Promise Keeper

All the present troubles, temptations and tears will be removed as The New Jerusalem will replace the former things, according to His timing and in fulfillment of His Word.

He has promised there will be no more sorrow, sin, affliction or idolatry...no more ill effects of the enemy and this sin-stained world.

He will dwell with His people in harmonious righteousness. His Kingdom will come and every knee will bow to His Majesty...

And He shall reign forever and ever!

Hallelujah!

Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Isaiah 65:17
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Jeremiah 1:12
The LORD said to me, 'You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.'

Revelation 21:2
"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Romans 14:11
It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Delivered

Unfortunately, none of us has an automatic detour to prevent us from encountering valleys in our human journey. We live in a sin-stained world and there is no perfection on this side of Eternity. However, as believers, we have a choice not to wander in the wilderness. If we are walking with Jesus, we are never lost!

In these seasons that try our souls and test our faith, we must have hope and fix our gaze on the eternal prize that awaits us. Our faithful God of unlimited resources will enable us to navigate in perfect peace if we place unwavering faith in Him. God is ever-present and always offers us spiritual and emotional protection. God alone is our means of overcoming every temptation placed before us. He is our anchor, hope and comfort when we are faced with uncertainty, adversity and heartache.

And if we do get momentarily derailed, our Heavenly Father is waiting with welcoming arms for His prodigal children. He alone holds the power to remove bondage and restore us to the path of righteousness. Deliverance is just a prayer away, and we are never beyond the reach of our Shepherd.

Lord, we pray for Your deliverance in the wilderness of our momentary troubles, and that You will enable us to maintain the eternal compass of Jesus Christ. We trust You to stretch and bend us according to Your will, and lead us to Your peaceful and living waters. Our hope, faith, peace and rest is in You alone.

In The Name of Jesus, our Refuge, Redeemer and Deliverer,

Amen.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 68:20
Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.

1 Peter 2:25
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Luke 15:20
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Isaiah 53:6
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Ezekiel 34:15
"I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD.

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to fountains of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Forever Future

The next time Satan whispers in your ear and reminds you of all those painful past memories and mistakes, remind him of your future...

For those who are believers in Christ, their names are written in The Book of Life and eternal salvation is theirs...

This is eternal victory and your forever future!

Rejoice and live in abundance today, for you are sealed and His forevermore!

"But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27)

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

"and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." (2 Corinthians 1:22)

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.“ Revelation 3:5)

The Good Shepherd

He knows His sheep and we hearken to His voice.

He goes before us and carefully prepares the way; we follow Him, as He is the way, truth and life.

He is the restorer of our soul; the keeper of The Holy Spirit.

He carries us close to Him when we are broken; He mends, heals and reveals to us who we are in Him.

He laid down His life for His flock; we shall not want for eternity.

The Lord is our Good Shepherd...

John 10:14
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

1 Corinthians 8:3
But whoever loves God is known by God.

John 10:4
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Isaiah 40:11
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

1 Peter 2:25
For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

The Lord Is There

Let us rejoice and have everlasting comfort because Jehovah Shammah is with us...

He, who is Creator of and is Sovereign over ALL things, is ever present in and with those who believe, trust and obey Him.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that we only need to look to you for everything we will ever need.

In The Name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." (Colossians 1:16)

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Perfect Peace

Trusting God's response to our prayers produces peace regardless of the outcome because we acknowledge and accept that He is in control and all things are according to His Will.

When He answers in conflict to our own desires or preferred timing...we have peace because we know our God and have complete reliance upon Him!

This peace that surpasses all understanding comes from knowing God in a very intimate way...getting into His Word... trusting in His Promises, His Faithfulness, His Immutability, His Perfect Love and His ultimate plan for our future.

The more we know Him, the more we trust Him...and this is perfect peace...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." (Proverbs 19:21)

"Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
(Isaiah 12:2)

"...but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." (Daniel 11:32)

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

"For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11)

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

A Prayer for Restoration of Peace

LORD God,

I pray that today and every day Your peace will rule my heart...

I ask Your forgiveness for the things I have allowed to steal my peace - envy, guilt, self-centeredness, pride, bitterness, fear, and doubt. I choose to unite with You, to put away these things, and replace them with Your Fruits of The Spirit...

Father, I surrender my mind, will, emotion, and conduct to You, and pray that The Prince of Peace will reign supremely in my heart. In The Name of Jesus, I ask for deliverance and strength to resist the enemy in his desire to wreak havoc on my emotions and thought life. I pray for discernment of Your Will and Truth, and I invite You in to purify my heart and sustain me as I keep my thoughts captive in Christ...

When I feel violated, I will forgive;
When I feel envious, I will edify and bless;
When I feel bitter or resentful, I will extend love and grace;
When I feel the need to vindicate, I will show mercy;
When I am afraid, I will be faithful and trust in You;
When I am skeptical, I will cling to Your Truth;
When I feel prideful, self-centered, or a need to control, I will surrender to Your Will;
When I feel guilt or shame, I will seek Your forgiveness and remember there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

I thank You and praise You, Father, for the comfort of Your promises and Your gift of eternal peace. I pray that today and every day I will walk in the peace I am called to and honor You in my thoughts and actions.

In The Name of Jesus, my precious and beautiful Savior, I pray these things,
Amen!

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Philippians 4:7
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

He Cares for You

Cling to Him and resist the schemes of the evil one...for He is your tower of strength.

Find rest and protection under His wing...for He is your refuge.

Trust Him at all times and in all circumstances...for He longs to give you comfort, peace and joy.

Drink from His living waters...for He longs to give you refreshment.

Run to Him, seek Him above all things...for He has unlimited resources...He cares for you and longs to spend eternity with you.

"...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him." (Psalm 28:7)

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

"...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

Freedom From Fear

God's immutable Word tells that us He has not given us a spirit of fear. Walking in a state of perpetual fear is bondage; a spiritual battle only conquered through God and His truth.

Reacting to protect ourselves from eminent danger is a healthy fear response. In contrast, being a slave to fear produces crippling hopelessness, doubt and uncertainty...all strongholds of the enemy. False emotions beget a faulty belief system, which robs us of our peace and derails us from our authentic path of freedom.

As with any darkness, a spirit of fear is demolished by light and truth...and that Truth is The Word of God. We must don the Sword of The Spirit...read, believe, absorb and apply The Word. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

Praise The Lord that He has called us into His marvelous light and that He is with us always!

Joshua 1:8-9
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Filling the Void

Only the One who created our hearts can fill it.

We were designed by God to desire, seek and to ultimately be completed by Him.

We can try to force other things to fill the void, but will always come up empty, as we were created by Him and for Him.

Only God fills the emptiness and the longing in our hearts for something more...

So, let us give God our whole hearts and may we be filled with the full measure of His love and The Holy Spirit...may we know the fullness of God in our hearts until our cups run over!

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

"For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." (Psalm 107:9)

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

God Is Jealous for You

God's jealousy differs from the sinful jealousy we typically succumb to in our humanity.

God is not envious of nor coveting something that does not rightfully belong to Him.

His jealousy, just as all that He Is, is born from pure agape love...

He is jealous of anything compromising our surrender of our whole heart to Him...something that rightfully belongs to Him anyway, as we were created by Him and for Him.

He is jealous of us placing anything before Him because He is all-knowing and all-seeing...He desires to spare us the danger, misery and sin that follows as a result of not placing Him first in our lives.

He loves us completely, zealously and divinely and His godly jealousy for us is rooted in that as well.

Consider Paul's example, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

We have ONLY One God, One Master, One Groom...let us prepare diligently for that day and surrender our whole hearts to our betrothed, as we wait in confident expectation and anticipation.

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7)

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:5)

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.." (Colossians 1:16)

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

The Big Picture

"Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken" (Joshua 21:45)

When actors and actresses make a movie, it’s the director who sees the “big picture” and the overall direction.  A lot of times they don't understand everything the director is doing but they trust the director's guidance...knowing he sees the finished picture.

Throughout scripture we can see so many of faithful "characters" not knowing their direction but having a promise of a great "big picture".

Moses could have questioned the big picture as he had 2 million Israelites looking to him to lead them into the Promised Land, Joshua could have questioned while standing with Jericho before him...But they trusted the Directed, the Overseer of their souls.

They both trusted and responded with complete devotion and surrender to His amazing Guide, and Direction and “not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken” (21:45).

We too can abandon ourselves to our Director and rest in His faithfulness, promises and guidance knowing He sees the "big picture" and the beginning from the end!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Made Well

Lord God,

I pray that today and every day You will partner with me in a thorough examination and cleansing of my heart…reveal, heal and deliver me of all the strongholds I am bound by in my life.

LORD, please expose with Your Truth and Light all the pain, fear, shame, guilt and sorrow that is hidden within dark places of my heart...all the things that prevent me from living a life of freedom, peace and joy that come from a transparent relationship with You.

Father, please show me how to come before You in faith, trust, obedience and submission...and in this exchange, please reveal to me all the lies I have received and believed in my life…partner with me in replacing my deformed belief system with Your Word and Your Truth, which is infallible and endures forever.

Teach me Your Ways, LORD, and show me how to find freedom in forgiveness of self and others…to embrace myself as a new creation …to put away the former things and live each day in the way You designed and ordained long ago...and to see myself through Your eyes, as Your precious child and joint heir with Christ in Your Kingdom of Heaven.

Show me, LORD, how to receive Your Fatherly Forgiveness, Great Grace, Limitless Love and Marvelous Mercy…lead me to bathe in the peaceful, still waters of renewal and sanctification…anoint me with Your Holy Spirit until my cup runs over.

Write a new story on my heart, LORD…one born of The Holy Spirit and guided by the power of Your redemption and restoration...please bless and comfort me with a holy wholeness of healing that is only possible through You, Jehovah-Rapha, my LORD Who Heals.

Abba Father, I praise You for all that You Are, yesterday, today and tomorrow, and pray all these things in the Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

God Keeps His Promises by His Power

"For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). 

By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. 

For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence and resolution), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. 

For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”
‭‭(2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-8‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

No Condemnation

Satan loves to condemn. Every time you stumble, every time you fall, he is there to point an accusing finger at you. He wants to focus your thoughts on your own weaknesses and failures rather than on God’s strength.

In contrast, the Holy Spirit convicts us. He gently says, “Now, that wasn’t right.” But that isn’t condemning – that is convicting. He wants us to put our thoughts on Jesus, who is ready to hear our confession and wash us of our sin.

Jesus doesn’t condemn you – He’s interceding for you.

God is for you. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you. And the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you to give power to help you overcome your weaknesses. With this divine Trinity on your team, how can you possibly lose?

“Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Romans 8:34

“He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me.”
Isaiah 50:8

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
1 John 2:1

The Lord Look At The Heart

"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
— Matthew 9:13 (NIV)

God desires humbleness, submission, compassion, right action, just behavior, all stemming from an authenticity — the condition of the heart.

Without heart, all that's left is sacrifice, and Jesus didn't come for sacrifice — He was the sacrifice — He came for the heart.

A person who sees their own wrong, they see that they're a sinner. If that person is you, look up and be blessed.

"For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Your heart searches for mercy, and if you accept, God is there to give you grace.

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
— Mark 2:17 (NIV)

God Is Our Refuge

In hard times we’ve learned three things…

We’re stronger than we’ve ever imagined.

Jesus is closer than we’ve ever realized.

And we’re loved more than we ever knew.

Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 9:10
“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Psalm 22:8
"Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him."
Exodus 14:13-14

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’”

Psalm 91:7
“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.”

Nahum 1:7
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

More Than Conquerors

May you remember that the enemy is a liar who says the opposite of what is true.

If he says you’re worthless, stand up and declare, “I’m treasured by God Most High! ”

If the enemy say’s you’re sick, you tell him, “I will not die but live and declare the works of the Lord!”

If he says you’ll fail, you declare, “Overwhelming victory is mine in Christ Jesus!"

If he tells you-you have no protection, you declare, “I’m hidden in the shadow of God’s wing!”

Do no LISTEN to the enemy, TELL him to Go where Jesus will send him.

It’s time to tear down the picture he’s trying to paint of your life; it’s time to turn a deaf ear to his threats and to live like you believe the promises of God. Have a victorious, faith-filled day today!

Author Unknown