Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
Today's Passage > Galatians chapter 5
Memory Verse> Gal. 5: 16-17
This time of year, pretty much everyone gets into the habit of looking back and taking inventory. We spend time thinking about the things we've failed at, and we also look at our successes. But we focus mostly on how we can do better at improving every part of our lives. We want to be better at our relationships, saving money, and of course giving more of ourselves to God. Nevertheless, we're also aware of the fact that those wonderful plans end up being just that-- plans.
So what's the difference-maker? What is it that pushes the things we desire to change about ourselves into the realm of the possible? It's recognizing the difference between resolutions and commitments. Resolutions are merely things WE want to accomplish for ourselves. Some of us look at ourselves in the mirror and envision ourselves thinner and more attractive, so we resolve to work on that more diligently. Others of us want certain things such as a new house or a new car, and so we make resolutions to save more money or pay more to get out of debt at a faster rate. And you know what? If we really want to be honest with ourselves, we'll admit that we make resolutions as a result of comparing ourselves with others to see how close we are to the mark of success set by this world.
Being committed has to do with not focusing on ourselves at all, but allowing God's will for us to be manifested in a greater way. Basically, what that boils down to is making commitments that will cause God to increase in us while WE decrease. Resolutions are all about us, while commitments are all about God. Today's passage reminds us that all the works of the flesh keep us "me-minded", but the fruit of the Spirit point to and glorify God. We have to decide whether we want our lives to reflect more of ourselves, or more of our Lord. Let's take love, for example. Love is an action word that requires giving of ourselves, while a resolution to make our relationships better may have us focusing only on what others can do for us instead of the other way around.
This week, as we re-arrange our priorities, may we remember that the works of our flesh only go so far, while the fruit of the Spirit increase the more we operate in them. The enemy would have us to believe that only others benefit as a result of our walking in the Spirit, leaving us holding the bag. But the opposite occurs. The seeds of fruit that we sow grow and multiply, while nothing done just for ourselves lasts beyond us. May we thus be encouraged to make commitments rather than resolutions. Because ultimately, the only mark we'll press toward will be God's. And THAT is the difference-maker.
Prayer: Father, over and over again You remind me to walk in Your ways rather than work to please only myself. Every time I trust You and do things Your way, the seeds are long-lasting. I just want to bring a smile to Your face and glory to Your Name in everything I do. Please help me do that today and everyday in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Say YES!!!
Thursday, December 22 nd, 2011
Today's Passage: Luke 1: 26-38
Memory Verse: Luke 1: 38
God, the Sovereign One, the Greatest Being of all time. Creator of the universe and everything we see and know. Can you imagine the thought of Him NEEDING anything from us? And yet, when you give it a little thought, it's easy to see how much stock God places in our agreement with His plan. All throughout the Word, God presented His plan to His people, going on faith that they would say yes.
Abraham agreed with God 's command to change his ways and begin to worship Him, and we are the result of his decision. Saul agreed to stop persecuting the church, and half of the New Testament is evidence of his obedience. Rahab, a prostitute, wanted more out of life and therefore lined up with the children of the One True God. Because of the choice she made to do this, she became a part of the lineage of King David. Ruth, Boaz, Elijah and Elisha-- the list goes on and on of examples of decisions made about total devotion to the Lord. But every time I come to the story of Mary and Joseph, the gravity of our choices became so clear.
What if Mary had decided that the risk of being rejected and possibly even stoned by the people of Nazareth was too great? What if her words to the angel were the opposite of what we read today? What if Joseph, who knew this was not his child, decided not to stand with Mary and give her respectability by marrying her? God would no doubt have had to wait another few hundred years for someone else in the lineage of David. But this couple was perfect for what God had planned, and they trusted the Sovereignty of His ways more than the circumstances surrounding their destiny.
The question of the day is this: how will WE respond to God's request of our services when He calls on us? Jesus' birth was the most awesome undertaking since the creation of man, but as long as we are on this earth and the enemy is allowed to roam freely, God will continue to search for willing vessels whose lives will bring Him glory in opposition to satan. And we could decide, like all the others, to agree or not to agree. Free will is part of what we were created with, so the Father would have to keep searching. But what an amazing testimony it is when we say YES! Everything falls in place, just like it did with Mary and Joseph. We pray this week that you surrender your life completely to the Father's will, and that this Christmas holiday will be one of the most special for you and your family.
Prayer: Father, You have a plan, and I want to be a part of it today. In Mary's words, let it be unto me according to Your words. Let Your plan be fulfilled in my life, and may my obedience be complete .Thank You for sending Him to bear my sins on the cross. I'll forever live to serve You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Luke 1: 26-38
Memory Verse: Luke 1: 38
God, the Sovereign One, the Greatest Being of all time. Creator of the universe and everything we see and know. Can you imagine the thought of Him NEEDING anything from us? And yet, when you give it a little thought, it's easy to see how much stock God places in our agreement with His plan. All throughout the Word, God presented His plan to His people, going on faith that they would say yes.
Abraham agreed with God 's command to change his ways and begin to worship Him, and we are the result of his decision. Saul agreed to stop persecuting the church, and half of the New Testament is evidence of his obedience. Rahab, a prostitute, wanted more out of life and therefore lined up with the children of the One True God. Because of the choice she made to do this, she became a part of the lineage of King David. Ruth, Boaz, Elijah and Elisha-- the list goes on and on of examples of decisions made about total devotion to the Lord. But every time I come to the story of Mary and Joseph, the gravity of our choices became so clear.
What if Mary had decided that the risk of being rejected and possibly even stoned by the people of Nazareth was too great? What if her words to the angel were the opposite of what we read today? What if Joseph, who knew this was not his child, decided not to stand with Mary and give her respectability by marrying her? God would no doubt have had to wait another few hundred years for someone else in the lineage of David. But this couple was perfect for what God had planned, and they trusted the Sovereignty of His ways more than the circumstances surrounding their destiny.
The question of the day is this: how will WE respond to God's request of our services when He calls on us? Jesus' birth was the most awesome undertaking since the creation of man, but as long as we are on this earth and the enemy is allowed to roam freely, God will continue to search for willing vessels whose lives will bring Him glory in opposition to satan. And we could decide, like all the others, to agree or not to agree. Free will is part of what we were created with, so the Father would have to keep searching. But what an amazing testimony it is when we say YES! Everything falls in place, just like it did with Mary and Joseph. We pray this week that you surrender your life completely to the Father's will, and that this Christmas holiday will be one of the most special for you and your family.
Prayer: Father, You have a plan, and I want to be a part of it today. In Mary's words, let it be unto me according to Your words. Let Your plan be fulfilled in my life, and may my obedience be complete .Thank You for sending Him to bear my sins on the cross. I'll forever live to serve You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
YOU Stand!
Friday, December 16th, 2011
Today's Passage> Joshua chapter 2
Memory Verse> Ephesians 6: 13
Now more than ever before, the need for God, morality or anything of that nature seems to be dissipating along with the ozone layer. With all the adversity that we face from one day to another, it would seem as though the argument for God is on the losing end. The more trials arise, the less people seem to be willing to tolerate a God Who supposedly just sits idly by while the poor continue to get poorer, and oppression from the rich and powerful gets more overwhelming. But now more than ever before, the people of God must be willing to stand for what we believe no matter what.
Case in point: for years, a city in Califonia has always allowed local churches to put up nativity scenes during the Christmas holidays. But not this year. Protests from atheists opened the door to the city granting them permission to make bids on the spots usually held by those churches. The atheists, who had obviously planned this out long before the holidays even got here, were prepared for a fight. They made 11 bids for spots and received 18; the believers, who didn't see this coming and didn't have the time to counteract this highly- organized attack, made 8 bids and only received 2 spots. And what did the atheists do with the spots throughout the city? They put potted plants at all the spots except for 2 specific locations. These two were used to display their ideas of why there is no need for a God. This means they merely wanted the ABSENCE of Christian symbols which had aggravated them for so long. If you don't think the CAMPAIGN for the antiChrist has begun, think again.
In today's passage, God uses a prostitute to show us how taking a stand is done. She knew it was time to stand for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when the spies showed up. Rather than quake in fear of what the king of Jericho could do to her, she decided it was better to be on the side of THE God Who had shown His power by delivering His people from the tyranny of the Egyptians. Instead of being pre-occupied with what she would LOSE if she protected God's people, she set her gaze on what she was about to gain. Her acts of obedience established the foundation for Israel's takeover of Jericho. What message does that send to us today? It only takes ONE believer to take a stand.
The enemy is very crafty and cunning, slipping in behind the scenes and systematically removing the essence of who we are from our society while he pre-occupies us with the petty aggravations-- financial struggles, what other saints are saying/doing, and anything that will cause us not to have the strength to fight. But that is PRECISELY why we MUST fight. We cannot afford to be unprepared to make INFORMED decisions about our faith. We must be sober and steady, knowing that our fight is really not against flesh and blood-- although the enemy uses people to come against us all the time. All it boils down to is being willing to DO something. Now, I'm sure the churches in that city will be ready next year. But what the enemy has done is gain ground for his kingdom. This thought alone should put us on guard and fill us with the desire to always be at our post, leaving no room for the enemy. All the Lord requires of us is to stand with our WahOLE armor. And the gates of hell will NOT prevail.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the shift in our mindset as believers. I declare total submission to you and Your plan for my life. I stand with the WHOLE armor fixed and in place. Cleanse my heart and forgive all my rebellious acts. I repent and turn from them today so that You can use every part of me for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage> Joshua chapter 2
Memory Verse> Ephesians 6: 13
Now more than ever before, the need for God, morality or anything of that nature seems to be dissipating along with the ozone layer. With all the adversity that we face from one day to another, it would seem as though the argument for God is on the losing end. The more trials arise, the less people seem to be willing to tolerate a God Who supposedly just sits idly by while the poor continue to get poorer, and oppression from the rich and powerful gets more overwhelming. But now more than ever before, the people of God must be willing to stand for what we believe no matter what.
Case in point: for years, a city in Califonia has always allowed local churches to put up nativity scenes during the Christmas holidays. But not this year. Protests from atheists opened the door to the city granting them permission to make bids on the spots usually held by those churches. The atheists, who had obviously planned this out long before the holidays even got here, were prepared for a fight. They made 11 bids for spots and received 18; the believers, who didn't see this coming and didn't have the time to counteract this highly- organized attack, made 8 bids and only received 2 spots. And what did the atheists do with the spots throughout the city? They put potted plants at all the spots except for 2 specific locations. These two were used to display their ideas of why there is no need for a God. This means they merely wanted the ABSENCE of Christian symbols which had aggravated them for so long. If you don't think the CAMPAIGN for the antiChrist has begun, think again.
In today's passage, God uses a prostitute to show us how taking a stand is done. She knew it was time to stand for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when the spies showed up. Rather than quake in fear of what the king of Jericho could do to her, she decided it was better to be on the side of THE God Who had shown His power by delivering His people from the tyranny of the Egyptians. Instead of being pre-occupied with what she would LOSE if she protected God's people, she set her gaze on what she was about to gain. Her acts of obedience established the foundation for Israel's takeover of Jericho. What message does that send to us today? It only takes ONE believer to take a stand.
The enemy is very crafty and cunning, slipping in behind the scenes and systematically removing the essence of who we are from our society while he pre-occupies us with the petty aggravations-- financial struggles, what other saints are saying/doing, and anything that will cause us not to have the strength to fight. But that is PRECISELY why we MUST fight. We cannot afford to be unprepared to make INFORMED decisions about our faith. We must be sober and steady, knowing that our fight is really not against flesh and blood-- although the enemy uses people to come against us all the time. All it boils down to is being willing to DO something. Now, I'm sure the churches in that city will be ready next year. But what the enemy has done is gain ground for his kingdom. This thought alone should put us on guard and fill us with the desire to always be at our post, leaving no room for the enemy. All the Lord requires of us is to stand with our WahOLE armor. And the gates of hell will NOT prevail.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the shift in our mindset as believers. I declare total submission to you and Your plan for my life. I stand with the WHOLE armor fixed and in place. Cleanse my heart and forgive all my rebellious acts. I repent and turn from them today so that You can use every part of me for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
As For Me And My House...
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Today's Passage: Exodus chapter 32
Memory Verses> Exodus 20: 1-3
In Exodus chapter 20, like a patient and loving Father, God outlines the laws He wants His children to live by in order to set them up for success. He leaves no confusion, but clearly says, "I am your God, the God Who brought you up out of slavery. You shall have NO other gods before me. You shall NOT make for yourself a carved image or ANY likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water below. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, and showing covenant faithfulness to a THOUSAND generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."
But in Exodus 32, only a short while later, the children of Israel are doing the exact thing God tells them not to do. As a matter of fact, they are so specific in their rebellion that they make for themselves a carved image of a calf. Then they bow down and worship it, saying: "you, o great calf that we have made, are our god. You are the one who brought us up out of Egypt." and every time I read this passage, I get a little better understanding of the passionate mercy and grace of God. I can't see how God could witness that blatant disrespect and let those people live for one second longer. I get outraged in my spirit and want to punish them myself for going against God's law in such an outright manner.
But in the midst of my self-righteousness, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that we are not so far removed from what the children of Israel did. Whereas we are not necessarily willing to physically carve an image to worship, what do we do instead of waiting on God? We find an alternative. The hearts of the Israelites are exactly the same as ours when we say to ourselves, "this God I put my trust in is taking too long to respond to my situation, so let me find another route, another answer, another solution.... Basically, another god". So what we end up communicating to God when we self-medicate or find illegal ways to solve our problems is this: "You are NOT the God Who delivered me before, for I have ALWAYS had to take care of myself, and I will do it again." We communicate our distrust and lack of faith in Him, and we let Him know that we're rejecting His ways and everything He is.
Saints, as we make choices concerning where we will live, what our occupation will be, and who we want our children to emulate, we have to put God first in everything we do. Finding other solutions to the problems that come up rather than waiting on Him to guide and direct us push Him farther and farther down the ladder. Who comes first says exactly how we feel about God. As for me nd my house, we've already chosen to be totally devoted to Him alone-- no matter what sacrifices we have to make, and no matter how long we have to wait. Anything less is not an option.
Prayer: Father, You are the God Who brought me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. You deserve all my worship, and I will seek to put You first no matter what. I will have no other gods where You should be. I will lift You high in my life for all to see. May Your Name be glorified forever! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Exodus chapter 32
Memory Verses> Exodus 20: 1-3
In Exodus chapter 20, like a patient and loving Father, God outlines the laws He wants His children to live by in order to set them up for success. He leaves no confusion, but clearly says, "I am your God, the God Who brought you up out of slavery. You shall have NO other gods before me. You shall NOT make for yourself a carved image or ANY likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water below. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, and showing covenant faithfulness to a THOUSAND generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."
But in Exodus 32, only a short while later, the children of Israel are doing the exact thing God tells them not to do. As a matter of fact, they are so specific in their rebellion that they make for themselves a carved image of a calf. Then they bow down and worship it, saying: "you, o great calf that we have made, are our god. You are the one who brought us up out of Egypt." and every time I read this passage, I get a little better understanding of the passionate mercy and grace of God. I can't see how God could witness that blatant disrespect and let those people live for one second longer. I get outraged in my spirit and want to punish them myself for going against God's law in such an outright manner.
But in the midst of my self-righteousness, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that we are not so far removed from what the children of Israel did. Whereas we are not necessarily willing to physically carve an image to worship, what do we do instead of waiting on God? We find an alternative. The hearts of the Israelites are exactly the same as ours when we say to ourselves, "this God I put my trust in is taking too long to respond to my situation, so let me find another route, another answer, another solution.... Basically, another god". So what we end up communicating to God when we self-medicate or find illegal ways to solve our problems is this: "You are NOT the God Who delivered me before, for I have ALWAYS had to take care of myself, and I will do it again." We communicate our distrust and lack of faith in Him, and we let Him know that we're rejecting His ways and everything He is.
Saints, as we make choices concerning where we will live, what our occupation will be, and who we want our children to emulate, we have to put God first in everything we do. Finding other solutions to the problems that come up rather than waiting on Him to guide and direct us push Him farther and farther down the ladder. Who comes first says exactly how we feel about God. As for me nd my house, we've already chosen to be totally devoted to Him alone-- no matter what sacrifices we have to make, and no matter how long we have to wait. Anything less is not an option.
Prayer: Father, You are the God Who brought me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. You deserve all my worship, and I will seek to put You first no matter what. I will have no other gods where You should be. I will lift You high in my life for all to see. May Your Name be glorified forever! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
HE'S Our King!!!!!!'
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel chapter 8
Memory Verse> 1 Samuel 8:7
Over the centuries, we've witnessed how pitifully flawed humanity's sense of "right" can be. We have the capacity to do so many great things, and when we stand up for those things, no-one can stand in our way. But because even our best attempts to make the world a better place are rooted in iniquity and rebellion against God, that "sense of right" can not only be wrong, but it can also have devastating effects. Cain "felt" unfairly treated by his brother Abel and by God, so he simply killed him. Sarah "felt" that God was taking too long to give them a on, so she suggested Abraham have one by the servant girl. The list of events goes on and on of how even godly people miss the mark when attempting to do what seems "right".
Fast-forward to the last few centuries. There was a need for labor to make life more bearable in this new world called America, so it was decided that African men, women and children would be snatched from their lives and transported here to facilitate that purpose. Hitler "felt" it was his God-given right to preserve the Aryan race, so he methodically slaughtered millions of Jews over just a period of a few years. Where does it end? As long as humans are in control of our own actions, our sense of what seems right is dreadfully skewed. This is the same predicament the children of Israel found themselves in. They saw that the judges God had placed over them were beginning to fail, but rather than turn back to their Source, they came up with a plan of their own -- to have a king. And I bet you've already guessed what their spiritual reason was: BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE HAD ONE.
It's like a person who has no clue about building or measurements saying to the contractor who's building his house: "I feel like the closet should be where the bathroom is, and the living room should be 20 by 2." it sounds just as stupid when we try to take God's place and figure out the course of our lives for ourselves. So we make decisions like walking away from our marriages (or staying in and becoming unfaithful), walking in unforgiveness towards those we love, and walking away from God when things don't seem "right" about our lives. There's no way we can make choices outside of God and expect them to end well. All we're doing is walking in rebellion against Him, opening up doors for the enemy to come in.
Our pastors ministered to us this past Sunday about using "illegal substances" -- anything that is not in God's will for us. Recognize God as not only the One Who will judge us, but as One Who loves us and wants only the best for us. He holds the plumb line by which we can set our lives and TRUST that if we obey Him, the best will come out. But disobedience will only result in pain that we won't recover from easily. He's the King-- we don't need another. Whatever He says goes. It's such a place of peace to let Him be in control. Won't you trust Him with your life, dreams and eternity today?
Prayer: Father, my life is in Your hands. I not only WANT You, but I NEED You to guide me and keep me from the enemy's traps that are laid out for me. You see my end from my beginning, and You are full of wisdom and knowledge about things I could never even begin to understand. Forgive me for the times when I didn't trust You completely. Please take control today. You're my King, and I give You free reign. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel chapter 8
Memory Verse> 1 Samuel 8:7
Over the centuries, we've witnessed how pitifully flawed humanity's sense of "right" can be. We have the capacity to do so many great things, and when we stand up for those things, no-one can stand in our way. But because even our best attempts to make the world a better place are rooted in iniquity and rebellion against God, that "sense of right" can not only be wrong, but it can also have devastating effects. Cain "felt" unfairly treated by his brother Abel and by God, so he simply killed him. Sarah "felt" that God was taking too long to give them a on, so she suggested Abraham have one by the servant girl. The list of events goes on and on of how even godly people miss the mark when attempting to do what seems "right".
Fast-forward to the last few centuries. There was a need for labor to make life more bearable in this new world called America, so it was decided that African men, women and children would be snatched from their lives and transported here to facilitate that purpose. Hitler "felt" it was his God-given right to preserve the Aryan race, so he methodically slaughtered millions of Jews over just a period of a few years. Where does it end? As long as humans are in control of our own actions, our sense of what seems right is dreadfully skewed. This is the same predicament the children of Israel found themselves in. They saw that the judges God had placed over them were beginning to fail, but rather than turn back to their Source, they came up with a plan of their own -- to have a king. And I bet you've already guessed what their spiritual reason was: BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE HAD ONE.
It's like a person who has no clue about building or measurements saying to the contractor who's building his house: "I feel like the closet should be where the bathroom is, and the living room should be 20 by 2." it sounds just as stupid when we try to take God's place and figure out the course of our lives for ourselves. So we make decisions like walking away from our marriages (or staying in and becoming unfaithful), walking in unforgiveness towards those we love, and walking away from God when things don't seem "right" about our lives. There's no way we can make choices outside of God and expect them to end well. All we're doing is walking in rebellion against Him, opening up doors for the enemy to come in.
Our pastors ministered to us this past Sunday about using "illegal substances" -- anything that is not in God's will for us. Recognize God as not only the One Who will judge us, but as One Who loves us and wants only the best for us. He holds the plumb line by which we can set our lives and TRUST that if we obey Him, the best will come out. But disobedience will only result in pain that we won't recover from easily. He's the King-- we don't need another. Whatever He says goes. It's such a place of peace to let Him be in control. Won't you trust Him with your life, dreams and eternity today?
Prayer: Father, my life is in Your hands. I not only WANT You, but I NEED You to guide me and keep me from the enemy's traps that are laid out for me. You see my end from my beginning, and You are full of wisdom and knowledge about things I could never even begin to understand. Forgive me for the times when I didn't trust You completely. Please take control today. You're my King, and I give You free reign. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Resist The Button!
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
Today's Passage: Job 2
Memory Verse: Job 2:10
The Easy Button. Remember those commercials? Staples released commercials that told office personnel it will solve all their in-office problems. Got a broken printer? Use the Easy Button. Is the copier jammed? Just use the Easy Button. The commercials were so convincing, viewers couldn't help wishing there was an easy button for all of life's problems.
If there were an easy button, would God want His people to use it? I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I believe He'd be totally against it. Simply because tthe Easy Button (as it were) would quickly become a 'bail-out' device that would leave little to nothing for the exercising of faith. With the Easy Button around, how could God use trials to build character in us? How would we develop a resistance to the enemy's attacks? The honest answer is we'd be void of things like Godly character, faith, and resistance. Think about it, although we don't actually have an Easy Button, we still employ the same approach to our trials,don't we? For instance, if we were to experience a financial struggle, we wouldn't wait for God to move. We'd go borrow the money and use His tithe to pay off the loan (Easy Button). If we're single and get lonely, we wouldn't wait for God to connect us to who He wants us to be with. Instead, we'd hook up with the first person who paid us attention and use His worship to make them feel loved (Easy Button).
So God in fact wouldn't like the Easy Button because it'd make life too easy. And mature Christians know an easy life is a faithless one. See, God knows because of sin, our lives will never be easy. But through Him, we can have an easy "living". I'll explain. Satan will never let us have peace. And he won't let our marriages prosper. He won't allow us to have a clear path to health, nor will he offer us financial freedom. Actually, the only thing he could do is make sure the words EASY BUTTON were permenantly branded into the palms of our hands. God, on the other hand, does something the Easy Button can't. He vaccinates us. To be vaccinated is to be exposed to the thing in order to build a defense against it. Which means God doesn't take away the harshness of life, He builds within us a defense against it. He wants our end result to be like Job. In chapter 2, he went from having it all to losing it all in mere moments. But Job had had his vaccine. Therefore he was able to fight off the urge to curse God. His resistance (through his faith in God) caused him to experience fullness of joy in the midst of great pain.
So get rid of the Easy Button mentality. Not only is it a temporary intervention, it doesn't actually work. Let God build your faith through situations that challenge you. Don't worry! He won't let you fall. I know it'll be uncomfortable. I know it won't make you popular. It will, however, make you stronger. And strength is what you need. You don't need another bad relationship or expensive leg-up. You need resistance. You need strength. You need faith. And all that has already been provided.
Prayer: Gracious Father, I thank You for taking care of me. I realize that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I don't have to fear because You are with me. Your presence gives me the resistance I need to stand. So, I resist fear, worry, depression, and failure in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Passage: Job 2
Memory Verse: Job 2:10
The Easy Button. Remember those commercials? Staples released commercials that told office personnel it will solve all their in-office problems. Got a broken printer? Use the Easy Button. Is the copier jammed? Just use the Easy Button. The commercials were so convincing, viewers couldn't help wishing there was an easy button for all of life's problems.
If there were an easy button, would God want His people to use it? I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I believe He'd be totally against it. Simply because tthe Easy Button (as it were) would quickly become a 'bail-out' device that would leave little to nothing for the exercising of faith. With the Easy Button around, how could God use trials to build character in us? How would we develop a resistance to the enemy's attacks? The honest answer is we'd be void of things like Godly character, faith, and resistance. Think about it, although we don't actually have an Easy Button, we still employ the same approach to our trials,don't we? For instance, if we were to experience a financial struggle, we wouldn't wait for God to move. We'd go borrow the money and use His tithe to pay off the loan (Easy Button). If we're single and get lonely, we wouldn't wait for God to connect us to who He wants us to be with. Instead, we'd hook up with the first person who paid us attention and use His worship to make them feel loved (Easy Button).
So God in fact wouldn't like the Easy Button because it'd make life too easy. And mature Christians know an easy life is a faithless one. See, God knows because of sin, our lives will never be easy. But through Him, we can have an easy "living". I'll explain. Satan will never let us have peace. And he won't let our marriages prosper. He won't allow us to have a clear path to health, nor will he offer us financial freedom. Actually, the only thing he could do is make sure the words EASY BUTTON were permenantly branded into the palms of our hands. God, on the other hand, does something the Easy Button can't. He vaccinates us. To be vaccinated is to be exposed to the thing in order to build a defense against it. Which means God doesn't take away the harshness of life, He builds within us a defense against it. He wants our end result to be like Job. In chapter 2, he went from having it all to losing it all in mere moments. But Job had had his vaccine. Therefore he was able to fight off the urge to curse God. His resistance (through his faith in God) caused him to experience fullness of joy in the midst of great pain.
So get rid of the Easy Button mentality. Not only is it a temporary intervention, it doesn't actually work. Let God build your faith through situations that challenge you. Don't worry! He won't let you fall. I know it'll be uncomfortable. I know it won't make you popular. It will, however, make you stronger. And strength is what you need. You don't need another bad relationship or expensive leg-up. You need resistance. You need strength. You need faith. And all that has already been provided.
Prayer: Gracious Father, I thank You for taking care of me. I realize that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I don't have to fear because You are with me. Your presence gives me the resistance I need to stand. So, I resist fear, worry, depression, and failure in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let's Make Him Famous!
Monday, December 12th, 2011
Today's Passage> Job chapter 1
Memory Verse> Luke 22: 31-32
Most of us love God with a passionate love. We know that because of Him our lives have meaning, and we do desire to serve Him with all our hearts. But something happens to some of us when the resistance comes that makes our witness doubtful. We change from being full of passion to not being sure of Who God is from one day to the next. One moment, we're on fire; the next, we've dropped off the face of the earth. What happens is an age- old tactic used by our enemy to wear down our faith until it totally disappears, or it at least is severely inactive. This strategy is called "sifting".
The meaning of this word in the physical sense is to "agitate", to move back and forth so as to separate parts of a substance that usually cannot be seen with the naked eye. When you're trying to remove impurities and rough lumps from flour, you sift it so that the undesirable elements can be separated from the part that you want to use. The figurative meaning is to "try one's faith by agitating inwardly". The enemy literally wants to pick at us until there's no SUBSTANCE left that God can use to move on our behalf. This process of wearing away is quite effective because it doesn't happen overnight. Rather, it takes place little by little, just like erosion wears away the protective sand from the beach. He's an expert at blending in when our problems are in full swing so that we don't even notice he's there, and we can begin to question God's ability to deliver us.
But God, Who knows all things and is aware that this is the enemy's primary purpose, also has a plan. He allows the enemy to sift even while providing us with the grace and strength to face the trials. Did you really think He was surprised when satan showed up before God? Why do you think God handed Jobto him on a plate? God ALREADY had a plan in place to show Himself strong and mighty in Job's life. You see, God has more confidence in that FAITH He gives us when we make Him Lord of all, and if we can just stand, we will overcome. Study Job's reaction when he began to lose the things he had worked so hard for. His response to "stuff" being gone was: "naked I came to this earth, and naked I shall return to the dust".
Job is one of the shiny examples of how firm our faith should be in the midst of the toughest trials. We must know that God is always a million steps ahead of the enemy when it comes to how much He will allow him to inflict on us. He's already calculated how much we can handle at the level of our walk. Things He never would've allowed in our lives when we were babes, He now does because our faith should be stronger. This is why Jesus told Peter the secret: "satan's plan is to agitate and aggravate all of you until you give up. But I have prayed for you that you won't allow the sifting to eat at your faith. Stand firm in that, then turn around and strengthen (encourage, bear up) your brethren".
The lesson in this story isn't to cause fear about the fact that the enemy's always after us. The issue is that our Father has confidence in what He placed inside of us. Actually, fait is so solid that it CANNOT just be whittled away with the passing of time, especially if we CONTINUE to build it up. In Jude verse 20, we learn that faith is built when we pray in the Holy Ghost. And while WE do what God's Word tells us, HE will make sure that the only things the enemy can sift from our lives will be the secret sins and other unsightly lumps that trip us up. So really and truly, we must yield to the sifting because God uses it to refine us. How much glory God gets out of the trials inflicted upon us depends upon how well we pass the test, making God's Name famous for His ability to cause us to triumphn in trials.
Prayer: Father, You are so faithful. Thank You for reminding us today that trials must come, but that YOUR purpose for us is greater than the enemy's, and only Your purpose for us will prevail. I declare today that we, Your children, will make You famous when we stand in the midst of the trials for all the world to see. Thank You for Christ, the Intercessor Who is praying that our faith won't fail. And by Your Grace, we WILL be victorious. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage> Job chapter 1
Memory Verse> Luke 22: 31-32
Most of us love God with a passionate love. We know that because of Him our lives have meaning, and we do desire to serve Him with all our hearts. But something happens to some of us when the resistance comes that makes our witness doubtful. We change from being full of passion to not being sure of Who God is from one day to the next. One moment, we're on fire; the next, we've dropped off the face of the earth. What happens is an age- old tactic used by our enemy to wear down our faith until it totally disappears, or it at least is severely inactive. This strategy is called "sifting".
The meaning of this word in the physical sense is to "agitate", to move back and forth so as to separate parts of a substance that usually cannot be seen with the naked eye. When you're trying to remove impurities and rough lumps from flour, you sift it so that the undesirable elements can be separated from the part that you want to use. The figurative meaning is to "try one's faith by agitating inwardly". The enemy literally wants to pick at us until there's no SUBSTANCE left that God can use to move on our behalf. This process of wearing away is quite effective because it doesn't happen overnight. Rather, it takes place little by little, just like erosion wears away the protective sand from the beach. He's an expert at blending in when our problems are in full swing so that we don't even notice he's there, and we can begin to question God's ability to deliver us.
But God, Who knows all things and is aware that this is the enemy's primary purpose, also has a plan. He allows the enemy to sift even while providing us with the grace and strength to face the trials. Did you really think He was surprised when satan showed up before God? Why do you think God handed Jobto him on a plate? God ALREADY had a plan in place to show Himself strong and mighty in Job's life. You see, God has more confidence in that FAITH He gives us when we make Him Lord of all, and if we can just stand, we will overcome. Study Job's reaction when he began to lose the things he had worked so hard for. His response to "stuff" being gone was: "naked I came to this earth, and naked I shall return to the dust".
Job is one of the shiny examples of how firm our faith should be in the midst of the toughest trials. We must know that God is always a million steps ahead of the enemy when it comes to how much He will allow him to inflict on us. He's already calculated how much we can handle at the level of our walk. Things He never would've allowed in our lives when we were babes, He now does because our faith should be stronger. This is why Jesus told Peter the secret: "satan's plan is to agitate and aggravate all of you until you give up. But I have prayed for you that you won't allow the sifting to eat at your faith. Stand firm in that, then turn around and strengthen (encourage, bear up) your brethren".
The lesson in this story isn't to cause fear about the fact that the enemy's always after us. The issue is that our Father has confidence in what He placed inside of us. Actually, fait is so solid that it CANNOT just be whittled away with the passing of time, especially if we CONTINUE to build it up. In Jude verse 20, we learn that faith is built when we pray in the Holy Ghost. And while WE do what God's Word tells us, HE will make sure that the only things the enemy can sift from our lives will be the secret sins and other unsightly lumps that trip us up. So really and truly, we must yield to the sifting because God uses it to refine us. How much glory God gets out of the trials inflicted upon us depends upon how well we pass the test, making God's Name famous for His ability to cause us to triumphn in trials.
Prayer: Father, You are so faithful. Thank You for reminding us today that trials must come, but that YOUR purpose for us is greater than the enemy's, and only Your purpose for us will prevail. I declare today that we, Your children, will make You famous when we stand in the midst of the trials for all the world to see. Thank You for Christ, the Intercessor Who is praying that our faith won't fail. And by Your Grace, we WILL be victorious. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Prayers that Prevail
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Today's Passage> 2 Samuel chapter 12
Memory Verse > Psalm 51:10
Father, I am so grateful to You for Your relentless love. You created within me a deep desire to obey You no matter what. But You also know that the body of sin I was born into must go through the process of dying to itself and being filled with You from the inside out. So You allow me to experience resistance in order to build that rebellion against the enemy's attempts to get me to compromise.
I choose today to come into agreement with Your spirit of discernment. I ask You to help me expose my ulterior motives for those things I call my "desires"; anything that serves as a gate to the enemy I now close in the Name of Jesus. I repent for those things I HAVE allowed in -- negative attitudes and thoughts that are contrary to Your Word, and I allow Your Holy Spirit to begin to reveal them . I thank You that there is always a way of escape out of every temptation, and every trial comes to test my devotion and build resistance so that I can experience and discover Your perfect will for my life.
My Potter and my Shepherd, I give You free course to break my will and mould me into everything You designed. I will partner with You and keep my mind stayed on You with my heart established and settled, not wandering and wavering based on my current circumstances. It is You Who have made me, so You alone know what Your plan is. I make a commitment to stay in Your pasture and be CONTENT with what You have provided for this season.
As my brothers and sisters arise all over this world, may Your Holy Spirit settle them on these matters as well. Remind them that they are here for Your purpose, and fill them with the desire ONLY to bring You glory-- not to lust after what they were not meant to have. May Your Name be glorified and lifted high today. And may the enemy's plan to separate us from You be destroyed from its root. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.
Today's Passage> 2 Samuel chapter 12
Memory Verse > Psalm 51:10
Father, I am so grateful to You for Your relentless love. You created within me a deep desire to obey You no matter what. But You also know that the body of sin I was born into must go through the process of dying to itself and being filled with You from the inside out. So You allow me to experience resistance in order to build that rebellion against the enemy's attempts to get me to compromise.
I choose today to come into agreement with Your spirit of discernment. I ask You to help me expose my ulterior motives for those things I call my "desires"; anything that serves as a gate to the enemy I now close in the Name of Jesus. I repent for those things I HAVE allowed in -- negative attitudes and thoughts that are contrary to Your Word, and I allow Your Holy Spirit to begin to reveal them . I thank You that there is always a way of escape out of every temptation, and every trial comes to test my devotion and build resistance so that I can experience and discover Your perfect will for my life.
My Potter and my Shepherd, I give You free course to break my will and mould me into everything You designed. I will partner with You and keep my mind stayed on You with my heart established and settled, not wandering and wavering based on my current circumstances. It is You Who have made me, so You alone know what Your plan is. I make a commitment to stay in Your pasture and be CONTENT with what You have provided for this season.
As my brothers and sisters arise all over this world, may Your Holy Spirit settle them on these matters as well. Remind them that they are here for Your purpose, and fill them with the desire ONLY to bring You glory-- not to lust after what they were not meant to have. May Your Name be glorified and lifted high today. And may the enemy's plan to separate us from You be destroyed from its root. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.
See, Expose, and Conquer
Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Today's Passage: Joshua chapter 7
Memory Verse> Josh. 7: 21
"I saw it, I wanted it, so I took it.". Three elements that are at the root of every sin against God. No matter how straightforward He is with us about our conduct and how it affects the rest of our lives, we see people, places and things, and the spirit of lust takes over. The minute we begin to lust after whatever it is is the exact minute we must expose, bind and neutralize that thing. Before we know it, we've crossed the line, and there's no going back. That issue or addiction ends up not being tagged for total destruction, and it lies there, still breathing, gaining strength daily and drawing more elements like it to make it super powerful and ready for the takeover.
"I saw it, I wanted it, so I took it." These words have been repeated since Adam and Eve sinned against God, and the evidence of this pattern is clearly seen in today's passage. The children of Israel were not even aware of the transgression against God until they suffered the consequences. When they couldn't defeat a small army like Ai, then they stopped to figure out why and inquired of the Lord. Something I noticed about this story, too, is that iniquity is generational-- that is, it is passed down through our DNA when our ancestors choose to sin against God. So God had them separate each tribe, then each clan, then each family until the thing was exposed, bound, neutralized and tagged for death. After all this was done, Achan was found to be the guilty one, and this is the point when he confessed.
When asked why the sin was committed, Achan repeated those famous words. But he revealed the heart that many of us have when it comes to resisting the takeover. Why DON'T we shout at the top of our lungs for help when we're confronted with "I saw and I wanted"? Why don't we call someone and expose that temptation so that it doesn't become conceived in us? The time to confess to someone isn't AFTER the defeat and the exposure-- because Satan will expose us himself if God doesn't -- but when the struggle becomes real to us. When Achan saw those items from the other nation that God said to destroy, why didn't he grab a fellow Israelite or go to Joshua and say, "I'm struggling with this obedience thing. Remind me again of what God says, and help me to stand rather than fall to the temptation." Instead, he hid his desire and took the forbidden items. And one selfish act brought death to an entire family.
We hold on to items that should be marked and tagged for death as a foreign substance because we make our desire for that thing stronger than our desire to please God. It's that simple. At that moment, we don't care that God loves us and has something bigger and better. We just want that person, place, or thing. At that moment, we don't even care that this thing is going to ultimately destroy us. We will begin to experience victory over it when we stop treating it like a friendly and expose it. When we replace our desire for that thing with a desperation to please God at that very moment, the enemy doesn't stand a chance. Submit to God's way and resist the enemy, THEN, the Word says, he will flee. Our way doesn't work. Find a person who will hold us accountable when we struggle, because going to hide only causes us to be isolated and vulnerable to the temptation. It comes down to this: do we REALLY want to be totally devoted, or only in words? The way we respond to temptation will tell the story. How about breaking the cycle and coming up with a NEW plan-- God's plan-- for deliverance? "I saw it, I exposed it, so I conquered it!" Now THERE are words worth repeating.
Prayer: Father, I acknowledge my transgression in Your Presence, and my sin is ever before me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Don't allow my enemies to triumph over me. By Your grace, allow me to submit to Your plan and resist the enemy rather than give in. I am Yours, and I choose to be totally free, not only halfway so. Break my will, and YOU take over in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Today's Passage: Joshua chapter 7
Memory Verse> Josh. 7: 21
"I saw it, I wanted it, so I took it.". Three elements that are at the root of every sin against God. No matter how straightforward He is with us about our conduct and how it affects the rest of our lives, we see people, places and things, and the spirit of lust takes over. The minute we begin to lust after whatever it is is the exact minute we must expose, bind and neutralize that thing. Before we know it, we've crossed the line, and there's no going back. That issue or addiction ends up not being tagged for total destruction, and it lies there, still breathing, gaining strength daily and drawing more elements like it to make it super powerful and ready for the takeover.
"I saw it, I wanted it, so I took it." These words have been repeated since Adam and Eve sinned against God, and the evidence of this pattern is clearly seen in today's passage. The children of Israel were not even aware of the transgression against God until they suffered the consequences. When they couldn't defeat a small army like Ai, then they stopped to figure out why and inquired of the Lord. Something I noticed about this story, too, is that iniquity is generational-- that is, it is passed down through our DNA when our ancestors choose to sin against God. So God had them separate each tribe, then each clan, then each family until the thing was exposed, bound, neutralized and tagged for death. After all this was done, Achan was found to be the guilty one, and this is the point when he confessed.
When asked why the sin was committed, Achan repeated those famous words. But he revealed the heart that many of us have when it comes to resisting the takeover. Why DON'T we shout at the top of our lungs for help when we're confronted with "I saw and I wanted"? Why don't we call someone and expose that temptation so that it doesn't become conceived in us? The time to confess to someone isn't AFTER the defeat and the exposure-- because Satan will expose us himself if God doesn't -- but when the struggle becomes real to us. When Achan saw those items from the other nation that God said to destroy, why didn't he grab a fellow Israelite or go to Joshua and say, "I'm struggling with this obedience thing. Remind me again of what God says, and help me to stand rather than fall to the temptation." Instead, he hid his desire and took the forbidden items. And one selfish act brought death to an entire family.
We hold on to items that should be marked and tagged for death as a foreign substance because we make our desire for that thing stronger than our desire to please God. It's that simple. At that moment, we don't care that God loves us and has something bigger and better. We just want that person, place, or thing. At that moment, we don't even care that this thing is going to ultimately destroy us. We will begin to experience victory over it when we stop treating it like a friendly and expose it. When we replace our desire for that thing with a desperation to please God at that very moment, the enemy doesn't stand a chance. Submit to God's way and resist the enemy, THEN, the Word says, he will flee. Our way doesn't work. Find a person who will hold us accountable when we struggle, because going to hide only causes us to be isolated and vulnerable to the temptation. It comes down to this: do we REALLY want to be totally devoted, or only in words? The way we respond to temptation will tell the story. How about breaking the cycle and coming up with a NEW plan-- God's plan-- for deliverance? "I saw it, I exposed it, so I conquered it!" Now THERE are words worth repeating.
Prayer: Father, I acknowledge my transgression in Your Presence, and my sin is ever before me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Don't allow my enemies to triumph over me. By Your grace, allow me to submit to Your plan and resist the enemy rather than give in. I am Yours, and I choose to be totally free, not only halfway so. Break my will, and YOU take over in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Neutralize!!!
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Today's Passage: Joshua chapter 7
Memory Verse> Joshua 7:13
People live with deadly things everyday, and lately, our society has become so comfortable with the idea of "freedom" to do whatever we want that some just walk in utter stupidity. With all the technology and worldly knowledge, how can we NOT know that wild animals are not a good idea to have as pets? Even when caged, they have the potential to calculate when and how they will move in for the kill. They do NOT see humans as friends or benefactors, despite what these deluded individuals may think. On the contrary, they only see their next meal. Yet some go out of their way to put themselves in harm's way, thinking that somehow they are doing the Earth a favor by keeping them.
We've all seen end results of the tragedies that have occurred as a result of having ferocious animals too close to humans: one or another of these individuals ultimately loses life or limb. One crucial mistake that we also make, although we would never consider our spiritual circumstances similar to the one just described, is to see sin as HARMLESS. We create our own version of what could be a deadly experience when we allow sin to be part of our lives. Think about it: sin, like a young wild animal, starts out as a cute, cuddly, seemingly manageable situation. It lures one into thinking they're in control. At this point, there's no roar, no teeth, and no fangs. Where's the harm? All they're doing is talking, texting, or looking, right? The harm in it is clearly depicted in the word of God. In the book of James, God says when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:15). Like wild animals, sin doesn't stay small and manageable for long. It tends to grow into this destructive beast. Not long after that, the beast strikes at its closest victim....the one who nurtured, fed, and raised it.
Finally, choose righteousness and peace as pets (if you will). For when they grow, the one who nurtured them will become mature people of God, seeking only to please Him not others. They won't win you the prize at the local "dog and pony" show, but they will win the heart of the Father, from whom blessing after blessing will come. No risk, no danger.....and no stinky clean-up!!! Yuck...
Prayer: Father, You have set a clear path for us by showing us how to expose and neutralize sin. And You've also given us the power to trust that You have a way out of everything that threatens to destroy us. Help us to choose Your way over every temptation so that we can bring You the glory You deserve. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Joshua chapter 7
Memory Verse> Joshua 7:13
People live with deadly things everyday, and lately, our society has become so comfortable with the idea of "freedom" to do whatever we want that some just walk in utter stupidity. With all the technology and worldly knowledge, how can we NOT know that wild animals are not a good idea to have as pets? Even when caged, they have the potential to calculate when and how they will move in for the kill. They do NOT see humans as friends or benefactors, despite what these deluded individuals may think. On the contrary, they only see their next meal. Yet some go out of their way to put themselves in harm's way, thinking that somehow they are doing the Earth a favor by keeping them.
We've all seen end results of the tragedies that have occurred as a result of having ferocious animals too close to humans: one or another of these individuals ultimately loses life or limb. One crucial mistake that we also make, although we would never consider our spiritual circumstances similar to the one just described, is to see sin as HARMLESS. We create our own version of what could be a deadly experience when we allow sin to be part of our lives. Think about it: sin, like a young wild animal, starts out as a cute, cuddly, seemingly manageable situation. It lures one into thinking they're in control. At this point, there's no roar, no teeth, and no fangs. Where's the harm? All they're doing is talking, texting, or looking, right? The harm in it is clearly depicted in the word of God. In the book of James, God says when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:15). Like wild animals, sin doesn't stay small and manageable for long. It tends to grow into this destructive beast. Not long after that, the beast strikes at its closest victim....the one who nurtured, fed, and raised it.
Finally, choose righteousness and peace as pets (if you will). For when they grow, the one who nurtured them will become mature people of God, seeking only to please Him not others. They won't win you the prize at the local "dog and pony" show, but they will win the heart of the Father, from whom blessing after blessing will come. No risk, no danger.....and no stinky clean-up!!! Yuck...
Prayer: Father, You have set a clear path for us by showing us how to expose and neutralize sin. And You've also given us the power to trust that You have a way out of everything that threatens to destroy us. Help us to choose Your way over every temptation so that we can bring You the glory You deserve. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Don't Let Up!!!
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel chapter 11
Memory Verse> Ephesians 4: 27
When you feel the scratchiness in your throat especially during this time of year, and the fact that you have to keep blowing your nose and wiping your eyes to get the water out of them, you know well what's going on. We're in the midst of the Florida "cold-one-minute, warm-the- next" season that causes our bodies to be more susceptible to colds. Now, I certainly don't have time to get into the scientific reasons why this occurs, but we just know that an invasion is imminent. At that moment, we don't go to the store and buy over-the- counter drugs that make us weaker and more vulnerable to the viruses that have already made their way in, do we? Certainly not. We immediately kick into protection mode, doing things that will HELP our immune system do its job rather than hurt.
I,for one, being a person that has to use my voice at least three times during the week, cannot afford to be completely down with a cold, which turns into other things like laryngitis. So I begin to pile on the Vitamin C, make a point to keep my body covered, drink warmer liquids, and suck on throat lozenges. I don't let up for one minute, because doing so could mean not being able to do the thing I love so much: minister to God's people in song. So, as I've become older and wiser, I am learning not to take the cold symptoms lightly by putting off doing those things, or only doing them for a while and then stopping.
The point of all this is that we've already established how cunning and relentless the enemy is at trying to get in and taking over our entire existence. For this reason, when we identify thoughts in our lives that do not belong, it's a great idea to bind them. But we can't stop there. We must completely NEUTRALIZE them, rendering them completely useless and incapable of getting free and letting in others like it. Binding is just a temporary process that tells the enemy to be still for that moment. But in order for him to be totally defeated in that area, he must see that we have totally fallen out of agreement with his presence there. We cannot SAY, "devil, I bind you from bringing me that lustful thought" -- which works for that second because we're made in God's image-- then give in to getting the phone number, or allow ourselves to go to that website where we can continue to see those images. That's the foothold that causes the thought to become action, which then becomes a pattern that crystallizes into habits that can't be broken.
Saints, hear this and settle in your hearts this truth: our enemy will NEVER give up trying to destroy us. He will not quit, and he doesn't care what he uses, as long as he's got access into our lives and uses that thing to take us out. Remember: the ultimate plan is to destroy the will of God for our lives. If he can use food, he will. If he can use lack of self-control in whom we allow around us, he will. If he can deceive us into thinking it's just a harmless little indulgence, he's got us. WE are the ones who must block him access and recognize the "symptoms" he uses, bind him, AND neutralize him by tagging those things for death (but that's the next blog). Right now, I need to get to work taking down every foothold I've given the enemy to take over. Are you coming?
Prayer: father, You are so faithful. You've given us everything we need to be victorious over the enemy in the areas of our struggles. You just need us to be in agreement with Your way of accomplishing that victory. I submit to You now, declaring that no longer will I make excuses for my struggles, but close every door of access to the enemy and depend on You for my deliverance. I declare submission over the readers, hearers and doers of Your Word today. In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel chapter 11
Memory Verse> Ephesians 4: 27
When you feel the scratchiness in your throat especially during this time of year, and the fact that you have to keep blowing your nose and wiping your eyes to get the water out of them, you know well what's going on. We're in the midst of the Florida "cold-one-minute, warm-the- next" season that causes our bodies to be more susceptible to colds. Now, I certainly don't have time to get into the scientific reasons why this occurs, but we just know that an invasion is imminent. At that moment, we don't go to the store and buy over-the- counter drugs that make us weaker and more vulnerable to the viruses that have already made their way in, do we? Certainly not. We immediately kick into protection mode, doing things that will HELP our immune system do its job rather than hurt.
I,for one, being a person that has to use my voice at least three times during the week, cannot afford to be completely down with a cold, which turns into other things like laryngitis. So I begin to pile on the Vitamin C, make a point to keep my body covered, drink warmer liquids, and suck on throat lozenges. I don't let up for one minute, because doing so could mean not being able to do the thing I love so much: minister to God's people in song. So, as I've become older and wiser, I am learning not to take the cold symptoms lightly by putting off doing those things, or only doing them for a while and then stopping.
The point of all this is that we've already established how cunning and relentless the enemy is at trying to get in and taking over our entire existence. For this reason, when we identify thoughts in our lives that do not belong, it's a great idea to bind them. But we can't stop there. We must completely NEUTRALIZE them, rendering them completely useless and incapable of getting free and letting in others like it. Binding is just a temporary process that tells the enemy to be still for that moment. But in order for him to be totally defeated in that area, he must see that we have totally fallen out of agreement with his presence there. We cannot SAY, "devil, I bind you from bringing me that lustful thought" -- which works for that second because we're made in God's image-- then give in to getting the phone number, or allow ourselves to go to that website where we can continue to see those images. That's the foothold that causes the thought to become action, which then becomes a pattern that crystallizes into habits that can't be broken.
Saints, hear this and settle in your hearts this truth: our enemy will NEVER give up trying to destroy us. He will not quit, and he doesn't care what he uses, as long as he's got access into our lives and uses that thing to take us out. Remember: the ultimate plan is to destroy the will of God for our lives. If he can use food, he will. If he can use lack of self-control in whom we allow around us, he will. If he can deceive us into thinking it's just a harmless little indulgence, he's got us. WE are the ones who must block him access and recognize the "symptoms" he uses, bind him, AND neutralize him by tagging those things for death (but that's the next blog). Right now, I need to get to work taking down every foothold I've given the enemy to take over. Are you coming?
Prayer: father, You are so faithful. You've given us everything we need to be victorious over the enemy in the areas of our struggles. You just need us to be in agreement with Your way of accomplishing that victory. I submit to You now, declaring that no longer will I make excuses for my struggles, but close every door of access to the enemy and depend on You for my deliverance. I declare submission over the readers, hearers and doers of Your Word today. In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.
The Power's In Knowing Him!
Wednesday December 7, 2011
Today's Passage: Matthew 16: 13-20
Memory Verse: Matt. 16:19
I don't know about you, but there are days when I feel so small in this world. Now, I don't don't mean that in a "woe is me" kind of way. I'm just amazed at the way God meticulously cares for me, when I must be a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things. The more I think about it though, the relevance of my life doesn't come from how big I am, it solely rests upon how big God is in me.
Matthew recorded a conversation in which Jesus asked His disciples who people, and they, said He was. Their initial answers consisted of names of mere men. They were the disciples' failed attempts to assess a value to what was priceless. But Peter gave a different answer. He said: "You are the Christ, Son of the living God"! That statement was a game-changer. It took Jesus from being a mere mortal to being so much more. This is what we have to understand. Alone, we are mere men; small, insignificant, incapable of caring for ourselves. But if God lives within us, we become people of power and authority; able to change any situation. Remember what I said before? It's not about how big I am in the world, it's about how big God is in me.
We don't have to feel small in this world because the size of the God that lives within us is enough. His jurisdiction stretches from the depths of Earth to the heights of Heaven. There's no issue our faith can't touch and no situation our prayers can't change. Jesus proved that point when He told Peter whatever he bound on Earth would be bound in Heaven. And whatever he loosed on Earth, would be loosed in Heaven. That's not little man stuff, baby. What is your capacity? How much of God are you allowing to live in you? Do you only want Him when you're in trouble, or are you TOTALLY DEVOTED? If you want to successfully effect change in your life (and in the life of your loved ones), you have to have the revelation Peter had. That is what makes your life bigger and better than you ever thought it could be.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word. I receive the promise that whatever I bind and loose has already been bound and loosed in Heaven. I take authority now by the blood of Your Son Jesus, and I bind every foreign substance that does not belong in my life. I also loose the freedom to walk in everything You have for me. My life is always Yours, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Matthew 16: 13-20
Memory Verse: Matt. 16:19
I don't know about you, but there are days when I feel so small in this world. Now, I don't don't mean that in a "woe is me" kind of way. I'm just amazed at the way God meticulously cares for me, when I must be a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things. The more I think about it though, the relevance of my life doesn't come from how big I am, it solely rests upon how big God is in me.
Matthew recorded a conversation in which Jesus asked His disciples who people, and they, said He was. Their initial answers consisted of names of mere men. They were the disciples' failed attempts to assess a value to what was priceless. But Peter gave a different answer. He said: "You are the Christ, Son of the living God"! That statement was a game-changer. It took Jesus from being a mere mortal to being so much more. This is what we have to understand. Alone, we are mere men; small, insignificant, incapable of caring for ourselves. But if God lives within us, we become people of power and authority; able to change any situation. Remember what I said before? It's not about how big I am in the world, it's about how big God is in me.
We don't have to feel small in this world because the size of the God that lives within us is enough. His jurisdiction stretches from the depths of Earth to the heights of Heaven. There's no issue our faith can't touch and no situation our prayers can't change. Jesus proved that point when He told Peter whatever he bound on Earth would be bound in Heaven. And whatever he loosed on Earth, would be loosed in Heaven. That's not little man stuff, baby. What is your capacity? How much of God are you allowing to live in you? Do you only want Him when you're in trouble, or are you TOTALLY DEVOTED? If you want to successfully effect change in your life (and in the life of your loved ones), you have to have the revelation Peter had. That is what makes your life bigger and better than you ever thought it could be.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word. I receive the promise that whatever I bind and loose has already been bound and loosed in Heaven. I take authority now by the blood of Your Son Jesus, and I bind every foreign substance that does not belong in my life. I also loose the freedom to walk in everything You have for me. My life is always Yours, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Thanks for Homeland Security!!!
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
Today's Passage> Psalm 119: 97-117
Memory Verse> Ps. 119:98
Imagine life in the natural with a body that allows every foreign object to take residence inside it without the ability to defend it. Cells that should be preparing to identify things that should not be are either slow in responding or totally unresponsive altogether. Without an immune system that does its part to protect us from deadly diseases, even the insertion of a vaccine would be no good. Now imagine the life of a young child or mother struggling to survive, totally defenseless against every invading virus or bacteria that exists. That's how people who have auto-immune deficiency diseases live-- especially those with AIDS.
But that's not how God designed for our bodies to operate. He created a highly effective defense system to first and foremost DETECT a foreign substance known as an ANTIGEN. The purpose of this foreign body (which could be as simple as the cold bug or as complicated as the AIDS virus-- it really doesn't matter--) is to invade, find a comfortable place, multiply, then take over the body's immune system. So whether big or small, the body sends out ANTIBODIES to IDENTIFY this foreign substance so that it can be arrested and rendered incapable of accomplishing its initial purpose.
How awesome is that, that God would pattern our physical bodies after the spiritual realm He expects us to live in! We already know that the thief in our lives is the enemy of our souls, whose sole purpose is to steal from, kill and destroy us-- and he really doesn't care whether he uses something simple or something deadly-- it all depends upon what we ALLOW. But God, Who is truly rich in mercy, has provided a way for us to defeat satan's plan. First and foremost, He has given us His Word, by which we gain wisdom and understanding as well as discernment. If we allow it to have first place in our lives, we can see those antigens coming a mile away. The negative attitudes, temptation to compromise, and opportunities to take another path other than that which God has laid out for us -- these "antigens" are everywhere everyday. But if we are being watchful as the Word instructs us, we can block them from accomplishing much even IF they do pass the first line of defense (HOMELAND SECURITY) and invade.
The second provision for defense against these deadly antigens is the Person of the Holy Spirit. He takes the Word that we hide in our hearts and brings it back to our remembrance at just the right moment that we need it. He lovingly helps us use our discernment and urges us to identify those foreign substances-- things that do not belong in our lives. Things like resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, doubt fear, and every unclean thing that enters through our eye and ear gates and seeks a comfortable place in our thoughts. He knows the Father's heart towards us, and steers us in the way of utmost victory against those things. But He also knows there can be no destruction of these foreign substances IF WE DON'T FIRST IDENTIFY THEM. We are the only ones with the dominion and authority to refuse them access into our souls, so He supplies the ammunition of God's word and will, always reminding us of what our lives should look like as God's totally devoted. So the decision is again up to us: do we choose to IGNORE the provision that has been made to bring us victory? Or do we embrace it and allow it to be activated every day that we live in this fallen world? The evidence of our choice will be seen by all who watch our lives unfold and see our fruit. Remember: Invasion is inevitable, but TAKEOVER is NOT!
Prayer: Father, once again I thank You for the careful and thoughtful way You provide for me to always walk in triumph. I receive the Homeland Security of You a word, and I commit to letting it take root in my heart so that the Holy Spirit can use it to remind me of Your a will. I come into agreement with You, and give You permission to use me to destroy the enemy's plan in my life and the lives of all who love You. In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.
Today's Passage> Psalm 119: 97-117
Memory Verse> Ps. 119:98
Imagine life in the natural with a body that allows every foreign object to take residence inside it without the ability to defend it. Cells that should be preparing to identify things that should not be are either slow in responding or totally unresponsive altogether. Without an immune system that does its part to protect us from deadly diseases, even the insertion of a vaccine would be no good. Now imagine the life of a young child or mother struggling to survive, totally defenseless against every invading virus or bacteria that exists. That's how people who have auto-immune deficiency diseases live-- especially those with AIDS.
But that's not how God designed for our bodies to operate. He created a highly effective defense system to first and foremost DETECT a foreign substance known as an ANTIGEN. The purpose of this foreign body (which could be as simple as the cold bug or as complicated as the AIDS virus-- it really doesn't matter--) is to invade, find a comfortable place, multiply, then take over the body's immune system. So whether big or small, the body sends out ANTIBODIES to IDENTIFY this foreign substance so that it can be arrested and rendered incapable of accomplishing its initial purpose.
How awesome is that, that God would pattern our physical bodies after the spiritual realm He expects us to live in! We already know that the thief in our lives is the enemy of our souls, whose sole purpose is to steal from, kill and destroy us-- and he really doesn't care whether he uses something simple or something deadly-- it all depends upon what we ALLOW. But God, Who is truly rich in mercy, has provided a way for us to defeat satan's plan. First and foremost, He has given us His Word, by which we gain wisdom and understanding as well as discernment. If we allow it to have first place in our lives, we can see those antigens coming a mile away. The negative attitudes, temptation to compromise, and opportunities to take another path other than that which God has laid out for us -- these "antigens" are everywhere everyday. But if we are being watchful as the Word instructs us, we can block them from accomplishing much even IF they do pass the first line of defense (HOMELAND SECURITY) and invade.
The second provision for defense against these deadly antigens is the Person of the Holy Spirit. He takes the Word that we hide in our hearts and brings it back to our remembrance at just the right moment that we need it. He lovingly helps us use our discernment and urges us to identify those foreign substances-- things that do not belong in our lives. Things like resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, doubt fear, and every unclean thing that enters through our eye and ear gates and seeks a comfortable place in our thoughts. He knows the Father's heart towards us, and steers us in the way of utmost victory against those things. But He also knows there can be no destruction of these foreign substances IF WE DON'T FIRST IDENTIFY THEM. We are the only ones with the dominion and authority to refuse them access into our souls, so He supplies the ammunition of God's word and will, always reminding us of what our lives should look like as God's totally devoted. So the decision is again up to us: do we choose to IGNORE the provision that has been made to bring us victory? Or do we embrace it and allow it to be activated every day that we live in this fallen world? The evidence of our choice will be seen by all who watch our lives unfold and see our fruit. Remember: Invasion is inevitable, but TAKEOVER is NOT!
Prayer: Father, once again I thank You for the careful and thoughtful way You provide for me to always walk in triumph. I receive the Homeland Security of You a word, and I commit to letting it take root in my heart so that the Holy Spirit can use it to remind me of Your a will. I come into agreement with You, and give You permission to use me to destroy the enemy's plan in my life and the lives of all who love You. In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.
Little By Little
Monday, December 5th, 2011
Today's Passage: Deuteronomy chapter 7
Memory Verse> Deut. 7:22
God has given us so many awesome and precious promises! I love to read the book of Deuteronomy in the midst of a trial, because God clearly outlines in that book just how much He has invested in us. He lets us know that He will shower blessings upon us in the presence of our enemies-- in fact, He plans to take the land that belongs to our enemies and give it over to us, removing them out of the way as we go along. I must admit that I like the part about about being able to snatch the inheritance from those who refuse to acknowledge Him as God. That gets me charged and ready to walk in that promise right away.
But in all this excitement, the thing that sticks out is not so much that God will bless us and display us before our enemies; it's the fact that He'll EXPOSE us to them for a season. WHAT?! My earthly nature wants to scream, " Uh... Hello, Daddy?! I know You're God and all, but aren't You kinda keeping Your children in the grasp of death, surrounded by enemies? What's all that about?" And that's here His ultimate wisdom kicks in. Our pastors have been ministering to us about why building resistance is necessary for preparation to take the promise. But how is leaving our enemies all around us and taking them out one by one really going to prevent the invasion from taking place?
Even in the natural, God has made this concept clear to us by allowing us to be exposed to foreign and potentially deadly substances. Because we live in a fallen world, sickness is all around us, and we will eventually come in contact with a cold, the flu, or things that are worse. Why does He do this? He knows that the exposure is necessary so that our bodies, which are so efficient at protecting us, will recognize that something FOREIGN is threatening to invade and take over us. Our immune system will then begin to formulate antibodies to prevent this. But it is a PROCESS which takes TIME, and that's the element that makes the difference. We panic when we experience the presence of foreign substances round us, but it would be even more dangerous if God just caused them to disappear without allowing us to have to do anything. That's what the working of faith is all about, building resistance "little by little" so those foreign substances don't just run over us the next time.
What kind of God would He be if He just allowed us to receive the harvest of victory without having to engage in the fight ourselves? We would be weak and anemic, not being able to recognize and RESIST what comes to take us out, and the next potentially deadly substance we come in contact with WILL destroy us. So allow the process of God including us to destroy our enemies "little by little" to take place. Because He loves us, He exposes us to the deadly things in this world that SIN is composed of. The more we recognize its presence, the more power He gives us to fight off its ability to overtake us. But we MUST depend on Him and allow that resistance to be built. How well we do this will show in the next exposure to foreign substances. Are you ready?
Prayer: Father, You tell us in Your Word that You have a plan to destroy our enemy, sin. I declare that today I will trust the strategy You have out in place to defeat its power over me little by little. As I submit to Your will, You make me stronger and prepare me for the next level of trial which is sure to come. I surrender my life to You and rejoice that You will use me to show that sin CAN be defeated. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Deuteronomy chapter 7
Memory Verse> Deut. 7:22
God has given us so many awesome and precious promises! I love to read the book of Deuteronomy in the midst of a trial, because God clearly outlines in that book just how much He has invested in us. He lets us know that He will shower blessings upon us in the presence of our enemies-- in fact, He plans to take the land that belongs to our enemies and give it over to us, removing them out of the way as we go along. I must admit that I like the part about about being able to snatch the inheritance from those who refuse to acknowledge Him as God. That gets me charged and ready to walk in that promise right away.
But in all this excitement, the thing that sticks out is not so much that God will bless us and display us before our enemies; it's the fact that He'll EXPOSE us to them for a season. WHAT?! My earthly nature wants to scream, " Uh... Hello, Daddy?! I know You're God and all, but aren't You kinda keeping Your children in the grasp of death, surrounded by enemies? What's all that about?" And that's here His ultimate wisdom kicks in. Our pastors have been ministering to us about why building resistance is necessary for preparation to take the promise. But how is leaving our enemies all around us and taking them out one by one really going to prevent the invasion from taking place?
Even in the natural, God has made this concept clear to us by allowing us to be exposed to foreign and potentially deadly substances. Because we live in a fallen world, sickness is all around us, and we will eventually come in contact with a cold, the flu, or things that are worse. Why does He do this? He knows that the exposure is necessary so that our bodies, which are so efficient at protecting us, will recognize that something FOREIGN is threatening to invade and take over us. Our immune system will then begin to formulate antibodies to prevent this. But it is a PROCESS which takes TIME, and that's the element that makes the difference. We panic when we experience the presence of foreign substances round us, but it would be even more dangerous if God just caused them to disappear without allowing us to have to do anything. That's what the working of faith is all about, building resistance "little by little" so those foreign substances don't just run over us the next time.
What kind of God would He be if He just allowed us to receive the harvest of victory without having to engage in the fight ourselves? We would be weak and anemic, not being able to recognize and RESIST what comes to take us out, and the next potentially deadly substance we come in contact with WILL destroy us. So allow the process of God including us to destroy our enemies "little by little" to take place. Because He loves us, He exposes us to the deadly things in this world that SIN is composed of. The more we recognize its presence, the more power He gives us to fight off its ability to overtake us. But we MUST depend on Him and allow that resistance to be built. How well we do this will show in the next exposure to foreign substances. Are you ready?
Prayer: Father, You tell us in Your Word that You have a plan to destroy our enemy, sin. I declare that today I will trust the strategy You have out in place to defeat its power over me little by little. As I submit to Your will, You make me stronger and prepare me for the next level of trial which is sure to come. I surrender my life to You and rejoice that You will use me to show that sin CAN be defeated. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
A Tale of Two Choices
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
Today's Passage> James 4: 1-8
Memory Verse> James 4:7
There's something about the way we think that acts as either a magnet for God, or a repellant. Sometimes I wish God just made robots who responded automatically to God's commands and ways. But He didn't. Instead, He created and placed His best inside of us and allowed us to choose Him. History has already shown us that it does us no good to let our minds wander.
Rewind to Eve. She loved God, but simply allowed herself to consider the options. Rather than asking God, Who was the source, she opened herself up to the suggestion that something was missing in what God had provided. How do you get someone who has nothing to convince you that he can offer you something more than what God had set aside? Yet this is what she was deceived into doing. And the moment she submitted to the enemy's voice rather than God's, she chose to resist Him. Funny how God's system seems like too much, but the gold- covered package the enemy's trinkets are wrapped in appear worth it.
Funny, too, how the minute we submit to the enemy, we automatically draw closer to him rather than God. Remember what happened when they ate the fruit? They went running away from God's Presence, and wanted nothing to do with the One Who created them for fellowship. This is exactly what happens to us when we submit to the enemy. But rather than focus on the fear of what we lose when we fall, how about zoning in on what we get when we do the OPPOSITE of what the enemy wants? How about doing it GOD's way? His Word tells us not to covet what does not belong to us. Rather, ask God to open His floodgates of blessings so that we can display how great He is. Can you imagine how much we forfeit because we refuse to change our attitude about WHY God wants to bless us?
This attitude change makes the difference in who gets our devotion. If we submit to God, we are choosing to be a friend of God, accepting the fellowship He's always wanted with us. And as we submit, this resistance will build inside us to repel the enemy, who cannot stay wherever we are one with God. It's a simple tale of two choices; who we serve is completely up to us.
Prayer: Father, words will never be able to express how grateful I am that You chose me before the foundation of the world. I choose to submit to Your way, even when it requires me to wait rather than give in to temporary pleasures. It's YOU or bust. I am Yours forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage> James 4: 1-8
Memory Verse> James 4:7
There's something about the way we think that acts as either a magnet for God, or a repellant. Sometimes I wish God just made robots who responded automatically to God's commands and ways. But He didn't. Instead, He created and placed His best inside of us and allowed us to choose Him. History has already shown us that it does us no good to let our minds wander.
Rewind to Eve. She loved God, but simply allowed herself to consider the options. Rather than asking God, Who was the source, she opened herself up to the suggestion that something was missing in what God had provided. How do you get someone who has nothing to convince you that he can offer you something more than what God had set aside? Yet this is what she was deceived into doing. And the moment she submitted to the enemy's voice rather than God's, she chose to resist Him. Funny how God's system seems like too much, but the gold- covered package the enemy's trinkets are wrapped in appear worth it.
Funny, too, how the minute we submit to the enemy, we automatically draw closer to him rather than God. Remember what happened when they ate the fruit? They went running away from God's Presence, and wanted nothing to do with the One Who created them for fellowship. This is exactly what happens to us when we submit to the enemy. But rather than focus on the fear of what we lose when we fall, how about zoning in on what we get when we do the OPPOSITE of what the enemy wants? How about doing it GOD's way? His Word tells us not to covet what does not belong to us. Rather, ask God to open His floodgates of blessings so that we can display how great He is. Can you imagine how much we forfeit because we refuse to change our attitude about WHY God wants to bless us?
This attitude change makes the difference in who gets our devotion. If we submit to God, we are choosing to be a friend of God, accepting the fellowship He's always wanted with us. And as we submit, this resistance will build inside us to repel the enemy, who cannot stay wherever we are one with God. It's a simple tale of two choices; who we serve is completely up to us.
Prayer: Father, words will never be able to express how grateful I am that You chose me before the foundation of the world. I choose to submit to Your way, even when it requires me to wait rather than give in to temporary pleasures. It's YOU or bust. I am Yours forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Vaccination Situation!"
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Today's Passage> 1 Samuel chapters 18-20
Memory Verse> Psalm 144: 1& 2
It is quite amazing how the human brain works. Although many scientists do not acknowledge that their ability to learn and solve problems comes from God, we know that no-one but God could give humans the intellect to figure out how to make something like a vaccine. It's intriguing to say the least. I didn't realize until I was in my early thirties that the stuff they put in your body is actually the same illness you're trying to avoid. In order for the vaccine to work, or to make you "immune" to the illness, you have to take in a small dose of the actual illness and allow it to enter your system so that you can be "exposed" to it.
This is necessary in helping you build immunity.
I know God is the author of the wisdom behind the creation of vaccines, because His kingdom works exactly the same way. Only God can expect us to do the very thing that would potentially kill us, exposing ourselves to it and all its dangers. That's what He did to David. He sent Samuel to anoint him king when he barely knew himself, then taught him how to be the best shepherd boy he could be. He stayed in the fields with his father's sheep, protecting them from the lions, tigers and bears that threatened to destroy them. Little did he know that it was about to get worse.
But here's the interesting part, as Pastors Chad and Nette explained to us: because David was already exposed to dangerous situations, he was PREPARED to face Goliath without even realizing it. When he saw the Philistines making a mockery of God's people, he just had to respond. But he already had what it took to do so. And just when you thought he'd already done enough, God thrust him into another "vaccination situation". He caused the people to show David more favor so that Saul could drive himself deeper out of his place as God's chosen. Pretty soon, Saul was relentlessly pursuing David, trying to kill him at every turn. But once again, David somehow knew he had been prepared in advance for this kind of hostile environment, and he was able to stand.
Whatever your "vaccination situation" today, God has already figured out how much of that deadly substance you need to be exposed to. As you submit to it, in much the same way we as parents do with our children because we trust the doctor's word, you will find yourself built up and ready to face greater levels of adverse circumstances for the glory of the Lord. Oh- by the way, David is known in the Bible for being the most prolific writer and psalmist, as well as the king after God's own heart. Do you think maybe it was from everything he allowed himself to be exposed to? Makes me want to jump up on the Doctor's table and say, "Hit me up with some of that deadly juice, Doctor Jesus! I love the results!"
Prayer: Father, I expose myself to every adverse thing You've already pre-determined for me to walk through. I want my life to accomplish everything You set it out to do. Even through the valley of death's shadow, I will not fear because my life is filled with Your purpose. Thank You for Your ways. I. Submit to You now in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage> 1 Samuel chapters 18-20
Memory Verse> Psalm 144: 1& 2
It is quite amazing how the human brain works. Although many scientists do not acknowledge that their ability to learn and solve problems comes from God, we know that no-one but God could give humans the intellect to figure out how to make something like a vaccine. It's intriguing to say the least. I didn't realize until I was in my early thirties that the stuff they put in your body is actually the same illness you're trying to avoid. In order for the vaccine to work, or to make you "immune" to the illness, you have to take in a small dose of the actual illness and allow it to enter your system so that you can be "exposed" to it.
This is necessary in helping you build immunity.
I know God is the author of the wisdom behind the creation of vaccines, because His kingdom works exactly the same way. Only God can expect us to do the very thing that would potentially kill us, exposing ourselves to it and all its dangers. That's what He did to David. He sent Samuel to anoint him king when he barely knew himself, then taught him how to be the best shepherd boy he could be. He stayed in the fields with his father's sheep, protecting them from the lions, tigers and bears that threatened to destroy them. Little did he know that it was about to get worse.
But here's the interesting part, as Pastors Chad and Nette explained to us: because David was already exposed to dangerous situations, he was PREPARED to face Goliath without even realizing it. When he saw the Philistines making a mockery of God's people, he just had to respond. But he already had what it took to do so. And just when you thought he'd already done enough, God thrust him into another "vaccination situation". He caused the people to show David more favor so that Saul could drive himself deeper out of his place as God's chosen. Pretty soon, Saul was relentlessly pursuing David, trying to kill him at every turn. But once again, David somehow knew he had been prepared in advance for this kind of hostile environment, and he was able to stand.
Whatever your "vaccination situation" today, God has already figured out how much of that deadly substance you need to be exposed to. As you submit to it, in much the same way we as parents do with our children because we trust the doctor's word, you will find yourself built up and ready to face greater levels of adverse circumstances for the glory of the Lord. Oh- by the way, David is known in the Bible for being the most prolific writer and psalmist, as well as the king after God's own heart. Do you think maybe it was from everything he allowed himself to be exposed to? Makes me want to jump up on the Doctor's table and say, "Hit me up with some of that deadly juice, Doctor Jesus! I love the results!"
Prayer: Father, I expose myself to every adverse thing You've already pre-determined for me to walk through. I want my life to accomplish everything You set it out to do. Even through the valley of death's shadow, I will not fear because my life is filled with Your purpose. Thank You for Your ways. I. Submit to You now in Jesus' Name, Amen.
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