Be Strong And Of Good Courage.

Be Strong And Of Good Courage.

HEROES WANTED

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes before you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

The world has never been more advanced technologically, yet we have never been in worse condition spiritually and morally. It can be frightening when you think of what kind of world we are going to face and what kind of world our children and grand children will grow up in. We need courage to live in these days as followers of Jesus Christ. Yet courage seems to be something that is in short supply today. Sometimes we forget what real heroism and real courage really are. We wonder where all the heroes are now.

Any true follower of Jesus Christ who stands up for what he or she believes is a true hero. It takes courage to be a follower of Jesus, to live an uncompromised life, to do the right thing, and to proclaim the gospel.

It takes courage for a young Christian to resist peer pressure and remain sexually pure until marriage and then be faithful in their marriage. It takes courage for a family to stay together and resist the temptation to cave in at the first sight of a problem or a challenge to the vows they have made to one another. It takes courage today to be honest and not cheat. It takes courage to follow Jesus. It takes a real man and a real woman to take a stand for Jesus.

Do you have the strength and courage to live for Jesus? Are you someone who fears nothing but sin, and desires nothing but God? Be strong and courageous because you are not alone, God is with you.

Prayer: Pray and receive the courage and honesty to change every bad habit and wisdom to avoid wasteful living.

Scriptural Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-8

1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

2 And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’

3 The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said.

4 And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them.

5 The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.

6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel,”Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.

8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

NKJV…

Be Strong And Of Good Courage.

Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6

Many of our defeats on the spiritual battlefield lie largely in our ignorance of the facts. In Jesus Christ we have the power to free ourselves from sin’s control and to live a new life. But many Christians don’t know they have this power or are ignorant of how to appropriate the power. They think it is impossible to live a sin-free life. They have become comfortable living under Satan’s control. They need to know that God through Christ has set them free from the dominion of Satan.

We cannot overcome sin by saying, “no, no, no.” God’s method for overcoming sin is to “know, know, know.” We can say “no” to sin, but if we don’t have the strength to do the will of God, we will always bow to sin’s dictates. We need to know what God has done for us in Christ, His incomparable power that is at work in us, and how to appropriate all these divine resources to live victorious lives.

Often we are defeated in our day-to-day work as Christians because we don’t understand what God has done for us. It is like fighting a battle without ammunition, when all the time, we had more than we could utilize in a thousand battles.

We cannot overcome sin’s power by our mere strength or willpower. Christianity is not trying to humanly live a divine life; it is divinely living a human life. It is God’s power in us and Christ through us, fulfilling what He has called us to do. It is not imitation but impartation. It is appropriating the divine provision that God has made for our victory.

Prayer: Take authority over the sinful cravings of the flesh and ask for wisdom to always subject your flesh to the works of righteousness.

Scriptural Reading: Romans 6:1-14

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to…

Know Your Rights

You Can Not Fail

You Can Not Fail

YOU CAN’T FAIL

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” Acts 10:34

God is no respecter of persons. He will come through on your behalf no matter who you are, your race or nationality. When you know who you are in Christ Jesus, then there is no one who can stop you from succeeding in life. Putting your trust and faith in God will always cause you to rise above the circumstances of life and be on top.

God will deliver you like the three Hebrew boys in Daniel chapter three. The word ‘deliver’ in this context means to leave free.

In Daniel chapter three we see three Hebrew boys by the name of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They had become high government officials – Jews in Babylon. Hence, they were the wrong people, the wrong race even in the wrong country. But that doesn’t matter to God, it didn’t matter to them and it shouldn’t matter to you either when men try to keep you down.

You can still be on top, because nobody can keep you down when you trust God. God didn’t create you to fail. He created you to win. Because your faith is in Him, no one can bring you down. All you need is faith in God, because you and God are a majority.

Those who are opposed to righteousness always have a scheme. But the Lord will bring all their schemes to nothing. Because you are a child of God, and you have put your trust in Him, He will surely bring you to your high places. You will succeed and become prosperous in Jesus’ name!

Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit for confidence and boldness to dream big and achieve extraordinary things to His glory.

Scriptural Reading: Acts 10:34-43

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said:”In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all —

37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

NKJV

You Can Not Fail

Delight In The WORD Of The LORD

Delight In The WORD Of The LORD

WORD ADDICT

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

I want you to begin to develop an addiction today–an addiction to the Word of God. That may sound odd to you, especially if you don’t have much of an interest in the Word right now. But, believe me, it’s possible. I’ve done it myself and I’ve seen others do it, time and again.

All you have to do is make a decision to give yourself to it. To focus your time and attention on it. The more you give yourself to it, the more your desire for it will grow. Eventually, it will consume your thinking.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. That happens with anything you totally give yourself to. It happens, for example, with people who give themselves to pornography. As they focus their attention on it, the spirit behind it moves in on their consciousness and eventually draws them from mental activity into physical activity. Finally, they come to a place where they can’t be satisfied. They can’t get enough.

That same principle works on the positive side when you begin to give yourself to God’s Word. You can give yourself to it to the point where it totally consumes your mental and physical life. The more of it you get, the more you want. The Spirit behind the Word, the Holy Spirit, will draw you and lead you closer to Jesus than you ever imagined possible.

I’ve never yet met anybody walking in faith and power who at sometime hadn’t developed that kind of addiction by giving themselves totally to the Word for an extended time. I don’t mean just a few minutes here and there either. I’m talking about some serious time.

So determine to do that. Determine to become a “Word addict.” Once you do, you’ll never be willing to live without it again.

Prayer: Ask the Lord for a fresh appetite for His Word.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1:1-6

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

NKJV

Delight In The WORD Of The LORD

The Weapons Of Our Warfare

The Weapons Of Our Warfare

THE SPIRITUAL WAR

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

Every one Christian is in the middle of a raging spiritual war. We as believers must recognize that our enemy is very real, but through Christ, we have the power to fight effectively.

Scripture reveals that Satan and a whole empire of evil spirits oppose God and His Kingdom. However, the enemies are fallen angels who have already been defeated on our behalf by the Lord. While it is important not to underestimate their capabilites, we mustn’t be deceived into thinking their power is greater than it is. They are simply no match for God. When Jesus rebuked demonic forces who tormented people, they were forced to obey. And after He had triumphed over them through His resurrection, the Lord Jesus gave us authority over these spirits. 1 John 4:4 says that, through the Holy Spirit we have already overcome the enemy because “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

However, if we fail to take up our position of power in Christ, we will feel overwhelmed and defeated. Though Satan cannot touch our souls, his plan is to make us ineffective in our spiritual battle with him. One of his most common weapons is guilt. He knows that when our conscience condemns us, we lose confidence with God and therefore are unable to exercise our spiritual authority over his kingdom. That is the reason why he never ceases to tempt us to sin. And when we give in to temptation, he comes to say to us, “You have sinned against God. You are a weak and unworthy sinner who will never really be able serve God. Are you really sure you are saved?” If we believe such accusations, we run the risk of doubting our true identity in Christ, and, as a result, become prey for his demonic host.

Prayer: By the power of the Holy Spirit boldly declare your authority and victory over the forces of darkness.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

NKJV

The Weapons Of Our Warfare

Unshakable Faith In God

Unshakable Faith In God

UNSHAKEABLE FAITH

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2

God is in control of all circumstances that surround the believer. The devil can do nothing in the life of the believer without the express permission of God. But why would God give that permission? Because Satan’s attacks will show what you are made of.

A faith that cannot be shaken is a faith that has been shaken. And if your faith is real, it will even endure through the worst of circumstances, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed. For example, when tragedy struck Job, we find him worshiping God, but we find his wife saying, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die”. Trials, temptations, and crises separate the wheat from the chaff, the true from the false, and the real from the unreal.

Trials help us grow spiritually and make us stronger in our faith. James reminds us, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:3-4).

Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality, and suffering brings glory to God. Anyone can be happy when the sky is blue and the sun is shining. But when a storm is hitting, it is a different matter. Satan claimed that Job only worshiped God because God was blessing him. But Job proved that he really did love God, because he worshipped Him before, during, and after his crisis.

God allowed the trial in Job’s life to strengthen his faith and to prove Satan wrong—and Job passed the test with flying colors. What a rebuke to the enemy and what a powerful example for us today.

Prayer: Pray for inner strength to turn every trial you face into stepping stone to your breakthrough.

Scriptural Reading: James 1:1-8

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

NKJV

Unshakable Faith In God

God"s Blessings

God’s Blessings

GOD’S BLESSINGS

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes. Malachi 3:11

The devourer needs to be defined. The Hebrew word akal (aw-kal) means, “to eat, consume or burn up.” It was used by Bible writers to define the actions of drought, famine, war, pestilence, and plague. To “rebuke the devourer” is to check, curb, and deter anything that consumes time, energy, or cash flow.

In this verse the Lord promises to put a stop-gap on that which consumes our time. How many times have you started out a day with a plan for getting things done, only to look back at the end of the day and realize that your time had gotten away from you? The Lord has promised to rebuke the devourer of time.

The same promise applies to energy. During the average eight-hour workday, we expect to achieve a stated number of goals, to complete so many assigned tasks, to produce a certain predetermined amount of output for our efforts. It is always disconcerting to look back at the end of the day and compare how much we intended to get done with how little we actually accomplished. The Lord has promised to rebuke the devourer of energy.

This promise also applies to money. You buy tires, and they wear out too soon. You buy shoes, and they do not last. You buy groceries, and run out before the week is over. You spend money, yet have nothing to show for it. God has promised to rebuke the devourer of finances.

With God’s blessings, you and I can get sixty minutes of time out of every hour, eight hours of productivity out of each working day, and a hundred pesewa of value out of every cedi spent. What a blessing!

Prayer: Ask the Lord to rebuke the devourer of your resources and release His blessing of multiplication on all your work.

Scriptural Reading: Malachi 3:8-12

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

9. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;

12 “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.

NKJV

God"s Blessings

Sacrifice Of Joy

Sacrifice Of Joy

SACRIFICE OF JOY

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. Hebrews 13:15

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:15-19 about some people who were preaching from a wrong motivation, which was to add afflictions to Paul who was in prison at the time. Instead of getting offended and having a bad attitude, he rejoiced over the fact that at least Christ was being preached.

If you are dealing with problems in your ministry or work, rejoice. It will strengthen you, and that strength will minister to everyone around you. When we praise God and rejoice in His salvation irrespective of our circumstances, we see His glory manifest in our lives.

Paul learned that lesson years before when he and Silas had been beaten with “many stripes” and cast into prison and their feet were fastened in stocks. Instead of sinking into depression, the two of them prayed and sang praises to God, loud enough that the other prisoners heard them. The result? There was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, opening all of the doors and loosing everyone’s bands.

Take a close look at the faith they exercised. Their backs were bleeding, they had been put in stocks, and all this for doing God’s will. What a golden opportunity to complain and murmur.  Instead, they began to worship God.

God was so moved that He sent an earthquake, and everyone’s bands were loosed. If you need doors to open, then begin to worship and praise God. From that kind of praise will come great deliverance for you-and everyone around you.

Prayer: Make a joyful noise of triumph to the Lord and declare your victory over every challenge you are facing.

Scriptural Reading: Hebrews 13:7-17

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give

Sacrifice Of Joy

Never Look Back

Never Look Back

DON’T LOOK BACK

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

It is interesting how we can look at the past through rose-colored glasses. Remember the children of Israel? They had been delivered from the tyranny and bondage of Egypt, where they had been slaves for years. They cried out to God for deliverance and the Lord answered their prayers through Moses.

As they were making their way through the wilderness, God supernaturally fed them with manna. It was like bread from heaven. They had it daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But after a while, they got tired of it. They said, “We are sick of manna. We remember the good old days back in Egypt where we used to eat garlic, leeks and onions. Those were the good old days. . . If we could only go back.”

They spoke of the good old days, but they actually ate table scraps in Egypt, because they were slaves. Their lives were miserable. Yet in their imaginations, they had magnified these scraps to some sumptuous feast they had each and every day. They were not looking at the past accurately.

In the same way, the devil may remind you of the old days. “Remember the good old days? Remember the fun you used to have? Why don’t you go back to the good old days?” And if you are not strong enough you begin to think about it and end up back in bondage.

Don’t build up the past in your mind. Protect your mind, and don’t look back. You must always look forward to what to what lies ahead.

Prayer: Reject the condemnation from your past failures, disappointment and mistakes and ask God to give you a fresh start.

Scriptural Reading: Luke 9:57-62

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

NKJV

Never Look Back

Favor Of God

Favor Of God

FAVOR

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

Favour is like every other blessing and promise of God. You receive favour from God and man to the degree that you believe and accept this promise by faith.

Favour belongs to you. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, and Esther (to name a few Old Testament believers) all had supernatural favour. Favour is like resurrection power. It keeps raising you up no matter what tries to put you down. Favour is like a cork. When you put a cork under water, it pops right back up to the top.

Potiphar’s wife slandered Joseph and lied about him. As a result, he was thrown in prison. Yet, even in prison, Joseph had supernatural favor which caused him to be put in charge of all of the inmates. While in prison, Joseph was favoured, that he interpreted the dreams of a butler and a baker. The butler was restored to his position, but the baker was hung, just as Joseph had said. Joseph said to the butler, “Remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.”

The butler forgot Joseph until Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. He then told Pharaoh what had happened to him in prison. Joseph was called, and he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. As a result, Joseph was promoted and set over all the land of Egypt.

Favour has a purpose. God will bring you into favour so you can bring deliverance to people and help them. Once you receive Jesus Christ, you become a favored person. “For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favour from the Lord” (Prov. 8:35).

Prayer: By faith, release God’s favour into your life and declare that you are blessed and highly favored by God.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 5:1-12

Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation.

2 Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray.

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.

5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.

6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

8 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue.

10 Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You.

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You

Favor Of God

You Can Not Be Defeated

You Can Not Be Defeated

YOU ARE UNDEFEATABLE

“The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.” Deuteronomy 28:7

God does not promise us a life without enemies. What He promises us is victory over the conspiracies of our enemies. Who is an enemy? Webster’s Dictionary describes an enemy in part as ‘one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent.’

The ultimate enemy for a child of God is Satan. However, there are human beings who off and on play the role of enemies in our lives. Apart from that, certain conditions of life and situations we encounter may also become our ‘enemies’ such as sicknesses, poverty, ignorance and low self-esteem.

Enemies can either ‘rise against’ us or ‘come out against’ us. Both postures are postures of challenge. An enemy’s challenge or attack is designed to drive fear into us so that we turn and run away.

God promises that when we walk in obedience before Him, He will cause two things to happen to our enemies.

• ‘They will be defeated before your face.’ That means God will give us a visible victory. It will not happen behind your back but right in front of you.

• ‘They shall flee before you seven ways.’ God will rout our enemies in battle and scatter their plans and conspiracies on the winds.

Whether your enemy is Satan, people or threatening conditions, there is victory for you. When evil conspiracies multiply against you, fear not. Today your enemies seem formidable; tomorrow they will be defeated and scattered.

Prayer: By faith declare that God will arise on your behalf and cut short the expectation of your enemies.

Scriptural Reading: Deuteronomy 28:1-14

1. “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

4. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

8 “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

9 “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.

You Can Not Be Defeated

Water In Your Wilderness

Water In Your Wilderness

A POOL IN A WILDERNESS

I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18

To ‘open’ is to begin or initiate a process. God is able to initiate a new process of blessing in our lives even when our current situation looks dry and desolate. He causes rivers to flow into our lives when we feel dry, alone and abandoned.

Rivers stand for:

▪Life

▪Refreshment

▪Newness

The river in the desert is not the end product of what God wants to do but the beginning. God brings rivers into the desolate places as the first step in turning around the situation we are in.

When He initiates the process of blessing in our lives, He sustains it and completes it. The river of God in the wilderness will be sustained and will produce a pool in the wilderness. Pools form in the wilderness after the dry ground has soaked up the initial water flow; the water continues to flow till the ground is so saturated with water, it creates a pool. God will not start a process He cannot sustain; neither will He start a process and not end it.

He also promises to release fountains in the valley. Valleys represent those moments in our lives when we feel ‘low’ or ‘down.’ Valleys also represent seasons in our lives when we feel depressed and incapable of rising to do the things we want to do. In such moments, we can trust the Lord to release fountains of life, newness and freshness into our hearts. Yes, even in the desert, God’s love reaches out to us and renews us.

Prayer: Agree with God’s word and confess that the Lord will cause every desert place in your life to blossom and cause to break forth in joy and dancing.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 41:17-20

17 “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together,

20 That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the Lord has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

NKJV

Water In Your Wilderness

There Is Hope For Your Future

There Is Hope For Your Future

THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

No matter what the prognosticators claim, no one can accurately predict all that is going to happen in the future. Our best forecasts are just educated guesses. Change is not only increasing in speed and intensity, but also in unpredictability.

The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future:

Set goals according to God’s direction. The Bible says, “We may make our plans, but God has the last word.” In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start by praying, “God, what do you want me to do to fulfil Your purpose for my life?”

Live one day at a time – While we can plan for tomorrow, you can’t live it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, that they have no time to enjoy today! Decide to make the most of each moment today. Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow – God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.”

Don’t procrastinate – Do it now! Don’t postpone to tomorrow what you must do today, for you don’t know what tomorow may bring. Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you’ll do it “one of these days.” But “one of these days” is usually “none of these days.” Start working on what you have planned to do, now!

Prayer: Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He wants you to accomplish today and give you wisdom and strength to do them.

Scriptural Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-14

4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.

6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.

10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your…

There Is Hope For Your Future

Just Believe

Just Believe

JUST BELIEVE

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

From the day we become Chrisitian until the day we die, we are to walk by faith. That is the life of a Christian. Jesus tells us that if we had as little as a mustard-seed-size faith, we could do anything. That is because we are not the ones doing the miracles, God is. All He wants us to have is faith in Him that He can and will perform what we ask Him to do for us.

We have to believe! But how do we have this belief? By hearing the Word of God repeatedly until it sinks into our hearts. In addition to believing, we have to trust Him that He will perform His promises in our personal lives. Many Christians believe God can do all things, but don’t believe God enough to do things for them. His promises, among many, include peace, joy, rest, love, protection, and of course, the ultimate promise of salvation. They are all free gifts to us.

Once we have a little faith, we must put it to work and exercise it with the authority that God has given us. We start with small things and, we pass the small faith tests, we will become more confident and our faith will continue to grow.

If you are having issues at work, if you are praying for a promotion, for a special client, project, a new boss or employee, or whatever it is, have faith that God will give you what you’re asking for. Exercise your faith today.

Prayer: Bind and cast out the spirit of doubt from your heart, and boldy confess that you have received every request you put before God.

Scriptural Reading:

Matthew 17:14-21

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,

15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

NKJV

Just Believe

Be Obedient

Be Obedient

PROMPT OBEDIENCE

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Genesis 22:3

Abraham is referred to as the father of faith. But what is the evidence of his faith in the Bible? His obedience! Throughout his account in the Bible, we see a man who promptly obeyed every command God gave him. Abraham demonstrated his faith in God by obedience to His instructions.

Jesus is coming back for a glorious church without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. One of the best ways to become glorious quickly is through prompt and extreme obedience.

Obedience and selfishness are opposing forces. If we are to be glorious, we must be obedient. In order to be obedient, we must be willing to say no to self daily. We must learn to say, “Yes, Lord, yes” and to say it quickly!

We need to learn to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He lives in us and is constantly attempting to lead and guide us. He gently lets us know when we are going in the right direction or the wrong direction.

Obedience to the Lord requires developing sensitivity to His ways, which comes through His Word. We are not just to read the Word, but to do the Word.

Like Abraham, you must show your faith in God by your obedience to Him. Make a decision today that you are going to come higher into a new level of obedience. The rewards of an obedient lifestyle are well worth the price.

Prayer: Confess all your disobedience to God and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a heart of obedience.

Scriptural Reading: Genesis 22:1-19

22 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built …

Be Obedient

Don"t Waste Your Life

Don’t Waste Your Life

DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE

For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Bible tells us that we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ. The word “appear” can be translated, “to make manifest.” This suggests that the purpose of the Judgement seat of Christ is a public manifestation, or demonstration, of the essential characters and motives of an individual. This is a truth we must always keep in mind as we live our earthly lives. There is a day of accountability coming.

This judgement is not about whether we will get to heaven, because it takes place in heaven. Rather it is about the rewards believers will receive. Jesus said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work” (Revelation 22:12). God has a reward for those who have faithfully served Him.

What will be judged, according to 2 Corinthians 5:10, is what we have done, whether good or bad. The word used for “bad” in this verse is not only speaking of something ethically or morally evil, because Christ paid the price for our sins at the cross of Calvary.

Rather, the word used for “bad” speaks of evil of another kind. Another way to translate it would be “good-for-nothingness,” or “worthlessness.” The idea of good or bad is not of someone who has done something outwardly and blatantly wrong. The idea is of someone who wasted his or her life, a life that was good for nothing. It is someone who has thrown away his or her time, energy, and life in general.

What are you doing with your life for Christ’s sake? I know what He has done for you. What are you doing for Him? Are you wasting your life on nothingness?

Prayer: Ask God to deliver you from wasteful living and make you alert and committed towards your divine assignment in Christ.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-11

1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, …

Don"t Waste Your Life

Trust In The LORD

Trust In The LORD

TRUST IN THE LORD

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting God is both a humbling and powerful concept. It is humbling because it reminds us that although we have great human capabilities, there are limits to our greatest strengths and effort. In this age of the celebration of unprecedented human achievements, it deflates our ego to accept defeat. So even when we realize we are incapable, we still force ourselves to heave against our struggles with all our strength.

The Lord wants us to lean on Him with absolute trust.

Trust begins in the heart and requires our surrender. It is a deep realization within the very core of our beings that God is sovereign in our lives. It settles the issue of ‘who is boss’ over our lives; either we choose to govern our own lives or we yield to Christ as Lord and King over our lives.

In addition to trusting Him in our innermost being, we are encouraged to also trust Him with our intellect and mind. That can be a challenge in this day and age when the human intellect has become our modern-day god. As great as it is to have a good education and enlightened mind to help us grapple with life’s many challenges, the Lord wants us to yield our understanding to Him. We are to yield our plans to Him.

To do that, we have to:

• Accept the limitations of our human efforts and understanding

• Acknowledge God’s infinite wisdom

• Ask the Lord to guide us in our decision-making

• Allow the peace of God to fill our hearts

Prayer: Commit your ways to the Lord, and receive divine direction and peace for every step you take.

Scriptural Reading: Proverbs Prov 3:1-12

1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;

2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,

4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;

12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;

12 …

Trust In The LORD

Counting Costs

Counting Cost

COUNTING THE COST

But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it. Luke 14:28

There is a cost to following Jesus, but I would also add there is a greater cost in not following Him. Whatever you give up to follow Christ will be more than made up for in this life and certainly in the life to come.

Jesus said, “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” (Luke 14:27-28). In other words, “Don’t do this on the impulse of a moment. Count the cost.”

Yet some people who set out to follow Christ haven’t counted the cost, like couples who rush into marriage. Once you have made a marriage commitment, it is a lifelong commitment. And if you are not willing to make it, then do everyone a favour and stay single.

The Bible records the story of someone who saw Jesus walk by and blurted out, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus had not called this person to follow Him; he just volunteered. So Jesus said, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head.” Loose paraphrase: “My friend, I am not headed to the Jerusalem Golden Tulip. It is a rough life. I am headed to the cross. Are you sure you want to come along?”

Sometimes in the impulse of the moment someone will say, “I will follow Jesus,” but they don’t follow through on that commitment. They didn’t count the cost.

We must fully realize that being a true disciple of Jesus is not easy. Therefore, we must count the cost.

Prayer: Receive strength from the Lord to follow Him all the days of your life no matter the cost.

Scriptural Reading: Luke 14:25-33

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it —

29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

NKJV

Counting Costs

Slay The Giants

Slay The Giants

SLAYING GIANTS

“It is His battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:47

We all face giants in life. You might be facing one right now—something that looms so large, something so frightening or so powerful that you don’t think you can ever win against it. David faced a giant in life. His name was Goliath—and with God’s help, David slayed Goliath. If we take a close look at David’s battle with Goliath, we’ll find a three-step model for slaying our own giants.

•  Remember the Battle is the Lord’s. David said this to Goliath, ‘”It is His battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!”‘ (1 Samuel 17:47). Remember, Christian, you are on the winning side. God is stronger than the devil. Your God is mightier than any vice, addiction, or problem. The Apostle John wrote, “You are of God little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

•  Attack! If you tolerate a giant, it will take over your territory. Giants are like wildfires. They get out of control and will consume your life. That’s why you don’t run from giants. You attack them. Stop allowing this sin to enjoy the comfort of darkness. 1 Samuel 17:28 says, “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.” You need to do same with the giants in your life.

•  Trust Only God. In the story of David and Goliath, David put no trust in Saul’s armour. This is a temptation we all face: trusting in our own resources. Sometimes the Lord will reduce us to nothing so He, and He alone will get the glory. Has that happened to you? That is good. Then God can receive the glory and show you what He is really capable of.

Like David, you can—with God’s help—overcome every giant and experience victory in all areas of your life.

Prayer: Pray that the Lord will strengthen your hand in time of battle and subdue the enemy under your feet.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Samuel 17:40-50

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.

43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I

Slay The Giants

Thirst For GOD

Thirst For GOD

A THIRST FOR GOD

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

When people fall in love they reorder their priorities to embrace their new-found love. They feel differently, talk differently and behave differently. I know of a man who spent the night sleeping outside the home of his girlfriend, just to ‘feel close’ to her. We can tell how much we love God by our passion for Him. When we love God, we tell Him:

• You are my God. That is the first and most important commitment each one of us must make – to make the Lord, our God. He is not just the creator of the universe or some impersonal force that governs nature. He is our God because we have a personal relationship with Him.

• Early will I seek you. When the Lord is our God, He also becomes our first point of call at all times. He is our first priority. Whether we are making decisions, seeking guidance or making an investment, our first consideration must always be to seek God’s will and purpose for our lives.

• My soul thirsts for you. We must nurture an intense desire within our hearts for God. We must pursue His word, presence and glory every waking day of our lives. The things that make us most excited and get us going must be things that matter to God.

• My flesh longs for you. Loving God means preserving our bodies as His temples and honoring Him through our words and actions. Our physical appetites must be yielded to our Lord.

Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to create in you a desire to know God intimately and revive your zeal and passion.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 63:1-11

1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

NKJV

Thirst For GOD