Devotions - Prayer

“Jesus Continues To Build His Church”

“All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”.
( Acts 9:35).

Its all about Jesus. It’s not about us. *Jesus is the One who saves.
*Jesus is the One who heals.
*Jesus is the One who restores us.
*Jesus is the One who does miracles in our midst.
*Jesus is the One who continues to build HIS church(Body of Believers).

The purpose of the church is to worship and witness. Some will go and some will send, but all are called to the work of spreading the gospel. This is not a suggestion; it is a command (Matthew 28:19). Believers living in God’s will are ALL to be involved in missionary work.

*God can get to you anytime anywhere
*Make up your mind who you are.
*You don’t Discover who you are, you Decide who you are.
***You can’t move into Destiny until you connect with Divinity.

In the last part of Acts chapter 9 we see two miracles: the healing of a man who had been bedridden for eight years who was paralyzed, and the resurrection of the woman Dorcas after being pronounced dead.

While the Apostle Peter is present at both of these miraculous events, he can not and does not take the credit for any of the work that was done to these two people.
In regards to the healing of the paralytic Peter tells him:
“And Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.’ And immediately he rose.” (Acts 9:34 )

Peter knew without a shadow of a doubt that he did NOT heal that man. Jesus did. ***It was JESUS’ power working through the words of Peter.
*** We know that it was Jesus because after this event verse 35 tells us that all the residents of Lydda “…turned to the LORD” (verse 35).
***They did NOT turn to Peter, or start to give their lives to the Apostles, they turned to JESUS and gave their lives to Him.

I do believe that God is still in the business of healing the sick and delivering the spiritually oppressed. For not only was this a large part of the ministry of Jesus Christ Himself, but this was also part of the ministry of the early church, as well.

Can an entire city be transformed for Jesus Christ?

The book of Acts(Acts 9:35) reveals that at least one city was.
I believe there are four key ingredients required among its Christian’s to see a city transformed.
These include Prayer, Humility, Unity, and Knowledge of God’s ways(His Word).

1. Prayer:     In every city in which transformation has taken place, believers have come together to pray for their city.
* Prayer changes the spiritual climate of a city.

2. Humility:    God uses men and women who recognize that they NEED each other and who do NOT seek glory for their work!!!!
“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (Ps. 25:9). I believe the leaders that God is using today care little about being in the limelight.
** Our motive should be out of Love and Obedience to Glorify JESUS!

3. Unity:    Jesus said, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
God calls each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, BUT our independence, pride, selfishness and egos often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ.

4. Knowledge of God’s Ways:
Sometimes leaders can move in presumption instead of in a Faith that is rooted in knowledge of God’s ways.
Colossians 2:3- Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Hosea 4:6- my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests;
Romans 11:33 -Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

Do you want to see your City-your  relationships -your Church-your work place-your Business  transformed?
Make sure the Four ingredients of prayer, unity, humility and knowledge of God’s ways exist in your heart as well as the entire leadership team.

Luke 5:4  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
*If you do what God says, you reap the promises of God, as well as begin a life of living for HIm.
*Live for God means listening to Him. Do what God says regardless of how you feel because it is not about you, but His faithfulness.

God’s Love helps us ALL endure, perservere, and hang on through ALL our trials, pain and suffering. HOPE in God’s Love is what will give us the FAITH to look beyond the current challenges and problems.
Psalm 31:7- I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
*We must “hear” the Word of GOD to “do it”. It is not a historical book of reference. I must hear what HE is saying to me through the Word.
When the Word of GOD becomes ALIVE to you, it becomes sacred.
(LUKE 5:4-6; MATTHEW 21:28-31a)
There are some people trying to get connected to the Word, but have so many distractions in the way. God will remove those distractions when YOU are ready for GOD to make a way.
*The Word of God is a need & necessity to guide US through our life.
*Don’t allow your experience to limit your exposure.

God, open our hearts and prepare them to believe, to have faith, to see with our hearts what our eyes don’t see and to turn to You at ONCE Lord.
Lord, help me pray bold prayers, not just as words to try to manipulate you into answering, but as your Holy Spirit leads so that lost people would turn to You as  a result.  Dear Jesus, thank you that you love me. Thank you for this day that you have given us. Let me live my life this day for you, and only for you. Let me trust you with all that I have and all that I am. Let it all be yours. Let me decrease, so that YOU can increase.
Lord help us to get more involved in our communities. Help me continue to grow in these key ingredients of Prayer, Humility, Unity, and Knowledge of YOUR PERFECT ways found in Your WORD! Open my heart, mind and soul to LISTEN to You as YOU- JESUS- BUILD YOUR CHURCH for YOUR Glory and our joy!
In Jesus name. Amen

My Plans Verses God’s Perfect Plans!

Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do, but your plans were totally frustrated? I believe this was how Joshua felt.

“And Joshua said, ‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!'” – Joshua 7:7

Joshua demonstrates some cool things here. I can relate.

1)Rather than simply grieving or railing. He immediately comes before the presence of the Lord & cries out to him, asking why this has happened. He’s emotional and distraught but he takes it to the right place.

2) Joshua doubts his decision. This is cool because I do this all the time!
Joshua is overwhelmed by failure, fear, and disappointment & begins to doubt whether they should have come. This is understandable, the Lord promised them the entire land and commanded them to claim it, then this? He’s confused and starts to doubt.

No surprise, we do it all the time. We hear an amazing promise from God, maybe get an miraculous sign confirming it. We know better, but still, high on the promises of God, WE foolishly ASSUME it is going to be a smooth ride or that we can handle the bumps.

Then we are defeated. We stumble over a task that should have been easy. Bewildered, disillusioned, angry, and humiliated, we think, “I should go back to that place where God demonstrated his power! When things felt good & made sense.”

Its not right but its still encouraging.
The Lord had been with the people of Israel as they entered the Promised Land.
*They defeated every enemy because of God’s blessing and protection.
*They had just taken the city of Jericho. The next battle was the city of Ai. They scouted the enemy and determined it would require only 3,000 men to defeat them.
They attacked, and soon the reports came back that they were being routed. Joshua could not understand this. He cried out to God asking why this was happening.

The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.”
That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction.
I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction” (Joshua 7:10-12).

***Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable. God removes His protective shield from our lives in order for the sin in our lives to be purged out.

God often uses the enemy of our souls to accomplish the task.
If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if there is any sin that is the cause of the problem. (Mine was Pride and selfishness to start with).
I know Adversity is not always due to sin, but it can be. Ask Him. He will show you!!!!

As with Joshua, God immediately answered this prayer when Joshua asked.
God desires for His children to live in a right relationship with Him

Circumstances changed for Joshua and he cries or feeling failed. He wants to TURN BACK! Because the plan did not go accordingly— Joshua wants out. “why would God do this to us? Why is He mad?”
*How quick Joshua is to want to go backward!
I feel like so many times, especially after an amazing VICTORY, we can get caught up in trying to do things in our OWN strength instead of allowing God to do it all.

A lot of times, though, it can be traced back to a simple act of disobedience, even a slight one such as taking for yourself something that was supposed to be for God, or taking the glory for something that God did.
In that one moment of pride, we can find ourselves defeated in our next battle. We ask God, “Why?” His answer? You have sinned. Get up and cleanse yourself from your sin, for tomorrow you will go up against the same battle.
ROOT out that which is holding you back and burn it out. Then you will be victorious. Let God have control.

Romans 6:7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Father, forgive my foolishness for being fearful of my circumstances rather than fear You. God thank you that you are always the same, Your plan is always perfect, so that when I fail and my surroundings fail- You NEVER do. That’s amazing. God I pray that when my circumstances shift you would put it in my mind to remember who You are. Help me to see that You are still at work and still in control. God it is never about me it is always about you Jesus. I don’t wanna go ANYWHERE without you. I need you, I desire you, I long for you. I love you. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN!

Painful memories grow strangely dim when we allow the Holy Spirit to light the candle of God’s Love within our hearts.
“…but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”Phillipians 3:13-14

We can’t change our past, but we can certainly focus on Jesus, yield ourselves totally to Him and allow His Love to flood our souls.
Our PAST is JUST our testimony and nothing more. In God we are NEW, we are walking as the inner man (holy spirit) and no longer by flesh.

“…pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”
II Peter 1:19

The Value of Words—Communication!

*Mature Christians DON’T ADD USELESS WORDS when they speak, because it  may  be taken as evil and be used by the devil.   (See  Matthew 5:37)
* We need to be aware of WORDS we say as it REPRESENTS our HEART.  If we said evil things that showed the evil inside our hearts, we need to get them out of our vocabulary. (Colossians 3:8; Matthew 7: 20-23)
** We need to ASK God’s help and guidance to change our hearts and to guide our tongues just like King David did. Psalm 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you ,OLord, my rock and my redeemer.

“And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:36-37
**Oaths – invoking the name of God or a sacred object to demonstrate the seriousness of a promise.
**Vow is making a promise to God of something you will do.

What’s our reasons for an  oath or vow or any other useless words verses just a “Yes” or “No”????
1. Is it for Self-Protection?
*Are we are afraid of getting in trouble?
*We fight lying for self-protection by trusting God’s forgiveness!

2. Is it for Self-Gain?
*To obtain something we want.
*We fight lying for self-gain by trusting God’s faithfulness!

3. Is it for Self-Promotion?
*To make ourselves look good and/or to get people to like us.
*We fight lying for self-promotion by trusting in our Christian Identity!

Imagine for a moment that you are living in Jesus’ time. It is before Jesus has begun His public ministry. He is a carpenter in your local town of Nazareth. You have asked Jesus to make a table for you. You’re on a deadline and you must have it in a week. You agree on the price of $100 for the table and the date of one week for completion.
A week later you arrive to pick up the table. You lay your money down on the table and Jesus says, “Mr. Johnson, I am sorry but the table is not ready. I ran into complications. Also, I can no longer honor the price I gave you. It is now $150 instead of $100.”

Two years later you hear about this same Jesus who is preaching to the local townspeople.
How are you going to view this Jesus? You probably won’t give much credence to His message because of your personal experience.

* Our lives have an ability to reinforce the message we stand for, or they can violate it and make it totally ineffective.
This literally happens all over the world in different settings with Christian workplace believers. Our message becomes ineffective because we have not done what we said.

I know people who, when they tell me they plan to do something, I can expect them to follow through about 50 percent of the time.
I am sure you have had the same experience. Words and commitments are made with little meaning behind those words.
However, I know others who will follow through almost every time. The only time they don’t is when something falls outside their control.
We quickly learn whose words have substance behind them.

*There are times when we are unable to perform or deliver what we promised due to outside influences.

* The key to turning these potentially negative circumstances into a witness for Christ is Communication.
* If, for example, we are unable to pay a bill on time, we must communicate with those we owe and make a good faith effort to resolve it within our means.
In these cases, God’s purposes are being performed as well if we seek to do the honest right thing.

*Do your words mean anything to those who hear them?
* Do you make commitments and fail to follow through on them?
* What would others say about how you follow through?
Ask the Lord today to show you how you are doing in this area. You might even want to ask three people who are the closest to you how you fare in this area.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” – John 8:34

***The degree to which YOU perceive that YOU are forgiven, is the degree to which YOU will love God.(Think on Cross)

What are the habits that keep you from becoming all that God may want you to become? Do you desire change enough to be accountable in a way that it costs you something when you fail?
*Move Forward and Ask a friend to hold you accountable in an area that needs change (which we ALL need some change). You will find new freedom as you conquer old be setting habits.

Hosea 10:12   Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

Lord, Wake me up,  and help me be renewed.  Lord help me Arise to a place of life and energy both spiritually and naturally.  Lord come to US like the rain that refreshes and softens the ground of our hearts to allow YOUR expression of life and growth.  Lord it is  time to break up the fallow ground of my heart, those places that have become hardened and unproductive as a result of difficult challenges.  Lord, remove the darkness of the past and flood US with the light of YOUR LOVE and HOPE. Help Us to communicate your way! With a simple truthful “Yes” or a “No” and mean what we say! Help me be accountable to You Lord. Help me think more before I speak knowing  more now of the power of words. Help me use words to encourage and build up verses words to tear down. Thank you for Your patience with me-a sinner saved by Grace. Help me be more like You Jesus in all areas of my life!    In Jesus Name,  Amen

Jesus wounds became your healing.
How wonderful the CROSS!

1 Peter 2: 24 He(Jesus) used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. 25 You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

God sent Jesus to the Earth to show us who we’re supposed to be.
* He showed us how we are supposed to live, but more importantly
* Jesus came to Earth to take away the last remaining element that separated us from God. OUR SIN, and the inability for us to see past it is the one thing holding us back from Him, and from spending our lives with Him.
* Jesus took away all our excuses and gave us the ability to LIVE WITH GOD!!!

*When we lessen the seriousness of sin…we lower the value of God. Don’t look at Jesus to advance you. Look to Jesus to save you.

Romans 1: 5 Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. 6 You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ!

What are you willing to suffer in order to fulfill the purpose on you. Remember you WILL OUTLIVE your misery!
We must learn not to occupy our minds with that which grasps onto us.
* Faith assures us that a thing is done. *Patience enables us to calmly wait for it to manifest.
* Faith removes the doubt, patience keeps it from coming back.

Jesus died to atone for our sins..He died so that we might die to sin..His death on the cross enables us to live the kind of life that glorifies Him..

Hebrews 5: 8 Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.

Romans 5:8 But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Job 33:28 God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.’ 29 “Yes, God does these things again and again for people. 30 He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.

1 Peter 3:18 That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all-was put to death and then made alive-to bring us to God.
1. Christ sets me free from my past sin-guilt.
2. Whats the secret of worry free living.
3. Christ sets me free from living without purpose today.
4. Christ sets me free from having to earn my way into heaven.

A good conscience is not dependent upon what we do or don’t do, but upon what Jesus did for us on the CROSS.

God was at work through the cross of Christ, demonstrating His love to a sinful world, acting to save sinners like you and me!

First we must seek to comprehend
God’s amazing Love for us. Only then
will we be able to fulfill His greatest
commandment:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…”Matthew 22:37
*The degree to which you perceive that you are forgiven, is the degree to which you will love God.

Do not settle for the gospel of salvation only.
Jesus came that we might experience the gospel of the Kingdom in its fullest sense. Our job is to look past our logical reasoning and see how God might want to solve our problem in a supernatural way.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

When the apostle Paul tells us to fully work unto the Lord, he does not mean we must be working as missionaries in “full-time Christian effort.” He understands that ALL of life is holy and sacred to God.
*If our motive is to serve God where we ARE, then our labor “in the Lord is not in vain.”

As you begin your work today, ask God if you are working with the primary motive of reflecting His life and character through your work on this day.
Let nothing move you from this motive being central to your activity. The Lord will reflect His power and leading in and through your life when this becomes your primary motive.

Live freely, motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.
These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day.
Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? Galations 5:16-18

*The highest revelation of Christianity is Christ in you, living out His love in you.

Lord, Teach us to live in the ways of the Holy Spirit that we may overcome the trappings of the flesh each day. Father, thank you for bringing your great love into my life. Your love is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit and it drives me today to put in everything and do all that is required for the message of the Gospel to reach out to the ends of the earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

What a way to greet each day, knowing that whatever you are going through that God has got you covered.

How I LOVE My MOTHER! With out her I would not be here!!!
1. I Love her verbally
2. I Love her physically
3. I Love her patiently
4. I Love her attentively
5. I Love her gratefully
6. I Love her generously
7. I Love her honorably

Eph. 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

What does it mean to obey your parents “in the Lord”? I think “in the Lord” means as Christians. Without Christ you can’t obey your parents.

Nobody is perfect in raising their kids.  Parents I know (mainly myself as a son and as a father) are not flawless.
The Bible tells us:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.
Acts 16:31

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:1

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Even a child is known by his actions.
Proverbs 20:11

Fear the Lord your God, Serve Him only.
Deuteronomy 6:13

God is love.
1 John 4:8.

Honor you father and your mother.
Exodus 20:12
We must respect the lives of those who gave us life (mother&father) & we shall live a long life. This is how the Lord our God works.

If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:15

Jesus answered, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ” John 14:6

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Psalm 34:13

Love is patient, love is kind.
1 Corinthians 13:4
There are some people who can’t even say this word-Love- all together because some where along the lines, they have been hurt, they have been severely wounded, that they have no idea what Love even means anymore. Their perception of love is skewed.
***How love is rekindled if you have backslide over the years.
1. Ask forgiveness
2. Make the choice to forgive
3. Don’t hesitate to get help
4. Give yourselves time to heal; be patient
5. Share Life stories with each other again
6. Fall in Love with Christ again

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways.
Proverbs 23:26

“Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).

As we grow in relationship with our Creator, we may be amazed to find that our desperate and heartfelt need for love has already been filled…by God Himself.

“My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”Psalm 63:1

It is in the shadow of the cross that we endure our greatest temptation and
failures and then break through to resurrection!

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2).

Psalms 139:13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born.
This reading gets us to re-direct our focus on the eternal God and reminds us to look upwards to the omniscient Creator for the answers WE are looking for instead of looking at the created; ourselves and the world around.

God is love-love is God. To love is to portray the very essence of God’s character, to truly be CHRIST like.
To handle relationships God’s way, love is crucial, God is key. A love relationship is completely centered around God.

You are the masterpiece of God made in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:1-10.
1. Created for the Master’s purpose
2. You have everything you need to do to do what God wants you to do.
*Stop looking at what you cannot do and look at what you can do.
3. As God’s masterpiece He uses everything in your life to bring about his purpose. Rom 8:28.

A Reminder: God doesn’t withhold His love from me despite the mistakes I’ve made and will make in the future. God’s love makes me want to honor Him with my life daily because He takes care of me like a loving father. God stays beside me through my growing pains, corrects and disciplines me because He wants my BEST, and builds me up when I make the RIGHT choices. I’m glad to be a child of the forgiving, patient, and loving God.

Lord thank you for my Mother and all she has done to teach me Your truths, and loving me unconditionally and Praying for me daily. Lord You brought me into this world for Your purposes and I  thank You for my mother doing the best she could given the circumstances of life. I see your mighty hand over it all.   Lord help me Stop looking at the past and what I cannot do and look at the future and what I can do through YOU for Your Glory and my joy!  Dear Lord, please give me the strength and control to practice true love. Teach me patience so that I can be loving to others.   Lord please replace my words with Yours today and give me the ideas, strategy and Love that will further your kingdom here on earth!
Lord, Bless all the mothers this day in a special way, in them Knowing YOU are there with them, You Love them unconditionally and  want to have even a more Personal Relationship with You JESUS!  Thank You Jesus for my Mother and her love and patience with me! Thank you for the example she set for me.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Good news comes with the truth. Not our truth. But the Truth — Jesus Christ.

“But God chose the foolish things of the
world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor 1:26-27).

The Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1).
In other words, when condemning accusations coil around my mind, I know — I can be fully assured — they’re not from God. And if they’re not from God, they’re not worth believing. Amen.

It is the Lord’s Word that reveals the thoughts and intentions of our heart.  Let the TRUTH separate the flesh from the Spirit and expose our motives.
The Lord wants to motivate us with Purity and Righteousness to do all that He has set before us to accomplish.
*Be aware, however, that the enemy will do his best  to keep us from walking and living in the Spirit.  Yield to the Lord’s leading, and HE will direct our steps.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I’m learning to combat the lies by submitting them to the Truth, Jesus!!!!

When the enemy says, “You’re worthless.”
*Jesus says, “You are a pearl of great value.”

When the enemy says, “No one will ever love you.”
*Jesus says, “You are My beloved.”

When the enemy says, “God doesn’t care.”
*Jesus says, “I gave my life that you might have eternal life.”

While the enemy will continue to try and thwart God’s truth, we can know he’s already lost the battle. It’s a done deal. (1John 4:4)

The longer we walk with Jesus, and the more we seek His truth, the more we’ll recognize HIS voice and enjoy the FREEDOM found in Him.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. (Galatians 5:1)
*Gods desire is for us to experience the freedom that can only come through Jesus. We are slaves to our sinful nature without Christ. Satan wants us to be tangled up in all of our bad choices, mistakes, past… Etc. Anything to keep us from allowing God to use us for His glory. Anything from keeping us from A close comforting relationship with Christ.
Isaiah 48:17 tells us “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.'”

God can communicate with six billion people on the earth at the same time. It is one of those mysteries I must let go of because my “hard drive” would crash if I had to explain and understand this before I believed and trusted in Him.
It is as though God places a computer chip in each human being, and when we place our Faith and Trust IN Him, it becomes activated. We begin to communicate with Him.  Jesus says that if we are children of God, then we can hear God’s voice.

Read Parable from John 10:1-5.  The Shepherd is always representative of Christ. Sheep are representative of God’s children. This passage tells us that the Shepherd communicates with His children. We are called by name and we can listen to our Shepherd’s voice. There is another comforting aspect to this relationship.
*The Shepherd goes before the sheep to prepare the way.
Jesus has already gone before us today to prepare our way.

Knowing the Shepherd and His voice allows us to have the assurance that we will not be fooled by another shepherd’s voice. The sheep know His voice. It is only when WE are DULL of Hearing that we mistakenly hear another’s voice and follow it.
Sin can create a poor frequency in our communication with the Shepherd. Make sure your frequency is free of static (sin) today so that the Shepherd can lead you and go before you.

Finally, distractions can also keep us from hearing our Shepherd’s voice. When the sheep get entangled in the fence or wander off, they get too far away to hear the Shepherd’s voice.
We must stay in close proximity to the Shepherd to hear His voice. Stay close to the Shepherd today. Listen and follow. He wants to lead you.

Dear Lord, I pray that I’ll recognize Your voice above all others. Give me ears to hear You. Teach me how to live in the freedom of Your truth in Your Word, which is Absolute Truth and thank You for the gift of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” – Ecclesiastes 7:9

Every day of our lives we are placed in situations that engage us with other people, whether it is in the office, our homes, or in public places.
* Do you recall the last time someone cut you off in traffic, or you were forced to wait in line because someone up front got held up?
*Perhaps your employer did something that was downright unfair.
** Anger can result from many circumstances.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

A friend once told me that anger is like warning lights on the front of your car dashboard. They signal that there is something going on under the hood, and we should take a look to examine the source of the problem.
Anger can be traced to a few sources.
When we lose control of a circumstance that we have placed certain expectations on and those expectations do not result in our desired outcome, we are tempted to get angry.
The source of this type of anger is both fear and protection of personal rights.

James 1 : 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

**You see, when we believe we have a right to something, we have not given the Lord permission to allow an outcome different from what we want.
** If an outcome is different from our expectations, this may stimulate fear.

For instance, if a vendor failed to deliver an important job on time due to something out of his control, you may respond out of anger. Please know that the source of your anger is the FEAR of what might happen to YOU or what this might say about YOUR abilities to manage a project.
YOU no longer are in control of the circumstance and this creates fear in YOU.

The next time you get angry ask the Lord what is the source of that anger?

Did the Lord allow that failure to let you see what is “under your hood”? God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind (see 2 Tim. 1:7).
Give up your rights to expectations that God never gave you. You will find a new freedom in Christ you never knew you could have.

Ephesians 4 :26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

God intended that you and I have all joy, peace, victory and rest in our walk.
He is looking for men and women who will stand up against what’s coming in
this dark age—servants who will stand with a calm and a peace because Christ
abides in them.

God so desires for you to come into such a place of trust. He wants you never again to FEAR, but to truly rest in his power and ability.
God knows how to deliver us from all snares, trials and temptations—if we will but trust him.

What obstacles have been placed in our life that need a miracle today? Could God be setting the stage in your life for you to trust Him at new levels you’ve never trusted before?
God sets the stage to allow His power to be revealed for those willing to exercise the faith of a mustard seed. All things are possible with God.

During times where things are not going well (we all have them), we need to take our focus off the problem/anger and put it on God. God is with us throughout our lives and by putting God FIRST, we can handle anything that the world throws at us. He will give you the strength to handle it. Listen!
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Dear Lord, thank You for caring about every detail of my life. I know You have placed goals and dreams in my heart that will take diligence to carry out. Help me to look to You when faced with a decision, and I pray for Your wisdom as I make the right choice.  God, Your Word speaks hope and life to me.  I give You the praise, the honor, and the glory, in
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Who’s First in my Life?

Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My TIMES are in your hands;…..

What a profound and blessed revelation – that God has absolute control over ALL the times in our lives.

God is the only one in the universe that totally controls time.
This is beautifully demonstrated in the heavenly bodies. Countless millions and millions of stars move around in the universe with absolute precision.

Psalm 33:6, 9 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Isaiah the prophet says that the Lord calls every star  forth by name and they are all present, not one is wanting.
The sun never rises late or sets early.

Astronomers can calculate the exact place of every heavenly body in the remote past, in the distant future.
God has absolute control over time and what David realized when he uttered those words is this: that God has absolute control over the times in our lives.
*He’s never late.
* He’s never premature.
* He has a time for every situation, every circumstance.
**If we will just commit our lives totally into His hands, we’ll find that our times are in His hands.
**** What a relief from pressure, from strain, to know that God has control over the time element in our lives. Our times are in God’s hands.

The way of man is not in himself, nor in our friend’s hands, nor in our enemies’ hands, but in God’s.

*We are called to be more like Christ every day.
*Faith is action and not just words.
Inaction also speaks volumes.
* With this short life, we need to glorify God as much as we can.
The world and the enemy will try to throw everything they can at us to distract us. We must do what He has called us to do.
*We love because He loved.
*We die to ourselves because He died for us. Finish well.

If you are in God, here are three facts about you and your future:

1. Your future belongs to God.
God knows what’s the best for you. Tell him today ‘my future is in your hands’.
2. Be opened to new possibilities.
Don’t be afraid to change course. Think of new and better situations where you come out successful every time. Think of a new job, new friends, new house, new town and new possibilities.
3. Live as if your best future was here.
Don’t be attached to things and present situations. If your present life is not ideal, start living ‘as if’ you are already living your best future now. Make changes. SET SOME GOALS-Live by FAITH-Move Forward!!!!!!
The important and exciting thing to realize is that when God’s Word and God’s Spirit are united in our hearts and in our lives, through them there is made available the Resurrection  Power of Christ. It’s there in His Word and His Spirit. Take time to Listen and read the Bible  to what God has in store for You!

God’s Love is the “finished product.”
When we obey God by loving Him FIRST, His Love [Agape] will then be made complete and perfect in us and that fills our love cup inside us to over-Flowing  and at that point the “overflowing God  love” can be given to OTHERS.  Yes–God First – Joy comes!!

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept
My Father’s commandments, and abide
in His Love. These things I have spoken
to you, that My joy may be in you, and
that your joy may be made full.”
John 15:10-11

We must know that nothing, absolutely
nothing, can ever separate us from the
Love of the Father…not even waywardness, unfaithfulness, doubt or disobedience.
“But God demonstrates His own Love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

In short, we can create a new life in God by painting a new future and start living it now by FAITH. And I say,” God, I want You FIRST in my Life and lead me to the best future for me- to be able to  serve You more, Love You more and to give You ALL the Glory.   Lord teach me how to Love More as You do, starting with my wife Laura, kids, grandkids, family and Friends.  I trust You, I Love You and I need You! I am ALL IN for You Jesus! Show me the way through Your Spirit living in me and Your Word which is absolute Truth”!  In Jesus Name. Amen- In Jesus Name. Amen-In JESUS Name. Amen!!!!

Real Freedom for you and I.
We are called to be more like Christ every day. Faith is action and not just words.  We love because He loved. We die to ourselves because He died for us. Finish well.

“For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake…. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” – 2 Corinthians 4:11-12

It is the great mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Death gives life.
* Jesus’ death on the cross gave life. *The death of a vision brings new vision. *The death of a seed gives new life.
It is the central focus of God’s requirement for experiencing Him–death.
When Jesus extended us an invitation to experience salvation and a relationship with Him, it came with a great cost, our very lives.
Yet what we don’t realize is that until we relinquish our total lives, we really aren’t living at all.
Without this death we will continue to strive, manipulate, and fret over every detail of life.
It is when we finally say, “Yes, Lord, I am Yours completely,” that we experience REAL freedom for the first time.
This is the only time when Christ is fully seen in and through our lives.
Christ describes our lives as vessels – vessels for Him to be revealed in and seen by others.

Our trials and tribulations are for a testing and a defining of the character God intended US to be in His kingdom.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I was reminded of the Israelites in Babylon when they hung their harps on the willows(Psalm 137:1). I believe many of us, the Lord’s people, have not raised our voices in song or played our instruments because of the oppression of the times we  live in.  But, the Lord releases us from bondage to sing a new song that will come forth with supernatural joy that will transcend our circumstances and afflictions.  This is the joy and Freedom that comes from abiding in the Spirit; the true joy of war and victory.
John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Christ is pounding on the walls of our hearts to be noticed, and in a sense to be released. Do not let the temptations of the flesh hinder you in letting God out of your heart to share what he has to offer with the world. God realizes it is part of human nature to occasionally forget to have purpose through/for Him rather than ourselves.

I ask myself “how is my vessel today?
In our workplace, we are faced with challenges each day that seek to instill fear and control at every turn, but Christ says He wants to live through your life in the workplace.
God wants to reveal Himself to your fellow workers today. However, He can only do this if our vessel is free of ourselves.
Hebrews 5: 8 Son (Jesus) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Lord Jesus what things must die in me today in order for You to live completely in and through me!  I pray Psalms 139: 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Lord we know None of us is perfect, and You already know that. Help me Lord  to come to You in my imperfections, humble And recognize my failed condition before You, and simply offer myself as a servant to You–failures and all.  Lord have your way in me! Cause me to know you oh God, to serve you faithfully in righteousness!
Thank You Jesus for dying on the CROSS which Gave us Victory and Freedom over Sin through You!!!!In Jesus Name. Amen

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and PRAY to me, and I WILL listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.
*Yes talk to your Heavenly Father today-He loves You and wants a Personal Relationship with you more then anything.  Spend your time talking to Him this day on.  You are His Masterpiece!

The purest motivation for our prayers is that GOD WILL be Glorified and that HIS Will would reign supreme in our lives

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Matthew 6:10,

We have all heard the phrase, “just like heaven on earth.”
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9–13, He provided some insight into what “heaven on earth” might look like.
*In reality, heaven is a place where God’s will reigns supreme.

If we want to have a taste of heaven on earth, then our prayer should be like Jesus’: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” The purest motivation for our prayers is that GOD WILL be Glorified and that HIS Will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.

On a more personal level, we can pray that HIS will be unhindered in our own life.
Rather than imposing His will upon us, God gives us the choice to surrender to it with trust and gladness.
As we yield to the Lordship of Christ over every area of our lives, we come into agreement with Him.
We experience alignment with heaven and position ourselves to taste a little bit of heaven here on earth.

The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.
God’s Will then becomes what we desire and the thing we most seek after. We enter into the incredible adventure of participating in God’s plan to move His kingdom forward on the earth.
Absolute trust in God requires us to lay down our selfish desires and arrogant demands.  God knows what He’s doing! Even through sickness, injuries, hardship, and even death!!!
This is where we find the most fulfilling and joyous life, but it all starts with one personal “yes, Lord” on our part.

God is using us each to carry out His ultimate plan! For example: In the movie, Letters to God, the young boy had  cancer, but through the boys cancer MANY people were brought to start, renew, and strengthen their relationship with God.

All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer.
Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do everything, prayer is omnipotent.
John 14:13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  (Matthew 6:5-15)
Lord help me to have True Forgiveness which starts with me taking action. Help me be an example to others as a mature follower of Jesus and take the lead in opening the door of Forgiveness. Help me discern and fellow Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Thank you for the CROSS!
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
Amen.

Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

*Our actions speak what is in our heart. We will be judged with our hearts actions. Truly we have to act like our teacher Jesus has taught us through His word.
*The opposite of showing mercy is judgement.
*Mercy is not just feeling compassion but showing compassion(to identify with… suffer with… to take on others pain and suffering).

Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

*That’s a blessedness that’s available to every one of us.
Do you know why it’s available to every one of us?
**Because there’s none of us that hasn’t sinned. And, in a certain sense, the fact that we are sinners opens us up to this blessing, because God is willing to:
* Forgive our sins.
* He’s willing to cover our sins.
* He’s willing to count no sin against us, if we repent, if we turn to Him in faith.

Again three things the psalmist says there that God will do:(Psalm 32:1-2)
1. He will forgive our transgressions.
2. He will cover our sins.
3. He will not count our sin against us.
***But then there’s one thing that God requires of us. It says, “In whose spirit is no deceit.”
God does require from every one of us sincerity, honesty, openness. We do not put on a religious act, we do not try to cover up, we do not excuse.
We humbly and sincerely acknowledge that we have sinned, that we deserve God’s wrath and judgment, that we turn from our sin, we confess sin and acknowledge sin and God forgives.
1 John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I had to ask myself these questions:
1. Do you confess your sins openly consistently and privately to the Lord?
2. Do you confess publically when you offended someone else?
3. Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
4. Do you ask the Lord for help in resisting temptation?
We need to own up, man up, and step up. He will always make a way of escape.
5. Do you have an accountability partner or group?
I need to “Get back to confessing”.
Oh, let’s cultivate a habit of being honest with God. Don’t Fear Him! God knows it ALL anyway. What are we trying to hide from him? What do we think God does not see or hear?

Have you feared Jesus because of what He might require of you? Have you feared that He might ask of you something you are not prepared to give? Do not let your fears drive Him from your presence. God’s motive is always love for His children. You can trust Him.

To be fully free, we must have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever. No regrets.
And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible. If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

What God is showing here through Paul’s letter is how we should learn how to use Love to be a witness AND become one body.
– but not just a heartfelt love or something that was feelings, but:
* a love that will forgive regardless of ‘who did it’,
*a love that does not have conditions. Too many times we attach conditions to loving a brother or sister in Christ- that ‘they should know better’, or that ‘they gotta show their love to me first’, or things like that.
But Paul is reiterating something Jesus said- that love & forgiveness are two pillars that we cannot just take lightly!!

We MUST love our brothers and sisters in Christ, otherwise OUR Faith is nothing to those who are outside!

To see if I am loving Laura, family, friends properly- I put my name in for Love when reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Do we love like that above??????

God, You do not deal with us as we deserve, but in Your mercy and grace, You forgive us through Christ!
Lord, thank you for the precious gift of your Spirit. Help me to stay on the path you have laid out for me and not wander off in my own direction. Open my eyes and ears so that I can hear your voice and follow you. You are so good to me and so patient with me!
Give me more of Your Forgiving Spirit!
I love you! Help me to Love more with your supernatural Love! In Jesus Name! Amen

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Living in the Promised Land in work means we KNOW that God IS the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him.

“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves.” – Psalm 127:2

God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God. But working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family may be a cover-up for an inability to TRUST God to provide for our needs.

We all need adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On the other hand, this verse is not an excuse to be lazy.

Be careful to maintain a balance: work while trusting God, and also rest while trusting him.

1 Corinthians 10: 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
There is no lack in Him, no matter how much money there is in my bank account, there is no loneliness in Him no matter if there is no one around. He is all in all. To see this is to have ones mind renewed. To see this  Is to be FREE.

Coming into the Promised Land in business will change the way you and I view our work.
No longer will we see getting up early and staying up late as God’s way.

Living in the Promised Land in work means we KNOW that God IS the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him.

Provision is a by-product, not an end in itself.
Work is no longer something that must be sweated and toiled upon to make ends meet.
“Could this really be true?” you might be saying. God has made it clear that obedience is the assurance of provision.

Whenever we go beyond the normal workday due to fear of non-provision, we are operating in unbelief.
We are saying that it is up to US to make things happen.
Sure, there are times when we work longer hours due to a deadline, but we must be sure the motive is not out of fear of loss or fear of non-provision.
If we are obedient to what God has called us to, He will provide our every need.
This can be a hard lesson for goal-oriented workplace believers.

***When God slips from first place in our lives, everything else loses its meaning.
*Life seems to be no more than the tiresome process of making money to spend on food, clothing, and shelter–just getting through the day we can do the same thing again tomorrow.
**But when God has first priority, life becomes an adventure. Even our routine projects take on meaning and promise because they hold a greater purpose.

If you are “filled with your own ways” and bored with life, check your relationship with God.

I recall coming into this understanding. I had been an on the road workaholic. Long hours and days gone was the normal  Mean. Then God shook up my world and I went through divorce, bankruptcy, Loneliness, lack of trust, feelings of unwortyness, anger etc. Etc. I  was challenged  to examine my motives for these evils happening to me.
I realized the source of those long hours was fear. Once I came into this understanding, I refused to work long hours even though the natural man would tell me I’d never make things happen if I worked a normal work week.

Again, this reasoning is based on a lack of faith. If we are obedient to what God has called each of us to, we will not lack. At times it may be less than what we might like; at other times it may be more than we deserve. These are God’s ways.

The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God’s ways.
Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

When we enter into His presence, we can rest on Him, on His Word!
His Word is the truest and most infallible principal/moral system in existence which, if believed, has the power to separate your soul (emotion- tired & ready to quit) from the spirit (the eternal truth- God cares & has an appointed end for us in which we PROSPER)! Believe, walk in love, seek His presence, & KNOW that we labor only to enter into His rest! Rest IS available!  God IS the reward and He IS the rest that we seek. Amen

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
The Lord had a plan for each one of us. A hope. A future. If only I would seek Him, I would find Him, if I would seek Him with all my heart. Not just my Sunday heart. Not just my quiet time heart. But, seek Him in it ALL. Seek Him. Surrender to Him. Trust Him. Turn to Him. Obey Him. Say yes to Him.

It is important for us to be transparent before God, we may as well be real because God already sees and knows. Even tho he sees and knows, we find our strength and peace when we go to him and acknowledge who we are before him. The beauty of this also is that we find our true selves and live fulfilled lives!

Psalms 139:1 You have searched me, lord, and you know me.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
23 SEARCH me, God, and know my heart; TEST me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 SEE if there is any offensive way in me, and LEAD me in the way everlasting.

Realize how significantly God can use inconvenience, interruption, and unlikely twists. Instead of always praying, “God bless me,” I started praying, “God unsettle me. God inconvenience me, interrupt me, Test me,  and redirect me and lead me in the way everlasting..” Amen

Ask yourself during different circumstances, “What is my Creator trying to teach me that I might never learn if He were to suddenly pluck me out of this situation?”
Or, “What character qualities is He trying to grow in me? Patience, trust, compassion, contentment?”

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

WE ARE TESTED BY OUR FALLS AND FAILINGS

I do not mean that Christians who fall back into old sins and turn back to the
world are being tested. No, those believers face a shipwreck of faith.

But Peter warned, Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.   (2 Peter 3:17).

God wants to grow us as his faithful forewarners to be used to MENTOR, GROW and TRAIN OTHER believers in Christ.
If so, let us ask for a Peter Anointing in us to know how to USE our PAST mistakes to help empower those in the future.
Whatever it is, let’s all learn to treasure the true value of forewarnings from God in life.

Some of you may have taken a fall in spite of all the progress you’ve made
with the Lord. If I asked you what caused your fall, you might answer,
*It was a fit of anger. I was provoked by my own family and I blew up. I can’t understand it. I thought I was becoming a little sweeter, a little more like Jesus. But somebody just pushed the wrong button and I lost it.”
*You may say, “I’m only human. How much am I supposed to take?”

It does not matter that you were provoked or even that you were in the right.
The provoking simply proved you need deliverance.
Scripture says, “Let all
bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor [fighting], and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice [grudges]” (Ephesians 4:31).

God is going to keep testing you until you say, “I’ve got a spirit in me
that’s got to go.” You will see no growth in Christ, no peace at home or on
the job, until you can say, “You’re right, Lord—take it out!”( Psalms 139:23 SEARCH me, God, and know my heart; TEST me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 SEE if there is any offensive way in me, and LEAD me in the way everlasting.

If you’re being tested in this area, or any other area for that matter, you
may be thinking, “I feel so unworthy. How much ground have I lost? Does the
Lord still love me?”

Dear saint, if you have truly repented, you haven’t lost any ground
whatsoever.
God puts his loving arms around you and says, “I allowed that to happen so YOU would see what’s in YOUR heart. But you’re making progress.
You’ve said you want to walk with me, and I’m teaching you. I know what’s
inside of you and I’ll ALLOW you to be provoked until you get rid of it
all.”

Are you being tested? If so,  pray: “Lord, you’ve put your finger on some areas in me. Pluck them out of my heart. Encourage me, Lord, that I’m
not going backward—I’m Moving Forward with you!”
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end — Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get YOU back, trade the creation just for YOU.” Isaiah 43:1b-4 (The Message)

Jesus  pursues me. Jesus loves me more than anything. And Jesus wants to be my everything.

This truth satisfied a deep longing in my heart I didn’t even know I had.
This is the love that fills the gaps in my wanting heart.
God’s Love gives us eyes to see Christ’s victory shining far above the earthly clouds of heartbreak and suffering.

“But being full of the Holy Spirit, he[Stephen] gazed intently into heaven
and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God…”
Acts 7:55

Dear Lord, this part of me that wants to be pursued and rescued…You created it. You created it to be filled by Your unconditional love. Jesus, thank You that You will never grow tired of me or stop pursing me. You want me. Jesus you would sell off the whole world to get US back, trade the creation just for ME! Jesus you Died on that CROSS for my SINS. Jesus, You won and gave each one of us the victory and all we need to do is Choose YOU. God’s Love gives us eyes to see Christ’s victory shining far above the earthly clouds of heartbreak and suffering.  That’s True love- give me more of You Jesus!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

You need to be active and analyze your enemy so that you can be certain that you will win! You need to first attack the enemy then resist the enemy. You do this with the WORD of God.
1- The enemy is a liar so you have to walk in the TRUTH so you can resist the devil. JESUS is the way the truth and Life.
2- We need to walk in justice and righteousness because are we living in a destroyed world.
3- We need to walk with good news which is the word of God.
4-You need the helmet of salvation, it protects your thoughts and when you fall you will get back up.
5- Prayer makes the enemy run away
The condition of your heart determines your relationship with God.

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to
prayer—who TRUST beyond HOPE when all means have failed.

When a person has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

*Times like these are when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

*Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind:
* “Prayer failed.
* Faith failed.
* Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore.
* It doesn’t pay!”
**Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind.
These have been the devices of Satan for centuries.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was ALL part of my plan. It was NO accident. It was NO failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”
**Only God’s Love is powerful enough
to illuminate the darkness in our hearts.
“For God…is the One who has shonein our hearts to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Christ.”  II Corinthians 4:6

When we came into and became a part of the Kingdom of God, we were given spiritual territory to maintain and rule over.
We were given authority over the devil and the power to overcome temptation and to rule over your own flesh.
We have been appointed as watchmen to stay alert and be aware of any intrusion into our environment.
Now WE must re-establish ourselves in our authority by way of faith, and evaluate the condition of our spiritual atmosphere, and then go to work to make it a CLEAN habitation for the Lord’s  presence.

Ephesians 2:19-22   Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God……

James 4  outlines for us the process of recovery:
1. Give yourself to God; stand against the devil, and he will flee from you.(Return to the center of sanity; make Jesus your center, your point of grounding. Stand grounded in your faith against evil, the past, and broken habits and you will find healing and help!)

2.Come near to God, and God will come near to you.  (Make a decision to turn your life over to the care of God, knowing He will not fail you.)

3. Sinners, clean/wipe sin out of your lives(broken habits).  Take an inventory of who you are alone, your faults, and seek to make changes as God gives you strength, ridding yourself of the bondage to the past, evil, bad habits.

4. Make yourself pure and cast off double-thinking, trying to follow God and be friends with the world too!

5. Be sad, cry and weep! Change your laughter into crying and your joy into sadness.(Complete the cycles of Grief and be Healed!)

6.Humble yourself in the Lord’s presence, and He will honor you.(Know your value; be honest with God about your faults; He loves you anyways!)

It is so clear and concise here. These are the steps necessary for recovery from addiction, from co-addiction, from childhood abuse, lack of parents/step-parents love and trauma, from life in a sin-filled world.
Satan and demons are real.
*They come to create problems.
* They want to make you believe that God is not real, that God doesn’t care. **Demons inhabit people, not places. The purpose of demonic activity is to cause problems for you; to BREAK your relationship with God.

****Whenever we sin, we give God permission to unleash the enemy into our souls to deal with that sin.

As Christian believers we must make sure that our practices are righteous in God’s sight. If not, we can expect the enemy to be released to judge that sin.

The thing that scares the devil more than any other thing in the world is the TRUTH because against TRUTH he is rendered powerless!

We also have to remember that Satan is not your only enemy. There are three spiritual systems:
1. Satan and his demons
2. The world we live in
3. Your own flesh.
***Sin is not simply breaking the law; its opening a door. We need our Savior. *When we engage in things that God doesn’t want us to, we are inviting Satan in.

1JN 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God,…

Praise God we Fight FROM VICTORY(the work on the Cross) not FOR VICTORY. Choose the FREEDOM IN CHRIST!

Lord Direct my steps by Your word, and let no Sin have dominion over me.
Lord, make me pure and cast off double-thinking, trying to follow YOU and be friends with the world too!
Dear Lord, thank You for being the God who is near. When my tight places press in on me, Your presence is what I need. Thank You for offering me relief no matter what my circumstances. Help me remember to call on You in my temptations.
Lord, help me Humble myself in Your presence, and I know you will honor that because we are your masterpieces and You love us unconditionally! Thank you!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
*Jesus is above all principalities, powers, then, today, and forever.
*Verses  to help in warefare:
Romans 8:37, Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 1:21, Ephesians 3:9, Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 2:15, 1JN 4:4.

Psalms 119:133   Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.

I believe, Daily we are in transition spiritually from where we have been established to the place where God will re-establish us.  God is bringing us to a position of greater and tangible faith where we will be more available to the moving of HIS Spirit.  We need to  Stay alert and do nothing apart from the Lord’s leading.

*Learn the secret to letting God carry the things that weigh you down.
* Live free from worries and burdens. What would happen if you took the concerns that grip you, that keep you awake at night  that clench your stomach in knots . . . and truly handed them over to His keeping?

We would BE “Unburdened”
*It’s about taking the burdens you currently carry(unforgiveness, unworthiness, anger, fear, guilt, Jealousy, pride, self-pit ty, Anxiety, Shame, worry) and making them much, much lighter.
*It’s about transferring the weight of your responsibilities from the weak shoulders of your flesh to the strong fingertips of God.
*It’s about learning to live in deep-down, heart-level FREEDOM.
*It’s about bringing them out in the light. (1 JN 1:5-7)
A life unburdened.
A life transformed.
A life God intended.
*Unburdened develops into what our lives would look like if we really laid our burdens before God and trust Him with the perfect solution in His time Frame.

Unburdened reminds us of the promises the Bible gives for such a life—a life that is characterized by a lightness and freedom from the  burdens of unforgiveness, unworthiness, anger, fear, guilt, Jealousy, pride, self-pit ty, Anxiety, Shame, worry .

“He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they CALL.” Psalm 147:9
This verse– I wonder if he is not doing what all of God’s creation inherently knows to do: call on their Creator for their needs.
Ravens are pretty plain as birds go. Missing the distinct markings of a bluebird or cardinal and the unique talents of the woodpecker or hummingbird, ravens strike me as being least likely to get God’s attention. And yet, the Psalmist mentions this unremarkable bird in Psalm 147:9.
He points out that when they call, God hears them and He provides for them.

Maybe today you are feeling unremarkable, forgotten, lacking anything special. You might be feeling plain, all black feathers in a forest full of bright plumage. Why would God answer your call? You have nothing to offer in return.
This verse Psalms  assures us that God doesn’t respond based on who we are or what we have to offer.
*God responds because we are His, plain and simple.
*God responds because it is in His nature to provide.
Our call initiates His response. We must believe that with all our hearts and stand on that truth as we wait for that response.
I know that’s easier said than done.

Perhaps you have been waiting a long time. Maybe you are feeling hopeless that your prayers will ever be answered. Or perhaps you are losing faith that He even hears.

I’ve been there, too. There have been times when I looked into tomorrow and saw blackness as dark as the feathers of a raven. Days when I read a verse like Psalm 147:9, and thought to myself, “Yeah, right. He might answer that bird, but He isn’t answering me.”

And in those times I’ve wondered what I needed to do to get God’s attention.
In John 6:28-29 the people ask Jesus what they must do to do the works God requires. They want to please God and they know Jesus holds the key as to how they can do just that.
As they wait anxiously for His answer, I imagine they are expecting a laundry list of possibilities, bullet points they can jot down and refer to later.
*Instead:
* Jesus tells them that the work of God is simply to believe in the One He has sent.
*Jesus knew that believing is work. It is heart work. To believe in Jesus even when He seems far away or unresponsive is some of the hardest work we will have to do as we follow Him. But that is all what He asks us to do.   BELIEVE!

The ravens know that He always provides and they sing with confidence in that, no matter what their circumstances are.
Oh how I want to do the same in my life and see that in all our lives.

Dear Lord, today I am going to keep singing and trust that You will answer my call because I believe You love me and want the best for me. I am going to do the work that You require and trust Your provision.
Lord, thank You also for caring about every detail of my life. I know You have placed goals and dreams in my heart that will take diligence to carry out. Help me to look to You when faced with a decision, and I pray for Your wisdom as I make the right choice.
Lord Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Lord, make me pure and cast off double-thinking, trying to follow YOU and be friends with the world too!
Lord, help me Humble myself in Your presence, and I know you will honor that because we are your masterpieces and You love us unconditionally! Thank you!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.