to always bear in mind that only those who ARE born again will enter the kingdom of God.  It matters.  Whoever is teaching that it does not matter what we do after we are saved is deceiving people.

This is not to scare anyone who is genuinely seeking to know and please God.  If we really love God and care about pleasing Him, then He will help us.  If we are liars and only want excuses for our sin so we can continue in it, then He may just let us go our way.  Don't quench the Spirit!  Don't have any reason to fear His return, but look forward to that day with great anticipation!  Let's encourage one another to keep our lamps full of oil.  Let's not listen to false teachers, but believe God's own words in the Bible.  Let's be wise, not foolish.

stacked papers: Chill Out by Kristmess Designs

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

stacked papers: Love Grows by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We confess that we are not always loving toward one another and we are ashamed that because of it, we have not always represented to the world what it looks like to be your Son's disciple. We're sorry. Please forgive us and help us to live in a manner pleasing to you so that the world will see that you are good and be drawn to you. We want everyone to be saved just as you do. Thank you for saving us and for your faithfulness in washing us clean of our sins when we confess them. Please make us more like Jesus and more worthy of Him each day. Please help us to love each other as you love us and we love you. In Jesus' perfect, holy and pure name, Amen.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.  Ezekiel 47:12

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2

stacked papers: Love Grows by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We thank and praise you for all of your wonderful, perfect ways.  You never fail.  Your word is true and sure.  When we look around us at the suffering cause by the fall of this present world into sin so long ago, we marvel at how you have maintained it and there is still beauty to be found despite every rebellious effort of man to destroy himself.  Thank you for the glimpses of your glory that we see in each sunrise, sunset, rainbow, aurora borealis, cloudscape, starry sky and so many other hints we have of your incredible beauty in your amazingly creative designs.  We stand in awe, looking forward to that Day when we will see you with our eyes and serve you forever. In our Saving Redeemer, Jesus' worthy, wonderful and mighty name, Amen.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8

stacked papers: Love Grows by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the precious gift of your Spirit within each of us who belong to Your Son. Please help us to remember throughout each day how incredibly privileged we are, and that no matter what happens, our most valuable possession can never be taken from us because it's stored for us in heaven.  Please help us to always put You first so that indeed, where our treasure is, there our heart is.  We love You.  In Jesus' most holy, highest and exalted Name above all names, Amen.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:14-16

stacked papers: Environmentally Friendly by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We thank you for the unimaginably great privilege of belonging to you and of being given by you to your Son. Please make us worthy of Him. We are in awe of the immeasurable love that has been lavished on us to have been redeemed at so high a cost. Please help us to stand firm in our faith, knowing that our reward is in heaven.  Please help us to find our satisfaction in pleasing you instead of in the approval of others. In Jesus' glorious, victorious name, Amen.

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2

stacked papers: Environmentally Friendly by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, Please help us to remember that this present world is temporary and nothing in it is more important than you and your glory.  Please make us more like Jesus every day--selfless, tireless, steadfast, filled with his love, mercy, peace, grace, strength and wisdom. In His altogether lovely and cherished name, Amen.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
Proverbs 16:32

kit and stacked papers: Feeling Groovy by Kristmess Designs

Heavenly Father, We confess that we are very often anything but slow to anger and we are also too quick to speak as well. (James 1:19-20). Please help us to constantly remember that our behavior reflects on you as your dear children. We know from Jesus' perfect example that it's not wrong to be angry about some things, but that our words need to be true and our motive needs to be love (1Cor. 13:1) and zeal for your holy name. (John 2:13-17, Psalm 69:9) Jesus was zealous for the holiness of your temple, and today that temple is those who are indwelt by your Spirit. (Heb. 3:5-6) Please help us to reflect that reality in all we do and say. In Jesus' beloved and infinitely precious name, Amen.