How To Win Life’s Battles (4)
“The battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV
Fourth, learn to relax in faith. Notice how God responded to Jehoshaphat’s prayer: “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” Many of us wear ourselves out trying to fight God’s battles in our own strength. In the initial flush of becoming Christians, we’re eager to win the world to Jesus, and want to go out and single handedly bring about His kingdom. That’s because we don’t realize what’s involved. Then after we’ve worked hard under our own steam, reality sets in. We end up crawling back on our hands and knees, disappointed, because we think we’ve let God down. But He reassures us, “You didn’t let Me down, because you weren’t holding Me up.” The truth is, we don’t hold God up—He holds us up! We don’t have Him in our hands, He has us in His hands! And He’s telling us to relax in faith and let Him do the work through us. Paul wrote, “As you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him” (Colossians 2:6 NIV). In other words, remember how you first became a believer—by simple faith in the finished work of Christ—and continue to live by simple faith. You didn’t become a Christian by striving for perfection and doing good works. Good works have nothing to do with it! Salvation is a free gift. God doesn’t need us to micromanage things; He has everything under control, and He wants us to relax and let Him live through us. Bottom line: Victory in life is a gift from God! “Thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ” (2Co 2:14 GWT).
Source: Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19
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How To Win Life’s Battles (6)
“Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:21 NIV
Sixth, thank God in advance. Imagine standing on a mountaintop looking across a valley toward a mountain on the other side. A big battle is about to take place down below. On one mountain, three enemy nations are poised and waiting to devastate Israel. The Israelites are on your mountain, and their leader Jehoshaphat tells them, “Here’s God’s battle plan. All of those who sing in the choir, I want you out front.” So the army goes marching into battle with the choir on the front line singing praises to God. Did the plan work? Yes. The opposing armies got confused and ended up killing each other—and all God’s people had to do was divide up the plunder! Why did God do it this way? As a visual object lesson to teach us to praise Him in faith even before the victory takes place. When you pray “Lord, I know I have problems, but I thank You in advance because there’s no situation You can’t take care of,” three things happen: (1) Your atmosphere changes, You no longer feel afraid because you have the assurance of God’s presence. (2) Your attitude changes. You begin to say, “Lord, this may be too big for me, but it’s not too big for You.” (3) Your approach changes. Instead of speaking words of doubt, you start speaking words of faith. And because your faith honors God, He honors your faith and the battle begins to turn in your favor. And here’s another important key to victory: Don’t just praise God for a while and then quit; keep praising Him until your breakthrough comes.
Source: Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19
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How To Win Life’s Battles (5)
Fifth, stand firm. Notice what God told Jehoshaphat: “Stand firm.” What does it mean to “stand firm” when you’re in a crisis? It’s a mental attitude of quiet confidence that says, “I’m going to trust God.” One pastor writes: “This is something I’m slowly learning; it’s never God’s will for me to run from a difficult situation. If I do, the situation will only follow and catch up with me a little further down the line. It may not look the same, but it will be the same. Why? Because God wants to teach me that He is sufficient for any problem. If we don’t learn this today, we may learn it next week. If we don’t learn it next week, we may learn it next year. But eventually we’ll learn it—and the sooner the better. We can save ourselves problems by standing firm and waiting on God in quiet confidence.” So what do we stand firm on? “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful” (2 Chronicles 20:20 NIV). First, we need to stand firm on the character of God. God is faithful, and we can depend on Him. Second, we need to stand firm on the writings that He has given us through His prophets—in other words, the truth of the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word, and we need only rely in quiet confidence on His written promises. So the word for you today is: Stand firm on the unchanging character of God and the unchanging promises of His Word.
Source: Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19
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How To Win Life’s Battles (3)
“Jehoshaphat…set himself to seek the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:3 NKJV
Third, take your problems to the Lord. In the midst of his crisis, Jehoshaphat “set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast.” Prayer is often the last thing we think of. Why? Because we want to work our problems out on our own. A deacon approached the pastor one day and said, “Pastor, we’ve got a problem we can’t solve. We’ve tried everything and nothing works.” The pastor said, “Well, I guess all we can do is pray about it.” The deacon replied, “Pastor, has it really come to that?” When you’re facing life’s battles, prayer should be your first resort, not your last! And sometimes when the problem doesn’t yield to prayer alone God leads you to add a second element: fasting. Ever tried it? Fasting isn’t something mystical and mysterious; it’s about focus! It’s saying: “Lord, I can do without food and other things, but I can’t solve this problem without You. So instead of eating, I’m going to spend time seeking Your face until I have an answer.” Cornelius, a Gentile, fasted and prayed for four days, asking God for direction. As a result, God sent Peter to his house to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and in the process change the course of history (See Acts 10). In order to know whom to appoint to leadership positions, the New Testament church fasted, prayed, and asked God for guidance. And as a result, one of the most dynamic evangelistic teams of all time, Paul and Barnabas, was born (See Acts 13:2-3). When you get serious enough to fast and pray about your problem, God will show you the solution.
Source: Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19
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How to Win Life’s Battles (2)
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV
Second, admit your own inadequacy. The only people God can’t help are those who don’t think they need His help. King Jehoshaphat said, “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Often our eyes are on everything and everyone—except God—the One who can solve our problems. Your circumstances are like a mattress: If you’re on top you can rest easy, but if you’re underneath you can suffocate. Keep your eyes on the Lord and you’ll win out over your circumstances. Remember, it's “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV). You can’t live the Christian life in your own strength because you have a power shortage. You need the power that comes from letting God’s Spirit live through you. Try to imagine a glove. On its own, it is limp and powerless. But once a hand fills that glove it becomes useful and effective. Jesus said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8 NKJV). Jesus often spoke of the Holy Spirit as “the Helper,” so when you don’t know what to do stand on His promise: The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name…will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26 NKJV). If you fight in your own strength, you’ll lose. But when you draw on the power of God’s Spirit that’s within you, you’ll win.
Source: Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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How to Win Life’s Battles (1)
This week, God showed me a series from my devotional The Word For You Today which I have prepared for you. This week’s series comes from the devotional’s December issue.
“We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
With God’s help, King Jehoshaphat overcame not just one army, but three! And his victory teaches us how we can win life’s battles. First, identify the enemy. Many of us have no clue who the real enemy is. We think it’s the person who is interested in taking our job, our spouse, or our money. But many times the enemy is our own attitude! It’s not so much what’s happening that gets us down, it’s our response to the situation. Before you can win on a personal level, you must identify the enemy. Note how Jehoshaphat reacted when he heard “a vast army” was coming against him. He was “alarmed” (vv. 2-3 NIV). It’s a fairly typical human response. We see a big problem, panic, and become fearful about what’s going to happen to us. And in truth, fear isn’t all bad unless we deal with it in the wrong way. We can use it to motivate us to conquer the problem and drive us closer to God. It’s when we get discouraged, give up, get angry, and start asking, “Why me, Lord?” that fear defeats us. If you’re in a situation that’s filling you with fear and anxiety today, remember—God doesn’t respond to need; He responds to faith. So stake your faith on His unshakable Word and stand on His promise: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa 41:10 NKJV). Unshakeable trust in God’s Word is what brings His help.
Source: Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19
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Muzzle Your Mouth
When I read the title of the following article, it spoke to me and I had to post it!
I will put a muzzle on my mouth (Psalm 39:1, NIV).
The psalmist has a lot to say about the dangers of the tongue. Apparently he had to guard himself in that particular area. “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3, NIV). “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord” (Ps 19:14, NIV). Just because a thought comes up doesn’t mean it should come out! ‘A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back (Pr 29:11, NKJV). You say, “But I didn’t really mean it. I was just sounding off!” You may not think you meant it, but the Bible says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34 NKJV). What’s harbored on the inside inevitably shows up on the outside. Put yourself in the other person’s place, listen to what you’re saying, and ask yourself how you’d respond. When you’re talking to someone, their acceptance doesn’t come from your heightened decibel level, but from your ability to listen, understand, care, empathize, and respond with wisdom. And if none of those things work, do what Jesus did when he stood before Pilate: “He opened not His mouth” (Ac 8:32 NKJV). Amazing! He had the power and authority to call twelve legions of angels (72,000 plus) to His defense, but He didn’t. That’s strength, not weakness! Another word to the wise: Never resort to profanity. “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Eph 4:29, NLT).
Source: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Church
Below is a portion from Martin Luther King, Jr’s letter from the Birmingham Jail. As a Christian of the twentieth century it is imperative that we run with an urgency to fulfill the call God has on our lives. Our assignment is to make an impact in the world!
…There was a time when the church was very powerful. It was during that period that the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was the thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Wherever the early Christians entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators." But they went on with the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven" and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." They brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contest.
Things are different now. The contemporary church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's often vocal sanction of things as they are.
But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century…
Martin Luther, King, Jr. Letter from the Birmingham Jail
Father, I pray that you will make every follower of you so uncomfortable in this season until we are right in the center of fulfilling the call you had ordained for us to complete. In Jesus name Amen!
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Extremist
…But as I continued to think about the matter, I gradually gained a bit of satisfaction from being considered an extremist. Was not Jesus an extremist in love? -- "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice? -- "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ? -- "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist? -- "Here I stand; I can do no other so help me God." Was not John Bunyan an extremist? -- "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a mockery of my conscience." Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist? -- "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist? -- "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." So the question is not whether we will be extremist, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate, or will we be extremists for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice, or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Let God Lead the Way!
I was sitting on the couch with my laptop trying to write some devotionals for the upcoming year. I felt this exhaustion come over me and frustration was settling in. At the same time an email prompt came up. I looked up and thought that I should open it. As I went to open the email my eyes drifted down to another email. It was From Water to Wine. I thought that is my daughter’s newsletter and I should read it. After reading her message I decided to put my computer down and wait for the Holy Spirit to lead me. I pray that the message below gives you guidance for 2022 as it gave me!
Hi Jackie,
I’ve been sitting here for a few days now, trying to write something inspirational to take us into the new year, but nothing I wrote sounded quite right. I was talking to a friend and expressed my frustration about not being able to find the perfect words, and do you know what they told me? “No matter what you write, don’t send anything until God tells you to.”
You may be thinking, “Well that's a bit dramatic for a simple newsletter,” but I think the message in their response is bigger than the newsletter. The message is one I hope you take into the new year: “Don’t move until God tells you to.”
As you enter into 2022, I pray that your relationship with God is so strong that you don’t move until He gives you the green light, illuminating the path in front of you and filling your heart with peace. In the upcoming year you’re going to be presented with so many opportunities, challenges, people and decisions, and I pray that you allow God to direct and guide you through them all.
Let 2022 be the year that you wait on Him in every aspect of your life. Let it be the year you surrender to his promptings, which in turn allows you to step into the fullness He has for you! I know that this is much easier said than done. So, I’ve listed a few scriptures to serve as encouragement and guidance for the next 365 days and beyond.
I hope you had a peaceful Christmas, and I’m praying you receive everything God has for you in the new year! 🎉 https://www.fromwatertowine.net/about2
Always, Charlene
Love Journey
…his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—Isaiah 52:14, NIV I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Isaiah 50:6, NIV Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer….Isaiah 53:10, NIV
I was up praying one morning when I heard myself say, “God, I want to out love people. I want to love them more than they could ever love me.” I immediately heard him say to read the scriptures above. Jesus was beaten so much that he was disfigured beyond recognition. He did not hide his face when people pulled out His beard, mocked at Him and was spat upon. Scripture says that it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.
After reading those verses I thought about what I had just prayed. I could feel my eyes swell up with tears. I not only thought about how Jesus had suffered for us, but that God was telling me suffering and pain comes with love. I knew in my flesh I did not want to endure that kind of pain. I could feel a war going on in my heart. The Holy Spirit wanted me to know that to truly fulfill what I had prayed, pain and suffering would be apart of this journey and it is God’s will to crush my flesh.
I sat there with tears rolling down my eyes just thinking about what was going on inside me. Then from nowhere I understood I would be transformed into his love and my fleshly me would be conquered and I would be more like Him! My spirit was lifted and all I could say was YES!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19-20
Grinding your way to Greatness
I’ve been listening to Juanita Bynum’s series on Working with Warfare and it has been one of the best gifts God could have ever given me for this season. I need everything she is teaching in this series. She talks a lot about grinding your way to greatness. The dictionary defines grinding as (of a state) oppressive, tedious, and seemingly without end; to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth).
To grind is to stay focused on whatever call God has given us even tough sometimes it looks like there is no end to the process. When we are grinding we have to set boundaries with friends and family. We cannot get to the greatness God has ordained for us with distractions from others. I am currently working on several projects and now that I am retired my children would contact me at anytime. I had to set boundaries with them on when I would be available to talk so that I am not interrupted. When boundaries are set it takes away the frustration of getting interrupted and losing a thought that could have summed up an important project.
Grinding requires discipline, there are a lot of activities and things that come up that we would love to do with our friends but we cannot do all those things and get the task before us competed. We have to be disciplined to the call. God does require us to be balanced so we do need to have time to spend with family and friends. We also may have to put our phone on mute so that we are not disturbed. When God is speaking with us and we are working with Him we want to give Him all of your undivided attention.
It is easy to take for granted some of the jobs that God has given us because it does not seem like a job that is working for Him. But every job that we receive is an assignment from God and He expects us to grind our way to the greatness He has put on the inside of us. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Noah
The generation of people that Noah grew up with most died and did not fulfill their purpose. God told Noah that He was going to destroy the earth because man was so evil. Noah built the ark according to God’s instruction and because of his obedience he saved his immediate family. Noah’s wife, his three sons and their wives were the only human beings that went into the ark.
This morning the Holy Spirit woke me up early to read Genesis 5-7. God reminded me that Noah could not save any of his other relatives. He had brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews but he could not save them. The Bible says that God shut the door, which means that even if Noah tried to open the door he could not.
Noah’s assignment was to build an ark that carried all of us in it. We were in the womb of the eight people that went into the ark. His assignment could not have felt good, nor did he probably want to always be up building the humongous boat every day. Our flesh will fight us in our assignments but our assignment is never just to take care of us and ourselves. There is no way Noah could have known who he was carrying in that ark. We don’t know the lives that are at stake if we ignore the call God has for us. I encourage you to obey God as Noah did so that all God ordained for you to do can be fulfilled.
Father,
Only eight people in Noah’s generation out of the whole world was saved when you destroyed the world. We know that the earth will be destroyed again (2 Peter 3); therefore, we ask that you will help us to stay focused on the assignments you have given us and move like Noah to fulfill our purpose. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Awakening
This morning I was awoken around 2:00 a.m. I knew immediately that it was the Holy Spirit. It always seems to happen when I am sleeping so good. I mean, when you are in this really good sleep and you find yourself awake. The thing is you have the power to turn over and go right back to sleep. You can feel your body wanting to turn over and lay back down, but you know God is calling you.
This is what we call battling with our flesh, or spiritual warfare. Our flesh is telling us to do something completely opposite of our spirit and we have to decide who gets our attention. At the time I did not realize it but the 2:00 am wake up call was the best thing ever for me. I had been on this journey to get to know the Holy Spirit in a deeper way!
When I knew this was an answer to my prayers. I waited and listened while I lay in the bed. I was so excited that I was right in agreement with the Holy Spirit. He had actually come early to wake me up and I could hear Him speaking to me. I could hear the silence. I knew it was Him! I asked if I could get up and go into another room as to not disturb my husband, but He told me to lay there. I just continued to listen to the silence. The longer I laid there silently the more I knew He wanted me there. I could feel His presence and I just listened to the silence. Eventually He told me I could get up and go to the other room. I took a pen and my journal and begin to write all that He had given me.
I am learning to hear the Holy Spirit and recognize His voice just like I recognize my husband’s voice. It does not matter where I am when my husband speaks I know it is him. This is the place where I believe God wants us all to be with Him. He wants us to recognize and know Him in such a way that no matter what is going on in our lives we hear Him directing us. Why? Because He has the best plans for our lives and He knows what is up ahead. However, most of all it is because God loves us so much that He wants a deep intimate relationship with each one of us. Think of the one you love and what you would do to have this type of amazing relationship with them! God desires that a million times more and we know this to be true because He sent His only son to die for us. As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you Isaiah 62:5, ESV.
If you find yourself awake early in the morning, don’t go back to sleep answer the call because ELOHIM the creator of this world, wants to talk to you! How exciting!!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Nothing Else
JCC Ministries does not own the copyright for this video. No copyright infringement intended. For inspirational purposes only.
I felt like the Holy Spirit wanted me to post the words to this song. I would encourage you to read the words as you let the song play. The words are a powerful prayer to our Father and I pray this song speaks to your heart! The song is entitled "Nothing Else" by (feat. Cody Carnes)The Belonging Co
I’m caught up in Your presence I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment I never wanna leave Oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, You don't owe me anything more than anything that You can do
I just want You I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions I'm sorry when I just sang another song take me back to where we started I open up my heart to You I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda I'm sorry when I forgot that You're enough take me back to where we started
I open up my heart to You I’m caught up in Your presence I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment I never wanna leave Oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, You don't owe me anything and more than anything that You can do
I just want You I just want You Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else, Jesus Nothing else will do I just want You
Nothing else, nothing else Nothing else will do I just want You Nothing else, nothing else, Jesus Nothing else will do
I'm coming back to where we started I'm coming back to where we started. When I first felt Your love You're all that matters, Jesus You're all that matters I'm coming back to what really matters Just Your heart I just wanna bless Your heart, Jesus I'm caught up in Your presence I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment I never wanna leave And oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, You don't owe me anything More than anything that You can do Oh, I just want You
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Cody Carnes / Hank Bentley / Jessie Early
Nothing Else lyrics © Capitol Cmg Paragon, Capitol Cmg Amplifier, Every Square Inch, Writers Roof Publishing
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Lawlessness in the Church
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved Matthew 24:12-13, ESV.
My husband asked me to sit down and relax before I started to prepare dinner. I took off up stairs and I thought to myself, “I’m not sure that I know how to relax. What do I do?” So I picked up this book on my shelf called Under Cover by John Bevere and I begin to read it. As I was reading it I came across the scripture above.
I took out my highlighter and began to highlight what the scripture was saying. I then pulled out my Bible to get the full context of the scripture. My heart became heavy as I read the complete chapter and I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Stop reading and write what is in your heart.”
The scripture says that, “Because of lawlessness the hearts of the believers will grow cold.” When I read this scripture I had initially thought that the believers hearts would grow cold because of the lawlessness in the world. However, He was actually speaking about lawlessness in the church! This means that lawlessness will be in the hearts of believers. As I sat and meditated on that thought I started to reflect on the condition of the church today.
The COVID pandemic has really revealed the hearts of many believers. I would have never expected the church (not the building) would be in such disarray because of a virus and a request from our government to wear masks. I listened to believers argue and fight over whether or not we should wear masks and argue that the church (a building) should not be closed. Satan has really found a way to get many believers to eat at his table!
If we don’t meditate on the word of God, and seek His word as if it is something we value, we will be lost. The Bible says that, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. (Matt. 7:21) And His will is, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.” Matthew 12;30—31,ESV Beloved, we have been commanded to love!
Father,
How we praise you, thank you for your love. We seek your forgiveness for not walking in love as you have taught us to. We do not want our hearts to grow cold, we seek your help to walk out this amazing journey in unconditional love. Our desire is to obey your commands. This we pray in Jesus’ name amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Be careful what you say
The tongue also is fire. James 3:6, NIV
On a windy day in March 1997, a father and son visited Valley Forge National Historic Park, where George Washington stationed the Revolutionary Army during the difficult winter of 1777 - 1778. The man and his son had something much less historic in mind: They wanted to launch a model rocket. At first they tried using electric ignition wires to light the fuse, but to no avail. So they tried lighting the fuse with a common sparkler, the kind frequently seen at annual holiday celebrations. That’s when trouble began. Sparks ignited a grass fire and the winds quickly spread the blaze, burning a field where Revolutionary War soldiers had trained, and coming within a half-mile of George Washington’s headquarters. The value of what they put at risk was incalculable. It took thirty units from twelve fire departments over an hour to bring the blaze under control. In the end some thirty acres where charred, and the man with the sparkler was charged with destruction of government property and improper use of fireworks. The Bible says, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body” (vv.5-6, NIV). “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep…the door of my lips” (Ps 141:3, NKJV). “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil” (1Pe 3:10), NKJV). “The lips of the godly speak helpful words” (See Pr 10:21). So make sure your words help, not hurt; build up, not tear down. In other words be careful what you say!
Source: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Harmony At Home (3)
“It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.” Pr 14:29, CEV
It’s never okay to explode at those God has entrusted to your care. “The Bible says, “Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance” (Eph 4:26-27 CEV). Satan would like nothing better than to gain entry to your home and turn it into a living a hell, and every time you fly into a rage, you lose ground to him. That’s why the Scripture say, “it’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.” The key to managing your anger lies in finding healthy ways to express it so that it doesn’t end up hurting more than helping. It’s important to share your feelings, but you must always do it in the right way. Ultimately it’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong, or who can yell the loudest. It’s about finding the solution that’s best for everyone. Understand this: Nobody can be everything you want them to be all the time. It’s impossible to have a long-term, loving relationship without learning to accept human weakness. So instead of dwelling on one another’s shortcomings, focus on your collective strengths as a family. Clinical neuropsychologist Paul Pearshall says, “Most of us would give our own life for…a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.” Learn to control your temper; your family is worth it. After all, who else loves you regardless of what you do? And where else can you go to find comfort and strength that comes from that kind of support system?
SOURCE: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Harmony At Home (2)
“A house divided against itself will fall.” Lk 11:17 NIV
They say, “The apple never falls far from the tree,” and Jacob certainly proved that. Nearing the end of his life when he should have been preparing to bless his sons Simeon and Levi, he told them, “I…curse…you because of your…anger” (Ge 49:7 CEV). But their behavior should have come as no surprise. The fact is, Jacob had already shaped them by his own example when he deceived his father (See Ge 27) and his father-in-law (See Ge 30). And his mother facilitated the deception. Behavioral patterns are passed from generation to generation. Your attitudes and actions will either blight your children or bless them. The Word of God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pr 22:6). Your children inherit more than just your looks. They end up with the values you taught and the emotional disposition you displayed. Don’t involve them in your marital disputes. The Bible says, “Anger rest in the bosom of fools” (Ecc 7:9 NKJV), and kids are easy targets for misdirected rage. Even when your outbursts aren’t aimed at them, they still suffer the effects. For example, your boss reprimands you at work, and because you can’t retaliate, you come home like a bear with a headache and make everybody around you walk on eggshells. Lower the decibel level! Don’t let your anger run amok. King David shined on the battlefront but struggled on the home front. Perhaps that’s why one of the last Psalms reads like this: “Help me to guard my words whenever I say something” (Ps 141:3 CEV).
SOURCE: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCallingtv:
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My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Harmony At Home (1)
“Patiently put up with each other and love each other.” Eph 4:2 CEV
Without harmony on the home front, all your career successes can feel empty. Anytime you find it easier to talk to outsiders than to your own family, something’s broken—and urgently needs fixing. God designed your family to be a support system, and a safety net to catch you when you fall. And His word gives us the prescription for creating harmony at home: “Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace” (vv. 2-3 CEV). Note four important words in this Scripture: “humble,” gentle,” “patiently,” and “united.” Without those essential ingredients, it won’t work! So start praying for your kids instead of just laying down rules that create distance when you don’t see eye to eye. You won’t always agree, but you can learn to value, love, and respect each other. Every family has its ups and downs—and every family tree has a few nuts! But if you bail out when things get tough, you’ll miss the harvest you could have reaped by hanging on. For example, sometimes the child that ends up blessing you the most is the one who didn’t necessarily agree with your ideas, or embrace your values, or marry the person you thought they should have. Yes, it’s upsetting, but in the long run none of that matters because family is a life-long investment. Some of those who opt for divorce end up wishing they had hung in a little longer, and had loved a little bit more. Make sure you’re not one of them!
SOURCE: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCallingtv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9