Today: It's Already Been.

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not

for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only

Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Your temptations? Jesus was tempted by them too.

Your fears? Jesus had those placed in front of him as well.
Your sins? He died, hanging on a cross, to make sure that they were covered.
Your frustrations? He sits patiently with you in those times.
Your happiness? He smiles, because He knew of your happiness before you were born.
Your praise? Brings tears to His eyes, much like a proud father to an accomplished son.

The things we go through Jesus has already gone through, or is at least going

through with us at the same time. There’s no temptation that Jesus
wasn’t tempted in. There’s no sin that He won’t forgive. There’s no struggle
in which He’s not standing right by your side through. There’s no happiness
that doesn’t stem from His love for you.

He’s already been there, and He’s going to continue to be there for all of

Eternity. When you feel alone in your struggle, temptation, or even happiness,
remember that Jesus already went through it, and will be with you in it forever more.

Today: Fair Trade.

Humble yourselves before the Lord,

and he will exalt you.
James 4:10

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he

will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Commit your work to the Lord, and

your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

It really is more than a fair trade. Give ourselves to

God, and He will give us eternal happiness in and
with Him. We do everything we do in His name, and
He promises us a future and a hope.

When we strive to serve like Him, He rewards us with

His favor. We show the world His love, and He shows us
His. And since the love we can give will never come
close to His powerful love, we’re really on the winning
end of the stick here.

Declare that you will do all things in Christ’s name.

ALL things. It’s the least we can do, after His death
on the cross.

Today: Self.

And whoever gives one of these little ones

even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple,
truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Matthew 10:42

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but

to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office

of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer
must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-
minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to
teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
1 Timothy 3:1-3

We tend to have this great idea in our minds of what a “real man”

looks like, in the worldly sense. But what we tend to overlook about
that worldly man is how weak he really is.

The things that the world tells us make a “man” are menial things,

like what brand our “things” are, how much money we have to throw
around, how much “stuff” we have, and how many women we’ve been with.

It’s unusual to hear the world approve of men who sacrifice, not

just for their families, but neighbors, friends, and complete strangers.
The world tends to ignore the men who cater to the little ones.
We are Men, and as men, we are called to serve the world as Christ did.

As we serve the world, we must do so while including good example. As

men of God, we must reflect Christ in everything we do, showing the world
His love, and how He serves others unconditionally. Our lives should be pure,
empty of distraction and love of unimportant “things”.

Today: Power

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philipians 4:13

And God raised the Lord and will also raise

us up by His power.
 

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly

than all that we ask or think, according to the power
at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20

Through him all things are possible, because of the power

he has as our loving God. When there’s something we can’t
do, we can rest in the comfort that he can.

Rest in the power of God today, knowing that he has control

of your day, and will never let you fail unnecessarily.

Today: Holy Land.

By faith we understand that the universe was

created by the word of God, so that what is
seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Hebrews 11:3

For by him all things were created, in heaven and

on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities—all things
were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16

Sometimes we forget to look up at the sky.

The clouds, the sunsets, the birds, the rain, the lighting,

the thunder, etc… It’s in simply looking at the sky that
it becomes easy to see God in his creative glory.

We spend so much time looking down at the ground,

and  everything we need to do today that we forget
who put it all there.

When you get frustrated, and the world isn’t going the

way you’d like, look up. Everywhere we are is God’s beautiful
creation; his holy land, made especially for his children.

Today: Infinite.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved,

that with the Lord one day is as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:8

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or

boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist
on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it
does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices
with the truth. Love bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Romans 8:35

As humans, it’s hard for us to grasp the concept

of infinity; of something being infinite.

But that is how God chooses to love us. Infinitely.

He will love us forever, and he will do it unconditionally,
Knowing full well that we may not love him back.
What a crazy kind of love…

So when frustration, heartache, disappointment,

betrayal, or sadness crowd your thoughts, and start
to get you down, remember Christ’s infinite love.
It’s a powerful thing.

Today: Worry Not

And which of you by being anxious can

add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:27

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose

trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not
fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought, for
it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8

When we’re approaching a deadline, facing a large

mountain, or just simply overwhelmed by the
nitty-gritty of life, it can be difficult to remain faithful
and continue to hand everything over to God.

All it takes is a short word, a silent time of prayer, and

a shouted song of praise to realize who’s really in
control. What do you need to hand over to God today?
Let him take the helm, and calm your raging seas.

Today: Intent

So shall my word be that goes out from

my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

When we do a thing, we must do it with intent.

In our lives, as we try to mirror Christ, the purpose
behind it should never be forgotten. That it isn’t
for our happiness or gain, but for the good of God.

Today: A Calm Mind.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the

light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses
us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every

person be quick to hear, slow to speak,
slow to anger; for the anger of man does
not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,

but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
Proverbs 14:29

On a journey towards being a pure Christian, anger

tends to be something that’s left behind. Our temper
flares up, and we forget our calling.

As soon as we calm back down, we go back to
trying to be a good Christian again. Our tempers
are going against God.

Remain calm, and try to let go of any instances where

you want to pull the proverbial trigger on your
temper. Just like the old WWII poster from across
the pond used to say: “Remain Calm and Carry On.”

Today: A Legacy.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more, neither shall there
be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you,

today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43

Whoever says he abides in him ought to

walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:6

Be a man that the world will remember.

Be a man that the world will recall not for
your financial success, “cool” belongings,
or what’s in your last will, but for your legacy.

Be the kind of man that the moment they hear

you’re gone, they stop, and thank God for your
presence, instead of grieving their loss.

Examine your legacy as it stands now.

 
What would you like to change about it if you
knew you only had a few more months to live?

Today: Striving

Let no one despise you for your youth,

but set the believers an example in speech,
in conduct, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a

clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in
all things.
Hebrews 13:18

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no

Provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 13:14

If we are to be a pure example of the love of

Jesus Christ to others, then we ourselves must
strive for purity in our own lives.

We must strive for it. Let’s be clear about this.

We can’t just “kinda try” or “hope” that we’re
living a pure life. We must long for it.

Where are the impurities? How can they be destroyed?

Are you ok with them being destroyed?

 

Today: Distracted

No temptation has overtaken you that is not

common to man. God is faithful, and he will
not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
but with the temptation he will also provide
the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your

mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do according to all
that is written in it. For then you will make your
way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8

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.
Philippians 4:8

We live in a distracted world. Distracted from God,

faith, hard work, purity, and love. It’s easy to get sucked
up into the distraction, forgetting about our God
who gives us each new day.

Pray today that you remain focused on Him throughout

all  parts of your day. Pray to complete every action
in His name.

Refuse to be distracted.

Today: Fear Not.

And my God will supply every need

of yours according to his riches in
glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

So we can confidently say, “The Lord

is my helper; I will not fear; what can
man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about

your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink, nor about your body, what you will put
on. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25

Don’t worry. Worrying has only ever brought man

unnecessary stress and receding hair lines.

Today will be a great day if you claim it as one that

belongs to God. So claim today, THIS day, right now,
as a gift from God that will yield you happiness.

Expect great things from God today, and He’ll be sure

to show you His love, give you His grace, and grant you
His peace.

Today: Hearing

So faith comes from hearing, and
hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17

Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that
by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2

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.
Philippians 4:8

Listen for God’s word. Whether it be from a voice
in the middle of your prayers, or from a complete
stranger,be ready to hear what God has to say to you.

Stop and think about it.
To actually hear from God and listen will be something
amazing. But you need to be ready to hear it, and I
mean completely ready to accept what He’s going to tell you.

On the flip side, where & when can you be the
voice of God to people in your life?

Pray about it today, and see what He has to say about it…

Today: His Language

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty

phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think
that they will be heard for their many words.”
Matthew 6:7
 
And this is the confidence that we have toward
him, that if we ask anything according to his
will he hears us. And if we know that he hears
us in whatever we ask, we know that we have
the requests that we have asked of him.
1 John 5:14-15
 

It seems like when people pray, they tend to

turn on their “prayer voice”. You know what I’m
talking about “oh dear heavenly father.. thou are
so holy”…  But God doesn’t care what you sound
like when you pray.
 
Just talk to Him.

 Like talking to a friend, there’s no precise way

that you have to start or end a conversation with God either.
He wants to know how we really feel. So all of the
extra time and thought that goes into making our
prayer sound fancy, is more of a distraction than
anything else.

 We need to learn to just talk to Him.

He wants to listen.