Saturday, July 15, 2016
![my sheep](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/my-sheep-300x225.jpg)
“The sheep that are My own hear and are listening
“My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately,
and they follow Me.” (The Voice)
The word know defined is to be able to distinguish, as one from another. The Lord desires that we KNOW Him and KNOW His voice! He desires that we are seeking to discern the voices of this world, the voice of our mind, our enemy’s voice, but most importantly He desires that we discern His voice. When we hear the Word of our Lord, and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is Him, let us expect Him to lead us by that precious Word!
Today I ask you… are you listening to hear if He is calling your name? Have you felt a gentle tug on your heart, and you are wondering if it is His voice? Let us learn to listen and recognize His precious voice and leading in our lives. Today I desire to encourage your heart to be listening closely for Him. Many times His voice is loud and clear and many times it is a mere whisper. Be quick to recognize it and respond. God truly desires this intimacy with us as we heed to His Words and walk willingly along side of Him as He gently leads us.
Friday, July 14, 2016
![good thoughts](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/good-thoughts-300x225.jpg)
Psalm 19:14 (TLB)
“May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts
be pleasing even to you,
Oh what a beautiful and wonderful prayer that was prayed and recorded here in the Psalms. It would be a good thing that we would ask the Lord more often, “Is what I just said okay Lord?” or “Lord is my heart right in this matter?” I think the Lord would be delighted if we would check in with Him more often, and inquire of Him on these things. I think Jesus wants us to view Him as our best friend and we should be allowing our best friend to challenge our heart and bring accountability in our lives. I value the times when I feel a tug at my heart or a check in my spirit in those times that my thoughts or words are not pleasing to Him. When He is Lord of our life, we will truly welcome these disciplines.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
![reflection in water 2](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/reflection-in-water-2-300x225.jpg)
James 1:22-25 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“”But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it,
betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it
and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully
at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes
off and promptly forgets what he was like.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
![be an example for the lord](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/be-an-example-for-the-lord-300x225.jpg)
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
![Pray and learn](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Pray-and-learn-300x225.jpg)
Psalm 105:4 (AMP)
“Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and
His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation);
Jeremiah 33:3 (CJB)
“Call out to me,
and I will answer you —
I will tell you great things,
hidden things of which you are unaware.”
Monday, July 10, 2017
![power of words](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/power-of-words1-300x225.jpg)
In the happy moments
PRAISE GOD
let us give Him praise.
Let us ever be mindful that all good things are from Him and when we are happy and rejoicing, let us praise His Name.
Psalm 9:2 (AMP)
Psalm 27:5-8 (AMP)
“For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
in the secret place of His tent will He hide me;
He will set me high upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above my
enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer
sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes,
I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be
gracious to me and answer me!
Oh that we would remind ourselves to stay in His presence every moment we breathe. It is in His presence that there is fullness of joy.
Psalm 30:12
“To the end that my tongue and my heart and
everything glorious within me may sing praise
to You and not be silent. O Lord my God,
I will give thanks to You forever.”
Sunday, July 9, 2017
![a word fitly spoken feb 2015](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/a-word-fitly-spoken-feb-2015-300x225.jpg)
Our words are like pieces to a grand puzzle. Many times we may feel that the words we are desiring to express will fit so well, yet when we speak them, they turn out wrong or they just do not have a timely fit in the conversation. I can remember years ago getting my Granddaughter a kitty cat puzzle, and she could not wait to try to put it together. Some of the pieces were a bit challenging for they looked so similar visually yet the shape did not fit. At one point she thought one piece just had to fit, and she tried to force it. Interesting analogy isn’t it?….we can feel our words are fitting and right, and we begin to force them on someone. We can even convince ourselves that because what we have to say is true that it just has to be spoken at that time. Sometimes our words even with good intent are not to be spoken, and oh that we would heed to the Holy Spirit before we open our mouths.
God desires that our words bless, encourage, and produce, and very importantly, He desires that our words be fitting and proper. Today I want to share with you about how important it is that our words are to be spoken and fitting for the moment. You see, even a right word spoken in a wrong attitude or wrong time just does not fit nor does it help or minister to the hearer. The following are translations of Proverbs 25:11 that I want to share with you. This particular scripture brings light to the importance of a word being spoken in it’s proper time.
“Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting.” ERV
Today let us be reminded that timing has it’s perfect place when it comes to words. Right timing which is God’s timing will prompt us when and how to speak. Silence also has it’s place, so do not feel you are doing wrong when you are feeling prompted to just be silent even in those times your heart is speaking that you have the answer. May our words bless and be as apples of gold in settings of silver!
Saturday, July 8, 2017
![let us receive](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/let-us-receive-187x300.jpg)
“You open Your hand
and they are filled
with good things.”
Is your heart being kept full, strengthened and maintained by the power of the Holy Spirit? He desires to open His hands, and fill and touch us with many good things! Let us diligently watch over the gauge of our hearts and minds. Many times we are weakening simply because we are not drawing from the provision of our loving Heavenly Father. Pay attention to the warning signals. I know I say this often but it means so much to me, and that is Jesus desires to be our closest friend. He desires to be our Good Shepherd and provide our every need. His hands are full of good things for He desires that our life is lived in abundance!
We all know that our closest friend knows us all so well, and they will be the first to recognize if you are hurting, troubled, etc… A good friend will always be there to help us, and most certainly they will point out to us what they are observing so they can help us. Because Jesus is truly our Best Friend, may we honor Him with humble ears and hearts at all times for He desires to fill our lives with His good things and keep us strong in every area of our being!
joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more
and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Friday, July 7, 2017
![](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/how-many-are-your-works-300x200.jpg)
Thursday, July 6, 2017
![but the precious possession](https://www.abundantlifectr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/but-the-precious-possession-300x225.jpg)
The diligent hand proceeds from the heart that desires to live productively in everything they put their hand to. It is so wonderful to experience the fruit of our accomplishment after we have done what we know we have set our heart to do!
A farmer or a individual that loves to do vegetable gardening understands the importance of diligently tending a garden in order that it be healthy and thriving. After of summer of faithful weeding and tending a garden or crop, the harvest is going to come. Once it comes one may desire to freeze or can the abundance of their fruits. Whatever the choice of preserving it, it must be done, and there is no time to waste. It is such a blessing to pull a vegetable out of your freezer or a canned veggie or fruit in the cold of winter. Oh the joy of enjoying the fruit of our diligent, hard working hands!
Our time is so valuable and precious, and we must purpose to never waste a minute of our day. I have a little hour glass and as the sand flows through it, there is a measure of time that passes. This little hour glass reminds me that once that sand flows through it that a particular “time” has passed and I can not get it back. Many times people fail to realize the time they are living, and they are missing opportunities for some reason or other. The time goes and so has the opportunity. Just as opportunities come and they call for our diligence in a specific time, there are also other things in life that require our diligence in order that we sow, reap, and enjoy blessings.
I encourage you today to desire the heart and hands of the diligent and be blessed. Guard you time and spend it wisely. Diligence is a good thing and it leads to abundant blessing!
Proverbs 21:5 Amplified Bible
“The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent
tend only to plenteousness…”
This is a good way of teaching the kids to forgive each other(Matt. 5:7). I like the power of this gentle scripture and lesson… Thanks!!
thank you Lisa for sharing. I am blessed that this was a blessing to you!
Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.
So glad this is blessing you both!
Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.
It is interesting Selena how the more we worry the bigger and more magnified things get in our minds. Oh how important it is to trust our God for the smallest of things! Thank you for sharing!