Look To Jesus To Find Strength

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:3

There is no shortcut to reaching the heights and plateau that God has designed for you; there is no way to circumvent the paths and lanes which were uniquely customized for your feet to travel… In today’s devotional we are reminded that we must focus on our source of strength instead of dwelling on our current problem or situation… There are so many of us who daily find ourselves being caught up in situations to the point that we neglect and negate the power and presences of God… When you find yourself on the verge of throwing in the proverbial towel, when you feel like you are at the end of your rope and can’t see a way out, the author tells you that you must consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners… Remember all the snares, trials and hardships that Jesus faced; remember the heartache and spiritual pain that was firmly thrust upon His shoulders and know that in the end He was victorious… You can draw strength from the Lord by simply reflecting on all that He has done in your life and even before you were born… Jesus fought the good fight over 2000 years ago so that you could see this day; He considered it not robbery to leave His home in glory so that you could one day reside with Him… All these things Jesus did for you and indeed did accomplish them and this alone should provide your source of strength and motivation to do the same… The enemy can only defeat you if you allow Him and the proof of this statement is in the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the 4th chapter of Matthew… 

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. The passage from Matthew should serve as a great source of encouragement for the weak and discouraged believer… Keep your hand to the plow; the field will produce the harvest which will make the sowing all that more enjoyable…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Confession + Prayer = Healing

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16

Problems derive from faults not being confessed or mistakes made being shown through love… Today’s devotion reminds us of the importance that confessing one another’s faults to each plays in the processes of healing… There are a lot of people walking around in life with open wounds; these wounds are infected daily because bitterness has not been removed and anger continues to fester like bacteria with oxygen… This same principle applies to the offender and the offended; as the offender, often times we will deny wrong doing which will allow a spirit of pride, self righteousness and an egotistical mindset to be rooted in us and drive us further from the truth… In order to have closure in your life which gives way to healing, you must either acknowledge your wounds or confess your actions which led to someone being wounded… This acknowledgment must not only take place, but must also be prayed over; this is why James goes on to say that not only must we confess our faults, but that we must pray one for another… Recognizing the mistake you made or the offense that someone committed to you is the first step; however, until you seek a resolution and closure through prayer this issue will not and cannot be resolved… In understanding the importance of prayer, I am lead to reminding you that the issues you face in life are not meant for you to handle but to teach you to turn them over to the Lord… There are so many problems that could’ve been resolved and so many issues that could’ve been handled differently if we gave way to the plan and move of the Holy Spirit… Prayer is essential to being healed because it removes all the infected items (you and the other person) from being involved and thus making the matter even worse… Confess your faults, pray over the matter and along God to heal and resolve.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY! 

You'll Lift; He'll Draw

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 12:32

The promise Jesus makes in the Gospel of John today to His disciples is a promise of simplicity and a promise of power… The simple task we have (which isn’t actually that simple given our sinful nature and natural desires) is to lift up Jesus. It is through this very act of exalting him that we see His power manifested in that He “will draw all men unto him…” This very passage recorded in the 12^th chapter is the key to our life on this earth and serves as a great tool of witnessing for those who do not know Christ or have gone astray... As a Christian we have the faith that Christ is the center of our being. This says that if we lift him up, He will draw. In all things, focus on Him; continue to lift His name above your pain and suffering, lift Him in you worry and tribulation, exalt Him during your storms; knowing that if you focus on Him, He will bring you out. He will deliver you from the muck and mire; and you will be just like a tree planted by the waters; you shall not be moved!!! When something is lifted it is exalted, raised or elevated above. This speaks to the true heart of a Christian! It is very easy to praise God when you or your family and friends are blessed, but is His name lifted in and through your life when storms rise? Is He receiving your praise when tribulations come knocking on your door? Christ is posing a thought to us today, “if I be lifted up…” He is seeking for you to lift Him above every situation; He wants you to speak His name over every obstacle and blessing you incur or encounter… Don’t lose sight of God’s goodness and the power that lies in the name of Jesus! The word “if” implies that a choice must be made; so many lives have been lost, and so many paths have led many astray because people are scared to lift up Jesus… When trials come, when a family member goes astray, we are to focus on God and not the situation… When we lift up Jesus, He promises that He will draw… It doesn’t matter how far they have gone, it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you have made; when you lift Him up He will draw and bind every broken piece back together… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

They Have To Dwell In You

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38 

You can do nothing without the power and presence of God…Even though the world declares to us that we can do a lot of things if we apply ourselves, the word of God informs us today that even Jesus Christ had to be anointed and aided by the Holy Ghost in order to do good and heal all that were oppressed of the devil… Notice that that today’s devotion declares that we need the anointing of God not to just perform miracles but simply to do good… Sin is naturally apart of our being, we are filled with filth and a strong desire to fulfill the lust of the flesh… Doing good embodies so many actions of our daily lives; we need the presence of God in our lives to speak kindness amidst gossip and betrayal, we need His anointing to extend a helping hand to our adversary and enemies…When we are of this world we focus on trying to get ahead using whatever means necessary; however, when we are under the anointing of God we have faith that we will reach new heights and are willing to extend a hand to those we pass along the way… We all have probably heard the saying “what would Jesus do” and after reading this question I am left posing the question how did Jesus do it…? How is it that He could allow Judas to kiss Him in betrayal, how could He heal the ear of the guard, how could He kept quiet while all the lies were spoken about Him and how could He endure the cross knowing that His life was lived without blame… The answer lies in the words of this passage; God anointed Him and the Holy Ghost guided Him… This same principle must be applied to your life; you won’t be able to do what Jesus did if you don’t have the same in dwelling spirit that He did… In short, you must come to know the Father and allow the father to be within you so that you then can accomplish the most possible on this earth…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Cares; You'll See In Due Time

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humility is the characteristic that if handled correctly will unlock the divine will and plan of God for your life… I say that it must be handled correctly, because humility can also unlock destruction and chaos in one's life if you are humbling yourself to the wrong authority… This is why Peter says Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God; your humility can either be used to promote or tear down and it must be handled carefully… The meek temperament shown through humility allows someone to be molded, shaped or fashioned for a specific purpose… In the beatitudes, Jesus Christ declares “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” When you allow yourself to be molded, you then can be transformed to go to another level in Christ which will in turn open up doors in your life to inherit things that you never thought you would be able to obtain… A meek person is submissive; they are compliant to the authority in their lives and are mild mannered… I can reiterating this point because it is of the utmost importance that we understand how humility unlocks Gods favor but can also lead us down a path of darkness and destruction if we submit to the wrong things… A lot of us become frustrated with the will and plan of God; we don’t see Him moving as we desired and so we find ourselves submitting to the desires of the flesh or of this world…  This is why Peter says that we must first submit to the mighty hand of God and then proceeds to say that this must happen so that he may exalt you in due time…You have to know that just because you submit to the will of God doesn’t mean that He is going to act in your favor or on your behalf right away… So many of us are looking for a big miracle and God is simply paving avenues to your divine destiny which are not bordered in gold… Your faith and humility are stable when your foundation is founded in knowing that God will move in due time… The things of this world which teach that results should be instant do not flow within the design of the very will of God… The bible declares very clearly that “his ways are not our ways nor his thoughts our thoughts…” God has plans being carried out and you must learn today that your humility can not be deterred based on when or what types of results you see results… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

All Flesh Shall See God

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 40:4-5

Every stumbling block you face in your life is guaranteed to become a stepping stone when you walk according to the will and plan of God… As a child of God, we have to have the mindset that trouble will arise; however in and through it we will not only come out, but we will be better than we were when we first went in… The word that came to Isaiah informs us today that Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low…  A valley is a low area of land usually found between a hill or mountain; on the other hand, a hill is a raised area of land (a mountain being a little higher than a hill)… I clarify these things to make the point of what Isaiah is saying to us today, the things in your life that appear in one form will be flipped and transformed into another form when you walk by faith and not sight… There are areas of you life that you think are low points and God wants you to know that He can lift; there are situations that you face which you think cannot be conquered because they are too high and steep, the word of God for you today is that He can make them manageable so that you can cross over… No situation is too hard for our God; even when things seem to be spiraling out of control in your life, know that the crooked shall be made straight… The things you face in life are challenging you to display your faith and not just speak about it… This is why we are assured to have trials and tribulations, hardships and despair... There is a greater work being performed in the midst of the storm you face and you can maintain your standing in Christ by knowing that the glory of the Lord shall be revealed… For something to be revealed, it must first be concealed… The things in your life that are concealing your destiny and God’s grace are serving the purpose of setting the stage for you and the hand of God to be revealed in the lives of others… All Flesh Shall See God!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trials Are Vital To Growth

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:3-5

It is easy for a Christian to boast about the goodness of Jesus when things are well in their respective lives, it’s easy for them to share their joy with others who are down or sad when they feel the presences of God in their lives; however, through today’s devotional we are reminded of the greatest ministry that we have which is developed through our trials and tribulations… Understand today that the same joy we experience in the sunshine we must display and experience in the rain… So many of us claim to be about the work of the Lord, but in crunch time, when the sweat begins to come forth, we don’t keep our hands to the plow… This message today serves as a reminder that you can’t have one without the other… You can’t love Christ and not obey His commands; you can’t seek His face and not seek His will… This is why Paul writes this chapter in his letter to the Church of Rome; the message of Christ had gone forth, but the toiling and persecution was not accepted… This same principle is what plagues the church of today… We want the cake, but we don’t want to be in the kitchen to bring all the ingredients together… We want the end result, but not the beginning equation…Look at the first part of these verses, Paul says, “And not only so…” 

There’s so much joy experienced when one turns their life over to Christ, there is a newness felt within that cannot be put into words and the greatest artist of all cannot even begin to imagine and put to a canvass the speechless feeling that one gains when they now know they are now co-heirs with Christ… In the midst of this uncontrollable bliss, Paul wants us to remember that there is a marriage in the body of Christ that binds the grace of God with the trials and tribulations of the world… These two are inseparable and it’s simply all or nothing…So many of us spend our days trying to experience the grace of God without the persecutions that come with the grace and therefore we find ourselves trying to tip top through life and never walk by faith… The faith you need to please God is lacking in our life which will then lead you to enduring more through your storms and not getting more out of them… Paul says that we glory in tribulations also; you must have a mindset which will take on the hardest obstacle and steepest mountain because of your trust and faith in Christ… Look at the passage, Paul is speaking about having glory amidst hardships and tribulations; He is referring to the individual deal with the storm and how you display yourself in the rain… Glory is beauty, splendor, brilliance or fame; there are some people in your life that need to see your beauty and splendor when you go through stuff and not just when you feel comfortable and there is no storm in your current forecast… When you walk in faith your splendor will be evident no matter what you face…You thank God when things are God and praise Him for learning when you go through a test… This is why Paul says we glory in tribulations also: knowing… Your glory can been seen through all the clouds of life when you have faith in God knowing that the storms you face will not over take you but are preparing you for your next level or phase of life… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Be Afraid; Trust God

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 12:2-3

The enemy has launched an all out assault on your divine destiny… He wants to fulfill the passage of scripture in John 10:10 where Jesus says that the enemy cometh not but to steal, kill and destroy… The ultimate goal and plan of Satan is no secret to the true believer of Jesus Christ; however, many of us fall short because we don’t recognize the ways and forms that the enemy will take on to accomplish his goals… We know that he is attacking us, but we don’t recognize the way in which he is coming… The Israelites found themselves dealing with this principle from the time they were lead out of Egypt to the prophetic years of Isaiah… The children of God had to be reminded that the same God that delivered them before will deliver them now… Instead of giving in to the outlook of things, they are reminded to draw water out of the wells of salvation… Several times the enemy bogged down their minds with so much that they begin to defy God and act in disobedience; the message of today’s devotional is to accept the unacceptable (God’s will), be submissive to the unimaginable (God’s plan) and not cower in fear because of the appearance of your current circumstances… The things that you face upon this earth each and every day are not to mislead you or destroy you but to give you a testimony and a song to sing… Isaiah calls to our remembrance today the fact that even though the battle may be intense, the love of God and the plan of salvation that He has for your life will win… Sing your song today and let the devil know that God is my salvation, serve notice to the land that the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song… All the enemy can do is try to get you to neglect the power and plan that God has and will bestow in your life if you follow Him… Don't be afraid; trust God! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Learn To Keep Your Promise

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

We all have heard the saying that “talk is cheap”, today Solomon reminds us that to renege on your word is the biggest sin you can commit! Every day you make a promise, if you are going to work (your boss expects you to come in on time), if you are attending a class you are expected to be there promptly, and these are unwritten promises that one vows when you accept the task that is put before you… Solomon teaches us today that we must honor our word and commitments, too often people say things that they can’t live up to and eventually place themselves in harm’s way for failure and eventually leave someone else disappointed! Think about how you felt when someone wronged you by not keeping the promise or vow that they made! You feel betrayed, you feel deceived, and let down. When it is all said in done, the only thing that a man really has in this life is his word, when that is removed so is he…. Now that we understand the importance of vows, we can surely understand why Solomon tells us that God takes no pleasure in a fool… God desires your best; He doesn’t want to hear excuses and will not be bogged down by them. Your commitments to Him will be called into account and you will have to answer to them in your day of judgment! Broken promises can end lives and destroy dreams literally; they can scar people and cause a lot of negative thoughts to be formed about the character of individuals… So remember to keep your word (especially to God)!  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Jesus Taught Us How To Live

 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 

The word of God declared in the Old Testament that a savior would come, that He would pay our debt of sin and redeem us unto a path of salvation through His death as the ultimate sacrifice! Since the beginning of time, the Jews have been waiting for a savior, they have been sitting and pondering the very day that Christ would come to this earth…The bible declares here in John that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, the savior has already come, He has already paid sin’s penalty and He currently sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf and patiently awaiting His triumphant return when we shall be caught up in the air to meet Him… The word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, it serves as a compass to reach our spiritual heights and comfort when we stumble along the way, the word is our encouragement to maintain our Faith and the source of strength to overcome every obstacle that we face, Jesus embodies all these things for us… He came to show us how to walk, how to live according to God’s commands and laws, He came to pave the way for us to come back into fellowship and truth within the knowledge of God… He took on the form of man so that we can have an example in the flesh of how we should desire to walk! He came in the flesh to instruct us at our level of how we can reach the Promised Land, and He came in the flesh to resurrect our possibilities of having eternal life! The instructions were written by the prophets; Jesus acted them out on this earth, now the ball is in our court to be prepared for His return!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Sometimes It's Best To Shut Up

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid his instruction any mind, today I have come to know and understand exactly what he meant… Words are powerful, the things that we speak can produce seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3^rd chapter of his book about the importance in taming our tongue… In this chapter he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ...” Your tongue has the ability to transform lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in it’s use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… People are watching you, they are observing your walk and how you handle various situations, show them the God in you and not the side of you that is still a work in progress… Bottom line, think before you speak and if that doesn’t work just shut up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay The Course

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Psalm 11:7

Everyday that you see displays God’s justice in your life, He hasn’t let the enemy just trample over you nor has He turned His back on you… The love that God has for you should ignite your faith and take your relationship with Him to another level… When you feel as though you can’t overcome, when you feel like life is unfair, remember that God is with you, He’s standing by and His love for fairness has touched you and awaken you this morning… This is the reason why you have seen another day, this is the reason why you can see the sunshine and feel the wind blowing; God has been fair to you… He knows that you were designed to succeed; He knows that you were designed to reach supernatural heights and He wants to give you every opportunity possible to walk in your divine calling… When Jeremiah was called to speak the word of God, look at what takes place in this passage; the 1 chapter verses 4-10 read as follows, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” God continues to call us no matter our age or location, Jeremiah was known of God before He was formed… God already knew you, He already devised a plan for you and this is why He loves justice; no matter how you may feel or even be led to think, the call that God has on your life will trump the chains that the enemy has placed over you… Jeremiah thought that he was too young, but God said I am with you and will rescue you; this same principle applies to us today, we have things that may appear to disqualify us in this life... We may feel as though we are inadequate and cannot overcome certain limitations, if you feel like that today just know that God has brought you to this point so that He can take you through it… The Lord wants nothing more than to have you in the fold, make sure that your heart is aligned with His righteousness and you are assured to get there…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!  

He Wants You

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

Psalm 50:10-11

This psalm is penned by Asaph who was a young priest from the tribe of Levi. He writes this text during the period when David brings the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem… Asaph served in Jerusalem for all of David's reign, He was in Jerusalem when God gave David the great promise that David would have a son who would be the Messiah, and reign forever. This background provides a segway into today’s devotion which speaks to the love of God in the midst of our filth and corruption… There is nothing on this earth that doesn’t belong to the Lord… This is a (n) encouraging word for us today which should remind us that the course we travel should be aligned with the will of God… Asaph  was a man that observed many things throughout the life that God allowed Him to live… As I stated earlier, through David’s reign and growth, Asaph was there. He served as David's music director and was vital in several of the psalms penned by David himself… Having observed the very life of David, seeing the good days and the bad, Asaph pens these scriptures which we study today… 

Everything of this earth belongs to the Lord, you are a vessel formed from His hand, carved by His words and designed for His purpose; however, just like many creatures created by God, we have decided to walk according to our own desires and plans… The Lord wants to remind you today that every beast of the forest is His and the cattle upon a thousand hills. He reminds us of this today because He wants us to tune our ears to the fact that He desires more for our lives… Slaughtering a bull, lamb, sheep or goat is not what God desires from you since they belong to Him anyway…God doesn't want an offering or sacrificial lamb, He wants you... He wants to mold you, He wants to protect you and He wants to exalt you; however, you must desire a better life, you must come to the realization that there is more to life than just what you see and call upon His name… This is why, through all His mess David was able to proclaim that “a broken and contrite heart thou will not despise…” In all his mess, David was a called a man after God’s own heart....not because He was perfect, but because His desire was to please the father not with gifts but with His life… In a nutshell, it’s about your heart…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Walk In His Word

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

Jesus informs us in the gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verse 11 that, “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” I share this passage of scripture as we examine today’s focus verse because we must understand the importance of what resides within us… There are a lot of people walking this earth with bitterness and are unhappy simply because the enemy has taken up residence within them… These people are never satisfied even when they get the things they desire because their callous heart still yearns for more… Today, if you want to have peace in your life, if you want to have unspeakable joy or if you simply want to learn to be content with the things surrounding you, Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly… The word of Christ is the key to your happiness, contentment and peaceful existence… If the word of Christ is not in you than the darkness which you were born in still resides and therefore the seeds that sprout in your life will do nothing more than to feed the corruption that is already present… Stay focused! The bible records, “let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord, you are my strength and my redeemer…” AMEN

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He's Ready To Give It To You

 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 

Psalm 84:11-12

Even though you may experience days of darkness and confusion; the passage we focus on today declares that the Lord is a sun and shield… You will experience many days where the enemy appears to have an upper hand; however, in the body of Christ you are reminded today that the Lord is always near and will deliver you… This passage ends by declaring, “blessed is the man that trusteth in thee…” The writer records these words because when you trust in the Lord you are guaranteed to be blessed, the darkness that you face will indeed become light and you will receive a clear vision of the path and will that God has planned for your life when the rays of the sun shine bright all around you and through you… The psalmist starts this psalm by declaring how wonderful the dwelling place of the Lord is; the things that you experience in this life should declare the same words spoken of by the psalmist… This is a dark and dreary place which we dwell; however, when we are in the presences of the Lord, even the scariest places become peaceful in our lives… We know that this is true because the word of God tells us today that “the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly…” Make no mistake about it, the Lord wants to shine bright in your life, He wants you to walk in His light and not in the darkness, but you must choose to allow Him in and receive His will and divine plan for you… God wants to give you the very best, He isn’t withhold anything from you, so you must ask yourself the question today as to why you haven’t received it…? These words teach us that the things of God can only be denied by us and nothing else… Too often we want to blame God or circumstance for our situations; however, in the body of Christ we rest assured in the love of God knowing that when we walk according to His will He will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Every Ear Shall Hear

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come...

Revelation 14:6-7

There will be no area of land on this earth which will not hear the word of the Lord… No matter the authority or dictatorship of the land, the word of God reveals to us today that the seeds of the gospel will be planted; however, the flower to bloom will be entirely up to the land which bears the seed...  This passage serves as good news as we are informed that all will have a chance to come to know our Lord and Savior; however, this passage also reminds us that the hour of judgment is closer than we imagined… You may think you have plenty of time to get your life in order, but the word of God tells me that once the land has heard of the Salvation of Jesus Christ, then the hour of judgment shall be upon us… John reveals to us today the glory and mercy that embodies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… In his vision he sees a (n) angel in the midst of heaven having the gospel and preaching to them on the earth, to every nation, kindred, and tongue… His instructions are to fear God, give Him glory, for the hour of judgment has come… We all need to hear the word of God in our lives and John informs us today that God not only desires for all to be saved, but that He will not come back until all have heard His word… Today let us focus on giving God glory with our life, present your body a living sacrifice, understand that this is not easy, but that if we accept the word of God (preached by the angel) and believe it in our hearts, we will be saved and will not suffer the wrath that once awaited us…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Always Give Thanks

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:19-20

Don’t allow your mind to be controlled by the circumstances around you and thus give the enemy a foothold on your life… In today’s devotional we are reminded of the importance of speaking over ourselves instead of allowing someone else too… There are a lot of things that we all face in this world, a lot of situations that we find ourselves in which are disheartening to the strongest and most stable individuals; however, the declaration that is made today is that we must maintain our praise, worship and devotion to the Lord… The enemy has set out to destroy you; however, it will not be a physical fight, it will be a battle within your mind… All Satan wants you to do is focus on the problem and not stand in faith knowing that the Father is the solution… Your adversary has placed strategic things in your life with the focus of derailing your faith; this is why you encounter obstacles that seem impassable and burdens that appear to be unbearable… The word of God tells in Hebrews 9:28, “so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” This is not the only reference we have to know that Christ has delivered us from past, present and future sins as Peter declares in the 3^rd chapter of his  1^st book, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,” These scriptures are referenced in today’s devotional so that you can see clearly that Satan only has the power that you give Him… He wants you to think (battle in the mind) that you are in bondage because of mistakes and failures; however, the Lord wants you to praise Him in and through your challenges because you know that He has and will deliver you… No matter what you're going through, have an attitude of gratitude. When we give thanks, we focus on the positive and usher in the power of God into our lives and the very circumstances we find ourselves in. Don't worry, be thankful, God's got you!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Word Will Go Forth

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come...
Revelation 14:6-7

These verses penned in John’s revelation today speak to the love, compassion and desire which God has for all His creation to return unto Him… No matter what you have done in this life, no matter how ashamed you may be of the things in your past or the skeletons in your closet; John writes today to let us know that there will be a loud voice  which will be heard by all mankind with the declaration for you to fear God… Your life is built upon the choices that you make and these same principles apply to your relationship with Christ… The Lord desires to save you and to record your name in the book of life; however, it is ultimately up to you and the decisions that you make to decide whether or not you want to dwell there… If you want God to write your name down, if you want Jesus to be “preparing a place for you”, then you must submit and have fear (reverence, respect and admiration) for the Lord… 

In John’s revelation the last words recorded state “for the hour of his judgment is come…” You don’t have as long as you believe you have and even the next day let alone the next second is not promised…  God’s desire is that all would come to know Him and receive Him… This is His desire, but the ball is in your court… You cannot honor Him with your lips; you must fear Him and give Him glory… Glory is beauty, wonder or credit… When we give God glory, we are crediting Him with our change in life, we exalt Him by our living because we recognize that victory, success and prosperity all flow from His blood… Today let us focus on giving God glory with our life, present your body a living sacrifice, understand that this is not easy, but that if we accept the word of God (preached by the angel) and believe it in our hearts, we will be saved and will not suffer the wrath that once awaited us… TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

A Child Mentality

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Luke 18:17

Receiving the kingdom of God is not a verbal expression, but an act that requires a total submission and openness of one’s heart… The words recorded in today’s focus verse shine light on the fact that we must have the mindset and attitude of a child when it comes to the kingdom of God… A child is very gullible (innocent, trusting) and accepting in their early years; having this mindset allows them in their youth to believe any and everything that they are told by their parents… Santa is real because of words spoken, the tooth fairy exist because they are taught of his being and fear is eased when a parent says everything is okay…  In Christ, when we have this mindset we trust and hang on every word of God… We can stand in the midst of adversity and smile because we remember what our father told us and we declare it to be true… When the enemy seems to be on the attack, having the mind of a child says you will not win and joy comes in the morning… Even when faced with trials and tribulations and obstacles that appear to be too steep to overcome; having a child’s mindset allows you to rely on our heavenly father knowing that He will not only provide the source of comfort, but that He also will provide the ability to withstand the situation that you are faced with. Knowing this you can declare and speak into the atmosphere that this too shall pass… This is why we are reminded today that the kingdom of God can only be entered when you have this mindset… When you lose sight of thinking like a child in the aspects of your spiritual life, you then allow that crevice of opportunity for the enemy to slip in and get you to start thinking according to your own desires… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Preach The Word; The Hour Has Come

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come...

Revelation 14:6-7

These verses penned in John’s revelation today speak to the love, compassion and desire which God has for all His creation to return unto Him… No matter what you have done in this life, no matter how ashamed you may be of the things in your past or the skeletons in your closet; John writes today to let us know that there will be a loud voice  which will be heard of all mankind with the declaration for you to fear God… Your life is built upon the choices that you make and this same principle applies to your relationship with Christ… The Lord desires to save you and to record your name in the book of life; however, it is ultimately up to you and the decisions that you make to decide whether or not you want to dwell there… If you want God to write you name down, if you want Jesus to be “preparing a place for you”, than you must submit and have fear (reverence, respect and admiration) for the Lord… In John’s revelation, the last words recorded state “for the hour of his judgment is come…” You don’t have as long as you believe you have and even the next day let alone the next second is not promised… The enemy has a lot of us under the belief that we can do as we please because we have tomorrow to change our ways and get ourselves together; sadly, there are millions of people who thought this way and will spend their eternity in hell because of it… Open your eyes to see and know how much the gospel of Jesus Christ has spread throughout the world… There were and still are several areas where the bible is not allowed; however, there are also several countries that have had their eyes opened and the truth penetrate their borders… The word informs us that the gospel will be preached and seeds will be planted in every area of the world before Christ comes. Preach His word, the hour has come... 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Teach Christ From The Womb

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Isaiah 54:13

Believe it or not, one thing that is for sure in this life is that your child is going to learn something… It may not be the things you desire, but this is why teaching and training in the home are of the utmost importance… So many people have delayed the teaching and training aspect of parenting and this has allowed the enemy to take the reins in the classroom and teach all the things which the child doesn’t need to learn… It’s imperative  that “Thy children shall be taught of the Lord,” the enemy is a very enticing teacher and if you allow him in than your child will never be at peace and therefore you will have several sleepless nights and a mind full of worry… This is why we are told today that teaching your child of the Lord will bring peace… The sooner that you realize that you must teach about the Lord even in the womb, the sooner you can begin to instill peace in your offspring… Make no mistake about it, whether you want to deal with it or not; the truth of the matter is that your child will learn from whomever speaks into their lives… If you don’t take this word and begin to teach, you will see what becomes of your child and soon realize that you should’ve been the one teaching… Teaching and training are required in the will of God because without them we all will perish… Your child needs to know about Jesus, but they also need to have Jesus broken down and implanted in their lives… This means that you as a parent must spend time in study and not just quote a scripture that you learned and remembered… In order to teach Christ, you must know him...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Beware Of False Teachings

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mark 13:5-6 

Not everyone that speaks the name of Christ really is a child of God… I was once told that Satan spends his days in the church; not because he wants to be converted but because he wants to pull others from their faith… Those in the world are not of God and therefore Satan doesn’t have to worry about them… Understanding that Satan does attend church keeps me informed that I must be on guard at all times and as Paul tells the church of Ephesus “put on the full amour of God…” This battle we face is indeed NOT in the flesh but in principalities and darkness in high places… These high places can be in the pulpit, these high places can be positions of leadership; whatever the case may be, I know that I must stay alert and be vigilant at all times… Our focus verses today shines light on Jesus telling us to take heed… Don’t for a second let your guard down; don’t for the smallest window of time become complacent… The devil only needs a small window of time to tear you down… Look at David when he became King, his small window came in the form of Bathsheba; think about Sampson in all His might and how he let his guard down to Delilah, think about Solomon who was the wisest man to ever live but saw his kingdom divided and torn down before his very eyes, think about Peter who vowed to follow Jesus at all cost, but before the cook crowed he denied knowing the savior and left the courtyard weeping… This list can go on and on and on and we need to take note today that we must open our eyes to the will of God and not lean to our own understanding and comfort… Today’s message reminds us of two very important things; one, we must be careful with whom we associate with and second, we must study the word of God for ourselves and apply it to our everyday life… The devil can appear in many forms, stay immersed in the word and will of God and beware of false teachings...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Talk Is Cheap

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:46

The saddest thing about the return of Christ to this earth is the number of people who believe that they can get over on Him… There are so many people we encounter on a daily basis who fit this scripture; they call on the Lord verbally, but don’t have the faith and belief in Him to allow His will to be done… So many of us display our true lack of faith when a storm arises or adversity hits us, we as children of the most high have read scriptures upon scriptures that tell us about trusting in the Lord and the question that is posed today is do we really believe what we have read…? The bible never says that this road will be easy, it never declares that your journey would be smooth; it does however say that you must endure temptations and suffer from many things… I am quite sure that we all have heard people quote or even at times have quoted the familiar passage from the 3^rdchapter of Proverbs which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This passage oftentimes is spoken when one is declaring that while enduring any and all situations you must stay within the will of God knowing and believing that He will direct you and lead you… So many speak these scriptures, but yet they do not abide in them; this same principle applies with today’s focus verse; how can you serve or call on a Lord which you don’t obey and adhere too…? This devotional today deals with the faith you have in Christ and how much you truly love the Lord… More importantly, it speaks to the actions that you must take so that the things you declare verbally are displayed visibly to others…  Don’t tell me about the God you serve, show me when the storms of life hit that you are a tree planted by the rivers that shall not be moved… 

Talk is Cheap!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Shows Up When You Do

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Psalm 41:1

This verse taken from the 41^st psalm sheds light on the heart we must have as a Christian… This is not to say that we must allow ourselves to be used and manipulated, but to say that we must not set our priorities on material things… In reading this passage I instantly think about the rich young ruler when he encounters Jesus in the gospel of Mark… He declared that he had conducted his life according to the book of the law; however, when Jesus declared for him to give away his prized possessions there was a sadness that came upon him… Mark 10:22 says, “²² But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” Understand today that this rich young ruler was on the cusp of salvation; however, the way he cherished material things led him to leave the company of Jesus… In reading this, a question now arises; how hard is it for you to give (even if it’s your last)…? This is something that I think all of us may answer one way; however, when faced with the situation our actions may speak differently… As a child of God we are called to walk by faith and it’s imperative that we understand that this faith is displayed through our actions and not mere words… Faith is total trust, confidence and reliance in a person, spirit or object… When we place our confidence in Jesus Christ we can give to the needy even if it is our last knowing and believing that the psalmist is right in today’s focus verse declaring that we will be “blessed…” Paul (a New Testament servant of the Lord) dealt with great trials and tribulations as he worked within the will of God… During his greatest need, the church of Philippi (founded by Paul) was supportive of him by sending gifts and offerings too him… After receiving these gifts, Paul says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Understand that when you give out of love you are giving out of the depths of your heart and this means that you are relying on God to sustain and take care of you… When you give in the manner, God will surely show up and supply all you could possible need an more.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Discover Your Inner Beauty

 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

The desires of God are to see you become what He designed you to be; anything less than that is simply unacceptable… Today’s focus verse emphasizes the importance of abstaining from the ways and views of this world… There are a lot of things that are deemed acceptable according to our peer standards, but they do not align with the will of God… There are a lot of things that people may tell you aren’t so bad or are okay for you to engage in; when in reality these very things will corrupt your mind and your way of life… As child of God it is of the utmost importance that we remember that we are called into holiness, this means that we are separated from the ways and paths of this life and called to adhere to the ways and standards of our Heavenly Father… To be holy means that you are consecrated, sanctified and/or blessed… God wants to take you to higher heights; He wants to open up doors in your life; however, He needs you to stop allow filthiness to corrupt your being… This filthiness could be defiling your physical body with drugs, sex or alcohol; or it could be a more subtle unrecognized tool that corrupts like the music you listen to, the places you hang out or even the people you associate with… You have to be careful and be vigilant as to see clearly that there are many aspects of your life that can be filthy… You can be clean on the outside and filthy inside; you can be clean on the inside and filthy on the outside; no matter what the case may be, know that when dealing with the enemy you can’t become to comfortable with your surroundings… Christ gave His life for you, that in and of itself should tell you how beautiful you are… Stop devaluing yourself and walking in uncleanness…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Put God First

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

The sooner you put God first in your life, the sooner you will notice a transition taking place… God has made a promise to you that He will carry out; however, the delay in seeing it fulfilled may be the seeking of His kingdom and righteousness which you have not done… The gospel of Matthew reminds us today of the importance that God not only has in our lives, but also the priority that He requires… This verse starts off by saying “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” You actually hold the very keys to your destiny and divine future; you can unlock the fullest potential that God has placed in your life by seeking Him… This simply means that God must come first in your life… In other words, today is the time for you to rearrange your agenda and make sure that the things of Christ are the first to be checked off of your to do list… So many of us always put God on the backburner of life and wonder why He hasn’t moved on our behalf… We wonder why are lives are spiraling out of control, why there is so much division in our homes, why we keep missing the mark and in this passage we are told the very answer to those aforementioned questions… God has not moved in your life because you haven’t moved toward Him…” Life is filled with distractions and the answers you seek on this earth determine what takes priority in your life… I am not saying that the way to unlock the door is easy; however, I am saying that the key you are looking for cannot be found in your peers or your position… God is ready to open up doors for you; He’s ready to make your life brand new, He is ready to transform you and take you to another level, the question that is at your door, are you ready to seek Him…?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trust The Covenant God Has Made

Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:28

Have you ever taken a step back in your life to really understand the love of God and how He demonstrates it in your life…? Have you ever really analyzed your life to the point that you have a better grasp of God’s impact on your life versus your own hands…? These are the questions that come to mind when I read this passage… The realization that is found in this passage is that God will keep His covenant even though you don’t uphold your end of the bargain… This is not to say that God can be taken advantage of, but it lets me know that God looks beyond the appearance and accepts the heart and its allegiance to Him… Think about all the promises that you may have broken in your life, all the times that you didn’t do what you promised to do and all the affects and results that came because of it… I know that I am human and can fail at any given time; however, I also know that God isn’t human which means that He will never fail… This is why we can proclaim like David that “Your covenant is trustworthy…” We can be confident in a(n) unconvincing situation to know that God will do what He said He would… There are so many things that we do daily which cause heartache, pain and suffering in our lives; there are so many people who have written us off or cast us to the side… David was a man that could’ve easily given up on the desires of his heart because of the errors of his ways; however, he is assured that the love of God transcends barriers and can reach the deepest and darkest pit… Don’t give life to the negativity around you; don’t feed the fire of dejecting comments hurled your way… When someone speaks about you in a demeaning manner this verse today allows you to smile in their face knowing that they don’t control your destiny because the sovereign Lord is God… The next time you think that life isn’t fair and you have been given the short end of the stick, you can rest assured that your suffering now will present a better tomorrow because He has promised good things to His servant…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!