Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.
– Joyce Meyer
Month: October 2016
You Have the Advantage
“…His favor is for a lifetime…”
(Psalm 30:5, AMP)
| You Have the Advantage |
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One definition of the word “favor” is an advantage for success. When you put God first, when you obey His commands, you open the door for His favor which means you have the advantage for success! Even if someone may have wronged you and it looks like they have the upper hand, even if it looks like things are never going to change, keep reminding yourself, “I have an advantage. God is in control of my destiny. He’s fighting my battles for me. He is my Vindicator. And it’s just a matter of time before things change in my favor.” In Hebrews that says, “Don’t cast away your confidence.” One translation says, “payday is coming.” In the difficult times, you have to remind yourself that payday is on the way! God is a faithful God. If you’ll keep doing the right thing, honoring Him, expecting His favor, God promises that He will pay you back. He will restore everything in your life that the enemy has stolen. Remember, you have the advantage today! |
| A Prayer for Today |
| “Father, thank You for Your grace, mercy, and everlasting favor. I open my heart and mind to You and receive everything You have for me. Thank You for favor and healing in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” |
Plan for Good
| “…those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.” (Proverbs 14:22, NIV)
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Keeping Oaths
Keeping Oaths
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
October 31, 2016
“This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” Joshua 9:20
Joshua and the people of Israel were in the Promised Land. They were winning battles and were feeling good about their progress. One day a band of Gibeonites came by dressed as travelers in order to fool Joshua. They wanted to make Joshua believe they were merely travelers instead of enemies. The Gibeonites asked Joshua to make a peace treaty with them. Since Joshua chose to believe their story, he did just that. That was a mistake on Joshua’s part. The Bible says Joshua did not inquire of the Lord about the Gibeonites. This forced Joshua to uphold the peace treaty with the Gibeonites, even though it was made under false pretenses.
Keeping our oaths before the Lord is a serious matter. One might think that Joshua had every right to consider the agreement with the Gibeonites null and void since it was done on false pretense. However, Joshua knew how God viewed oaths. He knew that a man’s word, once it was given, should be good as done. There was no reversing it. He also knew that if he did not keep his oath, he was subject to God’s disfavor, which meant his ways would not be blessed.
Whenever we become a child of God, we represent Him. When His children follow unrighteousness, He takes this personally. Unrighteousness opens us up to satan’s attack. God’s protection shield is removed. So Joshua knew that if he did not honor his oath, he would be subject to God’s judgment.
Is there any unfulfilled oath you have made to anyone? Ask God this morning if you have not fulfilled a commitment to anyone. Then, if there is, go and fulfill. Otherwise, you will be subject to God’s judgment for your unrighteousness.
Keeping Oaths
Keeping Oaths
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
October 31, 2016
“This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” Joshua 9:20
Joshua and the people of Israel were in the Promised Land. They were winning battles and were feeling good about their progress. One day a band of Gibeonites came by dressed as travelers in order to fool Joshua. They wanted to make Joshua believe they were merely travelers instead of enemies. The Gibeonites asked Joshua to make a peace treaty with them. Since Joshua chose to believe their story, he did just that. That was a mistake on Joshua’s part. The Bible says Joshua did not inquire of the Lord about the Gibeonites. This forced Joshua to uphold the peace treaty with the Gibeonites, even though it was made under false pretenses.
Keeping our oaths before the Lord is a serious matter. One might think that Joshua had every right to consider the agreement with the Gibeonites null and void since it was done on false pretense. However, Joshua knew how God viewed oaths. He knew that a man’s word, once it was given, should be good as done. There was no reversing it. He also knew that if he did not keep his oath, he was subject to God’s disfavor, which meant his ways would not be blessed.
Whenever we become a child of God, we represent Him. When His children follow unrighteousness, He takes this personally. Unrighteousness opens us up to satan’s attack. God’s protection shield is removed. So Joshua knew that if he did not honor his oath, he would be subject to God’s judgment.
Is there any unfulfilled oath you have made to anyone? Ask God this morning if you have not fulfilled a commitment to anyone. Then, if there is, go and fulfill. Otherwise, you will be subject to God’s judgment for your unrighteousness.
Jesus: The King Invisible
Dear God,
It’s true…that I may be the only “Bible” someone ever reads.
Please help me be a living testament to You.
Please work through me and help me be a light and an encouragement for my non-believing family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
I am sitting here today, yielded to your will and asking you to use me today to open the eyes of someone who has been blind to You.
What an incredible blessing it will be to know that I am the person you used to bring another into Your Kingdom.
Lord I want to hide your Word in my heart so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to remembrance at the right time, that the words that come forth from my mouth would honor you and point others to you.
May you be lifted high and exalted, praised and worshiped above all.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. Isaiah 32:3
Jesus: The King Invisible
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
Jesus is the King Invisible; you can’t see Him, but He’s there with you all day, every day. Just because He’s invisible, it doesn’t mean that He’s not with you. While His body is sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, His presence indwells our hearts. Because Jesus is God, the Spirit of Jesus is everywhere present at the same time. That He is invisible means that He exists everywhere in Spirit. Ask Him to help and protect you this day, because He’s with you.
Jesus, thank You for being with me. Protect me today from dangers I don’t see, and help me through problems I haven’t yet faced. Minister to me in ways I don’t know about. Help me be a godly person.
Jesus is the King Invisible; He rules the entire universe. He can be at all places at all times, because He is omnipresent. As Lord, Jesus rules the universe, and more important, He dwells in your heart (Colossians 1:27). But He wants more than His presence living in your heart. He wants to rule your heart. As King, He wants to sit on the throne of your heart to rule your life today. Will you let Him do it?
Jesus, I want You to be Lord of my life and to rule me today. May every word I speak glorify You. May every action I do further Your kingdom. May every step I take be guided by You. Be with me to protect me and to help me grow spiritually. Amen.
Go Deeper: Matthew 14:22-36
Jesus is with you, even when you can’t see Him.
Tomorrow…Jesus: The King Immortal
God Works for Your Good
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”
(Romans 8:28, NIV)
| God Works for Your Good |
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God has a plan to take every adversity and every hardship you go through and use it. He’s not going to beat you down and make your life miserable. No; God’s dream is to take that difficulty and supernaturally turn it around and use it to bring you good. He will use those tough times to bring you out stronger, more mature and prepared for promotion! Goodness, mercy and unfailing love are God’s plan for you! You may not understand everything that’s going on in your life right now, but I encourage you to keep your head held high. Know that God is working in your life. Keep being faithful. Keep doing the right thing, knowing that in the end God is going to turn things around in your favor. If God is for you, who can be against you? No one. Greater is the One who is in you than anyone who can be against you. No matter what’s going on around you today, you can put your shoulders back and put a smile on your face because God is working things together for your good because He loves you! |
| A Prayer for Today |
| “Father in heaven, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. Thank You for all You’ve done for me in my past and for what You are preparing for my future. Help me keep my eyes on You and stand strong as I look for Your goodness all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” |
Jesus: The Root and Offspring of David
Dear Lord Jesus,
There are days when I feel weak and uninspired and there are days when I am full of the life You have given me.
Help me to remember that my strength comes from You.
Please give me wisdom and grant me good health and spiritual strength to continue the path You would have placed before me.
You are the foundational root of nourishment in my life.
I want to remain steadfast and tapped into your power as I face whatever may come.
Thank you for loving me, saving me, carrying me, and giving me hope.
In Jesus’ holy name I pray, amen.
Jesus: The Root and Offspring of David
I am the Root and the Offspring of David. Revelation 22:16
Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David, the greatest king of Israel. Just as a tree gets strength and life from its roots, so David’s accomplishments and strength came from Jesus. Just as David derived everything from Jesus, so your spiritual vitality comes from Him. You were born again when Christ came into your heart, so your spiritual life comes from Him.
Lord, I know that my spiritual life comes from You; help me never to forget where my strength lies.
Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David. Jesus was not only David’s source of strength, but He also was born into David’s line. Jesus has the legitimate title to David’s throne. Because of being born in the line of David, Jesus is qualified to fulfill all the Messianic prophecies for the salvation of every Israelite and for the nation as a whole. Look to Him for all your needs. Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David, which means that He was the “Son of David” (Matthew 1:1). When David wrote the Psalms, he called the coming Messiah “the Lord” (Psalm 110:1 & 5). Just as Jesus was the Lord of David, so He wants to be your Lord. Will you submit to Him today?
Lord, You are the Root from which I get my life; I am Your offspring. But more important, You are my Lord; I will serve You this day. Amen.
Go Deeper: Revelations 22:12-21
Will you submit to the Lordship of Jesus, as David did?
Tomorrow…The Holy Spirit: The Spirit of Revelation
In the Midst of the Storm
| “…he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45, NLT)
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Jesus: The Faithful Witness
Dear God,
I realize that because I am a Christian, I am in “Full-Time” Christian service.
Some Christians are called to other nations.
All Christians are called to minister in their workplace and in their community.
I am called to minister and to worship you where I am.
Please, God, help me to see my work and my daily activities as a means to serve and to worship to you.
Please demonstrate your power through my life so that others might be drawn you through me today.
Thank you, my loving and all-powerful God.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Jesus: The Faithful Witness
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come,…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. Revelation 1:4-5
Jesus is the Faithful Witness; He will give a faithful testimony to build you up. When you have doubts, He will come to build up your faith. When you are discouraged, He will come to give you divine confidence. Jesus can be a Faithful Witness to you every time you need it. But you must ask for His help.
I’m ashamed of my doubts, because my questions impugn Your integrity. Remind me again of Your faithfulness. Give me confidence in the promises You have made.
Jesus is the Faithful Witness who came to witness to the people of the world that the heavenly Father loves them. But they did not receive the testimony of Jesus. Even though He was a Faithful Witness and He demon- strated it with signs and wonders, the world wouldn’t believe Him. Jesus told Pilate, “I . . . bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37); but Pilate reject- ed Him. Jesus faithfully declared the truth, but He was crucified because of what He said and did. Just as Jesus was faithful to the end, so He wants you to always be faithful—even if it costs you your life.
Jesus, You are my Faithful Witness; I receive you into my life as a sure evidence of truth. I believe what You said in Scriptures. I praise You for Your miracles and acts of kindness. I accept Your death as forgiveness for my sins. Thank You for Your faithful witness that gives me confidence and assurance. Amen.
Go Deeper: John 19:7-15
Jesus will be faithful to tell you the truth.
Tomorrow…Jesus: The Root and Offspring of David
Write A Vision 