Open Your Heart of Compassion

As Christians, God places compassion within each one of us, but it’s up to us to decide whether we close or open our heart to receive it. I’ve found that one thing that really keeps my heart of compassion open is to seriously think about the needs that are in the world today. We need to turn our thoughts to those who are less fortunate than ourselves and open our hearts to those who are suffering. Read 1 John 3:17-18. I really love these scriptures because they specifically make a point of saying that when I see a need, I can’t just pass it off as someone else’s responsibility. Nor can I think that the need is so great, I can’t do anything about it, which is not true. I’ve found in our ministry that even though you and I can’t do everything about a situation, we can do something. And the something that we can do is bring hope to people. I pray that you will allow your heart of compassion to be opened even wider to the desperate needs of people around the world.

Prayer Starter: God, I don’t want to live selfishly oblivious to the needs of others. I open my heart to receive Your compassion so that I can help others.

The Anchor of Hope

All of us go through difficult times in our lives, and like a ship in a storm, we need help to remain steady. A ship has an anchor to help it hold steady, and the Bible says that the anchor of our soul is hope. When you and I base our hope firmly on God and His Word, we may feel the wind and waves, but in the end we will not be moved. During a storm, hope gives us the ability to look at things as they are and still be confident that something better is coming. That makes hope a very powerful and important quality for you and me to have – especially in times of trouble. In fact, I believe it’s the foundation that our faith must be built on. No one – not even God – can promise that we will never have to deal with disappointment or trouble. But the important thing is that we never stop hoping. Maintaining a positive attitude and holding on to the hope we have in Christ puts us in a position to see God’s miracle-working power.

Prayer Starter: God, I put my hope in You. My expectation for the great things You’re going to do in my life is my anchor in trying times.

The Way to See Your God-given Dreams Come True

God gives His children big dreams to pursue in life. In order for those dreams to be fulfilled, we must spend time in training, cooperating with God in a process of personal development. This process includes time, determination and hard work. These days, we’re so used to convenience. We use automatic dishwashers to clean our dishes and laundry machines to dry and press our clothes. We just press a button and a machine goes to work. But nothing is automatic in God’s kingdom. You can’t fulfill His plans and purposes without developing the necessary skills. In Proverbs, we read about the ant. Ants more than make up for their small size with simple determination, and we can learn a giant-size lesson from them. We must be just as self-motivated and self-disciplined. As you develop that kind of self-motivation and discipline to live for Christ, you will become all God created you to be and also lead others to Him in the process. So keep pressing on, growing in determination, and watch your dreams come true!

Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to be all You created me to be and fulfill the dreams You’ve put in my heart. Help me to stay focused on You and put in the time, determination and hard work necessary to grow in Christ and live out the plans You have for me.

Receiving God’s Healing in Your Entire Being

Your entire being – spirit, soul and body – is very valuable to God and plays an important part in His plan. He has entrusted you with the responsibility of maintaining each part. But there are times in our life when what we can do isn’t enough, and we have to trust God to do what only He can do. Maybe you need a physical healing, like I did when I battled breast cancer in the late 1980s. Or maybe you need to be healed mentally or emotionally, as I did from experiencing years of abuse as a child. Whatever it is, God’s Word assures us that He wants you and me to experience health in every part of our being. When you and I are sick or unhealthy in any way, it keeps us from doing the things God has called us to do and from enjoying the life He has given us. God has a great future planned for you, and being healthy – body, soul and spirit – is an important part of being ready to do whatever He asks of you! Pray for His healing power today.

Prayer Starter: God, I’m so glad that You care about every part of me. For any area of my life that is damaged, I receive Your wonderful healing power.

His Mercies Are Always New

Each day is a new opportunity to close the door on the past and experience a brand-new start. Even the fact that God divided the days into twenty-four-hour segments is evidence that we need to start over on a regular basis. There is always a new day, a new month and a new year. But in order for us to make use of these new beginnings, we must make a decision to do so. Are you battling guilt and condemnation? Do you feel bad about something you did years ago or something that happened yesterday? No matter how much time has gone by, the past is still the past. What is done is done, and only God can take care of it now. Your part is to admit your mistake, repent, receive God’s forgiveness, and go on. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah encourages us with the news that God’s mercy is new every morning. Every day He gives you a fresh start. I’m so glad that God sends a new batch of mercy daily – we can decide to have a new beginning every day!

Prayer Starter: God, I’m so glad that You’re mercies are new every morning! I can start fresh every day because of Your love, mercy, compassion and faithfulness to me!

Jesus Came to Guide Us into the Way of Peace

I believe that peace is one of the most important benefits and greatest blessings God has given us. However, in the busyness of rushing around, we often feel anything but peaceful. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Luke 1:79 says that one of the things God sent Jesus to do is to guide us "into the way of peace." As believers we have the wonderful privilege of walking in God’s supernatural peace, regardless of how busy we may be or what is going on around us. I lived the first forty years of my life without the blessing of peace – I was miserable. I finally came to a point of being so hungry for peace that I was willing to work with God to make whatever changes were necessary in order to have it. Thankfully, I now enjoy a life of peace that often passes understanding. I am able to walk in the path of peace during the storms of life, not just when storms don’t exist. Have you made pursuing peace a priority? God wants you to. Follow the Holy Spirit into the peace that is rightfully yours in Christ.

Prayer Starter: God, thank You for sending Jesus to “direct and guide” my feet into Your peace. I receive Your great blessing of peace for my life.