Daily Devotional

[Ronnie W. Stark]

All My Heart
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever. (NLT) ( Psalm 86:12 )

Do you praise God in all that you do? There are many times in our day where our response could be anguish, exasperation, fury, or any other number of emotions. To walk through the day praising God for anything that comes your way gives much glory to God. So, if you find yourself in a situation today that doesn't bring out the best in you, pause and praise the Lord.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Eternal Life
"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of Life!" (NLT) ( John 6:47-48 )

We all want to go to heaven and experience eternal life. Jesus teaches us that our belief in Him, as the Son of God, leads to heaven. If you have doubts about this truth, you're not alone. Christians continue to have this struggle but ultimately believe. On the days you have this struggle, just remember that you are not perfect. That's what faith is…not knowing for certain, but trusting.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

For Me
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? (NLT) ( Psalm 118:6 )

Fear, it leads to worry and obsession. It causes us to overreact or become paralyzed with inaction. When you feel the anxiety rising up in your throat and constant reminders abound to keep your broken record of thoughts swirling around, fear not. For the Lord is with you. If you seek Him, He will provide peace, comfort, and understanding. When the fear begins to rise up, conquer it! Do not let fear reign over you. The Lord is more powerful than fear.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

To Tend
The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. (NLT) ( Genesis 2:15 )

Do you dread Monday mornings? Work was God's first task to humans in the Garden of Eden. God didn't give us work to make us trudge along in our days. He did it so we could receive joy from our accomplishments, seek Him, and bring glory to His name. If you don't find what you are doing to be a labor of love, try changing your attitude. Or try changing your circumstances.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Own Eyes
People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. (NLT) ( Proverbs 21:2 )

Is it possible you could be wrong? Do you take this attitude when you enter situations of conflict? Your insistence on righteousness does not make disputes any easier. It even makes them worse. When you encounter difficult situations, take a look at your actions (not your intentions) with an open mind that perhaps you could be in the wrong.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Right Time
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (NLT) ( 1 Peter 5:6 )

Pride is a difficult, thorny root that slowly takes hold in your heart. It's deceptive and is difficult to perceive let alone conceive its presence in our lives. Do you trust that the Lord will honor you at the right time? Failure to trust that God will honor you will lead you to boast to yourself and others about your greatness. As you walk through your day, keep an eye out for any roots that may trip you up.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Rebuilder
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. (NLT) ( Isaiah 58:12 )

Living in a broken world means bad things happen to us. We have the choice of allowing those bad things to take shape in our heart and become deserted ruins. Or we can choose to pick up the pieces, confront, forgive, extend grace, and heal. Through a relationship with Christ, you have the power to rebuild families, overcome hurts, and restore relationships. Will you choose to be a rebuilder or be owned by bitterness?
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Go Away
And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone. (NLT) ( Mark 5:17 )

As a result of Jesus healing a man, some livestock was lost. The nearby town refused entry to Jesus, fearful they would lose more income and security. Are you unconcerned with helping others because of what it might cost you? As the day goes by, we should be on the lookout for how we can positively affect others. Wouldn't it be tragic to be a resident in the town that has too much to lose, refuses to help you, and turns Jesus away?
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Knows God
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. (NLT) ( 1 John 4:7 )

Being able to love others is a result of God in your life. It's not talking about romantic love either. Choosing to love someone in spite of their weaknesses or being generous to those without is the kind of love mentioned. As a child of God, do you take action and choose to sacrifice yourself and love others?
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Gently Instruct
Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. (NLT) ( 2 Timothy 2:25 )

No one likes to be told they are wrong, but yet we are encouraged to share the truth. It's important to focus on thoughtfully and gently sharing truth with people who oppose. Gentle truth may not necessarily come in the form of words. It can be shared through kindness, hospitality, actions, sacrifice, which can speak louder than words while God is working on their hearts.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

He Isnt Here
But the angel said, "Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body." (NLT) ( Mark 16:6 )

Jesus was nailed to a cross because He said He was the Son of God. He died on that cross. After three days His body rose from the dead and was seen walking and talking with others. Today is the day we celebrate His resurrection. Because of His death, He paid the price for our sins and by believing in Him we can have eternal life. How has Christ's resurrection impacted your life?
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Seeds Of Deeds
The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. (NLT) ( Proverbs 11:30 )

Has someone done something thoughtful for you lately? Have they gone out of their way for you? It's easy to keep moving on or get busy and forget about recognizing them. However, it's important to express to them your grateful heart. Put a little thought into how you want to express your gratitude through friendship.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Heart Desires
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. (NLT) ( Psalm 37:4 )

What does your heart desire? Look deep down, beneath material desires, and ask yourself what is your big dream. The Lord can and will reveal them to you and give them to you. It's a tender soul searching that can happen when you delight in your Heavenly Father. Do you know your big dream?
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Just As Damaging
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” (NLT) ( Proverbs 26:18-19 )

We do this carelessly every day, make a negative comment towards someone and brush it off as a joke. However this is a treacherous act that is damaging to that friend and any onlookers who think of you as a friend. Sift your joke through the filter of love and warmth and avoid using jokes as a weapon.
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[Ronnie W. Stark]

Least Expected
You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. (NLT) ( Matthew 24:44 )

Ever had a pop quiz where a teacher surprisingly hands out a quiz without any notice? If you have been studying and following along then you find yourself prepared for the unexpected. The same is true for Christ's return in that we have no way of knowing when it will happen. Are you making choices and living in a manner that means you are prepared for the unexpected return of Christ?
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