Tag Archives: General Devotions

June 5th 2019 – Don’t Compromise, Stand For Christ

“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

June 3rd 2019 – Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me

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“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9)

What kind of Christian are you? Are you a steadfast follower? Or one that comes out for Easter and Christmas? What does a biblical follower of Jesus look like as opposed to a cultural follower of Jesus?

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

The Gospel demands and enables us to turn from our sin, to take up our cross, to die to ourselves, and to follow Jesus. These are the terms and phrases we see in the Bible. Salvation now consists of a deep wrestling in our souls with the sinfulness of our hearts, the depth of our depravity, and the desperation of our need for His Grace. Jesus is infinitely worthy of our immediate and total surrender. If you are hearing the Word of God and not doing what it says, then you are living with the untapped potential of all that following Jesus brings.

I encourage you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly–serving His body, giving, and sharing His goodness with others. It’s when we lose our life for His sake that we find it.

“God desires an active faith in each of us. He is saying, ‘Follow Me.’ Will you follow Him or make excuses?”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Help me to follow You. Give me the strength of Your Spirit to love and serve, laying down my life for Your glory and the Gospel. Thank you for not ever giving up on me. There are times in my life when I’ve struggled and have tried seeking my own way in life. I ask that You would continue to fuel my hunger for Your word and more of You in my life. Your knowledge of me goes beyond my comprehension. Please help me to exercise my faith, knowing that Your purpose for my life is for my good, and Your pleasure. Help me choose to follow You Lord, even if its just one step at a time. Thank You for Your reassurance along 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 1st 2019 – God Reveals Himself Through His Holy Spirit

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“But as it is written:’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

I recently was reading a book where the author taught verse nine but failed to move on to verse ten. I found it interesting that he stopped there. When one teaches only verse nine, it gives the impression that we cannot know what God has prepared for us. But continue to verse ten, and we learn that we do have access to the mysteries of God through His Holy Spirit. God has not left us stranded on in the middle of a old wooden bridge of uncertainty.

When we are not sure of things or circumstances, we should return to what we do know. Remind yourself… “God, I know You love me. I know my sins are forgiven. I know You will use all things for my good. I know You have a plan for me.”

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” (Romans 5:5-6)

The moment we realize God loves us and has forgiven us, other mysteries of life don’t have to strike fear in our hearts. Instead, we can boldly step out into those things He created for us. When God reveals Himself to us, He gives us the responsibility to share Him with others.

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

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your kindness and grace to reveal Yourself to me. Lord, draw me close to You and show me Your plan for my life. Give me the strength to share Your simple message to reach others in this crucial time. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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

The end times are here, don’t be blinded to the truth. Consider Asking Jesus into your heart and to reveal Himself personally to you. Click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

May 31st 2019 – Stealth Attacks

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“I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadowsat those whose hearts are right.” (Psalm 11:1-2)

David faced many attacks in his life as a man mightily used by the Lord. Because of envy King Saul tried to kill David before he became king. Later his own son would plot against him and seek to remove him from the throne.

When we place our trust in the Lord it is certain that we will be a target for the attacks of the enemy. To discourage you the enemy can even spring a sudden attack upon you using your family or the people you worship and serve with. In order for our lives to be firmly built upon the foundation of trusting in the Lord we should be in the Word, be with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and be continually exhorting one another with love and encouragement. The Bible gives us a list of battle gear to prepare us for spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 not because we don’t expect to face battles but because we do.

As believers and followers of Jesus we face battles and attacks in this world. From:

1) The world

2) The flesh

3) The devil and his accomplices

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please help me to always put my trust in You and ask for your Grace When the attacks come let me look to You and to Your Word for the weapons that You have fashioned for me to stand against the enemy. I come to You asking for help to discern the lies of the enemy, especially when the enemy hides within all the strife and tension that he creates. Open my eyes to recognize any spirit of division or confusion as the enemy’s plan to divert me away from God will for my life. I submit my life to You. Help me to surrender to You in every way and choose to live according to Your word. Continue to teach me by reading and speaking Your Word so that it is implanted in my heart and becomes part of my daily life. I want to live in obedience to You in prayer, in praise, in worship, and in gratitude. Thank You, Lord, that You have given all who accept You in their hearts victory over all the plans of the enemy. Thank You that he has to flee from our lives when we expose his plans to the light. Thank You for the wisdom to identify the enemy’s work in our lives and the power to resist him. In Jesus’ name I pray. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

May 29th 2019 – Stability

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“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Stability… Everyone desires to have it in life. After all, who wants to live life in chaos? Unfortunately, life doesn’t give us a choice. Each morning when we open our eyes we await things that will catch us off guard. Good or bad, these elements in life are part of living in a broken world. The good news is that we are not alone, and there is a source outside the chaos that we can lean on in times of instability.

“But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.” (Psalm 94:22)

Throughout Scripture, God is referred to as a rock. This is not to say that He is made of granite, but it is a reference to His steadfastness. Like a mighty mountain, God is immovable and secure in all His ways. Because of this, He is our source for security and strength. When life brings surprises, we can stand on our God. When people change, our God will not. When situations arise, our God is our refuge. As you wake up this morning, spend time in God’s Word and get to know Him more. Read His promises with great anticipation. Grasp His love and mercy and allow that to strengthen you today. The more you know about God, Jesus and His might and power; the more you will be equipped to stand strong during the storms of life. Life may bring instability but with God we can remain stable.

“The more mature you grow in the Lord, the more stable you become in life and in all matters.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your great love for me and for Your steadfastness. Your Word tells me that You will never change and that Your mercy endures forever. Lord, help me to find stability on You, my Rock. Bring to mind Scriptures in my times of doubt and encouragements in my times of need. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I will remain brave, strong and steadfast in the faith. 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

May 27th 2019 – Memorial Day Reflections

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Memorial Day is when we honor the men and women of our Armed Services who have made “the supreme sacrifice;” who gave their lives for their country.

Especially these days, when Memorial Day seems nothing more than a time for cookouts and swim parties, we cannot be reminded often enough about how great a debt we owe our war dead.

They gave up their hopes and dreams, families and friends. They submitted themselves to rigorous discipline, 24-hour-a-day duty, and placed their lives in great peril. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Their sacrifice should inspire in us a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, bought with a price. And that gratitude should compel us to lives of service as well. Serving Christ, our neighbor, and yes, our nation.

Memorial Day is a great time for each of us to look into the mirror … to examine our own lives. Are we living good lives in gratitude for all those who have sacrificed for us — including our men and women in the military, our families, our friends, and most of all Christ?

Are we kneeling before the cross? Are we, out of gratitude, doing our duty for Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ministering to those in prison, in whatever harvest field to which the Lord has called us?

Examine your life. Some Reflections to Ponder today?

Reflection #1 – Do I really believe what I say I believe?

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22)

Reflection #2 – How is my life different from thoses who live in the world?

“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us” (1 John 4:5-6)

Reflection #3 – What do my recreational choices reveal about me?

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5)

Reflection #4 – If I was denied access to my bible for the rest of my life, would I have enough knowledge to still live and grow in my faith?

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)

Reflection #5 – Would I be willing to suffer for my faith?

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

Reflection #6 – Is there enough evidence of Jesus Christ in my life to draw people to the faith?

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Reflection #7 – What does my prayer life reveal about my relationship with Christ?

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2)

These are a few ideas I wanted to put out there to ponder. As we look around us its not hard to figure out that there are alot of people putting forth much effort to change this great country into something other than what made it so special. As you also can see, Christianity is on attack here on our homeland by an enemy that this nation welcomed with arms opened wide.

At the very least, thank those who have sacrificed their life for you and those you know that serve in this nations Armed Forces. Maybe you will do what I do when you see a guy or gal in uniform, even a veteran. Walk up to them and thank them for their sacrifice and service to protect us from the enemy.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for always being with me and protecting me from the enemy. Thank You for this great county, Thank You for the men and women that serve to protect it. I lift the leaders of our country to you and ask that You would draw their hearts to You, guide them that they would return to then biblical values that this great country was founded on. I am so greatful for the unselfish sacrifice of Christ on the cross for me. Allowing me to have a relationship with You. I praise You and love You Lord.. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

If you would like to experience true peace in your life, try seeking Jesus. click here to learn more

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

May 21st 2019 – Look To Jesus

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“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)

There is just something about the name of Jesus! His Name is the most beautiful of all names. This verse shows us that Jesus radiates God’s very glory, and He expresses the very character of the Father. Jesus said that he who has seen Him has seen the Father. He and His Father are one.

The reason this is so important is that many times we do not fully understand God, because we have never seen Him. But when we look into the Gospels and we read about Jesus, He shows us who God the Father is. You see, Jesus was a healer, and a provider. He let John lay His head on His chest. Jesus is the One that calmed the storms and raised the dead. He is the One who promised those that believe in Him that we will have eternal life.

When we understand that to look at Jesus is to see the Father, we know that the Father will heal us, and the Father will calm the storms in our lives. He will provide for our needs, and He wants us to lay our heads near His heart and rest in Him. You see, the Father loves us just like Jesus does. The Father and Jesus are one, and the great love that Jesus showed by going to the cross to die for you and me is the same love that the Father in heaven has for us.

That is why Jesus said not to pray to Him, but to pray to our Father in heaven in His Name, and He will answer us. So today, get to know the Father. He loves you and cares for you. To know Him is to know life. So enjoy His presence in your life each and every day!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I praise You in all circumstances Lord, Thank You for your overwhelming love that You have for me. I want to know my Father better and see all that my Father is, and the place that He wants to take in my life. Please help me share who You are to everyone. I pray this in Jesus’ glorious 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

May 19th 2019 – I Knit You Together

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“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:1-14)

When I read this verse, my mind wanders off to a turn of the century style living room, softly lit by a crackling fire. There is grandmother in this room, gently rocking back and forth in her maple rocking chair as she knits a sweater for a beloved grandson. I can see the expression on her face, as all her love is, for this moment focused on this new creation.

In her mind, she can picture how the sweater will look when it is finished, and the joy that it will bring to her grandchild’s heart. With anticipation, she continues to count (knit one, pearl two, knit one, pearl two) as the sweater begins take the form that she always imagined it to be. This project is not work for her, for it brings much joy to her soul and delight to her heart because each stitch is filled with love.

Now for a moment, think about how God knit you together in your mother’s womb. Our Father uses such a tender illustration of how He lovingly, and carefully created our being. He could have blasted us together, or snapped His fingers and we would have appeared, but He chose a more delicate process in which He could be intimately involved as He formed us in our mother’s womb…knit one, pearl two, knit one, pearl two. Stitch by stitch, loop by loop, each one of our parts was delicately and carefully crafted by Almighty God.

Your life is not the product of an impersonal evolution, but the result of a loving Father, who planned your creation before the foundations of the world, and took the time to knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are a masterpiece, and your very existence brings much joy to your Father’s heart.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for creating my inmost being. I know each strand of my DNA was fashioned by You, stitch by stitch, loop by loop, with a love that called me to life. I was created in love, and for love. In my heart, I want to express my love back to you for being such a wonderful Father to me that You would knit me together in my mother’s womb. 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

May 17th 2019 – Rebuild The Walls and Gates

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“Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel” (Nehemiah 3:1)

In the book of Nehemiah, we see the people of Israel joining together to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. Each wall and gate is constructed to keep the bad out and the good in. The same should be true in our own life, because once you see something or hear something, it is impossible to take it out. If you are a parent, you are responsible for guarding your kid’s gates. As they get older, help them make good decisions and discourage bad ones.

In the world today, its all about who has the biggest most mighty weapons and technology. Don’t look for the newest greatest things for warfare, they are great with technology but not with Gods wisdom. God has given us great wisdom so that we can go to the ancient things for modern problems. Remember that the battlefield often starts in our minds.

“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

The key to guarding our hearts and minds is to fill our hearts and minds with the things of God. Reading God’s Word and meditating on the Truths of Scripture will help protect us from evil. Time in prayer for our lives and the lives of our family will direct our paths. Also, we must be actively engaged by saying no to certain music, television, movies, games or books that could draw our hearts away from Christ. It’s not about legalism; it’s about building the walls of protection and guarding the gates for God’s glory.

“As people created in the image of God, we can and should control what we read, listen to, think and say.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the guidance You give in Your Word. Give me the wisdom and power to build the walls and guard the gates of my heart and mind. Fill me with Your Spirit. Help me teach others about your goodness and turn them away from evil. May they turm from hate and destruction to experiencing forgiveness and Love. In Jesus’ name Amen.

If you would like to request a prayer 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

May 5th 2019 – Keeping Our Peace When Our World Falls Apart

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“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” (Romans 8:28)

A father was trying to take his Sunday afternoon nap but having little success because his young son kept waking him up with the complaint, “Daddy, I’m bored.” The father knew he needed to come up with some kind of plan to keep the little boy occupied, or there would be no nap. He glanced at the newspaper lying on the coffee table and had what he thought was a brilliant plan to keep his son busy and give him more time to sleep.

The father picked up the paper and pointed to a picture of the world on the front page. “This is a picture of the world, but it is also a puzzle,” the father explained. He then ripped the picture into about fifty pieces, handed them to his young son and said, “I want you to put it all back together.” He lay down to finish his nap, thinking he would get at least another hour of sleep.

In about fifteen minutes, the little boy woke him up saying, “Daddy, I’ve got it finished. It’s all put together.” The father could not believe it. His son was too young to know much about geography. “How did you do that?” he asked in amazement. “Dad, there was a picture of a person on the back page of that newspaper, and when I got my person put together, the world looked fine.”

Pain and stress can rip our lives apart. We frantically try to find some way to put it all back together, but the broken pieces don’t seem to fit anymore. What then?

Trust God. Like the children of Israel, just stick your toes in the water, and watch God part the raging sea before you.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
(John 14:27)

“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.”
(Psalm 119:76)

You may not always understand or even like His process, but you can always trust His heart of love for you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I choose to believe You are faithful and will do what You promise to do in Your Word. I believe that when I lay my pain and hurt at Your feet, You can and will transform it all into something beautiful. I choose to believe You will turn the broken places of my life into living illustrations of Your sufficiency and healing power. Please Help me continue to be patient and let me blessings arrive in you perfect timing and in when I want. I humble ask You to give me peace as I humbly trust in You in these circumstances. I trust You Lord! 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

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