The Daily Breath of God Friday, August 30 2024
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. Ephesians 5:21, 22, 25 NLT
To submit is a strange word in our culture. To even consider it out of duty or obligation is something our nature does not enjoy and makes us feel agitated, sometimes feeling inferior and in time gets exhausting. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. In Grace, submitting or loving has to do with our reverence for Jesus the Christ. The nature of grace is love, which is to esteem, encourage, give honor and respect to others along their journey. Therefore submitting has to do with esteeming, encouraging, giving honor and respecting others. So for wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord, out of reverence for Christ. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church, out of reverence for Christ. When submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ has become who we are, then relationships can be built through the grace and love of Christ, we then experience great encouragement along with its cousin joy. Today, allow the beauty of God’s grace to be living and speaking through you. In this place you will find no burden, no guilt, and no regret. You and your family will feel and rejoice in being renewed. Enjoy! Thursday, August 29 2024
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT
The grace that is given in Jesus the Christ gives the power to throw off our old sinful nature as the major controller of our emotions. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life. Marriages, neighborhoods, the work place, and our communities are in trouble not because of God's grace, but because of our old sinful nature. Our former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. The grace of Jesus Christ brings a new nature so that we can learn the truth that comes from him. In God's grace we can find ourselves being refreshed each day in how we feel and think. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. Today allow yourself to experience the great joy of knowing his grace. In grace, righteous, holy, praise and thanksgiving will come naturally and you will see your life through the eyes of God. If you are willing to live in his grace, this might just be one of the best days of your life. Enjoy! Wednesday, August 28 2024
God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us a right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20, 21 NLT You Sin is universal and is found in every group of people on the earth. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. Sin wants no authority but itself and can express itself in many ways, all of which bring brokenness and death. After all, what is lust, bitterness, anger, resentment, criticism, all of which bring tension to our relationships in our home, our work place, our community and our churches? But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. God’s grace recreates our nature and gives what is known as “eternal life” which brings about kindness, harmony and joy. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us a right standing with God. With that being the case in a man or woman, relationships can be renewed. Today, enjoy that life that is called eternal through Jesus the Christ. It has been given and provided for you through God’s wonderful grace. Take a breath of his grace, then relax, look up and give thanks to the Lord. You will see, hear and respond so much better, that you will feel like all things have become new again, it is just how a life of God’s wonderful grace is. Enjoy! Tuesday, August 27 2024
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:9, 10 NIV
Are there not moments in our life when even we are stunned by what just came out of our mouth? With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. My brothers, this should not be. The grace that has been given in our Lord Jesus Christ is meant to bring about a new life in us and therefore a new way in how we speak to one another. Since grace is filled with kindness and encouragement, we are given the opportunities to speak words of grace to others on a very consistent level. In other words, expressions of blessings, encouragement and refreshment become not just what we say but actually who we are in the grace of our Lord. Today choose to live in the newness of his grace. Let the expressions on your face, the tones of your voice and the words from your mouth be full of kindness to everyone you meet. If something other than a blessing comes from your mouth, grace will let you repent in joy immediately. So go ahead, bless your family, your co-workers and those you meet along your way. Grace gives you the joy to express yourself so that it brings delight to you and a refreshing joy to others. Enjoy! Monday, August 26 2024
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:7, 8 NIV
There is nothing more life changing to a man or a woman than the grace of God. My salvation and my honor depend on God. Grace brings a confident reality to our emotions and intellect. He is my mighty rock, my refuge. God’s grace found through Jesus the Christ is much more powerful, much more refreshing and much more renewing than any situation we may find ourselves in. O people, pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge. You see faith in God is not a belief system; it is a living confidence in God and his Word that releases thanksgiving and praise right in the middle of life’s opportunities. Trust in him at all times. Today has been given to you, may you know for sure that your salvation, your honor, your life and your futuire are secure in the grace of Christ. A refuge is a place of blessing and your refuge is not in a location, it is in the very life of God. Pour out your heart to him and get ready to rejoice. Enjoy! Friday, August 23 2024
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 NIV
God’s plan for mankind has always been grace, for grace brings about a love which produces joy in our relationships. Sin on the other hand is caustic in its emotions, its thoughts and its words, bringing destruction to relationships. The actions of sin have destroyed many marriages and families along the journey. But the love found in Jesus the Christ is that grace can overwhelm sin, for it was given in the power of the blood of Christ. Emotions of grace, words of grace and expressions of grace can renew love and life to marriages, families and communities. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. You see grace gives life to us in the very center of our being to love well. Grace can take two and overwhelm them in love so that they become one. Today may you laugh a lot, encourage a lot and forgive a lot in your life of grace. This day of grace can bring unity, kindness and blessings to your relationships within your family through you. Enjoy Thursday, August 22 2024
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Luke 6:27, 28 NLT
God’s Grace is amazing and overwhelming. Grace is a gift that God gives through Jesus Christ to anyone who is willing to receive it by faith. Grace is God’s life that is given so that we may have a new life, not a reconditioned life. So Jesus says to the man or woman who has received grace – But to you who are willing to listen, I say… A life of Grace has no regret because it brings about a new creation, the character of God implanted within the soul of a man or woman, it is to be born again and it is a life that is called eternal in Jesus the Christ. So a question, what is the impact of Grace on a man or woman’s life in the Word of God? A Grace life says – love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. When we act upon what Jesus has said a renewal begins. Today may you be willing to listen! What will you choose as your attitude for this day? A life lived in Grace will bring you no regret, at all! Enjoy! Wednesday, August 21 2024
Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean. Hebrews 10:22 NLT
Sometimes through life we have some kind of thought that God is condemning us and is not interested in how we feel. That feeling or thought is real, but it is not telling us the truth. Right here we have in God's Word the results of his grace working in our lives. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean. We are invited to come into his presence with all our emotions and intellect because he has made us clean. Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. Today, choose to enjoy your journey of grace and go right into his presence with a guilt free conscience because of the grace of Christ. As you do, feel free to celebrate with the attitude of thanksgiving, it will release joy! Enjoy! Tuesday, August 20 2024
I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Philemon 5, 6 NIV
One of the magnificent wonders of God’s grace is the giving of a living faith. It is not a belief system or set of standards by which we live our lives. Faith is sure, hopeful and certain (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) about God’s grace in Jesus Christ and can be recognized as a love for people. This faith and love is very real, in fact it is called – Your Faith, your love. Let’s face it, most people know us by what is ours. So, if faith in Jesus the Christ is actually ours, the Word of God says – “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith.” Faith that is active is filled with joy, encouragement and is very refreshing to everyone around. This activity opens the door so that you may begin to understand every good thing you have in Jesus Christ. Let what you know to be true in Jesus Christ express itself so naturally that you and those around you will be renewed in life today. Faith and love are meant to be lived and enjoyed because they are the results of a new life in Jesus Christ. By His grace it is all yours. Enjoy! Monday, August 19 2024
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. 1 Peter 1:18-20 NLT
It is amazing, we as individuals have an inheritance and its impact is describe as an empty life. For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. For most of us it does seem that such things as gold or silver are somehow on most people’s minds and hopes. If we can acquire a significant amount of these things we think we will experience the feelings of fulfillment. Yet, with all these things acquired all over the earth we still are full of emptiness whick looks life violence, immorality, brokenness and sadness. What possibly then could have more value than silver or gold? Well, it was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, God’s gift of grace. Today let yourself live a life that has been redeemed by the grace of Jesus the Christ. Ransomed by the blood of Christ is the declaration that you are loved now and for all eternity. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. This is a good day to finally rest in what God has said he has done for you through Jesus Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. Enjoy! Friday, August 16 2024
Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ. Colossians 2:8-10 NLT
Many times through life we are looking for some kind of philosophy (direction) that will give our life meaning or completeness. Without it we seem to struggle with who we are, where we are going, and why are we here? Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world. Grace lets us experience something that is greater than any philosophy or high sounding nonsense. The freshness of God’s grace is to live in a sense of WOW! For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ. We have been given the greatest of all things, our union with Christ, which is eternal life and it is complete. There can be nothing more magnificent or fulfilling than God himself. Today let yourself live complete in your union with Christ, filled with joy and praise. Allow yourself to smile a lot and rejoice a lot, for you are dearly loved, lacking nothing in the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. Enjoy! Thursday, August 15 2024
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9, 10 NLT
The life of God's grace that has been given through Jesus the Christ brings a great confidence. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Think of the words – complete knowledge of his will, spiritual wisdom and understanding. So we might ask, what is this? But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:17 NLT. When faith in God is very much alive in us, we will find our emotions and our thoughts enjoying His will, His wisdom and His understanding, which obviously pleases the Lord. It also will bring a blessings to those who are around us. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. Here grace becomes the blessing to our family and the healing of emotional wounds begins to take place. In the Word of God this is called - Good Fruit. Let his grace through faith allow you the confidence of knowing him better and better. Today let yourself know for sure that his will for you is good. It is designed to refresh you, to delight your family, to bless your co-workers and to renew your community. Enjoy! Wednesday, August 14 2024
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
We always feel good when we know we are at our best. Well, the life of God’s grace that is given through Jesus the Christ is life without any form of condemnation about who we were or are. When we know there is no condemnation because of Christ we become free so that we can do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed. Grace is powerful, kind and relaxing at the same time. Grace gives a rebirth to our character which obviously, if allowed can renew our emotions and thinking, this is a wonderful example of handling correctly the “word of truth”. Grace makes life joyful; therefore husbands and wives that are full of grace make really good marriages and families. As you begin this day may you choose to rejoice and praise the Lord. Believe what our Lord says about you, one approved, who does not need to be ashamed. Think of this, he enjoys you and loves you. Smile right down to the depth of your soul and your life will be the living example of correctly handling (and living) the word of truth! Enjoy! Tuesday, August 13 2024
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Psalm 104:33-35 NLT
This Psalm gives definition to what happens to the character of a man or woman who has become overwhelmed by God’s grace. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! God’s grace renews our heart with joy and thanksgiving and these emotions influence our goals, our desires and our thinking. His grace brings our character to life just as yeast brings dough to life. Once the yeast has been put into the dough, the dough will never be the same. May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Grace changes the heart which causes a man or woman to desire to open their mouth in rejoicing and praise to the LORD. Once grace has been put into a man or woman they can never be the same. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. Today choose to let his grace bring to life your actions and your words. Your delight of the Lord will bring a great refreshment to you and those who know you best. So go ahead and allow yourself to live in the blessings of his grace. Let all that I am praise the LORD! Enjoy! Friday, August 09 2024
Imitate God, therefore in everything you do because you are his dear children. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and course jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. Ephesians 5:1, 3, 4 NLT
What is commonly known as salvation in Jesus the Christ is the life that his grace gives to our character. When a man or woman receives God’s Grace a privilege comes which says - Imitate God, therefore in everything you do because you are his dear children. If the sins listed here in God’s Word were good in anyway, we would have stayed in them and rejected the offer of life in his grace. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. The nature of grace is that it changes our values, our thinking, our emotions and our attitudes towards God, family, friends and co-workers. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and course jokes – these are not for you. Today let yourself live in grace and then choose to imitate God in everything you do. Imitating God with a heart full of thanksgiving will produce a great amount of joy. Let there be thankfulness to God. Here you can experience a delight in relationships with the Lord and each other that will overwhelm you in all the right ways. Let yourself relax in the life of his grace. Enjoy! Thursday, August 08 2024
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. Romans 8:11, 12 NLT
The magnificence of God’s grace is expressed here. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. The grace of our Lord that has been given to us in Jesus Christ is not some sort of religious activities or duties that are required in order to receive freedom from our sinful nature. Grace is God giving us life which is called eternal and it is the same life and Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead. Therefore he will give life to your mortal bodies by the same Wednesday, August 07 2024
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. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:3, 8 NLT
When we experience the grace and mercy of the Lord, we are changed in such a way that is called born again. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. When we can speak of God’s grace and mercy as something that we have received, we will find our heart being carried away with joy and praise. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Being born again opens the door for joys we could have never known. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Praise is a reverent celebration which fills our heart with the joy of worship. “Worship is ultimately our first priority. Nothing on anyone’s agenda is more important. In fact, the hectic pace of modern life only elevates the importance of active, deliberate, purposeful, daily worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Joseph S. Carroll – “How to Worship Jesus Christ – page 9”. Today, may I encourage you to start your day with praise and joy to the Lord. You are created for such things and they will refresh your life no matter where you are. To be born again by the mercy of God is so you can rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy! Enjoy! Friday, August 02 2024
You have heard the law that says, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy”. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Matthew 5:43-46 NLT
The grace of our Lord is so radically different than our natural thinking and emotions. Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! For many of us it is easy to get angry, irritated and to be very unforgiving. Here is something to think about - Where do all the dissensions come from within our families, our work place and our communities? These tensions come from within us. But the nature of God’s grace through Jesus Christ is so radically different. The nature of grace brings about a new creation in thinking and emotions for any man or woman who has received it. In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. Grace brings a new nature, listen to grace whisper – Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you! Grace is the gift of God, which brings a new direction in how we think and how we feel. Today, allow yourself to love others in a most encouraging way, even if they seem unlovable. You will have no sorrow or regret living in the grace of Jesus Christ. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Go ahead and let yourself live in the life of God’s grace.Enjoy! Thursday, August 01 2024
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Psalm 104:33-35 NLT
This Psalm gives definition to what happens to the character of a man or woman who has become overwhelmed by God’s grace. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! God’s grace renews our heart with joy and thanksgiving and these emotions influence our goals, our desires and our thinking. His grace brings our character to life just as yeast brings dough to life. Once the yeast has been put into the dough, the dough will never be the same. May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Grace changes the heart which causes a man or woman to desire to open their mouth in rejoicing and praise to the LORD. Once grace has been put into a man or woman they can never be the same. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. Today choose to let his grace bring to life your actions and your words. Your delight of the Lord will bring a great refreshment to you and those who know you best. So go ahead and allow yourself to live in the blessings of his grace. Let all that I am praise the LORD! Enjoy! |