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God Lifts the Pressure
by Anne Graham Lotz

March 25

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. - Psalm 29:11, NKJV

Do you feel overwhelmed and smothered by pressure? Are you desperate for “breathing room”? Do you try to escape the stress through . . .

an extended vacation,

therapeutic counseling,

alcohol,

drugs,

entertainment, or

a romantic liaison . . .

only to find when you stop to assess your condition you are no better than you were before, because the pressure is from within?

Only God has the power to lift the pressure from within you. Your circumstances may remain the same, but He has the power to give you breathing room. He can give your spirit peace and rest, even as He gives your life a new dimension. Just ask Him.

From God's Story

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Set Free
by Anne Graham Lotz
March 26

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. - Romans 6:18, NIV

With blood flowing from His wounds and streaming down His face from the thorns in His brow, Jesus stood before Pilate. As part of the Passover celebration, it was Pilate’s custom to release any prisoner the crowd chose. It just so happened that “at that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So . . . Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ?'” (Matt. 27:16-17, NIV)

The rulers shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” (John 18:40, NIV). Barabbas! Barabbas was a thief and a murderer and a rabble-rouser! The religious leaders of Israel were demanding that Barabbas be set free and Jesus be crucified. And so Barabbas became the first person to be set free by the death of Jesus.

Jesus died, not just in the place of Barabbas, but in your place and mine. Because He died, I am free! Free from my sin and its penalty.

From Just Give Me Jesus

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Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Reflection
Try as we might, there is no human satisfaction to be found in earthly things. No created thing can hope to fill us, to complete us. For all created things are finite in their very nature. Yet our longing for satisfaction is infinite and therefore can only be filled by One infinite in nature. The righteous are those who are filled by the Spirit of God—they are, therefore, satisfied.


https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/promises/index.cfm?doy=86

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And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life. (1 John 2:25)

Reflection
God has promised us life after death-life forever with Him. Amen!


https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/promises/index.cfm?doy=87

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The Silence of God
by Anne Graham Lotz
March 27

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

He who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. - Psalm 32:10, NKJV

Is God silent in your life? What prayers has He not answered for you?

At a time of unanswered prayer in my life years ago, my mother taught me the verse to a hymn that I still quote when I am totally baffled by events that seem to careen out of the orbit of what I have asked:

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him,

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Is your focus on your immediate need blinding you to a greater purpose that God is working out? Would you choose to be patient and simply trust Him? Sometimes God does not answer our immediate prayer because He has something greater in store for us.

From Pursuing MORE of Jesus

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Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)

Reflection
Throughout this life, we are kept safe by the power of God. All that we are is because of the power of God. The salvation that we have been given will never be complete until we reach heaven. We should strive towards that completion with all that we are.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/promises/index.cfm?doy=88

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Carrying the Cross
by Anne Graham Lotz
March 28

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:27, NIV

Imagine what it would have been like to be Simon, and to have carried the Cross of Christ while following Him up Calvary.

What would it have been like to have shared in the humiliation of rejection as He was cast out of the city?

What would it have been like to have felt the sticky warmth of His blood from the Cross on your skin?

What would it have been like to have felt the encroaching horror as the place of execution neared?

What would it have been like to have looked up through the sweat that trickled down your face, and seen the executioners who stood waiting impassively with hammers in hand?

What would it have been like to have the burden of the Cross lifted from your back as someone said, “This is His Cross; you’re free to go now,” and He was nailed to it, not you?

From Just Give Me Jesus

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The Blood of Jesus
by Anne Graham Lotz
March 29

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

How much more . . . will the blood of Christ . . . cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death. - Hebrews 9:14, NIV

Do you know people who arrogantly insist that if their good works outweigh their bad works, God is somehow obligated to accept them? As you look around, what “fruit” do you see others bringing to the place of sacrifice instead of humbly approaching God through the blood of His Son? The “fruit” of

religious activity,

good works,

morality,

or philanthropy?

Many people do not want to come to the place of sacrifice, the Cross of Jesus Christ, because it intensifies the conviction of their own sin and judgment and is a reminder that heaven’s gate is closed to sinners. God warns that “a man is not justified by observing the law,” (Gal. 2:16, NIV) because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” of sin (Heb. 9:22, NIV). So humble yourself, come to the Cross, and thank God for the blood of Jesus that is sufficient to forgive any and all sin.

From God's Story

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Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10)

Reflection
This conditional promise can be misused by some who have ulterior motives, but when we truly humble ourselves in the Lord's sight it can in no way be for our own lifting up. True humility would put ourselves last and that is what makes this paradoxical truth so amazing. We cannot lift our own selves up; it is only God who is able to do that and He only does that when we are humbled before Him. We also saw this demonstrated in Christ who "humbled Himself to the point of death-even the death of the cross" yet "God exalted Him" (Philippians 2:8-9).

https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/promises/index.cfm?doy=89

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Clothed in His Righteousness

March 30

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. - Mark 15:24, NKJV

When Jesus finally arrived at the place of execution around nine o’clock in the morning, if His treatment followed standard procedure in those days, He was stripped of all His clothes. Possibly He was allowed to retain a loincloth.

Yet because Jesus was stripped “naked,” you and I can be clothed! The Bible tells us that all of our righteousness, including the very best things we ever do, are so permeated with sin and selfishness that they are like filthy rags in God’s sight (Isa. 64:6). But at the Cross, Jesus gave us His perfect, spotless robe of righteousness and took our filthy garments of sin in exchange (Phil. 3:9). On Judgment Day, you and I will be dressed in His righteousness before God because He wore the filthy garments of our sin. We will be clothed because He was stripped!

From Just Give Me Jesus

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More to Life

March 31

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/joy-of-my-heart/

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. - John 10:10, NKJV

There is more to life . . .

than being healthy,

than being happy,

than being problem free,

than being comfortable,

than feeling good, than getting what we want,

than being healed.

There is more to life even than living!

And the “more to life” is the development of our faith to the extent that our very lives display God’s glory!

Jesus does not protect those He loves from bad things happening but uses bad things to fulfill His greater plan. He is glad, not that we suffer, but that we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and display His glory, which is the fulfillment of the very purpose for our existence. Don’t settle for less than more!

From Why?

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For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)

Reflection
God chose those who would believe from the foundations of the world to be justified and glorified according to His purpose. Because God foreknew all things, there is nothing that can separate His children from His excellent love and grace. Even as evil powers come against us, we are made conquerors by the justification and glorification through the blood of Christ!

https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/promises/index.cfm?doy=90




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For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Reflection
By the miraculous coming of Christ, the kingdom of God was brought to man bestowing all His incredible peace and joy. His dominion shall never fade but continue to increase in all its glory and magnificence. Simply the establishment of His kingdom will proclaim righteousness and justice forevermore! Indeed, He is great and greatly to be praised!

https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/promises/index.cfm?doy=91