Devotions - Prayer

To truly love God there has to be faith, to die to self and our natural sinfulness, love leads the way.

Beware of such thoughts as:
* “God doesn’t care”…”He doesn’t love me”…”His Word is not true.”
These thoughts are born of the flesh and the devil, seeking to push us further and further away from faith in God’s Love.

*  “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith…”1 Peter 5:8-9

“In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help.” Psalm 18:6a

Some healing thoughts about faith and love:
* I believe God works miracles in answer to the prayer of faith. And I believe every promise in God’s Word. But, through much suffering, I have discovered something wonderful about the way God works.
Below is what helped me renew
My confidence in the Lord and set me free from the bondage of trying to
figure out FAITH.

* If you cannot give God perfect faith, give Him perfect love.
* “Perfect love casts out all fear.” Perfect love is the rest God has for His people. He wants us to rest in His love, trusting that He will always come to our aid as a father to a hurting child in spite of our inadequate faith.

*Stop evaluating or grading your faith. And stop trying to figure out faith.

The Bible says, “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of
these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
** If you are going to specialize in
anything, specialize in love—faith works by love.

* If God does not answer certain of our prayers, we can be sure He has
some great eternal reason for not doing so.
*It boils down to this: God has all power and can do anything. Nothing is
impossible to Him. He has promised to answer every prayer in Christ’s name,
so we must ask in full assurance of faith, expecting an answer.
* But should God delay that answer or choose another path for us, He must have a mighty good reason for it all. *And we must believe that whatever God permits in our lives will one day all work to our good (Romans 8:28).
*When an opportunity is blocked, God has a reason. And He is providing love and protection, even in your disappointment.
When one door has closed, a greater one is about to open. Be wise and watch for it “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

*Our heavenly Father knows exactly where we are going and what we need. *He will give us what is best, in proper Holy Spirit timing (Matthew 7:11).

God will not permit you to be overcome by your trials. You may come to what you think of as your breaking point, yet you will survive and live to tell of His
faithfulness if you will not harden your heart but fall into His arms, trusting
His everlasting love.

You, My beloved, have been given power over ALL the works of the enemy.  That even means the power of something that seems bigger or more powerful than you are.  All you have to do is be led by My Spirit and have Faith to defeat all of the powers of darkness.  Do not be afraid; no weapon formed against you will prosper!

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.  Be merciful to those who doubt;  save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.  To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.  (Jude 20-25)

” The point is, Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.”.   Romans 10:17

True confidence only comes from walking God’s Way of Agape and becoming all He intends for us to be.
* “For the Lord shall be thy confidence.”
Proverbs 3:26

FAITH is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can’t see. To have faith is to believe unconditionally…. Keep the faith!
* The importance of faith. If you don’t have faith it is impossible to please God. * The source of faith. Are you paying attention to the word of God? Renew your mind walk without doubt in your Christian life. The word of God is powerless without faith.
* The Choice of Faith- ” what is not of faith is of sin” Everything we do can fall into the category of faith or sin. (He that doubts is dammed if he eats not of faith).
What is the motive of your heart?
*Is there anything too hard for God?
* Having faith is a lifestyle!!!

“It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”(Hebrews 11:6msg).

All the praying in the world will not do you any good unless you mix it with
faith!
*You can fast and pray for three days or three weeks, but without FAITH, you will not please God.
*All your hours in prayer, all your petitions, all your “coming to Him” will profit you nothing unless your heart is anchored in FAITH!

“Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of
the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he
will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7).

If you are spending two hours with God and yet never believe Him to answer you, you are embarrassing Him for two hours! It may make you feel good or feel holy but in reality you are wasting time! You are giving God two hours of unbelief and doubt. Need FAITH.

*We must keep our eyes on the Lord not on our needs.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that
you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).
* Faith in Gods promises will literally change circumstances in your life.
*The promises of God are the free gifts of grace that come to us in faith.

Many of God’s people live as spiritual paupers because something happened
that made them question God’s love.
They say, “How can I trust God when I
don’t understand why He would allow such a thing to happen to me?”
****There is no human answer to their confusion. But God knows the end from the beginning and only when we are in heaven will we understand why some of these winds and waves have tossed us and why God allowed it all.

Isaiah gave an answer and I believe it is what we need to know for now:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?… Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16).
*God has given us His Word: “You are My child. You are written in the palm of
My hand so trust Me!”

” Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” JN 8:31-32.

There are times when God super- naturally speaks into our lives. He does this to demonstrate His power, His love, and His intimacy with us.
Do not be surprised if God sends one of His messengers to speak into your life when you need it most. Be open to how God might want to speak into your life today.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:3).

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5-6).
*We need to xray ourselves, our spiritual selves. Are we really believers who have made a personal decision to follow Jesus? Do we know that we have been saved from our sin? Has there been repentance and forsaking of sin in our lives? Can we look back and see that He has led us in paths of righteousness for His sake?
*We can fool others, but we cannot fool God.

Even though you cannot seem to see the next step, the Lord has gone before you to make crooked places straight, and He will lead you by the way of peace.  Yours is not to worry or fret about what the future holds, but only to trust that the Lord is with you and will direct your steps even in the midst of the storms of life (FAITH in His Promises Spoken to us in His Word).    This is a time when you need to look up and maintain strong faith, for there is nothing impossible for  the Lord.  Only believe! Pray!

Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.

Just one touch of the love of God, the power of the Blood of Jesus and my faith in God’s Grace am I able to believe on all the greatness of God.

Lord, I can only imagine what You are saying about me! “You of little faith, why do you doubt”? I am guilty of not having total faith in you Lord!  Restore the right spirit in me I pray; Watch what is said out of my mouth.
Lord, “I believe; help my unbelief!” In Jesus Name, Amen.

In God’s word is life., freedom, healing and power.

Only by abiding in Christ will we gain confidence in who we are, what we say and what we do. This is not “self-confidence” or “self-esteem” (as the world calls it), but rather “God-confidence” and “Christ-esteem”.

*  “…that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own…but that which is through faith in Christ…”
Philippians 3:8-9

The New Testament is filled with promises proving God loves to over-answer the prayers of His people!

One of the most familiar promises of all is Ephesians 3:20. We all know it well
yet few of us live as if we believe it.

“ Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20
*This is how every Christian can live with the moment-by-moment Assurance that God will never assign a task without giving the grace to accomplish it.
God animates and strengthens me with his presence, so that I can say “no” to sin and “yes” to the call of his kingdom.
*God is able to answer our prayers but He wants to do for us exceedingly above all we can even imagine!
God wants to answer us not according to our puny requests, but according to His riches and might.

The Bible tells us He is inclined to answer us with abundance: “Give, and it
will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38).
*His words are so pure and freeing. Hard to live out in our culture, but so much better than our own ways. The promise of life coming out of doing what He has said is so powerful. In His word is life., freedom, healing, power.

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered
into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love
Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians
2:9-10).
* The Spirit from God for us “IS” the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit inside of us can help us completely understand God’s purpose, plans & message and communicate with God.
*Being spiritual does not involve moving beyond the Word of the Cross.
* Revelation of Spirit: We need initially the Revelation of God to know about God. When God reveals his nature he reveals you.
*The Focus of the Spirit’s Revelation: this relates to the event of the Cross and its meaning.
*There is Motive of the Spirit’s Revelation: God’s generosity!
*The Means of the Spirit’s Revelation: the written Word. 2:12 talks about his illuminating work. This illumination  reveals to our hearts the reality of God’s Word in our lives. Experiences of illumination range from disturbing exposure to overwhelming encouragement!!!!!
As you study, meditate and act on the Word of God, the Spirit of God convinces you of its Truthfulness and Significance and personally applies it to your life.

**Hosea 6: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me.”  **Have a mind that is open to receive the word…
*To acknowledge God is to have a relationship with him. He doesn’t want religious “offerings” or “sacrifices”, he wants our heart.

“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
*BE INTENTIONAL and seek after Jesus as he seeks you.
Don’t forget why we have been saved in the first place. We are called to be changed, transformed, and to become like Him.
* Tell yourself the truth about God.
* Personalize a promise about God.
* Engage your friends with a life of growth.

“[Trust] . . . in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy”
(1 Timothy 6:17).
*God is virtually begging us to ask for great things!
*We must recognize that with great blessing comes great responsibility.
*”where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” – Jesus Christ.

We like to call the Lord “our King” but do we pray large prayers worthy of
our King’s greatness? A king is obligated to care for his subjects, and his
people honor him by asking largely, believing he has all they need and will
provide it abundantly.
Dearly beloved, you cannot call God “king” and then accuse Him of letting one of His subjects continue in need!

Quiet your soul and settle into the responsibilities given to you for this time.  It will be through integrity and excellence that you will achieve what the Lord has set before you.  Keep in mind that the realm of the Spirit will be reflected in your natural environment.  Keep the faith and refuse to allow the enemy to get you off course.  Do not neglect your times of intimacy with the Lord, for the Lord is your glory and strength.

Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
*Intensify your focus on the Word and prayer. These are divine weapons to destroy the enemy and to lead the heart and mind victoriously.
* It is not just our personal time in the Word but our service of the Word that matters. Preaching and teaching of the Word is crucial.

Lord, teach me to more closely listen for your word so I can walk in it. I long to live a life reflecting yours. Undeniable glory to the Father, unmistakable death to myself. My being is temporal satisfaction. Your way brings eternity. Amen

Patience- is a dying to selfishness.

When the Apostle Paul  explained love (agápē)  the first thing out of his mouth: “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

I’m prone to impatience. I can’t honestly blame this merely on my temperament or my family of origin.
* Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
*Impatience is a fruit of selfishness. And selfish is simply an ugly, accurate description of my fallen, depraved nature, which wants all of creation to serve ME!!
James 3:15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
— Selfishness is the real archenemy of love:
*Selfishness seeks its own private happiness at the expense of others. **Love seeks its happiness in the happiness of the beloved. It will even suffer and die for the beloved in order that its joy might be full in the life the purity of the beloved.

Love is patient because Patience-” is a dying to selfishness”. It is the belief that in this dying we will find greater joy in the joy of the ones we are seeking to love: God and neighbors. It’s one of the ways we fulfill the two greatest commandments:
1‘You must love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
2 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40).

The Bible says we are to be:
• “Patient bearing with one another in love,” (Ephesians 4:2)
• “Patient with them all”
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)
• “Reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience” (2 Timothy 4:2)
• “Patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:12)• “Patiently enduring…sufferings” (2 Corinthians 1:6)
• “Patiently enduring evil” (2 Timothy 2:24)
• “Imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises”. (Hebrews 6:12)
• “Still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7)
• “Patient…until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7)
There are really no loopholes here. We are to be patient with people, pain, evil, and God.

What It Is and Isn’t!
*Patience requires both Faith and Humility.
*Patience requires that whenever things go differently than we envision or wish, WE Believe that God is working ALL things for good (Romans 8:28), that he will complete all the good things he begins (Philippians 1:6), and that we can Trust HIM because OUR understanding is incomplete and inaccurate at best (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Rev. 2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent”.

**Repent- Remember- Return!!!

*God will not remain in a church that has lost their ‘first love’ for him.
*We stand strong when we are IN Christ.

There’s an ongoing battle and we are in it.
3 Keys to Stand Strong in the Midst of Battle:
1. Know your position in Christ – to STAND strong.
We should be attentive to what God is saying and move where God wants us to go. Our position is – we are already victorious IN Christ. The enemy is already defeated! Don’t let the enemy deceive you. Jesus has already prepared the things we need to be victorious in the battle.
1 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.
*If you know that Jesus is IN you, you don’t have to be afraid.

2. Know your enemy.
The devil together with the fallen angels are our enemies.
*Do not magnify the power of the devil or give him any extra thought or time-as it only gives it power over us.
*The enemy has no power over you except the one you give it.
Revelation 2:10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

* The purpose of the test is to prove that your faith is genuine.
* God will supply your needs, but you must follow Gods criteria, not our own.
*We are tested that we may fear God so we do not sin.
* Tested to see if we are obedient in ALL things.

3. Know your weapons.
Put on the full armor of God.  (Ephesians 6:1-23)
* We stand strong when we are in Christ.
* Stand strong and united with fellow believers.
Psalms 69:33 For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.

Ever feel you are in a  Black Hole?
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5b).

A black hole is a place of total nothingness.
* Dark-there seems to be no light.
*It’s a time in our life when God removes the resources and supports that we normally rely on to feel secure – our careers, finances, friends, family, health and so forth.
I have been here a few times in life and I now know for me–It was a preparation time.

When you find yourself in a black hole experience, don’t just sit and brood. Take an inventory of your life. Take a look at your relationship with God.

First, ask God if there are any sins, habits, or attitudes that He might be judging in your life.
* It’s important to discern whether the trial we face is the result of God’s discipline for our sin? Or if it is preparing us for a future leadership role.

Second, when you enter a black hole, don’t trust your feelings.
* Trust God!!! Your feelings will tell you, “God has rejected you. Abandon hope. He has left you utterly alone.”
* Feelings change; God Never Changes. Feelings come and go; God is Always with us.

Third, remember that your black hole experience is not only intended to refine and define you; it’s also intended to Influence and Change the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other people. Our adversity is not just for us, but others in our sphere of influence.
*Our Testimony(through our sufferings) of God’s Love giving Him all the Praise and Glory!
Psalms 40: 4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD…..

Fourth, don’t try to hurry the black hole process along. Remember, when Joseph was in the depths of the pit, there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t climb out, jump out, levitate out, or talk his way out. All he could do was PRAY and Wait upon the Lord.

Isaiah 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Fifth, lean on God.
*Even when you don’t feel like praying, pray.
*Even when you don’t feel like reading His Word, read.
*Even when you don’t feel like singing songs of faith, sing.
**When you pray, don’t just talk; listen. Be silent before Him and listen for His still, quiet voice.

Sixth, be alert to new Truths and new perspectives God wants to show you. During a black hole experience, God often leads us to amazing new discoveries in and through the reading of His word. A black hole can be a storehouse of unexpected riches for the soul. Be open to the Holy Spirit Leading and Truths.

Christians will suffer in one way or another, however we are instructed to not fear suffering but remain faithful. God rewards those who remain faithful to the end. Let us always keep our eyes on the ultimate prize!!
* “Eternal Life” in a place with no pain or sadness or evil. Where we will dwell in the presence of the most high God 24/7.
When faced with suffering, praise God! He deserves praise no matter what you may be going through.

Pray that Jesus will teach us that “Intimacy with Him” is the greatest measure of success.(A personal relationship with Jesus).
John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

The Lord has indeed set before you opportunities and choices.  The Lord would have you choose according to life, truth, and faith.  Consider the outcome of your decisions and move in the direction that will bring Light and not darkness.  Ask for wisdom to choose wisely for the Lord will give you what you need.  Activate your faith, and trust the Lord in ALL things.

Lord, guide us to the mountain of Your presence.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever”.Psalm 23:1-6
Amen

The more we love God, the more we’ll yearn to set “self” aside. And the more we put to death our selfish thoughts and desires, the more we’ll abide in His Presence.
*  “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”Psalm 24:3-4

“My soul finds rest in GOD ALONE; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken”.Psalm 62:1-2;56 .

There is one very important word that occurs four times in succession in those verses that you have just read. The word is “alone”.
*My soul finds rest in God alone.
*He alone is my rock and salvation.
*My hope comes from God alone.
*And He alone is my rock.

You see, there’s a certain sense in which the only ultimate source of salvation and of hope is God Himself.

The prophet Isaiah cried out, “God has become my salvation.” Salvation is not to be found in religion, even in a creed or a doctrine, or in church membership. There’s only one ultimate source of salvation and it’s very important that each one of us comes at some time in our lives to that place where we use that word “alone”; where we say,
** “God alone is my hope, my rock, my fortress, and the source of my salvation.”
And, true enough, when we say that, it becomes true in our experience.

Isaiah 57:16 For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.

Does this sound like God gives up on His people when they fail?

You may be going through deep waters right now. I do not mean temptation or
trials necessarily. I am talking about overwhelming events that are being
thrust on you that you cannot understand. Winds and waves of all kinds are flooding you, things beyond your comprehension. They are coming to your home, your church, your job, on all sides. But God wants to carry you through it all!
He wants to restore you to spiritual health! If all you can believe right now is that He loves you in spite of all your stubborn ways, that He begs you to see
Him as your Divine Nurse, then that is enough!
Isaiah 57:  18 I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, 19 bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them.

The Power that God gives US is not a thing. God gives US a Person.
To provide for me the strength I need to live in the way he has designed, God gives me the only thing that can truly help me. He gives me himself!!! The Holy Spirit!

The Spirit of God unzips me and gets inside me, enabling me to desire, think, do, and say the things that fit within the boundaries of his plan and purpose for me.
In Galatians 1 Paul makes things Clear for me that Christ is the Gospel. Without Him, there is no Gospel. What was Paul’s testimony? What did he preach to others? – God ‘was pleased to reveal His Son in order that I might preach Him…’(1:15-16). We have no other testimony. We have no other message. Christ is our Testimony!! Christ Alone!
‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever’(Hebrews 13:8).

Ephesians 3:20  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
This is how every Christian can live with the moment-by-moment assurance that God will never assign a task without giving the grace to accomplish it.
God animates and strengthens me with his presence, so that I can say “no” to sin and “yes” to the call of his kingdom.

Thank You Lord that:
*My soul finds rest in You alone.
*You alone are my rock and salvation.
*My hope comes from You alone.
*And You alone are my rock.
Lord, I wait quietly before You, for my victory comes from You and You Alone.
You alone Lord are the ultimate source of salvation and of hope. Thank You Jesus for Loving Me just as I am.
Amen

“He who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son” (1 John 5:10).

UNBELIEF MAKES GOD A LIAR!!!!!

Consider all the ugly sins listed against Israel in the wilderness; murmuring,
complaining, idolatry, ingratitude, rebellion, sensuality.
*Yet none of these provoked God’s wrath.
**** It was their unbelief that angered God!
**** It was their unbelief that angered God!
“And the Lord said to Moses: ‘How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?’”(Numbers 14:11).

God said to Moses, “These people make a lie out of everything I have done for
them! I have performed miracle after miracle and delivered them time after time.
**When will they ever trust and rest in Me?”

Stop for a moment and think about all the things God has done for you:
* He has kept you,
*He has answered this prayer, that prayer.
*He has met you in a crisis here, a crisis there.
* He has brought you through trials, fed you with manna from heaven, done things for you that are nothing short of miraculous.

For thirty-eight long years Israel forgot God’s Word and dismissed His
miracles from their minds. And because they fell back so often into murmuring
and unbelief, God said, “I will strike them with the pestilence and
disinherit them” (v. 12).
He told Moses, “I am giving up on My people because they will never come to the place where they trust Me!”

God magnifies His Word above His name. God means every word He says and all of these things God told Israel are the same things He has told us.
I ask you:
*Will we not also incur His wrath if we act in unbelief?
*We read His Word and hear all His promises from the pulpit but then we go to our corner and fret because we do not see Him immediately doing what we think He should do for us.
* When we do not let His Word anchor our souls, when we hear great and precious promises and then act as if we have been abandoned, we make
God out to be a liar!

Romans 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

How I can rid my heart of unbelief:
1. Lay hold upon every worry, fear and burden. Take them all to Jesus and leave
them on His shoulders!
*“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never
permit the righteous to be moved”. (Psalm 55:22).
Go down your list right now:
God, I give You this, and this, and that. I give You this burden, this trouble, that relationship, that problem.” And be fully convinced that He cares!

2. Launch out in full faith on the written Word of God. Take up the Lord’s
challenge to live by His Word!
” But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’” (Matthew 4:4).
You must be able to say, “I’m going to live and die by God’s Word to me!”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 clearly teach that the Bible is not a invention of man, but is Divinely inspired – originating from God not men, in errant – being found without error, and infallible – without mistakes; making it the ONLY source and norm for TRUTH.

**** In other words, all teachings and beliefs are to be rooted in and taken from the Bible alone. No other source should be used, and when a thought, belief, or teaching is held up against the Bible and found to disagree; it MUST be rejected and disregarded.
Throughout the New Testament, believers are encouraged to hold on to “Sound Doctrine” or “healthy, uncorrupted truth and teaching.”
In 2 Timothy 1:13-14 we are called to “keep as the pattern of sound teaching” and I Timothy 4:16 “watch your life and doctrine closely.” I Timothy 6:3 warns that anyone who teaches false doctrine (something that doesn’t agree with the Word of God) doesn’t agree with Jesus Christ.
We are to weigh all teachings by God’s Word; carefully watching what is being taught and what we believe is rooted in the Word of God.
This will keep us from being swayed away from false teachers and will enable us to oppose those who teach it. **All true and sound doctrine is always rooted in and taken from the written Word of God, the Bible.
(Read 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17)

I ask you then:
* How is it that we can trust His Word for our eternal salvation, but
not for our daily needs and problems? We can believe Him for the hardest part.
*Why is it harder for us to believe for help, guidance and power over sin?
**“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
God promised this to you, so let Him take on the burden of keeping you!
* Go to the Lord and challenge His Word. Tell Him you are going to stake your life on it!
*Show Him you trust His every word—and be blessed!

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Father, You know my struggles. I thank you so much for just the re occurring confirmation that you have shown me this past week. Nothing is beyond you Father. I am sorry for not listening the first time. I ask for your forgiveness. Thank you so much for being such a loving and caring Father, God. Thank You for Your Word which is absolute Truth.  I love you so much. You are so good to me.  In Your precious Son’s name. Amen

how to use what you know.

Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say.  Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.  She will be your crowning glory.” Proverbs 4:5-9
*Solomon is describing an important concept concerning the obtaining of True Biblical Wisdom. It all starts with an Attitude.
The attitude needed is that which Desires to Have wisdom. Without the desire, without the inward strength and motivation(it is hard work), Wisdom will always be coveted BUT never grasped.

Only God knows where Wisdom and Understanding can be found. He is the source and distributor of Wisdom.

“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living” (Job
28:12-13).

Wisdom,   Who can find it?  Where?
*Wisdom of God is not intellectual, but behavioural.
*Not head knowledge, but Heart Practice.
*Old testament peoples believed that the biggest fool is those who know the Truth but do not apply it.

***Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom are not the same.
*Knowledge is revelation/enlightenment
*Understanding is interpreting the knowledge.
*Wisdom is the application/practice!

**Wisdom and Knowledge are friends that every successful person has as a friend, BUT it’s hidden in a friend whom’s name is JESUS!!
*One cannot experience true success without having these friends to work together.
*When we have Wisdom, we have understanding of WHO God IS.

We should fear God, not because we are terrified of him, but because we trust in Him and trust that he knows what is best for our lives.

Wisdom is not something that is to be bought or achieved by earthly means. To become wise, we must focus on the Lord, and dwell on Him consistently. He is Wisdom!!!

Colossians 2:2….In this way they will know God’s secret, which is Christ himself.  3 He is the key that opens all the hidden Treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge.
What does one do with treasure?
*First you search for it… And it’s never easy to find. That’s because it carries great value and significance.
*Once it’s been obtained it’s worth guarding with your life. The knowledge of God’s mystery(Hope of glory: confident assurance which is understanding and knowledge of God’s mystery – Christ) is like a treasure. Do you seek to understand God better, to know your creator better?
*Well to find this treasure of wisdom and knowledge, you’ll need, as with pirate treasure, a map.
And where do we find this map? Well, that’s simple… The Bible, by Studying AND Implementing into YOUR living, the life of Jesus.
*Jesus is our map to discovering and connecting with God.
*Jesus holds the key. Now, let’s go treasure hunting…
*Truth never changes. It is absolute.

*Are we people of wisdom? Pray daily for wisdom.
*If you want the power to touch your world for Christ, you must spend time with the source of power, Jesus Christ!

The Bible is the gate to Gods wisdom.
*Jesus’ final point for his sermon on the mount: Matthew 7:24  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
*****Don’t just build your Faith on superficial emotional things, but refer to the Word of God for your Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. It’ s All there for US! Our Map!
*****What we allow into our life can become a part of who we are. Our words are reflected by what we surround ourselves by. Our words have power. Where is the power coming from in our words?   Are our words coming from ourselves, others, books or The Author Wisdom Himself–“Jesus”..?

Look at how Christ demonstrated this trait of character in the godly way throughout His earthly ministry,
*His forgiveness of our sins- The Wisdom of God.
So how are we today as a Christ-follower?
Let’s us together train ourselves in godliness with great endurance, slow to anger but quick to sympathize, being held Accountable to one another.

Cooperate with the work that the Lord is doing in you to bring you into a spiritual place of greater unity with Him.  Make a covenant with your mouth to only speak the Truth of His Word in faith.  Refuse the temptation to speak from a heart of unbelief or despair.  Do not allow bitterness to defile yourself and others, but rather rise up in Hope.   And, Trust that regardless of how bleak your circumstances seem at any given moment they will work together for your ultimate good. Seek Gods Wisdom.  * Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Lord, I know that Wisdom cannot be bought or found any other way then from You. I have little knowledge and don’t use it well. I pray that You give me Wisdom, which would include the proper way to use Your knowledge through my mouth. Help me to say, not what irritates  people or calms a situation, unless that is what You want, but that I would say exactly what it is that You want me to say, nothing more, nothing less. Let my “Yes” be Yes and my “No” be No.  Give me more of Your Perfect Wisdom daily as I Read Your Word which is there to teach me how to do life. Thank You Jesus.    In Jesus Name, Amen.

Christians don’t need to have a better “self-image”…that’s not why God has called us! He wants us to learn how to set ourselves aside so we can shine forth His Image.
* “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

When life throws you a curve, it can knock the wind out of your confidence. If your not buckled in with faith, it can throw you out from behind the steering wheel.

Our goal mustn’t be to try to “copy” or “imitate” Jesus, but rather to exchange lives with Him. We give Him our life, and He gives us His!
*  “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain…”Philippians 1:21
*Most of the New Testament is written because God allowed Paul to be placed in a prison cell. Many of us spend so much time questioning, doubting God’s motives and plans for our lives. God says; “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.”

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

God desires for us to know what He has freely given to us. One of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to reveal His plans and purposes to us. They may be hidden for a time, but if we Seek Him with our whole heart, we can know what He has given to us.

We need to follow Jesus and His ways verses man’s ways and ideas. If we follow man we will eventually get hurt, But following Jesus, we by Faith know what ever happens is for our good and for His Purpose.
Are we torn between Obligations to others or Obedience to Jesus?
**This has  been a struggle for me.  Lord, I want Your approval. Please help me to not be motivated or swayed by mans approval.

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10   *People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Their lives are open books at Church, at work, in Hobbies, at Kids activities, at movies, on internet etc…..
*How often do we live completely differently than the image we try to convey to other?  Why?

In our current culture, people expect us to respond to their requests with increasing speed and efficiency. Whether it’s a call, text, email, instant message, or Facebook comment, there’s an understanding … no, an expectation … that we will respond.

I’ll admit I fall into this as well. It appeals to my need to be needed!!
* Someone wants my opinion or my help. At the very least, they want to connect with me.
If they are willing to share their lives with me, my desire is to respond. Promptly. With creativity. And a bit of humor, if you please. But honestly, it’s exhausting.

Jesus identified a similar people-pleasing tendency in His disciples.
*** They were torn between Obligations to others and Obedience to Him.
*They wanted to follow Jesus, but on their terms. Jesus challenged this line of thinking, and called them to a new level of obedience, one that forced them to choose what was most important.

Here are some examples:
• “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25)

• “Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:61-62)

When the demands of others threatened their immediate obedience, Jesus called them back to Himself. He challenged them with the same unspoken question He asks us:
**Who are you going to please FIRST?

Without settling our hearts on the answer to this question, we end up with an over-whelmed and over-committed life.
Our lives operate like a bumper car, crazily racing in one direction, only to crash into an obstacle and wildly turn another direction.

My life has felt that way at times. But my heart gained clarity and direction when I declared Jesus Christ to be my leader. Now, please know that even though I believed those words in my heart and spoke them with my mouth, it took years to bring every area of my life into alignment. It is STILL a process, and at times I have to check my reality against my intent.
Galatians 6:15 It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.  18 All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.

Declaring Jesus as our Leader:
1.  Breaks our bondage to the approval of others.
2. Helps clarify our motives.
3. Plus, it reduces stress as we accept the fact that we can’t please everyone, and God never expects us to try.

Prepare your heart to come boldly into the Lord’s presence.  Refuse to allow anything at all to come between the Lord and You. God IS number One!  Now is the time to clear the spiritual air so that you can stand righteously before the Lord, made clean by the blood of Christ.  Accept forgiveness and get ready to express the excellence of His kingdom in your mortal existence.  Be done with all things that have held you in bondage, and be free.
* Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Dear Lord, You alone are worthy of following. Please forgive the times I’ve chosen to follow others before You. I long to be a person with an undivided heart. Help me overcome bondage to the approval of others. Help me keep YOU number ONE 24/7 in my heart, mind and soul so that You Lord will be Glorified.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

The mature Christian is simply one who recognizes his “self-centeredness” and makes the choice to focus on God’s will rather than his own.
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand.”Proverbs 19:21
* If you fail or refuse to learn your God-given Purpose or Calling, your options automatically become:
(a) your own personal vision for your life,
(b) society’s vision for your life, or
(c) the devil’s vision for your life.
I learned from past experience–With these plans, you may experience great financial success, but in the end, none of these visions will bring you fulfillment, satisfaction or peace of mind for you or “Your  Calling”!

“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29

God never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.

**It is dangerous to align your Calling and your Vocation as dependent on each other.
*** God calls us into Relationship with Him. That is our foremost calling. It is from this Relationship that our “physical” calling results. Whether that is to be a teacher, a stockbroker, a nurse, a pastor, or any number of vocations, we must realize that when God calls us, the change in vocation never changes His call on our lives.
* It is a mere change in the landscape of our calling.
*This is why it is dangerous to associate our purpose and calling too closely with our work.
*** When we define our work life exclusively as our calling, we fall into the trap of locking up our “Identity” into our vocation.
*This promotes aspiration because of a need to gain greater self-worth through what we do.

What happens when you lose your job? Do you lose your calling? Do you lose your identity? Do you lose your sense of well-being? No.
***Calling involves different stages and experiences in life.
**Disruptions in your work are an important training ground for God to fulfill all aspects of His calling on your life.
*Trust in your God who says your calling is irrevocable and that all things come from Him!

Do you realize that God has a special calling on your life? He does!

No less than five times in the Scripture, Jesus called his followers to “go” into the world and to be witnesses for him. And that’s exactly what he is saying to you today.
He’s calling you to be his witness. And you can begin right where you are!

Acts 5:20 “Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life.”
* Jesus finished his task on the cross and commanded us to GO in His name and finish ours. That is to share the Good News of salvation in His name and make disciples of all nations.
We have our marching orders and our Commander in chief is not going to back down.
*There can be no doubt… you are called. Have you listened for his voice? Have you heeded that call and followed his will obediently? It is so important that you do.

Psalms 66:16 Come and listen, all who honor God, and I will tell you what he has done for me.
*You see, God has placed specific people in your path who need to hear what he has done for you.(Your Testimony).
*They need to hear about the blessings and peace of God.
*They need to know that God loves them and that he has a future of hope for them.
*I appreciate the clear encouragement to witness to New Life IN Jesus Christ. Sharing knowledge about Jesus is not enough, sharing about Life Change is a powerful Testimony.
So be bold in Christ Jesus! Pray for those who have needs in their lives. Be a witness of his saving grace. This is your calling, the work of the ministry that God has entrusted to you.

Expect breakthrough in areas that have seemed overwhelming and impossible.  Trust the Lord to open up the avenue of success.  He will answer your unwavering and patient faith.  Refuse to get discouraged or give up; you’ve been through too much to turn back now.  Stay the course, and let strength and courage prevail in  the Lord.

Isaiah 45:2  I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.

I want to remind you that you are full of incredible potential. When God created you, He deposited seeds of greatness inside of you. He’s given you your own dreams and desires. You have something to offer that NO ONE else has.
*But too often, we allow adversities, disappointments and setbacks to push these things down, until one day, we find that we’re not Moving Forward anymore.
We’re not stretching; we’re not believing to rise any higher.

When adversity comes, it’s easy to think, “Why is this happening to me?” The answer is because the enemy knows what’s on the inside of you. He’s going to do everything he can to keep that seed from taking root. But, he will only be successful if you let him. He can’t stop you unless you quit.

During the difficult times, remember that the gifts and callings God has placed within you are still there. Don’t become stagnate in pursuing your dreams.
*It’s time to get your fire back!
*It’s time to Move Forward.
* It’s time to dig deep inside and take hold of the marvelous destiny God has prepared for you!”

*Ask God to clearly show you your gifts. * God’s calling can never be withdrawn. *You don’t have to be like anyone else. Be who God has called YOU to be!
*The gifts God has placed in us are always to touch & bless someone else.

Father, thank You for the gifts and dreams You’ve placed within me. Today, I release my cares and concerns to You. Give me the strength, wisdom and clarity to keep moving forward so I can boldly embrace the good things You have in store for my future .
Lord, thank You for those things in my life that keep me weak and dependent on You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

“Yes,” said Jesus, “if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith.” Mark 9:23
*Your own thinking can keep you from God’s best.
*You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it.

As Christians, we shouldn’t try to “improve” our self-life…that’s psychology! We don’t want to fix self, we want to SET it aside so Jesus can live His Life through us.

* “Nor do men put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out…but they put new wine into fresh wineskins…”
Matthew 9:17
*We are the new wineskins! Jesus pours new ‘wine’ fresh ‘wine’ (life, passion, love) into us and both us and what he is pouring into us is preserved and then able to LIVE for him, to be used by him and for His glory!!

*If you are not renewing your mind(Romans 12:2), God can’t pour into you something new, like new wine and wine skin.
God’s not gonna give you something that will destroy like new wine would burst an old wine skin.

I wonder how often American Christians are trying to force fresh movements of God into an old paradigm.
* We want God to move, yet all too often we don’t want to do anything different.
* We hold too strongly to our traditions and NOT tightly enough to God’s Word and Holy Spirit’s Leadership!!!!

God may be trying to do a new work and we may be resisting it by holding on to an old way of doing things.

We get in the mindset that God cannot move in any other way so we have to do this particular thing.

*We forget that it was NOT the “Method” which had the power, it was and still is God!!!!
*When we trust in Methods-traditions-religion we will inevitably miss God and fail.
We serve a creative God who is doing new things in the world today. If we want to see God move through us, we have to seek Him. We have to find where He is working and join in.
*Isaiah 42: 9 The things I predicted have now come true.  Now I will tell you of new things  even before they begin to happen.”
*Sometimes hurts cause us to be stuck. We can’t use religion to bury your head from hurt.
*Church is not a fantasy get away. *Religion has become an escape.
** Let go of those things from the past. It will hinder your relationships.
*Heal and Move Forward… You can’t live in hurt, don’t rehash the past. No pity. *Understand God. He is the God of our present situations.
God will not leave me broken. He will restore the years we thought were lost. God will say don’t worry I’ve taken the pain. He goes back to heal yrs of brokeness. Remember no more. Walk into your future. Let the former things go. God will do a new thing in the New You!

We can’t force God into our ideal way of doing church and ministry. Instead we must Conform to the way He is calling us to do things.
The work of God is bigger than us. If we try to force Him into a box, the box will never contain Him. Let us not try to force new wine into old wineskins.

Stop complaining and start praying, stop crying and start rejoicing, stop griping and start Speaking Life, the word of life into your situations. Have FAITH and BELIEVE God.

It’s hard for us to grasp that what Jesus has done and is doing is really a new thing.
It’s not that he discredits or throws away the old. Jesus simply has Fulfilled it, allowing him to bring what it better, what is actually the fulfillment of all the old was preparing for.
It is new that a person brought to have his paralyzed body made to work again would be forgiven of sins.
BUT what good is it to make outward things work when everything flows from the inside.

*** We need Hearts that are new so that our outward actions will continue to be like Jesus’ actions.

Revelation 21:5 Then the one who sits on the throne said, “And now I make all things new!”
* Faith isn’t activated by looking back but by what God is doing Right Now.

Refuse to be overwhelmed by the circumstances and situations that you are now facing and having to deal with.  Maintain your peace and stay calm, for the Lord will certainly take you through this time with great grace.  Know that you are well able to accomplish what is before you to do even when you doubt your abilities.  Put your confidence in  the Lord.  Jesus can do what you cannot.
Mark 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Remove every hindrance Lord- I want to be ever so close to you. I want to know you Lord. I will look to you Lord I will keep my eyes fixed on you Lord Jesus. I will not turn to my left or to my right but I will look to you and wait upon you and while I wait Lord I will pray, I will read your word, I will talk with you and I
will walk with you, I will rejoice in you. I will walk by faith believing that you Lord will teach me, you will instruct me, you Lord will guide me in what to do and how to do and when to do. I will trust you In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Prayer is the parachute that allows for leaps of Faith.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER
1). Power of prayer is the inheritance of the believer.
2). Prayer allows you to operate in love
Spending time with God allows you to pick up his ways Its easy to walk in love when you spend time with God.
3). Prayer gives you freedom.
4). Prayer helps lift your burdens.
5). When done early prayer plants you on a solid foundation.
6). Prayer expands your capacity to fight battles.
7). Prayer can lead you out of temptation.
8). Prayer is the communion of God!!
9). Prayer can strengthen your faith.
10). Prayer keeps you humble!!

Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
* Decide what you want from God and get the scripture that promises you these things.
*The appropriate response is to PRAY for EVERYTHING. Taking all things to God.
-Phil. 4:vs 7
Taking everything to God brings us PEACE that will guard our hearts and minds.

GOD OVER-ANSWERS PRAYER!
One of the most often heard phrases in church is, “God answers prayer!” Yet
that is only half the truth. The whole truth is, “God over-answers prayer!”

Hosea prophesied to Israel, “You are backslidden but you are still God’s
people” (see Hosea 14:1).

“Take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him ‘Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously’” (Hosea 14:2).

Israel’s prayer was simple. All they asked of God was to take away their sin
and receive them graciously.
“Lord, have mercy! Cleanse us and receive us back into Your grace.”
* God not only cleansed them and received them back graciously, He also added blessings beyond imagination!

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has
turned away from him….(Hosea 14:4-7).

The dew of heaven (14:5) is the presence of the Lord. Up to this point there had been drought and everything was dying because God’s favor had been taken away.
*** But now, because of True Repentance and a Heartfelt Prayer, GOD said He would cause life to spring up on all sides.
***Israel not only would be forgiven, but revived as well!
*They would become well-rooted, spread out, and thrive!

*All they asked for was mercy, forgiveness and acceptance.
*** Instead, God opened the windows of heaven and poured on them blessings they dared not even hope for!
**** God largely over-answered their prayer!

God has done the same for US! When We Repented, all we asked God for was a clean heart, forgiveness and peace.
Yet look at how He has over-answered US:
*He gave US a hungering heart—a thirst for more of Jesus!
*He gave US eyes to see and ears to hear.
* He has protected US from a raging, mad devil and flooded our soul with hope, joy and gladness!

**You asked only to be saved and cleansed but God has poured out blessing upon blessing to you! He has over-answered you!
— in wars, famines, earthquakes, or the evil that apparently has the ascendancy.
***All God’s actions are just and loving.

I Believe We have become too enemy-conscious, and can over-do the spiritual warfare aspect of intercession.
***We need to be more God-conscious, so that we can laugh the laugh of faith “Knowing” that we have Power over all the Power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). ***He has already lost control because of Calvary where the Lamb was slain. We now fight FROM Victory not for Victory (1 John 4:4).
*What confidence and rest of heart this gives us as we face a world in turmoil and such spiritual need.

“‘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.'” Jeremiah 29:11

For many people in the world, real meaning in life is the next vacation, career success, or stepping up the income ladder. It is a life based on pleasurable experiences.
Many a human being has toiled their whole life to gain a pleasurable lifestyle only to find a life that is empty and meaningless.
* God’s beautiful creation can so easily become a prison of emptiness if Jesus is not in the center of it.

The apostle Paul said there is only one way to find meaning and purpose in life:
(Ephesians 1:17-19).

**Knowing Christ brings the only real meaning and purpose to the human soul. Spend time today getting to know the Lord in a more intimate way. Then you will discover real meaning and purpose in life.

God, Thank You for allowing us to have peace. Thank You for Prayer. Thank You for Your absolute Truth, Your Word!   Lord, you are the strength of my life, whom shall I be afraid?……I will Wait for You Lord and You shall strengthen my heart. Thank you Lord for showing us the TRUE meaning of Life and that is “Knowing You JESUS”. Help me to keep You at the Center of all things in my life in order  to have True Meaning and purpose in All things.  Lord help me Yield Myself To Your PURPOSE–Focus On What IS GOOD—-Use My Life FOR CHRIST and Learn To BE CONTENT. In Jesus Name, Amen

Worry occurs when we “Assume Responsibility” for things that are “Outside our Control”!!!!

Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.
(Proverbs 12:25)
1. Worrying helps nothing.
2. Worrying isn’t good for you.
3. Worrying is the opposite of trusting God.
**Put all your fears on God. Trust in him.

Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.  Philippians 4:6

Do you know which sin is the subtle enemy of simple faith?
Materialism and greed? Anger? Lust? Hypocrisy? No. All of these sins are certainly our enemies, but none of them qualify as subtle enemies.

***The most notorious faith killer in all of life: WORRY.
“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious(worry) for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25).

I find the term worry fascinating. To begin with, the word used by Matthew (translated here as “anxious”) is the Greek term merimnao. It is a combination of two smaller words,
*merizo, meaning “to divide,” and
*nous, meaning “the mind.”

In other words, a person who is anxious suffers from a “Divided Mind”, leaving him or her disquieted and distracted.

Of all the biblical stories illustrating worry, none is more practical or clear than the one recorded in the last five verses of Luke 10. Let’s briefly relive it.

Jesus dropped by His friends’ home in Bethany. Martha, one of those friends, turned the occasion into a mild frenzy. To make matters worse, Martha’s sister, Mary, was so pleased to have the Lord visit their home that she sat with Him and evidenced little concern over her sister’s anxiety attack.

As Luke tells us, “Martha was distracted with all her preparations” (Luke 10:40). But Martha didn’t have help, and that was the final straw.
Irritated, exasperated, and angry, she reached her boiling point, and her boiling point led to blame.
* “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me” (10:40).

But Jesus was neither impressed by her busyness nor intimidated by her command. Graciously, yet firmly, Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (10:41–42).

Worry occurs when we “Assume Responsibility” for things that are “Outside our Control”!!!!

And I love the Lord’s solution: “only a few things are necessary, really only one.”
What a classic example of simple faith!

All Mary wanted was TIME with Jesus . . . and He commended her for that.
Mary’s simple faith, in contrast to her sister’s panic, won the Savior’s affirmation.

Worry and faith just don’t mix!!!!!

Practice discernment and exercise your faith.  Your awareness is like a muscle that can be developed with use.  Don’t be afraid to activate your spiritual acuity in everyday situations and circumstances.
*This is a season when you can operate in spiritual gifts at a higher level than you ever thought possible.
*Prepare yourself by faith to hear the Lord’s voice, to see your vision, to dream your dream, and to have a heightened sense of your atmosphere and environment to Glorify the Lord.  Set yourself to receive all that the Lord  has made available to you. Jesus says:” I am with you always”.  So let’s trust in Jesus and get read of Worry!

Psalms 37: 8 Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.
**God doesn’t change. He has been faithful. He is faithful. He will be faithful! Worrying is a choice. It’s not God’s will for me to worry. God is sovereign. Thanks be to Jesus, I can draw near.
Verse 7: 7 Be patient and wait for the LORD to act;…

You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins;  he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
*Don’t be discouraged-do not Worry. Believe the very word of God! You will be victorious!
*Jeremiah 31:3 I appeared to them from far away. People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love.
* Do not be afraid—I am with you!
I am your God—let nothing terrify you!
I will make you strong and help you;
I will protect you and save you.        (Isaiah 41:10)
God, I trust You. Thank You for working this out and anything else that concerns me. You are a faithful God! Have Thine own way. You know ALL, and you know HOW to accomplish it.  Amen

God’s Love, the Evidence of Salvation

God IS love. Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God IS love (1 Jn 4:7b,8).
As we get to know Him better, His love also grows in our hearts.

Then, what is God’s love like?
It is a love that gives what is most precious even to the undeserved without reservation, without expecting anything in return, and without fear.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14

The Lord loves EACH of us so very much. We cannot even fathom.  We cannot even comprehend, just how much, just how deep, just how wide the Lord loves us. His love for us IS unconditional.
*No matter what we do, no matter what we say, no matter who we are, no matter what the color of our skin, no matter what language we speak He loves us no matter what.

*God commands us that we love Him & our neighbors but if you don’t love yourself you can’t love others!!!!

*Jesus personally demonstrated this Agape love by laying down His own life for US ALL!  Not Some, But ALL of US!
* When you are willing to die for others you have no problem giving everything else you have.

*Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

So, how can we possibly love others this way when there is no Real love in us? ****Humanly, it’s impossible, but with God everything is possible. (Mt 19:26)
** The Holy Spirit living in us pours God’s love in our hearts (Rm 5:5) so that we are enabled to love others with God quality love.
When the love of God (Agape) is planted in our hearts and starts to grow in us so that we start loving others the way God loves us, we know that we have received salvation.

*Why do we fail to love right? I think it is because we haven’t loved like Jesus loved. He commanded people to love as He loved them. How did Jesus love? He forgave Peter for running out on Him. He forgave Judas for betraying Him. He forgave His accusers for crucifying Him. He forgave US ALL for OUR SINS.
JESUS believed in people like tax collectors, fishermen, and prostitutes and made them Followers and Disciples. Talk about “Real Love”.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Gods grace is everything. Everything we are and everything we can be is based and built upon this foundation of grace.

Gods solution to our sin is his unmerited favour given to us through Jesus Christ. He has taken our sins and nailed them to the cross of Jesus Christ. Gods grace is a free gift, and the sin problem, and the guilt problem is overcome.

Our God is the God who justifies the wicked, gives life to the dead, and calls things that are not as though they were. Romans 4:17

Under the Grace and favour of God, there is no place for guilt, or shame, or regret, or unworthiness.
All our sins, past presence and future have been forgiven and justified by the blood of Jesus.
* To be a Christian means you are trying to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

God became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Satan loves to accuse. He is the accuser of God’s brethren. But the accuser has been cast down. Do you know that every time you accuse God’s people, you are doing the devils work?

*The blood of Jesus provided as a once and for all atonement for our sins, continuously washes us and justifies us.

So why are Christians continuously burdened by guilt?
* Guilt weighs us down, and we may feel unworthy because of any sin residuals present in our lives.
* The problem with this, is that the moment you focus on your sins or weaknesses, and wallow under guilt and shame, you condemn yourself when you shouldn’t because your sins have been justified.
*Guilt comes from what you feel may have failed to do.
* Shame comes from how you react to this.
**You may then either choose to condemn yourself and wallow in self pity, or you may chose to take it to Christ in prayer.

*God expects us to have the same kind of love, love that reaches out even to the undeserved, or the unlovable. We don’t have to “like” this person, but we have to love him/her.
*It’s easy to love loveable people, but some people, it’s really hard to love. We all know people whom it’s hard to love. *Yet God loved us while we were still sinners and His enemies. As children of God, we have to learn to love like our Father loves.

The Lord loves us so much that He laid down His life for us, His friends. There is no Greater love than this. We are His friends when we do whatever He commands us to do. What does the
Lord want us to do?

*** All the answers to the questions for your life are in the word of God.
* I point you again to reading God’s word.
*I point you again to praying and seeking His kingdom first and foremost. *I point you again to asking the Lord to Lead and Guide YOU into ALL Truth!!!

* The Lord loves you and He has great things for you and He wants to do great things for you. “…..he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (see Hebrews 11:6).
*Jesus wants you to love Him.
***** He loves you.
**** He loves you beyond measure.
***You are His Masterpiece (Eph. 2:10)
Remember the picture of a character
with his arms open wide that says “I love you this much”. God the Father loves you more!

Let’s pray together:
Father, it is so hard to love everyone. None of us do it perfectly like You do, but Father, as we walk with you day by day, take us baby step by baby step closer and closer to Your ideal.
I thank you Lord for loving me. I thank you Lord for loving me the person that you made me to be. I am so grateful that you love me no matter what Lord and I am so grateful that you placed in me the desire to live a right life before you. Today Father I lift up before you those I do not know. I lift up the down trodden souls. I lift up the drug addict. I lift up the hurting single mother. I lift up the hurting single father. I lift up the woman who sells herself and feel she has no other recourse. I lift up the man lying in the street passed out from drinking  I lift EVERY soul that’s bound today to you Father God. I lift them up to you Lord and ask that by your Spirit you would send ministering angels to each of their side. Speak a word of peace, speak a word of  deliverance to each of them Lord. Open their eyes to see you. Open their ears to hear you.  Show them Lord that you are the way the truth and the life. Cause each of them to be in a place to hear and feel your love for them by your Spirit.  Father, breathe upon them your breath of life. I know you love each one of these dear souls Lord. I thank you Lord and I bless your holy wonderful name because I know you will do just that Lord. I know that We can’t touch them all, but Our prayer for them can. And God, May I find greater intimacy with you by Studying and Applying your word. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

How many of us can truly say we’re willing to put God’s interests above our own?
“For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 2:21

Our choices are critical because they decide whose life will be lived in our souls. “Faith choices” allow God’s Life to flow from our hearts, But  “emotional choices” quench that life.
*  “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Proverbs 14:12

Even though a faith choice is much harder to make, it is the only choice that will align us with God’s Will.
*  “But he who listens to Me shall live securely, and shall be at ease form the dread of evil.”. Proverbs 1:33

One of the greatest lessons we can ever learn is that our battle is never with
people. It is never with co-workers, neighbors, or our unsaved loved ones—but with God!

*If you settle things with God, Everything else has to fall into line.
*When you are right before Him—sprinkled with Christ’s blood, having no sin in your life, prevailing in prayer—then all the demons in hell cannot make a dent in what God wants to do!
* God wants you to have that kind of holy strength.

Hosea said, “The Lord also brings a charge against Judah [His people]”
(Hosea 12:2).
What is this controversy God has with His church?
It is spiritual laziness!
* We want miracles, blessings, deliverance, but at no cost, with no
effort!
*Who wants holiness, purity and Christlikeness so much they are willing to shut themselves in with God until they break through?
*Who is so consumed with pleasing God that they are desperate to be
delivered from all habits, all lusts—and they cry out, fight and wrestle with
God until He breaks all chains?

Hosea said to Israel, “All you want is prosperity and security! You are not
willing to take a stand. You don’t want to live for Jehovah’s pleasure, but
for your own!”

Jacob was a fighter from the day he was born. He prevailed “by his
strength” (see Genesis 25:26) and so must you and I!
We have Jesus strength, but we do not use it!
“Strengthened with all might,according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy” (Colossians 1:11).

“He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).

The church of Jesus Christ is never going to see what God has for His body
until He sees US seeking Him in earnest! “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

God wants you to lay hold of Him because He loves you! He is saying, “Here it is. If you want it, come and get it!” He wants to make a strong soldier out of you, fit for His army!

***Any unwillingness to obey God slams the door of our heart. We have knowingly shut Him out, and that’s sin.
* “Therefore, to one who knows the right things to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Hebrews 12:15

Now is the time to resolve old issues before you move into the new season.  I speak of such things as unforgiveness, thoughts of unwortiness, past sins you have repented for  and bitterness against yourself and others.  Allowing these things to exist in a fresh spiritual environment of possibilities would only pollute and defile clean and pristine opportunities.
Enter this time with a clean heart.  Examine yourself to see if you are in faith and ready to receive all that the Lord has prepared for you.
* Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
**God will renew your spirit. -Brokenness brings RENEWAL.  God will renew your strength.

Deut. 8: 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.
*When we encounter hardship let us not complain. Perhaps if the road was all smooth we might forget that it is the Lord who sustains us (Deut 10, 18).
*There are times when God may need to try us to see what is in our heart. There are times when God needs to discipline us (vv 8:2-5). Do we not discipline our children and those responsible to us. What would happen if a son or daughter received no discipline. What would their life be like? Yes, A mess!

For those times of struggle, pain and down cast… Let me remind you, we are not forgotten. We are not then cast aside and left to fend for ourselves. We are loved then, just as every other day; maybe even a little more than we realize.
Malachi 3:6 “I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

For it is through pain that we desperately seek the Lord. It is in the difficult times we reach for His hand and cry out His name.

The only way you can rise above painful circumstances is if you will raise your focus to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Trust that God will do something good within you and through you. Do what is necessary to resolve the situation, but refuse to let the problem become the focus of your life.
Surrender to God and trust Him to work all things together for your good. Then, like the apostle Paul, you simply cannot lose.

Let us all be encouraged that no matter what we are going through in life, we need to remember that God allows them to happen as He wants His glory to be seen later on and thus bring salvation to others. Most of all, let us not forget that God is never slow in helping us and delivering us from troubles, as we clearly see from  passages in Psalm 105:1-45
Dear Lord:
” Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.  You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.  May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.  I know, OLORD, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it.  Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.  Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.  Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.  Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws.  May I be blameless in keeping your decrees; then I will never be ashamed.  I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:73-81)
Thank you Lord for your unrelenting grace and love for me. Amen

Even though a faith choice is much harder to make, it is the only choice that will align us with God’s Will.
*  “But he who listens to Me shall live securely, and shall be at ease form the dread of evil.”. Proverbs 1:33

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.  Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD.  Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?  Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!  Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (Psalms 34:10-14).

Most silent treatments start  with something “little and ridiculous.”

Most relationships can’t remember what the impetus was.

*So what are these silent treatments or stand-offs REALLY about?
*And how can you avoid them or end
them soon after they begin?

It’s interesting most of us can admit  that we “know better.  In other words, we are  intelligent, educated, and accomplished people.

We  know that treating people this way doesn’t make sense. We know IT is wrong. But we also know that we each are right.
*That’s exactly the problem!
**Silent treatments ensue when both people feel they’re RIGHT.
* And the more intense each persons conviction to their perspective, the longer the silence lasts. And, ironically, the more intelligent and the articulate we are,  the MORE LIKELY we are to endure silence between us.
* Because intelligent and articulate people have self confidence in their position and justification for holding their ground.

1 Corinthians 10: 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
*Although we are under grace and have freedom in Christ, we are not to cause others to stumble in their walk with or search for the living God. Our lives are to be a testimony to the power, grace, love, and glory of God. Paul warns that just because we are free to do something, it does not mean that we should. We are to be servants and think of consequences that our behavior has on others and not just our personal benefit. Are we living our lives as testimonies or stumbling blocks?

*When it comes to a RELATIONSHIP, you can be right or you can be happy.
*is it better to be Right—or better to have a relationship?

But sometimes you can’t be both.
*In a courtroom, a hospital, or an office, right and wrong determine success or failure.
* The decision to prescribe the right medicine, for example, could be the difference between life and death. The relationship between the doctor and
the patient is secondary.
* Being RIGHT is what matters and what is rewarded.
****BUT in a Relationship especially  marriage, being right has NO Value.
* All that matters is the relationship.

Sometimes you have to choose. Do you want to be right or do you want to have happy Relationship?

Just because you’re right/wrong paradigm works at the office doesn’t mean that you should bring it
home.
*”He who is a hammer thinks everything is a nail.”

Some things work perfectly in one area of life and fail terribly in another.

Isaiah 54: 6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief— as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God.
*We have the ability to clear out our hearts and go again
* Do I have room in my heart for more?
*What is being stored in my heart?
**Our heart is the very core of who we are.
*Our mouth speaks what is in our hearts
*Think about your thought processes
* Think about what your thinking about.

In a marriage, you have to be like a carpenter and know which tool to use. The right/wrong mode is the WRONG
tool to use in your marriage.
*The more you insist on being RIGHT, the more you will be miserable in your marriage.
*** Don’t go for RIGHT; go for LOVE.

Just because you may have a high IQ, doesn’t mean you have a high EQ.

*IQ is a measure of your INTELLECTUAL
intelligence. The higher your IQ, the better your ability to process information and determine what’s “right.”
*EQ is a measure of your EMOTIONAL intelligence.
*The higher your EQ, the better your ability to connect with people and succeed in relationships.
*Just as some athletes are strong but not fast, so too many people have a high IQ but a low EQ.

Bottom line: Intelligence, has little bearing on our ability to succeed in our relationships, being marriage, Kids or friends. In fact, a high IQ coupled with a low EQ can be a disastrous combination for a relationship.

The good news, however, is that EQ can be developed. Anyone can increase their EQ and learn to make their Relationships RIGHT!

*Phillipians 4: 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
*Hosea 4:6 When you can’t see what is yours, you will never be able to take hold of it.
*Philippians 4:19 God is our source of all our needs.
***However, WE put our “BUT” in His way..
O Holy Father, I call to You and name You as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love and mercy. Yet there are times, O God, when I fail to recognize You and see Your care for me in the dailyness of my life. Even in shame, when I seek my own devices and foolishness clenches tightly around my heart, You are ever so gracious and merciful when I cry out to You.
Sometimes fear makes me small, and I miss the chance to speak from Your strength. Sometimes doubt invades my hopefulness, and I degrade the wisdom You have shown me in Your holy Word.

Holy God, daily from sunrise to sunset, remind me again of Your holy presence hovering near me and in me. Free me from shame and self-doubt. Help me to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak with truthful wisdom in Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen