Doyle Smith Daily

Colossians 3:5-10 (God's Word)07/2014 Originally published 04/07/2014 When Christ is my life, this will happen. "Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). It is because of these sins that God's anger comes on those who refuse to obey him. You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. Don't lie to each other. You've gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, and you've become a new person" Colossians 3:5-10 (God's Word). Lord, take away anything in me that is not like you.

Colossians 2:8 (God's Word) Originally published 04/05/2014 We must measure everything we read and hear against what the Bible says. "Be careful not to let anyone rob you of this faith through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world's way of doing things rather than following Christ" Colossians 2:8 (God's Word). Lord, help me not to be controlled by what I have always heard, thought, and believed, nor by being caught up in the latest fad, but as I read the Bible, let me hear you clearly through all the human noise.

Colossians 1:9-10 (God's Word) Originally published 04/04/2014 How we should pray: "We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight. We ask this so that you will live the kind of lives that prove you belong to the Lord. Then you will want to please him in every way as you grow in producing every kind of good work by this knowledge about God" Colossians 1:9-10 (God's Word). Lord every time I open the Bible remind me that these words should change the way I am living.

Philippians 4: 11-13 (God's Word) Originally published 04/03/2014 We often find contentment when things are like we want them, but that is not what God wants for us. “I've learned to be content in whatever situation I'm in. I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I've learned the secret of how to live when I'm full or when I'm hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little. I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:11-13 (God's Word). Lord, teach me to be content, not because of the situation, but because you are the ruler of my life. When things are not what I want, remind me that you will provide what I need.

Philippians 3:18-19 (God's Word) Originally published 04/02/2014 Paul warns us. "...many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ. In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things" Philippians 3:18-9 (God's Word). Lord, I have to live in this world with emotions, but I don't want the world or emotions to control me; rather, I want you to control my thoughts, values, and behavior. Give me your power so that all my life will be under your control.

Philippians 2:12-15 (God's Word) Originally published 02/27/2014 The Philippians had been obedient to God while Paul was with them. His challenge to them: "In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who produces in you his desires and actions that please him. Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be blameless and innocent” Philippians 2:12-5 (God's Word). Lord, I want to live every day with my greatest fear that I would disobey you. Give me a submissive spirit so that I would not complain about anything you ask of me or argue about it. 

Philippians 1:9-11 (God's Word) Originally published 03/26/2014 Following Christ means that our lives keep growing and changing our behavior. "I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight. That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God's  approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God" Philippians 1:9-11 (God's Word). Lord, show me what needs to change in my life so that I would reflect your greatness and cause people to see how powerful you are. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 (God's Word) Originally published 03/25/2014 There is a reason life is so hard, but God has provided the help his children need. "Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil's strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world" Ephesians 6:10-12 (God's Word). Lord, when things don't go right, and I want to please myself, remind me to ask for your wisdom and power to do what is right.

Ephesians 5:5-8 (God's Word) Originally published 03/24/2014 "You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Don't let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God's anger comes to those who refuse to obey him. Don't be partners with them" Ephesians 5:5-7 (God's Word). Lord, I want to live as partners with you, so show me when I am deceived by meaningless things .

Ephesians 4: 1-4 (God's Word) Originally published 03/20/2014 "I, a prisoner in the Lord, encourage you to live the kind of life which proves that God has called you. Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other. Through the peace that ties you together, do your best to maintain the unity that the Spirit gives. There is one body and one Spirit." Ephesians 4:1-4 (God's Word) The proof of being controlled by Christ is how we respond to people who hurt us. Lord, don't let the behavior of others control me, but you alone guide my reactions. 

Ephesians 3:16-19 (God's Word) Originally published 03/19/2014 This is what we should ask for. "I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. This way, with all of God's people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God" Ephesians 3:16-9 (God's Word). Lord, I want to know and experience your love so much that I would be saturated with you. 

Ephesians 2:3-11 (God's Word) Originally published 03/18/2014 "We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God's anger just like everyone else. But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God's kindness that saved you.) God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him. He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come. God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It's not the result of anything you've done, so no one can brag about it. God has made us what we are" Ephesians 2:3-10 (God's word). Lord, everything in me wants to pay you back, but it's impossible. And you say this is to show us y...

Ephesians 1:3 (God's Word) Originally published 03/17/2014 “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer” Ephesians 1:3 (God's Word). This startled me. If Christ controls my life, I have everything there is of God's blessings. Lord, control my mind, will, and emotions so that I might experience all that you want to be and do.

Galatians 5:24-26 (God's Word) Originally published 03/15/2014 03/15/2014 – “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. We can't allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other" Galatians 5:24-6 (God's Word). Lord, I want this corrupt nature to be gone, so I ask you to do in me what I cannot do. Conform me to your spiritual nature.

Galatians 4:6-7 (God's Word) Originally published 03/14/2014 This is amazing! "Because you are God's children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer slaves but God's children. Since you are God’s children, God has also made you heirs" Galatians 4:6-7 (God's Word). Lord, give me the ability to think and act like your child. 

Galatians 3:27-28 (God's Word) Originally published 03/13/2014 Humans evaluate each other by their physical status, but in God's Kingdom it is different. "Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ's name have clothed yourselves with Christ. There are neither Jews, nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus" Galatians 3:27-28 (God's Word). For the follower of Christ there are two kinds of people, those controlled by Christ and those who are not. Lord, give me the ability to see fellow followers of yours as you see them and not as humans see each other.

Galatians 2:20 (God's Word) Originally published 03/12/2014 Becoming a follower of Christ is a life-changing event. "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God's Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins" Galatians 2:20 (God's Word). The human concerns that used to drive Paul's life are gone as if they died. Now his life is totally controlled by what Jesus said he should do. Lord, guide me to think and act as you would in every situation I face today. 

Galatians 1:10 (God's Word) Originally published 03/11/2014 Paul has a different way of describing a Christian. "Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant" Galatians 1:10 (God's Word). We are to serve people because Christ tells us to do so, but not to please people. Lord, show me how to serve all the people I am in contact with today. I want to help them, but I want to please you.

11 Corinthians 12:7-9 (God's Word) Originally published 03/10/2014 Following Jesus does not always mean comfort. "Therefore, to keep me from becoming conceited, I am forced to deal with a recurring problem. That problem, Satan's messenger, torments me to keep me from being conceited. I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me. But he told me: 'My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak'" II Corinthians 12:7-9 (God's Word). God is more interested in shaping our character than in our happiness or comfort. Lord, show me in the trouble that comes to me what you want to teach me and how you are trying to help me grow.

11 Corinthians 11:23-28 (God's Word) Originally published 03/08/2014 What obedience cost Paul.   "I've...been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely,, and have faced death more often. Five times the Jewish leaders had me beaten with 39 lashes, three times Roman officials had me beaten with clubs. Once people tried to stone me to death; three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day. Because I've traveled a lot, I've faced danger from raging rivers, from robbers, from my own people, and from other people. I've faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends. Because I've had to work so hard, I've often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather. Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about all the churches" II Corinthians 11:23-8 (God...

11 Corinthians 10:10 (God's Word) Originally published 03/07/2014 Paul is one of the most well-known names in Christianity and only the 4 stories of Jesus’ life have more pages of the New Testament than Paul's writings. But there were those who considered Paul a failure as a preacher. Paul wrote: "I know that someone is saying that my letters are powerful and strong, but that I'm a weakling and a terrible speaker. The person who is saying those things should take note of this fact: When we are with you we will do the things that we wrote about in our letters when we weren't with you" II Corinthians 10:10 (God's Word). I am sure this hurt Paul, but he only pointed out that he lived what he wrote. Lord, help me to live the things that I proclaim.

11 Corinthians 9:7 (God's Word) Originally published 03/06/2014 Sometimes we are asked to attend an event where it is proper to give a gift, and we really don't want to attend or give, so we try to decide how little a gift we can give and not embarrass ourselves or offend the person to whom we are giving the gift. When it is someone we really love, we want to give the most we can afford. This is God's advice about giving to his work: ’Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn't be sorry that you gave or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver" II Corinthians 9:7 (God's Word). Lord, if there is anything in my life that I have not given to you, please show me, so that I might give everything to you.

11 Corinthians 8:11-12 (God's Word) Originally published 03/05/2014 The church at Corinth had committed to take an offering for the followers of Christ in Jerusalem, but had not actually done it. Paul urged them to keep their promise. "So finish what you began to do. Then your willingness will be matched by what you accomplish with whatever contributions you have. Since you are willing to do this, remember that people are accepted if they give what they are able to give. God doesn't ask for what they don't have" II Corinthians 8:11-12 (God's Word). Lord, when I know that you have asked me to do or give something, and it seems impossible, remind me that you never ask for something that is impossible, though it might seem that way to me at that moment. 

11 Corinthians 7:1 (God's Word) Originally published 02/04/2014 When we trust God with our lives, he promises to guide us, provide for us, protect us, and make our lives a blessing to others. “Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a holy life in the fear of God” II Corinthians 7:1 (God's Word). Lord, please make my greatest fear be to displease you, and guide me so that my thoughts and choices are not contaminated by this world.

11 Corinthians 6:1 (God's Word) Originally published 03/03/2014 "Paul describes God's kindness or grace as an investment that he makes in us.   "Since we are God's coworkers, we urge you not to let God's kindness be wasted on you” II Corinthians 6:1 (God's Word). Lord, it always seems to me that you give more to me than I can ever return to you, but please guide my life so that it would not be wasted.

11 Corinthians 5:17-18 (God's Word) Originally published 03/01/2014 It is God's plan that our past not control our future. "Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this" II Corinthians 5:17-8 (God's Word). Lord, give me strength to turn loose of the old way of thinking and acting to live as you direct me. 

11 Corinthians 4:17-18 (God's Word) Originally published 02/28/2014 Obeying God can be discouraging. Paul tells his secret: "That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine. We don't look for things that can be seen but for things that can't be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can't be seen last forever" II Corinthians 4:17-8 (God's Word). Lord, teach me to obey and trust that you are bringing results that are eternal and seen by human eyes.