Faithful

God does not make empty promises. If He brings you to it, He is faithful to empower and equip you to accomplish His will. His gifts are irrevocable; His Word and promises are immutable. He equips the called and gives strength to the weary.

Lord, we praise You and claim the victory of what You are doing in and through us...equipping us for every good work...according to Your perfect will. Father, thank You for strengthening and sustaining us as we walk on your lighted path; we pray to follow the promptings of The Holy Spirit and to discern Your will in all areas of our lives. We give You all the glory, Abba, and pray for wisdom and courage to do what is pleasing unto You.

In the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Amen!

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Isaiah 40:29

He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.

2 Timothy 3:17

so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Romans 8:31

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

Romans 11:29

For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold resolutely to the hope we confess, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Discerning True Needs

It can be so difficult at times to discern what our true needs are. The enemy expertly exploits human emotions. He utilizes shackles of fear, doubt, and insecurity to produce a false sense of need and a skewed perception of joy. Temptations are often disguised as legitimate needs, as Satan understands that human beings desire rapid results and easy solutions. Thus, one enters a cycle of seeking pleasure in people, places, and things that offer only a false sense of fulfillment. The end result is despair and emptiness, as only a personal relationship with Jesus leads to true joy, peace, and eternal security. -

How comforting it is to know that applying Scripture enables us to thwart temptation! There is power in the Name of Jesus and He is the Good Portion! By seeking Jesus and aligning our emotions with God’s Truth, we gain eternal perspective and partner with an unparalleled, unmatched, all-powerful, omniscient resource; YAHWEH is His Name!

Father God, 

Thank You today and every day for Your spiritual and emotional provision and protection. Lead us, LORD, to follow the example of Your precious Son when faced with temptation and the lies of the enemy. In The Name of Jesus, we take every stray thought captive to the obedience of Christ! LORD, we seek and serve only You; remind us always of the power in Jesus’ Name! Lead us to patience and pursuits of the Spirit; give us eyes and ears that discern only Your Truth, Father, and bless us with Your everlasting peace and joy. LORD, strengthen our hearts’ resolve and guide our minds to things above as we walk with You. We praise You for the promise of Eternity and the glorious riches made possible through the priceless, precious Blood of Your beloved Son, and we give You all the glory!

In The Name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

John 6:48

“I am the bread of life.” John 4:14

“But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life." Lamentations 3:24

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him."

Expressing Emotions

Often people who are experiencing emotional pain have difficulty expressing their feelings in a healthy way. A common cause is buried feelings due to loss or past hurts.

Ignored or denied feelings won’t go away. They are buried alive, deep inside your soul, where they fester and create an infection that produces poison in your body.

As long as emotional pain continues to be suppressed and undealt with the symptoms will only get worse such as relationship conflict, unhealthy behaviors, depression, addictions, and all sorts of other coping mechanisms that wound the heart and separate us from self, others and God.

That’s why it’s so vitality important to face your feelings.

Bring your heartache and hurts, your anxiety, your fear, and frustration to Jesus. Pour out your heart to Him and receive His comfort. He alone understands the depth of your hurt and pain. His word assures us in Isaiah that He was a man of sorrows acquainted with our grief. Hold on to the assurance found in His Holy Word…

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. “

Hebrews 4:15-16

Reckless Words

When others criticize us, as difficult as it may be to accept, God may be using them as ‘heavenly sandpaper” to teach, correct, and refine us.

But constant harsh criticism, the kind that leaves us feeling demeaned, discouraged and devalued can cause emotional wounds, strain relationships, and stunt emotional growth especially when it comes at the hands of those we love and trust the most. We are called to build each other up not tear each other down.

Sadly, those who have a pattern of tearing down may be acting out modeled behavior of harsh criticism from early childhood. Don’t personalize a person’s critical spirit. They are acting out of woundedness causing them to sin against you. Guard your heart against believing lies about yourself, set healthy boundaries to protect your heart, don’t retaliate, hold fast to God’s truth, pray for your offender and release them to Jesus.

You are His precious child. He will lift you up dispelling the lies with the truth of His Word. Let the Balm of Gilead bring healing to your heart.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 12-17

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Sufficient Grace

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for encouragement and truth in Your Word and Your promise of sufficient grace. I thank You for creating me the way I am and for showing me how to accept even my weaknesses...for this is where You fill in the gap with Your grace and Your power is magnified.

I pray for less of me and more of You....reveal to me new areas where I need refinement of character...sanctify me with Your Holy Spirit and maturate me spiritually, as You bring me from faith to faith...from glory to glory.

Show me Your Ways, Lord. Take all of me and shape me according to Your perfect will...partner with me today and every day, so that others will see You in me...all for Your glory and Your kingdom.

I praise You for Your redemptive gift of Christ so that I may freely receive grace and walk in freedom...in my true, authentic identity.  Thank You for Your ongoing transformation in me and for bringing me to where I am today. I praise You, Lord, for all the ways You have chosen to bless me...and I pray that You will enable me to open up even more of my heart to the work of Your hands.

Keep me on Your lighted, anointed and ordained path for my life, Father...and thank You for Your comfort and grace when I lose my footing. I need You...I love You...and I fully trust Your plan and purpose for my life, which belongs to You alone.

I pray this all in Jesus Christ's Holy and Righteous Name,

Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:5

...so that your faith would not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

2 Corinthians 12:5

I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being...

2 Corinthians 13:9

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 12:10

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Lord Is Faithful

Do not be afraid. God will not allow the enemy to swallow you up. You are a child of the Living God. He will deliver you, honor you, and will be glorified through you.  God is faithful. Even your enemies will see His power.

He will keep you in sickness, and in death. He will be your comfort. He will walk you through the valley, and you will fear no shadow. Hold on to His promises.

Like a compass on a ship set your course and find your way by the promises of God. They will lead you, comfort you, and guide you through the most treacherous path. They will give you direction and wisdom and open up your own understanding to His inerrant Word.

Study God’s Word. It abounds with nuggets of courage. It will strengthen you and help you, and fill you with everlasting life and peace.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.

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He Is Love

God is the author and originator of love. HE IS LOVE. It is because of His love that we exist and are also able to love.

There is absolutely nothing that can alter The Father's pure, authentic, unconditional love for His precious children. He will never leave or forsake us. His love cannot be earned; the debt has already been paid in full. His love is based on Who He is, not who we are or what we do or think..

Choose His love. It is a holy, perfect, perpetual gift that guarantees grace and freedom. And it can be unwrapped every day...for eternity.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us..

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

1 John 4:9

This is how God's love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

Romans 8:39

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lord Delivers from Aflictions

Lord, I worship You. You are my Lord and King, my precious Redeemer. There is no other God like You, entirely full of goodness, grace, and mercy.

You heal us when we are brokenhearted and bandage our wounds. You build us up when we are weak in our soul. You are great and powerful  O Lord, and You understand all things, even what is in my heart.

Thank you that I don't have to live with sadness hurt or depression. Thank you that you have put gladness in my heart. This day I put on the Garment of Praise in exchange for the spirit of heaviness, and I glorify you as Lord of all.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,  to proclaim freedom for the captives  and release from darkness for the prisoners, to comfort all who mourn,  and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise  instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. “ Isaiah 61:1-3

“I waited patiently for the Lord, And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3

“Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,  and young men stumble and fall, 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." Isaiah 40:28-31

He Shall Direct Your Paths

It is easy for us to get carried away in our thinking about what we want. We tend to plunge into the waters head first before first consulting with our Lifeguard...you know, the One who walks on water.

Regardless of our desires and plans, we should bring it all to the full counsel of God present our petitions and align our emotions with His truth. We must lean into Him for understanding and ask Him to lay on our heart what His will is for our circumstances...and for our life.

When we bring Him into our decision-making, we receive the full measure of His promises. Only our Creator can lead us on our authentic and ordained path, as He is the Architect who designed it! He delights in the innermost desires of our heart and will guide us in the way that is holy, righteous and pleasing unto Him.

Praise The Lord that His plans, ways and thoughts are not like our own! He is the eternal resource with every correct answer. He is able to produce results far beyond what we can achieve alone. Complete surrender to His way is not always the path of least resistance, but we are assured peace as we progress...and to always receive what is His best for us. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding."(Prov 3:5)

 

Sufficient Grace

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for encouragement and truth in Your Word and Your promise of sufficient grace. I thank You for creating me the way I am and for showing me how to accept even my weaknesses...for this is where You fill in the gap with Your grace and Your power is magnified.

I pray for less of me and more of You....reveal to me new areas where I need refinement of character...sanctify me with Your Holy Spirit and maturate me spiritually, as You bring me from faith to faith...from glory to glory.

Show me Your Ways, Lord. Take all of me and shape me according to Your perfect will...partner with me today and every day, so that others will see You in me...all for Your glory and Your kingdom..

I praise You for Your redemptive gift of Christ so that I may freely receive grace and walk in freedom...in my true, authentic identity.  Thank You for Your ongoing transformation in me and for bringing me to where I am today. I praise You, Lord, for all the ways You have chosen to bless me...and I pray that You will enable me to open up even more of my heart to the work of Your hands.

Keep me on Your lighted, anointed and ordained path for my life, Father...and thank You for Your comfort and grace when I lose my footing. I need You...I love You...and I fully trust Your plan and purpose for my life, which belongs to You alone.

I pray this all in Jesus Christ's Holy and Righteous Name,

Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:5

...so that your faith would not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

2 Corinthians 12:5

I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being...

2 Corinthians 13:9

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 12:10

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Eternal Perspective

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 harmony and 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.

He Is Able!

Nothing encourages a weary heart like the pure, undefiled word of the Living God. If you are struggling and weary my sweet sisters fall back on what you know....HE IS ABLE!

I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able....

Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

Able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Able to aid those who are tempted.

Able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

Able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself?

"Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." According to your faith let it be to you.

2 Tim. 1:12; Eph. 3:2;, 2 Cor. 9:8; Heb 2:18; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:21; Matt. 9:28-29

Power of Love

Prayer is faith in action. It is in this act of submission that we exercise our trust in the Father we lean into Him for understanding and have confidence in His plan. We pray, listen, and align our will with His.

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Prayer enables us to build our relationship with The LORD. He already knows us completely and is acutely aware of every need. However, prayer is our means of fellowship with our Creator. Through it, we become more aware of His essence and of His powerful, perfect love for us. Once we know Who we are presenting our requests to, we approach The Throne of Grace with unwavering confidence.

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Prayer offers confirmation and strengthens our faith.  The more we come to know Him, the evidence of what He accomplishes on our behalf is no longer unseen. We begin to see His intervention and influence in every facet of our lives and find new reasons to praise Him!

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Prayer changes our perspective. Through prayer, we are aligning with THE all-powerful, all-knowing, everlasting LORD over all! Though our circumstances may not change, we have peace because we move through it with the eternal Christ lens.

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Jude 1:20

But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

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Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

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Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

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1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

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Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

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Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

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James 4:8(a)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

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John 10:27

My sheep listen to My voice I know them, and they follow Me.

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Isaiah 30:21

And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: "This is the way. Walk in it.”

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Authentic Identity

The only relationship that determines one’s identity is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Spouses, families, service, church, friends, careers, and interests all contribute to our enrichment and maturation. However, only the One who created us determines who we truly are...and the only way to The Father is through the One who shed His blood at Calvary. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the indicator of authentic identity - an everlasting identity that fills every void, offers an abundant and fruitful life, and promises an eternal inheritance.

Galatians 3:26

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Romans 8:19

The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

Romans 9:8

So it is not the children of the flesh who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.

2 Corinthians 6:18

And: "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Galatians 3:26

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:5

He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

1 John 4:13

By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

1 John 4:15

If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Joy In Th Lord In the Midst of Troubles

These final lines of Habakkuk’s prayer, and the way his book closes, are some of the most beautiful and gut-wrenching passages of prayer in the bible.

Even through loss, uncertainty, scarcity, famine, and drought, yet I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

That kind of response in those kinds of circumstances requires deep faith.

I pray that we can have this song in our hearts to carry us through this very difficult season. That we, too, would rejoice out of a place of deep faith and trust that the Lord will strengthen us and carry us through.

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. 

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭

The Author of Peace

God brings order out of chaos, even the chaos we create ourselves. 

If there is conflict and confusion in your life today and you lack peace, chances are you are looking at the relationship, situation, or problem through the eyes of the world. Doing so brings about impatience, disorder, and anxiety, which can cause us to lash out unlovingly at others. 

But when you shift your focus through God’s lens, His peace begins to reign in your heart. God is able to help you respond to others in love, patience, and forgiveness; thus, maintaining peace with those around you. It’s your choice – you can live in confusion or chaos, or you can live a life marked by peace.

Proverbs 16:7 

When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Isaiah 26:3 

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

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.

John 16:33 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Philippians 4:6-7 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

From Victim to Victor

Some who have been victimized by a painful past feel fearful, lost, disconnected, broken, without hope and need comforting.

There are many self help groups in modern day society offering support for victims. While helpful they often throw a "victim" label on the wounded, and it becomes their identity.

Some even take on a victim mentality always positioning themselves as the victim whether real or imagined. We did not have a choice in becoming a victim but we have a choice in staying one.

The bible says "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) No matter what has happened God can heal, restore and set us free from the painful effects of the past. You can rise above having a victim mentality and become a conqueror in Christ. You are not without hope.