Category Archives: General Devotions

February 15th 2017 – Feeling Helpless or Hopeless?

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“Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:4)

God may be the director of the universe, but He has given us power to make decisions. You have a decision to confess your sins to Him and to ask for His forgiveness. You have a decision whether to serve the Lord, give to the Lord or share the Gospel with others. No matter who you are, you have an opportunity to change the world through your decisions.

(Joshua 24:15) “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

As you read this devotional, there is a world filled with people who desire peace. They desire love. They desire hope in something greater than the economy, the president or their own ability. As a follower of Christ, we can make the decision to share with them how to change their life and those things by sharing the Gospel. We can serve them. We can offer them our time, resources and compassion. God will empower us to do mighty things, but we must decide to do it. Choose this day who you will serve, and do it!

“You are not helpless or hopeless. Your destiny is in your hands and in the hands of a God that loves you and wants to bless and protect you.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I desire to choose You above everything else. I decide this day to serve You and to serve others. Give me a heart of compassion and a willingness to think of others before myself. God, use me to change the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scriptutalseeds.org

February 6th 2017 – Life’s Greatest Unknown

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“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”(2nd Corinthians 5:8)

The belief of the Greeks during the time of Jesus and Paul was that death swallowed up everything including life, people and animals. The Bible reverses that and says that life swallows up death and victory swallows up death.

(1 Corinthians 15:54) “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

(2 Corinthians 5:4) “these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.”

How awesome is this? Life’s greatest unknown, death, is both life’s greatest enemy and greatest fear, yet it is turned upside down and inside out by our God. Jesus not only turned death into victory, but also the tomb into a changing closet. Instead of fear, death can reveal a deep confidence and trust in God. The more you read the Bible, the stronger this confidence becomes (Romans 10:17).

(2 Corinthians 5:8) “We are fully confident.” The two thieves that faced death with Jesus tell us an interesting story. One taunted and teased Jesus, and the other asked Jesus for forgiveness. The big question is, “Which thief are you?” Jesus said to the one who asked for forgiveness, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” There is nothing to fear about paradise, and there is nothing to fear about heaven or the journey there.

“For the believer, death is the threshold of heaven.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for dying for me on the cross so that I could be forgiven. Lord, sometimes I do not understand heaven and death, but thank You for reminding me in Your Word that I have nothing but victory to look forward to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 26th 2017 – God Working In Us

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“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”(Romans 7:15)

If you think you cannot identify with this statement, then you need to look in a mirror. The Apostle Paul, who wrote Romans and much of the New Testament, is being open and honest with his struggles… and we can also. We all struggle with doing wrong things. In fact, if it was not for God working through us, every attempt of our hands would be blameworthy. We all want to do well, but many times we give in to our flesh and end up doing wrong. The only way we can transact righteousness is by consequence of God in us. It is not just the ‘doing’. Your appetite to affect virtue is an indication that God is working.

(Philippians 2:13) “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Your reading this devotion is affirmation. You are hungry for something more. Every time you do something good, you can know and believe that God is working in you. Please take heart and be encouraged. The Creator of all the universe sees Jesus reflected in you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, We love You and Praise you. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for working through my insufficient efforts to produce something that is glorifying and profitable for Your kingdom. Please present me with greater opportunities to do right. I know that it is only through Your strength that I can do them. In Jesus’ name, Amen

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 23rd 2017 – Early Riser

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“I love those who love me; And those who seek me early and diligently will find me.” (Proverbs 8:17)

I wake up every morning knowing I need to spend time reading the Scripture and praying. But it’s so easy to jump into the details of my day without first taking time to be with the Lord.

Whenever I do that, when I start tackling the day without spending time with Him. I’m really saying that I can handle things on my own. I don’t need God.

Sometimes I get the sense that God may be saying, “You want to handle this day by yourself? Go ahead.” At best, it’s an empty, fruitless day lived for myself. And at worst, I end up in some big messes!

We need to learn from King David. Even though he was a busy leader, he made a point to spend his first moments with God.

(Psalm 5:3) “O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice”

When I start the day by humbling myself and admitting that I can’t do things on my own, I can count on God to carry me through the day. Has He heard your voice today?

“Seek Him first”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me make time to seek You first every morning. I don’t want to continue have fruitless and empty days trying to do things on my own. May I seek Your devine guidance and counsel each morning. I praise and Love You, In Jesus’ name Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 20th 2017 – The Freedom of Choice

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“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

God loves us so much that he gives us the freedom to make choices. Some are of little consequence, but others are life-changing. This freedom of choice dates back to Adam and Eve. They made a bad choice, and sin entered the realm of mankind.

The freedom to make choices brings responsibility. We have all made poor choices at times and have suffered the consequences of those bad choices. The good news is that no matter what poor choices we may have made in the past, there is always hope for a better future. God knew that we would make some bad choices, but he loves us so much that he sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin and to provide a way for our relationship to him to be restored.

Some people go through life carrying the load of some wrong choices they have made in the past. They believe they have messed up so badly that nothing good can ever come of their lives. Do you ever feel this way?

The Good news is,  If you want to be set free from the past, Jesus is the answer. He has already paid the price for your sin … for every wrong choice you have ever made. Talk to him. Ask him to forgive you and to help you make better choices from now on. He is ready, and he is more than able.

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

Remember, you are very special to God. He loves you no matter what you have done. He is there for you. He wants you to put the past behind so that you can become all that he has designed you to be. Ask God’s forgiveness … learn from your mistakes … and look forward to a future filled with hope.

“With God, there is always hope for a better future.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving my sins. I have made so many wrong choices in my life. Help me now to put them behind and to look forward to the future you have planned for me … one filled with Hope, one filled with Faith, one filled with Love. Today is a new day, with a new way! In Jesus’ precious name Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

January 19th 2017 – Work at Home

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“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Are you ready for an adventure with God? That’s a pretty loaded question, but one that we all need to ask. As a Christian, I am called to live for the Lord. This means a life dedicated to loving God and loving others. This also means sacrificing myself so that others can hear about Jesus and experience His love through me. This fact is all the more true when it comes to our home life and families.

Sometimes, when we serve the Lord we lose sight of the most important people we are supposed to care for…our family. Children are called to respect parents, wives are called to respect their husbands and husbands are commanded to love their wives like Jesus loves the church. All these elements work together to encourage us in the faith and create a solid foundation for ministry that happens outside the walls of our homes.

Are you loving your family? Do you serve your husband, wife or children like you would serve the person in need at church? Does your family know about Jesus and do they see your love for Him? These can be hard questions but if we get these right our houses can be lights shining in the darkness.

“Personal preparedness in ministry requires having a right standing with family and God.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have neglected my family in pursuit of other things. Help me to minister to their needs and to love them, so that my household will be a shining light for this world to see. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 18th 2017 – Don’t Make it Complicated

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The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. (John 5:15)

How quickly this man was turned into a witness for the Lord; it was the same day! Sure, he still had problems in his life, but he didn’t let those things hinder his witness. He began to tell people about Jesus who had healed him and made him whole. He was very sincere, very simple and unhindered by problems of the past.

I think sometimes we try to complicate things when it comes to telling people about Jesus when it’s really very simple. One of the most powerful tools we have in sharing our faith is simply telling people what Jesus has done in our own lives – the simple yet compelling testimony of God’s goodness. We should tell everyone what God has done in our lives and we should begin to do it one by one. Let us not stop until the whole world hears.

“We should tell others what Jesus has done in our lives.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for saving me. Empower me to be a witness to the ends of the world, starting in my home, my neighborhood and my work. I once was blind and now I see. Help me to keep it simple. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 16th 2017 – Distractions of the Heart

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“For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes–so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)

How easily we can be distracted by many things, whether in our relationship with others or with the Lord.

Jesus told His followers that spiritual distraction begins with hearts that have grown dull, ears that are hard of hearing, and eyes that are closed. Using the illustration of a farmer scattering seed, Jesus compared the seed that fell among thorns to a person who hears God’s Word but whose heart is focused on other things.

(Matthew 13:22) “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.”

There is great value in having times throughout each day when we turn off the distractions of mind and heart and focus on our relationships with others, especially the one with the Lord.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to turn off all the distractions around me, and make time to focus  on the relationships that matter the most.  Forgive me when our time together get aside because of the distractions, from this day forward may I not allow the distractions to take from the real things that are important.

Open my heart to Your word and may my heart be good soil for the seed of Your Word today. In Jesus precious name Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life and want to quench yor unquenchable thirst. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 10th 2017 – God’s Perfect Timing

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“Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:28-29)

God is a blessing God. He desires to grant favor to His children. At the same time, we have our own free will, which God will not violate. Sometimes, we cheat God of the ability to bless us when we selfishly and stubbornly force our own way. The Lord’s clock does not abide by our calendar. As much as we want things to run according to our own design, God’s blueprint is much better. There is an order to things that God has established. He created all the gears, cogs and wheels of life that we do not understand.

Paul had desired to go to Rome but he knew that his trip would be much more profitable in the Lord’s timing. He had learned to wait on God’s timing and not force it on his own. Sometimes, we have to wait on God. Sometimes, we may know what God has called us to do, yet we know it is not yet time. When we wait on the Lord to say when the time is right, we can know it is going to be an incredible ride! It might not be easy, but it will be good. If it is easy, be careful. Satan will do everything he can to oppose God’s plans, and if you are not facing opposition, you may want to pray to see if you are indeed walking in God’s timing.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we love and praise you Thank you for the love, grace and mercy that You extend to me day in and day out. Thank You for Your goodness; for Your kindness. Thank You for the incredible plans You have for my life. Please lead me into and through them in Your timing and not in my own. In Jesus  name, Amen.

Seeking Jesus in your life?

Jesus Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20)

The Bible promises eternal life to all who receive Christ: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13)

If you have not asked Jesus into your life you can receive Jesus Christ right now by faith through prayer.

Prayer is just talking with God. He knows your heart, so don’t worry about getting your words just right. Here is a suggested prayer to guide you:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

If you have done this, then congratulations! (Luke 15:7) says that when one sinner accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Saviour the angels rejoice. So there’s a party going on in heaven right now over your decision! Remember this date as your “second birthday,” the day you were born into a new life in Christ! You have God’s Word that he answered your prayer.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 6th 2017 – Obedience Our Gift to God

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When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: “Go; take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the LORD.”(Hosea 1:2)

We often hear Christians say things like, “The Lord just wants me to be happy” or “God wouldn’t ask me to do anything that I can’t handle.” The truth is that God often asks His people to do what seems impossible. Hosea was told by God to take a wife that would cause him much pain. Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son, whom he called (laughter) and loved dearly. Mary, who was called most blessed among women, was required to stand by and watch her son die on the cross. These three, and many others in the Bible, were asked by God to do what we would think impossible for them; things that would bring pain and suffering. They had different circumstances, and different struggles, but the one thing they shared was obedience.

(Matthew 16:24-25) 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. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Jesus went through incredible suffering and pain to free us from the bondage of sin. He did not die just so we could be happy. He did not give His life so that we could simply pursue our own selfish desires. He died to set us free and to give us the model of how to live free. He taught the disciples through His Word and led by example that our calling is to lay down our own lives for the sake of others.

“Following Christ is hard, but it’s the least we can offer Him for the price He paid.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me so much that You were willing to die a horrible death and suffer the humiliation of my sins. Lord, I choose to follow You, wherever You lead me, because I love You. Jesus, help me to walk in obedience. Give me Your strength, power and love so that I can willingly lay down my life for others. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can show the love of Jesus to those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life and want to quench yor unquenchable thirst. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org