Medicate To Regulate Our Emotions

If we really examine our behavior and the motives behind them, we will see when it comes to substance abuse we usually “medicate” in order to regulate our emotions. Anger is one of the most volital emotions we have. We need to be mature about our anger and not let our immaturity get the best of us.

Mature Anger

TODAY’S VERSE
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
James 1:19 (NIV)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
So often we use these passages to beat ourself up with. We interpret as if it said, “Do not be angry” and then berate ourself and bury our feelings. However, if we read these passages we will see that our goal should not be ridding ourself of anger but rather, be mature about what angers us. Mature anger looks at the problem and expresses itself with a solution as its goal. It is slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen. On the other hand, immature anger looks at the person involved and expresses itself with bitterness, rage, brawling, slander and malice. Paul insists that we rid ourself of immature anger. Today, when your anger alerts you to a potential negative situation, be slow to react. Assess the problem and ask God what it is He would have you to do. Let your anger be mature.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that You can help me be mature with my anger. Help me focus on solutions and not bitterness, rage, fighting, slander or malice. Help me express anger in a way that honors you.
AMEN

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Overcoming Fear

TODAY’S VERSE
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
We often think of fear as the reaction to scary events, like the screams in a horror movie. But some of our most fearful behavior is often hid from us. Many people who are living daily in fear aren’t even aware of it. In “Surrender To Love” Dr. Benner writes, “One of the things that block us from gaining freedom from fear is that most fearful people don’t think of themselves as afraid. Unless their fears are focused on something external (such as snakes, heights or crowds), most people in bondage to fear fail to recognize the true nature of their inner distress. – Although the object of one’s fears may seem to be external, the real source of the fear is internal. The danger is within. The enemy is one’s own self, or at least some aspect of their self.” This is what Paul was trying to get across. We are so focused on our behavior we don’t see the motivation behind it. Paul called it a “spirit of fear”. It is this internal pervasive fear that controls what we do. It is spiritual and emotional. Satan is a liar and accuser so he fills our head with fear. Our own experience and belief systems do the rest. If we take most of the fear we have, we will see that it is a fear of what others will think or do. But today’s passage says that we do not have to live in that kind of fear. Why? Because God has given us something else. He has given us power, love and a sound mind. What an alternative to anything we would fear. Anything we fear can be defeated either by God’s power, love or the sound mind He has given us. So today, when you are tempted to act out of fear, remember, there are other options. Give the power, love or a sound mind that God has given you a chance.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for not giving me a spirit of fear. Today, I want to live in Your power and love and the sound mind that You have given me.
AMEN

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You’re Valuable

TODAY’S VERSE
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Matthew 10:28-31 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
We are valuable to God! Why is it that I wrestle with that so much? Why can’t I accept the fact that God’s love defines my value, not my performance, material belongings or status? I have value because God says I do! It is the lack of believing in our value that causes us to create a false self. In “The Deeper Journey”, M. Robert Mulholland Jr. writes, “As our false self manages our life, we fear that we might not be valued. If our false self’s identity is rooted in our performance, then our value must be rooted in how well we perform. – To the extent our false self guides our life, we fear others. Life with others is a constant threat to our false self. – Others are constant threats to that fragile structure we have created to provide ourselves with identity, meaning, value and purpose.” Jesus came to declare how valuable we are. He would not have wasted His life and died the horrible death He did for something of little value. No, He came to redeem the most valuable thing to Him in the whole universe, the human race. Today, know that you are loved by God. Know that you are valued by Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that You love me and created me with value. Might the thought that I am valuable to You change my life today and set me free from the fear and bondage of trying to earn Your love. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Forgiveness

Forgiveness

TODAY’S VERSE
“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins .”
Psalms 103:2-3 (NIV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:9 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
What a beautiful plan. God creates us for fellowship with Him. Like Adam and Eve, God allows us a free will, so we can choose to love Him and follow His ways. All the while God knows that He has created us with a human condition that tempts us to stray from Him and His Holy standard. Yet because of His perfect unconditional love for us, He does not require us to be perfect, just forgiven. This is possible through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Now as a result of Christ, God is able to forgive us of every transgression. John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Today, confess anything that is between you and God. Get your conscience clear with Him. When you do, God promises to forgive.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit that convicts me of things that are wrong in my life. Thank You for Jesus Christ who took my place on the cross. Guide me today and help clear my conscience with You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Understanding God’s Love For Me

TODAY’S VERSE
“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.”
II Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Because of our need to be loved and the shortage of the kind of love we so desperately need, we often lead our hearts in places that will never bring real satisfaction. We try to find what our heart needs but we are like the song that says we are “looking for love in all the wrong places.” Instead, Paul suggests that we let the Lord lead our heart. When we trust God with our heart, He will lead us where we will find everything we need for lasting joy and peace. That is why Paul is praying that God will lead our heart into a full understanding of the love of God. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine how our life would change if we really understood how much God loved us? Paul did. He is praying that God would lead our hearts into a full understanding of the love of God that results in a full “expression” of His love and the patient endurance that comes from trusting in that love. Do we want to live a life of love? Do we want to have the peace that comes from patient endurance? If so, we need to pray with Paul that God will lead our heart into a full understanding of His love for us. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, lead my heart today to a better understanding of how much You love me. I pray that my life will exemplify Your love and the patient endurance that comes from being secure in You.
AMEN

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Contentment

TODAY’S VERSE
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
These have always been hard verses for me to live. Paul was able to write them with confidence because he poured out his life as a sacrifice for Christ. I look at my life and see so much to improve on. Today, I met someone who exemplified these words in a powerful way. Her name is Onix. She is in her mid-forties and has been in a wheelchair most of her life. She did not let that stop her from graduating from Moody Bible Institute and becoming a youth leader instructor and gifted Sunday School teacher. She has always been a vibrant witness for Christ. For the last five years she has needed the help of a ventilator and has been bed-bound with only partial use of her hands. She taught herself how to talk so she could continue to witness for Christ. A few years ago she started to paint using her mouth to hold the brush. She glows as she talks about what she has learned about God through this and the opportunities she has to share her faith. Her faith is contagious. Her attitude is amazing. I pray that I will be able to pattern my life after her faith. Today, let us thank God for our circumstances. Let us live out the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for complaining. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Help me live content in the fact that I am Your child and You know all about me and my circumstances. Help me to see life through your eyes and trust Your never ending love for me.
AMEN

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Restoration

TODAY’S VERSE
“He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”
I Peter 5:10-11 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
It is easy to get tired. You know, just plain worn out. Life seems to come at us so hard. There is never enough time to get everything we need done. Is it a wonder that we feel like we live in a pressure cooker? Jesus invited all of us who are under a heavy burden to come to Him. He promised that He would give us rest. Peter heard Him say it! And now Peter writes to us promising that this same Jesus will restore, support and strengthen us. Peter promises us that Jesus will place us on a firm foundation because all power belongs to Him. Today, let this same Jesus comfort you. Let Him come into your situation and give you support and strength. Lean on Him. Share with Him. Give Him all your burdens. Remember, “All power belongs to Him forever!”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to You with all my burdens. Help me, comfort me. I lean on You dear Lord. I need Your strength and support. Thank You for all Your provisions. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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No Fear

TODAY’S VERSE
Let all who fear the LORD repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.
Psalms 118:4-6 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
How much of your time is spent in fear? Not much you say. Okay, how much of your time is spent in defending or protecting yourself? How many thoughts are spent planning and plotting every detail of your life in order to make everything seem just right. Why? Because you fear that others may think poorly of you. One way or another, fear plays a large part in our life. In today’s passage the Psalmist has found an answer for his fear. When he was in distress he prayed to God and God set him free. Because of God’s loving intervention the author no longer feared. Rather, he meditated on God’s love and learned to trust in that love. Isn’t that what you and I need to do? Today, when fear comes to us, let us do what the Psalmist did. Let’s pray to God and let Him answer us. He will, because His love endures forever.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me overcome my fears. Instead of being fearful, help me to trust in Your faithful love. I give my life to You and ask You to guide me, protect me and set me free from the bondage of fear. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Listen To God

Listen To God

TODAY’S VERSE
“‘I am the LORD your God. – But you have not listened to me.”
Judges 6:10 (NLT)

“And Samuel replied, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.’”
I Samuel 3:10

TODAY’S MESSAGE
“You have not listened to me.” You would think if God spoke, people would listen and obey. But do we? How many times have we turned our back on what His word has to say? How many times have we ignored the conviction of the Holy Spirit? How many times have we bent the meaning of the Scriptures into our own will? There is a dedication and discipline to listening to God. There is a passion tempered with conviction that results in obeying Him. Part of listening is repenting when we know we have ignored Him. Part of listening is remembering the past and trusting Him with the present. The biggest part of listening is “listening.” Reading His word, spending time with God, meditating on what He has to say, all of this creates a real and vibrant relationship. Relating to God in this way, knowing His unconditional love for us and learning to love Him in return is the best way to keep our hearts ready to listen to Him. Might our prayer be like that of Samuel, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for speaking to me so many times. Forgive me for the times I did not listen. Help me to seek Your wisdom. Help me to read Your word and to meditate on it. Most of all, might the prayer of my heart be, “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.”
AMEN

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Work Toward Peace

TODAY’S VERSE
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Everyone wants peace but so few are willing to work on it. Paul writes out a formula for peace that if practiced, would revolutionize the church. First, he asks us to be humble and gentle. It is amazing how much hurt can be dished out under the guise of humility. So Paul adds to be gentle. He continues by writing that we should be patient making allowances for each other’s faults. But how can we do this? He says we do it out of love. Remember, love covers a multitude of sins. Finally, if peace is our real goal, we need to make every effort to keep ourselves united in the Spirit. To Paul, peace was not an option, but a reality to be insisted on. How hard do you work for peace at home, church or work? What if everyone did?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Prince of Peace, please forgive me. I don’t make peace my desire. I would rather be right. I would rather be in control. I would rather fight for my self interests. I have such a hard time trusting that if I yield myself to peace everything will work out. Forgive me. Please help me follow You and Your commitment to peace.
AMEN

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