5 hours up. Comments now closed. This is one of my favorite sets of comments EVER. I have such a respect for your relationships with Christ. Keep seeking Him and finding Him, Beloved Ones. You are the apple of His eye. We will announce the winner of the new ESV Study Bible tomorrow. Thank you so much for your participation on this post. If I could send every single one of you this new Bible, I’d do it in a heart beat. I love you so.
This is a pop quiz! Who got into the Word this morning? If you did, stay tuned to the remainder of this post and find out what we want you to do. If there is anything on earth Living Proof Ministries exists to do, it’s to encourage people to get into God’s Word and come to love Him through its life-breathing pages. I am a huge believer in starting the day with Christ in Scripture even if we only have ten minutes. I love Isaiah 50:4! It says, “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” SO, if you made time for a Word from God this morning, here’s what we’d like you to do. Please post a BRIEF comment with the following information:
1. One verse from your quiet time, written out for your Siestas to read and receive. (Even if you read a whole chapter, please write out only one of the Scriptures. It will be fun to see if any of us read the same segment!)
2. A one-sentence description of something you got from your time with God this morning (i.e., the assurance that He’s still on His Throne, or that He wants you to follow through with something, or that He’s simply with you in your struggle, etc.).
Absolutely no condemnation for those that didn’t get a chance to get into Scripture this morning; BUT, we are asking that all comments to this post be limited to ONLY THOSE WHO DID. We’re doing a drawing from those entries. We are giving away a copy of the brand new ESV Study Bible that hit the shelves only two weeks ago. We’ve been talking in our Lit class about the importance of reading several different versions especially if you’ve become so familiar with one that you can nearly anticipate what familiar portions are going to say. Not only is the ESV a great translation, this one is complete with study notes. SO, every siesta who had her quiet time this morning and posts her comment will automatically have a chance at the drawing. Get on quickly because we’re closing this post in five hours!! That’s the “pop” part in this quiz. We’ll post the winner of the new ESV Study Bible tomorrow and ask for her to contact us with her address. I love little incentives like this. Hope you do, too!
I love you, Siestas! Stay in the Word! You never know what God may have for you!
Psalm 135:5-6a “I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases Him…”
The Message says, “He does just as He pleases – however, wherever, whenever”
God is bigger than my circumstances, and He is going to do things the way He wants in my life in His own perfect timing. He knows what is best for me and what will bring Himself the most glory.
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
I’m so overwhelmed w/ everything at work. As that sensation increases, so does the impatience and sharp tongue. I could hear God whispering to slow down and know that HE is in control.
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
the first chapter of 1 Samuel for our study on couples, the story of Hannah and Elkanah. Verse 27, near the end, was particularly powerful for me,
27I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
Raising a child up in the Lord under our own tutelage is hard enough, but to hand that beloved child over to the Lord’s care, after praying so earnestly for him. I can’t imagine how Hannah was able to do it. I have a hard time dropping my little ones off at Sunday school some mornings!
Phil 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God and the peace which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
I’m struggling in my marriage and this reminded me that I’m to worry about no-thing, and that God will keep my emotions and my mind in check when I trust Him.
“5) I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6) that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7) I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.”
Isaiah 45:5-7, ESV
Unlike King Cyrus, I do know the Lord personally. He and I have been camped out in this passage for a few days now. God has called me to something new and has reassured me that HE, because He is Yahweh, will equip me to live out my calling. Praise His name!!
Blessings,
Jenifer
Ephesians 3:20: Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
I had been praying the verses above this one for a loved one and felt very burdened. Got to this verse and it was like God said, “I hear you praying and I can do more than you’re even asking me to do.” It was such a relief, especially since I felt so desperate for God to do something. I love my over-achieving God! 🙂
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Isaiah 43:18,19
The word SEE jumped off the page at me. God is at work in my life; I need to open my eyes and SEE it!
The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.†Exodus 4:11-12
As a Bible teacher, this verse is a reminder that God Almighty will help me speak and teach me what to say. I long for Him to keep my mouth full of his Word, the Truth, so that I can be an encouragement to those who listen.
– gg
Genesis 37.5: Joseph had a dream and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. (Patriarchs, week 7, day5)
I learned to be so careful with partiality concerning my children. I have 3 children, and the smallest with special needs.
LORD, please help me to balance his needs with the needs that are “special” and unique to my girls. Keep me from doing anything that would cause resentment between my children. Praise You Jesus! Amen
Hi Beth! How fun.
1. John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them. Murmur not among yourselves.
2. Complaining and whining have the power to destroy our lives and the lives of those around us who are listening- as Joyce Meyer says- when we complain we remain- when we praise we will be raised- Amen! listening!
Love ya Siestas
Rosie
“Stepping Up” to the plate here to report on my devotions. 😉
1. Psalm 129:2: …they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
2. In this verse, God asks me today to honor and love him for rescuing and preserving me and to look at my life to see where I might still be reacting as that oppressed young person.
Isaiah 55:7 (NASB) Let the wicked forsake his way and THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS; and let Him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Today God reassured me that He is right there waiting for me as soon as I decide to forsake my pit dwelling thoughts.
Wow one verse ok, here it is 1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the strongholds and in the hills of the desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
God showed me that all the fretting and worrying in the world will not do anything for me, and that I need to give it all to Him, trust Him, and rejoice in Him.
Kim B. in Az
“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.” Ezekiel 37:10
God can bring the bones from the skeleton that lives in my closet to life by redeeming them into something beautiful that glorifies Him. My past and present sins can be “worked for good”. They maybe decisions I wished I’d never made and regret terribly, but God can redeem them and bring something good out of the mess I made.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
I felt not to be discouraged over a situation that is happening, that if I obey God’s Word that is what matters, not making another feel happy and comfortable. Stick to truth!
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. ~Psalm 130:5
I am dealing with a medical issue and am at the beginning of a diagnostic process…not sure it I need to worry yet. So today, as I prayed this verse, I experienced His calming presence. Whatever the outcome, in Him I hope. His will be done.
I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.Phi. 4:13
God can help me get through the day. Especially when it gets hectic teaching 3 year olds.
Judy Pauley
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
I was dealing with some friends who are not Christians today and He reminded me to just give out His word and let Him to the work. Please pray with me for them, they both live with men they are not married to and both are pregant. I took them and one of the men to the doctor in a town that takes an hour to get to. So there were times in the conversation that I was able to tell them how much God loves them and things of that nature. So, my prayer is the scriptures I used will play in their heads as they go to sleep tonight. So, it was a good time to spend with them.
Vicki
Blessed be the Lord… There has not failed one word of all His good promise.
I Kings 8:56
I was reminded again that He will keep every promise He has ever whispered to me.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
I was dealing with some friends who are not Christians today and He reminded me to just give out His word and let Him to the work. Please pray with me for them, they both live with men they are not married to and both are pregant. I took them and one of the men to the doctor in a town that takes an hour to get to. So there were times in the conversation that I was able to tell them how much God loves them and things of that nature. So, my prayer is the scriptures I used will play in their heads as they go to sleep tonight. So, it was a good time to spend with them.
Vicki
” Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, for the help of His presence.” Psalm 42:5
In this season of “sifting” I find myself in, I needed to have this talk with myself, and God sweetly reminded me of the hope that I have in Him. I was also reminded of the strength of His presence. I love Him so!
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Col. 3:12) NIV
LOVE the qualities of Jesus accessable to us… but it is up to US to ‘put them on’. We wouldnt forget our coat on a winter day, or we wouldnt THINK of forgetting to accessorize with matching shoes, purse and lipstick, ‘kindness ~ humility ~ gentleness — OH the holy accessories of God! Go Yahweh!
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thes.5:18) I was in several places in the Scripture, but God spoke these words to my spirit immediately following my “good morning, Lord.” I’m in a hard season right now, sowing in tears,and believing God for that hundred-fold harvest.
Blessings to you, and thanks so much for this post.
Patti Hayes
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through hIm.” 1 John 4:9
His everlasting commitment to us.
Tess Martin
Luke 13: 12
“When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”
Satan wants to keep us bound…for years, if he can…but in Christ, we can be set free! Hallelujah!
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love……” Ephesians 3:16-19
This is a scripture I am praying and meditating on, believing God to have a deeper revelation of His love so I might be able to love others as I am commanded.
Psalm 126:5-6—â€Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy; she who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with her.â€
Yes, I changed the pronouns because God gave me this special word from his word specifically for my daughter, who has spent two months organizing a work team to go to Juarez, Mexico, with supplies and enthusiasm to build and furnish three homes. At the last minute it appeared the effort would fall apart, and she spent much time in tears of futility. So I could encourage her with these verses from your “Living Beyond Yourself” lesson on joy, which I watched today on my lunch hour with a friend.
God prevailed! Surprise…surprise… The team will leave tomorrow and God gets the glory.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that always having all sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance for every good deed.” Grace in this passage refers to money and material needs. Given this verse by God to pray over my son’s money for college. He wants to be a youth pastor. And the school he is looking into is private and expensive.
Jill, Harrisburg NC
I had a bible chuckle today and a word for the heart. I’m currently reading Acts and Paul’s mission. Acts 20:7-12, describes Paul preaching at a house and a listener falls asleep and falls out the window. That must have been one mighty long sermon. The bible does have a sense of humor in it.
My words of wisdom for the day were Acts 20:32″and now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself”
It is comforting to know that God has set me apart and is has even planned my future inheritance. Thank you God for your grace as I am in no way worthy!!
“Put on then as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience…” Colossians 3:12
I am memorizing Colossians chapter 3 and I love the list of things we’re to put on in the morning!
Linda from Ft. Collins
3 John 11
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
I have been reading through the bible and I was in third John this morning and this just jumped off the page. We try to imitate so much, Let it be good.
1Sam. 4:5 “When the ark of LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.”
This was a small part of what I read this morning. The point of the reading, I think, was to show me that the “trappings” of Christianity can easily become idols–I must never forget to worship God and not the symbols meant to remind me of Him.
2 Timothy 1:14 “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Working through Beth’s Fruit of the Spirit study. This was the scripture that jumped out at me today. We need The Spirit’s help with EVERYTHING, but meditated and pondered about the people and things and resposibilities God’s entrusted to me to glorify Him on this earth. In Jesus’ Love Kathy Knoblock
Psalm 27:13-14 “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
We are in a difficult season health wise right now in our family, and God encouranged me so with this Scripture: “I WILL see the goodness” Hallelujah!! And there is strength in the waiting in Him.
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he!” Deut. 32:4 A timely reassurance for me that inspite of how turned upside down I think the world is right now, and on-going are some family struggles, my God is always at work and his ways are perfect and just!!!! He is trustworthy!! Roseanna from Bloomington, Indiana
2 Timothy 1:14 “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Working through Beth’s Fruit of the Spirit study. This was the scripture that jumped out at me today. We need The Spirit’s help with EVERYTHING, but meditated and pondered about the people and things and resposibilities God’s entrusted to me to glorify Him on this earth. In Jesus’ Love Kathy Knoblock
I am doing Kay Arthur’s devotional study, “LORD, I want to know You”. Today I read Genisis 16 and was introduced to El Roi, the God who sees. It is so comforting to know that He does see all that happens in this world and He is just.
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NLT)
We are reorganizing our women’s ministry and this reminded me what God’s ministry and the women’s ministry is all about.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
I follow with Warren Wiersbe’s “With the Word”, and he stated “What life does to you depends upon what life finds in you. If the Word is in your mind and heart, affliction can bring out the best in you. If not, it may bring out the worst in you.”
Oh that God will only bring out the best in me is my prayer.
Psalm 19:7-10 (The Message)
“The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.”
Today I started Lysa TerKeurst’s Book/Bible Study “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” and this passage was in Ch. 1. Isn’t this a beautiful passage? It reassures me that the Lord’s ways are always right and best and I don’t have to understand them just obey Him! He is trustworthy! This passage is spurring me on to get into His Word so I can clearly recognize those signposts! It’s making me hungry for something much sweeter than strawberries!
Psalm 139:3 “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
God is with me always and knows me better than I know myself. And He still loves me! Praise God for His amazing grace!
Mary Jo
“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Luke 2:46 (NIV)
It encourages and reminds me that He is always listening and it’s okay to ask him questions. I had a little help from Beth, since I’m doing JESUS, 90 Days with the One and Only.
Psalm 106:12-13″Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel”.
Was feeling so downcast and realized I was forgetting what God has done in my life and instead of waiting in faith or putting my hope in God and that he was at work and I needed to praise I let myself forget his goodness and decided to sit and rehearse my problems. God tells us what to do and we have the right to choose. And he does everything he can to prompt us to choose things that bring life but we still have to choose to do it. All day devotionals spoke of grabbing ahold of his promises and believeing them and all day I felt the need to look some up to speak and I just felt like I didn’t
have the energy to do that. But as soon as I started to do my homework for bible study he spoke life into my weary soul. What I learned to day was believe his promises and sing his praise,ALWAYS
cause he deserves it and it lifts him higher than our problems.As we lift him up we can see him offering us a hand up . Stacey
“Stormy wind fulfilling his word.”
“It is no small matter to grow nearer to God.” I am actually almost able to say I am grateful for the pain that has brought me closer to my God.
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19 (NLT)
This tells me that God is faithful, beyond what I can imagine, even when I’m not. He has proved it over and over to me by just simply providing for my needs.
“My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! Ps. 119:25-32 ESV
The Lord, the Living Word, is my life even though I don’t understand the deep waters He’s taking me through.
Jeremiah 32:39-40 “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children.”
I have to have a heart for God, for my children to seek God. It’s all about the heart. What the heart wants is who I am.
Tracy Reynolds
Psalm 125:1-2
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”
In such uncertain times, this passage reminds me that as I trust in the LORD I have a sure, unshakable and enduring foundation. Also reminds me of the old hymn, “I shall not be, I shall not be moved. Anchored in Jehovah I shall not be moved.”
Praise His Name!!!!!
Ps. 27:14 – Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; es, wait for the LORD.
God has been taking us through the desert to bring us closer to Him. It has been a year long process and is, what I think, at its peak. Today God reminded me to just wait on Him and in that waiting and trusting in Him, I will have the strength and the courage to wait on His timing and provision.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; Psalm 32:4a
This was the verse that stood out to me this morning in my quiet time with the Lord. It reminds me that God will always keep His hands upon me no matter what situaton I find myself in. God watches over me and forgives me and corrects me when I’m wrong.