Each New Day by Corrie ten Boom: 2012

A hospital visitor saw a nurse tending to the sores of a leprosy patient. "I would not do that for a million dollars," he said. The nurse answered, "Neither would I. But I do it for Jesus for nothing."

As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.

Matthew 25:40

Lord, what You have done for me! What am I doing for You?

September 15

It is one thing to cast out demons and another to keep them out. To remain free, a person must stay vigilant in prayer and faithfully build up his spiritual resources. He must resist with determination every effort of Satan to regain entry into his life.

For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Thank You, Lord, that You make us more than conquerors in the battle against dark powers.

Monday, September 17, 2012

September 18

God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. Do we realize that as Christians we have within us the selfsame Holy Spirit that was in the Lord Jesus when He was here on earth? The Spirit that enabled Him will enable us.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own.

1 Corinthians 6:19

Lord, I am longing to be filled and to remain filled with the Holy Spirit. Show me if there is any compromise within me, a "yes, but" or a fear. Forgive and cleanse me, Lord.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

September 17

God’s Word is ours to accept and rejoice over. Never let your intellect lead you into useless bickering over interpretation. If you are presented with a tasty delicacy, do you stop to analyze it, or do you eat and enjoy it? God’s Word is to be savored, not debated.

And have tasted the goodness of the word of God

and the powers of the age to come.

Hebrews 6:5

Lord Jesus, guide our thinking and speaking. Teach us how to enjoy the promises of God’s Word. Make us realize how rich we are through Your grace and love.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

September 16

We need not fear demons, although they often try to bring fear into our hearts. Never forget that those who are with us are stronger than those who are against us. The weapons of our spiritual warfare are the power of the blood of Jesus and the use of His wonderful name.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil land he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Thank You, Lord, that You have given us a divine artillery which silences the enemy and inflicts upon him the damage he would inflict upon us.

September 25

Faith is a

Fantastic

Adventure

Trusting

Him

Commit your way to the Lord; Trust in him, and he will act. - Psalms 37:5

Lord, we may do wondrous things though trusting in You. Our lives become one continuous adventure, and we know that the safest place in the world is the center of Your will.

September 24

Four marks of true repentance are: acknowledgement of wrong, willingness to confess it, willingness to abandon it, and willingness to make restitution.

According to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

2 Peter 3:13-14 RSV

Lord, I am willing. Guide me with Your Holy Spirit to see my sins, to repent, to turn away from my sin, to confess, and to make it right with people against whom I have sinned and who have suffered by my wrong motives and wrong deeds.

September 23

When I worked behind the Iron Curtain it was often dangerous. Life seemed so hard and there were so many sorrows in and around me. Do you know how it feels when dangers are threatening and you are conscious of being weak while the dangers are so strong? I know, and you can know that you are never alone—no, never. Jesus was with me and is with me. Jesus is with you. You are not away from His constant care for one moment.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:1-2

Lord, sorrows and dangers can press upon us. You alone keep us secure. Thank You, Lord, that we stand on victory ground with our weak hands in Your strong hand. Hallelujah!

Friday, September 14, 2012

September 14

I possess no special gift that allows me to cast out demons, but there have been times when I felt I had to do it in obedience. I am only one branch of the vine; the blessings may flow through me, but it is God’s power that prevails.

In my name they will cast out demons . . .

Mark 16:17

All our success is part of Your victory; we claim nothing but Your power, Lord. Show us clearly what Your will is so that we do what we must do.

September 13

The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus. So when you are filled with the Holy Spirit you speak about our Lord and really live to His honor.

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16:13-14

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are willing to fill us again and again with the Holy Spirit and that the fruit and the gifts are available to us. How we need them and how the world around us needs us.

September 12

"Be filled with the Holy Spirit," is a commandment of the Lord. The enemy is afraid of Spirit-filled people who have the gifts which you read about in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. He has had great success in making the matters dealt with in these chapters material for quarreling amongst Christians. Don’t argue—but obey, and never forget 1 Corinthians 13, for if you have all the gifts and no love—you have nothing.

If I were to speak with the combined eloquence of men and angels I should stir men like a fanfare of trumpets, but unless I had love, I should do nothing more. If I had the gift of foretelling the future and had in my mind not only all human knowledge but the secrets of God, and if, in addition, I had that absolute faith which can move mountains, but had no love, I tell you I should amount to nothing at all.

1 Corinthians 13:1-2 Phillips

Lord, I need the riches of Your gifts in the serious spiritual battle of this time. Thank You that I am living after Pentecost. Hallelujah!

September 11

God’s children have power over Satan through the name of Jesus. As one lone policeman has the power to stop hundreds of vehicles, so one lone believer has the authority to stop Satan and his demons.

Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!

Luke 10:17

Thank You, Lord, that You make such power and strength available to us.

September 10

Do you feel insecure when you talk to learned people about Jesus? They can ask such difficult questions! It is not your job to be wise. God has all the answers, not man. Be content to be an open channel for the Spirit of God. Be obedient and He will give you what you need to be victorious.

When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom . . . and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

1 Corinthians 2:1;4

Lord, thank You that You gave us the Gospel, that the Gospel is for everyone, and that it has the answers for their questions and an abundance for their salvation. Lord, use us to share our riches with them; give us the fullness of Your Holy Spirit.

September 9

Sometimes I pray with an open Bible and say, "Father, You have promised us this, now I trust that You will do it." I know God likes that for He has meant every promise and He is pleased when we believe His promises.

And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

1 John 5:14

When we ask You to act on Your promises, Father, we are as children asking our parents for food and shelter. We know You will provide for us, for You love us. But we also know that You, as a good parent,

do what You see as best for us.

September 8

From generation to generation, from small beginnings and little lessons, He has a purpose for those who know and trust Him.

For who hath despised the day of small things?

Zechariah 4:10 KJV

Lord, I know that even my most insignificant action is part of Your plan after You laid Your hand on my life and I gave my life to You.

September 7

We must bear the suffering of other Christians. We must not close our ears and eyes when so many Christians are persecuted. At present, about 60 percent of the Body of Christ are suffering tribulation. Our prayers for them are important and we can know by faith that God can lift their burdens from them through our intercession.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Lord, keep us aware of the possibility of suffering before You come again. Take away our fear and make us willing.

September 6

The Bible is a book which has been written in order that God’s people may see God’s way through life. It is an extremely practical book.

Elijah had an attack of spiritual depression after his heroic effort on Mount Carmel (see 1 Kings 18-19). He felt sorry for himself. What he really needed was sleep and food. God have him both.

And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9

Lord, You know how tired I am. Will You give me a good night’s rest and help me to discipline my diet? Show me if I have done my work in my own strength instead of working in the power of the Holy Spirit.

September 5

Don’t worry about anything. Tell God every detail of your needs, in earnest and thankful prayer, and receive the peace of God which transcends all human understanding.

I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace.

John 16:33

Lord, what a joy that we may come to You with all our troubles. We cannot find peace by ourselves. Thank You that You are willing to listen and that Your telephone line is never "busy."

September 4

Either God's Word keeps you from sin, or sin keeps you from God’s Word. When a man is truly in Christ, he is saved. All the devil can do is worry him. Say farewell once and forever to your past. It is blotted out in Christ.

Restore to me the joy of thy salvation . . .

Psalms 51:12

Lord Jesus, the devil may worry us, but we are safe in Your keeping. Thank You!

September 3

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, or the kindly smile, or the joy of companionship. It is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

Lord, thank You for the trust You give us when You call us friends. Use us to show others the beauty of friendship for Your sake.

September 2

When I am talking to a new child of God, I avoid telling him what he should or should not do in his life. These decisions are better left to the Holy Spirit. It is my job to bring people to Jesus, not to a particular doctrine.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you

into all the truth.

John 16:13

Thank You, Lord, that when we bring someone to You, we know that You will take over his guidance for us.

September 1

On the day which I thought was my last day, the Dutch girl who stood beside me asked me, “How do you know all this that you have told me about Jesus?”

“I know it from the Bible,” I answered.

The girl accepted the Lord Jesus as we stood together that morning. I thought she was the last one I would bring to the Lord, but that morning I was set free, not killed.

. . . lo, I am with you always, even unto the close of the age.

See Matthew 28:20

Lord, we do not know what this life has in store for us, but be it good or bad, we are willing to be used by You. Use us until that moment comes when we go from service good to service best—when You begin to use us in glory.

September 22

When I was there in Moscow, my suitcase was the last to receive the attention of the Russian customs officer. "Is that your suitcase, lady?" he asked.

"Yes."

"It is a heavy one!"

"Yes."

He looked around. "Wait. I am done with my work. I can help you carry it to the Intourist car." He picked up the heavy suitcase and carried it to the car for me, never looking inside. How I rejoiced!

. . . he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?"

Hebrews 13:5-6

Lord, give me the strength and wisdom to refuse to allow myself to be controlled by a difficult situation. I know that even the hairs of my head are numbered.

September 20

A woman facing a dangerous foreign-mission assignment, when asked if she was afraid to go, replied, "I am afraid of only one thing—that I should become a grain of wheat not willing to die."

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

John 12:24

Thank You, Lord, that when I lose my life for Your sake I find it.

September 21

I stood in the Moscow customs office, my suitcase full of Russian Bibles I was smuggling into the country. I saw how the officers ransacked every suitcase, and I was afraid.

I said, "Lord, You have said in the Bible that You watch over Your Word to perform it. The Bibles in my suitcase are Your Word, Lord. Watch over the Bibles."

At that moment I saw light beings around my suitcase. They must have been angels. It is the only time I have seen angels. I can't describe them, for the moment I saw them, they disappeared. But so did my fears!

Are (angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

Thank You, Lord, that those who are with us are more in number and stronger than those who are against us. Hallelujah!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

August 31

I continued my talk with the girl I met at roll call.

"Do you know that when you ask Jesus to come into your life and heart, He gives you peace? In perhaps an hour they will kill me, but I am not afraid. I know I belong to Jesus and will go to heaven."

"I would like to know Him," she said.

"Then speak to Him in your heart. He will hear you."

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

John 11:25-26

Lord, thank You that You never send away anybody who comes to You.

August 30

I asked the Dutch girl who stood beside me on roll call, "Do you read the Bible?"

"No, never," she replied.

"Do you know the Lord Jesus?"

"Who is He?"

I told her about Jesus and how He died on the cross for the whole world. I asked her, "Do you ever realize that you need a Saviour? Are you what the Bible calls a sinner?"

"I know I am a sinner," she answered.

“If you have to die here, will you be ready?”

“No.”

“Jesus is the answer. He died for the sins of the whole world, and also for your sins."

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin—not in part, but the whole

Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul

H. G. Spafford

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins.

1 John 1:9 KJV

Lord, this is more than I can take in. What a wonderful Saviour You are!

August 29

I was number 66,730 in the concentration camp. One day I was called out at roll call and placed as number one in the row. Why did they call me? Could it be that I was to die that day?

Next to me was a Dutch girl. I stood there with her for a long time and I thought, "This is perhaps the last person to whom I can bring the Gospel, for in a short while they will kill me." We had a long talk, and I showed her the whole way of salvation.

Making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:16

Make and keep us faithful to Your work, Lord, no matter what our circumstances are.

August 28

Many Christians do not realize the work that Jesus is doing today. They forget that He serves as our advocate with His Father, cleansing us of our sins as soon as we confess them.

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 2:1 KJV

Thank You, Jesus, for Your love and that You are there, constantly interceding for us!

August 27

People know very well that there is no security in today’s world. Their knowledge should be counted as a blessing, for it makes them open to the Word of God.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Matthew 24:35

When people are insecure, they need help. Lord Jesus, in You we have the help they need. Use us to help all who will listen.

August 26

Look unto Jesus. I looked on Jesus .and the dove of peace entered my heart. I looked at the dove of peace; and lo . . . off he went.

Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord.

Once it was the feeling, now it is the Word.

Once the gift I wanted, now the Giver owns.

Once I sought for healing,

Now Himself alone.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.

James 1:17 KJV

Lord, thank You for all You have given me, but thank You most of all for who You are.

August 25

Do not hastily ascribe all things to God. Do not easily suppose dreams, voices, impressions, visions, and revelations to be from God. They may be from Him, or from nature, or from the devil.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God . . .

1 John 4:1

Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You give us the gift of the discernment of the spirits. Keep our vision clear.

August 24

The trouble with a man who lacks a clear understanding of justification by faith is that he is still trying to put himself right. It is impossible to pull yourself up by the scruff of your neck. If you do not see the reality of justification clearly, just talk to the Lord about it. He is willing to give you full satisfaction.

God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Lord Jesus, open my eyes that I may see the many blessings of eternity which we may enjoy here and now.

August 23

Do you believe that the Son of God came from heaven and lived and did all He did on earth, that He died on the cross and rose again, that He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, in order to leave us in a state of confusion? Certainly not; it is impossible.

This is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

See John 17:3

Holy Spirit, Truth divine,

Dawn upon this soul of mine.

Word of God and inward Light,

Wake my spirit, clear my sight.

— Samuel Longfellow

August 22

The moment we become Christians we become the special objects of Satan’s attention. He often uses the tool of ridicule to discourage us from doing the work of God. It is his purpose to ruin and destroy the work of the Gospel.

When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews.

Nehemiah 4:1

Lord, Thank You for Your dynamic promises such as "Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" Keep us close to Your heart so that we see things, as it were, from Your point of view.

August 21

Unhappiness in the Christian life is very often due to our failure to realize the greatness of the Gospel. The Gospel is not something partial. It takes in the whole life, the whole of history, the whole world. It tells about the Creation and the final judgment and everything in between. It is a complete, whole view of life. It covers every eventuality in our experience. The Gospel is meant to control and govern everything in our lives. We must dwell more on our riches.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . .

Colossians 3:16 KJV

How great thou art! Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You came to make us rich King’s children instead of poor beggars.

August 20

The angel announced that Jesus would save His people from their sins (see Matthew 1:21). Sometimes we do not grasp that truth and even after we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour we worry about a sin in the past which still burdens us. It is as if we write after the promise of the angel, "except this sin which I have committed." I am sure it is the devil, the accuser of the brethren, who tells us this lie. Listen to the Holy Spirit, not to the liar.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Lord, I rejoice in You. Forgive my confusion and cleanse my heart and thoughts from all that is wrong.

August 19

During my first visit to Japan, by mistake I asked a non-Christian to close a meeting with prayer. He admitted that he was not a Christian, so I said the prayer myself. After the meeting he came to me to explain why he could not pray. Now I had a chance to have a fruitful talk with him and he accepted the Lord Jesus. Do you see? My blunder of mistaking one man for another had been used to give me the opportunity to bring that man to Jesus! God has no problems, only plans.

. . . freely forgiven through that full and generous grace.

Ephesians 1:7 Phillips

We are grateful that even our blunders may prove useful for Your purposes, Lord.

August 18

How can Jesus trust us to spread His Word? Because He has given us the Holy Spirit and the Bible; they are all we will need.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Ephesians 3:8

Father, Thank You for providing Your army with all the supplies it needs. Even the weakest soldier becomes powerful if he has the right equipment.

August 17

Missed opportunities!

If only . . .

It is good to regret missed opportunities, but quite wrong to be miserable about them. You cannot look back across your past life without seeing things to regret. That is as it should be. But we have to draw a subtle distinction between a legitimate regret and a wrong condition of heart. Give God your “if only’s.”

Think of those laborers in the vineyard in the parable which Jesus told in Matthew 20:1-16. They all received the same wages, although some had worked the whole day and some had worked for only an hour. Compare that to a person’s life. Some people enter the Kingdom right at the end of their lives.

They may regret all those years when they

were not serving Christ. But the important thing

is that they are in the Kingdom. The thing that mat-

ters first of all, if you are a Christian, is not what

you once were but what you are now.

I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten.

Joel 2:25

Lord Jesus, I give my "if only's" to You. Make

me a faithful laborer here and now.

August 16

Before she died in the concentration camp, my sister Betsie was inspired by the Lord to show me the work I would do after the war.

When I had to leave that work I felt very sad. I even became depressed, until somebody showed me that bondage to someone who has died is wrong. I was set free and the Lord gave me great peace.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore.

Galatians 5:1

Lord, the wishes of those we love are a pleasant bondage, but only as long as they do not keep us from doing Your work. Help us to break bonds that must be broken.

August 15

God’s ways are sometimes not understandable. He led the Jews around the land of the Philistines, although it was shorter to pass through that land.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

Isaiah 55:8

Father, when we question Your ways, help us to remember that we do not need to understand completely, but that it is sufficient that we obey.