Abiding TV

Beloved. Do not fear, My Child. Though the fog of war has temporarily blinded many of My precious ones, My Face is shining upon you. Do not allow fear to become your constant companion, Dear One. The spirit of fear attempts to cloud your mind with his gloom and doom. He wants to steal your vision, Dear One. He wants to veil your spiritual eyes and cause you to lose Hope. Look up, Beloved. The Sun of Righteousness has arisen with healing in His wings.

I am a Lamp unto your feet and a Light for your path. I am He who is Faithful and True. Do not panic and run away, but cling to Me, My Love. I am the Light of the world. Do not allow the spirit of fear to overwhelm your mind and cloud your vision. I have not given you a spirit of fear, but I have given you MY Spirit of POWER, LOVE and a SOUND MIND. The SON is breaking through your circumstances. My Glory has risen upon you. I am your Light in that dark place, a Sun and a shield for you, your Glory and the Lifter of your head.

Cast out this spirit of fear from you in My Name. He has NO dominion over you. Take heart, Beloved. I am removing this veil of doubt from your eyes. My Countenance is shining upon you, like the Sun in all His strength. The darkness dissolves in My Presence, and the evil one is destroyed at the Brightness of My coming.

"fog of war"from the Oxford Dictionary; Confusion caused by the chaos of war or battle
..Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings

..Psalm 63:8 I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.
..Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield.

..Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof.

..Isaiah 60:19 No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory.

..Numbers 6:25 The LORD make His face to shine upon you, And be gracious to you.

..Revelation 1:12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of man,

clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; 15And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

16And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
..Matthew 17:2 There Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun.

"...Freely you have received, freely give."
Matthew 10:8 NKJV

TODAY'S WORD:
Every command God gives us in His Word is for our good. He is a good God, and He works all things together for our good because He loves us. He wants to bless us, multiply us and fill us with His exceeding joy and peace, but we have to do our part. We have to obey His commands in order to set the blessing into motion.

One of the best ways to see the blessing of God operating in your life is by sowing a seed of your time, abilities or resources. Proverbs says that those who scatter seed generously reap even more. That’s because when you give, God promises that it will come back to you in abundance - pressed down, shaken together and running over. But, you have to freely receive in order to have something to give.

Remember, giving is tied to receiving. Victoria and I have found that the more we freely receive from God, the more we desire to freely give to others. Today, I encourage you to keep your heart and mind open to what God has for you. Look for ways to sow seeds. Freely give and set the blessing in motion in your life today!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I choose to honor Your Word by freely giving to others. Help me to find creative ways to give the way You have given to me in Jesus’ name. Amen."

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God wants us to seek His righteousness and not our own righteousness. When we seek our own righteousness, we will always end up feeling miserable because we can never be righteous by our works, no matter how hard we try. That is why our loving Father wants us to remember that righteousness is not right behavior but a person—Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30), and that we have “become the righteousness of God in Him”.

I know of a lady who, before coming to our church, attempted to establish her own righteousness by confessing all her sins to “clean” herself up. But she found that the more she confessed her sins, the more sins she discovered in herself. She became guilt-ridden and miserable. Feeling stressed out and weary of confessing her sins all the time, she eventually left the church she was attending. In fact, she never stepped into another church again for the next 10 years.

One day, someone gave her my message tape entitled You Will Never Lose God’s Everlasting Righteousness Given To You and she started listening to it. Once she learnt that Jesus was the measure of her righteousness and acceptance before God, she began to seek God’s righteousness by seeing Christ as her righteousness. Before long, peace and joy came flooding back into her life.Today, she worships in our church. She testified of how God has supernaturally healed her of a long-term medical condition she had. Even her husband, once balding, found hair sprouting supernaturally! God was adding all these things to her according to His promise—“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”. (Matthew 6:33)

Beloved, seeking God’s righteousness means that you see Jesus as someone who knew no sin but became sin for you, so that He could give you His righteousness and make you the righteousness of God in Him! As you proclaim daily the truth that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, you will see “all these things” (Matthew 6:33) added to you without even asking for them!

Thought For The Day
Righteousness is not right behavior but a person—Jesus.

Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.]
- John 12:25

When we believe God is asking us to do something, we often begin with the questions: What am I going to have to give up if I do this? If I do this, what will it cost me? If I do this, how uncomfortable am I going to be?

The truth is that anything we do for God requires an investment. Part of loving Him involves a willingness to lay our lives down for Him. If God has been asking you to do something and you have been procrastinating because you know it will require sacrifice on your part, I urge you to go ahead and do it. Nothing feels better than knowing you have fully obeyed the Lord.

Do not be afraid of sacrifice when God calls you or puts something in your heart that He wants you to do. His plan for your life is greater than anything you can imagine. Be thankful that His plan is best and determine that you will pay the price and pass the test. I assure you, it is worth it.

Prayer of Thanks: I thank You today, Father, that no sacrifice I make for You will ever be without great benefit for my life. Fill me with the faith and strength to do all that You call me to do. I choose to obey Your voice in every single area of my life.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23: 5-6 NKJV).

God wants you to set your expectations in Him as high as you possibly can. He wants to do things in your life that are so extraordinary that some people are not going to believe it. Extraordinary means “remarkable, uncommon and rare.” If you will stand in faith for the extraordinary to come to pass, then the extraordinary will become the norm in your life.

God is good, and He is continually looking for opportunities to express His goodness in your life. It is up to you to position yourself to receive this goodness. The way you do this is by eliminating any wrong thinking that you may have allowed into your life.

Don’t allow yourself to doubt God’s goodness or His love for you.
Don’t question God’s desire to give you good things that you think you don’t deserve.
Don’t limit God by expecting so little from Him.

If you limit God to conventional or usual methods of provision, you will not be in a position to receive from unusual sources. God wants to bless you in ways that are remarkable, uncommon, and rare.

If you don’t expect the extraordinary to happen, your life will remain as it is. However, if you expect God’s goodness and mercy to follow you every day of your life, you will start to see a positive change in your circumstances.

So dare to set your expectations high and see the extraordinary things God will do when you put your faith in Him.

Confession: I choose today to set my expectations solely in God. I refuse to doubt, question, or limit God with small thinking. Instead, I expect the extraordinary to be a normal part of my life.

Author: Jerry Savelle

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Paul understood the message of the new creation; notice that he didn’t say, "My God shall supply all our need…." He knew that the new creation isn’t in lack or want; the new creation doesn’t need to be "supplied"; he’s the supplier! Romans 8:17 says we’re heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Paul, with this understanding, said to the spiritually immature, "But my God shall supply all your need…." When you’ve come of age, you’ll realize that in Christ, we don’t have any unmet needs. Matthew 6:33 says, "…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

When you seek the Kingdom of God first, every good thing you could ever wish for would be added to your life, without you having to ask. You won’t need to try to be happy, fulfilled or triumphant in life; you won’t need to pursue the things that the Gentiles seek: fame, money, recognition, acceptance, etc.; they shall be added unto you.

This doesn’t mean that after you’ve first sought and got the Kingdom of God, then you can go and seek other things; no. Seek the Kingdom, and you’ll get the rest of them combined. You may say, "Yeah, that’s why I’m seeking the Kingdom of God." No, don’t seek anymore; you already found it, if you’re born again; you’re already in the Kingdom, and the Kingdom is in you (Luke 17:21). To have the Kingdom is to have all things. Glory to God!

Don’t look at what you may consider a need; look at what He’s lavishly made available to you in Christ. You were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ; that means you’ve been brought into oneness, partnership or family-union with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). If this is true (and it is true), what in the world could you ever be in need of? Affirm God’s Word in your life; He has said all things are yours; declare the same, because truly, there’s nothing you require that hasn’t been provided in Christ. Hallelujah!

Confession

I testify that all things are mine! I lack nothing, because the Lord is my sufficiency; He makes me lie down in green pasture; He leads me beside the still waters! His divine power has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. Glory to His Name forever!

further study: 2 Peter 1:3; Psalm 34:10; 1 Corinthians 3:21-22

: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 Proverbs 8-9

: 1 Thessalonians 2:10-20 Jeremiah 18

Memorise: 
Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1st Thessalonians 5:22

Read: Bible in one year: Psalms 15:1-5, (KJV)
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.


Bible in one year: 
Jeremiah 10-12,
Psalms 46

‘Looking unto Jesus’ are there very important words of salvation, encouragement and direction for daily Christian living. Nicodemus, in his search for the true God and eternal life, approached Jesus for possible understanding. The Lord Jesus made the new birth very plain by using an Old Testament illustration of the fiery serpents of brass put on a pole for the Israelite's to look upon as recorded in the book of Numbers 21:8-9. Open Heavens 1 September 2016:- No Room For The Devil

The fall of Adam and Eve, and the temptation of Jesus Christ, exposes humanity to two important realities among many others. First of all, the devil is out to destroy all human beings without exception. Secondly, the devil cannot do a perfect Job at destroying a person without the consensual agreement of that individual. Consequently, the devil seeks the permission of an individual to have the access required to destroy his life. That is why the Bible in Ephesians 4:27, admonishes us not to give way to the devil.

Moreover, the devil does not make this request directly; neither does he require a clear answer from anyone. The language of the devil is always implied and shrouded in ambiguity, such that no one is ever fully aware of the implications of any transaction with the devil until reality dawns on them. For these reasons, children of God should be mindful of their responses to any proposal by the devil because ordinary interest is usually taken as consent or approval by the devil. Men and women who showed interest in various proposals of the devil in the past were soon captured and enslaved to the point of being addicted to such harmful practices like alcoholism, gambling, illicit sex, hard drugs, prostitution, etc. For these reasons, the Bible outlines several ways in which believers should respond to the devil. Evil is to be avoided at all cost as indicated in Psalms 1:1:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”

And in Proverbs 4:14:
1 September 2016 open heavens

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil me.”
And 1st Thessalonians 5:22 says:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
Evil is to be hated with passion and resisted with everything we have in line with proverbs 1:10:


“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
And James 4:7,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Above all, children of God should pray every day in response to evil, Matthew 6:13 says,
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
I pray that you will not be a victim of evil in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point
Father, please keep evil far away from me and my entire family in Jesus name.
Open Heavens Daily written by Pastor E.A Adeboye

I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Luke 11:8, The Amplified Bible

If, as God tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4, it’s His will for all men to be saved, why aren’t we seeing more of the masses of lost people born again every day? Have you ever wondered that?

I have...and as I’ve sought the Lord about it, I’ve come to realize that, for the most part, it’s because those of us who are already saved don’t pray persistently for those who aren’t. Instead of persevering—staying before the Father, praying for them to receive the bread of salvation—like the man in Luke 11:8 did for his friend, when we don’t see immediate results, we simply give up and go home.

What we don’t realize is this: Perseverance is the key to success in intercession!

Why? It’s certainly not because you have to change God’s mind. He never changes. His mind’s made up. He wants all men saved. The reason you have to persevere in intercession is to put pressure on the demonic forces that are trying to keep God’s will from being accomplished. Those forces must be broken down through prayer so that strongholds are destroyed and spiritual blinders are removed from the spiritual eyes of the people you’re praying for.

You see, God will not go against the will of any person. But He will move through your intercession to reveal Himself to them. Through your persistent prayers, He will bring them to the knowledge of their need for Him. Then they’ll reach out for Him and spiritual rebirth can take place!

If you’re sitting around waiting on God to save Aunt Mary or Uncle Jim or your best friend...stop sitting around! Get busy interceding for them. Persevere in prayer. Pray the prayer in Ephesians 1:16-23 for them, refusing to give up until they’re safely inside God’s kingdom.

Jesus has already laid down His life so that they can be saved. The question is, will you?

Scripture Reading:
Luke 11:1-10

John 15:1-8
A vinedresser plants and tends his vines for the purpose of seeing them produce grapes. God, as our vinedresser, encourages us to bear spiritual fruit. He wants us to have a character like that of Christ—marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Our Father wants to ensure that believers will be fruitful; for this reason, they are removed from the dead tree of humanity and grafted onto the living vine, Jesus Christ.

After His baptism, Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit,” who led Him to the next step (Luke 4:1). Christ’s life and ministry were the result of the Spirit’s empowerment, and when we become believers, God sends the very same Helper to indwell us. In the language of vineyards, the sap from the vine flows into a grafted branch, giving it life and the capacity to grow the kind of fruit typical of that plant. The branch and the vine become one life. The Living Bible translation says, “Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him” (Col. 2:7).

Some people run away from the Christian life because they think they cannot do it. And they’re right: They cannot, but the Holy Spirit can. When we are one with Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God lives His life through us. That doesn’t mean we are free from responsibility—the Spirit can do His work only as we wisely choose to yield to Him. When we are obediently following the Lord, our joy and peace are not dependent upon circumstances; the One in whom we are rooted is our joy and peace.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 13-16

“[Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11:26 NIV).

The first resolution: Choose to be who God wants you to be. The second resolution: Choose short-term pain for long-term gain.

And then Moses made a third life-shaping resolution: He chose God’s values, not the world’s. And that’s why God used him!

Hebrews 11:26 says, “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (NIV).

Moses made a value judgment. He clarified what mattered most to him.

Let me ask you this question: What matters most in your life? What are the top three or four values in your life? Can you name them easily?

If you ask me, I’ll tell you real simply what they are for me: integrity, humility, and generosity. I decided more than 30 years ago that that’s what I wanted to build my life on — integrity, humility, and generosity — because they’re the antidotes to the three traps of leadership.

Can you name the three most important values in your life right now? If you can’t, then you certainly can’t live by them. You’re not living your values if you can’t even name them. Before you go one more day, you need to sit down and ask, “What’s most important to me? What are the top values in my life?” And you need to write them out, because until you clarify your values, you can’t live by them.

Moses chose God’s values over the world’s values. Why is this so important? Because if you don’t decide what’s important in your life, other people are going to decide for you. They’re going to push you into their mold. And you’re going to live your life by their values, not yours.

You’ve got to decide what’s most important to you and then live by those values.

Talk It Over

What are the three most important values in your life?
How can you clarify them?
How can you apply them in your life?

Today is another opportunity to worship and praise our Father in Heaven. To thank Him for that all he has done, all he has provided and all that he will provide.

Now there are no doubt some days that you do not feel this way. You may be tired, not feeling well, run down, feeling like everything and everyone is against you. But rest assured, all you have to do is look to God, for he is your strength, he is your security. He will guide you, direct you, strengthen you and protect you.

Where you are weak, He is strong. Look deep inside yourself and know that you are strong because of God.

Is there any hope for the world? Is there any hope for you?
How can you mend a broken heart?
How can you find the inner peace that nothing in the world can give?

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer...but the Spirit Himself...pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

Romans 8:26, The Amplified Bible

As long as you live on this earth, you’re going to be saddled with a weakness. What is it? The flesh and blood body you live in. It’s a body that’s subject to death. A body that’s subject to the physical world around you.

Your reborn spirit doesn’t want to sin. It wants to be completely obedient to God. But the weakness of the flesh causes you to fall prey to the temptations around you.

Does that mean you’re doomed to a life of failure till Jesus comes and that flesh body is glorified?

No! It means you need to build your spirit up, to strengthen it, until it dominates your flesh. We are told to crucify the flesh. Your spirit man must dominate your body. Praying in the spirit by the Holy Spirit applies spirit to flesh. It causes your spirit to rise up and take charge. Just like using barbells strengthens your arms, praying in other tongues strengthens your spirit. You see, your spirit is more powerful than your flesh, and as you give it outflow, the flesh will simply have to yield to it. Most believers don’t understand that. They’ll be overwhelmed by some sin, and instead of conquering it by the things of God such as praying in the spirit, they’ll simply keep struggling to overcome in natural ways. So they end up failing again and again.

If you’re caught in that cycle, take heart! God hasn’t commanded you to be more spiritual than you can be. He knows your weakness and He’s given you a way to overcome it. He’s given you the ability to pray in tongues—and with your understanding to wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And no matter how badly you’re failing in everything else, you can do these things!

Be warned though, Satan will try to talk you out of it. He knows that once you learn how to bring the flesh in line, he’ll have no foothold left in your life. You’ll shut the door on him and he won’t be able to get in.

Renew your commitment to praying in the spirit today. Make a quality decision to follow the command God gives in Jude 20 and “build yourselves up…on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit” (The Amplified Bible)!

Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:14-32

"I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]"
Psalm 119:96, AMPC

TODAY'S WORD:
Did you know you can actually limit your life by dwelling on the wrong things? So often, wrong thinking keeps people stuck right where they are. If you think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, then your life will follow your thoughts. If you think you don’t have the talent, the connections or the funds, then you are limiting yourself. We have to remember that God’s promises are forever settled in heaven. His Word stands true throughout all eternity!

Don’t limit what God can do in your life by focusing only on what you see in the natural realm. You have to realize that you serve a supernatural God, and just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will thrust you to a whole new level. He has explosive blessings in store that can blast you out of where you are and into a place of abundance. If you’ll shift your focus from this earthly realm and start looking at God’s supernatural realm, you’ll see His unlimited possibilities for your future. Take the limits off by setting your thoughts on what He can do in your life today!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, today I lift my eyes to You. You alone are the source of my strength, peace and provision. I choose to delight myself in You knowing that You will give me the desires of my heart in Jesus’ name. Amen."

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43: 18-19 NKJV).

Regardless of what may have happened in your past, God has a plan and purpose for your life—and it lies in your future. Even if the path before you appears to be dry, barren, and filled with obstacles, God will make a way for you to fulfill His call. All you have to do is believe Him for the impossible.

Forget about the past, and don’t limit God. Your past doesn’t have anything to do with what God has in store for you in the future. That’s why Paul said, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV).

God wants to do a new thing in your life. And if He wants to do a new thing, my advice is to let Him do it! Look at each new day as another opportunity for God to do extraordinary things in your life. Expect God to do the very things that you could not previously do. Expect those things that people say are rare occurrences to become the norm in your life.

So, stop thinking about the past and allow your thoughts to come into agreement with God’s thoughts: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).

Confession: I will no longer focus on my past, but will forget what lies behind and set my sights on the future God has for me. God is doing new things in my life, and I will greet each new day with the expectation of His manifest peace, favor, and goodness in my life.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Proverbs 26:2—Like a flitting a sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

Every Curse Has A Cause
Part Two—

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” the first commandment.   Exodus 20:45 also says, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image that’s a statue, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath…for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” Exodus 20:45.  Four generations—that’s 160 years.  God says if you have in your home a statue of any other god, you hate him.  That’s strong.  Jesus said the same thing.  He said if you’re not for me, you’re against me.  You cannot be on both sides of this issue.

There was a woman in my church years ago whose life was a living nightmare.  Everything she put her hand to, collapsed.  She thought she was jinxed.  Those were her words.  She asked me to come to her house and talk to her.  I went to her house; it was filled with statues of dragons.  The Bible says that Satan is “that old dragon, the devil.”  I said, “Lady, it is my belief that if you recognize Satan in any way—with statues, with the occult, with witchcraft, with Ouija boards, with mind control, with Eastern  philosophies—then Satan has a legal right for his demon powers to live in your house.  He has a legal right to claim you life, your soul and your children.  She threw those dragons out and her life turned around immediately, permanently and for the good, because she obeyed the Lord.

It is not enough to recognize God as the first and greatest god.  You must recognize him as the only God.  He is either Lord of all, or he’s not Lord at all.

John 21:9, 12
Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread… Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.”

Like many parents, Wendy and I pray for our daughter Jessica every night before she sleeps. When Jessica was two years old, we decided to pray that her diapers would not overflow during the night. Her diapers not overflowing might be a small thing, but we knew that it would give our little girl a comfortable sleep every night. And after we started praying for this, we noticed that her diapers did not overflow.

That incident made me realize that our God is not just interested in the big things that affect us. He bothers and cares about the minor things that affect us too. There is nothing too insignificant for Him. So don’t be like some religious people who have this idea that God only wants us to bring the big issues to Him, and that He doesn’t want us to bother Him with small issues.

Nothing could be further from the truth. God cares about everything that you experience, from the small ulcer in your mouth to your concerns about the world’s economy. Even when you tell Him about the inconvenience that might arise if the bus is late, He takes note of that too. In fact, when you come to Him often about anything and everything in your daily life, you compliment Him because you are telling Him that He is your Daddy God who watches over you.

Jesus represented the Father’s heart and will when He was on earth. (John 5:19) He cared when His disciples were out at sea the whole night, cold and shivering. He cared when they caught nothing that night. (John 21:3) He cared that they would not have fish to sell. So He gave them a huge catch early the next morning. (John 21:5–6) He knew that they were cold and hungry, so He prepared breakfast for them, served over a fire of coals to keep them warm.

Jesus showed us that God is our loving heavenly Father who cares about the big and small things that happen every day in our lives. Nothing escapes God’s eyes because He loves you!

Thought For The Day
God is not just interested in the big things that affect us. He bothers and cares about the small things too.

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, Ask what I shall give you. . . . [Solomon said] So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad.
- 1 Kings 3:5,9a

A friend confessed to me one day, “Instead of seeking God’s face, I’ve been guilty of seeking God’s gifts. Too many times I have been more excited about what He does for me than I’ve been about seeking His face and rejoicing in who He is.” She went on to say that she craved the blessings and wonderful things God did in her life. The Lord had used her in praying for the sick and had opened doors for her to minister to people.

We’ve all known ministers of the gospel who were truly blessed and used by God. We also know some of them who had great downfalls. What happened? I don’t know all the details, but I know enough about Satan’s tactics that I can explain the pattern.

God raises up servants—godly people who truly desire to serve Him and help others. They become successful, and perhaps that’s when Satan first attacks them. He reminds them of who they are and how greatly God has used them. (Satan sometimes tells the truth to lead to a lie.) He encourages them to become even more successful or famous—whatever their weaknesses, he plays on those.

If they don’t rebuke the evil voice, they soon push forward and seek greater spiritual gifts. They want to be the best-known healers in the world or the greatest evangelists. Too often, they don’t hear God’s quiet voice or sense His sadness as they push forward.

Before long, they want what God gives, but they don’t really want God. That’s one of Satan’s oldest tricks. He tried to accuse God of bribing His followers. In the first chapter of Job, God called Job blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil (see Job 1:8b).

Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face (Job 1:9-11).

Of course, we know that Job didn’t give in to the devil. He had truly sought God and not His gifts. The book of Job tells of one hardship and trial after another, including the devil using his friends to plead with him to give up. Job never did quit because he sought God more than he sought His gifts.

By contrast, think of King Saul—Israel’s first king. He was tall, handsome, and chosen by God. He could have been a great leader, but he allowed Satan to win the battle over his mind. Later, Saul was so possessed by evil spirits that he needed young David to play his lute to calm the troubled spirit. At the end of his life, Saul went to a witch for an answer because he knew God had departed from him. That’s a man who yielded to the devil. He sought gifts and power more than he sought God.

Our heavenly Father delights in giving His children good things—but only if you seek after Him first. In the verses above, when Solomon asked for wisdom, God not only gave him wisdom but he commended him for not asking for long life or riches. And because he didn’t ask for those things, God said, “I’m going to give them to you anyway.” That’s the generous way the Lord works. When you seek Him, He gives generously; when you seek only His gifts, you may receive those gifts, but you will also get an empty life. Or worse, you may allow Satan to advance.

Great and all-wise God, forgive me for looking at the wrong things. Help me to seek You, to yearn only for You and how I may please You. I want You to use me to serve You, but most of all, I want to know that my life pleases You. I ask for Your help, in the name of Jesus. Amen

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned…(Isaiah 43:2).

When you study God’s Word, the economic problems and upheavals in the world today wouldn’t be a surprise to you. The socio-economic conditions in our world today must not dictate the circumstances of our existence. They must not control our faith in the Word of God. The Bible says those who know their God shall be strong and shall do exploits (Daniel 11:32).

As a child of God, the troubles in the world are not set against you. Your prosperity is independent of inflation, economic meltdowns and downturns. You’re not of this world. You’re the seed of Abraham. Refuse to fret or be anxious, for if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small (Proverbs 24:10). The Lord is your strength. Remain strong in Him and in the power of His might.

Read what He says about you in the times of dryness, scarcity, and crises: "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Glory to God! Let this be your testimony today and always, because it’s God’s Word concerning you. You’re a victor and a success in Christ Jesus, regardless of the crises and adversities in today’s world.

The darkness isn’t about to go away, for the Bible says, "...behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people"; but the scripture didn’t stop there; it continues, "…but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:2). In the midst of the darkness, you’ll shine brightly. Actually, the darker the night, the more brightly your light will shine. Therefore, rejoice, because the Lord your God is your prosperity. There’s no failure for you; so there’s no need to fear. Maintain your composure, and your confession of the Word.

Prayer

Dear Father, you’re my refuge and my shield; I put my trust in you alone, knowing that in you I have life and all that I require to live triumphantly to the glory of your Name. I live above the economies and economics of this world; I’m prospering and making progress from glory to glory through the Word, and power of the Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

further study: Joshua 1:8-9; Hebrews 13:5 AMP

: Proverbs 5-7 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-9 Jeremiah 17

Memorise:
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Psalms 91:5

Read: Psalms 91:1-9, (KJV) 
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;


Bible in one year; 
Jeremiah 7:30-9:26,
Psalms 45

Message:
God has a reservoir of power to protect His children each time they are in trouble. This is why there is nothing as good as making God the source of your power. God is the most secure place to keep your life. There are many conflicts in this world, there are many happenings that cause fear but we are sure and confident of our victory through the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary. God is the one who can deliver us from all the dangers of life when we trust in Him. God is the Secret Place that keeps one from the enemy. I decree into your life; those who want to attack you will fall into destruction in Jesus’ name. Those who put their trust in God have nothing to fear.

As far as God is concerned, fear is not allowed for His children. You cannot have God as your father and live in fear, because the spirit of fear is not part of your destiny as a child of God. Your portion is the spirit of boldness and a sound mind. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego did not give in to fear because they knew that the God they serve will never let them down and they demonstrated this boldness before the King and all the people by not bowing before the image of the King. They overcame their fear with their conviction in the Almighty God. The King made the furnace seven times hotter, yet they were not afraid, neither did they change their minds, because they knew God will wait for them inside the fiery furnace. For a reader of this devotional, I prophecy into your life; all those arrows that the enemies are throwing in order to put fear into your heart shall lead to your promotion in Jesus’ name. When it appears that you are dropping and about to hit the ground, just remember that His everlasting hand is writing to lift you up.

The children of Israel were afraid of the giants in the land they were to possess. They saw themselves as grasshoppers before the giants because they suddenly forgot that the same God that opened a path for them to cross through the red sea was the same God that wanted them to overrun the land. You need to trust God and never doubt His promises. The moment you doubt God, you are challenging His ability and existence. Those who doubt God usually pay for it and it is not always pleasant. As chicks flee for safety under the wings of the hen, so must we run to the protection of God. There are numerous dangers around, but we know that the God we serve and the power in His Word delivers us from all dangers and fears. As we set our minds on Him, all those things that cause us to worry are taken care of. He will give answers to pressing prayers. He will deliver those who are threatened with different kinds of trouble. He will give you long life by keeping you in perfect health. This is why I want to tell a user of this devotional whose medical report indicates a limited time to live; the Almighty God will change such report in your favour in Jesus’name.

Prayer Point
Father, I receive victory over every fear and doubt in my life in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily written by Pastor E.A Adeboye

“[Moses] chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25 NIV).

Yesterday we learned that, in order to be all that God wants us to be, we have to make this first resolution: “I resolve that no more will I let other people press me into their mold. I’m going to be what God wants me to be. I’m going to do what God wants me to do, and I’m going to fulfill the plan that God has for my life, not somebody else’s plan for my life.”

Now, the second resolution that you need to make is this: Choose short-term pain for long-term gain.

Anybody who’s ever played sports knows this one. You’ve got to practice and work hard in order to play in a championship game. You don’t just walk out and win the championship. If you’re going to be good at anything, you’ve got to accept short-term pain for long-term gain.

That’s not just true in sports. It’s true in finances. And it’s true in relationships. I have a good marriage, but Kay and I have worked hard for it for years. It didn’t come easy. You’ve got to work at it to make your marriage work, just like anything else in life.

Why is this resolution important in your life? Because most of the problems in your life come from your inability to delay gratification. Everything in society teaches us to say, “I want everything and I want it now and I want it free and I want it easy.” Life doesn’t work like that!

Moses made a choice: “He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25 NIV).

It says he chose to be mistreated — to endure the short-term pain for the long-term gain of doing the right thing.

You’re going to have pain in life. But if you choose to do the hard thing right now and put in the effort and the discipline to learn, to grow, to become strong and mature, then later in life you get to benefit from all of that.

I am benefiting right now from decisions I made in my twenties to not spend more than I made, to save, to tithe, to honor God. I’m benefiting many years later because I was disciplined. I did the hard thing first.

When you choose the short-term pain like Moses did, you’re going to see God deliver you so that you can enjoy the long-term reward.

Talk It Over

What short-term pain are you facing that calls for an eternal perspective?
How have you seen the hard decisions you’ve made or long hours you’ve put in benefit you in the long run?
Why do you think God wants you to choose the hard thing right now, even if it means you have to suffer or endure hardship?

Ephesians 3:17-19
In today’s passage, Paul prays that the Ephesians will grasp the depth of Christ’s love. Though divine care is beyond human comprehension, the apostle says God will give spiritual understanding so we can experience Him more fully. But there are four things that keep us from getting a handle on His love and resting in it.

1. We think God’s acceptance is imperfect and conditional like ours. Yet the Bible tells us that His compassion comes from His character and is not dependent upon our morality, choices, or thoughts. (See Rom. 5:8.)

2. When we recognize our sin, we often experience guilt. Sometimes this leads to feeling unworthy of the Father’s ultimate love. Instead, let a guilty conscience lead you back to God so that you can repent. Realize that His love and forgiveness are greater than any sin. He promises that there is no condemnation for His followers (Rom. 8:1).

3. There are some teachers who encourage legalism. This traps a person into feeling he or she must earn God’s favor. It also contradicts the divine truth that our Father loves His children without condition.

4. Some of us have a difficult time reconciling God’s love with His discipline. These can exist together, however. His correction flows from compassion, just as loving parents must redirect their children.

Recognizing God’s love will bring peace and joy to your life. At the same time, it doesn’t give license to sin. Like any caring father, the Lord will use discipline to bring you back to Him. Instead, why not let His love motivate you to walk in a holy and obedient manner before Him?

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 10-12

Beloved. You are separated unto Me. You are "Holy unto the LORD." Yes, Dear One. The Blood of the Perfect Lamb has consecrated you unto Me. No longer consider yourself dirty, for My Blood has cleansed you of ALL unrighteousness. I have chosen you out of all the peoples of the earth. My HOLY Spirit could not dwell in your heart, My Bride, if you were not without spot or wrinkle. See yourself as I see you. You are in Me and I in you.

Your spirit is perfected through salvation. Your body and soul are being changed into My image from glory to glory. You have become a NEW creation. Your old man is dead. You have come ALIVE in Me. You wear My Robe of Righteousness. I chose to do this, Beloved. I freely give My
Righteousness to you because of My great love for you. You are My Beloved and I am yours. You are My treasured possession. You are Mine.

I have inscribed you on the palms of My Hands. I have separated you unto Me, My Bride. You are a chosen generation, a ROYAL priesthood, a HOLY nation, a peculiar people. I have formed you for Myself. You are not your own, My Love. You have been bought with a GREAT Price. You shall show forth the praises of Him who has called you out OUT OF DARKNESS and into My Marvelous Light. Do not fear, My beautiful one, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; and you are Mine!

Holy: consecrated; of God, separated, apartness
..Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.
..Leviticus 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that you should be Mine.

..Zechariah 14:20 In that day there will even be inscribed on the bells of the horses, "HOLY TO THE LORD."

..Isaiah 9:15 Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.

..2 Corinthians 5:21 For God hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

..1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

..Isaiah 43:21The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

..Isaiah 43:1But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

..1 John 4:4 Ye are OF GOD, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

..Song of Solomon 4:7 You are all fair, My love; there is no spot in you.