Isaiah 45:2-3

God's promises never fail. 

'The Bible says it, I believe it and that settles it!' Author Unknown.

Fear or Faith

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

Fear cripples us, hold us back, lies to us that we are not good enough or we cannot do it! When we give in to fear it limits us. "Fear has to do with punishment."

However, faith does the opposite! My faith rises when I stand on the Word of God and look at my situation through the Word that I'm standing on. I love reading the Word each day because it reminds me of who I am through Christ and what I can do. The Words I feed on each day are like signposts along the road reminding me and directing me!

The song by Chris Tomlin comes to mind.....my faith shall be my eyes! Faith in God, His PERFECT love and in His POWERFUL word can drive out fear!!

Here are two of the many signposts......

Romans 8:15 

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Thank you Father for the indwelling of Your Spirit. Thank you for reminding me through Your Word this morning that Your Spirit DOES NOT make me timid but it does the opposite. Your Spirit gives me POWER, LOVE and SELF DISCIPLINE. Precious Holy Spirit, overwhelm me this morning with Your beautiful and powerful presence. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Rooted in the love of Christ

Jesus Christ said; "without me you can do nothing" When you know in your heart that "in Him we live and move and have our being" your very existence, the reason you live, your plans and your dreams become grounded and rooted in the love of Christ. It is only then you will know the true meaning of life in all its fullness! That is why Paul wrote; "He is my all in all" 

Evangelist Nathan Morris

His Word

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29 NIV)

This Word manifested itself so powerfully this week. I was facing some challenges and had to make decisions which was tough to do!

As I read this Word, it was like the Lord was talking to me directly....'Marama, is not my Word like fire and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?' SPEAK IT!

The Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance verses that I needed  so I quoted it back to the Father! 

Fast forward to today....one by one, Daddy took care of EVERYTHING! I was and am still lost for words.

Indeed, a faithful God. His Word is like fire and a hammer! SPEAK IT! And watch what it will do.

Streams of living water will flow from within him

I was blessed with this devotional this morning.

"He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (KJV).

'We as children of God are to bring forth life and fruit that was birthed and begun in God. In the above Scripture, we see a key that is so important. The passage begins with, "He that believeth..." The word believe is in no way a shallow belief, but one of complete trust and total reliance on. Jesus is not only the One we trust in, but He must become our trust. And out of this place of trust we will find the abundance of God flowing through us in every area of our lives.
The word states in Daniel 11:32, "The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits" (NKJV). And another Scripture that resonates is Isaiah 26:3, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind...is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You" (AMP). Strength and peace are fruit that are produced as we abide in the river of God.
As we are born again, we are blessed with His extravagant love and the privilege of knowing Him and being filled with Him, His love, His riches, His promises, His healing, His restoration and becoming one with all He is and possesses.

This place is a continuous flow from Him to us, through us to others – ah, what bliss. Again, this is a river that never runs dry, and as we learn to bask in this river we will never run dry.'

by  Kim Hadaway, XP Ministries

He is Risen!

 

He's risen from the dead. 

He is risen.

He is high and lifted up.

Heaven and earth adore.

Matthew 28:6 He is not here; He is risen just as He said.

Object of your FAITH

What is the object of your faith?

What is the source of your faith?

Where do you get your faith from?

Is it coming from the people around you or the situation you are in?

How big is your faith?

As I was listening to the sermon, these questions really captured my attention. When I place my faith in the people around me or the situation I am in, I am bound to be disappointed. 

I have to know more about God. The more I know about God, the bigger my faith in Him becomes –the bigger my faith grows.

When my relationships or my situations fail me, my faith will not change because the object of my faith is way above it all.

What is your faith in ?

My faith is in God alone!

The object of your faith determines the quantity (size) of your faith!

The source of your faith determines the quality of your faith!

Go light your world

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
(Mt. 5: 14 - 16)

Confession

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with everything that we forget what is readily ours through Jesus Christ our Lord! BE BLESSED!

The following confession was given by Creflo A. Dollar:

Decree a thing and it shall be established...

Death and life are in the power of the tongue and I declare in Jesus' name that my life is changing. I declare that no weapon formed or fashioned against me shall prosper.  I declare that God will perform that which concerneth me. I speak to my physical body and I declare in the Name of Jesus that my body functions to the perfection that God created it to function.  Every sickness, every disease and every germ that touches my body dies instantly, for I live the divine life and walk in divine health.

I declare that I am out of debt forever.  All of my needs are met right now and I have plenty more to put in store.  I have preferential treatment and I walk in the favor of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.  I expect unexpected income because I am a money magnet.  I am blessed to be a blessing until all the families of the earth have been blessed.  And I will say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants."  I am your servant Lord, and I will not deny you the pleasure You take in seeing me prosper.  In the Name of Jesus, I am no longer the tail.  I am no longer beneath.  I declare that I am above only!

I declare promotion in my life.  Promotion on my job.  Promotion in my spirit.  Promotion in my soul.  Promotion in my finances and divine health in my body.  I declare increase and promotion and it shall surely come to pass.

Lord, you said that if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God Who will give unto him freely, liberally and upbraideth not.  So I declare that I have the wisdom of God exploding within me.  I have revelation knowledge flowing through me for God will not withhold any good thing from me.  Men show me great favor at every turn.

As the redeemed of the Lord, whatever I say is so and therefore, I declare that all that I have said is established unto me.  I declare that my words and the meditations of my heart make my way prosperous and I have good success.  In the Name of Jesus, whatever I say, I am indicting a good matter.  For my tongue is my pen and I am writing on the tablets of my heart, the words of the Living God.

I am anointed.  I have virtue.  Burdens are removed.  Yokes are destroyed.  I walk in the glorious light of the Gospel and I walk by faith and not by sight.  I have no fear because I have been given a spirit of love, power and a sound mind.  I am the redeemed of the Lord, and whatever I say is so.  So all that I have said and all that I have declared shall be established unto me NOW, in Jesus' Name. 

I have what I say!

The Road of Hope

I love calling home and talking to my mum. A woman who is so passionate about seeking God's heart, a great prayer warrior and a true inspiration! The other morning we were sharing about 'The Walk to Emmaeus' and how this story teaches us different lessons. The story is found in Luke 24: 13 - 32.

One thing that has stood out for me is how God is always with us in our darkest hour! As the two disciples were walking from Jerusalem towards Emmaeus, they were discussing all that had happened in the last few days and the scripture says '......
Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

   They stood still, their faces downcast.  One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

  “What things?” he asked.

   “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;  but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 

They had placed their hope in Jesus and their hopes were dashed. Their dreams were shattered when the One they were following who performed miracles and who they had hoped would redeem Israel was crucified! They were so overwhelmed by their grief, their sorrows and disappointments as they were walking away from Jerusalem that they did not recognise Jesus when He joined their journey!!! All they could talk about was their disappointments.

I thought of the times when I had been disappointed when my dreams did not materialise. I had questions after questions. I wanted to know why, how and what if....... It's so easy to get into that mode that we forget what is happening around us!

I like the way, the disciples were telling Jesus about Jesus!!
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 

On that road, Jesus rekindled their faith in the WORD of God! He is the Alpha and Omega! The beginning and the end! He was and is and is to come!!!! He does not change. His Word stands firm and will not change. Jesus took them back to the beginning with Moses and he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. It was at that point that something sparked in their heart. In verse 32 it says,....... “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

I am so grateful for this awesome God who does not leave us in our darkest hour! He continues to walk with us, listening to us and reminding us of His promises. I could just imagine the two disciples during their conversation with HIM, their faith in the Word was stirred and their hope  began to rise again. They couldn't let this 'stranger' go so they invited Him to go home with them. They invited Jesus in!

When Jesus is invited back into our lives, peace and hope is restored! When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Like the two on the road to Emmaus, I'm glad that we do not travel alone. God is with us. Are we willing to see Him?

No problem too big

As I pondered on this song, I am encouraged, comforted and reminded that NOTHING is too heavy for HIM to carry. Just imagine, 'If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulder.....I know my brother that He will carry you.'

 Lynda Randle sings this message so beautifully!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt.11:28 

Your Confessions

FAITH IS A SEED
Text: Luke 17:3-6



Man's heart  = ground or soil

 Entrances of the seed on to the soil......

        Through our eyes by what we see and read.   

Through our ears by what we hear.

Through our mouth by what we speak.

The negative seeds that I take in will result in the negative words that I speak out. Those negative words then influence my decision making.

It reminds me of that saying 'Words will either break you or mould you."

Proverbs 4: 20-27 talks about the different entrances of the word.

vs 23 says '......guard your heart for it is the well spring of life'

The Bible is a book of seeds. We take the seeds (either through the eyes, ears, mouth) and plant them in the grounds of our hearts. We treat the Word just we would treat a seed....we watch over it with diligence and nurture it so it can grow.

To illustrate this - Think about planting a seed. As I plant a seed in the ground I already have an image in my mind of what the seed will grow into. I can see/visualise the end product as I plant the seed. I know that what I have planted in the ground will give me what I have visualised! So to get my 'end product', I need to watch the seed ensuring it's not dug up or eaten by bugs and water it.

To link back to the Word-What is the Word of God saying about my situation, I read it (eyes), I need to speak that Word out. I need to believe and visualise the 'end product' of  what I am reading and speaking.  As I continue to speak it, my inner ear hears it and the Word in my heart begins to grow!! The more I speak it, the more it becomes embedded in my heart!

Pr. 4:  23 says '......guard your heart for it is the well spring of life'

It is important to guard my heart because the enemy will try to find ways to suffocate the 'seed' already planted in my heart. He will show me things that is contradictory to the Word I am believing. He will use people or other things to say negative things about my situation. To counter attack his plan, I need to keep confessing and visualising the Word of God regarding my situation and not allow what I see or hear to influence what I think and do! As I speak the Word, my faith in the Word continues to grow!

Just linking it to my favourite quotes....

"Turn your faith into a confession"

"Your faith cannot take off unless you speak the word"