THE 1st OF APRIL
ONLY IN JESUS WE FIND TRUE REST
- “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:29-30
Specialists have defined five stages of sleep, from light sleep to very deep. During the night sleep, we normally cycle in and out of the five stages of sleep. We wake up rested if the majority of our sleeping hours were in the deep stages of sleep. Also, to wake up rested it is important to get at least 20% of the sleep time where we dream and process information.
Sleeping is for our physical body, but for us to be restored and refreshed when we wake up next morning, we need to experience the rest that Jesus is talking about in the above verses.
It is important to do everything from a position of being “yoked with Jesus.” When we remain in Him and He in us, it changes everything. We seek His help to follow His direction. When we ask for His counsel to do things His way, we know we can depend on Him and learn from Him in every situation. By learning to do all things with Jesus and being meek, gentle, humble and submissive to God, we find true rest and peace for our souls. When our hearts and minds are at peace, we will be able to sleep deep, to truly rest and to be our best, that God created us to be. Life is good and blessed when we live it for the Lord!
Suggested prayer: Thank You Father God for creating me in such an amazing way! I can enjoy my life and be blessed as long as I remember to depend on You dear Jesus! Please teach me how to be humble, meek and gentle as You are. To be able to remain calm and collected when things do not work out as I want them to. I long to have Your peace and feel rested. Please help me remember that I have to choose to not lose my temper and not try to rule the whole universe when I should be sleeping. Thank You so much for the truth that when I am yoked with You, Your woke is easy and Your burden is light, because You do the hard part for me and I get to do it all the easy way! Glory and honor to Your holy Name! Amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 2nd OF APRIL
GOD BLESSED THE DAY OF REST FOR OUR GOOD
- For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. - Exodus 20:11
God created the week with six working days and day of rest, the Sabbath, for a reason. He created us in such a way, that after six working days we need a day of rest. We focus on our relationship with Him most of our sabbath, relaxing and only doing whatever work that cannot be avoided. This is for our benefit
We also need to achieve the right balance between work and rest daily. If there are activities that leave us feeling drained, tired and exhausted all the time, we need to pay attention and take action. We also need to listen to our body and behavior. If we start to have frequent headaches, different body aches, neck pain and muscle soreness; if we find ourselves getting upset, angry or offended easier; if we feel depressed, stressed and cannot justify many of our activities, then we have reached the point of being physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually exhausted, or to put it simply: burned out.
When we are that tired, even a vacation with lots of activities can make things worse and when it’s over, we will need a vacation to rest from our vacation. We need to identify the areas where we feel the most effects of being exhausted, ask the Holy Spirit to show us ways to get refilled in our drained areas and to help us determine the right balance between our work hours and rest on a daily basis, so that we will be able to be the most productive and still keep our peace and joy.
Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, please help me keep You first in every area of my life and please teach me how to organize my time, so that I will be productive and get enough rest, too. Please help me to contact You in prayer all the time, and to follow Your guidance in everything I do. I have so many responsibilities and only with Your help can I stop feeling exhausted and tired all the time. While I am burned out, I cannot be productive, so please help me pray and worship You, to be refilled and able to accomplish my tasks and keep my joy and happiness. Please help me to never get out of balance, but to keep the right work-rest ratio and live an anointed blessed life, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 3rd OF APRIL
BY FAITH IN GOD WE MAY HAVE SUCCESS AND PEACEFUL SLEEP
- Thus says the Lord: “… Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:5a,7-8
The Lord spoke the above words through Jeremiah, to show us the core of His blessings for those who trust in Him. Faith in God keeps us well nourished and hydrated. We lack nothing as long as we keep God first and ask His help for a balanced life. We all go through seasons in life where we have more duties and responsibilities than we can handle and this is what I will address here and in a few other devotionals.
It seems like the more our society progresses, the more occupied and tired we are. Why do people feel more tired, exhausted, fatigued and drained out? The most common answer to the “How are you?” question is: “Good, but busy.” We have become so busy with so many activities, that we stop doing what really benefits us and we stress out by doing too much for too many.
Oftentimes we forget that we feel the best when we enjoy what we are doing and that there is rest in doing so. Instead we all struggle to get more done, even with the cost of lacking rest and sleep. The more tired we are, the less joy, peace, contentment and happiness we have. How can we fix this? God created our bodies to be restored during deep sleep. If our night sleep is light and any little noise wakes us up, we are not truly resting and our bodies are not getting the regeneration we need. As a result, we feel tired all the time.
We get real rest while sleeping, when our brain ceases its active processing. This is when we lose our conscious awareness about our surroundings and our brains and bodies enter in a quiet state. The best way to make this happen is to take a few minutes before going to bed to “unwind,” having a conversation with God telling Him what bothered us during the day and then giving Him whatever caused us to feel confined, tense or bound. We need to give it all to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the right Scripture that will help us pray correctly about whatever the problem is. Whatever hurt or offended us and all the issues that we feel we need to take care of or solve, but we cannot really do anything about, we pray about it according to what the Bible says God’s will is and based on it, we know that God hears and answers our prayers! If we do this in each area that bothers us, until we have peace about it, we will be able to rest by sleeping deep.
Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, I need to leave my burden at Your feet. Please help me give You all my concerns about __ (specify what worries you). Thank You so much that I can give it all to You and find rest in trusting You for the best solution. Please help me to stop feeling offended by what __ (mention the person’s name) did to me and forgive them. Please help me to get enough rest and stop being grouchy. Thank You that because I trust in You I can be “like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river,” and I will not fear when adversity comes my way. Lord please help me find the right Scripture about this situation, and pray accordingly, to get my breakthrough! In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 4th OF APRIL
EVERLASTING PEACE AND REST ARE THE RESULT OF A RIGHTEOUS LIFE
- The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, - Isaiah 32:17-18
When we truly belong to God and live in obedience to Him, through Jesus’ sacrifice we are counted righteous. Being in right standing with God results in “peace, quietness and assurance forever.” This is an amazing promise and it is the truth! Because we are God’s children, we dwell in a peaceful habitation. We can have constant inner peace in knowing that “in Jesus we are in a secure dwelling,” where we can rest in silence. We can ignore all fears and worries choosing to have peace and rest in knowing in that we are in Christ, in whom we belong to and who takes care of us and our future.
It is up to us to never forget all the truths mentioned in the previous paragraph. Often we are surrounded by many unbelievers that worry and despair about everything. If we do not keep our focus on Jesus and the truth of His Word, we may find ourselves starting to think and react like those around us. Our character is constantly affected by the behavior and words of those around us. The truth of the above verses cannot become a reality in our lives if we do not spend enough time in fellowship with our Lord and we are not on guard to not copy the words and behavior of the unbelievers that circumstances often require us to be around.
Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, please help me be always on guard when I have to spend time around people that are constantly negative, fearful and depressed. Help me to pray in my heart and proclaim your truth so I may not drink in their toxic words. Thank You so much for the peace, silence, comfort and security that I have assured forever in You. Help me to rest in Your presence on a daily basis and trust in You no matter what! I want to love and praise You forever, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 5th OF APRIL
WHY IS IT BETTER TO BE CALM AND COLLECTED THAN ANGRY AND QUICK-TEMPERED?
- He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control], but he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see]. - Proverbs 14:29
- A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes. - Proverbs 15:18
Stress and tiredness lead to a hot temper. For the one who used to get mad very easy and did not care for the consequences of their anger, before they came to Jesus, it is harder to keep the right heart and calm down when people offend them, but it is worth it. In Proverbs 14:29, the Lord advises us to be slow to anger, for our benefit. It is so much easier to fall into sin while being upset and angry, than when we are calm and collected.
What can we do when we feel like we are losing our temper with others? We need to excuse ourselves and go somewhere to calm down and get our peace back. If we “pour out” the glass of our frustration to the Lord, by telling Him what got us mad or what hurt us, and we ask Him to sincerely forgive us if we sinned, we start to calm down. Then we need to get refilled, by asking the Holy Spirit to help us feel His presence and fill our hearts with His love, patience, and peace. If we know that we might get offended again by certain people or topics that are discussed and there is no way to avoid them, we ask God to strengthen and help us keep the right attitude to please Him. By doing so, we start to change, becoming calmer and slower to anger.
We can spare ourselves and those around us of much pain and suffering, by choosing to keep calm. It is so worth it, to ask God to help us to be calm and show us the best way to solve the situation, than get mad and act foolish.
Suggested prayer: Father God, please help me remain calm, whenever people do me wrong or are not treating me right. Please forgive me that I did not always listen to Your small voice, and I still got upset or even angry at times. Dear Lord please help me allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit of self-control that is in me to take control over my reactions and remain calm no matter what. Thank You for all the time You helped me to calm down. Please help me control my feelings and reactions and never make a fool of myself again. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 6th OF APRIL
TO BE HOLY IN ALL WE DO WE HAVE TO CONTROL OUR LUSTS
- As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:14-16
Our heavenly Father loves us and asks us to obey Him for our sake. The Lord wants what is best for us even more than we do. He knows what the perfect good is for each of us, in order to fulfill the plan He has for our lives. In order to live the full and blessed life that the Lord has prepared for us, we can no longer do what we used to before Jesus was our Lord and now we need to live as His “obedient children.”
We are called to be holy in all our behavior, not just in some areas. Sadly for many, this verse only applies to the time while they are sitting in the church pew... and maybe not even then, because their minds continue to think sinfully. Jesus is holy and we must become like Him in everything we think, say, feel and do.
Sanctification is a long lasting process, because it takes us much time and effort to reprogram our minds to think according to the pattern of the Word of God. Replacing bad attitudes and wrong ways of addressing situations, requires time, much desire, and it is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. The more time we spend in fellowship with the Lord as we study the Bible, pray, praise and worship Him, the more we will imitate the character of God and become more holy. And when we sin, we need to promptly and sincerely repent doing our best not to repeat it again. The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us to do better, when we ask Him to.
Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, I want so much to become what You want me to be! Please help me to change, so that holiness can characterize me in everything I think, feel, say, and do. Please help me not to allow my mind to think about the lusts I had once when I did not know You. I want to obey You in all things and desire only what You want me to desire, so I can be Your loving and obedient child. I know Your will is best for me, no matter what. Thank You Lord, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 7th OF APRIL
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, THE PERFECT SACRIFICIAL LAMB
- And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. - 1 Peter 1:17-19
The first part of verse 17, in the original Greek language and some versions as the “Berean Literal Bible” it sounds like this: “And if you call on as Father the One judging impartially according to the work of each.”
We cannot call on God as our Father unless we surrender all to Him. Only the holy reverential fear of God can keep us on the right path. There is no terror in fearing God, but it is the fear of not upsetting the One whom we love, honor and respect more than any one or anything else. The Lord deserves all our love and worship, not just because He is the only true God, our Creator and Provider, but also because He has redeemed us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Only Jesus, who was without sin, could be the perfect sacrificial Lamb for all the sins of mankind. What an amazing love God has for us! Our heavenly Father suffered with His Son, and the Holy Spirit was Jesus’ help while He lived in a limited human body, when He came to sacrifice His life for the sins of all mankind.
Suggested prayer: How can I ever thank You Lord for the price You paid for my salvation? I have such great value before You that You have given Your Son to die for me, so I may live and spend all eternity with You! Please help me to always have holy fear and love You in reverence, so that I may live to please You. You have redeemed me, through the precious blood of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice for all my sins and all mankind! Thank You with all my heart, dear Lord! Amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 8th OF APRIL
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO FATHER GOD
- He (Jesus) indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:20-21
Jesus was chosen before the creation of the earth and all that is on it. God used the virgin Mary to bring Jesus in human form to become one of us and die in our place. God the Father, raised Him from the dead and put Him in the highest position “at His own right hand in the heavenly places, heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1: 20-21).
God the Father did everything for us, together with His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, so that all our trust and hope is in Him. Only through Jesus can we be faithful to God. Jesus is the only way to the Father. The pagan religions and worldly ecumenical movement try to make us believe that we can reach God through any religion. The Bible specifically shows that Jesus is the only way (John 14: 6). If it were possible for us to be saved any other way, the Son of God would not have had to die. Any other god, promoted by any other religion, is not the true One, but one of the many false ones, that the devil has used to deceive multitudes of people throughout history.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord God for Your love for me and for the most wonderful plan You have for my life! Please help me to trust You fully, to know for sure that You never forsake me and that through Jesus I can be part of Your family forever! I thank You, Lord Jesus, for opening the way for me to the Father through Your sacrifice and giving me Your righteousness so that I can enter into the heavenly Father's family! Glory, honor and praise to Your holy Name! Amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 9th OF APRIL
LET US SINCERELY LOVE ONE ANOTHER
- Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born-again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, - 1 Peter 1:22-23
After believing the truth of the Gospel and obeying it by following Jesus, the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts and minds of what prevents us from being able to love honestly, sincerely, without hypocrisy or falsity. Only through the pure love that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, who we received when we became born-again, can we love with all our hearts, as we read in 1 Corinthians 13:3-7.
What an extraordinary life we have in us! The life brought by believing the Word of God, caused us to be born-again, in our spirit, also called the "inner man” by Paul. Our inner man is totally changed by the union with the Holy Spirit. If we live in obedience to the Lord until the end, our spirits will never be separated from God, meaning that our spirits will live forever.
Suggested prayer: Thank You, dear Lord, for Your living and eternal Word, which has transformed my spirit, and through whose seed I was born-again. Thank You Lord for having changed my mind and heart through the Holy Spirit so that I can love as You want me to love. Praise You Lord for Your love, kindness and mercy, that You pour daily over me and keep me on the right path to heaven! Please help me make the right decisions on a daily basis, to love You with everything I am and have and to follow You to the end! Glory to You forever, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 10th OF APRIL
GOD’S WORD IS EVERLASTING
- … “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the Gospel was preached to you. - 1 Peter 1:24-25
How strong and great we sometimes think we are! In fact, everything that is truly good in us, comes from Jesus as well as all power. Only because of His grace are we still alive and able to do every good thing.
How wonderful is all that the Lord has done for us! Only when we realize how weak and fragile our lives are, can we glorify the Lord because He has loved us so much and has given His Son to die in our place, as the Good News, the Gospel says.
The Word of God is the invariable truth, unchangeable, eternally the same and will never disappear. All that Jesus did for our salvation is an eternal truth. Based on it, we will be able to spend our eternity in heaven with our Lord!
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, I cannot even breathe without You. How fragile my life is. If You would not keep me alive, I could not do it by myself. Please help me to admit that all power and all that is good in my life comes from You and without You I cannot do anything. Thank You Lord for Your Word, which is eternal, and its promise of salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice is true for me, too. Thank You Jesus, for You have filled my heart with the rivers of the Holy Spirit’s living water. Through You I will have everlasting life and I will be able to enjoy Your presence, for all eternity! Glory to You forever, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 11th OF APRIL
IF WE REMAIN IN JESUS AND HIS WORD REMAINS IN US, WE WILL RECEIVE WHAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR
- “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” - John 15:7
The fulfillment of the promise that God will hear our prayers is conditional in that, we must be in union with Jesus and the Word of God. The more we are transformed by the Word, the more we pray and the more we will receive what we are asking for.
It is not easy to have faith that the Lord has heard our prayers when it takes a while to receive an answer. When the answer is not instant, we become vulnerable to the enemy, who misses no opportunity to try to lie to us. The enemy tries to trick us into believing that we have an unconfessed sin and that the Lord is punishing us by not answering our prayers or that for whatever reason, we do not deserve for the Lord to love and help us anymore etc.
The truth is that in the physical world, sometimes it seems that the Lord is not answering our prayers, but in the spiritual world He is continuously working for our good. And even if, for different reasons, depending on the situation, it takes a while until we see the answer, we can be confident that for everything we ask according to the Word of God, living purely for Him, we will receive the best answer.
Suggested prayer: My Lord, please help me to study Your Word more and meditate on it so that it may change my way of thinking. I want to have Your system of values and to desire just what You know is good for me. Dear Lord, please help me never lose my confidence that You hear my prayers and I will receive Your answer. Thank You, Lord, that You love me and are working right now for me, and what seems to be a disaster, You will turn into something good for me, in the long run. Glory and honor to Your holy Name! Amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 12th OF APRIL
WE RECEIVE WHAT WE PRAY FOR WHEN WE PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
- Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. - 1 John 5:14-15
How do we know what the Lord's will is? The Bible is the Word of God and in it we find His will on any aspect of life. Every interpretation of biblical truths have to be verified by at least two or three verses (or verse sections), in the context they are written, referring explicitly to the situation, mutually supporting one another. Any fact or truth must be supported by two or three witnesses, whether they are eyewitnesses or written verses: “... by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established" (Deuteronomy 19:15). This is even a golden rule for verifying facts that the serious news media uses.
The prayer of faith brings into the physical world what God has already done for us in the spiritual world. When we pray and ask for something according to God's will, we must believe that our prayer is heard, that in the spiritual world we already have what we have asked for and it will materialize in the physical world at the right time. The Lord sees the overall picture of our lives, of those around us and all the factors involved in response to our prayer. What the Lord does for each of us often involves the lives of others. That is why sometimes His answer is, or just seems, different than what we were expecting to receive, but it is always what is best for us considering all factors.
Suggested prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father for Your Word, which reveals Your will, so that I may know how to pray. I am so glad to know that You hear me when I pray and You answer my prayers. Please forgive me for the times when I did not understand why You did not answer my prayers the way I thought You would. You know what is best for me, so please help me pray correctly and have patience until You decide it is the right time to see what I asked for, materialized in the physical world. Thank You for not giving me all that I asked You over the years that was not good for me. Lord please help me to identify the right verses that show Your will for what I need, and to pray with faith that I will receive what I ask for. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 13th OF APRIL
GOD DESERVES ALL OUR PRAISE AND GRATITUDE
King David understood very well how important it is to praise and worship the Lord, with a heart full of gratitude. If we choose to glorify the Lord, being thankful for everything He has done for us, including the miracles of the past, we are strengthening our faith for the miracle we need today.
Life is a continuous struggle, there are always things we need to deal with or take care of. We cannot change what does not depend on us, but we can change the way we react. David chose to humble himself before the Lord and encourage himself to glorify God, which shows that it was not necessarily a good day for him. The Lord said of David that he was "... a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully" (Acts 13:22)! David knew to be grateful for everything God did for him! To be a person “after God’s heart,” we must not only want to do all His will but actually do it!
Suggested prayer: My Lord, please help me to never forget any of Your benefits. Help me to thank You and have a heart full of gratitude for every miracle and answer to my prayers. Whenever I have been in a difficult situation, if I chose to remember the miracles You did for me in similar situations, I strengthened my faith and canceled any doubt that came to my mind. Please help me to choose as David did, to praise You with gratitude and worship You daily with all my heart and thank You for all things, amen!
- Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits - Psalms 103:1-2 (AMPC)
King David understood very well how important it is to praise and worship the Lord, with a heart full of gratitude. If we choose to glorify the Lord, being thankful for everything He has done for us, including the miracles of the past, we are strengthening our faith for the miracle we need today.
Life is a continuous struggle, there are always things we need to deal with or take care of. We cannot change what does not depend on us, but we can change the way we react. David chose to humble himself before the Lord and encourage himself to glorify God, which shows that it was not necessarily a good day for him. The Lord said of David that he was "... a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully" (Acts 13:22)! David knew to be grateful for everything God did for him! To be a person “after God’s heart,” we must not only want to do all His will but actually do it!
Suggested prayer: My Lord, please help me to never forget any of Your benefits. Help me to thank You and have a heart full of gratitude for every miracle and answer to my prayers. Whenever I have been in a difficult situation, if I chose to remember the miracles You did for me in similar situations, I strengthened my faith and canceled any doubt that came to my mind. Please help me to choose as David did, to praise You with gratitude and worship You daily with all my heart and thank You for all things, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 14th OF APRIL
GOD FORGIVES AND HEALS US
- Who (God) forgives all your iniquities, who (God) heals all your diseases, - Psalms 103:3
We can have a thankful heart if we “choose” to think of the goodness of the Lord, of all that He has done for us throughout our life and not dwell on the sickness or the difficult problems we may be enduring.
Whatever we have in our minds affects our physical brains. A healthy mindset, according to the Bible, regenerates the brain and makes it work properly. As a result, the whole body will be properly coordinated and will function as God designed it, including the immune system, which has been created by the Lord to fight against any pathogen attack. Negative thoughts produce toxic substances, which “burn” the area of the brain that it occupies and in time, affects our health.
The Holy Spirit tells us through David, that the Lord not only forgives our sins, but He also heals our diseases, suggesting that sins and diseases are interdependent. Jesus also forgave the sins of those He healed while walking on earth, precisely because sins are often the cause of some diseases. If we want to be as healthy as possible, let us seek to live holy lives and keep a pure heart and mind that glorifies the Lord for all things.
Suggested prayer: Glory and honor to You my Lord, because You forgive all my sins and heal all my diseases! In You I have everything I need to live a victorious life. Please help me to always remember that if I sincerely repent and ask for Your forgiveness, You forgive my sin and heal any disease that I pray against and believe for. Thank You Lord, that there is no sickness which You cannot heal and no trial that You cannot help me be victorious over! In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 15th OF APRIL
GOD’S GOODNESS IS UNLIMITED TOWARDS THOSE WHO LOVE HIM
- He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; - Psalms 103:10-11
What great promises! God knows where we are in the different stages of our Christian lives, and He meets us there. We are not a surprise to Him, for “no creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13). That is why God does not ask more of us than what we can do or be, and He always evaluates us correctly. The Lord knows everything that is going on in our minds and hearts as well as in the spiritual world around us and judges our actions and reactions based upon all the factors involved.
When we fear God, we do not intentionally sin. If we find pleasure in living to please God and hate sin, then God’s goodness towards us has no limit. We hold things back by the limits we set upon the Lord. As we grow in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and in learning to depend on His help, we will be able to make the right choices and do what is good. The more holy we live, the more we will taste God’s goodness.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much that You do not punish me according to my transgressions. Your kindness exceeds my ability to comprehend, and I cannot thank You enough for all the good You have done and continue to do for me. I praise and glorify You for forgiving my sins when I sincerely ask You to and please help me to please You more. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 16th OF APRIL
GOD KNOWS OUR WEAKNESSES AND TREATS US AS HIS BELOVED CHILDREN
- As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities His children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. - Psalms 103:12-14
If David could say, under the Old Covenant how wonderful the Lord's forgiveness and mercy is for those who fear Him, how much more now, when we are no longer under the Law, but under grace, should we trust in our heavenly Father’s heart!
God knows us better than we know ourselves, and because He is outside of time, He already knows all that each of us will do in our lives. The Lord knows all the emotional, spiritual, and inherited problems we had when we became His children. He also knows how fast we can grow and mature in Him. And because He is just and loving, He treats each of us fairly and individually, not merely by standard procedures. God meets us where we are at, and if we obey His leadership, we can mature spiritually and fulfill the wonderful and unique plan He has for each of us.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for not comparing me with the other people but treating me individually as a loving Father who knows His children and knows what they can and cannot do. Please help me have a holy fear of You, to not sin against You. You know my weaknesses better than I do, so please help me to overcome them and be able to do the things that are so hard for me to accomplish, so that I can live in obedience to You. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 17th OF APRIL
GOD IS GOOD AND MERCIFUL WITH THOSE WHO SINCERELY LOVE HIM
- But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [reverently] fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who honor and keep His covenant, and remember to do His commandments [imprinting His Word on their hearts]. - Psalms 103:17-18 (AMP)
We are no longer under the Old Covenant, but that does not mean that we can live as we please, thinking that the Lord will automatically forgive us in His loving-kindness and grace. God is love, but He is also just. If we believe we can love sin and Jesus at the same time, we are wrong. But if we truly love Jesus and have “His Word imprinted in our hearts,” we choose not to sin and seek to do the Lord’s will. As we do so, we will benefit in full of the effects of God’s goodness and love, no matter what we have to go through while we live in this evil world.
Suggested prayer: How much mercy and love You have for me, my Lord, and I did not earn any of it. How wonderful is Your grace, the favor You have for me day by day! I thank You that as long as I reverently fear You, Your loving-kindness will never depart from me. Please help me to love You more than anything else and live for You according to Your Word. I praise and glorify You for Your mercy and love, which are not only here and now, but for eternity, if I remain close to You until the end. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 18th OF APRIL
ONLY IN THE LORD DO WE FIND TRUE AND LONG-LASTING HAPPINESS
True protection and security can only be found in the Lord. There is a certain security in knowing who the Lord of our lives is and in whom we trust. Nothing can be more encouraging than to know that the Creator of the whole universe loves us, is with us wherever we go, there is no power above His power and that He wants what is truly best for us. The only living and true God wants us to be His, by the redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to take care of us.
True happiness does not come from what or how much we possess. We can be truly satisfied and blessed only if we live in obedience to the Lord. When we know that the Lord is the source of all we need, that He never abandons us during hardships and wants to rejoice with us when we are happy, we are tasting true happiness. The joy that the Holy Spirit brings into our hearts, when we are born-again, becomes more intense and profound as we grow in fellowship with the Lord. If here on earth, we can taste so much joy and happiness through the Holy Spirit, the eternal joy and happiness that awaits us in heaven is beyond our imagination! It is so worthwhile to live for the Lord here and now, but especially in knowing that it is for all eternity! No price is too high, for us to attain whatever Jesus has prepared for us in heaven!
Suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, I do not want to be without You, not even for a second! You are my Lord and I want to live in obedience to You. Please help me not to sin, because I do not want to lose Your protection, not even for a moment. What an unimaginable happiness I found in Your presence! And I know that I tasted only a small portion of what You have prepared for me in heaven for eternity! Please help me transform my mind more and more through Your Word so that I can enjoy more and more the happiness of Your presence! Thank You and praise You dear Lord, amen!
- Preserve me, o God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, You have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” - Psalms 16:1-2
True protection and security can only be found in the Lord. There is a certain security in knowing who the Lord of our lives is and in whom we trust. Nothing can be more encouraging than to know that the Creator of the whole universe loves us, is with us wherever we go, there is no power above His power and that He wants what is truly best for us. The only living and true God wants us to be His, by the redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to take care of us.
True happiness does not come from what or how much we possess. We can be truly satisfied and blessed only if we live in obedience to the Lord. When we know that the Lord is the source of all we need, that He never abandons us during hardships and wants to rejoice with us when we are happy, we are tasting true happiness. The joy that the Holy Spirit brings into our hearts, when we are born-again, becomes more intense and profound as we grow in fellowship with the Lord. If here on earth, we can taste so much joy and happiness through the Holy Spirit, the eternal joy and happiness that awaits us in heaven is beyond our imagination! It is so worthwhile to live for the Lord here and now, but especially in knowing that it is for all eternity! No price is too high, for us to attain whatever Jesus has prepared for us in heaven!
Suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, I do not want to be without You, not even for a second! You are my Lord and I want to live in obedience to You. Please help me not to sin, because I do not want to lose Your protection, not even for a moment. What an unimaginable happiness I found in Your presence! And I know that I tasted only a small portion of what You have prepared for me in heaven for eternity! Please help me transform my mind more and more through Your Word so that I can enjoy more and more the happiness of Your presence! Thank You and praise You dear Lord, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 19th OF APRIL
THE LORD COUNSELS AND STRENGTHENS HIS CHILDREN
- The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. - Psalms 16:6-8
David was so close to the Lord that his worldly possessions meant nothing to him compared to the spiritual ones. He was rich in the Lord. The inheritance he spoke about was the marvelous relationship he had with God. The Lord spoke to David day and night because he was willing to communicate with Him. He was seeking God’s counsel, and he received it. The Lord does that for us too, whenever we truly seek His presence and ask for His counsel.
David tells us how he came to be so close to the Lord. His spiritual eyes were "always" (non-stop, continuously) set on the Lord. In other words, he did everything possible not to be influenced by life’s circumstances or by those around him but always sought the counsel of the Lord. As long as David kept the Lord before him, nothing could move him no matter what he went through.
Suggested prayer: Lord, please help me to constantly set my spiritual eyes upon You, to be sure of Your protection, and not to forget how rich and blessed I am because of being Your child. Thank You for advising me and strengthening me when I seek You. You never leave me or forsake me, no matter what the situation is. You always show me the best solution for all that I am asking Your direction about. Please help me stay close to You, so that I remain in You and not be shaken. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 20th OF APRIL
THOSE WHO HABITUALLY DO GOOD WILL RECEIVE GLORY, HONOR AND PEACE
If we choose to do what is right, the Lord rewards us with the glory of His presence. He gives us the honor of being His children and the inner peace that comes from the insurance of salvation, whether we are Jews or Gentiles. Many Jews believed that they would go to heaven whether they were obedient to the Lord or not, because they were the “chosen” people of God. Paul clarifies things, for the Jews’ sake, who need to believe in Jesus, repent and live holy lives like any other human being on earth, in order to be saved.
God shows no unfairness. The Lord is just and holy in everything He does and decides. His commandments are the same for all people on this planet and we are all equal before the Lord, regardless of nation, gender, social position or education.
It is not enough for the parents to bring their children to church to every service believing that if they "grew up in the church" they would be saved. Salvation is personal and everyone must ask Jesus to become the Lord of their life, repent of sins, and become born-again by the Holy Spirit. Whatever happens in the heart of the believer is shown in their behavior as well as in the way they speak, no matter what a great actor the person might be.
Suggested prayer: Praise, You Lord for all You have done for me here and for eternity! Thank You for my salvation. What a wonderful place You prepared for me, a heavenly dwelling, where there are no tears, no pain and no sin! Please help me Lord, to live to please and obey You in all things, so that I may spend eternity with You in joy, peace and absolute happiness! Thank You with all my heart, amen!
- But glory and honor and [heart] peace shall be awarded to everyone who [habitually] does good, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile). For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another]. Romans 2:10-11 (AMP)
If we choose to do what is right, the Lord rewards us with the glory of His presence. He gives us the honor of being His children and the inner peace that comes from the insurance of salvation, whether we are Jews or Gentiles. Many Jews believed that they would go to heaven whether they were obedient to the Lord or not, because they were the “chosen” people of God. Paul clarifies things, for the Jews’ sake, who need to believe in Jesus, repent and live holy lives like any other human being on earth, in order to be saved.
God shows no unfairness. The Lord is just and holy in everything He does and decides. His commandments are the same for all people on this planet and we are all equal before the Lord, regardless of nation, gender, social position or education.
It is not enough for the parents to bring their children to church to every service believing that if they "grew up in the church" they would be saved. Salvation is personal and everyone must ask Jesus to become the Lord of their life, repent of sins, and become born-again by the Holy Spirit. Whatever happens in the heart of the believer is shown in their behavior as well as in the way they speak, no matter what a great actor the person might be.
Suggested prayer: Praise, You Lord for all You have done for me here and for eternity! Thank You for my salvation. What a wonderful place You prepared for me, a heavenly dwelling, where there are no tears, no pain and no sin! Please help me Lord, to live to please and obey You in all things, so that I may spend eternity with You in joy, peace and absolute happiness! Thank You with all my heart, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 21st OF APRIL
THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST WE CAN BE BORN-AGAIN AND INHERIT HEAVEN
Because Jesus rose from the dead, after He died for our sins, we can be born-again through Him and become perfect in our spirits. Without being born-again, no one makes it to heaven. In Jesus, we know that we have an ”uncorruptible and undefiled” inheritance that never diminishes or changes. This is the eternal life received through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Thank You Lord, for choosing and transforming us by the new birth, through the Holy Spirit, that we may be Your children forever!
Heaven is the perfect place that God created, where no sin ever entered to spoil or diminish its value. In heaven everything is wonderful, holy and pure, just as God is. There, all true Christians who live in obedience to the Lord, will spend eternity.
Suggested prayer: Praise, You Lord for all You have done for me here and for everything You have prepared in heaven! Thank You for my salvation. What a wonderful place awaits for me, a heavenly dwelling, where there are no tears, no pain and no sin! Please help me Lord, to live to please You, obey You in all things, so that I may spend eternity with You in joy, peace and absolute happiness! Thank You and glory to Your holy Name, amen!
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for You. - 1 Peter 1:3-4
Because Jesus rose from the dead, after He died for our sins, we can be born-again through Him and become perfect in our spirits. Without being born-again, no one makes it to heaven. In Jesus, we know that we have an ”uncorruptible and undefiled” inheritance that never diminishes or changes. This is the eternal life received through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Thank You Lord, for choosing and transforming us by the new birth, through the Holy Spirit, that we may be Your children forever!
Heaven is the perfect place that God created, where no sin ever entered to spoil or diminish its value. In heaven everything is wonderful, holy and pure, just as God is. There, all true Christians who live in obedience to the Lord, will spend eternity.
Suggested prayer: Praise, You Lord for all You have done for me here and for everything You have prepared in heaven! Thank You for my salvation. What a wonderful place awaits for me, a heavenly dwelling, where there are no tears, no pain and no sin! Please help me Lord, to live to please You, obey You in all things, so that I may spend eternity with You in joy, peace and absolute happiness! Thank You and glory to Your holy Name, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 22nd OF APRIL
BY MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD WE LEARN TO TRUST THE LORD AND CAN BE HAPPY
In God’s Word we find the wisdom and counsel of the Lord for any situation we might ever go through. Regardless of whatever century we live in, life’s problems are basically the same and the same basic principles apply to them. That is why, by studying and focusing our thoughts on the Word of God, we find true happiness.
Because we know in whom we trust and what the Lord can do for us, we cannot give in to worry and that is the key for peace and lasting happiness. We can trust in knowing and applying the truth of the Bible no matter how difficult the circumstances might be that we find ourselves in. The Word of God is the source, where we find all we need to know, as well as the truth upon which we can strengthen our faith that gives us peace and trust which lead to true happiness!
Suggested prayer: Dear heavenly Father, only in You do I find true happiness. Thank You for opening my spiritual eyes to understand the truth of Your Word. I praise You for the wonderful promises I have in the Bible and for the truth that they are real for me as well. The deeper I study Your Word, the more I trust You and the happier I am! Thank You that Your Word stands forever! I so appreciate everything You do and I cannot ever thank You enough! Glory and praises to Your holy Name! Amen.
- He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. - Proverbs 16:20
In God’s Word we find the wisdom and counsel of the Lord for any situation we might ever go through. Regardless of whatever century we live in, life’s problems are basically the same and the same basic principles apply to them. That is why, by studying and focusing our thoughts on the Word of God, we find true happiness.
Because we know in whom we trust and what the Lord can do for us, we cannot give in to worry and that is the key for peace and lasting happiness. We can trust in knowing and applying the truth of the Bible no matter how difficult the circumstances might be that we find ourselves in. The Word of God is the source, where we find all we need to know, as well as the truth upon which we can strengthen our faith that gives us peace and trust which lead to true happiness!
Suggested prayer: Dear heavenly Father, only in You do I find true happiness. Thank You for opening my spiritual eyes to understand the truth of Your Word. I praise You for the wonderful promises I have in the Bible and for the truth that they are real for me as well. The deeper I study Your Word, the more I trust You and the happier I am! Thank You that Your Word stands forever! I so appreciate everything You do and I cannot ever thank You enough! Glory and praises to Your holy Name! Amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 23rd OF APRIL
WHILE JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD, WE LACK NOTHING
- The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. - Psalms 23:1-2 (AMP Classic)
Because I follow Jesus, and He is my true Shepherd, He cares for me, guides me, and does not let me lack anything. What a comforting feeling to know that as long as we belong to the Lord and obey His leadership, He will meet our needs. Does that mean I have nothing to do, and that I will receive everything without working or doing my part? The shepherd does not force feed his sheep. He leads them to the best pastures he can find, but they must graze on the grass and digest it to be truly fed.
If we ask God to give us the right job, He leads us to it, according to the skills He equipped us with and gives us the strength to do the work, but it is up to us to honor the duties we have. By praying and learning to listen for the voice of God, we will be able to benefit more and more from His wonderful counsel and guidance.
The Lord leads us to restful waters, which represent spiritual rest, and we find it only in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is the rest that comes from having faith in the care, protection, and love of the Lord. We can enjoy true rest even in stormy times, by enjoying the comfort offered by the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who knows all we need and whatever is best for us.
Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, what a privilege I have, to be guarded and protected by You! Help me never forget that You care for me and provide all my needs! Please help me hear what You are telling me and clearly identify the thoughts You bring into my mind, in order to lead and advise me! What rest and relaxation I find in Your presence! Please help me to not allow the worries of this world to steal the peace and joy that I have in You! Glory and honor to Your Holy Name! Amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 24th OF APRIL
JESUS RESTORES OUR SOULS AND LEADS US ON THE PATH TO HEAVEN
- He (God) refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. - Psalms 23:3 (AMP Classic)
As life is more and more stressful, we need to be refreshed and restored more often than ever. When we deepen our study and understanding of the meaning of the Word of God, we strengthen our faith and receive the power we need to move forward.
When we sing with all our hearts, songs that praise the Lord, we may enter in the presence of the Lord, where we hear more clearly His counsel. True worship comes from a humble heart that recognizes its dependence on God and His majesty. We need to understand more and more who we truly are in Christ and who the Lord is in relation to everything that surrounds us and all that happens to us. The more we understand all that, the more joy we will have and less stress. Our confidence in our eternal future will be increased also.
Life with Jesus is wonderful, if we trust Him fully and completely!
Suggested prayer: My Lord, You are so loving and You show me so much mercy and understanding! When sadness or discouragement try to fill my heart, if I look at You and remember how much You love me, You refresh my soul and my life is worth living again! Only with You and through You, life can be truly beautiful! Dear Lord please help me to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly and not miss any of His counsel! Holy Spirit, You are the most wonderful Helper, You never leave me and You want to rejoice with me when all goes well! Thank You and praise You, my Lord! In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 25th OF APRIL
WE SHOULD FEAR NOTHING WHILE JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD
- Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. - Psalms 23:4 (AMP Classic)
We walk through the valley of the shadow of death when we go through the dark, desperate seasons in life, or the dangerous places where there is real danger of death, deep as a valley, dark as a shadow and dangerous as death itself. David says that even if he should go through something as terrible as that, he will fear "no evil" because the Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, is with him. We cannot find more wonderful encouragement than the fact that the Lord is in us and with us, wherever we are and whatever we should go through.
Shepherds use “the rod and staff” to protect and guide in tending their sheep. What we are tempted to consider as being "objects that cause pain," are actually meant for our protection. They will cause pain, alright, but for those who try to hurt us and not for us. Even if we sometimes need to be disciplined, it is for our own sake, to remain on the right path and not to wander from the path to heaven!
Suggested prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being with me through every hardship in life, and especially in the dangerous places and situations! Because You are with me, I have no reason to fear! Please help me to never forget that You are always with me. You protect and keep me from evil, and do not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. I am so thankful that for every temptation, You make a way out! I thank You for Your loving help, so that I can walk with You! Please help me to do Your will in everything, so that I do not need to be disciplined! In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 26th OF APRIL
GOD'S GOODNESS AND MERCY ARE THERE FOR US EVERY DAY
- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalms 23:5-6
The Lord has all that we need materially, spiritually and emotionally. God has prepared for us a true feast of goodness that does not go unnoticed even by those who are evil. Even they see that the Lord gives us favor and blesses us.
The anointing of the head with oil was a sign of wealth and was used ceremonially before an important event. Also, oil was used for the prevention of diseases and parasites as well as in other medicinal treatments. The “anointing of the head” and the “cup that runs over” symbolize abundance and blessing that revive us when we are exhausted, and the whole verse shows that our souls delight in the Lord's comfort more than in anything else.
The next verse concludes the effects of what verse 5 says the Lord is doing for us. Goodness and mercy will be with us as long as we live in Christ. We are to “dwell in the house of the Lord, forever” and not only “visit the presence of the Lord” from time to time! When we are constantly aware that the Lord is in us and we constantly have a conversation in our spirit with Him, we can be sure that the goodness and mercy of God is a constant presence in our lives.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, You never stop amazing me with Your love, kindness and blessings! You are so good and wonderful and no one and nothing can do for me what You are doing! You give me favor even in the sight of those who are evil. You comfort me whenever I suffer and ask for help! My cup of blessings is so full that it runs over! How will I be able to thank You and give You all the praise You deserve for everything You do for me? Glory to Your Holy Name forever and ever, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 27th OF APRIL
BY OBEYING GOD’S WORD WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES, WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND FIND TRUE FREEDOM
- So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” - John 8:31-32 (AMP)
The Jews studied the Law (given from God through Moses) from childhood. The requirements of the Law are complex and strict, and that is why they had to know its content well enough to be able to fulfill it and be saved. As the Messiah came, the Jews who believed in Jesus now needed to change their way of thinking, from being led by the Law, to being led by the Word of Jesus (the Gospel). We too, are to live and be in obedience, according to the teachings of Jesus.
Anyone who comes to Jesus must replace their thinking, emotional reactions, speech, and behavior with what the Word of God says. In addition to knowing what the Word says, we must also live according to its teaching, to truly be Jesus' disciples. Both Jews and any of us, who have believed in salvation through good works, must know the truth of salvation through Christ's grace, to get free from the punishment for our sins. Once we have been born-again and come to know the truth, the change in our hearts leads us to choose to do good and no longer want to sin. We do not do good deeds to earn our salvation, but precisely because we have been transformed and do not want to do anything wrong anymore.
Suggested prayer: Thank You heavenly Father for loving me! Please help me to always submit to Your Word and study it so that I can know the truth and be truly free! Thank You Jesus for delivering me from the curse and punishment of sin. I am free from the bondage of sin, and I can choose to live right for Your glory! Thank You with all my heart for all You did to save me! Please help me abide in Your Word so that I will not depart from You, not even for a moment and that I will know the truth and be free indeed! Glory to Your Holy Name forever and ever, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 28th OF APRIL
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD’S PROMISES, IN SPITE OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
- Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he (Abraham) became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. - Romans 4:18-19
Abraham was seventy-five years old (Genesis 12:4) when the Lord first told him that He would make him a great nation and called him to leave his country (Haran) and go to the promised land (Canaan). It was about fifteenth years before the Lord's angels came back and told him that in a year, he and Sarah would be parents. For all these years, Abraham had continued to believe without having anything else but the promise of the Lord. Sarah gave birth for the first time, when she was ninety years old, and Abraham became the father of the promised son when he was one hundred years old, by having extreme faith.
For each of us, there are certain things that are part of the marvelous plan that the Lord has for our lives and which demand extreme faith on our part, to come to pass. Even if we deviated from the path that the Lord wanted for us, if we still want to do His will and return to Him, the Lord can still show us the way He has prepared for us, and by faith we can stay faithful to the end.
The gifts that the Lord has placed in us are there, and if we ask the Holy Spirit, He will show us what they are and will help us grow in them. Nothing can give us more satisfaction than living our lives for the Lord, fulfilling the call He has for each of us.
Suggested prayer: I praise You Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! You have created everything perfectly, including myself! Please help me identify all the gifts You have deposited in me and help me use them for Your glory and for the benefit of others. I want to be able to bless others, just as I was blessed too. Please help me to have that faith that is based on what You told me You would do for me. Thank You in the name of Jesus, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 29th OF APRIL
ABRAHAM CHOSE TO BELIEVE GOD’S PROMISE AND NOT DOUBT
- He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:20-22
Abraham strengthened himself by his faith and continued to give glory to God for fifteen years until he saw the fulfillment of the Lord's promise. How wonderful! In all those years, he refused to doubt that he would receive what God had promised. For someone who, until he was ninety years old, had no child, to believe that he would have so many offspring that he will become the father of many nations and the whole earth would be to be blessed in his seed was enormous! And indeed, Jesus was born of the descendants of Isaac, and through him all the earth is blessed!
Abraham knew that God would do what He promised, and nothing could have shaken his belief! Such a faith is counted by the Lord as righteousness for the one who has it. He who has such a faith, knows his Lord, and can live purely by fulfilling the Scriptures.
Suggested prayer: My Lord, I thank You for Isaac, the son of promise, through which even me, as a Gentile have been adopted into Your people. Please help me to have an unwavering faith in Your promises, as Abraham had! Help me believe in what seems impossible and not doubt that You can do what You have promised, because nothing is impossible for You! Glory to Your holy Name forever, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 30th OF APRIL
BY FAITH WE ARE CONSIDERED RIGHTEOUS
- Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also--to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead— who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] for our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God]. - Romans 4:23-25
Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness, and this is true for us as well; if Jesus is our Lord and we have faith in God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead after He paid for our sins, dying in our place. The wages of sin is death. Jesus died and rose from the dead, that we might be considered sinless and be justified. We cannot ever be righteous enough through our own good works. If that were possible, Jesus would not have had to die. But Father God gave His Son so we might be saved and be with our Lord in heaven forever.
We can be righteous, pure and sinless, only by firm faith in Jesus Christ and by what He has done for us. We cannot believe in Jesus without believing in God the Father and the Holy Spirit, because all three are one!
Suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for having died in my place and that I can have Your righteousness if I trust in You! I thank You for the indescribable joy I have whenever the presence of the Holy Spirit floods me! You keep Your promises, and I can trust in what is written in Your Word. Because You have risen, I also have life and forgiveness of sins through You! I thank You and glorify You with all my heart, amen!
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.