Sept 12, 2025 … Guarding My Heart …

Sept 12, 2025  …  Guarding My Heart   … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Steve Green singing… Guard Your Heart,  … Warning Christians to be careful to guard their (our) hearts.

Highlight Passage: … Philippians 4:8 … [NLT] … 

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

… Paul charges fellow Christians to think on ONLY those things  which honor and glorify God. 

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Philippians 4:4-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul challenges fellow Christians to think on things which honor our Lord.    

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 19:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings a prayer for him to bring only thoughts to God which are acceptable to the Lord.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 4:23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches truth … that believers should guard their (our) hearts from which our life depends. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru Isaiah, provides His prescription to prevent unGodly thoughts or actions.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus teaches that good words and actions flow from a heart which is good like good fruit comes from a tree well protected and cared for.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:1-5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul shows fellow Christians how they (we) must think on only those things when honor and glorify God, avoiding dwelling on things of this world. 

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 1:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter charges fellow Christians to prepare their (our) hearts to exercise self control.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Unpublished online - Nancy Gavilanes  … AT THIS LINK   … tells of the thoughts revealed by Katie Ladecky which the great Olympic swimmer was thinking as she swam to one of her many gold medals in the 1500 meter freestyle competition.  Ledecky revealed that all she thought about, as she was many lengths ahead of her competitors, was about all those who had helped her train for her Olympic swim.  

And that’s the heart of a champion Christian as well.   We must ask ourselves as surrendered Christians; .. what kind of thoughts are in our hearts as we live out our lives as Christians?  Because if we, as Christians, believe what is taught and revealed in the linked song and the Scriptures shared in today’s journaling, we MUSt guard our thoughts by praying and thinking ONLY on thoughts which honor and glorify our Lord.   And once again, meditating on God’s word, which I’ve shared here today, we MUST guard our thoughts to produce good fruit in our lives.  And I - for one - will be doing my best to do just that today. How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for giving me the enabling grace to guard my heart today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, Lord. … for helping us to guard our hearts by thinking thoughts which only honor You! … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site. 

Sept 11, 2025 … Lamenting Today …

Sept 11, 2025 …  Lamenting Today   … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    … Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Tim Hughes singing… When The Tears Fall,  … Lamenting when tears of anguish or grief fall.  

Lamentng tears today ... 

Highlight Passage: … 2Chronicles 20:12  … [NLT] …

20  “Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs, for I have rebelled against you.In the streets the sword kills, and at home there is only death. 

…Jeremiah  laments over his own sin as well as the sins of God’s people. 

Highlight Passage (in context)  …  Lamentations 1:20-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jeremiah laments - in anguish - before God.   

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 23:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of being uplifted and protected by his Good Shepherd..

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 3:5-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...   

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to have confidence in moving forward in life. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength when we lament over our weakness.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus invites any/all who believe in Him to find rest in yoking our weakness to His strength.  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to take their worries and laments to God in prayer.

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 112:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul recognizes and remembers Jesus words when he was in pain and anguish over the “thorn in his flesh” to accept God’s enabling grace.     

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, AMY BOUCHER PYE  … AT THIS LINK  … tells of visiting the memorial site in NYC of the 9-11 tragedy - with graphic pictures of the carnage, which brought the ODB author to tears of lamentation for what happened that fateful day.  And here I sit, lamenting to God what happened yesterday … where a prominent political figure was gunned down tragically as he addressed an audience of onlookers and followers who witnessed the tragic shooting.  

On reflecting - and lamenting - what happened yesterday and the events of 9/11/01, … I really think God is causing many of us to genuinely lament and  seek what God’s word brings out in my quiet time today - see the Scriptures shared above.   And I pray all my readers take the time to hear the linked song and lament with me - with thankful praise - that we serve a God who will always be there to hear our prayers and reach out to guide and protect the lives of those who really love and follow our Lord.  That’s my path today - and tomorrow; …how about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for being there for me when I come to You in tears (see photo). 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for being there when Your children come to You in tears.… Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Sept 10, 2025 … Never Prayerless …

Sept 10, 2025  … Never Prayerless   …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Matthew West singing… Don’t Stop Praying,  … Calls on Christians to rely on prayer in times of powerlessness.

Highlight Passage: … 2Chronicles 20:12  … [NLT] … 

12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

…King Jehoshaphat of Judah calls God’s people to pray as they were being besieged by powerful armies. 

Highlight Passage (in context): …  2Chronicles 20:1-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s word relates the history of King Jehoshaphat and God’s people being under siege by armies from three nations and calling on God’s people in Judah to fast and pray to God for deliverance. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 145:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God being close to those who call on Him.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 3:5-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...  

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to know which way to go in life.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength when we, as believers in The Lord, feel weak.

Reference Passage: … Luke 22:39-44 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  When confronted by HIs imminent death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and prayed.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to take their worries  to God in prayer.

Reference Passage: …  1Thessalonians 5:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul again stresses the need of prayer in all situations.     

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, ARTHUR JACKSON  … AT THIS LINK     … tells about a friend, named Anita, who had prayed for he son, Jalen, for years as he went thru drug problems and prison, … finally learning thru social media that a friend has spotted Jalen at her church with his young family, looking healthy and happy.

And this up-to-date personal story of God answering prayer meshes  with the Highlight passage today  in God’s word,  cited by 2Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat bringing God’s   people in Judah together when they were powerless against several mighty armies to fast and pray to God for His power and deliverance.

Personally, …  it’s gratifying to KNOW - and I do KNOW  from God’s word shared above -  that the power of prayer is available to me, just like it was for Jehoshaphat in those OT days; or for King David,  or for The ApostlePaul, or even for Jesus up on the Mount of Olives when He was about to go the cross.   And we learn from God’s word that all of these Bible luminaries used the power of prayer when they felt powerless.  And that’s good enough for me!   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for being there for me when I pray to Youu. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for being there to hear our prayers when we feel powerless. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site. 

Sept 9, 2025 … No Turning Back !! …

Sept 9, 2025  … No Turning Back !!     …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Lydia Walker singing… I Have Decided To Follow Jesus,  … strongly declaring to follow Jesus … NO MATTER WHAT!!   

"No turning back, Lord, .. No turning back !!"

Highlight Passage: … 2Timothy 1:8  … [NLT] … 

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 

…The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy - and all Christians - to unashamedly share and stand for the Gospel with faith in Christ - ALWAYS!! 

Passagein context): …  2Timothy 1:6-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul declares his own calling to unashamedly share the GOOD NEWS of Christ with anyone/everyone; and charges Timothy - and all Christians - to do the same 

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Reference Passage: … Joshua 1:8-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God assures Joshua - and all believers - how to be successful in unashamedly following God’s will.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 3:5-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  ... 

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to find the true way in life.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength when we, as believers in The Lord, feel weak.

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Paul declares that he is not ashamed to declare His faith in Christ because it is the power of God to say any/all who believe in Jesus as Lord..  

Reference Passage: … Act 1:8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus commands all who believe on Him as our Savior to rely on God’s Spirit to empower them to be His witnesses and share His “good news” with the world.

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter encourages all Christians to give our cares over to a God Who cares for His children.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Dave Branon  … AT THIS LINK     … writes about an African Pastor (name not provided) who was martyred for his faith, and penned a profound message known as “The Fellowship of the Unashamed,”  which included these words: “I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of [Jesus] and I won’t back up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. . . . I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by the Holy Spirit’s power.”

Personally, after hearing the linked song and reading today’s ODB entry and then searching thru God’s word (see above), I realize that I am committed to my faith in following Jesus as my Lord.  But I, .. for one, … can do SO MUCH MORE to share His “Good News” of salvation with others.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for calling me to be Your witness in my life today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for giving us Your strength to go forth as Your witnesses to our world.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.