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Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.
1 TIMOTHY 6:12 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1ti.6.12.AMP
This entry is inspired by a book named “A Prayer Journal” penned by Flannery O’Connor. Although I have thought hard about openly sharing my thoughts or prayers which seem to expose my vulnerability, if it helps to build up one another, I thought why not. It also helps to track my spiritual growth along the way which to me, honestly have been incoinsistent- to my disappointment.
In the recent months I woke up daily, pondering about life and reflecting on what would make my heart beat faster.
I think worshipping the Lord makes my heart smile but why am I not doing it often? Instead in every other seconds, we find ourselves lost in our own thoughts of the past and future rather than in the present now. I made a promise to myself but broke it too many times on how to live in the now and not regret or reminisce about the past and worry about the future. I know, we all know, THAT is a total waste of the present time.
Did you make excuses like me that there are far too many distractions to think about God? Social media, movies, food, etc which somehow take my eyes away from Jesus. How do I incorporate Jesus and make Him real in my life, I wonder. Most of the time when things are going well, you tend to forget about God. Being in the valleys have humbled myself and that was when I find myself and most people seeking God and asking for His help.
Speaking from my past experience, guilt and condemnation were the feelings that kept me away from seeking God. However it is true that once you know (and bring to remembrance) that our Heavenly Father has found a way to love you so deeply and forgive you so freely of your sins by sacrificing His one and only son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross.
Jesus Christ has fully paid the judgement of death on the cross on our behalf. His payment was made for all (past, present, future) our sins. His blood on the cross was a perfect sacrifice to God which take away all the curses resulting from sin. Curses like aging, sickness, poverty and death. In divine exchange, we receive renewal of youth and strength, perfect divine health, unlimitless provision and everlasting afterlife in heaven. We are truly blessed because of Jesus’ finished work and God’s endless mercy and overflowing grace. Hallelujah!!!
Perhaps to a pre/non-believer, it is too good to be true. But what are your losses if you just believe? Faith is believing what your logical mind cannot comprehend and what our mortal eyes cannot see. Heavenly Father responds to our childlike faith which activates in the supernatural realm, through prayers and declarations of His goodness and blessings. There is no requirement for us – mere mortals – to accomplish other tasks e.g. returning favors or sacrifices.
The one true God with His vastness will truly lacks nothing and needs nothing from us but freely give us according to our level of belief and faith. No wonder miracles often work for children who truly believes in the possible through our amazing and awesome God. Amen!!
I also find that reading testimonies can build each other up. If miracles can happen to others, it can also happen to you and me!!! Start reading other people’s testimonies which are in similar situation as yours and also start declaring God’s goodness in your life to see the impossible manifesting into reality! Be greatly blessed, highly favoured and deeply loved as the child of our Heavenly Father!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, draw me closer to you and reach out to me amidst my distractions and whenever I make excuses to withdraw myself away from you. Guide me gently in those daily walks with you and amongst your children. Teach me how to love myself and others so that You can be glorified. Manifest the blessings You have given to me that I cannot understand for myself – yet. Have mercy and patience on my disbelief due to my stubborn nature. Surround me with great godly friends and Angels who can build me up. Thank you for being with me in every step of my life, delighting me with your loveliness, peace and joy, whispering words of wisdom and understanding in my heart which reveals Your will for me. I gladly receive your revelations you have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Revelation:
Jesus comes to earth as both God and Man so that as God He is able to die for everyone’s sin not just one man for another man. He is made a man to represent us as mankind who has to reverse the curse of Adam as a man.
God has made a covenant with man, through Jesus because he is the unfailing man – He is of the same equal standing with God. He cannot break the covenant with God. This is our great assurance.
Although God has made a way for everyone’s sins to be paid by Jesus, still man has to exercise his freewill by receiving Jesus and accepting the payment made by Jesus at the cross.
Faith is the only way to activate miracles because it has none of our effort. It has everything to do with God and the result glorifies Him. Faith has no part of man and it only glorifies God.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “T he just and upright shall live by faith .”
ROMANS 1:17 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/rom.1.17.AMP
Faith is the only “currency” that God recognizes. We have to exercise our freewill to go to Jesus and receive Him by faith to receive our salvation and blessings that our Heavenly Father has prepares and given to us.
How to build up your faith? By hearing and hearing the word of God and His promises (the gospel = good news).
Do not listen to the lies and doubts planted by the devil. Reject them and replace all the lies with God’s promises (meditating on the bible verses that bring forth healing, provision, wisdom and love).
Law demands death as judgement because we have sins. Grace offers us salvation through exercising our freewill to accept Jesus as our payment for our sins. Jesus redeemed us and made us righteous by his blood. Our righteousness in Christ Jesus made us accessible to God’s blessings.
Begging prayer is contrary to exercising faith because faith says that the blessings have already been given. We just need to declare in faith that we have received the blessings and walk it out in faith. Coming to the end of ourselves and let God do all the work is allowing Him to show His mercy and grace. We have to lay hold of His promises because we are assured that the covenant is unbreakable.
Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
God wants to bless you — big-time! It was for this reason that He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” The deep is where you will find a whole lot of fish. You won’t find them near the shore in shallow waters. But to launch out into the deep is to move away from the comfort of the shoreline.
My friend, God wants you to break away from your comfort zone and step out in faith to do what He has put in your heart. It may be something simple, but which you have never done before or only dreamt of, like attending a care group. A church member did just that and found love. Today, she is happily married.
Now, our Lord Jesus who said, “Launch out into the deep…” also said, “… let down your nets for a catch.” Notice that He used the plural “nets” and not the singular “net”. Beloved, God wants to give you more than what you need. His dream for you is bigger than anything you can ever dream of. Dream big and God will exceed your dream because He delights in giving you exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)
Another church member who was formerly working for someone else had wanted to start his own company. When praying with him, I received a word from the Lord for him to launch out on his own. When he did that, he made a handsome profit at the end of the first month alone! Today, he has more than one company and his businesses are flourishing. God is blessing him beyond his wildest dreams!
Beloved, God wants to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. He did it for Simon who was astonished at the size of the catch of fish. (Luke 5:9) But it was not until Simon launched out into the deep that he ended up with the net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish. (Luke 5:6–7) You, too, will be astonished at your catch when you step out of your comfort zone and launch out into the deep with the Lord!
Genesis 12:7
7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
I don’t know about you, but I am not satisfied with just knowing that I am righteous by faith. I also want to get to know the One who made me righteous. I want to have an intimate relationship with my Saviour!
Abraham was such a man. He was righteous by faith, but he also had a close walk with God and was blessed by God in all things. (Genesis 24:1) His nephew Lot, on the other hand, although righteous too (2 Peter 2:7–8), had no heart for God. He ended up losing a lot when Sodom, the city he dwelt in, was destroyed along with Gomorrah. He was saved by the skin of his teeth!
My friend, do you want to be a Christian like Lot, righteous but always finding yourself in trouble, or do you want to be a righteous-and-blessed Christian like Abraham? Then, like Abraham, have a heart for God.
From place to place, Abraham would build an altar to the Lord. And in between altars, he grew very rich! (Genesis 13:2) There is no biblical record, however, of Lot ever building an altar to the Lord.
What is an “altar” in today’s context? It is a place where you know that you have a close relationship with God. For example, when my late father was in the hospital, I was worried and did not know what to do. I remember driving down the road and crying. After a while, I just threw my cares to the Lord. When I reached the hospital, I just laid my hands on my father and said, “Be healed in Jesus’ name.” And he was healed!
Till today, I can remember the place where I had cast my cares to the Lord and leaned on His love for me. That is my “altar”. And it is not the only one.
We have got to have this kind of relationship with God, one full of “altars” that remind us of His love, goodness and faithfulness. Let’s not live the Christian life like Lot, saved by the skin of our teeth. Let’s walk closely with God as Abraham did, and be richly blessed in every area of our lives!
Matthew 8:3
3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
When you see someone receiving a miraculous healing or financial breakthrough, do you ask, “What about me, Lord?” I believe that the leper who came to Jesus must have asked the same question.
He must have heard or seen from a distance, since he was not permitted to be in public places by the law, how Jesus had healed the sick. So he had no doubt that Jesus could heal him, but he was not sure if Jesus would. He said to Jesus, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2) He was confident of the power of God, but not the love of God for him.
Like the leper, maybe you don’t have a problem believing that God can give you your miracle, since He is Almighty God. But you are wondering if He will do it for you. My friend, let Jesus’ actions and answer to the leper settle this question once and for all. He stretched forth His hand, touched the leper and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately, the leper was healed.
I want you to notice that Jesus touched the leper. He could have healed him from a distance with just a spoken word. He had healed others this way as in the case of the centurion’s servant and the Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter. So why did He touch the leper?
Jesus knew that for so many years, the leper had been cut off from his family and society, so he must have been feeling dehumanised. I believe that Jesus touched him to make him feel human again, to make him feel loved and accepted again. His touch was His love language to the leper.
Can you see God’s heart of love here? Can you see how much He loved the leper? That is how much He loves you! The day that you come to know God’s heart of love and believe that He wants you blessed more than you want to be blessed is the day that you receive your miracle!
Beloved, catch a glimpse of God’s heart of love, and you will believe that He is not only able, but also willing to make you whole!
Genesis 24:1
1Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
The Bible says that Abraham was righteous. But do you know that his nephew Lot was righteous too? (2 Peter 2:7–8) Yet, both men lived very different lives. Although they both lived under God’s grace some 400 years before the law was given, Abraham was very blessed, whereas Lot lost a lot!
Both men had large herds and flocks. When their herdsmen started quarrelling over space, Abraham took the initiative to make peace. He even let Lot pick the lands that he wanted. Both men were righteous, but one was more gracious than the other.
Lot picked the well-watered plain of Jordan, where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were. He dwelt there and pitched his tent as far as Sodom. Eventually, he lived in Sodom. Now, Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible represent a sinful lifestyle. Some Christians think, “Since I am righteous by faith and under God’s grace, I can live a sinful lifestyle.”
Well, let’s learn from Lot. He first saw Sodom, then his feet walked toward it and finally he went into it. I like what a great man of God said: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.” What did Lot end up paying?
He was captured when four kings plundered Sodom and Gomorrah. And even after Abraham rescued him with the help of God, he did not learn his lesson. He went back to Sodom. Some Christians live from one bail-out to another. God delivers them from, say, debt, and they go right back to borrowing money or gambling! Sodom and Gomorrah were eventually destroyed. Lot escaped with only the clothes on his back and even lost his wife in the process.
Beloved, you are the righteousness of God in Christ. When you truly understand what Jesus did to make you the righteousness of God, it will cause you to fall out of love with sin and fall in love with God. Then, it will not be hard to have a heart for God, as Abraham did, and like Abraham, be blessed in all things!
Psalm 94:22
22But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.
Imagine being a poor widow, a stranger in the land and holding one of the lowliest jobs in society. That was Ruth’s situation, so it would have been easy for her to feel vulnerable and defenseless. But because she trusted the Lord (Ruth 1:16), He placed her under Boaz’s protection.
Boaz, the owner of the field she worked in, commanded his young men saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.” (Ruth 2:15) What he was saying to his men was this: “She might be a gleaner, but because I care for her, treat her with respect and make sure she is not put to shame.”
Boaz is a picture of our Lord Jesus. If you are feeling vulnerable and defenseless right now, imagine Jesus commanding His angels, “Watch over this one who belongs to Me. Make sure he is treated with respect and not put to shame because he is someone I love and someone whom I died for.”
God’s Word tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) No one who has set himself against us can prevail because when God is for us, His protection is upon us. That is why I have never answered any of the poison email messages which I have received in the course of my ministry.
My attitude is this: Jesus is my defense. If He does not defend me, it means that there are things in my life that are not to be defended, and I would be glad to find out about them now rather than later. On the other hand, because I take the Lord as my defense, and He defends me, what can those who are against me do to me?
When you defend yourself, you have only your two hands and your own human resources. But when you let Jesus take up your defense, He defends you with His nail-pierced hands and His legions of angels! The results will be amazing.
Beloved, the Lord is your defense and refuge. Trust Him to defend and protect you!
Romans 8:31
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Whenever the devil throws something at us, we need not lose hope. In fact, we can be sure that God will turn it around for our greater blessing because He is for us.
When God first made man, He gave man dominion over everything on earth. (Genesis 1:26) But when Adam fell, sin and death entered the world, and man lost his authority to the devil.
So did the devil win? No, God executed His redemption plan by sending His Son Jesus to die for us. And He wants us to know that Jesus’ death did more than just restore us to the same position that Adam had — it placed us in a much higher position!
When the Father raised Jesus from the dead, we who are in Christ were raised with Him. In other words, we are now seated with Him at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come”! (Ephesians 1:21) Adam never had this position. So through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have received so much more.
In the Old Testament, we read of how God brought the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey. The devil thought that he could foil God’s plan by putting giants in the promised land to stop the Israelites from inheriting it. But God outsmarted the devil. He allowed the giants to build their homes and cities, dig wells and cultivate crops until the right time came. Then, He brought the Israelites into the land and evicted the giants!
So the Israelites ended up inheriting large beautiful cities which they did not build, houses full of all good things which they did not fill, hewn-out wells which they did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees which they did not plant! (Deuteronomy 6:10–11) Although the devil tried to prevent God’s plan for His people from coming to pass, they ended up receiving so much more!
Beloved, the devil may throw obstacles and evil circumstances at you, but God will turn those evil schemes around for your greater blessing because He is for you!
Isaiah 61:6–7, NIV
6And you will be called priests of the Lord… You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7Instead of their shame My people will receive a double portion… they will inherit a double portion in their land…
You are called “priests of the Lord” because Jesus has cleansed you with His blood and made you kings and priests to God. (Revelation 1:5–6) And as priests of the Lord, God says to you, “You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.” And you will “inherit a double portion in their land”.
This promise came true for a church member who received his double portion while working for one of the top American companies in Singapore. Within a short time, he received two pay increments. And within just two years, he received an unexpected promotion to a senior position in the company. It was unexpected because the norm to qualify for such a promotion in the company was four years.
He was also named the recipient of a privileged stock award worth a five-figure sum, the net value of which was likely to double, judging by the then prevailing bullish stock market. He acknowledged that it was certainly God’s favour because past awardees were a very small number of top management personnel who had made significant contributions to the company. And only an even smaller per cent of their worldwide employees had ever received this prestigious award. He was only the second recipient, besides his boss, in the Singapore office to receive it.
This church member literally inherited a double portion because he put his trust in the Lord and His Word.
Beloved, believe God when He says that His people will receive a double portion. This double portion includes blessings of favour, fruitfulness, success and health. In fact, the people around you will look at you and your descendants, and acknowledge that you are a people that the Lord has blessed!
Psalm 103:20
20Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Notice that the verse says that angels are “heeding the voice of His word”. Now, who gives voice to God’s Word? We do! Each time we speak God’s Word, we give voice to His Word. And when angels hear His Word given voice, they respond!
The Bible says that at the end of Daniel’s three weeks of fasting and praying for an answer from God, the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel and said to him, “I have come because of your words.” (Daniel 10:12)
So when angels hear you saying, “Thank You, Father, no evil shall befall me nor shall any plague come near my dwelling,” (Psalm 91:10) they will come to your aid because you are giving voice to God’s Word. Even if you cannot quote the verse perfectly, they can still come to your rescue.
This was what happened to a lady in the United States. While walking home after an evening church service, she was attacked from behind by a man and dragged toward a dark corner in an alley. In that frantic state, she remembered only one word from that evening’s sermon. So she shouted, “Feathers! Feathers!” Her attacker released her and fled!
Feathers? What did she mean? She was actually referring to Psalm 91:4 — “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge”. In that state of panic, she remembered only one word — “feathers”, and it was enough to cause her attacker to flee. You see, it is not your ability to quote an entire verse perfectly that releases God’s power, but faith in His Word and His love for you. And one word from Him is enough to send your enemies scurrying away.
However, if you know God’s Word by heart but refuse to proclaim it, the power of His Word cannot be released.The Bible does not say that angels heed His Word. No, it says that “His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word”. So beloved, give voice to God’s Word and see His angels respond. His angels are activated for your benefit when you speak His Word!
Hebrews 11:6
6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Most people quote only the first part of Hebrews 11:6 — “without faith it is impossible to please Him”. Yet, it goes on to say, “for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. In other words, the faith that pleases God is the kind of faith that believes that God exists and that He is a rewarder.
The Bible also says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. (Hebrews 11:1) So even in times of difficulty, when we don’t see good things happening in our circumstances, we are to believe that God will turn things around and reward us.
God turned things around for Ruth, the Moabite widow, when she believed the Lord and made Him her God. (Ruth 1:16) The Bible tells us that she was given a “full reward” by the Lord when she came under His wings for refuge. (Ruth 2:12) Not only did He give her protection, He also gave her abundant provision, exceeding favour and a glorious redemption. (Ruth 2:9–17, 3:11, 4:10–13)
When Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, heard reports of how the Lord had opened up the Red Sea for the children of Israel, she believed that “He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath”. (Joshua 2:9–11) Though Rahab had not personally witnessed the miracles, she believed God and hid the Jewish spies from their pursuers. (Joshua 2:4–6) Because of her faith, she not only did not perish with those who did not believe (Joshua 6:25, Hebrews 11:31), but she was also given a place in the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11.
God was so pleased with the faith of these two Gentile women that He not only blessed them in their lifetimes, but He also put them into the genealogy of His Son Jesus Christ, the great Redeemer and rewarder.
Beloved, when you come to the Lord with your needs, believe that He is God, and that He is a rewarder. God has pleasure in this kind of faith. He wants to be the rewarder of your faith in Him!
Philippians 3:13–14
13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Are you living a life of regrets thinking, “If only…”? “If only I had that college education… If only I had married the right girl… If only I had taken up the other job… If only I had not made that stupid mistake…”
Is your past robbing you of the joy of today? Then forget your past!
You might say, “But Pastor Prince, you do not know what I have done in the past!”
Consider Paul. If the devil had anything to bring against Paul, it would be reminders of how he had persecuted the early church and caused the deaths of many, including Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Paul had done horrendous things that were hard for him to forget. But he had such a revelation of God’s awesome forgiveness that he could say, “forgetting those things which are behind… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.
Beloved, God has forgiven you of all your sins. He has completely forgiven you and declared, “Your sins and lawless deeds, I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)
Like Paul, you can forget your past, the wrongs you have done and the hurts you have caused others or been through yourself. God can take the tears of yesterday and transform them into the miracles of tomorrow. He can restore to you in all abundance what you have lost. He can cause all things, even the painful events of your past, to work together for your good. (Romans 8:28)
God’s Word says, “The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:8) His glory will cover your past. Wherever you go, His glory covers your past. It is no longer the same past that you know of because His glory has descended on it. Your past is past. It has been wiped out. It is gone! So don’t let your past rob you of today’s joy any longer!
Ephesians 6:16
16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
I believe that when you pray in the Spirit, that is, in tongues, a shield goes up all around you — a watery shield. But why do I call it a “watery” shield? Let me share with you what the Lord showed me.
Once, I was meditating on Ephesians 6:16 — “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one”. At first, I thought of a Roman soldier’s wooden shield. But three words kept repeating themselves in my mind: “quench” and “fiery darts”. Then, the Lord said, “Son, if it is a wooden shield, the fiery darts will burn it up.” He showed me a watery shield instead, one which was able to quench the fiery darts.
You may ask, “Where did the water come from?”
Remember that Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) The next verse says, “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit…” (John 7:39)
Jesus was speaking about the Holy Spirit, which He likened to rivers of living water flowing out of us. So when we pray in the Spirit, rivers of living water will flow, quenching the devil’s fiery darts thrown at us!
This happened one day when I was having supper with a church member. Now, I don’t often pray in tongues when I say grace over my food. But that night, I felt prompted by the Spirit to do so. So I prayed in tongues as I laid my hands on my packet of nasi lemak (coconut-flavored rice).
Soon, we were tucking into our food and talking when suddenly, I bit on something hard. I spat it out quickly and realised that it was a nail! Then, I realised that this was the reason the Lord wanted me to pray in tongues. Though the devil was trying to “nail” me, he failed!
My friend, put up the watery shield that God has given you. Pray in the Spirit and quench the enemy’s fiery darts!
“and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” PHILIPPIANS 3:9 AMP
http://bible.com/1588/php.3.9.amp
I believe that the more righteousness-conscious you are, the more you will experience God’s unmerited favor. When the voice of disqualification comes to remind you of all the areas that you have fallen short in, that’s the time to turn to Jesus who qualifies you and hear His voice.
This is the true fight of faith! The fight of faith is to fight to believe that you are made righteous by faith and not by works. What do you want to depend on when push comes to shove—your wavering righteousness based on works, or the perfect, rock-solid righteousness of Jesus based on faith? It is your faith in the righteousness of Jesus that gives you the right to God’s unmerited favor.
Today, because of what Jesus did on the cross, you can expect good things to happen to you. You can ask God for big things and reach out to the blessed destiny that He has for you and your family. His righteousness is your right to God’s unmerited favor. Don’t let any voice of accusation tell you otherwise!
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.37.4.niv
Many people are in financial debt today because they are trying to find their security, identity and esteem in material things, instead of in Christ. So they end up buying things that they don’t need to impress people who really don’t care!
This erroneous mindset leads to the destructive habit of folks spending beyond their means, making only partial payments on their monthly credit card bills, and overextending themselves with mortgages they cannot afford and car loans they cannot service. Then, they end up asking God why there is no provision for their debts.
Beloved, being caught in this destructive habit and debt cycle is not God’s heart for His precious children. Let’s understand that having more things doesn’t complete us. Only Jesus can fill that vacuum. So find your security and completion in Christ. You have a treasure in you, One far more precious than anything money can buy. Anchor your security and identity in Jesus and delight yourself in Him alone!
“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” Romans 5:17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.5.17.niv
It says here in Romans 5:17, “We are to reign in life as kings.” When God looks at us, He doesn’t see us in weak, defeated, leftover positions. Not at all. God sees you and me as rulers, as royalty. We have His royal blood flowing through our veins.
You and I are supposed to reign. Do you know what that word “reign” means? It means “your time in power.” God said we’re to reign “in life.” That means as long as you’re alive, that is your time in power. You don’t have a two-year term like the Mayor or a four-year term like the President. Your term is to rule and reign every single day, to be victorious, to rise to new levels, to accomplish great things.
Everyone has days when they don’t feel like royalty, they don’t feel powerful. On those days, if you can just remember to reach down and check your pulse, and as long as you feel something beating, you can say,”It’s still my time to reign!” Let that be a reminder to put on a new attitude. Sometimes you have to do this by faith. By faith you need to walk like a king, talk like a king, think like a king, dress like a king, smile like a king. Don’t go by what you see. Go by what you know. There is royalty in your DNA. You have the blood of a champion, and you were created to reign in life!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I choose right now to set my mind and focus on You. I choose to look for what You want to do in and through me. I let go of any wrong thinking, attitudes, or actions that would hold me back. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.” Psalm 7:8 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.7.8.niv
Integrity is a powerful attribute in the life of the believer. Integrity means that you are dependable. You are a person of your word. You’re consistent and honest.
You might say, “Oh, I’m a pretty good person. I do the right thing most of the time.” But understand, it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. You can veer off course just a little bit, and before you know it, you’re miles away from your destination. Don’t allow the little things to keep you from your destiny; choose integrity—even when no one is looking. For instance, you might need some paper at home, but you shouldn’t take supplies from the office. Or, you might be running into a store for just a minute, but don’t park in the handicap parking spot unless you’re supposed to. If the checkout clerk makes a mistake and gives you too much money back, that’s not God’s provision, that’s a test of integrity!
Remember, if you’ll be faithful and choose integrity in the little things, God will make you ruler over much. Be a person of integrity and open the door for God’s blessing and honor all the days of your life!
Prayer:
“Father, today I commit to live a life of integrity. I choose a life of excellence and ask for Your hand of favor. Show me any area that is not pleasing to You so that I can continue to grow and increase in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-27 NIV
http://bible.com/111/act.9.26-27.niv
In scripture, the apostle Paul would have never had the impact he did without a man named Barnabas. Barnabas was one of the disciples. He was in Jesus’ inner circle. But Paul, at the time, hated believers and was having them thrown in jail. God touched his life, and he wanted to go to Jerusalem and join the other disciples, but they were afraid of him because of his reputation. Barnabas stood up for Paul and used his influence to open a door with the other disciples. Paul went on to write over half of the New Testament.
We don’t hear a lot about Barnabas. Paul greatly overshadowed him. But if you were to ask Paul, he would say, “I won because Barnabas helped me win. I succeeded because Barnabas took a risk and opened a door that I could not open on my own. Barnabas believed in me when nobody else did.”
Friend, there is no greater legacy than to help someone else win. Today, look for ways to use your influence. Help others rise up higher. Sow good seeds because they will come back to you. When you help others win, God will make sure you are surrounded by people who will help you win in return.
Prayer:
“Father, thank You for Your truth which sets me free. It is my delight to do Your will and help others succeed. Show me ways to be a blessing and help others. Let everything I do bring glory to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.5.17.niv
The very moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we instantly become a new creation! Your spirit is made alive in Him and the old passes away. His peace fills your heart. Of course, everything in your life doesn’t change instantly. Some things do, but God will do some things in your life over time as you grow in your relationship with Him. The key is to keep moving forward in your spiritual journey one step at a time. As you abide in Him by spending time with Him in prayer and worship, as you study His Word and connect with other believers in a Bible-based church, He will continue to transform you and renew you from the inside out!
Today, remember, God is at work in your life. You may not be where you want to be. You may have made some mistakes or had some setbacks. Know that in Him, you are the righteousness of God. In Him, you are new. In Him is everything you need. Stay on the road to victory by staying in Him!
Prayer:
“Father, thank You for making me new. Thank You for ordering and directing my steps. I trust that You are at work in my life transforming me into Your image. Keep me close to You as I put You first in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” Luke 6:19 NIV
http://bible.com/111/luk.6.19.niv
Did you know that when Jesus walked on earth, more than two-thirds of His ministry involved healing the sick? He went about healing the sick and all who came to Him were healed. The Bible records that “the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all”.
I wish that somebody in Hollywood would produce that scene in Luke 6:19. You see the sick, lame and blind coming to Jesus. And every time one of them touches Him, BAM! His healing virtue is powerfully released and the person is healed and overjoyed!
Beloved, that’s a powerful image to have in your mind as you meditate on the Lord’s healing promises for you. See yourself receiving from His compassion and His power to heal you. Before long, His healing will fully manifest in your body and fill you with joy!
Have you been struggling in an area of your life for quite some time? God has promised He will go before you and prepare a path for you; He’ll make your crooked places straight. He wants to smooth things out for you. I believe that as you continue to commit your ways to Him, He will bring you into a season where things are going to start falling into place. You’re going to get breaks that you didn’t deserve. The promises that you’ve been standing on, you’re going to see them begin to come to pass. It’s time for you to get ready and get your fire back!
Start expecting that you are coming into a new season. Maybe it’s in your finances. Maybe you’ve struggled for a long time. Begin to declare that you’re going to see supernatural increase, supernatural opportunities, supernatural promotion. Remember, the economy is not your source—God is. He’s the One who opens doors that no person can shut. Keep standing, keep believing because God is going to make your crooked places straight and lead you down the path of blessing and victory in every area of your life!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for preparing a path for me. I know You are working behind the scenes to make the crooked places straight and the rough places smooth. Give me Your strength to keep moving forward on the good path that you have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Lord, lead me everyday 