Tag Archives: Christian devotions

June 29th 2019 – Look to Jesus and Believe

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“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

There is this old hymn (song) we used to sing in the first church I attended. It went like this:  “Look to Jesus and believe, look to Jesus and receive”.  Isn’t that the truth?  When we look to Jesus, believing, He seems to get everything put together for us. I sure want my life to be a reflection of Him. The way that I see a reflection is by looking into a mirror.

This verse is saying to us to look to Jesus, He is the One that began this work in us, and He is the One that will bring it to completion. The bible says it like this, “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”.  I like that.  What I have to do is fix my eyes on Him, and He will do the rest.  He started this work in my life years ago.  For some of you it could be many years, or just a few days, but it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that He is going to do a perfect work within us.

I always say it like this, “it’s all about Jesus.”  When I get me out of the way, and let Him be Lord and King of my life, everything just seems to work out.  When I try to make me king in my life, that’s when things just seem to go downhill.  You know, He made us, and He can sure finish this up in us.

So today, be encouraged.  He’s got your life in the palm of His big hand, and He won’t let you down.  He started it, and He will complete it.  Isn’t that great?

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I Love You.'”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Today, I am encouraged, because I see that what You Lord has started in my life, You will bring to completion.  This isn’t about me, it’s about You Jesus in my life and through the Holy Spirit in me, and You cannot fail. In Your precious name, Amen.

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

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 27th 2019 – Truth

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“Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. (Micah 2:1-2)

In the verse above, we see those in power taking advantage of the people. The world believes that it is acceptable to take advantage of others for gain of position or authority. If you are a leader in the the world or workplace, do you take advantage of the system to benefit yourself? Let’s step it down a notch and  make this more personal. Do you take advantage of your family, friends or co-workers for your benefit? When we get to know a person,  we also get to know how to set them off or manipulate them for what we want. That is ungodly and God does not bless the unbiblical practices of deception.

“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)

Even in times when it seems there is no other option but to bend the truth for your benefit, God always provides a way out. Taking responsibility for your actions is an important characteristic of a Godly disciple. God will always honor you when you take responsibility for your mistakes, even when it’s difficult. Live out the Biblical model that God entrusted to you in regards to your relationships even when it doesn’t make sense.

In the end, it comes down to your making a decision about Jesus. How far will you follow Jesus in your relationships? Until it gets inconvenient – uncomfortable – what about when it becomes painful? Are you willing to follow the Biblical model all the way? What will you decide? Gain for yourself or lay your life down for the sake of the Gospel?

“One characteristic of a Godly person is to do what is Biblical even when it causes personal hardship.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for continuing to do a work in my life. You have called me to live a disciple’s life, and I choose to honor You in living out the model You have set before me. Lord, when things get tough and I mess up, empower me with courage and strength to live out Your Truth and encourage others. 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

 

June 26th 2019 – Identity Crisis

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And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Right after this blessed moment of baptism God confirms Jesus identity and announces His pleasure. Shortly after this strong affirmation from God we find Jesus, in (Matthew 4:1-10), being tempted by the enemy after enduring a forty day fast. The enemy immediately challenges what God has spoken by saying ‘if You are the Son of God’.

Understand that the enemy’s first temptation often times is to get us to question our identity in Christ. When we receive God’s gracious, unearned gift of salvation our identity is sealed in the blood of Christ, which defeats the enemy. Could you imagine an 1st grade student coming home with the an ‘F’ on his/her report card and the parent saying “you are no longer my child, change your name and leave my house!” Of course not! Neither does the Lord dismiss you or I when we fail because His love never fails (1Corinthians 13:8).

If you were gardening and you saw a plant that was drooping and bent downward would you uproot the plant trash it and start over? Hopefully not. What a skilled gardener often will do is put a wooden stake in the ground next to it and tie the plant to it, leaving the plant dependent on the wood to grow. This is our life in Christ, leaning not on our own works, but on the grace that God purchased through Jesus Christ on that cross to help us to grow in Him.

“The enemy wants you to doubt who you are, whose you are, and to spend time trying to earn what you have already been given.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for dying for me so I could have identity in You as Your beloved. Please help me to continue to remember the grace You have shown to me at the cross that I might live for You, in good times and bad, 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 25th 2019 – Pray with Hope and Expectancy

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“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

Sometimes I see God answer my prayers right away. I’m excited, thankful and ready to tell everyone about His goodness. Then, there are those other times when my prayers linger and miracles seem far away. As time goes on, I would start to doubt that God even heard me.

I didnt accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior until I was 37. When I was first learning how to pray and my prayers were answered quickly, I’d give Jesus praises,  tell everyone about it and then move on. But, if time went on and God didn’t show up, I’d get discouraged and frustrated. My waiting turned to worry. My perseverance shifted to sadness and disparity.

At times waiting on God to answer prayers was like playing a game. Who would last the longest? Would I continue to ask, plead and persevere? Or would I give up first because I was tired of waiting? Or maybe God would answer my prayers because He was tired of hearing all my whining and complaining.

Lord, why haven’t You answered my prayers? What are You waiting for? Can’t You see me struggling? You’re taking too long and I just don’t understand why.

I began to think God might be holding out on me. Maybe I wasnt deserving, He really didn’t care about me. Or, maybe my circumstances weren’t important enough to Him.

But as I grew in my relationship with the Lord and learned to understand His character, my attitude changed. I realized how much God loves me and knows the desires tucked deep inside my heart. He promises to meet my needs (Philippians 4:19), and His miracles are not a thing of the past.

Today’s key verse tells us that after we pray and ask God for a need, want or desire, we should wait with expectancy and hope.

You might be thinking, Rob, you just don’t understand. I’ve been waiting for God to answer my prayers for so long.

Maybe you’ve resigned to believing there’s no hope. Sure, you started out confident and faith-filled, but as time goes by you’ve started to wonder if any good can come from your circumstances. Maybe you’ve wrapped an invisible wall around your heart so you won’t be disappointed if God doesn’t come through for you.

I understand. I’ve been there. I’ve felt that way, too, and it’s a lonely place to live in each day. So what does it look like to have an attitude of hope and expectancy as we wait on the Lord to answer our prayers?

I’ve learned to intentionally shift my focus to three things:

(1) God’s Promises: I read Bible verses and speak them aloud daily. As the power of God’s Word weaves hope into my prayers, encouragement fills the empty places in my heart. I’m reminded once again of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.

(2) Praise & Worship: I listen to praise music throughout the day in my house, car and at work in my office. The lyrics and melodies splash over me with joy as I sing along. I sense God’s peace and pleasure and in those sweet moments, my worries fade, turning my doubts into confident expectancy.

(3) Thanksgiving: I thank God for the answered prayers and miracles in my past. I remember how God always came through in those tough times of great need, and I thank Him in advance for His answers yet to come.

If you’ve asked God for answers but find yourself waiting longer than you planned, take a moment now to thank Him in advance for His answer. Trust that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Don’t give up. Look forward in hope and expectancy for Him to respond and remember that the Lord is good to those who seek Him.

“No matter how long it takes, when God works, It’s always worth the wait.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for remaining faithful to me. Help me have hope and expectancy as I wait for Your answers to my prayers. And during the extended times when you are waiting for the perfect moment to answer or just waiting on me to be ready, may I contine to give you my praises and wait with a heart of gratitude because your Grace is more then sufficent for me. I thank you for Leading me and Loving me.In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Click here to watch “While I’m Waiting – John Waller

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

June 23rd 2019 – Always Loved

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I have loved you,” says the LORD. ” Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved;” (Malachi 1:2)

At the time of Malachi, the people of Israel had a checkered past with God. There were times of celebration and victory as God brought them out of Egypt and established them in the Promised Land. There were also times of hardship and discipline when they were exiled from their land, often because of their idolatrous behavior. During all these times, one thing remained the same. God still loved them and still called them His people.

The same is true today. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and His standard of perfection. We deserve nothing but punishment and yet God, who is rich in mercy, chooses to love us despite our past.

”But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (By Christ you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

If you have asked God for forgiveness and know Jesus as your Savior, you are chosen by God. You are loved by the creator of the universe. Not because of what you can do for Him, but because He chooses to love you. What an amazing God. So friend, if you find yourself wrestling with circumstances that are difficult and feel like God has stopped loving you, come to Him today and know that you are loved.

“God loves you because He chooses to love you.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. I know that I have sinned against You. Lord, forgive me of my sin and create in me a new heart that desires You. Father, help me understand the amazing love You have shown me on the cross and may it motivate me to serve You and serve others. 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

June 22nd 2019 – Giving Others Grace

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“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Ephesians  1:1-2)

In his various letters to people or churches, grace always comes first in Paul’s greetings. It is always grace followed by peace. In his letters to Timothy and Titus he added mercy; “Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is a beautiful lesson for us. You see friend, we need God’s grace to have peace with Him. We, by His grace, are invited to believe in Jesus as our Savior and through our faith in Him we are saved. Now we are forgiven and at peace with God! Grace and then peace! God shows us great mercy and love in this.

“We have to know God’s grace before we can know God’s peace.”

You can have much greater peace in your life if you give more grace to all of the people in your life. Forgive those who have wronged or hurt you. Be merciful. Love. Give them grace like God gave grace to you… you will lighten your emotional load and the joy of the Lord will be your strength. You want more peace in a relationship? Put more grace in the relationship. Grace is like gravy, it goes on everything and makes everything better. Every relationship you have can be improved with grace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Your grace to me. Thank You for Jesus. I am sorry for the times I have lacked grace and destroyed peace. Please help me give grace to the people in my life. Show me how to be merciful and loving to them like You are to me. As I give grace, please bring peace to my relationships. 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

June 18th 2019 – A Glorious Seed Sown

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“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43)

A seed… such a tiny thing, yet out of it, the largest of all trees the giant redwood can grow. This is not unlike us. When we are born again, we are given a deposit of God’s Holy Spirit. This Spirit is the beginning of God’s transformation in our lives.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

The amazing reality is that not only is God depositing His Spirit in us, He is preparing us for our heavenly bodies and fellowship with Him for eternity. As the Spirit of God begins changing us, we begin walking more and more in the Spirit. And as a result, we’re displaying the heavenly work happening within us. When at the end of our life the Lord finishes changing us, we will continue walking as spiritual men and women of God for all eternity.

“Heaven should get into us before we get into Heaven.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, It is amazing to think of the gift that has been planted in me. Through Your Holy Spirit, help me to live a heavenly life; one that is eternally minded. Keep me focused on what is important and allow me to share the gift of Christ and our glorious future with others. In Jesus’ glorious name, Amen

If you are reading these devotions and are not a follower of Jesus Christ, please be aware that these seeds of scripture are being sown in your own heart right now… whether this devotion was forwarded to you, are you happen to come across it. It’s no coincidence that you’re reading this today.

I am praying that Gods word start to take root in your heart and you come to know personally the greatest truth you will ever hear.. Jesus Christ died on a cross for you. He loves you and He cares for you. When you call His name and ask for His help, He will set you free.. Click Here if you would like to learn more about Gods salvation, or ask Him into your heart.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 9th 2019 – An Extreme Act of Faith

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“So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22)

Noah’s decision to build an ark in an area where there was no large body of water around required an extreme act of faith.  In fact, it had never rained on Earth before. So in one of the greatest acts of faith in human history, Noah cut down his first gopher tree to start building the ark.

It was such a bold act of faith that Noah was memorialized in (Hebrews 11:7), known as the Hall of Faith: “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”

This verse gives us a number of important insights into what inspired Noah build the Ark. First of all, we read that he was “divinely warned.” God spoke to Noah. In the book of Romans it says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Your faith will grow when you read what the Bible says and then take the next step and put it into action.

We also read that Noah “moved with godly fear.” Noah had a reverence for, or a fear of, the Lord.  Here is a great quote I have heard on fearing the God “Holy fear is the key to God’s sure foundation, unlocking the treasuries of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. Along with the love of God, it composes the very foundation of life! We will soon learn that we cannot truly love God until we fear Him, nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him.”

Noah’s walk with God caused him to work for God. And one must always precede the other. If you walk with God, you will want to work for God. Works don’t save you; faith does. But if your faith is real, then it will produce works. That is how Noah’s faith worked when God told him to build the ark.

“When we walk in faith, wisdom and boldness, incredible things can happen” 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am grateful that You are the Rock that I can stand on and an ever present help in times of need. Lord, in those times I feel weak in faith, remind me of Your faithfulness and love for me. May Your Spirit lead me to draw close to You and trust in Extreme ways as Noah did. Help me to always choose Your Word over my feelings. I choose to have faith and trust in You. Help me to grow in wisdom and to be intentional with my life. Give me opportunities to step out in boldness to love, give and share my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May 30th 2019 – A Measure Of Faith

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“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.” (2 Timothy 3:1-2)

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3)

Finding Faith can be a hard for many. Some have been jaded by misplaced trust and therefore have a hard time believing anyone, even God. While this may be a problem, the more challenging issue is misplaced faith. We all have faith in something. Our faith may be placed in ourselves, whether because of our wealth or authority, or it could be placed in someone or something completely different. Either way, faith that is not placed in Christ alone will only lead to ruin.

In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul warns his young disciple of a time that would come where men would trust in their own self. Their misplaced faith would lead to a world filled with pride, anger, hatred and irreverence for the things of God. Paul concludes with the warning, “Stay away from them.”

As Christians, we must be guided by our faith and trust in Christ. He is our Savior and King, and His Word alone is our guide into eternal life. When we trust in His Word, we will find a life that is filled with love, grace and forgiveness. This love has the power to change the world, but this love is only available to us when we trust in the One who is ultimate love, Jesus Christ.

“We all have a measure of faith. It’s what we choose to put our faith in will ultimately guide our decision making, our perspective and the course of action for our lives.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the love You have shown me through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Help me to hold firm to this Truth so that my faith will continue to grow. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can discern those who may be living for themselves. Help me to minister to those who need to hear the Gospel message. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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. Please click here to learn more. 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

May 26th 2019 – Learn Wisdom Reading God’s Word

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My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge.” (Proverbs 5:1-2)

Every living person has choices to make. No matter the size, we all must choose. The question is not whether or not we will have to make a decision; rather the question is, “What will we base that decision on?” In the book of Proverbs, God delivers great wisdom to all of humanity. Some of it is common sense and other parts of it are contrary to what we would normally believe. So, why would God give us all these bits of wisdom? Because He is a loving Father desiring to see His children live a blessed life.

Understanding the reality of God’s wisdom in scripture is easy enough, using it to guide our lives is the tough part. For instance, Proverbs may speak of the blessings of correction but who really praises God when they are called out for doing something wrong? He also warns us against the dangers of all sin, even laziness and pride, yet each day we all forget or flat out reject these truths. So what is the solution? First, we must know God’s Word and trust that it is best. Secondly, we need to ask His Holy Spirit to strengthen us to walk in God’s wisdom. When we are directed by God’s Word and empowered by His Spirit, we will find our life is truly blessed.

“God’s wisdom brings a preferred choice or direction for experiencing His best in our lives.”

Prayer:

Heavenly father, I know that I have made some foolish choices in the past. I desire to understand Your ways and to live by them because they are best. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit so that I can understand Your Word as well as put it into practice. Even in those times I fall short, I will praise You for the grace I find in Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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

If you do not have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Please read 4 Steps to Jesus.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org