Self-Esteem

 Self-Esteem by Joan Cook

"I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14

What do you think of yourself? Do you love yourself? The Bible tells us that we should love others as we love ourselves. If you do not love yourself, you can not begin to love others.  Only when we have healthy self-esteem can we have healthy relationships.  

You might be asking, "What is healthy self-esteem?" Self-esteem is liking yourself and accepting your lot in life, despite your circumstances. As a Christian, you are a child of God, and you are very special to Him. It is a dangerous thing to have low self-esteem. Why, you might ask! Let's take a look at the characteristics low self-esteem created in the following examples:

1. Going with the Flow Joe - Like the chameleon that changes colors according to it's surroundings, Joe is a person with low self-esteem and can easily become like this. He may act like the people he is around and feel pressured to do things that he would not normally do, all because he desires to be accepted.

2. Wishy-Washy Wanda - Wanda does not have the ability to make solid decisions because all her decisions are based on her self-worth. She is not confident in herself; therefore, she does not think she can make good decisions. She continually questions herself.

3. Rejected Regina - Regina has the dirty window syndrome. She looks at life from a dirty window; therefore, she taints everything that she sees and makes it look filthy. She thinks that no one likes her or wants to be around her. She feels that people do not treat her good enough and that she's not pretty or smart enough!  She soon acts on what she believes and it becomes true. Since she is always criticizing herself, other people tend to come down on her too. She will soon become a jealous person who is easily threatened by anyone, friends included.

4. Emotionally Crippled Cal - Some of the most self-centered people in the world are people who have low self-esteem. Cal is like this. He is always down on himself. He often wonders what everyone else thinks of him.  He is generally incapable of giving or receiving love. because he is always focused on himself, 

5. Pushover Peggy - Peggy is a moral pushover. A guy tells her that he loves her, and because she does not have many boyfriends and she feels like "somebody" when she's with him, she falls for his little bag of tricks.  He asks her to do something that she knows is wrong, but she can't say no because after all, he did tell her he loved her. After all is said and done, Peggy is left all alone!

God created us to have a future and a hope! He created us to be like Him! Do not allow the devil to have you think you are not good enough, smart enough, strong enough, wealthy enough, clean enough, big enough, or spiritual enough! Let us give Him thanks, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Daily Prayer Focus: Praise God that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Praise God that your identity comes from Him.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's USA Outreach Effort. God has placed a United States effort on the heart and mind of the On The Go Team. Three key objectives are sharing, praying, and training in every county in the USA using On The Go Advance Teams, Training Teams, Planning Teams, Prayer Teams, GoTeams, and Outreach Efforts.

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 16, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2003, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Prescription for Revival

 Prescription for Revival by Keith Cook & R.A. Torrey

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation... Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps." Psalms 86:5-13

I have the following outline by R. A. Torrey written down in my Bible. It has really challenged me in my personal life in regards to revival and seeking God.

"I can give a prescription that will bring a revival to any church or community or any city on earth.

First, let a few Christians (they need not be many) get thoroughly right with God themselves. This is the prime essential. If this is not done, the rest that I am to say will come to nothing.

Second, let them bind themselves together in a prayer group to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down.

Third, let them put themselves at the disposal of God for Him to use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ.

That is all!"

Mr. Torrey was right. His prescription for revival will cure what ails the church today. Many are running around from camp meeting to camp meeting looking for revival. Churches are holding meeting after meeting calling them revivals but few are revived. What is the answer?

Take three doses of God's prescription for revival.

1. Get right with God. Confess all sins up to date and flee from evil.

2. Pray and get close to Jesus.

3. Seek opportunity to be used of God.

Our Lord deserves a vibrant, healthy, Spirit-filled, servant who is reporting for duty today. 

Daily Prayer Focus: Praise God you can be healed from apathy, inactivity, carnality, uniformity, and passivity.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's Performing Arts Team. Pray for our team as we minister through drama, puppets, interpretive dance, and music. Our Performing Arts Teams are made up of volunteers and On The Go staffers who travel around the USA to local churches and events sharing the Good News.

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 15, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2003, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

The Life of a Mom

 The Life of a Mom by Joan Cook

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

Recently, I came across the following tribute to Mothers. To all the Moms who could use a little break and a cup of coffee, Enjoy! 

If you give a Mom a muffin,

She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.

She'll pour herself some.

The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.

She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.

She'll remember she has to do some laundry.

When she puts the laundry in the washer,

She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan dinner for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.

She will look for her cookbook (101 things to make with hamburger)

The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.

She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.

She will look for her checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.

She'll smell something funny.

She'll change the two year old.

While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring.

Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee on Friday.

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.

She will pour herself some...

And chances are...

If she has a cup of coffee...

Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Daily Prayer Focus: Praise God for Mothers. Pray for parents today as they strive to train up their children to walk in the ways of the Lord.

On The Go Prayer Focus: Keith Cook's Hands-On-Training Events. This is our Outreach Training School on the road. Keith and the On The Go Team share all across the USA and Worldwide in fun and creative ways that people can serve Jesus and make an impact in this generation!

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 14, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2003, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Gain

 Gain by Keith Cook

But godliness with contentment is great gain: 1 Timothy 6:6

What's in it for me?

What will I gain from this?

What do I get out of it?

Why would I want to do that?

I want to make all the money I can so I can do missions one day!

If only I did not have so much debt, I would do something great for God.

Do any of these statements sound familiar? These questions and rationalizations float in and out of our rational brains quite often. While it is not a sin to have questions - questions can lead to sin if our thoughts are not given over to Christ. 

It is always costly to give of ones self and meet the needs of others. Missionaries down through the ages have sacrificed comforts, conveniences, cares, and criticism to do the work of the Lord. But it does not take a full time missionary to live the Christian life in power and purpose. You can gain in this life if you gain with God's standard of measure.

What is God's standard of Gain?

1. God measures greatness by character rather than commotion. Just doing something for God does not make one great. Being a man of God, man of prayer, and man of faith is judged not by outward activities but in the secret closet of ones intentions, heart's desires, and motives.

2. God gives favor and blessing based on His ultimate plan for mankind over heredity or status. You do not gain in God's sight because you are born wealthy or have been educated at Oxford. You see the favor of God because you have become His child and have a mission to do on His behalf.

3. God gives gain to those He can trust. Can God trust you with success? Can He trust you with wealth and fame? Many Christians enter into ministry for Christ full of dreams and visions and quickly start working for their glory and their self esteem. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you handle the Holy Vessels of God. Your message and mission is His message and mission. It is to be all about Him and all for Him!

4. God gives gain to those who will give it away. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliott. Now is the time for selfless living and selfless giving. God may ask you for your wealth. He may ask you for your life. He may only demand more of your time. But - he will find the areas of your life that are not totally His and begin to work on them. Commit to give God all your life. Hold back nothing. Whatever He asks of you respond - Here I am send me! Whatever sacrifice He requires respond - As Christ gave His life for me I give my life for you.

To gain with God may I offer the following to-do items:

1 Begin to develop character by being what you say you are. 

2. Spend time with God in order to know His will for your life.

3. In prayer deal with unconfessed sin and areas of pride that can destroy your effectiveness and value to Christ.

4. Write down what you hear God telling you to do. Keep a record of all you plan or desire to do under His direction. Keep yourself accountable to God by remembering all you have promised. 

Daily Prayer Focus: Pray that God will enable you to maintain a Godly focus so that you can continue to reach out effectively for Him.

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go Publications & Media Team. We are striving to saturate and minister to a contemporary culture and society through modern media. This division includes our audio, video, internet, and written materials. Through these various ministries we reach out, train, and inspire Christians to action.

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 13, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2006, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Witnessing to Homeless, Street People, Disaster Stricken, and Addicts

 Witnessing to Homeless, Street People, Disaster Stricken, and Addicts by Keith Cook

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15

On the afternoon of January 12, 2010 an earthquake registering 7.0 hit the nation of Haiti and over 200,000 people died as result. This nation has been hit with natural disasters, physical illness, political unrest, and financial decline. Since the earthquake, volunteers have been led to Haiti to help Haitians living in Tent Cities, without clean water, and facing multiple physical ailments find hope, medical assistance, and shelter.

Servants of Jesus Christ must be able to go to where the people are and they must arrive prepared to minister to people who find themselves in many unique and often difficult situations. 

As you seek to be led by the Spirit, you will find yourself needing to arrive prepared to minister and comfort real people with real problems. Here are some simple suggestions for ministering to hurting people.

1. Be Alert - Pay attention to outward signs of neglect, abuse, need, problems.

2. Don't Play God - Don't run ahead of God, or try to fix all their problems in the flesh. Hear from God and follow His direction. Guard your heart and your emotions. Allow God to direct you, not your circumstances or emotions. 

3. Focus On First Things First - Focus on one physical need and one spiritual need at a time.

4. Get Real Help - Don't get in over your head. It is not a sin to use professionals and agencies that will provide total ministry.

5. Do Not judge- Make sure that you do not judge them or on the other hand condone any of their past actions or problems. Speak a word about Jesus or meet a need.

6. Make Sure You Minister - If God has placed you in this situation you are there to minister to them. Be bold and sensitive at the same time.

7. Be Realistic - Expect difficulties. Expect abuse, confrontations, questions, misjudging your motives, and don't be surprised, if they even seem suspicious.

8. Be Spiritually Prepared - Know what you believe and what the Bible has to say about sin, love, forgiveness, addictions, hope, recovery, reconciliation, and the consequences of sin.

9. Be Smart - If you are sharing with a church group or outreach team remember to stay close to your group, and in any kind of helping hand or spiritual counselling situation, do not allow yourself to get alone with strangers or in a dangerous situation.

10. It's A God Thing - Expect God to show up and do a work in the person's life-physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Daily Prayer Focus: Pray that you will be prepared to minister to people as they experience unique and difficult situations.

On The Go Prayer Focus: The physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial needs of people hurting all over the United States and Worldwide. As God gives us opportunity in times of crisis we need to rapidly move to help. 

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 12, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2004, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Don't Rob God

 Don't Rob God by Laurie McTier

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10 (KJV)

The beginning of each New Year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past and make projections and goals that we would like to see achieved within the next 365 days. As I sat down and made my own New Year's resolutions, God brought something to my attention. How many times do I withhold my talents and gifts, tithes, and sometimes even my own schedule from God. 

The time I had set aside to make goals now became a time of confession and renewal as I realized I had robbed God of things that belonged to him. As I had my quiet time this afternoon, I made a new commitment to be available to God, and not to rob Him by withholding things from Him.

This year, God wants to bless you. He wants to guide every step and every decision that you make. He wants to use you to make an impact for His Kingdom and His Glory. If we withhold things from Him, He can not pour out His blessings and power in our life as He desires to. If we hold back, we are limiting God.

You may be thinking, "I would never rob God." The truth is, each of us have been guilty and when we are, we probably don't even realize we are doing it. 

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:18

God deserves our first fruit. As we give to God, He will in return bless us more abundantly. I think that each of us could stand to take Malachi 3:10 and accept it as a challenge for this new year. Bring God everything you have. Entrust Him with the things that are most precious to you, and as you yield them to God for His service, He will pour out a blessing, much more than we could ever imagine.

Daily Prayer Focus: Lord, help me today to entrust you with everything. I yield all that I have to you. 

On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go's Neighborhood Outreach Program. In reality, very little is being done to reach people in many communities across the USA. On The Go is striving to train local Christians and help them develop programs that can systematically and permanently reach real needs in their neighborhoods.

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 11, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2003, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.

Live On The Highest Plain

 Live On The Highest Plain by Keith Cook

"Let every valley be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low and let the rough ground become a plain" Isaiah 40:4

Every Christian is called by Christ to submit to his leading each and every day and live to their fullest potential. This year God wants you to excel in every area of your life. Mentally keep the pressure on yourself to live up to all that God is calling you to do, stop, start, try, dream, and explore.

Many people take the easy way out and quickly fall behind all their New Year's resolutions. They give into their lowest expectations for their lives and live by a possible lifestyle and neglect Christ's impossible challenge's. The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is neglected and replaced by probable thinking and reactionary living.

Decide today to live up to God's expectation of what you should be doing this year. It will provide a great view. A view from the "Highest Plain!"

Daily Prayer Focus; Pray that you will live up to God's expectations for this new year, 2023.

On The Go Prayer Focus: The "On The Go Daily" 2 Minute Radio & Podcast Program. This is a daily program airing across the United States, and World via the internet and radio stations. "On The Go Daily" is used to encourage, challenge, and motivate Christians in their daily walk. Pray for Keith, Joan, the On The Go Staff, and special guests as they share on these 2 minute broadcasts. You can hear these programs via our website if it is not available in your area.

Thank you for taking the time to pray for this important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to info@onthego.org.

On The Go Daily Devotion for January 10, 2023

Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Copyright (c) 2003, 2023 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.

On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team

P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org

E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org

Send E-zine questions or comments to: ezines@onthego.org

______________________________________________

Subscribing - If you're reading a pass-along copy of this "On The Go" devotional e-zine and want to receive your own subscription, free of charge, simply fill out the online form at http://onthego.org/ezine_newsletters.php .

After registering online you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription request, and you simply reply to that e-mail. Thank you and God bless.