Abiding TV

Beloved. I am He who is a Consuming Fire. I am sending angels to you with flaming swords. They carry My Fire to the earth. They are winds sent to minister to My heirs of salvation. They shall touch your heart, My Child. They are burning with my Love.

With the tip of their sword, they shall rekindle your Fire. I am He who baptizes you with the Holy Spirit and Fire. A bruised reed Your Beloved will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. For too long, My Children have suffered at the hands of the enemy. Now you shall RISE UP in the power of the Holy Spirit.

My Glory shall be seen upon you. Do not quench the Spirit, My Child. The God of Peace Himself is sanctifying you completely. The Fire of My Love shall burn brightly within you, healing you and making you whole. My Army of Fire shall rage throughout all the lands, until the knowledge of the GLORY of your God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. He who calls you is faithful; I will surely do it.

...Hebrews 1:7 Of the angels he says, “He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.”

...Psalm 104:4 He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming Fire His ministers.

...Isaiah 42:3 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.

...Matthew 12:20 A smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. 21In His name the nations will put their hope.”

....Luke 12:49 I have come to ignite a Fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

...Angels are like winds for mystery, force, and invisibility, and no doubt the winds themselves are often the angels or messengers of God. God who makes His angels to be as winds, can also make winds to be His angels, and they are constantly so in the economy of nature.

...A flaming fire. Fire is expressive of irresistible power, immaculate holiness, and ardent emotion. It is remarkable that the seraphim, one class at least of these ministers, have their name from a root signifying to burn; and the altar, from which one of them took the live coal, Isaiah 6:6 , is the symbol of the highest form of holy love. --James G. Murphy, in "A Commentary on the Book of Psalms," 1875.

...Isaiah 6:2. Seraphim: ‘the flaming’ or ‘burning ones,’ The attendants of the Divine glory in the heavens, are represented as flashing with splendor, as full of swift energy, like a flame of fire, as glowing with fervent love, as blazing with enthusiasm. That is the type of the highest creatural being, which stands closest to God. MacLaren's Expositions

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart
(Jeremiah 29:13, NASB)

TODAY'S WORD:
Have you ever thought about the fact that a reward is put into place before anyone ever claims it? Right now, there are rewards for certain fugitives on the loose. That money is already in a fund just waiting for someone to step up and claim it. All a person has to do is find the fugitive, and the money will be released.In the same way, God has a reward that has already been set in place for you and me, too. It’s just waiting to be released. But, there are conditions to that reward as well. God says, “If you will just seek Me, I will give you the reward. If you will just make an effort to please Me, if you will just get up in the morning and thank Me, if you will just read the scripture, I’ll pour out My blessing.” You may not understand it all, but God says, “That’s okay. I will give you the reward because your heart is in the right place, and you are making the effort.

Today, there is nothing more important that seeking God in all your ways. When you go about your day, keep Him on your mind. Talk to Him and ask for His direction. Seek Him because you will find Him and find peace, abundance, joy and victory all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank You for ordering my steps and pouring out Your blessing on me. I choose to put You first place in everything I do. I honor You and thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in Jesus’ name. Amen.

And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted…forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
—Ephesians 4:32

The Bible teaches us to forgive “readily and freely.” That is God’s standard for us, no matter how we feel about it. We are to be quick to forgive.

According to 1 Peter 5:5, we can clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus Christ, meaning that we can choose to be long-suffering, patient, not easily offended, slow to anger, quick to forgive, and filled with mercy. My definition of “mercy” is to look beyond what is done to me that hurts and discover the reason why it was done. Many times people do things even they don’t understand themselves, but there is always a reason why people behave as they do. Perhaps they are hurting and in their own pain they don’t even realize they are hurting someone else.

God forgives! We are to be merciful and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgives us our wrongdoing. He not only sees what we do that is wrong, but He understands why we did it, and is merciful and long-suffering. The choice to forgive others is ours. God will not force anyone to do it. Even if you don’t understand it, believe that God’s way is the best. It works. He can take what Satan meant to destroy you and turn it for your good.

We are to forgive in order to keep Satan from getting the advantage over us.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

You choose your attitude every morning when you get out of bed!

It is God’s will for you to prosper, but you must hear God’s word and obey it before success can be yours.  That’s what our text says today:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8

Success is not accidental; it is a byproduct of your attitude.  Has anyone ever told you that you have a bad attitude?  People fling that phrase around today like salt and pepper.  “You’ve got a bad attitude.”  So what does that mean?  It means you’re too critical.  It means you’re too sarcastic…too arrogant…too mean…and too inflexible.

If you have a bad attitude, it means that you generally choose to disagree.  You whine and pout when you can’t get your way.  You like to live with a chip on your shoulder.  You can’t keep friends.  You can’t keep a job.  You can’t keep a wife or a husband, because you are a joyless toad.

Who is responsible for your attitude?  You are.  We try to blame our attitude on our husband or wife.  We blame our attitude on the weather, or the car we’re driving.  We blame our attitude on the IRS or PMS—we blame it on something, anything, except ourselves.

You attitude is a choice, not a chance.  Do you wake up in the morning saying, “Good morning, Lord!”  or, “Good Lord, it's morning!”  There’s a difference in those two!

Exodus 14:15–16
And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it...

The problem with the body of Christ today is not that we are not praying. We are praying. But many of us are praying desperate prayers. We are praying, “God, help…God, please…God, do something about my problem!”

If you are smiling a little by now, most likely, you know about such prayers and might have prayed a couple yourself. My friend, God does not want you to pray pleading prayers all the time. He wants you to use the authority He has given you to pray powerful prayers, to boldly command and to “stretch out your hand” and see miracles happen.

When Moses stood before the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit, the Bible tells us that he cried out to God. But God told him, “Why do you cry to Me?”

There is a time for you to cry out to God and there is a time for you to use your authority. God told Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.”

The “rod” you have today is the name of Jesus. As you command in Jesus’ name, your “sea” will open and you will go on dry ground through the midst of your problem.

Do you realize that Jesus did not say, “Go and pray for the sick”? He said, “Go and heal the sick.” (Matthew 10:8) So stop pleading and asking all the time, and start using the authority you have in Christ.

Jesus told the church, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore…” (Matthew 28:18–19) My friend, God wants you to go and use the authority that He has given you. And as you go, miracles will flow!

Thought For The Day
When you start using the authority you have in Christ, miracles will flow.

Isaiah 40:8

Jesus made it clear that we would endure hardship in this life. But God gave His children amazing tools to keep trials from overwhelming us. For instance, He placed His Spirit inside each believer to guide and empower. In addition, He gave us the privilege of prayer so we could not only communicate and stay connected with our Father but also bring Him our requests.

Today I want to focus on another one of His marvelous gifts: the Bible. Scripture—the actual Word of God Almighty—is truth. It never changes. What’s more, it enables us in all circumstances, giving us a solid basis for making decisions and choosing which direction to go.

There are thousands of promises in the Bible—countless assurances that we can rely on with perfect confidence. God wants us to learn them so we won’t miss out on blessings He wants to give us. If we are wise, we’ll turn His promises into prayers and the cries of our heart.

Let me give you an example that relates to difficult decisions. Psalm 32:8 states, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” We can pray God’s words back to Him, saying that we believe He will teach us and reveal His path, while remaining by our side as our caregiver through the entire situation.

When hardships arise, we need a sure foundation on which to stand. Otherwise, our emotions could easily lead us astray through faulty thinking. God is faithful and unchanging, so we can trust in His promises, which enable us to rest confidently and act boldly.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 25-26

It makes no difference how you describe your situation, pushed to the wall, end of your rope, in over your head . . . God’s mercy is enough. God’s mercy is sufficient.

If you are in over your head, then you need to call on God for a favor. Say, “I need a favor today, Lord.” The favor of God is sufficient for whatever you are going through. In the Old Testament, in particular, when God’s people were facing impossible situations, they called on the mercy of God.

One example is found in Second Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat, and the children of Israel, were totally out numbered by enemy forces. They had very little hope. So, what did they do? They lifted up their hands and said, “God, we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” They asked God for His mercy. What did God tell them to do? He told them to go and confront their enemies. He said to get the praisers and the singers out front and confront their enemies. He instructed them to stand in their presence and begin to say, “Praise ye the Lord. For the Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever.”

That reveals to me that when you don’t know what to do, then praise always comes first.

Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”

Every time you declare your freedom, you are blowing a horn right in Satan’s ears. The blowing of the trumpet in Leviticus was symbolic of making a decree. When they heard that trumpet sound, they were making a profound statement in the spirit decreeing their freedom.

“. . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17.

Every time you speak the Word of God, it is a sword coming out of your mouth. It is a trumpet being blown. No wonder the devil fights us so hard about confessing the Word. Everything I have was obtained by confessing the Word of God. I am blowing my trumpet in the devil’s face and telling him, “You are not keeping me poor. You are not keeping me sick. You are not keeping me broke. You are not taking my marriage. You are not taking my children. I am the redeemed and I am saying so.” It is time for you to blow your horn of freedom!

Job 22:28 says, “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee.”

Begin to decree today that freedom is yours!

Author: Jerry Savelle

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).

Hebrews 2:11 describes our oneness with Jesus Christ, for which reason He isn’t ashamed to call us “brethren”— that is, His brothers and sisters. Paul, like the Lord Jesus, wasn’t ashamed of His identity with God’s people either. In Acts 20:32 for example, he called the believers in the Church at Ephesus “brethren,” which refers to the brotherhood; fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Being born of the Spirit, we’re heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ

Sadly, some Christians are ashamed to be identified with other believers. When you refer to them as brother or sister so and so, they quickly rebuff it and say, “Just call me by name; don’t add “brother” or “sister” to it.” Never be that way. Your association with Jesus Christ and His Church is the greatest, most honourable and inspiring identity you could ever have. Celebrate it at every opportunity. Seize every moment to glorify Jesus Christ.

Recall the priceless words of the Lord Jesus in our opening verse. If you’re ashamed to let the world—your friends, family members, colleagues, etc—know that you’re born again, and that you’re a member of the household of faith, the Master also will be ashamed to acknowledge you before the Father and the angels

Irrespective of anyone’s perception of Christianity, we have the most dignified identity; don’t take it lightly! What could be more sublime than being an associate of the God-kind? Always be excited that you’re a Christian. Be unapologetic in declaring your unwavering allegiance to Christ, His Church and other believers. Nothing, and no one should ever make you dissociate yourself from Christ or repudiate your oneness with Him! Even the fiercest threats or persecution from the adversary shouldn’t get you to cower.

PRAYER Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the faith and strength in my inner man, and the courage to be unapologetic in professing my oneness with you, and association with other believers. I’m glad to be in Christ, and belong in the household of God. Nothing in this world could be more sublime than being an associate of the God-kind! Blessed be God!

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 9:1-17
Joshua 10-12 2

YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 26:69-75
Leviticus 1

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 1:16
Luke 12:8-9

Memorise: 
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17

Read: Acts 3:1-9 (KJV)
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:


Bible in one year: 
Leviticus 1-3,
Jeremiah 5:18-6:5,

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 2

Message:
There are many great things the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ can do in our lives, one of which is healing. It is unfortunate that many believers today, like Gehazi of old, prefer financial and material gains to power in the Name of Jesus. They trade the precious Name of Jesus Christ for the ephemeral things of life. It is also highly regrettable that this divinely exalted Name, which God the Father gave to His Son, is being despised by many today. Philippians 2:9-10 says this about the Name:

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and give him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

Here’s good news for you: every kind of sickness in this world is included among the things that bow at the mention of the Name of Jesus.

Today’s Bible reading shows us one of the reasons why we need to give pre-eminence to the Name of Jesus Christ. Peter and John, two of the Lord’s apostles, were entering the temple at the hour of prayer, and a lame man (who was born lame) looked up to them for alms. Although they had no money, but because they knew and cherished the Name, they used its healing power to give what money could not buy to this man. In Acts 3:6b, Peter said:

“Sliver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  I the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarethe rise up and walk.


The result of this effective use of the Healing Name is that a lame man, who never walked all his life, began to walk and to leap! I therefore command every storm raging in your life to be still in Jesus’ Name. Have doctors written off your case? I command that sickness to leave you alone right now in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

Beloved of God, I am introducing the Healing Name to you today, and that Name is Jesus. If you have not encountered the owner of that Name, may I introduce Him to you as the Saviour of the spirit, soul and body. Through His Name, He can deliver you ailing body from the grip of any terminal disease. All you need to do is to accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. Believe He can heal you, and He will surely heal you by His Name.

Prayer Point
Jesus the Healer, I believe in Your Healing Name; please have mercy on me and heal me today through Your Name.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye,
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Click HERE to DOWNLOAD Daily Open Heaven Devotional from January to December 2017

As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Galatians 6:14 (TLB)

What glory is there in the cross? It was an instrument of torture and shame. Why did Paul glory in it? He gloried in it because the most selfless act ever performed by men or angels took place upon it. He saw-emanating from that rough, unartistic beam upon which the Son of God had been crucified-the radiant hope of the world, the end of the believer’s bondage to sin, and the love of God shed abroad in the hearts of men.

A lone man dying on a cross did more to restore man’s lost harmony with God, his fellowman, and himself, than the combined genius and power of earth’s mighty. With my finite limitations, I cannot fully comprehend the mystery of Christ’s atonement. I only know that all who come to the cross in simple, trusting faith lose all their guilty stains and find peace with God.

Prayer for the day
Like the Apostle Paul, Father, help me to glory in the cross of Jesus and more fully understand the tremendous meaning it has for me as a believer and for all who would come to its foot and kneel.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Psalm 14:1

Most of us would never dream this verse could apply to us. After all, we’re believers! We’d never say that there is no God.

But maybe we should think again. It’s true that with our mouths we would never say something like that...but don’t we sometimes say it with our actions?

We say it by sinning just a little here and there and thinking it won’t matter. We’ll go to an immoral movie or have a gossip session about the pastor, ignoring God’s command to the contrary.

With our actions we’re saying, “There is no God.”

Psalm 14:1 connects that kind of thing to corruption. Whether you realize it or not, the more you act that way, the more corrupt you’re going to become.

Don’t make the foolish mistake of publicly proclaiming Jesus as your Lord, and then privately denying Him one little action at a time. Use wisdom in everything you do so that both your heart and your life shout loudly, “My God reigns!”

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 14:1-7, 15:1-5

“Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established” (Proverbs 4:26 HCSB).

When you tell God, “I want the truth more than anything else,” he will reveal his truth to you in a variety of ways, such as through creation or your conscience and also through careful consideration.

In other words, truth is knowable. You can test it. You can experiment with it. You can prove it.

If I want to go to San Francisco and I follow a map that takes me to San Francisco, and the next week I follow the same map to San Francisco again, eventually I figure out that the map is true.

The same is true of the Bible: If you follow its map again and again, you’ll find it to be true. It always takes you where it says it’s going to take you. You may not always like where it takes you, but it always takes you where it says it’s going to take you.

Often people say, “Why won’t God just write it in the sky?” Why would God do that? He gave you a brain. But most people never slow down long enough for such careful consideration. Most people just drift through life.

The Bible tells us, “Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established” (Proverbs 4:26 HCSB).

Spend some time in careful consideration and thoughtful observation, and ask yourself: “Am I on a true path?”

Talk It Over

How does the pace of your life affect your ability to carefully consider or examine truth?
Why is it important that you can test the truth?
How can you use the Bible as part of your careful consideration?

The day is coming that we will all see our Lord and Savior and hear his voice.

Sadly, some will hear his voice for the very first time, not because he never spoke to them, but rather they never listened.

For some His voice will be that of a stranger because they never took the time to know him and accept him and give their lives to him.

The days is coming that we will all see Jesus Christ. Will you recognize his voice or hear it for the first time?

Beloved. I am the Triumphant One who has gained the victory for you. I am He who has taken the enemy captive and placed him in chains. I am the Captain of the Hosts Who has fought valiantly for you and won. I am the Conquering King. I destroyed the works of the devil at the cross. I took captivity captive and made a public display of them.

Therefore My Child, whom shall you fear? I hold the keys, Beloved. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, My Bride. Whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. I have given you the Gift of Grace and My Spirit. You are walking in My victory parade. You are in My triumphal procession. I wear the Victor's crown. I have won it all for you, Beloved. Fear not. I am the Risen King seated in majesty. Be confident of this very thing. He who has begun a good work in you is faithful to complete it.

...Psalm 68:18 You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive: You have received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

...Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

...2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.

...Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In ancient times, if a king or or a great military captain waged successful warfare, when he came back to his own country there was always a victory parade. He led captivity captive (aichmaloteuo from aichme = spear + halotós = be taken, conquered) means to be taken a prisoner of war by the sword. The idea is to gain complete control over another by force.

A triumphal possession in which one marched the captives that one had taken in a war. Triumph over enemies, one of the leading of enemies in triumph.
(Lloyd-Jones, D. M. Exposition of Ephesians in 8 Vol. Baker Book or Logos Version)

Memorise: 
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:20

Read: Isaiah 54:16-17 (KJV)
16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Bible in one year: 
Exodus 39-40,
Jeremiah 5:1-17,

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 3

Message:
Psalm 24:8-10 reveals our Heavenly Father as the Lord of Hosts, who is mighty in battle. As a Man of War, there are some battles He may fight for you, while there are some others He may fight with you. He may also fight some battles through you. In Exodus 14:13-21, when the children of Israel were confronted with the Egyptians and the Red Sea, they thought their end had come, but Moses told them to be quiet, to wait and watch as the Lord would fight for them. Sure enough, God parted the Red Sea for them to go over, and He drowned all their enemies. The reason why some people are in defeat is because they are trying to fight the battles that only God can fight for them. You may want to ask this question: how do I identify such battles? May God open your eyes to know the battles meant for Him alone! I also pray for you that God will not ignore the battles only He can fight on your behalf. The Lord will arise for you, as you give Him quality praise and worship, and will drown your enemies.

In a battle against the Amorites in Joshua 10:9-14, while Joshua was busy fighting, God also was busy hurling heavy stones upon his enemies. God and Joshua fought together and victory was won. This is an example of a battle where God fights with you. In this case, God may just be waiting for you to start the fight before He joins in. Consequently, if you wait for Him to start the battle, He may never do so. Take for instance the battle for the salvation of souls; God expects us to go and preach the good news of the gospel to sinners, and then He will back us up with signs and wonders (Hebrews 2:4). If you don’t go out to evangelise, you may never see the signs and wonders promised by God being manifested in your life.

Finally, there are battles God will fight through you. In such cases, God will be behind the scenes while He puts you forward. The enemy will then examine you to see how vulnerable you are. He will be attracted to attacking you because to him, you will appear to be an easy prey. However, when he attacks, God will quietly tell you what to do, and the enemy will be floored. In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus said you are the one to speak to the mountain in faith, and God will move it into the sea. You are the one to condemn any tongue that rises against you while God frustrates every weapon designed against you. (Isaiah 54:17). In all of these, are you correctly playing your part?

Prayer Point
Father, teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight only battles You want me to fight. Also, grant me wisdom to engage the enemy the way You want it done.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye,

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Click HERE to DOWNLOAD Daily Open Heaven Devotional from January to December 2017

Set your mind and heart to seek (inquire of and require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God...”
(1 Chronicles 22:19 AMPC)

TODAY'S WORD:
What things do you consider a vital necessity in your life? In other words, what can’t you live without? Most people would immediately think of food, water and shelter; but in reality, we can’t really live unless our minds and hearts are set on seeking the Lord. Sure, you can exist without seeking Him, but you are called to more than just mere existence; you are called to live - to thrive - to enjoy your life abundantly!

Today and everyday, set your mind and heart on seeking the Lord! Write down your favorite scriptures and commit them to memory. Whenever you can, think about those verses. Meditate on God and His infinite love. When you require the Lord as a vital necessity, you will truly live and enjoy the abundant life He has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, today I choose to set my mind on You. I seek You with my whole heart. Show me Your love and character today. Show me Your ways that I may walk and live closely with You. I love You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
— Proverbs 15:13

When Jesus invited people to become His disciples and follow Him, He asked them if they wanted to join His party. I realize He was talking about His group, but I like to think that traveling with Jesus was probably a lot of fun as well as a lot of hard work.

Repeatedly throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus invite people to leave their lifestyles and side with His party, and He is still issuing that invitation today. Yes, there is work to do for the kingdom of God, but thankfully we can have fun while we do it.

When we follow Jesus, we are not going to a solemn assembly or a funeral. We are joining His party that is full of life, peace, and never-ending joy!

Prayer of Thanks: Father, help me to lay aside the burdens and cares of this world and receive Your joy today. I thank You that You want me to have fun and enjoy the life You have given me. With Your help, I will celebrate Your goodness in my life today and every day.

Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

It is God’s desire for you to succeed!

All of us want to be successful, yet so few of us are.  According to the Social Security Administration, only 2 percent of Americans reach the age of 65 financially independent.  Of the remainder, 30 depend on charity, 45 depend on their relatives, and 23 have to work the rest of their lives.

“Even as your soul prospers,” from the above scripture, means that the spiritual realm controls prosperity in the natural realm.

Prosperity and success begin in your thought life and in your decisions.  You decide which emotions will rule your life.  You decide to accept defeat or to climb the unclimbable mountain. You decide to feel inferior or to say, “I can do all things through Christ.”  That’s a decision process.  The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7.

Success is not accidental.  It is a byproduct of your attitude, and your attitude determines your attainment.  Your attitude toward God determines the eternal destiny of you soul.  Your attitude toward people will determine whether you are a friend or a foe.  Your attitude toward wealth determines whether you will ever have it—and if you get, whether it well destroy you or make you happier.

Revelation 4:9-11
In our culture, God’s name is often mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty God who created and rules over all things?

Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First, it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. What’s more, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big” (Eph. 3:20; James 4:2).

Second, our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior: If God has these attributes, surely it’s in our best interest to obey gladly. And as we, too, desire righteousness, we’ll be quick to repent of sin.

Third, our faith is impacted. Grasping that Jesus is holy, good, and powerful grows our trust in Him. Knowing our awesome God and remembering His great works will further build our confidence in Him.

Do you personally know our loving and holy heavenly Father? He invites you into an intimate relationship with Him. But as with any good friendship, time and intentionality are necessary to understand Him and learn His ways. Make these characteristics your priority, and watch how your prayers, behavior, and faith are impacted.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 22-24

Proverbs 4:20–22
My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

God has given us a sure way to receive the answers to our problems and challenges. It is His Word. Every answer or solution we need is found in the Bible.

Yet, many Christians are not walking victoriously in certain areas of their lives. This is because the devil continuously wages a war of distraction against them. He has managed to take them away from the one thing that can bring them victory—the Word. He will do everything possible to prevent them from opening the Bible because he knows that the Word will deliver them.

The distraction can be very subtle: A lot of things to get done, a lot of TV programs that interest you, or it may take the form of a big problem that makes you feel that you need to focus all your attention on it. The enemy knows that if he can get you to take your eyes off the Word of God, he can keep you from winning the battle.

When you are going through a tough time, it is not enough to know that God’s answer to the problem is “somewhere in the Bible”. Find the scripture in which God has promised the solution. Meditate on it until the truth of that scripture is revealed to you. When you do this, no demon or devil can prevent that word from God from bearing fruit in your life.

Even Jesus Himself used the Word to defeat the devil in the wilderness—“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) The way to defeat the enemy is with “It is written…”

My friend, there is no substitute for the written Word. God tells us that we will find life and health if we give our attention to His Word and keep it in the midst of our hearts. So get into the Word and let God’s promises abide in you.

Thought For The Day
Every answer we need is found in God’s Word.

When you begin to live a life of faith and to follow your dreams, adversity is sure to arise because for the first time you’re dangerous to the adversary. As a result of your commitment to follow God, two things will begin to happen immediately.

First, your faith will grow. A major part of following God is staying in His Word and listening to His voice. Doing these two things will undoubtedly create a spirit of faith within you that can overcome any opposing force that comes against you.

Second, the devil will come to steal away all that you have received from God and His Word. Your faith is a threat to the devil. He knows that if you are determined to walk in faith, then there is nothing he can do to stop you from receiving what God wants you to have.

When trouble arises, it is often tempting to draw back from what you are believing for. However, don’t give up. Don’t let that be an option. It might be tempting, but quitting will not bring to pass the things that you have dreamed about and prayed for. Faith conquers adversity every time.

I John 5:4 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. That means that any attack that comes your way, you can overcome it when you walk in faith. There is simply nothing the devil can do to stop you. The faith of God in us is greater than anything Satan can throw at us!

Author: Jerry Savelle

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:5).

Joshua 13:1 tells us something interesting about the man Joshua. It says, “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there
remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”

Being old here isn’t just about being grey-headed; it has to do with relevance to God and the work of
His Kingdom. Joshua was a hundred and ten years old when he died, and wasn’t as old as Moses, who died at the age of one hundred and twenty years. Yet, Moses wasn’t described by God as old. The Bible says, “And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” (Deuteronomy 34:7).

It doesn’t matter if your years are many, refuse to get “old” in your mind. Old people know too much,
and their experiences could make them cynical. They know too much of what doesn’t work. They’re very difficult to be inspired because they always remember that someone tried the same thing they’re being asked to do, and failed. But with young people, it’s different. They can’t think much of what doesn’t work; they take up the challenge. They’re adventurous with God, and for God. That’s why God loves to use them. They always want to learn something new.

Your body might age, but refuse to get old. The Bible says, “Those that be planted in the house of the
LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Psalm 92:13-14). Start seeing with the eyes of the Spirit. When you walk in sync with God’s Spirit, you’ll never run out of strength, ideas, and vision. You’re invigorated for life. He’ll constantly renew, refresh, and rejuvenate you through the Word. Paul said, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Hallelujah!

Confession
The Spirit of God strengthens me in my inner man and my youth is renewed as the eagle’s. I refuse to get old in my mind; rather, I open my heart and mind to fresh ideas from God’s Spirit. Nothing can stop me, for I’m daily vitalized and refreshed through the Word.

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Luke 8:22-39
Joshua 5-6

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 26:47-56
Exodus 39

Further study:
1 Timothy 4:12; Ephesians 4:23; Isaiah 43:19

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke.

Acts 2:18-19

You and I are living in the most exciting days this earth has ever seen. All around us God is pouring out His Spirit in preparation for the endtime revival that will bring this whole age to a glorious close.

Some of God's children are just standing by as spectators, watching Him work. Others, however, have become a vital part of it all. They've volunteered for service in this great end-time army. They've become what the Bible calls the servants and handmaidens of God.

Who are those servants and handmaidens? They are those who have committed themselves totally to their Lord. They are those who, instead of being content simply to be born-again children of God, have gone even further, stepping into servanthood out of love for the Father.

The servants and handmaidens of God are those who've said, "I want to be involved in what God is doing in this hour. I want to be His bondslave, available to do His bidding 24 hours a day."

Those who make that powerful decision are experiencing the great outpouring of God's Spirit that Peter spoke of in Acts 2. They are the ones whose Spirit-inspired words of prophecy and prayer are releasing the power of God upon the earth. They are the ones whose words are opening the way for the signs and wonders.

Do you want to be among them? You can be. God wants you to be. In fact, He needs you to be!

He needs those who will cut every cord that binds them to this natural world. He needs people He can call on in the middle of the night for intercession. People who will get up and do it no matter how tired they may be.

That's the quality and depth of dedication servanthood requires. It's a demanding role but its rewards are rich. Those who are willing to fill that role will be God's mouthpiece here on the earth in these final days. They will be vehicles of His Spirit and of His mighty power. They will be key players in the Holy Spirit's greatest earthly production.

Make a decision now to become one of them. Take the step of faith into servanthood today.

Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:1-21

He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus . . .
—2 Corinthians 4:14

The resurrection of Christ brings hope. The late Emil Brunner once said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.” As the human organism is dependent on a supply of oxygen, so humanity is dependent on its supply of hope. Yet today hopelessness and despair are everywhere. Peter, who himself was given to despair during the episode of Calvary, writes in a triumphant note, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There is hope that Christ is coming soon—this is what is called in Scripture “the blessed hope.” There is hope that there will come some day a new heaven and a new earth, and that the Kingdom of God will reign and triumph. Our hope is not in our own ability, or in our goodness, or in our physical strength. Our hope is instilled in us by the resurrection of Christ.

Prayer for the day
My hope is in You, my resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! May I never despair, as I remember Your triumph and love.mountain lake
He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus . . .
—2 Corinthians 4:14
The resurrection of Christ brings hope. The late Emil Brunner once said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.” As the human organism is dependent on a supply of oxygen, so humanity is dependent on its supply of hope. Yet today hopelessness and despair are everywhere. Peter, who himself was given to despair during the episode of Calvary, writes in a triumphant note, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There is hope that Christ is coming soon—this is what is called in Scripture “the blessed hope.” There is hope that there will come some day a new heaven and a new earth, and that the Kingdom of God will reign and triumph. Our hope is not in our own ability, or in our goodness, or in our physical strength. Our hope is instilled in us by the resurrection of Christ.

Prayer for the day
My hope is in You, my resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! May I never despair, as I remember Your triumph and love.

“Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it” (Romans 2:14 NLT, second edition).

God leads us to discover his truth not only through creation but also through our conscience.

Some things are hard wired in us by God; we know they are always right or always wrong, no matter what anybody else says. Our conscience tells us this. The Bible says, “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right” (Romans 2:14-15, NLT, second edition).

Say we take a random sample of 1 million people from around the planet and put them on a corner in New York City. We say, “Here’s a 92-year-old blind lady with a walker. She needs to cross the street. Tell me which of these three options is morally right: One, you can let her try to cross on her own. Two, you can help her cross the street. Three, you can push her into oncoming traffic.”

The apostle Paul says, even non-Christians have been wired to know the right thing to do (see Romans 2:14-16). Regardless of whether or not we follow it, every one of us knows what is right because God has given us a conscience.

We are also led to the truth through careful consideration, through God’s commandments, and through Jesus Christ, which we’ll explore as the week continues.

Talk It Over

How does it make you feel to do the opposite of what your conscience tells you is right?
If your conscience leads you to discover truth, how can you find out more about God’s truth?
How does following your conscience make you more like Christ?

The same hands that created the heavens and the earth are the same hands that created the incredible plan for your life.

The same hands that created the oceans and the mountains, are the same hands that gave up His son on the cross, before He would give up on you or me.

Let us never forget the cost for our freedom from sin. Let us always be faithful, let us always be grateful and let us always be obedient to our Father in Heaven