EVERY DAY I WILL SEARCH AND FEED UPON THE WORD OF GOD

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

It would probably really hurt you if you sent a letter each day to someone you loved very much and then you found out that they bundled them up and kept them in a special place without ever reading them. No matter how much they told you they treasured the letters you would be hurt to know that they didn't cherish them enough to read them.
God loves you very much and he has sent you a letter filled with love and instruction. It is the Bible. If you are going to have a great day you should read some in your bible everyday. I know people are busy and that is why I write a daily devotional. It is but a small morsel each day from God's veritable feast but at least it is something. I almost always include the scripture because I want you to at least read a verse from God's word. His Word is the meat and my devotionals are just a garnish. It is from the Word that you get your nourishment.
At some time each day set aside time to feed upon God's Word. It will help you have a really great day!

EVERY DAY I WILL CALL UPON THE LORD IN PRAYER

Psalms 86:3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

If we are going to have a great day doesn't it make sense to start it in prayer?
My wife and I have been having prayer together at the start of each day for some time now. We have found that it really makes a difference. We pray for our family and for all those on our prayer list and for those with special prayer request. This is not all the praying we do but it is a good way to start each day.
It starts us off thinking about God and about His mercy and grace and His provision for us. It keeps us from forgetting to pray for those who have requested it. It keeps us from getting caught up in busy activities and getting so busy that we forget to pray.
If you are going to have a great day you need to start off each day calling upon the God who separated night from day.
Try starting your day with the one who can bless your day, and by the way , "Have a really great day!".

EVERY DAY I WILL OFFER MYSELF TO THE LORD

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

If you are going to have a great day you need to start by offering yourself as a living sacrifice unto the Lord. Someone once said that the problem with living sacrifices is they keep crawling off the altar. Sometimes we let problems or difficulties crowd us off the altar and sometimes we just get so caught up in the worldly activities that we crawl right off on our own.
This verse tells us exactly what it means to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. It is our reasonable service. What is reasonable?One hour a week, 6 hours a week or is it reasonable to say "My life is not my own but I belong to the One who created me."
What is reasonable to offer to our creator? What is reasonable to offer to the One who sustains us daily? What is reasonable to offer to one who has shown us His marvelous grace and saved us for all eternity? Isn't it reasonable to give Him our very best?
I hope you have a great day! If you offer yourself to the Lord as a Living sacrifice that is a great start.

HAVE A GREAT DAY

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

For years now people have been telling each other "Have a nice day." It is a nice sentiment but I have noticed that a lot of people have been saying it out of habit and do not really seem enthusiastic about it. Recently many have changed and started saying, "Have a blessed day." I really like that better and the first few times I heard it it did my heart good. I felt like the people who said it really wanted God to bless me. I hope people don't start saying that just out of habit.
I have thought about it a lot and what I like to say to people is, " I hope you have a really great day!" You can't hardly say it out of habit. You have to say it with enthusiasm and a little excitement in your voice. You almost certainly have to look the person in the eye and smile at them when you say it and that means you have to really notice the person. Believe me, it is almost impossible to say it and say it right unless you really mean it.
The next few devotionals will discuss some things that will help us to have a great day and I hope they do help you. I sincerely do hope you have a really great day!

FOLLOWING JESUS

John 21:18-19 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (19) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

THE CALL STILL COMES LOUDLY FROM CHRIST FOLLOW ME:
I. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS TO THE CROSS

A. TO FIND FORGIVENESS

B. TO FIND PEACE WITH GOD

C. TO FIND A NEW BEGINNING

II. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS TO THE WILDERNESS OF TEMPTATION

A. WHERE WE ARE TESTED

B. WHERE WE ARE PROVED AND APPROVED FOR SERVICE

C. WHERE WE EXPERIENCE HIS GRACE IN AVOIDING SIN

III. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS TO THE MOUNTAIN OF PRAYER

A. WHERE WE FIND STRENGTH

B. WHERE WE FIND COMFORT

C. WHERE WE FIND ASSURANCE

IV. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS INTO THE FIELD OF SERVICE

A. TO SEE THE NEED

B. TO FIND HIS WILL

C. TO LABOR FOR SOULS

V. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS TO THE GARDEN OF SORROW

A. WHERE WE ARE TOUGHENED

B. WHERE WE ARE TAUGHT

C. WHERE WE ARE TENDERED

VI. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS INTO THE RESURRECTED LIFE

A. A NEW START

B. A NEW NATURE

C. A BRIGHTER FUTURE

VII. WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS INTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY

A. A NEW BODY

B. A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT

C. A PERFECT LIFE

BE DEPENDABLE

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Sometimes we may not be as dependable as we think we are. We could ask ourselves a few questions. Are we as devoted to God as we are our family? Are we as anxious to hear from God as we are from an old friend or loved one? Are we as faithful to His service as we are to our jobs or school?
It is kind of upsetting to ask ourselves questions that and not really like the answers.
Increase your faith and increase your service by becoming more dependable. Be a face that people can count on seeing in your area of service. (Believe me when I say that people notice you when you are not there)
I once had the priviledge of leading a lady to the Lord who was very excited about becoming a Christian. She came to church on Sunday Morning, again on Sunday Night and even on Wednesday nights. She approached one of her good friends who was a member of the church and mentioned not seeing her one Sunday night and Wednesday night. The Lady responded, "Oh, hardly anyone goes except on Sunday morning."
This was a hindrance to the new Christian lady and it broke my heart to know that someone was really excited about their Christian walk and they were being discouraged by someone who had been saved for years but was not dependable.
If you want to increase your faith you must make a special effort to be dependable. God will bless every effort you make.

BE DETERMINED

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Many people have great dreams and good intentions but don't lack the determination to really accomplish things for the Lord. They sometimes get all enthusiastic but the minute they run into an obstacle they are ready to quit. I remember when Hurricane Katrina blew through our area I watched large Oak trees being twisted and blown around like willows. It was awesome (and quiet scary) to see God's power in the Hurricane. Many times that day I was sure that those old oaks could not possibly stand the punishment of those 100 mile per hour winds. I was wrong. I see those same old oak trees several times each week still standing in the same spot they were in that day. They were steadfast and unmovable.
When God leads us to do something we need to plant our feet firmly as the roots of those old oaks and be determined to fulfill the purpose of God. The punishment that comes will only strengthen us and make us stronger. If we are to increase our faith then we must have determination. That determination should be based in faith in an all powerful God. If he can not fail, then we can not fail when we are doing His will.