SEEK THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Today’s Text: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Today’s Thoughts: If we truly want to know the Lord we need to look for Him. We need to search for Him with all our hearts. We need a better and true glimpse of who God really is. We need to meet Him. He wants us to know Him. If we seek Him we will find Him. If we do not seek Him we may never find Him. God is so much greater than we could ever fathom. He is a personal God who wants to know you personally and wants you to know Him personally. Do not look for Him in this world. Call on Him and He will reveal Himself to you. He cares about you enough to complete your search.

Today’s Testimony: Today you’re reading the 80th testimony. There’s something that I haven’t shared yet, and that’s the testimony of the experience that I had as a young child that first convinced me that there was a God and that He truly did care.
I cannot remember just how old I was, but I know that I was in Primary school. I was in the kitchen, I can’t remember what I was doing in there, but I accidentally knocked over a small glass bottle. We had had so many items smash to pieces on that floor, and as it fell, I knew it would break, and that I would be in trouble (whether I would have been in trouble or not, I do not know, but you know kids – always expecting trouble).
The bottle fell; bounced on the floor; but did not break!!! Yes we could get technical and say that there was probably a logical explanation as to why the bottle did not break, but I’ll be honest – I don’t care. To me as a child that experience said, “God is real”. I kept the memory of that miracle with me throughout the rest of my life. At that stage I didn’t know the Lord personally, but I knew that He existed.
Because I knew that He was definitely real, I later decided to search for Him. A few years after I began my search the Lord came and revealed Himself to me through the testimonies about one of my other ministries, Praise Corner (Today’s T’s Day 32- 43). Since then I have been on a continual journey of meeting the Lord. There is no year when I can look back and say that I have not grown in my relationship with the Lord. I know of many people that can preach Christ, but I know of few that can actually show Christ. I couldn’t find the real God through what people said and did, and therefore in desperation I had to look for something more. I searched for the Lord with all my heart and I found Him. I will never look back.

Today’s Task: Search for the Lord with all your heart. Seek Him now; do not wait. He is waiting for you to search for Him. He is waiting for you to find Him. When He reveals Himself to you please take notice and accept Him into your life. He loves you so much. He wants you to know Him. The King of the universe wants to have a close and personal relationship with you. Please allow Him to speak to your heart today.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I praise You that You – God, Creator, King of the universe – want to have a relationship with each one of us individually. Please help us to search for You with all our hearts. I thank You that You will be found by those who truly search for You. I thank You that You reveal Yourself to Your people. Please continue to give us a better glimpse of You. I thank You for Your great love. Amen.

DESIGNED FOR GREATNESS

Today’s Text: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
(Colossians 1:16)

Today’s Thoughts: You and I are included in “all things”. We were created by God and for His glory. God does not create junk. He does not create for no purpose. He created each one of us with an amazing plan for our lives. He wants us to grow in Him and become more and more like Him. He created us in His image – He intended for us to portray His character too. He doesn’t want us to live aimless, unhappy lives all for ourselves; He wants us to live joyful, purposeful lives for His glory. He designed us for greatness. He designed us to be the best we can be in all that we do. He designed us to live with Him eternally. He has a great plan for each and every one of us. We just need to make the choice to live up to His perfect plan.

Today’s Testimony: Six years ago I wrote a song for a seminar entitled “Designed for Greatness”. My sisters and I were asked to sing a song that had something to do with the topic, and seeing we didn’t have a fitting song, I wrote this one and gave it the same title as the seminar. God created us for His glory.

Designed For Greatness

You have designed me for greatness
You created me in Your image and great You are
You have designed me for greatness
I don’t know where You plan to take me; I don’t know just how far
But I know that You’ve designed me for greatness
And now I want to give something back to You
O Lord what can I do?

I’ll start by doing every task that You give to me
To the very best of my ability
I’ll be prepared to give things up in sacrifice
To live out Your plan for the rest of my life
Lord now I know just what I am going to do
I will use all this greatness to glorify You

You have designed me for greatness
If you cared enough to put the stars in space
Then surely for me You have a place
You have designed me for greatness
You have a great and perfect plan for me
Although what it is I may not see
You have designed me for greatness
So now I lay my life down before Your throne
I’ll use what You’ve given me for You and You alone

I’ll start by doing every task that You give to me
To the very best of my ability
I’ll be prepared to give things up in sacrifice
To live out Your plan for the rest of my life
Lord now I know just what I am going to do
I will use all this greatness to glorify You

Lord may I always live my life to glorify You

Today’s Task: Allow the Lord to work in your life to make you all He intended for you to be. Surrender Your whole life to Him. Live to honour and glorify your King. He designed you for greatness – praise Him.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You for creating us. I thank You that You created us for a special purpose. Help us to bring honour and glory to Your name – You deserve it. Help us to live totally for You. I thank You that You will help us to live lives that glorify You. I thank You that You want each one of us to live with You eternally. Lord we want to be there with You. Please help us to surrender fully to You so we can be there. We love You Lord. Amen.

GOD VALUES YOU

Today’s Text: Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6, 7)

Today’s Thoughts: Have you ever felt worthless? Maybe you feel that no one really cares about you. Maybe you’ve done some things that make you feel that no human being will ever accept you. Maybe you’re living a lonely life without any friends. Maybe you’ve failed at doing something and therefore feel a lack of value. Maybe you’re even wondering if God can really love someone like you. …Let me tell you that He can and that He does. He knows you. He cares about you. He values you so much. Do not ever let anyone convince you otherwise – not even yourself. God loves you and that’s all that really matters. There may be no one else who truly cares – but God cares. He’s there for you right now. Find your sense of value in knowing that Christ loved you enough to give His life for you. You are of great worth.

Today’s Testimony: One morning I had a rather negative self-image. I felt worthless; inferior; incompetent; I had feelings of self-doubt and failure. I was sitting on my bed having my personal devotions and the Lord spoke to me once again, but this time in an extremely strange way.
I had the lap-top open at my prayer-list. I was bringing my feelings to the Lord and then my eyes subconsciously typed out the word “FORSAKEN” on the keyboard. …Of all the things to type when you’re feeling down and out!!!
I felt pretty bad but I definitely didn’t feel forsaken. I didn’t know why on earth that had happened. I knew it must have been a message from the Lord, but I also knew very well that it didn’t mean that He had forsaken me. So I asked the Lord what it meant. He said to me, “Lindy, those feelings – I want them to be forsaken.”
God never wants us to feel worthless. We are of great value to Him – no matter what. He wants us to forsake any feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness. He cares about us no matter what we or anyone else thinks – and that’s all that really matters.

Today’s Task: Take all your negative feelings to the Lord and leave them there. Know that you are so valuable in the Lord’s eyes. Know that He loves and cares about you so much – no matter what. Allow His love for you to be all that you need. Never ever forget that God values you – He will never ever stop valuing you.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You value us so much. We do not deserve Your love, but I praise You that You love us. Help us to remember that You love us in spite of our problems. Please come into our lives and fix any problems that we may still have. Please replace our negative feelings with positive feelings. Lord I thank You that You care so much for us. I praise You and thank You in Christ’s name, Amen.

ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH

Today’s Text: Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. (Matthew 9:29)

Today’s Thoughts: How much faith do we have when we ask the Lord to intervene? If our prayers were answered only according to our faith, how many of our prayers would be answered? And how well would they be answered? Sometimes the Lord may wait for us to express our faith in Him before He acts. We need to tell Him that we believe He can and will intervene. Sometimes we should even be confident enough to tell others that we believe God will intervene, because when He does intervene, they will know that we truly do serve an absolutely amazing and loving God. We need more faith. God is waiting for us to ask Him for it.

Today’s Testimony: A few weeks ago I had a really rough assignment due. I had so many other things to do that I was far from finished when the due date approached. I therefore had to e-mail my lecturer to apply for an extension.
I e-mailed one of my lecturers, but got no reply, so I decided to e-mail another one. The second lecturer e-mailed me back and said that he had forwarded my application to the module leader. I then waited again, but got no further response. I therefore e-mailed the second lecturer again and told him that I had not received a response and asked if he could help me. By now it was the day before my assignment was due and I was praying that someone would respond and grant me an extension.
I was chatting to a friend about the situation and this is what I said, “God has never let me down. ...Somehow I know He's gonna come through for me with this assignment too. But I still can't seem to stop worrying about it.” Yes I was stilled concerned about my problem, but I had stated that my God had never let me down and that I believed He was going to come through for me, and therefore, though the faith may have been quite small, God intervened.
Just over five minutes after saying those words to my friend I got an e-mail to say that I could have a one-week extension. God is so good!!!
I managed to get my assignment sent the following week, although I knew that it could have been better. I prayed that I had at least sent off enough to pass. Remember before that I said that the Lord Himself is my Tutor? …He helped me with my assignment. I finally got my result back. I got a distinction. My God is so good!!!

Today’s Task: Ask the Lord to increase and strengthen your faith. Know that He can do all things. Tell the Lord that you believe He can and will intervene. Tell others that you know that your God will come through for you. Allow them to become part of the miracle. Trust that God will intervene no matter what you face. Know that if things don’t turn out the way you hoped, God knew of a better plan. He cares about you. Have faith in God – He is faithful.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that You always come through for us in the way You know best. I thank You that we can trust in You. Please help us to have faith in You. Please increase and strengthen our faith. Help us to give others the opportunity to be part of the miracles that You perform for us so that they can turn to You and grow in You. I thank you that You are faithful. I thank You that You love us so mush. We love You too. Amen.