Joyce Meyer - Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Every Evening of the Year

Copyright 2004 by Joyce Meyer.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1962, 1965, 1987 by

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First eBook Edition: October 2004

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Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

PSALM 141:2 NKJV

God wants you to enjoy everyday life it is His will for you. As a Christian you can have a quality of life that far exceeds your expectations, but it requires cooperation on your part. Jesus said in John 15:10-11 that if you obey His instructions and abide in His love, your joy and gladness will be full, complete, and overflowing.

Enjoying life to the fullest begins by making a decision to set aside time each day to pray and meditate on Gods Word and to learn His will and direction for your life. The people who most enjoy life are those who spend time with God, seeking His direction and then following His leading.

Starting your day right by spending time with God in the morning is an important part of enjoying life. But spending time with God at night before you go to bed is an extra special timean unhurried time that allows you to relax in the presence of God and reflect on the activities of the day.

It is a great time to acknowledge and thank Him for His presence with you throughout the day, and to seek His help with any unresolved problems or concerns you may have. Consider His invitation in Matthew 11:28-29:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

My purpose in writing this book is to help you focus on God at the end of your busy days. In the quiet solitude of the night He will refresh and restore you, lead you in paths of righteousness (see Psalm 23:3), and teach you how to enjoy every day of your life.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of (anxious) toilfor He gives (blessings) to His beloved in sleep. PSALM 127:2

You Can Have a New Beginning

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing!

ISAIAH 43:18-19

God created us to need new beginnings places where we can release our faith and say, This is a place of new beginnings for me, a place to have a fresh start. The dawn of a new year is always a good time for a fresh start.

You can experience the abundant life Jesus says you can have, but it requires making a decision to let go of the past. Unless you refuse to go on the way you have been, no change will come. God wants to change things for you, but He is waiting for your total cooperation.

Seldom do your circumstances change without something first changing in you. So if you want to experience Gods new thing this year, release your faith right now and say, This is a place of new beginnings for me. Then watch for the results.

Seek to Know God Better

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly].

PHILIPPIANS 3:10

This was the cry of the apostle Pauls heart as he sought to have such a deep relationship with Christ that the trials of life would barely be noticeable.

At the beginning of this new year, it is a wise thing for you to seek also. There are plenty of problems in life that can weigh you down and cause you to become discouraged, but God wants to provide the strength and power you need to be victorious in every battle of life. Such a relationship requires that you seek God like never before.

So start this year right by becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with the One who has all power in heaven and earth.

Trust in the Power of Hope

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

PROVERBS 13:12

I define hope as the happy anticipation of good things. You can hope for something good to happen to you by learning how to celebrate and enjoy life.

Everything in life is a process in motion. Without movement and progression there is no life. As long as you live you are always heading somewhere, and you should enjoy yourself on the way. God created you to be a goal-oriented visionary. Without a vision you become bored and hopeless.

But theres something about hope that makes people lighthearted and happy. Hope is a powerful spiritual force that is activated through your positive attitude. God is positive and He wants positive things to happen to you, but that probably wont happen unless you have hope and faith.

Expect God to bring good out of every circumstance in your life. Whatever happens, trust in the Lord... and trust in the power of hope!

Watch Your Words

There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

PROVERBS 12:18

Your life is greatly impacted by the words that have been spoken to you. Likewise, your words impact the lives of those around youfor better or for worse. Thats a sobering thought.

Many people have been crippled with insecurity because their parents spoke words of judgment, criticism, and failure to them. These wounded people can be healed by receiving Gods unconditional love, but it takes time to overcome the wrong image they have of themselves.

Thats why it is important to use your words for blessing, healing, and building up instead of for cursing, wounding, and tearing down.

If youve been wounded by words, be quick to receive Gods unconditional love. Let Him heal any unhealthy images you may have of yourself. If you have been fortunate enough to escape such damage, determine that your words will bring blessing and healing to others.

Possess Your Soul

By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls.

LUKE 21:19

You need to learn not to let your mind and emotions get the best of you, especially when it involves things over which you have no control.