Have you heard and believed the Gospel?

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,…
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
The Gospel story is really very simple to understand:
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit as the Son of God.
Jesus was Born of a virgin. (She had known no man)
Jesus lived a sinless life as a man. (God in the form of humanity-The WORD made flesh)
Jesus died on the Cross for the sin of ALL mankind once for ALL. (Don’t ask Him to do it again by praying and asking God to do something that is already done! like heal you, that was finished on the Cross! Thank Him for it instead.)
Jesus was buried.
Jesus was resurrected the third day by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. (where by He defeated death, hell, and the grave!)
Jesus is now seated on the right hand of God, where He forever makes intercession for us, the Saints. (Saints = Those who are born again by His Blood having made Him their Lord, not someone who has been pronounced a saint by the Pope!)

The grace of the Gospel is glorious to receive. He was made to be sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The sacrifice related to us in the Gospel is incomprehensible. He laid down His life ONCE for ALL of mankind. A sacrifice so pleasing to God that it surpassed and put an end to the Law (Ten Commandments and their Levitical Law requirements) for atoning for our sin. The victory of the Gospel is eternal. Eternal life with Him and with the Father, in heaven!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty Lord, thank You for the empty cross, the empty tomb and Jesus’ victory over death, hell, and the grave. Just as Jesus’ death pardoned my sin, carried away my sickness and disease, poverty, and depression, His resurrection assures my future with You. Thank You for Your grace and mercy and the glory that now prevails in my life. May my life today be lived by the power presented by and in the Gospel of Jesus and by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave into heaven, Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

God is faithful and keeps His Word!

The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
God is faithful and His covenant is a covenant of love not of hate or anger. The devil would love for you to think that God is a god of hate and anger toward you. No, God is a good God, He will not forsake us, but rather He will treat us better than we deserve. A covenant established with Abraham 430 years before the “Mosaic Law” (the core of which is the Ten Commandments) was given to Moses. A covenant that the “Law” could not and did not replace, but rather the “Law” only served as our guide & teacher unto Jesus. Just as any loving parent treats even a rebellious child better than they deserve, the only requirement to receive this covenant of love is that our hearts must be tuned to love and honor God as God. He only asks that we love Him and Keep His commandments, do what He said to do in His Word, daily. We must not think of Him as just a good luck charm or a weekly guest into our otherwise busy lives. What we do must be done in awareness that it is done before His eyes and must be done for Him! Everything we do must bring Glory and honor to Him as God. Remember this, God hears, sees, and knows what you think and do all the time, not just when you are praying or when you are in church. He even knows the thoughts of your heart!

MY PRAYER…
Father God, help us to understand Your ways. Help us to understand that You are not the one who brings evil or bad things upon us. But You are the one who will deliver us out of such things. You are He who will turn back our enemies and cause them to flee seven ways. For all good and perfect things come down from the Father of light. Thank You for the way You preserved Your promises to the Israelites and brought Jesus just as You promised. I trust Your promise to send Him back to bring me home to You. Please receive the deeds and words of this day as my thanks to You for Your covenant of love with me. Lord, help me to increase the effectiveness of my faith. In the name of Your Holy Child, Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Humble yourselves. That sounds ridiculous, why would I want to humble myself?

Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your
lives significant].
James 4:10 Amplified Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Humble yourselves. That sounds ridiculous, why would I want to humble myself? At least to the world and those that believe in “get ahead at all cost” and “don’t look back, the competition is gaining on you” it sounds ridiculous. But, humility is a forgotten virtue. Being humble doesn’t mean crawling off in the corner and letting the world walk all over you. Often confused with weakness or timidity, humility is about knowing your proper place in the spirit realm of God and in the world without flaunting it. Would you rather fall on the rock and be broken or have The Rock fall on you and crush you into many little pieces? Only God can exalt us in a permanent way, so the key is to know our place before Him and let Him put us in the place He chooses in order to bring honor to Him. Jesus said, “…If any man DESIRE to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) That’s humbling yourself. I had no desire to be a pastor, but God decided to put me in that position because it pleased Him.

MY PRAYER…
Abba Father, Most Holy God, thank You for allowing me into Your presence. When I think of all that You have done, the incredible universe You have made and hold together by Your Word, I am amazed that You would invite me into Your presence and care about my needs. I am in awe knowing You have a plan for my life that would please You. Help me this day to know my place in Your courts and Your presence. Help me to glorify You in what I do and say from this day forth. Let Your Holy Spirit lead and guide me in all things. Teaching me Your will and Your ways as we go.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Are you filled with the entire Godhead?

For in Him(Jesus) the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete
expression of the divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead
—Father, Son and Holy Spirit —and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and
power].
Col 2:9-10 Amplified Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
All the fullness of the Godhead (the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) dwells in Jesus Christ (as a man). I didn’t say that the Bible did. Remember He was the Word become flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God! (John 1:1) If the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and the Word was God, then Jesus is God bodily or in the form of humanity. Now if you are in Him and He is in you then you are complete in Him. Then we have the full power of the Godhead dwelling within us, if we are born again, if we are in Christ! Why aren’t we walking in the miracles that followed Jesus? We need to learn to put a demand on that power of God that dwells within us. Quit asking God to come and do something that He has already done and given you both the power and authority to do yourself in His place! We need to bring forth all the power of the Godhead when we speak or act according to the Word of God. We need to expect the same results that Jesus got, that Paul got, that Peter and John got at the gate beautiful. We need to walk in the fullness of that Godhead!. How has it come to pass that this isn’t happening? I’ll tell you why, because of the doctrines of men (religion) that have crept stealthily into the Church over the ages from the very beginning. Because of the doctrines of men keep telling us the power has passed away. Do you know why they say this? They don’t know the Word and they don’t know how to walk in it, so they tell us it’s passed away. That’s not what it says in His Word! It’s time to get them (the wrong doctrines) out and Christ back in! Remember, All that really matters is “Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection on high!” The same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. (If you are a born again Christian).

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, help me to understand the fullness of Your power that dwells within me. Give me a revelation of what it is like and what it is for. Help me to put aside all things of the natural that hinder me and to learn to expect the same results that Jesus and the early church got when they applied Your Word to sickness, disease, and evil spirits. Lord, let the power of Your Holy Spirit manifest itself fully in all that I do and say so that the world will see the Glory of the Lord manifested bodily. But always remind me (caution me) to guard my heart and to give You all the Glory and all the honor. Father I will that Your Kingdom come and Your will be done here, now, on earth as it already is in heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Do you follow Jesus’ example?

In as much then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
Hebrews 2:14-16 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Jesus became flesh and blood just as man had become so that He could share in what we have to go through. He came and showed us how to overcome as a man. He defeated death, hell, and the grave as a mortal man, but filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Did you get that? A mortal man defeated the devil, death, hell, & the grave. Just as you and I should be and can do! He came and showed us how to be victorious while we were still here on the earth in these mortal bodies. Yes it will all be better in the sweet by and by, but my Bible says I can have heaven on earth now, so why wait? And notice He doesn’t give aid to the angels, but to us who are of the seed of Abraham. Born again, faith believing, Holy Spirit filled Christians, who walk the talk. Oh, but He does give His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. Do you call on your angels according to the Word? You can you know according to the Word of God and they will harken unto you to fulfill God’s Word in our lives. Thank God for His Jesus and our angels!

MY PRAYER…
All Mighty Father, Thank You for sending us Your Son as an example of how we were to overcome, for showing us how to be victorious. Thank You for showing us that it was a mortal man, just like myself, who full of Your Holy Spirit, subsequent to being born again, defeated the Devil, death, hell, and the grave. Thank You Father for sending us Your Holy Spirit through Jesus. For giving us the strength through Your Holy Spirit that is within us and upon us. In the mighty name of Jesus, Lord I pray and I give You all glory and honor.
Amen

Do you look unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith?

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
If you have surrounded yourself with other believers, those of like precious faith rather than those who are of the world it will be much easier to cast aside the burdens and cares of this world (and the sins of the flesh). You can’t party Friday with the world and expect to cast aside the sins of the flesh. You also can’t be around so-called believers who don’t understand the Bible correctly or who are spouting doctrines of men instead of God’s Holy Word! If you are NOT around unbelief and sin it is much easier to run the race that Jesus has set before you. He knows the race, He knows the course, and He knows the outcome (the finish.) He wrote your life before you were born! Look unto Him and He will lead and guide you giving you the strength to finish the race. Don’t look unto the world or wolves within the church for your guidance. Jesus will give you the strength to cast aside that which would cause you to stumble and fall and to be caught up again in sin. Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the only way unto the Father in Heaven. The Only Way!

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father, Author and Finisher of my destiny, take my life and my every breath and help me to use it for Your glory. May my words and actions from this day forward be a product of looking unto Jesus. Looking unto what He has already done for me and taking it and using it to finish my race. May all that I do in life be to the glory of Your Kingdom. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen

Have you received the divine nature of God Himself according to His Word?

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
God made us in His image & Likeness (character and holiness.) We are called to participate in the divine nature of God Himself according to His Word. He has promised that if we have died with Christ in baptism, then we have been seated in heavenly places with Christ by His Spirit. We are assured that we will escape the corruption and destruction destined for the world. He is not a respecter of persons. His promises are sure. He does not lie nor change His mind. But, the condition to receiving these promises is this: If we will hearken unto His Word and follow it wholeheartedly, always, everyday, all day, then we will reap the Promises He has made to us!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty God, my Everlasting Fortress, thank You for giving me Your great and precious promises. Help me Lord to understand them and to walk them out in my life. I long to know You more fully and be able to see Your face today, just as I believe I will one day. Thank You for giving me the means to protect myself and my heart from this world’s corruption. Lord, help me by Your Holy Spirit to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. Lord help to manifest the fruits of the Spirit in my life. In all love and appreciation I pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen

Are you imitating God, Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery

Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery you can bestow on anyone. God must have wanted us to be imitators of Him, after all He created us in His image (Gen 1:26). If we are to sincerely flatter God by being like Him, we must be prepared for the cost as well. You see, love for God is never something that occurs just in our minds or our hearts. Love is something we do for another — it is an action. John said in 1 John 4 that we must love in both our deeds and our words. Love means to give ourselves up — what we want, our rights, our desires — so that we can honor God and serve others. This is true ‘AGAPE’, the God kind of love, not an emotional or physical love. This is a kind of love that can change the world, or a marriage, or a family, or the lost. This is the kind of love whereby Jesus said: “and I lay down my life for the sheep.” Are you willing to lay your life down for someone, a brother, a sister, a father, or maybe a wife or husband, what about a friend or a neighbor, maybe even someone you don’t even know? God says we must be imitators of Him!

MY PRAYER…
Abba Father, I will never fully understand how You could love me so much that You would allow Your only begotten Son to die for me as my sacrifice and substitute. Please help me love others as sacrificially as You have loved me. I know the power to do this is not within me, so please pour Your love into my heart through Your Holy Spirit so that I may share that love with others. Through Jesus, my Lord, my brother and my sacrifice, I pray.
Amen

You were predestined to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ!

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:4-6 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
He chose us when? How long ago? Before the foundation of the world is a long long long time ago! He decided that we should be holy and without blame and decided to adopt us into His family. In order to do that He sent His Son Jesus to purchase us back from the very pit of hell. Jesus paid the price for our sin, a very costly price I might add. Jesus came and paid the price once for all (that’s one time for everyone everywhere He won’t do it again don’t ask Him to) that we might be able to live according to the Father’s good will. It is a gift, you can not earn it, all you have to do is receive it. Will you receive that gift and walk before Jesus blameless? The choice is yours to make.

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father, thank You for rescuing me from all the evil things that are in this world. Thank You Lord for Your Son and the price You paid by the Blood of Jesus. Father, I thank You that I can come boldly into Your throne room and receive mercy and grace from You. Thank You, Father, for the anguish and pain that it cost You to forgive my sins by the Blood of Your Son. Thank You that You were willing to make a way where there was no way. Thank You for giving Your very best. I pledge today that I will not take lightly the cost of ridding me of sin and will live in appreciation of Your grace. Through Him who sacrificed all for my salvation I pray. Thank You Jesus.
Amen

Have you been disciplined recently by God?

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline from the Lord), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Hebrews 12:5-6, 8 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Even our natural fathers disciplined us, why should we expect any less from our Heavenly Father. This does NOT mean God is a cruel mean ogre! It only means He wants the best for you because He loves you. Sometimes what He gave us to take care of is taken away because we have failed to listen to Him about how He wants us to take care of it because we have lost sight of the original purpose. When the work of the ministry becomes more about the money than about the Gospel and the Sheep, then it’s time to be disciplined. We must remember that God has only entrusted us with the care of His sheep NOT the ownership of them. Therefore if we are not doing His will as far as caring for them and feeding them, then God will take them away and give them to someone else to care for! This is also known as discipline because He loves us and His ‘Sheep’. I want to know my Father loves me, I want to know I have been made His son. Because if I am not His son and He is not disciplining me then whose son am I? There is only one other possibility and that is the Devil as a father, and I for one don’t want that. Remember Jesus told the Pharisees: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. “(John 8:44) So, whose son/daughter are you? If you are not receiving discipline from God then I would be worried if I were you.

MY PRAYER…
Most Holy God, I give You praise and glory forever. Father I thank You for Your discipline and Your love, for Your correction and chastisement. I thank You Lord that those whom You love and accept as sons, You correct. I want to be corrected by You, so that I am doing the things You would have me to do. Lord I accept Your correction and Your rebukes when necessary, but I also cherish and receive Your Fatherly love. For You do not rebuke without also sending love. In the mighty name of Jesus, Father, I give You praise and glory forever.
Amen