Daily Devotional English

AUGUST 2, 2022 / DAY 2#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Inner conflict always feels suffocating our hearts and minds. Everything seems dark and depressing, and we feel alone with no one to understand. We are like a small seed that is planted deep underground. The weight of the mound of earth and stones that overlap makes us feel suffocated to the point of difficulty breathing. In the absence of the slightest light of hope, we cry out to God, “How much longer will this condition last?” But the answer didn’t come. God does not seem to react to our calls and we seem to be left for some time.

We need to understand that when we believe and receive the gift of salvation from Jesus, our spirits will be restored and renewed instantly. However, it is different with our souls. For our souls to experience recovery, let alone renewal, often requires a process and time that is not short. Just as a seed takes time to grow its roots, we too need time to experience spiritual healing. The longer it takes to take root deeply, the taller and stronger the tree will be.

Therefore, if now we feel the tightness of our inner conflict, remember that this means that God is working on us from within. Don’t try to run away, reject or give up on God’s process. He is not a God who likes to linger or waste time. When He sees that the capacity of our hearts and souls is ready, then God will immediately lift us high. Believe us, no matter how heavy our inner conflicts are, they will not exceed the love and power of our LORD Jesus Christ. Keep walking in faith so that we can triumph over all inner conflict, and our souls will experience relief. (JB)

REFLECTION

It takes TIME to experience VICTORY.

APPLICATIONS

1. What inner conflict are you facing right now?
2. How long have you been struggling with the problem you are currently facing?
3. Why do you think it takes time to overcome your inner conflicts?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“Jesus Christ our LORD, we believe there is a beautiful plan in our inner conflict. Help us, so that our eyes are not turned away from You and our hearts are always attached to You. Because only from You do we get victory over every inner conflict of ours. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Zephaniah
Revelation 16

AUGUST 1, 2022 / DAY 1#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Deuteronomy 28:13 “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.

Succeeding in work, shining in ministry, and advancing in career are all people’s dreams. No one wants to experience stagnation or decline in their career. How happy we are if we have a successful job and continue to get promotions. We long to always experience success in all our endeavors, even in every aspect of life. Everyone wants to be successful in building a happy family. No one dreams of failure.

But in reality, there are people who still struggle with it. Instead of getting promotions, they are brought to a lower level. The cause can be due to various things. Some experience it as part of the process from God, but others experience it for other reasons. But believe that the situation won’t last forever. One thing that God longs for is to make us the head and not the tail. Keep going up and not going down.

Being a ‘head’ has a remarkably broad meaning. It means that our lives become a blessing, an example, and a tremendous influence for many people. We are role models for many people. Where the ‘head’ goes, there the ‘tail’ will follow. It’s not just about the rank or wealth that a person has but their quality of life. That’s why we must continue to focus our lives on God. Because only when our lives are centered on God alone, the promotion that comes to our lives will be eternal. That’s when God will add many other things that we need so that we can always be a blessing wherever we are placed. (JB)

REFLECTION

God’s will take us to become the HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL.

APPLICATIONS

1. Why do you think God wants to make us the head and not the tail?
2. What impact will we feel when God makes us the head?
3. What is your commitment so that God’s will to make us head really happens in your life?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“O good Father, we believe Your word is yes and amen. Even if our current situation is not according to our expectations, but we believe Your plan will definitely be fulfilled in our lives. That is for us to be the head and not the tail. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Habakkuk
Revelation 15

JULY 31, 2022 / DAY 7#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

In 2012, a businessman faced a bad situation in his business. The company had to pay a fine of around 7.000 USD because it was accused of making a mistake in calculating the value of the import tax on goods. For days the businessman tried to find a way out, but his efforts ended without success. His mind was filled with various worries and fears so he became depressed. In desperation, the businessman came to God. He acknowledged his limitations and asked earnestly for help from God.

The Holy Spirit also worked and opened his mind. He felt much calmer and more peaceful. He also decided to learn more about the rules for calculating taxes. Unexpectedly, the businessman found an article on the internet that explained the tax on imported goods. There it is written that his way to calculate taxes is correct. The businessman then contacted a tax consultant, who stated that the article was true. Based on existing regulations, the businessman does not have to pay a penny.

Thoughts filled with fear and anxiety make our souls depressed and sick. We can no longer think logically and clearly. However, the realization that the Spirit of God that is within us is greater than the spirit of fear that attacks us, will ward off every trick of the devil who wants to bring us down. Realizing the presence of the Holy Spirit will dispel fear and give our souls relief. We will experience a tremendous spiritual breakthrough that will impact our entire lives. Jesus blesses you. (JB)!

REFLECTION

Realizing that THE SPIRIT OF GOD is WITHIN us and IS always WITH us, will ELIMINATE fear and give us RELIEF.

APPLICATIONS

1. How do you feel when you are facing problems or hardships in your life so far?
2. Why do you think realizing the Spirit of God within can dispel fear and bring us relief?
3. What commitments will you take to let your inner fear disappear and find relief?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“O LORD, teach us to always be aware that there is Your Spirit within us. So that we get relief in whatever situation we face. Let our lives always be your witnesses wherever we are. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Nahum
Revelation 14

JULY 30, 2022 / DAY 6#

TODAY’S RHEMA

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.

The Olympics have always been a concern of many people because this is where athletes from all over the world compete to be the best. In addition to presenting various sports, this event is unique with the Olympic flame which is carried by relay around various regions. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Olympic flame traveled on five continents with a distance of 86,000 km for 142 days. However, the longest journey was taken by the fire of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although it only took 130 days, the distance traveled was further, which was 137 thousand km.

In its journey around the world, the Olympic fire was extinguished by being hit by water, blown by strong winds, and even deliberately extinguished due to protests and sabotage. But whatever the cause, the Olympic flame must remain burning until it returns to the host country of the Olympics. With various tactics and technologies, the Olympic flame is kept from being extinguished during the journey around the world. The Olympic flame must not be extinguished because it is a symbol of the spirit of the athletes who also cannot be extinguished. Whatever happens, the Olympic participants must keep competing. Losing and winning are only temporary predicates, but the spirit of fighting and competing must still be in their souls. That’s the spirit that is symbolized through the Olympic flame that never goes out.

If the sports world has the fire of the Olympics, then we also have a fire, namely the fire of the Holy Spirit. If we want to let go and ward off all kinds of fear, depression, and all mental disorders, then we must keep the Holy Spirit inside us so that it doesn’t go out and continues to burn. The Spirit of God that is within us is the Spirit who awakens strength, love, and order. If we continue to inflame Him, then we can’t be overcome by fear and anxiety. (JB)

REFLECTION

THE SPIRIT OF GOD that God has bestowed on us must always be IGNITED.

APPLICATIONS

1. How is your spiritual life right now, extinguished or burning? If it’s out, why?
2. With what must we keep the Spirit of God within us always burning?
3. What is your commitment to keeping the Spirit of God within you always burning?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“O good Father, we are grateful that You have given us the Spirit of power, love, and order. We believe when Your Spirit burns within us, all our fears and anxieties will be burned away. So that our souls find relief and victory. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Micah 6-7
Revelation 13

JULY 29, 2022 / DAY 5#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Anxiety or fear that is still carried away in sleep after watching a scary horror movie, is proof that we must guard our minds with all vigilance. Our opponents will always try to put the negative through any medium into our minds. The only way we can win the battle of our minds is to fill them with the word of God.

We can learn from the life of David, who always had the mindset that God’s presence in his life was real. Psalm 23 is a picture of David’s faith in God who is like a shepherd taking care of His sheep. David himself was also a shepherd, who was always alert, ready to help, even daring to face lions and bears to keep his sheep safe. David thought if he could do all these things, then his God could do it too. Even more so. That’s why David can be calm and brave when faced with Goliath. Because David was not lost in the wrong thoughts, namely fear, he realized that God would guard and protect him.

Our God is a God who is always with us. He never leaves us, His presence is even more felt when we face difficulties. Therefore, we need to guard our minds, because the mind is the ultimate battleground. When we think the wrong thing, then our life will always be filled with fear and anxiety. On the other hand, right thinking will be an effective antidote to anxiety. We no longer have reason to live in anxiety and fear. (JB)

REFLECTION

OUR MIND is the ultimate BATTLEFIELD.

APPLICATIONS

1. How have you managed your thoughts during this time when faced with problems in life?
2. Why do you think the mind is the ultimate battlefield?
3. What are your steps so that your thoughts are always positive and follow God’s will?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“Jesus Christ our LORD, teach us to be able to have positive and right thoughts before You. Because we believe that Your inclusion and protection are always real in our lives. So that whatever we face, we don’t be afraid. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Micah 4-5
Revelation 12

JULY 28, 2022 / DAY 4#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Once there was a young man who bought a bird and put it in a cage made of very strong iron. Night came, unexpectedly a cat entered the young man’s house. The bird in the cage was frightened when it saw under the cage a cat pacing back and forth. So worried, the bird flew here and there until its body hit the iron bars. At first, the cat didn’t know about the existence of the bird, but in the end, it knew that above it was a cage that was hung and had the bird in it.

The next day, how surprised the young man was to see his favorite bird was dead even though he had prepared such a good and strong cage for the bird to live in. The bird died not because it was eaten by a cat, but because of its worries. Because it was so scared, the bird flew here and there until its body hit the iron bars to death. If only it had known, the cat would not have been able to attack it, because there was already a very strong iron cage protecting it.

Do you realize how many of us often have the same attitude as this bird? We have so much anxiety about what is in front of us that often it never even happens. Realize that in our lives there is divine protection from God who always protects us so that the enemy and the devil will not be able to harm us. Live more and more attached to God so that all vain worries disappear from our lives and are replaced with extraordinary soul relief. God bless you. (JB)

REFLECTION

WORRYING is AN USELESS ACT.

APPLICATIONS

1. How have you responded to the problems in your life?
2. In your opinion, is there any benefit you can take from the worries you are experiencing?
3. How do you go about keeping your heart from worrying? Think about it!

TODAY’S PRAYER

“Jesus Christ our LORD, we believe that whatever happens in our lives cannot be separated from Your best plan. Therefore, we want to commit not to worry about anything. Because we believe, You must have provided a solution to all of our problems. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Micah 1-3
Revelation 11

JULY 27, 2022 / DAY 3#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Mark 4:40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

How surprised Linda was to hear her obstetrician say that she had to give birth by cesarean section because her amniotic fluid was cloudy. For a moment Linda felt weak and her mind went blank. She always thought about giving birth to her first child normally. Linda, who during her pregnancy regularly went to the doctor for a check-up and found out that the condition of her womb was not problematic, felt unprepared if she had to undergo a cesarean section. The doctor said that Linda could have surgery at any time. Even if she is ready now, Linda can immediately undergo surgery tomorrow.

Amid her fear and anxiety, Linda asked for time to think. She feels stuck and keeps crying every time she remembers what her doctor said. Linda was afraid of the pain of having a cesarean delivery, and she was also terrified at the thought of having to go through the surgery alone. Until finally Linda’s husband reminded her to just believe in God. Whatever Linda has to go through, God will always be with her. Finally, after praying and steadying her heart, Linda agreed to have a cesarean delivery. Sure enough, she felt God was present with her during the operation.

Often anxiety and fear attack us when problems come into our lives. We become worried about things that haven’t even happened yet. Fear and anxiety are signs that we are not aware of God’s presence in our lives. We forget that God exists and is always with us. Therefore, don’t let the devil intimidate us. Feel His presence and being fully aware of God’s presence in our lives will ward off all fears and anxieties. Our souls will soon find relief. (JB)

REFLECTION

FEAR AND ANXIETY are signs that we are NOT AWARE OF THE PRESENCE of God in our lives.

APPLICATIONS

1. Have you experienced fear and anxiety in your life? What were those?
2. Why do you think you feel afraid and anxious about what you are facing?
3. How do you deal with anxiety and fear in your life?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“Jesus Christ our LORD, enable us to overcome every fear and anxiety we experience. In any situation, we want to always be aware of Your presence. That You never leave us and are always there for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Jonah
Revelation 10

JULY 26, 2022 / DAY 2#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Many things can make us feel anxious. Prices of necessities continue to rise, business is sluggish, bills are due, health conditions, with whom our children associate, and so on. Logic, facts, and experience, are entrances to anxiety. With logic, we can calculate and predict what will happen according to the facts we face. Meanwhile, experiences, whether we experience them ourselves or what we hear from others, actually reinforce the anxiety we feel.

When our hearts are filled with anxiety, it will be difficult for us to think clearly. We begin to imagine the worst possibilities, so we become irritable, and have trouble sleeping to indigestion. All of this is because we feel we can’t control or cope with the current situation.

In these conditions, let us remember that our Father is an all-knowing God. He knows our past, He knows what will happen in front of us and He also knows what we are going through right now. The Father never promised to fulfill all our desires, but He did promise to care for and provide for our needs. That’s why He said we shouldn’t worry. In His miraculous way, the Father has provided a solution, long before we encounter problems. If He takes care of birds and wild plants, how much more so are we His beloved children. Realizing the care of the Father is the most effective antidote to anxiety as well as finding relief to our souls. (JB)

REFLECTION

Being aware that the FATHER ALWAYS BLESS US will WARD OFF all the anxieties that are in our hearts.

APPLICATIONS

1. What are the things that often make you feel anxious and worried?
2. What cares has the Father manifested in your life so far? Think about it.
3. How might awareness of the Father’s providence affect your anxiety?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“O good Father, we thank You for Your care for our lives. We are here today only because of Your grace. You know what is good for us and what we need most. We believe, Your provision is never too late. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Obadiah
Revelation 9

JULY 25, 2022 / DAY 1#

TODAY’S RHEMA

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Anxiety, worry, and fear have become prisons that prevent us from seeing God’s beautiful plan in our lives. These three things make us someone who is always fearful. Unprepared for change and prefers worldly comforts. Feelings of anxiety, fear, and worry can come to anyone. If poor people are worried about how to make ends meet, rich people are worried about their wealth. Where do you want it to be stored, what if it is robbed or stolen, or is it enough to ensure the survival of their offspring?

God’s Word teaches us not to be anxious, afraid, and worried. Anxiety, worry, and fear are something the devil has designed to make us stressed, tensed, and can even end in death. These three things are the opposite of faith. Because worrying or being afraid about something, means that we don’t believe in God’s power and doubt God’s ability to solve our problems. These feelings are not from God.

John 14:27 tells us that God gives peace to all of us and gives us the strength not to be troubled or frightened. However, why do many believers still live in anxiety and fear, even though they have prayed? That’s because they don’t leave all their life problems to God, but only partially and try to solve problems with their strength. Starting today, commit to ward off our anxieties and worries. Let’s learn to surrender all things that make us restless into the strong hands of God’s power. Then we will see how God works in our lives. (JB)

REFLECTION

Anxiety, worry, and fear ARE NOT from God.

APPLICATIONS

1. Are there anxiety, worry, and fear that you feel right now?
2. How have you responded so far when you felt anxious, worried, and afraid?
3. After reading today’s devotional, what commitment will you take to not feel anxious, worried, and afraid for your life? Write it down!

TODAY’S PRAYER

“O good Father, we believe that whatever happens in our lives is Your best plan for us. We put all our anxieties, worries, and fears under Your feet. Because only You can understand and can help us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Amos 7-9
Revelation 8

JULY 24, 2022 / DAY 7#

TODAY’S RHEMA

Isaiah 35:1-2 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.

The economic crisis that hit Indonesia in the past once hit a businessman. His business almost went bankrupt and he was envious of the security guard who worked at his company. The security guard looks richer than him because he has no debt. At that time, many other entrepreneurs eventually went out of business, not even a few had a mental breakdown. This condition made this businessman begin to reflect and realize his mistake. He had abandoned God in his heyday and this made him go the wrong way. One of them is owed more than he can pay.

The businessman finally decided to pray and ask for God’s forgiveness. He re-established his relationship with God and always put God first in every step. This pleased God and God began to work in his life. His business was restored so that he was not only able to settle his debts, but also able to share with those in need.

The story above is an illustration of how when a person tries to come to God and please God, then God will turn the wilderness of his life into the green pasture. Therefore, if at this time any of us feel we are in the wilderness, start to get closer and please God. Take a commitment to respond to whatever we are experiencing right now by still giving thanks and trusting Him. When God is pleased with our attitude, then He will also turn the wilderness in our lives into the green pasture. (JB)

REFLECTION

Always PLEASE God, then our wilderness will be turned into a GREEN PASTURE.

APPLICATIONS

1. Think about it, is there a wilderness that you are facing in your life right now?
2. How important do you think it is for us to please God?
3. What is your commitment to always being able to please God in your life?

TODAY’S PRAYER

“O good Father, no matter what we are facing right now, we believe that You will never leave us. We long to always please You, because Your goodness is so abundant in our lives. We believe, that today’s wilderness will surely turn into green pastures. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.”

YEARLY BIBLE READINGS

Amos 4-6
Revelation 7