Month: July 2024

faith

Devotional for July 11

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Faith the size of a mustard seed is a small thing, and yet by it mountains can be cast into the sea."

Live in prosperity

12 Who are those who fear the Lord?
    He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
    and their children will inherit the land.
14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
    He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
    for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Psalm 25:11-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

One of the surest roads to unhappiness for a Christian is to want to live for Christ and still allow self to take pleasure in sin. Having been cleansed from past sins by the precious blood of Christ, never allow yourself to look back with fondness at any of the sins in your former way of life. To do so allows the adversary of our soul to gain a foothold. To entertain a single wrong thought in the mind seems like a little thing, but great wild fires often start with a single spark. Faith the size of a mustard seed is a small thing, and yet by it mountains can be cast into the sea. This is why Scriptures instruct us to be diligent about guarding our hearts. Guard the heart by using conformity to the Word of God as the standard to determine the rightness or wrongness of every thought. Let faith in God be our rule. Rather than listening to the fiery darts from the wicked, make Satan listen to your high sounding praises to God. Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Accept what is good, cast away what is not. Prosperity is sure to follow. (3 John 1:2; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 16:13-26; Luke 9:59-62; Matthew 28:18, 17:1-21; Ephesians 6:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:15-21; Romans 4:3; Hebrews 11:8-12; Romans 4:16-25; 1 Timothy 6:12-15; Psalm 145:3-5, 138:2, 103:1; Ephesians 3:20-21)

faith

Devotional for July 10

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Training narrows the gap between the pro and the average Joe."

Walk in His ways and be blessed

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel. Psalm 128 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It has been said that training is everything and everything is training. Training narrows the gap between the pro and the average Joe. Train the way you will fight, because you will fight the way you have trained. Training for the conditioning of the soul requires three things: denying self, picking up your cross, and following Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 22:6, 15, 3:11-12; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 9:1-12; Deuteronomy 28:1-13; Psalm 32:8-10; Hebrews 3:7-4:2; 1 Timothy 6:12; Psalm 144:1; Psalm 19:14; James 1:21-25; Psalm 19:15; Galatians 5:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 2 Timothy 2:15-26; 1 Peter 4:7-11)

faith

Devotional for July 9

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Know that Christ in you, and His word dwelling in you, are one and the same."

God Is My Strength and My Portion Forever

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:25-28 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To have strength equal to the number of our days, is the single most important reason to exercise. Workout like you will live forever, and walk in the light that this world is going to come to an end in an instant. The Word has been brought close to you. Know that Christ in you, and His word dwelling in you, are one and the same. These are the last days and Jesus Christ is coming again soon. It is not for us to know exactly when the end will come. It is more important to be ready than it is to know when the Lord will return. Don’t get so caught up chasing what you want in this world that you forget to live in light of what the holy Scriptures tell us is sure to come. (Isaiah 26:4; John 1:14; Hebrews 13:8; John 15:1-8; Matthew 24; Revelation 3:7-13; Revelation 22:12-21)

faith

Devotional for July 8

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman:"The things of the Spirit don’t come by what we feel or see."

Let All Creation Praise the Name of the Lord

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 148:7-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Choose to think of God as often as you can. It would be extremely rude to eagerly invite someone to move in with you, and then ignore them once they were in your home. No one would think of doing this to any of their friends, yet this is exactly what we do when we pray for the Holy Spirit and then ignore His presence. Some will say, “I asked for the Holy Spirit, but I don’t feel any different.” And you may not, at least at first. “I know I asked, but I don’t see any evidence in my life,” they might say. And they may not, at least at first. It may be we receive the Holy Spirit accompanied with feelings and signs, and it may be with no feelings nor signs. The present or absence of feelings and signs doesn’t change divine facts. Ask and you shall receive. From being born again, to receiving the Holy Spirit, to spiritual maturity, from beginning to end and everything in between, it’s all by faith. The things of the Spirit don’t come by what we feel or see. (Hebrews 11:1-6; Exodus 17:7; Hebrews 3:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Psalm 100:4; Romans 1:17; John 14:23-24; Luke 11:11-13; James 1:6; Revelation 3:20; Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 10:4; Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Chronicles 16:8-12; Ephesians 5:18-20; Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 84:10-12; Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

faith

Devotional for July 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Much pain and suffering can be avoided by simply ordering our life according to the Holy Book."

Sweet to the Soul

9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:9-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is a divine logic to growing old gracefully. Wisdom and skill more than compensate for any age-related decline in sheer physicality. The young heal faster because they are prone to do foolish things, and the fully grown are supposed to be wise enough to avoid harmful things. Wisdom doesn’t come automatically with age though. The younger we are when we learn to turn from the foolishness of youth the better. Our childhood inclinations often lead into what is vain and stupid. We do well if we survive our youth with only a few scars and a little emotional baggage. Turn to the Lord for healing and relief. Much pain and suffering can be avoided by simply ordering our life according to the Holy Book. (Proverbs 18:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 14:7-9; Romans 10:12-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Psalm 119:9-16; Proverbs 27:11-12, 20:11, 22:15, 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:13-32; 1 Peter 1:13-25; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

faith

Devotional for July 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Continuous victory doesn’t necessarily come from always winning"

My Help and My Deliverer

40 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalm 40:1-4 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is nothing quite like getting beat up to motivate you to work harder to prepare for the next fight. Continuous victory doesn’t necessarily come from always winning though. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and victory will be added to you even from failure and defeat. Endurance develops patience, and patience develops our trust in the faithfulness of God. (John 1:1-17; John 4:5-26; Romans 7:1-7; Galatians 3:19; Galatians 3:24-26; Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:6; Isaiah 55:6-13; Psalm 119:9; Proverbs 3:5-8; John 17:17; Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 5:16-26; James 3:14-18; Revelation 22:17-21)

faith

Devotional for July 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Better a little sadness with those who patiently wait to be rewarded, than much gladness with those who act as if they will never be punished."

Key to Happiness

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146:5-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It has been said that the best things in life are free, but that doesn’t mean they are without cost. Better a little sadness with those who patiently wait to be rewarded, than much gladness with those who act as if they will never be punished. It is foolish to mock God and short-sighted to use His name in vain. Without such knowledge we perish like the beasts, but joy comes with a good understanding of the truth as revealed in the Word of God. Listen and hear the call of wisdom to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Exodus 20:7; Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Psalm 49:20; Galatians 6:7-9; Matthew 13:24-30; Psalm 1:1-5; Matthew 24:37-39; Psalm 50:14-23; Proverbs 29:18; Proverbs 3:7-8; Psalm 27:14; Romans 13:11-14; Ecclesiastes 7:2-6; Proverbs 1:10-19; Matthew 10:41-42: 2 Corinthians 5:10; Jude 1:16-25)

faith

Devotional for July 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Make excellence and hard work every day habits."

Remember the Lord Always

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. Psalm 22:26-31 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Make excellence and hard work every day habits. It’s too late to cook up bullets when you’re in the trenches with enemy paratroopers dropping out of the sky all around you. Just as it will be difficult to do well and work hard on that really important thing that comes along if you are unaccustomed to always doing your best and working hard. (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Colossians 3:22-24; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 31:10-31; Revelation 3:7-13; Galatians 6:9-18)

faith

Devotional for July 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "To walk in the Spirit, trust God for what will be by keeping your right hand in His."

Rest From the Days of Adversity

3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5 They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. Psalm 94:3-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The value of a great idea doesn’t come from its conception. The thinker must willingly suffer the labor pains required to bring it to life. Full maturity brings forth the sweetest of fruit only after being nourished by love, shaped by discipline, and seasoned with time. To walk in the Spirit, trust God for what will be by keeping your right hand in His. (Isaiah 41:13; John 14:15-27; Galatians 5:16-23; Romans 8:6-18; John 14:31; 1 Corinthians 15:45-58; John 16:21; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 3:14-21)

faith

Devotional for July 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Every overnight success comes out of obscurity after years of sweat and toil."

Lift Up Your Heads

1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Psalm 24 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Every overnight success comes out of obscurity after years of sweat and toil. Great achievements take years of hard work, often while being ignored, rejected, and unappreciated. Better to expect a reward tomorrow from doing much work today, than it it to expect a reward today after having done only the bare minimum yesterday. (Proverbs 9:1; 1 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:1-11; James 1:21; Isaiah 28:9-10; Galatians 6:7-9; Zechariah 4:10; Habakkuk 2:1-3, 2:4; Luke 8:11; Psalm 126:6; James 5:7;  Psalm 27:14; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 30:11-12, 103:1, 89:52)