Category Archives: General Devotions

July 21st 2018 – Know Jesus Personally

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.. (Psalm 18:1-3)

In Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus describes an evil unclean spirit that leaves a man and wanders for a time looking for a place to go. The evil spirit returns to the man for lodging and finds the house unoccupied, swept, and put in order. The spirit then brings in seven other spirits more evil than itself. It’s very important to understand we can be following good biblical morals have a ‘clean house’ so to speak and not have Jesus in our midst personally. This leaves us in a dangerous place. Here in Psalm 18 David writes to God;

You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, my shield, my salvation, and my stronghold. Do you know that He is yours and that you are His?

When we submit to God, because we are His, the enemy will flee (James 4:7). It’s mission critical for our hearts and lives to be personally connected to Jesus Christ. When we know Him in our hearts and lives, by His Grace, when the arrows of the enemy are pointing at us we can say “He is MY shield that protects me”. When the enemy gets me unsettled “He is MY fortress with high walls, ditches, and moats where I can safely hide.” When the enemy seems to outnumber me and overwhelm me “He is MY deliverer that rescues me, destroys the enemy, and makes a path and a way for me to escape.”

The Lord, through His death on the cross, defeated not only death, but also all principalities and powers that try to wreak havoc in this world against humanity. If you haven’t made your relationship to God personal do it now! If you have strayed draw close to Him and He will draw near to you. You are loved! No matter what we face, however the enemy attacks our family, fellowship, or workplace we know where our victory comes from. With this knowledge we can harbor a love, joy, and peace that passes understanding in our hearts and lives through Christ.

“You have got to make your relationship with God personal.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I’ve tried to make things right in my heart and in my relationship with You and others, but I realize I can’t do that, only You can. Please forgive me of my sin Lord. I trust that Your death, burial, and resurrection is the only thing sufficient for me to have a relationship with You. Please fill be with the power of Your Spirit that I might trust in You all the days of my life. 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

July 19th 2018 – Jesus, Our Intercessor

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“Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?” (Zachariah 1:12)

In the book of Zechariah, God pulls back the veil as the prophet records a vision he receives from the Lord. In this image, we see the pre-incarnate Christ atop a horse in the midst of myrtle trees. This alone would be a wonderful sight to behold but what happens next is amazing! You see, as Christ is amidst the myrtles, He begins interceding on behalf of Israel. He cries out to God the Father asking for His mercy. What an amazing picture of grace. The people of Israel, with no voice of their own, see their Messiah speaking on their behalf. This amazing interaction still occurs to this day.

(Hebrews 7:25) “Therefore he (Jesus) is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

As we trust in Christ for forgiveness, we don’t just receive a one time stamp and then get tossed to the side to fend for ourselves. No, our King stands before the Father interceding for us. While Satan may try and accuse us, our Lord Jesus stands between him and the Father and proclaims us forgiven. What an amazing Gospel. What an amazing Lord.

“You have a great intercessor and His name is Jesus.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I praise You now because of what Jesus has done. Because He went to the cross, died and was raised again, I can have forgiveness of sins. And because of His intercession, I know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Armed with this Truth, may I be used to share the Gospel with others so they may know the amazing love of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen

If you have never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, 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 lifeYou 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.

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. 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

July 18th 2018 – Unity and Love

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“Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!” (2 Corinthians 10:12)

Sometimes, we all are not going to get along. This is one of the realities of living among broken people. Even in the church, we will have different opinions about how or why things are done. In 2 Corinthians 10, we find the apostle Paul, who happens to be writing parts of the Bible, being criticized for his letters. Rather than celebrate the Words of Truth that Paul was sharing, some people took the opportunity to question Paul’s authority.

Now, imagine if all that energy used to bring Paul down was used to bring Paul and others up. How many more lives would have been changed because of that unity and love? God uses our bond of love as believers to minister to those outside the church. When the world sees people love each other without condition, they begin desiring that love. When the world sees people forgive one another, no matter the situation, they begin craving that forgiveness. This is the power of our unity as believers. When we love in the middle of our disagreements or misunderstandings, we shine a floodlight in the middle of a dark world.

“The more you love in the middle of the battle, the brighter you shine in the midst of a dark world.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for those You have placed around me. Help me to walk in unity with my family and my church. Fill me with Your love so that I can love others. Help me understand Your forgiveness so that I can better forgive others. 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

July 17th 2018 – Distracted and Drawn Away

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The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. (1 Kings 11:2-3)

When Solomon dedicated the first temple in Jerusalem, he prayed, “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors” (1 Kings 8:57-58).

That sounded great. But there was just one problem. Solomon was not doing that himself. Before the temple was built, the people would offer their sacrifices to God on pagan altars. Solomon did this, too, all the while saying that he loved the Lord. Solomon was married to an Egyptian who worshipped false gods, so he worshipped false gods as well.

Did Solomon cause her to worship the true and living God? No. But she persuaded him to worship at pagan altars. That is why the Bible warns us, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

That is what happened to Solomon. One thing led to another, and things went from bad to worse. Solomon also had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Not only was this wrong morally, but it caused him to turn to other gods these women worshipped.

Maybe as a Christian you are attracted to some of the things the Bible has told you to steer clear of. You are like a moth drawn to the light. Learn the lesson of Solomon, who did it all and reaped the consequences.

“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 pushed aside because of the distractions and disobedience, 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

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

July 16th 2018 – According To The Spirit

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“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)

No man has ever been a better example of righteous living than Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect, sinless life. He was giving, loving, caring, serving and passionate about saving people. He was selfless in every action and relentless in pursuit of His goal.

In John 15:13 Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” When you place the wants and needs of others before your own wants and needs you lay down your life for them. Serving others is serving God.

We should be following Jesus’ example. Is that example too lofty for us? No, it is not! Once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He starts His work in you. Through the power of the Spirit, you can rise above the flesh. You can be the example of Jesus in the lives of everyone around you.

“You are never left alone when you alone with God”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your selfless gift of dying for my sins. Thank You that I do not have to be a slave to sin, but can be a bondservant of righteousness through You. Please forgive me for my sins and give me the power to live for You. Heal me of my illness, my human condition. Help me to grow in You through fellowship, study, prayer and by loving and serving others. Send people into my life that will love me and encourage me in a way that I have never experienced before. Please fill me with Your love and passion for people. Help me to place the wants and needs of others before my own. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can show the love of Jesus to those around me. Break off any lables and titles that the world has placed on me. I invite You into my life with absolute surender and obedience. I love You Jesus! In Your heavenly 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

July 14th 2018 – He is Faithful

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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

In Matthew 11 John the Baptist is in prison and sends disciples to ask Jesus “Are You the Coming one?” John the Baptist earlier had declared to crowds “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) But now he’s in prison questioning his circumstances and Jesus’ ministry.

Have you ever had that experience? Perhaps you have been in a dark and difficult prison of sorts wondering and questioning the Lord and His will for your life. Jesus reminds John of the work God has done through Him (Matthew 11:4-6). If you have been in those moments it’s key to turn to the Lord and see all the good work God has done in your life. Seek the Lord and think through the good, true, pure, and lovely things in our life that the Lord has done. Even when we are in moments when we feel faithless, He is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). We can rest in all that the Lord had done and is doing in our midst.

“We are loved by the Father and that love will never change”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father , I thank you that when I’m falling short in my mind, not understanding You or Your working in my life, that You still graciously see me through those moments. Please help me not forget Your wonderful works in my life. Help me continue to trust You to lead me no matter what season I’m in. 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

July 13th 2018 – Don’t Compromise

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“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

It seems today that it’s open season on Christians. People attack us as intolerant, Bible-thumping bigots. Because we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we are dismissed as simple-minded fools.

What are we to do? We should keep praying. We should keep preaching. And we should keep living the Christian life and not compromise our principles.

It’s interesting to note that when Daniel was attacked for his faith, he didn’t change a thing. As a Jew living in a foreign country, his custom was to open his windows, face Jerusalem, and call upon the name of the Lord. It was a habit of prayer. From the time that he was a young man, he always took time to pray. He established that grid in his life, and even in his nineties, he was still praying.

But Daniel’s enemies had set a trap for him. They convinced the king to sign a decree that made it illegal for him to continue his daily practice of prayer. Yet for Daniel, to not pray would be a compromise.

There are certain things in life that you won’t feel comfortable doing. Listen to what God’s Spirit is saying to you, and don’t compromise. Don’t deny Him. Sometimes to not confess Him when the occasion arises is to deny Him. An unbeliver may say something like this to a Christian, “I have been watching you. You’re different. What is it about you? Where do you get your value system? Why are you happy all the time?”

I have heard Christian’s say things in response like this, “Oh, I was brought up well. It’s just my way. You may choose to live differently. I don’t want to push my beliefs on you.”

No, tell them it’s because of Jesus Christ and the change He has made in your life. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

“Don’t Compromise, Stand for Christ!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You your forgiveness of my sins and for saving my life. Thank You for inviting me to be part of this great adventure of following You. Thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Lord, I pray that You use them for Your Kingdom. Help me to get rid of any selfishness and to put others first. Keep me from ever not sharing the real reason why others may see me as different, for why I may glow with happiness and have values that are not of the world. The real reason is because of You Lord! Thank you for changing my life! 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

July 12th 2018 – Unhindered

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“If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:12)

Paul had given up everything for the sake of the Gospel. He had been imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked and snake-bit, but he still remained steadfast in declaring Christ crucified. Even in his letter to the church of Corinth, we see a man who is willing to continue the race even if all support falls out from underneath him. How could he do this? Simple. He knew the God He served.

When we step out in obedience to God, we don’t always know what may happen next. He may lead us to share the Gospel with someone even though we don’t know how they will respond. Sometimes, we may give to our church while not knowing how it will affect our budget for the week. Whatever the situation, there is one unchanging element – God. He is still the same God who provided for Paul despite the lack of those who gave. He’s still the same God who protected Paul while adrift at sea. He is the same God who gave His own Son to die for our sins in the ultimate act of love. Listen closely, because He is God, we can step out in faith and experience a life like no other. Because He is God, we have the freedom to serve Him with all our hearts.

“When we give our lives to God, only then do we discover maximum freedom.”

Prayer:

Heavenly father, Thank You for all that You have done for me. Thank You for Jesus and the gift of salvation. Lord, because of that gift, I am now free to serve You with all my heart and soul. Remove the fear and doubt in my mind. Help me to give all of my life to You and use me for the work of 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

July 9th 2018 – Earthly Vessels of God’s Grace

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Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)

Jesus desires to give living water. After all of our mistakes and all of our failures, He still desires to give mankind eternal life. He wants to give it to the atheists and those who defraud and defame His glorious name. He wants to give it to those who try to silence the good news by false interpretations of church and state. He wants to give it to Muslims, New Age groups and those who practice Witchcraft and Wicca. Even the ones who say He was married to Mary Magdalene. If only they would ask for it.

He gave it to a woman with a sordid past. He gives it to those who do not deserve it. He gave it to you and to me. Now Jesus wants to use us as earthen vessels to distribute this ‘living water’ into a world that is dying of thirst.

“We should be vessels for God’s grace to others.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the grace You have so abundantly heaped onto my head. I want to be established each morning in Your new mercies, and I am ever dependent on Your grace and love. Let me be a light of Your grace to all who I come across today. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen

Seeking God’s Grace?

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)

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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

July 8th 2018 – The Truth Shines Bright

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“The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” (Psalm 119:160)

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

The word of God is so very important! I encourage you to read your Bible every day, asking God to reveal Himself to you as the light of His word shines on your heart. The complete Bible, from the Old the New Testament speaks to us of Jesus. To understand God’s plan of redemption, we consider all things in the Old Testament in the light of Jesus and the New Testament writers. The Old Testament points forward in time, preparing the way for the work of Christ which is described in the New Testament. Together they give us the greatest understanding of God’s amazing plan and the enduring truth of His word. “The new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.” I love this quote by Saint Augustine. It highlights the remarkable way the two testaments of the Bible are so closely interrelated with each other.

God says in His word that when we seek Him we will find Him when we search for Him with all of our heart.

Do you need more of God’s light and love and strength and joy in your life? Dig into your Bible and seek Him with your whole heart. He will show you things you’ve never seen before and enlighten and renew your mind.

“The new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your word and the wonderful way You reveal Yourself to me in it. I want to know You more and love You more. Please help me commit my heart to seek You and grow in my understanding of who You are and how much You love 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

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