Power Comes Through The Holy Ghost

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

The disciples were told to wait and stand down until the Holy Ghost had come… Despite the power that you may think you have; you are powerless without the divine authority from above… Going into the fifth day of 2014 set your mind to remember that without Christ you are nothing… You can’t overcome, you can’t win and you can’t obtain; however, through Christ all things are possible, relationships can be healed, debts can be paid and new levels can be reached… The instruction uttered by Christ in this verse reminds us to stop trying to find answers within our own finite abilities… Stop trying to pave your own path and go your own direction… You must come to know and trust the Lord (remember the people had all things in common with their focus on God when the Holy Spirit descended upon them as tongues of fire)… Your focus in the New Year should not be on solutions, but on praise… Praise Him through your difficulties, praise Him through your trials, praise Him through your hours of loneliness and allow Him to take care of all your cares…

He will deposit the strength you need (just praise Him), He will give you the grace you need (just praise Him) and He will open up doors for your beacon light to shine for all to see (just focus on praising Him)… Take note today and remember that until we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are powerless… Jesus informs His disciples of the winning edge that they will receive in the form of the Holy Spirit… We all should realize that we have a winning edge as a child of God; we have a “secret weapon” that will lead us to victory and give us the strength to overcome any obstacle that we face… The disciples were in hiding after the crucifixion of Jesus; however, they are filled with power to be His witness and go on to bring many souls to Christ under the leadership of the Holy Spirit… We, through the indwelling spirit are “more than conquers” and will indeed overcome any storms of this life as long as we are lead by the spirit… As a child of God, the biggest gift we obtain is the power of our witness… When Jesus Christ left this earth, His disciples were in flux; they didn’t know where to go, what to do or who to turn too… 

Jesus instructs His disciples very clearly to wait until the Holy Spirit comes and sure enough when it came the same ones who were scared were used to transform the makeup of the entire world.  Remember that Jesus said, “Greater things than I will you do…” Don’t ignore the power of your witness today; you have made mistakes, you have choose the wrong direction, but you know God still shined His light of love and compassion upon you and brought your through trial after trial… You’re a powerful creation and God sent His son because of the power He wants you to display… Somebody needs to hear your testimony, somebody needs to hear what God has done for you and you must realize that you have the power (by the Holy Spirit) to show people the direction of God and how awesome He is… This scripture tells us today that there is a time for your anticipated arrival as a witness to God’s faithfulness; endure your season of preparation and do not move before the Spirit descends upon you and leads you down the path which God has paved specifically for you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Rest Is Found In Christ

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired of being alive but not living? Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the things of this world and wonder how you are going to make it…? The truth of the matter is the enemy wants you to be so bogged down by the cares of this world that you have no time to really start living (which is to give your life to Christ)… Matthew records the call that Jesus makes to all mankind, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” Jesus bids you to come out from the places you currently reside or the mental captivity that so many of us are currently being oppressed by… This beaconing isn’t a physical call, but a voice which desires to lead you in the path of truth and to give you life and give it to you more abundantly… We labour by trying to live up to other peoples expectations, we are heavy laden when we allow the thoughts of others and the temptations we face to weigh us down and strip our attention from the things that matter… This isn’t to suggest or say that the life of a Christian is easy; however, it is to suggest that there are things that are worth laboring for and being burden by when we walk in the will of God because these things lead to eternal rewards and joy… 

If you are laboring in the Lord than this message provides a since of comfort and stability in the heaviest laden times in your life… Jesus gives a message of hope today to all those who feel the weight of the world upon their shoulders, He gives a (n) encouraging word to all that are laboring and fighting the “good fight…” The message of hope today and the encouraging word that we take with us into the New Year is that Christ is indeed with us… In order for someone to come, there first must be someone or something present for them to come too… In the midst of trials and tribulations Jesus reminds us through the gospel of Matthew that we can find rest in Him; we can have our load lightened so that it is bearable and we can find comfort for the road ahead as He declares that He is meek (gentle) and lowly in heart… Jesus doesn’t want to see you struggle beyond your abilities and this call to come is the same call we find in Peter’s book in which we find these words recorded;cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us… A lot of storms will rise and chaos will approach your door, but Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us today that Christ’s yoke is easy, His burden is light; He has enough room to carry the load for you (He already paid your penalty), He is mighty enough to hold you up and lead you to victory no matter what you are facing at this present time… Everyday of our lives is a fresh start, another chance or opportunity to live according to the will of God and develop a more intimate relationship with him… 

This passage taken from the gospel of Matthew encourages us to come unto the Lord with all our cares, with all our concerns and to understand that when we take our cares to Him and leave them with Him we will find rest! Often times we go to the Lord in prayer, but hold onto the things that we are praying about or for; Jesus is telling us today that we must leave it in His hands and stay focused on His word… Let us establish a foundation this year, one that is built upon the word of God with Christ being the center of our lives! Let us deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow the Lord wholeheartedly today! Jesus says take my yoke upon you; learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart… Christ is calling for you to see the love He has for you, to see the compassion that He has bestowed and will bestow upon you by you turning your life over to Him! A yoke is something that is used to move objects, it balances the weight to decrease the energy exerted to move it; Christ is calling for you to take His yoke (let Him lighten the load, let Him balance you out and decrease the amount of energy you exert on a daily basis so the obstacles in your life can be moved…) Don’t worry about the trials you face, don’t worry about the obstacles, don’t get caught up in the way things appear to be; in the Lord you will find rest, you will find help and you will find love… My yoke is easy and my burden is light; although you face hard times, your sure to claim victory in Christ Jesus and make it through…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Victory Comes Through His Death

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:14

One of the reasons for Jesus arrival to this earth was to seek and save that which was lost… Knowing the very error of mankind from the original sin in Eden, Jesus became flesh and blood just like us to completely pay the ransom for our lives which we could never afford… It is through His offering that we have our being and the ability or resources to overcome the circumstances and obstacles which were designed to prohibit and destroy us… Understand today that you were born into this world as a sinner which simply means that you are subject to the governing authority of Satan…The bible declares in the book of Job that Satan enters the courts of the Lord after roaming the earth to and fro… Whether we recognize it or not, we have two choices that we can make when it comes to living on this earth… Either we serve the Lord or we serve Satan… 

Understanding the choices that we have now allows us to realize the golden opportunity that has been placed before us… It is a golden opportunity in that we can do nothing to obtain it by means of what we do on this earth… The author of Hebrews reminds us today that it is “through death He (Jesus) might destroy him…” Often times we take credit for things, we look at our outward achievements and begin to ponder how successful we have become, but the author reminds us that we would not know success or victory had it not been for Jesus laying down His life on the cross… In the Old Testament, sacrifices were made to atone for sin and to display thanksgiving; however, it was only through the bloodshed of Jesus that sin was completely destroyed… This isn’t to say that sin has been abolished, but that the weight and penalty of sin has been removed from those who desire to walk under the leadership of the Lord…The bible says that when Jesus laid down His life that He received the keys to the abyss… As a child of God I am thankful to know that Jesus has the final say as to where I spend eternity, I am thankful to know that through Him I can have Eternal Life and that I can be made whole… 

Today, no matter where you are, know that this is a new year and thanks to God you have a new lease on life… The devil had plans for you when you were born, but because of God’s love, because of God’s grace, because of God’s mercy you are able to overcome and reach the heights that only Jesus can allow… Understand that Satan had a firm grip on your life; he had all his ducks in a row and was preparing to remove any hope you had for developing a relationship with God…Today, there are many who find themselves under the yoke of Satan, they are trapped by addictions, by alcoholism and greed, but we take pride in knowing and being able to notify others that Jesus has paid the price for all… Your addiction can be overcome, your alcoholism can be conquered and greed can be subdued… The power lies in His nail-scared hands, the victory is in the blood poured out on Calvary and we have been given a chance to live because of the life that He shed on the cross… By dying on the cross, Jesus destroyed and removed the devils stinging power over sin. By His shedding of blood we have a right to the tree of life. We enter this world under the sin of Adam and Eve. Thanks be unto God that we don’t have to leave the same way we came! Again, this is a new year, we may have sought to do well in 2014; now let us look even higher and begin to soar in 2015…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Fools Despise Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

Our journey in Christ is not completed with the receiving of Salvation and Jesus as head of our lives… Solomon reminds us today that the fear of the Lord is the beginning… All believers in Christ have taken the initial steps in Christ; however, there are so many Christians that have never moved pass that first stage which the Apostle Paul refers to as being babes in Christ… The mission of Jesus was fulfilled every day of His natural life on this earth… 30 years of preparation and 3 ½ years of ministry led to the cross and resurrection… Jesus did not come down one day and leave the next; to the contrary, He grew as Luke recorded in the 2 chapter of His gospel which you will find these words…And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. I point this out today to reinforce the importance of growth in our Christian walk… Understand today that there is so much that you will learn through this journey, so many seasons of adversity and turmoil which will turn out to be seasons of preparation and exaltation… 

There are things in this life that you must learn beyond the realm of being saved which will mold you and form you into the man or woman God designed you to be so that He can then begin to use you in the manner which will bring you prosperity and fill His heart with joy and approval… This is why the fear (reverence, admiration) of God is just the beginning… Once you revere the Lord, then you can begin to walk according to His will knowing that His will and way are perfect… You can begin to exercise your faith knowing that there is an expected end in store for you and that your labor is not in vain… The very purpose of Jesus was not just to pave the way to Salvation but He declares in John 10:10 that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly… It is indeed foolish to belief that all God desired was to save you and not think that there is more to His will and divine plan for your life… You are here for a reason and to serve a purpose; God provides instructions for you on a daily basis so that you can walk in His love and carry out His will… There are a lot of things we endure in life which are not apart of God’s plan and we face a lot of difficulty and struggle from day to day simply because we do not obey His instructions… God gives you the knowledge and the tools to carry out this knowledge in your life which leads to wisdom… If we don’t adhere to these things and follow the guidelines given then we end up in precarious situation which we all would love to avoid… 

This is why Solomon goes on to say that fools despise wisdom and instruction… A fool is one who is not grounded, easily manipulated or deceived; the enemy has snares set along this path, there are temptations which we face on every hand and the only way we can overcome these is by the knowledge of God which will thwart every attack of the enemy and provide a way of escape when we feel as though we are tempted beyond measure… The first move in accepting Christ is the smartest move we can make, which is to have respect and reverence for God. We need to gain an understanding that HE formed us out of the dust of the ground, that He breathed the breath of life into are lungs and created us in His image. We need to know that His son is the only way to eternal security and salvation. A fool would not listen to the creator; a fool would harden his heart like Pharaoh. So which one are you…? Do you call and believe upon the name of Jesus, or do you simply live of this world and suffer the consequences of such actions just like the foolish who go nowhere fast and perish…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Compassion's Fail Not

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23

As we embark on a new year filled with endless possibilities, it is imperative that we remember who we owe it all too… Moses reminds us today that we have been offered a chance to see the year 2014 because of the love of God and not the alarm clock or loved one who woke us up this morning… You have a chance to right your wrongs today, a chance to write a new chapter of your life and a chance to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because of the Lord’s great love… As a stated before, this is a new year which means new days and new encounters… It is all because of the love which God has for us and displayed through His very own son that we are not consumed… Understand today that the enemy desired to end your life before it begin, he wanted to destroy the vision and plan that God had for you by confusing and confounding your very being as it relates to being in this world and not of it… The word of the Lord reminds us today that Satan will not win; even though we make mistakes, pick up bad habits and travel down the wrong path from time to time we are comforted today to know that God will always watch over us as Moses goes on to say that His compassions never fail…  

The word compassion (sympathy, concern or care) sheds light on the fact that God is filled with the deepest and purest form of Love for His creation, this pure love allows Him to be able to look beyond and through the flaws and fulfill every need… It is the compassion of God which sustains us because each and every day He deposits a measure of grace and mercy out of the caring valve of His heart into our lives which is why the write goes on to say that they are new every morning… Knowing that God’s compassion and mercies are new every morning let me know that they are deposited before I even begin my day… This is good news to the believer today as we are informed by Moses that God shows up in our lives and our situations before we even open our eyes to face them… We can declare today that God is faithful because He has been with us each and every day of our lives… He knows the battles that you will encounter in this year ahead, He knows the obstacles that you will have to overcome in the hours ahead and He has already dispatched the resources that you need for your journey each and every day of your travel… When the enemy arrives at your doorstep, when circumstance seem to be out of control, today’s focus verse reminds us to stand strong in faith knowing that God is faithful… 

The things which came against you in 2013 are landmarks for your testimony going into 2014… You were not consumed because of the love of God… It is because of Him that you and I are alive today, it is because of Him that you and I are able to share and study His word, it is because of Him that you and I are able to see a new year… The enemy thought he had you, but because you serve a faithful God the stumbling blocks of last year have become the stepping stones of this year… This Israelites were ready to turn back from their promised land; right on the doorstep of their breakthrough and they were ready to turn back; today know that you are on the edge of your breakthrough, you are about to come out on top in 2014, the devil is a liar and the love and compassions of God revel that each and every day of our lives… You are not consumed because there is a purpose to your struggle and a soul to be saved through your experiences… Sometimes in life your faith is tested with a storm so that God can show His faithfulness to all those who are watching you go through…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Pray For One Another

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

Colossians 1:9

The journey in Christ which we all travel as believers is filled with trials and tribulations… I am of the mindset that as soon as you declare your allegiance to Christ the enemy begins the process of ramping up his attack against you… As you walk in Christ you will be tempted, your faith will be challenged and the best thing that people can do for you during this time is to pray for your strength and unwavering faith… You may not be able to physically give your shoulder to one who is crying or in pain; however, you can reach them wherever they are by casting all your cares for them upon the Lord knowing that He cares for you and will move on you behalf… It was the faith of the Churchof Colossae which compelled Paul to write this letter and today’s focus verse… 

This verse sheds light on the importance not only of prayer, but the fact that we must pray for those who are in Christ as well as for those who do not know Christ… Notice that this verse starts off with the words for this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you… The message for today is that we must keep our church families and believers in Christ in prayer; however, the biggest message that we must receive today is that we must not stop praying… Keep lifting up your brother and sisters in Christ, continue to lay before the throne of the Lord and make your petitions known… As we prepare to enter a new year lets us left up our co-laborers in the vineyard of Christ knowing that obstacles and challenges are sure to arise… We are assured to face hardships and snares and this is why Paul goes on to say that we continually ask God to fill you…  

In this life we must be filled of God and by God in order to make it through the challenges of life… Our prayer to God should not be that we are able to obtain this or that but that we are filled with the knowledge of His will… This is the most important prayer that we can pray as a believer in Christ… To know the desires of God for our lives will allow us to be in the proper position to adhere to His will and plan… You must seek the will of God for you life if you want to live the life which God designed uniquely for you… As we grow in knowledge we will begin to see clearly the vision which God has for us and come to know that all things are made possible by Christ and God’s spirit which gives us the guidance and comfort to travel this journey in Him… Keep praying for others to walk in the will God has for them, keep believing that God Spirit will lead and guide and keep trusting that your prayers will be answered and the doors of your destiny will be opened…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Word Cuts Deep

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Know today that the word of God is alive and active… As a Christian you have been called to speak the word of God over every situation knowing that the word of God will not come back void but that it will accomplish what it was sent out to do… This means that you cannot give way to negative thoughts and or actions as you grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ… There are always things that occur in your life which may leave you confused as to what God is doing; however, you can stand in faith knowing that the word of God declares that His ways are not our ways and that His will shall be done... The author of today’s focus verse reminds us today that the word of God is designed to cut to the very core of our being… As a child of God we must be transformed from the inside out and this can only come by the penetrating sword which is the word… This is the convicting spirit which we feel deep in the pit of our souls and is the very point where we can be molded into what God has called us to be… 

The word of God cuts to the heart because we know that the heart is the foundation of our thoughts and actions… Remember that Jesus said in the 6^th chapter of Luke that the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. It is the heart which matters most to God and this is why the word of God is alive penetrating to the heart by judging the thoughts and attitudes of all that come in contact with it… As you journey through this life allow the word of God to penetrate you so that you are assured to be walking in the will of God… Knowing that the word of God issharper than any double-edged sword lets us know that as it penetrates and carves space within it us, it will also begin the process of cutting things out of us… Understand today that receiving the word of God can be a painful experience… 

This is why James, in his book refers to one who listens to the word of God as being like one who looks into a mirror… When we examine ourselves in a mirror we are trying to find imperfections that we can fix and or remove from our appearance… When we read the word of God it is designed to shed light on the imperfections of our being so that we can seek the will of God for us and be made whole with the aforementioned imperfection being wiped away… The uncomfortable feeling that we get when we read the word of God reminds us that His word is indeed alive and active… The transformation that we go through as we grow in Christ is proof that His word is piercing through the sins of yesterday to provide a foundation for tomorrow… You should never feel comfortable in this life because you are constantly being perfected in Him…  The sharper the pain felt of having relationships being cut off or habits being kicked to the curb is not to be rejected with tears; on the contrary, embrace these changes knowing that the word is doing the very thing it was designed to do…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Jesus Came To Set Us Free

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

Isaiah 61:1

When we walk in the Spirit of God we are able to do things beyond our wildest dreams… Things which we or others thought to be impossible become possible in the Spirit of God… As we prepare for the coming year it is imperative that we first prepare our hearts and minds for the favor of God… This 61^st chapter speaks to the year of God’s favor and it is of the utmost importance that we begin to think outside of the proverbial box and stop placing limitations on what God is able to do… As we sit just 2 days prior to a new year, we also sit at the door our destiny and God’s divine will which has not timetable… You don’t have to wait until January 1, 2013 to begin to experience the favor of the Lord… 

The Israelites faced many hardships, many trials and tribulations; however, the year of God’s favor was the coming Messiah which would bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom for the captives… You have been held captive for far too long… You have been oppressed for too many years and God’s favor is ready to pour out into and upon your life… Jesus came that you might have life and have it more abundantly; He has already loosed the chains, He has already paved the way and now is your time to walk in liberation… No longer do your past mistakes serve as restrictions to your divine destiny; no longer do skeletons in your closet serve as millstones around your neck… In the gospel of Luke chapter 4 tells us that Jesus was in the synagogues; 

He stood up, took the scroll and read this very passage from the prophet Isaiah… The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. After reading this passage the word of God tells us that rolled the scroll back up and handed it to the attendant, Jesus then sat down with all eyes fastened on Him and said "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The message that we take from this reading and the recoding in the gospel of Luke is today… We have the spirit of God living in us and walking among us… We can reach the loss soul; we can give sight the blind and a ray of hope to this dark and confused world… This is your time, this is your season and you will walk in the prosperity of the Lord because His spirit surely rests upon you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Is My Strength

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:19

Understand today that no matter how hard you try, there is nothing on this earth which you will be able to accomplish without the help and strength of the Lord… It is the Lord who has all power and ability to do anything but fail, we being His very creation have to rely on His strength and stop trying to handle situations on our own… This is the focus of today’s devotional; there are so many people in this world who are losing out on the divine will of God because they are busy trying to pave their own way… In Christ, the way is already paved and this is why Habakkuk goes on to say he makes my feet like the feet of a deer… If you ever take time to examine a deer you will soon come to the conclusion that everything which they do is made possible by their hooves or feet… 

Whether galloping across an open field at 30-35 mph, jumping an 8-foot fence in stride or clearing a 7-foot fence from a standstill, deer are impressive athletes. A steep embankment onto a road is just an opportunity to cross the highway in a single bound. Though there's no way to know where the best footing is, they seldom slip or fall under normal conditions. This principles applies to our lives in Christ as well… In Him we are able to do the unthinkable, we can overcome the most daunting of challenges, we can hurdle the biggest of obstacles placed in our way and even though we may stumble from time to time, in Christ we will never fall or will be utterly cast down… This is the good news with which we approach life and its many twist and turns… We can tread on the heights, we can and will overcome, we can and will be delivered, we can and will be victorious no matter what the outlook appears to be or the situation claims to be… 

Today, declare that the Sovereign Lord is my strength… Serve notice to the enemy that He will not win today and that you will rise above the miry and clay which has tried to entrap you… Even though Satan is trying to destroy the vision and dreams that God has for you it is good to know today that He (God) enables… He will give you the power, He will give you the strength and He will give you the endurance… God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory… You will win, you will come out and you will walk in victory… This will not happen because of your strength but because of your life being firmly placed in the hand of God who has all things under His control in the palm of His mighty hand…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Only Stupid People Don't Learn From Mistakes

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 12:1

The biggest difference between a child of God and one who is of this world is how we handle discipline… There are those who desire to retaliate and refuse discipline while others are more focused on embracing and learning from the errors of their ways… The last concept of handling discipline is how a Christian must think when they are faced with disciplinary measures as Solomon tells us that whoever loves discipline loves knowledge… This is not to say or suggest that you will be smiling when you are corrected, but that you will love the correction because you know that this will make you a better person and strong individual when faced with a similar challenge… This reason alone is why we must learn to love discipline… We must remember that God desires nothing but the best for us and from us; this means that the discipline that you endure will promote the desires of God in you so that you can become the very thing which He designed you to be… We all have a lot of growing and maturing to do in the will of God and the growing pains we experience as we move toward is will are never promised to be easy to endure or to persevere through… The writer of Hebrews declares in the 12^thchapter this very thing when he says “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Don’t focus on the discipline that you are subject to, learn to seek the message which is being conveyed through the times of struggle which you face… 

This is why the writer says that the one who loves discipline loves knowledge… You are seeking to understand why you face the corrective measures, you are seeking to learn from your mistakes which will provide a sturdy platform for your development and growth… The one who doesn’t seek to understand is the one who is destine to repeat the same process without growing or coming out better than he/she went in which is why the writer concludes by saying, whoever hates correction is stupid… God is correcting because God is caring, when you hate the things which God is trying to teach and show you, you are simply declaring you ignorance the severity of the situation and therefore can be classified as being stupid… God would not waste His time disciplining you if the matter was not of the highest priority… God is trying to transform and redefine your purpose here on earth; to miss this obvious point is to walk this earth without vision and purpose which again is just stupid… Today, learn to embrace the correction which God has sent your way, this may be the very thing which will lead to saving your life or losing it if you decide to ignore the message being sent…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Loves You

For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3: 16, 17

I often ponder what the word love means to people as they utter to their significant other or family member; love as world knows it is not the true definition of the way God sees it or intended it to be used… Love is an action word that is displayed rather than voiced, John records that Jesus Christ came to this earth because of the love which God had for the world… This is good news to all creation today is at tells us that God has so much love that He sent His son to die for us and pay for our mistakes and sins… I say that this is good news because it simple teaches us today of the very desires of God which is that we all would come to know Him… 

Jesus was sent to this earth over 2,000 years ago with a mission to pave a way for you to come to know His father; God paved the way before you even decided to choice His path which speaks to the love which He has for you… God doesn’t want any man to perish, despite what you have done, the errors of your ways and the wrong turns you have made, it’s not too late to turn around, pick yourself up and walk in the glory and will of God because He loves you… He doesn’t want to see you end up in hell; He doesn’t want you to be separated from Him for all eternity and so He sent His son to take you place… Even in the arrival of His son, which came from glory we are told that condemnation was not His mission… Jesus came to save not to ridicule, despise or discipline… This again shows the love of God… The Ten Commandments, which we all have fallen short in obeying, could’ve purchased our ticket to an eternity of weeping and gnashing of teeth… 

This has been the case since the very fall of man; however, the love of God was once again displayed not just in the arrival of Jesus but when Christ even summarized the life of a Christian as it relates to the will of God when He said in the gospel of “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” No today that you are not condemned; to the contrary, you are commanded to love… As you go through this day offer your love of the Lord to others by displaying who is in you and in charge of your life… There are people who may reject or even bring up your past… For those situations simply walk with you head up knowing that God loves you, forgave you and sent His son to pave a way for you… There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is hope for the wayward soul and this all has come about because of the Love of God and His desires to save you through His son…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Will Turn Again

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7:19

There is light at the end of the tunnel; the grace and mercy which defines our God will be made evident in your life beyond the fact that you are still breathing right not and capable of reading this devotional… The children of God were challenged in their faith and trust in God through the adversity and hardships that they face… We all go through tough time and situations; however, you can take courage in knowing today that trouble won’t last always… The bible declares to us through its pages that the love of God will save, forgive, cleanse and mature all who come to know and believe in Him… When I read this passage from Micah I am reminded of the 30^th Psalm, in the fifth verse these words are recorded, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning…” I refer to this passage to make the point that we will face situations that will leave us weeping; not matter how long we endure them we can persevere knowing that joy will indeed come… Our hope is not in the literal meaning of tomorrow, but that Christ will show up at the right time and place which will bestow upon us the most joy we can obtain from the aforementioned situation… Even though you may be in a rut or feeling down and out; you should find peace in knowing that “He will turn again…” God loves you and He wants to see you succeed… His desire is for you to reach levels far above what the human eye can comprehend and for you to obtain a weight of glory which Paul says that our present suffering cannot compare with… The book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah reminds us that God’s mercies fail not; that they are new every morning, Jeremiah then goes on to tell us that it is because of His compassion that we are not consumed and he concludes by saying great is thy faithfulness… Micah echoes those same sentiments today; the second part of this verse says, “…he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities…” Despite what you have done, despite the decisions you have made, the love of God won’t allow you to be utterly cast down… Sure, you will deal with the consequences of your actions, you will face and reap what you have sown; however, you should be encouraged today to know that the God will subdue our iniquities… 

He will carry them for us; He will pay the ransom and cancel the debt upon our heads… This feat has already been accomplished through the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ… The enemy doesn’t want you to know this, but you need to know today that all of your past, present and future mistakes have already been cast “…into the depths of the sea…” You are no longer subject to the punishment due to such actions that you have taken and wrongs that you have committed… Don’t give the enemy the vice to make you think that you have been rejected and cast off… See, we must soon realize today that we surely have made mistakes, but Micah wants you to know that God will turn, He will come and see about you (see Mary Magdalene at the savior’s tomb or the disciples hiding in the upper room), He will restore you (just ask Peter after denying that he knew Jesus in the courtyard) and He will clean you up and plant you feet on solid ground (see Saul’s conversion and how God changed his name to Paul and gave him a new lease on life…) Today we find the prophet Micah speaking of the present condition of children of God… He shines light on the fact that we have been given a free will and because of the choices and decisions that we make, we ultimately bare the consequences of our actions! At the time when Micah writes this letter; we, just like the Israelites have found ourselves putting a wall up or simply distancing ourselves from the way and will of the Lord… 

We have walked the wrong road, delighted in the wrong things and associated ourselves with the wrong kind of people… Make no mistake about it, the Israelites were facing a time when it appeared that God was distant (the reality was that dealing with the consequences of our actions may make us think He is distant simply because we want think we shouldn’t be subject to reaping what we have sown)… This indeed is a time when there was no hope in sight and the enemy appeared to be triumphant over them! Micah says He will turn again, understand that God desires for us to walk according to His will, but will remove His hand when we desire to walk in our own footsteps! Micah is providing the children with hope today, saying that although you are facing trials, know that He will turn again, He will lift you up, He will suppress your enemy and He will bless you with victory… There will be times in our lives when we will feel the absences of God due to circumstances that we tried to control, it is at this point that we must humble ourselves and become dependent on God if we want Him to move on our behalf! Trials come to make us strong and prep us for the next level of God’s plan; not cause up to give up on our destiny… Micah says that He will cast all sins into the depths of the sea… Jesus came to save on His first mission, when He returns He will come to judge! Let us understand the words that Micah is saying today; God hasn’t forgotten about you, He hasn’t given up on you, but you must endure the hardships of life to be molded and prepared for Christ return… You must face humbling circumstances, you must deal with heartache, but know that God is a God of mercy; He will never put more on you than you can bare and He will always be there! Trust Him, accept Him and walk according to His will… Trials may be raging, circumstance may seem unbearable, but know that God is simply waiting for you to turn it over, focus on His face and know that He has all power in the palm of His hand!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

In Christ, Haters Are Essential

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

1 Peter 4:14

There is a joy that engulfs the hearts of believers as they are reproached for the name of Christ… To be reproached means to be criticized, scolded or reprimanded; and when this occurs one can actually fine peace and calmness in their lives… This is not to suggest that the individual or endures this in their life likes to deal with opposition and/or adversity, but this means that the heart of a Christian can place the time of this ordeal in the proper context knowing, trusting and believing that this challenge is a sign of their very development in the will of God… To be reproached in Christ you must demonstrate Christ in your life and therefore have someone or something come against you for that very reason… There has to be a beacon light of Christ which shines bright in and through you for someone to come against your faith; this simply means that someone has to be able to draw a clear picture of your stance as far as serving God and this really reflects your present condition like a mirror for you to see how much you have grown or how far you have come… This is why Peter refers to reproach and this says,happy are ye because the sign of struggle is really a sign of maturation and ascension in the designed plan for your life as it relates to the will of God… The bible informs us several different times that as a child of God we will endure persecutions and tribulations… We are guaranteed to encounter people in our lives that what to object to us simply because of the profession of faith that we have in Christ Jesus… Peter reminds us today, that since we have been informed of these things, we should be able to find happiness in times of objection and ridicule… I was once told and believe it to be true that you can tell if you walking the right path just by seeing how much opposition you face… This (in a nutshell) is what Peter is speaking about in this particular passage… “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye…” No that your suffering within the name of the Lord is not in vain, you can be happen when you suffer reproach (criticism, scolding or rebuke) because you know that your endurance displays your faith and stores up the rewards of eternity which no man can take from you nor can any moth or thief corrupt or steal… 

Satan isn’t worried about those who are in the world; however, he reproaches those who are of the household of faith… So you can be happy in times of despair because the enemy sees that you are going in the right direction and this should be a testimony to you that you indeed are taking the right steps… This is why Peter goes on to say, “…for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you…” The spirit of glory is the spirit of favor, the spirit of victory and the spirit of peace… To know that it rest upon you should tell you that everything will be okay, everything will workout and you will obtain all that God has in store for you… When someone comes against you because of the faith you have in Christ; Peter points out today that you should be happy for several reasons… Again, understand today that for someone to reproach you for the name of Christ means that you are walking according to His will and your light is shining for all to see… Secondly, we are promised in the scriptures that our work in the Lord will not be in vain and that they that labor in the Lord shall be prosperous and victorious in whatever trials or circumstances that are faced… When the spirit of the Lord rest upon you, you will be secure in His tabernacle, Psalms 91 teaches us that we will be able to overcome storms, that we may see dangers all around us but while in the bosom of the Lord we shall not be harmed… This is a good news for us today, we know that in walking with the Lord it doesn’t matter what people may say or do, it doesn’t matter what conflicts come our way, we can be happy because we know that in serving God trials will come and every obstacle will become a stepping stone… The book of James tells us that we are to “consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and tribulations…” Peter tells us today that we are to be happy when we are reproached for the name of Christ… 

To be reproached means we are criticized, blamed accused; and as we examine this passage we see that we are to be happy about being called a child of Christ! Jesus said that anybody who loses his life for My sake shall find it; today let us lose the things of this world so that we may find the eternal happiness and blessings that God has promised us… Let us deny ourselves and take up our cross today! Through your trials and tribulations God is preparing a reward that will outweigh the obstacles that you face! When you walk according to His will and don’t fall into the snares of the enemy, God is molding you and taking you to another level which the human eye cannot see… Joseph (the son of Jacob) was left for dead, sold into slavery by his brothers; eventually he would be imprisoned, but in the end he sat on the throne and his brothers came to him in their time of need… David encountered Goliath, Saul sought to kill him and he spent time in the hands of the enemy before becoming the king and being called “a man after God’s own heart! Job was stripped of all he had, illness plagued his body and his friends turned on him; in the end he received double what he had and was rewarded for his faith in the time of despair… Paul was persecuted, stoned and locked up for his faith in Christ; before he passed he told Timothy “I have ran the good race, I know that there is a crown laid up for me…” Jesus took the form of man, was mocked and spit on, beaten and falsely accused, hung on a cross and died; but He now sits at the right hand of the father with all power in His hands, He is the way, truth and light, no man can come to the father but by Him… Understand that trials are necessary, hardships are apart of growth and God’s name will produced trials, but will also open bountiful windows of blessings… Jesus said keep in mind that they hated Him first, He also said, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 5:10

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Speak The Truth Regardless Of Who Dislikes It

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

The truth about every person on this earth is that they don’t typically like to hear words that expose or shine light on the errors of their ways… Nobody likes to be singled or called out; however, in Christ we are called to approach one anther regarding faults and failures (the key being in love) as this promotes growth and maturation… We all have made mistakes and acknowledging the mistake and learning from the experience is how we keep from repeating the same mistake and hindering our development in Christ…  Paul reminds this principle to Timothy in a second look at these key verses from his letter in today’s devotional… I don’t know about you, but I can speak from personal experience and tell you that is it painful for someone to speak words deemed (constructive criticism) when you are doing something that need to be changed or is just plain wrong… This is not only vital to our growth as Christians, but how we handle the truth will lead us in the right or wrong direction… This is what Paul is instructing Timothy about in this passage… People want to come to church and hear about all the good things and the blessings that God has in store for them, they want to hear about how He has all power and that in your walk with Him you will prosper; however, they don’t want to hear the fact that you must take up your cross, they don’t want to review the words of James and “look into the mirror…” The word of God is simply that, the word of God and you cannot deem what parts of pieces that you want to accept and what parts or pieces that you want to reject… As we grow in Christ and learn to speak the truth in love, we are reminded and instructed today to understand that not everyone wants to hear the pure and true word of God… 

Not everyone wants to find their flaws, not everyone once to go through the purging process and have their lives transformed… Paul teaches Timothy and us today of the times that we will indeed face and are facing… One of the biggest problems we find in the church today is a misguided message and a misguided church body… Paul charges Timothy today and us not to cave in to the pressures of the world… The bible teaches us that the word is sharper than a double-edge sword… When Josiah became king over Israel the word tells us that the book of the law was found in the temple… As the prophets read the book of the law to Josiah he tore his clothes in disgust… This passage teaches us that the word will and is here to convict and reform us… When we begin to please the ears of men, we devalue the word of God and the focus and direction that it brings… Paul charges Timothy today to remain steadfast in God’s word and not to allow the missteps of his peers to deter him or thwart God’s will and plan for his life… Paul was nearing the end of his life and passing the mantle to Timothy! Today we have seen many great leaders go on to see what the end would be and the mantle has been passed to us… Paul is saying to us today that there will be times when people will reject Christ and you because of your faith and your true words…The truth of their rejection is not a deterrent to you, but it shows that your words have hit them in a soar spot that can only be healed through the divine power of God… There will be times when people will skew or slant the word of God to fulfill the desires of the flesh… We can surely look at the times we are in today (prosperity gospel, scientology etc…) and see that this is the time that we must stand! One of the biggest and best witnesses we have is the life that we lead… 

Paul charges Timothy today as a leader to stay the course… We have a charge as Christians to stay the course… Don’t become weary when we see people go astray; don’t become disappointed when people reject the word of God… Jesus told the 72 to shake the dust off their feet when someone did not want to receive the word of the Lord… Understand that people are out in this world searching for happiness, they are searching for pleasure and they are searching for fulfillment…Whether the word of God is accepted or not, it’s our job to plant the word of God in all people we encounter and allow God to provide the increase… In the book of James we gain a better understanding of the power that lies within the tongue… Your words are powerful, your witness is undeniable and the Grace of God will protect and keep you! Peter denied knowing Christ three times in the courtyard and left weeping; however in the book of Acts he is seen standing tall denying the notions that the people surrounding him were drunk… As a result of his witness 3,000 souls were saved… They weren’t saved because Peter pleased their itching ear, but because he spoke the word of God…Likewise, Paul is reinforcing Timothy today, he is saying stand tall in the midst of this crooked world, hold on in the midst of darkness and ignite the spark of God that lies within… Paul was telling Timothy that your time is now! This world may reject you, but they need to hear your voice; they need to hear your message and the power that Christ has placed within you! Today is your day, today this world needs to see your witness, and they need to feel your presents and God’s power! Display your faith and God’s faithfulness… Trust in the Lord, don’t be overcome by the world, but overcome the world by good (which is the word of God)!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Blessed Is The Man That Feareth The Lord

Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Psalm 112:1-2

Fear is a word that often carries a negative connotation… When reading this passage we must first understand that there are two kinds of fear; one which prohibits and one which ignites… The fear which the Psalmist refers to is one that will ignite the very will of God in your life while also igniting your ability to stand in faith no matter what obstacles or distractions are placed in your path… There is nothing in the will of God which will prohibit you from having life and having it more abundantly which is what Jesus declared as His mission and purpose in the gospel of John… You were made in the unique way that God planned for a unique purpose; however, so many of us lose sight of that purpose or stray from that path because of the fear which will debilitate and destroy you… In this world, we associate fear with weakness; however, today we are reminded in this 112^th psalm that true fear can bring promotion and blessings… The first part of verse one says, “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord…” If you are going to be fearful, it is indeed only one fear that can lead to your blessings and that is found in the fear of the Lord… If I fear man, I allow him to control or dictate how I advance in my walk of life; however, if I fear God than I allow Him to lead me according to His will which is promised to lead me to great and marvelous things… I am thankful today that the fear of God leads me places instead of the fear that man can instill within someone that will allow them to control and manipulate situations… In fearing God you find delight in keeping His commandments… When you keep the commandments of God you are assured that you will not be cast down or be written off… 

You may encounter storms of life, you may experience trials and tribulations and you may face times of adversity and persecution; however, you are blessed because you are guaranteed to overcome every obstacle, you are assured to claim your victory and you are certain to obtain your incorruptible crown of life… Understand the power that is in fear; when you fear God you respect Him as creator and ruler, you submit your life to Him and acknowledge that all power resides in the palm of His hand… True fear, if channeled in the right direction can lead to true strength… This is why the next passage says, “His seed shall be mighty upon earth…” In your weak state you actually become stronger because you have accepted God’s will… In your submissive state you may appear vulnerable to some, but through God’s presences you become more than a conqueror… When you walk in the will of God you set examples for all mean to follow… When you trust in the Lord you find pleasure in your path because you know that He sees your faith and will bless your offspring… Because of Abraham’s faith in packing up and going to a foreign land He was promised that His seed would be blessed and we know He was the father of many nations and was blessed with Isaac… Understand today that we as Christians find power in fear… We don’t look at the word fear in a sense of lacking but in a sense of gaining… Fear is a strong word that provides perseverance and authority to all mankind… This is why the writer goes on to say, “…the generation of the upright shall be blessed…” To be upright you must have a strong stance, you must have a strong posture and all these things go against the negative connotation of the word fear… 

If you are upright in your walk you are not swayed to your left or right easily, if you are upright in your faith you don’t allow the things of this world to frustrate you or get you to overlook the grace and mercy that God has already dispensed upon your life… The generation of the upright will be blessed… Walk in the fear of the Lord today knowing that you can hold your head high in the midst of a storm, walk in the fear of the Lord today knowing that rains in your provide water to the seed that God has planted in you… Walk in the fear of God today trusting that every obstacle will become a stepping stone and you are being molded and perfected through these trials of life… No longer look at fear as a weakness but as strength… You are stronger today because of your fear of God… You don’t allow people to purse sway you to give in to temptations because you know what God has done and is doing in your life… You are fearful and wonderfully made!! The enemy wants you to fear Him because the truth of the matter is that he is scared of you… He is scared of seeing what you can become, he is scared of seeing God’s seed sprout in your life and he is scared of seeing doors open that will lead to bigger and better things… You will be blessed, you will be victorious, you will be crowned… The bible says that we are too “Fear God, and keep his commandments…” Bow down to Him with a humble halt, THEN; ye shall be exalted, take pride in your humility, knowing that God is above all and came to be servant unto us as the ultimate sacrifice…The enemy doesn’t want you to become what God designed you to be, so he places dark alleys between you and your destination so that you will fear the journey; however, today find strength in the fear of the Lord and speak just as David did… “Ye though I walk through the valleys of the shadows of death I will FEAR no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and the staff comfort me…” Don’t fear the valleys of shadows of death, fear God because He has already conquered them!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!