The Mind vs. the Brain

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Did you know there is a difference between your mind and your brain? The brain is what the mind thinks with. The relationship of the mind and the brain is very similar to the relationship of a pianist and a piano. The piano is the brain and the pianist is the mind.

The most dangerous thing in the world is a man with a bad mind and a good brain. He is a clever devil.

When you get saved, you don’t get a new brain. You get a new mind. And the god of this world will do all he can to distort your mind. Why? Because Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” 

ACTION POINT:

Dwell today on the true, the honest, the just, the pure, the lovely—think on virtue and praise.  Pray for missionaries serving the Lord in other countries—that they will dwell on the truths of the Lord and that their walks will be strong and undeterred from the Lord’s mission.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Has Not Forgotten You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A preacher was in a church where he felt God had led him. But nothing seemed to be working out, so he wanted to go to another church.

He told a friend, “I know where God put me, and I know God put me here, but I just wonder if He remembers where He put me.”

Yes, God remembers! He has not forgotten. He is never late. Don’t rush God. Don’t think He has abandoned you because your prayers are not answered. He will turn your midnight into a sunrise and your mourning into dancing.

ACTION POINT:

Read Psalm 37:4-7 and rejoice in the hope of God’s providence and provision in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

True Peace and Satisfaction

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I was witnessing to a man one day in front of his house. He said, “I’ve got a good income. You see that house? It’s paid for. You see that car? It’s paid for. My wife is in that house. She loves me.” He seemed completely satisfied.

I said, “Sir, I want to ask you a question. Will you be absolutely honest with me? Do you have peace in your heart?”

His chin started to quiver. His eyes brimmed with tears. He said, “No, I don’t have peace in my heart.  How did you know?”

I said, “Because the Bible says, ‘There is no peace, sayeth my God, to the wicked.’ These things cannot fill the longing of your heart. You need Jesus.”

ACTION POINT:

Pray for an opportunity to share today the peace you have in Jesus with someone who is lost and searching.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Loving Chastisement of the Father

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

As a child, did you ever get a spanking you didn’t deserve? Maybe now and then your dad or mom would just be in a “spanking mood,” and they’d spank everyone they could get their hands on?

Talk about being indignant! There is nothing worse to a child than to realize “I got spanked, and I didn’t deserve it.”

You know what’s funny? At that point, we never stop to think about all the times we deserved a spanking and didn’t get one. Our Father is mercifully loving and graciously wise to give us what we need at all times in our lives. Sometimes we need His hand of love in comfort, and sometimes we need His hand of love in discipline.

ACTION POINT:

Thank God that His hand of mercy extends to you when you don’t deserve it and that His hand of discipline extends to you when you do.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

At the End of Your Rope

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant... let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I have always been amazed at the advice worldly people give to someone who is hurting. “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!” Can you see someone dangling over a cliff, holding on to a rope, and trying to tie a knot? It takes two hands to do that!

The first thing we need to remember is “don’t demand to understand.” There are some things in life you and I just will never understand. When God allows darkness to overshadow your life, don’t set about lighting your own fire. That’s a recipe for heartache.

Trust that His light will come and wait for it. He will come. Believe it.

ACTION POINT:

There’s someone out there who is hurting today and needs more than a pat answer of encouragement. Give them the light of Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Strengthening Your Wings

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” 2 Corinthians 8:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A man watched a butterfly trying to emerge from a cocoon. Thinking that he would help, the man took his penknife and slit the side of the cocoon, and the butterfly flopped out. It lay there for a while, feebly beating its wings, then collapsed and died.

“How tragic,” you say, and you are right, because God had a plan for that butterfly. The struggle to break free built the strength he would need to fly. God doesn’t want you to live weakly and die feebly. He wants you to grow and mature.

ACTION POINT:

Find the wings in your trial today.

Strengthen them by the promises in God’s Word.

Venture on new heights of freedom in Christ today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Tempted, But Not Beyond What We Can Bear

BIBLE MEDITATION:
 “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A factory mechanic builds a truck. He knows the chassis of that truck and knows the load it can carry. In the same way, God knows your frame and He knows the load you can carry.

God is faithful; He will not allow you to be tempted above that which you are able. Nothing comes to you but that which comes through God. Even what Satan does, he can only do as God allows it. You can say, “The temptation was so strong I couldn’t overcome it,” but it won’t be true. God will provide a way of escape.

ACTION POINT:
When you are tempted today (notice I didn’t say “if” but “when”), ask God to provide a way of escape. Then trust His way and obey.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers