"The sower sows the word. 15 "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 "These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. 18 "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; [they are] the ones who hear the word, 19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept [it], and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

Mark 4:14-20 (NKJV)

Faith In The Morning Daily Affirmation 🌅

I am the salt of the earth. I am the light of this world. Jesus said it so I believe it. I am a carrier of the Glory of God. Today, I will experience the extreme goodness of God. Today, I make myself available for God to show His goodness to others through me.  Today, I am increasing in influence. Today, I will see the goodness of God in my life! Today, something good is going to happen to me so I expect miracles. 

Today’s Devotional 📖

Good Morning,

Happy Monday! This is going to be a great week for you! Before I get into today’s devotional, I want to share something I’ve been thinking about for a while and praying and pondering about how to move forward. Recently, I was listening to a message and the man of God said that when you hear vision, you have to think partnership and when you hear partnership, you have to think vision. What was he saying? In order to achieve God’s vision for your life, you will have to partner with others and others will have to partner with you.

When I think about our Faith in the Morning newsletter and podcast, I think about the vision in my heart for its future. In order to take this devotional into its future in reaching more people, we need partners. If you are a person, who is not a member of Faith Christian Center but wants to help us expand and enhance Faith in the Morning, then I would ask you to consider becoming a Faith+ Partner. What does partnership entail? Click this link to learn about the three things we ask for our partners to do. Thank you for your consideration. Let’s get to today’s devotional.

Previously in Mark 4, we looked at the heart soil that doesn’t receive the Word and the soil that is rocky ground. However, as Jesus continues this important parable He reveals another type of heart soil. This soil receives God’s Word and holds on to it. The Word begins to produce in this person’s life. It bears fruit, but something else is also growing in this person’s heart - thorny weeds.

Jesus shares that these thorny weeds choke or crowd out the Word and makes the Word unfruitful. This lets me know that at one point the Word was producing in a person’s life, however as the weeds grew the Word stopped working in that person’s life. The first weed that Jesus lists is the weed of worry. How should we deal with this weed? Look what the Holy Spirit told us to do in Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:6-8 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.” (NKJV)

Whenever we feel worried, we should turn to prayer. Now, you don’t have to drop to your knees and yell out a prayer. How do you fulfill the instruction of this passage? When you feel worried, inwardly you can turn to God and say, “Father, I’m feeling worried and anxious about this.” Then you ask God for what you need according to the promises in His Word and then you thank Him for hearing your prayer.

Afterwards, the Apostle Paul tells us how to handle our thoughts. Verse 8 lists the type of thought life we are to have if we are going to live free from worry and anxiety. We are to think on things that are true and a good report. What if it is true and a bad report? You speak to that situation and say that the situation is temporary and subject to change.

If you keep thinking about the bad situation, the weed of worry will grow in your heart. However, if you think on God’s promises and His good report for you, worry will lose its place. For every problem you face, God has a promise for you that will help you overcome the negative situation and circumstance. That promise is your good report!

Today, focus on God’s good report for you! Believe His report and have an amazing week! I want to share more about this topic with you in today’s podcast. You can stream today’s podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcast or Spotify.

Today’s Prayer 🙏

Pray this prayer with me today, “Father, I believe you love me extravagantly and you have great plans for my life. Help me to develop the soil of my heart so that your Word produces multiplied, long lasting results in my life. I will thrive in 2025! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Something good is going to happen to you today. Keep moving forward! Want more encouragement? Check the links below and share them with others. Have a great day!

Extra Encouragement ☀️

This weekend, we had the honor of hearing from Dr. Billye Brim! Listen to all three sessions from our conference here.

Share Faith With Others 📤👥

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Don’t forget to read through the Books of Matthew and Psalms this month Today, read Matthew Mark 3 and Psalms 62.

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