Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
—Isaiah 43:18-19

I truly believe this moment can be life-changing for you—that it will help you step out onto the path of your true life. The life that has been waiting for you since the beginning of time—and the one you may have been missing due to fear and intimidation. Satan is the master of intimidation, but once you realize that he is the one behind all your hesitation, you can take authority over him by simply placing confidence in Jesus Christ and stepping out boldly to be all you can be. God told Joshua, “Fear not, for I am with you.” He is sending you that same message today: FEAR NOT! God is with you, and He will never leave you or forsake you.

Abraham was told, “God is with you in everything you do” (see Genesis 21:22). That sounds like large living to me. Are you ready for a larger life, one that leaves you feeling satisfied and fulfilled? I believe you are, and I want to do everything I can to help you on your journey.

Lord, I make my bold confession that I am thrilled to have You with me today and forever. Today is another step in my journey. Help me to live large. Amen.

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Are you faced with challenges in your life right now? Are you having marital problems and financial woes? Maybe your child is going astray or an old illness has returned. What then will you say to all these things?

Do you know what God wants you to say? He wants you to say, “If God is for me, who can be against me?”

If you knew that the President or the Prime Minister was for you, you might believe that everything will be okay. But you have an even better backing! The Bible tells us that God, the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is for you! What problem can fasten its grip on you when the Almighty God is for you? Can the devil come successfully against you with God on your side?

If God is for you today, if God is for you right now, you don’t have to moan, “If only I had this…If only I didn’t say that…” And you don’t have to worry about the future: “What if this happens…What if we don’t have enough…” My friend, regretting the past and worrying about the future won’t change anything. Look to your heavenly Father, instead. Because He is for you at this present moment, you can be confident that He will help you and provide for you.

Beloved, God sent His Son to die for you. And Jesus gave you a blood-bought right to an abundant life full of meaning and purpose! He gave you a blood-bought right to walk in divine health all the days of your life! He gave you a blood-bought right to His supply even when the economy goes down!

You have all these things not because you deserve them, but because Jesus shed His blood and gave you the right to have them. All these blessings are yours today because God is for you! And if God is for you, who can be against you!

You can’t go high if you’re aiming low.

Humans were not meant to live alone. We seek each other out and form relationships to better our lives and share our love. But these partnerships can be difficult to maintain.

When different personalities and perspectives are brought together, there is bound to be some friction in the union. Conflict can be healthy but if the fight’s not fair, it allows that friction to grow into a fire that will be hard to extinguish.

In order to disagree effectively in a relationship, we’ve got to learn how to fight fair.
1. Communication is key.



The key to a healthy relationship is communication, but knowing the theory and applying the practice are two different things.


In order to effectively communicate, we must understand that communication flows both ways. Both partners need to have equal opportunity to express their hurt, anger, and frustration in a way that will be heard without judgement.
2. Know when to take a timeout.



Words can be said in the heat of the moment that can never be taken back, so it’s important to know when it’s time to take a break. Agreeing to take a timeout when things get too intense can help with calmer communication and avoiding the impulse to fight dirty.
3. Don’t be a mind reader.



Mind reading, assuming what a partner is thinking or feeling and acting on that assumption, can sink any productive resolution Inserting our own observations and assumptions onto our partner gives us a false reality. Instead of making assumptions about their feelings, couples must practice the power of silence and actually listen to what their partner is really saying
4. Know what’s off limits and avoid it.



When in a relationship, each partner becomes privy to the other person’s secrets, flaws, insecurities, and embarrassments. That information is not meant to be used as ammo in a fight. Our need to remove personal blame and our instinct to hurt before we are hurt can cause us to dig up painful subjects from the past and turn them into weapons to use against the person we love.

Instead, assess which topics are off limits and respect those restrictions.
5. Stop keeping score.



It’s harmful to stockpile hurt as a reminder of the times we have felt slighted because doing so limits our ability to move past those feeling of distress.

Keeping score in a relationship keeps pain fresh on the surface instead of allowing it to heal. Holding on to negativity as a defense mechanism only creates more negativity. When a partner keeps track of hurt, it only causes the other to do the same

Instead, couples must treat each encounter as if both partners have a clean slate so old wounds from the past can be allowed to heal.

Once a couple learns to fight fair, conflict can be healthy.

READ: Luke 11:14-23

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

At the beginning of Jesus' ministry , He announced that, the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to heal the broken-hearted. This proved that He was a healing Jesus: Luke 4:18-19.

Jesus did not only preach and teach. Healing was a major part of His activities here on earth.

...and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

The preaching of the kingdom of God must always be accompanied by healing. Healing is the evidence that a new kingdom has come. When people asked Jesus about the kingdom, He said that healing was the evidence that God's kingdom had come (Luke11:10).

The Bible says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday , today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Being the same comes from doing the same things repeatedly. If Jesus is the same today , then He cares for women with gynaecological problems today as He cared for them then. If He was sorry about people dying before their time and was moved with compassion to raise a woman's son from the dead, He still has that compassion for such situations today . Today , He is still moved with compassion to raise up every dead thing in your life. God still brings you healing through the preaching and teaching of His Word.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 107:20

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
—James 4:14

Nothing takes God by surprise. Everything is moving according to a plan, and God wants you in that plan. The devil also has a plan for the world. God has a plan and the devil has a plan, and you will have to decide which plan you are going to fit into. Scripture says that God allows us 70 years and some beyond. The first 15 are spent in childhood and early adolescence. Twenty years are spent in bed, and in the last five, physical limitations start to curtail our activities. That gives us about 30 years in which to live as adults. We take time out for eating, and for figuring our taxes, and we are down to perhaps 15 years. Now suppose we spend seven of those years watching television. That cuts us down to seven or eight years. Our time is short! The time we can invest for God, in creative things, in reaching our fellowmen for Christ, is short!

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8

Jesus is the beginning and the ending. He is the Almighty. When He told us that in the book of Revelation, He wasn't just giving us a general piece of information about Himself. He was giving us a powerful truth we can apply now, today!

Let me show you how. He said He is the beginning. So no matter what challenge or situation you may be facing right now, you need to start with Him. John 1:1 says Jesus is the Word. That means, if you're going to start with Jesus, you're going to start with the Word. Don't do anything until you find out what the Word has to say about it.

Then, stay on the Word. As Colossians 1:23 says, "Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard."

Continue in the faith. The only way the devil can defeat you is to pressure you into throwing away the Word. Everything he does, every challenge he brings you is intended to make you doubt the Word of God. So don't let go of the Word, no matter what may happen. Settle it with God in prayer and stay with it forever. It is written!

Then end with the Word. Jesus said He was the first and the last. That means the word of your doctor is not the last word. Even the word of your pastor is not the last word. The Word of Jesus is the last Word!

Remember this: You are now what the Word says you are. You can do what the Word says you can do. And you can have what the Word says you can have. Begin to believe that. Begin to say it out loud in faith.

Now shout the victory. Yes, now! You don't have to wait to see the outcome to celebrate. You have Jesus' Word on the matter, so you know beyond any doubt that your breakthrough is coming. Once you've settled yourself on Him, you can be assured that He will have the last word!


Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 1:1-9

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS FOR THIS WEEK!!!

You have been planted for your greater good.

The past is just that –– gone. With the new year stretched before us, every day calls for a realignment with our soul, our spirit, our purpose.

Hidden in our daily routines are new chances to reconnect with the gift of life. Instead of battling through traffic with impatience and irritation, for example, we can tap into the power of the moment by listening to an inspirational book or energizing ourselves with songs that move us.

Combating moments of stress with inspiration, laughter or gratitude supports our life’s realignment. If we are stressed we are stuck in the past, stuck in suffering, worry and pain. When we reframe this stress we literally change our brain waves. We are instantly more peaceful and better equipped to make decisions.

Meaningful change involves doing real work, every day. Yet, too often we lie in bondage to preconceived notions of how our lives should have been and can’t make forward progress.

Studies have even found that many of us sabotage our own healing, our own forward progress, by engaging in what’s called rumination. Rumination involves replaying a scenario over and over in our minds hoping to gain clarity. We think we are problem-solving when, in fact, we only extend our pain. The cycle of worry stunts our momentum.


To get ready for our moment, our alignment with our higher purpose, we must leave rumination and worry at the door.

Psychologist suggest a two-fold approach to regaining our connection with the present: using mindfulness strategies and letting go of what we can’t control.
Mindfulness

We can ask ourselves what we see, smell, feel, and taste in the present moment. We connect with the precious gift of our lives and find joy in the small details of our days.
Letting go of control

Making forward progress in life means trusting that there is a higher plan for us. We are guided by the divine blueprint of our lives. When we let go of trying to control everything we are freed to meet our destiny head on.

Never forget that we often face our greatest opposition when we are closest to our biggest miracle!

Rest assured, it’s coming and you will be ready.

READ: Acts 4:32-35
Let us therefore follow after the ...things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 14:19

It is important not to go to the top alone. If you go up there alone you will become isolated. You will be the only one who has prospered and has tasted the fruits of success. Here are three reasons why you must take everyone to the top with you:

First, to avoid isolation. When you are isolated, you are lonely and have no one with whom to share your joys. Joy shared is double joy and sorrow shared is half-sorrow. I am glad I have people to share my nice things with. I can speak freely about God's blessings on my life because I am not the only one who is blessed. The people around me can relate to those blessings because they experience them as well.

Jesus took His disciples to nice places like weddings (John 2:2). He didn't just take them to the synagogues, prayer meetings, the garden of Gethsemane or Great Commission staff meetings. The second reason is to avoid becoming an easy target. When you are isolated at the top, you become an easy target. You are easy to spot because you are the only one who has certain benefits.

The third reason to consider is this: When you are the only one at the top, you are surrounded by desperate people. Desperate people are dangerous and could harm you at any time. They will try to pull you down to their level of frustration. However, if you are all at the top, they can only pull you sideways and not downwards.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27

Some years back, I was praying and walking the floor of our little house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was walking up and down confessing 1 John 4:4, "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world." Greater is He.... Greater is He.... Suddenly, revelation knowledge welled up in me and I knew, Oh! God is in me!

It hit me like someone walked up and slapped me with a wet rag. It just shook me awake. I started to stomp grandly around that old house. All of a sudden, I wasn't just a poor preacher living in a shack anymore! I was the dwelling place of the Most High God! That changed my thinking about so many things. I looked at my hands and it hit me. His fingers are in my fingers! I looked at my legs. His legs are in my legs. His feet are in my feet! If I walk into danger, He walks into danger.

Now, when I hear people say, "Brother Copeland, my prayers aren't getting any higher than the ceiling," I want to say, "Higher than the ceiling? They don't need to get any higher than your nose! He's inside you! The Author of your prayers, the Author of your faith, Jesus of Nazareth has taken residency inside you. Hallelujah!"

Some people think you don't get filled with the Spirit until you receive the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. But that's not so. The Holy Spirit came into you when you made Jesus Lord of your life. He came into you when you were born again. Getting baptized in the Holy Spirit is another thing. It's when the power of the Holy Ghost comes upon you to empower you for service (Acts 1:8).

That means even if you've just been born again two seconds, Jesus is in you! He's living there, and He will be from now on. Can you fathom that? If you'll spend some time thinking about it and meditating on it, you can receive revelation of it just like I did. It will start growing in your spirit and eventually change your whole life.

"As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16). Jesus is in you. That's the most glorious truth in the Word of God. Let that truth come alive in you today.


Scripture Reading:

Colossians 1:13-27

We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe it, for our hope is in the living God who died for all . . .
—1 Timothy 4:9,10 (TLB)

Our life has its beginning in suffering. Life’s span is marked by pain and tragedy, and our lives terminate with the enemy called death. The person who expects to escape the pangs of suffering and disappointment simply has no knowledge of the Bible, of history, or of life. The master musician knows that suffering precedes glory and acclaim. He knows the hours, days, and months of grueling practice and self-sacrifice that precede the one hour of perfect rendition when his mastership is applauded. The student knows that years of study, privation and self-renunciation precede the triumphant day of graduation and honors. Yes, there are clouds of suffering for each one of us, but God says, “I come to you in the thick dark cloud of suffering,” By faith you can see His blessed face in the storm. God has His plan and purpose in all suffering.

Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.
—1 Timothy 6:12

Take a step of faith and no matter how you feel, agree with God that He loves you. You are wonderfully made and have many talents and strengths. You are valuable, and as a believer in Jesus, you are the righteousness of God in Him. You have rightness before God instead of wrongness—be thankful for that amazing gift!

Begin to speak out against feelings of insecurity and say, “I belong to God and He loves me!” (see Ephesians 2:10). We believe more of what we hear ourselves say than what others say, so start saying something good and drown out the other voices that condemn you.

Fight for yourself! Fight the good fight of faith and refuse to live below the level at which Jesus wants you to live. His kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy (see Romans 14:17). Don’t settle for anything less.

Prayer of Thanks: I thank You, Father, that I can boldly declare in faith who I am in Christ. Thank You that You created me as one of a kind and You love me dearly. Today, I choose to believe that I am Your workmanship.

Memorise: And many leper were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Luke 4:27

Read: Luke 4:25-27 (KJV)

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;


26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.


27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.




Bible in one year: Luke 4-5, Isaiah 23, Hymn: Sing hymn 8
MESSAGE:
When God opens treasures to you but blinds your enemies from seeing them, the experience is simply wonderful. However, when your tomorrow becomes permanently settled for good, it is even more wonderful. This is what the Lord sent His word to do inIsaiah 3:10:

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”


Beloved, if you are genuinely born again and in right standing before God, no matter what the devil does, no matter how hard he fights against you, and no matter the number of forces that gather together to stand in your way, you will prevail at the end. Sometimes, God keeps quite and allows your enemies to believe that they have the upper-hand against you; but just when they think it is all over for you, the Lord will suddenly arise on your behalf and bring them under your feet. Also, never think that your labours are in vain. Open Heaven Devotional Thursday 26 January 2017:- Singled out. They are not! God keeps a record of them. that you did not enter your harvest today does not mean your harvest is lost forever. You shall not lose your harvest! There can only be some delay, some temporary setback, but you will enter your harvest. Have you been separated from your harvest for so long? This season, the Lord will arise for you, scatter all the impediments on your way and give you a great harvest, in Jesus’ Name.


Beloved, it shall be well with you. Your tomorrow shall be alright. Your tomorrow is secured in God and not in your nation’s economy. Open Heavens devotional 2017. When God prospers you to the level where you can say, “By the grace of God, I now have enough to take care of me and my family for the rest of our lives”, then that can be described as being even more wonderful. Beyond this, the experience of the widow of Zarephath in 1st Kings 17:8-16 can be described as most wonderful because, of all the households in a country suffering a nationwide famine, this widow’s household was the only one singled out for favour. The miracle of divine provision was limited to her particular household alone. When you are singled out this way, the negative things that affect others will not affect you. Also, the good things that other cannot get, no matter how hard they try, will be yours with little or no effort. This year, the Lord will single you out for protection against any form of famine, disease or pestilence. The Lord will single you out for an uncommon blessing that will leave your enemies in the dark in Jesus’ Name.

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Do you know that it was at the cross that Jesus addressed His Father as “God” for the first time? He had always addressed His Father as “Father”. But at Calvary’s tree, He addressed His Father as “God”.

Jesus lost that Father-Son relationship when He was representing you and carrying your sins at the cross so that today, you can call God “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15) and have a loving father-son relationship with God forever. Jesus was forsaken by God and His world became very dark on that lonely hill so that in your darkest hour, God will always say to you, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” (Hebrews 13:5)

At the time when Jesus needed God most, God turned His back on Him. God had to turn His back on His Son because His eyes are too holy to behold all the sin that was in His Son’s body. And because God turned His back on Jesus, He will never turn His back on you. Instead, you will see God’s face of favor shining on you all the time!

Jesus also took your place of no protection at the cross. For the first time, He gave up divine protection so that you can have it every day of your life! And because He became sin, He took your curse at the cross so that today, as you take His gift of righteousness, you receive only blessings from God.

Jesus received the full brunt of God’s wrath in His body once and for all when He carried your sins. All of God’s anger and condemnation fell on Him, consuming all your sins until God’s wrath was exhausted.

Today, God is not angry with you. The body of Jesus absorbed everything—your sins, curses, and God’s anger and condemnation. So live life expecting to see not the judgment, but the goodness and blessings of God!

No temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
—1 Corinthians 10:13

Years ago, a comedian’s favorite punch line was, “The devil made me do it.” The audience roared. Why did people laugh so hard? Was it because they wanted it to be true? Did they want to absolve themselves of responsibility for their actions by pointing to an outside force?

It’s always easy to blame someone else or outside forces for our actions. We hear people all the time who tell us, “My father never said a kind word to me.” “My cousin abused me.” “People in our neighborhood shunned me because I wore old and patched clothes.” “I never had money when I was growing up, so now as soon as my paycheck comes, it’s gone.”

Those statements are probably true, and they may explain why we suffer. Those are terrible situations, and it’s sad that people should have to go through such pain in their lives.

Yet we don’t have the right to blame other people or circumstances for our behavior. We can’t use them as an excuse to stay in bondage. Christ came to set us free. In the opening verse, Paul makes it clear that all of us have our own set of temptations, and for each of us, the circumstances may be different. But the promise God gives is the certainty of a way to escape, regardless of our circumstances. The escape is provided, but we must make use of it.

On the morning news, the reporter showed a restaurant that had caught on fire. One woman stood within sight of the back exit but she didn’t move. She stood twenty feet away and screamed. A coworker rushed back inside and grabbed her. She fought him, but he finally managed to drag her out.

Isn’t that sometimes how it works with God’s people? We know the way of escape, but we seem paralyzed. Or we blame someone or something for our inability to move. Or we think, Here it is again. I know I should learn how to deal with these situations, but I’ll give in just as I’ve always given in. I’m too weak to deal with this right now.

Our weakness is one of our greatest excuses. We may be weak, but God is strong, and He is willing to be our strength. If we will trust Him and take the necessary steps of faith, He will help us break free from our bondages.

What we need to understand is that Satan takes our circumstances—no matter what they are—and uses them to build strongholds in our lives. He’ll use whatever he can—our sense of weakness, our problems from childhood, or the wrong things we did when we were twelve years old. If the devil can darken our minds—make us think we can’t possibly win—we’ve lost. We need to keep reminding ourselves that we serve a victorious God who has provided the spiritual weapons we need to tear down the devil’s strongholds.

One more thing: When we give in to the temptation, aren’t we subtly saying that God is not able to help us? We don’t enjoy taking full responsibility for our actions—or, in many cases, our inaction—but we need to. We need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, shifting blame, and ignoring situations. We need to believe the promise of God that declares He is faithful and will always deliver us in plenty of time. We don’t need to live in fear, always feeling that our problems are too much for us to handle. We must have a “can-do” attitude. One that says, “I can do whatever I need to do whenever I need to do it.” Sometimes we are even tempted to blame God for our troubles, but we must remember the words previously quoted: >“. . . but God is faithful . . . and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted . . . beyond your ability and strength of resistance . . .”

That’s God’s promise, and He lays His reputation on the line with that promise. God never abandons us or leaves us helpless. We can be like the woman who screamed but wouldn’t move. Or we can choose to say, “Look! There’s the door of escape! Thanks for providing it!”

Our problems are personal and they are often internal. They involve our thoughts and our attitudes. The results—the outward behavior—flow from those thoughts and attitudes. If we keep our mind turned toward Jesus, and if we listen to His voice, we know there is an escape route for us—always.

Father God, forgive me for blaming You, my circumstances, or other people for my failures. You are the Way-Maker for me in every temptation. I’m going to trust You to tear down the devil’s strongholds in my mind, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

READ: 

Psalm 92:12-15
…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5

Jesus is saying here that you and I cannot bear fruit, except we abide in Him. This means, to stay , to be planted, to be resident; to remain in Christ and to continue in the things of God.

You see, you have to abide in the same place for some time in order to become productive in that very place. After all, every tree has to be nurtured over a period until it can bear fruits on its own. No mango tree can bear fruits after just one year.

For example, many of the pastors and elders in our church have been abiding here for a long time - abiding Christians who have developed into fruitful leaders. It is only by staying here to be watered and tended, that they have grown to become useful in this very place. However, many Christians do not allow themselves to get to this point, because whenever they are planted, they uproot themselves. A tree that is often transplanted will never, ever grow to its full, fruit-bearing potential. Are you having problems trying to affect your peers? Just keep at it. Continue in the good work. With time, they will begin to respond. This is because you get stronger and stronger as you abide.

Dear Christian, God wants you to have a restful spirit. Be stable in church. Be permanent, abide. Make a quality decision to be planted in a Spirit-filled, Bible-believing church. Then decide to remain rooted until your fruits begin to show.

Go and make disciples in all the nations . . .
—Matthew 28:19 (TLB)

Christian missions is unique in the aggressive movements of history. Christianity in its pure form has no “axe to grind,” no system to foster, and no profit motivation. Its job is simply to “seek and to save that which is lost.” Nothing more, nothing less. The words “apostle” and “missionary” mean the same thing: “One who is sent.” The word apostle is from the Greek; and the word missionary is from the Latin.

The New Testament is a book of missions. The Gospels tell of Jesus’ missionary accomplishments, and the Acts tell of the missionary endeavors of the apostles. The disciples were launched into the world by the power of the resurrection, and the Gospel made its impact upon the world’s people. Peter went to Lydda, Joppa, Antioch, Babylon, and Asia Minor. John went to Samaria, Ephesus, and to the cities on the Mediterranean. Thomas journeyed to far away India. Paul, the peer of all early missionaries, used the roads Rome had built to take the Gospel through the Empire. Today the need for missions is greater than ever before! The world is shrinking in size but expanding in population. We live in a world of conflicting, confusing beliefs! We live in a world of complex problems! But, more important, we live in a world of dire spiritual need.

2 Chronicles 20:15

…Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

When faced with a problem or challenge, we tend to ask ourselves, “What am I going to do?” And well-meaning family members and friends will come along and ask, “What are you going to do?”

Jehoshaphat faced a multitude of enemies. But instead of focusing on what he would do, he prayed, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

When we turn our eyes to God, we will hear Him say, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17)

But standing still is the last thing we want to do when the enemy is coming against us. It is also the most difficult thing to do because we feel that we cannot just stand around and do nothing—we must try to save the situation. But God wants us to stand still and see Jesus our salvation fight for us.

So what do you do the next time you are faced with a battle and don’t know what to do? Jehoshaphat sent his singers to the front of the army to proclaim, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21) Some people will wonder, “Does that mean that I just sing and don’t do anything else when I have a problem?” No, that is not what I am saying.

Do what the situation requires, but don’t worry and don’t trust in what you do. Like Jehoshaphat, rest and trust in His mercy that endures forever. When you do that, God will turn your battlefield into the Valley of Berachah. Berachah means “blessings”. The children of Israel gave the battlefield this name because it took them three days to gather all the spoils of war! God turned their situation into a great blessing! (2 Chronicles 20:25–26)

Do you have a battle to fight? Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!

Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray.
James 5:13, The Amplified Bible

The Greek word translated afflicted doesn't mean the result of sickness and disease. It means "troubled."

If you're in trouble, you need to pray. That's what the Word says. Notice it didn't say your pastor needs to pray for you or your friends need to pray for you. It says you need to pray.

Too often we try to find a quick fix to our problems by asking everyone else to pray for us. There's nothing wrong, of course, with having others pray for you, but you'll never get your life to a place of permanent victory until you begin to pray yourself.

The biggest church in the world is in Seoul, Korea. It's pastored by Dr. David Cho, and the last I heard, it had more than 700,000 members. How did that church grow to be so large? According to Dr. Cho, the key is prayer. Not just his prayers but the prayers of his people. Praying is a way of life in that church. They have a place called Prayer Mountain where thousands of people come every day to pray.

I once heard Dr. Cho's mother-in-law on television talking about the emphasis they put on prayer. She said that when their church members are in trouble, when they have marriage problems or problems in their personal lives, before anything else is done, those church members are told to go and fast and pray for 24 hours.

We need to do more of that here in our churches in the United States. We need to quit training our people to run around asking others to pray for them and train them instead to do their own praying.

You see, if I pray for God to solve one problem for you, you may enjoy success for a while, but then another problem will come along because you'll still be making the same old mistakes that got you in trouble the first time. But if you buckle down and do that praying for yourself, if you discipline yourself to start searching out the things of the Spirit, you'll get permanent answers. You'll learn how to make adjustments in your life that will keep those problems from cropping up again.

If you have made Jesus your Lord, you have access to the throne of Almighty God. He has every solution to every problem you'll ever have, and He's just waiting for you to come to Him, so He can give you the answer. It may take some private time alone with Him for you to hear it, but He will never disappoint you.

Don't depend on others to do your praying for you. Go personally to the throne of God today.


Scripture Reading:

Psalm 5

2 Chronicles 20:15

…Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

When faced with a problem or challenge, we tend to ask ourselves, “What am I going to do?” And well-meaning family members and friends will come along and ask, “What are you going to do?”

Jehoshaphat faced a multitude of enemies. But instead of focusing on what he would do, he prayed, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

When we turn our eyes to God, we will hear Him say, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17)

But standing still is the last thing we want to do when the enemy is coming against us. It is also the most difficult thing to do because we feel that we cannot just stand around and do nothing—we must try to save the situation. But God wants us to stand still and see Jesus our salvation fight for us.

So what do you do the next time you are faced with a battle and don’t know what to do? Jehoshaphat sent his singers to the front of the army to proclaim, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21) Some people will wonder, “Does that mean that I just sing and don’t do anything else when I have a problem?” No, that is not what I am saying.

Do what the situation requires, but don’t worry and don’t trust in what you do. Like Jehoshaphat, rest and trust in His mercy that endures forever. When you do that, God will turn your battlefield into the Valley of Berachah. Berachah means “blessings”. The children of Israel gave the battlefield this name because it took them three days to gather all the spoils of war! God turned their situation into a great blessing! (2 Chronicles 20:25–26)

Do you have a battle to fight? Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!

You have been planted for your greater good.

The past is just that –– gone. With the new year stretched before us, every day calls for a realignment with our soul, our spirit, our purpose.

Hidden in our daily routines are new chances to reconnect with the gift of life. Instead of battling through traffic with impatience and irritation, for example, we can tap into the power of the moment by listening to an inspirational book or energizing ourselves with songs that move us.

Combating moments of stress with inspiration, laughter or gratitude supports our life’s realignment. If we are stressed we are stuck in the past, stuck in suffering, worry and pain. When we reframe this stress we literally change our brain waves. We are instantly more peaceful and better equipped to make decisions.

Meaningful change involves doing real work, every day. Yet, too often we lie in bondage to preconceived notions of how our lives should have been and can’t make forward progress.

Studies have even found that many of us sabotage our own healing, our own forward progress, by engaging in what’s called rumination. Rumination involves replaying a scenario over and over in our minds hoping to gain clarity. We think we are problem-solving when, in fact, we only extend our pain. The cycle of worry stunts our momentum.

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To get ready for our moment, our alignment with our higher purpose, we must leave rumination and worry at the door.

Psychologist suggest a two-fold approach to regaining our connection with the present: using mindfulness strategies and letting go of what we can’t control.
Mindfulness

We can ask ourselves what we see, smell, feel, and taste in the present moment. We connect with the precious gift of our lives and find joy in the small details of our days.
Letting go of control

Making forward progress in life means trusting that there is a higher plan for us. We are guided by the divine blueprint of our lives. When we let go of trying to control everything we are freed to meet our destiny head on.

Never forget that we often face our greatest opposition when we are closest to our biggest miracle!

Rest assured, it’s coming and you will be ready.

READ: Acts 24:5-16

...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him...

2 Timothy 1:12

You must be fully convinced in your heart about anything in which you are involved. To be a committed member of a ministry team requires what I call full persuasion. If you are going to be loyal to me, you will have to be sure about me. Am I somebody you can trust? Am I somebody who is what he claims to be?

In Acts 24:5, Paul was accused of being: “…a ringleader of the sect...” (King James Version), “…a source of mischief...” (New Testament in Modern Speech), “…a veritable plague...” (Berkeley Version of the New Testament), “...a public pest...” (Twentieth Century New Testament), “…a disturber of the peace...” (Weymouth translation).

Anyone working with Paul would have to be fully persuaded about his character. Was there any truth in any of these terrible accusations? The answer is no. It is important to establish in your heart all the facts about the ministry or person with whom you're working. Be fully persuaded so that when the accusations, trials and tests come, you will be able to remain faithful.

Find out the truth behind every rumour. You see, in the normal experience of ministry there will be numerous accusations and rumours about every man of God. If you have many questions in your mind, you will not be a loyal member of a ministry . Answer the questions for yourself or leave.

Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation.
1 Peter 2:2, The Amplified Bible

Have you ever been in a room full of babies? Infants crying. Crawlers hollering for certain toys. Toddlers pushing and whining to get their way. It can be quite a handful, can't it?

When a bunch of spiritual babies get together, it's just about the same way! Of course, there's nothing wrong with being a spiritual baby. All of us start out that way. When we're first born into the kingdom of God, we're much like physical newborns. We're not very strong or well-developed. We blunder around trying to learn how to operate in our new environment. That's how we all have to begin. But God never meant for us to stay that way.

That's why in 1 Peter 2:2 He says we should "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow...." He intends for us to grow up! He intends for us to feed on His Word, moving from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word until we grow up into mature sons and daughters.

Begin now finding your nourishment in His Word and enjoy the reward of growing up in Him!



Scripture Reading:

Ephesians 4:12-16

Glory in the Lord; O worshipers of God, rejoice. Search for him and for his strength, and keep on searching!
—Psalm 105:3,4 (TLB)

Jerome, one of the early Christians, said, “Ignorance of the Bible means ignorance of Christ.” Job once said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” To read the Bible one needs a “quiet time.” Christian students often ask, “How do you maintain your spiritual high? What do you do on a daily basis?” I tell them about my “quiet time.” Some days it is in the early-sometimes late-morning, sometimes evening. Without it, my Christian life would be a wilderness. Isaiah said, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). So gain the strength of eagles, as the prophet suggested. Set a time each day when you can spend a few minutes alone with God.

Prayer for the day

Dear Lord, teach us to wait upon You, that
we may know Your strength.

Recognize the warning signs.

Human behavior is a fascinating and frustrating thing.

Learning about ourselves is useful to identify troubling behavior that can stand in the way of fulfillment, but identifying internal issues doesn’t always prepare us for recognizing them in others.

Life would be easier if people walked around wearing warning signs for us to heed, but there’s no chance of seeing “Hazard Ahead” or “Dead End” around the necks of others.

Since the warning signs of danger aren’t always literal, it’s important to learn how to identify toxic behavior in others.

Hebrews 13:9…it is good that the heart be established by grace…

God does not want your heart full of worries and fears, tossed and turned by every challenge that comes your way. He wants your heart at rest and established by His grace toward you.

But when you think that the breakthroughs to your challenges depend on your ability to obey God, then your heart will not be at rest. It will be full of worries and anxieties. Why? Because you can never obey God perfectly.

But when you depend on God’s grace, that is, His undeserved, unmerited favor, the opposite happens—your heart becomes established. When you know that the only thing that qualifies you to receive God’s blessings is faith in the finished work of Christ, your heart becomes established. Then, you will walk without the fear of your troubles swallowing you up. You will walk with full assurance that His blessings will be manifested in your life.

My friend, God wants your heart established, knowing that His righteousness, healing, protection and provision are yours—all paid for by Jesus’ finished work at the cross. God’s blessings are sure in your life because they are not dependent on your ability to keep His laws, but Jesus’ perfect obedience.

You see, under the old covenant, you receive God’s blessings only if you keep all His laws. (Deuteronomy 28:1–2) If you sin and fail to keep even one law, you will be disqualified from receiving His blessings. But today, under the new covenant, your sins no longer disqualify you because God Himself has said, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

So let your heart be established by God’s grace. Because of His grace, you have full access to His blessings. You no longer have to worry about whether you are good enough. You can stand firm on the promises made in His Word and enjoy His blessings today because Jesus has paid the price. Your part is only to believe and receive!

Memorise: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: Isaiah 55:10

Read: Genesis 15:5-18 (King James Version)

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.


6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.


8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?


9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.


10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.


11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.


12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.


13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;


14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.


15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.


16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.


17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.


18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:




Bible in one year: Mark 15-16, Isaiah 19:16-20:6, Hymn: Sing hymn 10
MESSAGE:



When our Lord Jesus Christ walked the earth, in several of His parables, He used the principles of farming to teach His disciples about how God’s Kingdom operates. It is therefore important for us to apply the knowledge of farming principles in our quest to obtain a good harvest from God’s Kingdom. Isaiah 55:10 gives us some insight inn this regard.


“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:”


From this verse of Scripture, we understand that God is the one who gives seed to the sower. He gives you seed, and He expects you to sow it. Never eat your seed! Even physical seeds usually taste bitter or unpalatable to the taste buds because they were not designed to be eaten in the first place. Open Heavens Devotional Monday 23 January 2017:- after sowing don’t sleep. May God give you the grace to sow all the seeds you need to sow in order to generate your desired harvests!


Besides giving the sower seed, God also gives the eater bread. There is food for the eater and seed for the sower. After sowing, God expects you to water the seed. Don’t go to sleep after sowing your seed – get ready for some really hard work. As a farmer’s son, I can tell you a few things about farming. Before you can even sow, you have to clear the ground and build heaps. After sowing, you have to do some weeding. As your seed is germinating, weeds will begin to grow alongside; you have to get rid of these. While it may be easy to sow, it is not easy to weed. One fellow can sow on a vast expanse of land, but it will be very difficult for the same fellow to clear that land all by himself. To obtain a quality harvest, God expects you to fellow sound farming principles. Learn from the farmer! Not every harvest is meant for the stomach. Some must be kept aside for the next planting season. After you have sown your seed, water it with prayer, fasting and thanksgiving. After Abraham offered a sacrifice to God, he did not go to sleep. He stood there watching, waiting for God to receive it. While he waited, he saw some birds descending on his sacrifice in order to destroy it. He drove them away and thereafter the fire fell. Open Heavens 2017. You can weed your spiritual farm after sowing seeds by living righteously before God. The devil will come craftily to introduce tares of sin into your life so as to destroy your harvest. Hence, after sowing, you must remain holy, prayerful, thankful and completely obedient in order to enter into your harvest.

God selected . . . what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, so that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.
—1 Corinthians 1:27-29

If you are weak in faith, in mind, in body, in discipline, in self-control, or in determination, simply wait on God. He will be strong through your weakness.

Isaiah 40:31 teaches that if you expect God, look for Him, and hope in Him, you will change and renew your strength and power; you will run, and not faint or become tired. The Bible doesn’t say “hope so, it could be, or it may be”; it declares that you will be renewed.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS FOR THIS WEEK!!!

For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.
—Philippians 3:3

God is merciful toward us and wants to bless and prosper us. He sees our heart attitude and our faith in Jesus. When we have confidence in God and His love and kindness, we can progress to living confidently and enjoying the life He wants for us. Note that I said confidence in God, not in ourselves. Usually, people think of confidence as self-confidence, such as TV self-help gurus or athletes promote when urging us to "Believe in yourself!"

I beg to differ. I want to make it clear, right from the start, that our confidence must be in Christ alone, not in ourselves, not in other people, not in the world or its systems. The Bible states that we are sufficient in Christ's sufficiency (see Philippians 4:13), so we might also say that we are confident through Christ's confidence. Or another way to say it would be, "We have self-confidence only because He lives in us, and it is His confidence that we draw on."

Lord, I know that far too often I put my confidence in my own abilities, or other people, or the place I work to provide for my needs. I fix my eyes upon You. You alone are worthy of being my confidence. Amen.

Memorise: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20

Read: Jeremiah 33:1-9 (KJV)

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Imagine meeting the new politician who is to represent your district or neighborhood only to discover that he is not familiar with your neighborhood’s needs and problems. You will wonder, “Can this guy really represent us? Does he know anything about our living conditions? Is he familiar with the various challenges that families here are facing? Can he help me get my child into one of the schools here?” I am sure that you would prefer someone who truly understands your challenges to represent you!

In the same way, I am so glad that right now at the Father’s right hand, we have someone who came as a Man to redeem us, and who fully understands what man goes through. When Jesus walked on earth, He went through every human emotion so that He could identify with us in all points. Jesus is God, but He is in the Father’s presence as a Man, representing us.

My friend, you may feel that no one understands your struggles. Listen, while this may be true of man, it is not true of Jesus. He knows exactly what you are going through and He can sympathize with your weaknesses because He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”.

None of us have been tempted in all points. But God allowed Jesus to be tempted in all points so that He can understand and identify with the struggles of every single person on this earth. He can be touched by our humanity—our weaknesses, tears, disappointments, griefs...all points!

There is no trial, difficulty, challenge or temptation that you face that Jesus cannot identify with. My friend, the moment you go through it, right there and then, He feels it too. That is the kind of representative you have in Jesus! That is the love of God so that you will draw near to His throne of grace (not judgment) to find mercy and grace in time of need! (Hebrews 4:15–16)

That chapter is done.

The time has come to close the door to the past.

We may have already cut toxic ties to unhealthy people and situations in our lives. But cutting ourselves loose from our old way of being the old “us”,opens the doors of growth.

Ernest Hemingway wrote, “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.” In fact, leaving your old self behind--the one filled with guilt, anger, hopelessness, insecurity and uncertainty--ushers in a freedom too sweet to pass up.

In fact, researchers have found concrete steps to promote lasting changes as we move forward. These five stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance support our personal growth.
Precontemplation

In this stage we work towards an awareness of our negative patterns but don’t yet act.


Contemplation

With absolute clarity, we see the behaviors/patterns in our lives which no longer serve us and can envision the type of life we desire.
Preparation

This is a crucial stage as our intentions to change meet action. We know that our guilt, anger and anxiety hold us back, for example, and come up with strategies to break free.
Action

We change our behavior. Period. Not another day of devaluing ourselves, nor of settling for less than we deserve.
Maintenance

We consistently work at maintaining our hard-won health and new way of being. No matter the temptation, we do not run back to what has broken us. We remain vigilant as we live our lives with greater strength and self awareness.

Indeed, saying “goodbye” to the old you requires practice and consistency in our actions, thoughts and words. And above all else, the deeply rooted belief that change is not merely possible but right on time!

READ: Ephesians 5:22-33
Likewise ye husbands... giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel ...
1 Peter 3:7

The word "husband" comes from some Anglo-Saxon words, which mean "house band". This implies a strip of metal (or rope) used to bind the house together. A husband therefore binds the home together in terms of its organisation and control.

He is the head of the family (1 Corinthians 11:3). As head of the family, he is to exercise authority in bringing up the children. He must show leadership by providing direction and guidance. Again, he ought to show responsibility in decisionmaking. He should not shirk it, so that he can blame another when things backfire. The man must rule his home spiritually, financially and socially. The man is held responsible for anything that goes wrong in the home, e.g. divorce, rebellious children, unhappy wife etc. When Adam and Eve sinned against God and He entered the garden, He first called Adam and asked, "Where are you?"

A husband ought to love his wife. He should give himself to her sacrificially , present her back to himself; nourish, and cherish her (with the Word of God and physical things). It is for his own good to nourish, cherish and beautify his wife. In that way, the man is presenting the woman back to himself. He should let her feel loved, wanted and accepted - make her feel happy at home (Ecclesiastes 9:9). He should also protect her, seeing she is a weaker vessel.

Happy is he . . . whose hope is in the Lord his God.
—Psalm 146:5

Happy is the man who has learned the secret of coming to God in daily prayer. Fifteen minutes alone with God every morning before you start the day can change circumstances and remove mountains! But all of this happiness and all of these unlimited benefits which flow from the storehouse of heaven are contingent upon our relationship to God. Absolute dependency and absolute yieldedness are the conditions of being His child. Only His children are entitled to receive those things that lend themselves to happiness; and in order to be His child, there must be the surrender of the will to Him. Man does not come to know God through works-he comes to know God by faith, through grace. You cannot work your way toward happiness and heaven, you cannot moralize your way, you cannot reform your way, you cannot buy your way. It comes as a gift of God through Christ.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 18:7

We have what we say. As believers, we know that's a vital biblical truth. We can see it in Mark 11:23, Matthew 21:21, James 3:2 and many other verses. Yet we often let it slip.

We allow ourselves to begin talking like the world instead of talking the Word. And eventually we get what we've been asking for—a big mess.

If that's happened to you, remember, whatever you have in your life is a product of what you've been saying. In order to change what you have, you must change what's coming out of your mouth. To head your life in a different direction—from death to life, sickness to health, failure to success—you must take charge of your words.

That's a lot easier said than done. But that's the key: It must be said in order to be done!

How do you start?

First, realize that it can't be done just in the natural. This is a spiritual law, so it must be handled with spiritual power.

James 3:7-8 says the tongue can't be tamed with the same power with which man tames animals. It takes God's wisdom from above. God's Word is His wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). He also said His words are spirit and life. That means it takes God's words to tame our tongues.

Second, repent before God for ever allowing your tongue to be used by anyone except the Holy Spirit. Then give Jesus your tongue. Be determined to speak His words of love, faith, joy, peace and grace. Words of faith stop the fiery darts of hell.

The third thing to do is what Jesus said in Mark 4:24: Take heed, or listen, to what you hear. Listen to yourself! Think, Do I want what I just said to come to pass? If the answer is no, then stop and correct yourself right then. Replace those negative words with praise (Ephesians 5:4).

If you've gotten sloppy about what you say, change your course today by changing your words. Ask God to help you set a watch over your mouth (Psalms 141:3). Put the power that's in your tongue to work for you instead of against you. Stop using it to make messes, and start using it to make miracles. There is a miracle in your mouth!

Scripture Reading:

James 3:1-13

Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
—Galatians 6:9 KJV

Do you ever feel like giving up? Perhaps you're discouraged about your finances or you're facing problems with your health, your marriage, or your children. Sometimes problems seem so overwhelming the road ahead seems too steep to climb.

We all go through these times. I've wanted to give up and quit many times through the years. But when I realized I had nothing to go back to, I determined to keep pressing on.

Even though continuing to move forward is sometimes painful, it is far better than giving up and sliding backwards. God is doing a good work in you so He can do more for you and through you. So ask Him to fill you with holy determination today and keep moving in the right direction.

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The devil cannot just walk right up to you and rob you of your health, peace or family. He cannot just come into your life to enforce disease and destruction.

If the devil can do that, then he does not have to walk about “seeking whom he may devour”. He only has to walk straight up to anyone he wants to devour and devour him! But since the Bible says that he goes about seeking whom he may devour, the truth then is that there are people whom he cannot devour.

You see, the devil goes about like a roaring lion trying to stir up fear in people with his roars. But the people who are not devourable are those who refuse to be intimidated by his roars because they know that the true Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:5), has already come and rendered powerless him who had the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14, NASB) They know that the devil cannot just do anything to them because the Lion of Judah resides in them, and that He is greater than the devil who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

My friend, the Lion of Judah is in you. He has given you rights, privileges, authority and power. He redeemed you with His blood. Therefore, everything about you and your life is redeemed by His blood. So if you are fearful about losing your job, cover your job with the blood of Jesus. If you are worried about your children’s safety in these days of terrorist attacks, plead the blood of Jesus over them. If you have received a bad report from the doctor, speak the blood over yourself.

Whatever you have covered with the blood of Jesus, God declares, “Protected! Redeemed!” And the devil flees when he sees the blood. And when he flees, he takes with him sicknesses, diseases, pains, sufferings, destruction and loss.

Once the devil knows that you know who you are in Christ and what you have in Him, his days of intimidating you are over, and you are numbered among the undevourable!

READ: Genesis 11:26-32; 12:1-9

By faith Abraham ...obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Hebrews 11:8

The word "sacrifice" brings to us, terrifying images of suffering and loss. In fact, our human analysis would rate sacrifice above obedience any day. On the contrary , God makes it clear that "to obey is better than to sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).

The word "better" means "greater, to be preferred, an improved version, superior, enhanced, more acceptable, more favourable, higher quality, augmented and more desirable! The following reasons will explain why obedience is a greater thing compared to sacrifice.

It is greater to obey without fully understanding, than it is to sacrifice. It is often not easy to understand the implications of what you are doing. The reason why we do not understand is due to our stage of maturity in the Lord. I believe we will never fully understand what God has asked us to do until we begin to do it. Notice the Scripture, John 7:17. It shows us that it is when you do the will of God that you know His will.

It is better to obey a command that you would not naturally do, than it is to sacrifice. When the Lord directed me into the healing ministry , I did not fully understand the effect that it would have on my ministry . Until then, I had operated mostly as a teacher and preacher. Naturally speaking, I am a more calculating and logical person. It was not natural for me to move by the Spirit or minister things that are spiritual. It is one of the most difficult things I have ever done and I am ever grateful for people who helped me cross that barrier.

Reignite the fire within.

There is something inside of you that they can never get to.

God has given you the ability to overcome any obstacle you face. Your internal fire, your spirit, produces the light of optimism against the darkness of crisis and critics.

Examining the life of Nelson Mandela, we see that the power of our spirit is, in fact, unbreakable. Nelson suffered the death of his father when he was only nine-years-old and spent an unbearable twenty-seven years of his life imprisoned for his fight against apartheid in South Africa.

Nelson was “confined to a small cell, the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes. He could write and receive one letter every six months.”

Reflecting on his isolation, Nelson said, “Wounds that can’t be seen are more painful than those that can be seen and cured by a doctor.” His captors tried to break him saying, “This is where you will die.”






Yet, his spirit, his belief in his ability to overcome, fortified his strength to endure. Nelson survived decades in prison as an unwavering advocate for equal rights in his country; his influence helped end white minority rule in South Africa. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work against apartheid and was elected president on May 10, 1994. His devotion to education, equal rights and democracy were with him until his last breath.

Like President Mandela, the strength of our spirit, our own divine spark, is indestructible. We must know that there is nothing in this world that can ever break us.

Our spirit may be steel, sheltering us from harm, or a quiet whisper pleading with us to not give up. But what we must remember is that our power is never gone.

As it’s been said, your spirit is the one true shield that will guide you all the days of your life; reignite that indestructible fire within.

Memorise: When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5