Category Archives: General Devotions

December 23rd 2019 – Pathway of Life

“And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.” (1 Corinthians 16:10)

Every person who has ever lived has faced difficult decisions. Some decisions were very obvious while others were not. For those of us who are following Christ, we have a great resource for making decisions. This resource comes through the relationship we have with Jesus. Through His Word and the direction of His Spirit, we are better equipped to walk down the path He desires for us. We can trust the path because He is leading us and loves us, even when the path gets hard.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

So how do we go about seeking the path God desires for us? First, we need to know God’s Word. As we read His Word, we will be able to understand God’s guidelines and promises. These will help guide our steps. In those moments where we are unsure, we should seek godly counsel as well as pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in discerning where next to step. Finally, we step out in faith, trusting our Lord who is able to help us along the way. When we trip and fall, God’s grace is there to catch us. When we face an obstacle, His strength will help us overcome. When we finally reach our destination, He will personally usher us into His presence. This is the promise we have in Jesus.

“God will direct our footsteps as we listen to Him and trust Him.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for Your guiding hand. Not only have You forgiven me of my sins, but You are involved in the details of my life and desire to lead me every day. Lord, help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit and knowledgeable of Your Word so that I will make wise decisions. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lost your way? Looking for meaning and direction? I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He loves us and wants to help us. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 22nd 2019 – The Secret of Encouragement

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“Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too.” (Galatians 2:1)

In the beginning of Paul’s journey, he had a special assistant in the Lord’s work. This man was important to Paul for many reasons, but I believe the most important reason is found in the name of this godly helper. His name was Barnabas and his name means “son of encouragement”. As Paul faced long roads, strange places and hostile people, Barnabas was there to encourage him. Even today, you may find yourself saying, “I need encouragement.” To that I would ask, “Are you always seeking out encouragement for yourself or are you giving more and more encouragement to others?”

That is the secret to encouragement. If you want to be encouraged then be encouraging! If you are always needing encouragement, something is out of balance. By encouraging others, you become more aware of what is going on around you rather than to you. When you learn to encourage others, you will learn how to encourage yourself.

Try it today. Find someone and encourage them. You’ll find that there is great joy in being a Barnabas for someone else.

“We should seek to encourage others more.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the encouragement I can find in Your Word. I pray that You would help me to be an encourager to someone today. Help me show the love of God by passing along a joyful heart. Thank you for encouraging me when I tend to want to give up or figure things out in my own reasoning. Help me to remain obedient, faithful, and filled with Your Spirit to lead, guide and direct me in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dont know Jesus? I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He loves us and wants to help us. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 20th 2019 – Placing Our Trust in the God

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“Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria:”What confidence is this in which you trust?” (2 Kings 18:19)

It is very easy to begin trusting in the ‘things’ of this world because of the subtle way they steal our attention away from God. It is because of this subtle infiltration of worldly things that every Christian should take the time to evaluate themselves. Is there something that you give a larger role in your life than God? Has your focus become a kaleidoscope of ‘things’ preventing you from clearly focusing on serving God? If so, you had better confess to God and turn your gaze toward Him before the subtle deception of accumulation leaves you trusting in the stuff instead of God. Otherwise, there will come a day when you will find yourself spiritually and possibly physically famished.

If I were to ask you individually, most of you would very quickly say that you trust God but there are times when trust is not so simple. Trusting God means we believe in that which we cannot see and sometimes may not understand.

Trusting God is literally against our human nature. Trusting God means that we have to admit that we are not in control of our lives.

We place our trust in something or someone every day. We trust our cars to get us to our destination. We trust our employers to deliver paychecks. We trust our doctors to heal our illnesses. How much more should we trust God?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled; trust in God, trust also in me.” (John 14:1)

“We should know who or what we are trusting in. We should trust in the Lord alone.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,Thank You for Your Love. Lord, forgive me for the times I have placed my focus on the ‘things’ in my life rather than You. Give me the discernment and wisdom to see the deception in the things of this world and keep my eyes fixed upon You. I surrender everything to You. In Jesus name, Amen

Do trust Jesus enough with your life? You should, Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He loves us and wants to help us. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 19th 2019 – New Beginnings

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“The earth is full of his unfailing love.” (Psalm 33:5)

New beginnings often give us a sense of hope and joy. Newly married couples radiate happiness on their wedding day. Choosing a new place to live is often an exciting adventure. There’s a certain energy that accompanies the start of a new job. As we are are celebrating the season of Christmas and the new year approaching fast, keep in mind that God designed creation to give us a similar sense of hope and joy. Before sin entered the world, creation radiated God’s justice, faithfulness, and love. God’s word, by which the heavens and the earth were created, gave structure and meaning to all created things.

At times, we still catch glimpses of this beauty and joy in creation. We marvel at the majestic views of a beach and ocean. We watch the sun set over the water. We wonder at the complex patterns of frost etched on our window panes. We admire the fresh snow blanketing trees in the winter. And when spring comes, we are delighted with the first blade of grass or the first blooming flower.

Too often, though, in our hurry through life we miss the creative majesty of God at work. What’s new soon becomes old, and we feel no reason to offer praise or even take notice. As you enter this new year, ask God to help you instead to observe something new each day about his unfailing love in creation.

“Don’t hurry through life we miss God’s creative majesty at work.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, the stars and the seas declare Your goodness and love. By your Holy Spirit, help us do the same. Open my heart and my eyes to see You Lord while observing creation all around me. Also Lord, help me to begin to have hopeand dreams again. Help me to begin to seek You deeper then ever before. Help me to begin to love others deeper then ever before. Thank You for my family and my friends. May I never forget that in each day comes a new beginning. In Jesus’ precious and glorious name I pray, 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

December 18th 2019 – Let There Be Light

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“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

In the beginning God spoke into the darkness and created the light. This light was the beginning of a new world. Like our world, we all begin in darkness because of our sinful nature. As the holidays are approaching we need to remember to have an attitude greatfulness and thanksgiving and truly be excited because the Light of God himself has come into our darkness. Two thousand years ago in a stable in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ came in the form of man. He, who had created light in the beginning of time, was now on our earth as a light to men.

What great news! The Lord of all creation has come to bring light and life to men. As we give our lives to Jesus, He speaks into our lives and light bursts forth in brilliant beams. This light transforms us from the inside and we are made new. As you celebrate with family and friends this upcoming season, look at all the lights around you and remember ‘The Light’ of the world. As you do that, remember that He has come to make us lights to this world as well. What an honor, to be given the Light of God to share with others who are in darkness. Surely, this is what the holiday season is all about.

“Shine as bright lights that illuminate the darkness.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the light given to men through Your Son, Jesus. Father, forgive me of my sins and fill me with Your light so that I may share You with this dark world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living in the dark? Looking for meaning and direction? I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He loves us and wants to help us. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 17th 2019 – Shut The Door, Were You Born In A Barn?

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“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

“Were you born in a barn?” Usally told to us as children because we didnt shut the door. That question was usually asked to question not only someone’s family, but their upbringing, their heritage. It’s a question of guilt, a painful question. But the question really leads us to, literally to Greatest Story ever told–a story of the world’s one and only perfect leader who entered the world amidst power hungry political leaders, a corrupt government system and a religious group of people. Not just a king, but the King of kings, who left His throne with singing angels, who left Heaven, light, love and glory to be born in a manger, a barn.

“Our Savior, our King of Kings, Our Jesus, was born in a barn.”

If Jesus came to earth with nothing so that we could have everything, wouldn’t it make sense to follow Him? If Jesus is truly God in the flesh, shouldn’t we be willing to give our everything for Him? Jesus was not born in a manger so that we would have a reason to go to church a couple times a year. Jesus was born in a manger to show us that God is with us. This same Jesus would later die on the cross so that we could have eternal life. This same Jesus also calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. He is not simply interested in changing our holiday routine; He desires to radically change our life. Are you ready?

“Jesus came not to change your schedule or to change one day a year. He came to change your life.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ. He came in poverty so that I could relate to Him. He lived a perfect life because I am not able to, and He died on the cross so that I could be forgiven. Help me to remember all these things this Christmas. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can share the good news of Your coming with everyone I meet! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Don’t wait! In a flash of a second it could be too late!” Click Here to read Four Simple Steps to Jesus.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 15th 2019 – Making Room For Jesus

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“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

It is the season where we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; when God became Man. His reception was not a glorious one by any standard. Our Lord and Savior, the Creator of the universe, was born in a barn and lain in a feeding trough because there was no room for Him in the inn. Before we judge the people of that day for not making room for Him, ask yourself, are you making room for Him? Are you making time to spend with Him, time for fellowship with others who know Him, to worship Him and to learn of Him from the bible? Or is there a sign written on your heart and life that says ‘no room’. My prayer for you in the busyness of this Christmas season and in the coming year is that you would make room for Him in your life and in your heart.

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus..”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us so much that You would come as one of us, not in ritual and splendor even though You could have, but You came in simplicity and humility. Lord, if there is any way that I have failed to make room for You in my heart and life, I ask You to forgive me and to show me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

Salvation is a gift from God that will enable you to spend eternity in Heaven. To receive this gift, you need to accept Christ into your life by confessing with your mouth, a prayer of salvation. You must also repent and turn away from your sins and begin living a life that is pleasing to God. If you feel you have done too many bad things for God to forgive you, you are wrong. Jesus died a brutal death on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Whether you are old or young, rich or poor, a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a murder and so on, if you truly repent with a sincere heart and accept Jesus, YOU WILL BE SAVED…. Say a Prayer of Salvation & Ask Jesus Into Your Heart Now!

“Heavenly Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

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

Interested in experiencing forgiveness and love found in Jesus? Please click here to learn more about how to ask Jesus into your heart. 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 14th 2019 – Christmas Grace

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“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11)

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh…these were the first Christmas gifts ever. These three things were precious and valuable. But more precious to God were the three people who fell in worship of Him.

Growning up for me was very lonely, I didnt have any family other then my parents, I didnt have siblings to play with either. My father didn’t enjoy being around people so even having friends over was very scarce.

It wasn’t until I had my own family and children before I started trying to enjoy Christmas. I do have fond memories raising my children with trees, carols, wreaths, lights, feasting and the joy of family and friends gathered together. However I didnt really understand what Christmas was all about. I only understood the secular view…Santa Clause and television shows and commercials teaching children greed and selfish gain.

My parent’s never discussed Jesus when I was a child, mostly because neither of them knew Him themselves. It was not until I endured a life changing tragedy, and only at that time did I come to know Jesus personally.

I do understand Christmas now, its not what the world teaches. Its not all about gifts and trees with lights. Its not even about my desires or wants. Its a celebration of Jesus birth.

God wants us to enjoy this season and He wants to bless us with good things, including His GRACE – God’s – Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Do you know what God desires? His desire is for your heart. Christmas is an opportunity. Not an opportunity for selfish gain, but an opportunity to give God the gift He desires. Maybe you gave your heart to Jesus years ago and have wandered away. Maybe you’ve never given your heart to God at all.

As we celebrate Jesus giving Himself to us, won’t you take the opportunity to give yourself to Jesus?

“You are precious to God.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me so much. Thank You that You would leave heaven to come, suffer and die for me. You are such a precious gift. I have neglected the gift that You gave and I am sorry. Lord, I have been blessed by You. Thank You for Your incredible plan for my salvation. I give all of my life to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Interested in experiencing forgiveness and love found in Jesus? Please click here to learn more about how to ask Jesus into your heart. 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 13th 2019 – Angry With God?

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“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” (Psalm 139:1-4)

As human beings, we get angry. We get angry with our family, we get angry with our friends, and sometimes we even get angry with our God.

There are times that I’ve been really angry at God. But honestly, I believe this anger has been brewing deep down inside for a very long time. As a matter of fact, this type of anger I was feeling is actually generational.

Everyday I would find myself asking God why things are the way they are. I ask myself, why must I face such trials and overwhelming opposition day after day as Christian. Unsurprisingly, I even felt like my anger was causing my relationship with God to be strained. The real reason is because I had stopped turning to God in these areas. Too many times I have prayed and asked for help, asked for peace. But day after day I felt like I was beat down by one obstical after another.

I did not want to read my Bible, I did not feel like going to church, and worst of all, I had stopped praying or asking God for help.

It’s true that when we are angry with someone, we tend to give them the silent treatment to let them know that we are still angry. However, God already knows that we’re angry!

He knows how angry we are, and He knows why we’re angry. And you know what? We need to talk to God the most when we’re angry. That’s when we need to feel His presence, and read His word, and know His perfect love for us!

You can be 100% real with God. Actually, you really have no choice. God already knows your heart. It’s okay to say, “Oh Lord, I’m so angry right now! I don’t understand why (insert reason for being angry). Oh Lord, I feel like You’ve forsaken me. Oh Lord, I need You more than ever right now.”

Lastly, when you’re angry, remember that God loves you so much! He died for you. Everyday, He is working miracles in your life; even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Lay your heart before God today and ask Him to take your anger. Push deeper into Him instead of farther from Him

“Lay your anger down at the foot of the cross, Jesus can handle it”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for my sins and remove this deep rooted anger that I have kept deep in my heart. In my daily struggles and continuous opposition from the enemy I started blaming You Lord. Asking myself why You don’t make life easier for me. My life is hard, always has been. I ask humbly to help me remove the deep rooted pain, the dissapointments. Please show me these things so that I can give them over to You. Help me rebuild my dreams again, I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have you ever received Jesus as you Lord and Savior? If you do not know Him personally, I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Jesus loves us and wants to help us through the storms. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 12th 2019 – Temptations

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“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

There it is, staring you down. It grabs hold of your attention and captivates your thoughts. It appears so harmless but in the end, it can be deadly. It is called temptation, and every one of us has to face it. The good news is that if you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you don’t have to face it alone. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be freed of our bondage to sin while also finding strength to resist it through God’s Spirit. What an encouraging thought. When faced with temptation, the God of all creation provides a way out, the path to escape or the strength to bear it.

“When you pause at the threshold of sin, turn away rather than stepping across it.”

Unfortunately, this does not mean we always take that way of escape. Like someone staring at a bag of chocolates. often we stand gazing into temptation and wonder why we were not able to resist. In those moments when we fail, we can come to God and experience His forgiveness and grace all over again. This is the beauty of the Gospel. Yes, we must resist sin and flee from temptation but when we do fall short, we have a loving God who desires to forgive.

“When Tempted, God will always show you a way out. “

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. I know that I have done wrong and have sinned against You. Father, please forgive me and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can fight temptation. Lord, when I find myself in a tempting situation, open my eyes to the way out so that I can escape. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

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