King Saul

We need to pray for everyone who has been and is in leadership. 

No one needs it more than they do and I believe God wants to do something big in the world and it will start in leadership positions.

God Bless.

KING SAUL                                                                                 

PRAY Thank God for the leaders of government (at all levels) and pray for him to give them wisdom to lead well.

READ  1 Samuel 8–10

REFLECT The people rejected God as their king. What role do you think religion has in national life and politics? What evidence of faith do you expect in a political leader?

APPLY Write a note of encouragement today to a local or state political leader. Praise them in any way possible and assure them of your prayers for them as they lead.

PRAY Lord, remind me to pray for my government leaders and to support and encourage them in any way I can.

-Author Unknown 

Seek God In Fasting And Prayer

This is a good little devotional to meditate on as to why fasting and prayer is so important. 

May you find the encouragement you need in the following words below.

God Bless.

SEEK GOD IN FASTING AND PRAYER  

Daniel was a leader whose heart was for his people. Knowing that Israel would be taken captive by Babylon for seventy years, his first response was to seek the Lord through prayer and fasting. As he gave up food and set aside time to pray, he humbled himself and magnified God. He repented for the sins of Israel, and cried out for God’s deliverance.

When we fast, we abstain from food and direct our attention to God. We choose to seek Him with greater focus and commitment. We demonstrate that we desire spiritual things more than natural things, and are willing to forgo something important to us because God is more important. We humble ourselves and align our hearts and motives to His, and invite him to speak to us and move in our lives.

When we fast and pray, we make God bigger than everything else. We turn our eyes to Him rather than our problems, and believe that He is able to bring breakthroughs in our lives. Like Daniel, there are situations that are beyond our control where we need God to intervene. Fasting and prayer magnifies God above all of these situations and raises our faith to believe that nothing is impossible for Him.

As you fast and pray over these 21 days, choose to deny the flesh and live by the Spirit. If you haven’t decided what to fast yet, make that decision today! Start with one meal a day and use that time to seek God in prayer. As you intentionally pursue God, He will build your faith and deepen your intimacy with Him. As you empty yourself, He will come and fill you up with every good thing. And as you make Him bigger in your life, God will work on your behalf and open up heaven over your life!

Response:
What are you choosing to fast these 21 days?

Take time to humble yourself before God. Acknowledge that He is God and we are not, and invite Him to come move in our hearts and work on our behalf as we seek Him in fasting and prayer.

Prayer:
Dear God, help me to have the right heart and motives and to be sensitive to Your voice as I take the time to fast and pray. I believe that I will grow as I choose to set aside my time and desires to seek You. I know that You can bring a breakthrough in my life as I humble myself before You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

-Author Unknown 

You're In Charge

Everyone needs some food for thought and this little devotional can be considered just that.

May you find encouragement you may need. 

God Bless.

You’re in Charge 

by Kenneth Copeland 

“Thou [God] madest him [man] to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” Psalm 8:6 

 There is a particular phrase I’ve heard spoken countless times over the years, and I like it less every time I hear it. No doubt, you’ve heard it too, usually in drawn out, religious-sounding tones—when circumstances seem to fall short of what God has promised us in His Word. “Well, Brother, you have to remember...God is sovereign.” As spiritual as that phrase might sound, it really bothers me. It’s not that I don’t believe God is sovereign. Certainly He is. According to Webster’s Dictionary, sovereign means “above or superior to all others; supreme in power, rank or authority.” Without question, God is all those things. But all too often, when people refer to the sovereignty of God, what they’re actually saying is, “You never know what God will do. After all, He’s all-powerful and totally independent, so He does whatever He wants whenever He wants.” The problem with that view of sovereignty is it releases us of all responsibility. After all, if God is sovereign, He will do what He wants anyway, so we might as well go watch television and forget about it, right? Wrong. After 42 years of studying the Word and preaching the gospel, I’ve come to realize that God does very few things—if any—in this earth without man’s cooperation. Even though it belongs to God—it is His creation and He owns it. 

According to Psalm 8:6, God Himself put mankind in charge. He doesn’t intervene in the affairs of earth whenever He wants. He respects the dominion and authority He has given us. So, until man’s lease on this planet expires, God restricts His power on the earth, taking action only when He is asked to do so. Since the people who do the asking (the intercessors) are often very quiet people who do their praying in secret, it may appear at times that God simply acts on His own. But regardless of appearances, the Bible teaches from cover to cover that God’s connection with man is a prayer and faith connection. When you see Him act in a mighty way, you can be sure there was someone somewhere praying and interceding to bring Him on the scene. 

Speak the Word “God has given me dominion over all the works of His hands. He has put all things under my feet.” —Psalm 8:6 

Need prayer? Call 817-852-6000. We’re here for you, 24/7! Also, visit www.kcm.org/youversion to receive a free gift from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

The Gift Of Patience

Who doesn't need more patience in their lives, especially with everything going on. 

May this little devotional help and encouragement you need while your working on the things that may be overwhelming your life right now.

God Bless.

The Gift of Patience

Waiting isn’t a curse. It’s a blessing. Patience is a gift from God.

When you wait patiently on the Lord, you gain access to His ear. God hears the prayers of those who wait patiently for Him. When you wait on the Lord, He will come to your rescue. He will deliver you to safety. When you wait patiently on the Lord, your worship will go to a whole new level. When you wait patiently on the Lord, people will see what He has done for you.

Your time of waiting will turn into a testimony, and all who witness your deliverance will come to fear and trust in the Lord. When you wait patiently on the Lord, you will be blessed and your heart will be strengthened. Your patient waiting shows God that you trust Him with your whole life, and He rewards faith like that in big ways.

Let me challenge you. As you dive deeper into the blessings that come from waiting patiently on the Lord, I want you to prepare your heart to begin to wait, knowing that God is going to take care of you. Get ready to understand what it really means to trust God with your when.

-Author Unknown 

I Called To The Lord

There is help and encouragement out there! 

Change is possible. Love is available. And hope is eternal.  Believe in the One who created you!

God Bless.

Psalm 18:3-6

I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.  The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.  The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called to the LORD;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my cry came before him, into his ears. 

Are you in a dark place?  Do you feel trapped, or as if “torrents of destruction are overwhelming you?” (vs. 4-NIV)  Call to the Lord; cry out to God with everything you have.  He hears, He knows, and He responds.  No matter how alone you might feel, you are not alone; God is with you.

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' android app.

http://www.verse-a-day.com/Apps

David And Saul

This is some soul food for you to search out for yourself. 

Please allow God to speak encouragement for you.

God Bless.

DAVIID AND SAUL                                                                       

PRAY Ask God to help you maintain a healthy relationship with anyone in authority over you.

READ  1 Samuel 23:7—24:22

REFLECT   Is there a coworker, supervisor or other that you find it difficult to get along with? Why do you think that is so? What can you do to help make the relationship better?

APPLY As you go through your day relating to “difficult” people, identify any negative attitudes and actions you can and try to react with a positive, disarming attitude or action.

PRAY Lord, please give me the patience and insight I need in order to bring peace to my difficult relationships.

-Author Unknown 

Space For Me

This is for anyone (everyone) who need's to search for understanding of  God and His love for us. 

May you find this thought provoking but most of all may you find encouragement.

God Bless.

Space for Me

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

Mark 3:13

Today's Scripture & Insight:

He was an aging military veteran, rough-edged and given to even rougher language. One day a friend cared enough about him to inquire about his spiritual beliefs. The man’s dismissive response came quickly: “God doesn’t have space for someone like me.”

Perhaps that was just part of his “tough-guy” act, but his words couldn’t be further from the truth! God creates space especially for the rough, the guilt-ridden, and the excluded to belong and thrive in His community. This was obvious from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when He made some surprising choices for His disciples. First, He chose several fishermen from Galilee—the “wrong side of the tracks” from the perspective of those in Jerusalem. He also selected a tax collector, Matthew, whose profession included extorting from his oppressed countrymen. Then, for good measure, Jesus invited the “other” Simon—“the Zealot” (Mark 3:18).

We don’t know much about this Simon (he isn’t Simon Peter), but we do know about the Zealots. They hated traitors like Matthew, who got rich by collaborating with the despised Romans. Yet with divine irony, Jesus chose Simon along with Matthew, brought them together, and blended them into His team.

Don’t write anyone off as too “bad” for Jesus. After all, He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). He has plenty of space for the tough cases—people like you and me.

By:  Tim Gustafson

For I Am Not Ashamed

I offer up something to chew on from the word's written below. 

Feel free to digest and find encouragement for it while allowing God to breathe life into your life. 

God Bless.

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Do you live your life in a way that communicates that you are unashamed of the gospel?  Do you believe the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes?  Live by faith, and not by sight.  (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' android app.

http://www.verse-a-day.com/Apps

Pray With Boldness And Confidence

Leave it to Joyce to get your mind, especially the spiritual mind, pumping.

Toss the word's written below around, allowing God and His Spirit talk and show you what you need to know to be able to prosper in all areas.

God Bless.

Pray with Boldness and Confidence 

by Joyce Meyer 

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace…that we may receive mercy…and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. —Hebrews 4:16 

Prayer opens the windows of heaven and touches the heart of God. It is a beautiful and powerful privilege that brings many changes in both circumstances and people. Prayer is often the difference between confusion and clarity, hurt and healing, defeat and victory, and even between life and death. There are many ways to pray, but the best way is to pray boldly and effectually. God loves you and He doesn’t want your communication with Him to be vague and unclear. He wants you to come to Him fearlessly and confidently, being specific in your prayers. Exercise the liberty and privilege of prayer tonight, fully expecting to receive the promised help just when you need it. 

From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

I Love You

For all those who need to know you are loved and you are. 

God Bless.

I Love You

Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. (NLT) -Isaiah 43:4

Do you ever doubt God’s love for you? Do you wonder if He is on your side? Let His words encourage your heart.  May you know that you are loved.  You are precious in the sight of you Lord. 

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

Love Your Enemies

Can I get an amen?!

Yet, I still need help in the area. Am I right? 

May we find encouragement from this little devotional.

God Bless.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

There are two main reasons why Christians should love their enemies and do good to them.

One is that it reveals something of the way God is. God is merciful.

“He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10).“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

So when Christians live this way, we show something of what God is like.

The second reason is that the hearts of Christians are satisfied with God and are not driven by the craving for revenge or self-exaltation or money or earthly security.

God has become our all-satisfying treasure and so we don’t treat our adversaries out of our own sense of need and insecurity, but out of our own fullness with the satisfying glory of God.

Hebrews 10:34: “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property [that is, without retaliation], since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” What takes away the compulsion of revenge is our deep confidence that this world is not our home, and that God is our utterly sure and all-satisfying reward.

So in both these reasons for loving our enemy we see the main thing: God is shown to be who he really is as a merciful God and as gloriously all-satisfying.

The ultimate reason for being merciful is to glorify God — to make him look great in the eyes of man.

-Unknown Author 

Give Thanks

In a time when the world is in total chaos, who has time for thanksgiving let alone serve others.  

May this little devotional help but things into perspective. 

God Bless.

Give Thanks

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (NLT) -Psalm 118:29

How do we stop ourselves from growing bitter in our service to others? A powerful tool we have is daily focusing our minds on what we have to be thankful for.  A thankful heart is a joyful one. Write down the attributes of God you are most thankful for today. 

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

No Fear Of Falling

This little devotional is for all of us who believes or fights the thinking that God is not going to be there for us.

So, it is my hope you will find the encouragement you may need in the word's below and put the debate is going to be there to bed where it needs to be.

God Bless.

No Fear Of Falling 

Your Father has no intention of letting you fall. You can’t see him, but he is present. He is “able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glory without fault and with unspeakable joy” (Jude 24). Drink deeply from this truth. Does God want you living in fear? No! Just the opposite. “The Spirit we received,” according to Romans 8:15-16 “does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, ‘Father.’ And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children.”

What an intriguing statement. Deep within you God’s Spirit confirms with your spirit that you belong to him. Beneath the vitals of the heart, God’s Spirit whispers, “You’re mine. I bought you, and I sealed you, and no one can take you.” Isn’t that great news!

Max Lucado App

Discovering God's Will For Your Life

This little devotional will be helpful for everyone but especially for those who are struggling or trying to find God's will for their live. May you be encouraged.

God Bless.

Discovering God's Will for Your Life

As a pastor, the most common question people ask me is, “How do I figure out what God’s will is for my life?”

Here are four steps to help you discover it:

1. Develop a passionate desire for God and what matters most to Him
   We must get to know the heart of God so our hearts’ desires line up with His. I always pray that God would inspire me to have thoughts and desires that are pleasing to Him.
2. Spend time praying and reading God’s Word
   It will help you to recognize His voice. My daily prayer sounds like this: “Lord, help me to hear Your voice and recognize that it’s You, so that I will do the things that You desire of me.”
3. Pay attention to your natural gifts and abilities
   Focus on what you are good at. God gives you gifts according to His plans for your life. Tap into what God put inside of you to help build His kingdom. That’s the will of God for your life.
4. Seek counsel from spiritually mature people
   God places people in our lives to help us. Be willing to be mentored. Godly counsel will only push you closer to the discovery of God’s perfect will for your life.

Those who want to know the will of God for their life have a desire to please God. Why would anyone want to know God’s will for his life if he had no intention of fulfilling His plan? It is a noble ambition to want to know God’s will for you.

-Author Unknown 

Healing Takes Place When Your Truthful

Who doesn't need to have a heart to heart with God from time to time? The problem is, what happens after we have those conversations. 

And this little devotional helps put those conversations in perspective and it is my hope and prayer everyone finds freedom to be the person God intended you to be.

God Bless.

Healing Takes Place When Your Truthful

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart” Psalms 51:6, ESV.

Healing takes place when we’re truthful with God, with ourselves and with others. We can find healing in saying, “This is where I am right now. Yes, I have faith in God, however, this is where I am right now and I need your prayers and support.”

Maybe you’re still getting over someone or something, and you’re trying to pretend that you’re fine. Know that God knows you. He knows where you truly are, and He knows how to get you where you need to be in life.

Let God continue to minister healing to every deep wound. Let Him show you that those who genuinely love you won’t mind you crying over something that happened years ago. And most importantly, let God help you to keep moving forward as He heals you completely and makes you whole.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for speaking to me. You know where I am right now and how challenging it has been. Help me not to pretend. I receive your love and I receive your comfort. I receive your peace of mind and heart that’s only found in you. I love you Lord. Heal every deep wound and fill every gaping hole that’s been left in me. Help me to be honest with you and with those who love me. In Jesus name, Amen.

(Read Psalms 147:3; John 8:32)

-Author Unknown 

Put God First

This is such good food for thought.  

In a world that's gone mad, there is only one thing we need to get through and may it start by soaking and meditating on the word's in this little devotional.

God Bless.

PUT GOD FIRST
Have you ever made a resolution to improve your health that you did not see through? Whether it’s going on a diet, exercising more or sleeping better, these goals all sound great when we’re setting them. But more often than not, we fall short of reaching these goals. We may have one or two good days, or even a good week, but sometimes even the best of us don’t see these resolutions through.

Sometimes we face the same struggle trying to put God first in our lives. It could be that we find it hard to spend time reading the Bible or praying. We may have occasional powerful encounters with God, but slowly, life has a way of dragging us away from Him. We need to continually re-order our lives and make sure we put the first things first. Here are three truths that will encourage you to put God first in your life.

The first truth is: We desperately need God. When we make spending time with God simply a routine, we underestimate our need to be with Him. God is the source of all life. He allows us to draw close to Him and gives us access into His presence where we find joy, strength, peace and all that we need. We need to put God first, because without Him, we are nothing!

The second truth is: God provides when we put Him first. Matthew 6:33 says that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all other things that we need will be added to us! God does not take away from us or deprive us from something better. When we give our best to God, He is more than able to give us everything we need in return.

The third truth is: Today is the best time to put God first! Unlike new year resolutions, we don’t need to wait till January 1 to choose to put Him first in our lives. Start with the small decisions - making time to meet with God first thing in the morning, faithfully giving your tithe to Him, making decisions based on the Word of God - and watch as He blesses you for honoring and placing Him first! 

Response:
Which of these truths speaks most to you? What will you do to apply the truth in your life?
Ask God to show you an area of your life where you might not have put Him first. What small steps can you take to put Him first in that area?

Prayer:
Lord, help me to put You first. I want You to be the first in my thoughts, decisions and actions. I choose to prioritise you in my life today. Show me how I can arrange my life to put You first in all that I do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

-Author Unknown 

Quote Of The Day - Complain And Raised

This is so good! May we learn to live by these word's.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer

“Complain and remain. Praise and be raised.” 

– Joyce Meyer

Lord, Stamp

Amen! Let it be so, Lord. Let it be so.

God Bless.

Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs! ⏤ 

Jonathan Edwards

Overflowing With Thanksgiving

You can't go wrong with to much thanksgiving.

Remember,  every praise is going to our God and being stored up for blessing's to be poured out into our lives.

God Bless.

Overflowing With Thankfulness 

Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:6-10 Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith . . . and overflowing with thankfulness. - Colossians 2:6-7 

My friends are proud owners of a dog. They claim that their dog is the most thankful creature ever. Just look into his eyes! See how he wags his tail! It’s likely that our favorite pets do display a sense of gratitude to us, their caring owners. But from the Bible’s pages we discover that only a human heart can be truly thankful. In a sense our ability to be thankful sets us apart from the rest of God’s creation. Our urge to say “thank you” makes us human. In today’s verses we discover that an attitude of thanks is deeply rooted in our encounter and friendship with God, in the person of Jesus Christ. Note that it doesn’t depend on external things or our life’s circumstances. Rather, it’s connected to our knowledge of and faith in God. To put it simply, the better we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the more thankful we are. Our daily walk with him helps us experience the true abundance of godly thankfulness. This month I invite you to reflect with me on thanksgiving and gratitude. The Bible is filled with passages on this subject, and in the next 30 days we are going to explore many of them. Let us be prayerful and patient as we dig into God’s Word for new and exciting insights. Prayer: Our heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of knowing you through Christ. Encourage us in our daily walk with you, strengthen our faith, and help us to be thankful. In Jesus, Amen. 

Sergei Sosedkin https://today.reframemedia.com/devotionals/overflowing-with-thankfulness#noredirect

After While The Brook

A good encouraging devotional for any and all areas in your life where lack of any kind has a stronghold in your life. 

Be encouraged and look for the small great things in your life that has been provided by your God.

God Bless.

But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. (NLT) -1 Kings 17:7 

God blesses us with provisions daily, whether we recognize them or not. Sometimes the provisions God gives us dry up. Maybe a car breaks down, a job is lost, or a tree falls on your house. The important thing to remember is to not panic. God will make a new way. This is not the time to question God's goodness because the brook dried up. It is the time to trust that God will show you His love for you by preparing a new source of provision. 

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://bit.ly/16uZrQ5

Run A Harmony Check

What does it mean to live in harmony?

Well the following little devotional helps clear it up and gives some insight on the subject matter.

Be encouraged.

God Bless.

Run a Harmony Check 

by Kenneth Copeland 

 “‘If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.’” Matthew 18:19, New American Standard The word agree Jesus uses in Matthew 18:19 can also be translated “to harmonize or to make a symphony.” A symphony is composed of many instruments which, when played together, seem to be a single voice. If you’ve ever heard a symphony, you know that when the individual instruments are tuning up, each one playing separately from the other, it’s not much to hear. But when the conductor raises his baton and all those instruments begin to harmonize, the sound they make is tremendously powerful. The same thing is true in prayer. Believers agreeing together in the Holy Spirit are a powerful, unstoppable force. That’s why Satan fights Christian families. That’s why he doesn’t want men and women unified in marriage. He wants us fighting and fussing all the time because he knows it will hinder our prayers (1 Peter 3:7). Anytime you fail to get results from the prayer of agreement, run a harmony check. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you’re in strife with your spouse (or anyone else). Then follow the instructions in Mark 11:25 where Jesus tells us, “When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you.” It is not sufficient for you and your spouse simply to agree on the particular issue you are praying about. You must also be in harmony in other areas as well. So run a harmony check! Speak the Word “When I agree with another in prayer about anything that we ask, it shall be done for us by our Father in heaven.” —Matthew 18:19, New American Standard 

Need prayer? Call 817-852-6000. We’re here for you, 24/7! Also, visit www.kcm.org/youversion to receive a free gift from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

Jesus Told His Disciples

Good, insightful, thought provoking little devotional below.

Be encouraged and stand strong.

God Bless.

Jesus told his disciples to pray in HIS name. Do you understand what that means? Jesus has given us His name to use! Just imagine if some billionaire gave you his credit cards and authorized you to use his bank account. You could use his name and his resources to get whatever you needed. Wow, that would be a blast! But here is the catch. You knew there had to be a catch right? Everything you did with his money needed to be in line with his tastes and values. To pray in Jesus’ name means to pray in alignment with His values. God has given us total access to His incredible power and unlimited resources. When we pray in the name of Jesus, it has the same power as if Jesus were praying Himself. The difference between us and Jesus is that Jesus is always in complete alignment with His Father. That is why periodic seasons of fasting are so important. Fasting is the most effective way to really get in alignment with God. Thus the first step to praying prayers that avail much is praying in alignment with God’s will. We can come to the throne in such outrageous boldness because Jesus was outrageously righteous! When we pray, we can come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name, and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy and perfectly timed help. Be bold in your prayers today! It is important to remember, “Fasting is not an end in itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him…{Fasting} invites God into the problem. Then in the strength of God, victory is possible.”

– Elmer Towns Excerpts taken from Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom by Stovall Weems (p. 53)