HORM Devotional

Mark 5:36 “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”

DAILY READING; •  Luke 3:21-38; Ezekiel 42-43; Isaiah 63

In August 2011, many News Headlines carried the story of the dramatic rescue of Dale Ostrander from the Pacific Ocean.

On August 5th, Dale, who was only 12 years old, had gone  with his Church group on a summer outing to the beach, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Washington DC.

The currents were strong that day, and as Dale waded in just a little into the water, the powerful riptide tugged his feet out from under him and swept him away. Dale couldn’t swim and screamed for help. Another 12 year old girl, who was surfing nearby was able to get to him and pulled him on her board. But a powerful wave hit them and knocked them off the board. Though emergency rescuers were able to find the girl,  Dale had disappeared underwater and could not be found.

As Dale’s Church group who were on the beach cried out to God for help, 20 minutes later, the rescuers were able to locate Dale and pulled out his lifeless body from under the chilly ocean waters. When he was brought to the shore, he appeared dead;  he was unconscious, he was not breathing, and had no pulse. But despite this negative outlook, the Church group continued to pray and call unto God. As the rescuers performed CPR, Dale miraculously came back to life. When he was rushed to the hospital, doctors were amazed that he had not only survived drowning for 20 minutes under frigid waters but miraculously too, he had not suffered any brain damage. Throughout the whole ordeal, Dale’s parents, Chad and Kirsten Ostrander remained strong in faith, trusting God even when the situation had seemed hopeless. In their interviews with various Media outlets, Dale’s parents, continually credited God with their son’s miraculous survival. They said from what they had seen so far, they could indeed never place a  limit on what  God can do.

Truly we cannot place a limit on what God can do. Even in situations that seem hopeless God is able to intervene with amazing miracles.

In Mark chapter 5:22, Jairus had gone to call Jesus to come and heal his 12 years old daughter. The case seemed hopeless because the girl was almost dead. To worsen matters, people met Jairus on the road and told him, his daughter was dead. When the news came, immediately Jesus told Jairus, ‘Do not be afraid, only believe.’

In other words, Jesus was telling him that despite how bad the situation may look, if only Jairus would stay in faith, he would see a miracle.

And just like Jairus, if perhaps you are faced with any discouraging situation today, Jesus is saying the same thing to you ’Do not be afraid, only believe’.

Indeed to him that believes nothing is impossible. Though the enemy may  be throwing bad news and organizing discouraging situations, keep on walking with Jesus. You are headed towards your miracle, it is only a matter of time, therefore do not abort your walk of faith.

Learn to starve your fear and feed your faith through meditation in God’s Word. As you  stay in meditation, the Holy Spirit will begin to paint in your mind  the picture of victory through the Scriptures. And as you keep confessing what God has said concerning you, angels will go into action to rearrange and orchestrate events for an eventual manifestation of God’s Word in your life.

When you hold on relentlessly to God’s Word, no matter how dead any situation around you, it will surely bounce back to life. And because the enemy knows he can’t stop the process of your victory, that is why  he tries to get you to stop it yourself by getting you discouraged. Therefore do not listen to those negative thoughts he sends to you. Rather keep your mind filled with God’s Word and keep pressing forward.

No matter how difficult the road, be assured that God is able to see you through. As long as you keep on walking with Jesus you are headed towards your miracle, Truly, the path of the just is as a shining light that shines brighter and brighter. Things can only keep getting better for you. Each day is bringing you closer to your victory. God is watching over you. His promise to you will never fail. His Word will surely come to pass. And truly, as you have put your trust in Him, He will never allow you to be ashamed.

PRAYER: Lord, Please enable me to keep pressing forward on this journey of destiny. No matter what comes my way, by Your grace I will never grow weary or give up. Thank You Lord for the speedy manifestation of my miracle in Jesus Name.

Quote

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

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, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.’

DAILY READING –•            Luke 3:1-20; Ezekiel 40-41; Isaiah 62

One of the most sacred military sites in Israel’s history is called ‘Ammunition Hill.’ The significance of this site goes back to June 6, 1967, when a dramatic incident took place there during Israel’s Six-Day War.

On the night of June 6, 1967, roughly 350 Israeli soldiers accomplished something many thought was impossible. Despite being grossly outnumbered these Israeli soldiers captured a heavily fortified military base in Jordanian-occupied East Jerusalem. When the Israeli forces had arrived for this battle, they were unprepared for the scope of the challenge. They realized too late that they had been given incorrect intelligence report  about the number of Jordanian soldiers in the area. While the report had suggested that the hill was being defended by a single Jordanian platoon, the Jewish soldiers arrived to find that far many more Jordanian soldiers had been hiding in the hill. The misinformation made the Israeli soldiers to find themselves grossly outnumbered by their enemies.

Yet these few Israeli soldiers fought courageously. Though the Jordanians, were fierce fighters, miraculously the outnumbered Jewish soldiers won this battle in the incredible time of just four hours! This victory is accounted as one of the most miraculous incidents of the Six-Day War. In 1987, Ammunition Hill was proclaimed a national memorial site in Israel.

Deuteronomy 28:7 says ‘The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.’

Indeed when God arises for our help, no matter how greater the opposition may appear, our victory will always be assured in the end. We should never limit how God can fight for us. God can save by few or by many. He can raise help for us when we least expect it. As long as we stay in God’s will, we can be sure that He will always take care of the oppositions against us.

God says in Isaiah 54:15 ‘Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.’

Indeed, when God arises for you, every evil gang-up against you will be scattered for your sake. It doesn’t matter that the enemies may seem mightier or that the challenge may seem greater. Though outwardly, you may seem grossly outnumbered, when God is on your side, the majority is on your side.

And one way to get God to take our side and fight our battles, is to engage His Presence through high praises. Praise is what triggers the intervention of the Omnipotent God.

In 2 Chronicles 20, when King Jehoshaphat and the men of Judah began to sing and praise God, He set an ambush against their enemies. God caused their  enemies to begin to fight each other until they were all destroyed. Indeed anytime we turn to high praises, God comes down into the battle arena. And when God steps in, every devil must bow out.

Therefore today, rather than bother yourself about that ‘big’ challenge before you. begin rather to  celebrate the greatness of your God. As you begin to give God worthy praise, He will surely bring down the head of every Goliath standing in your way. .

PRAYER; Lord, today, I hand over my battles to You knowing that You are greater and mightier than whatever comes my way. As I maintain a praise-full lifestyle, I thank You for causing me to triumph always in Jesus Name. .

Quote

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

Psalm 37;1-2 ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’

DAILY READING; • Luke 2:21-52; Ezekiel 38-39; Isaiah 61

Aaron Hills was the first President of Texas Holiness University. He was an experienced educator, a respected author and a successful Holiness evangelist. His book, ‘Dying to Live’, is a collection of the testimonies of people, who had encountered the power of the Holy Spirit. Among these stories is a dramatic tale of the swift judgment that fell upon an atheist who tried to dare the Holy Spirit.
According to the story, an evangelist from Lincoln, Nebraska, named Dr. Powers had a father who was an atheist.. His atheist father even wrote an unpublished book on atheism. But while growing up, Powers and his brother had refused to follow their father’s ways, but rather chose to serve God. Unfortunately, one of their cousins imbibed this atheistic teachings. This cousin delighted in making mockery of Dr. Powers and his brother and by the age of twenty-seven years, he had become so demonized that he felt he could challenge God.
One day in the harvest field, to show his great atheistic daring and his claim that there was no God, he rolled up his sleeves and challenged God to come down. He did that on the first day and nothing happened. However, when he repeated the challenge the next day, daring the Holy Ghost to come down and fight him, suddenly, this man fell down paralyzed from his arms down. They carried him to the house and sent hastily for two doctors, who came and examined him and declared they did not know what was the matter with him; they had never seen anything like it. This man had long, curly hair, and for four days he pulled at it until he had pulled out all the hair. Then on the ninth day of his sickness, just as the sun was going down, he groaned out, ‘O eternity, eternity; how can I endure eternity?’ and then he died.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 says ‘Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil’.

In the world today, there are people who act with gross impudence as if God does not exist. Today, wickedness is on the increase and iniquity is abounding. But while it may sometimes seem as if these people can get away with their lack of fear or reverence for God, we have to understand that we serve the God of vengeance.

In Acts of the Apostles, vengeance was one of the earliest manifestations of the arrival of the Holy Ghost. Ananias and Sapphira fell and died and Elymas the sorcerer also became blind.

Indeed God knows how to swiftly judge the wicked.
However, while it may sometimes seem as if God is slow to anger, is because He gives the wicked room to repent. God has said He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. [Ezekiel 33:11]. And so when the Bible asks us to bless those that curse us and pray for them that despitefully use us, it is to give opportunity for love to work on their hearts. The truth is that some people act wickedly because they are influenced by the forces of darkness and when we react to them in love, shining the light of the Gospel, the demonic hold upon their lives are broken.
However, on the other hand, there are people, who have so willingly given themselves to serve the devil, that no matter what you do, it does not deter their wickedness. These are those, the Bible says, we should give food when they are hungry, because in so doing we are pouring hot coals of fire upon their heads. Their refusal to repent or be changed by our love and kindness, causes their cup of judgment to fill up fast.

Therefore if today, in any way, you find yourself hurt or affected by the unjust dealings of such wicked people, be rest assured that their judgement is coming.

Psalm 37;1-2 says ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’

We must learn to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for His judgment. The Bible says God will revenge all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled. Therefore as we keep our focus on obeying God and His Word, God will indeed arise and fight for us.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for arising for me and fighting my battles. Thank You Lord for victory by the blood of Jesus. I know indeed that by the blood of Jesus I am exempted from every evil 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

John 16:33, “…in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

DAILY READING;   Luke 2:1-20; Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 60

In 1997, Deon Sanders, one of the most gifted athletes in America, drove his car off a cliff in a suicide attempt. Many people couldn’t understand why someone that obviously seemed to have it all, would want to kill himself.
At that time, Deion Sanders popularly called “Prime Time”, was one of the most versatile athletes in the history of sports. He had won two Super Bowls and appeared in a World Series. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had made a lot of money, and even released an album.
Yet, in spite of the wealth, fame, and status, he felt he couldn’t handle the trials and tribulations of life. He felt empty, no peace, no joy and felt it was better to simply die.
Amazingly, after he drove off the cliff, and fell in an almost 40-feet drop, he survived without any significant injuries.
Somehow Deon knew that God was behind his miraculous survival and so began a quest to know God. One day, after he had a talk with a fellow teammate who was a Christian, Deon then went home, got on his knees and gave his life to Christ. From that moment the joy of the Lord filled his heart and his life gained new purpose.
As he continued his sports career, Sanders committed himself to living a faith-first lifestyle. He wrote in his autobiography that loading his heart daily with God’s Word gave him the strength to stand strong in the face of any storm. He said that the Word of God transformed his life and gave him the courage, the wind and the wings to excel in life.

In the world today, many people are afflicted with the contradiction of looking powerful outwardly but being conflicted inwardly. Oftentimes, we don’t know what people really go through behind the scenes. Though outwardly they may seem to have it all, inwardly their lives may be full of turmoil. Just like Deon Sanders when things spin out of control, these people easily throw up their hands and throw in the towel.

The truth is that no one can overcome the struggles of life by their own strength. No matter how rich or powerful a man may seem, life will remain a struggle if Christ is not at the center of it all.
As believers, our anchor in this life is the Word of God. When the winds blow and the storms roar, the only thing that can keep us from falling apart is focus on the Word.
When Peter was walking on the water, focus on Christ kept him from sinking. Likewise, it doesn’t matter what may come against you, when you keep your eyes  on Jesus, you can walk on the water and never fall. Jesus will always be our bridge over troubled waters. He is able to handle whatever comes our way. He holds our lives and our future in His hands. And despite life’s tribulations, through Christ we can always overcome.

In John 16:33, Jesus said, “…in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Indeed through Christ we can weather any storm and overcome any wave that comes at us. Today, globally, there are concerns about the future, finances, health, family, career etc. But even in the midst of the chaos and bleakness in the world, God still reigns supreme and is in control. As long as we can focus on the Word and retain our joy we are destined to always triumph.

Nehemiah 8:10 says ” ‘Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’ .

The joy of the Lord is indeed our strength. Our lives and times are in God’s Hands. He knows our end from the beginning and even right now, He is working all things together for our good. Indeed the good work He started in our lives this year God will surely complete it. Because Christ lives, we can face tomorrow, and through Him we have overcome the world.

PRAYER: Lord  I know that  because You live, I can always face tomorrow. Thank You for the grace to keep praising You in every situation, because I know that indeed all things are working together for my good  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

AUGUST 27; GOD OF SECOND CHANCE..

Psalm 34:6 ‘this poor man cried and The Lord heard him and delivered him out of his troubles.’

DAILY READING ; Luke 1:57-80; Ezekiel 35-36; Isaiah 59

Jemeker Hairston and her husband Daff were once established as Los Angeles’ biggest cocaine dealers and lived an opulent lifestyle. They ruled the tough streets of South Central L.A and the FBI called Jemeker, the “Queen Pin”.
Soon after she gave birth to her son, her husband was shot and killed. Jemeker, then went into hibernation for a while. She later opened an upscale hair company in Hollywood, and while pretending to run a legitimate business, she actually used It as a front for her growing drug business. Eventually when the FBI uncovered her activities, she went on the run for two years.

In 1993, they eventually tracked her down and arrested her when she attended her son’s 6th grade graduation ceremony. The arrest was a wake-up call as she faced being sentenced to life in prison. At this point she turned to God, promising to serve Him, if He would get her out of the mess she was in. Soon she gave her life to Christ and turned a new leaf.
To her surprise when the court ruling came, she received a far lighter sentence than she ever expected. Ideally, she should have gotten a life sentence, but rather she was given 180 months and was released even before serving out her full term in jail.

Today, Jemeker now serves as an evangelical minister at Second Chance Ministries in South Central, Los Angeles. According to Thompson, her ministerial mission is to show others that, through God, they’ll always have a second chance in life. In June 2010, she released the story of her life in a book titled ‘Queen Pin.’

Psalm 34:6 says ‘this poor man cried and The Lord heard him and delivered him out of his troubles.’

We serve the God of a second chance, who prefers to mend rather than to rend. God is a potter who is able to turn that which is marred into something amazing. We have to realize that God is more interested in our rescue than our condemnation. His desire is that we draw closer to Him, so that by His Spirit He can lead us out of every wrong track and give us another chance at greatness.

When Jonah disobeyed God’s first instruction and suffered the consequence of disobedience, God still gave him a second chance.
Jonah 3:2 says ‘Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:
Though Jonah had messed up the first time, God still spoke to him again the second time and gave him another chance. And because Jonah became obedient God used him powerfully.
Indeed when we stop running from God and begin to earnestly obey Him, our lives become the canvas where He paints His incredible glory.
God is patient in giving us second chances—and the good news today is that no matter how desperate or hopeless any situation may seem, it is never too late. God is able to turn things around and give you a change of story. Miracles can still come out of what looks today like a mess.
There is no situation God cannot turn around for you. There is no pit He cannot bring you out from. there is no prison He cannot break you out of. Indeed when God is on your side, everything is possible.
Throughout the Scriptures we saw how God changed people’s names and gave them a change of story. And when God changes a man’s name, He erases the stigma of the past and gives him a fresh start.
No matter where you are, no matter what you have done, no matter where you have wandered,. you can have a fresh start. God can still make miracles out of your mistakes. It doesn’t matter where you have been, what matters is where you are going. You can arise out of every mediocrity and obscurity and move into God’s grand plan for you. But it all starts with your mind because as a man thinks in his heart so is he.
Your change of condition will be a result of your personal decision. The door of destiny is only shut against those who refuse to take a step forward.
It doesn’t matter that what your past may have been or even how mediocre your present situation, there are still greater things ahead. The key to experiencing a change of story is by renewing our minds through God’s Word. Indeed when our heart is filled with the Word, we will begin to see new possibilities, we will have the faith to believe for greater things and we will see amazing manifestations of God’s goodness in our lives.

PRAYER: LORD, I praise You for all Your goodness in my life. I am truly grateful for Your mercy, which has kept me this many years and continues to keep me today. I thank You for continually manifesting Your glory in my life in Jesus name.

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

AUGUST 26; POWER IN THE CROSS

Hebrews 12:2 ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God’

DAILY READING; • Luke 1:26-56; Ezekiel 34; Isaiah 58

In 1967 a young man named Charles Murray who was a student at the University of Cincinnati, was training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high Diver. He had a Christian friend who often spoke to him about Jesus Christ and how He had saved him. Though his friend often tried to persuade him to receive salvation, Charles answer was a firm ‘No!’
However, one day, Charles called his friend and asked where he could find certain verses in the Bible about salvation. This Christian friend quickly, gave him the reference to several passages. That evening, Charles who had special privileges at the University pool facilities, because of his training for the Olympic games, decided to go and practice a few dives between 10:30pm and 11:00pm. It was a clear night and the moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the moon shone bright across the top of the wall in the pool area.

As Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive, at that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture he had read, and the preaching of his Christian friend began to flood his mind. He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. With his outstretched arm, his shadow had formed the shape of a cross. Seeing that shape of the cross, suddenly he felt he could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he knelt on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him.

Just then the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool. Now with the lights on, as Charles looked down from his platform he was shocked to see that the pool was empty! There was no water in it because the pool had been drained earlier for repairs. Charles realized he had almost plummeted to his death, had it not been for the shadow of the cross which had stopped him. That little moment of pausing to pray had saved his life both physically and spiritually!

Indeed like that young man, we have been saved by the power of the cross. Many of us could have taken the leap to destruction, but God in His sovereign mercy and by the power of His grace had delivered us.

Grace is often defined as “the unmerited love and favor of God toward the undeserving.”. Grace is the inexhaustible favor or goodness of God, giving to us what we could not earn, do not deserve, and would never be able to repay. Grace is the face that God wears when He looks at our failures.
Truly where would we be without the Lord’s mercy and loving kindness?

Romans 9:16 says ‘it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’

Indeed we do not deserve God’s grace, love and mercy. In fact, if we received what we deserved, we would receive judgment, damnation and Hell. And yet, God always extends His amazing grace to us because of the cross.
The cross is the place where Law met Grace! Through the cross the grace of God delivered us from the condemnation of the law. The Son of God came down through 42 generations, wrapped himself in flesh, went to the cross and shed His precious Blood to save us. What grace! What blessing! What a great, wonderful, matchless, glorious Savior we serve!

Hebrews 12:2 says ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God’

Looking unto the Jesus is indeed our key to deliverance. Just like focusing on the cross saved that young man from leaping to his death, focusing on Jesus, will deliver us from every destruction.
To survive the many traps and temptations of this age we must keep our focus on the Blood Jesus shed for our deliverance. Indeed when you keep your eyes on the Blood, every demonic plan set against you will be rendered useless. And we keep our gaze on Jesus through focus on God’s Word. The more we meditate on the Word, the more we will walk in the reality and power of the cross, and the more we will continually enjoy God’s grace and mercy.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the salvation, deliverance and healing You purchased for me at the cross. Truly by the power in Your precious Blood, I have the victory in every conflict in Jesus name.

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

DAILY READING; • Luke 1:26-56; Ezekiel 34; Isaiah 58

In 1967 a young man named Charles Murray who was a student at the University of Cincinnati, was training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high Diver. He had a Christian friend named Charles who often spoke to him about Jesus Christ and how He had saved him. Though his friend often tried to persuade him to receive salvation, Charles answer was a firm ‘No!’

However, one day, Charles called his  friend and asked where he could find certain verses in the Bible about salvation. This Christian friend quickly, gave him the reference to several passages. That evening, Charles who had special privileges at the University pool facilities, because of his training for the Olympic games, decided to go and practice a few dives between 10:30pm and 11:00pm. It was a clear night and the moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the moon shone bright across the top of the wall in the pool area.

As Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive, at that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture he had read, and the preaching of his Christian friend  began to flood his mind. He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. With his outstretched arm, his shadow had formed the shape of a cross. Seeing that shape of the cross, suddenly he felt he could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he knelt on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him.

Just then the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool. Now with the lights on, as Charles looked down from his platform what he saw an empty pool! There was no water in it because the pool had been drained earlier for repairs. Charles realised he had almost plummeted to his death, had it not been for the shadow of the cross which had stopped him. That little moment of pausing to pray had saved his life both physically and spiritually!

Indeed like that young man, we have been saved by the power of the cross. Many of us could have taken the leap to destruction, but God in His sovereign mercy and by the power of His grace had delivered us.

Grace is often defined as “the unmerited love and favor of God toward the undeserving.”. Grace is the inexhaustible favor or goodness of God, giving to us what we could not earn, do not deserve, and would never be able to repay. Grace is the face that God wears when He looks at our failures.

Truly where would we be without the Lord’s mercy and loving kindness?  

Romans 9:16 says ‘it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’

Indeed we do not deserve God’s grace, love and mercy. In fact, if we received what we deserved, we would receive judgment, damnation and Hell. And yet, God extends His amazing grace to us because of the cross.

The cross is the place where Law met Grace!  Through the cross the grace of God delivered us from the condemnation of the law. The Son of God came down through 42 generations, wrapped himself in flesh, went to the cross and shed His precious Blood to save us. What grace! What blessing! What a great, wonderful, matchless, glorious Savior we serve!

Hebrews 12:2 says ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God’

Looking unto the Jesus is indeed our way of deliverance from every satanic trap. Just like focusing on the cross saved that young man from leaping to his death, focusing on Jesus, will deliver us from every destruction.

To survive the many traps and temptations of this age we must keep our focus on the Blood Jesus shed for our deliverance.   Indeed when you keep your eyes on the cross every demonic plan set against you will be rendered useless. And we keep our gaze on the cross through focus on God’s Word. The more we meditate on the Word, the more  we will walk in the reality and power of the cross, and the more we will continually enjoy God’s  grace and mercy.

PRAYER:  Lord, I thank You for the salvation, deliverance  and healing You purchased for me at the cross.  Truly by the  power in the precious Blood of Jesus I have the victory in every conflict  in Jesus name.

Quote

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

Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

DAILY READING; Luke 1:1-25; Ezekiel 33; Isaiah 57

Hien Pham was a friend to the great Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias and had served as his interpreter when he ministered in Vietnam in 1971. However after the fall of Vietnam in 1975, Hien was imprisoned by the communist government on accusations of helping Americans. While in jail they continually brainwashed him with a deluge of communist propaganda until he began to cave in to the communist ideology that God did not exist. One day Hien made the decision to stop praying, but on that very day, while carrying out a cleaning chore, he found a piece of a Bible page, in a refuse basket. He hid it and during the night he opened the paper and read these words from Romans, Chapter 8.” ….for I am convinced that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Hien wept as he read it, knowing that God had somehow sent him this most relevant Bible passage.  He then made a decision to remain obedient to God and never give up on his faith no matter the cost.

Soon after this, miraculously Hien was released from prison. Promptly he began to make plans to  secretly escape from Vietnam. He and fifty-three other men began to construct a boat with which to escape. However, few days before their departure, four members of the Vietcong guerilla fighters, knocked on Hien’s door. They said they had heard he was planning an escape, but Hien denied it and  the men left.  Immediately Hien felt disappointed with himself for disobeying God by telling lies. He then promised God to tell the truth if the four men ever returned.  On the departure day, just few hours before they were to set sail, Hien was horrified to see these four men return. They again questioned him about his plans to escape. This time Hien confessed the truth. Then to Hien’s astonishment, the men leaned forward and in hushed tones, asked if they could go with him, they too wanted to escape!

The four men joined the group and they set sail. But while on the high seas, their boat was engulfed by a violent storm. Hien and all the other men would have died, had it not been for the extraordinary sailing ability of those four Vietcong men. That day, Hien learned the great lesson of how important it was to always obey God. Eventually they arrived safely in Thailand, and years later Hien arrived on American soil where today he is a businessman.

It indeed pays to obey God.  Obedience may be costly, but the rewards are priceless. If you come to a cross road  on the journey of destiny, always know that the path of obedience to God is the safest path to follow.  When we venture out, based on what God has told us, though the risk may be high, the fact that we obeyed, commits God to our deliverance. Indeed  God’s instructions delivers from destructions. And you can never fall standing on God’s Word. Indeed God’s secret agenda for our advancement  and  lifting is always obedience to His Word.

Deuteronomy 28:1 says ‘And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth’

Every act of obedience  is passing the test that results in our change of level. Obedience never brings you down, rather it takes you up and leads you to good success.

Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Through meditation in God’s Word, our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit to scale great heights in life.  Obedience is always the story behind the glory. All the giants of faith who succeeded in life, were ordinary  men, made extraordinary by  obedience to God. Some of the instructions God gave Abraham appeared too dangerous but he kept obeying God and it was counted as righteousness for him and he became a friend of God. God’s instructions are never grievous, rather they groom us. And indeed when we are willing and obedient, surely we shall eat the good of the land.

PRAYER: lord, I thank You for granting me the grace to always walk in Obedience to Your every instruction. Thank You Lord, for enabling me to continuously meditate on Your Word so that I can be prosperous and  have good success  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.

Romans 8:29 ‘For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren’

DAILY READING; Colossians 3:18-4:18; Ezekiel 31-32; Isaiah 56

One of the amazing sights found in Japan are watermelons that have square-shapes instead of the normal round shape. These square-shaped watermelons are grown by Japanese farmers and sold in many of their shops.

Production of these watermelons began after the unique shape was first discovered by graphic designer Tomoyuki Ono in 1978. These square watermelons originated as a direct response to limited refrigerator space. Because full-sized round watermelons often took up a lot of room in the refrigerator, Japanese farmers then saw a lot of sense in forcing their watermelons to grow into square shapes, so as to enable them manage the space better.

The square shape was achieved by uprooting baby watermelons and placing them inside boxes and allowing them to grow and form into the shape of the boxes. They are left in these cube-shaped plastic boxes for around 10 days until they have grown to acquire the square shape of the box. However, these watermelons end up becoming inedible because they must be harvested before they are ripe, and placed in the square containers. And so they turn out to be used more for decoration and gifts items, rather than to be eaten as fruits.

Japanese farmers also export these square shaped melon around the world mostly for ornamental purposes. They are often very expensive, with prices as high as $200 and in places like Russia their prices sometimes go up as high as $800.  Apart from the square shapes now other shapes have also been introduced and there are now watermelons grown in the shapes of  hearts and pyramids.

It’s indeed interesting to note how these watermelons which by nature are round- shaped can be fitted into a mold and forced to grow into unnatural shapes.  Leaving their natural shape, they now take the shape of the container in which they are grown in.

In the same way that is how the world tries to exert its influence on us and attempts to fit us into its mold. The world constantly tries to pressure us to conform to its way of thinking and living. Today we have TV, movies, internet, email, instagram, facebook, twitter, snapchat Youtube, Whatsapp, etc bombarding us daily with the world’s mode of information.

And whether we like it or not we are being changed by the kind of media we are constantly being exposed to.  The question however is; how are we  being changed? Are we being conformed to the world around us or are we being transformed by God’s Word?

Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”.”

Whatever influence we are constantly exposed to becomes the mold that shapes us. The kind of media that we are constantly steeped in, will shape our thinking and our views.  Worldliness is like gravity, it is always there, always exerting its influence.  Daily it bombards us with words and images that try to desensitize us to sin. As believers we must constantly keep guard over our minds, because the conforming power of the world comes in a subtle form.  It happens so slowly that you might not even notice some of the changes as they take place. If you are not careful,  slowly and gradually, you may find yourself being squeezed into a mold, and conformed into the world’s shape.

Therefore  we cannot remain passive, but must actively resist the world’s  attempt to force us into its mold, by aggressively pursuing God’s Word.

We have been called and foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ [Romans 8:29]. We are called to be different and stand out and not to fit into the world’s mold.  However, transformation starts in the mind. This is why it is important that we form a daily habit of constantly meditating on God’s Word. The more we fill our minds and hearts with the Word, the more we will be molded  into the image of Christ and the more we will continually manifest the glory of God.

PRAYER: Father I thank You for enabling me to constantly resist the influence of the world.  Thank You Lord for the grace to constantly meditate on Your Word so that I can be conformed daily to the image of Christ in Jesus’ Name.

Quote :

The treasures of God are never on the shallow end, but are always buried in the depth of God’s Word. It takes a personal discovery to get there. – WORDBITE 222.

Romans 8: 28  –“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

DAILY READING; • Colossians 2:20-3:17; Ezekiel 29-30; Isaiah 55

Newfoundland is a large island off the east coast of the North American mainland. It is the world’s 16th-largest island and Canada’s fourth-largest island. Some years ago a fishing fleet went out from a small harbor on the east coast of Newfoundland, and got caught in a large furious storm. This storm raged till the evening and when night came the shipping fleet had still not returned. All night long as the wind blew and thunder blasted, the families of these fishermen labored in prayers for their loved ones out in the storm. They called on God over and over to intervene and bring the men home safely. Then to add to the horror of the night, one of the houses of these missing fishermen caught fire and burned  to the ground.

When morning came, to the joy of all who labored in prayer, the fishing fleet returned safely to their harbor and all the men were safe. Yet, in the joy filled crowd there was one sad face; it was the wife of the man whose house had burned to the ground in the night. Meeting her husband as he came ashore she rejoiced that he was alive but cried out in anguish, telling him about their burnt house. But the man looked at her with excitement and exclaimed, “Thank God for the fire” Then all the men around said the same. The men then went on to say that it was the light of the burning house that guided them through the dark night and enabled them to navigate safely back to their port.

Truly, what sometimes seems like a disappointment could actually be God organizing a rescue or arranging a blessing. God superintends our lives so that even seemingly bad things work out for the good of those who trust in Him. Indeed when we have a relationship with God and are walking in His will, we can trust He works behind the scenes to turn things around to our favor.

No matter how things may initially look, God ‘s grace  always overturns what was meant for evil to eventually turn to our advantage.  When you are a child of God you can be sure that disappointments will only end up to become divine appointments for you. However how we respond to disappointing situations will determine whether or not we  experience God’s grace. Renewing our minds through God’s Word enables us to trust in Him during tough times and see our situation through the eyes of faith.

If you are faced with disappointment, instead of complaining always believe God’s promise that “All things work together for good to them who love God; to them who are called according to His purpose.”  The truth is that though we may not always be able to trace the hand of God, we can always trust the heart of God.

God knows what He’s doing. While we may be limited in our knowledge and information about the circumstances that surround failed expectations, God sees the big picture and He alone knows the secrets of men’s hearts, and motives. Therefore don’t ever make the critical mistake of thinking that God let you down or didn’t answer your prayer. Rather in all things trust that God’s thoughts towards you are thoughts of peace, never of evil to give you an expected end.

Proverbs 3:5-6  says  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

No matter what you may be faced with today, understand that God is your only hope and your last ‘bus stop’. God is always good to those that trust in Him. And as we continue to bless Him at all times and in everything, He will surely turn every disappointment into a blessing for us.

PRAYER; Lord,  I thank  You for turning every disappointment into a blessing in my life. Please help me to remain ever grateful and thankful in every situation, because I know that even right now You are causing all things to work  together for my good in Jesus name.

Quote

When God is on your side anything is possible. WORDBITE 222

Ephesians 3:16  ‘That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;,’

DAILY READING •   Colossians 1:24-2:19; Ezekiel 27-28; Isaiah 54

A popular story says that when Leonardo da Vinci was painting his masterpiece, ‘The Last Supper,’ he selected as the person to sit for the character of the Christ a young man named Pietri Bandinelli. He was a chorister with the Milan Cathedral and seemed to Da Vinci a picture of how Jesus must have looked. He had the features of love, tenderness, caring, innocence, compassion, and kindness. And so Da Vinci engaged Pietri Bandinelli, to sit as his model for the Lord.

But Da Vinci had to suspend the painting because he could not find the right person that he could use as the model for Judas. He was looking for a man whose face was streaked with despair, wickedness, greed and sin. Ten years after starting the picture, he finally found a man in prison whose face wore all the qualities of Judas for which he had been searching. Consent was given for the prisoner to pose, and he sat as the model for Judas.

Leonardo worked feverishly for days. But as the work went on, he noticed certain restlessness in the prisoner. His face seemed filled with tension, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with horror as he gaped at the likeness of himself being painted on the canvas. One day, Leonardo sensed the man’s uneasiness so greatly that he stopped painting and asked,“What seems to trouble you so much?”

The man buried his face in his hands and was convulsed with sobs. After a long time, he raised his head and inquired, “Don’t you remember me?’ Years ago I was your model for the Lord, Jesus.”

Unbelievably, Pietri Bandinelli had drastically changed. In the past ten years, having turned his back on Christ and turned his life over to sin and the world, he had been sucked down to the lowest levels of degradation. He no longer loved the things he had loved before. And those things that he at one time hated and despised, now he loved. Where once there was love, now there was misery and hate; where once there was hope, now there was despair; where once there was light, now there was darkness.

It was indeed amazing that this man that started out as a picture of goodness, ended up  as a picture of wickedness. It may seem inconceivable how such a drastic change could have taken place, but that is what can happen if sin is allowed to run rampage.

As believers, the important thing is not really about how we start but about how we finish. The moment we give our lives to Christ we begin the most important race of our life. Though we may start well, as the race progresses, we often face hurdles of temptations and a constant struggle with sin. And the most continual aggressive enemy of the believer is the “sinful nature” or the “flesh.”

No matter how much a man desires to be good, until he overcomes this sinful flesh nature, he may find himself doing the things that he hates.

This is what Paul described in Romans 7:21-23 “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ‘

Here Apostle Paul recognizes the battle of the sinful nature within him, and this is the same battle every believer must overcome. It is either you are going to control the flesh or the flesh will control you. And the way to control the flesh is by being strengthened by the Spirit of God in our inner man.

Ephesians 3:16 says ‘That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;,’

Strength and power to overcome sin is imparted into our inner man through the Spirit, when we study God’s Word. Roman 12:2 talks about our need to renew our minds.. Before we accepted Christ our minds were conformed to the world around us and sin had dominion over us, but when we became born again our worldly mindset is replaced with the mind of Christ. And as we feed this new mindset through the Word of God, we receive the  power to overcome the world and live a life of victory and dominion that constantly pleases God.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to pay the required price to study Your Word and be empowered by Your Spirit so that I can overcome the sinful nature of the flesh and walk in victory.  Truly by Your Anointing every yoke of sin in my life is broken today in Jesus Name

Quote

When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.