MY FACE IS CHEERFUL
"A happy heart makes the face cheerful..."
Proverbs 15:13a NIV
The song from Sunday School says,
"If you're happy and you know it
Then your face will surely show it..."
BECAUSE MY HEART IS HAPPY AND CONTENT, MY FACE IS CHEERFUL. PEOPLE NEED TO SEE MY CHEERFUL FACE.
THE HIGHER THINGS
Where is your mind set? Is it on positive things or on worldly, base things?
"And set your minds and keep them set on what is abovethe higher thingsâ"not on the things that are on the earth."
Colossians 3:2 Amplified
I HAVE POWER OVER MYMIND AND WHAT I THINK ABOUT. I WILL THINK ON THE HIGHER THINGS OF LIFE.
FAITHFUL & TRUSTWORTHY STEWARD
People who are trustworthy are rare. If you find someone you can trust completely, you have found a true jewel.
"Moreover, it is essentially required of stewards that a man should be found faithfulââ'¬"proving himself worthy of trust."
1 Corinthians 4:2 Amplified
IT IS REQUIRED THAT I BE A FAITHFUL AND TRUSTWORTHY STEWARD OF ALL THAT GOD HAVE GIVE ME.
Everyone has been given gifts of service from God that must be developed. What gift are you developing? How about the gift of encouragement?
"We have different gifts according to the gifts given us..If it is encouraging, let him encourage."
Romans 12:6,8 NIV
I WILL DEVELOP THE GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN ORDER TO UPLIFT MY FELLOWMAN AND BRING PRAISE TO MY FATHER.
CONTROL FOR MY TONGUE
The horse has a bit in him mouth to control him. We do not have a bit in our mouth, but we do have the Spirit of God to control our mouth.
"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."
James 1:26 NIV
I WILL ALLOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO BE THE CONTROL FOR MY TONGUE.
REWARDS OF DILIGENCE
Faith is believing what you cannot see with your natural eyes. It is acknowledging the realness of what we know in our spirit.
"But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarded of them that diligently seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
I CAN ONLY BELIEVE GOD THROUGH MY FAITH AND THIS PLEASES HIM.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU
Many people want to know where is God?
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
GOD'S SPIRIT DWELLS IN ME.
MY INMOST BEING
Let us not forget where we came from both physically and spiritually.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
Psalm 139:13 NIV
I AM PHYSICALLY OF MY PARENTS. I AM SPIRITUALLY OF MY GOD.
THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER
How is your prayer life? Are you constantly in the attitude of prayer?
"The effectual (unceasing) fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16b KJV
GREAT MEN THROUGH THE AGES HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME ON THEIR KNEES BEFORE THE LORD AND GREAT THINGS WERE ACCOMPLISHED. CAN I DO LESS?
UTILIZE YOUR FAITH
I use faith every day in many ways - when I sit on a chair, I believe it will hold my weight. I turn on a light switch never doubting that the light will come on. I press on my gas pedal knowing that my car will go forward.
"Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality - faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."
Hebrews 11:1 Amplified
I UTILIZE MY FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
LET YOUR WORDS BE ACCEPTABLE
My mouth sometimes speaks before my heart has time to control it.
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my firm impenetrable rock and my redeemer."
Psalm 19:14 Amplified
FROM MY HEART COMES MY WORDS. MY HEART IS CONTROLLED BY MY HEAVENLY FATHER.
THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Have you ever watched a sunrise as the rays become brighter and brighter until the sun is fully up?
"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."
Proverbs 4:18 KJV
MY PATH IS BRIGHT AND CLEAR BECAUSE GOD'S WORD SAYS I AM RIGHTEOUS.
DO WHAT IS EXPECTED
Queen Esther was given a dangerous assignment - to go before the king without an invitation. She accepted willingly, though with hesitation.
"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:15b NIV
THE LORD HAS PUT ME IN THIS TIME AND THIS PLACE TO DO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME.
THAT STILL SMALL VOICE
Jiminy Cricket is not our conscience.
"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly (inmost being)."
Proverbs 20:27 KJV
WHEN THAT STILL SMALL VOICE SPEAKS, I MUST LISTEN.
GOD IS LIGHT
To cast a shadow, there must be a Light.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me..."
Psalm 23:4 KJV
THE LIGHT BEHIND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, IS GOD WHO IS LIGHT.
PEACE, QUIETNESS & ASSURANCE
How do I find peace in this world of turmoil and unrest?
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
Isaiah 32:17 KJV
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD. THEREIN IS PEACE AND QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE.
BE QUIET & LISTEN
When I am speaking, I do not hear, so...
"Be still, and know that I am God..."
Psalm 46:10a KJV
I WILL BE QUIET AND LISTEN TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY TO ME.
ALLOW GOD TO DIRECT YOUR STEPS
It is a good thing to know that my life is directed and planned out by my Maker.
"The steps of a good man are directed and established of the Lord, when He delights in his way and He busies Himself with his every step."
Psalm 37:23 Amplified
I WILL ALLOW GOD TO DIRECT MY STEPS.
ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU
My Heavenly Father delights to give me the desires of my heart.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
Matthew 7:7 KJV
I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK IN MY PRAYER LIFE KNOWING THAT MY HEAVENLY FATHER HEARS.
TRUE WISDOM COMES FROM GOD
Wisdom is the ability to rightly use knowledge.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
James 1:5 NIV
TRUE WISDOM COMES ONLY FROM GOD.
THINK ON THINGS OF GOOD REPORT
How do I rid myself of "bad thoughts"?
"...Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report - think on these things."
Philippians 4:8 KJV
I WILL REPLACE ALL UNPRODUCTIVE THOUGHTS WITH GOD'S THOUGHTS.
I WANT GOD TO EXAMINE ME
How would you do in case of a close inspection?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts."
Psalm 139:23 KJV
JUST AS DAVID, I WANT MY GOD TO EXAMINE ME AND KNOW MEââ'¬"EVEN MY THOUGHTS.
WALK DAILY WITH GOD
Whom do you seek to please - your parents, your teachers, your fellow workers, your peers????
"And Enoch walked with God." Genesis 5:24 a KJV
"...He (Enoch) has this testimony, that he pleased God."
Hebrews 11:5b KJV
I WILL WALK DAILY WITH GOD AND KNOW THAT THIS PLEASES HIM.
GOD SATISFIES EVERY LONGING
What can satisfy me?
"He has planted eternity in men's heart and mind (a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun, but only God, can satisfy.)"
Ecclesiastes 3:11a Amplified
GOD SATISFIED EVERY LONGING IN MY LIFE.
THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
My mother used the phrase that "the proof is in the pudding".
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
James 3:13 NIV
MY DEEDS PROVE MY CONFESSION.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
"Follow the Leader" was a game from my childhood. Everyone did as the Leader did. As an adult, I must be careful which leader I follow.
"A consistently righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked causes others to go astray."
Proverbs 12:26 Amplified
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD AND MY LEADER. I WILL FOLLOW HIM.
SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
God hates the lies of liars.
"Lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but they who deal truly are His Delight."
Proverbs 22:22 Amplified
I WILL ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE.
FEED MY SPIRIT
Our bodies need food but our spirits need the Word of God.
"...that he may make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."
Deuteronomy 8:3b KJV
I WILL FEED BY SPIRIT AS FAITHFULLY AS I FEED MY BODY.
LOOK ON MY HEART, O GOD
If God looked at your heart, would He be pleased?
"But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV
LOOK ON MY HEART, O GOD, AND KNOW THAT I AM PLEASING TO YOU.
THE TRAINING REGIMEN
This verse comes to mind as we watch the athletes in the Olympics.
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
MY TRAINING REGIMEN SHALL INCLUDE WAITING UPON THE LORD AND LISTENING TO HIS VOICE.
A LIVING SACRIFICE
Many religions require the offering of sacrifices which involves the death of the thing sacrificed.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."
Romans 12:1 NIV
A LIVING SACRIFICE IS MORE USEFUL THAT A DEAD ONE. I WILL OFFER MY SELF AS A LIVING SACRIFICE TO PLEASE THE LORD.
THE VESSEL HE DESIRES
A potter fashions a beautiful vessel of honor out of an ugly clump of wet clay.
"Yet, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter, and we all are the work of Your hand."
Psalm 64:8 Amplified
I WILL ALLOW MY FATHER TO MAKE ME INTO THE VESSEL OF HIS CHOOSING.
ESTABLISH YOUR HOUSE
Who is the contractor that built your house? Not your physical house, but your spiritual one.
"Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Psalm 127:1a Amplified
MY HOUSE IS ESTABLISHED AND BUILT BY MY FATHER.
THE FACE OF GOD
Telephone, e-mails and letters are great between friends. But the best communication is face to face. Moses had a special privilege.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."
Exodus 33:11a KJV
I WANT TO BE SO CLOSE TO GOD THAT WE CAN SPEAK FACE TO FACE AS FRIENDS. DON'T YOU?
SEEK LIFE
David, a man after God's own heart, needed to be cleansed. This was his prayer.
Psalm 51:10 KJV
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
GOD ALWAYS FORGIVES AND RENEWS OUR SPIRIT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM WHEN WE ASK.
THE INNERMOST, REAL YOU
My spirit is the innermost, real me.
"Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart."
Psalm 51:6 Amplified
MY SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE REAL ME, DESIRES TO KNOW THE WISDOM OF GOD.
A MERRY HEART
My health is dependent on my heart.
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Proverbs 17:22 KJV
I WILL KEEP MY HEART MERRY BY THINKING ON THINGS OF GOD.
A HEART FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
On Valentine's Day we give hearts filled with candy to those we love. Read about a heart our Father will give us.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
Ezekiel 36:26 KJV
THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR MY HEART FILLED WITH YOUR SPIRIT.
CIRCUMSTANCES
Sometimes we allow circumstances in our lives to bring us under their power. When many people are asked how they are doing, they reply, "Pretty good, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES."
"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."
1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV
I WILL, THROUGH GOD'S SPIRIT, HAVE CONTROL OVER MY LIFE.
LOVE NEVER FAILS
"Love is patient and kind. Love knows neither envy nor jealousy. Love is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited. She does not behave unbecomingly, nor seek to aggrandize herself, nor blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs. She finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth. She knows how to be silent. She is full of trust, full of hope, full of patient endurance.
LOVE NEVER FAILS!"
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Weymouth
LOVE NEVER FAILS AND I AM LOVE.
ENJOY YOUR YOUTH
Being a young person today is not easy. People don't take you seriously.
"Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (patter) for the believers, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12 Amplified
I WILL ENJOY MY YOUTH AND BE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO LOVES GOD.
A NEW SONG
David, the psalmist, suffered much at the hands of his enemies. But he knew where to look for peace and a new song.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclines unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock...And he hath put a new song in my heart, even praise unto our God."
Psalm 40:1-3a KJV
THE LORD HAS PUT A NEW SONG IN MY HEART TO SING PRAISE UNTO HIM.