HORM Devotional

Hebrews 12:11 [AMP] “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose]’

DAILY READING; Ephesians 2; Ezekiel 6-7; Isaiah 40

‘The ‘Modesto manifesto’ was the resolutions made by Billy Graham and his close friends early in their ministry on how to escape temptations.
By that time in 1948, Billy Graham was a good looking 31-years old Charismatic evangelist who was beginning to draw a lot of attention with his crusades.
The Media often commented on his good looks and how he had repeatedly turned down offers to go into the movies.
As different people, including celebrities, flocked to the revival meetings, temptations loomed. Billy Graham then decided to take concrete steps to avoid the slightest whiff of controversy.
While holding evangelistic meetings in Modesto, California, he called together the four closest members of his ministry team. These charismatic young men gathered in a hotel room in Modesto, to draw up a compact that became known as the “Modesto Manifesto.”
They drew up resolutions to guide them in terms of financial integrity, sexual morality’, and publicity.
The most famous provision of the manifesto is what became known as the “Billy Graham Rule”, which was Billy’s decision to never be alone with any woman other than his wife.
The “Billy Graham Rule” created some controversy as people thought he went too far, but for Billy Graham, the pledge helped him to discipline himself and dodge any accusations of immorality. He was determined to follow Apostle Paul’s mandate to “Flee … youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 1:22).
Billy Graham also backed up his resolutions with great spiritual discipline. He followed a strict regimen of daily prayers, fellowship and diligent study of the Scriptures.
His ability to avoid scandals led to his appearing 57 times in Gallup polls annual list of “Ten Most Admired People”.
Billy Graham ended up preaching the Gospel to an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide. He is believed to have preached to more people than any other person in history.

To attain God’s high calling for our lives we need to do everything possible to discipline ourselves to live in accordance to His Word.
Our personal walk with God will determine our outward manifestation before men.

No matter how gifted you are, if you lack self-discipline, you may never realize your maximum potential. Truly to conquer the world, you must first conquer yourself.

Today, we live in an out-of-control, over-indulgent and self-centered society, where many people are taking the path of least resistance and giving in to temptations. Just as a car without brake eventually crashes, many destinies are crashing for lack of applying the brake of self- control.
To be able to live for God in such a generation, every serious believer has to be willing to undergo the training for self-discipline.

Hebrews 12:11 tells us that though discipline for the moment seems painful and unpleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Self-discipline is really Christ-discipline. The more we give ourselves to Him the more we are strengthened by Him to overcome the world.
In these last days, God is grooming us for special assignments of manifesting His wonders on the earth.
This is why it is essential that we begin to receive the necessary spiritual training and pruning to align with His Word.
We are living at a time in the world when distractions and temptations are at the highest level in human history.
At such a time, we can no longer afford to live carelessly because those who live anyhow end up anyhow. We must therefore strive to be controlled totally by God’s Word.
It has been said that the best time to plant a tree is twenty five years ago…The second best time is today.
So starting today let’s take the decision to be more self- disciplined and do all that is necessary to get our lives in alignment with God’s will.
There are many things God wants to do in our lives right now.
And as we begin to sincerely seek His Word, and worship Him in spirit and truth, we are going to see a manifestation of His glorious power that will establish us in the life of wonders He has designed for us.

PRAYER: Lord, Please enable me to constantly discipline myself to walk in Your Will. Indeed by Your grace I shall overcome the lures of the world, as I press forward in Your high calling upon my life in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough WORDBITE 222.

Hebrews 13:15  “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name’.

DAILY READING    Ephesians 1; Ezekiel 4-5, Psalm 150.

In Israel’s history, the fig tree was one of their most important trees. Its fruit was valued greatly in their diet and considered among their staple foods.
Israeli farmers often planted fig trees in their vineyards. The tree adapts to most soils and its extensive root system enables it to endure the often long, dry climate of the Middle East. But if any fig tree was unfruitful, it would be cut down. A poor fig harvest was deemed a calamity by the Israeli farmers. They cut down the unfruitful because good soil was too scarce to be wasted on them. Also because fruit trees were taxed, any unproductive tree became an undesirable economic burden and consequently gotten rid of.

In Jesus’ illustration of the unproductive fig tree, [Luke 13:6, 7] He spoke of a certain man who had a fig tree in his vineyard. The tree had been unproductive for three years, and the owner was about to have it cut down. But the vinedresser said: “Master, let it alone also this year, until I dig around it and put on manure; and if then it produces fruit in the future, well and good; but if not, you shall cut it down.”

When Jesus gave this illustration, He had already been preaching for three years, endeavoring to cultivate faith among the Jews. However, the week before He was to be crucified, it became evident that the nation in general had rejected the Messiah.
Four days before His death, while traveling from Bethany to Jerusalem Jesus saw a fig tree that had abundant leaves but no fruit. Normally the fig tree, unlike other trees,  provided a harvest of early figs in June and a main crop generally from August onward.  
Since the early figs appear along with the leaves, and sometimes even before the leaves develop,  when Jesus approached the fig tree He possibly looked for these early fruits. 

The tree’s lack of fruit was unexpected, it showed that it was worthless.
Jesus cursed the sterile fig tree, and on the following day, the disciples noticed that it had withered.

The dried-up tree signified God’s rejection of those who would  not produce fruits. 
John 4:23 tells us that God is seeking for worshippers in Spirit and in truth. God is seeking fruit from us!. We are created to offer up continual worship and praise unto God..

Hebrews 13:15 says ‘By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.’

The fruit of our lips is praise.
Praising God is not an option for the believer, it is a commandment. 

God speaking in Malachi 2:2 says ‘And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings’ 

Is it any wonder then that Jesus cursed the fig tree? He was trying to symbolize to us the utmost importance of bringing forth fruit to God.
We  are required to continually offer up unto God, the fruits of our lips. We are under the bond of the covenant to give thanks continually to God.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 says ‘But we are bound to give thanks always to God…’
We are bound to do it. It is not an option. 

God has planted us on earth for the purpose of receiving the fruit of praise from us. And like every farmer He expects to receive the fruit of what He has planted. Not to Praise God is to deny Him His fruit, but when we praise Him we come under His blessing. As we praise Him, He takes care of us so that we can bring forth more fruit.
So choose to be blessed today and everyday by continually offering God quality praise. And when you give God what He desires you can be sure He will give you in return that which you desire.. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to continually offer to You the fruits of praise, indeed You have been good to me, You have done all things well, and  I bless You now and forevermore in Jesus Name… .

QUOTE 

Praise is proof that you believe God to do what He said, He would do in your life, – WORDBITE 201.

2 Chronicles 20: 17 ‘Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you’

DAILY READING –Galatians 6; Ezekiel 2-3; Psalm 149

George Washington, the founding father of America, was also a Bible-believing Christian.
During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington led the American army against the British forces in fierce battles.
However, in these battles, Washington’s army suffered great defeats which resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region.
By 1776, General George Washington, faced a very desperate situation. The defeats in battles had made the morale of his men to become very low and as a result, many had deserted the army. From 22000 soldiers, the number had dwindled down to just about 2000.
To worsen matters, Washington had information that the British had employed a formidable mercenary group, from Germany to attack them. If such an attack was allowed to take place, it was certain their little army would be totally destroyed. It was indeed a desperate situation.
However, George Washington was a man of prayer. He and his soldiers began to pray and ask God for a miracle.
Confident of God’s help, Washington then planned a secret attack on the British Forces. The plan was to cross to the enemy side, under the cover of darkness and attack.
Using ferries and small boats the American troop crossed the river to the enemy side. Americans attacked at sunrise on December 26 1776, during a driving snow storm.
The British troops were completely caught off guard. They had underestimated the American army’s ability after months of defeating them in battles.
In less than an hour of fierce battle, General Washington easily won the victory. He lost only 3 men, and managed to capture over 1000 prisoners.
This victory became a turning point in the war and eventually led to American’s total defeat of the British military forces.
George Washington gave all the glory and praise to God, knowing that the miraculous victory had come as an answer to prayers.

There are times it may feel as if you are fighting battles you cannot win. Perhaps you may have suffered a few defeats and it seems your morale is low. Perhaps you are even being tempted to just give up and accept defeat in that situation.
While it is true that as believers we are bound to encounter warfare, but much more important is the fact that we are destined to triumph in the end.

To win your battles, you need to change your perspective. Instead of focusing on the problem focus on God’s promises. God has a track record of keeping His Words! He has not failed you before and He will not start now.

2 Corinthians 2:14 says God, always causes us to triumph through Christ.

“Always” means all ways. Our victory is guaranteed in all ways and in every place.

Anytime you are faced with impossible battles, first locate the promises in God’s Word that guarantees you victory in that situation, then take the matter to God in prayers.
After that step out confidently in faith and begin to declare your victory.
You have to let your voice of victory be louder than the noise of the enemy. What the enemy wants to do is to silence you with fear and appearances of defeat.
But rather than give in to fear begin to declare the promises of God and the truth of His Word. Do not be silent.
Like David, keep blessing the Lord at all times and let His praise continually be in your mouth.
Certainly, the battle is the Lord’s!
And with God on your side, you are bound to eventually win!

Psalm 24:7-8 declares ‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.’
The Lord is indeed strong and mighty in battle. The Lord is a man of war and He shall fight for you.
When He comes into the battle arena, the earth trembles. He makes every opposition to bow. When He arises His enemies scatter.
Therefore whatever the situation you may face today, always know there is a way out through engaging God in that battle through faith in His Word and praise.

PRAYER: Father please grant me renewed appetite for Your Word and the grace to praise You more and more. By Your divine help, I know I have the victory today over every challenge in Jesus Name.

QUOTE :
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 18:3 ‘I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.’

DAILY READING; Galatians 5:16-26; Ezekiel 1; Psalm 148

In his book, ‘A Wandering Jew in Brazil’ Solomon Ginsburg gave an account of God’s miraculous deliverance while he was on a missionary trip to an interior part of Brazil.
He had travelled about 1,000 miles inland to a city called Jacobina, which was one of the greatest market centers of the State. On reaching there he found the town crowded with thousands of people that had come to trade.
Solomon set up his little organ in the market place and began playing songs of praises. Soon the music began to draw an enormous crowd. After singing and praising God, Solomon Ginsburg stood upon a stool and began to explain to them the reason for his singing and told them about the love of God. Many among the crowd, who had never heard the Gospel, listened with rapt attention as he preached.
However, a group of people from the local priest were opposed to his preaching. They began to stir up the crowd against him by telling the people that he was evil. Soon there was a commotion in the crowd as some fanatics brought out daggers and knives and began aiming towards Solomon Ginsburg.
As the commotion increased, Solomon kept on preaching, all the while praying to the Lord to come to his rescue. He had come alone and did not know anyone from the town. He had no idea how he could escape the group of blood thirsty men coming towards him.
But suddenly out of nowhere, about six men appeared and surrounded the stool where he stood. They told him that they had come to escort him safely away from the market to their homes.
Solomon Ginsburg had no idea who they were, but these men rescued him and took him to one of the best houses in the town, which was protected by soldiers with loaded guns.
Solomon Ginsburg later safely left the town, praising God for His quick intervention and timely deliverance that had saved him from death.

Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. This means that while Solomon Ginsburg was praising God in that market place, the environment had become saturated with God’s Presence. This made it impossible for harm to come to him, because evil cannot operate where God abides.

Indeed praise is a powerful spiritual weapon that provokes God’s supernatural deliverance..

In 2 Chronicles 20, a great army came against King Jehoshaphat. He was greatly outnumbered and did not know what to do. But when he and the men of Judah began to praise God, they provoked speedy divine intervention.
God made their enemies to fight against each other, until they were all destroyed.

Indeed God is fearful in praises, doing wonders.
Anytime you desire a speedy divine intervention, bring God into your situation with praise. We serve the God of sudden visitations. He is the God of divine surprises who can suddenly arise and turn the tide of the battle in your favor.

Praise is what triggers the intervention of the Omnipotent God. Praise is God’s hotline anytime!
When you learn to give God praise in the midst of your battles, you will see speedy victory and deliverance.

psalm 18: 3 says ” I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from mine enemies”.

You can be saved from every enemy of your destiny as you engage the weapon of praise .
As you begin to sing and praise God, He will set an ambush against those things that have gathered against you.
Isaiah 54:15 says they will surely gather together, but then so shall they also surely fall for your sake as God arises for your help..
Every spiritual gang-up against you will be scattered when you take the time to give God high praises .You are never helpless when you know how to engage the mystery of praise.

It doesn’t matter how big that obstacle, you and God are a majority. If you’ll dig your heels in and refuse to complain but rather, offer up a sacrifice of praise, God will show up for your rescue.

Indeed God works wonders in praise. Therefore today, let us give Him worthy praise and watch Him arise to give us speedy victory in every battle..

PRAYER; Lord, Please help me to maintain a praise-full lifestyle. In every situation please grant me the grace to always find a reason to praise You. Thank You Lord for causing me to triumph always in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE;
To get into the next level of your life, God will always give a specific instruction. – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 124:7-8 ‘Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.’

DAILY READING • Galatians 5:1-15; Lamentations 5; Psalm 147

One of the remarkable stories of survival from the holocaust is the story of a Jewish dentist named Dr. Dovid Landau. In the 1930’s he established a thriving practice in the town of Piaskes in Poland.
At outbreak of World War 2, when the Germans invaded Poland, Dr. Dovid Landau, was patronized secretly by some Nazi soldiers. These soldiers had been strictly forbidden from going to any Jewish doctor, but due to Dr. Landau’s good reputation and expertise, they came to him. Some of these Nazi soldiers befriended him and through their help, Dr. Dovid was able to ensure a somewhat easier life for his Jewish brethren, who at this time were suffering a lot of persecution under the rule of Adolf Hitler..

One day, Dr. Landau happened to be in town and came across a gathering where Nazi soldiers were about to hang three Jewish men. To Dr Landau’s surprise, the German commander in charge randomly picked him from the crowd to place the noose around the neck of the three men. When Dr. Landau refused, the German commander instructed two soldiers to take him out to the fields and shoot him.
However both men happened to be Dr. Landau’s patients. When they arrived at the outskirts of town, instead of killing him, they released him and told him to leave town and never to return again. They took out their guns, shot twice into the air, returned to tell the commander the job was done.

Dr. Landau escaped from the town and later located some Jewish resistant fighters hiding in the forest and stayed with them until the war was over and he was eventually reunited with his family.

Indeed in desperate situations and moments where there seems to be no way, God is able to raise help from least expected quarters. Despite how tight the trap, God is able to cause our soul to escape as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers. (Psalm 124:7-8).

Our journey on earth can be fraught with challenges, and unexpected twists and turns. However, in all the trials, there is always help for us in God. He is our way maker and our bridge over troubled waters.

Those times that life doesn’t seem to make sense and you feel surrounded or overwhelmed, instead of despairing, fix your eyes on Jesus.
Despite, the roaring sea, somehow He will create a path of escape through the mighty waters.
Therefore, rather than panic, switch to praise and rather than worry, start to worship.

Praise always brings God’s Presence which makes all the difference in our situation..
Indeed there is no mountain that God cannot level, no sea that He cannot dry up, and no Jordan that cannot be driven back for your sake.

God is not limited in how He can save. He can raise help for you from strange quarters.
God can use unconventional ways and least expected people to meet your needs. Just as He commanded the ravens to come to prophet Elijah’s aid, God can command blessings for you from unlikely sources. People you don’t even know will come to your aid.
Those who should be against you, will inexplicably turn around to be for you.

Just as God is in perfect control of the universe, so is He in total control of our lives. His plans for us are not haphazard, neither are they contingency plans drawn up at a critical moment. He has our lives under full control and He has said that not even a hair can fall from our head without His knowledge..

Therefore rather than fret over negative situations, let us keep blessing the Lord at all times because He is at work in our lives.
As we praise Him, there will be a sudden shift in our circumstances. Help will arise from the least expected places. We will see miraculous turnarounds, inexplicable wonders and sudden divine deliverances.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for granting me the grace to praise You always and in every situation. And as I praise You today, I know You are taking over my battles and bringing me out of every low place to walk upon my high places in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
The tests you are going through in life today is not for your destruction, it is for your testimony. – WORDBITE 222.

Hebrews 12:1 ‘Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.’

DAILY READING; • Galatians 4:21-31; Lamentations 3-4; Psalm 146

On April 26, 2003, Aron Ralston was climbing the narrow canyons of Utah alone, when he accidentally dislodged a boulder that fell on his right arm. This boulder trapped his arm against a rock. At first Aron thought he could push aside the boulder and rescue his arm, but it was too heavy. All his efforts proved abortive.

Aron had with him only a video camera and no mobile phone, and so couldn’t call for help. Also he had not told anyone where he was going, making it most unlikely for his family to know where to find him.
While trapped there for the next 5 days, he tried everything he could to free himself but all to no avail.
By the third day, the chocolate bars and little water he carried with him had finished .
By this time, his trapped arm was no longer alive. He had no feeling in it and it was cold, hard and stiff. Believing he was going to die there, Aron then recorded his “last will and testament” in his video camera.
However, on the fifth day, he realized that if he could only leave his dead arm behind he could manage to escape.
He then made a decision to do the unthinkable.
With a small knife from his toolkit he amputated his own arm. He used pieces of climbing kit as a tourniquet to stop himself from bleeding to death. He then somehow managed to scale a 65ft cliff to escape the canyon. He was eventually found and picked up by a search-and-rescue helicopter dispatched by his family to look for him.
The story of his amazing survival is documented in his autobiography ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’ and it is the subject of the 2010 film titled ‘127 Hours’.

Spiritually, there are things we must let go off, so as to stay alive..
We are admonished by God’s Word to cut off anything that will hinder us from entering into God’s kingdom.
Jesus said if your arm or leg is a hindrance, you need to cut it off.
While this may not mean physically cutting off our body parts, it conveys the seriousness of dealing with spiritual weights in our life’s race.

Hebrews 12:1 says, ‘.. let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.’

Spiritual weights are things that keep us back from truly worshipping God in Spirit and in truth. They stop us from an intimate relationship with the Spirit by burdening us with things of the flesh.

The word “weight” is from the Greek word ogkos — a word that describes a burden or something so heavy and cumbersome that it impedes a runner from running his race as he should.

Spiritual weights make it difficult for us to please God.
They may be sins, habits, indulgences, associations or sinful addictions that slow us down and cause us to fall.
Indeed sin is a dead weight that can eventually sink a man and halt his every progress in life..

Therefore whatever is a threat to our spiritual race must be cut off.
At Calvary, Jesus died to deliver us from the trap of sin and demonic bondages.
Through His Blood we have the power to overcome the temptations and deceptions of the enemy.
Therefore, today, whatever you feel is holding you back spiritually,.begin to release the Blood weapon against them.

Let us make the decision to walk closely to God’s Word, so as to receive the grace and strength to run our race acceptably.
As we maintain a lifestyle of praise and worship, we will abide in God’s Presence where the fullness of joy dwells. This joy of the Lord is the strength with which we will win our race.

Indeed by God’s grace, we receive the strength today, to break away from every weight and hindrance so as to run with joy the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith.

PRAYER: Lord, Please enable me to lay aside weights and things that hinder me from making progress in my spiritual journey. I receive grace today to live always a life that pleases You at all times in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE: Nothing liberates like truth. The truth you know and act upon will set you free. – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 67:5-6 ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

DAILY READING; Galatians 3:19-4:20; Lamentations 1-2; Psalm 145

Stormie Omartian is an international speaker and a best-selling author who has sold over 32 million books worldwide.

She began her public life in Hollywood as a singer, dancer, and actress in the heyday of musical variety TV shows.
However, earlier in life, she had suffered childhood abuse that led to great depression and a sense of rejection that almost made her commit suicide in her junior high school.
As she began working in Hollywood, her career seemed to really take off and things appeared to be going very well. However, within her the depression and emotional turmoil continued and became a weight that began to drag her down.
Though, Stormie tried to cope with her pain by drinking heavily, taking dangerous drugs, and dabbling deeply into eastern religions, the occult, and unhealthy relationships; still, she found no relief.
By age 28, her inner turmoil began to affect her outwardly. Her Hollywood career began to go downhill and her first marriage crashed. Once again, she contemplated suicide and began to gradually pile up pills with which she planned to kill herself.
But before she could carry out her plans, a Christian friend shared the Gospel with her and introduced her to Jesus.
When Stormie surrendered her life to Christ, she finally found peace. As she started attending Church, she learned the secret of worship and praise. Stormie soon noticed that as she began to really worship God, immediately, her life changed for the better.
Her worship extended into witting worship songs. Today she has written hundreds of worship songs with her husband Michael Omartian and they have recorded several musical albums.
Stormie launched into a writing career and has written over 50 books, including her popular bestseller ‘The Power of a Praying Wife’.

Despite Stormie’s painful past, she was able to overcome and experience victory as she learned the secret of praise.
Praise is indeed a gateway to experiencing God’s wonders.
As believers, we can experience a divine elevation when we understand the power of praise.
Despite the challenges of the past and present, we can always stop the enemy in his tracks by engaging the Presence of God through praise.
Psalm 9: 3 says that our enemies are turned back, they fall and perish at God’s Presence.

Through engaging God’s Presence, we can overcome every enemy of our destiny and experience continual victory. Indeed when we engage the power of the Holy Ghost through praise, impossibilities are dismantled.

Praise always precedes the victory.
The truth is that you cannot experience wonders without engaging in worship. You cannot see promises and prophecies fulfilled, if you stay in a depressed state. When joy withers from men the harvest of the field perishes [Joel 1:11-12].
But when we engage in praise, the earth yields its increase to us.
Psalms 67:5-7 says ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase’

Praise is our verbal expression of faith in God’s abilities, which enables us to reap the harvest of His promises.
When God promised Abraham that he would give birth to a son in his old age, Romans 4:21 records that ‘He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.’
As Abraham praised God in the midst of a seeming impossibility, the prophecy was fulfilled and Isaac was born.

Indeed praise is the birth position. As we praise, dreams come to pass and prophecies are fulfilled.
Any time we engage in worshiping God in Spirit and in truth, we bring His Presence into our circumstances. And God’s Presence always makes the difference in our story.
Therefore, today, determine to maintain your praise at all costs. Don’t ever give room to depression. God will perform His Word no matter what it looks like. This is certainly your year!
As you refuse to complain but continue to bless God at all times, you will experience a sudden turnaround. You will see supernatural doors open, chains will be broken and you will indeed receive a ‘fearful’ fulfillment of every prophetic word concerning you.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for granting me the grace to always maintain an atmosphere of praise and joy around me. As I worship You in Spirit and in truth I thank You for causing a speedy manifestation of Your signs and wonders in my life in Jesus Name.

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

1 Samuel 7:12-13 “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.” So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.”

DAILY READING; • Galatians 3:1-18; Jeremiah 51-52; Psalm 144

Phil Pustejovsky has been recognized as the leading real estate investing mentor in the United States and Canada. He is considered one of the most experienced investors alive today.
However it is interesting to note that only few years ago, Phil was a drunk, penniless and getting into trouble with the law.
Though Phil’s parents introduced him to Jesus during his childhood years, yet as he grew older he began to rebel against God. While in college he lived a wild life of drinking and partying. After graduation, he hit a very low point in his life.
One day after leaving a bar, drunk, he ended up unconscious in a vacant house. He awoke to a police officer escorting him to a police car in handcuffs where he spent the day in jail and later was charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. Meanwhile, he had no money, even to pay his legal fees to defend the case. He eventually went so broke that he became homeless and began living out of his truck. It was at this time that Phil turned to God and covenanted with Him, saying “God.., if you can get me out of this mess, I will serve you and be your cheerleader the rest of my life.”
God held up to His end of the bargain and the first miracle to happen was that God sent a Christian man into Phil’s life, who mentored him into becoming a very successful real estate investor.
In keeping to his own side of the bargain, Phil became committed in serving God and became active in Church. As he tithed his income, his finances grew in leaps and bounds.
Today, Phil is a best selling author, accomplished investor, national speaker and has the most popular real estate investing YouTube channel in history with more than 30 million views.
His company ‘Freedom Mentor’, is considered the most results producing real estate mentoring organization in history.

Truly we serve the covenant-keeping God. He is faithful to keep His covenant with us today, just as He was faithful to keep His covenant with His people in the past.

Several times in the Scriptures, God entered into covenant with Israel, in order to bring them help and deliverance.
In 1 Samuel 7, Israel had suffered great defeats due to their disobedience to God. But after they repented, gave up serving foreign gods and covenanted to obey God, the Lord arose and helped them to defeat their arch enemies, the Philistines.
What is particularly significant about this victory is that God Himself won the battle by delivering Israel in a stunningly supernatural way. Specifically the text says that God “thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel (1 Samuel 7:10).”
After the victory, in acknowledging God’s help, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”
Ebenezer is a Hebrew word that means “Stone of Help.”

Indeed as we look back to how far we have come in the last 7 months, we will acknowledge God as our Ebenezer. He has been our ‘Stone of help’, the rock of our salvation, our refuge and fortress. Through His divine help, we have scaled various challenges, survived difficult battles and won amazing victories..
And certainly, the God who has helped us “thus far” to August, will help us “thus forward,” to a glorious end this year.

No matter how great any challenge before you today, always remember that God is your Ebenezer. He says in Isaiah 41:13 ‘For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.’

Indeed God is our deliverer and our help from ages past.
However, the decision to fully return to God is what will engage His miraculous help in our favor.
In 2 Chronicles 15 the children of Israel were beset with troubles. However, when they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul, God turned things around for them and the Lord gave them rest round about [2 Chronicles 15: 15].

Now that we are at the beginning of this new month it is a good place to determine to keep covenant with God. Keeping His Word will be our guarantee for taking delivery of His promises of wonder this year.
Truly, in this new month as we covenant to worship God in Spirit and in truth we are going to see a sudden miraculous turnaround in our business, careers, family and in all that concerns us.
Certainly everything that has been a set-back and a hindrance is about to turn around to our advantage. Help will arise for us from the least expected quarters. In the place of frustration God is bringing forth joy and laughter.

Indeed the Lord will appoint for you midwives to help you birth your dream. He will cause doors of breakthrough to open up to you, crooked places shall be made straight and the hidden riches of secret places shall be given to you in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your marvelous help in this new month. Indeed I know that even right now You are converting every breakdown into breakthroughs for me and giving me a divine turnaround in every area in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.

John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
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DAILY READING Galatians 2; Jeremiah 48; Psalm 143

The month of August was named after the first Roman Emperor, Augustus.

Emperor Augustus led Rome’s transformation from a republic to a great empire. During his 40-years reign, Augustus nearly doubled the size of the empire, adding territories in Europe and Asia Minor and securing alliances that gave him effective rule from Britain to India. He spent much of his time in consolidating power in the provinces and instituting systems that helped expand Rome.
When Augustus Caesar died in A.D. 14, his reported last words to his subjects were, “I found Rome of clay; I leave it to you of marble.”
He was applauded and celebrated by the people of Rome and his name was enshrined in the 8th month of August because several of his major victories were recorded in this 8th month of the year.

Apart from being associated with the Roman emperor, the word “August” also has meaning and usage in the English language. The word ‘August’ is used to refer to someone having great importance and of the highest social class, marked by majestic dignity or grandeur.
It also means “consecrated” or “venerable’.

From all these we can see that August is a unique month, loaded with so much possibilities and promises.
Indeed the month of August is already foreordained as special, highly esteemed and glorious.
It is a month that will confer majestic dignity on us, as we deliberately tap into the grace embedded in this 8th month.

Spiritually the number 8 represents a new beginning. In the Bible, male children were to be circumcised on the 8th day, marking a new beginning in their lives. The number 8 therefore symbolizes circumcision of the heart through Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

This month therefore will open us up to new dimensions in our relationship with God.
It is certainly, our season of deeper intimacy with the Spirit. And as we begin to seek and worship God in Spirit and in truth, He will begin to do a new thing in our lives.

In this 8th month God will lift us up to new heights as we coperate with His Word and His Spirit.
It is certainly our season of exploits where the power in the Blood of Jesus will address every redundancy in our businesses, finances, career, health, family and relationships.
It is indeed our time to experience divine speed and acceleration..

Therefore on this first day of August, let us tap into the abundant grace available in this unique month.
It is certainly our new day and era to experience our own manifestaion of the prophecy of wonders for this year.
It is surely our gateway month to sudden miracles.
And through the Blood of Jesus we shall not miss the portion that God has ordained for us in this special month.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to press in to all You have ordained for me in this unique new month. Indeed as I push in the place of prayer, I know I have the victory by the Blood in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
To get into the next level of your life, God will always give a specific instruction. – WORDBITE 222

Psalm 46:1-2 ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;’

DAILY READING; Galatians 1; Jeremiah 47-48; Psalm 142

John G. Paton was a Scottish missionary who did a remarkable work among the cannibals on the New Hebrides Islands. However, his work among these natives was constantly filled with danger as he often faced attempts at his life.
One New Year’s night, John Paton was visited by another missionary couple, the Johnstons. That night they spent time in worshiping God. After the worship, the Johnsons retired to their own cabin, which was only a few yards off.
However, few minutes later, Mr. Johnston quickly came back to inform John Paton that two native men with painted faces were standing just outside his window armed with huge clubs.
Going out, John Paton at once confronted these night visitors, and asked them what they wanted.
“Medicine for a sick boy,” they replied. He told them to come in and get it, but their evident unwillingness to come into the light of the room, made him suspect that they had some murderous intention. As he stepped, along with Mr. Johnston, into the house, the two men followed them inside. John Paton quietly brought out the medicine while keeping a watchful eye on the two men.
When he came forward with the medicine, he noticed that instead of taking it, the men tightened their grasp on their clubs.
At that moment Mr. Johnston stooped down to lift a little kitten that was trying to run out of the door. Seizing the opportunity, instantly one of the savages leaped forward and aimed a blow at his head. But Mr. Johnson was able to quickly dodge the blow. As Paton sprang in between his friend and the savages, the two men raised their stone clubs in the air to strike him down.
But Paton’s two dogs that were standing nearby, immediately sprang at the men, furiously clawing at their faces. Though one of the dogs was badly hurt, the murder attempt was foiled, and the two men took to their heels, running out through the door.
Again God’s Presence had delivered Paton and his missionary friends from harm.
Despite the many dangers of preaching the Gospel among these cannibal tribes, through God’s protection, John Paton served for many years in their midst, untill most of them received Christ and their lives became transformed.

Just as John Paton had lived among a savage tribe, looking at the happenings in the world today, it does sometimes feel as if we are living among savages.
We live in a world where a person can be beheaded for simply being a Christian and disheartening reports of savagery fill the news daily. These things indeed reveal the desperate wickedness in the hearts of men. Worrisome also is the fact that some of these perpetrators of evil are people who are freely moving about in the society. Some of them we may even pass on the streets, marketplaces, workplaces and other public places, never knowing the darkness contained in their hearts.

In such a world filled with fears and dangers of every kind, it’s comforting to know that we can always count on God’s protection. As believers we are guaranteed divine security because of God’s Presence.

Psalm 46:1 says ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’

God’s Presence provides a force-field of protection that makes us inaccessible to evil.
As we trust in Him, He encircles, encompasses, covers and shields us with His power.
Knowing that God is with us makes us not to fear no matter the happenings in the world. Indeed God’s Presence ensures no evil survives around us.

Psalm 9:3 says ‘When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.’

Though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall indeed fear no evil, because God is with us.
God’s Presence with Jesus was what made demons to scream at His appearance and also led to the mighty signs and wonders in His ministry.
Acts 10:38 says ‘Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.’

Indeed today, our ability to overcome the forces of evil is ensuring that God is with us. When we carry God’s Presence, evil will see us and flee, because evil can never stand where God abides.
Certainly, God’s Presence is our unbeatable asset in the journey of life.

Having come to the end of July today let us genuinely praise God for His Presence that has kept us and brought us thus far. And as we prepare to enter the new month of August let us endeavor to go even deeper into God’s Presence by committing to spending quality time in studying the Word, prayers, and worship.
Definitely, the time we wait on God is worth the weight because it is our guaranteed seal of divine security in the world today.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to maintain Your Presence through doing those things that please You. Please grant me the grace to study Your Word, to pray and to praise You constantly so that I can be assured of Your divine security at all times in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. WORDBITE 222