“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”
Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)

AUGUST 21 - Just how important are the decisions we make? They are the determining factors of the success or failure of our future. The choices we make today determine who we become tomorrow. We make thousands of decisions every day, many of which we don’t even think about. Other decisions can alter our life for better or for worse. To create the future God desires in our lives, we must select our decisions by
principle, and not by emotion. Without Godly principles, we are like a ship with no one to man the sails. The wind fatefully decides the ship’s course.

Without principles, the circumstances of life have complete control over our direction. For example, many people do not tithe because they are in debt and cannot afford to give God ten percent. They claim that when things get better, they will tithe. God assures us things will not get better for them until they tithe. Another example is a teenager who promises to stop partying when he gets out of high school. Unfortunately, things only worsen for that young person in the meantime, making it almost impossible to escape the party scene later in life.

We must never make decisions based upon present circumstances, but rather on the ultimate outcome we desire. Whatever we find in the Word of God, we must embrace as truth and apply our lives to it.

Father, I thank You that I live by Your principles and every Word that proceeds out of Your mouth. I am a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 11

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Principle Driven

“I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the Gospel.”
Philippians 2:20-22

AUGUST 20 - Long before Timothy was the renowned pastor of the church at Ephesus, he was a young man serving with his spiritual father, Paul. In those years of maturing, he chose to make himself a competent tool in the hand of the man of God. He didn’t do so because he wanted to be the pastor of a big church or because he knew it would lead to fame. He simply did what the Spirit of God inside of him whispered to him: Become a tool.

Paul writes that there was no one like Timothy. Everyone else was interested in their own welfare—in what they could get out of preaching the Gospel. That was not so with Timothy. He simply wanted to become whatever God desired him to become. And though Timothy did not realize it, his decision to do so prepared him to be entrusted with the lives of thousands of believers. He became a servant—a true servant. He laid aside his own agenda and readily picked up the agenda of another. I’m certain that the celebration in Heaven when Timothy finished his course was an outstanding spectacle to see. May the same hold true for us as we become a tool in the hand of the One we serve.

Father, I thank You that I look out for the interest of those I am called to serve. I choose to serve with the man of God in the work of the Gospel.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 10

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Servanthood

“If you will only obey Me and let Me help you, then you will have plenty to eat.”
Isaiah 1:19 (NLT)

AUGUST 19 - Obedience simply means doing what God instructs us in His Word. It means to live up to the knowledge we receive. God told Abram, “Abram, I want you to move from your comfortable situation and go to a new country.” Abram obeyed God. If God talks to us about something, we must do it. Our Heavenly Father expects each of His children to yield to Him with wholehearted obedience. The entrance into this new life with Christ demands the vow of absolute obedience. As Christians, we must surrender our whole being, exactly as Jesus did, to be, think, speak, and act according to the will of God; it is not enough to just agree with Him. It is only through obedience that our agreement is proven, and in doing so, we have access to God’s favor and abundant blessings. As Jesus continued His sermon, distinct commands were given.  Instructions such as:

• Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad when persecuted.
• You are the salt of the world, so don’t lose your flavor.
• You are the light of the world, so don’t hide your light.
• You know it’s not right to kill, but neither should you be angry without cause.

Jesus knew that God requires obedience. Every act of our obedience is an added ingredient unto a just reward. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 that obedience is the very essence of salvation. Obedience opens the door to all that God has to give—most importantly, an intimate relationship with God Himself.

Father, I thank You that I do all my authority instructs. I obey and submit to my spiritual leaders and I humble myself as Your willing servant.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 9

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under General

“So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.”
1 Kings 17:15 (NKJV)

AUGUST 18 - People of all sizes, shapes, and circumstances hovered around the mountain’s rocky base, not only Galileans, but folks as far away as Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the River Jordan. Gathered to hear the Teacher, this prophet and carpenter from Nazareth, their respect for the Teacher caused a hush to settle over the crowd. His words meandered into their ears and wafted down into their hearts and souls, “Blessed, Blessed, Blessed.” The Teacher said the word “blessed” nine times in all. What a strange way of speaking! What an odd way of delivering a religious message. But with each compelling sentence, the people’s response was one of sheer, unwavering respect for the Man of God who thundered before them.

• Whatever you respect is whatever steadily increases inside your life.
• Stay very sensitive to respect and honor the men and women God assigns to lead your life.
• Look for opportunities to express that respect and honor, for before honor can become a harvest in your life, it must first be your seed.

Grasp and live this concept and you will operate at the highest levels of life.

Father, I thank You that I do all my authority instructs. I obey and submit to my spiritual leaders and I humble myself as Your willing servant.

Family Scripture Reading

Proverbs 12

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under General

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.”
Psalm 24:3-6 (NKJV)

AUGUST 17 - “God, I want nothing more than You.” That’s the attitude of one who possesses a pure heart. Please bear these thoughts in mind…

• Purity has no extra agenda, and no ambition for personal gain to the detriment of another.
• Purity is so consumed by God’s love for other people that it is willing to endure any hardship for others’ benefit.
• Purity realizes that in God exists the fullness of life, joy, happiness, and purpose, so it is content to have God, even if everything else is cast off.
• Purity realizes that this life is fleeting and eternity beckons.
• Purity says to God, “I will obey You no matter what it costs, and I’ll do it even if I don’t get credit. I want Your approval on my life. I don’t need any special awards or any extra attention. I just want You.”

God’s heart is touched by such an attitude. When a child of His approaches Him like this, He cannot help lavishing His love upon that child. He eagerly searches for someone to whom He can entrust the secrets of His Word, and only a person with a pure heart (one who does good and right with God’s revelation) uniquely qualifies. All others must remain in the outer courts of God’s presence until they cultivate, like a shiny pearl produced from an oyster shell, a pure, shiny heart.

Father, I thank You that I have one desire—the thing I seek most—to live in Your house all the days of my life, delighting in Your Word.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 8

Featured Resource

Excellence In The Workplace - Book

‘Stuck in a Rut’ at Your Job?

Does it seem like you’ve been going nowhere fast in your career, your business, or your place of employment? Well, Robb Thompson has the tools you need to pull yourself out of that rut and onto the high road of excellence that leads straight to promotion and success!

In this book, Robb applies his lifelong, passionate pursuit of excellence to the arena of the workplace. By the time you have finished reading this book, you will be convicted to change, inspired to pursue, and fully equipped to become all God has called you to be at your place of employment!

So make the decision to get “unstuck” once and for all — and then start moving on up to a whole new level of Excellence in the Workplace!

Posted under Purity

“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.’”
Numbers 14:27-28 (NKJV)

AUGUST 16 - “She’s always been such a good student,” the middle-aged mom pondered aloud to her husband, concerned about their freshman daughter. “She does great on the tests, answers well in class, participates with her classmates; it’s just the homework where she lacks.” Straining his ears, the husband listened (just to be sure) and in seconds, their problem would be solved. “It’s easy, honey. All we have to do is eliminate the negative distractions—music (like the stuff that’s blasting in her room now), television, movies, friends, phone calls. That’s what’s doing it.” And sure enough, as soon as those negative elements were removed, factors that could have destroyed the way to their daughter’s future, they saw victory in her grades the next term.

And if we refuse to eliminate negative things from our lives, those things ultimately destroy us, and we do not find a place of repentance. The moment we choose to obey is the moment we declare we want God’s will more than our own.

It is also God’s desire for us to be pleasing to others. In our modern society, everyone wants to know the reasoning instructions. “Why do you want me to do this? Why do you want to do it that way?” The question is constantly “Why?” There is little willingness to submit, and that spirit has subtly crept into the church. We must be serious about stopping negative influences from penetrating our lives. Remember, we are all susceptible to the negative flow of society, so we must remain diligent to fill ourselves with the overcoming power of the Word of God.

Father, I thank You for making me more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.

Family Scripture Reading

Genesis 31

Featured Resource

Excellence In The Workplace - Book

‘Stuck in a Rut’ at Your Job?

Does it seem like you’ve been going nowhere fast in your career, your business, or your place of employment? Well, Robb Thompson has the tools you need to pull yourself out of that rut and onto the high road of excellence that leads straight to promotion and success!

In this book, Robb applies his lifelong, passionate pursuit of excellence to the arena of the workplace. By the time you have finished reading this book, you will be convicted to change, inspired to pursue, and fully equipped to become all God has called you to be at your place of employment!

So make the decision to get “unstuck” once and for all — and then start moving on up to a whole new level of Excellence in the Workplace!

Posted under Victory

“So David said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.’”
2 Samuel 9:7 (NKJV)

AUGUST 15 - Very few understand the subject of favor. Many think favor is “luck” or “good fortune” and perhaps even “chance.” They do not understand that we are the determining factor for the favor that comes into our lives. God does not sit up in Heaven and tell Jesus, “Let’s show favor to Jimmy today, but as for Barbara, we are not going to show favor.” He gave us principles by which we can live our lives. By executing those principles, favor increases, and neglecting to do them, in turn, causes favor to decrease.

What is favor? Favor is the desire that someone has to help you succeed. It is when someone has a desire to participate in your future. John the Baptist needed the favor of Jesus—His Godly character of meekness and His eternal strength—to persevere through the greatest
of trials to come. He desperately needed Jesus in order to help him succeed, to take him where he had never been in his God-given assignment on earth.

We desperately need those who can take us to where we haven’t been. Understand this about favor: it can only come from those who can promote us. We must seek to please those God called us to serve, and when we do, we see the favor we need to enter the future we truly desire.

Father, I thank You that as Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and
in favor with You and men, so do I. I apply the necessary principles
to my life to cause the favor I need to come to fruition.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 7

Featured Resource

Excellence In The Workplace - Book

‘Stuck in a Rut’ at Your Job?

Does it seem like you’ve been going nowhere fast in your career, your business, or your place of employment? Well, Robb Thompson has the tools you need to pull yourself out of that rut and onto the high road of excellence that leads straight to promotion and success!

In this book, Robb applies his lifelong, passionate pursuit of excellence to the arena of the workplace. By the time you have finished reading this book, you will be convicted to change, inspired to pursue, and fully equipped to become all God has called you to be at your place of employment!

So make the decision to get “unstuck” once and for all — and then start moving on up to a whole new level of Excellence in the Workplace!

Posted under Favor

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
John 5:30 (NKJV)

“For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
John 6:38 (NKJV)

AUGUST 14 - I hear it quite frequently, “What is God’s will for my life?” All of us want to know what career we are to pursue, who we are to marry, and where we are to live. But we must understand that God’s unknown will may only be discovered by those who choose to travel upon the road of obedience. God called humanity to simply obey; it is His will
for our lives. As John the Baptist walked down the highway of obedience, and Jesus walked upon the road of obedience, we too must submit ourselves to the instructions that lie within the pages of God’s written Word, putting a sound conclusion to infinite searching and exhaustive wondering.

Jesus came with one purpose: to obey the instructions of His Father. Our calling in life is to please the One who chose us. When we focus upon obeying the Word of God, we no longer are distracted with the perpetual curiosity of God’s unknown will. As we obey, we are assured that He leads and guides our steps. It is only a matter of time before we enter His perfect will for our lives. Let us renew our minds to the call that is placed upon our lives to passionately obey God’s known will—His written Word.

Father, I thank You that I am willing to rebuke a man and find more favor afterward. I refuse to flatter with my tongue.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 6

Featured Resource

Excellence In The Workplace - Book

‘Stuck in a Rut’ at Your Job?

Does it seem like you’ve been going nowhere fast in your career, your business, or your place of employment? Well, Robb Thompson has the tools you need to pull yourself out of that rut and onto the high road of excellence that leads straight to promotion and success!

In this book, Robb applies his lifelong, passionate pursuit of excellence to the arena of the workplace. By the time you have finished reading this book, you will be convicted to change, inspired to pursue, and fully equipped to become all God has called you to be at your place of employment!

So make the decision to get “unstuck” once and for all — and then start moving on up to a whole new level of Excellence in the Workplace!

Posted under Obedience

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)

AUGUST 13 - Consider the example of Jesus. Prior to beginning His earthly ministry, the Bible says He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus was physically tested as the tempter called upon Him to change the stones into bread. Jesus was tested as the tempter tried to cause Him to doubt His authority and His position in God, calling upon Him to throw Himself down and be rescued by angels.

The tempter tried Jesus by placing all the world’s kingdoms before His eyes in an effort to trade earthly riches for worshipping the devil. But only after Jesus’ character was tested and proven in the wilderness did He return in the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill His divine purpose on this earth.

In the same way, before you can go forth in the power of the Spirit, you must first go to the wilderness. You don’t have to go there the same way Jesus did, because He already defeated every challenge you could ever encounter in the wilderness. Nonetheless, in faith and through His power, we are called to conquer the obstacles that come our way in the wilderness, because whatever you refuse to conquer ultimately conquers you.

Father, I thank You that I walk by Your Spirit and I do not fulfill the lust of my flesh.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 5

Featured Resource

The 10 Critical Laws of Relationship - Book

Why am I here? Is there a purpose for my life? Is there a specific assignment that I am supposed to fulfill? How do I discover this assignment? And once I do, how can I ever make it come to pass?

Do you find these questions stirring within you? If so, you have found the right book, because Dr. Robb Thompson has discovered a dynamic key that will revolutionize your life. Here is the key: The single most important factor that defines your future is the relationships you embrace. Those closest to you determine the outcome of your life.

The Ten Critical Laws of Relationship will enable you to maximize every relationship in your life. You will begin to recognize the special people God strategically assigned to your life to be divine links to your future and to advance you to a higher level of personal effectiveness.

Learn these laws. Practice them, and you will unlock the door to your purpose, your assignment, and your future!

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 The Law of Agreement
2 The Law of Access
3 The Law of Covenant
4 The Law of Single Purpose
5 The Law of Exclusivity
6 The Law of Transparency
7 The Law of Mutual Benefit
8 The Law of Sacrifice
9 The Law of Synergy
10 The Law of Ascent
Conclusion

Posted under Conquer, Obedience

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”
Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV)

AUGUST 12 - As buses and trucks spewed out exhaust and a dusty haze clouded the street lights, she wouldn’t give up; neither would she listen to excuses. Attending church since a mere toddler, when the young mother moved into a new neighborhood in the city, she diligently questioned her neighbors, faithfully searched the area newspaper, and patiently checked the telephone book, praying that God would lead her small family into the right place to worship. It took a little discipline, hard work, and time, but it was well worth it, since years later, those very same children repeated their mother’s diligence, searching for a place to worship in whatever city they lived. Diligence requires discipline, hard work, and time. In other words, it requires a marked effort. For us to delight in the promises of God, we must continually apply diligence to our efforts. God’s system is not arranged in such a way that a one-time action produces lasting results. God’s way of progress requires diligence, faithfulness, and patience.

The same principle applies for any endeavor. We cannot expect to be physically fit by exercising one week out of the year. To see positive results, we must continue for several months, and for lasting results, we must make exercise a part of our daily lifestyle! All of us want to achieve more and do great things, but we only experience true greatness by diligently applying God’s principles to our lives. Diligence bridges the gap between discipline and reward. Anyone can discipline himself for a day, but only discipline coupled with diligence causes us to lay hold of Heaven’s reward.

I refuse to have a slack hand knowing it leads to poverty. I walk in plenty and not in lack because I diligently apply God’s principles to my life.

Family Scripture Reading

Proverbs 11

Featured Resource

The 10 Critical Laws of Relationship - Book

Why am I here? Is there a purpose for my life? Is there a specific assignment that I am supposed to fulfill? How do I discover this assignment? And once I do, how can I ever make it come to pass?

Do you find these questions stirring within you? If so, you have found the right book, because Dr. Robb Thompson has discovered a dynamic key that will revolutionize your life. Here is the key: The single most important factor that defines your future is the relationships you embrace. Those closest to you determine the outcome of your life.

The Ten Critical Laws of Relationship will enable you to maximize every relationship in your life. You will begin to recognize the special people God strategically assigned to your life to be divine links to your future and to advance you to a higher level of personal effectiveness.

Learn these laws. Practice them, and you will unlock the door to your purpose, your assignment, and your future!

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 The Law of Agreement
2 The Law of Access
3 The Law of Covenant
4 The Law of Single Purpose
5 The Law of Exclusivity
6 The Law of Transparency
7 The Law of Mutual Benefit
8 The Law of Sacrifice
9 The Law of Synergy
10 The Law of Ascent
Conclusion

Posted under Diligence