www.toddbryant.com

We, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations.  Psalm 79:13

Of all people, Christians have the most to be thankful about.  We are children of God!  God is the Creator of everyone, but only Father to His children.  God has always had a people.  Starting with Adam, Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then the church.  Have you identified with the people of God?  Are you part of the family of God?

If so, you are one of His sheep and He is your Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd provides for us and protects us.  As sheep, we tend to stray and go our own way.  Jesus was willing to leave the ninety-nine to go after that one little lost lamb (Matthew 18:10-14).  Those who have been found can’t help but thank Him and praise Him forever!

How can you hand down your faith to your children so that it becomes personal to them?  How can you teach them to be thankful?  At home and on trips, talk with them about your relationship with the Lord.  Count your blessings.  It should be a natural part of daily conversations.  We must pass the torch to the next generation.  Our greatest gift and work in the kingdom may not be through us, but through the generations who will follow us. *

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the work You started in my life.  Lord, I must decrease and You must increase.  Let others see Jesus in me.  Don’t let me become lazy.  May those who come behind us find us faithful.  Help me run the race You have set before me.  Today, I recommit my life to You.  I will not quit.  I will not turn back.  Help me finish strong.  Amen.

 *Dr. Grant Ethridge, Hampton, VA

Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.  Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do is everything you do.  What kind of work do you do?  Do it for the Lord and not for humans.  Having this perspective turns every secular job into a spiritual job.  Class work, homework office work - all work is for Him!

In life, we all have to do things we don't particularly like.  As Christians, we must learn to do our work without complaining.  Some people seem to think of their negative attitude as their purpose in life - they think, How many things can I grumble about today?  or, How much satisfaction can I derive from making other miserable?  When you are around complainers, pray that God will change their heart, and show them the goodness of a joyful, grateful, productive attitude.  

In whatever situation you are in, be dependable.  Dependability can be the greatest ability.  Christians should be the best employees or emplyers in the workplace.  Many people stop looking for work when they get a job!  Be self-motivated.  Look for work that needs to be done.  Don't wait until someone has to tell you what needs to be done.

Be responsible.  Strive to be the best student, athlete, musician, artist, secretary, stay-at-home mom, worker, or boss you can be.  If you are miserable at your job, God either wants to change your job or change you.

Be accountable.  There will be a payday someday.  God will reward us if we faithfully serve Him.  While we all answer to human authority, we ultimately answer to God.  When people criticize or disapprove of you, don't get upset.  You are not doing it for them; you're doing it for Him!  Seek the approval of your heavenly Father.  One day you will hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Luke 25:23). *

Father, every day is a gift from You and holy unto You.  May every place I go today be holy ground because You are there.  May my heart be pure and my work be passionate as I seek to please You in all that I do.  Amen.

*Dr. Grant Etheridge, Hampton, VA

"Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel," says the Lord; "and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land," says the Lord, "and work; for I am with you," says the Lord of host.  Haggai 2:4

The Lord said these words when the people of Israel were back in their own land after their captivity in Babylon.  During the Babylonian attack in 586 BC, the temple of God had been completely destroyed, so it was time to rebuild.  But the job seemed too great, too overwhelming, too impossible… and the people were discouraged and left the job unfinished.  Ever been there?  Discouraged about the mess your life has become?  Unsure and insecure in your relationship with the Lord due to some bad decision you have made, and the adverse circumstances you face as a result of those bad decision?  What is the answer?

God says, "Be strong, work, and know that I am with you."  The Lord's presence is the key to overcoming discouragement, insecurity, and fear.  If you have received Christ as Savior and Lord, you can be assured that He is with you.  He promises He "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).  Even if you have to walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death, you can be secure and fearless because He is with you every step of the way (Psalm 23:4).

Are you facing tremendous difficulties today?  Do you have to start over in business, in restoring your marriage or family relationships, in rebuilding your name in the community?  Does the task seem too great?  Don't quit!  The Lord will be with you as you trust Him!  He will give you strength as you roll up your sleeves and get to work on the rebuilding project He has put before you.  Be encouraged.  There is no need to fear when Jesus is near.*

Lord, I thank You for Your presence in my life.  I thank You that You are with me and will see me through every trial and difficulty, even those that are self-inflicted.  Give me strength and a will to work on the things in my life  that desperately need rebuilding.  I praise You that I don't work and walk alone.  The God who spoke the world into existence is with me.  Wow!  Thank You, Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

*Jeff Schreve, Texarkana, TX

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.  Ecclesiastes 9:10

Lord, I believe You made me with specific gifts, talents, and abilities.  I want to use those things to glorify You.  Show me what You created me to do and want me to do.  Help me work hard in the job You have provided, knowing that I really serve You, not my human boss.  If I am not in the right spot, Lord, open a different door for me.  I don't want to be a shoe doing the job of a hammer.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

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. Love never ends.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

Can you come up with a definition for love (that accurately describes what love is) in two or three sentences?

It’s not an easy task. No matter how we define love, our definition always seems to be lacking. Trying to define love can be like describing chocolate to a tribesman in sub-Saharan Africa who has never heard of nor tasted chocolate before. We may have trouble defining it, explaining it, and even finding it, but we know deep down inside that we need it.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul wrote one of the most famous descriptions of love. Notice that he does not give a dictionary definition but instead a description of love displayed. The love Paul describes values:

Giving over getting

Commitment over feelings

The long haul over the short term

The scripture is clear. You can see this love displayed in patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, integrity, and ongoing perseverance. This kind of love survives and stands the tests of time and tribulations.

Does this describe the love your seeking? More importantly, does this describe the love your sharing?

shared from: http://shortdailydevotions.com/devotions/1-corinthians-134-8-love-displayed-more-than-defined

Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. - Joshua 1:6

Have you ever faced an overwhelming challenge?  Maybe it was something that seemed insurmountable, or a goal that felt just out of reach.  Perhaps it was a task that left you troubled and anxious.  If so, consider the example of Joshua.  Though following Moses may not be history's greatest obstacle, it certainly wasn't an assignment for the faint of heart.  Yet the Lord told Joshua to be strong and of good courage.  God even instructed him not to fear or be dismayed (Joshua 1:9), leaving us to wonder about the basis for this unusual courage.  How can we face life's burdens without wilting under the pressure?

Apparently, this admonition stemmed from both the promise and presence of God.  In verse 6 the Lord assured Joshua that He would use him to divide the Promised Land among the people of Israel.  Translation: God always keeps His promises.  In verses 7 and 8 God implored the young leader to know His precepts so that he would not deviate from them.  Filling our minds with the Word of God allows us to live in light of His promises.  Often our anxiety grows because we are ignorant or not mindful fo the reassurances found in Scripture.  Though the people in God's story continually change, the principles and promises of His Word do not.

God guaranteed that He would be with Joshua wherever he went (Joshua 1:9).  Peace that passes understanding is not attributed to the absence of adversity, but to the presence of God in the midst of it.  Appreciating the nears of God would be impossible apart from times of desperately needing Him.  In this sense, life's challenges are a necessary means of creating intimacy with your Savior.  Rather than running from difficulty as if God is not there, you might be surprised to discover that this is where He is most present.  *

Lord, the possibilities of this day overwhelm me.  I pray that You will continually bring Scripture to my mind as I face challenges.  Protect me from anxiety as I yield to Your Word and rest in Your presence.  Assure me with certainty of Your goodness toward me and Your purposes for me.  I choose to acknowledge You rather than leaning on my own understanding.  Thank You for the hope I have in You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

*Dr. Adam Dooley, Mobile, AL

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good.  Ecclesiastes 11:6

Unpredictability.  Of all things we desire to change about life, mysteriousness might top the list.  Why do things happen the way they do?  Why do we fact the difficulty of forgetting the past and the impossibility of knowing the future?  How can we navigate a world where everything can change in a moment?

Ecclesiastes gives us counsel from the wisest man who ever lived.  His admonition?  Work hard, trust God, and leave the rest to Him.  To illustrate, Solomon wrote in chapter 11 that only farmers who sow will have the chance to reap a harvest.  Though we cannot predict what misfortune will occur on the earth (v.2), we can be certain that those paralyzed by fear will have nothing to show for it (v.4).  The diligent farmer plants his crops and is ready if the rain comes.  Likewise, God calls every Christian to live without fear of calamity, focusing instead on what we know to do.  Refusing to walk with God because we cannot predict what lies ahead is not an option.  Seasons of joy and heartache are the consequences of a fallen world, but God calls us to rest in Him rather than retreat from Him.

Though life is often a mystery, trusting God is not.  Don’t allow the burdens of the past to prevent you from trusting the Lord today.  Refuse to let the uncertainty of tomorrow tempt you to doubt the goodness and purposes of God.  Plant the seeds of faithfulness, righteousness, hope, and love while waiting for the rain of heaven.  Position yourself for the blessing of God, and if they don’t come, trust Him anyway.  Choose to believe Scripture when your circumstances entice you to doubt.  God knows what He is doing so you don’t have to.*

Father, help me to trust You when I don’t understand what You’re doing in my life.  Free me from demanding answers rather than trusting in You.  Give me the strength and wisdom to be faithful in my Christian walk despite the anxieties I sometimes feel.  Forgive me for doubting Your goodness in my life.  Thank You for working all things together for my good according to Your good pleasure.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

*Dr. Adam Dooley, Mobile, AL

Then said I “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”  But the Lord said to me:  “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.  Jeremiah 1:6-8

Do you find yourself making excuse rather than serving God faithfully?  Have you considered that doing so is a form of false humility?  Any lack of qualification used as justification for refusing God’s calling is a cowardly way of propping up our inadequacies while diminishing the empowering nature of God’s presence.  Is it possible that what we see as limitation is actually God’s way of making Himself known to us and to others?*

God, thank You for the privilege of serving You in ways that I will never dreamed possible.  Forgive me when I resist Your leading and opportunities.  Protect me from humility that supposes my abilities are more important than Your will.  Show Yourself to be strong through me.  Amen.

*Dr. Adam Dooley, Mobile, AL

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  James 4:8

How close we are to God always depends on how close we are to sin.  While the Lord loves us and will never leave nor forsake us, He has no desire to be second place to anyone or anything.  As the rather timeworn saying goes, “He must be Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all.”  

As no right-minded husband or wife would ever consent to share their marriage partner with someone else, the Lord will not share His fellowship with those who belong to Him with anything other Himself.  The Greek word translated as purify in this verse also means “to make chaste.”  It correlates with spiritual adultery, just as when James called believers to have pure, humble hearts and said, “Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend as that is, it precisely what James said.  While most Christians would be highly insulted if they were accused of committing adultery with someone else’s spouse, they take lightly their infatuation and flirtations with the world. 

But not God!

When it comes to sin, the word trivial never appears in His dictionary!  A gospel that so plainly speaks of dying to self leaves no room for the half-hearted commitment of an indifferent and unrepentant person.  Those who have any serious interest in having fellowship with the Lord must come before Him with clean hands, pure hearts, and an undivided mind.  Anything less than that is a waste of time.  For the Lord has said, “Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).*

Gracious Lord, it is my sincere desire to have fellowship with You today.  I honestly want to draw near to You so that You will draw near to me.  According to Your Word, I cannot do that unless my hands are clean, my heart is pure, and my mind is undivided.  Reveal to me anything that displeases You and causes separation between us.  Make me willing to confess it and forsake it.  I ask this in Your dear name.  Amen.

*Junior Hill, Hartselle, AL

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:8-9

Dear Father, Thank You for the love and forgiveness that You show us daily. Lord, help us to overcome any sin that the enemy tempts us to engage in. Lord, forgive us for the times we fail You. We also forgive those who have hurt us and sinned against us. May they come to repentance so that they might know Your forgiving love too. We all need Your love and mercy. Lord Jesus, be merciful to our family and our friends. Watch over our children and our grandchildren and keep them from harm. Guide us daily in the right path so that we do not stray from the straight and narrow. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

As it is written:  "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

Every religion has its "holy book."  For Christians, it is the Bible.  There are many differences between the Bible and other "holy books" that validate that the Bible is true.  The most important proof is the hundreds of prophecies of the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ.  So we know the Bible is true.  In addition, Jesus said to His Father, "Your word is truth" (John 17:17).

But how do we understand the truths of the Bible?  The verse above clearly states that it doesn't come by merely looking at it with our eyes or hearing it with our ears, and it's not the power of positive thinking.  The next verse, 1 Corinthians 2:10, gives us the answer: "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit."  The Holy Spirit is the One who allows us to understand the truth of God's Word.  Jesus told His disciples that after He left the earth, He would send the Holy Spirit, saying, "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).

This means it is imperative that you and I be clean and pure, having confessed our sins, when we read the Word.  We must be filled, controlled, and led by the Holy Spirit to understand God's truth.  We need to take the time before we read the Bible to examine our lives.  Will you ask God to show you right now any unconfessed sin in your life that would hinder the Holy Spirit from teaching you?  Do this, and you will be in a position to know God's truth rightly.*

Heavenly Father, thank You for proving that Jesus is the only way to You by raising Him from the dead and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.  Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit to teach us.  Please show me anything in my life that is displeasing to You and keeping me from rightly knowing Your truth.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.  Proverbs 2:6, 7 

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that I am not wise enough to know how to live to please You or to enjoy being Your child.  Thank You for having Your wisdom written down so I can learn to walk wisely and securely.  Help me make taking in Your wisdom a daily priority in my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.