Devotions - Prayer
I believe we can know our true spiritual state by how troubled we become ove our slightest sin against our Lord.
Some Christians only grieve over what they consider the “big sins”—adultery, drug abuse, drinking, cursing.
But the truly spiritual person knows that NO sin is small in God’s sight and so he grieves every time he gossips, tells a dirty joke or has a lingering evil thought.
We know these things spring from our heart, the very center of our being.
You can disobey God in such “small things,” excusing yourself and forgetting all about them.
**But if you do, you will never mature in Christ.
Your righteousness(moral orderliness) is measured by your unwillingness to accept anything that grieves your blessed Savior.
In each moment we sin, the enemy whispers to us, “That little slip-up was no big deal. It was such a small thing.”
**But the Holy Spirit must immediately rise up in my heart to refute the devil’s voice.
Be reassured, the very fact you’re grieving over a sin is proof Jesus is at work in you.
*The more you grieve over even the smallest transgression against His love, the closer you get to victory.
God sent His Spirit to us to wage war against our flesh and its desires and lusts.
So, if you aren’t troubled when you fail—if you are able to shake off your sin with no sense of guilt, sorrow or regret—then the Holy Spirit is not in you doing warfare.
“ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9,10).
If you are being convicted by even the lightest transgression, you are close to true victory. He is winning the battle in your heart by producing a godly sorrow that leads to true repentance.
Lord, Thank you that my sorrows have led me to repentance and have taken the walls down so that we could have a more personal relationship. Amen
Read MoreColossians 2:12 For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death.
The Training Ground of God
“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” – Psalm 144:1
* It is only when we are placed in the furnace of battle that we truly learn to fight the real battles.
*Practice doesn’t make you battle ready.
*War games won’t prepare you for facing your real enemy in the battlefield.
**The stark reality of being in the midst of the battle makes us effective warriors.
*Simply reading your Bible will not make you a warrior for the Kingdom.
*Knowledge without experience is mere folly.(see Hosea 4:6)
**Only when you are placed in situations where there is nothing or no one who can save you but God, will you learn the lessons of warrior faith.
This is the training ground of God, which will make you into a soldier for Christ.
Consider it to be suicidal faith – faith that says I want to be dead to anything that keeps me from fulfilling God’s purposes for my life.
2 Corinthians 12:10 I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
*GOD demonstrates his power in our weaknesses.
These are the real training grounds of God.
* Do not shrink back from the battle that God may be leading you to today.
*It may be a training ground that is necessary for the calling He has on your life.
Deut. 31:8 The LORD himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid.”
GOD USES ENLARGED TRIALS TO PRODUCE ENLARGED SAINTS SO HE CAN PUT THEM IN ENLARGED PLACES!
Father, today I give You my questions, frustrations, concerns and doubts. Have Your way in me. I trust that You are at work in every difficult situation and hot spot in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen
*Have you ever wrestled with the events of life, feeling that God has deserted you?
* Have you been honest with God?
*He is the kind of Father who is willing to have those difficult conversations.
*He won’t always change things, but His purposes will be accomplished and peace will come if you trust.
*Trust Him this day with those things that are most difficult.
” Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).
Bondage to sin — that is, your battle with the flesh.
Under the New Covenant, God will allow situations to show you how wholly dependent you are on Him to deliver you through faith.
God will never lead you into temptation but He will allow you to come to your wits’ end. If you have a secretive sin, Satan will come against you continually with his lies: “You’re too weak! You’re never going to make it.”
You hear the rattling of chains as Satan tries to bind you to your habit once more and you wonder, “Lord, how will I ever get up from this? I’ve gone down so low!”
What can you do? You know you can’t outrun the enemy and you are no match for him in a fight, so you cower before him, trembling in fear.
You may say to yourself, “I’ll just go back to my old ways. At least I’ll be spared from all this spiritual warfare. It’s too much for me!” But you know you can’t go back to your old master. If you turn back now and desert Christ, it will cost you your life.
Many Christians become caught in the hellish cycle of sinning and confessing, sinning and confessing. They run to friends, counselors, anyone who will listen to them as they cry and pray.
Such believers will do everything except stand still and trust the Lord to bring their deliverance.
We need to understand the battle: know your mission and learn to apply God’s weapons and strategies to your battle. (Read Ephesians 6 for The Armor and Romans 12:2 the Renewing of the mind).
Lift me up dear God, help me see more, show me more light, and allow it to shine through me. Amen
Read MoreElisha prayed for him to receive sight,
“O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17).
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
When we can’t see our situation with clear spiritual vision then we tend to fixate on our earthly circumstances.
Each morning we get out of bed: 1. walking by faith in the Son of God or 2. wandering about in unbelief obsessed over our earthly circumstances.
When the eyes of our heart are wide open to God’s truth, then the light of his word cuts through the fog.
Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have spiritual eyes to see.
*He prayed that the Father of glory would give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God, having the eyes of their hearts enlightened (Ephesians 1:17–18).
When God opens the eyes of our hearts then we can see Him for who He is.
And when we see who He is then we understand certain things that will change the way we look at ourselves and our situations.
*We can know the hope to which God has called us (Eph. 1:18) and we can recognize the fake hope that slides out of our hands.
*We can know the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints (Eph.1:18) and we can dismiss the fake rewards of the world.
*We can know the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward us who believe (1:19) and we can reject the fake power offered to us by the enemy.
*We can trust in God’s mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (1:19–20).
*We can see Jesus as he truly is — “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come” (1:21) — and happily submit anything and everything to him.
When you open your Bible then you can see the flashes of light refracting from the sword of the one who guards your soul from death.
The sword of God’s word can cut through even the most formidable morning fog of doubt or spiritual laziness.
Since faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17), then we would do well to fill our ears with God’s word every day.
Thank You for Truth Lord. Help me daily to read and meditate on Your Word. Thank you Jesus that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life and help me start and finish each day giving you all the glory for what you are doing for your kingdom to come. Amen
Read More“Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?'” – Genesis 3:1
God is big on giving man freedom and boundaries!
*Freedom to manage what He has entrusted to us.
*Boundaries to protect us from evil.
The boundaries in the Garden of Eden were not set for the purpose of limiting Adam.
Man got into trouble when he questioned those boundaries.
God had provided everything he would need for life. He also entrusted man with responsibility to manage and work the Garden.
God gave him freedom in that responsibility. God knows we were made to express ourselves creatively through our work.
Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God’s authority and our authorities at work.
Jesus understood these boundaries.
When He was tempted for 40 days by the devil after being baptized, He was challenged by satan to go outside His freedom and boundaries. (See Matthew 4:1-11.)
*Satan said that He had the power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus was hungry and easily could have justified using His power to feed Himself.
However, Jesus understood He could do nothing outside the boundaries of God’s will for His life.
It was God’s will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the temptation.
*God was showing His Son that “man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4b).
You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries.
Whether it is solving financial problems that have arisen through debt, making wrong decisions due to pressure, or manipulating someone in order to achieve our ends, it all represents rebellion toward God.
Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life. These are meant to enhance your life, not hinder it. (Start with the 10 Commandments—these are great boundaries set to keep us free—But if we go outside the 10 Commandments we will eventually get stung)
Look how far you have come! The difficulties that you have endured and overcome have instructed you and driven you to find Jesus in a more meaningful and concrete way.
Thank You Jesus for the difficulties I have gone through in my life, to get me to Know and Trust You more. Forgive me of my sins Jesus. Thank You for hearing me and for calling me (a sinner)—Your “Masterpiece” (Eph. 2:10) Thank You for the Freedom to manage what You have entrusted to me and Your Boundaries(10 Commandments) to protect me from evil. Amen
Read MorePraying and Growing in your Relationship with Jesus Christ
Below is a 30-day plan created to help you in praying and growing in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
You may want to do this as couples, families, groups or as individuals and As you are consistent in this, God will respond!
1) Every morning, for 30 days, read and react to the two texts from Ephesians:
a. Ephesians 2:1-10: this describes our two possible conditions:
1) to be spiritually dead, 2:1-3, or
2) to be alive in Jesus Christ, 2:4-10.
As you read this, every morning look for a new truth you can focus on through the day.
b. Ephesians 6:10-20: this gives us the armor of God to be victorious:
2) Each day of the week, focus on a piece of God’s Armor: Try this for four weeks and see what God is saying to you.
___________________________________________________________
Day 1 – Truth – read John 8:31-58. Through the day, concentrate on being truthful and letting Jesus free you from whatever binds you.
Day 2 – Righteousness – read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. Through the day be an Ambassador for Jesus, knowing that God accepts you because of Jesus’ righteousness.
Day 3 – Good News – read 1 Thessalonians 1. Through the day, thank God for all the good that is yours since you “turned from idols”) addictions, bad habits, wrong activities, to serve God!
Day 4 – Salvation – read 1 Peter 1:1-12. Through the day, celebrate what God has done and is doing for you!
Day 5 – Faith – read Hebrews 11. Through the day ponder how 3 or 4 “heroes of Faith” from Hebrews 11 pleased God. Can you?
Day 6 – The sword of the Spirit – the Bible – read Hebrews 4:12-16. Face whatever you are covering up that is against the Bible and give it to God in confession. Ask God’s help to confidently move ahead.
Day 7 – Prayer – read Colossians 1:9-23. Through the day pray Colossians 1:9-14 for yourself and another believer. Center on Jesus.
3) Every night: Pray about how your day went – give it all to God.
Read a Psalm, for example: 1; 23; 32; 90; 91; 103; 139.
4) Find a prayer partner, someone you know and trust and cares about you. Meet at least one time per week. Read Philippians 2:1-18 together. Pray.
5) Meet at least once a week with fellow believers to worship, thank and praise God. Focus on Jesus. Read Revelation 4 or 5 or a Psalm: 90 – 100.
Pray on the Armor of God every day!
Lord, Thank You for Your Word which is Truth. Help me take the time to spend some time in Your Word. Speak to me through Your Word and show me more and more of Your Love. In Jesus Name, Amen
Read MoreTemptation is a false promise–a promise that doesn’t deliver. When we give into temptation, we put our trust in a lie, we are believing a lie. (Lies VS Truth).
John 6:28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
*Jesus was making the indisputable point that unbelief is the force that gives birth to all of our bad behavior and every moral failure. It is the root!
Thought: “Every Sin begins with a Lie”?
Believing 100% that “it is finished”, that EVERYTIHING we need in Christ is already ours and therefore we need NOTHING more, is the hardest thing (so much harder than modifying our behavior) because we are all seasoned “do-it-yourselfers.
“To be convinced in our hearts”, said Luther, “that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace ALONE is the hardest thing” because “the sin underneath all sins is the lie that we cannot trust the love and grace of Jesus and that we must take matters into our own hands.”
*Real freedom in “the hour of temptation” happens only when the resources of the gospel smash any sense of need to secure for myself anything beyond what Christ has already secured for me.
Hebrews 13:14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
“God is patient.” Why, “because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.”
2 Peter 3:15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.
All afflictions are not sickness and poverty as some religious teachings suggest. These afflictions are described as the “fellowship of sufferings” that the believer will encounter for doing the will of God, or the sufferings brought on by one’s allegiance to Christ.
Persecution for righteousness’ sake is not something that we can rebuke (2 Tim. 3:12). We must remember that as we live godly lives, suffering will follow. The Apostle Peter reminds us that these trials of our faith will result in praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:7). Jesus’ comfort, strength, help, and love are ready to “overflow” into every “trial” that we face if we will only look to Him (Heb. 12:2). Amen
Sometimes in life when we pray we wonder if God is even there. But the more we learn about Gods character and heart we will realize that he is always there no matter how we may feel.
“Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” – Psalm 10:1
One of the great mysteries of God is His ways.
Some of His ways almost appear to bring us into the most difficult places, as if He were indifferent to our circumstances.
It would appear that He is turning His head from our sorrows.
These events in our lives have a particular objective to perform for us.
That objective is to bring us to the end of ourselves that we might discover the treasure of darkness.
“Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness” (Job 30:26).
*When we are taken into these dark periods, we begin to see light that we never knew existed.
*Our sensitivities become heightened and our ability to see through spiritual eyes is illuminated.
Unless we are taken into these times, our souls never develop any depth of character.
We do not gain Wisdom, only knowledge.
*Knowledge is gained through understanding.
*Wisdom is gained through the experience of darkness.
After we go through these periods, we discover that God was, in fact, with us throughout the entire time.
It does not feel or appear that He is there when we are in the midst of the dark periods.
However, He is there walking with us. He has told us countless times that He will never leave us.
However, when we are in those dark periods, it does not feel like He is there because He does not rescue us from the circumstances.
***He does this for our benefit in order that we might become more like Jesus.
Jesus learned obedience from the things He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). What does that say about how you and I will learn obedience?
Embrace the dark times and gain the wisdom that God intends for you from these times.
Thank You Lord for Your word— “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) Amen
Read MoreLoving God with “all our heart” doesn’t just mean inviting Him into our hearts. It also means allowing Him to be the motivation for all our choices.
“Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand. With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:23-24
How to stay free from bondage and captivity.
*How can we stay in victory?
*How can we walk in a constant flow of not having to return to the things that once plagued us?
Sometimes the emotional baggage that we grew up with can cause us to have certain patterns of living.
For instance, some might have experienced a series of disappointments that must be fought against.
*Is there a way not only to break free but to stay free?
*Is there a way not only to gain the victory but to keep the victory?
*Is there a way for us to find glorious, overcoming, sustained, powerful, lifelong victory in Jesus Christ?
You might think it will take ten years of counseling to attain victory, or twenty years for the maturation process to take place in your life, but Jesus can come in and instantly set you free.
Jesus will not only set you free but He will keep you walking in that freedom.
We need to have the kind of mindset that says,
***“It’s not about me, it’s all about Jesus.
*** It’s not about my purposes, plans and ambitions, it’s all about Him.”
Set your eyes on Jesus and He will cause you to be raised up and set free and He will enable you to stay free in the things of God.
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Amen
Read MoreSome of the things God brings up from our hidden chambers have been lifelong strongholds of the enemy.
They may appear as “giants” when we seek to break free of them, but God is already the Victor! You will see His salvation if you faint not.
“But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.'” Exodus 14:13
Remember:*EACH person is given something to do that SHOWS who God is! This gifting God has given each one of us is an OUTLET for the OVERFLOW of GOD’S LOVE in our lives for others.
A stronghold is a fortress of thoughts that controls and influences our attitudes.
*Strongholds color how we view certain situations, circumstances, or people. When these thoughts and activities become habitual, we allow a spiritual fortress to be built around us.
Coming Out of the Stronghold
“Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah“… – 1 Samuel 22:
When life beats down on us and we get to the place where we want to hide in a cave, God often places people around us who prod us into moving in the right direction.
God does not want us to remain in the place of discouragement. He wants us to move into the land of “praise.” Judah means “praise.”
God is preparing each of us to be the vessel He wants to use in the life of another person, but we will never be that vessel if we give up and hide in our cave of discouragement.
God has no favorites-–we are all equal and have Gifts that need to be used for the Kingdom of God.
Our attitude must move from discouragement to praise.
*It is when we move past discouragement to praise that we begin living above our problems.
God help me to put my trust in You today. To trust in my relationship with You and my knowledge of Your love, justice and righteousness. Amen
Read MoreI believe through experience and trials– difficulties often are meant to bring us into maturity and out of childish bondages.
Consider the way children react; one minute they’re laughing and the next they’re screaming.
*They’re easily hurt and they cry a lot.
In spite of all this, godly parents love and comfort their children through all of life’s experiences.
Likewise, as Christians, we sometimes pout or throw fleshly tantrums when we face difficult times.
We cry, “Okay, God, if that’s the way You’re going to treat me, if You’re going to keep letting bad things happen, then why should I even pray to You?”
Yet our heavenly Father loves and comforts us through every tantrum, through our burdens, our childish ups and downs.
*His great desire is that in the midst of our trials we begin to grasp the knowledge of who we are and what we possess as His children.
*He knows that whenever we are tossed about by the winds and waves of our emotions, we often forget we are His children and we begin living far beneath our privileges.
Yet His Word tells us we are His heirs and joint heirs with Jesus!
“The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all” (Galatians 4:1).
Paul says such a child illustrates those who are under the law.
*The law is the tutor that instructs us in God’s commands.
*But a time comes when our schooling ends and we are to take our places as heirs of God’s riches through the grace of Christ.
Yet, many Christians still live according to good works and rules without comprehending their position as sons of God.
“We, when we were children, were in bondage” (verse 3). They are still serving God as slaves, bound by fear, guilt and despair because they don’t understand their adoption.
Paul says to such believers, “You’re still childish in your thinking, laboring under the bondage of laws you established for yourself.
*You don’t see that you’re now lord over all things, able to partake in everything your Father owns.
*He adopted you, loved you and put you in school to prepare you.”
Here is the amazing thing about Jesus. When Peter began sinking, he cried out for Jesus to save him (Matt. 14:29). And Jesus did. Just as Jesus didn’t hesitate to pull Peter out of the rough waves, He will pull you and me back too as soon as we ask.
Life has stormy seasons. Unexpected health diagnoses’, years when children decide to walk away from the Lord, rough patches in our marriage … all cause waves of doubt, stress, worry or fear. These can cause us to stumble and fall if we only focus on them.
The best place to fix our eyes is on Jesus. He’s our peace, source of hope, and the One person we can trust will always be there for us.
And when we do fall, as soon as we call out to Him, He’ll pick us up.
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.
Dear Jesus, I confess I lose focus on You while running through the distractions of life. I have fallen many times. Help me to trust and have faith in You, and avoid letting life distract me from Your truths. Help me read Your word daily to find Truth! In Jesus Name, Amen.
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
What if there were two doors to choose from;
1. Behind one door was the complete will of God for your life.
2. Behind the other door was how life could be according to your own preference.
Which door would you choose?
The struggle for most lies in the Desire to follow God completely and the Fear of what might be behind the door of full surrender.
*Most of us desire to follow God, but few of us will do it at any cost.
*We do not really believe that God loves us to the degree that we are willing to give Him complete permission to do as He wills in us.
If we desire to fully walk with Christ, there is a cost. We may give intellectual assent and go along with His principles and do fine; however, if we are fully given over to Him and His will for our life, it will be a life that will have adversity.
The Bible is clear that humans do not achieve greatness without having their sinful will broken.
*This process is designed to create a nature change in each of us, not just a habit change.
The Bible calls it circumcision. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal.
If God has plans to greatly use you in the lives of others, you can expect your trials to be even greater than those of others. Why?
Because, like Joseph who went through greater trials than most patriarchs, your calling may have such responsibility that God cannot afford to entrust it to you without ensuring your complete faithfulness to the call.
*He has much invested in you on behalf of others.
*He may want to speak through your life to a greater degree than through another.
The events of your life would become the frame for the message
*He wants to speak through you.
Jesus did much more than just obtain eternal life for us, He also paid all the wages of our sins (Rom. 6:23).
* God literally placed the condemnation, or judgment, that was against us upon His own Son. Jesus’ perfect flesh was condemned so our defiled flesh could go free. (Read Romans 8)
*What a trade! What Love! Since Jesus bore our sentence (condemnation), we don’t have to bear it. The debt has already been paid.
Do not fear the path that God may lead you on. Embrace it. For God may bring you down a path in your life to ensure the reward of your inheritance.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:17).
Lord, I surrender All. Increase my Faith so I really believe and know that You love me to the degree that I am willing to surrender and give You complete permission to do as You will in me. Come and take all of me for Your Glory! Thank You for Your Love. Amen
When we allow God to love others through us, it’s God they see in us and not ourselves.
* “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”Galatians 2:20
Salvation is our greatest need:
*Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
*Romans 5:11 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Peace can only come when we relate to God on the basis of faith in what He did for us, instead of what we do for Him.
A person who is thinking that he must perform up to some standard to be accepted by God will have no peace.
That puts the burden of salvation on our shoulders, and we can’t bear that load.
*We were incapable of living holy enough to please God before we were saved, and we are incapable of living holy enough to please God now that we are saved (Heb. 11:6).
We were saved by faith, and we have to continue to walk with God by faith (Col. 2:6).
It’s traditionally acceptable to think about baby Jesus in the manger. And, of course, it’s all part of the beautiful Christmas story. But also, let’s remember that Jesus came with a purpose, to destroy the works of the enemy. Friend, whatever it is that you are going through; know this…Jesus came to empower you to be an overcomer!
Yes, it’s true that He came to provide salvation. But, it’s so much more! Salvation is derived from the Greek word sozo, which means more than being “saved”; salvation is a word that fully translates as protection, prosperity, healing, and (I like to say) everything that Heaven has to offer! When Jesus died on the Cross, we reaped the full benefits of sozo!
Jesus came as a Champion over every stronghold, every setback, and every mountain that attempts to stand before you! You have been promised victory according to the “counsel” of your Mighty God! The enemy will attempt to speak lies that will bind you to the shame of your past. See 1 John 4:4
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27a
Lord, thank You for picking me up when I fall down. I know that my struggles mean that You are helping me overcome my negative mindsets and bringing me more and more in line with Your way of thinking. The Peace of God Transcends all obstacles. I love you Lord! Amen.
Read MoreMatthew 21:21 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”
Jesus makes it very clear that we must have faith and doubt not.
Every believer has faith, but most believers also have an abundance of doubt that negates their faith.
*It is when we purify our faith and only believe, that victory comes.
How you View God and how you view yourself will determine your success.
Every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan.
*Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).
*Those who resist the devil will see him flee (Jas. 4:7).
The only ones whom he devours are those who don’t actively fight against him.
The mind is the battlefield where thoughts and reasoning’s that are contrary to God’s Word, need to be captured and submitted to Christ, our Commander.
*Our battle against the devil takes place right between our ears.
The spiritual weapons given to us are designed for the express purpose of taking EVERY thought captive and making them obedient to Christ.
Keeping our minds completely stayed upon the Lord is an obtainable goal.
These weapons of ours are for the casting down of two things:
1. Imaginations
2. Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
**Both of these areas are dealing with the mind.
Focus on the good in every area of your life.
Failure to recognize God’s blessings in every day living will cause fear and anxiety.
Recognizing God’s hand in even the smallest thing will cause peace and keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.
Instead of talking to God about how big your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your God is!
Don’t let the devil steal anymore of your joy.
*Block your ears to his deceits!
*No one but the Lord knows your future.
***And as a loving Father HE only has good plans for you!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my spirit. I receive Your strength today and choose to speak to the mountain before me. Thank You for victory on the cross and for Your Resurrection so I can move forward in the good plan You have for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.
Read: 1 John 4:4 and see we fight FROM Victory—not For Victory!
Read MoreWe live in the world, but Christ has overcome the world. While we’re here, we have to deal with some stuff of the world.
Very often we struggle with what goes on in our own minds. We emphasize spiritual warfare, but many of our battles are internal.
If we can win the battle between our ears, the rest of it will be easy.
In spiritual warfare of the mind is the literally the battle ground.
The mind is the control center that establish the direction of our lives. What goes on in our mind determines the course of every other part of our lives.
It effects the decision we make.
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
* Focus on God; His will to understand the true purpose one has when placed here.
We have weapons to fight the good fight.
The first weapon available to us is truth. The Christian is given an insight into life and reality that others do not have. We know what is behind the forces at work in our society today, and we ought to know how to go about overcoming them.
Truth is realism. That is why it is so important that we understand the Scriptures, that we refresh our minds with them all the time, for we are constantly bombarded with illusion and error every day, and it is easy to drift back into thinking the way everybody around us thinks.
Love is also a powerful weapon, and in Scripture, the Word of God links truth with love.
Along with truth and love in Scripture is Faith.
Faith is the recognition that God is present in history.
God has not left us alone to stumble on our own way. The Lord Jesus sits in control of all the nations of earth.
Another powerful weapon for the Christian, proceeding from faith, is prayer.
The power of prayer is held before us throughout Scripture.
Lord, help me from here on to begin to use the weapons of truth, love, faith, and prayer for Your Glory. Amen