DAILY VERSE
Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:20
DEVOTION
Having the propensity to allow my anger to overtake me every once and while is definitely a character flaw. It’s not honoring to God and it’s results are negative.
Lord, let me be slow to anger and choose a calmness that can only come from your Spirit in me.
DAILY VERSE
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,
and whom you teach out of your law
Psalm 94:12
DEVOTION
It’s been hard since God moved me out of my comfort zone. It was even tougher when God has seemingly led me into a blessed situation that crumbled around me, add to that years of a slow process of coming out of it. Instead of asking why, I had to be still and submit to God. He has been guiding me through a time of spiritual growth that has blessed me in so many ways.
Forgive me Lord for struggling through trials, I praise you for your guidance and know that you are good and only have righteous motives.
DAILY VERSE
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:18
DEVOTION
Jesus lived His life yielding, that God was the ultimate authority. Have you turned all things over to God? Are you holding things back such as trust, finances, your marriage, your future? To assume authority you must first be under God’s.
Lord, help me to let loose of the wheel and hand all things into your capable hands.
DAILY VERSE
The other goat, the scapegoat chosen by lot to be sent away, will be kept alive, standing before the LORD. When it is sent away to Azazel in the wilderness, the people will be purified and made right with the LORD.
Leviticus 16:10
DEVOTION
The tradition of the scapegoat was to cast the communities sins onto a goat, wrapping a red cord arounds it’s neck, and sending it into the wilderness. After a time the scapegoat would come back, the red cord bleached white signified that their sins had been forgiven. This tradition carried on for 70 years, though the red cord stopped turning white at the 30th year. That year Jesus Christ died for our sins, the wondering goat would come back with the red cord still as red as the day it wondered off.
Thank you Jesus for taking our sins upon yourself, there’s no other ransom required.
DAILY VERSE
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30
DEVOTION
After enduring beatings, ridicule, and finally crucifixion, Jesus had finally accomplished His earthly mission. With His last breath he had initiated a new covenant with mankind that offered redemption and hope for eternity.
Lord, today I will meditate on your suffering and the mercy God showed mankind in your unselfish act of love.
DAILY VERSE
…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being…
Ephesians 3:16
DEVOTION
We can well up our earthly strength and go it alone, but God is looking for those who will step out boldly in His name, relying on His strength. When we rely on ourselves we’ll quickly find that we weary of the race and quickly tire. God has unlimited resources for the Christian who relies on His strength.
Lord, allow me to realize my own weakness and to rely on you, that I may win others to partake in your grace.
DAILY VERSE
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9–10
DEVOTION
It’s easy to beat ourselves up when we fail. We should feel remorse when we do, but it should bring about repentance not self loathing. When God looks at us he sees His his Son, who He sent as a payment for our sin. As Paul said, just because we are saved doesn’t give us the freedom to continue sinning. We should see our faith grow, our hearts changed. As we learn more of God through His word and through the Holy Spirit, we should see our lives changed, sin is no longer our motivation.
Lord, thank you for sending your Son to wipe away my sin. Change my heart and motivations so that I desire only the right things.
DAILY VERSE
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came.
Matthew 4:1–3a
DEVOTION
We can never accuse Jesus of not knowing what it’s like to be tempted by Satan. As we face our own temptations; we can call on Christ to provide a way out, for strength in the midst of Satan’s attacks.
Lord, when the enemy comes to tempt, give me the strength to go the opposite way.
DAILY VERSE
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Psalm 51:2
DEVOTION
Jesus Christ absolves us of our sin, but we’re all a work in progress, none of us is perfect. If we take our eyes off of the goal, which is eternity, we can easily stumble. We must cleave to Jesus, read God’s word, and openly communicate with Him if we are to run a good race.
Lord, help me to hold on tight to your robe and rely on you in all things.
DAILY VERSE
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
DEVOTION
I guess we should be encouraged to know that Satan deems us worthy enough in our faith to mount an attack. We will face temptations every day, but it’s how we respond that matters. God will always be there to provide strength in temptation, we simply need to call out to Him.
Lord, when the enemy attacks, be my strong fortress and help me to make the right choice.
Daily Dose 