I have a morning devotional book by Joyce Meyer called Starting Your Day Right Devotions for Each Morning of the Year. The October 10 & 11 devotionals were titled It's A Promise and God Does the Work. I would like to share them with you. Reprinted with permission from the publisher.
October 10
It's A Promise
Let Your Mercy and loving-kindness come also to me, O Lord, even Your salvation according to Your promise. Psalm 119:41
Some Christians want to make a law out of studying the Bible or spending a certain amount of time with God. But we should be motivated to read God's Word and spend time with Him because of your love relationship with Him, not because of a commandment to do so.
Jesus said, "If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands" (John 14:15). What He really meant was, "If you love Me and walk in followship with Me, you will keep My commandments." If you concentrate on loving God, then keeping His commandments will become a natural part of what you do. It is a promise He makes to you.
284 ~ Joyce Meyer
October 11
God Does The Work
Work out...your own salvation...not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in your [energizing and crating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for HIs good pleasure and satisfaciton and delight.
The Word of God brings liberty, not legalism; promises, not laws; and guidlines to a good life, not condemnation. Many work at following a Christian lifestyle, but they are not happy because they are focused on rules instead of on their relationship with God.
If you are trudging along, believing you have to give, have to read the Bible, have to pray, have to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, I encourage you to stop thinking you have to do anything You will discover that God will give you the grace to want to do the things that lead to a victorious life in Him.
Starting Your Day Right ~ 285Cool Stuff