"Saul, however, was ravaging the church, and he would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison. So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news." Acts 8:3-4

Unfortunately, good news is only good when there is the contrast/existence/possibility of bad news.  However, we have the choice to make the best of our situation and turn bad news into good.

Lord, thank You for always making things good when they may start out bad.

"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6 

God started something.  He is not a quitter.  God started something in us and through us.  He never quits on us.  We should never quit on Him.  

Lord, no matter how difficult it may get, help me to remember that You never give up on me and neither should I.

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"  Matthew 4:10

Money?  Success?  Notoriety?  Fame?  Work?  Relationships?  Stress?  Worry?  Doubt?  Material objects?  School?  Sports?  What is in the way of making God the priority today?  God will always make room for the other things in our lives but we don't always make room for God in our lives.

Lord, help me to always put You first.

"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:16

Magnifying glasses have a purpose (and it isn't to burn ants).  Magnifying glasses make things bigger.  Magnifying glasses help us to see an object better and more clearly.  When we use a magnifying glass, we don't look at the magnifying glass.  We actually look through the magnifying glass so we can see another object and to see it BIGGER and more clearly.  Our purpose is to be a magnifying class that helps others to see God and to see Him bigger and more clearly.  Unfortunately, we don't accomplish that purpose very well because our actions don't always represent God very well.  We need to do a better job doing good deeds so that we are a better representative and don't put cracks in our magnifying glass.   

​Lord, help me to behave better so that I can magnify You to others.

"So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:21 

Some people feel useless.  That is very sad.  However, we have a choice to become useful or not.  We don't need to have any special skills or talents.  We don't need to be able to do something that no one else can do.  All we need to do to be useful is to obey God and accept Christ and then God will make use of us.

Lord, thank you for using me.

"Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Answer:  Be Joyful.  Pray all the time.  Be thankful for everything.

Lord, help me to understand my purpose needs to be Your purpose for me.

"We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:8

We are often too concerned about not wanting to offend others.  It is more offensive to not help others to find a way to save their lives than to possibly offend their sensitive nature.

Lord, help me to love others enough to share You with them.

"Everyone who exalts himself, will be humbled; but the one who humbles himself, will be exalted."  Luke 18:14

Winning every time and never losing once is impossible, with a few exceptions.  Death is undefeated.  Everyone will die.  Humility is also undefeated.  We will all be humbled, no matter how much we think we have achieved and no matter how cool we think we are.  It is fair better for ourselves to humble ourselves than to be humbled by another source.

Lord, help me to realize that humility is in my best interest and a huge part of humility is knowing that all that I have is from You.

"I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart."  Psalm 119:32

A bigger heart is a good thing.  We all could handle having a bigger heart.  We all could benefit from having the capacity to love more people and to love them more. 

Lord, help me to follow Your commands so that I may love more people and to love them more fully.

"[Whoever] still won't obey after being warned many times will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save him."  Proverbs 29:1

Ignorance refers to lacking the knowledge while Stupidity refers to having the knowledge but behaving contrary to it.  Ignorance is understandable but stupidity is on us.  Many stubborn people will disobey the commands and warnings of others out of pure stubbornness.  However, being stubborn to our own knowledge is simply stupid.

Lord, help me to be wise enough to not allow my stubbornness to interfere with what I know is right.