How Sweet To Trust

Nahum 1:7, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

Hello friends! It is so good to know you have awakened to a new day! As you take a moment to commune with God, always thank Him for the day and everything that it holds! Today, I would like to talk a little about trust; about how to give it your all when trusting in God. Many scholars emphasize that to trust is to put absolute confidence in God and His plan for you. And, for me, that is true, so, in this moment, take a minute to ask yourself just how much you truly trust God? Has your walk with Him given you total confidence in Him, in His decisions, in His promises? Are you at a point where you need to study more, meditate more, entrust Him with your burdens more, pray fervently and wholeheartedly? To many, we will need to understand that sometimes trust involves divine guidance, not the human kind that leads to disappointments. There may be a few people in whom you can give trust to, but, placing your complete trust in God is the ultimate goal. God is offering a faithful loving trust, which means you must have total trust, bold trust and confident reliance on God; especially during crisis. We will also have to learn patience and not have premature actions when dire circumstances appear! Proverbs 3:5-6, explains it exactly how God intended trust to be! Jeremiah said in chapter seventeen and verse 5, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” God is the only one we need to fully rely on for being trustworthy at all times! Find your peace by entrusting your life, your future, and especially your problems to Him; He hasn’t failed in the past, nor will He in the future! There’s on old hymn that says, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to rest upon His promise, just to know, ‘thus saith the Lord’,”! If you don’t know Him, take a moment and call on His name and ask Him to save you, then build the trust of the one who will never leave you! If you are already a believer, get back to what you know is true and trust God with everything!

Scriptures:

Read: Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 40:31, Psalms 118:8-9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 37:4-6, Luke 10:27, Deuteronomy 28:1-2, Nahum 1:7, Romans 8:28, Psalms 9:10, Joshua 1:9, Romans 15:13, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 46:10-11, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 26:3-4, Psalm 56:3-4, Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 12:2

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for all that you have given us, all that you still have in store for each of us. Thank you, Lord, for your saving grace and continue mercies. Thank you, Lord, for giving us your word that we might learn how to totally trust in you. Please Lord, continue to be present with us through every day and every trial that we might grow in our trust in you. Amen.

Power In The Blood

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Hello again friends! Blessings to you and yours on another day that we have been given. When we think of power, do we think of worldly dominion, or kings and queens, or rich philanthropist, governments or presidents? Or do we pause and think on the true power of shed blood on a cross for the sins of the world? How do we keep from letting the “powers” of this world interfere with the power of God? Do we think on how much we can do to let others see that power that comes from salvation, that real power of Jesus’ blood as He shed it for each of us so that we would not suffer that same fate? Years before Jesus was born, God’s prophets, leaders, kings, priests, elders, and disciples, told of the coming Messiah, and of the blood an innocent, sinless man would shed! The one sad part about the foretelling was that God’s people didn’t understand that He wouldn’t be an earthly king, like they had; that He already held the title and the ownership by being God Almighty! Many of those same later generations are still waiting for that king and did not believe He was here as a human, suffered and then died for them and all other humans on earth! The power of His blood is a once and only once superior covenant that replaces the entire old sacrificial systems passed down through generations, cleansing us from sin, giving us victory over the devil and our enemies, thus giving us the direct access to God Himself! The sacrifice of blood established a new relationship with God; it now continually cleanses our sins and has washed away filth and provided a new improved body. The power in the blood breaks all the bonds of sin that tries to give us doubt, fear. As we receive the cleansing when we become born again believers, we accept that power as a gift! We now have the power to defeat the devil, to face uncertainties, to stand for our faith and to shout it from the mountain tops! Without the shedding of Christ’s blood, there would be no forgiveness of sins; it is the ultimate final sacrifice that will purge us from infirmities and then give us power to serve the living God! Today, take time to think on the power of the blood and how it gives us power to be more and do more for Jesus!

Scriptures:

Read: John 3:16-17, Leviticus 17:11, I John 1:7-9, Romans 5:9, James 4:7, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 13:12, Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 9:22, 26-28, Hebrews 10:19-20, Revelation 1:5-6, I Peter 1:18-19, Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 1:7, Exodus 12:13, I Peter 1:17-21, I Peter 2:24, Hebrews 1:3

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for your Son who sacrificed for each of us. Thank you, God, for the power in the blood that cleanses us daily; that gives us power to fight alongside you to defeat the evils of this world. Help us God, to not focus on the worldly powers in the way that we should focus on yours. Please God, continue to guide us in how to help others accept you and receive the reward that comes with the power of Jesus’ blood. Amen.

Keep Moving

Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ESV

Greetings friends! Welcome to another beautiful day, whether it is sunshiny, raining, or snowing; we are blessed to see this day! In today’s thoughts, let’s take note on why believers need to keep moving and what is our motivation to do so? Most of us know that if we sit idle, nothing can be done, nothing will get finished, everything will be at a standstill! Each of us knows that daily tasks, routines, jobs, school life, cannot just stop moving. If we take vacations, or have appointments with doctors or if we have a death in our family; time will keep moving, even if we are not there to participate. Just as in every day routines, our growth spiritually needs to keep moving, keep growing, keep learning, keep sharing, keep testifying; or our faith will dwindle. The Bible keeps encouraging each of us to move forward with God’s purpose, pushing the past behind us, and keeping our focus on Christ. He also teaches us to remove anything that may hinder our growth spiritually. Many will be encouraged to move forward so that we do not become stagnant; that we keep running the race God placed in front of us. There will always be times we feel we can’t keep going, that the trials are too great, that our strength is gone! Stop, focus, start praying, then get back to moving forward because nothing awaits you back there; everything waits for you in an eternity in heaven! Take a moment and remember from whom your real strength comes from! God is always there, always nudging you along, stepping in when you need an extra push! Your goals are to trust in God, to work on overcoming fear and asking Him for spiritual strength! Dory in the movie “Nemo”, expressed it daily and at every moment that doubt crept in, “just keep swimming”! In “Rocky”, he said, “it’s about how much you can take and keep moving forward”, which, Christ said time and time again; I will be with you! To move forward, we cannot stop completely; we can pause and take a breath, refresh, refocus; but then we must keep moving forward. Don’t let the devil steal your joy, steal your mission or put fear and doubt into your mind! Tell him to get behind you, because you are going to keep moving, keep sharing, keep testifying, and reaching for a place in heaven!

Scriptures:

Read: Philippians 3:12-14, Exodus 14:14-15, II Corinthians 5:7,17, Isaiah 43:18-19, Psalms 119:105, Proverbs 4:25-27, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 32:8, Jeremiah 29:11, John 14:6, I John 5:14, Proverbs 4:25, Romans 8:28, I Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 4:8,13, Psalms 23:4, Galatians 2:20, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 12:1

Prayer:

Precious heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the ultimate reason to keep moving. Thank you, Father, for continually showing us how to persevere in all situations just by trusting in you. Help us Father, to seek your strength and to keep serving your purpose until we meet you in heaven. Amen.

Keep Praising

Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Morning friends! Let’s just take a moment and give thanks for another day that we can live with positive thoughts and actions. For most, beginning our day with prayer is very substantial in how the moments of the day will proceed. Today, let us take some time and ask ourselves about praising. When you hear someone speak on praising, do you shy away, or do you openly engage in the conversation? What are your true feelings on how and when someone should be using praise? Should we not speak on how many different ways the word praise is connected to? In society, people look at praise as outwardly complimenting someone for a particular feat of accomplishment in either educational, sports or work promotions, even elections. These are not things we shouldn’t do, they are just things that should not let us become excessively overconfident and get a complex of being superior to everyone else. Taking praise is not the sin, boosting your own ego to think you are above everyone and God is where the sin begins! But I would like to move to a better type of praise; the one that involves thanking God for anything that He has provided, even those accomplishments! To truly avoid those ego praises; one must turn their praise to the one who actually gave you that talent, that ability, that education; the God that created you and planned out your journey! Remember to praise anywhere, at any time, in any place! Praise can be an expression of a changed life, the gift of birth, the opportunity to share Jesus’ love, etc. Why not praise Him when you make it through traffic, miss all the red lights, get across the train tracks just in time? Lift your hands in thankfulness during worship, during music time, at a concert; just anywhere that you feel God has answered a prayer you prayed! Psalms 34:1, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” True praise is meant to be a real way of life; it sustains our spiritual vitality, it changes the atmosphere around us; leaving us in peace and satisfaction of a true loving God! The affect that praise has will act like a domino effect and radiate from one person to another, until the whole room is filled with a joy and worship; acknowledging God is in that room! Even in the bad, or the sad times; give God the glory, for He knows the plans He has for you; so, I say, “keep praising”!

Scriptures:

Read: Psalms 34:1, Hebrews 13:15, Psalms 145:1-2, I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalms 35:28, Psalms 71:14, Psalms 113:3, Psalms 63:4, Jonah 2:9, Psalms 61:8, Ephesians 5:19, Psalms 150:1-6, Isaiah 43:21, Ephesians 1:3, Daniel 2:23, Psalms 111:1, I Corinthians 14:15, Ezekiel 3:12, Jeremiah 33:11

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for all that you have provided for us and all the talents you gave each of us. Thank you, God, for helping us to understand how praise brings us closer to you. Dear God, thank you for showing us the difference in self-praise and thankful praise. Give us strength to show our praise now matter where we are so we can bring thankfulness to you. Amen.

Keep Looking; Keep Finding

Deuteronomy 4:29, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

Salutations good people! I do hope this finds you waking to positive thoughts and thankfulness for another good day! Today, we want to touch on the ways we can look and find ways to do good, to be good, to show others how being a disciple means to continually look towards the future and a home in glory! Whether we are new believers or seasoned believers, each of us knows that we must have a constant will to study God’s word so that we can be informed and taught everything that we should be looking for and finding that will allow us to be the best disciple that we can be! The need within us after repenting of sins and becoming a born-again believer, is intense and the urge to keep looking for the way to be more Christ-like so that His promises will be delivered is never-ending. James W. Sire quoted, “The focus is not on the role of human experience in apprehending God, not on our grasping after the knowledge of God, not on our search for God. God is already there! The focus is on our receiving from Him the gift of knowledge of His constant, immanent presence.” We must search to find, but we must not lose sight of why we need to search; because we already accepted God, we asked Him into our hearts! We are now looking to find others that need to be accepting of His grace and mercy! Studying His word gives us the armor to fight evil, and the knowledge of how to find those who need Him most and use Christ-like words that will help them in their decision to follow Him. Everywhere we look are souls that need to know God; there is always going to be someone waiting to be found! Actively looking for ways to please God is a must! Your finding will be in whether you have looked by praying enough, worshiping enough, serving others enough, so that others can see Jesus in you! Pressure your mind to ask God in the looking for lost souls and let Him guide you to find them! And don’t go slack on your growth in your Christian walk; keep the faith, trust God in all things! Continue to look so you can continue to find!

Scriptures:

Read: Matthew 7:7-8, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Proverbs 8:17, Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 4:29, II Chronicles 15:2, Psalms 121:1-2, Psalms 27:8, Proverbs 19:8, Psalms 34:10, Matthew 7:7-8, I John 2:15-17, John 11:25-26, Psalms 139:23-24, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 4:16, Psalms 27:8

Prayer:

Lord, we come to you with thankful hearts for all that you provide. Thank you, Lord, for your presence within us so that we can have the strength to be disciples for you. Continue Lord, to guide us, protect us and lead us as we seek the lost and help them through your words to find salvation and an eternity in heaven. Amen.

All I Need

II Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Good morning! Today is a new day, and a day of positive thoughts only! Let’s take each moment of this day and be thankful that God saw fit to bless us with it! As you begin the day, have you thought on what you need to complete this day and everything you have on your list to complete? Did you make notes of each possibility to get all those tasks completed or are you just going to “wing” it? Either way, how bout we look at what the one thing we need is and how by calling on Him, our needs can be met. Biblical reviews say that God’s provisions are the all sufficient needs for life and for Godliness. They also say that when we rely on Him throughout any trials, tribulations, just difficult times, we can be filled by His spirit just by calling on Him through prayer and meditation. This I know, and can attest to be truth by the journey I have already been traveling. As humans, we will also be aware that having other people in our lives is also necessary and another part of God’s planned purpose in our lives. He is all about family and true friends; which is why He loves every person He created the same and is working to show each of us how He is all we need to endure this world! As we learn to rely on God, we will start evaluating our request with thoughts of “is this need necessary”, “is this need a Godly choice”, “will this need benefit me in Godly ways”, “is this need only a worldly desire and not part of God’s purpose”? When we go to God in earnest prayer, He can help us make choices that are sufficient and necessary; we need only to ask! Along with material needs, there are the emotional and physical ones also that need to addressed. When we let the world lead us and not God, our hearts and souls will become conflicted because we already know right from wrong. We know decisions need to be prayed over whether they are matters of the heart, stressful situations, bullying (even as adults), addictions, diagnosis of disease. ALL NEEDS are meant to be placed with God; the one who can repair all things. Growing in your faith, your trust, your hopes, depends on you learning and believing that God can meet your needs. Today, take a moment and give your needs to the one who can meet them! When you believe with your whole heart, you will trust Him to guide and provide; then life will run so much smoother!

Scriptures:

Read: Philippians 4:19, II Peter 1:1-8, Psalms 23:1, Matthew 6:33, II Corinthians 9:8, II Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 13:5, Psalms 16:5, Ephesians 3:20, Luke 12:24, Romans 8:28, John 14:6,26, II Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 19:26, Titus 2:11, II Timothy 4:17, Philippians 4:13, I John 1:9, John 8:31-32

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the one and only need we should be relying on. Thank you, Father, for the Bible that gives us the knowledge to learn how and why you should always be our choice. Help us Father, to increase our trust in you and all you do; to call on you in all things because you already know the outcome. Amen.

Purpose In The Plan

Isaiah 58:11, “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

Hello everyone! Glad to see you have joined us for a little positive encouragement on another blessed day the Lord provided! As we take time to talk with God this morning, let’s just go ahead and ask Him for the purpose in the plan He has for you! Being a believer, we are already in acceptance of God’s promises, and His purpose to spread His message to every part of the earth, allowing people the opportunity to turn to Him before it’s too late. When each of us chose to repent and accept Him, we were all given the task of being a disciple for Him; this feeling of joy spread within and without us, giving us a need to share and use our testimony to bring others into the fold! We must also understand that God’s plan is to bring all creation unto Christ; teaching each of us to want to become more Christ-like in all we do and say. His main goal is to use our life events, whether trials, human errors, good moments or bad, as a way to understand that loving Him and enjoying His presence is an eternal forever. Our unique calling and our personal gifts are a part of life’s journey and are a planned part of discipleship, fellowship, worship, ministry and evangelism. Every part of us is a part that is included in the planned purpose God has ordained to us at the very beginning of our existence! What is your plan today? Have you thought of ways you can use your testimony to invite others to church, to events in the church, to conferences that are sharing information on how to be a believer or advance in discipleship? Jabez specifically called upon God to enhance his territory and how he could continue God’s work! Have you conversed with God and asked for Him to do for you what He did for Jabez? Maybe you are good at organizing conferences at church, or organizing church meals, or Bible school! Put your talents to use or ask the minister if you can be a volunteer for anything! Take a moment with God and ask where you can be a purposeful part of His plan for you! It may even be with an organization benefiting cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, child abuse, etc., there are endless possibilities on how you can help God with His purpose! No matter how small you may feel, God’s purpose is ready to help you feel bigger and more productive! Check on the purpose in the plan that includes you!

Scriptures:

Read: Proverbs 16:3,9, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:13, Isaiah 58:11, Romans 8:28, Isaiah 40:31, Proverbs 19:21, Ephesians 2:10, Psalms 33:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 55:8-9, Jeremiah 1:5, Job 42:2, Psalms 32:8, Psalms 138:8, I John 5:4, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 1:4, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 10:36, Isaiah 41:10

Prayer:

Dear God, we come now thanking you for the plans you have laid out for each of us. God, we want to grow in our purpose which you have already assigned; so, help us God, to see that plan with your presence. Help us, God, to find strength to step up and start seeing and actively participating in your purpose! Thank you, God, for choosing us! Amen.

Dinner On The Ground

I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Morning friends! Welcome to another wonderous day we have been blessed with! For today, let’s ponder on the reasoning for many churches having “dinner on the ground”! Many years ago, my family’s home church would have a yearly lunch after church so the members could eat and fellowship together. As years went by it became less and less, then only at Homecoming which was to celebrate the actual date the church was established. Sure, there have been other celebrations created like, beginning revival, pancake breakfasts, Easter breakfast after service, Thanksgiving potlucks, and fifth Sunday sings with snacks after! Back in the beginning, way back in the pioneer days, dinner on the ground was because members lived so far away from the church, that they would bring food so they could eat, rest and then attend the evening services. This tradition just carried over year after year because it gave members a chance to commune together with other believers and families. There are many who have said that the idea also came from the “Feeding of the 5000”, when Jesus was ministering to the crowds and knew they needed to be fed. His breaking of the bread and fish was a showing of how God can provide all our needs under any circumstance. Another symbol has it as being given the true meaning as associated with the “last supper”, in which Jesus explained how the bread was His body, the drink was His blood; ultimately giving them the knowledge of how His sacrifice would save the world! With every reasoning, it all comes back to representation of how small offerings, when given to God, can be multiplied, and expanded beyond where we are! This also brings us to the scripture where God said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. He also tells us to, “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25, NIV As you go through today, maybe think on how your church convenes together for communion of like-minded believers and how maybe there should be a “dinner on the ground” now and again, or maybe there needs to be more gatherings incorporated so that we can gather together thanking God for the blessings He provides to us all!

Scriptures:
Read: Revelation 3:20-22, I Corinthians 10:16-17, I Thessalonians 5:11, Luke 22:19-20, I Corinthians 11:26, Matthew 26:26-28, John 6:35, 53-58, I John 1:3-10, II Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 10:23-25, Psalms 23:1-6, Mark 14:25

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for the breaking of the bread, the pouring of the wine; all of which Christ reason for hanging on a cross proved your love for each of us, sacrificed love that gives us salvation and a promise of eternity with you. Thank you, Lord, for telling and proving to us that gathering together helps our churches grow in comradery and growth in our numbers of members in our churches. Amen.

Water In The Stone

John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Greetings Everyone! Let me first say it’s great to have another day to enjoy the moments we are given and to find ways to share how great our God is! Today, let us look at the meanings of what water and stones have within the scriptures, and how God used each to teach His people. When we just think water, we just know that it is a way to refresh and hydrate our bodies. Then we look at stones which, in our eyes, can be beautiful, have value, come in all sizes, form mountains, form trails, build buildings; such an endless ability for a mixture of minerals! Within God’s word, they are symbolic of the power of Divine truth in our lives; read that again, and I know you are thinking how? As we look into this, we will find that God walks with us through waters, rivers, fires, etc., always ensuring that we are not consumed by those things, or overwhelmed by the mere power of each; that He is in control at all times, giving strength to our weakness, preserving us for His purpose; not spared from those sufferings but held in His arms. In the Bible, God used a stone to produce water for His people even when they refused Him, or doubted; He provided grace and mercy; thus, prophesying of Jesus’ coming in the future. We can also read how three young men were thrown into a fiery furnace, yet Jesus walked with them and they were not harmed. This proved that anything can be overcome when we are truthfully, fully trusting and obeying in God. Water can symbolize our words that God provides flowing from our mouths, so that we can witness and share the love of God to others so that they too can become saved and be protected. Water is also flowing and ever changing, never the same, just like when we become born again, we release the old and become new, working toward Christ-like characters for others to see. Then as we grow, we become like Peter, when Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18, KJV Jesus was telling us, as we become disciples for Him, that we will be the stone that helps build the churches, the flocks; going out and spreading God’s word throughout the world! So today, as you head into the moments, ponder a little on how you are the water and the stone; are you flowing and spreading the good news, are you building up the flock for Jesus’ coming back? Search ways that today and maybe every day, how you can do more with your water in the stone!

Scriptures:

Read: I Corinthians 10:4, Exodus 17:6, Psalms 78:15-16, Psalms 105:41, John 4:10,14, Psalms 114:7-8, Isaiah 48:21, John 7:37-38, Isaiah 43:2, Mark 12:10, Zachariah 14:7-9, Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 44:3, Psalms 89:26, Psalms 71:3

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for showing us how to be like water and like stone, accepting the call to spread your message far and wide; and to help build up the church with your disciples. Thank you, God, for the Bible that can give us direction, insight, knowledge of how to achieve all that you have promised. Amen.

Wilderness

Psalms 121:1-2, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”

Salutations good friends! I do pray this finds you well and ready to face the day that has been given to you! As we travel the journey we have been given for today, let’s look at how sometimes you may feel like you have been brought to the wilderness. As a believer, our lives are changed for the better, but the devil attacks more often because he wants to take us away from God. When we think about it, life really feels like we have been brought to a wild and rough wilderness with nothing but chaotic bushes and animals charging toward us. God used the wilderness as a training, teaching tool, a place that people could also find a transformation, a new real relationship with Him. Many times, if you think about it, we find our quiet time, our alone time on the beach, being alone on a hike, alone on a mountain top, or even in our own prayer room, as the place we can get closer to God. The wilderness is summed up as a place of danger, a place of testing endurance, a place filled with temptation to pull away from God; but also, a place to have divine intimacy with God, a way to become fully reliant on God, a training camp for leadership, and a place for renewal so you can transform into the discipling person God chose you to be! We all have been invited to be a part of God’s family, and if we seek Him during life’s journey, we will find Him, because He is always with us! God is the way to endure the wilderness of this world; providing us the ultimate guide through scriptures, through fasting, through membership with like-minded believers, through totally giving our trust in Him. As you ponder on the wilderness surrounding you today, pray first, asking God to enter within and protect you on the outside as well. Seek Him in all trials and temptations, seek Him in all the good times also. This world is like a wasteland, parts are brutal, parts are peaceful; but to endure any of it, we must trust and obey, place our faith in His guidance, totally accept all He provides, then totally realize and admonish that the true source of eternal happiness is in His hands. If you want to survive the wilderness, then trust God!

Scriptures:

Read: James 4:7-8, Isaiah 43:2,18-19, Romans 12:2, Psalms 107:4-9, Joshua 1:9, Psalms 18:6, Psalms 145:18, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:38-39, I Peter 5:6-7

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the wilderness of this world. Thank you, Father, for providing the ways to endure anything in this world that the devil may try to use in leading us away from you. Help us, Father, to study your words, to listen to those already working through this wilderness, and accept you as the one who can bring us to the eternal happiness you have promised. Please Father, continue to enter our souls with your presence so that we can have the strength to keep working toward heaven. Amen.

Thirsty For The Living Word

John 6:35, “And Jesus said unto the, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Good morning! May this day be full of unexpected joys that will lift you throughout the day bringing only positive thoughts into whatever moment you are found in! As you start your day, don’t forget to be thankful, but also ask God to use you today to bring light to someone else and give you the knowledge of what His word says so your words will touch them in positive ways! Our title today suggests that we all need to be thirsty for God’s word; ready, willing and able to use the words spoken by Christ and His followers in our daily lives. When we say thirsty, we need to know that when we study His word we are becoming more filled with Him, we are understanding how those words will lead us down the right paths and that they will be our armor against this evil world. As you notice the type of word is “living”, which the scholars say is what Jesus actually was; He became flesh, He was the prophesy foretold, He was actually the living presence of God! Trusting in God is how we become thirsty for the living word! Once we become believers, we are to be hungry for all knowledge of Him and how we might obtain our place in heaven! To know God and all He needs us to be, we must get into His word and read, study, and pray for guidance through all things. We will also find that His word is given a description of being able to pierce, penetrate and judge our thoughts, attitudes and character. God’s scripture helps in the growth of our faith, brings spiritual rebirth, and most importantly, it changes lives for the better! As we all know, or we need to know; God’s word, the Bible, is continually going to be relevant for teaching and training on how we need to live our lives, to share His gospel, and to receive His promises. God tells us that we should get thirsty for a spiritual hunger; a satisfaction in God and not in anything that is worldly. As we grow in our faith, Jesus will become our longing because He offers eternal life and a home with Him in heaven. As you go through today, and are finding yourself hungry or thirsty, take a moment to ponder on whether you are gaining the fulfillment you need, not only in food or sustenance, but are you filling up on God’s word and teachings? Take time to fill up on God so that you can continue His work and quench that spiritual need too!

Scriptures:

Read: Luke 11:28, Psalm 63:1-4, II Timothy 3:16, Matthew 5:6, Hebrews 4:12, John 6:35,63, John 7:37-38, Jeremiah 29:13, Romans 10:17, John 1:1-4, Psalm 23:1-6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 3:19, Habukkuk 3:19, Psalm 42:1-2

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the words you recorded so that we might have a way to study and learn how to be more like Jesus. Thank you, Father, for the knowledge, the answers you provide in your word when we need them. Continue Father, to provide your presence at all times so that we will get the strength we need to endure the evils of the world and to share your words so that others will want that same thirst for your word. Amen.

Sing Through Sadness

Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Hello friends! Good vibes and only positive thoughts for everyone as you are blessed with another day! Every day is a gift and should be thought of as a joyful, needed surprise that we must accept and experience by taking one moment at a time. As you start your day, think on how you can work through anything; but mostly as you pray thank God for everything; give Him the glory for the grace and mercy He shows you daily that helps you endure whatever the devil throws your way. I don’t want to dampen your day with negative thoughts, but just to enhance how God can help you through the good times and especially the sad times. Most Bible scholars view singing as a tool for the release of lamenting, emotional outpouring, and a spiritual endurance; which in turn becomes sincere happiness, even during sorrowful moments. I have a love for music and through the years, God has provided songs that say what I feel, voice the same pain, encourage my faith, and push me toward releasing emotions that need to not be pent up inside, but released outwardly to God. If you go to the Bible and look up the Psalms, you find where David lamented many times and let his pain flow through songs, poems; an anguish cry to pull God closer, to ask for forgiveness, to express anger, to explain how he needed God at all times. Singing allows each of us to express our inner-most feelings, whether anger, doubt, sorrow or happiness. Music has and will always be the best kind of worship! Some scholars say that you shouldn’t sing joyful tunes while suffering grief, but they are wrong and the Bible is proof of that! But the more intelligent scholars have done studies proving how music can help shift the focus from negative back to positive, which allows your whole being to feel God’s strength and His presence. Even as Paul and Silas sat in a jail, they sang praises, which brought them closer to God, then brought the angels to open the doors! Even as loved ones enter the gates of heaven, rejoicing begins, another sibling has entered heaven! When a soul receives salvation, they are shedding tears of remorse while asking God’s forgiveness; but then, they can’t help but rejoice at the joy that is filling their hearts and souls! So today, weep, lament, but call on God; then, sing songs that lift you, that praise Him, that bring peace to your soul and believe that joy will come in the morning!

Scriptures:

Read: Matthew 5:4, II Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalms 126, Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 41:10, I Peter 5:6-7,10, Psalm 23:4, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 30:5, John 16:20, 33, Matthew 11:28-30, John 14:1, Jeremiah 29:11, James 5:13, Psalm 18:2, Revelation 21:4, Psalm 91:1-2, Psalm 55:22

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we come thanking you for everything, thanking you for Christ who died taking our place, thanking you for your everlasting love and the promise of heaven. Lord, we come now asking for your continued strength when the pain of sorrow enters our souls, when we feel down and lost. Thank you, Lord, for giving us music to soothe and to feel joy through our heartaches and also so that we can praise you whether in good times or bad. Amen.

Wasting Weakness

II Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, I am strong.”

Greetings friends! I pray this finds you waking to thankfulness and acceptance of a brand-new day! As you pray this morning, trust God to go with you and lead you in everything you put your mind to doing or achieving during all the moments you are given. For our topic today, let’s look at one of our small defects as a believer or a new believer is our weaknesses and whether we let God use them, making them into a blessing or whether we are wasting them by dismissing them. Everyone has weakness, whether it is in our jobs, our school work and activities, or our ability to speak out our faith and share God’s love. I have found that if we work through those weaknesses with God’s help they actually can become powerful tools to build our own character and faith! Some biblical scholars view weakness as a limitation, or a brokenness, even any struggle; but they also say to embrace each one and develop them into tools that can be filled with the power of God. Our weaknesses prove our dependence on God and that is a very good thing; by doing so we put aside ourselves, the part of us that doesn’t think we need anyone! If we take time to pray, study God’s word, we will find the ability to endure trials or hardship through Christ, because if you look at the people God chose, most were weak in many ways; or had weaknesses that they thought would hinder their ability to serve Him. Moses, wasn’t a speaker, shy, possibly stuttered; Gideon, was fearful and hid, just like Jonah who ran! David was the smallest of all his brothers and then an adulterer, a murderer; Saul, who became Paul, was a persecutor, murderer; Peter was quick tempered and defiant! Beethoven, Helen Keller, Stephen Hawking, all created, accomplished and succeeded with flaws, disabilities, yet determination! Each of them doubted their abilities; they were wrong! When we think our weakness is hindering, God steps in with grace and turns our limitations into powerful strengths! So today, stop hiding anything that you think is a weakness and have the strength to let God use you, with all your defects and show the world that you are capable, strong and God will work through you. What you think is a hinderance is just another power tool God will build with! Don’t waste any more of your weaknesses, turn them into triumphs!

Scriptures:

Read: II Corinthians 12:4-6, 9-10, Romans 5:6, Isaiah 40:29-31, Psalm 34:17-20, Hebrews 4:15-16, Philippians 4:13, 19, Matthew 26:41, Romans 8:26, 28, 31-39, Psalm 37:4, Joel 3:10, Psalm 73:26, Psalm 103:13-22, Proverbs 3:12-13, I Corinthians 1:26-31, I Samuel 2:2-8, Jeremiah 17:10, I Corinthians 6:19-20

Prayer:

Precious Father, thank you for seeing our weaknesses and allowing us the Bible that gives us knowledge on how to give them to you for forming a tool that builds us up so we might continue your work here on earth. Thank you, Father, for providing every tool we need to grow and prosper in our spiritual lives. Father, continue filling us with your love and presence so we can be more like Christ. Amen.

Put On The Armor

Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Good morning all! Welcome to another blessed day provided by the Father above! We want to send out good vibes and only positive thoughts to you to strengthen you as you enter another day. Today, we want to talk on putting on armor for protection. Most, when you read that you think of heavy metal plates, metal clothing or head gear that guards against swords, knives, or anything that would puncture the body! We may also think on the vest that law enforcement uses to stop bullets! In the Bible, God gives us the true armor that will protect during all battles we might endure using words, feelings, character; the spiritual defense that stands against the devil’s evil attacks. When we use God’s armor we gain salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith, and the word of God that allows us to stand with Christ’s victory already given through His blood. As we grow in our spiritual faith, we learn to embrace the truth and integrity of God, we trust in His promises and His decisions that affect each of us. For each piece of clothing in His word, God shows and proves how they can be the true armor for every believer to fight the good fight, to endure trials and temptations, to find strength to stand firm for our faith, deflect attacks to our spirituality, secure our salvation, take His word as a sword against lies and untruths. God will also prove that He is always with us, loving us, covering us, protecting us, teaching us; standing by us in every situation. In order to continue in our walk, we must acknowledge that prayer must be persistent; it holds the activation key to receiving our armor. The important parts of God’s armor will be the shield, the helmet and the sword; all of which will need to have constant active engagement; a need that we must meet. Take a moment and find Ephesians 6:10-18 and read about each part of God’s armor to refresh yourself on what you need to put on every morning as you begin your day. Ask other believers for advice on them and how each one will be beneficiary to your daily walk with God and your fight against falling back into the sins of the world. The devil doesn’t take breaks from anyone living a Christ-like life; it will be an ongoing battle; but the end results are worth the fight! So, put on your armor!

Scriptures:

John 14:6, Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 6:10-18, Hebrews 4:12, I John 5:4, James 4:7, I Peter 5:8, Isaiah 59:17, Romans 13:12-14, I Thessalonians 5:8-9, Isaiah 11:5, II Corinthians 10:4, Romans 12:1-21, Ephesians 1:3, Proverbs 30:5, II Corinthians 6:7, I Timothy 6:12, Romans 10:15, Job 29:14, I Peter 3:15, John 14:26, Isaiah 55:3

Prayer:

Dearest Lord, we come now thanking you for loving us and giving us forgiveness and salvation, for the promise of eternity with you. Thank you, Lord, for the knowledge of how your armor defends us against a devil who is rampant in this world seeking who he can control. Help us daily, Lord, to pray, to study, to accept you as the only God and protector we need. Guide us Lord, in the way to win the battles. Amen.

Holding Secrets

Luke 8:17, “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.”

Salutations everyone! Praying today finds you fit as a fiddle and ready to head into a positive and productive day! As we begin our day, let’s take a moment to speak on holding secrets, concealing one’s personal sins, keeping things confidential among friends or family. When we think on things that are made secret, we do think to those things that friends or family talked of and expected true confidence in that secret remaining hidden. Even when we need to release the information because it releases inner peace within and voicing it to God sometimes doesn’t seem enough; we look to a true confidant, true best friend, true loving family member that we know will hold our words in their heart and not spread like wildfire! But, as we dwell on secrets we must remember that secrets that are kept which are concealing wrongdoing, slander toward another, a betrayal that hurts, or sinful acts that need repentance; these are not what we need to be trying to hide. God already knows the sins you will commit, He already knows the thoughts you think; “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad”, Luke 8:17. KJV We may think that no one sees or watches; but God is always there, always watching and all knowing! There will always be exceptions to rules, but as you study God’s word, you will find the correct way to deal with all types of secrets. Confessing to God is always the first step, but to receive that forgiveness, one must also confess to the source of the discretion and come clean to heal their hearts and yours. When you find a trustworthy, confidant, a preventer of gossip, you will have a true friend that is full of love and concern. But, as you search for those types of people BEWARE those who wear sheep’s clothing; the ones who like to gossip, to spread news of any sort, that will betray you and anyone you hold dear. Find confidence by asking God to send the right person, don’t always trust your first judgement of someone, check their background! It may be better to trust a pastor, minister, specialist, who holds no knowledge of your people or friends! If it is a sinful secret; find God quickly, pray fervently, seek forgiveness with Him first. He already knows and wants you to acknowledge the wrong; trust Him to help!

Scriptures:

Read: Matthew 6:6, Proverbs 11:13, Luke 12:2, Matthew 10:26-28, Luke 8:17, Ecclesiastes 12:14, James 5:16, Amos 3:7, Ephesians 4:25, Ecclesiastes 12:14, James 5:16, Amos 3:7, Matthew 12:36-37, Matthew 6:3-4, Proverbs 28:13, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 10:9, Ephesians 5:6-14

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for being the one true confidant that we can run to with all things and receive your forgiveness, your protection, your understanding, your peace. Thank you, God, for the Bible that can teach us which secrets are good and which are sinful. God, we ask you to prick our hearts when we forget to trust you and obey your commandments that keep us from sinful acts of secrecy. Help us daily God, to come to you with all our needs. Amen.

What Story Are You In?

Habakkuk 2:3, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Morning everyone! Praying this is finding you waking to a new day in positive belief that you can get through all things that will be in your path today! I would like to take a moment to look at each of our stories and gain insight into which part of that story you want to be found in! Your story is ongoing, it’s already been working with you, for you, within you. God has ordained a plan for what your life will be leading up to and He is giving you knowledge every day to choose the right things to make that journey yours. He has a hand in the personal experiences, the struggles, the grace and mercy He shows you. Every step you take is meant to bring you closer to Him and the discovery of how you can become more like Christ. As you accept Him as your savoir, the process of your story does a one eighty turn; it becomes new and ready for restoration! The parts of your story that you have already experienced, survived, endured, now is the testimony you can share with others to help them in their story! You will also learn how your life isn’t just your own, but the story already written by God, where your life choices were good, bad and painful; but always meant to have a beginning, a falling, a redemption, and then a transformation. As your story continues it changes to one with love, then obedience, then humility. Are you still in the beginning phase or have you moved to step two of the acceptance phases? Are you past the acceptance phase and now in the growing and restoration stage? Whichever part of your story you feel you are in right now, are you working hard to achieve the goals God has laid out? Have you found a way to study the word, to pray fervently, to accept help from other believers? Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”, is letting you know that once the transformation occurs you will continue the story sharing with others. You may doubt your story, or doubt the abilities God has given you; but He is with you daily, encouraging you toward the best happy ending! Rest assured, take a moment and realize how your story could be an influence on someone else who is watching it! Keep going, keep trying, keep reaching, keep working your story and watch God move in you so that others will move their stories to acceptance, redemption, restoration and then into transformation!

Scriptures:

Read: Philippians 4:6-7, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Micah 6:8, John 15:4-5, II Corinthians 4:16-19, Joshua 1:9, Matthew 6:34, Psalm 118:24, Ephesians 5:15-17, Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 13:5, James 4:14, Romans 12:2, Philippians 3:13-14, Psalm 16:8-11, Titus 3:7, Revelation 21:4, Isaiah 43:18-19, Ephesians 3:20-21, II Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 15:4, Philippians 1:6

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for preparing the stories of our lives. God, please continue to provide the necessary pages that add to our stories daily. Thank you, God, for the Bible that can give us knowledge on how to live our story so that you will be given the glory, and through our endurance, our faith, our trust; others might choose redemption and begin their own restoration and become transformed. Amen.

You Are Here And Loved

I John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Greeting friends! Welcome to another day that we each have been given and may we take it as a blessing no matter what the circumstances may bring! Today, we want to focus on just being here and being loved. There are probably many who feel that they are alone, left out, thrown to the side; but, if we are a child of God, or even just a human being, we are loved. God allowed each of us to be created, to be born, to complete growth and make our way into adulthood! God created us with a foundational, unconditional and an everlasting affection, regardless of whether we are rich or poor, brown, black, white, yellow skinned, male or female. We are all placed here because He allowed it, He designed our paths, and He gives each of us the opportunity, and the knowledge to decide if we want to love Him like He loves us. As we experience life, we search for a true love, but forget the real true love of God. When God feels you are ready for a human companion, He will bring them to you; He will give you the ability to recognize the qualities you should be looking for in that mate. If you look in His word, study what a true companion is filled with; then the choice will be automatic! Yes, people do say, “opposites attract, love at first sight”, but be aware that true colors/character are sometimes hidden, and you need to see them before the long term happens. In some ways, friendships are the same; each holds to a higher and different standard. Anyone, whom you feel are your friends must meet God’s standards too. But, the basic thoughts we want to acknowledge today is, that you will never go wrong with the love of God! He sacrificed His beloved son to die on a cross just for you; He gave so that we would not have to! As we grow in our love for God, we can see love as He intended it to be; then we in turn can love others with that same love; even our enemies! “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him”, I John 4:16. So, today, as you let the devil slip into your thoughts and speak lies that you are not loved, cherished, and wanted; stop, re-focus, call on God in prayer; then tell the devil he is a LIE! You are here for a reason; God has a plan, and you are loved deeply and unconditionally by HIM!

Scriptures:

Read: Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8, John 3:16, 1 John 4:10-16, I John 3:1-3, I Corinthians 13:4-7, Isaiah 43:4, Ephesians 3:18-19, Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 6:34, Psalm 118:24, Ephesians 5:15-16, John 15:4-5,9, Zephaniah 3:17, Galatians 1:15

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for loving each of us first, for giving your love totally, freely, and fully. Thank you, Lord, for the Bible that holds the knowledge that can teach us of true love, everlasting love, and the way to love others. Lord, please continue to give us strength when the devil tries to find our weaknesses. Help us Lord, to cry out to you for help when we are letting the world tell us lies, when we need to reach back to you and receive your love. Amen.

Adjust To Where You’ve Been

Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Good morning! Hoping this is finding everyone waking to a new day and trusting that with God all things are possible! Taking just a moment, let’s be sure that we gave God the glory as we began our day and if you forgot because of hectic morning routines, pause now and do it! I have found that if we praise Him, think on Him, breathe His name at any moment during the day, peace will flow through you! If you noticed the title, you will see that we are again pondering on adjusting to situations, to life choices, on past and present circumstances. When we adjust, we are allowing God to provide us with a better outlook on life and the journey He has laid out for us. Being a new believer, your path has just begun, and the way to begin is to trust Him, then start studying His word, and do not be afraid to look to mentoring from long time believers for encouragement. There are many mentors who have been where you are, and there are mentors who have been in different situations than you. They are still great mentors in that they have learned already how to pray, to study and to meditate with God, so take heed to their words because God places unknown angels around us for a reason! As seasoned believers and as new believers; we all will be working toward a goal of eternity with God. We will all face challenges, some unwanted or difficult, because that is the devil testing our faith and trust in God! The way to overcome is to understand that God never changes, He has forgiven the past, He is only looking at your future. When we begin this journey of trust, faith, and love in Jesus, we want to be transformed into a new person, with a new life. The adjustment will be the leaving the old behind, this is the most difficult. Your thoughts need to be in fulfilling God’s purpose despite the trials that may come during this journey. Always seek God’s wisdom when you feel overwhelmed or full of doubt. Find strength in His presence, call on Him to have mercy and grace on you as you grow. The Bible will be your map, the book that holds the knowledge you will need to advance, whether new or old believers. If you find yourself looking back, make sure it’s to encourage yourself to keep moving forward; don’t dwell on what has been, but focus on the path that leads to God and an eternity in heaven. This new adjustment will be forever life changing; embrace this new reality and see it’s well worth it!

Scriptures:

Read: Isaiah 43:1-2,18-19, Philippians 3:13-14, Hebrews 13:6-8, Romans 8:27-28, Philippians 4:13-14, II Corinthians 5:17, Exodus 23:20, Job 17:9, Proverbs 4:25-27, Proverbs 11:28-30, Ephesians 4:29-32, I John 1:7-9

Prayer:

Precious Father, we come now accepting you as our savior, our teacher, our one true God. Thank you, Father, for all that you have given us, all that you have promised for our futures. Thank you, Father, for your daily presence that gives us strength to endure all that the devil throws our way. Please, Father, continue to guide us, to show us mercy and grace, and help us to study your word, trust your wisdom, allow fellow believers to help us as we face this new journey.

Try To Come Clean

II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Salutations friends! Let’s say hello to another day God has given each of us. Take a moment to talk with God in silence, just you and Him; allow Him to place peace, protection on you, and your family as this day progresses. As you begin your day, let’s look at how many times we forget to open up, to break the barriers, to come clean about anything that may hinder our relationship with God, with family, with friends or even co-workers. During these times, we forget how being honest is the way we can purify our inward character so that our outward character will become new. We all know that the scriptures teach us to be honest, forthcoming, so that we are confessing any wrong doing, wrong thoughts, wrong assumptions of others; anything we are hiding from others; all of which hinders our spiritual growth. By letting God help us to cleanse our hearts, not just correcting our actions, we are forsaking the sin, and asking for those sins to be forgiven and removed. Jesus was constantly trying to show and teach the religious leaders in His time, that they were wrong in condemning someone due to their outward appearances, that the true problem was inside, deep within that person’s heart and they should focus on helping those people to repent, confess, and reform their lives to God’s way. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”, thus giving us the real way to overcome and get back to being what God has intended for us to be. Maybe we should all take a moment to check ourselves for anything that is hindering us from focusing on doing God’s will. Are we holding a grudge, even a simple one, against someone that maybe just a simple conversation could change that outcome? Are we judging someone who doesn’t have what we have or the means by which to participate in something? Are we looking down on the poor and needy that Jesus specified we were to help? Maybe, just maybe we thought it was just a little white lie, that it wasn’t bad enough to worry about? In reality, the smallest of deceptions are prone to be the worse because they GROW! Today, as you ponder on things, or reflect on things, on thoughts, actions that may be unworthy and sinful; ask God to help you to search your heart and then work on coming clean! You will be at peace and the other person will too!

Scriptures:

Read: Luke 12:2, I John 1:9, Psalm 51:7-12, Isaiah 1:16-19, Proverbs 28:13,18, James 4:7-8, Ezekiel 36:24-27, Acts 3:19, Ephesians 4:22-25, John 8:31-32, II Corinthians 8:21, Proverbs 19:1, Colossians 3:8-10, Proverbs 10:9, II Timothy 2:15-16, James 5:12

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come now thanking you for the offering of forgiveness when we have failed to face up to anything that was untruth, that was grudgeful, that was hidden because of our denial to bring it to you. Father, please continue to prick our hearts so that we can openly change our hearts and confess not only to you but to the ones we hurt, that may hinder their walk with you as well as ours. Father, give us the strength to face consequences of our actions and to ask for your forgiveness and to then listen to your guidance on how to overcome and receive peace. Amen.

Seeing The Victory

I Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hello again! Glad to see each of you waking to a new and exciting day that the Lord has provided! Most will be getting up to routines or plans, and I do hope that each of you stopped for a moment to give God a few minutes. When we give ourselves precious time with God, we are guaranteed better outcomes during that day. In every day, each of us need to take moments to see the little victories, not just the big ones. Sometimes, just to acknowledge that simple things mean as much or even more than the huge ones, can make a blessed impact on our lives! Every triumph, every completion of a task, every milestone completed is a gift from God, achieved with faith that the outcome will be positive. When you put all, you can into whatever you are working toward, God sees you, He believes in you, He will support you, He will let you know if this is the plan He has for you! If we ponder on situations for a moment; if we think about how victories happen; our minds will look toward how we came about those decisions; how we allowed God to give us confirmation. We also, can look at how victories can happen if we praise God in the storms just as we praise Him in the sunlight. Doing this shows we have a secure faith that God has our backs; that trusting in His timing will lead to victories. There will be times that you just can’t see the other end of the tunnel; that you forget that accepting the victories of the small things leads to the bigger things. When you get to this point, remember Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” If you take a moment today, pause, breathe, then pray for God to bring you peace, confidence, and hope! Place any needs you have on His shoulders so that as you work toward a victory, He will be there with you! Take a moment also to recall all the victories you have already achieved; then open your eyes seeing the real victory is in knowing Jesus! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Philippians 4:13!

Scriptures:

Read: I Corinthians 15:57-58, II Corinthians 5:17, John 16:33, James 4:7, Romans 8:37-39, I John 5:4, Deuteronomy 20:4, Romans 8:28-33, I Corinthians 10:13, I Peer .2:9, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 6:10-13, II Timothy 1:7, I Corinthians 15:52-58, II Corinthians 4:8-10,18, John 8:32

Prayer:

Dearest Father, we come today thanking you for all the victories you have given us so far on our life’s journey. Thank you, Father, for the plans you have laid out for each of us, that we might realize all things come from you, for your purpose. Father, continue to guide, teach, comfort, protect as we keep praising you for everything you do for us. Help us, Father, to see the real victory is knowing, loving and accepting you. Amen.