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What a Great Word!
A Year of Daily Devotions
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By Karen Moore
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These are simple words, words we use every day that we often gloss over when reading God’s Word. If, for example, the word for the day is “protect,” the reading from Psalm 121:6-8 declares: “The Lord will protect you from all dangers; He will guard your life.” Readers will then see how the Lord protects our lives. He is the One who defends us, guards us, and keeps us safe.
With one simple word, readers will move from hoping the Lord will protect us, to believing He will act on our behalf. Now that’s a Great Word!
“What a Great Word! is a beautiful way to spend a few minutes each day focusing on what is really important and growing into the person God created us to become.” — Jean Ziglar, wife of Zig Ziglar
Excerpt
Introduction
Dear Friends,
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of my marriage is my husband’s practice of doing daily devotions. He gets up way before it is civilized to do so to read God’s Word and pray. During that process, he listens carefully and often discovers a word that seems to perfectly fit our needs in a special way for that day.
He usually sends me a text so I can also start my day pondering that word and what God wants me to know. Often, he sends a similar text to others as well. His notes typically result in someone saying, “That’s exactly what I needed today,” or “That’s a great word! Thank you so much for thinking of me.”
I’ve learned so much about how powerful those simple, one-word thoughts are that I wanted to share them in a new devotional with you. You won’t find as many of the typical Bible words in these devotions. I have intentionally selected the ones you are more likely to gloss over, not realizing how significant they can be. As you carry the word of the day around with you, listen for God’s voice for a personal message. You can share that word with others, or you can simply know that God is near, able and willing to embrace you at any time. So get ready to ponder, pray, and consider a tiny nugget of joy each day.
I hope you let each special word whisper blessings into your life everywhere you go. What a Great Word! is sent to you with love… God’s love and mine!
—Karen Moore
JANUARY 1
WATCH
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
Psalm 5:3 NRSV
When we watch for something, it means we’re intent on staying alert to an event or possibility. This Scripture serves as a simple guide to help us establish the order of things we do each day. We want our first words in the morning to be words of praise as we thank God for a good night’s rest and for the start of a new day.
After that, we reflect on and surrender those areas of our lives that cause us anxiety or fear. David, the author of the Psalm, would likely have prepared a literal sacrifice to God each morning. In our day, we surrender our hearts and prepare to listen for God’s voice.
The next and most important thing we do each day is to watch for God to show up in unexpected places and in wondrous ways. We set our hopes high and trust that our mighty God and Heavenly Creator is working on our behalf.
Wherever you are as you begin the year anew, be watching for the work of God, mindful of His goodness. Be willing to keep constant vigil over the things He would have you do. He is watching over your life every moment of the day. He has great plans for you!
Lord, thank You for watching over my life as I rise to greet each new day. Help me to be mindful of You, always aware that You are near. Guide my heart and help me to continually watch for You each place I go. I pray You will bless the work of my hands. Amen.
JANUARY 2
EVERY
Every word of God is true.
He guards those who come to him for safety.
Proverbs 30:5 NCV
This may be a short Proverb, but it is a mighty one! It tells us that every word of God is true; not “a few,” not “some,” or not even “most,” but “every” word is true!
In our limited thinking, we often want every word of God to come true in our time frame, exactly when we need it, like right now. But what God wants is for our hearts to be ready to receive His truth and His blessing. For our own sake, God waits until we can receive what He has planned.
In the meantime, He wants us to continue to come to Him every hour of every day. He wants us to surrender the things that unnerve us and make life feel overwhelming. He wants us to draw near to Him and take refuge in His strength and in the power of His Word.
Go to God today; draw near to Him for every need you may have. Seek His protection and His healing and His steadfast love. Ask Him to help you wait and trust and believe that He is always with you. Ask Him to help you know with your whole heart that every word of God is true.
Whatever you need and wherever you are today, may God make His Presence known and guard you as you walk in His grace and mercy and truth. The One who created you knows everything about you. He guards your life.
Lord, I ask You to be with me today as I wait for Your promise, Your Presence, and Your generous provision. Help me to know without a doubt that every word from You is true for me. Amen.
JANUARY 3
HELPER
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
Psalm 10:14 NIV
You’ve probably had times in your life when you needed an extra pair of hands, or even just another thoughtful person to work through an idea or a dilemma. You may have been overworked or overwhelmed and simply couldn’t do everything on your to-do list. Those moments can make you feel alone. They drain your hope and your energy. Then it happens: You’re pleasantly surprised because someone offers to give you some assistance, or someone sees your need and works with you to tackle those difficult circumstances.
The Psalm writer reminds us that God sees us when we are having trouble in any of its forms. He sees our struggles and our momentary feelings of hopelessness. He sees us and He steps in to lighten the load as we commit our hearts and minds to live in ways that please Him. He is our helper.
When you feel weak, when your strength is small, go to the One who created the Heavens and the Earth. Go to the one whose strength is perfected in weakness. He sees your need and when you surrender to Him, He can meet you right where you are and offer you His help. You won’t have to ask Him twice. He’s your helper, 24/7!
Lord, I thank You for seeing my hardships and those moments when I am simply overwhelmed by the activities of life. Thank You for being a swift and steady helper. I commit all my ways and my work to You. Amen.
JANUARY 4
ABLE
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV
When you signed up to be on the team where Jesus Christ is the CEO of your life, you probably were inspired and ready to move forward quickly. You may remember the exact day or the moment when you first realized that God was real, and not only that, but He wanted to be part of your life.
But if you’re like most people, that initial enthusiasm and energy may have waned a bit over time. It doesn’t mean your faith is not strong—in fact, it’s likely to be stronger now than when you first signed on—but life comes in and saps you of strength. It causes you to feel like you simply can’t accomplish everything. And you can’t.
The good news is that God has given you amazing power through the Holy Spirit and that power will indeed help you to be able. You will be able to reach out and touch the hearts of others. You will be able to meet your daily goals and still have time for prayer. You will be able to do all that God has called you to do because as long as you’re open to being used by God, then you will be. He is able to do more through you and your work than you can even imagine. Bless His Holy Name today.
Lord, I thank You for renewing my spirit when I’m weary from the work I do in the world. Help me to live in ways that please You and help me to be able to shine Your light today. Amen.
JANUARY 5
UNBELIEF
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Romans 4:20–22 NKJV
Abraham and Sarah were in advanced years when God shared with them the good news that they would have a son. Abraham and Sarah had hoped and prayed year after year for a baby. They hoped against all odds. They hoped past anything that other human beings thought was logical. Sarah hoped even when her biological and physical clocks stopped ticking. Eventually, her hope turned to unbelief. She could no longer imagine that having a baby was possible. God had other plans, though, and her unbelief did not stop Him.
What hope do you have that you’ve moved to a back burner, imagining that it was now too late for it to come to fruition? What unbelief has kept you from continuing in the direction of your dreams or from giving opportunity a chance despite the passage of time? Unbelief is what keeps us back. Unbelief is what causes us to give up on our dreams. Unbelief is what paralyzes every hope we ever had.
Today, revisit the dreams you let go of, the ones where you imagine that nothing is possible. Open the box of your dreams with new belief, with renewed hope, and let the possibility that only God can provide shine through. God can work miracles when belief opens the door.
Lord, I squandered my dreams, wandering around in unbelief because nothing happened in the time frame I imagined. Help me today to be open to Your timing and Your willingness to walk with me in renewed hope. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
JANUARY 6
GIVE
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:7–8 NLT
Most of us enjoy being givers. We look for those moments when we can provide a surprise delight for the people we love. We anticipate the joy they might feel as they receive our generous gift, no matter what the occasion. It simply does our hearts good to know that we have been able to do something special for others.
Now imagine that you have your heart set on something special. Perhaps you’ve prayed for a long time to get out of debt, or to own a home, or to go back to school. Maybe you’ve given all you have to others, but it seems that your “giving” attitude seldom is returned to you. You should know that God sees your generosity and He wants you to enjoy His favor as well.
God loves to surprise you with little blessings. He loves to see you light up when something that you never dreamed could happen suddenly comes to fruition. He loves knowing that He helped fulfill the desires of your heart. Acknowledge His gifts with love and praise and return your heartfelt joy to Him as a small way of giving back. May God give you new ways to continue to give cheerfully and well.
God, I love You and appreciate all that You have done for me and all that You give me each day to sustain me. Amen.
JANUARY 7
JUST
The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:17–18 NRSV
A good synonym for the word just is “right.” When we think about who God is, it is helpful to realize that God is “just” or that He is “right” in all that He does. The psalmist reminds us that God is not simply just in a few things that He does, but in all things. That means there is nothing else God can be except just. We would be hard-pressed in the world we live in today to find a few people who are “just” sometimes, much less all the time.
Two things come to mind as we consider that God is always just. One is that we have greater confidence that God will deliver us from anything that is not right for us. In fact, the rest of the Psalm goes on to say that God draws near to those who call on Him in truth. A just God draws near to the people He loves and guards them. He helps them walk in His ways and strengthens them with His truth.
Number two is that you may not feel you’ve always been judged fairly or that the world has treated you in a way that is just and right. The good news is that God does not see you in the same way that the world sees you. He sees your heart and draws close to you. He helps you because of His own steadfast love for you and His righteousness. You may not always see His hand at work, but you can trust Him to guide you in ways that are right and just.
Lord, let me live with honesty and integrity, and help me to do all I can to stand up for what is right and just wherever I am today. Amen.
JANUARY 8
FULL
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
Psalm 65:9 NRSV
The beauty of a phrase like “the river of God is full of water” is that it is a great reminder that God’s work, His Presence, and His reality are continual; they overflow with goodness. The psalmist reminds us that God has provided all that we need to sustain life from the very beginning. He intends for each of us to live in His care and keeping. He wants us to have all that we need, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
So today, we can each choose how we want to be made full, or filled up with to the point of overflowing. We can be full of the Holy Spirit, and overflow with His bounty of goodness and peace and patience and self-control. We can intentionally share more goodness and love and joy. When we go to the river of God’s love and mercy, we discover that there is always enough to go around. He makes it clear that He has plenty to share and even more where that came from. Surrender your heart to Him today and you will be provided with His glorious fullness.
Lord, thank You for providing for my needs beyond measure. Help me to always appreciate the overflowing love You have for me. Let my heart be humbly full of Your love. Amen.
JANUARY 9
CONTINUALLY
The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11 NRSV
Isn’t it amazing to imagine that God is continually guiding you? He doesn’t guide you on Monday and then wait until Thursday to guide you again. He doesn’t walk with you on Sunday right after church, and then forget about you the rest of the week. No, He is with you every moment to satisfy your needs. He is your incessant and constant source of direction.
Sometimes you may feel parched. You may feel alone and that you’re doing everything you can to simply survive. You go to work, you pay your bills, you take care of your family, go to church, and start all over again on Monday. You may not feel like a watered garden. In fact, you may wonder if God even knows you exist because everything about your life feels parched and dry.
If that’s the case, then read this verse from Isaiah very carefully. If you need to read it continually for several days until it sinks in that you are not alone, that you are not in a desert, parched and thirsty, then do so. You have been given, instead, a spring of living water, put inside your heart from your loving Father. You are a continual fountain, ever nourished and replenished by the One whose waters never fail. May you never thirst again.
Lord, I turn to You continually for refreshment and strength. Help me to come often to You for guidance and living water. Amen.
JANUARY 10
ENCOURAGE
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement.
Romans 12:6–8 NIV
The encouragement you give to others is a gift. You know that when the tables are turned and someone encourages you, you understand what a gift kind words spoken at the right time can truly be. A day rarely passes that you don’t need encouragement for something you’re trying to accomplish. Maybe you want to learn a new skill and you’re not sure you have what it takes. Maybe you want to write a novel, but you’re afraid publishers will reject you. Perhaps you simply want to get through your to-do list and have time to exercise as well. No matter what it is, it helps your heart and mind to receive a little encouragement.
On the reverse side, notice the difference it makes when you are the one giving the gift of reassurance, hope, or kindness to someone else. For instance: You have a friend who seems to have everything she needs to succeed in achieving a goal, but she still needs your encouragement. You see your spouse work hard to finish a project and you know that it’s getting tough to have the energy to see it through. You offer a loving smile, a boost of confidence, and see that it is just what he needs to complete the work. God wants us to encourage each other to build our faith, do our work, and learn to love one another. Give the gift of encouragement. Inspire someone today and it will do your heart good.
Lord, as I cross paths with others today, let me be the first to encourage them toward their hopes and dreams. Amen.
JANUARY 11
NEW
The Lord says, “Forget what happened before,
and do not think about the past.
Look at the new thing I am going to do.
It is already happening. Don’t you see it?”
Isaiah 43:18–19 NCV
We all love to get something new! We like to carry a new cell phone or drive a snazzy new automobile. We love a new idea to stimulate our life direction, a new friend to increase our sense of connection, or a new book to change our thinking.
One reason we like new things is because we can get stuck in the past. We may listen to the same old tapes that have worked through our minds for years. We carry those old ideas and thoughts with us because we haven’t yet discovered good replacements. We need something new. We need a change.
In Isaiah 43, we see that sometimes God does a new thing too. Isaiah tells us to stop thinking about the past. We don’t need to assume that what happened before will happen again. We don’t have to imagine that there is an obstacle around every corner. We only need to understand that God is doing a new thing, and it is already happening.
Can you see any new things God is doing in your life? Can you understand that He is so devoted to you that He continues to search for ways that will motivate your spirit and bring you joy? God is doing a new, innovative, original thing in your life right now. Give Him thanks and praise.
Lord, please open my eyes to the new things You are doing to motivate and inspire me today. Help me to see Your hand at work in all that I do. Amen.
JANUARY 12
OPEN
Be good to your servant,
that I may live and obey your word.
Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.
I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me!
Psalm 119:17–19 NLT
Have you ever thought to ask God to open your eyes so you can clearly see His truths? Has it occurred to you that you may be walking around half asleep, only partially aware of all that God really has for you? If you honestly answer yes to either of those questions, then this could be a new day for you. This could be the day that you open your heart and mind to God as never before. What would that look like?
Perhaps you remember that Jesus said, “Let the one with eyes to see, see.” It appears that He felt people were not seeing or comprehending His messages clearly. They were not truly open to all that God wanted them to know. They could not see God’s hand at work in their lives.
So what will it be for you? Open or closed? Are you closed-minded and unable to recognize that God desires more for you? If so, then this is a great day for you to open the eyes of your heart and mind and surrender to His care and keeping. When you acknowledge God’s gifts and open your eyes to all that He is doing, you will find a multitude of reasons to sing His praise.
Lord, I know I’ve been asleep to many of the precious gifts You’ve given me. Open my eyes today to see Your hand at work every place I turn. Amen.
JANUARY 13
PROUD
The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV
This bit of Solomon’s wisdom may indeed be one for us to take to heart. After all, when we start a project, especially one that we initiated, or one that is important to us, we usually do so with gusto. We are ready to take on the world and get it done. We are proud, in a good way, of the project before us and may even be humbled that we get to do it.
A patient spirit may benefit us even more, though. When we’re patient, motivated by an opportunity, or a chance to serve, then our hearts are open to hearing other opinions or thoughts on ways to get things done. We can then choose the best advice to take on as our own.
A proud spirit that may even be arrogant or controlling seldom serves you as well. It doesn’t accept advice or truly listen to the counsel of others. In fact, pride stands in the way of receiving God’s advice and counsel as well.
It’s great to be proud of the things you do as you raise a family, or volunteer in the neighborhood, or go to a workplace environment each day. Just remember when you’re patient with yourself and others, you’ll enjoy the fruit of your labors and God will bless your humble efforts.
Genre:
- "The term 'short, sweet, and to the point' is often misused, but it perfectly and beautifully describes Karen Moore's new devotional. We live super-busy lifestyles and the short chapters leave us without excuse for taking a moment to consider the deep things of God. Each chapter is sweet with truth that is nourishment for the soul. And the 'to the point' target helps focus on the main thing each and every day. Recommended reading!"—Joel Comm, New York Times best-selling author
- "What a great word. Another devotional, you might think. If you are like me, I am in the Word every morning and always looking for a fresh perspective. This book will fit great into my daily readings. It does exactly what I'm looking for, and that is to come from a new place to find fresh thoughts and ideas to help me grow in and receive more from the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your gift Karen."—Marty Roe, Diamond Rio
- "While reading this book, What a Great Word!, I'm reminded how it is important to think and meditate on what we read in God. Thank you, Karen Moore, you've made this a daily devotion that everyone can understand and walk away feeling enlightened. God bless you as you help people draw closer to the Savior."—George Shinn, the George Shinn Foundation
- "A few simple words can be a powerful thing. They bring hope to despair and order into chaos. They can calm both stormy seas and anxious hearts. Karen Moore's new book, What a Great Word!, helps to take the living words of scripture and weave them into encouraging devotionals for daily life."—Daniel Rice, author of #Gospel: Life, Hope, and Truth for Generation Now
- "'God's Word is alive, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword' is a familiar verse in Hebrews. In What a Great Word! Karen Moore has captured what is truly alive and active about reading scripture, and has come up with a refreshingly simple, yet intensely focused way to bring new life and a new perspective to daily-devotional reading. Pick up a copy, and enjoy!"—Joe Battaglia, author of The Politically Incorrect Jesus
- "God chose His words carefully, wisely, and precisely. What a Great Word! drew my attention to the detail in God's precise promises. It strengthened my resolve to trust God to manage my life's problems, big or small. It actually helped me relax at the beginning of each day. I highly recommend this devotional for each day of the year, with an added one to grow on."—Brenda Golden, Entertainment Marketing/PR, CEO of GoldenGab.com
- "Sometimes devotionals inspire your heart. Sometimes they edify your thinking and give you a new perspective. Other times, they simply fill your spirit with joy. Karen Moore's new book What a Great Word! does all those things for the reader and more. I look forward to spending some time with this book every morning."—David L. Hancock, founder and CEO of Morgan James Publishing
- "We often search the Bible for just one word from God that will give us hope and encouragement for the day. Karen Moore's new book, What a Great Word!, gives us those special words that help us face life's challenges and joys with encouragement, hope, and love. This is truly an inspiring book. Thank you, Karen."—Terry Squires, author, television host
- "Sometimes you just need a good word! What Karen Moore has done in What a Great Word! though is give you a fresh look at words she selected from scripture to offer a new perspective. Each word causes you to think more deeply about the passage and to focus on that word in a way you may never have done before. I look forward to getting a daily nugget of refreshment each time I open What a Great Word!"—Duane Ward, CEO, Premiere Marketing, LLC
- "My father was a newspaper man, and my mother was an English teacher, so words played an integral part in my life. My parents taught me that choosing the right word for the occasion was meaningful, but even more important was the recognition that words can either be helpful or hurtful. Karen Moore's devotional, What a Great Word!, is more than just helpful. In the simplest manner, she guides the reader/contemplator to embrace a word within the Word, not just for personal edification, but also for action. I look forward every morning to discovering what word will be highlighted for the day, and I'm confident that others will feel the same."—Ron Doyle, Owner, TargetOne Coaching
- "I love getting up every morning and contemplating this special word of the day as I do my prayers and read God's word. I highly recommend What a Great Word!"—Pete Kersten, illustrator, Kersten Brothers Studios
- "Starting each morning with inspiring and thought-provoking words can help set the tone for your entire day in such a positive and uplifting way. Karen Moore's new book What a Great Word! gives you the tools to do just that. In our complicated world, it's so easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. Reading a devotional like Karen's will help to feed your spirit and encourage you to see the world through the eyes of love."—Kathy Davis, Kathy Davis Studios, Chief Visionary Officer, author, and artist
- On Sale
- Dec 4, 2018
- Page Count
- 384 pages
- Publisher
- FaithWords
- ISBN-13
- 9781546031949
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