God is at Work

God is at Work

“Cease striving and know that I am God...”
(Psalm 46:10, NASB)

In the natural, it’s so easy to try to figure everything out on our own and try to see how we can make things happen. We want to “help” God out, so to speak. But so often, the things we want to see changed in our lives are beyond our control anyway. God is saying today, “Stop worrying. Stop stressing out. Give Me your cares and concerns, and I will take care of you.”

Today’s Scripture is a great one to pray every day and meditate on in times of uncertainty. Rest and know that He is God. Know that He has your best interest at heart, and He is working behind the scenes on your behalf today and every day.

Prayer:

“God, today I give You my worries and concerns. I trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Show me Your love and grace today as put my complete trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Freedom in Contentment

Freedom in Contentment

"…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
(Philippians 4:11, NIV)

In life, sometimes it’s easy to get so focused on our dreams and goals that we tune out everything else. We can get to the point where we’re not going to be happy until we see those things happen. But I’ve found that if we have to have something in order to be happy, our lives are out of balance. When our goals and dreams start to frustrate us, and we lose our peace and don’t enjoy life, that’s a clear sign that we’re holding on too tightly. What’s the solution? You’ve got to release it. Freedom comes when you say, “God, I’m turning it all over to You. You know my desires and what’s best for me. I’m choosing to trust You and Your timing.”

When we learn to be content whatever the circumstances, it takes away the power of the enemy. It takes away his ability to frustrate us. Not only that, but by our actions, we are showing our faith in God. When you choose to trust His timing, you can live in peace, you can live in joy, and you can rest in Him knowing that He has good things in store for your future. Today, find freedom in contentment and rest in His everlasting peace.

PRAYER:

Father, today I choose to trust You. I release frustration over the dreams and desires in my heart because You know what’s best for me. I choose to trust Your timing knowing that You are faithful. I will bless You in all things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

IF ONLY” PEOPLE

“IF ONLY” PEOPLE

James 1:5,  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

A psychiatrist was deeply troubled by the sadness of one of his dear friends. Curiously he asked, “What’s troubling you?”
After some time he responded, “I’ve been reviewing the ‘If onlys’ of my life. I’ve made so many mistakes.”
Wanting to help he said, “Let’s go to my office. I have some recordings I want you to hear.”
Sitting quietly he played a tape containing the stories of three very depressed patients. After a moment he asked, “Did you notice that each one kept repeating, ‘if only’?” The “if onlys” bring about a sense of hopelessness and helplessness, depression and discouragement. All of us must learn to say, “Next time I’ll do things differently. I’ll seek God’s will and ask for guidance before I make a decision.”
James said, “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask Him and He will gladly tell you!” Wisdom here means “practical discernment or guidance” that will lead the Christian to right living and eliminate the “if onlys” of life.

Prayer: Father, may we look to You for guidance before we make decisions and trust Your directions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Have a blessed Sunday"

Increase More

Increase More

“There is one who scatters, yet increase more...”
(Proverbs 11:24, NKJV)

In the book of Genesis, God set up a system of seedtime and harvest. Everything God does starts with a seed. The Bible also tells us that He gives seed to the sower. In other words, if you are a person who has a desire to bless others and sow seed, God will make sure you have plenty to give. Notice what happens when you generously sow seed—you increase more! Just like planting a seed in the natural brings an abundant harvest, planting a spiritual seed brings an abundant harvest as well. You can’t outgive God. He will pour out blessings on you that you cannot even contain.

God’s blessings go way beyond just the financial realm. He wants you to have blessed relationships, good health and a happy career. Take a step of faith today and look for ways to start sowing. What do you have in your hand? Can you start by giving a smile and sowing joy? Can you help someone else at the gas pump? Choose to be a blessing because God promises to bless and  increase you in every area of your life

Prayer

“Father, today I choose to be a sower and giver. Help me to see the people around me the way You see them so that I can bless them the way You want to bless them in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

"Have a blessed day"

His Power at Work

His Power at Work

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."
Ephesians 3:20, NIV

God is able to do more than you could ever ask or imagine! But notice, this verse says it’s according to the power that is at work within you. How does God’s power work within you? His power works in you when you are walking in love. It is at work in you when you choose to forgive those who have wronged you. God’s power is at work in you when you bow before Him with an open and humble heart. He is at work in you when you are serving others and putting their needs above your own.

Remember, God wants to move on your behalf. He loves to bless you! Choose today to let God’s power work in and through you by choosing to walk in love!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for choosing to bless me. I invite You to work in my life today. Show me how to walk in Your love so that Your power will flow through me today in Jesus’ name. Amen."

"Have a blessed day"

It’s Your Time

It’s Your Time

“The vision is yet for an appointed time...”
(Habakkuk 2:3, NKJV)

God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of you, and He has predestined that those things in your heart come to pass. You may have had more than your share of unfair things happen in your life. You probably have plenty of reasons to just settle where you are. But understand, the depth of your past is an indication of the height of your future.

If you’ve been through a lot of negative things in the past, it just means that your future is bigger and brighter and greater than you can even imagine. It’s your time to step out and embrace all that God has for you! Are there dreams and promises that you’ve let go of? Are there things that God has placed in your heart, but because of time, because of disappointments, you’ve given up on them?

Today is the day to give your dreams a new beginning. Today is the day to allow faith to rise in your heart. Remember, what’s happened to you is not nearly as important as what’s happened in you, and you are stronger and wiser than ever before. It’s your time; it’s your season to move forward into the destiny that God has prepared for you!

Prayer:

“Father, thank You for what You are doing in my life today. I receive the vision You have for me. I receive Your hope. I look forward with joy to all You have for my future in Jesus name. Amen!”

"Have a blessed day"

You were foreknown and foreordained for a purpose!

You were foreknown and foreordained for a purpose!

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The Lord knew prophet Jeremiah even before he was in his mother's womb, and he was sanctified by God as a prophet to the nations. A similar foreknowledge and ordination of God belongs to us who are under the New Covenant. God's foreknowledge of His people is clearly stated in scripture. We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, and created in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) unto good works which He foreordained that we walk in them. It is clear that a life of holiness and good works is an integral part of our destiny in salvation, a fundamental aspect of His original plan for each one of us.

This plan, instilled in us even before the foundation of the world, seems to insure that good works will follow the believers in Yeshua. We could never work our way into heaven, our salvation is wholly an act of God – yet, just as Jeremiah's calling was foreknown and foreordained by God, our ordination unto good works was too. Walking in good works is walking in a manner worthy of our calling, it is powerful evidence for the genuineness of our salvation, and it is walking in the will of God. 

From the foundation of the world, according to God's plan, you were created and ordained to live a sanctified life filled with good works. If you walk in His will for you, when your life is over, you may expect to hear these wonderful words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” Amen.

"Have a blessed Sunday"

Joy in His Presence

Joy in His Presence

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
Psalm 16:11, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you. That means you are full of joy! Joy manifests when you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him for what He’s done in your life. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the joy that’s inside of you at anytime, day or night.

Know this: God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened and discouraged. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you will move forward in victory on the path of life He’s prepared for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for an endless supply of joy. Today, I choose to cast my cares on You and give You the praise, glory and honor due Your name. Let joy flow through me so that I can be a witness of Your goodness to those around me in Jesus’ name. Amen."

"Have a blessed day"

Esteem One Another

Esteem One Another

"And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…"
Ephesians 5:2, AMP

In today's culture, we don't often hear the word esteem used very often. Yet, Scripture tells us to esteem and delight in one another. One definition of esteem is to hold in high regard. That means we are to honor and value one another. Even if we don't always agree, even if they don't necessarily act honorably, we are to honor and esteem others because they are valuable in the eyes of God. Think of it this way: If you had a costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldn't just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it carefully. You would put it in a safe place and protect it. Well, when we see others as valuable the way God sees them, we will treat them carefully as well. We should be careful in the way we talk to others. We should look for the good in them and honor them for who God made them to be. Choose to esteem and delight in one another. Sow good seeds, and you will see a harvest of blessing in return!

PRAYER:

"Father, today I choose love. I choose to honor the people around me. Help me to see the value in others the way You see the value in me. Help me to esteem and delight in others so I can be an example of Your love and light in Jesus’name. Amen."

Relax & move in Faith

He has already started handling it. Relax and move in Faith!!!

Pursue Your Strengths

Pursue Your Strengths

"Do not neglect your gift..."
1 Timothy 4:14, NIV

God has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. It’s up to each of us to identify those gifts and be disciplined enough to develop them. You have to learn to stay in your strength zone. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and as the Scripture says, give yourself to your gifts. In other words, don’t spend all your time trying to improve your weaknesses. Don’t waste valuable days pursuing things that are outside your main gifting. Focus on your strengths.

Be bold and step out in the area of your gifting. Are you good with people? Are you good with your hands? Do you have a great voice? Find ways to develop those gifts. Know that your gifts and talents are a part of your divine destiny. If you’ll be comfortable with who God made you to be and thank Him for your unique gifting, you’ll not only enjoy your life more, but you’ll be ready to receive the abundant blessing God has in store for you!

PRAYER:

"Father, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to be successful in this life.Show me how to develop the gifts within me for Your glory in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Treasure the Word

Treasure the Word

But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God…
1 John 2:5, AMP

When you treasure something, it’s valuable to you. You handle it carefully and protect it. When you treasure a person or relationship, you give attention to them and think about them constantly. The question is, how much do you treasure the Word of God?

When you treasure the Word of God, you are expressing your love for God. You treasure the Word by meditating on it or thinking about it all throughout the day. Remember, your life will go in the direction of your most dominant thoughts. When your dominant thoughts are the Word of God, you will be empowered to overcome in every area of life!

Make God’s Word a priority in your life today and allow it to shape your thinking. Choose to treasure the Word so you can move forward in the abundant life He has for you!

"Father, today I choose to focus my thoughts on You. I choose to treasure Your Word so that my actions will show how much I love You in Jesus’ name. Amen."

Ever Present Helper!

Ever Present Helper!

People change, their priorities change and so is the love they have for us.
The most dearest of relationships also do not understand our spiritual, emotional and physical needs.
We are taken for granted to only just give.
When we are desperate to receive love, there is none around.

But there is good news and you need not be dwelling in the sorrow of being rejected.
"He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever....He dwells with you and will be in you" - John 14:16, 17
What a confidence to know that there is someone who is thoughtful of you and would never leave you !
This Helper does not change, His priorities does not change. You alone are His only priority.
You can be best assured of love, protection, encouragement, guidance, peace, happiness and blessings.
And He is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to be with you always.
Pray to God and He would freely give this Ever present Helper to you.
If you have Him, you will never be in want of love. You will always be receiving it with fullness from Him.

While on one side you receive love by the indwelling of Holy Spirit, you are called to give it on the other side.
Give love to people who have rejected you and taken you for granted. Give to people in want. Give it to people who deserve it and to people who do not deserve it.
For all are in want of love. And we are called to be living just like the God whom we worship.
He has been gracious to love and so should we. Give, Give, Give....love to all with the help of your Ever Present Helper – Holy Spirit.

Never again lose heart by the unfaithfulness of relationships.
Receive love from Holy Spirit.
Give it freely to all as like Him.

What is the purpose of life?

This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California .

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life?
And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity..
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD..

According to Your Faith

According to Your Faith

"According to your faith be it done to you."
Matthew 9:29, ESV

A lot of people think that when they have a need, God could just automatically meet it if he wanted to. But Jesus didn’t say, "According to your need be it done to you," He said, "According to your faith." That’s why it’s so important to have an attitude of expectancy every single day. If we want God to move in our lives, we have to approach every day filled with faith and hope. The Scripture tells us in Romans that “faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” The more you have the Word of God in your life, the more your faith will grow and the more you will see Him working in your life.

God longs to bless you, and He’s given you everything you need to be successful in life. Remember, all things are possible to those who believe! Believe in His goodness today and take a step of faith toward the life of blessing He has prepared for you!

"Father, thank You for Your hand of blessing on my life today. I open my heart to You and trust that You have a good plan for me. Give me a heart filled with faith and hope today in Jesus’ name. Amen."

The Apple of His Eye

The Apple of His Eye

"Keep me as the apple of your eye…"
Psalm 17:8, NIV

In this day and age, people are considered to be important for so many different reasons—titles, position, possessions, where you go, what you drive. But God’s value system is very different from the world's value system. If you’ve ever thought that God has too many other important things on His plate to be concerned with you and your life, know this today—you are God’s number one priority. And there’s nothing you can do to be more important or less important. God values you simply because He made you, and your value will never change. You are significant. Your life is significant. The things that concern you, concern God. He carefully watches over every detail of your life. There is nothing too big or too small for His attention.

Take your concerns and cares to the Father today. He loves to hear you call on Him, and He is waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf. Because you are important to Him, He is ready to bless and empower you to live in victory all the days of your life. You are the apple of His eye!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for loving me today. Thank You for making me the apple of Your eye. I open my heart to You today and cast every care on You in Jesus’ name. Amen."

The Principle of Faithfulness"

"The Principle of Faithfulness"

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Matthew 25:23 (NIV)

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

TODAY’S WORD
In the book of Genesis, we see that God established a system of sowing and reaping in the earth. When we are faithful with what God has placed in our hands, we position ourselves for increase. Many people pray, “God bless me!” But God is saying, “Are you being faithful with what I have given you?” Scripture tells us that when we are faithful with the little, God will make us ruler over much.

Remember, you can’t reap a harvest without first planting seeds. God has given each of us seeds to sow, so don’t hold on to them! Be faithful to give, be faithful to pray, be faithful to speak life over your future. Develop faithfulness in the small things. Develop faithfulness in your character. Multiply the talents given.  Be on time. Keep your word. Be dependable. As you develop faithfulness, God will see your good works and He’ll make you ruler over much!

PRAYER
Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of faithfulness to me. Make me a faithful follower of You as I seek to serve You in all I do in Jesus we Pray Amen And Amen.

CHOOSING YOUR HEAVENLY HERITAGE

CHOOSING YOUR HEAVENLY HERITAGE

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezk.36.26

In life, we all have negative things happen to us. We go through situations that are unfair. I know people who were raised in an unhealthy environment. Their parents had issues, and now it's making it much more difficult on them.

But here is what I've learned: when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He gives you a new heart. In other words, your blood line changes. No longer are you subject to your earthly heritage, you become subject to your heavenly heritage! His spiritual blessing always overrides the curse in the natural realm. When you understand who you are and what God has already done, then no matter what someone else has done, no matter how unfair it was, no matter how you were raised, you won't get bitter. You won't live with a chip on your shoulder. You realize that nothing can stop you from fulfilling your God-given destiny!

Today, remember you came from Almighty God. He gave you life. When you choose Him, you are choosing your heavenly heritage of blessing and eternal, abundant life!

Prayer:
God in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus so that I may be saved. Today I surrender every area of my life to You. Have Your way in me; let Your will be done in my life. Thank You for making me new in Jesus' name. Amen.