I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:14, NKJV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria David said in Psalm 139, “God, I praise You because You have made me in an amazing way. What You have done is wonderful.” Notice what followed David’s “I am.” He was not in pride but in praise to God. Now, that goes against human nature. Most of us think, “There’s nothing amazing about me. Nothing wonderful. I’m just average. I’m just ordinary.” No, the fact is there is nothing at all ordinary about you! You have a fingerprint that nobody else has. There will never be another you. Even if you have a twin, they don’t have your same personality, your same goals, or your same fingerprints. You are an original. When God made you, He threw away the mold. When you say, “I am wonderful, I am attractive, I am vibrant,” not only does vitality, youth and freshness start coming your way, but on the inside, your spirit rises up. Your self-image begins to improve, and you start carrying yourself like you’re someone special. You no longer drag through the day feeling inferior. You have that spring in your step, that “go after it” attitude. Today, get in agreement with God. Declare what He declares about you. Declare, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” See yourself the way God sees you and experience all He has for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for making me in Your image. Thank You for equipping me with everything I need for life and godliness. I will say what You say about me so I can be everything You’ve created me to be in Jesus’ name. Amen. PS... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2dzy4qRJUU

Put God First in Your Finances Through Tithing

BY RICK WARREN — JULY 15, 2014

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

One of the best known and most successful business leaders of Southern California once told me, “Rick, you need to tell people the best time to start tithing is when they’re in debt. That’s when they need the most help.”

Whatever you want God to bless in your life, you put him first in that area. You want God to bless your business? Put him first in your business. You want God to bless your marriage? Put him first in your marriage. You want God to bless your time? Put him first in your time. You want God to bless your finances? Put him first in your finances.

Whatever you put God first in, that’s what he blesses. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). You have to decide that you’re going to tithe and you’re going to save, even if it means you live on less so you can do those two things.

You can live on any amount you have to. It is a choice. Nobody made you drive that kind of car, live in that kind of house, or pay those kinds of bills.

God wants you to give, and he wants you to save. If you tithe 10 percent and save 10 percent, that means you live on 80 percent of your income.

Let’s say your family income is $60,000 a year and you started this plan at age 40. Over the next twenty years, by age 60, you will have given $120,000 to God’s purposes in the world and you would still have more than $120,000 set aside in your investments or your savings.

It may mean big changes for your family. It may mean you make sacrifices and give up some things. But it works! There are enormous payoffs. God will always honor the areas where you put him first.

The Bible says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:23 LB).

Talk It Over

• What changes will you need to make in your lifestyle in order to live on 80 percent of your income?
• What are the items that you are most attached to? How might those things compete with God in your life?
• What do you think saving money has to do with putting God first?