Category Archives: General Devotions

August 28th 2016 – It Starts with You and Me

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“These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.” (Nehemiah 12:26)

In the days of Nehemiah, there was only a small percentage of Israel that left Babylon to go back to the land and yet, their love for God and for each other leads to incredible things. Each person was part of rebuilding the wall, defending against enemies and encouraging one another. Today, the same is true about each of us. When we give our life to God, we can change the world.

Will your life make a difference? Over and over, we have one life making a difference in the Bible and in real life. Not just the well-known heavy hitters like Moses or Paul, but two men many don’t know or could not identify. Ezra and Nehemiah made a huge impact in their community and in the course of their nation. You can impact the course of your family, neighborhood, town state or even the world. That being said, changing the world is too big. You don’t start out by changing the world; you start out by saying ‘yes’ to God. Then, you begin to change, and then your light begins to influence or change others. This leads to a domino effect of change that leads to communities that are on fire for Jesus Christ, which can change the world.

“There is no question; one life can make a difference. The only question is… will it change yours? You decide.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I desire to use my life for Your Kingdom. I am imperfect but willing. Take my life, my resources and my relationships and use them to impact my community with the Truth of the Gospel. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I am fully equipped for this ministry. 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

August 27th 2016 – Words Have Power!

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“I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys.” (Song of Solomon 2:1)

What causes someone to change their view of themselves? Could it be as simple as kind words of affection? It was in the case of Solomon and his bride to be. In chapter one of Song of Solomon, we find the Shulamite depressed about her appearance when she says, “Do not look at me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me.” She is concerned about her appearance because she worked in the vineyards, under the hot sun, and was unable to care for herself. Compare those original words to chapter two where she calls herself a rose of Sharon. What a change of perspective, and all because Solomon spoke loving words of affection and encouragement to her. This shouldn’t surprise us since God’s Word describes the power of words in the book of James.

(James 3:5) “In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.”

The power of our speech is unbelievable. Many times we forget that and hurt with our words rather than heal. God desires that we all walk with grace, humility and love for one another. We should look for opportunities to lift one another up with our words. Speak words of gratitude, of thanksgiving and of grace to one another. Husbands, speak affectionate words to your wife. Wives, speak words of encouragement to your husbands. In this circle of loving words and affection, you will find a healthy, growing relationship. Our words are powerful so let’s use them wisely.

“Our words are powerful tools that can be used to build people up or tear people down.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for relationships. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can speak loving words into those I relate to, whether my spouse, children or friends. Give me patience to love even when the love is not returned. I ask for wisdom to know when to speak and when to keep silent. Use my words to heal and to glorify Your Name. 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

August 17th 2016 – “The Reminder”

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“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God” (Romans 15:15)

Satan loves to remind us of our past sins and failures. He finds great pleasure in bringing up things that God has long forgiven us of.

(Revelation 12:10) refers to Satan as the “accuser of our brethren.” That’s what he does, but not because he’s really got anything on us. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Bible tells us that your sins have been separated from you as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). So, what does it profit the enemy to bring up what you’ve been forgiven of? He wants to distract you from following Jesus. If he can get you to listen to his accusations, maybe he can shame you into believing that you’ve crossed some line of forgiveness that doesn’t exist. That is his game and he is betting that he can pull you into it. Remember the words in 1st John

(1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Has Satan distracted you from following Jesus? Don’t believe his lies, and friend, in love, you need to quit listening to your enemy. You have got a great future ahead of you. Satan, on the other hand… well… his future is not so good because he will be thrown into the lake of fire. He will be destroyed. He knows it. So, the next time the enemy tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future.

“We often forget what we should remember and remember what we should forget.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins. I rejoice in knowing the future that lies ahead of me is so much better than the past that is behind 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 or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 16th 2016 – Spiritually Concerned and Caring for One Another

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“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (Romans 15:2)

Be honest. How often do you think about others ahead of yourself? If you are completely honest, your answer is probably, “Not often.” Jesus, in His ministry, was completely others centered. Everything He spoke and did was for the edification of others. The world we live in is completely focused on ‘self’, and Christians have bought into it. Jesus, on the other hand, said:

(Mark 8:35) “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Jesus should be our model for living. We should be like Jesus and be ‘others centered’ and ‘others focused’. We should give our lives away. It is the key to life and what Jesus told us to do. Like a lost key, many Christians will look past it without picking it up. If the church at large would live out what we say we believe, this world would be a different place and people would be clamoring for Jesus. Is Jesus your model for living? What do you need to change in your life to accurately portray a life sold out for Jesus?

“We should be spiritually concerned and caring with one another.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Loving me. Thank You for looking past my faults and failures and giving Your life away for me. Lord, I know sometimes I am too preoccupied with ‘self’, and I am sorry. Help me to be a walking testimony of Your Truth so ‘others’ can know the grace, peace, comfort and hope I have found in 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

 

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 15th 2016 – Loyalty, (Faithfulness in Action)

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“And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.” (2 Chronicles 25:2)

Loyalty is not a word we hear much today. Typically, the only reference to loyalty you hear these days is in regard to the family dog and yet, loyalty is an important spiritual strength. Loyalty, at its root, is faithfulness in action. A husband rejects adultery out of loyalty to his wife. A mother stands up for her children out of loyalty towards them. Within loyalty is the essence of remaining steadfast regardless of the situation.

In an ever growing world of instant technology and buy today, throw away tomorrow purchases, loyalty is greatly needed. While there are things in life we should hold onto loosely, there are other things we must remain faithful in. These things include our marriages, families and churches. Imagine if families around the world decided to remain faithful to each other no matter the circumstance. What if, every person committed their loyalty to a church regardless of minor differences. Believe me, our world would change. The culture of broken marriages and church splits would halt and we could stand united under Christ and proclaim His faithfulness while displaying it.

Is there an area that you lack loyalty? This week, continue to pray and tell the Lord your desire to remain loyal to your spouse, your children, your church and most of all, your God. After all, when you remain focused on the Lord, He will help you remain steadfast through the storms.

“Being loyal in the Bible is viewed as a spiritual strength and being disloyal as a character flaw.’

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, If I have been disloyal to you or others, I ask that You would forgive me. Lord, You remain faithful to us regardless of how unfaithful we are. I thank You for this and ask that You would give me the strength to remain loyal to my family, friends and church. Use me to display Your faithfulness to a world that needs it. 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

August 14th 2016 – True Wisdom Begins and Ends with God

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“For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;” (Proverbs 2:6)

I’m sure each of us could use a little more wisdom. After all, life is complicated, and we can always use insight into raising kids, loving our enemy or working at our jobs. Each area of life brings challenges that demand wisdom to overcome. The good news is that God desires to give us wisdom if we ask.

(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.”

When we ask in faith, God says He will give wisdom liberally. This is wisdom that spills over us like a cup overflowing with water. While God does give us wisdom when we ask, He is not going to simply pour out all the wisdom we will ever need in one sitting. That would be great to receive perfect understanding after one prayer, but often we must come back to Him time and time again. This helps us understand our dependence on Him, and it also builds up our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Like a child, we come to our Heavenly dad needing guidance, and He responds in love. What’s even better is that He never gets tired of us asking. He loves it. So as you begin your day, seek God for wisdom. No matter what area of life you need understanding in, you can ask Him, and He will respond in abundance.

“True wisdom begins and ends with God”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for listening to my prayers and for the promise of wisdom. Today, I ask for wisdom in my life. Give me understanding in how to deal with my life so that You are glorified when others see me. Guide my steps so that I walk in the good works You have for me to do. 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

August 13th 2016 – Someone Hit and Run Off with My “Peace”

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“And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.” (Acts 12:6)

How often do you allow the troubles of life to steal your peace? Do you replay events over and over in your mind wishing you had done something differently, and sometimes even allow bad events to set the tone for the rest of your day?

I am reminded of a story about a man who while on his way to work stops to get a soda, when he is inside the station, someone bumps into his care and drives off. When he finally got to work, a colleague asked him how he was doing. Through clenched teeth he said, “Terrible! Someone bumped into my car and drove off.” He walked into his office, slammed the door, threw the chair back from his desk, and picked up a phone to speak harshly to an employee. At lunch, the waiter at the restaurant asked him how he was doing and he responded, “Terrible! Someone hit my care this morning!” Later that evening when he got home his wife asked him how his day went and he said, “It was terrible! I had someone hit and run me this morning!” That one event shaped his entire day and not only that, his bad attitude affected everyone he came across. In Acts chapter 12, we see James had been killed by Herod and Peter was imprisoned. Although Peter was probably about to be executed, he was sleeping! Now as far as ‘bad days’ go, I’d rank his pretty high on the list, yet Peter is comfortable and peaceful enough to sleep. Peter was at peace in the Lord as we should be. No matter what the circumstance.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

No matter what trial or tribulation you are facing, know that there will be a day when you will be free from it. It may not be until you are with the Lord in Heaven, but you will be free from it. Be at peace, Christian! You have an awesome promise to look forward to…

(Rev 21:3-4) “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Your only Son, Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Thank You for the promise that one day, You will wipe the tears from my eyes and there will be no more death, sorrow or crying. Thank You that I can have peace through Jesus, no matter what trial or difficulties I am experiencing. Please forgive me for the times when I have surrendered my peace to a situation or problem and help me to live for You every day. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 12th 2016 – Follow the Leader, Imitate Christ!

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“And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul is making a bold statement. He is calling the church at Corinth to pattern itself after him. Now, Paul is not saying he is the one they should worship but rather as he follows after Christ, he becomes a walking, talking example of what a Christian should look like. While we are ultimately following after Christ, we all need human examples of Christianity to help guide us in the right direction.

The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is filled with godly leaders who lead by example. Whether it was Moses leading God’s people out of Egypt or Peter stepping out onto the waves, all were examples to those around them and continue to stand as godly examples today. While no human example is perfect, this doesn’t mean we refuse to follow leadership. If a pastor, elder or deacon is following the Lord then look to them as an example and learn from them. There is a great blessing found in following after a man or woman of God, and as you imitate their life you may look back one day to see yourself being imitated.

“We need spiritual Christian leaders, ones who follow Jesus Christ!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the leaders in my life. Father, help me to learn from those around me who are seeking after You. As the disciples followed You, may I seek to also follow your every move, in turn become more like You. Lord, continue to be with those in leadership. Show them ths truth and teach them to share your Word. 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

 

August 11th 2016 – God the Father is Patient.

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“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

We’ve all made promises that for one reason or another, we were unable to keep. We’ve also been at the receiving end of a broken promise. We have all felt the damage of an untrustworthy person or from someone living out of fellowship with the Lord. Sometimes we let those pains of broken promises trickle over into our personal relationship with God. In 2 Peter, the apostle desires to put an end to any fear we may have that God will not follow through. Throughout this letter to the church, we see Peter reminding the people about God’s promises and how they have come true. Many may say, “If God has promised to judge evil and save our world, then why are we still suffering? Why do we continue to turn on the news to find pain and death?” The answer…

…God the Father is patient.

God will judge the world. He will make everything right, but His love is so amazing that He desires to save as many as He can before that time. Our heavenly Father is waiting in eternity for more people to respond to His grace. Have you responded? Could the creator of the entire universe be waiting for you to come to Him for forgiveness? Don’t put it off any longer, if you have not trusted in Jesus for salvation then today is the day. He died on the cross for your sins and rose from the grave so that you could have new life. Trust in Him today.

“God’s timing is not our timing.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I believe You died for me so that I could be forgiven. I believe You were raised from the dead so that I could have new life. I know I’ve done wrong things, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me and give me the power to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

Put your faith and trust in Jesus! If you do not know him personally please read below.

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 Savior 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 read this prayer and believed in your heart, then congratulations!

(Luke 15:7) says that when one sinner accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Savior 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.

Please take a moment to contact me, I would love to pray with you personally for this wonderful new journey you are on. roblavallee@gmail.com

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

August 9th 2016 – Challenges From the Adversary

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“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:9)

There are many in the world that think life with God is an easy road. After all, you simply come to God and He paves a trouble-free path all the way up to the streets of gold. While there is a peace and joy that comes with following Jesus, the road is not easy. In fact, as you step out to serve the Lord, you will find many challenges along the way.

* When you step out to serve God, you will be challenged.

* When you step out to give, you will be challenged.

* When you step out to love, you will be challenged.

The enemy of God desires nothing more than to stop us in our tracks. If our lives are being used to spread the Gospel, then Satan is not happy. Even though this is true, don’t let it slow you down, because with Christ we have the power to overcome.

(1 John 4:4) “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The enemy may try his hardest to sidetrack us and to pull us out of the work God is calling us to, but he is limited in his power. In Jesus, we are not. Even in the midst of enemies, trust in the greatest Friend you could ever have… His name is Jesus.

“Spiritual opportunities and spiritual adversaries often go together. You shouldn’t run from adversity.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins and the power that is available through Jesus. Help me to see adversities as stepping stones to Your plan for my life. Give me the strength to endure the tough times and spiritual battles so that I can be used to reach others with the Gospel. 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