God – Page 16 – Godinterest

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022

God Says I Love You

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in Africa at night reflecting on my life. I looked up and It was amazing. The lights, the stars and the bright moon all seemed so surreal as they shouted “I love you, Ray!”. Throughout my life, I see God’s love even amid chaos. There is tremendous power in love! In the same way that a tree will grow taller and stronger when its roots grow deep, we will be stronger and rise higher when we are rooted and grounded in God’s love.

Love is a choice. When you say “yes” to God, you are saying “yes” to love, because God is love! According to 1 Corinthians 13. Loves means being patient and kind. It means not seeking your way, not being jealous or boastful. When you choose love instead of choosing to hate, you are showing the world that God holds first place in your life. The more you choose to love, the stronger your spiritual roots will grow.

Today, I remind you, that love is the greatest principle and it’s the currency of heaven. Love will last throughout eternity. Choose to love today, and let it be strong in your heart. Let His love build security in you, and empower you to live the life of kindness, patience and peace God has for you.

“…May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.”(Ephesians 3:17, AMP)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, today and every day, I choose love. Father, show me how to love You and others the way You love me. Give me patience and kindness. Take away selfishness, jealousy and pride. God, thank You for setting me free and empowering me to live the life You have for me, in Christ’s name! Amen.

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022

Your Faith Will Meet Your Needs

Many people think that when they have a need, God will just automatically meet it. Though Christ definitely could, He is intentional with stating “According to your faith” it will be done, not “according to your demand” it will be done. This small distinction makes a big difference in how we interact with and understand God. Faith is the key.

Remember, if we want God to move in our lives, we have to approach every day filled with faith and hope. How do we get this faith and hope? The Scripture tells us in Romans that “faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” This means, that the more we indulge in listening to and reading God’s word, the more our faith will grow. Consequently, the greater your faith, the more you will be able to maintain hope in your trials and acknowledge God’s hand in your life.

Today, know that God longs to bless you. He has given you everything you need to be successful in life. God longs to meet our needs, so rest assured that even if they are not met just yet, or in the manner you’d desire, His timing and methods are perfect and tailor-made to meet our truest needs. Believe in His goodness today and take a step of faith toward the life of blessing He has prepared for you.

“According to your faith be it done to you.” (Matthew 9:29, ESV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your hand of blessing on my life today. I open my heart to You and trust that You have a good plan for me. Lord, I receive the twin gifts of faith and hope. God, give me a heart filled with expectancy and trust, that today You will meet all my needs and grant me peace, in Christ’s name! Amen.

September 9, 2022January 16, 2023

Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Good morning Everyone, We have all heard the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

She served this country for 70 years and demonstrated her faith in Jesus through these years. I personally thank God for the dignity, grace and humility in which she served.

At this time, I would like to share my condolences to everyone for I recognise we are all impacted by the passing of the Queen. I would also like to encourage us all to be kind and compassionate to each other as we acknowledge and process this loss, as we reflect on the end of an era and the beginning of an unknown era.

Let us be reminded of our call to be the light and salt of the earth when there is so much uncertainty. Let us be living representatives of God’s love for all mankind.

Let’s hold on to the faith and hope that we have in Christ Jesus that He is coming again, sharing this love and hope with others so that they too will know – we serve a living Saviour.

God bless you Church of the Living God. Pastor Sophia Peart

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022

Spiritually Boring

Life has a way of becoming boring and mundane – it needs some freshening up from time to time. Today may be the day to stir up what God has placed inside you. It’s time to stir up those gifts, stir up those dreams, and stir up those talents on the inside. Start stretching yourself. This doesn’t just mean making resolutions; this means tapping into the destiny God has placed in your heart.

To begin with, you must have something to freshen up or stir up. Scripture tells us that without vision, people perish. If you don’t have a dream, you’re not really living the way God intends; you’re merely existing. Maybe at one time, you had a dream, but you went through some disappointments or setbacks. Things didn’t turn out the way you planned. But here’s a key: when one dream dies, dream another dream. Just because it didn’t work out the way you had it planned doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have another plan.

Today, you cannot allow one disappointment, or even a series of disappointments, to convince you that your dream is over. It’s time to dig your heels in and hold on to the promises in your heart. As you stir up those God-given dreams and desires, He’ll pour out fresh favour and blessings in your life, and fulfil every desire in your heart!

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…” (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV)

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, I come to You. I give You my past, my disappointments and my brokenness. Father, please remove spiritual boredom from me, I’m tired of the mundane routine my life has become. God, stir up my dreams or give me the creativity through Your Spirit to dream again. Fill me with hope and expectation, as I fulfil the dreams and desires that You have placed within me, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022

True Freedom

We aren’t bound to news feeds, opinions, and news reports. Statistics don’t have the final say in our lives. Christ does. He reigns over all because He defeated death on our account. Seated at the right hand of the Father, the name above every other name, Jesus Christ determined our freedom.

We will never forget the last few years, but it isn’t the first time a generation has looked their freedom in eye and wondered what would become of it. God reigns over all that threatens to steal our peace, hope, and freedom. Christ, promised never to leave us. And though our world feels out of control, God holds the reigns. We may not understand what’s happening or know who or what to believe on this earth. But we can unwaveringly trust God. He is unchanging, rock-solid, dependable, and aware of what is happening on earth.

Today don’t forget where our true freedom comes from. Not a country. Not leaders, nor policies. It isn’t dependent on a clean bill of health or an accumulation of wealth, nor does it fluctuate with crypto coins. Freedom was established on the cross, through Jesus’ death and resurrection. He sits at the right hand of the Father. Our hope is not in this willy-nilly world full of false hope of money and pretences built on shaky ground. No, our freedom is in Christ. Saviour of the world. He has already won the battle. And when we live each day in pursuit of Jesus, we get to experience pure freedom and hope.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 NIV

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank you for setting me free. Father Freedom is something I won’t let the world define, and I won’t fall victim to its false pretences. It is in Christ I find true freedom, defined by His grace. God as I struggle through a year that has brought many daily routines, lives, and jobs to a halt, I pray for Your encouragement and wisdom. Lord help me to hear Your truth above all the noise and news. Give me the ability to know what is true, and what to do. Guide my next steps and fill my heart with grace and compassion towards others. In Your powerful Name, I pray, Amen.

September 7, 2022September 7, 2022

Identity Crisis

Liking yourself is hard sometimes. You can watch your friends on Snapchat, Insta or Facebook, see their profiles and start to think, man I wish my life was more like theirs. It’s easy to start comparing what you have and who you are to them and begin to feel like you don’t measure up to them. Liking yourself and thinking positive about yourself can be really challenging. So how do you begin liking yourself when you feel like you don’t measure up to those around you?

3 tips to help boost your self-esteem.

1. Do a reality check – This can be really tough to do, but take a realistic look at your situation. You might feel like no one really cares about you, but is that true? It’s easy to constantly let something someone said or did make you think that no one cares about you. More than likely, you have a ton of people who really do care about you. You have parents, siblings, grandparents, and most importantly God that care about you. So when you think you’re all alone and that no one cares, do a reality check and realize that in reality, you have people that care about you.

2. You are what you think so check your thoughts – It’s easy to get into a negative pattern of thinking about yourself. You can start to believe lies that you’re worthless, or that your life doesn’t matter. Nothing could be farther from the truth. When these thoughts come, recognize them for what they are…lies. Take the necessary steps to switch your thoughts from negative patterns of thinking to positive ones.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:8 (NLT) “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Checking to make sure your thoughts are good ones is an important step to winning the battle for your self-esteem.

3. See yourself as God sees you – Decide to begin to see yourself as God sees you. He doesn’t see you as a failure, as a loser or as anything bad you might think you are. He sees you as important. You’re so important that if you were the only person in the world He would have sent his son to die for you. Your life matters to God. He knows everything about you and cares about everything important to you.

Today remember God thinks so much about you that the Bible says his thoughts about you can’t be numbered.

Psalm 139:17 (NLT) – “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!”

I can count pretty high, so the idea that God thinks about you so much that those thoughts can’t be numbered just goes to show how much He cares about you. So, decide to see yourself as God sees you. Choose to base your worth on how God feels about you. Most of all learning to love yourself.

Lets Pray
Yahweh, the battle for my self-esteem and self-worth is very real. Father, I believe that with Your help and trust in your word, I can change my thinking and come out fighting against my negative thoughts, and win the battle of self-love in Christ’s name Amen!

September 5, 2022September 5, 2022

Don’t Let It Expire

One day I received a gift card that I stored in a special place for so long that I forgot I had it. Most gift cards have an expiration date, and if you don’t use them, you will surely lose them! The same is true with the Word of God. No, the Word doesn’t ever expire, but we must act and use His Word to receive His promises. Just like you exchange your gift card for the things you need at the store, His Word gives you the power to receive every promise He has for you.

When you declare His Word and keep your heart and mind open to Him, you are using the gift. You are opening the door for Him to move in your life. For example, if you’re facing lack in any area, receive the gift of provision by declaring, my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). If there’s a mountain in your way, receive the gift of victory that says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Today and every day, use the gift He’s given you. Make His Word a priority and don’t let it depart from your mouth or your blessings expire. As you do, He’ll make your way prosperous, and you’ll enjoy the abundant life He has for you!

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8, NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which is truth to set me free. Father, I determine in my heart to use my gifts before the expiration date and set Your Word into motion in my life. God, keep me close to You so that I can please You in everything I do, in Christ’s name! Amen.

September 1, 2022September 5, 2022

We have Super powers

Did you know that you have a superpower? Yes! Jesus has proclaimed us all to be Super Heroes! We can move mountains with our mind! We can cause seas to part! We can kill fig trees….? Ok, that last one doesn’t seem so glamorous but you get the point right?

Jesus says “when you pray believe and you shall receive” Wow that’s so crazy, But let’s not get carried away here! We must remember that Jesus surrendered his will to his Heavenly Father “…not my will, but thine be done” His will and his Father’s will were one. So when we claim the promise or when we use our superpower of faith, believing that God will truly bless us with that nice car or fancy job or great apartment, we must ask ourselves ‘Is this the Father’s will or will it enhance the Kingdom”

The bible clearly states that anything we ask and I mean ANYTHING we ask, believing in faith that it will happen according to His will. God will grant it unto us. That is the power of faith! God desires the best for his children. He wants to see us happy; however, with great faith comes great responsibility. Many times we pray and believe in faith that something will happen that isn’t in accordance with God’s will. As Christians we must first ask “God, is this what you want for me?” and then pray in faith “If it is your will, I trust and believe that it will happen.”

Today consider the fig tree in scripture as an example Jesus uses to prove His point, that when we believe, pray and have great faith we can trust that God will do everything that we ask of him, once it is in accordance with this will. So go out there today and crush mountains with your bare hands! Break down barriers with your mind! And face the enemy with the power of faith! Super Christians Faith!

“Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and shall ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank you for your promises. Father I believe and trust in your promises. Lord, Show me your will, that I may walk only in your will by faith. God, please help me to trust you more each day in Christ’s name Amen.

August 31, 2022September 5, 2022

Stop Running

When faced with hard times we take off running. We tend to run from anything hard. We run from our problems. We run from responsibility. We run from people we don’t like or have a conflict with. We run from our past. We run from anything that makes us uncomfortable.

We don’t seem to face issues and deal with them, we take the easy way out and go down the path of least resistance. But if you’re going to live in victory the way God intends, you must learn how to face your challenges head on. Notice today’s verse doesn’t say, “keep running until you see the salvation of the Lord.” It doesn’t say, “bury your head in the sand until God delivers you.” No!

Today, God wants us to stand strong, set our faces like flint, and fight the good fight of faith. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it in your strength! He’s equipped you with His supernatural power to overcome every obstacle you will ever face, including the one you’re going through right now! Hallelujah!

“…stand and see the salvation of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 20:17, NASB)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for the gift of strength. Father, please search my heart. Show me any area in my life where I am running or hiding from life’s difficulties. God, help me to stand in faith, and I invite You to fight my battles, and to move mightily on my behalf, in Christ’s Name! Amen

August 30, 2022August 30, 2022

When Memories Are Painful

Are you ok? Painful memories? Is everything in your life good right now, or are you suffering? I can relate.

Life can be painful sometimes. We all wish we could have seventy years of goodness, but that isn’t real life. Throughout my life, God has taught me valuable lessons regarding painful memories that I would like to share with you. God is faithful and will walk with us each step of the journey. He will never leave us or forsake us, and His grace and strength are always sufficient. Although some days you may doubt it.

Another lesson is that, even though we may have forgiven ourselves and others, painful memories can tend to keep coming back. I asked God how I could stop the memories from coming back. He reminded me of today’s verse in Philippians 3:10. I should thank God for the experience, every time it pops up in my mind. As bad as it may be, He reminds me that I have the privilege of feeling a little of Christ’s suffering.

Today when I look at my experiences from God’s perspective, suffering is a privilege. So, I may get to know Him more deeply. I would not have chosen some of the deep valleys I have gone through, but now I am thankful for them. Jesus, our Master, and Friend said we could expect trouble when we follow Him. We shouldn’t be surprised! But He is there with us, feeling our pain, strengthening us, loving us, and giving us grace and wisdom.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering” Philippians 3:10

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I want to know You better even in my suffering. Father thank You for reminding me about the “fellowship of Your suffering.” God, today I thank You for the painful times in life and for walking with me each step of the way. In Christ’s name Amen.

August 29, 2022August 29, 2022

It Hurts To Grow

As a child I was very short whenever I complained about aches or pains that had no clear physical explanation, my parental diagnosis was: “It’s just growing pains.” I used to imagine my muscles and bones hurting while they stretched and grew. While I know nothing about the scientific nature of this evaluation then, today I do know it has a spiritual application that is very accurate. It hurts to grow.

Why does It hurt to grow? because we must die to old ways in order to live anew, and old habits die hard. We place a high premium in life on dying peacefully but dying to anything is accompanied by pain. It’s hard letting go of our security blankets.

It hurts to grow because growing usually means facing some fear or weakness that has limited us. Though God saves us through no effort of our own, he asks for our cooperation when it comes to our spiritual growth. Real spiritual growth only happens when our effort to act upon God’s word meets the provision of the Holy Spirit in us.

Today learn this spiritual principle of growth. We obey by stepping into our weakness or our fear, trusting in the fact that because it is something He asks of us, He will meet us somewhere along the way with the power to do it. This is almost always a painful proposition because it requires a step into the unknown. What if God doesn’t keep His promises? I suppose we can ask that question, but we will never get the answer until we step. We must take the step as painful as it may be. And if that doesn’t hurt in some way to make these changes maybe it’s not God’s will and there may be there no growth. Old ways die hard, but new life dances on the gravestone.

“Put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for the incredible pain you suffered on the cross for me. Not only did You carry the sins of the world,” past, present and future” but You died an extremely painful death. God, You are the best Friend I could ever ask for. Help me place my trust in you by accepting your word even when painful. I cast all my anxiety about moving forward on you. In Christ’s Name Amen

August 25, 2022August 25, 2022

God is Faithful

Are you confident today that God is always faithful? That He is exactly who He says He is? Aren’t you glad He doesn’t change His mind or forget about His promises? Friends or family may let you down or even betray you. But not God. He is faithful not only to you but to all His children. Check out these scriptures:

Do you lack confidence today? The Bible says,

“Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Are you fearful about something? He said,

“I hem you in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me”

(Psalm 139:5). He is watching over you – behind, in front and overhead.

Are you facing an impossible task? Pray and discuss it with Him.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Have you messed up? Feel guilty?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). He will cleanse you – make you completely pure.

Do you want to be more faithful to those you love? You can. Daily ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and direct you.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Holy Spirit will produce faithfulness in you.

Today I look back to when I was a young man, I believed in God was a churchgoer, but I did not know that I was created to glorify God and to enjoy Him. I learned that to experience a full and meaningful life, I needed to yield the control of my life to God, and then I could experience His love and power moment by moment.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God” Psalm 145:13b

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my life, I have sinned against You. Father, I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross. Lord, please take your place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. In Christ’s name Amen.

August 24, 2022January 16, 2023

Wisdom Wednesday: Be honest…

How Can You Trust Christianity Is True When There Are So Many Unanswered Questions?

When you work, do you always give 100%? Or do you just want to get it and get out? In this text, we are reminded of the temptation to work just as hard as we have to, thinking we only have to please a man. However, a Christian who is a dishonest, lazy, or unreliable worker doesn’t just have to deal with a reprimand from his earthly supervisor. His heavenly supervisor may prepare a reprimand as well.

As Christian employees, we have the highest of all motives for faithful and conscientious performance of our work. Why? Above all else, we are servants of Christ and work first and foremost to please him.

Ultimately, God wants every worker to see that they work for Him. A change of motive. Therefore, they should do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. For that God promises to reward those who work with that kind of heart.

– Pastor Sophia Peart

August 24, 2022August 24, 2022

Waiting

Waiting is hard because we don’t know what the answer will be. Neither do we know when the answer will come. Our Christian walk of faith is often a journey of waiting and waiting, which we don’t always do with much patience, but I am learning.

We know that God has the answer and can turn our waiting into trust. As a result, faith renews our strength to wait, we will do a great deal of waiting on our faith journey. Everything we do, we do by faith. As faith is enabling us to trust and wait, it is also building more faith to help us wait on Him for the results, which may be a long time coming; and yet, faith is required day by day.

Today, our journey isn’t necessarily about the result, but how we endure the unknown. Will we trust God to renew our strength and move us out of the place of discouragement to a place of peace and hope again? In my experience, when I call out to Him with my discouraged heart, He is always faithful to lift me again; then I can rest once again in knowing He is in control. The choice to trust will help us wait. A deeper faith is the result of bravely waiting on the Lord.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I pray the Psalmist’s words to you, “I wait for you Lord, my soul waits, and in your word, I hope” (Ps 130:5). Father, help me to remain faithful in this place of waiting. Help me to serve you and live for you at this crossroad of my life. Help me to wait as long as it takes. I put my total trust in you. In Christ’s name Amen.

August 23, 2022August 23, 2022

Faith Through Adversity

It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Paul spent his life serving Christ, and yet he experienced continual suffering. Why would God let one of His most faithful servants go through so much pain? This isn’t just a question about Paul; it’s an issue we face today. In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn’t necessarily do so.

Maybe our reasoning is backwards. We think faithful Christians don’t deserve to suffer, but from God’s perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we’d never really know God, because we’d believe that we would never really need Him.

Depending on your response, trials can be God’s greatest means of building faith or an avenue to discouragement and self-pity. If you’ll believe what Scripture says and apply its principles to your situation, your trust in God will grow, and your faith will be strengthened.

Today Like it or loathe it, adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will. I’m not saying we don’t need to know Scripture; that’s our foundation. But if what we believe is never tested by adversity, it remains head knowledge. How will we ever know the Lord can be trusted if we’ve never been through hard times? God gives us opportunities to apply scriptural truths to our difficulties, and in the process, we find Him faithful. For example, how would Paul ever have known the strength of Christ if he had never been weakened by pain and persecution?

“I leave you peace; my peace I give you.” I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

Let’s Pray

Jehovah my faithful Father, thank you for your great promises. Father, I am thrilled at the reminder of your faithful presence in my life which helps me during difficult times. God, I fully believe that I can entrust my future to you and that you will bring me into your presence with victory and great joy. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this sure and steadfast faith. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022

Suddenly?

During life’s challenging dark times, know that you are not alone. We all go through seasons of difficulty, or times when things just seem dark. Remember, God has a plan to drive out your darkness and flood you with His light!

Today’s verse doesn’t say, “the light will come trickling in.” No, it says that “the light will come bursting in!” That means suddenly you will see God’s goodness. Suddenly, you’ll be promoted. Suddenly, answers will come! If you’ve been going through a difficult time, get ready for the goodness of God in a new way. Know that His light is about to come bursting in! Hallelujah!

Today, get ready for breakthroughs. Get ready for promotion. Get ready for restoration. You may have had that problem for a long, long time, but today could be the day that it turns around. Suddenly, things will change! God wants His glory to be seen on you. He wants you to stand out in the crowd. He wants you to be so blessed that everyone around you can see His goodness on you! So keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping and keep declaring His Word, because His light is going to come bursting into your life!

“When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in…” (Psalm 112:4, TLB)

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your light that drives out every trace of darkness in my life! Father, I choose to expect Your goodness. I will stay focused on Your faithfulness. God, I know that You are working behind the scenes in my life, and I expect that You will turn my darkness into light, in Christ’ Name! Amen.