What Will Your Billboard Say?

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Today's Passage: Isaiah 42: 1-13
Memory Verse: Isaiah 42:6-7

Today is the first day of the eighth month of the year 2011. Seems like a perfect time to ask: have I really been walking in my purpose? Seven months have gone by. Have I been wasting time, or have I accomplished something for the kingdom? Before the enemy begins to bombard us with doubts and thoughts of failure, consider today's passage and what the Lord has to say to us.

The first thing God wants us to know is that He's called us in righteousness. Another version says He's the One Who has commissioned us to walk in a place of right standing with Him. There's nothing in us that's righteous in and of itself. Therefore, we can forget about the pressure to perform or make things happen on our own. Coupled with this promise, the Lord says He will hold our hand. How much of a blessing is THAT? Again, we're not on our own. We're not having to devise our own schemes or create plans to walk out our purpose. Like a Father, He's guiding us and showing us what He wants US to do.

As if that were not enough, God promises to keep us and use us as a sign to those who don't yet believe. The unfolding of our lives is the thing He wants to use to bring Him glory. Many believers wonder what we should be doing now that we've been called. They seem to be unclear concerning what God has called us to do. Well, today's passage makes it quite clear exactly WHAT God wants us to do on a daily basis. In exchange for our own deliverance and having His presence, He wants us to draw others to the Lord Jesus. Remember what YOU saw when others' lives reflected Him before YOU came? How long did it take YOU to finally yield? How many representatives did you have to watch before you finally gave in? It's like He's creating in us a giant billboard that points to the saving power of Jesus Christ. Everywhere we go, He wants to show them how much He loves them.

With this in mind, our concern today should not be whether God CAN use us, because He's already confirmed that He does. It should be whether WE will ALLOW Him to do so. What's your billboard going to say? When people look at you, what evidence of God's grace will they find? Will they see His love in your eyes, or will they turn away believing the lies of the enemy that there's nothing to this God we serve? Will something we say or do compel them to seek God for themselves, or push them away even farther? God has placed something in us to draw them. We just have to release it and not allow fear or insecurities to block the ministry within. Rather than worrying about God's part, why don't we just do ours? God is faithful to do His.

Prayer: Father, I walk in Your promise today that You've already made me righteous. You promise to hold my hand through this journey. May I allow Your beauty to show forth in my life from one day to the next. Write Your love on my billboard for all to see. Let me live it and show it so that the bound can be set free one person at a time. Thank You for choosing to use me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prayers That Prevail

Sunday, July 31st, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapter 8
Memory Verse: Matt. 8:13

Father, Your Word reassures us over and over again that You are a God of miracles. You are the same God yesterday,today, and forever. From the beginning of time, You have used signs and wonders to show Your people that You are mighty. You created everything we see and placed us, Your children, on this earth to walk in dominion over everything. But because of sin, we've been influenced by the enemy to long for worldly things rather than for the spectacular miracles You perform for us daily.

Then You sent Jesus, the Man Who re-established the authority we lost in the garden by His blood. We can now access everything You provided for us as we surrender our lives to Him daily. He came and showed us that You desire to heal, set free and deliver ALL Your people, no matter who they are or where they come from. Jesus told the man with leprosy, "Be healed.". He said to the centurion, "Let it be done for your servant as you believe."

Jesus healed those He knew and those who were strangers alike. He drove out demons with a word. But to those whom He invited to follow after Him, the message was clear: have faith, or turn back. Give all, or give nothing. So today we declare that by faith we are following after You and giving our all. We will walk in signs and wonders, for He promised that those signs would follow us who believe.

As we arise to bring You our best worship, may every stronghold be broken in the lives of all Your people. May every hindering spirit be bound and prevented from stopping the life-giving Word from flowing freely in Your House. And may every purpose which You ordained this day be accomplished. In the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

Keep Your Heart Clean

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapter 7
Memory Verse:

God is about the business of making sure His people know what He loves, and what He just won't tolerate. And one thing God hates is when His people judge one another. One definition for the verb "judge" is "to pass judgement on another", as if we were ourselves completely perfect ourselves. I think the main thing that hurts the Father's heart is OUR hearts on the matter. We know that we, too, struggle with certain issues. So we try to make ourselves look and feel good by focusing on the areas where others struggle.

The Word is very clear that, if our intention is only to look down our noses at the people we should be in the battle with, God doesn't want us doing it at all. Pastor Chris always tells us after a praise team rehearsal: "Be in prayer for the people you minister with, and the people you minister to. They need you." That statement always convicts me because it reminds me of how little time I spend actually praying for the people who are trying to live for God, but find themselves struggling to get out of the enemy's grasp.

On the other hand, there is a certain standard God is holding all of us to. Especially when we're in a ministry where He's using His servants, our pastors, to teach us His Word, God expects us to bear fruit showing what's been sown into us. So although we are not to judge others with the heart to put them down for their shortcomings, the Word says in Zechariah 3:7 that we CAN judge God's house when we honor Him by walking in His ways with a clean heart. That said, as believers we are to pull others out of the fire when we see them playing with sin.

Today, ask the Lord to give you the burden of praying and lifting up others who are struggling with sin. Pray that the Lord will destroy yokes and make them too slippery to stay in the enemy's trap. When our hearts are in the right place, we can be assured that He'll allow us to judge nations.

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us that You care about the brokenness of Your children. You are calling us to be more concerned with our place with You than with that of others. Draw us all closer to Yourself, and we will give You praise. We live to bring You glory, in Jesus' Name. Amen!

What Are You Ready For?

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapter 6
Memory Verse: Matt. 6:19-21

Without even realizing it, we've become impressed by the wealthy of this world and their riches. We watch them acquire more and more things that they couldn't possibly use in their lifetime. Oh, we talk a good game about how wasteful they are-- for spending millions of dollars on one-time purchases that will never be worthwhile -- but secretly we admire them for the ease with which they bask in seemingly unlimited resources.

Question: What's the first 5 things you'd do if someone gave you 10 million dollars? The answer to this question determines whether you are ready for the next financial level of life. When this question was posed to me, 4 out of the 5 things I thought of were about me. Essentially, I would've used the money to show God what a lousy job He does taking care of me. Think about it. One million to tell Him my house was too small, five to show Him how I need to retire, and another half million to show Him what a real wardrobe looks like. That's when I realized I had a lot to learn about wealth. You see, God is not a fool. He'll never raise a person up to have to compete with who they are. When He makes one wealthy, they first have to understand the reason they're wealthy. Wealth is given to God's people in order to expand HIS kingdom. If you're going to be wealthy, you want your wealth to be useful, movable, and workable. Wealth that is under the control of some outside entity is what is considered stored up. And as you know, the wealth of the wicked is stored up.....for the righteous. Having wealth requires great responsibilty like finding creative ways to build the kingdom
of God. How many people would a million dollars feed? These are the questions God wants us to ask Him. Listen: If God can get it through you, He'll get it to you.

Finally, as you become a giver (because God's getting to bless you as you change your mindset) remember to make sure God gets the glory. The left hand doesn't have to know what the right one is doing. Start small by being a blessing to someone in your neighborhood or church. After doing so, privately give God praise for the ability to do it. And make sure the one you blessed know that the blessing came "by God's grace". Now get ready! You're about to experience a whole new level. Make sure you handle it with extreme care. Be blessed!

Prayer: Father, You have a specific plan for blessing Your people. You want those who don't yet know You to encounter Your love through us. I pray today that You will take the sacrifice we make now by multiplying the works of our hands. And more than anything, let the people who receive from us know that they have received from You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Extra Mile

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapter 5
Memory Verse > Matt. 5:16

Jesus was the most loving person on earth. Yet even He had little tolerance for religion. I've often wondered what it was that made Jesus hate religion so much. Then He revealed to me that religion focuses on the outward appearance of a thing, whereas relationship focuses on the heart. No wonder He told us in today's passage that if we want to be counted as one of His, we'd have to be willing to go the extra mile required of those in relationship with Him.

Even with that understanding, though, I found myself still wondering what was so important about the distinction between the two types of individuals. Then the Lord began to break it down to me even more. He told me to picture the following scenario: two people on my job claiming to know God. One is always mean- looking, appears stand-offish, and readily jumps to the defensive whenever there is a discussion (whether she has heard both sides or not). The other person is much more pleasant, quick to listen, and slow to wrath.

Once I had that picture in my mind, the Lord ministered to me about the reason He hates religion. "When people focus only on doing just enough of the law to satisfy its rigid requirements, all they're doing is drawing attention to the fact that they are living self-sufficient lives," He explained to me. "Those actions of the negative person are a sure sign that she is neither dependent on nor submitted to me. But the other person... Now, that's a life of surrender. Anyone watching knows within no time that we cannot command our emotions to come into line on our own, especially during opposition."

You see, God reminded me that it takes no effort in the human flesh to follow the law. Anyone can love only those who love them back. But it takes relationship with God to make sure our attitudes with our brothers and sisters are right. It's not enough to just follow the law, but to keep our hearts right and free of the hidden things that no-one but He can see: malice, envy, lust, and anger. Here's the key: if God had to choose between a person who lives by religion, and one who lived a relationship with Him, which one do you think He'd rather have represent Him? You got it!! The one who goes the extra mile.

Prayer: Father, here I am. My relationship with You is the most precious possession in my life. It's not just because of how good Your Name makes me look, but definitely because my life has no meaning without You. Please forgive me for the times when I haven't made good choices to represent You well on this earth. May I now be used of You to draw others as I depend on You to help me go the extra mile for others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Testing, Testing 1,2,3....

Wednesday July 27, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew 4
Memory Verse: Matthew 4:10

Testing, testing 1, 2, 3!  Doing a sound check before praise and worship can be hit and miss sometimes.  We can rely so much on technology that it often comes back to bite us.  Our sound director (bless his heart) is stuck with the task of setting the sound for a whole group of people (and instruments), and when he's done, we test him.  Tests are producers of great anxiety for some.  But, if we use them the way God wants us to, we can see our purpose from His perspective.

A test is defined as a means by which an assessment is derived.  Essentially, it is the way one finds out what someone (or something) has or knows.  We immediately identify tests with teachers and doctors.  Teachers use them to find out if the students are learning.  Doctors use them to find out if the body's working, or, if the medicine's healing.  God, on the other hand, uses test in a slightly different way.  His definition of test is better described this way: the means by which the presence, quality, and/or genuineness is determined.  See, in reference to most teachers, you can still pass the class if you fail a test.  And you can fail a doctor's test and still live.  However, failing God's tests can be dangerous.  We can fool teachers but we can't fool God.  Get it?  All we have to do for the teacher is "act" the part and do the required seat work (go through the motions), but acting won't convince God of anything.  It's the decisions we make in the heat of the moment that determines if we're ready for the next level or not.  You can't attend enough church services to convince God.  You can't sing enough songs to trick Him.  It's what comes out of you when you're confronted with the opportunity to sin or stand that matters.  In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus was tested by the devil.  The test was administered in 3 phases.  We'll call them Faith, Pride, and Lust.  Part 1 of the test challenged Jesus to either remain on His fast, or turn the stones into bread (in order to eat).  Ah, I bet that bread would've tasted so good, especially after a 40-day fast.  But Jesus stood on the belief that God's word is what nourishes us.  Meaning, we walk by faith, not sight.  Part 2 challenged Jesus to throw Himself off a cliff to see if God would leave His throne for a hasty rescue.  Mature Christians have to stop creating problems in the hopes of making themselves relevant in ministry.  Answer to part 2, don't "fall" so easily for anything or anyone, stand only for God.  In part 3, the devil tried to use the lust for power and possession to lure Jesus away.  However, Jesus knew that power belongs to God.  The devil was offering Him something that he himself did not possess.

Finally, we have to change our mindsets about the "tests" of life.  Testing the microphones before singing doesn't offend our sound director (he's a great guy).  As a matter of fact, he requires it because he realizes if there's no test, how will we know the sound will be present and of genuine quality?  If you don't have tests in your life, how will God know that about you?  Be Blessed....

Prayer: Father, this life gets difficult sometimes.  But I rest in You because Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.  Therefore, I choose to stand on Your Word.  No matter what challenges I face, I know trusting in You will get me through it.  You are all I need to get through this life.  So draw me ever so closely to You, in Jesus' name, Amen. 

You Can Do It, Too!

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapter 3
Memory Verse:Jeremiah 1:5

I greatly admire evangelistic ministries that have been called and anointed by the Lord to draw people to His kingdom. They invest much time and quite a few resources in training and equipping people of all ages and backgrounds with the strategies to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they go. In my days without the saving knowledge of Jesus, I myself encountered groups of young people from one of those ministries, Campus Crusade for Christ. Now that I think back to my time with them, I realize that the training they had received, coupled of course with a deep passion for God, gave them the boldness to share their faith.

But although ministries of this kind exist to produce witnesses for the kingdom, does this mean that the rest of the believers who never had the privilege of receiving such training should remain silent? Are we to believe that God really expects us to hush until we get formerly trained to share our faith? I think not! On the contrary, I believe that God already gives us what we need, according to the power that works within us, to accomplish the Father's Will on this earth.

Let's look at the life of John the Baptist. He is known as the voice crying in the wilderness to those who didn't know to look for the Messiah. He came out in Matthew chapter 3, wearing weird clothes and eating weird foods, not to draw attention to himself, but to let the people know that God's plan of salvation was about to be revealed. Did he receive the formal training of the Pharisees and Saducees? No. But look a little closer in the first and second chapters of Luke. The prophecy of who John was and what he was being sent to do was given, and the anointing to spread the news of repentance in order to receive salvation was given to him in his mother's womb.

God told Jeremiah in so many words, "Everything you need to serve me has already been placed on the inside of him before his mother even knew he would be born. And this is the same promise that we can claim about our own lives today. If you have an opportunity to sit under training where you can receive the information that would help you share your faith in Christ more boldly, by all means, do so. But never for another day let the enemy make you think you don't have what it takes, right now, to be used of God in a mighty way to bring the gospel to those who are lost. Every moment we take to yield your life for the kingdom will forever be recorded in eternity, but I would do it for Christ even if that were not a possibility. You can do it, too.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the giftings and anointing that You have placed inside of each of us. But more than that, I'm so grateful for a heart to do Your will. Please fill us now with Your Spirit and His power to share the love and good news of Your kingdom. May every word be used to populate heaven and take from hell what already belongs to You -- the souls of many. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Keep it Sweet and Simple!!!!!

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapters 1 & 2
Memory Verses: Matt. 1: 22-23

I've been a believer for a few years now, but I'll be the first to admit that I haven't read the Bible from cover to cover. As a matter of fact, there are some parts I've actually skipped over, especially when it comes to the "begets", as I affectionately call the parts where the genealogy of God's people is recorded. But it didn't really hit me until I asked the question, "Why is that part in the Bible in the first place?" Then I was made to understand that God is making the connection of how well-thought-out God's plan of salvation really is.

While reading today's passage, I received a better understanding of how specific and strategic God was when He chose Abraham to become the father of this new nation through faith. But what's really important to tell people who don't yet know Christ? Is there a set format, a tried and proven approach to witnessing that includes certain information from the Scriptures to share with unbelievers? I believe there is. But before we surround ourselves with methodology of HOW to reach those who don't know Christ, we must be fully convinced of WHY they need to know Him.

The basic principle we have to keep at heart when dealing with the issue of ministering to the lost is this: we have been commissioned to share that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus the Christ, to deliver us all from the death we all deserved. Reality? We were bound for the wrath of God originally reserved for the devil and his angels. Miracle? God chose us before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His own through His Son's sacrifice.

With this in mind, our primary purpose in sharing our faith should be this: to let others know what God has done for us. We make what He did of no effect when we make giving others the salvation message all about debates such as the historical background of Christianity, and whether Christ was really born on December 25th or not. What we should be burning to share is how He changed us, saved us, and set us free. That's what drew us to the message: why should it be different for those who haven't yet received Him? Keep it sweet and simple and tell somebody that God IS real. Watch what He does with that testimony.

Prayer: Father, I know where I would be if You hadn't come after me by using those who were bold enough to be obedient and shared what You can do with a life like mine. I bless You from the bottom of my heart, my King. You delivered me when You could've let me die and go to hell, because You had the faith that I would become one of Abraham's children. Help me keep it sweet and simple in sharing this faith in You, rather than keep it to myself. Use me to so minister how good You are, and how much You love us, that it will yield a harvest of righteousness for the kingdom. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prayers that Prevail

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Today's Passage: Ephesians chapter 1
Memory Verse: Ephesians 1: 17

Father, I thank You first of all for making provision for me by blessing me and all of Your children with ALL spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, just as You chose us in Christ before we even made up our minds to serve You. You decided that You would make a way for us to have access to holiness and justification long before we even had a heart to live for or love You.

Secondly, I'm so grateful that You made us accepted in the Beloved. This means that any amount of rejection that I've ever experienced from strangers or loved ones alike cannot take away from me the fact that I am Yours and You are mine. Everywhere I go, I carry with me the comfort that I am Your temple and You dwell on the inside of me. And not only that, but my relationship with You empowers me to arise above any and every situation that might come against me.

With all this in mind, I pray the prayer that Paul prays in this passage, Father. I ask You for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Enlighten my understanding to the point that I will know and manifest in my life the hope of Your calling, the riches of the glory of Your inheritance that's been made available to us, and the mighty power that we can walk in just like Jesus walked in it on this earth. You have placed me in heavenly places, above all principality and power of the demonic forces that surround and come against me.

As Your people prepare to come to Your house, We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness that we may have allowed to enter our spirit. Please forgive us for being nearsighted and falling short of the mark You set for us. May our worship and praise of You draw us ever closer to You and the purpose and plan that You have set for us all in Your kingdom. May Your church arise as the answer to every problem caused by sin- sickness in this world. For Your glory alone. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Obedience=Promise!

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

Today's Passage: Isaiah 54
Memory Verse: Isaiah 54:17

Since we were kids, we've developed countless images and ideas of who God is and what He's like in our minds. What we didn't imagine ourselves, stories from preachers, Sunday school teachers, and family members taught us. Depending on the background, one can grow up thinking God is this angry King sitting on a throne waiting to judge all of us. And if you ever do one thing wrong, He'll curse you for life.

The children of Israel must have felt this way for a long time. Because of their disobedience, God seemed to always be "teaching" them His way was the only way. Now God's teaching often came by way of Egyptian or Babylonian captivity, or a season of hunger in the wilderness. That's why it seemed He was always mad at them. Does it seem like God's mad at you? Are you in a place where He needs to hold you down in order to get your attention? You see, God is not a man that He should lie, nor will He ever have to repent. In that, if He has need of you, He'll break you down to get to you before you make Him out to be a liar. Anyway, to avoid all that, just be obedient. If you stay on the Potter's wheel, you'll be okay. Now, for those of us whose heads are a little harder than that, grace has come to get you where you need to be. The first thing you must do is believe that there is no condition God can't reverse. We acknowledge there are things we have brought upon ourselves, but God can redeem us from those things if we believe and follow Him completely. Isaiah 54:1 says "Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women. God says so." How awesome is that? That verse tells us that God has a promise to restore His people. The devil has a way of making us think that our lives are over because of a few bad decisions here and there. But he doesn't have the authority to write the last chapter of our books. God has that authority. And He says no matter where you are or what you've done, He has a promise of redemption and restoration waiting for your first act of obedience. Thank You, God!!!!

Because you are "the promised" of God, the enemy has weapons that are designed to keep us away from God. God categorizes these weapons as the works of the flesh. If we aren't careful, these works can infiltrate our lives and cause division between us and God. But be of good cheer my friends, because verse 17 of today's passage says: "No weapon formed against us will prosper, and every tongue that rises against us will be condemned." Did you get that? NO WEAPON!!! Rest assured that God wants you on His side. His desire is that all will be saved and none be lost. So, let's make sure we're doing our part by walking in His ways. Let's remember if we're obedient, we'll have His promises. And I don't know about you, but I want what's been promised to me. Be Blessed!

Prayer: Father, I thank You for the opportunity to receive Your promises. Things that have been closed in my life and refused to me, You are opening. You are releasing things to me that I never thought I'd have access to. For that, I am grateful. I choose now to follow You. You take the lead. There'll be no more of my will, only Your will, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Faith Declaration #3

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Today's Passage: Proverbs 3: 1-26
Memory Verses: Prov. 3: 5-7

Father, time and time again I see that the success of every area of my life depends on my willingness to trust Your every Word. I admit that in many things, I acknowledge that You are the only answer, and surrendering to Your way of seeing it and walking it out is my only option. But there are still some areas in which success is not so evident or easy to come by. And that's when I have to be honest with myself and acknowledge that I still depend on my own methods, which are sure to fail.

Now that I've gotten to the end of myself, and have become just plain tired of doing it my way and achieving absolutely no success in stubborn areas, I'm ashamed to say I haven't done what this passage clearly spells out: I haven't TRUSTED You with ALL my heart. I haven't LEANED on Your thoughts and ideas rather than my own. And I certainly haven't acknowledged You in ALL my ways. As a matter of fact, there have been times when my actions have spoken louder than any words ever could. My actions have communicated to You that I don't want Your input in this particular area because I'd prefer to keep gratifying my flesh and its desires.

But from this moment on, I make a faith declaration that I will no longer make these decisions, thus resulting in the failures I've seen on numerous occasions in my life. I pull on Your Grace to be more than sufficient to sustain me in times when I have to pull my flesh out of depending on itself. I declare that I will trust You enough to invite You to speak when I get ready to make decisions about the big as well as little things, because it's the little foxes that spoil the vine in the lives of Your people.

I give You free reign in ALL of my life, God. I no longer want control in any area. I desire to hear Your voice no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I will no longer lock You out of the areas in my life I thought I could handle. Please be Lord and tell me what to eat, how to communicate with my spouse, and how to interact with my children. I declare total dependence on You for everything. And I receive all the blessings that Your Word has made available to me for my obedience and trust. Thank You for a new day in this life. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Just Believe!

Thursday July 21, 2011

Today's Passage: Joel 2:18-32
Memory Verse: Joel 2:32

With all the turmoil around us it's hard to see a positive outcome for anyone nowadays. Many ask what separates us from the world. While they're losing their homes, we seem to be losing ours. While their marriages are failing, ours seem to be also. When is it all going to end? What sets us apart?

The bible says in Joel 2: "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls." That verse tells me that the thing we have that the world doesn't have is a promise. We have a Father that is not a man that He should lie, nor is He the son of man that He'll ever have to repent. That being said, we must allow our faith to confirm the promises of God within us. Our faith is a key ingredient to our walk. As I said before, there's so much negativity around us lately. If we're not careful, we'll allow what we see to change our perspective. However, if we have faith, we can believe God in the midst of any calamity, lack, and/or persecution. Faith allows you to see into the heart of the Father. It is the exact opposite of fear. It's what it takes to seemingly step out on nothing while believing that something is there. What keeps you going when it seems you're against it? What sustains you throughout the darkest times of your life?

I'll tell you what got me through it. It was faith. It was knowing that God has plans for me, and as long as He did, my enemy couldn't have me. You want to know how to defeat your enemy? Believe! You want to know what God has for you? Believe! God loves you. He has such plans for you. To connect with Him, you have to stand on His word. You have to believe His promises. He said we can't please Him without doing so. Let's agree to walk by faith instead of what we see. Let's condition ourselves to stand on what the Lord has spoken instead of what the world has shown us. Start today!!!

Prayer: Father. we repent for allowing the world to change our perspective. We've allowed lack to change the way we believe. We've allowed what others seem to have to change our beliefs also. But, from this day forward, we completely depend on You. You are our Source and Provider. And from now on, we'll set our hearts to believe, in Jesus' name. Amen.

H.U.M.P. Day!!!!!

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Today's Passage: Isaiah 20
Memory Verse: Isaiah 20:31

The enemy is a very tricky magician. He spends all his time and invests all his effort into what things look like. He's a master at disguising things and making them look the total opposite of what they really are. The reason we fall for it is because we're usually focused on our own little world. It's not until sometime later that we see it for what it really was. The enemy took advantage of a moment of weakness in our lives, but we could quickly put him back in his place.

Which brings us to today's H.U.M.P. Day challenge. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that everyone needs a pick- me- up, a reminder that God has not forgotten His children. God wants us to trust Him, but we get worn down by the same old issues over and over again. These burdens can become so heavy that we find it difficult to become optimistic about our day-to-day lives. But God's Word today assures us that God is not limited to time and space, so we can trust Him to deliver us just like He promised.

Your assignment is to just be a living witness to the awesome power of our God. Let the strength of God shine through you as you go about your day in spite of the issues. Then, when the opportunity presents itself, seize it to encourage, encourage, encourage. Remind those who need it that those who wait on God will be strengthened and renewed. Share with them your own testimony of how God did this in your life. Nothing beats experience. Watch the way that person's face and heart lightens to hear what God has done. Then, give God praise for using you to bring Him glory. Have a blessed H.U.M.P. Day!

Faith Declaration #2

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Today's Passage: Psalm 20
Memory Verse: Ps. 20: 5

Father, as one of Your children, I thank You for the privilege to be able to speak into the lives of my brothers and sisters.  Your Word says it's possible for us all to believe You.  When we get in trouble, You deliver us.  So my prayer today is that Your children walk in a place where they are able to access You when trouble comes.

Not only that, but I also pray that they receive help from You when they call. I know Your Word says that You will not hear us when we pray if we keep grudges in our hearts, so I ask that You soften the hearts of Your children, convicting them to repent of any sin that so easily besets them.  Then, I believe the doors will be open to hear from Your temple and help them when they call.

Finally, I pray that all their plans begin to succeed as they surrender them all to you.  May their hearts be so devoted that they will hear You when You say yes, no, or wait.  May they be settled on being committed to Your answers.  This will guarantee that You will bring about their success.  Then we will shout for joy over every victory they accomplish.  For we know that You are the same God yesterday, today, and forever.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Faith Declaration #1

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Today's Passage: Psalm 1
Memory Verse> Ps. 1: 3

Father, I thank You today that You have established a place of blessing for those who are totally devoted to You and Your kingdom.  I am delighted to be counted as one of those who acknowledge Your Word as the highest authority in our lives.  That means before we call the bank, the doctor, or the government, we consult You.  We spend quality time digesting Your Word and letting it take root in our hearts.

Furthermore, I am guaranteed to walk in Your blessing because I refuse to allow any negative report against what You have said to poison my spirit.  I keep my eyes focused on Your Word, and continue to rehearse, meditate, and feast on Your promises.  I cast down every high and lofty imagination that would attempt to exalted itself against the knowledge of You.

As I fasten myself to You, obeying Your precepts and Your laws, I receive by faith the promise from You that shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.  I will be fruitful in the anointing and gifting to exhort and encourage Your people.  The leaves of my productivity and creativity will never fade or wither, and everything I put my hands to shall prosper because it's rooted in Your grace.  May Your Word come to pass in the lives of Your Totally Devoted just as You say.  In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.

Prayers That Prevail

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Today's Passage: John 20: 18-31
Memory Verse(s): John 20:29

Father, thank You for loving me so much that You are willing to break through my moments of uncertainty and bring reassurance. Just like Jesus did with Thomas, You want all Your children to know that You really are Who and What You say you are -- but not just because we see evidence of it.

What a blessing it is to know that I can walk in authority against the wiles of the enemy because of the blood of Jesus. Had it not been for the nails He endured in His hands and feet, every doubt that plagues many today would have been justified. So I choose to stand on the fact that nothing about Your Son's death was in vain.

Today, as I rise to give You glory, I repent for the times when circumstances threatened to force my perspective to be one way. Now, nothing can change my heart. I will worship You with all my heart, knowing that the battle has already been won. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Great Expectations

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew 8: 5-13
Memory Verse: Matt. 8: 9-10

God ministers to all of us in the areas that touch our hearts the most. For some, it may be nature. For others, it may be the things He's allowed them to possess. In my case, it's my children and my role as a teacher. I often hear myself say certain phrases to my kids and students that immediately reverberate through my spirit as something the Lord has been trying to get me to understand.

We've all said this to our kids at one time or another: "Why do you keep asking the same questions over and over? Didn't I tell you I would get you what you asked for? Don't ask me again." When we promise our children that we're going to take them on vacation, for example, it's amazing how often they want to ask and talk about it. They want to know every detail. "What's the house going to look like that we're going to? How big is the pool? How long are we going for?" (They already know it's for a week, but of course they just want to hear us say it again).

As a parent, I know that it's the heartfelt desire of my husband and me to give our children good gifts. They work hard, and they're obedient to us. Every chance we get, we want to bless them. It's not even a question of "if"; it's when it's going to happen. So when I approach God with my shopping list, He reminds me that if God is truly Who He says He is in my life, nothing will stop Him from getting to me what He promised. This was the case with the centurion's faith. He knew Jesus could heal, but experience told him that all He had to do was command it, and it would be so. When he shared this statement with Jesus, the Bible says Jesus was stunned. Obviously, He hadn't encountered anyone among His own people who even came close to believing that miracles worked this way.

Now it's our turn. Today, let's make a commitment to astound God by having such great expectation of what He's going to do that we pull on the heavens in a mighty way. Faith is what moves God-- not our whining, not our doubt, and certainly NOT our fear. It's time to take Him completely at His Word for miracles of EVERY kind -- and let's watch Him move on our behalf like never before.

Prayer: Father, I, too am under authority. I say to my children that they can have what they ask if they only trust me. So I'm putting a demand on Your anointing for miraculous things happening nit only at my church but in Your kingdom as a whole. All You have to do is speak it and it's done. Have Your way, Lord. In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.

Daddy Knows best

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Today's Passage: 1 John 5: 1-15
Memory Verse: 1 John 5: 3

What was your relationship with your earthly father? Mine was wonderful. I remember the way my father's pleasant personality and positive attitude made everyone want to be around him. From the moment we woke up, I could hear Daddy whistling as he got ready for his day. There was just something warm and special about having him around. When my older siblings' friends came to the house, you couldn't help bursting out into laughter just from hearing him make them laugh.

But when it came time for just his time with me, I had his full attention. He loved tickling me, and I absolutely loved sitting in his lap. Even when my parents had company, I never felt like he was far away. So whenever he had to discipline me, it ripped me to the core because I knew I was disappointing him. It was always easier for me to understand why he had to chastise me than when my mom did it. Now that I'm a mom, I see that I gave my mom a hard time when it came to appreciating all she tried to protect me from. But never once did I question that my father loved me and only wanted the best for me when he told me no, or had to punish me for something I did.

Our Heavenly Father is no different. He loves us more than words can say. He takes wonderful care of us, and withholds no good from us. So when it comes time for us to abide by His standards, as today's passage suggests, His commandments are not bothersome. We know that deeply embedded in every command is His great love for us and desire to protect us from the enemy. This is the part where your faith must kick in. When Satan tries to plant thoughts of frustration and disloyalty towards God's ways, your faith must combat those thoughts.

Everytime Daddy God says "no", He's protecting us. Everytime we have to wait, He's preparing us for something greater. Like that time when I was sixteen, and my current boyfriend decided he was ready to be my husband. You can imagine how relieved I am that my dad didn't agree to THAT crazy idea! That's why your faith has to be that high-voltage, barbed wire fence against the enemy's wiles. And when you live with the mindset that Daddy knows best, you truly learn to be the conqueror that we were created to be.

Prayer: Father, who am I that You are so mindful of me? Thank You for being so faithful in providing the covering that You give me daily. In You, I am truly complete. I embrace Your will and plan, and willingly surround myself with Your commands. Because I love you, I shall keep Your commands. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Is God Really Real?

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

Today's Passage: Hebrews 11: 1-16
Memory Verse: Hebrews 11: 1

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who's not really an atheist, but has never really given the things of God a chance? Eventually you hear the questions you knew were coming. How do you know God is real? How is it possible to believe in eternity? How do YOU know you've been given eternal life? If you're a brand new Christian yourself, maybe something that's said in today's blog will encourage you to share your faith. But if you've been a believer for some time, these words will only confirm what you've already explained time and time again.

The first thing someone who doesn't know God will try to do is discredit our faith by trying to make light of the fact that we can't see God. When they start to take you down this road, remind them about the air we breathe. We can't see it, but we know it's there because we can feel it as well as hear it, and it 's the thing that keeps us alive. Well, knowing God exists is kind of like that. No-one can see him and live, so He made it possible for us to feel and hear Him. Once we accept His terms, we begin to walk in faith.

As for the issue of eternity, we must tell them that unlike all other created things, we are spirit beings, and we live in these shells called bodies which do not last long. But something else we possess is the soul, that which was formed when God breathed into us at creation. Every human being has one that is unique to him or her, and that is why cloning of humans will never work. We believe in eternity because God tells us so in His Word. The soul and spirit are eternal, so there will have to be a moment of accountability when we will answer to the eternal Judge.

Which brings us to the final question: how do WE know we have eternal life? That's where this crazy thing called FAITH kicks in, and where each of us can only tell our individual stories. Before I came to know the Lord, everything around me told me there was a God. With every breath, I could feel Him willing me to surrender, but in love and not out of condemnation. Along with this knowledge was the dreadful fear that I would spend an eternity in hell if I didn't accept Him into my life. Somehow, I just KNEW that the physical death was not the end. In the same way, when I finally said yes to Jesus, that fear lifted immediately, being replaced by an intense anticipation of being in His Presence forever. If faith is being sure of what we do not see, and skyscrapers emerge from the imagination of architects, then our faith in the One True God is real, as is He.

Prayer: Father, no-one will ever be able to convince me that You're just a figment of my imagination. You've drawn me to Yourself with lovingkindness. Now, may I be used of You to do the same in the lives of others who don't yet know You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Had To See Uncle Ron!!!!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Today's Passage: Hebrews 10:19-25
Memory Verse: Hebrews 10:19,22

The summer season brings quite a bit of rain in Florida.  One summer (I was probably about 12 years old), it seemed like it rained everyday.  I remember because I was playing in the mud puddles with some friends when my Uncle Ron showed up.  Uncle Ron was THAT GUY.  Whenever he came around, he always had something cool for my brother and me. He talked cool, he walked cool, and he gave us the coolest gifts.  Along with that, he had the fastest motorcycle (so I thought), and the best- looking gold-colored Porsche 944.  Get the picture?  This guy was the bomb! 

So, there I went.  I left my friends at the mud hole in a flash.  I'm yelling "Uncle Ron, Uncle Ron" as I'm running down the street.  Now that I think about it, I believe that's why he came with all that cool stuff.  He liked being appreciated and pursued.  See, he was made in the image of God, and God likes being appreciated and pursued.  That's why He shows up in our praise and worship (lil' nugget).  Anyway, when I got to the house, I saw Uncle Ron standing in the living room.  I ran toward him, only to have my mom stop me.  She said "Uh-uh, child!  You are dirty and need a bath.  Before you come and wallow all over him, go clean yourself up".  She, of course, was right.  Now being a boy, the bath thing wasn't always my favorite activity (keep it real, male readers), but today I didn't mind because the bath was going to give me access to what I wanted and needed.  Our passage today gives us the spiritual explanation of my natural occurence.  Verses 19 and 22 of it says "So, friends, we can now without hesitation walk right up to God, into the Holy Place.  Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of His sacrifice, acting as our priest before God.  The curtain into God's presence is His body.  So let's do it--full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out".  We all know if it weren't for Jesus (our cleaner) we would never be "presentable" enough to be in the presence of the Father.  That's why I ran toward the bathtub (felt an anointing right there), I know I needed it.  Uncle Ron was waiting; and although he had come to see us, I wouldn't be able to enjoy his presence without washing off all the dirt (okay, really feelin' You right now God). 

After getting out of the tub, I was able to come hang out with Uncle Ron.  Of course, he took advantage of his time with me by talking about the importance of school and advising me to listen to my mom.  My time with him was always treasured.  I hated for him to leave (guess it was that not having a dad thing).  However, I was always left with the evidence of his presence.  In contrast, the great thing about God is He never leaves us.  He wants us to hang out with Him all the time.  Inasmuch, He, too has the coolest things to say, and nobody has better gifts.  Because of that, I'll always run to Jesus for a heart cleanse.  I'll always seek Him for access to my Father's heart.  Prayerfully, you will too. 

Prayer: Thank You, Father for giving us access to You.  Your presence is a strong tower and mighty fortress.  We appreciate You, too, Jesus for being that sacrifice that allowed us to get there.  You are a wonderful Savior.  No-one comes to the Father without You, Jesus.  So, wash us and prepare us for this holy visitation, in Your name we pray. Amen

Live By Faith!!

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Today's Passage: Galatians 3: 1-14
Memory Verse: Gal. 3: 13-14


In these last days,  we are constantly flooded with sights and sounds that contradict our values. "Touch it, taste it, buy it. You know you want it. And if you stop pretending and get in touch with your true feelings, you'll experience happiness and fulfillment.". This is the message that's being sent to us on every wave of false instruction (as we learned in yesterday's message). And so, in order to combat the flood of iniquity that threatens to impose itself on the people of God, I can see where the need to remind God's people of His laws is necessary.

But today's passage will have us remember that on our best day, there is absolutely NO WAY we can live righteously by walking in the law. I needed the Holy Spirit to give me a true understanding of how walking in the law works contrary to walking by faith, and He showed me the previous chapter in Galatians. Peter, now one of the apostles of the faith, was engaging in a practice that caused Paul to have to rebuke him publicly. He had no problem hanging out with Gentiles when there were no other Jews around. However, as soon as Jews were present, he began treating his Gentile brothers as if they were not worthy to be called Christians.

As a result of Peter's hypocrisy, other Jewish believers began carrying themselves in the same way, thus making what Christ did on the cross (bring us all together by His blood) of no effect. Which brings us to the place in today's passage where Paul had to correct them all. Paul was basically asking them this question: after all Christ's death purchased for us, why are you going backward, choosing to believe that following the law will continue to bring freedom when it was never able to free us before? We are Abraham's descendants,because he chose to let go of all he knew and embraced the new life God was giving him. He realized he was nothing in and of himself, but his new identity was in Jehovah God.

So here's a question for us all today: are we truly believing God's solution to our sin problem is totally capable of finishing the work He started in us? Or are we reaching back to hold on to religious practices because we can take credit if we are successful? You see, faith means WE are no longer in control, but have to depend on God's direction. We have no agenda other than being obedient to God's voice. But reverting back to the law is not only spitting in God's face, but is also a surefire way to keep all the curses Christ redeemed us from. Today, may your heart choose to believe the truth: that real blessings come only through relationship with Jesus Christ, which will compel us to obey Him out of love, not out of obligation. Be free to live righteously because Jesus MAKES us free, not because we're forced to follow a set of rules. Make no room for living under the curse.

Prayer: Father, thank You for using the law to get us to the place of GRACE. I've learned that grace is what holds me in place while I'm moving towards the inheritance that You promised Abraham. Cleanse me now from any desire to go back to following laws that do not reveal Your heart towards me. I let go of the law and release myself to live in the Spirit-- by faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Prayers That Prevail

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

Today's Passage:  1 Timothy chapter 1
Memory Verse: 1 Tim. 1:5

Father, I praise You today for Your gracious sacrifice of Jesus' blood extended to grant me access into the inheritance of kingship.  You've revealed to me that Your ultimate goal for me is to walk in love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.  I desire to love your people with Your love, seeing beyond what human eyes can see.  I want to see them the way You see us all -- complete.

Not only do I desire to love Your way, but I also want to make better choices in my relationships with Your people based on a good conscience.  We could all pretend as if we didn't really mean the words we said or the things we did.  But when I look in the mirror, I want to see myself the way You see me and be willing to tell the truth about my motives.  I do hear Your Word and acknowledge that I will stand before You, and I want to hear You say You know me and welcome me into Your Presence.

With this in mind, I purpose in my heart to walk in a sincere faith.  I have been placed on this earth for a limited time, so I want to spend every waking moment being used for the purpose of building Your kingdom.  I come into agreement with every plan You have made for my life.  I choose not to be on the outside looking in, but rather to plunge myself into worshipping You like never before.  I hold firmly to faith and that good conscience You've told me about, and I FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.  For Your glory, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Just Taste and See!

Saturday, July 9th, 2011

Today's Passage: Romans 10
Memory Verse: Rom. 10: 9-10

After spending two nights in a workshop called "12 Gates of Restoration", I've gained much insight into the world of the broken and bound. First, individuals have to come face to face with the fact that they need help with the addiction or problem that's keeping them in bondage. Then, they must be able to look inward and face the issue that's causing pain. Slowly but surely, the individuals being led into full recovery establish a foundation with twelve gates of virtuous living to replace the lifetime of selfish existence they had before seeking recovery.

Something else that strikes me about this particular program is that it's completely based on the Word of God. Everyday, the ladies make a declaration from Deuteronomy 28 that outline the promises of God. It gives them an opportunity to experience faith that comes by hearing. The more they hear who they are, the more they can believe that they can reach for the truth and become what they're declaring. It didn't take long for me to realize that this is necessary no matter whether we are struggling with addictions or not.

God has given us awesome creative power, just like Him. It's like His Word is hanging like fruit on a healthy tree, and all we have to do is reach out and take a bite of it. There's really no limit to how much we eat, and once we take it in, it's a part of us forever. No-one can erase or remove that word in any way. So when we declare it, and believe that it will come to pass even as we speak it, the same miracle of eating a luscious fruit from the tree of life will occur in the spirit as it does in the natural.

Today, as you arise, may God's Word be the fruit that you taste and consume. Then, once you've digested it, you can regurgitate it and watch it grow wherever you plant it. You can speak and declare salvation for loved ones, deliverance for those struggling with unforgiveness and pain, and restoration for relationships. Just taste and see that His Word is good, and everywhere we sow it, it SHALL bear more fruit.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that the moment I confessed Your Word and believed it could save me, You immediately responded by coming into my life. Now, I apply the goodness of Your Word to every other area of my life. I declare that I SHALL accomplish everything You intended for me and my family. I give You glory for everything You're going to get out of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Christ Did It All!

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Today's Passage: Romans chapter 5
Memory Verse: Rom. 5: 6 & 8

The closest comparison I can make to what Christ did for us would have to be what a parent of a wayward child does. After raising and taking care of that child all his or her young life, it's heartbreaking when he or she throws away life for addiction. We see it often on episodes of "Intervention". Family and friends become terribly upset that the parents still accept that individual after everything he or she does to push them away. Taking money from them, cursing them out when he or she doesn't get his/her way, and then blaming them for the misfortunes of his or her life seem only to push the parents to be more compassionate towards that wayward child.

But when I look at my own life, I really get a picture of how much Christ loves us. When I think of the many years I spat in God's face, my heart breaks. I loved singing from the age of four, and went to church every week, singing what I thought was praises unto a God that I obviously didn't know anything about. Yet He saw what His Father intended me to produce when He created me. That alone gave Him the faith to get on that cross and stay there. So, while I was in my heart-hardened state of sin, with no intention of giving my life to the Lord, He sacrificed it all for me and would've done it even if it were just for me.

Now, multiply that by every rebellious soul that ever lived. Can you imagine the heartache experienced by our God? To be rejected millions of times over, by Your OWN creation? No wonder God had to be reminded that He promised never to wipe us all out ever again! But that's where this thing called faith working through love comes into play. He walked by faith to believe we would accept His Father's grace before we ever conceived of the idea. So all WE had to do was accept the fact that we were accepted long before we were even born.

I love this awesome example of the faith we'll need to walk in when we're praying for loved ones and even strangers who have yet to accept Christ into their hearts. All we need to really remember is that we were once in the same place... But for the grace of God. If I know anything about our Savior, He didn't model anything for us He didn't think we could do. Even when going through tribulations, He would not have us ignorant of the fact that we've got our faith to stand on while we are processed through that season. Saints, there are no excuses for us. Christ did it all. He literally set the example for every possible scenario we could imagine. All we have to do is walk it out.

Prayer: Father, as long as I live I'll never be able to comprehend the height and breadth and depth of Your great love for me. But by Your grace, I accept it and believe Jesus' blood makes me worth the sacrifice You both paid. I extend my faith now to receive the grace needed to see loved ones and even my city surrender to Your lordship. In Jesus' Name, I declare that their hearts are opening to receive what You so freely gave. Amen.

Don't EVEN Try Me!

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Today's Passage: Daniel chapter 3
Memory Verse: Dan. 3: 17-18

It occurred to me today that it's so easy for many believers to understand the concept of standing up for themselves in the natural realm. They've learned enough to know that we are called to be humble as Jesus was, yet not pushovers. As a result, they walk around with this militant attitude, just waiting for someone to cross them. In their defense, Christians really do have to send the message that we are not put on this earth to be taken advantage of.

Needless to say, it comes as a surprise that we allow the enemy, a bully if I ever saw one, to walk all over us when he rears his ugly head. Of course, we know that he uses human beings, but we forget that our battle is not against flesh and blood. I never tire of reading the faith account of the three Hebrew boys, who made a stand against an entire kingdom and its laws. We are living in a day when the laws are being re-written for no other reason than to show the people of God that our God, the Omnipotent God Himself, has no power against the will of man.

But we can certainly learn from this passage just how to win. First of all, Daniel and his friends are great examples of how close our walk needs to be with God. They prayed without ceasing, as should we. We must never downplay the necessity of speaking to and hearing from God, because we have no clue what season He wants to prepare us for. Notice that they did not bother to engage the people who no doubt had negative words to say about their lifestyle. They saved their emotional and spiritual strength for the principalities and powers that "tried" them in the form of the lawmakers and even the king himself.

I just love their response to the king's command to worship his idol. Here's my interpretation: "O great King, you are most certainly powerful. No man can stand against your laws and win. That's why we wouldn't dare answer you on those terms. But even you are NO match for our GOD! And as we submit to Him, HE will arise to deliver us out of your hand." My absolutely favorite part of all is their concluding statement: "But EVEN if He chooses NOT to deliver us, WE will still NEVER bow to your god.". Now THERE'S a militant attitude to emulate! No matter how they change the laws, no matter how they persecute us, may we be bold enough to stand against every attempt to try us. May we say, "With all due respect, don't even presume to think you can try me and win!"

Prayer: Father, You are the very same God today, yesterday, and forever. You've given us this wonderful example of standing up to the enemy in faith. Help us remember to pull on Your grace, which will never fail us. We declare now strength to stand in the life of every man, woman, boy and girl who is called "SAINT". May we ever live to bring You glory. In Jesus' powerful Name, Amen.

The Fight of Your Life!

Wednesday July 6, 2011

Today's Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Memory Verse: 2 Chronicles 20:15

This devotional begins with the memory of a boxing documentary I saw one night.  The boxer was Muhammad Ali.  I have always been astounded at the ease with which he dismantled his opponents.    He literally convinced himself of the fact that there wasn't a man on Earth who could beat him.  Subsequently, his gift not only commanded the attention of the nation, it commanded the attention of the world.

In life, we're well aware of battles we can win.  As a matter of fact, we love having the advantage.  Noone has to tell us to be confident, or strong, or to have courage when we're facing something we can whip.  I wonder why the devil stopped attacking me with THAT stuff?  You see, that's how Ali was.  He had no problem getting into the ring with guys who were either bigger, stronger, or faster.  He didn't see those attributes as advantages for them.  No matter who his opponent was, Ali saw him as a defeated foe.  There are things in life you'll always be able to whip.  Some demonic attacks are defeated by you before you get out of bed.  In today's passage, the army of Israel had won so many battles.  They had had success in battles that were seemingly impossible to win; but they won.  Like us, certain enemies didn't strike fear in them any longer.  They knew they'd have victory against certain nations, so they marched in with confidence.  Today, however, was different. 

It's good to be confident.  But, having confidence that overshadows faith is dangerous.  So, having fights that require FAITH to win, are regular occurrences for Christian life.  Verse 1 of our passage says "The Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat".  Verse 2 said "a huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea"!  This wasn't the type of battle Jehoshaphat was used to.  Three armies against one?  That'd make any king nervous.  So Jehoshaphat did what any one of us would do; he got scared.  How are you going to win this one?  How are you going to beat cancer, or job loss, or divorce?  Everyone keeps saying you're going to be okay, but your feelings have yet to catch up with that disclaimer.  At the end of the documentary, all they could do was show a great fighter who was struggling to defeat his biggest enemy: Parkinson's Disease.  I wish I could tell Ali all his fight knowledge and training wouldn't be enough for this one.  He needs to know that his gift of gab would not lead to victory.  To win this fight, he'd have to discover what Jehoshaphat knew: This battle can ONLY be won with God!  How will YOU win the fight of your life?  Here's a tip.  Jehoshaphat turned his face toward God.  He called a fast to make sure God would help him in the battle.  In doing so, he discovered this battle wasn't even about him.  Imagine that.  What if the battle you're in doesn't even belong to you?  God, in response to Jehoshaphat's diligence, revealed to him that this battle wasn't his, it was the Lord's.  The scale seemed tipped in the enemy's favor in order for God to demonstrate how truly powerful He is.  Be encouraged my friends, if the battle seems insurmountable, that might mean God is setting you up for something awesome.  You see, He gets His glory through our faith.  This is how it works: When we turn to Him in the midst of the impossible, our faith releases Him to make it possible, as a result, the glory for it becomes His.  It's essentially a win win for all.  So, if you find yourself in fight of your life, let God take control.  Be confident in His power to save.  Afterall, unlike You, me, and Muhammad Ali, He's NEVER lost a fight.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for allowing me to be in Your shadow.  That's where my protection lies.  Nothing can harm me that You don't allow.  I'm confident in that.  My faith has gone to new levels.  I now lay all things at Your holy feet as You are well able to take care of my every need.  Keep me in Your awesome care, in Jesus' name. Amen

The "Impossible" Dream

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Today's Passage: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20
Memory Verse: 1 Sam. 1: 20

So... You've got this dream inside of you that's so real you can taste it. Problem is, it seems impossible from where you stand. Yet and still, you can't help knowing deep down that you were meant to accomplish this "impossible dream". Let's take a journey into Hannah's world from conception of her dream to fruition.

One thing about Hannah is she wasn't content to stay where she was. Now, I believe there is a difference between a healthy discontent with mediocrity and plain old ingratitude. If you're just dissatisfied that things aren't going your way, you'll find yourself in this slump where you can't find anything praiseworthy about your life. And if you can't praise God, you'll find it hard to get into His presence and seek Him for more. However, if you know God has created you to be and do more than you're being and doing at the moment, it will push you to seek Him for more.

And that's exactly what Hannah did. Yes, she found herself being confronted daily with the reality that Elkanah's other wife Peninnah had children. Yes, that other wife used every chance she could to rub it in her face. Yes, she was frustrated. Still, she never forgot that God held the answer to her petition. She went to the temple and sought His face. Of course, what she didn't know was that, while she was seeking God for a child, God was also looking for a vessel to carry the solution He had for Israel.

You see, God was growing weary of Eli and his sons dishonoring Him in His house. He was looking for a servant who would hear His voice and relay His message to His people without ulterior motives. So when she cried out in desperation, God already had a plan to give her a child. But when she prayed these words: "I'll give Him back to the Lord all the days of his life", God knew He could trust her to carry out His plan. What problem is your dream an answer to? God is looking for vessels. He's neither surprised nor intimidated by your dream, because HE put it there. Now, YOU'VE got to be desperate enough to pray what she did: "Use me to do something bigger than me for Your glory.". Then watch as God's will unfolds into the dream you thought was so impossible. The only question that will remain is: how many lives are you willing to believe God will impact through you?

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me today that no dream is too impossible for You. You created this dream that I'm carrying, and You're looking for me to avail myself so You can provide the answer to problems around me. So my prayer today is that You take this vessel and use me all the days of my life to carry out Your plan. May I not go another day wondering if my dream will ever come to pass. May my life be poured out to serve Your purpose every waking moment. In Jesus' powerful Name, Amen.

A Foundation of Obedience

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Today's Passage: Genesis 22: 1-19
Memory Verses: Gen. 22:17 & 18

If we're going to inherit the blessing of Abraham as his descendants, we've got to revisit again and again what He did to begin this flood of blessing. The first thing I noticed is that God tested Abraham. Even after Abraham had proven he could be trusted to obey God completely, I believe the test was necessary as a means of showing Abraham a preview of the grace that He would be extending to us centuries later, when He provided the ultimate sacrifice for us. But He wanted to know that Abraham would obey without questioning.

There's a second thing Abraham did that we must emulate. He spoke in faith even when he couldn't see the promise. He knew what God was requesting of him, yet when his son asked him where the sacrifice was, his response was one that would literally prophesy not only what God would do for him at that moment, but for all mankind when He sacrificed His only Son. He said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."

How awesome is that? He had no way of knowing that this would actually come to pass. Yet he spoke from a place deep within himself that had never before been experienced since the days of Noah by a human being. He, who had already put Forward Action in Trusting Him by obeying, now spoke what he expected the outcome to be. And the rest, as they say, is history. Not only did his word come to pass, but he literally unleashed supernatural favor for himself and all of us who would come after him in the lineage of faith so many years later.

So what will it be? Will our story read the same way? When it comes our turn to go the next round of obedience, will we respond with action as well as words of faith? As it was with our father Abraham, will we too be found worthy of the blessing of multiplication that has already been set in place? I'd like to think so. After all, the foundation for obedience has already been established. All we have to do is build on it.

Prayer: Father, thank You for using Abraham's life to draw a pattern for the rest of Your children of what our lives ought to look like. You call, we respond without wrath or doubting. Then You respond and put blessings in place that will affect generations to come. We purpose in our hearts to show You the same unwavering faith in our daily walk. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prayers that Prevail

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

Today's Passage: Proverbs 1: 1-7
Memory Verse: Prov. 1:2-3

Father, I thank You for loving us so much that You refuse to let me stay where I am. You are calling me to use wisdom in my relationships, in my finances, in my health, and in my walk with You. In my relationships, You are calling me to listen more than I speak. Sometimes, my emotions get the better of me and I react based on only half of the information. But Your Word teaches me to esteem others more highly than myself. As I humble myself, You will raise me up.

In my finances, You're calling me to be a good steward over my money. Because I'm a tither and a giver, You've already promised me that the devourer is rebuked for my sake. But wisdom must kick in and manifest itself in the decisions I make. You desire me to be careful not to be swayed by what my eyes see, but to wait until the right season for the things I would like to add to my life physically.

In my health, I'm really believing for a true manifestation of Your wisdom. I ask You to fill me with the desire to feed my spirit more than my flesh. I desire to walk in self- control and eat in moderation. I want to be able to fall out of agreement with foods and activities that are detrimental to my health, and only love what brings me life. I want to learn a healthy balance by getting enough rest for my body, mind and spirit to be rejuvenated.

As I realize more and more that You want these things for my life, I purpose in my heart to align myself with Your perfect will for my life. Be it unto me according to Your Word. May I truly learn to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive the words of understanding. May my life's quest be to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. And all I do will be for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Turn to the Wisdom-Keeper

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

Today's Passage: Job 28: 12-28
Memory Verse: Job 28:28

I' m sure I've asked this question before, but I have to ask the question again. What would you rather have -- a million dollars, or a million-dollar idea? I say this in response to watching people who won lots of money just blow it on foolishness. I was dismayed, yet not surprised, to see the wasteful spending of other people's money by a certain former investment broker, Bernie Madoff. When his assets were confiscated by the government, some interesting items were found: a four-thousand-dollar wastebasket, a shower curtain with gold flecks in it worth thirteen hundred dollars, and a gold toilet.

As disgusting as we may find this practice by people who have money, it is quite common among the "rich and famous". And believe it or not, many believers who protest about it may be deceived into doing the same without one much-needed element: wisdom. No wonder even Solomon, the son of great king David, had to ask for it above all else. Today's passage tells us that man does not know the value of it. How true!

As humans, our value seems to lie only in what we can see with the natural eye. We forsake God's laws because He is the only One Who knows how wisdom works, and because He won't allow just anyone to obtain it.. If we ever want to live this life right, we must allow God total access to us, and come willingly to Him. When we deny and reject God, we are denying and rejecting the wisdom of God. In the words of Reverend Billy Graham, here is what our nation has exchanged it for:

  "We have  lost our spiritual  equilibrium and reversed our values.. We  have exploited the poor and  called it the  lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have  killed our unborn and called it choice.  We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.  We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.  We have abused power and called it politics.  We have coveted our neighbor's  possessions and called it ambition.  We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and  called it freedom of expression.   We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it  enlightenment."  

May we turn once again to the Founder and Giver of Wisdom, in Whom there is life and true liberty.

Prayer: Father, You created wisdom and used it to create our world. We acknowledge and declare our fear of You, not ashamed to do so because we realize that this is how we gain your wisdom. We choose to depart from evil so that we may walk in understanding. May we produce good fruit for our children's children to inherit, and may it be said that it was this generation that turned its face to You once again, choosing Your way rather than the world's. In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.