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Words That Make The Heart Sing
Devotional Teachings For The Heart
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This book was written to encourage and to bless those who desire more with the amazing Word of God. There are topics of every kind that will impact your walk with Christ and your every day life. This is an educational devotional, offering instructions of overcoming and understanding of the scriptures. This devotional can be used for bible studies and personal or church teachings.
Pastor Sandra also offers a personal prayer for you to encourage your spirit. We hope you will take part in these Words, breathe them in, and be lifted up in Him! ___________________________________________
Chapter 1
Continue Steadfastly
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"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:42 NKJV
How faithful are you? This is a question that all Believers in Christ need to ask themselves from time to time; a good checkup. Are you faithful in your attendance to your home church? Are you faithful in your support, or is it at your own convenience or need? Are you faithful to engage in Christian fellowship or are you mostly engaged in fellowship with non-believers? A confident, powerful Believer is one who is sold out to Christ and supports His church body 100%. However, a word of caution, we must also engage in the 'world' to bring in a harvest for the Kingdom of God. This scripture doesn't mean that all they did was have their noses stuck in the Bible or that they only had friends from church. It means that they were purposeful to have a continual and steadfast process of thought and desire to know and seek out more of their God. They allowed no one and nothing to move them from their belief, from their fellowship, and from their support. As you study the Word (apostles' doctrine) you have more to give out. The Word builds you up, teaches you what you have in Christ, who you are in Christ - your position in Christ as a joint heir with Him. You need to know this so that you are not deceived or moved away from your faith.
As you support your church, you build up the Kingdom. As you have Christian fellowship, you build a stronghold of spiritual support and encouragement for yourself and others. We then know the right things to say at the right time. Our hearts are full of the Word of God, therefore - as needed - our mouths will bring forth the word that is needed to heal and encourage each other and those around us. 'Out of our mouth the heart speaks' (Matthew 12:34b).
Prayer is an expression of conversation with our God, a two way conversation. As we mature we go from just asking to inquiring and then to listening to what He has to say back to us. This develops that marvelous, unexplainable intimacy we are able to have, one on one, with the Lord. Look at Law of First Mentioned: the first mention of this type of intimacy that God desires is in the Garden of Eden. He communicated with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3:8)
Two key words here in this scripture: 'continued' and 'steadfastly'. This is a purposeful way of thought and life. Consistent and ongoing. It should be a way of life as close to you as your breathing, your heartbeat. It should be steadfast, immovable, purposeful, continual, ongoing, - all the time. Take time to develop this intimacy, this purposing, this dedication to Christ and to His Church. His Church is His Bride that He is coming back for. You are that Bride. Speak to your Bridegroom. Love Him. Become intimate with Him in mind, soul, and spirit. Be determined. Be purposeful. Be steadfast.
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,"
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
"Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!"
Psalm 119:33Amplified Bible "Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly]."
Prayer:
Father God, I desire a closer walk with you. I desire to hear you speak to me, to have that one on one conversation with you on a moment by moment basis. I desire more fellowship with fellow Believers in Christ; I desire to have a more active and productive prayer life with you. I am setting my will to move in these disciplines 'continuously' from now on. Praise your name Lord! Amen
- Pastor Sandra Matheson
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