MONDAY MOTIVATION

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Welcome to Monday Motivation—a devotional blog to keep you encouraged throughout the week! My name is Pastor Guy Deckard and I am incredibly excited for you to join in every Monday.
 
Below, you will find the most recent Monday Motivation post and if you continue scrolling, you will find an archive of blog posts by date. If you’d like to get a better understanding as to how this blog came about, click HERE to read the first Monday Motivation post. 
 
I invite you to follow along with me every Monday! And if you would like to dive even deeper into your study of God’s Word, purchase the same daily study that this blog is based, just click HERE.
#mondaymotivation

Stand Your Ground!

Stand Your Ground!
From the Oct. 5th reading
 
Are you living a life of faith? Do you trust Him for the outcome of your situation? Are you prepared for whatever He has for you next?
 
SCRIPTURE:
READ: Esther 4
 
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (NIV)
 
OBSERVATIONS:
  • Haman had sent out a decree approved by King Xerxes to wipe out all of the Jews throughout the entire kingdom
  • Mordecai went to Esther to seek her help
  • She was fearful for her life and the loss of her position
  • God would find a way to rescue the Jews, but not her family if she didn’t act
  • God had lifted Esther to the position of queen for just this occasion.

  APPLICATION:

  • God is sovereign – He plans ahead!
  • He will protect us
  • We just need to be faithful and prepared to stand when it is time

MOTIVATION: There have been several times in my life when I have felt God saying to me, “Just be faithful. Keep your eyes on my Son, and be ready for whatever I call you to do next.” In ministry things are not always very stable. You don’t always know how long you are going to be at a particular church or ministry. Things change, and sometimes they change very rapidly. It can be difficult at times not to worry about tomorrow, especially when you have a young family. But during those times we always sensed God telling us to just be faithful. We didn’t always know where things were heading or where we would end up, but in many cases it was freeing to know that He was in control. Our job was just to be ready for the next chapter!   When I read this passage about Esther I am reminded that God is sovereign – He is in control. Haman was King Xerxes’ right hand man, and he had tricked the king in to signing an edict to wipe out all of Mordecai’s family and the entire Jewish nation. Everything was about to come to a skidding halt for the Nation of Israel with one stroke of the pen. But, God knew that this day was coming. And months or years prior He had placed Esther in the palace to steal the heart of the king. Not just any king, but the king of Babylon – the most powerful man in the world! And I love Mordecai’s words to this young, shy queen, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”   How many times has God worked out things, in just the right way and time? God seems to know what He is doing. He appears to have a plan, and He is working out that plan towards His good pleasure.   Our job throughout all of this is to remain faithful, and to always be prepared for what He is going to do next. Here are some passages that illustrate this point:

  • Matthew 24:44 “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
  • Titus 3:1 “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.”
  • 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
  • 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness.”
  • Matthew 24:42 “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
  • Mark 13:34 “It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.”
  • Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.”
  • Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
  • Revelation 2:10 “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
Over and over God asks us to do these same things: Be faithful! Be prepared! Be ready! We never know what life has for us just around the corner, but God does. He knows how all of this plays out, and all throughout scripture He instructs His followers to remain faithful, and to be prepared.
 
Are you living a life of faith? Do you trust Him for the outcome of your situation? Are you prepared for whatever He has for you next? Because if you are, He will show up, and He will see you through. But don’t be surprised if it turns out to be a great adventure along the way!
 
PRAYER:
Ask God to show you how to be faithful, not to show you how it is all going to turn out. Ask Him to help you to be prepared for whatever He has in store for you.
 
Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.
www.lifejournal.cc
 
If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com
 
 
 



 Devotionals by Date

 January 2018

 
 
 
 

MONDAY MOTIVATION INTRODUCTION

 
 
 
  
 
 

THE GREAT SHEPHERD

 
January 1, 2018
 
 
  
 
 

THE GREAT PLANNER 

 
January 8, 2018
 
 
 
 
 

PROTECTING YOUR ROOTS

January 15, 2018
 
 
 
 
 

FACING YOUR GIANTS

January 22, 2018
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

February 2018

 
 
 

PLEASE STAND

February 5, 2018
 
 
 
  
 
 
 

BE A GAME CHANGER

February 12, 2018
 
  
 
 
 

FINISH STRONG

February 19, 2018
 
 
 

STRETCHER BEARERS

February 26, 2018
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

March 2018

 
 
 

DIGGING YOUR WAY OUT

March 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

REAL PEARLS

March 12, 2018
 
  
 
 
 

HIDDEN IDENTITY

March 19, 2018

 
 
 

MYSTERY GARDEN
March 26, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
April 2018
 
 

THE TEST!

April 2, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

PASS IT ON!

April 9, 2018
 
  
 
 
 

CRACKED POTS!

April 16, 2018

 
 
 

LAY THEM DOWN!

April 23, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

LETTING GO 

April 30, 2018
  
May 2018
 
 
 

IDOL WORSHIP OR IDLE WORSHIP?

May 7, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

WATCH AND PRAY!

May 14, 2018
  
 
 
 

DON’T SAY GOODBYE

May 21, 2018

 

 
 
 

TRAPPED

May 28, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

 

June 2018
 
 
 

GOT A MATCH?

June 4, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHOSEN?

June 11, 2018
 
 
  
 
 

I’M THIRD!

June 18, 2018

 

 
 
 

CHANGED LIVES MATTER

      June 25, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
July 2018
 
 
 

MADE FOR MORE THAN THIS

      July 2, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

SET FREE!

       July 9, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

   HEAVENLY PLACES       July 15, 2018

 
 
 

LOOKING IN THE MIRROR

July 2, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

NO SURPRISES HERE

July 2, 2018

 
 
 
August 2018
 
 
 

INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED

August 6, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

THE PEOPLE PLEASER

August 13, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 

ONE CHURCH

      August 20, 2018

 
 
 

BROTHERLY LOVE

August 27, 2018

 
 
September 2018
 
 
 

NEWLYWEDS!

September 3, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

WHEN GOD SPANKS US!

September 10, 2018

 
 
 
 

TAKING A STAND

September 17, 2018

 
 
 

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

September 24, 2018

 
 
October 2018
 
 
 

FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY

October 1, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

STAND YOUR GROUND!

October 8, 2018

 
 

 

 

FAITH UNDER FIRE

October 15, 2018

 
 
 
 

HOMELESS FOR A DAY

October 22, 2018

 
 
 
 
November 2018
 
 
 

A HEAVENLY MARRIAGE?

November 5, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

HOLY SMOKE!

November 12, 2018

 
 
 
 

MIRROR, MIRROR…

November 19, 2018

 
 
 
 

SECRET AGENT

November 26, 2018

 
 
 
 
December 2018
 
 
 

INNOCENT

December 3, 2018

 
 
 
 
 

HOPE?

December 10, 2018

 
 
 
 

FREEDOM

December 17, 2018

 
 
 
 

MORE THAN A MANGER

December 24, 2018