Jesus – Page 19 – Godinterest

June 21, 2019June 21, 2019

Add to Your Faith and Be Fruitful

Faith is a beautiful virtue to have. By it, we believe in our Saviour and are saved from the sentence of death. However, to be fruitful in our walk with Christ, we have to add several other qualities to it that will keep us from becoming lukewarm, stagnant, and lazy.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Peter 1:5-8?

Virtue

I see this as moral excellence, modesty, and purity. Never compromise your moral values, they are the first to warn you against temptation.

Knowledge

Delve deeper into our faith, into the Word of GOD that is perfect in every way. It is essential to know that which is lawful and unlawful for us, to understand moral wisdom. It is also our responsibility to know of the many wonderful promises GOD has given to us and to hold onto them when fiery trials come our way.

Temperance

Self-control is vital in every aspect of life, or we would likely see more chaos in the world today (although we are slowly descending into madness). We have the spirit of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7), therefore there is no excuse for us not to be in control of our desires, and passions that often lead to a mighty fall into temptation.

Patience

We all need this in bucket loads, don’t we? Steadfastness, constancy, and endurance all come to mind when I hear this word. We are patient when we are not swerved from our faith, our GOD-given purpose even amid trials and sufferings. We must be patient in the little things (like waiting for water to boil!), to bigger things (waiting for the salvation of Lost loved ones).

Godliness

Think reverence and respect, piety towards GOD. We must be holy as GOD is holy (1 Pet 1:16). We must be deliberate in our decision to obey GOD’S Words fully, being careful to neither look back or to the side where temptation always awaits us.

Brotherly Kindness

This is the love of brothers or sisters, the love which Christians have for each other as family. We may have different nationalities, backgrounds, and languages, but we are all connected by Jesus. We have His Spirit in us that connects us beyond blood relations, making our bond firm and everlasting. It is only right that we have love for each other as we are going to spend eternity with together!

Charity

A love feast sums up this word quite well. Affection, goodwill towards one another, helpfulness, generosity- think of every good thing that we can offer each other, and do it with a pureness of heart.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2 Peter 1:8-9?

As the End draws near, let us give this last leg of the race everything that we have. Run like one who wants to win, not one who wishes to come second place (FYI, there is no second place, only hell). The Crown of Life is at the finish line, and as we already know how this race ends, we had better be confident of our calling that nothing can deter us from sticking fast to Jesus.

I believe that the King James Bible (KJV) is the most reliable source of GOD’S Word, providing the best translation from languages used during Biblical times (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic) into English. Other translations have omitted key passages and meanings, therefore I urge everyone to study the KJV.

June 21, 2019June 21, 2019

‘Thanking God For Another Year Of Life Happy Birthday To Me

As I celebrate another year of life today, I’m reminded of what God has done for me. No matter what difficulty I’ve faced over the year, God has drawn me out. Hallelujah! When I felt overwhelmed, God reached out His hand. He wouldn’t let me sink, and He wouldn’t let me slip. He took hold of me and rescued me from the deep waters of opposition that raged against me.

He will do the same for you. Scripture says that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a barrier against him. If you are facing adversity, know that you are not facing it alone. God is with you, and He is for you. He will draw you out!

Today, I say to all of my friends and those that follow me on social media, who over the past year may have been affected by major difficultities of life, know that you have only made it this far because God reached down, held you, rescued you and drew you out. Hallelujah! Today, on the day of my birth, I know that it was God who was working behind the scenes, that has brought me this far and He’ll do the same for you. He will bring us out better and stronger.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy”¦”
(Psalm 18:16-17, NIV)?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your grace and mercy that has held me together this year. Father, I reach out my hand to You today, knowing that You have been an ever present help in my day of trouble. God, I thank You for another year of life, and in advance for all that You are doing, and for bringing me to a place of peace, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
…

June 20, 2019June 20, 2019

Which Template Should I Choose?

Templates have made life easier, but they can rob you of your God-given design and talent, and they make you fit into other people’s ideal for your life. What really matters in the final analysis, is do we fit into God’s design and will for our lives? Too many people live their life trying to fit in, worried about what everyone else thinks, and wondering how they can impress other people. But we have to realise that when we come to the end of life, we’re not going to stand before people to give an account of our lives, we are going to stand before Almighty God.

God is not going to say, “why didn’t you do what brother or sister so-and-so said? Why didn’t you fit into man’s template? Why didn’t you follow their opinion?” No! God is going to ask, “did you become who I created you to be? Did you stay true to what I put in your heart? Were you obedient to my Word?”

Today, think about Saul. He had a massive future. God had great things in store for him, but he was so insecure that he let people squeeze him into their template. He was afraid he was going to disappoint people. He said in 1 Samuel 15:24, “I disobeyed the Lord’s instructions because I was afraid of the people, so I did what they asked.” Saul knew what to do. He admitted it, How sad! He was a people pleaser. He forfeited his destiny in order to fit into other folks’ template. Don’t let that be you! Don’t be a people pleaser, be a God pleaser, because fitting into God’s template is all that really matters when all is said and done!

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
(Hebrews 9:27, NKJV)?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I set my heart and mind on following Your template for my life. Father, I need You to Help me break away from the snare of following people and not You. Help me to stand strong against criticism and learn to walk in love. God, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You always, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019

Don’t Panic, Cos God Ain’t

Christ, god, Holy Spirit, Jesus, panic, Pray

Listening to a conversation the other day, made me realise that many of us think that God gets surprised, or goes into panic mode when things go wrong. We may be surprised by the unexpected, because we believe just because we’re good or doing the right thing, then we are exempt from trouble. The scripture says, “the rain falls on the just and the unjust.”

When something unexpected happens, or you find yourself facing a crisis, don’t automatically go into “panic mode,” or just fall apart emotionally. Realise that the crisis is no surprise to God. It may be unexpected to you, but God knows the end from the beginning. He has solutions to problems that you haven’t even had yet. He has equipped you for every battle, and He goes before you to make your crooked places straight!

Today, don’t panic about the situation you’ve found yourself in, instead of focusing on your problem, focus on your God. Focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He doesn’t panic or get surprised by life’s difficulties. He walks with you, leading and guiding you to a place of peace and victory. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil, and turn it around for your good. He always leads us into victory. So keep moving forward, knowing that He has already made a way of escape for you! Hallelujah!

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph”¦”
(2 Corinthians 2:14, AMP)?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I come to You with an open and humble heart. Father, I thank You for the victory that You have in store for me, even when I can’t see it. Please remove panic mode from my life when unexpected trials come. I’m so glad that You don’t panic. Teach me how to stay focused on You, and not get bent out of shape by the unexpected. God, I want to trust You more, knowing that You are always faithful, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

No Disappointment in Jesus

The Scripture says, “when we put our hope in Him, we will never be disappointed.” Wow! What a powerful promise we have from Almighty God! Of course, that doesn’t mean that things will always go our way. There may be temporary setbacks, but we will never be permanently disappointed. According to the Word, God will cause it to all work out for our good. With God on our side, we will always end in victory! Hallelujah!

What heavy negative weight are you carrying? Are you carrying frustration, worry or aggravation about something? That’s usually a clear sign that you have no hope. If you hope in circumstances, it will deplete you of joy and peace. But when you turn those circumstances over to God, when you refuse to worry, when you refuse to allow the temporary things of this world to dictate your happiness, and trust Him, your crooked places will become straight, and you will mount up with wings like the eagle.

Today, choose to put your hope in l God. You won’t be disappointed. Trust Him explicitly because He is faithful. Find rest, joy and peace for your soul, knowing that He is good, and He has good things in store for you!

“”¦those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:23, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I give You every frustration, every aggravation, every difficulty and all my hopelessness. Father, I release total control into Your loving and capable hands. Speak to my heart and give me Your peace. God, please show me Your love as I place my hope in You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

June 12, 2019June 12, 2019

Pay Attention To The Little Things

As we look at our future and its success, we need to remember that it’s the little things that we must pay attention to. It’s not big things that hold us back; it’s small things, especially in our finances. A few pounds a day on drinks or coffee quickly turns into hundreds, and too many credit cards become overwhelming to keep up with. People who don’t budget or keep their finances in check will probably hear a little voice every time they go to spend, “get your finances in order.”

We have to realise that if we’re not faithful with what we have, God won’t entrust us with more. someone told me they hadn’t budgeted or really checked their finance for years, and now they are in debt. They had to close their account and open a new one. At least action was taken! Paying attention to the detail in your life is doing things the right way, which is God’s way. At church, many people say “I’m going to start giving. I’m going to start tithing (a biblical principle) as soon as I make more money.” Don’t wait until you have £500. Tithe on the £5 you have right now.

Today, don’t let the little foxes spoil your finances and then your life. Don’t let another day go by without obeying God in the small things, as well as the big things. When you set your finances in order, and you put God first in all you do, you are opening the door for His blessings and your sucess. He says when you are faithful with the little, I will make you ruler over much!

“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”
(Song of Solomon 2:15, ESV)?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I pledge to be obedient in every area of my life. I don’t want to let little things affect my finances and ultimately my life. Help me pay attention to detail, so I can be more faithful to You. Father, I dedicate my resources to You. Speak to my heart and show me how to bless others. God, based upon Your Word I want to be a faithful sower, and expect to reap an abundant harvest as You have promised, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019

It’s All About Your Attitude

Have you ever used the words “if only?”I’m sure you have. It’s easy to think that if only your situation was different, then life would be better. You might think, “if only I got a new job, or a new house, had better friends or had better parents, then I would really be happy.”

I’ve learned that oftentimes, God changes us before He changes our circumstances. We are thinking, “if only my circumstances would change,” when God may be thinking, “if only your attitude would change!”it’s time to turn your thoughts around. Don’t allow negative thinking to direct your attitude, or affect how you treat others.

Today, thank God for what He has planned in you. Like the saying goes “bloom where you are planted.”Tend to what God has placed in your hand. If you will focus on what you have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have, then God can bless you, multiply you and lead you into the destiny He has for you!

“The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit”¦”
(Proverbs 27:18, NIV )?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your goodness and grace upon my life. Father, fix my attitude so I can deal with my circumstances. God, please turn my thoughts around, so I can focus on what You have placed in my hands. I want to be faithful, knowing that You are faithful. Strengthen my mind so I can be happy no matter what plan You have in store for my life, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
…

June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

Quit Being Jealous

We live in a world full of jealously, envy and selfishness, where people are upset and unhappy when others succeed. When a friend or family member succeeds, gets promoted, or experiences an unexpected break in life, how do you respond? Some people wonder, “what about me?”Others criticise or say, “it won’t last long.”

Do you know the way you respond when others succeed may determine the level of your own success. Whether you respond in a negative or positive way, you are sowing seeds for your future. That’s why Scripture tells us simply to “rejoice with those who rejoice.”God wants you to be successful. His commands are for your good. He doesn’t want jealousy or strife to enter your mind and rob you of your blessing.

Today, make it a point to find a family member, friend or colleague who is celebrating something positive and celebrate with them. Congratulate them on their success, no matter how small it seems in the natural. Rejoice with those who rejoice, sow seeds of blessing,“for whatever you sow you will reap.”It will open the door for victory in your own life!

“Rejoice with those who rejoice”¦”
(Romans 12:15, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your hand of blessing not only on my life, but on the lives of other people around me. Father, I rejoice in You, and I choose to rejoice over Your victories with all I come in contact with all over the world. God, make me genuinely happy in You, and not envious or jealous of others, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

June 7, 2019June 7, 2019

Why Retirement Is The Perfect Time To Build On Your Faith

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord,” says the words of Leviticus.

When it comes to retirement, it’s likely that most people will have more spare time — and money — than ever before. People are retired for longer than ever — but no matter what stage of retirement you’re at, you’re never too old to devote this new-found spare time to Jesus. Many older Americans are already religious, and there’s a 17% spike in religious affiliation among older people compared to those under 40. It’s not uncommon for churches and other religious establishments to be heavily populated by older people. But there’s still plenty for those in retirement to do to devote their time to God: helping in the community is one such way, while studying the Bible is another.

Bible study

Partly, opportunities for religious exploration as a senior are due to demographic trends. Retirement now is longer than it ever has been before: the average life expectancy in the US is now around 80, and many people are not called to Heaven until they are in their nineties — meaning that some spend almost as much time retired as they do in work. Also, there are some that can leave their career early, as they’ve accumulated enough savings to enjoy early retirement. But what’s a useful, and holy, way to spend all of that new-found free time? The option many people choose is Bible study. As you may already know, it’s one of the best ways to fall deeper in love with God’s word, and learn more about His creation. And one very interesting detail about studying the Bible during the golden years is the ability to understand it from an angle that you couldn’t have been able to in a younger age. In other words, with all your past experiences, you get to analyze the scripture with a new perspective, filled with seasoned wisdom that you didn’t have in your 20s and 30s.

Work in the community

For those who are either already conversant with the Bible or who feel that their vocation is something a little more practical, meanwhile, spending your new-found spare retirement time on helping your community is also a sensible choice. “And let us not grow weary of doing good,” says Galatians — and working in the community during retirement is a great way to achieve this end. You may want to volunteer to lead some groups in your church, or perhaps to become a reader at services. If you have specific skills such as fundraising or the law, you may find that you’re in high demand as a practitioner — and that church could be a good way to stay in touch with your workplace skills.

“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone,” read the words of Deuteronomy 34:7.

Retirement may seem like a long way off to you, or perhaps it’s right around the corner as it is for an increasing number of Americans. But no matter what retirement looks like to you, one thing’s for sure: using it to follow in Moses’ path and for holy purposes is a good idea, and it’s one that will stand you in good stead as you move from this life to the next.

June 5, 2019June 5, 2019

Praise Him Always

Scripture reminds us that we were created to praise God. When you wake up in the morning, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you set the tone of the day for success, favour and blessing with your words and your worship? Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That’s why it’s so important to declare praises to God all throughout the day.

Things may be going wrong all around you, people may be negative, complaining and discouraging, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. The worse it gets, the brighter you’re going to shine. The good news is that no matter how you feel, no matter what’s going on around you, you can choose what you think, and you can choose your words. There’s nothing that can stop you from constantly speaking His Word of praise!

Today, be determined to set the tone for your life by praising God, and speaking words of faith over your future. Remember, when you put God first, He promises to honour you. He will pour out His favour on you, and lead you into life, health, strength and blessings all the days of your life!

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.”
(Psalm 34:1, NLT)?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I choose to bless You at all times. Father, I will set the tone to receive Your favour, grace and mercy by my constant praise to You. Thank You for Your faithfulness at all times, which is greater than my sin and my praise. God, thank You for giving me a reason to praise and lift You up, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

Quit Spiritual Procrastination

Last night, while in Lille, I was talking about spiritual procrastination, and the danger of not taking God-given opportunities, and not using our spiritual gifts. God will never ask you to do something without giving you the ability to do it. You may get passive or complacent and think, “yes, I know I need to do that. Maybe next week.” Well, before you know it next week turns into next month. Next month turns into next year.

Remember, when you put off what God has told us to do, you miss that season of grace. But if you’ll deal with things as soon as God brings them to light, you’ll have a special grace, a special empowerment. You’ll feel God’s enabling power helping you to do it, and you will avoid many trials and pitfalls.

Today, is there something you’re putting off? Something you know in your heart that you are supposed to do? Don’t let the season pass. Don’t let complacency destroy you. Your destiny stands before you. God has something amazing for your future. Be bold; be strong. Step out in faith, be obedient, and embrace the good things God has in store for you!

“For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.”
(Proverbs 1:32, NKJV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for the grace to do and enjoy exactly what You’ve called me to do. Father, I will step out in faith and not procrastinate and miss out on my God-given opportunity. God, I will follow Your commands. Help me to be faithful like You are faithful. I love You and bless You today and always, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019

Evil People – Pay Them No Mind

Have you had folk come against you, make fun of you and rip your name to shreds? King Saul in the Bible had people come against him. They were making fun of him. He could have easily become distracted and lost his focus. He could have defended himself saying, “I’m the leader. I have what it takes.” But what did he do? He kept silent. One translation says, “He paid them no mind.”

In my life I have had to deal with those naysayers in and out of the church, but I had to stay focused and pay them no mind. Sometimes that’s what you have to do when people are coming against you. You have to realise that some people are just jealous or driven by the enemy. Not everyone is going to have your best interests at heart. But don’t let them control your destiny. Don’t let them distract you from God’s best.

Today, instead of playing up to people or trying to win over all your critics, gossipers and evil surmises, keep your eyes focused on what God has for you. Spend time with people who see what God is doing in you. Focus on those who will celebrate you. Ignore those critics so you can be all that God has called you to be. Hallelujah!

“But some scoundrels said, ‘how can this fellow save us?’ They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.”
(1 Samuel 10:27, NIV)?

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I keep my heart and mind focused on You no matter what is said about me. Father, I will ignore the naysayers, gossipers and evil surmises and turn away from negative voices. God, I declare by faith that I will accomplish the plan You have for me, as I daily put Your voice and will first in everything that I do, in Jesus’ Name! Amen

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019

People Pleasing – A Dangerous Lifestyle

While talking to some youth yesterday, I realised an important truth – people pleasing is alive and well. From fashion, to language and everything in between, there will always be people who try to squeeze you into their mould; people who try to pressure you into being who they want you to be. They may be good people. They may mean well. But the problem is that they aren’t your creator. They didn’t breathe life into you. They didn’t equip you, empower you or anoint you; Almighty God did!

If you’re going to be all that God created you to be, you can’t focus on what everybody else thinks. If you change with every criticism, trying to win the favour of others, then you’ll go through life being manipulated, and letting people squeeze you into their box. You have to realise that you can’t keep every person happy. You can’t make everyone like you. You’ll never win over all of your critics.

Today, instead of trying to please people, when you get up in the morning, ask the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him if your ways are pleasing to Him. Stay focused on your goals. If people don’t understand you, that’s okay. If you lose some friends because you wouldn’t let them control you, they weren’t true friends anyway. You don’t need others’ approval; you only need Almighty God’s approval. Keep your heart and mind submitted to Him, and you will be free from people pleasing!

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.”
(Proverbs 29:25, NLT)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I come humbly to You today. I invite You to search my heart and mind. Let my ways be pleasing to You. Father, take away my need for people’s approval. Let my thoughts be Your thoughts and not the thoughts of a corrupt man. God, thank You for setting me free from people pleasing, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019

God Doesn’t Make No Junk

Fred Hammond the great gospel singer once wrote a song saying he will dance like David danced, but for me I don’t want to necessarily dance like David danced. I want to say what David said in Psalm 139:

“I’m God’s masterpiece. I’m wonderfully made. I’m talented. I’m original. God has given me everything that I need.”

David praised God for making him in an amazing way, and declared that what God had done was awesome. Is that how you start your day?

I’ve met many people who think they are being humble by putting themselves down. They say, “oh, I’m not that talented. It was no big deal.” But really, we should be bold like David and say, “I’m amazing. I’m a masterpiece. God made me, and He doesn’t make junk! I am equipped, I am empowered, and I am talented!”

Today, please make the decision to stop putting yourself down; stop focusing on your flaws and comparing yourself to others. Your Creator says “you are a masterpiece.” It’s time to get in agreement with God and realise how much He loves you. It’s time to realise how special you are. Make the shift by changing your words and daily say what David said!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14, NIV)
(Psalm 139:14, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You for equipping me for every good work. Thank You for showing me Your love in a new way, as I keep my heart and mind focused on You. Please give me the boldness and spiritual confidence so I wont put myself and others down. Father, teach me how to love myself, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

May 25, 2019May 6, 2022

THE PRAYER THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

The freedom to build. The freedom to change. The freedom to share.

There are two kinds of prayer – the prayer of form and the prayer of faith. The repetition of set and the customary phrases when the heart feels no need of God, is formal prayer.

We should be extremely careful in all our prayers to speak the wants of the heart and to say only what we actually mean. All the flowery words at our command are not equivalent to one holy desire. The most eloquent prayers are but vain repetitions if they do not express the true sentiments of the heart. But the prayer that comes from an earnest heart, when the simple wants of the soul are expressed just as we would ask an earthly friend for help, expecting that it would be granted – this is the prayer of faith.

The publican who went up to the temple to pray is a good example of a sincere, devoted worshiper. He felt that he was a sinner, and his great need led to an outburst of passionate desire,

“God be merciful to me a sinner.”
Luke 18:13

After we have offered our petitions, we are to answer them ourselves as far as possible, and not wait for God to do for us what we can do for ourselves. The help of God is held in reserve for all who demand it. Divine help is to be combined with human effort, aspiration, and energy. But we cannot reach the battlements of heaven without climbing for ourselves. We cannot be borne up by the prayers of others when we ourselves neglect to pray; for God has made no such provision for us.

The unlovely traits in our characters are not removed, and replaced by traits that are pure and lovely, without some effort on our part!

In our efforts to follow the copy set us by our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall make crooked lines. Yet let us not cease our efforts. Temporary failure should make us lean more heavily on Christ.

The more you pray, the more you will find to pray about, and the more you’ll be led to pray for others.

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12, 13

Pray With Me
Heavenly Father, I look up to you in this time of change. Allow me to have the courage to change my life for the better. Allow all my burdens to be risen up to you as I know that You will see me through. Forgive those who have done evil and allow me to do the same. Teach me to love with an open heart and open spirit. Take time for me today to help with all the trials you have set out for me and allow me the strength and energy to follow you. Give me the blessings to find a new home, keep my family together, and bless those who are away, may they be strong and know how much love is out there. Let them know you and I are thinking of them and missing them dearly. Bless me with love, strength, wisdom, health, courage, forgiveness, and a willingness to learn.

Did you know?

Here are five facts about prayer, including survey data on Americans’ prayer habits and historical instances of prayer intersecting with the government:

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2014 found that 45% of Americans — and a majority of Christians (55%) — say they rely a lot on prayer and personal religious reflection when making major life decisions. The same survey found that 63% of Christians in the U.S. say praying regularly is an essential part of their Christian identity.
In 2014 — in the case Town of Greece v. Galloway — the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. legislative and administrative bodies may begin their sessions with a prayer. On some occasions, however, the high court has rejected other types of state-sponsored prayer. For instance, in 1962’s Engel v. Vitale, the court famously struck down a policy requiring public school students to begin their day with a nonsectarian prayer.
The National Day of Prayer was enacted in 1952 by the Congress and President Harry S. Truman. As with the addition of “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, the move came during the Cold War and was seen as a way of contrasting the more religious United States with the officially atheistic Soviet Union.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation unsuccessfully challenged the National Day of Prayer in court. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2011 that the group, which aims to promote the separation of church and state, did not have legal standing to challenge the law.
For many Americans, every day is a day of prayer. More than half (55%) of Americans say they pray every day, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, while 21% say they pray weekly or monthly and 23% say they seldom or never pray. Even among those who are religiously unaffiliated, 20% say they pray daily. Women (64%) are more likely than men (46%) to pray every day. And Americans ages 65 and older are far more likely than adults under 30 to say they pray daily (65% vs. 41%).

May 24, 2019May 24, 2019

Vision of The Mountain of Victory and The Turning of the Tide

Do things feel hard? Are you facing a massive situation that seems impossible? Does it seem like you will never get what God has promised you? Joshua 6 tells the story about how the odds were stacked against Joshua and the people of Israel. They were standing at the massive unbreachable wall of Jericho that many thought was not penetrable.

As he was standing before the walls and gates of the city, many around him didn’t think his future was too bright. But Joshua had something others overlooked; he had the promise of Almighty God. Joshua had faith because He knew God was on His side, and God had already promised the victory. Sure enough, just as God promised, the people marched around the city for six days, and on the seventh day, they shouted the victory and the walls came tumbling down!

Today, don’t look at the walls in your life; look at the promises of God. He is for you, and if God is for you, nothing can stand against you. Get a vision of victory and don’t let it go. Keep moving forward in faith and obedience knowing that when you do, the Most High God is on your side! Hallelujah!

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your favour, grace and victory in my life. Father, I choose to trust You. I choose to follow Your leading. I choose to be faithful. I choose to believe in Your promises, because You are faithful to me. God, please tear down the walls and the trials that seem impossible in my life. I love You and bless You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.