Titus 2:2
“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.”.

Morning Devotions by Sheila Lloyd

Day Six

He will be the sure foundation for your times,

a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge.

The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33:6

God is for me --

He is the "sure foundation"...solid, unmoving, unwavering bedrock upon which all the times and events of my life can rest.

God is a rich store --

He provides abundant resources waiting for me of all the infallible, incorruptible qualities of His nature which include wisdom, knowledge, and thankfully, salvation.

What is the key to unlock all of this treasure? The fear of the Lord.

Fear -- reverence, awe, respect and consequently, obedience

Day Five

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

Psalms 84:1-3

As the psalmist,my soul yearns for God's courts! Verse 3 mentions the swallow and the sparrow who have made nests beside God's altar. What an image!

Imagine the grandness, the splendor, the holiness of the temple and the feelings of awe and reverence it evoked in the people of Israel. Why, if they entered the Holy of Holies unbidden or unworthily, they were struck dead. And yet these common birds had easy access -- made their homes right near the holy altar of God's presence. The NIV text note says the psalmist was jealous!

What an image of intimacy for us. also, we must realize that because of Jesus Christ's atonement, we have that same access to God's presence!

We can come boldly before the throne of grace with confidence. As He knows the sparrows, He knows us as well. Praise You, Jesus!

Other scriptures: Hebrews 4:16 ; Matthew 6:26-27 ; 10:30; Luke 12:7

Day Four

Devotional – category: Prayer

Joshua 3:5

“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you!’ “

Wow! What a statement! Lord, we want to be consecrated to you so that we will have eyes and a heart to see you working in all our tomorrows.

How do I consecrate myself? The scripture outlines several ways:

Set myself apart for God and God alone.
Take every thought captive to Christ.
Be holy as He is holy.
Foster an undivided heart to fear and serve the Lord.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Additional scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-3 ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 ; 1 Peter 1:16 ; Phil. 4:8 ; Eph. 3:1-17 ; Psalm 86:11 ; Deut 6:4-9 ; Matt. 22:37

Day Three

John 1:14

We have seen His glory

the glory of the One and Only,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

We have seen:

We have had personal experience, first hand knowledge!

The glory:

How could one describe Christ presence, his deity? “Glory!” says it all

The One and Only:

There is nothing and no one greater than the Lord.

Who came from the Father:

This is a reminder of his purpose here on earth. It points to the love of the source Father, God, creator of salvation.

Full of grace:

Grace = unmerited favor; getting what we do not deserve (salvation)

And truth:

Jesus is the absolute for truth in a world where absolutes are hard to find.

What a powerful, all encompassing statement of the person of Jesus Christ!!

Additional Scriptures: John 3:18

Day Two

Luke 24:38-39
He (Jesus) said to them,
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
Look at my hands and my feet! It is I myself.
Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

Crossed Nails Isn’t this the perspective we need all the time??
Why are we troubled?
Why do you have doubts?

Look at me!
See my hands and side!
Touch me; know me!
I am alive!!

Jesus is the answer for the world today. Above him there’s no other; Jesus is the way.

Day One

Psalm 84:1-3
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD;y
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.y
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,y
where she may have her young a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

As the psalmist my soul yearns for God's courts! Verse 3 mentions the swallow and the sparrow who have made nests beside God's altar. What an image!

Imagine the grandeur, the splendor the holiness of the Temple and the feelings of awe and reverence it evoked in the people of Israel. Why if they entered the Holy of Holies unbidden or unworthily, they were struck dead. And yet these common birds had easy access... made their homes right near the holy altar of God's presence. The NIV test note says the psalmist was jealous!

What an image of intimacy for us. Also, we must realize that because of Jesus Christ's atonement, we have that same access to God's presence! We can come boldly before the throne of grace with confidence. ( Hebrews 4:16 ) As He knows the sparrows, He knows us as well! Praise you, Jesus!

Additional Scriptures: Hebrews 4:16 ; Matthew 6:26-27 ; Matthew 10:30 ; Luke 12:7