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Romans 6:18—And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness. Of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose and action

Proclaim your freedom from addiction!

God broke the power of addiction in my life when I surrendered completely to His will and direction.  Because I once rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High, I sat in darkness and bondage.  I stumbled and fell, and no one was there to help.  But when I cried out to the Lord in my trouble, He heard me and saved me from my distress.  In His goodness and lovingkindness, He brought me out of darkness and shattered the bonds that held me.  By His Word, I am healed.

I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.  My old person was nailed to the cross with Christ in order that my body, the instrument of sin, might be made ineffective and inactive for evil. I am no longer a slave to sin, having been delivered form its power when I was crucified with Christ.  The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave His life for me.

He who lives in me is mightier than he who is in the world.  When I come close to God, He comes close to me.  Christ empowers me with strength to do all things.  With faith in God’s promises, I vow to never again yield my body to its cravings, subject to its lusts or evil desires.  I walk confidently as a servant of righteousness—conforming my life to God’s divine will in thought, purpose and action.  I am victorious because my faith is in Christ.  I believe He is the So of Go, and I place my hope and trust in Him alone.

In obedience to the Word of God, I abstain form the sensual urges, evil desires and passions of the flesh that wage war with my soul, my mind, and my body.  I strip myself of my former nature, corrupted through lusts and evil desires.  I no longer set my mind on things that gratify the flesh, and a no longer controlled by the unholy desires of my flesh.  I renounce the lust of my flesh, the lust of my eyes, and the pride in my life, for these do not come from God but are from the world itself.

Instead, I put on the new nature, created in God’s image, in true righteousness and holiness.  My new spiritual self is ever in the process of being renewed after the image and likeness of God, I am constantly renewed in the spirit of my mind by concentrating on and seeking those things that gratify the Holy Spirit.  I am led by the desires of the Spirit, for the Holy Spirit lives within me to direct and control me.

Christ came that I might have and enjoy abundant life.  Whereas, Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.  I steep myself in the Word of God that I might know the divine power that is mine in Christ’s name.  I meditate on His commands day and night to keep myself from sin, and I remain cautious at all times—on the lookout for Satan’s attempts to lead me astray.  Jesus was made to be like me in every way, in order that He might become a sympathetic and faithful High Priest.  He, Himself, suffered by being tempted in all things—tested and tried.  Because of this, He therefore, immediately runs to the sound of my cry when I am tempted, tested or tried.  He knows how to rescue the godly, no matter the situation, out of temptations and trials.  So them I fearlessly, confidently and boldly draw near to Him and receive mercy and grace to help in times of trouble.

I walk in faith, not fear, for God is with me.  He will never forsake me.  He strengthens and helps me and makes the darkness into light before me.  I ask, and God places a hedge of protection around me.  He is my refuge and dwelling place.  He drives the enemy out before me.  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, He revives me—through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with me.  He stretches out His hand against the wrath of my enemies and His right hand saves me.

I test all things until I recognize that which is good; then I grasp it tightly in my hand.  I will not be overcome by evil, but will overcome evil with good.  I no longer try to fit into this world, but am transformed by the renewal of my mind.  In this way I can rightly discern what the good, acceptable and perfect will of God is for me.  Christ has set me free form the grips of addiction and sin.  I determine in my heart, by the grace of God, to stand fast.  I will never again be ensnared by the yoke of slavery to sin.

Devotion taken from Pastor Hagee’s book Man of God 18 Days of Promise

So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.
- Acts 5:15–16

Peter was a man with a past. He was bold and not afraid of change, but he also had many faults. In Matthew 16:22–23, we see Peter trying to correct Jesus. In Matthew 26:31–35, we see that Peter thought more highly of himself than he should have. In Matthew 26:69–75, it is recorded that Peter denied even knowing Jesus.

Once Peter realized the depth of his sin, he wept bitterly, which showed that he had a repentant heart (v. 75). God is merciful and understands our weaknesses. In John 21, we see Jesus lovingly restore Peter. Peter had been included in God's plans for the future even though he had a past record of foolishness and failure. Peter had denied Christ, and yet he became one of the best-known apostles. Peter could have spent his entire life feeling bad about his denial of Jesus, but he pressed past that failure and became valuable to God's kingdom.

Lord, You are a God of transformation. Help me to press past my failures and become a valuable servant of Yours today. Thank You for including me in Your plans for the future. Amen.

Beloved. You are too hard on yourself, My Child. For if you are failing Me so miserably, as the enemy would tell you, then it would be My fault, would it not? Am I not the Author and Perfecter of your faith? Oh yes, Dear One. Your future is in My Hands. I am faithful to complete My work in you. Do not grow weary and lose heart. I see the end from the beginning. All of your days are written in My Book. If you get off course, I will bring you back on course. If you stray off My Path, I will bring you back by My Righteous Right Hand. I am He who is able to keep you from falling, Dear One. I am your Keeper. I am He who has given you My Spirit, Who dwells in your heart. I am He who is your Teacher and your Guide.

Know that step by step, you are being changed from glory to glory. Precept upon precept, you are climbing higher and higher. Never downward, but always upward. In the Spirit, you are already seated with Me in heavenly places. Now we need to get your mind there also, Beloved. It is My Holy Spirit doing the work in you. Keep your mind upon the things above, Dear One. Keep looking up. Keep looking to Me. Keep beholding My Glory.

And you shall be changed into My image. You are looking just like your Father.(smile) You are beautiful. You give me great pleasure and You are My delight. Let not your heart be troubled. I am beautifying the humble.Take My Hand, Beloved, for I am leading you onward and upward, into the Glory Realms where the atmosphere of heaven and the Sun of Righteousness is healing your soul. Be confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

...Philippians 1:6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

...Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people: He beautifies the humble with salvation.(those who come to Him thru Jesus)

...Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He takes great delight in you; With His love, He calms all your fears. He rejoices over you with loud singing.

...Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

...2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

I am your Master, I am the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Trust Me, and I will show you great and unsearchable things, you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). You have received your promotion, you have been given gifts, anointings, and talents. Having then GIfts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith (Romans 12:6).

Maybe we don't have a gifting problem, but a faith problem. And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,"Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).

What is impossible with man, is possible with God (Luke 18:27). At the end of the day, and you lay back with your head upon your pillow. Are you crying out to God, with regrets too many to count. Are you asking for a new measure of faith, strength to resist the temptation's of life. There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Did you win the fight today, or did you lay down in total defeat.

Whatever has you troubled, whatever keeps you awake. Take it, and nail it to the cross.... forever covered in the blood of Jesus, what once was Crimson, now is snow....
Tammy Lang Jensen

1 Kings 17:1

After encountering the prophet Elijah, King Ahab may well have thought, Of all the nerve! Just who does this guy think he is? Bursting onto the scene as if out of nowhere, Elijah confronted Israel’s wicked king with a message that would soon disrupt life throughout the region.

The validity of the prophecy rested with the Source, not the mouthpiece. Elijah was a man of great faith who spent time alone with the Lord and listened to Him carefully. The prophet could pass the message on with boldness and authority because he knew and trusted the One from whom it came.

We can’t expect our Father to communicate with us in exactly the same way that He spoke to the Old Testament prophets, but the process of receiving His message hasn’t changed. It starts with being alone in His presence and listening as He speaks through His Word. But it shouldn’t end there.

Prophets had the responsibility of telling the people what the Lord revealed to them. Similarly, we’re to share with others what we learn from God’s Word. Devotional time with the Lord is not just about our own interests and needs. The Father reveals His truths to us so we can share them with others.

Begin each day alone with God in His Word and in prayer, listening as He speaks to your heart. Believe what He says in Scripture, apply it to your life, and then share with someone else what He has revealed. Be bold and remember that the authority of your message comes from Him.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 40-42

Romans 4:5
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Boldness is what God wants you to have when you come to Him. He does not want you to be afraid to come to Him, feeling unworthy because of your sins. He wants you to come boldly to Him, knowing that the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ has justified you and qualified you to boldly receive from Him.

This was the kind of boldness that the woman with the issue of blood had when she touched Jesus. (Mark 5:25–34) Now, by touching Jesus, she knew that she was breaking a Levitical law which states that anyone with a bodily discharge is unclean, and should not appear in public, let alone touch another person. (Leviticus 15)

But she refused to feel condemned by the law. She believed what she had heard about Jesus, and was confident that there would only be love and compassion, not condemnation, from Him. She believed that Jesus would justify her and qualify her to receive the miracle she needed. That was why she boldly pressed her way into the crowd to touch Jesus, who indeed said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34)

What was it about her faith that made her well? Romans 4:5 talks about faith that believes God justifies the ungodly. When you believe that God justifies the ungodly, it will give you boldness to come to God, even when you feel unclean because you have just blown it.

When you fail, don’t run away from God. Run boldly to Him, knowing that you are justified by the blood of Christ and not by your good behavior.

The devil may say to you, “How can you do that? Who do you think you are?” Don’t listen to him. Pick yourself up and thank God for the blood and the gift of no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) If God justifies the ungodly, how much more you, His beloved child!

Thought For The Day

You are justified by the blood of Christ and not by your good behavior.

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (Romans 4:5 NKJV).

Only when you see yourself the way God sees you, can you begin to expect success.

As long as you are depending on your own merits and your own works, you will always experience an element of self-doubt. This doubt will cause you to question whether or not God is going to show His favor in life.

Who you are and what you have done has nothing to do with favor and success. This is good news because without Jesus you are nothing.

God’s favor and honor cannot be earned; they can only be given to you by God. Jesus is the one who earned them for you, but it is your responsibility to walk in God’s favor and success by faith so that they will become reality in your lie.

When you are in Christ, God sees you as righteous, above reproach, and worthy to be blessed with success. He delights to crown you with glory and honor. You are His child; why wouldn’t He give you abundant favor and success in life?

Believe who the Word says you are and do what the Word tells you to do: “You shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).

In other words … expect success!

Confession: My God is a good God who delights to give me good success, not because of my works, but because I believe Jesus made me righteous and earned it for me. Therefore, I expect success.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1 NIV).

Some people have asked how they can distinguish between false prophets and true prophets or ministers of God. Well, it’s very easy to know a true minister of God. First, a true prophet or minister of God draws people to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Word, not to himself or to some other gods.

Secondly, he walks in love. 1 John 4:8 says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Walking in the love of Christ is very important. In addition, there has to be a consistency of the Word of God in his mouth. A true man of God doesn’t falter on the Word of God. He sticks to the Word, consistently maintaining and upholding the integrity of the Word. He proves the Word, first in his own life.

Another distinctive factor of a true minister is that the things he says come to pass. Now, that’s a little tricky, because sometimes, you could have a true prophet, pastor or evangelist make a mistake and say the wrong thing. Such a mistake could arise from his over enthusiasm or expectations of those around him or even because he’s not paying attention to the Holy Spirit. This, however, doesn’t make him a false prophet.

That’s why it’s important for you to know the Word for yourself. Part of the ministry of the Spirit in your life is to teach you the Word. Rely on Him and you’ll never be deceived. “I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ” (1 John 2:26-27 NLT).

PRAYER
Dear Father, your Word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet. My steps in life are directed and ordered by you, through the Word and your Spirit. I’m positioned in the right place and at the right time for your purpose, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Romans 6:1-14
Psalms 56-59

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 12:22-34
Judges

7 FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 7:15-16
2 Corinthians 11:13-15  

Memorise: 
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

Read: 2nd Peter 1:5-10 (KJV)
1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Bible in one year: 
1st Kings 11,
Ezekiel 18:19-29

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 11

Message:
The word “stagnancy” is commonly used to describe the state of a standing body of water that is devoid of current or flow, which consequently results in an unpleasant smell. It can also be used to describe a dull and sluggish situation where there is little or no evidence of activity. Just as a body of water can become stagnant, a person’s life can also enter into a state of stagnancy. Stagnancy ultimately leads to lack of productivity, barrenness, fruitlessness, indebtedness, poverty, failure, sorrow and disappointment. Moreover, stagnancy sometimes develops into a state of confusion, inferiority complex, faithlessness, hopelessness and a loss of ambition. If a stagnated person does not receive help on time, the situation may degenerate into feelings of regret, depression, psychological imbalance and even suicide. I hereby decree into your life: in any area you may be experiencing stagnancy, receive the power to make progress now in Jesus’ Name.

Do you know that sin within a person’s life is a far more deadly destroyer of destiny than other external enemies? Out of all the numerous agents that the devil uses to cause stagnancy, the paralysing effect of sin is the most potent weapon that prevents people from making progress. Once a person steps into sin, the stagnating power of sin becomes activated in the person’s life. Consequently, guilty conscience, loss of confidence, and the law of divine retribution all combine to ensure that every effort to make real progress is rendered null and void. However, God has provided a very effective way to escape for anyone who is tired of stagnancy. According to today’s memory verse, meditating on and living in obedience to the word of God destroys the power of stagnancy and guarantees success and prosperity. Through this scripture, the Holy Spirit is saying that if the word of God abounds in you and you are completely obedient to its principles, the Lord will ensure that agents of stagnancy such as barrenness, unfruitfulness, blindness and short-sightedness are rendered impotent in your life. The question is, are you tired of stagnancy? Are you ready to do what it takes to break the stronghold of stagnancy in your life? If you are yet to give your life to Jesus, you need to first surrender your life to Him right now, confessing Him as your Lord and Saviour. Following this, you must develop a hunger for studying God’s principles intensively through the Bible and begin to live according to His word. As you commit yourself to these things, the power of God will descend on you to set you free from stagnancy and divinely empower you to make progress in all areas of your life. Welcome the unstoppable generation.

Prayer Point
Father, please break the power of stagnation over my life and work in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was 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.

Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.
—Proverbs 16:18 (TLB)

David, king of ancient Israel, found himself in the midst of a confused national situation. His kingdom was torn by internal strife. Slave hated master; master hated slave. People blamed the government, and government blamed the people. David looked about him and saw that every man thought himself perfect. Each individual placed blame upon other individuals. David knew that if sinful pride continued to increase, his nation would collapse spiritually. He knew that economic depression, moral disintegration, or military defeat inevitably follow spiritual decline. So David turned to God, and it was revealed to him by the Spirit of God that the spiritual tide of his nation could rise no higher than the spiritual level of his own heart. So he fell on his knees in utter humility and prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23,24).

Billy Graham: Don’t Let Pride Get in the Way

Prayer for the day
Lord, deliver me from the sin of pride, and fill me with continuing humility as I go about the tasks before me this day.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10

Do you need a miracle? Then believe it, confess it and receive it!

"Oh Gloria, I just don't know if I can do that."

Yes, you can! You've already done it once. When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, you believed, confessed and received the greatest miracle in the universe, the miracle of a reborn spirit! Every other miracle you receive will come in exactly the same way.

You start by simply believing what God's Word says concerning your area of need, by letting that Word change your heart and mind.

A lot of people try to skip that step. They try to believe for a miracle without spending enough time in the Word to change their hearts and minds. They just want to confess it with their mouths and have it instantly appear. But that won't happen. It's what we believe in our hearts and say with our mouths that we receive.

If you don't have enough faith yet to believe for the miracle you need, then you can get it. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). So start filling the ears of your heart with the Word until faith for your miracle is born.

That's what the woman did who had the issue of blood. She believed in her heart that Jesus would heal her. Then she spoke her faith out loud. Then she acted on that faith--and she received her miracle.

It wasn't Jesus' decision. He didn't suddenly say, "You know, I think I'll work a miracle for that little lady today." No. She made it happen. She took her faith and drew on the power of God. That's why Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole" (Matthew 9:22).

You have that same opportunity. God's power is always present everywhere. Your faith will bring it into your life, body or circumstances. So reach out to Jesus. Believe, confess and receive your miracle today.

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 9:18-31

“Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that” (Ephesians 5:2 The Message).

I’ve been on this earth for a while now, and I’m still convicted by God about how little I really know about love and how often I am an unloving person. But the fact is, we all need work in this area. We all have a lot of growing to do as we mature in God’s love.

So how do you build a life of real deep love? That’s a profound question, and you will spend the rest of your life trying to do it. But I can give you some steps to get you out of the starting block — five things you can do this week that will help you get on the road to becoming a truly great person of love.

1. Learn how mature love acts and responds.

Personal change always begins with a change in perspective. You need to get God’s perspective on what love is really like, because the world knows nothing about real, deep love. You do that by getting into God’s Word.

2. Start your day with a daily reminder to love.

The first 10 minutes of the day set your entire mood for the rest of the day. Resolve to get up in the morning and say, “God, help me to remember that the most important thing is loving you and loving other people. If I don’t get anything else done today besides love you and the people that you put around me more, this has not been a wasted day.”

3. Memorize what God says about love.

God’s Word is filled with truths and principles on how to become a loving person. The problem is, when you’re in a situation where you’re tempted to be unloving, your Bible is usually at home on a shelf. That’s why you need to memorize Scripture — so that God can bring verses to mind when you need them the most.

4. Practice acting in unselfish, loving ways.

Love is like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it develops. If you want to become a truly loving person, you have to intentionally do some things that seem awkward at first. But the more you practice, the more it becomes second nature, and you become a genuinely loving person.

5. Get support from other loving people.

If you’re just sitting in your room and reading a book, you’re not going to get very far in learning how to love. You only learn it in connection to others, in the context of community. That’s one of the reasons why a small group is so important! It puts you in situations where you can grow as you see godly love modeled for you and as you practice serving others in unselfish, loving ways.

You never learn to love by just sitting back and listening. You learn it in relationship to other people.

Talk It Over

What could you change about your schedule so you can give God the best part of your day and start your day in his Word?
Think of the ways you learned best in school. How can you apply some of those same principles to the way you memorize Scripture?
What people in your life have modeled a life of love? In what specific ways do they love God and others well?

Jeremiah 29:12-13 - The you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart.

What is prayer? Prayer is not sending God to run your errands. A Christian must get on his knees before he can get on his feet. Prayer is not getting God prepared to do your will. Prayer is getting prepared to do God's will. Prayer is the only way to release the supernatural power of God in your life.

I often hear people say, "I want to do something abut this problem." Until you're praying, you're not doing anything about the problem. Prayer has the power to cure sickness and shatter the habits that enslave you. Prayer does not need proof; it needs practice. God is not far off. He is as close as the next prayer you pray.

Source:  Life Lessons to Live By - What is Prayer?

"The righteous shall flourish…"
(Psalm 92:12, NKJV)

TODAY'S WORD:
I remember walking in the woods one time when I came upon a clearing filled with weeds. As far as I could see, these dead, dried-up weeds had covered up everything. As I walked a hundred yards further in, I saw a single, beautiful flower that had grown up among all those weeds. It was so colorful and so different from everything that surrounded it. I thought, “That’s what God wants us to be: vibrant and blooming wherever He’s planted us.”

Friend, no matter what season you are in today, God wants you to bloom right where you are. That doesn’t mean you’re going to always be in that situation. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dream big or plan for the future. It simply means that you are going to choose to be your best on the way to where you’re headed. It means you go out each day with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. It means you give God glory in everything you do. Always remember, bloom where you’re planted and let Him work in and through you all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, thank You for Your hand of mercy upon my life. Today, I choose to bloom where I’m planted. I choose to trust You and honor You knowing that You are working behind the scenes for my good. I love You and bless You in Jesus’ name. Amen!

[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 14:17

God’s kingdom is made up of things far greater and more beneficial than worldly possessions. God does bless us with material possessions, but the kingdom is much more than that: It is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness is not the result of what we do, but rather what Jesus has done for us (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). When we accept this truth by faith and receive it personally, we are free to live and enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

Peace is so wonderful—it is definitely kingdom living. This is why we pursue peace, crave it, and go after it (see Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:11). The closer we get to God, the more we understand that Jesus is our peace (see Ephesians 2:14). God’s will for you and me is to enjoy His peace that goes beyond understanding (see Philippians 4:7).

Joy can be anything from calm delight to extreme hilarity. Joy improves our countenance, our health, and the quality of our lives. It strengthens our witness to others and gives us a godly perspective on life (see Nehemiah 8:10).

It is clear in the Word of God: Seek God and His kingdom, and He will take care of everything else (see Matthew 6:33).

There is no better life than life in the kingdom of God.

John 15:9
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

In your workplace, you probably take coffee breaks, lunch breaks, tea breaks and definitely toilet breaks. Why not do the same in your spiritual life—take time out for breaks, especially love breaks?

What is a love break? It is the time you take to enjoy and feed on the love of Jesus for you. At any time during the day, wherever you are, find a quiet spot and feed on the love of Jesus. Just sit down and talk to Him. Say to Him, “Thank You, Jesus, for loving me. Nothing is going to happen to me that You don’t already know about. Jesus, when I could not save myself, You died for me. You gave up Your life for me. What else will You not do for me!”

Such love breaks are typified in the Old Testament by Aaron the high priest and his sons eating the breast of the animal sacrificed. (Leviticus 7:31) The breast of the animal speaks of the love of Jesus. Today, you are a priest to God. (Revelation 1:6) So spend time feeding on the love of Jesus for you, and see yourself nourished, strengthened and sustained by His love. Jesus is our High Priest today. This means that His food is in loving us. He enjoys loving us and is also “nourished” by His love for us.

But do not forget that the breast was roasted by fire (Leviticus 7:35), which speaks of God’s judgment on Jesus as He hung on the cross because He was carrying our sins. So as you feed on Jesus’ love for you, see Him loving you at the cross. When things around you are not going well, do not allow the devil to say to you, “If God loves you, how come these things are happening to you?” My friend, interpret God’s love for you based on the cross, not on your present circumstances.

During the day, when you are hard at work, when busyness sets in, when problems pile up or when discouragement comes, just stop everything and take a love break with Jesus! Let Jesus love you. Let yourself enjoy being loved by Him. Lean on His bosom, abide in His love and be nourished by His love for you!

Thought For The Day
Be nourished by God’s love for you today!

Matthew 4:18-20

The apostle Peter was an ordinary person who lived in an extraordinary time. His was the generation during which Jesus Christ lived on the earth, died for the salvation of mankind, and rose again.

It was through his brother Andrew that Peter (who was originally called Simon) met the Lord (John 1:40-42). When Jesus invited him to become a disciple, he immediately left his fishing trade and placed himself under Christ’s authority (Matt. 4:20). He became a passionate follower who consistently demonstrated an eagerness to be near the Savior and in the middle of whatever was going on. Whether meeting Jesus on the water during a storm (Matt. 14:27-29) or speaking to Him during His transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5), Peter was devoted to his Master’s service.

In the beginning, the former fisherman was quick to speak and to act, and this impulsiveness created many problems for him. For example, when Jesus was talking about His imminent suffering and death, Peter objected, as if he knew better than the Lord. Christ’s rebuke was swift and direct (Matt. 16:21-23). The apostle, however, learned from his mistakes. He’s a good example of how we should let go of personal desires, wholeheartedly embrace Jesus’ way, and walk closely with Him (Mark 8:34).

The Lord chooses unexceptional people like Peter, you, and me to build His kingdom. He asks His followers to love Him above all else and fully commit to obeying Him. When we do, He will accomplish more through us than we could ever imagine.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 36-39

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17 NKJV).

If you are going to live a life of victory, it is essential that you have a revelation of the fact that you are the righteousness of God.

To be righteous means you have the ability to stand in the presence of Father God without a sense of fear, guilt, or inferiority, and with no consciousness of sin.

If you have made Jesus Christ your Lord, you have already been made the righteousness of God in Him. In fact, you are as righteous as Jesus is, because He gave you His own righteousness.

You may not have known it, you may not have taken advantage of it, but it’s true!

Until you have a revelation of your own righteousness, Satan will reign over you; sin and sickness will be your master. But the instant you know you are the righteousness of God in Christ, and you understand what that righteousness means, Satan is defeated in your life.

With a revelation of righteousness, you will no longer be afraid of circumstances as you face even the most adverse conditions with a sense of authority and dominion. Just as Jesus reigned over sickness, death, and the laws of nature, so you too can now reign in life in Him.

Confession: Through Jesus Christ I have been made righteous. In this righteousness I have authority and dominion over every adverse situation I may face in life. And from my position of right standing with God, I live the life of victory that is mine in Christ.

Author: Jerry Savelle

If you’ve ever been to an unfamiliar place, you know how valuable a map or compass can be. But by far, the best thing to have in those situations is a guide — someone who already knows the way. When finding your way in life, God is the one promising to guide you, leading you by the Holy Spirit. In this message at Saddleback Church, Pastor Rick Warren discusses how to be led by God’s spirit and get his direction for your life. You’ll discover the 5 steps to receiving God’s guidance, leading you to have more peace and confidence in all your decisions.

Battle Cry by John Hagee

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). A season of recompense and retribution, a time of regaining all the enemy has stolen.

The Loyal will be judged faithful and true. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God's special possession that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

You are a royal Diadem, A beautiful jewel in my crown (Isaiah 62:3). I have kept you hidden, set you aside and kept you all to myself (Colossians 2:3), so you would not be contaminated by this world. This is your glorious coming out party. I have raised you up for a time such as this (Esther 4:14). You have trained, you have warred, you have wrestled. Sometimes with your own flesh, sometimes with principalities not of this world (Ephesians 6:12). You have come out victorious, you have withstood the test.

There were many seasons of purging, and just as many of cutting away (John 15:2). But what I have been left with is a beautiful vessel for My work. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Your cup overflows, now go pour into all whom you meet. Today with you, I am well pleased. Victory is mine, saith the Lord, VICTORY is mine (2 Chronicles 20:15)....
Tammy Lang Jensen

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one (John 17:22).

T he Lord Jesus in our theme verse prays for the Church and says, “…the glory which thou gavest me I have given them….” He’s talking about us, the new creation; He has given to us the glory the Father gave to Him. Remarkably, He didn’t say, “I shall give them,” but “I have given them.” This is not a promise, but a present hour reality. What kind of a life should you be living then?

Peter the apostle tells us about the “…sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). Being born again, you’ve been born into a life of glory. Jesus has given you His glory; your life therefore, is a life of glory. What this means is that you’re blessed beyond measure; your progress in life is limitless. No nation or government can put a limit on you. So, you can lift your vision; look beyond the horizon and say, “Praise God! My life is a life of glory. Hallelujah! I’m making progress; I’m moving forward. I’ll never be defeated.”

Addressing His disciples in John 14:23, Jesus said, ”…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” This is what you got when you received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings you the presence of the Father and the presence of Jesus. He’s the glory of God and has brought that glory into your life.

The Bible says “…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Because He lives in you, no sickness, disease and infirmity can thrive in your body. His presence in your life is the sure guarantee of a victorious and glorious life.

Learn to trust in Him, and follow His Word. Then you can rest in Him and watch your life gravitate from glory to glory.

PRAYER Thank you blessed Father, for making my life beautiful and glorious by the Holy Ghost who lives in me! I rejoice because your Spirit brings me your manifested presence always. And I know I’ll live and walk in glory, victory and prosperity every day, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Romans 5:12-21
Psalms 52-55

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 12:13-21
Judges 6

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:30
1 Peter 1:11  

Memorise: 
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2nd Peter 1:3

Read: 2nd Peter 1:1-4 (KJV)
1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Bible in one year: 
1st King 9-10,
Ezekiel 18:1-18,

Hymn: 
Sing hymn 10

Message:
“God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”
Psalm 46:5

From the above passage of Scripture, one great benefit available to those who have God as their Refuge is that the help or assistance they need will never be late. There are at least three different times an individual can receive assistance. It could be before, during or after one experiences a need. If a need or an emergency arises today and you already have the wherewithal to meet that need, maybe from your earnings from paid employment or a business venture, you have already received help before that need arose.

This is a great place to be in! Some families already have all they will never need to take care of their children and pay their way up to post-graduate degree programmes, even before this need arises. Such people will never panic for school fees. This is an example of provision before need, and it describes a state of living in abundance. You will experience such in Jesus’ Name!

Moreover, do you know that God follows this same pattern in dealing with His children? For example, before God created Adam and Eve, all they would ever need had been provided for in the Garden of Eden which God Himself planted. God knows exactly what you need even before you express or voice out your request (Matthew 6:32). Do you know that God has already provided all you would ever need to live a victorious Christian life and fulfil your God-given destiny? The Holy Spirit speaks about this to us in 2nd Peter 1:3, where He says:

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

It is therefore possible for you to be a beneficiary of provision before need. However, one major challenge for most people with regards to this benefit is that when there is provision to meet their future needs, they become careless, frivolous and wasteful. Open Heavens 31 July 2017. When God provides ahead of time, it is possible to spend it on other things outside of God’s purpose. You therefore need divine guidance even in plenty. Having abundance does not justify wastefulness in God’s Kingdom. However, to partake of this great benefit, you need to increase your knowledge of the Provider, walk in obedience to Him, follow spiritual financial principles and wait on His directives always.

Prayer Point:
What some people waste daily is more than enough to feed several needy, hungry people. To trigger blessings from the Lord, such excess should be spent on meeting the needs of others.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was 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.

When we suffer and die for Christ it only means that we will begin living with him in heaven.
—2 Timothy 2:11 (TLB)

I have a friend who during the Depression lost his job, a fortune, a wife, and a home. But he tenaciously held to his faith—the only thing he had left. One day he stopped to watch some men doing stonework on a huge church. One of them was chiseling a triangular piece of stone. “What are you going to do with that?” asked my friend. The workman said, “See that little opening away up there near the spire? Well, I’m shaping this down here, so it will fit in up there.” Tears filled the eyes of my friend as he walked away, for it seemed that God had spoken through the workman to explain his ordeal through which he was passing, “I’m shaping you down here, so you’ll fit in up there.”

Find encouragement in your suffering.

Prayer for the day
Thank You, Lord, for all the “shaping” in my life, which brings me closer to You.