The Devil Wants to KILL You!

You are a fabulous being. God created you in an exquisite, perfectly unique way. He made you expressly for His pleasure, and your life is a testament to His great handiwork. (Psalm 139:14) He is proud of each breath you take.

As fine as you are, there is someone who hates every atom of your core. From the time man was created, the devil has been scheming, plotting, and interfering with God’s intended purpose for mankind. The devil’s very existence is now dedicated to thwarting mankind from living the life God chose for him to have.

The devil is one cunning creature, and he has studied you well. He knows exactly where your weak spots are, and he takes every opportunity to tempt you away from God’s chosen path. He offers his “treats” to you daily presenting them in such a way that it’s hard for you to resist. Lying becomes convenient, our flesh cries out to over indulge, our patience grows thin and we give in to harsh, angry behavior…

Each time you partake in the “treats” the devil offers up to you, you ingest something that’s sole purpose is to poison and kill your spiritual life in God. He wants you to get so hooked on his junk that you start neglecting the good fruit the Lord has available to you. As you succumb to the devil’s diet you will eventually stop partaking of the Lord’s bounty. Your spirit will grow sick and weak and your enemy will have prevailed.

You can choose instead to resist the devil, dig in, and go with the fruit of the Spirit the Lord has provided for you instead. The fruit He has for you produces life and brings blessings. It will cause your spirit to grow strong and enable you to live in victory while here on earth. God is your Creator. He takes pleasure out of your well being. Everything He has for you enhances your living experience. As you live according to God’s will, you cannot help but have favor and success.

So the next time you find yourself struggling to resist the devil’s temptations, remember his blatant agenda. He only wants to destroy you. Anything he brings your way is guaranteed poison. Why would you want to continuously partake in something that’s trying to kill you? Grab hold of God’s fruit of the spirit and thrive instead.

 
Verse of the Day: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

Thanksgiving Friday!

It's Friday!

This week, I'm thankful for encouragement. I was able to complete the first draft for my book this week (yay!), and I'm so amped to move forward with the next steps. It's been long overdue for me to finish a book, and I'm inspired to keep moving forward. Thank You Lord for giving me such a wonderful gift!

I've also been inspired to do better, be better, and look for greater in my life this week. As I've been finishing up my first draft I've been thinking over my life and where I am right now. I know where I want to go and what I want to accomplish. This week, I've been encouraged to step out and start walking toward my destiny. I can't sit on the side thinking forever. It's time to get moving! Thanks, God, for the nudge forward.

Finally, I'm thankful for hope. It's such an amazing thing. Hope sustains, heals, encourages, and motivates. Since my hope is secured in God, I know that my hope is rooted in faith, and my faith will not leave me disappointed. God is so good!

What are you thankful for this week? How is God keeping you?

Verse of the Day: I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:8-11

The Lord's Prayer (Part Three)

We've reached the final portions of our look at the Lord's Prayer.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil...

Other versions of the Bible phrase this section differently. The New Living Translations says: And don’t let us yield to temptation. God is never going to tempt you with sin. However, the devil is going to use every open door to try to trip you up.

When we are tempted, we have to acknowledge that God will always provide a way of escape for us. Temptations rise up every day. We don't have to give in to them. There is always a way for us to avoid sin.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

Jesus closes his prayer the same way He opened it: acknowledging the awesomeness of God. It is the Lord's Kingdom that will last forever. His power will outlast all others. His glory will shine for eternity. He is the One who will reign forever!

It is important that we keep this fact always before us. We serve the one true God. Our God is above all others. He is the Mighty, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent One. And He has granted us the privilege to go before Him personally in prayer.

In your prayer time today, lift up those areas where you are being tempted. Rebuke the devil, and ask the Lord for help to keep you from sin. Remember the mighty God you serve! He is so magnificent, and He is taking time to hear from you. Give Him glory and praise as you pray.

Have an awesome day today!

Verse of the Day: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:13

Wednesday's Word: Don't Give Up!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

 

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

 

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

 

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

 

Paul gave this amazing testimony to the Corinthians. Although the apostles and early Christians faced great persecution and even death for their belief, they continued to preach God's Word. They recognized the greater power and reward in staying true to Christ.

 

What are you facing? What pressures are hemming you in? What is troubling you?

 

Don't give up on what God has placed in your hands! Remember that God's grace is sufficient for you. Allow your spirit to be renewed in Him. Remember those who have persevered through greater trials and went on to win! Think on the glory that Christ has in store for you.

 

Don't give up!

The Lord's Prayer (Part Two)

Moving on in our study of the Lord's Prayer, let's look over some more of Jesus' model.

Give us this day our daily bread.

 

I interpret this portion of the prayer as Jesus showing us that we are to ask the Lord to give us what we need. Think about it. If our daily needs are tended to by the Lord, we have no real reason to complain.

 

So often, we are looking at what we don't have that we neglect to acknowledge what we do have. Asking the Lord to supply what we need will remind us of how much we already have. It will show us that often what we want is not necessary to live a happy life in God.

 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 

It is so easy to keep a record of what others have done against us. I tend to have a long memory and have to consistently work on not holding grudges. One thing that helps is to think about how often I have sinned against God. I don't know about you, but my list is kind of lengthy. Yet, God has forgiven every single one of my sins.

 

He's forgiven every single one of yours as well.

 

Kind of makes it easier to forgive someone else, doesn't it?

 

Today as you pray, remember to ask for what you need. God knows your heart's desires. He also knows what is best for you. He will never leave you with less than what you need. And, that's in everything... spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

 

Also, make a point to lay out your faults before the Lord, and choose to forgive those who've wronged you. It is best to make the decision to forgive in your prayer time because sometimes true forgiveness will only come with the help of the Holy Spirit!

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

Verse of the Day: Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:11, 12

Thanksgiving Friday!

It's Thanksgiving Friday!

This week I'm thankful to be able to just take a break and rest. My mom, sis, and I are on a getaway right now. It's been a long time coming, and I'm looking forward to having some time to breathe and relax. Even The Lord took some time to rest. Thank you, Lord, for giving me a chance to rest!

I'm also thankful for Gods peace-keeping power. There has been so much drama going on at my job this week! Thankfully, I have the peace that passes all understanding flowing in my soul. I've been pulling on that peace every day. Thank you, Jesus, for your peace!

Finally, I'm thankful for experience. Having gone through so much this past year, I've gained some wisdom, empathy, and insight. I've been able to use my painful experiences to minister to others, to pray for them, and to testify to them of what God can do. I am so thankful that I didn't just go through for nothing! Thank you, Father, for giving me such a rich experience that can help others come to know your amazing love!

What are you thankful for this week? Let The Lord hear you praise Him! 

Have a lovely weekend!

Verse of the Day: You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothes me with joy that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O. Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalms 30:11, 12 (NLT)

The Lord's Prayer (Part One)

I've been meditating on the Lord's prayer lately. Working at a Catholic school, it's almost like the 'default' prayer for people to say. Yet, when you sit and think about it, this prayer is pretty powerful.

When His disciples came asking Jesus how to pray, Jesus responded with this model for them to follow. If we go along with this example as well, we will find our prayer lives prospering.

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name...

 

Jesus opens His prayer with worship. He begins by acknowledging how holy and sovereign God is. This not only shows the Lord respect, but it gives us the opportunity to remind ourselves of the great One that we have been privileged to talk to one-on-one.

 

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven...

 

After acknowledging the greatness of the Lord, who else's will would suffice? Nothing can trump God's awesome power, infinite wisdom, and omniscient wisdom. Opening ourselves up to the Lord's heavenly will allows us to walk out His kingdom desires on the earth. Isn't it amazing that God trusts us with the privilege of carrying out His plans in our daily lives?

 

In your prayer time today, start off in worship to the Lord. Remind yourself of how great He is. Meditate on His grand splendor. Then, open yourself up to His great will. Relinquish your plans to Him, and allow your Heavenly Father to orchestrate your day.

 

Verse of the Day: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9,10

Anchored in God

With floods washing away whole communities in Colorado, fires wiping out the progress in New Jersey, and a shooter on the loose in DC, America has been buffeted by one tragic scene after another these past few days.

Looking at this kind of news and seeing the devastation just reminds me of how important it is for people to be anchored in the Lord. We were never promised perfectly happy lives. God never told us that He would make every single day for us a perfect one. Some sort of storm will rain on our parade through the course of our lives.

God has given us the tools to make it through anything that comes our way. Even when it seems like everything is falling apart and tragedy is all around, God has made a way for us to go through with His strength, wisdom, and peace. We just have to stay anchored in Him.

Being anchored in the Lord means that whatever we go through, we keep ourselves firmly planted in Him. We stay in touch with Him through prayer, we continue to follow the path He has for us, and we walk according to His will in all things.

It's best to get anchored in God while the sun is still shining and no storm clouds are in sight. It's hard to hunker down when the wind is whipping and the waves are crashing into you.

Anchoring yourself in God consists of knowing His voice, having His word planted on the inside, and building a firm foundation of faith in Him.

God's voice will guide you when you don't know where to turn. Having God's word on the inside of your spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to bring those verses to your remembrance when your hope is fading. A firm foundation of faith will keep you from giving in to despair and will give you assurance to keep going.

Are you anchored in God? If a storm passed your way today, would you be able to stand firm in faith? Take some time while the sun is still shining to gird up yourself in the things of God, so you can successfully walk through whatever comes your way.

Verse of the Day: So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18, 19

Give A Smile Day

One year ago today, my amazing father went to be with Jesus. He had the largest, most brilliant smile on the planet! My dad always found a way to bring other people joy and happiness.



My Daddy!

Not having my dad here this last year has been difficult getting adjusted to. There's so much I want to share with him and questions that I want to ask him. All sorts of things small and large remind me of him. Yet, I know he's in heaven having a blast, so that makes things a bit easier.

I don't want to spend today depressed or wallowing in sadness. I may shed a tear or two, but I don't want to give in to sorrow. My dad wouldn't like that.

So, I am christening today "Give A Smile Day". I am going to go out of my way to do something special for someone that will make them smile as big as my dad did. It may be one person or two, someone close to me or a complete stranger. I just am aiming to bring a big bright beautiful smile to someone's face. I just want to give person a feeling of joy.
It would be so lovely if you join me! Purpose in your heart to make someone smile. It doesn't have to be a big thing or overly complicated. It could be as simple as paying for the person behind you in the drive thru lane, baking your friend their favorite treat, buying the homeless person on the corner lunch, or spending some quality one-on-one time with a loved one...

The possibilities are endless!

Let me know about all the smiles you create in the comments section! I'll fill you in on mine as well.

Verse of the Day: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22

Thanksgiving Friday!

It's Thanksgiving Friday again!

This week I'm definitely thankful to be back blogging. I'm so grateful to be back sharing morning devotions and getting all of our days off to a wonderful start! Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful gift!

I'm also thankful for fresh vision. Recently I've been working with our children's ministry at the church on revamping our ministry. It has been so encouraging to work with the team to implement what God has for us at this point and time. I've been blessed with some amazing people! God is so good.

I'm also thankful for the opportunity to give back this week. Our school is doing a special walk for the Special Olympics today. It was heart warming to see their pledges come in for such an amazing organization. Thank You, Father, for all of those who care enough to give of their time, their money, and their talents for others. It's such a blessing to be a part of the human race.

What are you thankful for today? What has God done for you this week? How are you showing the Lord your gratitude for what He's done?

Have a great week!

Verse of the Day: O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

You Can Do It!

Today was one of those wake up and hit the ground running kind of days. There's nothing like getting awakened out of your sleep with multiple requests for substitutes from teachers who can't come in. Then having each sub on your list unavailable to come in. Praise the Lord for strength and a working brain. I definitely needed it this morning. I was up to the daunting task and able to work everything out.

The Lord dropped in on Moses one day and made some pretty daunting requests. Moses had fled for his life from Egypt and had found a safe haven in the desert. Here, he had married a wife and established a way of living for himself by tending sheep.

Then God showed up.

The Lord asked Moses to return to Egypt. On top of that He asked Moses to speak to the Pharaoh. On top of that the Lord wanted Moses to ask the Pharaoh to release his Israelite slaves. On top of that Moses was to lead these freed slaves into the Promised Land God had chosen for them.

Whew!

Despite these drastic and intimidating requests, Moses chose to answer the Lord's call. He chose to be obedient to the tasks the Lord had placed in his path. We all know the epic results that followed.

What is God asking of you? Has He awakened your spirit to a great challenge? Is He asking you to take on a task that seems daunting?

One thing you can be sure of: you can do anything that God asks of you. If He's calling you to do it, you are well able to take on the challenge. Don't allow fear and intimidation to keep you from your great calling in God. You can do it!

Verse of the Day: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Wednesday's Word: Send Out Some Prayers

The LORD is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

 

God is faithful.

 

Despite all that has happened... In the face of all that is brewing on the horizon... God is faithful.

 

He has never left us or forsaken us. Ever.

 

As we are remembering the events of 9/11 today, please pray for all those affected by the tragedy. Yet, praise God for how he has guided us. He kept us through war, He stabilized us through choppy political waters, and He is yet keeping America strong.

 

Pray for our leaders. Pray for our President. Pray for Congress. Pray for all those who work behind the scenes.

 

Pray over your state, your city, and your community. Cover your place of residence in prayer.

 

Our Heavenly Shepherd has been faithful. In spite of it all our cup is yet overflowing with blessings. Praise the Lord for His guidance and love.

Give It Up!

One day, a man came to Jesus looking for the key to eternal life. This man was a person who followed after the Law from when he was a child. The Bible points out that he was rich and he had the status of a ruler among the community. This man was wise enough to see that Jesus had insight that other leaders of the day had not attained.

However, Jesus expertly tapped into the young man's weak spot:

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. Luke 18:22, 23

 

This young man could not give up everything to follow after Jesus. Even though he recognized the wisdom and power Jesus had, he could not give Jesus full reign of his life. He could not give up his title, his money, and he possessions for the eternal life that Jesus had for him.

 

What do you have in life that is precious to you? It may be your job, your car, your status in your church, or your beautiful home. Can you honestly say that those things aren't more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? If He asked, would you freely give it all up for Him?

 

Today, check your heart. Are you holding on to something that God is asking you to let go of? Are you placing something of this world as your first priority instead of your Savior?

 

Don't miss out on your eternal blessings for the temporary things this world has to offer! Allow yourself to put Jesus first, so you can reap the heavenly rewards that never expire. No matter how dearly you held the things you give up, they can never match what the Lord will give you in return.

 

Verse of the Day: And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Luke 18:29, 30

 

 

Wednesday's Word: Who Are You Serving?

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.


Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.  Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:12-23 (NLT)

Who are you a slave to? What are you serving? You've already obtained the gift of eternal life. Don't turn yourself back over to bondage and death by following after sin. Give yourself over fully to the Lord!

It's Holy Week: Obedient Unto Death

Today, let's look at what happened when the men came to arrest Jesus.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place:

for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,

cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him,

went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he.

And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye?

And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he:

 if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake,

Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it,

and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear.

The servant's name was Malchus.

Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath:

the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

And led him away...

John 18:1-13a

Jesus remained obedient in what the Lord had ordained for Him to do. Just moments before this passage happened, Jesus had been praying asking God if it was really His will for Jesus to die. When Jesus knew that there was no other way, He chose to be obedient to the Lord's will.

He went forward and asked the crowd who they were looking for. Jesus did not try to hide or be deceitful. He boldly went forward in the path God had laid out for Him. Even when Peter tried to fight back, Jesus chose to willingly give Himself up in order to obey the Father.

What has God asked you to do that you are struggling with? Remembering Jesus' great sacrifice, is what God asking you really too much for you? Jesus was obedient to lay down His life, and He was blessed to be exalted higher than all. What blessings are you holding back because of your disobedience?

Wednesday's Word: Do You Love Him?

Today's Word looks at some of the last teachings of Jesus before He went to the cross.

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me,

so that the world will know that I love the Father.

John 14:23-30a (NLT)

 

A couple of questions after reading this:

 

- From Jesus' words, do you really love Him?

- Are you following the teaching of the Holy Spirit?

- Have you embraced your gift of true peace?

 

Let these words ring in your spirit as you go about your day today. Think about your walk with Christ and whether it reflects what He has spoken in this passage.

Wednesday's Word: Firm Foundation

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise,

like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 

Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house,

it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish,

like a person who builds a house on sand.

When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house,

it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

In this example Jesus states that when we follow His instructions, we will be on solid footing. Through floods and beating winds we will be safe and secure. However, if we hear and don't follow Jesus' teaching, the storms of life will come and devastate our dwelling places.

What instructions have you heard that you aren't following? What teachings from God's Word have you heard that you're not listening to?

As you follow God's Word, you're building up your inner man. When you endeavor to walk according to Jesus' example, you're positioning yourself to life a life of love. You're training your mind to follow after the Father's will. You're honing your spiritual ears to know the voice of God.

When you prepare yourself in this way, you're ready to face whatever obstacles that come your direction. When the critics come, you'll have a ready loving response. When sorrow knocks, you'll know where to find your comfort. If doubt and despair come, you will be found standing strong in your faith in God.

Make sure you are wisely building on the solid rock of Jesus' teachings. It's one thing to hear His Word... it's another to obey His Word.

Following the Holy Spirit

Observing Jesus ' ministry, you can truly tell that He listened to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was obedient without question, and, as a result, He was able to do things that had never been seen before.

Jesus' followed the Holy Spirit when He fasted and prayed for 40 days in the wilderness. At the end of that powerful fast, the devil Himself could not tempt Jesus away from His purpose on the earth!

When Jesus came out of the wilderness, He was able to identify the 12 men who would be His faithful disciples for the next three years. He was able to see into the heart of the foul mouthed Peter, Jesus was able to see the potential of the tax collector Matthew, He was able to see the untapped greatness of the "sons of thunder" James and John.

Jesus went on to have the most prolific ministry in the history of this planet. He worked miracles like raising people from the dead. He preached sermons that still inspire people to this day. He formed relationships with people who needed God's love. He debated the religious scholars of His day and established God's new covenant on the earth.

When the time came for Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, He remained obedient still. Knowing that the Father was leading Him to give up His own life for the world, Jesus stayed obedient to the will of the Lord. He never wavered in what God was showing Him.

What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do? Are you remaining obedient in everything being asked of you? Consider your own ministry. Is it flowing in it's full potential? Or is your disobedience holding it back?

The Lord will never steer you wrong. All His plans are to bring you to a prosperous, successful position. Don't let your own doubts, insecurities, and unbelief cause you to miss out on God's awesome plans for your life!

Verse of the Day: ...nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42b

12 Days of Christmas: Obey Without Question

Mary is given a lot of attention with the memory of Jesus' birth. Joseph deserves a lot of credit as well in my book.

Here was a pretty great young man who thought he was about to marry a pretty awesome girl only to have her tell him that she's pregnant. He could have easily outed her to her friends and family and brought her under some severe scrutiny. Yet, Joseph was such an honorable person that he decided just to have Mary sent somewhere privately to have her avoid shame and ridicule.

However, when the angel of the Lord showed up, Joseph believed God's Word. He saw that the child Mary was carrying was of the Holy Spirit. He took Mary as his wife and did not consummate their union until she had Jesus.

God's plans are often no where near what our plans are. I'm sure taking care of a brand new wife and a child that wasn't his was nowhere in Joseph's plans. Yet, he was obedient to the Lord even to the point of taking the family to Egypt to avoid Herod's wrath. He literally picked up and moved away from his family, friends, and community without question.

When God places something different in your pathway, do you readily follow after His will? Are you willing to obey even to the point of moving entirely out of your comfort zone?

If God is showing you His plan for your life, don't question, analyze, delay, or ignore it. Just obey! Your obedience places you on the pathway of purpose. Your compliance to God's will sets you up for amazing experiences, joys, and accomplishments you will never know if you just stick to what you're familiar with.

Today, tell God that you will obey His word no matter what.

Verse of the Day: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost... Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 1:20, 24-25

Don't Get Cut Off From The Vine!

Yesterday, many Christians sat down to hear a word from the Lord in their local church. They shouted "amen" and "hallelujah" as they agreed with the words the preacher was saying. Many felt convicted about certain issues they knew they had to get right with God, and lots made resolutions in their hearts to "do better".

And here we are this Monday morning... How many of us are making the effort to put into action the word that we heard? How many of us are walking out the truths that God has revealed to us in His Word?

Far too often we hear the word and do not obey. We hear God's call to come up to a higher level in Him, agree that we've got to change, but fail to make those changes that we ourselves see are necessary.

But just hearing the word and not doing what it says sets us up for failure. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we're okay. We use all the knowledge that we know to comfort our hearts. We know what God says about living holy. We know all the scriptures on tithing and giving. We know that our first priority as Christians is to evangelize the lost.

With all our head knowledge, we just know that God is pleased with all of the wisdom we've gotten.

God could care less about what you know. He's looking at what you do. Jesus Himself said that any branch of His that did not produce fruit would be taken away. (John 15:2) Too many of us have deceived ourselves thinking that because we're attached to Jesus, the vine, that we, the branches, are okay.

Today, take inventory of your actions. Are you reflecting the Word of God that you've heard? Are your actions mirroring what you know? Make sure that your branch is producing fruit! Don't let your own deception get you taken away from the vine!

Verse of the Day: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:23, 24