Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The Seven Modern Sins...

Politics without principles.

Pleasures without conscience.

Wealth without work.

Knowledge without character.

Industry without morality.

Science without humanity.

Worship without sacrifice."

Frederick Lewis Donaldson (1860-1953)

Archdeacon of Westminster

Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely. Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.

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Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

Colin Powell

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

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2 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Indeed, one step taken in surrender to God is better than a journey across the ocean without it. . . . Perfectly to will what God wills, to want what He wants, is to have joy; but if one’s will is not quite in unison with God’s, there is no joy. May God help us to be in tune with Him.”

Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)

2 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did...

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Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“The heart is rich when it is content, and it is always content when its desires are fixed on God. Nothing can bring greater happiness than doing God’s will for the love of God.”

Miguel Febres Cordero (1854-1910)

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

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Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Come now, little man! Flee for a while from your tasks, hide yourself for a little space from the turmoil of your thoughts. Come, cast aside your burdensome cares, and put aside your laborious pursuits. For a little while give your time to God, and rest in Him for a little while. Enter into the inner chamber of your mind, shut out all things save God and whatever may aid you in seeking God; and having barred the door of your chamber, seek Him.”

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109 AD)

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

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‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

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Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"It’s easy to gain momentum going downhill. It’s much more difficult to stop and begin to go up again."

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) ...We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need...

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Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

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Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“The church is called to be the light of the world and to be the salt of the earth—not the sugar of the world. That’s the problem today with our world: There’s too much sugar in it and not enough salt...Salt preserves. It slows down decay.”

John Amanchukwu

Assistant Pastor

Upper Room Church of God in Christ, Raleigh NC

Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

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Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

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