Each New Day by Corrie ten Boom: 2011-11-20

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

November 30

None of us can afford to be anything less than absolutely controlled by the Holy Spirit. Let God have His way with you, because if you do not that unconsecrated thing, that sinful habit in your life will be a foothold for the devil to wreck your witness. Seeing that the devil is working so insidiously in the churches, let us come to God in these last days and tell Him that we want to be altogether His, devoted to Him, led by Him, filled with His Spirit, taught of Him, so that we may be kept from sin and at the same time may be ready for the glorious event when we shall see Jesus face to face.

—Brother Langston

“May the God of peace make you holy through and through. May you be kept in soul and mind and body in spotless integrity until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 *Phillips)

Lord Jesus, thank You that You died for us and live for us to make us able to live for You.

November 29

The testing of your faith today is training for the great end battle. Are you victorious today? Then you are stronger than you were yesterday. An athlete does not complain when the training is hard; he thinks ahead to the coming competition. We follow a scarred captain. Should not we have scars?

Under His mighty banner

We are going to the wars.

Lest we forget, Lord, when we meet

Show us Your hands and feet.

—Amy Carmichael

“For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:3)

Lord, You are the source of our strength. We will not complain that our training is hard. for so is the battle to come.

November 28

Father prayed because he had a good friend with whom to share the problems of the day. He prayed because he had a direct connection with his Maker when he had a concern. He prayed because there was so much for which he was thankful.

Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Our lives are full of reasons for prayer, Father. We know You want us to tell You everything because You care for us deeply. Thank You for Your constant care.

November 27

Conditions in our barracks in the concentration camp at Ravensbruck were terrible. When we first arrived I told Betsie I could not bear the lice that lived in our filthy blankets and mattresses. She replied, “You must thank God for everything, even for lice.” Betsie was right. Because of the bugs which infested our barrack, the women guards and officers kept their distance, and we were able to hold our Bible studies without fear. God had a use for the vermin, after all! Sometimes what we see as a curse one day becomes a blessing the next day. How much more simple it would be if we would learn to thank God for everything instead of using our own judgment.

Always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Ephesians 5:20)

Lord, I need a miracle by Your Holy Spirit to thank You for my problem of today. Thank You that You are willing to make me willing.

November 26

How is the situation of the enemy? The strategy of a defeated enemy is different. When God's people advance, the enemy will crumble. A church is a battering ram, bashing in the gates of hell. The Word of God is our weapon.

For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3,4)

Holy Spirit, give us a clear vision of the situation of our enemy, our own army, and ourselves, but most of all, of our King of Kings.

November 25

Some people sing and pray, “Let Thy congregation escape tribulation,” but Jesus said that in the world we will have tribulation.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . . . Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:10,12 KJV)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have overcome the world. Together with You we are victorious even in tribulation, problems, and trials. We can see our problems and trials as a part of Your embroidery of our life.

November 24

Do you ever have the feeling that you are not good enough to come to the Lord for salvation? Jesus has said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32 KJV). The very thing you are saying in self-condemnation is the very thing that gives you the right to come to Him and to be certain that He will receive you. Christ is the friend of publicans and sinners. He came to die for such people.

(Jesus Christ) gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2: 14)

Lord Jesus, thank You that I may come to You just as I am.

November 23

A proper response to the Lord in thanksgiving for our salvation is to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

. . . you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Father, all You ask is that we obey You and do Your work. You give us the equipment—not a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and a sound mind.

November 22

When are our sins covered by the sacrifice of Christ? When we confess them: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

But that is not the whole truth—our sins were covered when Jesus Christ died on the cross more than nineteen hundred years ago.

He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)

The problem is not that we sin but that we reject the remedy. Yes, Lord Jesus, yes! I will not reject Your remedy. I confess my sin and accept Your answer.

November 21

Keep looking up and kneeling down. Then you can keep looking down from the position of Jesus’ victory over your problems. He is willing to make you more than conqueror.

Look around and be distressed

Look within and be depressed

Look at Jesus and be at rest

“ . . . in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:3)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that we can look at You through faith and that You are the author and finisher of our faith. Hallelujah!

November 20

The Lord can do more with three blessed quarters than with an unblessed three hundred dollars.

. . . which is more important, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift? (Matthew 23:19 *Phillips)

O Lord, teach us to look at all things, including gifts, with Your values in mind, so that we may see the worth of the smallest gift or the danger of the largest.

Each New Day by Corrie ten Boom