PSALM 103:1 – 2

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

: DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 1 Kings 14; Joel 2:1-11
Today is the last day of the year! Praise God! 

Looking back at the year, there are so many things to be  thankful to God for. David said in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits”

Thanksgiving is not optional. It is a debt we owe God. When we think about all the goodness of Jesus, then we are bound to thank Him. Thanksgiving is important because it adjusts our attitude and calibrates our hearts so that we stop complaining and rather begin to appreciate God.  There are so many things to thank God for. There is so much God has done for us. However, the truth is that so many times the things we ought to be thanking God for, are things we take for granted. 

For instance we go to church as a routine, and openly declare our identities as Christians. But do you know there are countries where to be identified as a Christian is a death sentence?  

North Korea is ranked as the most oppressive place in the world for Christians. In this totalitarian communist state, Christians are forced to hide their faith completely from government authorities, neighbors and often, even their own spouses and children.

In October 2016, a 55 year old North Korean defector reveals he was tortured and nearly killed just for being a Christian.  He managed to escape from one of the country’s notorious jails, fleeing into China and is now living in Los Angeles, US. He  described being tortured in the hermit state because of his religion.  He told Fox News about how he was forced to hide his religious beliefs . He along with eight others started an underground church, but because of the repression of Christians, they were forced to keep it a secret. But in 2008, officials caught and arrested him.  He was about to be sent to one of the country’s terrifying labour camps – where prisoners must undergo “re-education” treatment – when he managed to escape across the border. He  now lives in LA where he has promised to continue spreading the word about North Korean injustices.

Besides North Korea, there are many other repressive countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith.  Recently two Pakistani Christians—a husband and his pregnant wife—were beaten for three days, stoned by an angry mob and dragged behind a vehicle. Finally they were thrown into a brick kiln and burned alive. They were falsely accused of desecrating a copy of the Quran. And without trial or opportunity to defend themselves they were murdered by the mob.

Christians who live in such regions of persecution, whenever they escape, find it strange how those of us who live in religious freedom can be casual about our faith. 

It is said you don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it. This is why people who have a near death experience often come out of it with a new appreciation for life. 

We ought to be grateful that we are not being thrown into jail for going to church on Sunday. We ought to be grateful that we are not reading scraps of scriptures on bits of paper because we cannot openly carry the Bible. 

There are so many things we ought to be grateful to God this year; not only for material blessings, but also for the basic things of life. 

29.8 million people are living as slaves today, according to the Walk Free Foundation, who investigated 162 countries and found slaves in everyone. Aren’t you glad you are not living in slavery of any form? 

The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world’s population is overfed, one-third is underfed and one-third is starving. Approximately 925 million people in the developing world are chronically undernourished. Aren’t you grateful to God you have food to eat everyday?  

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights says there are 100 million homeless people in the world. One in three children in the world live without adequate shelter. And today there are about 42 million people who are living as refugees. Most were displaced by war and live in crude camps. Well then, thank God for a roof over your head!

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. Those who have college degrees, are only a privileged minority; only 6.7 percent of people in the world have a college diploma. Well, thank God you are able to read and write!

Also thank God you are breathing free air and not in a hospital paying for oxygen. Thank God you are walking with your legs and not being carried. Thank God you are still joined to the living and so have hope. And most of all thank God for the joy of salvation and the hope of heaven. 

Yes, life may have thrown you some curves this year; perhaps you lost some things and went through some trials,  but thank God, through it all you didn’t lose your mind. You are still here! And you still have your praise!

Now, do you have breath?  Well, then use it to praise God! Bless the Lord, and forget not His benefits.
PRAYER:  Lord from the very depths of my heart I bless You for enabling me to see the last day of this year. Lord I am truly grateful. I thank You for Your faithfulness to me throughout this year. And as I get ready to cross over into  the New year, I am confident that I shall see even greater blessings. Thank you so much for all Your goodness in my life in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE 
When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222.  

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]

Psalm 34:1 
I will bless The Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth…

DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; 1 Kings 12:32-13:34; Joel 1
In the 1800s, a little Austrian town was to be attacked by 18,000 soldiers led by the French General George Muller Massena. Orders had come from the French leader Napoleon, to capture this town because of its military importance. As the army were gearing up for their invasion, the stunned citizens of this little town were terrified, knowing they were about to be beaten, killed or sold into slavery. The town council had nearly decided to surrender, when the old dean of the church reminded them that it was Easter and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God’s hands. This they did, figuring their only defense was direct intervention from God. They put on their Sunday’s best, and went to Church to praise and worship The Lord. And as they usually do on Easter days they rang the church bells joyfully. 

When services ended, these Austrians opened their church doors only to be met by a surprising sight. The entire French battalion had vacated! It turned out that the French General Massena incorrectly confused the ringing of the church bells for Easter service with what he thought was the announcement of the arrival of the entire Austrian army. The city was saved, and Christ was glorified.

Exodus 15:11 declares that God is glorious in holiness, and fearful in praises, doing wonders. Indeed there is deliverance power in praise. The wonder working power of God is often seen in the midst of praises. When we ring the joy bells in the face of troubles and trials, God’s power to deliver arises. In 2 Chronicles 20, when king Jehoshaphat was outnumbered by enemies, he engaged the weapon of  joy. As God arose for his deliverance the enemies were destroyed. It takes praise to engage God’s Presence. When we engage in praise, God comes down. And when God steps into our affairs, He takes over the battle. 

Praise moves God into action. Though God  is everywhere, He does not work everywhere. For God to step in, we must embark on praise. 

When praise is on, God is up. And when God arises mountains and obstacles are moved, prison gates are flung open and captives set free. 

Isaiah 51:11 says ‘Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away’

When we create an atmosphere of praise, God comes to inhabit it. And because in His Presence is fullness of joy, therefore everything that causes sorrow has to flee away. When God appears every devil disappears. Just as light and darkness cannot cohabit, the enemy cannot stand your praise. 

Let us therefore keep praising God, no matter the situation or circumstance. In everything let us keep thanking Him. Indeed God has done marvelously well for us this year. He has fought battles for us, seen and unseen.  He has slain goliaths and parted red seas for us.  He has made a way where there seemed to be no way. Let us therefore, like the one leper, return to bless Him for His miracles we have seen this year. And like David, let us bless The Lord at all times, and may His Praise continually be in our mouth.  
PRAYER: Lord, I thank and praise You. Indeed You have done all things well for me. As this year comes to a conclusion, I have come like the one leper to tell You ‘thank You’ for all Your faithfulness towards me and my family. Indeed I am grateful. Forever, may Your praise flow continually from my mouth in Jesus Name. .  

QUOTE 

Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE] 

Hebrews 12:1

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.’ DAILY READING  Mark 16; 1 Kings 12:1-31; Hosea 14

On January 8, 2003, a U.S Airways Flight from North Carolina, stalled after take-off. Just 37 seconds after its lift-off, it crashed into an Airways hangar and burst into flames. All 21 people on board died in the accident.

Investigators determined the crash to have been the result of excess weight. Before the flight, the pilots had checked the take-off weight of the aircraft and determined it to be okay. But unknown to them, they had mistakenly used an incorrect passenger weight estimates in their calculations. So while they thought the plane’s weight was alright, the plane was actually overloaded and out of balance.

After the crash, the weight of baggage retrieved from the crash site and passengers, was found to be 580 pounds above the plane’s maximum allowable take-off weight.

Another factor that contributed to the crash was also negligence. Two days before the accident, the aircraft had been taken to a repair facility. The mechanic who worked on it had never worked on that type of aircraft before, and he incorrectly reset cables that should have helped control the weight of the plane. And the maintenance supervisor, who normally should have done a test run after the repairs, decided not to do so.

All these factors contributed to the eventual crash of the plane.

After take-off, the plane climbed steeply as a result of the excess weight. And though the pilots pushed the control column forward, the plane did not respond, until its eventual crash.

Hebrews 12:1 says ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.’

Life essentially is a race. And to be successful in any race you must lay aside excess weights. Such weights can pull a runner backwards.  Therefore to be successful, an athlete deliberately initiates the process of stripping himself of every excess weight; through dieting, exercising, and wearing only very light sporting attire.

The same rule applies also in aviation.  As we saw in the illustration, excess weights can pull a plane down. Any plane that will fly successfully must carry loads only within its approved limits and get rid of every excess weight.

In the same way, on the flight of destiny excesses can be dangerous. For us to fly high we must lay aside every weight and sin. Sin is a sinker, it is a dead weight that can crash destinies.

We must therefore separate from sin, to enjoy a glorious flight. Right now, we are living in a very sensitive season. Though it is a season of glory for the church, it is also a season of great temptations. Isaiah 60, lets us know that  the season of our rising and shining, is also the season of gross darkness in the world. This is why every child of God has to be very sober and vigilant. Because the enemy knows his time is short, he going about seeking whom he may devour. For us not to be a victim, we must continually rise and pray so as not to enter into temptation.

As we prepare to embark on the eagle’s flight, we must identify the weights that could bring us down.  Are there besetting sins you are still struggling with?  Are there secret habits that seems to mock your Christian destiny? Decide now to stop them,  before they stop you. If you don’t deal with them now, they may take you out of this race. So make up your mind and declare that those things will not accompany you into the new year.

The power to overcome sin is found in The Word of God. Psalm 119;11 says ‘Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.’

The more you hide The Word of God in your heart the more you receive power to overcome sin. We will also be flying high by the wind of The Spirit. It is therefore time to seek greater intimacy with The Holy Spirit through renewing the fire on our prayer altar.

As the eagles flight gets ready to take off, make up your mind not to be left behind, drop every weight that may hinder you. And whatever it takes, ensure you are a part of this glorious flight.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to drop every weight and sin that can hinder my glorious flight. Please give me a renewed appetite for Your Word, and ignite fresh fire on my prayer altar. Please Lord, whatever You are doing in this season, don’t do it without me in Jesus Name

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The study of The Word will keep  shame and disgrace far from you.

WORDBITE 222.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

I Samuel 2:30

‘Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. “

DAILY READING – Mark 15:21-47; 1 Kings 11; Hosea 13

God will always honor those that honor Him. When our aim in life is to honor God in all that we do, then He will also honor us.

Eric Liddell was Scotland’s fastest runner in the 1920’s. He was also a Christian who always desired to honor God. At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, Eric was Scotland’s only hope of winning a gold medal in the 100-meter dash. However, few days to the race, Eric found out that it would take place on a Sunday. For Eric, Sunday was a day of worship and rest, and he wouldn’t miss Church, not even for an Olympic gold medal. When he announced that he would not run on a Sunday, it caused an uproar in Scotland. Many Scottish people were very upset with him and criticized him; some even called him a traitor. But Eric would not shift his stance. He decided rather to compete in 2 other races that would not take place on a Sunday; namely the 200 metres and the 400 metres races. Though he had not trained for these races and had little time to prepare, Eric believed God would help him.

Surprisingly, he qualified and won a bronze medal in the 200 meters race. But his country still needed a gold medal. The remaining race was the 400-meters, which no one thought he could win, because he was to compete against two runners who had already set world record times. To worsen matters, on the day of the race, Eric was assigned to the worst lane.

Though the situation looked discouraging, just before the race, a young Christian handed Eric a note, on which was written “1 Samuel 2:30, …’Those who honor Me I will honor.'”  Eric drew strength from this scripture, knowing that as he had honored God, God would in turn honor him. When the race started, Eric gave it his best shot. When he rounded the turn on the track, where all the runners usually come together, he expected to see the world record holders ahead of him. But he was surprised to find he was there alone. The two world record holders were behind him. Eric crossed the finish line first, setting a new world record and winning the gold medal! His country was jubilant. When Eric returned back to Scotland, he received a hero’s welcome. The newspapers, which had criticized him earlier, were now applauding him.

Eric’s life story is captured in the award winning movie ‘Chariots of Fire’.  Through this movie, the story of Eric Liddell is told all over the world. And his devotion to God has touched the hearts of millions of people. Indeed for living a life that honored God, God has also honored Eric.

I Samuel 2:30 says ‘Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith… for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. ”

To honor God, means making Him top priority in our lives.

Living a life that seeks to honor God, may sometimes come with a price. .  People may criticize you and say things against you. Eric was criticized and jeered at by his countrymen. In the story of Joseph, he was thrown into prison for his decision to honor God by not committing adultery. But in the end, we also saw how  God honored Joseph by giving him the highest ranking position in Egypt.

When we decide to do what is right in honor of God, we may become  unpopular. People may term us ‘too spiritual’ or even ‘fanatical’. But no matter what anyone may think, we have to decide to always give God first place.

When Daniel purposed in His heart to follow God, he faced consequences. When he decided to pray to God despite the king’s commandment he was thrown into the Lions’ den. But God delivered him from all his troubles and caused him to be promoted as the ruler over the province of Babylon.

Psalm 91:14-15 says “Because he loves me,” says the LORD , “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

When we love God and seek to always honor Him, God ensures our deliverance from troubles. Though initially, it may not be easy going against the tide, as we seek to do what is right, in the end God rewards us for honoring Him. When others are exalting sin and promoting unrighteousness, it may not be easy to decide to live a life of purity and holiness. When others are compromising and dining at the tables of Babylon, it may not be easy to purpose not to defile yourself with the king’s meat. But whatever we may suffer for the sake of Christ, God says He will give us double for all our troubles.

Isaiah 61:7 says ” Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. ”

Whatever you do in honor of God, He ensures you are rewarded in the end.  God has not called the sons of Jacob to seek Him in vain. For honoring God, He will separate you from what afflicts others. Your case will be different.  God will bless your bread, and water; and take sickness away from you.

You never lose by honoring God. For Eric Liddell, though it looked initially like he was going to lose by honoring God, we also saw how in the end, God lifted him and caused him to be celebrated. In the same way, as you decide today to always honor God in all you do, God will surely see to it that men also honor and celebrate you..

PRAYER; Lord, please help me to always make You top priority in all my decisions. May I never be ashamed of You before men. Grant me the grace to always honor You, by living a life that glorifies You before men in Jesus Name. 

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God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough WORDBITE 222.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK OPEN HEAVENS]

Zechariah 10:1

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.’

DAILY READING – Mark 15:1-20; 1 Kings 10; Hosea 11:12-12:14

During the 2000 years exile of the Jews from their homeland, one of the most remarkable things that happened, was that rainfall diminished over the land. As a result of this decreasing rainfall, people moved away from that region, until gradually the land became deserted. And for the 2000 years of Jewish exile, the land of Israel, later renamed Palestine, became desolate and hardly inhabited.

However in the 1890s, Jews gradually started returning to their homeland. Starting with Jewish farmers who looked for ways to irrigate the desolate wasteland. However as the Jews began to return a miraculous thing started to occur; Once again rainfall began to increase in the land. And during the 20th Century, rainfall increased 10 percent every decade, till a total increase of over 100 percent.

And as more Jews began to return, with the increased rainfall, they also devised various means of irrigation. The result has been phenomenal. During the 20th Century, over 250 million trees were planted in this land formerly without trees.  The land that was desolate for so many years, is now the bread basket of the Middle East. It exports agricultural products to countries all over the world. Today Israel is one of the world’s leading fresh fruits and flowers producers and exporters.  Israel has developed the world’s first long shelf-life commercial tomato varieties. The dairies of Israel produce the highest amounts of milk per animal in the world. And Israel is the world’s leader in agricultural research and development. The United Nations, has declared that Israel is “the most agriculturally efficient land on earth.”

It is indeed amazing, the difference rain can make! For a land desolate and abandoned for 2000 years, the coming of rainfall has made a huge difference.

And The Holy Spirit in the scriptures, is likened to rain. And likewise, when He comes into a man’s life, He makes a big difference.

Zechariah 10:1 says ‘Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.’

It is God’s will in this latter days to pour  out upon all flesh the rain of His Spirit. However it is only those who are genuinely thirsty that are qualified for this rain.

John 7:37-39  Says ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

A thirst is what we need for the release of the rain of The Spirit.

In Acts 2:17 Peter said “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh”.

We are already in the latter days and it is God’s will to pour out His Spirit upon all who are thirsty and willing to receive. Why God is pouring out His Spirit upon the church in this latter days is because the end time is the era of power. If we are to operate in the realm Jesus operated, then we need the spirit without measure to do the works that He did, and even greater works. John 3:34.  Says “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”

The Holy Spirit is the power of God. And in this era of power, we need Him like never before. it is therefore important  to develop an intimate relationship with Him, so that we can experience the power of God in our lives.

As we prepare to enter into the New Year, we need His outstretched arm to deal with every pharaoh still resisting our freedom. Just as His outstretched arm broke the yoke of Egypt and brought deliverance to Israel, we need Him to break every yoke of bondage in our lives. Indeed the Egyptians you saw last year you shall see no more forever.

But we don’t just wish for power, we thirst for it. We have to ask, seek and knock until we receive. And we ask in prayers, fasting and being persistent until the door opens.

We also need to create an atmosphere where The Spirit will be welcome. This means we have to constantly maintain a lifestyle of Purity and holiness, even as we surround ourselves with praise and joy.

Just as the coming of rain made a big difference in the land of Israel, the coming of The Spirit will make a big  difference in our lives. By the wind of The Spirit we will be ushered into the eagle’s flight. He will be lifting us to amazing realms of exploits. Therefore let us be willing to pay whatever price is required to engage His glorious Presence, in this season.

PRAYER: Lord, Please release upon me the rain of Your Spirit. I need Your power at work in my life like never before. Please grant me the grace to do all that is required, for me to experience a greater dimension of your Spirit in my life in Jesus Name.

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The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you.

 [CULLED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]

Lamentations 3:22

‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’

• DAILY READING  Mark 14:32-72; 1 Kings 9; Hosea 11:1-11

God is always watching over us. The following story reveals how God is always watching over us, even when sometimes, we don’t seem to be aware of it.

In the late 19^th century, the famous evangelist D.L. Moody, had a song leader called Ira Sankey.  Sankey was an easily recognizable figure, because his pictures were often in the newspapers.  During the Christmas Eve of 1875, he was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat. Some of the passengers on the boat recognized him and asked him to sing a hymn for them. Sankey obliged them and began to sing the hymn, “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us.”

When he finished singing, one of the passengers in the steamboat, said something quite surprising. He first asked Sankey if he had served in the union army during the  American Civil War.  Sankey said yes, he did. The man then asked, if he recalled ever singing while on a night duty in a particular area during the war. Sankey again answered yes. The man then said he had served in the opposing confederate army, and had  recognized Sankey because of the song he just sang. He said years ago that song had prevented him from shooting Sankey. He said one day during the war, he had been hiding in the shadows when he saw Sankey doing picket duty, standing at his post. The full light of the moon was falling upon Sankey. He said he had raised his musket and took aim to shoot, but at that instant, Sankey raised his voice, and began to sing this same song. So the man decided to let him finish his song, before he would shoot him. But as he sang the song, the man said the words of the song stirred up many memories of his childhood and his God-fearing mother. She had many times sang that same song to him. This man was so moved by that song that when Sankey finished singing, it was impossible for him to shoot again, his arm on its own accord dropped limp at his side. He thought to himself,  ‘The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.’

And so he departed without shooting Sankey.

When this man finished his tale,  Sankey was utterly amazed, realizing how close, he had been to death; if it had not been for the grace of God. Lamentations 3:22  says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’

Many times we never how close we may have been to destruction. But somehow God’s grace preserved us. Indeed it is of The Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.  Psalm 124:2 says “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us;’

Indeed if it had not been for The Lord, we would have been dead and buried long ago.  And as the year rounds up, now is a good time to look back and count our blessings. Some of the people who started out this year with us, are no longer in the land of the living. We are still here, not by power, not by might, but only by the grace and mercy of God. You know that some of the experiences you passed through this year could have killed you, yet you survived. Not because you were lucky, only because of God’s mercy.

Yes, you may have had some challenges, yet even in the midst of those troubles, God still gave His angels charge over you. You did not survive because of your smartness, you survived because of God’s love. Really if it had not been for the Lord who was on our side, where would we be?

Do you know how many arrows of the wicked were fired against you this year, and yet none of them found their mark?

That you are still here is an indication of God’s love. And even if your  situation, is still not yet what you desire it to be, thank God that you are still alive. You still have hope. Ecclesiastes 9:4  says ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’

Yes, there may be so much that still needs to be done, there may be pressures coming from every side. But don’t forget, you can feel pressured only because you are still alive. A dead man has no blood pressure. So instead of complaining, rejoice and bless God. And as you do, He will turn your pressures into pleasure.

Habakkuk 3:17 -19 says  ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.’

Indeed God is good and very faithful. And no matter what things may look like right now, be assured that He is working it all out for you.

And if anything still remains undone, trust that God will still do it.  You will finish well, you will finish strong. Faithful is He that called you, who also will do it.

As we count down to the new year, let us spend the remaining days of this year counting our blessings. And indeed we will see that God has been faithful. Let us therefore keep blessing and praising Him, because He is worthy. And even now, He is working everything for our good.

PRAYER:  Lord indeed I am grateful for all you have done for me this year. As I count my blessings I am overwhelmed by Your faithfulness. I praise and bless you forever. And  for  whatever still remains undone,  I know that even right now,  you are working it all out for my good. I praise You for all your goodness in my life, past present and future. Thank You so much Jesus.  .

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When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222. 

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD. 

John 3:16

‘”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

DAILY READING Mark 14:1-31; 1 Kings 8; Hosea 9:17-10:15

Recently on Fox News, was the story that, the entire nation of New Zealand is hosting a nationwide gift exchange program this Christmas.  This is unique and remarkable because virtually the whole country is involved. This gift exchange program is aimed at ensuring that everyone in the country gets a gift at Christmas. Thousands of people in the country have signed up to take part in the national gift exchange, including the nation’s Prime Minister. This program, was first started in 2010 by an individual, who simply put out a call on Twitter asking if his fellow citizens would like to take part in a gift exchange. The program became so popular that the government took notice and has now made it a state-sponsored event. Indeed it is a lovely idea to have everyone in the country exchanging gifts at Christmas. However the question is; does everyone know the real reason for the season.

For many people around the world, Christmas is simply a season of fanfare, celebrations and exchange of gifts. Sales increase so dramatically at this period, that Christmas is the largest economic stimulus for many nations. In 2013, the United States’ retail industry generated over three trillion dollars during the Christmas holiday season. In some places, Christmas shopping season can start as early as September and some consumers begin even earlier.

Yes indeed, globally Christmas is a period of gift exchange and so much fanfare, but the question remains; do people really know the reason for the season.

Though the wise men may have started this tradition of gifts giving, yet at the heart of Christmas is the fact that God gave the greatest gift of all to mankind. God gave His only Son, born in a humble stable, to shed His blood on the cross, as redemption for us.

For thousands of years mankind was held captive in sin. They were under wrath and under a curse.  Yet God continued to promise, through His prophets, the coming of a savior, who would take on Himself the sin of the world, and save mankind from wrath. And  today we celebrate the birth of this savior. He is the greatest gift of all; Our Savior! Our Redeemer! Our Deliverer!  Without this gift we had no hope. We were doomed to die in our sin, forever separated from God.

Now, because Jesus came and redeemed us, we can be called the sons of God. He the son of God, became the son of man that we the sons of men can be called the sons of God. And according to Psalm 56:13 we can now declare “For you have delivered my soul from death”.

And now today at Christmas, we celebrate that the Almighty, Glorious God became a man, taking on the limitations of time and space, that we might behold and receive His glory. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son to save us.

Christmas therefore, is a yearly reminder of God’s love. And out of gratitude for what He did for us, we should respond by giving thanks today to God for His indescribable gift. And not only today, but for eternity, we can shout in praises and thanksgiving daily to God for the gift of Christ.

PRAYER:  Our dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Your son that You gave to save me from sin and unrighteousness.  I thank you for Your love so richly revealed through the precious gift of Christ. Because He lives, I live also, and through Christ indeed I can do all things.

quote

Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK ESTABLISHED BY THE WORD OF GOD]

Prayer –

Until the day I see you face to face to express my appreciation, my worship and praises, please know my heartfelt gratitude and my deep and abiding joy because of your plan, your Son, and your salvation. I thank you in the Name of Jesus.

Deuteronomy 28:13 KJV
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;: 

DAILY READING – – Mark 13:1-13; 1 Kings 6; Hosea 8

Israel as a nation has often suffered hatred from its enemies, down through the centuries. Whole nations have engaged in efforts to exterminate the Jewish people.  This hatred is called anti-Semitism. In ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs ordered that all Jewish boy-babies should be cast into the Nile. In Babylon, at the time of Queen Esther, a plot was formed to murder the Jews and seize all their property. In more recent times, during World War 2, the Holocaust in central Europe wiped out six million Jews in the German and Polish death camps. 

In Kiev, Ukraine, near the World War Museum, there is a plot of ground where 50,000 Jews were shot, thrown into a valley and covered with dirt. 

The Bible predicted a scattering of the Jews which came to pass in AD 70, when Roman soldiers attacked the Jewish nation. They were scattered from one end of the earth to the other—just as God had said. And for 2,000 years the Jewish people were without a country.  God also predicted that Israel would be regathered again into her ancient homeland. By 1900, there was not a single “Jewish village” anywhere, but on May 14, 1948, in fulfillment of prophesy, Israel became a nation again. The return of the Jews to their ancient land, and the rebuilding of the nation of Israel, is one of the greatest fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

The survival of the Jews is one of the most amazing miracles of all times. There were other powerful nations in the Middle East in Old Testament times. There were the Philistines, the Hivites, the Jebusites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Edomites, etc. but how many of them survived?  The Philistines and Hivites and Amorites, etc. have been absorbed by other nations—and have all lost their identity. Yet the Jewish nation still remains. 

And not only that, today it is thriving and dominating in the middle east. On the global scene, Israel is a leading nation in innovations and technology. Indeed the survival and existence of Israel is a living proof of the truth of God’s Word. 

And it is also proof that if God be for you, nobody can be against you. 
It didn’t matter how many times enemies tried to destroy the Jewish people, they only kept rising and thriving, because of God’s backing. 

And likewise in this era, it is God’s will for us, as His people, to dominate, and rule in the midst of our enemies.

Psalm 110:1 – 2 says ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.’

We are in the era of the dominion of the Church . According to God’s endtime agenda, Kingdom dominion is the portion of every child of God. You are therefore to dominate your world. You are to be the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath. You are to take the lead, while others follow. That is your heritage. Because you are born of God, you are born to overcome the world!. 

It is time for our enemies to be made our footstool. The world and the wickedness thereof must be subdued.  But you cannot dominate without being empowered. The kingdom of God speaks in power not just in word. It is the power content at work in your life that makes you dominate. It is the level you operate in that will authenticate the level of dominion you can manifest. 

It is therefore time for us to go for Power. And power is encountered through prayer and in-depth study of The Word of God.

Enough of being dominated by situations and circumstances. In this season, determine that power must change hands. It is your time to rule. Determine to rule over sickness, disease, poverty and every enemy of your life and destiny.  Decide to live in victory and dominion, as apportioned to you by God. It is indeed your time to reign. 

PRAYER: Father I desire to live a life of victory and dominion. I know it is Your Will and plan for me to be the head and never the tail. I therefore today declare that I am dominating over every enemy of my life and destiny. By Your Power I am ruling in the midst of my enemies, in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE : 

For you to enjoy victory in The Kingdom of God, you need to develop a kingdom mind, that thinks in line with The Word of God. – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK KING IN ME] 

Psalm 119:11 
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• DAILY READING Mark 13:1-13; 1 Kings 6; Hosea 8

William P. MacKay is the author of the popular church hymn, “Revive Us Again.”. He was a Scottish doctor, who later became ordained, as the pastor of a Presbyterian Church.  His story reflects God’s grace to locate a backslider wherever he may be, and restore him again back to fellowship. 

William Mackay was raised in a Christian home. His mother was a godly woman, who many times would be on her knees in prayer for his soul. At the age of seventeen, when William MacKay left home to attend college, his mother gave him a Bible in which she had written his name. When he got to college, before long, William began to drift further and further away from the godly way he had been raised. He began drinking heavily. At a low point, to satisfy his thirst for whiskey, he carelessly pawned his Bible. Many years went by. Eventually, he completed his medical training and took up work in a city hospital. There, one day The Lord met him in a special way. He encountered a dying patient who had only one wish; a request that his landlady send him “The Book…”

His landlady was contacted and did bring him ‘the book’. This man read this book as long as he could, and when he became too weak to read, he kept this book under his bed cover. Dr. Mackay on his regular visit to the man’s bed was struck by the quiet, almost happy expression constantly on the man’s face. Later on the man died.

Dr. Mackay was curious to find out about this “book” that had been so precious to the dying man. When a nurse brought this book to him, he was surprised to find that it was a Bible. But not just any Bible. There inside the front cover, in his mother’s handwriting, was his own name, William Paton MacKay. It was the same Bible his mother gave him when he was 17 years old.  What a strange coincidence! Obviously someone had reclaimed the Bible from that pawnshop, and it had become a priceless treasure to a dying man. MacKay went to his office and closed the door. He opened the Bible, slowly turning the worn and weathered pages.  Many contained specially marked verses his mother hoped he would read. He was alone in that room for many hours. But when he emerged the long night of sin had been blasted away by the life-changing light of heaven. With now a changed heart, and a desire to reclaim wasted years, he resigned his place at the hospital. After training he went on to serve the Lord as a pastor.  He eventually wrote one of the church’s favorite hymns “Revive Us Again.”

In Jeremiah 3:22 God says ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings’

God is indeed the God of mercy and grace. No matter how far anyone may stray, God still seeks ways to reach them and bring them back home. It was not a coincidence that the Bible Dr. Mackay pawned would be brought back to him in a strange way after so many years. It was God’s way of again reaching to him in his backslidden state.   

Often times, in the battles with temptations, Christians who are not vigilant, may find themselves falling into the enemy’s traps. 

However, though a believer may fall, God’s loving concern for him is steadfast and sure. No matter how far a person strays, The Lord keeps calling him back through the work of the Holy Spirit. We can see this clearly in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. 

No matter where you may have missed it, The Heavenly Father truly cares about you and wants you to return. Do not let anything hold you back from God and His forgiveness and grace. Don’t let the pleasures of sin deceive you. 

James 4:8 says ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’

God is always waiting with open arms to receive you back home. When you call to Him, He will answer you. Do not let doubt or guilt hold you back, from God’s grace. 

1 John 1:9 says ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’

When you call upon the Lord and ask for His forgiveness, believe His promise to forgive you. He will surely cleanse you of your sins and restore you to fellowship with Him. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning, His compassions fail not.

However do not take His grace for granted so that you do not become grounded. Do not keep singing The Lord’s song in  a strange land and think you can always get away with it. The wages of sin is death. The consequences of unrighteousness can be devastating. Therefore flee from every appearance of evil, flee from situations that tempt you. Give no room to the devil. If you give the devil a toehold, he builds a stronghold. So beware of his schemes. If you find yourself being tempted, begin to plead the Blood of Jesus over your mind. Have a trusted prayer partner that you can share your personal struggles with. Learn from the mistakes you made that led to backsliding, and determine to not repeat those mistakes. Above all, guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 

Psalm 119:9 says ‘Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed to it, according to thy word.’

And Psalm 119:11 says ‘I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.’ 

So to keep your heart clean and to avoid sin, store up The Word of God heavily in your heart. As you feed constantly on The Word of God, you will receive the power to overcome sin and the grace to live a victorious life.  
PRAYER: Lord, please grant me a  renewed appetite for Your Word. By the Power in Your Word and by the precious blood of Jesus, please break every yoke of sin in my life. I receive grace today to overcome every temptation of the enemy and live victoriously all the days of my life in Jesus Name, .  
QUOTE 

Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- –WORDBITE 222

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]