New Years Resolution: Turning Daily – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart...” (NKJV) Yo-yo dieting. Broken resolve. Backsliding. Besetting sin. Falling away. Here we go again. Every person who gives even...
New Years Resolution: Turn to God – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart...” (NKJV) Every New Year brings endless resolutions, and a couple weeks later - endless broken resolutions. I think a big reason why...
Contentment
1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (NKJV) A prayer asking God to grant us contentment in all thingsHeavenly Father,If I am suffering, without clothing, poor, discouraged or mistreated;make my heart value Your love, know it intimately and be...
Peace and Assurance
Isaiah 32:17 The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. (NKJV)Being assured of your salvation has many facets. There is no simple checklist or magic formula. The Bible does however say that we can KNOW we...
Without Jesus
The privileges of being God’s child and what we cannot do without Jesus O Mighty God Illumine my heart to know that Your grace is everlasting; coming before, during and after my salvation; It sustains my redeemed spirit so that nothing can break me away from You....
Love
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (NKJV; emphasis mine) As a servant of Christ we can explain and fulfill the entire law of God in one word: "love".This isn't a wishy-washy, standardless...
Practical Paul: Burden Bearing – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (NKJV) The Apostle Paul was a master teacher, not only plumbing the depths of theology and doctrine, but also laying out for us...
Practical Paul: Burden Bearing – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (NKJV) The Apostle Paul was a master teacher, not only plumbing the depths of theology and doctrine, but also laying out for us...
Practical Paul: Restoration – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (NKJV) The Apostle Paul was a...
Now I See You
Job 42:5 “I have heard of You [God] by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. (NKJV)The man called Job in the Bible said in the verse above, “I had heard of You with my ears in the past, but now I have truly seen You with my eyes.” In other words, Job’s head...
Plenty of Opportunity to Do Good
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (NKJV) As Christ-following servants we live a higher standard of “doing good”. We are responsible for both proactively and reactively doing good.For example, if you know of someone...
When Then
James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (NKJV; emphasis mine) I often find myself running around pursuing some new project, goal or achievement...
The Trials of Christianity
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (NKJV) As servants we are going to experience troubles in this life. The Master was persecuted and crucified because He stood against...
The Trials of Christianity
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (NKJV) As servants we are going to experience troubles in this life. The Master was persecuted and crucified because He stood against...
Foundations – Holiness – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV)In our Foundations series, we're looking at the basic...
Give It A Rest
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (NKJV)A servant is dependent on the Master for all things - provision, instructions, relief, compassion... whatever the need may be. Unlike the worldly idea of servitude which...
You Complete Me
Colossians 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (NKJV)A true servant only finds completeness through His master. The servants strength, resources, authority and fulfillment comes by the Master, through the Master and for the...
Foundations – Cross Carrying – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV)In our Foundations series, we're looking at the basic...
A Living Sacrifice
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. As Christ-following servants, we are called to be a living sacrifice. The picture behind...
Real Freedom
Romans 6:18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (NKJV) The world teaches that personal freedom to do whatever you want (caveated with "as long as you aren't hurting someone else) is the "holy grail" of human existence. This makes man...
Others Focus
Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (NKJV) I'm always amazed at how exactly opposite the world's ideas are with the Creator of the World's ideas. The world would have us to believe that the road to...
Foundations – Discipline – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV)In our Foundations series, we're looking at the basic...
Foundations – Obedience – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)I am often asked by new, casual, lukewarm or struggling Christians...
Negative Confessions
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in...
Just For Believers – Light Sources – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In this series, we are studying those things that...
Just For Believers – Fruit Bearing – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In this series, we are studying those things that...
Just For Believers – Complete Satisfaction – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In this series, we are studying those things that...
Just For Believers – No Death – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In this series, we are studying those things that...
Just For Believers – Sins Gone – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In this series, we are studying those things that...
Just For Believers – Possibility – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)As Christians we often forget who we are (2Pet...
Discernment Deployment – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, (NKJV; emphasis mine) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)Note: I have...
Discernment Development – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, (NKJV; emphasis mine) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)A lack of...
Discernment Definition – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, (NKJV; emphasis mine) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)A lack of...
Discernment Deficit – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, (NKJV; emphasis mine) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)I would consider...
New Stuff
Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)January...
You Complete Me
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (NKJV; emphasis mine) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In a movie called Jerry Maguire, there is a...
According To You – Restoration – Part 3
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at...
According To You – Clean Me Up – Part 2
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at...
According To You – Part 1
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at...
Word Filled Family
From Brent: I have been friends with Author/Pastor John Barnett going on a decade, and I have seen him LIVE exactly what he writes about and teaches. You could not wish for a better or more consistent example of a Godly man who walks out what he preaches each and...
Self Esteem?
Galatians 2:20 • I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV; emphasis mine)(Previous devotionals can...
Thats Not Nice
Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. (NKJV; emphasis mine) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)Imagine with me.... you read an advertisement...
Despising God
Romans 2:4 • 4Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (NKJV; emphasis mine)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)In typical Apostle Paul fashion,...
No Thanks, Ive Got Enough
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)Recently I was in a meeting and two of my Christian brothers...
I Can’t Eat With You
1 Corinthians 5:11b ..... — not even to eat with such a person. (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)Take a random survey of 1000 professing Christians across the board and ask this question, "What does the Bible say about judging?"...
Its Great To Be You!
1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)"I wish I was like you!" That's what Paul was...
Ten Truths About the Faithfulness of God – Conclusion – Part 7
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (NKJV)(Previous...
Ten Truths About the Faithfulness of God – Truths 8, 9 & 10 – Part 6
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (NKJV)(Previous...
Ten Truths About the Faithfulness of God – Truth 7 – Part 5
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (NKJV)(Previous...
Ten Truths About the Faithfulness of God – Truth 6 – Part 4
(Click here to search for all the posts in this series...)Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (NKJV)(Previous...