How would you feel if someone came up to you today and said, “Give me all of your monthly bills; I’m going to pay them.” You’d get pretty excited wouldn’t you? But it wouldn’t happen until you did your part to actually hand that person your bills. They can’t pay them for you if you never release them. In the same way, when we release our cares and concerns to God, He promises to take care of them. So hand them over.
As you begin a new year, God wants to give you rest. He wants to refresh and restore your soul, mind, will and emotions. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of this stressful life, and before long, your mind, will and emotions are so spun that you can barely think straight! Remember, even in the hustle and bustle of life, you can find rest, ease and relaxation. During 2021 God wants to take care of everything that concerns you, so that you can find rest in your innermost being when you come to Him.
Today and throughout this new year, release your cares to the Lord. Let Him fill you with His peace and joy. Receive the rest, relaxation and restoration that He promises and enjoy the total fulfillment and blessings for your body, mind and emotions He has in store for you!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Jehovah, I humbly come to You. I choose to cast my cares on You, so that I can live in Your rest and break free from the stress of this life. Father, thank You for Your goodness to me. I give You my mind heal it and take control of all my emotions. Please God, lift my burdens and refresh my weariness. God, help me find ways to share Your rest and goodness with those around me, in Christ’ name! Amen.
Matthew 11:11-12 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (NIV)
When I was young, I could never understand that passage of Scripture. To me, it was so unlike the Spirit of the Lord. How could a God of love and peace allow this to happen? Forcefulness sounded so like the kingdom of darkness. But praise the Lord, for He is always faithful to show you the truth if you ask Him. So, why then is it, that this Scripture is there?
It all boils down to passion! You see if you are passionate about something there is nothing on this earth that will stop you from getting the thing you think about. The desire and the drive are so strong that oftentimes you will go without food and water in order to get it. It’s time to get hungry for the Lord and get your fight back and make a change.
Why do you not have the things you’re believing God for? Why is it that your life is not at the place you want it to be? Are you passionate about a change? Are you passionate to see your circumstances change? Or are you listening to the lie of Satan telling you, you need to sit and wait for your turn and accept everything that is given to you? Your turn is now! You don’t have to accept defeat because you are an overcomer. You were ordained to do great things. So, get up and make a change!
Joh 2:13-17 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Jesus was very passionate about the temple, and that passion drove Him to drive out the unclean things in His Father’s house. The Lord may have passed by that temple before; but today, the Lord had enough of their foolishness. He was the Change Maker, and He caused things to change.
Well, isn’t time you allow your passion to rise and cause a change to happen in your life? I want you to get passionate today and let that passion drive you. Allow the Lord to work in you and for you so that you can become a new creation in Him and let all these things standing in your way be blown away by the power of the Holy Spirit. By faith take back everything the enemy has stolen from you. It’s time to be a change-maker for the Lord.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When that guy cat-calls you just to get a reaction, what do you do? You ignore him and keep walking.
When that bully pushes all of your buttons just to make you mad, what do you do? you tune them out and move on.
When somebody tries to convince you of something you know 100% isn’t true, you don’t even give it a second thought before you dismiss the argument.
So why don’t we use this tactic against the father of all lies, a.k.a the enemy that is out to destroy your life? Just don’t engage. As soon as you do, he wins. He is cunning, crafty, and manipulative, and he’s only after your heart. He wants to crush it and mutate it and trample it underfoot until there’s nothing left for God to use.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” John 10:10a
I know this isn’t easy. Trust me, I’m a thinker. Overthinking is my second nature, if not my first nature. I have to think through everything, especially when faced with a conflict. If somebody challenges my opinion, my first reaction is to analyze the entire argument…
What are they saying?
Do I agree or disagree? Why?
What do I think?
How does that compare to what they think?
What is true?
What evidence affirms/denies my argument?
Is there any way there is truth in both arguments?
Why do they think what they think?
Why do I think what I think?
And it goes on …
and on …
and on.
I think you get the idea. By the way, all of that overthinking happens in about 2 seconds. It’s an intense self-interrogation until I think my way into a solution that makes sense to me, so I can feel at peace with what I believe and move on.
Sometimes this is a really useful skill, but the enemy knows exactly how to use it for my deepest undoing. The problem with using the “overthinking tactic” against Satan is that he doesn’t care about logic. His goal is not to convince me that his argument makes more sense. In fact, he doesn’t even care about what he says. He doesn’t even believe the lies himself.
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”
James 2:19
Satan knows God. He knows scripture. He knows what the truth is, and his goal is to keep you as far away from it as possible. He knows the power that God’s word can have in your life and that terrifies him. He will say whatever it takes to get you to question God and doubt His goodness, and the moment you try to reason with him, you’ve fallen into his trap.
I say all of this because I fall into the trap far too often. The devil uses people near and dear to me to convince me of his lies because he knows it works with almost 100% accuracy. Because their opinion matters so much to me, I will over-analyze their every word and body language to my own demise. Something they say – or don’t say – pricks one of my insecurities (unbeknownst to that person), and the trap has been set. Suddenly, I’m hit with an avalanche of thoughts like these:
“They just don’t care enough about you to ask about your day.”
“You’re stupid for thinking ______ would happen.”
“You’re too dramatic, emotional, etc.”
“It’s your fault that you can’t handle this feeling.”
The first step is to recognize the lie. Now, to do this, you have to know the Truth. No, that’s not a typo. I meant Truth with a capital “T” because you have to know God’s Word, and His word is Truth. Once you start to bury His word in your heart, and begin to recognize his voice, you can more easily discern truth from lies.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
But it doesn’t stop there! That’s where I made my mistake. I thought, “If I recognize the lie, it will become invalid and it won’t sting anymore.”
False.
Satan is more crafty than that, and he was already one step ahead of me. See, he recognized how I use my interrogation process to reconcile a contradicting thought, so he used it against me. He used it to blur the lines between lie and Truth. So he takes me down this rabbit hole to confuse me and muddle the words of God until I feel so lost, confused, and heartbroken that I can’t even remember what lie got the whole thing started to begin with. He knows how I look for the middle ground to make sense of things, but there is no middle ground between what the devil says and what God says.
So no, it CANNOT end with recognizing the lie. You have to take the next step and make the choice not to engage with the lie. Now, if you’re a thinker like me, this will be hard. Like really, really hard. But you have to choose to look the other way. Change your posture to look toward your loving, protective, jealous, Heavenly Father. Tell the enemy you don’t have time for his games. Don’t try to argue with him and tell him why his lie is a lie and why God’s Truth wins, because he already knows it, and he doesn’t care. He’ll just twist everything around until you find yourself lost in a muddy mess of nothing that makes any sense whatsoever.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18
To sum it up…
Study Truth, that is, the Word of God.
Recognize the lie, which is not the Word of God.
Don’t Engage. Choose to meditate on and dwell in the Word of God.
“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
This is not something that my genius, overthinking brain came up with one day. This is something that the Holy Spirit whispered to me, and by God’s grace alone, I heard it. I was on the brink of yet another panic attack and fearful of going back down that dark road. I was on the brink of forming another unsuccessful argument for why the lie was a lie and trying to figure out a way to outsmart the devil this time, and the Holy Spirit simply said, “don’t engage with the lie.” Of course I tried to overthink and analyze again, but He didn’t relent. He just kept telling me, “Don’t engage with the lie. It’s not worth it. Just keep looking at Me. Lean on the love of your Father instead of your own knowledge for once.” Hey, that sounds familiar, right?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
So go ahead. Give the enemy the cold shoulder. Hit him with the silent treatment. Then you will taste freedom. Remember the second half of John 10:10…
“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10b
Go live in the abundant life Christ bought for you. The enemy’s lies are not worth your time, precious child of God.
When you obey God’s Word and have an attitude of excellence and integrity, the Bible says that God’s blessings will overtake you. You won’t be able to outrun the good things of God no matter how hard you try. He will daily load you with benefits! You won’t have to go chasing after blessings. When you chase after God each and every day, when you make Him your highest priority, the blessings will automatically follow.
Today, why not make obeying God first on your list for the new year. Let go of any weights or sins that you know are holding you back. Be willing to deal with any issues God brings to light. Don’t give in to compromise and temptation, all that does is keep you from God’s best. Instead, make the decision to daily put Him first and keep your heart pure before Him. Then get ready, because His blessings will chase you down as He daily loads you with benefits! Hallelujah!
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits…” (Psalm 68:19, NKJV)
Let’s Pray Yahweh, today I dedicate every area of my life to You. Father, help me to live a life of integrity and honour. Almighty God, thank You for daily loading me with benefits as I put You first in everything that I do, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
People are difficult at times. Maybe it’s a colleague at work, a family member or spouse. Relationships are complicated at the best of times, but remember: love never fails. The Word of God clearly defines love in 1 Corinthians 13. It says that love is patient and kind. It doesn’t seek its own way. Love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. And most importantly, love never fails.
Notice that this chapter doesn’t talk at all about how you feel. God’s love isn’t about feelings. It’s choice and principle. You can choose to be patient, even when you don’t feel like being patient. You can choose to be kind, even when you don’t feel like being kind.
Today, no matter what situation you find yourself in, you can choose love. You are never more like God than when you are walking in love. And when you are walking in love, you will never fail, because love never fails. Open your heart to God’s love today. Receive His love, and ask Him to show you how to love others better, because love never fails!
“Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:8, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your love which never fails. Thank You for loving me so that I can be free to love others. Empower me, by Your Spirit, to walk in love no matter what I may face today, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
A new year is a time for making plans, setting goals, writing visions, making resolutions, getting a fresh start and having a new beginning. But, the best “new start” is through Jesus Christ, for the Bible says, “if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come.” (2 Cor 15:17)
Today, if you need a new beginning in any area of your life, allow Christ to make you a new creation, and the old will pass away! He will put a new and right spirit within you when you call on His name! This year, make your relationship with Him your number one priority. As you develop an intimacy with Him through daily prayer and the study of His Word, you will experience the joy of newness of life!
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10, ESV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, as I’m about to enter into a new year, I choose to make You my first priority. Father, please wipe the slate clean as I develop a deeper personal relationship with You. Thank You for renewing a right spirit in me and making me a new creation. God, I receive Your new beginning today as I walk with You, in Christ’ name! Amen.
Did you know there is creative power in the words we declare? In the same way that God created the world with His words in Genesis 1, we “create” our own world with our words. We can create an atmosphere of peace, joy, power and love with our words, or we can create an atmosphere of strife, confusion and defeat.
Today, use your words to open the door for God to move, by declaring His Word over your life. Declare that His strength is at work in you. Declare that no weapon formed against you is going to prosper. As you declare God’s Word over your life, you’ll see it come to pass. You’ll feel His strength, joy and victory rising up inside of you, so that you can embrace the life of blessing He has prepared for you.
“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared.”(Numbers 14:17, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, I recognize that there is creative power in my words. Father, help me, by Your Spirit, to use my words for good. God, remind me to always declare Your truth over my life, and over the lives of others. I bless You today and always, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
We are all in need of inner peace. We look to relationships, addictions, money, gadgets and even religion to try to find something that will fill our void. But true peace isn’t found in anything this world has to offer, it can only be found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Only He can satisfy the longing in our souls and give us true, lasting peace.
Remember, God gives freely, not as the world gives. You can’t earn it, and you can’t pay for it. There’s no catch, no fine print and no strings attached. You can rest assured that He’s not ever going to take His peace away; His peace is eternal!
Today, begin your life of peace by inviting Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour. Then as you align your thoughts, attitudes and actions with His Word, that peace will flood every area. Peace is how we know we are following God’s plan, because God’s plan always leads to peace! If you’re looking for peace today, call on His name. Make Him your Lord and Saviour, follow His Word and allow His peace to flood every area of your life.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”(John 14:27, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for the gift of peace which passes all understanding. Father, I receive Your peace today, and trust that You are leading and guiding me in the way You want me to go. Thank You, in Christ’ name! Amen.
In today’s verse, David was declaring the goodness of God and bragging on His faithfulness! We need to always remember that every blessing in life is from God. That job, good break, healing, or new opportunity – that was God’s doing. Scripture says that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above.
There’s an old gospel song that says, “Look What The Lord Has Done.” The song just brags on God. It’s a great reminder that all through the day we should be bragging on God’s goodness. We should be remembering His mighty acts. See, when we give God all the glory, that’s when He will pour out His blessings in greater measure. When we are humble and don’t try to take the credit, His grace and favour increases on us.
Today, look for opportunities to brag on God. If you are breathing today, brag on Him as your Creator. If you got to work safely today, brag on Him for being your Protector. If you are facing a difficulty, brag on the fact that He is your Deliverer and breakthrough is on the way! Keep declaring His goodness and faithfulness, and watch what God will do on your behalf!
“The LORD has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:23, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, You alone are worthy of all the praise and glory for the good things in my life! Father, thank You for blessing me; thank You for the breakthroughs in my past and the breakthroughs in my future. God, I brag on You because You are good, and worthy of all praise, in Christ’ name! Amen.
What I’m really asking, is what are you expecting to happen in your life? What kind of attitude do you have? If your thoughts are stuck and you’re focused on what’s wrong, or what’s not working, then it’s time to change your address! It’s time to pack up your belongings and move out of the land of discouragement. It’s time to move out of the “nothing’s-going-to-happen street” or “I-can’t-do-it road”. It’s time to pack your bags and move into the “Ray of hope close” or “by faith boulevard”, or even “expectation manor!”
Every time you get a negative thought and you want to dwell in “nothing’s-going-to-happen street,” or “I-can’t-do-it road” instead, dwell on God’s promises, pack your bags and change address.
Today, every time you declare God’s faithfulness, you are taking a step in the right direction, and you’re moving from your old address (old way of thinking) into a new one. The Bible says that those who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame. Hallelujah! As you turn your focus toward Him, you will start living in “Hope street” – a land where His peace, blessings and victory reside.
“…my flesh also will dwell in hope.” (Acts 2:26, ESV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for ordering and directing my steps. Father thank You for moving me out of “I-can’t-do-it-road” to “expectation manor”, a place of hope and expectation! God, I claim Your promises, I choose to set my mind on You, knowing that You are faithful. God, I release the past and invite You to fill me with Your peace, blessings and victory, in Christ’ name! Amen.
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 it, you will surely lose it! The same is true with the Word of God. No, the Word doesn’t ever expire, but we have to take action and use His Word in order 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’ name! Amen.
What is prosperity? Prosperity simply means thriving, vibrant and alive. It’s a picture of vitality. When you are prosperous, you have more than enough to give to others. That means more peace, more grace, more hope, more love.
When we “observe to do” what God has commanded, like it says in our text, we are setting ourselves up for success. We are engaging in His system of doing things; and when we do things God’s way, we get God’s results!
Today, decided to do what God has commanded. Invite Him to search your heart and mind, and remove anything that is displeasing to Him. Put Him first, because when you make Him your number one priority, you are setting yourself up to prosper wherever you go!
“Be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7, NKJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Father, I choose to put You first place in every area of my life. God, I submit myself to You, so that I may follow You and prosper in everything I do, in Christ’ name! Amen.
Amazing! When we are born again, we become children of the Most High God! The scripture says we are “adopted” into His family. In the natural, by law, an adoptive parent can never disown their adopted child. In the same way, God will never disown you! When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you become a permanent part of God’s family.
It’s a privilege it’s a free gift, and when you receive this gift it’s the beginning of a long life of blessings. Receiving Him means receiving all that He is and all of His promises for your life. It’s a process, but remember, God is the one working in your life, and He promises to complete what He’s started in you. Your part is to keep your heart open and receive by faith every gift, every promise, and every blessing in His Word.
Today, why don’t you become part of God’s family? He is waiting to adopt you. Receive His gift of adoption by saying thank You. Receive His gift by declaring His truth over your life and be born again. Receive His gift by obeying the Word of God. Put the Word of God into practice in your life and receive every blessing He has for you! Become part of God’s eternal family. Hallelujah!
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for the gift of eternal, abundant life. I accept Your free gift of adoption. Today, I open my heart and mind to You. Have Your way in my heart and help me to receive the wonderful blessings You have for me, in Christ’ name! Amen.
We normally focus on what we don’t have, as opposed to what we do have. We focus on how big our obstacles are, and how bad the economy is etc. “I don’t have the connections. I’ve got this problem, but I don’t have anybody to help me. I’ve got this dream, but I don’t have the resources.” Here is the truth: everything you need to fulfill your destiny is within reach. God will always use something that’s close to you. It may not look extraordinary, but you have what it takes to fulfill your destiny.
Like when David faced the giant, Goliath, all he had was a slingshot and five stones. It looked ordinary. He could have thought, “I’m not going to face Goliath. That would be foolish. I don’t have a chance.” No, David knew that with God on his side, those ordinary stones would be exactly what he needed. Sure enough, David defeated Goliath with what he had and made history.
Today, remember, victory isn’t about what you have, it’s about God’s anointing on what you have. With God on your side, all things are possible! Focus on Him and what He has given you. God can do great things in your life because He has placed extraordinary things in you, use them today.
“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a tstone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” (1 Samuel 17:50, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for equipping me for success and victory in this life. Help me to clearly see the opportunities, connections and resources You have ordained for me. I trust that with You, all things are possible, in Christ’ name! Amen.
My inbox lately has been full of prayer requests for change and direction in the year to come. My belief is your future begins today. Today, I declare that a shift is starting in Jesus’ name! What do you need – a shift in your health, a shift in your finances, or a shift in a relationship? It may not look like anything is happening in the natural, but we serve a supernatural God. He’s about to move in your direction in a new way! Hallelujah!
The enemies you have seen in the past, you will see no more. The addictions or bad habits that have held you back in 2020 are being broken in Jesus’ name. God’s favour is being released in a new way that will propel you forward. What should have taken you 20 or 30 years to accomplish, God is going to do in a matter of minutes!
Today, I’ve got breaking news – ”your shift has been accelerated.” The shift means going beyond where you could go on your own. The shift is seeing Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond. Our attitude should be, “God, I’m ready. I’m taking the limits off of You. I’m enlarging my vision. I receive it. I may not see a way, but I know You have a way. I declare I’m coming into my shift today!” Hallelujah!
“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:28, NKJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, today I open my heart and mind to You. I ask You for a supernatural shift in my life today. Father, I claim and declare that a supernatural shift is coming my way. Change my health, my finances, my relationships, and my vision. God, I receive Your Word, I receive Your promises, I receive Your truth, and I receive the increase You have in store for me, in Christ’ name! Amen.
Faith gives substance to the things you hope for. In other words, faith brings things into your life. Notice the verse below starts by saying, “Now faith.” It’s not “later” faith or “one day” faith. It’s faith for today, right now.
The basic definition of faith according to the Bible, is simply believing in God’s goodness, and believing that He rewards the people who seek after Him. It’s taking His Word as truth–right now. Can you believe that God wants to move in your life, now? Do you believe He can provide for your need, now? Do you believe He can heal your relationship, now? Do you believe He can heal you, now?
Today, whatever you are hoping for, open your heart and expect that God is working for you, right now. Dare to believe that God will come through for you, today. Stand strong and declare that the victory is yours, right now! Let your words put action behind your “now” faith and receive His strength and power to see victory in every area of your life!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, today I choose to believe that You are working on my behalf. Father, I trust that You have a good plan for me, and that You are leading and guiding my steps now. God, please help me stand strong in You, now, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
