Faith Opens the Door

Faith Opens the Door TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Do you desire to see more of God’s favor in your life today? Faith is what opens the door to favor. The Scripture tells us that faith pleases God. It also gives substance to the things we hope for and makes them tangible. We’ve all been given a measure of faith, but it’s up to each of us to put it into action. Notice today’s verse starts by saying, “Now faith.” It’s not “later” faith or “one day” faith. We have to have faith for today, right now. Do you believe that God has blessings in store for you, right now? Do you believe He wants to pour out His favor on you, today? Don’t go around thinking that the blessing is far off. Stay in faith because faith is now, and it opens the door to His abundance all the days of your life! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for the gift of faith. I choose to believe Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Show me how to continue to grow in faith so I can be pleasing to You in every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRdcnVf6vN4

For Happiness, Give Your Life Away

BY RICK WARREN — JUNE 2, 2014

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“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV)

Happiness comes from service and giving your life away. Until you understand this, you’re not going to be happy for much of your life. Happiness does not come from self-gratification. It comes from self-sacrifice.

Paul knew that to be happy, he had to stay focused on his purpose and not his problems. He summed up his purpose in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (NIV).

If you were asked to fill in the blank, what word would you use? “For me to live is ______.” Would it be entertainment? Sports? Clothes? Family? Friends? A career? There could be a lot of good things you could answer, but nothing deserves the place of the One who created you and gave you your life: Jesus Christ.

How you fill in that blank will determine how happy you are in life. Because if you answer “money” or “success” or “pleasure” or “power,” you are going to be unhappy for most of your life. There’s nothing wrong with those things; they just don’t deserve first place. You weren’t created to make a bunch of money, then die, and give it away. God has a far greater purpose for your life. There is only one answer that leads to happiness: to live is Christ. Give your life away. It is your purpose!

Talk It Over

Pray this prayer today: “Dear Jesus, you know that I often let circumstances determine my happiness. You know that I often allow the killjoys of pain and problems and pressures and picky people to rob my happiness. Help me to look at every problem in my life from your viewpoint. I want to handle problems in a way that is a witness to nonbelievers and an encouragement to believers. Help me to remember that what others say and do does not control my happiness unless I allow it. And as for the things that happen that I don’t understand or can’t figure out, I want to trust you to work it all out for good. Help me to stay focused on your purpose for my life and not my problems. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you by serving others. Use me, Lord, so I have a purpose for living and for dying. From this day on, for me to live is Christ. In your name I pray. Amen.”