Overcome the World
Today's Scripture:
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
John 16:33, AMP.
John 16:33, AMP.
Today's Word:
When trials and tribulations come, as children of the Most High God, we can take courage; we can be confident, and we can have perfect peace. Why? Because perfect peace doesn’t come from the world. Courage doesn’t come from the world and neither does confidence. These things come from a relationship with Almighty God. We can have hope in challenging times because God has promised us victory. As long as we stay in faith, as long as we put our trust and hope in God, we will stay in victory.
No matter what you are facing today, remember, faith pleases God and opens the door for His supernatural favor, strength and wisdom. Don’t settle for defeat because you are preprogrammed for victory. Choose to thank Him for what He is doing in your life and for the victory that is on the way. Be strong, be bold and take courage today because God has overcome the world!
Prayer for Today:
Father in heaven, thank You for loving and setting me free. Thank You for Your promise of peace and victory in every area of my life. I choose to keep my mind focused on You today, knowing that You always cause me to triumph in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
***
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
When people disagree with you, God wants you to respond with integrity, humility, and civility.
Sadly, civility has become a counter culture value in our society. I don't know if you’ve noticed how uncivil our culture has become. People are just flat out rude today. Have you noticed that? They’re rude. They’re not polite to each other. They’re not civil with each other.
As our nation becomes more pluralized — that means we have more people coming in from different perspectives, different places — the more divisive people are becoming.
I was interviewed the other day by somebody who said, “We keep hearing about this second reformation. What would you like to see happen in America?” I said I’d like to see three things: the restoration of credibility in the Church, the restoration of responsibility in individual lives, and the restoration of civility in our culture so you can disagree without being disagreeable.
Why do I want that? Because Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Not the people who create conflict and division but the peacemakers, the bridge builders.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight” (MSG). I want God’s blessing on your life, so I want you to learn how to be civil toward people. God wants you to do that.
One of the most famous quotes of Jesus is found in Matthew 7:12: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (NIV). It’s called the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The word for that is “civility.”
Civility is just treating other people the way you’d like to be treated, even if you disagree with them — even if they’re flat-out, dead wrong. Even if they’re fighting against you, you treat them the way you would like to be treated. That’s civility.
Talk It Over
14 hours ago
by Rick Warren
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.” (Matthew 5:9 MSG)
Sadly, civility has become a counter culture value in our society. I don't know if you’ve noticed how uncivil our culture has become. People are just flat out rude today. Have you noticed that? They’re rude. They’re not polite to each other. They’re not civil with each other.
As our nation becomes more pluralized — that means we have more people coming in from different perspectives, different places — the more divisive people are becoming.
I was interviewed the other day by somebody who said, “We keep hearing about this second reformation. What would you like to see happen in America?” I said I’d like to see three things: the restoration of credibility in the Church, the restoration of responsibility in individual lives, and the restoration of civility in our culture so you can disagree without being disagreeable.
Why do I want that? Because Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Not the people who create conflict and division but the peacemakers, the bridge builders.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight” (MSG). I want God’s blessing on your life, so I want you to learn how to be civil toward people. God wants you to do that.
One of the most famous quotes of Jesus is found in Matthew 7:12: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (NIV). It’s called the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The word for that is “civility.”
Civility is just treating other people the way you’d like to be treated, even if you disagree with them — even if they’re flat-out, dead wrong. Even if they’re fighting against you, you treat them the way you would like to be treated. That’s civility.
Talk It Over
- How do you think the restoration of civility in our culture is tied to the restoration of credibility in the Church?
- What is your typical reaction when someone disagrees with you? How do you think God wants you to react?
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