Jeremiah 23: 28 ” Let the (false) prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? “

This Scripture speaks to what is truth, and what is false…it speaks to God’s divinely ordained Word, and the corrupted half-truths that come from the pit of hell.  The bottom line for us is…do we want to be filled with the “fruit” of His Word, or the useless stubble left behind?

Romans 1:8 ” First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”

Every time you share your faith with someone…every time you openly declare your trust and belief in Jesus Christ…God’s word reaches farther into the world.  Little did I know when I started this Daily Devotional a little over three years ago that it would now be reaching over 100 countries around the world.  As it states in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  Our faith and belief in the Gospel message, when shared with others, catapults His Word to the far-flung reaches  of this world.

II John verse 6 ” And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands, as you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.”

As you start your journey into 2016, are you willing to yield all of yourself to the Lord…conforming yourself to His ways, not yours?  Are you willing to give Him that secret part of you that you’ve been holding on to…hiding from Him…unable to give Him fully?  Obedience is the fundamental key in our relationship with God…for His love is truly made complete in it. ( I John 2:5)

Psalm 94:11 ” The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.”

The Lord knows them all…every ill-intended, evil thought.  He sees every vain and worthless plan, and will  listen to every ridiculous scheme when we’re trying to impress Him with our wisdom. To paraphrase I Corinth. 3:20,  The wisdom of the world is utterly absurd and ridiculous to God is so very true.  Every time we think we know it all…we need to remember that we know nothing.

Jude 1:2 ” Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.”

On this first day of 2016,  I pray this scripture over you and yours.  May the Lord’s compassion be ever evident in your life…may you discover true peace that is only brought about by God’s tender mercy,  granting you deliverance and freedom from sin…and may His unconditional love shine brightly on you as you journey ahead in this new year.  God loves you!

II Chronicles 20:20 ” Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”

On this last day of 2015, whose report will you believe today?  The pessimistic and slanted world’s view, or the Lord’s divine perspective on things?  The most reliable truth comes from God and His people.   His Word will sustain you, and cause you to prosper…to be happy and victorious in this next coming year.  Look to Him and His people for this guidance as you move into 2016.