Small Beginnings

There is something about small beginning's. The excitement is almost contagious. 

And if you lost your excitement about how things are, well this little devotional is for you. May it cause a spark to reignite your passion for all things God and purpose.

God Bless.

Small Beginnings

Adapted from the resource Ending You Day Right - by Joyce Meye

Right now, you’re probably believing God for something big to come to pass in your life—maybe a job, a relationship, a dream, or something else deep in your heart. If you look, you’ll find evidence of a small beginning. God always gives you seed—even if only a little, tiny seed—something that causes you to hope. Focus on that seed. Rejoice over that seed. It’s a sign of greater things to come.

When you despise something, you regard it lightly; you count it as nothing and don't take care of it. But if you don't take care of what God gives you, you will lose it. That’s why we have to learn to be content while things still seem small.

You know God is the Author and the Finisher of our faith, and everything else in our lives (see Hebrews 12:2). What He starts, He always completes (see Philippians 1:6). Don't kill your seed by complaining or speaking negative things over it. Instead, say things like, "Lord, this is only a little thing right now, but thank You for giving me some hope, something to hold on to. Thank You, Jesus, for a beginning."

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the beginnings You’ve placed in my life, even though they may be small. Please help me to care for those seeds well, and to trust You to bring the big dreams in my heart to life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Getting It Right

I love this insightful little devotional and how it talks about how the Jews could never get close to God because they were doing it on their own. Truth bomb right here.

We need to stop trying to do things on our own and start looking to the only one who can fix it and the world we live in.

God Bless.

Getting Right

But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. (NLT) -Romans 9:31

Why is it that the Israelites never succeeded in getting right with God?  It certainly isn't because they didn't try hard enough.  It's because they couldn't earn their way.  When you begin to think you can work your way in God's favor, watch out.  We can't go to church, give enough money, or do enough good to be right in God's eyes.  Only faith in God's grace is powerful enough to keep you right with Him.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Expect Big Things From God

Sometimes, I think we don't give thought to how big God is and what He can do. 

We are just happy to survive and get through another day. It is time for a mind change and sit back and let God be God.

God Bless.

Expect Big Things from God

by Joyce Meyer

To Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].
—Ephesians 3:20
Some people are so afraid of receiving bad news that they never think to pray for good news! That’s not a godly attitude. If we want to hear God’s voice and see His power released in our lives, we need to have attitudes that are pleasing to Him. We need to have positive expectations instead of negative ones. Our basic approach to life needs to be full of faith and hope and good expectations, because the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6) and that hope will never disappoint us (see Romans 5:5). There is nothing negative about God; there is nothing in Him or in His actions that will ever disappoint us; everything He does is for our good—so that’s what we need to expect as we pray. We should not pray and then wonder if God will do anything at all; we should pray expecting God to do even more than we have asked.
The verse for today says that God can do “superabundantly, far over and above all” that we would ever dare to ask or even think to ask and infinitely beyond our “highest prayers, desires, thought, hopes, or dreams.” Now that is amazing—and it should give us all the confidence we need in order to pray expectantly. Personally, I would rather pray big prayers with great expectations and receive half of what I prayed for than to pray little puny prayers without any faith and get it all!
God’s word for you today: Expect big things from God.

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From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

How Far Are You Willing To Go

This is a great question that I really don't have an answer for. 
I would like to say I would go all the way, doing whatever it takes but I can't do that. However, this little devotional put things in perspective...it isn't it about me but about those all around me and the ones I can't see.
God Bless.

How Far Are You Willing To Go?
I remember when I was younger, my Mum and Dad would let me ride my pushbike down this hill next to our house. It was the best fun ever! But every time I rode down, I wasn’t able to push it back up, I wasn’t able to carry the weight of the bike. So my Mum and Dad would run down, like Superman and Wonderwoman and help me. Their love for me moved them into action.
In the bible, there is a passage that talks about four young men and their hunger to see Jesus. These four men were carrying a paralysed man, knowing that if Jesus could just see him, then he would be healed. The passage goes on and describes how the house Jesus was teaching in was completely full & overcrowded; everyone had gathered to simply get a glimpse of the Messiah.
Nevertheless, the men were willing to cut a hole in the roof and lower the paralysed man down to Jesus. When Jesus saw the ‘FAITH’ of the four men, He immediately forgave and healed the man.
The question today is: How far are you willing to carry your neighbour? These men in the story were moved by faith, hope and love. I wonder if we are going to be a generation of young people who are moved the exact same way. Willing to pick up and carry the weight of our friends and family because we know there is power in the name of Jesus. If they are open to the love of God, surely He will show up and change their lives forever. Jesus has never left me behind and because of that I never want to leave anyone else behind.
Prayer:
Lord, I am hungry for You! Thank You for never leaving me behind. Help me have the faith that is spoken about in this devotional and show me how I can 'carry' my friends.
Amen

-Leave No One Behind Devotional

Be An Encourager

The title and the words below speak for themselves.

Arise church! Arise and show the world what we are made of.

God Bless.

Be an Encourager

Adapted from the resource Power Thoughts Devo - by Joyce Meyer

The Bible teaches us to treat others the way we want them to treat us. Think about what you want to receive, and start to give that to those around you. For example, if you want to be encouraged, then be encouraging!

Be careful of your thoughts about people. If you think rude or critical thoughts, they’ll usually slip out of your mouth. Instead, look for and magnify the good in every person on purpose, and you'll start to treat people better.

We all love to be encouraged and made to feel really good about ourselves. Compliments actually help us perform better, while nagging makes us behave worse. Choose a person you want to grow your relationship with, and begin to aggressively encourage and compliment him or her. I believe you’ll be amazed at how much better they respond to you.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me be more intentional to speak positively to and about the people in my life. Thank You for giving me the grace to be kind and encouraging today. In Jesus’ Name

Be The Answer

This is so soo soooo good! 
Please read and be encouraged and allow no one else to be left behind on your/our watch.
God Bless.


Be The Answer 
Growing up, my Dad would always tell me - “You have been called to be someone’s answer this week.” I would brush it off, just thinking it was a cliché saying that he came up with. However, in any situation in life, people are faced with difficult times and sometimes feel a lack of hope. As followers of Christ, we hold the answers of hope, peace, joy and love. We are called to spread these throughout the week.
There is a powerful passage in the bible talking about the ‘Good Samaritan.’ A man who was travelling to Jericho was attacked by robbers, who left him for dead. Both a priest and Levite encountered the man, where it says they both ‘passed on the other side’. However, a Samaritan came towards the injured man, where he took pity on him, bandaged his wounds and brought the man to an inn.
We have all been called to show the love of Jesus. Whether that is at school, buying someone lunch, doing chores for your mum or dad or bringing hope and peace into environments that seem hopeless and lifeless. We are all called to be someone’s answer, leaving no one behind.

Prayer:
Thank You that You are a God who leaves the 99 for the 1. Thank You that You have never left my side. Thank You that You love me and died on the cross for me, Lord, help me spread Your love throughout the world. Show me how to love like You love.
Amen

-Leave No One Behind Devotional

Anointed

Can we all just agree we need less of us and more of Him and what He has for us and step into the life changing anointing everyone is waiting for?
Time to let Him pour out that oil He is so patiently waiting to.
God Bless.


Scripture Reading: Mark 14:1-11

“She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” - Mark 14:8

Earlier this month we talked about how Jesus doesn’t always fix things now; instead, he prepares the way for eternal life. Mark builds on that point here. Jesus is the heavenly King who came to fight a spiritual battle for our sake.
“Christ” means “Anointed One.” Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed by God in the Old Testament. Jesus was anointed at his baptism (Mark 1:9-11). Great triumphs were expected of him. And in the story we read today, Jesus was anointed, as he put it, for his burial. The anointing perfume for burial was extremely expensive, and this act seemed out of line to others who were there.
“Whoa, there! Think of the poor!” some of the others cried. They were expecting Jesus to be a king focused on the problems of the present world. But Jesus had a different plan for fixing the world’s problems. “The poor . . . you can help . . . anytime you want,” Jesus said. As for the woman who anointed him, he added, “She did what she could.”
The difference is striking. One woman, moved by God, took the action she felt called to do. And Christ praised her for it. The others said their hearts were moved to help the poor, but instead of taking action for the poor, they blamed her for not doing so. God used her small action to prepare for his ultimate action. What good did the others’ inaction do?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, what can I do? Should I help the poor? Should I pour out a year’s wages as an act of worship? Tell me what I can do, and give me the courage to do it—for you. Amen.
Scott DeVries

Quote Of The Day - We Can Change The Equality Of Our Lives

Oh, how I need to overcome the irritation of the small things in life.
Big things aren't as bad but oh, those chomping of food, people not listening to you, why can they see what you see.
Maybe for you, it's the big things. Like unemployment, finances, nosey neighbors, and anything in between.
Whatever the situation we face, we can insert this wisdom into just about all situations.
As I say to my children and now I am saying it to myself, it is time to grow up and show up for others.
God Bless


Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer
“We can change our quality of life by changing your attitude toward the big and small things that usually irritate and anger us.”
-Joyce Meyer, Eat the Cookie…Buy the Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten Up

Do You Have Dirt in Your Eye

This is an insightful little devotional. And during this period in time we are living, we not only need to worry about our neighbors but also ourselves.
It has been my experience, that we take care of everything and everyone except in the area of spiritual health and well-being.
So, in this time of uncertainty, I am thankful for little devotional's like the one below and it is my hope that you will be encouraged after reading this.
God Bless.


Do You Have Dirt In Your Eye? 
John 9 tells a story about Jesus healing a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus mixed his own saliva with some dirt, spread the muddy mixture on the man’s eyes, and told him to go and wash it off in a pool. The blind man did as Jesus told and the man received sight. For his entire life, this man had seen nothing but darkness, but Jesus gave him the gift of sight after proclaiming, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).
So often in times of crisis, stress, anxiety or darkness, it is easy to be blinded. The apostle Paul advises God’s people to stay strong and not lose heart when faced with troubles. As followers of Jesus, we must not let the difficulties of life dim our outlook on the future. When we are discouraged by situations beyond our control, such as grief, crisis or pandemic it is easy to feel like we are sitting in the dark and question how our situation will ever be resolved.
We all have a choice to change our perspective and choose what we focus our attention on. We can sit with mud on our eyes, or we can wash it off and see the light of Jesus. We have an opportunity as followers of Christ to be a light in the darkness and encourage others through our faith in times of uncertainty. Paul says the problems we see are temporary, but the hope we have in Jesus, whilst unseen, is eternal. As Christians, we share a bright future in Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Prayer
Lord, renew us day by day, from the inside out, even as the troubles of life skew our vision. Let us not be unsettled by situations outside of our control, or afraid of what tomorrow may hold, because we know that in You we may find eternal peace. Help us to see You more clearly as we open our hearts to the light of Your glory. Amen.
-Leave No One Behind Devotional

Light In Darkness

This why we are here on earth. Arise and let this little light of ours shine.

God Bless.

Light in Darkness

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (NLT) -2 Corinthians 4:6

Do you know others who are unable to see and accept the truth of the Gospel?  Pray that God would make His light shine on their hearts so they can come to know the glory of God.  It is only through Christ that we are able to find freedom and salvation. 

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Keeping Your Mind Stayed On Him

Peace be with each and every one at this time and may the words below help relieve any and all feeling of worry and anxiety.

God Bless.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

My sister, the Lord wants you to experience more and more of His peace in your life. Not just for a moment, He wants you living in the kind of peace that doesn’t make sense to the natural mind. How do you access this kind of peace with everything that’s going on? The Lord tells us in Isaiah 26:3, when we keep our minds stayed on Him, we will be kept in His perfect peace. A practical way to keep your mind on the Lord is to listen to heavenly soaking music during the day and even at night while you sleep. Spa music, smooth jazz or sounds of the ocean won’t do it. It has to be a worshipful and heavenly sound that causes you to instantly think of the Lord. This will minister God’s peace to your mind, your will and your emotions. A troubled mind is not too hard for God to calm. Just as David’s harp calmed King Saul (see 1 Samuel 16:23), heavenly sounding music will settle your emotions and bring your thoughts back into alignment with the Lord.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your supernatural peace in my life. Settle me and bring my mind into focus. As you help me keep my mind on you, thank you that I will walk and live in your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sample music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsSghr3KMXE&t=540s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8yxV5eDF44

,Daughter Of The King Devotional 

The Lord Is Good

God is good...all the time.

Just keep reminding yourself and He will see us through no matter what the circumstances.

God Bless.

Psalm 111:4-5 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Today, know that the Lord is good. Take time to reflect on the work of His hands. What has the Lord done in your life? What has He done through your life? Take refuge in His unfailing love and ongoing commitment to us, which is revealed in the person and perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Lord God, bring Your Word to life in us that all would know Your everlasting love and great mercy!

Verse courtesy of 'Psalm-A-Day' android app. http://www.idelata.com/apps/psalm-a-day/

Giving Children To God

As school comes to an end and just a hop skip away until the new school year, it is time to get serious where children are concerned.

This has been an unconventional school year and kids grow like weed in a blink of an eye as well as having a memory longer than an open highway, they need us to keep us to vigilant and keep the king of this world and his army at bay so that the King of King's can have His way.

God Bless.

Giving Children to God

It's common to most every religious tradition - some ceremony or service where you dedicate or commit a new child to God. In some Christian traditions, it takes the form of baptism. Others have a brief baby dedication. The last baby we dedicated was our youngest child, and that was more than a few years ago. I held the little guy in my hands, but times have changed. I don't pick him up anymore; I'd hurt myself. He picks me up - literally. He'll greet me at the airport, and pick me up off the ground and spin me around. That's my baby. Yes, a lot of things have changed, but one thing never has.

All three of our children grew up, but the transaction that took place that day we dedicated each of them to God is one thing that is still being repeated today. We cannot physically hold them in our hands anymore, but we can, and we must, keep giving them over to the One who gave them to us. The problem is that, all too often, we actually try to keep them in our hands, don't we?

There is no more beautiful "release your child" model in the entire Bible than Hannah; the woman who prayed fervently for years that God would bless her infertility with a child. God answered that prayer by giving her a boy named Samuel; who was destined to become one of the great leaders of Israel. In obedience to God, Hannah brought her young son to the temple to be trained for spiritual leadership. In part of her prayer in 1 Samuel 1:27-28, she says of this child for whom she had waited so long, "So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord."

Do you know how often we moms and dads need to tell God that? Every day for the rest of your life, no matter how old or young our children are. No matter how close to God or far from God they are. But be careful, we're talking here about releasing our son or daughter to God; which means helping them become the person God created them to be, not trying to shape them into the person we want them to be. It means talking to God far more about your child than talking to your child about God, as important as that is.

For some of us who tend to be controllers, we have to make sure we're not trying to "play God" ourselves in our child's life. Parents who truly place their son or daughter in God's hands can lay off the nagging, the manipulating, the meddling, and the criticizing. What we try to control we often end up crushing. Our job is to say to God each new day, "You gave me this child, Lord. Again, for this new day, I'm giving her; I'm giving him, back to You. I'm available for anything You want me to do to join You in what You're doing in their life - whether You ask me to speak up, or remain silent, to apologize, to forgive, to sacrifice, or even change."

A surrendered parent is a parent at peace - a parent who knows that this treasure God has entrusted to them has this day been placed again in God's all-powerful hands. A God who knows the plans He has for that boy, for that girl - plans for good and not for evil, to give them a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). No matter how big your little ones get, remember whose they really are.

Further study

Psalm 127:3-5

Going Deeper:

It's been difficult to let go of my child/children in the area of...
In order for me to give my child/children completely to God, I need to...

-Author Unknown 

You Can Know God

A short but a powerful insight of God and how you can get to know Him.

There hasn't been a better time than now to get to know the Creator of the universe.

God Bless.

You Can Know God

You will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. - Deuteronomy 4:29, NKJV

If Adam knew God as a beloved Father,

if Eve knew Him as the original Homemaker,

if Noah knew Him as the Refuge from the storm,

if Abraham knew Him as a Friend,

if Moses knew Him as the Redeemer,

if Rahab knew Him as the gracious Savior,

if David knew Him as his Shepherd,

if Elijah knew Him as the Almighty,

if Daniel knew Him as the Lion Tamer,

if Mary Magdalene knew Him as the Bondage Breaker,

if Martha knew Him as the Promise Keeper,

if Lazarus knew Him as the Resurrection and the Life,

if Bartimaeus knew Him as the Light of the World,

if John knew Him as the glorious King upon the throne,

surely you and I can know Him too!

From Just Give Me Jesus

How Long Lord

How long Lord? If you never have asked that question, then your lying to yourself. You just don't want to admit it but let me just say, He won't get angry if you do.

So be encouraged, He knows all and He still promises to be there nor will He leave us or forsake us.

God Bless.

Psalm 13:1-2 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Feeling like God is distant is not always a result of sin. Sometimes God hides his face, and He does so with purpose. People very consistently take their "eyes off the prize". It is sort of like taking the presence of God for granted, or allowing your life to become "too busy" for Him, even if that busyness is filled with good things. God allows us to enter into this place that makes it feel as though He is far off. From there, we seek Him with renewed fervor. By hiding His face, He has drawn us close to Himself and reminded us how much we delight in His presence.

 Verse courtesy of 'Psalm-A-Day' android app. http://www.idelata.com/apps/psalm-a-day/

Look To The Ravens

Wisdom for today and to live by. He will take care of us and He does see and will won't leave us to fend for ourselves as long as our mind and heart is stayed on Him.

God Bless.

Look at the ravens.  They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them.  And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! (NLT) -Luke 12:24

Stock markets crash, jobs are lost, and homes are turned over. Each of these events can be devastating and alter the course of our lives. But if our identity is wrapped up in each of them, we can lose our faith in God. Don't let these earthly events cause you to worry or doubt your Heavenly Father. Your identity rests as a child of God. Remember the raven, who is far less cherished, but to whom God is still faithful.

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A Costly Sacrifice

It is time to shut up and get up and use what the good Lord has given us for His glory.

Time is short and people need to see the God in us not the Me that usually comes out and takes no prisoners and leaves turmoil in its mist. 

It is time to count the cost and win the lost, it will be worth it one day.

God Bless.

A Costly Sacrifice

Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise.

Let’s look at a verse from the book of Proverbs that points to the importance of what we say with our mouths:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.(Proverbs 18:21)

Two things come from the use of the tongue: death and life. If we grumble, or if we are negative or self-centered, our tongues will bring forth death. But if we are liberated from all of that negativity and are walking in the praise and worship of God, our tongues will bring forth life. Additionally, whatever fruit our tongues bring forth, whether sweet or bitter, we are going to eat of it. 

Let’s go back to our pattern verse for this week. I’d like to bring out one more important point from it. The writer said,

Through Him [Jesus] then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.(Hebrews 13:15 NASB)

One very significant word in this verse is “sacrifice.” Praise is a sacrifice. According to the principles of Scripture, a sacrifice requires a death. In the Old Testament sacrifices, nothing was ever offered to God that had not passed through death. So, we see that the sacrifice of praise requires a death—the death of the old man. The old man cannot praise God as He deserves to be praised. There has to be a death.

Again, we know that a sacrifice costs us something; thus, praise is costly. Let me put it this way: we need to praise God most when we least feel like it. Praise cannot depend on our feelings. It is a sacrifice of our spirits.

Thank You, Lord. I give You praise. I proclaim that praise is a sacrifice, praise is costly, and, whether I feel like it or not, I give God praise. I shall continually offer up a sacrifice of praise. Amen. 

-Author Unknown 

Are You Ready

Lord,

May it be so.

God Bless.

Are You Ready?

Throughout the first century after Jesus’ death, His followers expected Him to return at any moment (Acts 1:11). They were so expectant that they sold their possessions (Acts 2:44-45), they were concerned about being left behind (1 Thess 4:13-18). They didn’t mind persecutions because deliverance was near. But somehow as the centuries have slipped by, we have lost that passionate anticipation of the Lord’s return. Maybe it is time that expectation is rekindled.



Prayer: Dear Lord, we know that the end time is drawing close. You shall return and we shall see you face to face on that day. We have to give an account of our lives and there will be no room for any excuses. Let me be conscious and alert. I want to be ready, Lord, and feel no shame standing before you at your coming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-Author Unknown 

What It Really Means To Love You Enemies

Love this, need to integrate this into my life so I can find more freedom in Christ.

May you find it as enlightening as I have.

God Bless.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Prayer for your enemies is one of the deepest forms of love, because it means that you have to really want that something good happen to them.

You might do nice things for your enemy without any genuine desire that things go well with them. But prayer for them is in the presence of God who knows your heart, and prayer is interceding with God on their behalf.

It may be for their conversion. It may be for their repentance. It may be that they would be awakened to the enmity in their hearts. It may be that they will be stopped in their downward spiral of sin, even if it takes disease or calamity to do it. But the prayer Jesus has in mind here is always for their good.

This is what Jesus did as he hung on the cross:

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

And it’s what Stephen did as he was being stoned:

Falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60)

Jesus is calling us not just to do good things for our enemy, like greeting them and helping supply their needs (Matthew 5:47); he is also calling us to desire their best, and to express those desires in prayers, even when the enemy is nowhere around.

Our hearts should desire their salvation and desire their presence in heaven with us and desire their eternal happiness. May God give us grace to pray like the apostle Paul for the Jewish people, many of whom made life very hard for Paul:

My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

John Piper's Devotional 

Come To Me

During this uncertain time, we can't do this thing alone. He must be the one who carries us through and the reason for us to hope. 

So run to Him and rest in the knowledge, this isn't His first rodeo.

God Bless.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls” Matthew 11:28-29, Amplified.

Early one morning I decided to make a quick run to the grocery store. I ran inside and picked up one of the baskets near the front entrance and began to shop. As I placed different items into the basket, I began to notice it getting heavier. I then picked up a large gallon of milk and glanced at the basket, wondering, “How am I going to carry this heavy load?” Just as I was about to figure out a way, a gentleman stopped me. He said, “You know ma’am, you don’t have to carry that basket like that.” I didn’t understand what he was saying until he walked over, pulled a lever from the side of my basket and suddenly transformed it into something that rolled on the floor! I laughed and thanked him for showing me a better way.

So many of us are walking through life carrying heavy loads God never intended for us to take on. Just when we figure out how to carry one burden, we add another one on top of it. We think to ourselves, “Lord, how am I going to bear all of these heavy loads?” Whatever it may be, God will do for you, through Christ, the same thing that nice gentleman did for me in that grocery store—He will show you a better way. Let Him lift every burden that is weighing you down and give you His wisdom and instructions that are light. Allow Jesus the opportunity to step in, transform your life and show you a better way to live!

Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking to me. Help me. So many things are weighing on my heart and mind. Relieve me of this heavy load I’ve been carrying. Transform my life and show me a better way to live. In Jesus Name, Amen.

-Author Unknown 

Knowledge is power and in this time and season, we need all we can get.

This little devotional gives us an insight as to why Amen at an end of prayer is so important and a must.

Encouragement is lso, so need at this moment and time. And what more of an encouragement is needed than with an Amen.

God Bless.

Jesus Is God’s Amen

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• Devotional by John Piper

All the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Prayer is the place where the past and future are linked repeatedly in our lives. I mention this here because Paul links prayer with God’s Yes in this verse in a striking way.
In 2 Corinthians 1:20, he says (with choppy Greek that comes through in choppy English), “That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Let’s try to smooth that out.
Here’s what he is saying: “Therefore, because of Christ, we say Amen to God in our prayers to show that God gets the glory for the future grace we are asking for and counting on when we pray.”
If you’ve ever wondered why Christians say Amen at the end of our prayers, and where that custom comes from, here’s the answer. Amen is a word taken straight over into Greek from Hebrew without any translation, just like it has come into English and most other languages without any translation.
In Hebrew, it was a very strong affirmation (see Numbers 5:22; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6) — a formal, solemn, earnest “I agree,” or “I affirm what was just said,” or “This is true.” Most simply, “Amen” means a very earnest Yes in the context of addressing God.
Now notice the connection between the two halves of 2 Corinthians 1:20. The first half says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in him.” The second half says, “That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
When we realize that “Amen” and “Yes” mean the same thing, here’s what the verse says: In Jesus Christ, God says his Yes to us through his promises; and in Christ we say our Yes to God through prayer.

#SolidJoys http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/jesus-is-god-s-amen