Verse of the day — Philemon 1:4

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

Philemon 1:4(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks

Spiritual Discernment

Godwas pleased to reveal His Son in me. (Galatians 1:15,16 NIV)

Spiritual discernment, perception, understanding and intelligence are all too rare. The causes are many. The engrossment with the work and its multifarious concerns; the rush and hurry of life; the restless spirit of the age; these, with an exhaustive provision of external religious facilities, all tend to render the inner place of Divine speaking inoperative or impossible of functioning. Perhaps we have forgotten that the Bible is not only a revelation, but also contains a revelation, and that that deeper spiritual content is only possible of recognition and realization by such as have had their eyes and ears opened; in other words who have been awakened. Some of the Lord's most faithful servants are still only occupied with the letter of the Word, the contents of books, topics, themes, subjects, outlines, analyses, etc., and in the deepest sense are not in "revelation." (This is not meant as a criticism). The difference too often is that of a ministry to the mind or head, and not one to the heart or spirit. The former will sooner or later tire and weary both the minister and those ministered to. The latter is a ministry of Life to both, and is inexhaustible in freshness.

Whether it comes at the beginning or later, it is the greatest day in our history of which we can say: "It pleased God to reveal His Son in me." "I received it, not from men but by revelation." That is the beginning of an inwardness of things which may have many crisic issues. One of these is the one of which we are particularly thinking now, namely, the awakening to see what is the thought and desire of God at given and specific times. Such a revelation through the Scriptures is nothing less than revolutionary, though usually costly.

Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees.

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. § The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. § God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. § The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Jesus … knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. § Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.

Gen. 16:13;  Ps. 139:1;  Ps. 139:4,6;  Prov. 15:3;  Prov. 5:21;  Luke 16:15;  2 Chron. 16:9;  John 2:24,25; John 21:17
Bible verses: Genesis 16:13
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me. § It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. § Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate … Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. § Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

Ps. 86:12;  Ps. 50:23;   Ps. 92:1,2;   Ps. 150:6;  Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:12,15;  Eph. 5:20;  Rev. 5:12
Bible verses: Psalm 86:12
Topics: The Heart
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford

Sacrificial Self

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).

It is essential for the believer to see that his old nature has been completely rejected by God at Calvary, and that as a "new creation" he is fully and eternally accepted in the Lord Jesus. Otherwise, self will continually seek to be something for God, to please Him, to merit His approbation.

"It is very possible that our sacrifices and self denials may be altogether selfish. Self can pray, and say, What a lovely prayer! It can preach a fine message, and pat itself on the back and say, That was splendid, what a useful man you are! How, then, can it become not I, but Christ'? Well, we must above all else see the reality and danger of the thing, we must look at it frankly, and choose to be free of its domination. The worst and the saddest part of it is its deception. It says, How that fits So-and-so, not me. But you must pass sentence upon it, or it will pass sentence upon you."

"Through the victory won on Calvary we enter into newness of life; and as the old nature seeks to assert its supremacy, each uprising of it must be handed over to the Lord Jesus Christ, that He may deal with it. That He has dealt with it, through His death on the Cross, in a way which satisfies God and makes deliverance possible for us, is the foundational fact for Christian life and work." -G.W.

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life" (Gal. 6:8).

Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

Jesus, Our Worthy Example

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.
Mark 10:45

Whoever wants to become great among you must first be your servant.
Mark 10:43

Law of Christ

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby  fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 He who says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.. Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Example of Christ

YES, Jesus…. went about doing good. Jesus healed… all who were oppressed by the devil.  Why?… for God was with Him. Are we ‘doing good’ by trusting in our own righteousness?  Or do we rest on His finished work? Are we following His example? – for He did only those things He saw the Father doing. He spoke to the world only ‘those things which I have heard of Him’. Jesus is our worthy example. Leaving an example that we should follow in His steps.

Humility of Christ

He asked not that they served Him, but that He served them. So He washed His disciples' feet, demonstrating that the Servant of all is the Chief of all. Jesus went about doing good – that’s all – just doing good.

Strength of Christ

Being kind to one another; tender-hearted; forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. And in the sight of God, this is of great value. But how to follow His wonderful example? How to be merciful, compassionate, forgiving, loving, and good? HOW?  Well, Jesus said – without Me, you can do nothing.    But Praise the Lord.. I can do ALL things through Christ Who gives me the strength.

Joy of Christ

If this is to

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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

A Fresh Start

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22;23

Be Kind

Be kind one to another, tenderhearted ... forgiving one another. Ephesians 4:32 Confess your faults one to another, pray one for another ... that ye may be healed.  James 5:16

Press On

Take Courage. Do not fear and start afresh today. Put away the old mistakes and start today anew. He gives us a fresh start and they are new every day. They are fresh every morning.

Don't Fret

Don't be burdened by the mistakes of yesterday. Confess your sins one to another.. and to Him.  If remission of sins were only for those who had not sinned or if His forgiveness were only for the righteous, where would be the need of a Saviour? Remember the words He spoke about Mary? To whom much is forgiven, the same loves much. So do not fret or worry.

Pray and Praise

For you tarnish your life with much fretting. You spoil your walk with much worry. Fretting and worry crush the treasures that the Lord has to offer, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, confess your faults and your needs, and His peace that surpasses understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

New Mercies

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.