This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

Devotions for October 11^th through 17^th

Monday "Look Up!"

Psalm 5:3 "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up."

Matthew 14:19 "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."

Matthew 7:33-35 "And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.' Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly."

Psalm 3:3 "But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head."

Prayer: "Help us to look up, Lord! Thanks for being the lifter of my head! Praise You for your power and faithfulness. Help us to be confident in our circumstances. Bless us and strengthen us. Make us like You, Lord. Teach us your ways. Thank you for being such a good God and wanting us to have good things. Cause us to look up throughout the day. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Tuesday "The Spiritual Battle"

Psalm 144:1 "Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle;"

Ephesians 6:12-13 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Prayer: "Thank you for the spiritual battle that we are in, Lord. Give us great spiritual strength. Remind us that prayer is a huge weapon for us. Thank you for protecting us. Help us to remember there are serious things that we cannot see. Give us joy and peace. Cause us to cling to Your promises in Your Word! Thank you for keeping your promises to us. Thank you for overcoming the world and wanting us to be overcomers. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Wednesday "Make A Choice Today!"

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Matthew 4:19 "Then Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Prayer: "Thank you for our choices, Lord. Give us wisdom and help us to seek You! Thank you for being so worthy of our devotion and love. Increase our faithfulness in You! Thank you for being a patient and merciful God. There is none other like You! Thank you for rewarding us when we seek You and serve You. Bless us and give us a pure heart, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Thursday "Press On!"

Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Prayer: "Thank you for wanting us to keep running this race. Help us to not let things get us down and get in our way. Give us more hope, Lord. Thank you for the encouragement You give us through your Word, Christian friends, worship and church. Remind us to fill our lives with You! Encourage us more, Father. Praise You for being an awesome God! Keep the wind blowing in our sails. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Friday "Praise God!"

Psalm 150:1-6 "Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"

Prayer: "Thank you for being so worthy of our praise, Lord! There is no other God like You. You have changed my life in such a great, incredible way! Remind us to never stop praising You. Thank you for the way you change our hearts when we sing to You. Praise You for the miracles You have done! Praise You for the wonderful things You do every day that are beyond my comprehension! To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Saturday "Obey With Excitement!"

1 Samuel 15:22b "......to obey is better than sacrifice......"

John 14:15 (Jesus speaking) "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

Mark 4:41 "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Proverb 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

Prayer: "Thank you for asking us to obey and trust You. Thank you for keeping us on the right path and out of trouble when we do. Help us to obey You closer and love You more. Praise You for being so righteous and pure! I love You, Jesus! Forgive us for all our sins. Help us to see You like You really are. Increase our devotion to You! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Sunday "Unequally Yoked"

Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?"

Proverb 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Proverb 29:27 "An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked."

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits."

Psalm 26:4-7 "I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works."

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us this wise advice, Lord. Help us to hang out with people who love You. Reveal people's intentions to us. Show us who truly believes and who does not. Give us discipline to do what You have asked. Thank you for knowing the best way, all the time! Help us to not hate unbelievers, but to love them and share the gospel with them. Protect us, Lord. To You be the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever. Your will be done. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

Use a study Bible when you read God's Word. There are many excellent study Bibles available at Christian book stores. I am using the Max Lucado study Bible right now. I had been using the Life Application Bible. Both are incredible resources for spiritual growth! If you are already using one of these Bibles, you know what I mean. They summarize and apply scriptures, passages, topics and books of the Bible! Your spiritual walk will be improved with a study Bible. Your insight into the scriptures will have more depth when you meditate on God's Word and some wise insights into the verses. God bless you as you desire a deeper relationship with Christ and meet this week's challenge! (P.S. It would be wise to get a KJV or NKJV study Bible. The other versions have changed and left out important scriptures.)

Quotations

God knows the best way, all the time.

Everything I've created has been a gift from the true Creator.

The devil hates Christians, but he really hates praying Christians.

Friends make daily duties easier.

Perfect obedience could be perfect happiness if only we had perfect confidence in the power we are obeying.

In broad daylight, You bought my shame.

I fell in love with what I saw on the outside, but I've discovered that I love what you are on the inside.

Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.

Including myself, I feel a deficiency of love in many people I meet.

Desire more faith in God.

If you close your eyes you can feel the enemy.

Get to know your friends better.

If anyone should occupy your thoughts while you're waiting, it should be God.

I wonder who I will give to next.

We all need time alone and we all should respect others' time spent alone.

Prepare to love deeper.

God has more power than we do to teach someone a lesson.

Don't harass someone until you think they've learned their lesson. Speak and be quiet. Let God work.

How long does it take you to forgive someone? How long should it take?

Quote important scriptures in your prayers.

A 30 year old man who's been following and loving Christ since his youth will be as different as a 30 year old man without the Holy Spirit as a Chinese man in China is to an American man in America.

As you get older, you'll realize how you sinned when you were younger and never knew it. Confess it to God and be forgiven!

Without You I can't see straight.

The enemy wants to sabotage every good thing.

Lord, I stand against the faceless man.

Just because someone doesn't look you in the eyes, it doesn't mean they aren't listening. It could be their way of showing you respect.

Do you know how much watching television has a hold on you?

When I get to Heaven, I'll wish I had some of the hours back that I spent watching television.

Can you really focus on something without being distracted?

Do you realize how many statements you make every day by your behavior?

I'm being refined by Him for you, me and Him.

Put a note or gift on someone's car or doorstep.

Don't you know how it feels to be encouraged?

It's impossible to love and encourage people too much.

Don't let their demons become your demons.

The demons that are tempting a person can begin tempting you when you spend time with that person. Defeat them with prayer.

I should still be rejoicing.

Know what is attacking you and know how to defeat it.

Some of our time is simply spent being there for someone in case they need us.

What amazes you about how God has loved you?

We all need more Jesus in our lives.

The amount of worship and devotion you have to Christ indicates how worthy He is to you.

If you're discontent with worshiping and seeking God, what else will you do?

Somebody needs your encouragement right now!

Sincere love and encouragement can transcend years of pain.

Believe the compliments from friends.

Be content when you do good deeds that nobody sees. God sees and isn't He your chief Judge and Rewarder?

There's nothing to hate about my body or appearance.

The devil has told us that many things shouldn't be said, but don't believe him.

I feel like I was before I was injured and scarred!

Do you notice things?

You're walking awfully slowly.

The battle has already been won. We just have to embrace the One who has won the battle.

Have you shouted to the Lord lately?

You can see God in others, just don't make others your God.

I'm becoming stronger to serve you all better.

How determined to succeed are you?

Are you proud or ashamed of your friends?

Let's hope that you won't be expected to know something today that you should have learned yesterday.

I'll run this race until I see Your face.

We need to pray in our circumstances, during the day, and we need to have times of prayer in solitude.

If I hadn't been praying, I wouldn't have what I have now.

The Bible is powerful enough to change your perspective and your life.

Are you thinking, "God, change me more, change me less, or don't change me at all"?

The study of God's Word is critical for spiritual growth.

There is a lot of guilt, shame, sadness and weakness in the church today.

We don't suffer alone.

The received Word must be welcomed into our lives by faith.

We all share wounds from a common enemy.

For godly people, the question isn't "Will we be persecuted?" It's "When will we be persecuted?"

Godly people should fit in with other godly people.

There's a tendency to hold back from speaking the truth when we feel there may be negativity because of it.

God will not let any injustice go unnoticed or unpunished in the future.

Refocus on your heavenly rewards.

Those who take the risk and see their witness bear fruit will have a unique heavenly reward.

Is there anyone who will be in Heaven because you witnessed to them?

Scripture should sound like a sweet song to you.

Pray that you don't forget God.

Some miracles can be done with wicked power, but all things can be done with God's power.

Express what God has done for you to family and friends.

If something is causing us pain, God an try and remove it from our lives or provide a way for us to remove the sin.

God can see needs and hazards that we can't.

How often do you think about God?

Can you imagine the chaos if God indulged all our indulgences?

God demands total devotion.

We will never be able to see all God's glory on this earth.

If you're spending a lot of time away from God (not praying, worshiping, studying the Bible, going to church and fellow-shipping with Christians) it's only a matter of time before sin creeps into your life.

Ask God to reveal Himself to people and bring them into a relationship with Him.

We can limit God by making incorrect choices.

If fear is holding you back from moving forward in faith, that fear is not from God.

God never forgets about us.

Are you sniffing around where you don't belong?

These bodies we see are simply holding our eternal selves.

If God gave you a report card on your relationship with Him, what would it say?

Godly people will have your best interests in mind more often than ungodly people will.

Uproot the bitterness in your life with love and forgiveness.

Note three people who may be in jeopardy of God's punishment. Pray for them.

How have you sensed God's protection?

We have been sealed in Christ and our seal isn't visible, but it's spiritual.

You can be entertained by Jesus Christ or you can be a disciple of Christ.

Be still and let God's presence speak to your heart.

Can you tell the difference between Christian teaching and false doctrine?

Christians must discern false prophets who claim to perform miracles and exercise authority from God.

Counterfeit Christians, like counterfeit twenty dollar bills, are not easily detected. It takes a trained, discerning eye.

If you give with the right heart, your gifts don't earn you control over the receiver.

If you are truly understanding and forgiving, you won't hold a grudge.

Everyone needs and understanding friend.

Look past disappointments in the present.

Isn't it hard to do things with all your heart if you don't get excited sometimes?

The question isn't "Will God provide for you?" The question is "How will God provide for you?"

You were the same as me, but on your knees.

Friends can be a catalyst in God's plan to heal you.

It's important for people to be aware of the world beyond their own neighborhoods.

Praying to God while kissing can keep you from lustful thoughts.

When a huge emphasis is put on a physical relationship with the opposite sex, in the premarital stages, we will be blinded to certain things.

Thanks for saying that!

Ask the important questions.

Try and see an emotional situation like you are outside of it.

If she says yes or no, it's okay either way, because You are God.

If you see something that God won't give you, it is less than what He wants for you. He wants you to have something better and more perfect for you.

It weakens us when we choose relationships that aren't pulling in the same direction.

Our sins keep us from getting all of God's blessings.

God has given you the weapons to be victorious, but He won't always use them for you.

It's dangerous to think that the enemy can't work in subtle ways.

Don't look at your friends' problems like things that will swallow them up. Encourage them and see their problems like an adventure that they can win with Christ.

It's wonderful when you find that your friends are more patient with you than you are with yourself!

Sometimes we are a melting pot and sometimes we remain a tossed salad.

Once you get your students attention and respect, they will be willing to do things for you.

Reward your students.

You can learn from people by getting to know them better.

We should learn from one another.

Don't give false praise.

Some people may appear to be shunning you, but they may simply not know what to say or how to say it.

Transgressions between friends can take time to heal. Forgiveness speeds up this process.

Have you prayed today?

Recognize the things that make you emotional.

Don't stop learning. God has more for you!

It happens to everyone.

Isn't it always good to hear someone else's point of view?

Be tolerant of other cultures.

To make a difference, you must get involved.

Where's your mustard seed?