RICHES IN GLORY (T.D. JAKES)

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

     God says you are worthy to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has prayed for you to receive the Comforter. Is it based on your merit? Of course not. You never have and never will live up to the expectations of a holy God. Jesus, who "ever liveth to make intercession," prays confidently because He died in your stead (see Heb. 7:25 KJV).

     Many have made the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit-filled life so difficult when actually it is quite simple. Many have taught that if you wait long enough, if you pray hard enough, if you lift your hands, sell out, hold on or hold out, then you will receive the Holy Spirit. While their intentions may be good, their approach is not scriptual.

     We can conclude three things regarding the Holy Spirit: 

1.  Jesus is praying for you to receive.  
2.  You must experience a Passover before you can receive.
3.  If you have had a Passover, you're a worthy candidate to receive the power of Pentecost.  

     If you have these three things working for you--the prayers of Jesus, the pleading of the blood in His Passover, and anticipation for the power of Pentecost--you are a worthy candidate. 

YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER (T.D. JAKES)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit

has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me

in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to

the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

     Believers must understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit so they can carry out the will of God for their lives.

     We aren't alone when we lie down at night or go through the storms of life. When we go through a valley or through a trial, the Holy Spirit is there to defend us. God will never leave us nor forsake us (see Heb. 13:5). Jesus is with us to the end of this age (see Matt. 28:20). When we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we receive an eternal Friend. Jesus is praying that you have an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.

     Many friends stay with us until we mess up or until we disagree with them. They quickly leave as if they never knew us. But the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, stays with us forever.

     The Holy Spirit does not come and go based upon the circumstances of our lives. He is there when we do well; He is there when we fail. When we are on top of things, He is there. When things are on top of us, He is there. No matter what the situation, The Holy Spirit is always there to help us.

     In the same way that Jesus helped the disciples, the Holy Spirit now helps you.

CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU (T.D. JAKES)

My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19).

     Thank God that He understands the hidden part within each of us. He understands the child in us, and He speaks to our blanket-clutching, thumb-sucking, infantile need. In spite of our growth, income, education, or notoriety, He still speaks to the childhood issues of the aging heart. This is the ministry that only a Father can give.

     Have you ever noticed that you are never a grown-up to the ones who birthed you? They completely disregard the gray hairs, crowfeet, and bulging, blossoming waistlines of abundant life. No matter how many children call you "Dad" or "Mom," to your parents you are still just a child yourself.

     They seem to think you have slipped into the closet to put on grown-up clothes and are really just playing a game. They must believe that somewhere beneath the receding hairline there is still a child, hiding in the darkness of adulthood. The worst part about it is (keep this quiet) I think they are right!

     The Lord looks beyond our facade and sees the trembling places in our lives. He knows our innermost needs. No matter how spiritually mature we try to appear, He is still aware that lurking in the shadows is a discarded candy wrapper from the childish desire we just prayed off last night--the lingering evidence of some little temper or temptation that only the Father can see hiding within His supposedly "all grown-up" little child.

     It is He alone whom we must trust to see the very worst in us, yet still think the very best of us. It is simply the love of a Father.

BE TRANSFORMED (T.D. JAKES)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God

(Romans 12:2).

     Many individuals in the Body of Christ are persevering without progressing. They wrestle with areas that have been conformed to the world instead of transformed. This is particularly true of us Pentecostals who often emphasize the gifts of the Spirit and exciting services. It is imperative that, while we keep our mode of expression, we understand that transformation doesn't come from inspiration. Many times preachers sit down after ministering a very inspiring sermon feeling that they accomplished more than they actually did. Transformation takes place in the mind. 

     The Bible teaches that we are to be renewed by the transforming of our minds (see Eph. 4:23). Only the Holy Spirit knows how to renew the mind. The struggle we have inside us is with self-perception. Generally our perception of ourselves is affected by those around us. Our early opinion of ourselves is deeply affected by the opinions of the authoritative figures in our formative years. If our parents tended to neglect or ignore us, it tears at our self-worth. Eventually, though, we mature to the degree where we can walk in the light of our own self-image, without it being diluted by the contributions of others.

     The Lord wants to help you realize who you are and what you are graced to do. When you understand that He is the only One who really knows you, then you pursue Him with fierceness and determination. Pursue Him!

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT (T.D. JAKES)

THE FIRST TRANSFORMER

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5).

     I realized that God had made the first transformer. He created man from dust. He created him in such a way that, if need be, He could pull a woman out of him without ever having to reach back into the dust. Out of one creative act God transformed the man into a marriage. Then He transformed the marriage into a family, the family into a society, et cetera.

     God never had to reach into the ground again, because the power to transform was intrinsically placed into man. All types of potential were locked into our spirits before birth. For the Christian, transformation at its optimum is the outworking of the internal. God placed certain things in us that must come out. We house the prophetic power of God. Every word of our personal prophetic destiny is inside us. He has ordained us to be.

     Only when we are weary from trying to unlock our own resources do we come to the Lord, receive Him, and allow Him to release in us the power to become whatever we need to be. Actually, isn't that what we want to know--our purpose? Then we can use the power to become who we really are. Life has chiseled many of us into mere fragments of who we were meant to be. To all who receive Him, Christ gives the power to slip out of who they were forced into being so they can transform into the individual they each were created to be.

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT (T.D. JAKES)

BELIEVE IN HIS NAME

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).

I pray that we as Christians never lose our conviction that God does change lives. We must protect this message. Our God enables us to make the radical changes necessary for fulfilling our purposes and responsibilities. Like the caterpillar that eats and sleeps its way into change, the process occurs gradually but nonetheless powerfully. Many people who will rock this world are sleeping in the cocoon of obscurity, waiting for their change to come. The Scriptures declare, "...it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Rom. 13:11 KJV).

     A memory of my own sons playing on the floor when they were children tailors the continuity of this text for me. They were playing with a truck, contributing all the sounds of grinding gears and roaring engines. I didn't pay much attention as I began unwinding from the day's stresses and challenges. Distractedly, I glanced down at the floor and noticed that the boys were now running an airplane down an imaginary runway. I asked, "What happened to the truck you were playing with?"

     They explained, "Daddy, this is a transformer!"

     I then inquired, "What is a transformer?"

     Their answer brought me into the Presence of the Lord. They said, "It can be transformed from what it was before into whatever we want it to be!"

     Are you being transformed through believing in His name?

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT (T.D. JAKES)

ALL THE DOORS WERE OPENED

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed (Acts 16:25-26).

As you read this, you may feel that life is passing you by. You often experience success in one area and gross defeats in others. You need a burning desire for the future, the kind of desire that overcomes past fear and inhibitions. You will remain chained to your past and all the secrets therein until you decide: enough is enough! I am telling you that when your desire for the future peaks, you can break out of prison. I challenge you to sit down and write 30 things you would like to do with your life and scratch them off, one by one, as you accomplish them. There is no way you can plan for the future and dwell in the past at the same time. I feel an earthquake coming into your prison! It is midnight--the turning point of days! It is your time for a change. Praise God and escape out of the dungeons of your past.

     Don't allow the enemy tp plug into you and violate you through his subtle seductions. He is a giver and he is looking for a receiver. You must discern his influence if you are going to rebuke him. Anything that comes, any mood that is not in agreement with God's Word, is satan trying to plug into the earthly realm through your life. He wants you to believe you cannot change. He loves prisons and chains! Statements like, "This is just the way I am" or "I am in a terrible mood today" come from lips that accept what they ought to reject. Never allow yourself to settle for anything less than the attitude God wants you to have in your heart. Don't let satan have your day, your spouse, or your home. Adam and Eve could have put the devil out!

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT (T.D. JAKES)

POWER TO THE WEAK

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength (Isaiah 40:29).

The Bible says that God "gives power to the weak [faint], and to those who have no might He increases strength" (Isa. 40:29). He is saying, "I won't kill you because you fainted or are weak. I give power to the weak."

     When you start losing the strength you once had, you are fainting. When you can hardly stand up and you begin to stagger in the throes of sin, lust, envy, and strife. God declares, "I give power to you!"

     If you have looked inside yourself and cannot muster the strength to get up, God says, "I will increase your strength."

     God will not only raise you up, but He'll give you enough power to pull yourself up if you stumble again. He won't help you so you can be handicapped the rest of your life. No. He gives power to the faint, and to those who are weak He gives strength.

     Are you weak with no willpower, no strength, no ability within yourself to resist the enemy? When your body gets tired, remember God and His strength. When satan begins to attack you, remember the power of God residing within your innermost being. Remember that God does not faint or grow weary. In fact, the Holy One does not even sleep.

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT (T.D. JAKES)

STRENGTH TO STAND

Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand (Romans 14:4).

     Do you believe God is able to pick you up and make you stand? Until you know that God is able, you will never cry out for help.

     God wants us to understand that there is no lack of strength in Him. You may not have much of a prayer life, but God says, "Has thou not known?" In other words, you should have known that He would take care of you.

     The Word says that the everlasting God, Creator of the universe, is all-powerful. He has brought you through many problems, so don't let satan deceive you into thinking that it was just luck or coincidence that delivered you.
     Remember what God has done for you. If you can't seem to remember anything He has done for you personally, then look around at others who have been delivered out of situations worse than yours. See what God did for them and tell yourself, "If He can do it for them, I know He can do it for me." God's divine love and power brought them through, and He will do the same for you.
     God says, "I have the strength that is necessary to escalate and motivate and move you up and out of your circumstances.
     If you want to be victorious in all your endeavors, then don't lean on your own understanding or to your own devices or innovations. Instead, in all your ways acknowledge the Lord, and He will direct your path.

JESUS CALLING 11-29-17

LET ME INFUSE MY PEACE into your innermost being. As you sit quietly in the Light of My Presence, you can sense Peace growing within you. This is not something that you accomplish through self-discipline and willpower; it is opening yourself to receive My blessing.
     In this age of independence, people find it hard to acknowledge their neediness. However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me, placing you in situations where your strengths were irrelevant and your weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, I have drawn you closer and closer to Myself. You have discovered flowers of Peace blossoming in the most desolate places. You have learned to thank Me for hard times and difficult journeys, trusting that through them I accomplish My best work. You have realized that needing Me is the key to knowing Me intimately, which is the gift above all gifts.

ISAIAH 58:11; ISAIAH 40:11

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT T.D. JAKES

HIS MERCY ENDURES

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (Psalm 118:29).

There is not a person alive today who has not benefited from God’s mercy. It was God’s mercy that prevailed in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord could have scrapped everything and started all over again. God was merciful and allowed Adam and Eve to live with the hope that their seed would redeem back what they had lost.

God’s mercy prevailed in the wilderness with Moses and the children of Israel. When the Israelites moaned and groaned, their fate could have ended in immediate and total destruction, but God was merciful.

When Jonah refused to go to Nineveh, God could have killed the unwilling prophet and found another to go in his place. It was God’s mercy that allowed the fish to swallow Jonah. God knew what was in Jonah just as He knows what is in you and me.

Sometimes God will allow us to fall because in our time of falling we come to realize that without Him we are nothing. We become convinced that is only by His mercy that we are able to stand.

“. . . His mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. . .” (Ps. 107:1-2 KJV). This verse reminds me of the song, “Your Grace and Mercy” by Frank Williams and the Mississippi Mass Choir, which simply says: Your grace and mercy has brought me through, and I’m living this moment because of You. I want to thank You and praise You, too; your grace and mercy has brought me through.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-9

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-9

The people who are looking on, Lord, who see my suffering and how I respond to it . . . do they see how much I rely on you? Do they know that you are the one who is carrying me through? I could not make it without you. I would crumble. Please give me opportunities to tell just how much you mean to me and how your grace has seen me through everything. I want others to know that you will be there for them when they struggle. I want them to understand that they can look to you and find all the help they need.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-9

God’s Help in Tough Times

A Woman’s Prayers from the Heart

Losing a child . . . it’s such a deep grief in a woman’s life Father. It’s one of the most difficult things to accept, and it makes it hard to trust that you are still there, that you still care. Sometimes there is shame involved, often anger, and always an ache that just doesn’t go away. How can you understand my pain----this grief so specific to a woman? How can you know what I’m going through? I want your comfort, but since you are the author and sustainer of life, it’s hard not to feel like you’re opposing me! . . . Ah, how gently you remind me. You too were bereaved of a beloved child. That is how you know. And because of what you sacrificed for me, I have assurance that I will see my child again. Please, Father, see me through this grief.

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-9

JESUS CALLING 11-28-17

REST IN THE DEEP ASSURANCE of My unfailing Love. Let your body, mind, and spirit relax in My Presence. Release into My care anything that is troubling you so that you can focus your full attention on Me. Be awed by the vast dimensions of My Love for you: wider, longer, higher, and deeper than anything you know. Rejoice that this marvelous Love is yours forever!
     The best response to this glorious gift is a life steeped in thankfulness. Every time you thank Me, you acknowledge that I am your Lord and Provider. This is the proper stance for a child of God: receiving with thanksgiving. Bring Me the sacrifice of gratitude, and watch to see how much I bless you.

1 PETER 5:7; EPHESIANS 3:16-19; PSALM 107:21-22

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT T.D.JAKES

YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

     The devil is a liar! It does not matter what you have done. It does not matter where you have been. God is a God of second chances. He is the God of new beginnings. When you're down, He'll pick you up again.

     When God restores you, it does not matter who is trying to bind you or who is fighting against you. All you need to know is that when God brings you up, no demon in hell can bring you down.

     If God has blessed you, shout it from the housetops! If God brought you up, praise and thank Him! Every time I think about what the Lord has done for me, my soul rejoices.

     No one can tel your testimony. No one knows what God has done for you. No one knows how far you've come. No one knows what you've been through. But you know it was only by the grace of God that you survived. Don't

 allow the devil to steal your testimony.

     It may have taken you longer than everybody else, but God has given you the victory. Tell others what God has done in your life. The devil would love for you not to tell your testimony. Why? Because if you tell what God has done for you, someone else might get set free.

JESUS CALLING 11-26-17

THIS IS THE DAY THAT I HAVE MADE! As you rejoice in this day of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial training. Walk with Me along the high road of thanksgiving, and you will find all the delights I have made ready for you.
     To protect your thankfulness, you must remember that you reside in a fallen world, where blessings and sorrows intermingle freely. A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the grayness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving thanks has darkened their minds. How precious are My children who remember to thank Me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with Joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My Presence is still shining on them. Rejoice in this day that I have made, for I am your steadfast Companion.

PSALM 118:24; PSALM 116:17

STRENGTH FOR EVERY MOMENT T.D. JAKES THE LORD UPHOLDS YOU

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24).

Has something so painful and overwhelming happened to you that it has affected every area of your life? Every time you kneel to pray, does your mind go back to the fact that someone broke your heart and wounded your spirit?

Have you experienced something so personally devastating that you can’t discuss it with anyone? You find it difficult to trust people, and you don’t know where to turn. You may feel as if everyone is grading you and evaluating your progress, when actually you are your own harshest judge.

You know you should be further along in life, but someone or some circumstance crippled your faith. Your hopes and dreams were never fulfilled.

You know you should have finished school; you know you should have been a teacher or a musician by now. By society’s standards, you should already be married and have children.

Maybe you think your ministry should be further along or that you should have a successful career at this point in your life. Your dreams and goals should have been fulfilled years ago, but you’ve been crippled. Don’t give up. There is hope for you and healing for past hurts.

God has a way of bringing us out of bondage and then making us remember where we come from. When we, like Joseph, begin to experience success and victory, God will remind us that He opened the door of the prison. He sets us free.

JESUS CALLING 11-25-17

THANK ME FREQUENTLY as you journey through this day. This practice makes it possible to pay without ceasing, as the apostle Paul taught. If you are serious about learning to pray continually, the best approach is to thank Me in every situation. These thankful prayers provide a solid foundation on which you can build all your other prayers. Moreover, a grateful attitude makes it easier for you to communicate with Me.
     When your mind is occupied with thanking Me, you have no time for worrying or complaining. If you practice thankfulness consistently, negative thought patterns will eventually grow weaker and weaker. Draw near to Me with a grateful heart, and My Presence will fill you with Joy and Peace.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 KJV; JAMES 4:8; ROMANS 15:13

JESUS CALLING 11-24-17

THANKFULNESS takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances). This is a spiritual act of obedience--at times, blind obedience. To people who don't know Me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossible to thank Me for heartrending hardships. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficulties may remain.
     Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective. It is the Light of My Presence that removes the sting from adversity.

EPHESIANS 5:20; PSALM 118:1; PSALM 89:15

JESUS CALLING 11-23-17

AS YOU SIT QUIETLY IN MY PRESENCE, let Me fill your heart and mind with thankfulness. This is the most direct way to achieve a thankful stance. If your mind needs a focal point, gaze at My Love poured out for you on the cross. Remember that nothing in heaven or on earth can separate you from that Love. This rememberance builds a foundation of gratitude in you, a foundation that circumstances cannot shake.
     As you go through this day, look for tiny treasurs strategically placed along the way. I lovingly go before you and plant little pleasures to brighten your day. Look carefully for them, and pluck them one by one. When you reach the end of the day, you will have gathered a lovely bouquet. Offer it up to Me with a grateful heart. Receive My Peace as you lie down to sleep, with thankful thoughts playing a lullaby in your mind.

ROMANS 8:38-39; PSALM 4:7-8

YOUR HEAVENLY DEFENSE ATTORNEY (T.D. JAKES)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15).

Jesus Christ is our constant advocate and our High Priest before God. Do not allow your situation to lock you into a spirit of delusion and complacency. Remember, the devil is trying to kill you. He wants you dead. Only the Spirit of God and the blood of Jesus stand between you and destruction. Do not let satan deceive you into thinking that no one cares or that God has not heard your cries for help.

     God knows your groaning and your moaning. God knows what your tears mean when they well up in your eyes. If you cal on Him, He will answer you. Trust Him. If He said He will bring you through it, He will.

     Quit complaining about your situation. Ask God to help you; put away your pride and just ask for help. Do not allow pride to keep you immobilized in your fallen state.

     Something in you has got to cry, "Lord, help! I've fallen, and I can't get up! I don't like the way I'm living; I don't like the way I'm hurting. Something in me needs to change. Something in me needs to be broken. I need to be set free by the power of God."

HEAR HIS VOICE (T.D. JAKES)

"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He was angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? (Hebrews 3:15-18)

When you do not trust in God's goodness and instead walk in unbelief, you frustrate the generous grace of God. The apostle Paul wrote, "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (Gal. 2:21).

I warn you, brothers and sisters, do not frustrate the grace of God as the Israelites did. The Bible says that God will not always strive with humanity. God is merciful, long-suffering, and forgiving, but that does not absolve or excuse us from yielding to the Spirit so that we may be empowered to take responsibility for our own salvation.

We are without excuse, for God has given us everything we need for eternal life and godliness. Why insist on doing things your own way? Submit to God and He will give you the power to overcome every obstacle in your life, one by one.

Religion can't help you. Trying to abide by legalistic church traditions won't help you out of your situation. The only Source guaranteed to pul you through every time you ask is God Almighty.

TD JAKES

SEEMS RIGHT (T.D. JAKES)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end 

is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).

Have you ever noticed the way zoo caretakers handle an injured animal? Even though the caretaker is only interested in helping, the animal does not understand. It only focuses on the pain, and because of this it will strike or even kill the very person sent to help it.

     Some of you may be in this very state. People who have called themselves Christians have done hurtful things to you. You did not expect them to be the ones inflicting the pain. It seemed to hurt far worse because these people professed to love the Lord.

     You may have been hurt to such an extent that you no longer trust anybody, not even God. You may not have actually said, "Lord, I don't trust You," but your actions speak louder than words. Maybe you avoid reading God's Word or refuse to allow anyone to pray for you. Do you look for other ways to help alleviate and drown the pain?

     God wants to deliver you! He wants to arrest every stronghold and every demonic spirit in your life--every demonic power, every type of sorcery, every hex, every spirit of unbelief, every spirit of doubt, every spirit of pride. God wants you set free now!

MY UNDERSTANDING RETURNED (T.D. JAKES)

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to Heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. . . . At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down (Daniel 4:34, 36-37).

Repentance was the key to Nebuchadnezzar's healing and deliverance.

     To fall is bad enough, but to fall and not cry out for help, refusing to repent for your sin, is worse than the fall itself. Some people are so full of pride and consumed with their own self-sufficiency that they think, "If I can't get up myself, I won't let anyone help me."

     Maybe you are ashamed to let anyone know that you have fallen because you don't want them to think less of you. Is your image so important that you're willing to continue in your pitiful fallen state? Are you so deceived that you will not acknowledge that you have sinned? Stop being so proud. After all, isn't that what caused you to fall in the first place?

     Pride is dangerous because it forces you to lie needlessly in a helpless state for days--and sometimes years. If you had asked for help immediately, you could have gotten up and gone on with your life.

Do you celebrate those things you are blessed with or only focus on what you wish you had?

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Blessed by Forgiveness

Is there any greater blessing than to have our sins covered and forgiven (Rom. 4:7)? If there is, I can’t think of one. What an amazing thing that Jesus did for us, dying while still His archenemy (Rom. 5:10) and a wicked sinner at that (Rom. 5:8). Wouldn’t you call that a blessing? The psalmist declared that the one whose sins are covered and forgiven completely is a blessed man or woman (Psalm 32:1), whose sins will not ever be held against him or her again (Rom. 4:8). The person who has been cleared of all guilt and had his or her sins taken away forever has perhaps the greatest blessing of all.

Blessed by Persecution

Peter describes a special blessing that abides on those who are insulted for the sake of their faith in Christ (1 Pet. 4:14). Jesus pronounces a blessing on those who are persecuted for righteousness (Matt. 5:10), even when others revile us and speak all sorts of evil lies about us on account of Him (Matt. 5:11). If you asked someone on the street whether they thought they were blessed if someone insulted them, lied about them, or persecuted them, they would not likely call that a blessing but a curse. However, the way God sees it is if we are hated for His sake, we are blessed by God. Don’t you want that? Do you celebrate those kinds of blessings or only focus on temporal things in this life that you wish you had?

Blessed by Obedience

We have been blessed by the forgiveness of our sins. We’ve been blessed if we’ve ever been despised or persecuted for our faith, but we’re also blessed by our obedience to God when we not only hear the words of God but do them (Luke 11:28). The man or woman who doesn’t associate or run with the wicked will also be blessed (Psalm 1:1) because we are commanded to not be associated with the wicked (2 Cor. 6:14). Even in the Old Testament, God promised a multitude of blessings if they obeyed Him, and these blessings include our homes, family, and financial standing (Deut. 28:2-4). God has not changed. We can still be blessed by obeying God, by being persecuted for our faith, and by the fact that we have been forgiven. So do you celebrate those kinds of blessings or only focus on temporal things in this life that you wish you had? Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, just think about all you do have, for if you are Christ’s, then you are blessed beyond infinite measure.

A Closing Prayer

Father, You are so good to me, blessing me with the forgiveness of my sins, for the times when I live in obedience to You, and even for those times when I am persecuted for believing in You, and in Jesus’ great name I thank You and pray.

Amen

Is it ever right to steal, lie, or cheat? What if these things were necessary to advance the Gospel message?

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Obeying God No Matter What

I don’t think there is ever any reason to lie, steal, or cheat to advance the Gospel message. Peter and the apostles were disobeying those who were in authority (Acts 5:29), but the higher authority is God, and when man’s laws and God’s laws conflict with one another, we must obey God over men and women. God will not ever place us in a situation where we have to cheat, lie, or steal in order to advance His kingdom because God alone is the One Who saves (Eph. 2:8-9).

Who Is Right?

Peter and John once asked which is better: to listen to those who are in authority or to God (Acts 4:19)? Peter told them, “You be the judges!” They had warned them to not ever speak about Jesus again or teach His teachings, but they could not obey the Sanhedrin while disobeying God (Acts 4:17-18). They had no choice because Jesus commanded them to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). So to them it was clear that their loyalty and obedience lay with God and not mankind, even if it was the Jewish courts they were disobeying. God is the One Who adds to the church anyway (Acts 2:47), so He surely doesn’t need us to lie, steal, or cheat to reach the lost.

What Seems Right to Us

Saul was a good example, or really a bad example, of doing what he thought was right but ended up disobeying God in the process (1 Sam. 15:9). We might think that what we’re doing is right, even for God, but there is a way we think that is contrary to the way that God thinks, and the way mankind thinks only leads to death (Prov. 14:12, 16:25). Jesus said that some would believe that by killing Christians, they would be doing God a service, but we surely know that would not be right (John 16:12). We must always speak the truth to our neighbor (Eph. 4:25) and do it in love (Eph. 4:15) because we have been taught to always tell the truth by Christ Himself (Eph. 4:21). Is it right to ever steal, lie, or cheat if it advances the Gospel message? If it is, I couldn’t find an example of this in Scripture. Therefore, I would say no, it’s never right to cheat, lie, or steal in order to advance the Gospel. Besides, God would never condone sin, and He surely doesn’t need us to make sinful choices to advance the kingdom of God.

A Closing Prayer

Great God, You are righteous, and I know You want me to always speak the truth, even in the hard places in life in which I find myself. Thank You for Your truth; Your Son is truth. Let me always depend on obedience to You and leave the consequences up to You, and in Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Why let the pressures of this life bother you when I have said I have overcome the world?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Overcoming the World

How often have you ever doubted whether you were actually saved or not? I know of several people who have done just that. It is sometimes from a lack of time in prayer, a lack of time spent in the Word of God, an ongoing sin, or maybe all three. Jesus said to the disciples to not be troubled about the things of the world because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The disciples were anxious because Jesus had just told them that He was going away and they didn’t know what they were going to do without Him. They focused on that more than on Jesus’ promise that He would come again for them and take them to where He was going (John 14:3). It seems that the pressure of this world can give us amnesia over the promises of God, and I am certainly not immune to that.

Jesus’ Peace

Jesus had earlier said that He would leave them His peace but not the same kind of peace that the world gives (John 14:27), which is really no permanent peace at all. Jesus’ peace would remain with them through all of their upcoming trials and tribulations, and Jesus wanted them to focus on His promises and not on the pressures of life that would surely come their way. It’s a very interesting fact of nature that one of the most precious gems in the world is formed under great pressure, and if not for that enormous pressure, we’d have no diamonds. The pressures of the world are constantly trying to conform us into its own image, but we have to choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). To be renewed in our minds is to choose to have our minds renewed. God never forces His will upon anybody. We are free moral agents and must choose good over evil, so we cannot let the pressures of this world trouble us to the point that we forget the promises of God.

Grief Now, Joy Later

Jesus didn’t ignore the grief that the disciples felt knowing that He was about to go away, but He acknowledged their grief by telling them that He was about to go away (John 16:6). However, He reminded them that their grief would soon be turned into joy (John 16:22). Paul didn’t try to cover up the present sufferings that believers were going through, but he wanted them to compare what they were going through then to the glory that was coming someday (Rom. 8:18) and that even in our suffering, it would turn out to our advantage (Rom. 8:28). Paul was not a pessimist. He thought ahead of those things that were coming, and it helped him endure his present hardships. So why let the pressures of this life bother you when Jesus has said that He has overcome the world?

A Closing Prayer

Father, please help me to put into perspective the present times of being hard-pressed against that of an unspeakable future of eternal joy and bliss in Your presence someday. Let me dwell on the eternal things while still living in the present, and in Jesus’ most precious name I pray.

Amen

God's Help in Tough Times 10-24-17

Please forgive me when I complain, Lord. I don't mean to ignore the things that are good in my life--and there are many. But pain and struggle and weariness shout so loudly that sometimes they're all I hear. When I need to cry, let me cry on your shoulder where I know I'll be heard and understood, consoled and encouraged. Other people might minimize what I'm going through or rant about things I can't control. Neither is helpful in moving me toward a better place. But when I pour out my discouragement to you, I know that you'll listen and then gently turn my heart back toward what brings strength and grace to carry on. You even make me able to give thanks and rejoice in you. Thank you for lifting me up.

 

JESUS CALLING 10-24-17

LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES of Peace. Learn to unwind whenever possible,. resting in the Presence of your Shepherd. This electronic age keeps My children "wired" much of the time, too tense to find Me in the midst of their moments. I built into your very being the need for rest. How twisted the world has become when people feel guilty about meeting this basic need! How much time and energy they waste bt being always on the go rather than taking time to seek My direction for their lives.

I have called you to walk with Me down paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail for others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence. I have chosen you less for your strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me. Depend on Me more and more, and I will shower Peace on all your paths.

PSALM 23:1-3; GENESIS 2:2-3; LUKE 1:79

Why accept being discontent when you (like Paul) can learn to be content in all things?

Philippians 4:11

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Contentment Is a State of Mind

I believe that contentment is almost 100% in the mind. Just look at Paul’s life to see why I say that. He learned the secret to being content in hunger and in need (Phil. 4:12). Notice that it was something he had to learn and that it didn’t come naturally, so it won’t likely come naturally to us either. Twice in Philippians chapter four, Paul says that he had to learn to be contented. To live in contentment or discontentment is a choice and is not really dependent upon circumstances; we just tend to think it is. If it were, Paul could have never endured all that he went through and still lived a contented life.

Contentment Is a Choice

Just as we can choose eternal life or death (John 3:16-18), so too can we choose to be contented or not. God gave Israel the freedom to choose either life or death (Deut. 11:26). He never forced them to choose, and neither will He force us to choose to either to be in a state of contentment or live in a state of discontentment. I know a few people who choose to live a life of discontentment, and they are not a lot of fun to be around. The strange thing is that two people in particular I know who are doing well financially are not very contented at all, proving the fact that money doesn’t buy happiness or contentment. Like contentment, happiness is a choice of the will and isn’t dependent upon our circumstances in life. If contentment or happiness depended on the possessions of life, then most in the world would be in a perpetual state of discontentment because they don’t have as much as those of us who live in the West.

Godliness Is Contentment

It is better to have a dry crust of bread in a peaceful house than to have a feast in one where there’s strife (Prov. 17:1). If you live in a home that is full of hate, a side of beef couldn’t even make it better (Prov. 15:17). That might explain why Paul told Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). Money and possessions will all be gone someday, but those who do the will of the Father will have everlasting life. If we have food and clothing, shouldn’t that be enough (1 Tim. 6:8)? Pursing riches only leads to heartache and destruction (1 Tim. 6:9-10), but if we are satisfied with seeking first the kingdom–and that means seeking first the King of the kingdom–God will meet every one of our needs, anyway (Matt. 6:33). Isn’t that good enough? Why accept living in discontentment when you can learn to be content in whatever situation you find yourself in?

A Closing Prayer

God, You always provide for my every need, so forgive me for the times when I show discontentment with my life. It shows You just how ungrateful I am. Help me to live a life of contentment because You are always better to me than I truly deserve, and in Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Why should you ever feel alone when I said I am with you always?

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Never Will I Leave You

The Book of Hebrews tells us that God will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us (Heb. 13:5). The author of Hebrews is apparently quoting Deuteronomy 31:6, which says something very similar but adds something more in speaking to Joshua. God tells him to be courageous and have no fear or dread of the enemy because God is not going to leave him or Israel. The word “never” is very easy to understand, but so is the fact that God promises to never forsake us either. The word forsake means “to abandon” or “to desert.” That’s a very strong promise of God, and since we know that God cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18), we can pillow our head tonight with this assurance. So my question to you is, why should you ever feel alone?

Christ Is in You

Every one who has been born again has Christ in them, and the Holy Spirit has given us life because we’ve been made right with God (Rom. 8:10). With Christ in us, we have the coming hope of glory, even after death (Col. 1:27), so even in death Christ will still be with us. It’s not just us anymore who lives but Jesus Christ Who lives in us (Gal. 2:20) and dwells in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17). These beliefs make us realize that Christ cannot deny Himself, and since we know He is in us, we should never feel alone.

God Is Ever-Present

God never promises to keep us away from the storms of life. He never promises to take us around them. He never promises to take us up and over them. What He does promise is to go through them with us, as He is an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:10). He will go with us through the valleys of the shadows of death and promises He will be with us in them, which is why we should have no fear of evil at all (Psalm 23:4). He does not say that He will leave us during these times in the valleys. So why should you ever feel alone when Jesus has said that He is with us always, even to the very end of this present age (Matt. 28:20)?

A Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for always being there for me and promising to never leave me or forsake me, even in the times when I forsake You. Thank You for Your promise to take me through the storms in this life, and for that I praise You. In the name above all names, Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen

God's Help in Tough Times

I'm convinced that my life is not a series of random events. I believe, Father, that you are working all things together for good purposes in my life as I trust in you. And I know that includes the long, dark valleys as well as the mountaintop experiences. Of course I can always see that more clearly in retrospect, but I have learned, too, to trust that this is the case even when I am in the middle of something painful and distressing.

God is a great listener and encourager. David

and Job complained to God in their misery, but

they always "landed on their feet" when they were 

done, finding God to be the comfort they needed. 

Too Bad?

The people who wander into darkness often

have a sense of being "too bad" to ever be

accepted back into God's grace. When we assure

them of our unconditional love, while still

holding them to the truth, it can help them

glimpse God's own heart of love for them.

PSALM 3:3-4 NIV

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
--PSALM 3:3-4 NIV

Lord, losing a loved one to a destructive path is almost like a death! The person we love seems to disappear, and we struggle to find ways to show this person love without supporting the things that are destroying them. It's such a helpless feeling to watch a loved one self-destruct. I pray for the person on my mind right now who is going the wrong way. I ask you to intervene, to show me how to love them best even if they misunderstand that love, and to keep them safe as you work in their situation to draw them into your saving grace.

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
- 1 PETER 5:10 NIV

I don't know how much longer you will grant me life, Father. Our journey here is just that-a journey with a beginning and an end. We don't get to see our beginning in the sense of remembering it. But sometimes we see our end as it approaches. Then those vague thoughts about what comes next come in sharp focus. We take stock of our journey-what has and hasn't been done, said, or accomplished. We prepare, we mourn, we say good-bye. There is one thing that doesn't change, though-one thing that is sweet and constant along the path of life: the assurance of your love and of the eternal home with you that you have prepared for those who love you. Help me, even in the valley of the shadow of death, to keep that reality in view with eyes of steadfast faith.
*************************************************************************

Even as the reality of death closes in, the bright reality of eternal life opens up wide before our hope, as faith turns its face fully heavenward. 

Why?

Our minds search for reasons, Father. They grasp and grope and grapple to discover why. Yet tragedy doesn't send a card with its condolences or a letter of explanation as to why we are the ones it has visited. It just comes and overshadows our lives, takes things from us, turns our reality upside down. Sometimes it strikes quickly, leaving us numbed and trembling, while other times it seems to hang on like a bulldog, inflicting pain upon pain. I just don't understand this. I know in time some answers may emerge. But right now I need you to shelter me from the anger, frustration, fear, and doubt that rise up within me. I know you are not afraid of my struggle. You understand and you care. But I am afraid of losing my faith in your goodness and love for me. Hold me close, Father.

Psalm 50:15

Call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
-PSALM 50:15

Why is there evil in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? I hate these horrible things that plague our existence! Why don't you stamp out the pain and sorrow once and for all, Lord? What are you waiting for? Ah, Lord! I know evil was introduced into the world through a willful act against your truth and love. And since then it just keeps going on and getting worse. I also know that you have a plan to put an end to it all, but that you are patient as you wait for people who are estranged from you to return. Help me be an ambassador of your truth and love, to carry your light everywhere at all times, even where darkness seems to be prevailing.

Psalm 4:1 NIV

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

--PSALM 4:1 NIV

Father, you have said that those who wait for you will never be ashamed for having put their trust in you. So I call out to you in my distress, knowing that you hear me. As I pray and trust and wait for your merciful intervention--I know your timing is perfect but so often different than what I think it should be--to support me and hold me steady as you have so many times in the past.

Psalm 34:18 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
--PSALM 34:18 NIV

Will our pets be with us in heaven? The scriptures do not give a definitive answer about that. In fact, the writer of Ecclesiastes pondered whether the spirit of an animal ascends or not, and concluded that we simply don't know. Still, we have reason to hope that we'll see our favorite animal friends again.

How do I say good-bye to someone I've loved so much in this life, Father? To let them go, to live life with that empty spot where they once were feels so awkward and unnatural. It seems wrong to carry on without them. Something inside me shouts, "As if I could!" And yet I must, and I do, and it's so difficult. How do I find "normal" now in those places where we always stood together? Please help me. Carry me and grant me quiet healing that happens as grief takes its course. And please, even in this grief, let me find joy in the memories of our time together on this earth. 

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. What are you doing with today?

James 4:14

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

No Guarantees

We have no way of knowing when we will pass from this life to the next because we all have an appointment with death and then judgment (Heb. 9:27). So why not make every single day count? We are told to redeem the days and make the best use of our time (Eph. 5:16). I have gotten into the habit of saying “I will see you Sunday or Wednesday, if the Lord wills” because I cannot guarantee that I will do such and such the next week, not to mention tonight or tomorrow. I must submit to God, trust His will, and know that He is sovereign over my life and not me. That doesn’t mean I don’t plan or purpose to do things, but I ultimately know that God alone knows the future, and He always knows what’s best for me.

The Best-Laid Plans

We sometimes like to think that we are doing what we want and plan our own future, but the Word of God says that it is the Lord Who ultimately establishes our steps (Prov. 16:9). If we think along these lines, we can be more prepared when something different comes along and not be caught by surprise. That person you have been wanting to witness to might not even be here tomorrow, so we must tell others that today is their day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2) because tomorrow may never come, and we might not pass this way again and get a second chance to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

No Boasting About Tomorrow

Proverbs 27:1 tells us that we are not supposed to boast or brag about tomorrow because we cannot be sure “what a day may bring.” I can only do what I can do today, while it is still today, and live as much as I can in obedience to God. Pastor Charles Stanley often says, “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.” I think that’s very wise advice. We can only control our obedience and allow God to work out our future for what is best for us because He can even use bad things that happen to us for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28). God will make our footing sure if our ways please or delight Him (Psalm 37:23). I like to think that I am directing my own steps in life, but can anyone really understand their own way outside of the will of God (Prov. 19:21)?

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, please help me to trust You with tomorrow and to make the most of today because I don’t know the future like You do. I ask your patience when I run ahead of Your will, and please gently bring me back into Your will. In Christ’s precious name I pray.

Amen

Romans 8:31 NIV

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

ROMANS 8:31 NIV

Father, you've created a wonderful gift to humanity on the earth by giving us the animal kingdom, and especially pets we adopt and nurture and come to love as family members. But when we lose one of them, it's more painful to say good-bye than we like to admit. After all, these are friends that have loved us unconditionally and have trusted us so fully to take care of them. Their vulnerability is moving, and when they leave us, we grieve. Before when we grieved, they comforted us. Now that they're gone, the sorrow is compounded in their absence. We're sometimes afraid to make too much of it to others who may not understand, but with you there is no such fear. You gave them to us, knowing we would love them but eventually lose them, and so we look to you as our source of comfort when we grieve their passing.