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 that 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 that 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 that matters most to God and this is why the word of God is alive penetrating 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 is sharper than any double-edged sword lets us know that as it penetrates and causes pain, it also begins the process of cutting things out of us… Understand today that receiving the word of God can be a painful experience…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 can do things beyond our wildest dreams… Things which we or others thought to be impossible become possible in the Spirit of God… As we continue down this path of life, 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 can do… As we sit on the cusp of a new year, we also sit at the door of our destiny and God’s divine will which has no timetable… 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…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 that 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 that 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 leading to 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 principle 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…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

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… Some 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 Christians must think when they are faced with disciplinary measures. 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 a stronger individual when faced with a similar challenge… These reasons alone are 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 that 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 His will, are never promised to be easy… The writer of Hebrews declares in the 12th chapter 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 that is being conveyed through the times of struggle that you face… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Loves You

For God so loved 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 it to their significant other or family member; love as the 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 as it 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 simply 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 the way for you to come to know His father; God paved the way before you even decided to choose 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 your 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... 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 desire 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 and 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, He wants 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 from your actions, you will face and reap what you have sown; however, you should be encouraged today to know that God will subdue our iniquities… The things which you do and have done that don't align with Christ; He will subdue them so that you can become all that you are and have been designed to be.

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 who 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 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 then 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 want 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…” Know that your suffering within the name of the Lord is not in vain, you can be happy 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… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Speak The Word Anyhow

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

In reading this passage I cannot help but begin to think about the tragedies that have taken place on this earth. There are so many to name, but one that comes to mine often is what to place in Connecticut a few years back… 20 children were stripped of life along with 6 adults. As I think about this, I quickly come to the conclusion that we reside in a period where God must be sought and His will made clear… There are different ways to handle trial and adversity; people will question God while we must take the stance of standing with Him… We don’t know why these things took place; however, what we do know is that God can do all things but fail, what we do know is that He has a plan and that everything that happens today will benefit us tomorrow… The task at hand for every Christian is to stay the course and abide in the will of God; I state this today as part of this devotional because there are so many distractions and measures of peer pressure that lead people astray… The message recorded in today’s focus verses deals with the unwavering faith that a child of God must have knowing that not everyone will openly receive God’s word and even some will challenge you based on their desires to please their itching ears… Understand today that not everyone whom you share Christ with will receive and accept Him. You will have people in your life who will serve as stumbling blocks along your Christian journey; however, Paul challenges us today to know that you will not stumble when you encounter these types of people; in fact, you will ascend despite the choices that others make… 

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 as well as us today to not cave into the pressures of the world… Timothy was a young man called to lead the house of God; facing the fleshly desires of some who were in the congregation, Timothy struggles with advancing the kingdom of God and Paul writes this message to him… Know that some of the biggest obstacles you will face will come in the church body that you are a part of… Timothy was ready to walk away, ready to throw in the towel, but Paul reminds him of the time which he is living in… Don’t lose sight of the times of today, the more corruption that is inching closer and closer to our doors, the more people trying to scientifically dissolve the word of God and begin to erect other religions without a foundation in Christ… The word of God speaks of these times and the message for you today is to stay immersed in His word and be careful not to lose sight of His will; no matter the people who you offend or the relationships that you may lose, you have to speak the word of God boldly knowing that it will not come back void, but will accomplish all that it was sent out to do… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Makes Us Worthy

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:1

There are so many things in life that we believe we deserve when the truth of the matter is that we don’t deserve the very life that we have… The message of today’s devotion focuses on the holiness and sovereignty that defines our God… David poses a question today which should promote humility in the lives of all Christ's children as he starts this verse by saying Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle…? You are alive because of God’s mercy and the compassion which He poured out on all mankind through the offering of His son… I say this because there are so many of us who have our relationship with God twisted and act as if we are doing God a favor by living for Him… The Bible tells us that “…narrow is the path that leads to salvation and few there be that find it…” There is only one way to reach heaven and the characteristics that must be within an individual are outlined in today’s study verse… As a people, we are not worthy to abide in God’s tabernacle; however, through the righteousness of the Son, we can walk uprightly and speak truth within and out of our hearts… When we look at the two questions posed at the beginning of this verse, it is very easy for one to read and disqualify themselves from answering in the affirmative… David writes this psalm amid the muck and mire of his very one life... He knows that God looks at the heart of man; however, he also recognizes that even though he would be called a man after God’s own heart, he was not worthy to dwell amidst the Lord… Today, remind yourself of the privilege that God extends through His grace and mercy which allows us to dwell in His presence… 

All For His Glory!

His Righteousness Is Everlasting

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Psalm 119:142 

The righteousness of God is displayed in and through the life that His son lived on this earth… To be righteous means to be upright, honorable, moral, virtuous and to walk in decency; if we really breakdown the meaning of this word then we know that there isn’t any person on this earth that is righteous… I make this point to bring to light the grace and mercy that we all have received from the Lord; the fact that we are alive and can see another day declares the truthfulness of the opening statement in today's focus verse which says Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness...  God has spared you day after day and if it weren't for His perfection, then you and I would be utterly cast down for all eternity... To enter this world as sinners already disqualifies us from obtaining the righteousness that is spoken of throughout the word of God and in this particular verse… Understanding that I am not righteous brings me to a place of complete admiration and love for God… I love Him because of His righteousness; the fact that He was upright toward me when I was down in out, the fact that He was just and honorable when I was unjust and shameful, and the fact that He has paved the way for me to be clothed in His righteousness is alone enough for me to be thankful… However, my praise is taken to another level knowing that “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness…” God continues to be just towards me, He continues to be honorable despite my flaws and failures, and even though I have fallen short, I take courage in knowing that every day I see upon this earth is another day for me to move forward in my walk with Him… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Focus On Him Instead of Your Problems

Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Despite the way that situation appears to be, no matter how daunting the task at hand may be, Hosea reminds us that we must acknowledge the Lord… This acknowledgment must take place before His presence is even felt… The real conflict that arises in the lives of the believers is acknowledging the power and authority of God in and over situations before His faithfulness is displayed and you are delivered…  The message for today is pressing us to give God praise, honor, and reverence as the storm approaches. Being able to give God the highest respect and admiration while the storm looms overhead instead of waiting until the rainbow is completely visible and recognized is the call we are to accept…  Too often we conceal our love for God until His love and compassion are shown and today we are challenged to do the opposite… You must acknowledge the Lord instead of acknowledging your current predicament, hardship, or obstacle… In walking by faith, you tell the storm how big your God is while knowing that as surely as the sun rises, He will appear; he will come to us like winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth… God will show up and show out, He will complete the work that He has begun in you and you will see and feel His power in and through your life… Give Him praise for the outcome and stop focusing on your present condition… If you focus on the things happening around you and all the chaos in this world, you soon realize how difficult it is to acknowledge the Lord… Stay focused on Him and watch how everything else will fall into place.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Owe It All To God

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

Romans 11:36

You live for Him because of the life that you have through Him. All of this is even possible because of His death on the cross, which simply means that you owe everything to Him… This is the crux of Paul’s message in our focus verse today… Everything that you do, everything that you accomplish, and every goal you reach is because of Jesus Christ… It is only by the grace and mercy of God that you and I are here today… Make no mistake about it; don’t even think for a moment that you had anything to do with you getting up today nor the alarm clock that sounded this morning… It is for God’s glory (For Him) and exaltation that you saw another day; it's through (through Him) His divine power and authority that you are here and because of this your days should be lived according to His precious promises knowing that you owe it all (to Him)… Everything you do in life should be prompted by your willingness to live so that God may be exalted… Because of all that He has already done and the doors that He has already opened; He indeed is due all honor and praise… Today let us look at the priorities that we have in life… Paul writes to the Church of Rome reminding them of who it is that comes first in all that we do… Every action that we partake in should be “of Him”, every blessing we receive is “through Him” and every praise and thanksgiving we render should be “to Him…” 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Got You Covered

The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:12 

The Lord will provide the shelter and safety that your life desires; however, it is your choice as to whether you dwell in it or not… The last book of the law reminds us that when we align ourselves with the will of God, we don’t have to fear the circumstances or situations that we face. In Christ, we know that we have safety in His arms… Those who walk in the will of God are promised safety… This is not to be confused with peace all the days of your life, but rather that you can have confidence in knowing that you are covered and protected by the King of kings... It is important to note the differences as we will see storms rage, and wars take place, but we are to take comfort in knowing that these things will not overtake us, and though you we see them, they will not stand too long… We must come to accept and realize that every day of our lives, a battle is being fought, some days we take a step forward, and some days we take a step back… Whatever the case, we are taught that the beloved (those who are dear to the heart of God) shall dwell in safety… When you choose the will of God, you are then covered under the blood of Jesus… This is the same blood that paid for our sins, the same blood that made the death angel pass over the houses of God’s children, and the same blood that Jesus sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane… Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee!” We have a comforting assurance today through God’s word! He has promised that if we are the sheep of His pasture and the children of His blood, we shall be protected and kept through the struggles of life! Also, note where God dwells (between his shoulders)... As Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..." The battle we face is in the spirit realm and we must have our minds renewed and steadfast on Jesus. Make no mistake about it, God dwells within you and you can find solace in knowing that today. He is with you, don't become weary in well-doing!!!

You are covered by His blood; you are protected by His sacrifice, so live according to His will and fight the good fight!!!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Suffering Is Temporary

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11

In reading this passage taken from the first epistle of Peter, understand today that you will suffer… There are things in life that you must endure, challenges that you must face, and trials that you will have to encounter; the message today is that you must find peace amidst the storm knowing and trusting in our Lord. Today, remind yourself that He is the God of all grace… This opening statement of the 10th verse declares the very authority and compassion of our God; He will never see you go through more than you can bear and His grace will give you all that you need to endure and overcome… As a child of God, the biggest mistake we can make is thinking that we shouldn’t have to face adversity; the best way to grow is through experiences and this is the very purpose of your current situation or circumstance… God is working behind the scenes, taking you to another level in Him and you must keep this in mind while you face the daunting task ahead… Know today that God will give you grace which is His favor over every situation; in other words, He will give you the resources that you need to withstand and triumph; I point this out today to make the point that God will give you resources so that you will know that God is giving you the ability to fight not to flee… This is the problem that disrupts so many Christians in their faith walk, you have been praying to God about something and He has given you the ability to persevere while you are looking for a detour…This is the true meaning of Grace; God knows that you can’t do it on your own and so He deposits His abilities in your life so that you can have the strength and the power to endure and obtain the victory in and through Him… We must go through so that we understand who brought us through… We must face trials and tribulations so that we know who has fought our every battle and fulfilled our every need! Through trials we recognize Christ’s power, through deliverance from those trials we see that He is full of ALL GRACE!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Breakthrough Is Coming

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Malachi 4:2

I know that it’s very difficult to comprehend; at times it may feel as though you will not be able to make it or overcome, the verse taken from the book of Malachi teaches us today that God will show up and show out… You may feel like your life is fruitless and without accolades; however, we are reminded today to keep our faith and trust in the Lord for a breakthrough is coming our way… When people appear to be moving faster than your faith, keep revering His name… When you feel dejected and ready to throw in the towel, just know that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…” Jesus was persecuted and appeared to lose; however, the death on the cross produced His greatest ministry… Today, know that you will be persecuted, but in your most troubling days, your ministry will be that much more intense and exalted…  God knows that walking under His guidelines subjects you to many obstacles and hardships thrust upon you or in your pathway by this world… The Lord realizes that every time you choose to follow Him, you run the risk of losing friends and having sleepless nights; however, He wants us to find encouragement in today’s study verse knowing that we will run free in victory and overcome the storms we face… This verse starts by saying, “But for you who revere my name…” We must stay the course and revere (honor, respect, and admire) the name of the Lord… Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” No matter what you face or what opposition comes before you, stand upon the promises of God and trust Him knowing that when you revere His name He will protect and keep you… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Is All You Need

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55:1

This verse written by the prophet Isaiah speaks to the fact that God doesn’t desire your monetary riches but you and your humility; through the prophet Isaiah the Lord says he that hath no money; come ye… God has opened the door to your transformation, He has given you a chance to overcome the mistakes of yesterday to inherit a bright future without condemnation, pain, or suffering… This is not to say that you will not go through tough times; however, this simply lets you know that your latter will outweigh your former and the suffering you endure will not compare to the richest you receive in and through Him…Understand today that the debt we enter under once born into this world can never be paid by our own riches and abilities… The sin that fills our hearts from our youth can never be purged by our own hands and eternal death awaits all mankind… Isaiah writes this passage today informing us of the greatest gift that has ever been and will ever be offered to us...Salvation… There is nothing we can do on this earth that will save us, nothing that we can obtain as far as material possessions or financial wealth that will open the door to eternal life. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can really begin to live in the form that God created us to… Your life has significance, you are unique, you are beautiful and you have a path that was paved just for you… I say that because many of us have begun to think less of ourselves, we have allowed the enemy to tell us that we are worthless, that nothing good can come from us, and that our fate is sealed; however, Isaiah wants you to know that if you thirst you can drink if you hunger, you can be feed and all this is possible through the offering that Christ made on Calvary… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Delivers

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19

Make no mistake about it, as a child of the Most High God, you are guaranteed afflictions along this Christian journey…  When you are walking upright, in honesty and blameless throughout this world (which are all characteristics of righteousness), you are assured to be persecuted and afflicted… There are none on this earth who are righteous; however, through the bloodshed of Jesus, we can be clothed in righteousness and therefore walk in victory as opposed to darkness… I state this about righteousness because it is important to understand that when you face trials because of your desire to walk in righteousness you must remember that the attack isn’t’ against you but against the one you are clothed in… This is why the psalmist states that even though we are afflicted, “…the Lord delivereth him out of them all…” This battle is about the God you serve; remember this in the midst of your storm because it will help you to know that you are not alone and that you are not fighting this battle within your own abilities… This Christian walk isn’t green pastures, it isn’t fields of orchards or streams of rivers and despite what you may want to believe, you must understand this so that you don’t find yourself susceptible to the attacks within your mind by the enemy… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Desires You To Return Home

Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Jeremiah 3:12

The greatest sin we commit is not the times when we fall but when we stay down and give up… Today’s focus verse reminds us that God already knows that we will make mistakes and the request that He puts forth through the mouth of Jeremiah is the same request which He has made since our birth; return to Him… You are not beyond the saving power that is our Lord Jesus Christ, understand today that every time Jesus cried out from the cross He was referring to all mankind, and at this appointed time even a thief realized in his final hours that God can still open the doors to paradise no matter the magnitude of your shortcomings or mistakes… It’s not too late for you to be saved, it’s not too late for you to extend the plan of Salvation to a neighbor, acquaintance, or wayward child; the Lord says I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you… You may feel like you are beyond redemption, and you may feel like the skeletons in your closet are too much to overcome; however, the message for you is that God will not allow these things to overtake you and cause your utter demise if you return to Him… The anger of God can end your very life; however, He is ready to pardon you and give you a clean slate… This is why He says that He won’t let His anger fall upon you; He knows that you messed up, but He also knows the good you can achieve if you are aligned with His will and on the prosperous path that He has outlined for your life… Know that you have made mistakes, and acknowledge that you have given in to temptations; however, come to the realization today that you can overcome and be victorious through the saving power of Jesus Christ... The Bible says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” The Father’s arms are open, He wants you to let Him in and allow Him to transform your life… Just like we read in multiple passages, Jesus is waiting with open arms saying, “WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM COME”.

The question is, is He speaking to you?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Were Created By And For Him

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Colossians 1:16-17

There is nothing in this life that does not exist without the direct involvement of the hand of God; I state this simply to remind you today that the day which you have been allowed to see is a day which has been afforded to you by the mercy and desires of God… When you grab hold of the notion that God is over all things, then you will soon realize why you must submit to Him and adhere to His will and plan for your life… You were created with a purpose which is outlined in this passage by the words for Him… God designed you to bring pleasure and honor to His Holy name, He designed you to bring others to Him and open up the door for others to receive knowledge of Him from you… Make no mistake about it today, there are things in life that we do not understand nor do we comprehend; however, you can put full confidence in the fact that God created you and everything around you to be used by Him for His glory… The life you lead is not about the things that you obtain or the happiness that you possess, but rather the joy you bring and the reverence that you have for the one who created you… When I read this passage I am just overjoyed to know that God has a plan, this plan may not be the plan that I desire or even the one that I feel (without seeing the whole picture) is best; however, as we see the tragic events that take place in our societies and communities we must turn from the thoughts and concepts of the world and cling to the unknown designed outcome of God… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Only Christ Can Do That

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Philippians 3:21

The answer to the question posed in today’s focus verse is an answer that we must learn to recite and believe which simply is that God is able…  Ephesians 3:20 says, “He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think”; we bring this scripture into today’s devotion to highlight the point that God is able to transform, mend and reconcile even the most daunting of all challenges… The message today is to have Faith in God regardless of the situation or circumstance… There are so many who have given up, so many who have gone astray and so many that have turned from their divine destiny; know today that God can change your vile body… No matter the flaws, scars or open words, He is able to fashion you like unto his glorious body… Despite the amount of people who have written you off, no matter the amount of missteps you have taken or how far you have indulged in your sin; know that God can take everything into captivity, He can make the worst situation work in your favor and bring you to a place of prominence which you never thought possible… The key to this verse is your belief and trust in God, you must declare today that it’s not too late, you must open your mouth and serve notice to the enemy and your situation that things can and will get better as you turn and focus on the Lord and not the weight of your past decisions… God has not disqualified you; however, you disqualify yourself when you pay attention to people and past failures instead of Him and His plan for your future… It’s not about what you did yesterday, but what you do with what you learned yesterday to make it through today…  Sure, we all have made mistakes, we all have messed up, but when you learn from your mistakes and turn to Christ you allow the scriptures to be fulfilled in your very life; you can quote from the bible in and over your life and serve notice to those around you that your stumbling block is really a stepping stone… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's All Because Of His Mercies

"The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."

Psalm 145:8-9

Your very life is evidence of God's love and compassion... Even though you may experience much heartache and hardship in your life, the psalmist reminds us that The Lord is gracious and full of compassion... Understand today that God is working behind the scenes, the things you are enduring are not the full weight that your actions deserve and this is only because of His mercy... Make no mistake about it, you don't even deserve the air that you breathe; however, because the Lord is slow to anger, you have been afforded ample opportunities to become all that God has created you to be... God has a divine plan for you and because of His desire to see you fulfill it, you still exist and have been given 2nd and 3rd chances to walk in His will... This message today is for the one who has endured the tribulations of life and I declare to you today that you are enduring to have your eyes open and your path set by the will of God and not the ideas of this world... The only thing you have ever deserved in this life is condemnation… The sooner you grasp this, the sooner you can open the door to experiencing God’s love and desires for your life… The Bible records in Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus in the second chapter the foundation by which we have life and success, in this passage, Paul proclaims, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Eternal Life Is Found In Christ

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 17:3

Jesus declared in the 14^th chapter 6^th verse of the gospel of John, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by me…” The only way to obtain the path you seek which leads to peace, joy, and love is found through the trail of blood from the city gates of Jerusalem to the hill of Golgotha… Eternal Life was deposited upon this earth in the form of God’s son, it was laid before you in and through His outstretched arms and all He endured on the cross… John reminds us today that Eternal Life is found in the “The Only True God…” There is only one God; there is only one prince of peace and one savior… A good friend of mine once told me that the distance between you and salvation is the same distance that your mouth is from your heart… Eternal Life is free, but it only comes through knowing (faith), acknowledging (mouth), and accepting (heart) the only True God… Some religions believe that good deeds are rewarded with eternal life, but my Bible tells me that Jesus has paved the way to salvation and that we are only justified by faith which derives only from the just savior that took the form of mankind… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!!!

Look For The Rainbow Amidst The Storm

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

Genesis 9:16

A rainbow is very significant in the eyes of a child of God; It means more than just an arc with a dazzling array of colors as some see it to be. We as Christians should all draw a sense of God’s presence and protection upon seeing this symbol of His love and awareness…  Today’s focus verse reminds us of the fact that God will give us signs of His existence and attendance in our everyday affairs and lives; however, it is our task and duty to see the signs for what they are instead of being too bogged down or occupied with the cares of this world to notice them… This devotion speaks to those who say that they are waiting on the Lord and have not received an answer, the truth of the matter is that God has given you the answer already; it's just in a form that you did not expect it to be… You have been dealing with trials and tribulations, you have been praying and waiting, instead of showing up and showing out. You're waiting for God to do the unthinkable instead of moving in Faith knowing that he has shown signs of his power. God should not have to move and perform for you to trust Him... A rainbow is a sign of his presence, today let you find strength and comfort in the signs of His presence instead of waiting for His deliverance... Your breakthrough and victory are in the sign and not God simply overthrowing your adversary. For the believer in Christ, the answer is in the rainbow spoken of in this passage taken from the book of Genesis… You are protected, you are safe and you are going to be victorious in the affairs of life because of the symbolic meaning of the rainbow spoken of in today’s focus verse... The rainbow to Noah was a sign of God’s commitment to him and the land; God is committed to us and is with us through all we go through; sometimes we don’t see Him or acknowledge His presence because of the things we face, but the reality is that He has been there the whole time! Through your storms, look for the rainbow, look for the light of hope, look for God’s presence, and know that He is always with you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!!!

Christ Came To Show The Way

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 

Luke 1:77-79

 

As we studied previously regarding the door which God has left open to all; today, we examine scriptures from the gospel of Luke which speak to the love and desire of God concerning His creation… We all know that Jesus declared that He came to this earth so that you might have life and have it more abundantly; however, there is another message that Jesus brought to this earth which is outlined in today’s focus verse… He came not only to give life but to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins… The mission of Jesus and the message of Jesus go hand and hand as we can come to the conclusion that in order to have life and have it abundantly, one must first know that there is a way to overcome the mistakes of yesterday to obtain the joys of tomorrow… Not everyone knows that it is not too late to overcome and be what you have been designed to be; there are some of us who continue to sink deeper into our sin not knowing that there is a safety net that can reach the darkest and gloomiest of situations and pull you out… This is the knowledge that Jesus came to impart to all mankind, this is the task at hand that we as Christians carry, we must bring the message that if a person will turn from their path of sin, then there is surely light at the end of the tunnel… Remember that in the beginning, God formed us from the dust of the ground; however, it was not until He breathed the breath of life into our nostrils that we became living beings… This bit of information speaks to the life that we receive only through the authority of God… Today, Luke records the reasons why Jesus came to this earth… “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of God; whereby the dayspring from on high and hath visited us…” Luke was called to give knowledge that we are nothing without the one to come. He was to declare that we will see the break of day, the hope and joys of tomorrow, and the promises of eternal security when the one from on high hath visited us… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!