A Word for Life Devotions

By Dr. Bernard A. Jones

It was that great worshipper David that said, In Thy Presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16:11). A good devotional will help you get in the presence of God. This devotional will enhance your time of devotion, your special time with the Lord away from your local church. In order to worship God, you must first know God. A Word for Life Devotions will give you the knowledge and the understanding that is needed to really worship God. Each topic is designed to address specific times and places in our lives when it looks like we are far from God, when it looks like God has abandoned us. A good devotional will reveal God in your situation and calamity. God is with his children in good and in bad times, but occasionally we need a little help hearing from God. These devotions will help you hear from God through his word. Our quiet time with God should be a time of peace no matter the conflicts around us. Each of these devotions will help you see yourself in specific situations, causing you to properly adjust and realign your life. Each of these devotions ends in prayer, reminding us to take everything to God in prayer, to pray without ceasing. These devotions will help you get into Gods presence, know God in a powerful way, worship God in spirit and in truth, and help you end your devotion in earnest prayer to God. This devotional will minister to every season of your life. Most of these devotions are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible. However, some of the difficult scripture are quoted from the Amplified and Common English Bibles. If at all possible, keep this devotional with you at all times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524609924

Dr. Bernard A. Jones

Dr. Bernard A. Jones is married and with two daughters and one grandson. Dr. Jones lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Jones has a doctor of biblical theology degree. Dr. Jones is the founder and CEO of Word of Life Evangelistic Fellowship Inc. Dr. Jones has a weekly radio broadcast on WAEC Love 860 Radio, Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Jones’s first book, Simply Revelation, A Study of the Book of Revelation, was published in 2001. Visit Dr. Jones’ on the web @ www.drbernardajonesministries.org, or contact him @ [e-mail].

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© 2016 Dr. Bernard A. Jones. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse    05/24/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-0993-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-0992-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016908201

Print information available on the last page.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

AMP

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible, New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CEV

Scriptures marked as (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Contents

Train Up A Child

Grieving Wisely

Reaching For God

Love Demonstrated

Righteous Suffering

Purposeful Pain

The Potter

Bitter Places

Disguised

Patient With God

Limiting God

God’s Purpose

In My Stead

Thorn In The Flesh

The Pages Of Life

My Secrete Place

In God’s Plan

Intimacy

Advised By God

Cleansed By God

Faith always Receives

Calling God To Remembrance

Against All Odds

Sustained By God

Chosen By God

My voice, God’s word

The Love of God

Beginning new with God

In His Sight

The Art Of Thanksgiving

Thirsty For God

Heard By God

Not Forsaken

Walking with God

God And Common People

Bad Timing

Effective Prayer

Tears In A Bottle

Positioned By God

The Call to Wisdom

Prayer and Money

Pure Godliness

Perfection

My Comfort Zone

Wrestling

Ark Of Safety

Depths Of Prayer

The Heart

Miracle, Miracle

My Word

Mighty Deliverance

Potential

Suffering

God Working With Me

Multiplication

Seeking God

Repentance

Unchanging Love

No Leaning

Perfect

Determine

Sovereignty

God, The Beginning

Endurance

Mighty Change

Decisions, Decisions

Redemption

Up Close, Personal

God’s Plan

God’s Friends

Call to Repentance

The Report

My Secrete Place

Wise Prayer

Wickedness

My Heart

Lord’s Prayer

Demonic Worship

The Tongue

Intercession

God’s Connection

God Sees

Grace

Gifts

Strong Faith

Dead To Self

Unholy Merger

Finding God

Wisdom 101

Love Your Neighbor

The Judge

Wisdom Calls

Gracious

Holy Angels

Demonic Angels

Dominion

Evidence

Life, Our Schoolmaster

My Response

Death

Forgiveness

The Battle

Preface

It was that great worshiper David that said; In Thy Presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalms 16:11 A good Devotional will help you get in the presence of God. This Devotional will enhance your time of devotion, your special time with the Lord away from your local Church. In order to worship God, you must first know God. A Word For Life Devotions will give you the knowledge and the understanding that is needed to really worship God. Each topic is designed to address specific times and places in our lives when it looks like we are far from God, when it looks like God has abandon us. A good devotional will reveal God in your situation and calamity. God is with His children in good and in bad times, but occasional we need a little help hearing from God. These devotions will help you hear from God through His word. Our quiet time with God should be a time of peace no matter the conflicts around us. Each of these devotions will help you see yourself in specific situations, causing you to properly adjust and realign your life. Each of these Devotions ends in prayer, reminding us to take everything to God in prayer, to pray without ceasing. These Devotions will help you get into God’s presence, know God in a powerful way, worship God in spirit and in truth, and help you end your devotion in earnest prayer to God. This Devotional will minister to every season of your life. Most of these Devotions are quoted from the King James Version of the bible, however, some of the difficult scripture are quoted from the Amplified and Common English Bibles. If at all possible, keep this Devotional with you at all times.

Dr. Bernard A. Jones

(1) Train Up A Child I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. Psalms 78:2-4 God has giver every generation the responsibility of teaching the next generation about God. America allowed one person to take prayer out of our schools. And as a result our prison system is over crowded with children. This is sad, it is very sad. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 When they didn’t find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:45-47 Jesus is our best picture of a child trained to serve God, at twelve years old He was found, not a part of a gang, but was in the Temple learning about God. When we train our children by teaching them the word of God and the ways of God, that training will follow them through life, given them guidance in time of need. One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many? John 6:8, 9 Nothing is said about this boy’s parents, but because he had his own lunch, I have to believe that he is alone. He is found in Jesus meeting listening to the word of God. Experience as taught me that children that are not taught the word of God and the ways of God, often fails in society. Prayer - O Heavenly Father, teach me your word and your ways, that I may teach the next generation, whether my children or my neighbors, that they may prosper in all they do. Amen

(2) Grieving Wisely David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 2 Samuel 12:16-19 The first child of David and Bathsheba died. While the child was sick, David fasted and prayed to God for the child, but when the child died, David grieved shortly and moved on with his life. 33 And Jacob recognized it and said, It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces. 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning. Thus his father wept for him. Here Jacob does not grieve wisely for his son Joseph. Genesis 37:33, 34 But when Jesus’ friend Lazarus died Jesus wept briefly and continue with His ministry. Whenever our grief affect our work, we are not grieving wisely, if it affect my relationship with other family members, I am not grieving wisely. If I blame God for my grief, I am not grieving wisely. If my grief effect even my own health, I am not grieving wisely. Don’t allow grief to cause additional pain. Prayer - Heavenly Father, give me the understanding when to grieve, and how long to grieve, in Jesus name. Amen

(3) Reaching For God Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. And the Lord spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Jonah 2:1, 2 Jonah reached for God from the Whale’s Belly and God connected with him. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Judges 16:28-30 Despite Samson’s failures, he reached out to God in his time of weakness and God heard him and granted him his request. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 29:12-14 God says that when we search for Him with all our hearts, He will allow us to find Him. What is the reward for seeking God? God said that if I seek Him with all my heart, I would find Him, He is the reward. You see, everything came from God, therefore, everything is in God. Whatever you need is found in God. When you find God, you have just met that need that was in your life. The seeker of God is revealing their need for God, and this pleases God Greatly. Are you half heartily seeking God? Seek Him with all of your heart and He will satisfy every need in your life. Prayer - Heavenly