Is Jesus proclaiming you before the Father?

If, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.
Romans 5:10 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Jesus didn’t just die for my sins, He lives for me. In fact, He is at God’s right hand right now, claiming me as His own (see 1 John 2:1-2). He is telling the Father, “That one, Pastor Duane, he’s mine Dad, I bought him with my Blood!” He is delivering me daily from sin’s dominion through His resurrection. If He was willing to die to save me, what will He withhold from me now that He lives, victorious over death and lives in me? Nothing, all that He had and has He has given freely unto me. Everything Jesus was and is today is also mine in & through Him!

MY PRAYER…
Holy and Righteous Father, I thank You for Jesus, who is at Your side and who knows my heart, my struggles, and the world that I am in. I thank You for Your constant care and protection through all of my difficulties and struggles. I thank You for all of the triumphs I have through Jesus and Your Holy Spirit. Please make Your presence known even more clearly today than ever before as I strive to serve You with wholehearted devotion. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Is your life bearing the fruit of a Christian (Christ-like) walk?

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:17-20 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
In this parable Jesus was using a fruit tree as an example of men. He was really talking about those who say they are His, but aren’t bearing the fruit of a Christ-like walk. There are many who claim to be Christians (“Christ-like”), but really they aren’t. They may have accepted Jesus as their savior, but have they really made Him the Lord over their lives? NO. Do they really fellowship with Him and serve Him daily? NO. They are really just punching their religious time clocks on Sunday mornings thinking that’s all it takes to be a Christian and you’re on your way to heaven. If that’s so, then they are in for a big surprise come judgment day, especially if they aren’t walking the talk! It’s one thing to know about Jesus, but it is a totally different thing to actually
KNOW Jesus! To know Jesus you must have a daily if not continual relationship with Him. Those who don’t have a daily relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost don’t know Him, and that’s what being a Christian is all about! Notice what He says will happen to them, they will be cut down and cast into the fire. Could He possibly mean that eternal lake of fire? If you read on in that chapter you’ll see that He says, “Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but (or only) he that does the will of my Father in heaven.” Do you walk the walk or just talk the talk? Your fruit will let us know!

MY PRAYER…
Most Holy Father, thank You for Your mercy and Your grace. Thank You for Your Son and the Blood He shed for me. Praise You Father, for You are worthy of ALL our praise. Father, let Your Holy Spirit fill me fresh each day with Your precious power. That same power that fell on the day of Pentecost. That same power that gave such boldness to Peter and Stephen and the rest of Your early church. Power to bear forth fruit in this earthly life. Power to be able to separate myself from this world and consecrate myself unto You. I thank You Father that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever and that we are still in the same dispensation of mercy and grace and power as the early church was following Pentecost. Thank You Lord for enduing me with power from on high to be a witness unto You and to serve You day by day. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Do you want God’s divine healing in your life?

And said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
Exodus 15:26 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
First let me give you the correct and proper translation of the Hebrew here: “I will allow none of the diseases to be brought on you…” Do you want the blessings of God in your life, do you want God’s divine healing in your life, Do you want God’s very best for you and your family? You need the ‘Wisdom’ of God to understand how His system works. He tells us in His Word how to get it. Trouble is most of us are too busy listening to the things of this earthly world (desires, lusts and earthly greed) to give heed to His voice and His will for us so that we can even know what He wants us to do. We don’t realize that He speaks to us in many different ways. Sometimes through a friend or co-worker, sometimes through His ministers (your pastor – you do have one right?), sometimes through an e-mail, or a phone call, sometimes just by that still small voice in our spirit. Most of you think that still small voice is just our own conscience, WRONG, that is God’s Spirit, His still small voice trying to guide us by speaking to our spirit. Trouble is we very seldom listen, especially when we are so caught up in things that will one day (and very soon) perish instead of laying up treasures and spiritual things in heaven. Al He asks is that you “diligently” (means: constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything:) heed His Word. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord!

MY PRAYER…
Father God, I thank You for giving us a choice in this life. We can choose Your way or we can choose the World’s way. You allow us to choose life or to choose death. But You tell us which we should choose. Your way leads to health and all things that pertain to life and Godliness. The World’s way leads to sickness, disease, poverty, lack, death and eternal destruction. I choose life, Lord. I purpose from this day forward Lord to diligently pursue life and Godliness through You and Your Word. Lord increase my strength in these areas through the power of Your Holy Spirit that I may have the power to overcome. Lord I realize that I can of myself do nothing, but that all things are possible through Jesus Christ

Amen

Does the Word of God abide in you?

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
John 15:7-8 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
E.W. Kenyon once made this observation:
“When the spirit is in perfect fellowship with the Lord, faith is as natural as breathing.”
E.W. Kenyon

If My Words abide in You, Jesus speaking. The BIBLE is the living Word of God. God’s living Word abiding in you is how your spirit will walk in perfect fellowship with God and your faith will become as natural as your breathing. When you are walking in perfect fellowship with God you will know that you know that you know that you know that you know, that whatever you ask will be given you. The Bible is our manual for life, given to us by God to direct our lives while we live out this earthly existence in this fleshly shell, this earth suit, this house we call a body. We are spirit and we only live in this body for a short time, and we have a soul (our intellect). When we walk according to His Word and we listen to the ‘still small voice’ as God whispers to us, we will bear much fruit.
I like Acronyms.

B…asic
I…nstructions
B…efore
L…eaving
E…arth

MY PRAYER…
Abba Father, Most Holy God, thank You for Your Word. Help instill in me a genuine desire in my heart for more of You and Your Word. Father, put a fire in my belly that can’t be quenched. Cause Your Word to come alive inside of me as I feed on it. Send forth Your revelation knowledge and wisdom as I meditate Your Words that were written to me and are being written in me. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Who do you trust in for your strength?

So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].
Isaiah 26:4 Amplified Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
When we see mountains we feel small, knowing not only how much larger they are than we, but also how much longer they have been in existence than we have. But the Lord existed long before any mountain and He will exist long after the mountains have melted into nothing. For the hills melt like wax at the presence of the Lord. The only rock of security, and all the for-evers we have, are found in Him. Only through the strength and power we have in and through Him can we move those mountains and cause them to melt like wax. But, He says: “With God, ALL things are possible.” Remember yesterday when Jesus said He ask the Father and He would give Him more than 12 legions of Angels. Well everything Jesus did in the Bible was there to be an example fort us. That means I/you can call on the Father and He would also give you more than 12 legions of Angels if there was a legitimate need for them in your life!! I have seen this happen. There is NO other God like Him.

MY PRAYER…
Great and Eternal I Am, who was and is and will be forever, I trust that You are and will always be my God, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Shepherd, my Provider, my Healer, my Banner, my Strength, and my Father. I commit all of my tomorrows to You. Here I am Lord, take me and do with me what You will Lord, for I am Yours.
Through Jesus my Lord.
Amen

Did you know, The Lord our God loads His children daily with benefits?

Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!
Selah
Psalm 68:19 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Did you comprehend what He (God) just said in His scripture to us? That the Lord our God will load us daily with His benefits, He didn’t say sickness, disease, depression, and poverty. And He didn’t say just some, He said He would ‘load’ us, that means a lot! He has even provided us with salvation. The Hebrew word translated as salvation here is; H3444. yeshuw’ah, yesh-oo’-aw; fem. pass. part. of H3467; something saved, i.e. (abstr.) deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity:–deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.
Notice that among the many things that the translator could have used and should have used are victory, prosperity, deliverance, health, and welfare or well being. All of these are part of our salvation. Don’t just reach into the gift box and take out one thing, take it ALL! I feel sorry for those people whose churches do NOT teach the ‘full meal deal’ concerning salvation! Being saved and having eternal life means nothing here and now unless you also have victory, prosperity, deliverance, health, and well being. These are ALL some of God’s benefits that He already gave us! You do NOT have to wait until you are in Heaven for these things. What good are they to you then? The Bible says: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) All of these are part of our salvation. There is NO sickness and disease in Heaven. There is NO lack in Heaven. There is NO defeat in Heaven. That means we shouldn’t have any here and now either if Matthew 6:10 is true, and God’s Word is always true! He did this for me before I ever loved Him! He loads us daily with His benefits. “Blessed be the Lord, my God!”

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father God, thank You for the air I breath, the blood that pumps through my veins, and the Spirit of life that You have breathed into me. Thank You Father for loving me before I ever loved You. For loving me so much that You sent Jesus, Your only begotten Son, to take my place on the cross. To bear that which I was due, that I might have life and life more abundantly. Thank You for loading me daily with benefits and good things. Thank You Lord, that You are the God of more than enough! Thank You Father, for Your saving grace and Your mercy unto me. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen

Receive God’s promises for today in your life!

Promises from God:
God promises us His spiritual blessings in and through His Word.
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. (Psalms 119:89 NKJV) If His Word says it it is true –just believe that!
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8 NKJV) The Word of God is forever, it never changes nor does it diminish in power.

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 NKJV) The Word of God when spoken in faith will cause to happen that which was spoken – believe it!

Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word. (Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV) If you will speak His Word God is ready and willing to perform it for you!

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:25 NKJV)
Remember Spiritual blessings are positional truths declared by the Word of God. It is up to us through our faith to activate them and receive them. To make them a practical reality in our lives.

Does your Love endure forever?

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1 and 26 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Our thanks arise from the nature of God and His glory, His goodness, His mercy, and His love that He has bestowed upon us and through our faith in Jesus placed within us. The very reason we give thanks is because God is good and His love endures forever, it is beyond decay, and it never fails. If we have given ourselves to Him and have become children of God, He has placed His love (AGAPE love) within us and it should endure forever. We should therefore exhibit His Love in everything we do or say. For His Love we are eternally thankful!

MY PRAYER…
Oh Lover of my soul, thank You for sending Jesus as the demonstration of Your love. I love You Father. I love You for who You are and what You have done. I love You for what You have promised. I love You for the blessings You shower upon me. I love You for giving me hope. I love You because You first loved me. I love You because You are worthy of all my love. But I confess that my love is not as strong as Yours, so please, fill me with Your love by the power of the Holy Spirit. Cause my love to be as Your Love is. In Jesus’ name I lift my heart to You.
Amen

Jesus says: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you!

[Jesus said,] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:43-45 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God; forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with Him, healing for our bodies, prosperity, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. One of the greatest privileges we get, however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character and nature of God Himself. God is Love! Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a true child of God to return a blessing and a prayer for their enemies who hate and abuse them. The last bit of the above verse (since it is a part of the entire verse) also indicates, according to the Bible, that this action of loving, blessing, and praying for those who hate and despitefully use us is a necessary action needed to become a son (daughter) of God. “Faith without works is dead!” Works = corresponding actions, actions involved in doing the Word of God. Because in doing the Word of God do you work out your salvation through His grace, You become as He is.

MY PRAYER…
Father, thank You for loving me when I was still an enemy to You. Thank You for risking the death of Your Son to offer me the chance to accept or reject Your love. As You have promised, You are pouring Your love into my heart so I may love even my enemies as You have loved me. Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to love everyone just as Jesus did and even now still does. Help me Lord to show that true AGAPE love to all I meet. Through Jesus, the gift of Your love, I pray.
Amen

Do you have control of your mind, your thoughts?

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Our actions follow our thoughts just like a heat-seeking missile follows the hot exhaust of a jet fighter plane’s engine. Therefore we must be very careful what it is that we are thinking on. God’s Word says take no thought saying. There is a very good reason for that, if our actions follow our thoughts, then we must be careful what we think on and then speak on. That means that when you speak something you have taken a thought and put it into action. Our words create a power that will bring to pass an action, be it good or bad depending on what was spoken. So in a day and age when so much of the things around us distract us, fills our minds, and trains us to find and dwell on the negative in life, we must aggressively think and pursue the character, the qualities, and the things of life that Jesus teaches us about and that He patterned His Life after. We must learn to get our focus off the negative things of this world and onto the positive things of Jesus in our life and in the promises of God for us. They’re ours, He has already given them to us! We need to make sure that every word that comes forth out our mouths lines up with God’s Word and not with the worldly things around us. For what proceeds from our mouth is the confession we make and is the thoughts we have taken to heart!

MY PRAYER…
Holy and Magnificent Father, thank You for being better than anything this world can offer me. Thank You for calling me out of this world and to a higher standard than the world accepts. Thank You for giving me the promise of a better future than any human can ever imagine. Thank You Lord for all things that pertain to life and Godliness. Thank you for giving me such a high calling through the blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ holy name I pray.
Amen