‘Dad's Daily Devotions’
(NLT)Psalm 11:1-7
I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! [2] The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. [3] The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” [4] But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. [5] The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. [6] He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds. [7] For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.
Yes, satan is out to destroy you. It’s what he does. He kills, steals and destroys. What will you do? Will you run? Hide? Cower in a corner?
Read the first part of verse 4 again. [4] But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven.
Today proclaim with the Psalmist, “I choose to trust the one who rules from Heaven.”
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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(NLT)Psalm 49:5-9
Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? [6] They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. [7] Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. [8] Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough [9] to live forever and never see the grave.
(NLT)Hebrews 9:11-12
So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. [12] With his own blood-not the blood of goats and calves-he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
(NLT)Romans 8:18
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
Today, whatever comes your way remember you are redeemed. What you suffer now is not worthy to be compared with the glory God will reveal in you on the day of redemption.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT)Psalm 48:9
O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.
What have you been thinking about? If you discover that your thoughts have been on negative things try turning the course of your thoughts by dwelling, on purpose, on the love of God. I say, “on purpose” because it is easy to let our thoughts run willy nilly leading us down paths of discouragement and depression. We are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ, who was obedient even to the death on the cross. Oh, that leads us back to the amazing love of God for us. Today, think about that.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.
PS no, you didn’t receive the Daily Encouragement from me yesterday, and I won’t be sending it out Friday this week, because I will be serving at the Kokomo Great Banquet this weekend.
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(NLT)2 Peter 3:17-18
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. [18] Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus taught us to pray that we would not be lead into temptation and that we would be delivered from evil. Please do that for Your children today. While You do that cause us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes increase our love for You, for others and for ourselves.
Increase our knowledge of Who Jesus really is. There are many ideas floating around that touch on one or another aspect of His character, but without the whole picture we get a weak, watered down faith that has no power for living and no glory for You. So, increase our knowledge of Who He is. Give us a desire to dig into Your word and learn the whole story.
And may You be glorified in us, our lives, our thoughts, words and actions.
In The Name of Jesus Christ,
AMEN!!!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT)1 Peter 1:3
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
Do you live expectantly? Do you look for God to do miraculous things? Or is life for you just hum drum, ho hum, another day?
Grasp this, get it deep within your spirit, wake up and smell these roses: By His mercy we have been born again, saved from sin, death, hell and the grave, and of this because God raised Jesus Christ from the grave.
(NLT)Romans 8:32
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
The God who did these things is no boring God. He is alive and powerful. He is working around and through His people. Today, live! Live expectantly! Live looking for God to work in your life and through your life.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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(NLT)Hebrews 6:18-20
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. [19] This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. [20] Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Today, let those words encourage you. God, who cannot lie has promised and He is a trustworthy anchor for your soul. Because of Jesus, you have free access to Your heavenly Father.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT)Psalm 62:1-2
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. [2] He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Father, many of us are in a time of waiting. The next step is not quite clear, or perhaps we are listening for the trumpet to sound the charge for a battle plan already laid out. Either way, when waiting we need to keep our eyes on You, for from You comes our victory. Grant Your children peace and the security that comes from knowing You are our rock and salvation, our fortress that will not be shaken.
In Christ we pray, AMEN!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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(NLT)Hebrews 2:18
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Remember school? Yeah, I try not to go there mentally very often too. But I think it will help clarify this thought. Think of those teachers who covered so much stuff in class and left you no clue what would actually be on the test. I’m not suggesting cheating, but wouldn’t it have been nice to talk to someone who had taken the test who could tell you which parts you really needed to study. Or maybe, you could have had a tutor who could help you prepare.
Life’s testing is sometimes much tougher than a highschool exam. We have a High Priest, a friend, a constant companion comforter, a Father, God who has been there, done that and He will help us. The key to that help is in asking, seeking and knocking. I find that I often rush ahead thinking, “God’s given me wisdom. I’ll just take this bull by the horns and…” then the bull and I together trash the China shop. When we rush ahead we are like a child who steps into the street without looking both ways.
Today, in the midst of decision, ask, seek, knock and listen for your Heavenly Father’s guidance. Few major decisions have to be made imediately. No problem is so big that His hand cannot reach and help. Take time to seek the help of the One who can truly help.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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(NLT) Psalm 100:1-5
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! [2] Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. [3] Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. [5] For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
A man comes to dinner at a new friend’s house. While they eat, the new friend’s small son keeps staring at the guest. Finally, the guest says, “Why are you staring at me like that, young fellow?” The kid says, “Daddy told me you were a self-made man.”"I am.”"Well, why did you make yourself like that?”
Verse 3 above tells us that God made us. Some translations go on to say, “not we ourselves,” instead of “we are His.” Either way, He made us and we are His. Any good that comes from our lives is due to His grace in our lives.
Today, acknowledge that He, the Lord is God and surrender yourself to His ownership. Do so by giving Him thanks and praise.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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(NLT) Matthew 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
I pushed the switch on the table lamp in our dark foyer. The darkness remained. So, I pulled my mobile phone from it’s holster and used the light from it’s screen to inspect the problem. The power cord lay on the floor right below it’s source of strength. Upon plugging the cord into the outlet the room filled with light and the darkness was dispelled.
Well, that’s just common sense, right? Do you ever find yourself void of spiritual light or strength? Are you weary in well doing? Unlike the lamp which has no ability to reach for the outlet, we can, at any time reach for Christ, or at the least cry out to Him for aid. Like that lamp we are not far from the source of our strength. He will not leave, nor forsake us.
The point is to be connected to Christ through prayer. Have you talked to Him today? Have you listened for His voice for direction? Have you looked to Him for real rest?
Today, talk to Christ, listen to Him and ask Him for His rest.
Love in Christ Jesus,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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