Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
He Offers Peace
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27 NASB

The beautiful words of John 14:27 remind us that Jesus offers us peace, not as the world gives, but as He alone gives. Have you found the genuine peace that can be yours through Jesus Christ? Or are you still rushing after the illusion of "peace and happiness" that the world promises but cannot deliver?

Today, as a gift to yourself, to your family, and to your friends, claim the inner peace that is your spiritual birthright: the peace of Jesus Christ. It is offered freely; it has been paid for in full; it is yours for the asking. So ask. And then share.

Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. - Catherine Marshall, 100 Days of Prayer

Christ alone can bring lasting peace—peace with God—peace among men and nations—and peace within our hearts. - Billy Graham

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. - C. S. Lewis

God's peace is like a river, not a pond. In other words, a sense of health and well-being, both of which are expressions of the Hebrew shalom, can permeate our homes even when we're in white-water rapids. - Beth Moore

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I will open my heart to You. And I thank You, God, for Your love, for Your peace, and for Your Son. Amen

 

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Constant Praise
Through Him then, let us continually offer up
a sacrifice of praise to God, that is,
the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15 NASB

Sometimes, we allow ourselves to become so preoccupied with the demands of daily life that we forget to say "Thank You" to the Giver of all good gifts. But the Bible makes it clear: it pays to praise God.

Worship and praise should be a part of everything we do. Otherwise, we quickly lose perspective as we fall prey to the demands of the moment.

Do you sincerely desire to be a worthy servant of the One who has given you eternal love and eternal life? Then praise Him for who He is and for what He has done for you. Praise Him all day long, every day, for as long as you live . . . and then for all eternity.

Maintaining a focus on God will take our praise to heights that nothing else can. - Jeff Walling, 100 Days of Prayer

Worship is an act which develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God which is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship with God is nurtured. - Eugene Peterson

Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little. - Matthew Henry

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. - Thomas Ken

Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to You today with hope in my heart and praise on my lips. I place my trust in You, dear Lord, knowing that with You as my Protector, I have nothing to fear. I thank You, Lord, for Your grace, for Your love, and for Your Son. Amen

[Judy Harder]

 Daily New Life
     
The Shepherd's Gift
My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:5-6 NKJV

When we entrust our hearts and our days to the One who created us, we experience abundance through the grace and sacrifice of His Son. But, when we turn our thoughts and direct our energies away from God's commandments, we inevitably forfeit the spiritual abundance that might otherwise be ours.

Do you sincerely seek the riches that our Savior offers to those who give themselves to Him? Then follow Him completely and obey Him without reservation. When you do, you will receive the love and the abundance that He has promised. Seek first the salvation that is available through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and then claim the joy, the peace, and the spiritual abundance that the Shepherd offers His sheep.

Jesus wants Life for us, Life with a capital L. - John Eldredge, 100 Days of Prayer

God is the giver, and we are the receivers. And His richest gifts are bestowed not upon those who do the greatest things, but upon those who accept His abundance and His grace. - Hannah Whitall Smith

Instead of living a black-and-white existence, we'll be released into a Technicolor world of vibrancy and emotion when we more accurately reflect His nature to the world around us. - Bill Hybels

People, places, and things were never meant to give us life. God alone is the author of a fulfilling life. - Gary Smalley & John Trent

Today's Prayer
Good Shepherd, thank You for the abundant life that is mine through Christ Jesus. Guide me according to Your will, and help me to be a worthy servant in all that I say and do. Give me courage, Lord, to claim the rewards You have promised, and when I do, let the glory be Yours. Amen

 

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
He Renews Our Strength
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God,
the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become
weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives
strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases
power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young
men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain
new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will
run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:28–31 NASB

When we genuinely lift our hearts and prayers to God, He renews our strength. Are you almost too weary to lift your head? Then bow it. Offer your concerns and your fears to your Father in heaven. He is always at your side, offering His love and His strength.

Are you troubled or anxious? Take your anxieties to God in prayer. Are you weak or worried? Delve deeply into God's Holy Word and sense His presence in the quiet moments of the day. Are you spiritually exhausted? Call upon fellow believers to support you, and call upon Christ to renew your spirit and your life. Your Savior will never let you down. To the contrary, He will always lift you up if you ask Him to. So what, dear friend, are you waiting for? (100 Days of Prayer)

God is not running an antique shop! He is making all things new! - Vance Havner

God specializes in taking bruised, soiled, broken, guilty, and miserable vessels and making them whole, forgiven, and useful again. - Charles Swindoll

The amazing thing about Jesus is that He doesn't just patch up our lives, He gives us a brand new sheet, a clean slate to start over, all new. - Gloria Gaither

Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, sometimes I am troubled, and sometimes I grow weary. When I am weak, Lord, give me strength. When I am discouraged, renew me. When I am fearful, let me feel Your healing touch. Let me always trust in Your promises, Lord, and let me draw strength from those promises and from Your unending love. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Sharing the Good News
Christ did not send me to baptize people but to preach
the Good News. And he sent me to preach the Good News
without using words of human wisdom so that
the cross of Christ would not lose its power.
1 Corinthians 1:17 NCV

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul offers a message to believers of every generation when he writes, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity" (1:7 NASB). Paul's meaning is crystal clear: When sharing our testimonies, we, as Christians, must be courageous, forthright, and unashamed.

We live in a world that desperately needs the healing message of Christ Jesus. Every believer, each in his or her own way, bears a personal responsibility for sharing that message. If you are a believer in Christ, you know how He has touched your heart and changed your life. Now it's your turn to share the Good News with others. And remember: today is the perfect time to share your testimony because tomorrow may quite simply be too late.

There is nothing anybody else can do that can stop God from using us. We can turn everything into a testimony. - Corrie ten Boom, 100 Days of Prayer

To stand in an uncaring world and say, "See, here is the Christ" is a daring act of courage. - Calvin Miller

All of God's people are ministers; a few are Ministers with a capital M. We are either good ministers or bad ministers; but ministers we are, and as ministers we shall be judged by the Lord on the Last Day. - Warren Wiersbe

What are God's servants but His minstrels, who must inspire the hearts of men and stir them to spiritual joy! - St. Francis of Assisi

Today's Prayer
Lord, the life that I live and the words that I speak will tell the world how I feel about You. Today and every day, let my testimony be worthy of You. Let my words be sure and true, and let my actions point others to You. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
Temporary Setbacks
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . . .
Ecclesiastes 3:4 KJV

The occasional disappointments and failures of life are inevitable. Such setbacks are simply the price that we must occasionally pay for our willingness to take risks as we follow our dreams. But even when we encounter bitter disappointments, we must never lose faith.

When we encounter the inevitable difficulties of life-here on- earth, God stands ready to protect us. Our responsibility, of course, is to ask Him for protection. When we call upon Him in heartfelt prayer, He will answer—in His own time and according to His own plan—and He will heal us. And, while we are waiting for God's plans to unfold and for His healing touch to restore us, we can be comforted in the knowledge that our Creator can overcome any obstacle, even if we cannot.

As long as a man keeps his faith in God and in himself nothing can permanently defeat him. - Wilferd Peterson, 100 Days of Prayer

The enemy of our souls loves to taunt us with past failures, wrongs, disappointments, disasters, and calamities. And if we let him continue doing this, our life becomes a long and dark tunnel, with very little light at the end. - Charles Swindoll

God is a specialist; He is well able to work our failures into His plans. Often the doorway to success is entered through the hallway of failure. - Erwin Lutzer

God sometimes permits us to experience humiliating defeats in order to test our faith and to reveal to us what's really going on in our hearts. - Warren Wiersbe

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, even when I'm afraid of failure, give me the courage to try. Remind me that with You by my side, I really have nothing to fear. So today, Father, I will live courageously as I place my faith in You. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
The Morning Watch
Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen
like a student. The Lord God helps me learn . . . .
Isaiah 50:4-5 NCV

Each new day is a gift from God, and if you are wise, you will spend a few quiet moments each morning thanking the Giver.

Warren Wiersbe writes, "Surrender your mind to the Lord at the beginning of each day." And that's sound advice. When you begin each day with your head bowed and your heart lifted, you are reminded of God's love, His protection, and His commandments. Then, you can align your priorities for the coming day with the teachings and commandments that God has placed upon your heart.

So, if you've acquired the unfortunate habit of trying to "squeeze" God into the corners of your life, it's time to reshuffle the items on your to-do list by placing God first. And if you haven't already done so, form the habit of spending quality time with your Father in heaven. He deserves it . . . and so do you.

Every morning I spend fifteen minutes filling my mind full of God; and so there's no room left for worry. - Howard Chandler Christy. 100 Days of Prayer

I suggest you discipline yourself to spend time daily in a systematic reading of God's Word. Make this "quiet time" a priority that nobody can change. - Warren Wiersbe

Knowing God involves an intimate, personal relationship that is developed over time through prayer and getting answers to prayer, through Bible study and applying its teaching to our lives, through obedience and experiencing the power of God, through moment-by-moment submission to Him that results in a moment-by-moment filling of the Holy Spirit. - Anne Graham Lotz

If thou may not continually gather thyself together, do it some time at least, once a day, morning or evening. - Thomas á Kempis

Today's Prayer
Lord, help me to hear Your direction for my life in the quiet moments of each day. Let everything that I say and do be in Your perfect will. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Wisdom in a Donut Shop
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 8:10-11 NIV

Many years ago, this rhyme was posted on the wall of a small donut shop:

As you travel through life brother,
Whatever be your goal,
Keep your eye upon the donut,
And not upon the hole.

These simple words remind us of a profound truth: we should spend more time looking at the things we have, not worrying about the things we don't have. When you think about it, you've got more blessings than you can count. So make it a habit to thank God for the gifts He's given you, not the gifts you wish He'd given you. (100 Days of Prayer)

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way. - Gloria Gaither

The people whom I have seen succeed best in life have always been cheerful and hopeful people who went about their business with a smile on their faces. - Charles Kingsley

Go forward confidently, energetically attacking problems, expecting favorable outcomes. - Norman Vincent Peale

No Christian can be a pessimist, for Christianity is a system of radical optimism. - William Ralph Inge

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I will look for the best in other people, I will expect the best from You, and I will try my best to do my best—today and every day. Amen

[Judy Harder]

 Daily New Life
     
Pleasing God
But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing.
Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing,
and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.
2 Corinthians 5:9 MSG

When God made you, He equipped you with an array of talents and abilities that are uniquely yours.

It's up to you to discover those talents and to use them, but sometimes the world will encourage you to do otherwise. At times, society will attempt to cubbyhole you, to standardize you, and to make you fit into a particular, preformed mold. Sometimes, because you're an imperfect human being, you may become so wrapped up in meeting society's expectations that you fail to focus on God's expectations. To do so is a mistake of major proportions—don't make it.

Who will you try to please today: God or man? Your primary obligation is not to please imperfect men and women. Your obligation is to strive diligently to meet the expectations of an all-knowing and perfect God. Trust Him always. Love Him always. Praise Him always. And seek to please Him. Always.

It is impossible to please God doing things motivated by and produced by the flesh. - Bill Bright, 100 Days of Prayer

Whether we think of, or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer when we have no other object than his love and the desire of pleasing him. - John Wesley

God is not hard to please. He does not expect us to be absolutely perfect. He just expects us to keep moving toward Him and believing in Him, letting Him work with us to bring us into conformity to His will and ways. - Joyce Meyer

All our offerings, whether music or martyrdom, are like the intrinsically worthless present of a child, which a father values indeed, but values only for the intention. - C. S. Lewis

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, today I will honor You with my thoughts, my actions, and my prayers. I will seek to please You, and I will strive to serve You. Your blessings are as limitless as Your love. And because I have been so richly blessed, I will worship You, Father, with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips, this day and forever. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Daily New Life
     
A God-Made Man
Respecting the Lord and not being proud
will bring you wealth, honor, and life.
Proverbs 22:4 NCV

We have heard the phrase on countless occasions: "He's a self-made man." In truth, none of us are self-made. We all owe countless debts that we can never repay. Our first debt, of course, is to our Father in heaven— Who has given us everything that we are and will ever be—and to His Son Who sacrificed His own life so that we might live eternally. We are also indebted to ancestors, parents, teachers, friends, spouses, family members, coworkers, fellow believers . . . and the list, of course, goes on.

Most of us, it seems, are more than willing to stick out our chests and say, "Look at me; I did that!" But in our better moments, in the quiet moments when we search the depths of our own hearts, we know better. Whatever "it" is, God did that. And He deserves the credit.

Humility expresses a genuine dependency on God and others. - Charles Stanley, 100 Days of Prayer

Jesus had a humble heart. If He abides in us, pride will never dominate our lives. - Billy Graham

Humility is an attitude. The Lord is high and lifted up, and we are supposed to take a position of lowliness. - Franklin Graham

If you know who you are in Christ, your personal ego is not an issue. - Beth Moore

Today's Prayer
Heavenly Father, Jesus clothed Himself with humility when He chose to leave heaven and come to earth to live and die for all creation. Christ is my Master and my example. Clothe me with humility, Lord, so that I might be more like Your Son. Amen