STAY TRUE TO THE INNER YOU!

 1-31-2024. . . .STAY TRUE TO THE INNER YOU!

"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Gal 5:7KJV) 

Advice is good and there is certainly wisdom in a multitude of counselors, but don't listen to nor take advice from just anybody.   Everyone has opinions and will offer them freely if given the opportunity.   Stay true to the inner you!  If its a different beat you march to, train your ear to never deviate from it and march into your destiny!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for making us fearfully, wonderfully and unique.  Help us to always stay true to who you created us to be.  Amen! 

Ps 139:14. . . .Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it. TLB

IN IT TO WIN IT!

1-30-2024.  . . .IN IT TO WIN IT!

" In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win.  To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears."  (1 Cor 9:24-26 TLB) 

 A famous catch phrase from Wide World of Sports was "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!"   No one goes through the sacrifice and preparation for a competition to experience defeat.  The goal is to win; that is the believer's incentive and objective in life!   We are in it, to win it!

PRAYER: Lord, we faithfully run this race of life that we may ultimately receive the prize, eternal life with you! Thank you that we will not fail to reach our goal.  Amen!

1 Tim 6:12. . . .Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.  KJV

KNOW HIS WILL PRAY HIS WORD!

DIVINE PROTECTION

 1-26-2024. . . .DIVINE PROTECTION

"Jehovah himself is caring for you! He is your defender.  He protects you day and night.  He keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. He keeps his eye upon you as you come and go and always guards you.  (Ps 121:5-8 TLB) 

Shootings, killings, robberies, home invasions; violence and lawlessness seem to be on the increase daily. Were it not for God, our hearts would faint for fear!  But, God Himself is our protector!  Therefore, free from fear, we live, move and have our being under divine protection.

Prayer: Lord, you are our protection!  In You we trust and live free from fear.  Amen!

Ps 27:1-3. . . . The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger-whom shall I fear? When evil men come to destroy me, they will stumble and fall!  Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me.  TLB

LET THEM!

1-25-2024. . . .LET THEM!

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."  (Isa 54:17 KJV)  

Arrows will fly and mouths will speak against you.  LET THEM!  The weapon's completion initiates it's demise and their words, a death sentence.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making us your children and giving us this great heritage.  Amen!

Isa 59:19. . . .So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. KJV

 

REST AND RELY!

1-24-2024. . . .REST AND RELY!

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger-whom shall I fear?  When evil men come to destroy me, they will stumble and fall!  Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me." (Ps 27:1-3 TLB)

When under attack, our human protective instinct is one of 'Fight or Flight'.   Victory however, is not in our instinctive human response, but in our spiritual reliance on God!  If we choose to fight we fight alone; if we choose to flee we abdicate our ordained position.   Conversely, if we rely on God, He is our way through (our light) and He is our way out (our salvation).   Rest and Rely upon God our protector!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our light and our salvation.  Help us to rest and rely on thee when instinctively we want to fight or flee.  Amen!

2 Chron 20:12. . . . O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. KJV

STAYING POWER=PRAYING POWER!

 1-23-2024. . . .STAYING POWER=PRAYING POWER!

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes. (Luke 18:1 TLB) 

Anything worth praying for, is worth praying for until the answer comes!  Continuing in constant prayer does not demonstrate a lack of faith, but steadfast faith in the God who has promised to not only hear, but answer.   Stay constant in prayer!  Staying power = Praying power!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for not only hearing our prayers, but answering us!  We stay constant in prayer because we believe and trust you.  Amen!

1 John 5:14-15. . . . And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. KJV

PROPER TRAINING!

CLEAR THE CLUTTER!

1-19-2024. . . .CLEAR THE CLUTTER!

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." (1 Peter 4:7 NKJV)  

It has been said that, "Time is winding up and we are winding up with time."  It is true, no man knows the day nor the hour that the Son of man will return, but certainly, events going on around us indicates as the scripture says, the time is short.  It is therefore, imparative that we keep our minds clear in order to pray!  Clear the clutter and ensure a continually clear prayer connection.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for a clear and direct connection to you through prayer.  Help us keep the connection clear from the clutter of this world.  Amen!

2 Chron 7:15-16. . . . I will listen, wide awake, to every prayer made in this place.  For I have chosen this Temple and sanctified it to be my home forever; my eyes and my heart shall always be here.  TLB

STRENGTHEN THE MIND!

 2-18-2024. . . .STRENGTHEN THE MIND!

"I, Wisdom, give good advice and common sense. Because of my strength, kings reign in power, and rulers make just laws. (Prov 8:14 TLB) 

Strength of body is of little to no avail without strength of mind!  Wisdom is the mind's key source of strength yielding guidance and wise decision making power.  Strengthen the mind through wisdom and experience real life changing power!

Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom that strengthens our minds and enables us to experience real decision making power that brings benefit all.  Amen.

 Prov 24:5-6. . . . A wise man is mightier than a strong man. Wisdom is mightier than strength.  Don't go to war without wise guidance; there is safety in many counselors. TLB

GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW!

1-17-2024. . . .GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW!

"Then Elijah talked to them. "How long are you going to waver between two opinions?" he asked the people. "If the Lord is God,follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" (1 Kings 18:21 TLB)  

Begin this year by making a firm decision to do what you know God has placed in your spirit to do.  Decide today!  No more hesitation or equivocation.  No more hiding behind false uncertainty.  We know His voice....we know His word....we know His will!  Now, go with what you know!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for another year and another opportunity to move forward with what You've purposed in us to do.  By faith we move forward fully trusting You to direct our path.  Amen.

Jer 29:11-13. . . . For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. TLB

 

MOVE FORWARD!

1-16-2024. . . .MOVE FORWARD!

"The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: (Deut 1:6 KJV)  

Although where we are may be good, comfortable, stable and even desirable, it was never intended for permanency.  There is more for us, so we must expand our borders.  Yes, this will require moving out of our comfort zones, but we will be the better for it.  It's been good, but it's also been long enough!  MOVE FORWARD!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing us to our current place.  Give us wisdom to understand You have more for us and the courage to move forward towards it!  Amen.

Deut 2:7. . . . The Lord your God has watched over you and blessed you every step of the way for all these forty years as you have wandered around in this great wilderness; and you have lacked nothing in all that time.' TLB

ACTIVELY ENGAGED!

RESCIPE FOR SUCCESS!

1-12-2023. . . .RESCIPE FOR SUCCESS!

"Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."  (Josh 1:6-7 KJV)  

Strength, Courage and Obedience are three key ingredients needed for success.  With these we can move forward into our destiny and possess and accomplish all God has purposed and promised us!  Where success is guaranteed, problems and challenges are minimized!  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making it possible for us to succeed in all you purposed for us!  Our strength is in You, therefore, we can do all things!  Amen.

Josh 1:8-9. . . . Constantly remind the people about these laws, and you yourself must think about them every day and every night so that you will be sure to obey all of them. For only then will you succeed.  Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." TLB 

PERCENTAGES!

 1-10-2024. . . .PERCENTAGES!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (Rom 10:17 KJV) 

There are twenty four hours in a day.  Take a moment and think about all the things you heard in the last twenty four hours.  Now, assign a percentage to the amount of each thing you heard.  What things have the highest percentage?  Gossip - Television shows - music - sweet nothings from a special friend - dirty jokes - life challenges of a friend - criticisms?  What percentage of what you heard (and hear) actually increased your faith?  If faith is increased by hearing the word of God, how much is faith decreased or weakened if we don't!   Check the percentages!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word.  Help us increase our desire for your word that our faith my grow thereby.  Amen.

 Ps 119:89-91. . . . For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.  KJV

COMPLETE THE WORKOUT!

1-9-2023. . . .COMPLETE THE WORKOUT!

"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."  (Prov 24:10 KJV) 

 Strength is reserved for the day of adversity; and thereby perfected.  Exert strength in adversity and it will prevail if you don't give up. (faint)  Adversity is strength's daily workout!  Don't give up or give in.  Complete the workout!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for times of adversity that perfect our faith and our strength.  Amen! 

  

2 Cor 12:9. . . . Each time he said, "No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people." TLB

HELPERS & HINDERERS!

THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!

 1-5-2023. . . .THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor 12:9 KJV) 

There is no need to hide what hinders us or deny the thing or things that keep damaging or destiny! Thorns in the flesh they are! Jesus says to us what He said to the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee" and you know what, That's good enough for me!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace that is always sufficient for us. I acknowledge and entrust my weaknesses into your hands. Amen.

2 Cor 12:10. . . .Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.KJV

GOD OF ALL GRACE!

1-4-2024. . . .GOD OF ALL GRACE!

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10 KJV) 

As much as we would prefer things to be different, in life, we will have to go through some things!  The good news is, the 'God of all Grace' is giving us grace as He perfects His plan in our lives! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for gracing us over and through the rough and smooth places in life on our way to perfection. Amen!

Ps 138:8. . . . The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me;your love, O LORD, endures forever--do not abandon the works of your hands. (NIV) 

CONFLICT RESOLUTION!

1-3-2024. . . .CONFLICT RESOLUTION!

"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." (Gal 5:16-18 17 NIV) 

There is an old adage that says,  “It takes two to tango!” When ever we experience inner conflict we can resolve it quickly by refusing to tango and simply submit to the Spirit!

Prayer: Lord, my heart's desire is to please you. Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me resolve the conflict within by yielding to your leadership. Amen!

Gal 5:24-25. . . .Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV