An here's an excerpt from another great devotion today ...

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope ..." (Romans 5:3-4).

This passage taught me an important distinction. The goal isn't to rejoice because of our difficult circumstances. But rather, to rejoice in knowing God is doing something in the midst of our suffering.

Father God, I ask for Your patience as You turn trials into triumphs. Lord, help me remove the negative labels others have placed on me, and instead, live by the labels You put on me. Thank You for producing character and hope in me and helping me daily move from victim to victor. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Love my devotion for the day from Seeds of Spring ...

Planting and Tending Your Garden
SEED OF TRUTH
Read Ephesians 4:29-32.
As you seek to follow the Lord's commands in His word with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, ask the Lord to help you walk out Paul's command in this passage. What does he say not to do? What does he say to do?
PLANT THE SEED
Quietly recite today's focus verse to yourself. Hide it in your heart and meditate on it throughout the day.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
WATER THE SEED
We are not to let any "bad" or worthless thing come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful, good, and necessary, so that whatever you say is a blessing to others. Ask yourself before you speak: Will this build up? Will this glorify God? Will this encourage someone's walk with the Lord? If you want to know what is in your heart, listen to what comes out of your mouth (Matthew 12:33-37).
The other day you were asked to pay attention to your thoughts. Today I want you to pay close attention to your words. Do they build up? Do they tear down? Do they bring light into the room? Do they bring a cloudy day? Be honest. Ask the Lord to help you identify a godly characteristic or behavior in one of your family members today, and then find a scripture that would affirm them in that area. Write a note of encouragement to them using that scripture - on a sticky note placed somewhere they will see or in an email. Continue to find ways to give grace to those who hear.
BEAR THE FRUIT
Give grace.
CLOSE IN PRAYER
Ask the Lord to bring to life all that has been planted in your heart today.

A word from the LORD through Marsha Burns about PEACE ...

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:

Guard your heart and mind so that you can establish yourself in a place of peace. You need to be at peace before you can properly discern your spiritual environment. And, you need to know the condition of that environment before you can do effective warfare against the enemy of your soul, says the Lord. Use your authority to establish and maintain purity.

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."