Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

You and I can transform our thinking by choosing to focus on the things that are good. Just as an Olympic runner trains his or her body to run the race to win in all types of terrain and weather, you and I can discipline our minds to be grateful and to find good in the most wretched of circumstances by keeping our eyes focused on the cross with a view to eternity.

“Authentic joy can always be recognized by the indispensable leap in faith that precedes it…Those who experience more joy don’t necessarily have more to be joyful about; they just think differently.”(Tommy Newberry, The 4:8 Principle)

Do you need to do a thought check today?🚦

#WhatsoeverThingsAreLovely #Thoughts #Thinking #TrainYourMind #Discipline #Joy #Grateful #Gratitude #FindTheGood #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

A man reaps what he sows. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

‭‭Galatians 6:7; 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Want more joy in your life? Plant joy—lots of it! Patience? Plant patience—lots of it! Just as a farmer would not expect to harvest a crop of potatoes if he planted beans, you and I cannot expected to reap kindness where we’ve spread seeds of bitterness. As you begin to emulate the very qualities you desire, you will find yourself growing more and more in those attributes. Over time you will fully understand that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control are far more than pleasant qualities; they are actions sprouted from seeds intentionally spread in the world around you. Be mindful of the which seeds you sow with others today.🚦

#plant #seeds #sow #reap #crop #farmer #fruit #harvest #fruitsofthespirit #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals

Their Redeemer is strong; Yahweh of Hosts is His name. He will fervently plead their case so that He might bring rest to the earth but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:34 HCSB

Jesus would wish trouble for those living in opposition to Him? Yes! Sin without consequences is not likely to yield change. God offers to all immeasurable riches; relationship with Him brings love, joy and peace to our lives. For those who choose to follow Christ, He pleads on their behalf. Those who walk in defiance will reap the rewards of disobedience—both worldly troubles and separation from God, resulting in much turmoil. We who walk in Spirit must pray without easing for hearts to soften to the good news of redemption.🚦

#Redeemed #Redemption #Redeemer #Babylon #Turmoil #Consequences #Rewards #GoodNews #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“My heart says this about You, “You are to seek My face.” Lord, I will seek Your face.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Remember when you met that certain someone, and you wanted to get to know everything about them? You asked questions to learn what made them tick, and you wanted to please them. You thought about this person continually. If your words caused pain you were quick to ask forgiveness. This is what it is to seek God’s face—to dedicate yourself to knowing and pleasing the One who gave you life. In what ways are you seeking Him?🚦

#SeekMyFace #SeekGod #SeekGodsFace #GettingToKnowYou #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“I call on You, God, because You will answer me; listen closely to me; hear what I say.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Have you ever phoned a friend when something was weighing heavily on your heart only to find them distracted, uninterested, or worse, making light of your situation? This never happens with God. He is always present in the moment for you, and no problem is too big or too small. People ARE human and won’t get it right all the time, but your Heavenly Father is always eager to spend time with you. What matter is pressing on you today that you need to take to the Father?🚦

#Call #Listen #Talk #Hear #ActiveListening #ListenClosely #AlwaysPresent #PhoneAFriend #NoProblemTooBig #NoProblemTooSmall #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Workmanship in the original Greek is poiema. Poiema means poem or masterpiece. God is the poet and you are his poem. He is writing a story with your life. Take heart; every sorrow, every song, every triumph, every tragedy will one day make sense and the lines will rhyme. It’s going to be an amazing read!🚦

#Workmanship #Creation #Poem #Masterpiece #Story #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and he will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:5,8

Did you see that? The apostles were first baptized with water when they were drawn to follow Christ, but it was not until after His death that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. I was 12 years young when I accepted Christ as my Savior. Eagerly I anticipated the dramatic change I knew was coming after my baptism a week later, only to be disappointed when I was the same me afterward. The apostles experienced the Holy Spirit’s filling in an incredible supernatural display with a loud rush of violent wind followed by the sudden ability to speak in languages they’d never spoken. My own Holy Spirit experience has not been so outwardly demonstrative but no less life-giving. It was many years before all I’d learned from Bible studies, memorizing scriptures and listening to great sermons would really came rushing at me like a wind to bring the power of the resurrection to my heart and give me the life I’d been seeking. Hang in there!

“ now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.“ Hebrews 11:1🚦

#Wind #HolySpirit #Baptized #Power #ToTheEndsOfTheEarth #Change #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

“Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭43:3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

We are all motivated by something, whether that be bad experiences, negative self-image, desire to prove ourselves, and the list goes on. If the force that is driving you does not take you to the foot of the cross you need to do a 180 and run the other way. Truth and the light of the one true God will always shepherd you to Him and to a path of righteousness. Truth will never guide you down a road that goes against God’s commands or away from worship of Him. What is navigating your course today, and which direction are you going?🚦

#Light #Truth #LeadMe #YourDwellingPlace #selfimage #YourHolyMountain #WhatIsDrivingYou #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from Yahweh our God to preserve a remnant for us and give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

Ezra 9:8 HCSB

Hobbling through a pitch dark stretch I search intently for even a flicker of light that might guide my steps. This is exactly what grace does for me; it’s a glorious glimpse of the riches that await in heaven. In the midst of our gloom He lifts the veil to share His radiance with us, restoring hope and life to our murky souls, He awakens our slumbering faith with the dawn of new mercies.

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105 HCSB

#Light #Grace #NewMercies #Morning #Faith #NewLife #GloriousGlimpses #Radiance #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

-Proverbs 15:1

Who hasn’t done it? Sharp words thrown out in anger ar the child who has gotten on your last nerve or the sarcastic retort lashed out in anger at that certain someone who just won’t listen. No matter how many times you and I mess up, however, God never does this to us. No matter how many times He has to say the same thing over and over again, He patiently rephrases His reproof to help us hear with our hearts and minds to change our behavior.

Let us speak softly today. 🚦

#speaksoftly #gentle #softanswer #harshwords #anger #Devotionals #StopLightDevotionals