The Blessing of Unity

Today's Scripture
“How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...for there the Lord has commanded the blessing…” (Psalm 133:1-3).

Today's Word
Did you know the Lord has commanded that blessing come upon you when you are at peace with your brothers and sisters in the Lord? As believers, we are called to work together in unity in order to fulfill God’s purposes. We are called to serve one another in love and serve together in the house of the Lord. Is there someone that you don’t quite get along with? Pray for that person. Go out of your way to be a blessing to them. Do your best to walk in peace and unity. As we serve one another in love, the Bible says the world will know that we are Christians. The world will recognize that we are true followers of Christ by our actions, not by our words. Make the decision today to live in peace and unity with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. If the only thing you can agree on is that Jesus is Lord, focus on that. Focus on the love you have for God and for seeing people come to know Him. As you focus on walking in peace and unity, you will walk into the place of blessing the Lord has commanded for you!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, search my heart today and see if there is anything that is keeping me from walking in unity with other believers. I choose love today. I choose peace today. I choose unity today. Help me to be an example of love to those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

My times are in Your hands....

My times are in Your hands....
—Psalm 31:15


If we could understand God's timing, we could better cooperate with His plan for our lives. However, we may never completely understand. When we don't know, we must be satisfied to know the One Who knows. If we are going to walk with Him and enjoy His blessings, we must learn to let God be God.

Most of us attempt to take the lead role in our relationship with the Lord. He has a position, and He will not change it. We must change. He has the lead role. He gives the instructions, and we follow—even though we don't always like the way He chooses to take us.

Timing is an important issue in our walk with God. Why does it take God so long to do what we ask Him to do? Trust always requires unanswered questions which keep us growing in faith.

God has a plan and a timing. While we are in God's waiting room, He is getting us ready for what He already has prepared for us. We must grow up and mature. It takes time. As we reach new levels of maturity, God releases new levels of blessings.

You may be in the habit of taking care of yourself. Retire from self-care. God wants to take care of you. He is faithful, and you can depend on Him.

Pray This:

"Father, thank You for strengthening me in my weaknesses. I believe Your grace is sufficient for every situation I face. In Jesus' name, amen."


Have a Terrific Tuesday

CLOSED DOORS

We need to learn to thank the Lord for closed doors just as much as we do for open doors. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared
anything over there for us.

If He didn't close the wrong door we would never find our way to the right
door. Even when we don't realize it, God directs our paths through the
closing and opening of doors. When one door closes, it forces us to change
our course. Another door closes; it forces us to change our course yet again.

Then finally, we find the open door and walk right into our blessing.

But instead of praising God for the closed door (which kept us out of
trouble), we get upset because we "judge by the appearances." And in our own
arrogance, or ignorance, we insist that we know what is right.
We have a very present help in the time of need who is always standing guard.
Because He walks ahead of us, He can see trouble down the road and HE sets up
road blocks and detours accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom we try to
tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour signs. Then the minute we
get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord how could this happen to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door was a blessing. Didn't He say
that "No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him?" If you get
terminated from your job - don't be down, instead thank God for the new
opportunities that will manifest themselves it might be a better job, or an
opportunity to go to school. If that man or woman won't return your call -
it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let
it go).

One time a person had a bank he had been doing business with for many years
tell him "NO" for a $10,000 loan. The Lord led him to call another bank.
That bank approved a $40,000 loan for him at a lower interest rate than his own
bank had advertised. I'm so grateful, for the many times God has closed doors
to me, just to open them in the most unexpected places. "The steps of a good
man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way."

(Psalms 37:23) The Mountain top is glorious, but it is in the Valley that I
will grow!

Always Remember God gives you...

Enough Happiness to keep you Sweet

Enough Trials to keep you Strong

Enough Sorrows to keep you Human

Enough Hope to keep you Happy

Enough Failure to keep you Humble

Enough Success to keep you Eager

Enough Friends to give you Comfort

Enough Wealth to meet your Needs

Enough Enthusiasm to make you look forward

Enough Faith to banish depression, and

Enough Determination to make each day a better day than the last.

Life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards.

Commit to the Lord in whatever you do and your plans will succeed.

(Proverbs 16:3)

If you love God share this blog with someone else and He will continue to open and close doors for you. May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect
you, and heaven accept you.

Have a Faithful Friday

Just Before Your Breakdown

How are you doing this morning? It's a wonderful day to be a child of God. Have you ever found yourself on the verge of giving up? Things have become more than you are willing to handle. Things have become more than you feel you can bear. You have tried everything and everyone but to no avail. Have you ever prayed for a better tomorrow but it seemed the same as yesterday? You hoped a good night sleep would cause the problems to disappear, but when you woke up the next morning, there was the same problem waiting on you. You found yourself reaching for the bottle of alcohol or the bag of drugs. Someone told you that was the answer. Do you realize alcohol and drugs only relieves you of the problem temporarily? God is not a temporary God. He desires to give you permanent relief.

My friend, Just Before Your Breakdown ... God will send a breakthrough. He knows when to step in and He knows how to step in. He knows how much you can handle and He knows when the load has become to much for you to bear. He knows everything about you. Have you ever found yourself saying, "if one more thing goes wrong I am going to scream?" The Lord knows how you feel. It is not a coincidence that God intervenes just when you needed Him the most. The Bible declares in Psalms 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. If you can ever hold on, you can and will see the manifestation of God's power. The Lord is not worried about the size of your circumstance. In the words of Bishop TD Jakes, "stop telling God about your problems, and start telling your problems about your God!"

My brother, my sister, what are you dealing with this morning? What matter kept you walking the floors last night? What dilemma causes you to toss and turn each day? Do you realize this is not the Lord's will for your life (Psalms 121:4)? God desires for His children to have peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Yes there will be challenges along the way, but God will not suffer your foot to be moved (Psalms 121:3). Beloved, Just Before Your Breakdown ... God will send a breakthrough. Just when the enemy tells you to curse God and die, the Lord will step in. Just when friends and family walk away in doubt, the Lord will step in. Just when the bank says no, the Lord will step in. Just when tuition is due but money is low, the Lord will step in. Just when everyone has forgotten about you, the Lord will step in. Do not breakdown ... breakthrough! Prayer For Today: Father, please give me the strength to hold on and hold out! In the name of Jesus ... Amen!



Scripture Reading for Today: Isaiah 40:31

Praise the Lord. Speak the Word of God

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against... the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
—Ephesians 6:12


The attacks of Satan against the Church are of a different nature than those in the past days different in that they are more intense than ever before. The enemy will not continuously use the same tactics over and over, because once his method of attack is discovered, it is no longer effective.

More people than ever are experiencing tremendous attacks against their minds. Many of God's people are being attacked with sickness. Some of them are experiencing great financial trauma. People are enduring great attacks of fear.

How can you fight the devil who is the source of these attacks?

1. Praise is one way. Praise is a garment that will protect you from defeat. Put on the garment of praise.

2. Abiding in Christ and fellow shipping with Him is one of the best ways of engaging in spiritual warfare. Hide yourself in God, and His presence will protect you.

3. The Word of God is a two-edged sword. Your mind is the battlefield. When Satan says something to you, speak the Word back.

4. Walking in love is another form of spiritual warfare. Love gives: it is impossible to defeat Satan while leading a selfish lifestyle.

Use your spiritual weapons!

Do This:

Praise the Lord. Speak the Word of God. Abide in Christ. Walk in love. Use these weapons and begin to fight in a new way.



Have a Marvelous Monday

Authority and Power

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.
—Luke 10:19


Far too many believers are fainthearted, weak in determination, and diseased with an "I can't" attitude they are lacking in power.

You and I don't have to beg God to give us power. We just need to realize and accept that we have been given power and then walk in what is already ours. We must develop and maintain a "power consciousness" an aggressive, power-packed attitude.

God has given us spiritual power for spiritual warfare. Spiritual power is released when our faith is firm. When we walk in faith we can approach every situation with an attitude of enemy-conquering faith.

An attitude of confidence will exude from us when we know who we are in Christ and believe in the power that the Bible says is ours through faith.

Do you desire to be a powerful believer? Try approaching every situation in your life (no matter how large or small) with a simple, childlike faith believing that God is good, that He has a good plan for your life, and that He is working in your situation.

You have power. Walk in it!

Say This:

"The Greater One lives in me. I am full of God's miracle-working power. I am going to walk in what is mine."




Have a Faithful Friday

Guilt and condemnation

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
—Romans 8:1


Guilt and condemnation are major problems for many believers.

It is Satan's greatest delight to make us feel bad about ourselves. He never tells us how far we have come, but rather, he constantly reminds us of how far we still have to go.

When the enemy attacks me, I say, "I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."

Like David, we must learn to keep ourselves encouraged in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6.) None of us has arrived at the state of perfection. We cannot perfect ourselves: sanctification (holiness) is the job of the Holy Spirit, and it is worked out in our lives as a process.

The Bible teaches that we can have complete forgiveness of our sins (total freedom from condemnation) through the blood of Jesus Christ. We must decide if Jesus did a complete job or if He didn't. We don't need to add our guilt to His sacrifice. He is more than enough.

Let Jesus do His job. He wants to forgive you. All you have to do is receive His forgiveness. Complete forgiveness is completely free!

Say This:

"I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."


Have a Thankful Thursday

Transplanted

God created us to be loved. He wants to love us; He wants us to love each other, and He wants us to love and accept ourselves. Without this foundation of love and acceptance, there will be no joy and peace.

Some of us need to be transplanted. If we started out in the wrong soil, Jesus will transplant us so that we can get rooted and grounded in His love, as the Bible teaches.

Know that you are valuable, unique, loved, and special. When this is your foundation and your root, you will produce good fruit.

Ask God to give you beauty for ashes.

Say This:

I was created for love. God loves me and wants me to love Him, love others, and love and accept myself."


Have a Marvelous Monday!

I have peace

...Let him search for peace...and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]
—1 Peter 3:11

When Jesus said, Peace I leave with you... (John 14:27), He was talking about a special kind of peace, not a worldly kind of peace. The special peace that Jesus was talking about is the kind of peace that operates all the time in every situation.

The believer who is experiencing God's peace through his relationship with Jesus can have peace even in the midst of the storms of life.

First Peter 3:11 says that we are to search for peace, to pursue it, and to seek it eagerly. The word seek means "...strive after, endeavor...desire." "Inquire." "To require or demand." It means requiring something as a vital necessity, craving, or pursuing something.

This verse mentions three areas in which we are to seek peace: (1) with God, (2) with our fellowmen, and (3) with ourselves.

Learn to love peace and to desire it earnestly. Seek peace, for without it you cannot enjoy life and the blessings of God. The Lord has said that if you seek Him with your whole heart, you will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13.) I believe if you seek and search for peace with your whole heart, you will find what you are looking for.

Say This:

"I have the peace that passes all understanding. I have the peace that operates in the midst of the storm."

Have a Faithful Friday!

Nothing’s Too Small for God

Today's Scripture

“And even the very hairs of your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:30)

Today's Word

We hear all the time that nothing is too big for God. But have you ever thought that a problem was too small for God? Are there things in your life that you haven’t prayed about simply because you thought it didn’t matter to God? Every detail of your life is important to God. He knows the very number of hairs you have on your head! That’s pretty amazing to think about. If He keeps track of every hair that falls from your head, surely He cares about the things that you care about in your life. God wants to be involved in every area of your life—not just the big things, but the small things too. Don’t wait to pray until you have a major crisis. Talk to Him every day about everything. God wants to be involved in your mornings. He wants to be involved throughout your workday. He wants to be involved when you go to the grocery store. He wants to be involved in every area of your life. Open your heart and talk to Him about everything because nothing is too small for Him!

A Prayer for Today

God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me as Your child and for caring about every detail in my life. I open my heart to You and ask You to be involved in every area of my life today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Triumph in Trials

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace..., Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
—1 Peter 5:10


In John 16:33 Jesus tells us that in the world we will have tribulation. Trials and tribulations seem to be a part of life. We should learn how to triumph in the midst of them.

Trials can make us bitter or better. The devil hopes to steal our faith and leave us bitter and angry at God. God intends to strengthen our faith, purify it so it comes forth like gold, develop patience in us, and give us experience that will help others. (1 Peter 1:5-7.)

We are taught to endure patiently. (1 Peter 2:20.) To endure is to outlast the problem. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22.) It is not just waiting, it is how we act while we are waiting.

To triumph in trials we must learn stability remain the same, continue in our commitments, and walk in love. Going through hard times and continuing to be good and kind to others is a sure way to triumph in trials.

If you are in a time of trials, they don't have to defeat you let them make you stronger.

Say This:

"I will triumph in the midst of my trials by remaining stable. I will continue to walk in love and the fruit of the Spirit."

Have a Magnificent Monday!

Delight yourself also in the Lord

Today's Scripture
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart”(Psalm 37:4 AMP).

Today's Word
God knows the secret petitions of your heart. He knows every hidden dream He’s placed within you. He knows those things that you haven’t told anybody about. Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams. Be encouraged today—God is still working behind the scenes! He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass. Do what the verse says, and delight yourself in Him today. That word delight, actually means to make yourself soft and pliable. It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today. Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy today, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and open your heart to His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!

A Prayer for Today
Father, You said the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly before You. You said because I delight myself in You, You will give me the secret petitions of my heart. So Father, I thank You today for being in control of my life. Thank You for the good things You have in store for my future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Front Row Seat

Life is like a theater, so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives. There are some people in your life who need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships, and even family!

Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to:

Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill or just staying still??? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?

The more you seek God and the things of God, the more you seek quality, the more you seek not just the hand of God but the face of God, the more you seek things honorable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the BALCONY of your life.

You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life. Remember that FRONT ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in Your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully.

Everyone Can't Be in Your FRONT ROW.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Pass Through the Waters

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched....
—Isaiah 43:2


God wants us to be diligent and go all the way through with Him, not just go until the way becomes difficult, and then stop there. One of our greatest challenges is to face our mountains rather than trying to go around them.

Sometimes we go around and around the same mountain, and we end up like the Israelites in the wilderness who wandered around for forty years. (Deuteronomy 2:1-3.) We must learn to face our mountains, determined to go all the way through with God. That is the only path to victory.

I encourage you to go all the way through with God no matter how difficult it may seem. Let God have His way in your life. Pray for God's will and not your own will. God's way is for you to set your face like flint, dig in both heels, and go all the way through.

By the way, the attitude that you have while you are going through is most important. The Word says that it is to be a joyful attitude, otherwise you may have to make the trip again. (James 1:2-4.)

Pray This:

"Father, thank You for infusing me with inner strength so that I am ready for and equal to anything. (Philippians 4:13.) In Jesus' name, amen."

This is a Magnificent Monday!

Seeing with the Heart

Those you love become beautiful to you… just as we are beautiful to God.

Love is blind, love sees with different eyes. Love sees beyond the surface. Love opens the door for beauty. When we see with the eye, we develop the ability to refine, to judge, to discriminate. When we see with the heart, we expand the view of what it is to be human, see the common dream, see the wisdom of friends and neighbors, see there is no separation between that which is most beautiful and the everyday world. The eye of the heart sees with a wholeness that allows imperfections and idiosyncrasies to coexist with beauty. The eye of the heart knows surface and depth are not opposites. Beauty is a process, a revelation, not a finished state.

Beauty reveals itself over time in relationship. The people I love are beautiful to me. I'm not sure if my eyes are blinded by love or it is love that lets me see their beauty. Knowing them over time, my appreciation of who they are and how they appear increases. Their beauty comes from their liveliness and authentic sweetness, their intention to live lives that make some sense (and some nonsense), the spirited coherence of being who they are.

When we are most alive, we are beautiful. When we are in love, we are reminded that we are beautiful. And sometimes when we know we are beautiful, we find ourselves in love. "In love" usually means the romantic sense of being with one other person who in that moment we feel reflects us perfectly. Our songs and movies have told us such great sentimental stories about being "in love," we forget that being in love can be a state of truth as well as an illusion.

One of the most beautiful and accessible ways to address God is as Love. What is done with love is done in beauty to celebrate the God that loves. Surround yourself with people who understand what real beauty is.

Forgiving one Another

...forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
—Ephesians 4:32


When we hold things against people, are we really hurting them? Isn't it really ourselves we are hurting?

Jesus frequently spoke of the need to forgive others. If we are to walk the narrow path, we will have to learn to be quick to forgive. The quicker we forgive, the easier it is. We must do it before the problem gets rooted in our emotions. It will be much more difficult to pull out if it has long, strong roots.

Holding grudges against other people does not change them, but it does change us. It makes us sour, bitter, miserable, and difficult to be around. When we think we are holding a grudge, it is actually the grudge that is holding us. It is Satan's deceptive way of keeping us in bondage. He wants us to think we are getting even, that we are protecting ourselves from being hurt again.

None of that is true!

I want to encourage you to ask God for grace to forgive anyone against whom you are holding a grudge. Determine from this point on to keep your heart and life free from this negative emotion.

God has a great plan for your life, but you will only enter into it by staying on the narrow path.

Say This:

"I choose to follow Jesus' example by forgiving others. Therefore, I enter into a new realm of peace and enjoyment of life."

Why Go To Church

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this!

If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. If you're
spiritually curious, there is still hope! Why Go To Church? A Church
goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it
made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years
now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000
sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.
So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by
giving sermons at all.

" This started a real controversy in the "Letters
to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on
for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30
years now . In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for
the life of me, I cannot r ecall the entire menu for a single one of
those meals. But I do know this.

They all nourished me and gave me the
strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these
meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to
church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the
invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!"
"When Satan is knocking at your door, simply
say, "Jesus, could you get that for me?"

Your words, moods, and attitudes

In Second Corinthians 10:5 the apostle Paul teaches us to cast down all wrong thoughts that disagree with God's Word. He is, in essence, saying, "Keep your minds reserved for God's thoughts (His Word) alone."

God desires truth in the inward parts. (Psalm 51:6.) I encourage you to begin paying more attention to your thought life. Your words, moods, and attitudes are rooted in it. Dedicate your entire self to God. Live as if you were private property—reserved for God alone!

Say This:

"With God's help, I determine and purpose in my heart to maintain a godly attitude and to speak only godly words."



Have a Make a Way Monday.

Forget your problems

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith...
—Hebrews 12:2


Do you fellowship with your problem or with the Lord?

The devil wants us to think about our problem, worry about our problem, talk about and try to reason out our problem. God desires for us to spend time with Him, talk to Him, and think about Him and His Word.

Jesus is the One we are to look to in order to have our needs met. If we dwell in Him, our problem has no power over us, but if we dwell on the problem, we magnify it above Him. The more attention we give our problem, the more we feed it, the more power it has over us.

I remember when my husband and I were having financial struggles. I would give Dave the bad report, and he would give me the Word, telling me to cast my care on the Lord. He would fellowship with God while I fellowshipped with the problem. The more I did so, the more upset I became.

The devil starts the problem rolling. The more you think, worry, reason, talk, plan, and scheme about it, the bigger it gets. If you look to Jesus, you will experience the miracle power of God as you trust in Him.

Do This:

Forget your problems. Don't think about them, worry about them, or talk about them. Fellowship with God instead, and you will enjoy life tremendously.



Have a Tasteful Tuesday

Know the Truth

Today's Scripture

“Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you” (John 8:32, MSG).

Today's Word

Have you experienced the Truth today? In the natural, we don’t normally think of truth as something we experience, but Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Truth is the very essence of who God is. It’s empowering. It will make you free! Truth comes from the Word of God. When you accept and believe God’s Word, something liberating happens on the inside of you. The lies of the enemy are broken in your life. You begin to experience freedom you never thought was possible! And there’s a difference between Truth and facts. The facts are what you see and the Truth is what God sees. If you are feeling burdened and heavy about something today, ask God to show you His Truth about that situation. Study His Word until you find His promise for that area of your life. Meditate on His promises and declare His Truth in your life. As you declare God’s Truth you will experience the freedom He promised and live in victory all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today

God, thank You for Your Truth which sets me free. Open my understanding to Your Word today so I may experience your liberty in every area of my life. I bless Your holy Name and love You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.



Have a Blessed Day!!

YOU HAVE VICTORY

You don't have victory if you don't have problems. YOU HAVE VICTORY if your problems don't have you

For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.

SATAN HAS ENTRENCHED himself as the ruler of this world,making earth a spiritual battlefield for the believer. There is an ongoing battle between truth and righteousness, and believers are often caught in the middle of the battle. On top of that, the world holds an attraction that can resurrect any person's desires and lusts, causing inner battles that afflict the soul.

The problems you face are constant and lifelong, and the only way to victory is a faith that lifts you above the problems. Faith empowers you to say no to the world's standards and lies and opinions. It frees you to live according to God's truth, even if doing so brings troubles and trials that could be avoided by compromise. Because you have been born of the Spirit of God, the power of the love of the world and its things has been broken. Take up the shield of faith that is mighty to bring supernatural change that will help you to stand to the end.

Have a Terrific Day! Remember the battle is not yours it's the LORD'S!

Be still and know that He is God

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God....
—Psalm 46:10


One of the most awesome commands that God gives to man is, "Be still" (Psalm 46:10).

Our activity when birthed out of the flesh actually prevents God from showing Himself strong in our lives.

This doesn't mean we are to be passive or lazy. It means we are to do whatever God leads us to do, without running ahead of Him in the energy of the flesh.

We need to be careful to submit our ideas and plans to God, then slow down, and wait. Make sure there is a sense of peace to go along with the plans and ideas. Ask the Lord for His will in your life, then be still and know that He is God.

Learn to trust the Lord without having to know what He is going to do, when He is going to do it, and how He is going to do it. Just let Him do it.

If you will turn your heart toward God in loving trust, He will do what needs to be done.

God gives His highest and best to those whose trust is in Him. Be still and let Him show Himself strong in your life.

Do This:

Be still and know that He is God. Be assured that as long as you trust Him, He will never fail you or disappoint you.

Learn to really live in the Kingdom of God

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
—Matthew 6:33


As the children of God, it is our privilege to live in His Kingdom. What is the Kingdom of God?

According to Romans 14:17, the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We can gain everything in the world, but without righteousness, peace, and joy, we still have nothing!

People without Christ have things, but not all of them are truly satisfied. Satisfaction in the inner man is what the Lord wants to give.

Jesus wants us to know that we are right with God because of what He has done for us. He wants us to have peace and joy in the midst of tribulation. Only He can give us that. Things can never produce lasting joy by themselves.

When things are right on the inside, outward things don't matter as much. When they don't matter as much to us, God can give us more of them. When we keep our eyes on the true Kingdom of God—on Him, His righteousness, His peace, and His joy—the rest will be added to us in abundance.

Learn to really live in the Kingdom of God.

Say This:

"Because I seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness, He adds to me all the things I need to live in His peace and joy."

Thursday 8/2/2007

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
—Matthew 6:33

Strength to Conquer

“They did not conquer by their own strength and skill, but by your mighty power and because you smiled upon them and favored them” Psalm 44:3 (TLB).

Do you need God's strength to conquer something in your life today? Maybe you need strength on your job, or to overcome an addiction. Maybe you need strength to deal with a difficult person in the office. No matter what you may be facing, God desires to give you His supernatural strength in every situation. It's interesting that in this verse that it says, "because God smiled upon them and favored them." Did you know that simply calling on God causes Him to smile on you? Because you are His child, you have His favor! God loves to show Himself strong on your behalf. When you open your heart to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you for doing things your own way, He will forgive you! Best of all, God chooses to forget your past mistakes! It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, today is a new day. Don't let the enemy's lies keep you powerless. Be strong in the Lord knowing that He is with you, smiling upon you and showering you with His favor. As you meditate on this promise, you will be strengthened to overcome every obstacle, and you will live a life of victory!

A Prayer for Today
God, thank you for smiling on me today. I ask that you show me your favor so that I can walk in your strength today. Thank you for equipping me with everything I need to live as an overcomer. I bless you and choose to honor you in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Proverbs 16:12-15 (Friday and the weekend)

Proverbs 16:12-15(KJV):
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Thoughts for the Day

These verses in Proverbs tell us what the role of a king should be, and how a king has the authority to rule. According to verse 12 God calls it an abomination for a king or a ruler to commit wickedness. Any leader who is wicked will cause those under his rule to suffer. It is usually difficult for a wicked king to hold his position, as those around him plot as how to over throw him. On the other hand, a good and righteous leader is able to establish his rule or throne by his virtuous leadership. He finds favor with his subjects, as all people respond positively to goodness. People honor a good king as his righteousness will affect the whole land.

Verse 13 tell us that from the king's perspective, he too, appreciates righteous people around him. A good king or leader delights in the kind and righteous words that he hears from his subjects, and he loves those who speak correctly. Leaders favor those who speak good words of wisdom. These are the kind of people who will be chosen to help them rule. Those who rebel against the king's authority will bring the king's wrath against themselves. According to verse 14 it is not wise to stir the wrath of a king, as a man who does this could even be in danger of losing his life. If a man hears the king is angry with him, it would come as a message of death. It would be wise for this man to humble himself and try to pacify the king's anger.

According to verse 15 a wise man should seek to please the king, as in doing so, he will find that the king's countenance will reflect a smile upon him. He will then find favor with the king that will be like a cloud that brings the spring rain. Looking at these verses, we can also apply a spiritual application to them. Since Jesus is our king, we should strive to please Him and not rebel against Him and in doing so, we will find favor with God. The way we pacify our King, is to approach Him with an humble attitude and a repentive heart if we have sinned. When we do this, He will forgive us and accept us and show us His favor.

Proverbs 16:5-7 (Thursday)

Proverbs 16:5-7(KJV): 5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. 7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Thoughts for the Day These verses in Proverbs reveal to us how the Lord deals with the wicked and proud, as well as His dealings with the righteous. Verse 5 states that those who are proud in their hearts are very offensive to the Lord. This kind of pride is an attitude of arrogance. It is opposed to the heart attitude of humility which the Bible says is of great price before God. Verse 5 also states that even though two people might be joined together hand in hand, they will be judged separately. If a righteous person is joined with a wicked one in marriage, the one who is wicked will not go unpunished because of the righteous one. Yes, the prayers and love of a righteous person will prolong judgement on the wicked, but there is a day coming when all men must stand before the Lord and each will give an account for his or her deeds. When a man's space of time for repentance runs out, then no man can prolong the judgement of God. God is very merciful and desires that all men come to repentance. However, God is also a just God, and punishment and judgement must come on all sin and sinners. That is why the Bible says , "...behold now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthian 6:2: "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" Time is running out for many people. We need to make our decision to serve Christ today while there is time to do so. Verse 6 tells us that the Lord, by His mercy and truth, can free us of our sin and iniquity. Our part is to line up with the truth of God and receive His mercy and He will purge our hearts of evil. The other part of this verse tells us that by the fear of the Lord we will depart from evil. This kind of fear is a holy respect for God and His Word. If we really believe when God says in His Word that sinners will go to hell, this holy respect for God's Word will drive us to God and we will depart from evil. Verse 7 tells us that when our ways please the Lord, He will even make our enemies to be at peace with us. What a wonderful promise of the Lord! God will fight for us and will take care of us. He does not want us to be in strife with men. Our enemy is not other men, but rather the devil who uses men for his evil work. If we take authority over the real enemy and pray for those who are pawns in his hand, we can experience not only our deliverance but theirs as well. The Lord told us to overcome evil with good. When we obey God in that commandment, He will take care of our enemies and cause them to be at peace with us.

Proverbs 16:3 (Wednesday)

Proverbs 16:3(KJV):

3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:3 tells us to give our works to the Lord and to commit and trust them wholly to Him. As we do this, He will cause our thoughts to become agreeable to His will. When we obey and do the will of God, our plans will be established and succeed, because they are the plans of God. When I am in doubt about what I should do in a certain situation, I ask the Lord, if what I am thinking and feeling is from Him, to put it stronger in my spirit. However, if those thoughts are not of Him, I ask Him to remove them from my mind and let me have His thoughts and plans. We must not be led by circumstances, nor should we be led by our minds or emotions without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If our minds and emotions have not been cleansed from carnal thinking, the devil can deceive us, causing us to miss the will of God. The Bible says that as the sons of God, we should be led by the Spirit of God. Our circumstances, thinking and emotions should then line up with what the Spirit of God has revealed to us. He leads, they follow.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we are promised that whatever we do will be successful. Our Father in heaven is all wise and He will not allow us, as His sons and daughters to be defeated. If we follow the ways of the Lord and strive to please Him, we will not live to please our flesh.

Proverbs 16:2

Proverbs 16:2(KJV):

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Verse 2 of Proverbs 16 in our devotional tells us that men think that they are pure in their own sight. Without God's light, men do not realize they are deceived by the devil in the things they choose to do, so they do not perceive their doings as wrong. The Lord weighs the spirits of men. He reveals Himself to those who are searching for the truth, because He sees the thoughts and intents of men's hearts. Those without God walk in a way that seems right to them; however, it will lead to death unless they give their lives to God and follow Him.

Proverbs Week 7/23-7/27, 2007 - Proverbs 16:1

Proverbs 16:1(KJV):
1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Thoughts for the Day

The book of Proverbs reveals the source of true wisdom which comes from the Lord, as He establishes the thoughts of those who commit their works unto Him. Verse 1 tells us that when a man has the heart of the Father, he will prepare his speech and answers to reflect the Lord's advice which comes by the Holy Spirit. As God's children, we should prepare our hearts to receive from the Lord, by keeping a submitted and committed attitude before Him. The other preparation that we should make is to fill our minds and hearts with the Word of God. As we read the Bible, God's Holy Word, it will renew our minds and our thinking so that we change our carnal thinking to think the thoughts of God.

We are cleansed by the Word of God. It is like water washing away the dirt from our minds. We must not only receive it in our minds, but ask the Lord to help us to apply it to our lives by faith. As we line up with the Word of God, our lives will be changed so that we can walk in victory over sin in our lives. The Word of God is full of power and it is able to change us, when we call on God in faith to help us to walk in the commandments of God.

Who Keeps you Going "A Poem"

BE KIND TO EVERYONE YOU MEET...
FOR EVERYONE IS CARRYING A HEAVY BURDEN OF SOME KIND.


Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!

You are so special!