Each Gospel in Scripture gives a trustworthy account of Jesus’ life, but they don’t all repeat the same events. In Matthew and Luke we learn details about Jesus’ birth. John doesn’t mention Jesus’ birth, but he explains its deep meaning. John links Jesus with the creation of the world: “In the beginning was the Word.” Who is this eternal Word? As the rest of John’s gospel shows, the Word is the one and only Son of God. But He did not create the world and then step back, remaining aloof from His creation. After sin He entered the world He had made, took on flesh, and became just like us, offering us an eternal life line.
Today, we can’t explain it logically. God, who is not bound by human logic, sent His Son, who became flesh, to provide the very Saviour we need. Fully divine and fully human without sin, Christ makes us right with God by His sacrifice on the cross. Tracing the branches of Christ’s human family tree brings us to the first Advent many celebrate at Christmas, where we see, as Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds saw long ago, the glory of the Son of God, who became like us to save us from our sins. Now that’s good news of great joy! Hallelujah!!!
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:14
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, full of grace and truth, great Creator and gentle Saviour, be born in our hearts this holiday season. God, this Christmas, be real in our lives. Father, never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Immanuel, the Word made flesh. In Christ’s Name! Amen.
We pray because we want something to change in our lives. Every day, we are attacked by many different circumstances — financial insecurities, health problems, or even relationship issues.
Most of us find prayer “a remedy” to these problems. But what if the answer is different from what we expected?
That’s probably why God used many people in the Bible about prayers being answered. These faithful heroes begged God to intervene in their troubled lives, which He reasonably did.
As you read along, observe these two things:
The reason why that person prayed (intention and attitude)
How has God powerfully answered the prayer
And who knows? It may also change the way you pray and receive God’s answer.
The Heroes Who Prayed
Hannah
In Bible times, when a woman is barren, it brings deep shame to the family. This is because children are seen as God’s gift, and being infertile is a challenging situation.
Like Hannah, you may be in a position where everything is hopeless. You may have already questioned God why you feel that “deep shame”.
But, recorded in 1 Samuel 1:11 (NIV) is Hannah’s prayer of faith.
She said, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
As you see, Hannah already claimed that God would fulfill His promise in her life even before she was pregnant. Sure enough, Samuel went down in history as Israel’s greatest prophet.
Just like Hannah, you can manifest God’s promise in your life and let Him be God.
Daniel
Imagine being in a place where no one knows you, and you’re being kept as a slave. You might have questioned God and blamed Him for your circumstance.
But Daniel reacted otherwise.
He knew God and how to communicate with and listen to God. Also, he made God his Friend in a country where he knew no one. Daniel 2:27-28 (ESV) describes Daniel as one great man.
It says, Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:”
Daniel was successful because He gave God all the credit. And because of that, he became chief administrator of the whole Medo-Persian kingdom!
Daniel might have become proud and arrogant. But, he understood that he was just a servant in the hands of an omnipotent God.
And that understanding came from his personal connection with God through prayer.
Jairus
Let’s talk about something more serious—death.
Jairus had a dying daughter. According to Mark 5:23 (NIV), he pleaded earnestly with Jesus, saying, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put Your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
All of us are desperate for healing, especially when it is our loved ones who are at stake. We tend to pray and bargain with God to heal them from whatever they’re suffering.
In this story of Jairus, maybe God is just testing our faith. His daughter already died before Jesus arrived at his home!
But Jesus had more than a cure in mind when He urged Jairus to believe. When Jesus entered the house, He resurrected the girl from the dead.
Jesus wants to go above and beyond our expectations—He wants to revive our faith!
Elisha
Have you ever been in a situation where you are responsible for something yet don’t know what to do next?
Elisha did. God gave Elisha prophetic skills and abilities, and these threatened the king. He sent a troop to encircle Elisha’s city and initiate an assault. This news caused Elisha’s servant to panic.
There may be moments when God entrusts us with something, and along with it are circumstances that can harm us.
Instead of panicking, Elisha told his servant. “Don’t be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16, NIV)
God answered Elisha’s prayer by blinding the opposing army. He then led his people out of the city.
You will also have the confidence to accomplish anything God asks of you. This is possible if we seek His protection surrounding us, knowing that our circumstances are blind to His might!
Joseph
The slave who turned into one of the best leaders in Egypt.
The Bible states that Joseph had a close relationship with God, and this is because of his prayer life. Because of this, even his master saw how close he was to God and found favor in him.
Genesis 39:2-4 (ESV) describes how Joseph is with his relationship with God.
It says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.”
Because of his faithful prayer life, God used him to govern Egypt and deliver them out of famine.
You might relate to Joseph in a way. Your business is not doing good, you have failing grades at school, or a really good friend betrayed you.
Regardless of how bad your situation is, remember that the God who led Joseph from rags to riches will definitely give you a way out, too. Just pray.
David
David was known to be the man after God’s own heart. But, how did he become one?
What does his prayer life look like? David was just like any of us. He committed mistakes, and he admits that he has deeply sinned against God.
But what made David successful was how he acknowledged his mistake and confessed to God. Psalms 51:10 (ESV) says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
After having heartfelt repentance and a deep talk with God, he felt a sense of peace in his heart and accepted that God already forgave him.
In our journey to success, we might experience a lot of temptations and stumbling blocks along the way. But, our persistent surrender to God will make us successful in our day-to-day battle with trials.
Jesus
Really? The Man who saved the world from sin prayed, too?
Yes. Jesus was not exempted from the benefits of this ultimate secret. As recorded in the Scriptures, He spent many, many hours in prayer.
Jesus could’ve just skipped the prayer part and went on to save the world.
But, no.
Every day, in the early hours of the morning, He kneeled and prayed to God the Father for protection and guidance.
“But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray,” according to Luke 5:16 (ESV). By spending time with his Father regularly, Jesus stayed in touch with His desire and purpose.
Why did Jesus do this?
Because He wants to be an example of how powerful prayer is.
Even before He was crucified, He prayed and pleaded to God to let the circumstance pass. But He was willing to submit Himself for God’s leading and will, and that was how the most extraordinary love story started.
There is Power in Prayer
Prayer has worked wonders in the lives of people in the Bible, and it can work for you, too!
It will help you to:
Acquire peace of mind
Be patient
Become the person God wants you to become
God’s Word is transparent in how great heroes in the Bible are and how dependent they are on God. He wants us to be comforted that He always provides the best answers only if we allow His power to influence our lives.
Author Bio
Heroes 2 is a Bible trivia game released by the Hope Channel. It is a sequel to the game, Heroes, which was released in 2013. The latest game version is on 3D graphics and animation, enhanced with unique features and more challenging Bible questions. It comes in four languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. The game is available on both iOS and Android.
In the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11:1-4), Jesus begins his prayer with, “Our father who art in heaven.” That first word reminds us that we are not alone, that we are linked through God to one another as one family, and He is daddy. As we come close to God, we are drawn into a closer relationship with one another. By telling us to call God “father,” Jesus moves us from images of a remote God to an image of God as one who is with us constantly, who cares about us always, who daily provides for us like a good father should. I was always told, “you look like your dad, you walk like your dad and you act like him. This should be what folk say about us and our heavenly father. One whose likeness we bear at the deepest levels of our being.
Today, we ought to respect God’s title as father, “Holy is His Name,” we must acknowledge God’s holiness. This may seem a contradiction, to acknowledge that we are family and then immediately to acknowledge God’s holiness (in contrast to our lack of it). But “Holy is His Name” reminds us that one of the basic postures of prayer is awe. This is the essence of prayer: being with God as we are and He accepting us as child no matter what we’ve done, and we accepting God as God is. This encounter changes us, bit by bit, and allows us to experience freedom, confidence and self-worth. (See 2 Corinthians 3:18.)
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
Let’s Pray Yahweh, thank You for being my father. Thank You for Your acceptance of me as Your sinful child and not turning Your back on me. I respect and love You today and always, You are awesome, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
As I took a long hard look at my life, I realised that in order for me to get to the next level in my life and move into the next chapter in my life, I have to get rid of the old. Are you ready for a new chapter in your life? In order to move forward into the blessings God has for you, you have to be willing to let go of the old. The things that are behind you are not nearly as important today as what is out in front of you. It’s time to get ready for the “new”!
Some unfair things happen, things that you don’t understand. But let me tell you, you have come too far to stop now, despite what others may say and what you think. Instead of allowing those things to hold you back, why don’t you let go and take a step of faith into the new? It’s time to get a new, bigger vision; it’s time to get a new, fresher outlook; it’s time to rise up with a new attitude!
Today, instead of settling where you are, pick up and move forward, no matter what has been said about you. Have the attitude that says, “I may not understand it; it may not have been fair, but I am not getting stuck on this page of my life. I know God has a new chapter for me – a chapter filled with blessings, favour and victory!
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.” (Luke 5:37, ESV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Father, today, I will trust You with my past, present and future. God, give me wisdom to discern the seasons of my life, and teach me to embrace the new things You have in store for me. Cover me from my enemies and the devil who will seek to bring me back into the old, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
What is your priority today? Where is you focus? Do you have so much on your “to-do” list that you don’t even know where to start? The question is, is all of that really necessary?
The Scripture tells us there is only one priority needed in life, and that is to sit at the feet of Jesus. When we sit in His presence, we get to know Him. We hear His voice and He shows us the way that we should go. When we don’t take time for God, that’s when the enemy steps in, and we feel the cares and worries of the world.
Today, take a moment to review all that is priority in your life. Evaluate how you are spending your time. Tune out unnecessary distractions and tune in to God’s voice. Make time for Him every single day, because that is the one thing that is needed to overcoming the enemy, worry and this negative world!
“…You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one…” (Luke 10:41–42, NIV)
Let’s Pray Yahweh, today I choose to make You priority in my life and set my heart and mind on You. Father, I choose to cast my cares and focus on what’s most important, talking to You, hearing Your voice and being in Your presence, so I can follow Your Word, Your will and Your ways! In Christ’s Name! Amen.
When something is good, we often want as much of it as we can get. We want our glasses, bowls, bank accounts to overflow. That’s how it is with God’s blessings, we all want more of God’s favour and goodness. The good news is we serve a God of abundance! He wants to pour out His blessing on you until you are so full that you are running over with His goodness. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you.” Therefore, your giving is what sets the blessing and the abundance of God into motion in your life.
Your giving is like an apple seed. When you plant an apple seed, it doesn’t just grow a single fruit. That one seed grows into a tree that has an abundance of apples. The same thing happens when you obey God and give. You get an abundant harvest in return. You are so blessed that you can’t even contain it! You have to just keep giving, and the cycle just keeps repeating itself.
Today, is there something the Lord is telling you to give? Maybe, it’s your time, food or funds. What do you have that you can use to be a blessing to someone else? Take a step of faith and set the blessing of God into motion. As you do, you’ll automatically open the door for His abundance to flow in every area of your life. Hallelujah!
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap…” (Luke 6:38, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, I receive Your Word into my heart today. Father, thank You for choosing to bless me so that I can be a blessing to others. God, please continue to send Your abundance into my life. Show me ways to bless others and teach me to receive all You have for me, so that I can show the world Your goodness. In Christ’s Name! Amen.
On a daily basis, there are things that come against us and distract us, and attempt to pull us away from Christ. That’s why every day we have to make the choice to follow Him. Sometimes it’s easy to think, “well, I go to church regularly,” or “I read my Bible.” The Christian life isn’t about how we live on the weekends, it’s how we live every single day. Are you spending time with God daily? Are you reaching out and putting others first? Are you sowing seeds to help those in need?
Today, if you know you need to make some adjustments in your daily walk with God, the good news is that you can start right now. Simply turn to Him and make the commitment to follow Him moment by moment. Let Him direct your steps and follow that inner prompting of the Holy Spirit. Make the choice every day to follow God’s will, and watch what He will do on your behalf!
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23, NIV)
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for another day to serve and follow You. Father, search my heart and mind right now, and remove anything that would keep me from You. God, make me Your disciple, not just on the weekend but daily. I commit to set my mind on You daily, following Your steps and Your will, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
You’ve probably heard the statement many times “God is a God of abundance!” It’s very true. He wants to pour out His blessings on you until you are so full that you are running over with His goodness.
Scripture says, “Give, and it will be given to you.” Your giving is what sets the blessing of God into motion in your life. Your giving is a spiritual seed. In the natural, when you plant an apple seed, it doesn’t just grow a single fruit. That one seed grows into a tree that has an abundance of apples. The same thing happens when you obey God in your giving. You get an abundant harvest in return. You are so blessed that you can’t even contain it! You just have to keep giving, and the cycle just keeps repeating itself.
Today, is there something the Lord is telling you to give (knowing that giving brings abundance)? What do you have in your hand that you can use to be a blessing to someone else? Take a step of faith, sow that seed and set the blessings of God in motion in your life, and open the door to His abundance!
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap…” (Luke 6:38, NIV)
Let’s Pray Yahweh, I receive Your Word into my heart. Father, thank You for choosing to bless me so that I can be a blessing to others. God, show me where to plant my seed, so that I can receive the harvest of abundance You have for me, in Christ’s Name! Amen.
What does Romans 12:21 mean by saying, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”? Let’s start off by drawing out some word meanings with the help of Strong’s Dictionary:
the word overcome (Gk. Nikao) refers to: victory, conquer, prevail, subdue, and come off victorious (implying a battle)
the word evil (Gk. Kakos) refers to: bad, inwardly foul, rotten (poisoned), flowing out of a morally rotten character.
the word good ( Agathos) refers to: “intrinsically good, pointing to what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life”
We know from experience that what 1 John 5:19 says is true, that the whole world lies in wickedness. Crime is rampant, just check out the news. Offenses are everywhere both offline and online. People hurting people, damaging and victimizing others with words and deeds. And people are rarely apologetic nowadays. Corrupted by sin and without Christ in this world, we can’t expect any better from most of the people out there.
In the midst of this culture and environment, what is a Christian to do? How is he to act and respond? Romans 12:21 instructs the believer to observe 2 things:
Do not be overcome by evil.
Overcome evil with good
Do not be overcome by evil
We can apply this in so many ways:
Do not be discouraged. If you’re in an environment where all the wrong things are happening to others or even to you, whether repeated offenses or unfairness is the norm; don’t be discouraged. In His time, justice will be restored and what is needed to come out will be brought to light. Ecc. 3:17 Job 12:22
Do not be influenced. In an environment where wrong is the normal practice, the Christian may sometimes be tempted to do as others do, thinking that it won’t make a difference, or thinking that doing wrong pays off, or thinking that since everybody’s doing it, it must be okay. Choose to remain honest even if your peers are into plagiarized work and cheating. Stay honest even if your peers are cheating on work hours, sleeping on the job, goofing off, inflating work hours done. Stay honest even if other businesses cheat on their customers. Leviticus 19:36
Do not be intimidated. Edmund Burke is attributed to have said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” John Stuart Mil said, “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” Many times, it is the wrongdoers who are brave and aggressive in their ways, making no apologies about what they do and say. Christians, in the desire for peace may feel forced to stay quiet. Now, not every issue should be a battle we fight others over for. But at times, we need to make our stand known if it helps bring enlightenment even to just one person. Speak your mind when God gives an opening. Answer a curious question when somebody asks your view. God promises to teach you what to say. Luke 12:12
Overcome evil with good
We can apply this in so many ways:
Do good to your enemies. The enemies Matthew 5:44 points to are those who do wrong against you and who just feels hatred towards you for no valid reason. It may be tempting to give them a dose of their own medicine or to take revenge but the verse says to love them instead. That does not necessarily mean to go out of your way to be best buddies with them, consent to their wrongdoing and to suffer repeated abuse. In the context of agape love, it means to desire their highest good. You can and should pray for God to bless them. Pray for God to bring enlightenment and salvation in their lives. You never know when your goodness will cause repentance to dawn on them, “heaping coals of fire on their head.”
Do good and do it without expecting anything in return. Good works are rewarding to you personally and to others. The good you do will bring some fruit in their lives; gratefulness, hope, cheerfulness, and more. Often, good works are contagious. The good you do tend to get paid forward by others.
Life is not easy. Many times it may feel as though you’re constantly dodging bullets. Sometimes you may get hit with a bullet in the form of financial distress, depression, slander, inequality and even death, and they are all enough to shake your foundation in Christ… if you allow it.
Recently, I had lunch with a few family members. There was the usual catching up session, plentiful dishes full of tasty homecooked food, and much laughter. But there was something else that I didn’t like: the gossiping and constant judgment of those who were not present. Some time ago, I would have been the one sitting with them and judging those relatives right along with them, but thankfully the LORD dealt with me concerning this. So I kept my distance and did not take part. Perhaps you’re asking yourself why I didn’t tell them that what they were doing was wrong? The simple reason is that the women were all elders (except one) in the family and do not take lightly to anyone younger than them saying anything against what they are talking about. They definitely knew that I did not like their topic of conversation, which is why I have been on the receiving end of much judgment in the past. Well, these women just kept on going on and on about our other relatives, picking out every problem and judging them for it. My spirit was so troubled by it, that I walked away and put my earphones on to listen to some praise music. I needed to drown out the ugliness of the conversation, and I got to thinking: how did I manage to be a part of such slanderous speech in the past? How did I continue to spew such ugly words and descriptions about other people? I did it under the guise of being ‘concerned’ about them, but truly, it was just an excuse to focus on the negative in someone else’s life rather than deal with the disappointments and rejections of my own life, as well as the ugliness that I allowed to multiply in my heart. Matthew 15:18 tells us that the words that we speak come from our hearts, and this defiles us.
There are so many things that we allow to dwell in our hearts, and they eventually come out in the form of words. These words are ones of negativity, doubt, self-beating, gossip, slander and so much more. This is normal for those who are of the world, but it is not normal for us as His people.So, the question is: how different are we from the world? Do we immediately become angry when things do not go our way? Do we seek revenge when someone has wronged us? Do we talk about others in an effort to elevate ourselves? We have to be honest with ourselves when we ask these questions because GOD cannot be fooled. Sometimes we think that we are alright. We are kind to people, we keep away from bad company, we watch our tongue… until something happens out of our control. Maybe you were standing in line for an extremely long time at some government office (in South Africa, we have many stories about the Department of Home Affairs as well as the licensing department!), and you’ve been there since 7 am in the morning, but now it’s 12:00 pm and it’s lunchtime for half of them. Which means that the line is only about to go slower. Well, this just gets you into a tizz, doesn’t it? You probably join in the conversation happening around you about how incompetent the government workers are, how they are clearly not qualified for the job that they do, and so on and so forth. I’ve been there and done that, but just because everyone else is mumbling and grumbling, doesn’t mean that we have to do it. Instead, we could be sharing the gospel with the person sitting next to us (yes, I know that at first, it may seem awkward and you might get some strange or angry looks) or showing a good attitude when everyone else is in a bad mood. You’d be amazed at how many people you can get to smile just by being a cheerful person. You actually attract people to you and then you can tell them that your joy is all thanks to Jesus.
Luke 6:27-28 tells us to love our enemies, to do good to those that hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those that mistreat us. Whoa. Is that even possible, Jesus? You know what’s going to come next: all things are possible for those who believe (Jesus just dropped the mic on that one). It’s easier for us to love those who love us, to hate those that hate us, to bless those that bless us, to pray for those that we feel like praying for, and to utterly forget about those that mistreat us. It’s far easier, right? But then, what would make us different from the world? In the Old Testament, we know the whole ‘eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth’ thing, right? But Jesus turned that on its head. He came and spoke about living a life so different, and so weird, that people would need to just stop and take a look at us. Jesus said that we are the light and salt of the world, and in order to maintain our light and ‘saltiness’, we are going to have to be different. Oh, it certainly is not easy, but it sure is worth it.
I would like to invite you to take your walk with Christ to a whole different level by being abnormal in the world. Be extraordinary in a world of mundaneness. Be weird in a world where sin is normal. Embrace your role as a servant of the Most High, daughter of a King, son of the Holy of Holies, warrior of the Great I Am. Choose to set aside your feelings of inadequacy, the need to fit in and be accepted, and all your embarrassment to live your life GOD-led and not people/situation-led. We were promised joy, peace, love and everything else that GOD has to offer us, but that doesn’t mean that there will not be suffering and persecution. As Jesus suffered, so will we suffer, but it’s only for a moment in the light of eternity with Christ. Let GOD take control and transform you into someone that even you would never have thought to become.
“The remedy for discouragement is the word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength. “Warren Wiersbe
We all yearn to feel the sense of belonging, loved and appreciated. God is love, He’s the best source of inspiration and we can all learn from Him. Are you looking for scriptures that reflect your emotions or inspire you? Look no further and may these Bible verses help you to see life from a different perspective. May you find strength and experience supernatural peace and comfort. Stand in the promises of God.
1. “God is within her, she will not fall.”Psalm46:5
2. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”Proverbs31:25
3. “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”Psalm28:76
5. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. “Joshua 1:9
6. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. “Proverbs 31:26
7. “Under his wings you will find refuge.”Psalm9:1
8. “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.”Philippians4:6
9. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”1 Corinthians 15:10
10. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”Proverbs3:5-6
11. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his Promises to her!”Luke 1:45
12. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”Psalm139:14
13. “Do everything in love.”1 Corinthians16:14
14. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”1 Peter3:3-4
15. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”Joshua1:9
16. “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-the LORD on high is mighty.”Psalm93:4
17. “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created” Esther4:14
18“I am complete in Him.”Colossians2:10
19. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”Proverbs31:10
20“For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”2ndTimothy1:7
21. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”Psalm143:8
22. “You are loved more than you will ever know by someone who died to know you.”Romans5:6
23. “For I know the plans I have for you,”Jeremiah29:11
24. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”Exodus14:14
25. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”Joshua1:5
26. “All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you. “Songs ofsongs4:7
27. “Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.”Ephesians2:19-22
“Snuggle in God’s arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out. Let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love “Kay Arthur
Most of us have grown up with many popular fairy tales told to us as children. The legendary story “Little Red Riding Hood” In most versions (although definitely not all of them) there is one common theme: a wolf attacks a young woman through deception. Like parables, such stories are never intended to convey meaning in every detail. Yet, much of it may draw, even in unsuspecting ways, the reader to precepts or principles pertinent to circumstances behind the story. Such is the following on Little Red Riding Hood.
There is actually a lesson in that theme for God’s people today.
1. The Church. Satan’s wolves do more than disguise themselves as Granny. As Paul warned, they often present themselves as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
“That’s a lie!” said the wolf. “You won’t die!”
2. The Law. One of the most common deceptions by these types of wolves is the claim that the law was done away with. Using selective sections of the apostle Paul’s writings, these wolves deceive people into crying, “Oh, what freedom you have!”
This was the very same tactic that Satan employed in the Garden of Eden.
3. False prophets. While these people appear to be godly—they come in sheep’s clothing—Christ said that inwardly they were “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). These are people who claim to be children of God—but who don’t teach and live the word.
Another Fake Jesus Christ was recently arrested and remanded in Uganda on Thursday, November 9th, for belonging and managing an unlawful society by the Magistrate’s court. According to a report by Uganda’s Newspaper, Daily Monitor, the accused claimed not to be under any authority including the police, local council administration or the president of Uganda. The man purporting to be Jesus was arraigned in court alongside his three followers who preferred to be identified with their alias names.
“Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?”
4. The world. Wake up from your Slumber. Frequently in Scripture believers are exhorted to wake up, to be revived, and they are warned of the dangers of spiritual sleep. Christ warned us “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3). The world is under the sway of Satan.
As a believer in Jesus, we are promised a new life covered under the protection of God in which NOTHING can separate us from His love. Rest knowing that no matter what hardship you face, God is your provider and protector! Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of the wolf, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
5. Wealth. These wolves say, “all this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” Christ warned of the “deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). Your response should be“Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“There was something wolfish about them?”
6. Marriage How many times have we heard the story of the little red riding hood (aka Christian Sister or Brother) who fell in love with a big bad Wolf?‘It wasn’t beauty, it was the beast, she or he says in regret. Being equally yoked is not meant to inhibit our dating lives. Rather, it is a command designed for protection and honor. Being unequally yoked is more dangerous than you think – and waiting for someone with whom you share the same spiritual heritage is far more rewarding than many believe.
Hey, Little Red Riding Hood, where are you going, so alone, so”¦ alone?
7. Relationship. Without Jesus, you can do nothing. An intimate relationship with God is required. That means fellowship with God daily. The big bad wolf was disguised to trick little red riding hood, but the wolf could not mislead her because Little red riding hood knew her grandmother intimately. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27”
“You can huff and puff but I will not worship you!”
8. Worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question. If our God, whom we honor, can save us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty. Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with anger toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face turned red and he ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than normal. However, God commissions His angels to save His chosen ones from calamity, to guard them against “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” and “the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”
These eight types (or packs, if you will) of “wolves” have plagued Christ’s followers throughout history.
These are just a few of the tricks and deceptions that are used by Satan and his wolves. Some wolves are masters of deception and disguise. They talk like Christians. They use the Bible. They seem like nice people. They are so loving! But they will draw you in to eat you for dinner!
God’s people must learn the lesson of Little Red Riding Hood. Let’s never allow ourselves to fall prey to the Satan’s deceptions.
The right words can engage the brain and bring an idea to life. History’s best leaders understood the importance of providing motivation and direction to achieve larger goals. The character, actions and thoughts of a leader, good or bad, permeate an organisation or country. Your goal should be to demonstrate the best qualities of a leader. These 20 quotes about leadership will help you think about and guide your actions.
It is impossible to imagine anything which better becomes a ruler than mercy – Seneca
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves – Philippians 2:3
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently – Henry Ford
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless – Mother Teresa
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you – Luke 6:31
Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend the first 4 sharpening the axe – Abraham Lincoln
While a good leader sustains momentum, a great leader increases it – John C. Maxwell
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires – William Arthur Ward
The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things – President Ronald Reagan
Always do what’s right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest – Mark Twain
A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit – Arnold Glasow
Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader – George S. Patton
Earn your leadership every day – Michael Jordan
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity – George S. Patton
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower – Steve Job
Where there is no vision, the people perish – Proverbs 29:18
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power – President Abraham Lincoln
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way – John C. Maxwell
Don’t just delegate tasks to the next generation. If you delegate tasks, you create followers. Instead, delegate authority to create leaders – Craig Groeschel
You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader – Henry Ford
