Category Archives: General Devotions

August 27th 2019 – My Ultimate Expression Of My Love For You.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 )

It is one thing to say the words “I love you”, and it is quite another thing to prove your love. God did not only say that He loved us, He practically demonstrated it by sending us His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

While we all need an intellectual understanding of God’s love, many of us struggle to actually feel God’s love in the realm of our emotions. And if we don’t “feel” His love, we can spiral down to a place ruled by our emotions where we begin to question if He loves us at all.

It is at these times that we need to be reminded of God’s own definition of love found in 1 John 4:10… This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Father did everything that He could possibly do to prove His unwavering love towards us when He sent us Jesus.

When we struggle to believe that God loves us, we need not go any farther than the cross to see the full expression of His love. When your feelings question God’s love for you, let faith rise up in your heart and thank your Father for His complete expression of love demonstrated in the work of the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“It’s easy to give our love to other things and people when we don’t understand how deeply God loves us and wants us as His own.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your sacrifice of your Son Jesus, it was the ultimate expression of Your love for us. Please forgive us for the times when we have questioned your love for us. I believe that You love us and have demonstrated that love once and for all through the cross. I pray that the truth of Your love for us will be the bedrock of my faith even during the times when I don’t feel loved. In the name of Your beloved Son Jesus I pray,

Interested in experiencing Gods ultimate love for you?  Click Here 

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 26th 2019 – In His Image

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. “(Genesis 1:27)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. While all that He made was good, something deep in His heart was not yet satisfied. So on the 6th day, God created man in His own image.

We read in Genesis 2:7 that He breathed into man’s nostrils the breathe of life.

How close must God have been to Adam, to actually breathe into His nostrils? What a tender moment that must have been, as Adam took his first breathe, opened up his eyes only to see the loving gaze of his Father calling him to life. We are not gods, nor will we ever be gods, but we were made in the image of our Creator. Within each person, there lies a divine DNA imprint that comes from God alone.

We are God’s children and we have been created to reflect His image. When I look at my own children, I can see a little of myself in each one of them. It brings me great joy to see a part of me reflected in them. What joy it must bring to the Father’s heart, when He can see His own likeness being mirrored in us.

Jesus was the exact representation of His Father (Hebrews 1:3) and came to show us what His Father was really like. We have the privilege of having the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in our mortal bodies too! What character traits of Father do you have in your life? Do you have His smile? His touch? His laugh? The next time you look in a mirror, look for the Father in your reflection, for He created you in His own image.

“I am beautiful because God made me in His image”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You that I was created in Your image. Help me to see the reflection of Your beauty in my life. Thank You for sustaining me by Your divine DNA imprint in my life. May Your likeness, and the likeness of your Son, be reflected in all that I am, and all that I do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

If you have not asked Jesus into your life and experienced His Amazing Grace. Please Click Here to ask Jesus to be your Lord and savior.

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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 24th 2019 – Comfort for a Broken Heart

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

The image of heartbreak describing the devastating emotional pain of a broken heart transcends culture and is expressed in the same way in almost every language.  We feel the pain of grief, and separation deeply at the core of our soul. Ofter accompanied bybetrayal. It feels as if our heart really is breaking – because of course, it really is.

The right word at the right time can help us when we need comfort in our suffering. Here are 11 additional Bible verses with words that have the power to give that comfort.

1. (Job 5:11) “The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.”

2. (Psalm 27:13-14) “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

3. (Isaiah 41:10) “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

4. (John 16:33) “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

5. (Romans 8:28) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

6. (Romans 8: 37-38) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

7. (Romans 15:13) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

8. (2 Corinthians 1:3) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

9. (Philippians 4:6) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

10. (Hebrews 13:5) “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

11. (Jeremiah 29:11) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God understands this experience because he himself has lived through a broken heart.  God has been a  lover. Through his love for us, he has endured unfaithfulness and desertion. God understands our loneliness and identifies with us. We can talk to him about this experience and ask him for help at our deepest point of despair – because he’s been there himself!

“Our tears are the words our hearts can’t express.”

A prayer for those who have suffered a broken heart.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You care deeply for us,  I stand firm on Your promise that You are close to the broken-hearted.  I pray for all those who are crippled by broken relationships with their children. I pray for those that are experiancing the break-up of a marriage.  Or a loss due to death. Our hearts take the blow of disappointment.  We feel crushed because our hopes are and dreams become shattered.  God, heal our broken hearts.  We cannot fix our own wounds.  But you can.  If pieces of our heart have been lost, or are held captive by another, recover them and bring them back to us and miraculously “put us back together” so that our heart is whole again.  You are a mender of broken hearts. I ask for this miracle, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have not asked Jesus into your life and experienced His Amazing Grace. Please Click Here to ask Jesus to be your Lord and savior.

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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 23rd 2019 – Follow the Leader, Imitate Christ

“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 all need spiritual Christian leaders and mentors, 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 20th 2019 – Brand New Day

“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)

I once heard a story about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After a lengthy examination, the doctor said that a risky operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve could be severed, causing total blindness.

The surgeon asked, “So, which would you rather have, your sight or your memory?” The man pondered the question for a while and replied, “My sight, because I would rather see where I am going than remember where I have been.”

Our enemy is always trying to dig up the past and keep us all bound up in our failures. Instead of focusing on what was, lets see what God’s Word has to say about it.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Four Things You Must Do For a Fresh Start to Occur:

(1) Forget the former things. It will only weigh you down and keep you from where you are going.

(2) Do not dwell on the past. This just jumbles your mind with garbage. There’s no room for garbage when making a fresh start.

(3) Acknowledge the fresh start is a gift from God. He’s doing a new thing in you. “Do you not perceive it,” we are asked. Don’t miss it.Trust God. He’s making a new way for you. Haven’t you done it your way enough?

(4) Trust Him. Not for a quick fix, but in making a “new way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Be Encouraged! Today is a new day! Today and every day we have a choice to make! Like Paul, we must choose to press forward and put aside our past. We must purpose to keep our eyes on the Lord, not on our successes or failures, but upon on what can we do for Him today!

“Celebrate the new day with shouts of praise, love and grace and with a beautiful smile upon your face.”

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. We place today in Your hands and trust You to direct my day until I place my head back onto our pillows to sleep.. Thank you for Your presence in my life. I love You. Thank You for my family and my friends.  In Jesus’ precious and glorious name I pray, Amen.

Trying to face a life without Jesus will get very overwhelming.  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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 19th 2019 – Jesus Paid the Price, Come to Jesus and be Free!

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Receive the gift from the captives-from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon-and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.” (Zechariah 6:9-10)

Whether we realize it or not, we have all been captives at one point or another. In fact, many still are. This doesn’t mean that we are prisoners of war or slaves to some regime, but rather we are all born as slaves to our own sin.

“Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34-35)

Being a slave to sin is dangerous because many times those who are in chains do not realize it, and in some cases they even love their captivity. This self-deception leads to a life of pain and heartache – but there is hope. Jesus Christ came into this world to proclaim freedom to those who are captive to sin. As He took His last breathe on the cross, the chains of sin that held so many down were rendered powerless. Now, if we would simply come to Jesus seeking His forgiveness and the freedom He offers, He will give us the key to unlock our chains and the power to live an abundant life.

“God desires to free you from your sin and give you an abundant life.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I know that I have been held captive by my sins. Father, forgive me of all these things and release me from my chains. I believe that Jesus is the key to freedom, and I trust in His payment for my sins on the cross. Fill me with Your Spirit and use me to share the key to freedom with others. Please set me free from the Slavery of Sin. 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.

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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 18th 2019 – Search and Rescue

“And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.” (2 Corinthians 1:10)

Often when we are walking in the midst of a suffering, we may believe that God will rescue us, but it’s still difficult to fully trust Him. As we read the verse above, it’s almost like God knew we would struggle to trust Him and so He makes sure to emphasize His ability to rescue. In 2 Corinthians 1:10, Paul writes of rescue three times:

  • Did Rescue
  • Will Rescue
  • Will Continue to Rescue

You see, God’s plan is not to leave us in the middle of pain and hardship forever. He won’t allow us to walk into a dark valley and then leave us there to wander aimlessly without end. The truth is, HE WILL RESCUE. In fact, even if we were to walk in suffering the rest of our lives, we can know as a follower of Christ that He will rescue when He comes again. When we realize this, we don’t really need to know why He is doing it, but only that we can trust He is in control and will be with us until the end. Whatever door He opens or whatever door He closes, we can trust Him. He is good, all the time.

“Our faith is really growing when we don’t know what God is doing, and we still trust Him.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love that is so great that You would rescue me in my times of need. I also thank You for using my hard times for my benefit. Help me not to despair in difficult times but rather to rejoice because I know that my rescue is on the way. 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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 17th 2019 – Decisions

“And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 21:6)

Our lives are full of decisions. From small ones, like what we have for dinner, to large ones like who we marry. No matter their size, they all impact our life somehow. In 2 Chronicles 21, Jehoram begins his rule of Judah by killing off his family and leading the nation into sin. This was not a decision that happened in a moment but probably was a result of a close relationship with a family known for their evil deeds. In essence, his bad decision to marry into Ahab’s family led to even worse decisions later.

All of us have big decisions to make, but none are more important than what we decide about Jesus. If you do not have a relationship with Christ, then you have to decide whether you will trust in Him for your forgiveness. If you have already been born-again, then you must decide if you are going to obey His commands. These decisions will impact our lives for a long time to come, even into eternity. So how do we make sure we are making wise decisions? We can read God’s Word. When we read the Bible and apply what it says, we’ll find ourselves making godly decisions that will impact our life and the lives of those all around us.

“We miss out on blessings and we inherit troubles when we disregard God and His Word.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word and the guidance it provides. Help me to make wise choices no matter the size. So that I can experience a life with Your blessings. I don’t want to live that life that life of pain and sufferin. Protect me and guard my mind and flesh from the enemy. Keep me focused and in Your word so that I can make good decisions when I don’t take time to seek your guidance in prayer. Grow me in  wisdom from you and fill me with Your Holy Spirit daily so that I can impact this world for Your Kingdom. 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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

August 16th 2019 – Celebrate Your Uniqueness

“I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19)

If you found yourself on trial as a Christian, would they have enough evidence to convict you? This important question is good for us to ask because it causes us to assess our walk with the Lord. While this is helpful, be careful not to fall into the trap believing that all Christians look the same.

When we have trusted in Jesus for salvation, experienced His Love and blessings in our lives. We should want to share that with others. Look around you. Is there someone hurting or in need of God’s Truth? What are your skills or spiritual gifts? Are you using them for the glory of God? You see, each of us is created to glorify God, but we all do that in different ways. Each of us is at a different level in our Christian walk, but we are all walking with the same person, “Jesus”. So this morning, look at your life and ask God to show you how you can share His love and His message in a way that only you can. He’s saved you. He’s equipped you with your unique ability to relate with others.

“Celebrate your uniqueness in the Lord.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating me the way that You have. Each aspect of me is part of Your creative Spirit. I pray that You show me how I can use my gifts for Your glory and for the furthering of the Gospel. Help me to walk outside my door and be ready to engage those around me for Your purpose. 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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 15th 2019 – “The Reminder”

“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

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

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. Give me a desire to share Jesus with everyone even though it may lead to persecution. Help me to be bold yet loving as I share the Good News of the Gospel with such a hurting and lost 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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org