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Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
 

🔴 VACCINATE AND INDOCTRINATE!

The medical field of scientists and doctors have discovered that immunizations are essential to protect our bodies from various infectious diseases such as polio, influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and many more.

We are in a severe pandemic with the Covid-19 Coronavirus. Because of past experimentations by our government and medical personnel, groups of people, especially Black Americans, are fearful of taking the vaccine recently introduced with thoughts of how the Tuskegee Experiment was conducted. That ‘great’ moment in American history caused an indoctrination of distrust.

God’s Word, The Holy Bible, teaches us not to put our trust in man but to
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We should remember 2 Timothy 1:7, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.” God is sovereign, and when we indoctrinate our being in Him by placing our faith in His Divine plan, we can trust Him to direct our decisions and be confident in Him.

 
 
 
Let us pray: Lord, we trust you and know that you have gifted scientists, doctors, lawyers, leaders, teachers, and others according to your plan. How they use or exploit that knowledge makes them accountable to you. We trust you with our life to be lived for your glory in obedience to you. We love you, Lord. Thank you for your Holy Spirit. Amen.

~Diana L.W. Coleman

This devotional was submitted by Diana L.W. Coleman, a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose. Edited by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose® 

 

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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Suggested Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-22

Pride- a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

🔴 The Cover-Up 

Genesis 3:7-8 Describes how Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to cover their bodies. They also hid from God. Adam and Eve desired to shield because they knew they had sinned.
When we sin, our first reaction is to cover it up. We may keep layering on “clothes” until we no longer know what is true. We give excuses, blame others, and do not hold ourselves accountable. But is that the way God intended us to deal with sin? Of course not!


Satan will have us hiding and keeping ourselves out of sight. But, God forgives even when we have to deal with the consequences of our actions. Genesis 3:21 tells us how God made garments of skin before casting Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. That is mercy, grace, patience, gentleness, kindness, and love.

Like Adam and Eve, we can overlook the abundant blessings we have and focus on the one thing we do not. The Enemy is crafty and tempting us by dangling the proverbial carrot in our faces. How much longer will his same schemes continue to work in our lives?


How has God has blessed you today? Think about who you pray for and who prays for you. Now, honestly assess how often you go to God for correction versus blaming other people for your behavior. Claim your fig leaves!

Our bruised egos tempt us to deflect attention from ourselves by putting on layers. Perhaps we hide behind a new hobby, mindless entertainment, or becoming the “town” gossip. The Enemy tells us to cover up when we have done something wrong, but God calls us to Him. God can gently guide us back into a harmonious relationship.

2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to: Take every thought captive and teach them to obey Christ. Our thoughts become our actions. 

~Torrie Slaughter, (This devotional was updated from my original post Hiding Inside, April 2018)

 

This devotional was written and edited by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose® 

 

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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Suggested Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:20-33

Guilt- the fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime.

🔴 Banking on Guilt 

A relationship with God changes meaningless things into spiritual productivity and purpose. What one may view as unimportant is remarkably beneficial to God’s kingdom’s growth.

Artificial Division

I am learning that artificial divisions such as skin color, religious barriers, tattoos, piercings, clothing, the social and economic status will not block me from delivering Christ’s message, which is for everyone. If the Gospel isn’t received, it shouldn’t prevent me from sharing it. There is a difference between ignorance and ignoring.

Proverbs 1:32 says For the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

For context, the opening chapters of Proverbs are lectures from a father to his son. They are long speeches intended to help the son or us choose a path of wisdom over foolishness. The ignorant hate knowledge and choose not to fear God.

Some people, no matter what we say or do, will disagree. God can use us to challenge their comfortable, secure, albeit self-centered lives. As believers, we must be careful because we do not want to justify our inconsistencies.

Listening to God may require us to change the way we live. People may use your kindness and love of Christ as a bargaining tool or leverage to get what they want. Guilt is a powerful motivator to spring us into action.

Psalm 106:6 says, We have sinned ALONG with our ancestors. We have COMMITTED iniquity; we have INCURRED guilt.

I am guilty of transgressions, guilty of idolatry, guilty of unbelief, and guilty of rebellion. But God had mercy on humanity and cleansed us with His redeeming blood.

Psalm 106:7 says Our ancestors in Egypt did not understand your wonderful works. They did not remember your many acts of loyal love, and so they rebelled by the sea at the Red Sea.

Yahweh’s excellent works his many acts of loyal love.

  • Are we communicating with our families, our friends?
  • Are we telling them of God’s goodness and mercy to bring remembrance of Christ’s deliverance?

 

Christ has paid it all. 

 

~Torrie Slaughter, (This devotional was updated from my original post Put This In Your Thoughts, March 2018)

 

This devotional was written and edited by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose® 

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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John 8:12, Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 

🔴 LIGHTS OUT

Incarceration means being told what to do and when to do it. All freedom is taken. The fresh outdoor air is allowed at specific times. Whether the prisoner is awaiting trial or has been sentenced, a guard dictates your every move.  
 
Sin is also a Warden over your life and will control you. You might think that you have the freedom to exercise whatever you want, but it is just the opposite. Satan will trick you into believing that you are the master of your fate and the captain of your soul. He will tell you that you have the sufficiency of having a successful purpose-driven life. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will fall for Satan’s lies and deceit.
 
 
 

The only way to control sin is to believe and to receive Jesus Christ into your life. It is through His Holy Spirit that you will be able to confront sin head-on and choose right over evil, love over hate, and eternal life over separation from God and death.

 
Choose this day whom you will serve! Prayerfully, for your soul’s sake, you will choose God! Where do you want to spend eternity? Your heart and whom you live for are where you will spend your time, gifts, and energy.  
 

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 

 
As believers made in God’s image, we should want to be more like Him and take on His attributes and His character.

~Diana L.W. Coleman

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose®. Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose® 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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John 3:3,  Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
 

🔴 IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!

 
Time to celebrate! I love love, love celebrating birthdays. It is a special day and a good time to reflect and be thankful for another year that God has blessed you to see!  
 
Next month, I will write a little more about birthdays, so get ready to brace and prepare yourself. In case you are wondering why, well, I’ll be glad to tell you! I start my birthday celebration on the first of November and keep going straight through until the end of the year! Please don’t knock it until you try it!  
 
Just as significant as the day you were born is the rebirth through God’s transformative blood on the cross. Accepting Christ into your heart is the rebirth. That is the birthday that takes you out of this world and to eternity. It is better than any gift you will ever receive because it has been signed and sealed by God upon your acceptance of His Son, Jesus Christ.
 
1 Peter 1:23, “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”
 
Jesus is inviting all who want to celebrate with Him in Heaven! Make sure you have accepted His invitation so that you, too, can be signed, sealed, and delivered in His kingdom.  
 
Matthew 11:28-30, Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
 
 
~Diana L.W.Coleman
 
 
Just as our Father in heaven gives us the gift of eternal life He helps us spiritually mature. Below are a few questions to ask yourself. Pray, reflect, and seek God’s guidance to keep pressing forward. 
 
 

Journal Prompts:

  1. Think about one way that you have grown over the past year.  How did you accomplish growth?
  2. Do you think spiritual growth is difficult?  Why or why not?
  3. What is your life philosophy?  What can you do to ensure that you are living it every day?

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose®. Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC; Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose®