Friday, February 9, 2018

God Is For You

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

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Our Savior, Our Friend


Jesus, You are our greatest, truest friend. You laid down Your life for us and spilled Your Precious Blood, so we could come to know You.

You are the Counselor on High and The True Physician. You are our Advocate, Shepherd, Savior, Bridegroom, Rock, Salvation, Strong Tower of Strength…

And, LORD Jesus, we run to you!

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

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

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

John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever--

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold

Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The Balm of Gilead

Brokenness is a heart condition. Jesus is the remedy...and His cure guarantees eternal life!

When we invite in The Great Physician to perform His spiritual surgery, we receive a heart healing that includes redemption, restoration, rest and peace...beside the still waters of everlasting love.

Won't you cry out to The Balm of Gilead? That He may bind and heal your wounded heart? 

Psalm 30:2
O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

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

Psalm 103:3
Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

Matthew 9:12
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”

1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead,
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no recovery
For the health of the daughter of my people?

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Deivered

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.

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.

Zechariah 9:12
Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

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.

Monday, February 5, 2018

A New Creation In Christ

Satan likes to utilize our shame from past mistakes to fill us with a sense of indictment. The enemy gains a stronghold through our unhealed hearts; thus, intensifying and festering our anger, guilt and regret. He uses our lingering, painful emotions to rob us of our joy and peace in the present.

Even more dangerous, the enemy can glamorize the past in a way that makes us long for pieces of our old self. This is a dangerous, slippery slope. Remember Lot's wife! Our past is the biggest indicator of how desperately we need our precious Savior!

In contrast, God says we are a new creation and justified by the Blood of Christ. God says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. God is able to restore the years the locusts have taken away. He promises an abundant life full of hope. Through His grace, every mistake can be miraculously transformed into a beautiful testimony of His love, mercy, forgiveness and splendor.

The past, along with the present and future, belong to Abba God. Therefore, let us trust and honor God by surrendering it to Him, all for His ordained and anointed purpose. Let us partner with The Balm of Gilead in a heart healing; obey and trust Him to make all things new; praise Him for all He has done and will continue to do.

Let us give God all the glory for how He made a way for us through Jesus; believe and fully receive His Grace. Let us rejoice that we are reconciled by The Blood of The Lamb; sanctified, transformed and regenerated by The Holy Spirit.

Take heart, for there is no place in the present or our future for anything old. We are a new creation...kin with Christ...citizens of Heaven. If there is anything useful from our brokenness, God can certainly transform it into something beautiful, according to His Will and all for His Marvelous Glory...

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Luke 17:32
Remember Lot's wife.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Luke 17:33
Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten...

Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Friday, February 2, 2018

God Is Bigger

God Is Bigger

What giants are you facing today?

Would it make any difference if you just stopped...got still with God...and considered that your conflict is not against flesh or things seen, but against spiritual wickedness in high places?

Would you get on your knees in obedience...align your will with His...and surrender it to The LORD of Hosts, Jehovah-Sabaoth?

Why place your faith or trust in something less than the All-seeing, All-knowing, Almighty Creator? Why take on the battle without The Lord when there is so much power in His Name alone?

Do not fear. Do not be dismayed or discouraged. Stand firm in your faith at the feet of Jesus. He is always with you and will NEVER leave or forsake you!

HE IS RULER OVER ALL principalities and powers, seen and unseen. He is bigger than any giants we will ever face. And the battle belongs to Him!

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Chronicles 20:15
...Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

1 Samuel 17:47
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Psalm 20:7-8
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Jeremiah 10:6
No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

1 Samuel 17:45
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Never Broken

Never Broken!

As believers, the treasury of God's Word and the indwelling of The Holy Spirit enables us to endure the valleys of life with unshakeable confidence and peace.
Just as Paul, we know that regardless of the hardships we may face in this world, we will rise up and endure. We are sustained by the omniscient source of our faith and the power of His grace.

Take heart, for He who is in us is greater than anything in this world! (1 John 4:4)

God is our very present refuge and strength in troubled times! (Psalm 46:1)

We will endure because The Lord has promised He will sustain us to the end! (1 Corinthians 1:8)

His grace is always sufficient and His power is perfect, regardless of our weaknesses! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

May we rest assured in His embrace...hold fast to His truth and promises, and let them be a ballast to our souls. We will surely survive even our dimmest days. For, by His grace, we are NEVER BROKEN!

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

Proverbs 24:16
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

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

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.