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Daily Devotion Keep Your Promises September 6th

September 6th

Keep Your Promises 

He who honors those who fear the Lord (who revere and worship Him); who swears to his own hurt and does not change; [he who] does not put out his money for interest [to one of his own people] and who will not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15:4-5






There are times when I make a commitment to do something that later I regret. Then I try to figure out some way to get out of doing what I said I would do. I argue, "God, surely You don't want me to do this thing and miss this other great opportunity."
The only thing the Lord ever says to me is, "You gave your word, Joyce. Be a woman of integrity, and I will bless you." If we are people of integrity, God will bring other good opportunities around another time with even more blessings.



Joyce Meyer Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for each morning of the year.

Daily Devotion-Be Proactive

O turn to me and have mercy and be gracious to me;

grant strength (might and inflexibility to temptation)

to Your servant and save the son of Your handmaiden.

Psalm 86:16

Jesus warned His disciples about all that He was to go through, because He knew it would be difficult for them too. He said," Pray that you will not be tempted" (see Matthew 6:13, 26:41). He did not say, " Wait to pray until you have been tempted, or until you have given into temptation, or until you are up to your neck in sin and perversion!" Jesus teaches us to be proactive, which Webster defines as acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes."

Many Israelites had already dies from snake bites before the rest of them finally said, "pray for us, Moses, for we have sinned" (see Numbers 21:4-9) They should have recognized their need for God's help much sooner than they did! Do not wait until you are in trouble to seek God. Ask Him to keep you from being tempted to sin today.

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion-Keep Your Peace

Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart;

for consider how great are the things He has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

To have peace, keep your eyes on God. Get alone to fellowship with Him. If you have to get in a closet and sit in the middle of all your shoes and hang clothes over your head to hide in order to find solitude, do it! Then focus on all that God has done for you.

Jesus said to go to your most private room when you pray to the Father, and He will reward you openly for the time you spend with Him (see Mathew 6:6). Do not miss out on God's abudant blessings for your life.

Starting Your Day Right-Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion-Confess God's Provision

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Ephesians 6:10

When your faith feels weak, ask God to show you how to pray. The Bible says plainly in Jude 1:20-21 and 1 Corinthians 14:2-4 that when you pray in the Holy Spirit, you edify yourself, which means you build yourself up on your most holy faith. Praying in the Holy Spirit causes you to make progress, and His leading will guard and keep you full of expectancy and patience for God's mercy to bless you every day.

There is no excuse for anybody to drown in doubt and unbelief, when God has given us His Spirit to fill us with faith through prayer and time spent in His presence. Today, start confessing what you have in God. Declare that your needs are met because the Word says so (see Philippians 4:19).

Daily Devotion-Love God First

Come and see what God has done,

how awesome his works in man's behalf!

Psalm 66:5 NIV

We give attention to whatever we love the most. God wants to be put first in our life (see Exodus 20:3) Jesus said, "Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)

What might happen in your life if you become so intent on seeking God that you hired a babysitter to watch your children, or used a vacation day, in order to spend time with the Lord? You can not afford not to spend time with God. Give Him your full attention, and make a point to observe all He is doing for you.

Starting Your Day Right-Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion- God Will Keep You

[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry.

Psalm 40:17

God has a plan for each of us, and the good things that happen to us are not just a coincidence. All good and perfect gifts come from God (see James 1:17). It is exciting to have a relationship with God when we are aware that He is carefully leading and guiding us to His blessings.

If you do not understand something the first time God speaks to you, He will give you another chance and will continue to teach you until you know  clearly the way you should go. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost ( see Luke 19:10). This means that He will find you if you go astray.

 

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion- Invest in Someone

The wicked borrow and pay not again [for they may be unable], but the [uncompromisingly] righteous deal kindly and give [for they are able].

Psalm 37:21

Take a chances today and invest in someone else's life, especially if God tells you to do so. You may  give them something of value only to learn they waste it as they always have done in the past. but remember that God made an investment in you, an He wants you to be willing to make an investment in somebody else.

Jesus died to give everybody a chance. Not everyone takes advantage of His provision, but we all have an equal opportunity to enjoy the abundant life. If you help someone, and they end up not doing what is right with it, that is between them and God. Give thanks that you are able to give, and then do whatever God tells you to do.

 

 

Starting Your Day Right-Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion-He Will Reward You

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean),

 that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of  reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 3:19

Success principles alone will not work  your life if you do not spend time with God, allowing His Holy Spirit to be your Counselor and to give you revelation and understanding of what to do each day. But if you flow in God's plan, you will learn to stop trying to figure out how everything  will work together for your good.

Learn to seek God's face and not His hand all the time. Then keep your hands open and be ready to receive from Him. God is good; you can trust what He speaks to your heart to do.

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion- Be Renewed

[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame,

and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.

    And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and

 branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are,

    So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

If you are weak in faith, in mind, in body, in discipline, in self-control, or in determination, simply wait on God. He will be strong through your weakness.

Isaiah 40:31 teaches that if you expect God, look for Him, and hope in Him, you will change and renew your strength and power; you will run, and not grow faint or become tired. The Bible does not say "hope so, it could be, or it may be"; it declares that you will be renewed.

 

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion- Lord, What's Next

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.

    Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;

 for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

Start your day by saying," I am excited about this day, God. I can hardly wait to see what You are going to do. I believe You are going to keep me, help me, bless me, and give me favor. I love You, Father. I am waiting on You, Lord, and I am listening to You."

Ask God to put into your spirit everything He wants you to know. Ask Him to show you things to come and what you are supposed to do ( see John 16:13). He will give you direction, and you will have much to praise Him for today.

 

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion-Wait For the Lord

Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walk in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His precepts,

and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may do wisely

and prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,

1 Kings 2:3

When you pray, wait for the Lord. This means to look for, to expect, and to hope in God. This is not a passive state of mind, but one of expectancy.

Tell Him,"God, I have my hope in You. I believe that You are working on my problems. I believe that You are making arrangements for my day. You are posting angels all through out my walk, everywhere along my path where You already know I am going to walk today. Thank you, Lord, that you are a pioneer who has already gone before me and made a way for me to have a blessed day."

 

 

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion-Do Not Fall Apart

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

2 Corinthians 12:9

Come apart and spend some time with God before you come apart. No matter how strong and healthy you are, no matter what your age is, no matter what you think you know, without God, you are going to get weary and tired.

God does not get tired, and the Word says He gives power to the faint and weary, and increases strength to those who have no might. But those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, will be renewed (see Isaiah 40:29-31). God is willing to increase your strength. Get alone with Him anytime you need to be strengthened.

Daily Devotion- Receive By Faith

Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You

[progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and

understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people.

And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.

Exodus 33:13-14

Everything we receive from God comes by faith. When you are waiting for Him to speak to your heart, just believe that He will speak to you, even if you do not hear anything right that minute.

Believe that because you have acknowledged Him, you can expect to see His hand moving in your life all day long. Then step forward, knowing  that He will keep you on the right path because you have asked Him to do so. Watching God's hand of favor move on our behalf is one of life's greatest delights.

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion- Be Happy

The Lord is my Strength and Song; and He has become my Salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings of the [uncompromisingly] righteous:

the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!

Psalm 118:14-15

Happiness is the results of a radical, outrageous relationship with God. If we want to walk in victory, we have to put some time into our relationship the Lord. There is much to discover about His plan for us.

Our contentment won't last if we are not obeying God by seeking Him with our whole heart. God wants us to really talk to Him and pay attention to His answers. Spend enough time with Him this morning to walk in victory all day.

Starting Your Day Right- Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion-Go With What You Know

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14 NIV

This morning pray, "Lord, I am waiting for you to direct me." While you honor the Lord by listening for His response, you may hear Him speak something specific to you right away. It may seem as though He inscribes direction in your spirit for the day. The devil may tell you that it wasn't really God who spoke to you. Or while you are waiting to hear from God, Satan may tell you that you are wasting your time.

It is imporant to know the truth of God's Word so that the direction God sows in your heart will not be snatched away from you through doubt. God may not lay out a blueprint for your day, but He will direct your path, if you acknowledge Him in all of your ways (see Proverbs 3:6).

Daily Devotion-Pray and Listen

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.

Psalm 143:8

We need to pray and then stop and listen. Sometimes we can hear God as a still, small voice from within our heart. Many times God will speak through our inner witness so that we "just know" the truth and it sets us free. Suddenly we know what we should or shouldn't do.

King David had a lot to say about seeking God in the morning. He prayed in the morning and then watching and waiting for God to speak to his heart. I like knowing that God is listening for our prayers. He likes it when we listen to His answers too.

Daily Devotion- Expect Something New

                           In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay
                                   my requests before you and wait in expectation.
             Psalm 5:3 Niv

If you get up and do the exact same thing every morning, you may get pretty bored after a month or so. But seeking God when you first wake up is never boring. He will always have a new revelation ready for you to hear.

Keep your expectation fresh by changing what do in your time with Go.d You might worship the Lord with singing one morning, listen to Christian music another morning, read God's Word the third morning, sit in His presence or confess His word the follow morning. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you learn to enjoy starting your day with God.

Daily Devotion- Listen for His Purpose

Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose.

    He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land.

    The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him,

and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.

Psalm 25:12-14

It is Gos who wakes us up each morning. If He didn't keep us alive overnight it wpuld not matter what knid of alarm clock we had! The prophet said, " God wakes me  morning by morning, and He wakes me for a purpose so that I can hear; I am like a disciple who is taught" ( see Isaiah 50:4).

Before you even get out of bed, listen to what God has to say to you. It will be a good day if you start it with a ready ear, taking time to listen to Him. God is eager to reveal today's plan to you.

 

Starting You Day Right-Joyce Meyer

Daily Devotion- Start Out Joyfully

I know also, my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things. And now I have seen with joy Your people who are present here offer voluntarily and freely to You.

O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the minds of Your people, and direct and establish their hearts toward You.

1 Chronicles 29:17-18

My husband always seems happy. Within five minutes of waking up, Dave is humming, singing, or listening to music as he gets ready for the day. Years ago I did not want music on in the morning. I did not want singing or humming or noise of any kind. I wanted silence so I could think.

Today, I still need a little more quite than Dave does in the morning. But we have both found the way to start our day out right. We set our hearts and our minds to follow God. And it works.

Joyce Meyer-Starting Your Day Right