Did you know that the Lord has a special plan for every person? God loves all of His people; and He desires for every man, woman, and child to know Him and to enter into His will for their lives. Each person is unique with different things to do in life. Whatever you are called to do, it is important to serve the Lord in your life. This means that whatever you do, you should give glory to God in your heart, be thankful for every blessing, and do what you can to set a good example for others in Christ Jesus.

How do you enter into the Lord’s plan for your life? First, you must know Jesus as your Savior. The Bible says; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). When you accept Jesus into your heart, you take the first step in finding the plan of God for your life. Secondly, you must seek the Lord and be willing to open your heart to the idea of walking in His will for your life. The Bible teaches us to seek the Lord while He may be found and to draw close to Him while He is near to us. Therefore when He knocks on the door of your heart to reveal Himself, and to show you His desire for your life, it is vital to look upward and to be attentive to what He is saying to you.

Thirdly, it is important to accept the Lord’s portion for your life. This means whatever God has for you, you will not only accept it, but also be joyful and honor the Lord in what He gives you. Not every person in life is destined to become a millionaire, a movie star, a wealthy businessman or athlete. Some are, but some are not. This does not mean that what God has for you is less important, nor does it mean that you are less valuable to the Lord.  No matter what the Lord gives you in life, if you use it for His glory, if you are content, and if you give Him thanks He will shine His light upon you and you will stand out for His purposes.

In Matthew 25:14-30 it says;

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What we should take away from this passage of Scripture is the importance of making the most of what the Lord has imparted into our lives. If you have been given one talent from the Lord, don’t bury it, take it and use it for His purposes. If you have been given many talents, double it and maximize what the Lord has imparted into your life. Be a diligent and hard working person, a person of integrity that obeys the Lord and serves God in all that you do. Then, in this, you will please the Lord and He will impart to you even greater. As you are faithful with little, the Lord will increase you with much.

You can start by praying this prayer aloud to the Lord;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I welcome You into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I ask that You would help me to identify the talents You have given to me, and I ask that You would show me Your plan for my life. Help me to use my gifts to bring You glory and to be a good example for others.

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

Love is the greatest commandment the Lord gives us. We are to love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls; and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27). The Bible says; “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Love is a condition of a person’s heart that will come forth through their actions. If love is in a person’s heart then good will come forth from them. If love is not in their heart then wickedness will come forth from them. For example if you love a person in Christ, in the pure way He directs us to in His word, then you will be happy for their successes and achievements the same way you would want them to be happy for you. One of the biggest problems that arises and damages friendships and other relationships in life is when envy and jealousy goes unchecked in a person’s heart. Those who allow this sin to take root in their heart, especially against loved ones with whom they should be the most supportive of, will burn bridges in life and lose out on love. Feelings of envy and jealousy towards other people come from deep-rooted issues in a person’s heart. These issues should be addressed immediately otherwise the feelings of envy and jealousy can end up becoming “a run-away train” in a person’s heart, and end up ruining the person’s opportunities for success in their own life and relationships. If an individual is always focusing on what others have, rather than what they can personally achieve, they will not be properly or effectively building their own life.

The Lord has a plan and a purpose for each person. Knowing who we are in Christ Jesus is the key to discovering that plan and succeeding at it. When we identify our gifts and talents, understand how much the Lord loves us, and learn His plan and purpose for our lives; then there is no need to feel envious, jealous, or resentful over what other people have achieved in life. Life is not a pie where people must scramble and fight to get the biggest piece. This may be what the world teaches us, but this is not what the Word of God declares to us. The Bible says; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). This means that the Lord has a plan for each person; and that plan includes success, safety, and the expectation of a long and enjoyable life. It is up to each person to receive the Lord Jesus into their heart, obey His commandments, and follow the plan of God for their lives. This takes place through surrender and obedience to Christ Jesus on a daily basis. The Bible also shares with us that; “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). This means that if He is working miracles in another person’s life, and bringing forth good for them; He can and will do this for you too, just as long as you give Him access to your heart and life.

To receive something positive in life we must; keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, put forth the effort to attain it, and allow a work of humility and integrity to be done in our hearts. This work will position us to carry the blessings God has for us. Many people want the blessings that the Lord gives without paying the price of obedience and perseverance, which are necessary in order to receive God’s gifts. The Bible teaches that we owe no man but to love them (Romans 13:8). Meaning we must love people. This is our commandment from God. One cannot walk around with an attitude that the world owes them and God owes them. When a person walks out their life with this attitude, they will never take the initiative to serve the Lord, or put forth the work to receive positive accomplishments in life.

We would like to encourage you to examine your heart this day, give access to the Holy Spirit to reveal the attitudes and conditions of your heart that need adjusting, and humble yourself before the Lord in repentance. Ask the Lord to help you to love as He has commanded in His Word. Remember the Lord loves you and He has a plan and purpose for your life. You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I welcome You into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I ask that You would forgive me for envy and jealousy, and I ask that You would show me Your plan for my life. Help me to love as You command in Your Word, and I thank You for Your love towards me.

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

The voice of God can come in many forms. According to the Scriptures God speaks in an audible voice, God speaks through angels, God speaks through dreams and visions, God speaks through prophecy given by a man or woman of God, God speaks through the Word of God, and in several other ways. Many people want to know how to hear God’s voice. They want to be taught the technique, the ritual, or the steps they need to follow in order to achieve this feat.

Some believe that to hear from God one must pray for hours and hours in a ritualistic fashion, or follow a set of religious legalisms in order to accomplish this. Then there are also those who believe that everybody hears from God no matter what they do. Jesus said; “My sheep know My voice, and I know them and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Jesus spoke this to His doubters, the religious leaders of the time, who asked Him if He was the Christ, the Messiah, to which He replied; “I already told you but you did not believe Me because you are not of My sheep.”

God’s Sheep

To Jesus, the Shepherd, we are His sheep. A shepherd always looks out for the best interest of his sheep. He feeds them, protects them, watches over them, and cares for them. Without a shepherd to watch over them, a flock of sheep will get lost, injured, or attacked; but under the watchful eye of a shepherd the flock can be at peace. To become one of Jesus’ sheep we must first know Him, and receive Him into our hearts.

God’s Audible Voice

In the Scriptures we see that God speaks in several ways. First and most unique is His audible voice. God spoke to Moses audibly, as well as to Jesus, and the Apostle Paul. When God revealed Himself to Moses it was through a burning bush experience, where Moses encountered God’s presence and then heard God speak to him (Exodus 3). When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, God the Father spoke audibly and said; “This is My Son in whom I am well pleased (Mark 1:9-11). This happened again at the Mt. of transfiguration in front of Peter, James, & John (Matthew 17:1-7).

The Apostle Paul heard the audible voice of God when he was still Saul of Tarus and a large flash appeared as bright as the sun, and God spoke to him; “Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute Me? It is dangerous and turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the goads” (Acts 26:14 Amplified). In these examples God was speaking to very important spiritual leaders whom He had appointed, called for His purposes, and placed in an office of ministry to lead His people during very important times during biblical and Church history. Though most will never hear from God in this fashion, it does not mean that He won’t speak to you in another way.

God’s Still Small Voice

In the book of 1 Kings Elijah was running for his life from an evil Queen named Jezebel who wanted him dead for serving God and destroying the idol worship in the land. In Chapter 19 verses 11-13 it says; “Then He (God) said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”

In this Scriptural example we see that God was speaking to His servant Elijah in a still small voice. According to the Scriptures God does communicate through whirlwinds (Job 38:1, Psalm 77:18), earthquakes (Exodus 19:18), thunder (1 Samuel 2:10, Job 37:2, Psalm 77:18, Psalm 104:7, John 12:29), and fire (Exodus 3); but in this example God did not speak through the wind, earthquake, or fire; but in a quiet voice within the man of God Himself. The still small voice is another way in which God speaks to mankind. Though this type of encounter with God Almighty might happen more frequently than Him speaking audibly, there is still no guarantee that every man or woman of faith will hear from God in this way.

God’s Servants

Just as God spoke through the prophets of old, He speaks through His servants today. “Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Amp). It is important to hear God’s voice when He is speaking. When God sends you one of His servants, this is Him speaking directly to you.

God’s Word

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Scriptures are there for us to learn about God, His Son Jesus, to teach us God’s commandments and precepts, how He relates to mankind, and to learn how to live a life pleasing to Him. Meditating on God’s Word is an avenue available to every man and woman of the faith to hear from God (Psalm 119:15).

The Holy Spirit

Being led by the Holy Spirit and having fellowship with God’s Spirit is an avenue of communication or communion that every believer has the opportunity to receive, experience, and participate in. The Scriptures state that, “we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). Once we receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can then be lead by the Spirit (Luke 4:1), bear witness in our spirit (Romans 8:16), and discern the grieving of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). When we give the Holy Spirit leadership in our lives, He will lead, guide, and direct us. His leadership and the unconscious guidance He brings will help us stay on the straight and narrow path God has set before us, and we will experience God’s Divine Providence in our lives. “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

We encourage you this day to remember that we serve a living God, who is concerned with every detail of our lives. Obeying the Lord, and ridding yourself of sin is vital if you desire to hear the voice of the Lord in your life. God is often speaking but individuals are too distracted by sin to hear what He is saying. God is an Almighty God who decides what, when, and how He desires to speak to us. Whether that is through His Word, one of His servants, through the still small voice, or through any other form. If we are humble and set ourselves aside He will speak and provide the answers to our many questions and concerns.

Be still this day and know that He is God, and allow Him to reveal Himself to you in the way of His choosing. Jesus loves you and gave His life for you on the cross. Through accepting His sacrifice and receiving His Holy Spirit you can have fellowship with Him, and receive His Divine intervention in your life.

You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I welcome You into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I accept Your sacrifice and profess You as my Lord and Savior. I ask that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and speak to me Your will for my life. I welcome the Holy Spirit to be with me to lead, guide, and direct me. I thank You for these things.

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and we hope you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. In honor of Christmas we would like to share with you the story of Jesus’ birth, “The Christmas Miracle,” the reason we celebrate this special day. In Matthew 1:18-24 it says;

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins.’

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  ’The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

God our Father sent His Son Jesus to be born into the world to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and then rise again. He did this for us all that we might have life and have it more abundantly. It is because of the Lord’s sacrifice that we can be reunited with God our Creator and know Him as our heavenly Father. It is the Lord’s will that each and every person would come to know Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. It is the choice of each individual to call upon His name and receive Him into their hearts.

During this Christmas time and throughout the coming new year remember that Jesus loves you and gave His life for you on the cross. You are precious in His sight and His eye is upon you, watching out for you, guiding you, and desiring that you would come to know Him in a closer way. If you have never prayed the prayer to accept the Lord Jesus into your life, please say these words aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I welcome You into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I accept Your sacrifice and profess You as my Lord and Savior. I ask that You would help me and guide me through every trial and tribulation, and I welcome the Holy Spirit to be with me to lead, guide, and direct me. I thank You for these things.

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

Did you know that when you give thanks to the Lord, and come before Him with a thankful attitude that you move the heart of God? The Bible says in Psalm 100:4 NAS; “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” It is in this spirit that we should come before the Lord and offer our thanksgiving. It is important to stop and think about your life, what is important to you, and what you have to feel grateful for. No matter what you are facing in your life, there is good present. You may not recognize it or see it; but if you look closer and adjust your perspective, you will find it.

A perfect example of this is found in the Scriptures. In Psalm 56: 1-4 NIV it says; “Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— 
in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” King David who spoke these words was said to be a man after God’s own heart. Although David faced many trials and tribulations throughout his life, he never ceased praising God and pouring out his heart to Him. Even while David was in the caves and running from King Saul, who was trying to murder him, he still praised God and gave thanksgiving. In his darkest hour, he looked up to God and trusted Him, giving Him thanks, and believing that He would see him through.

Today and throughout this month, we would like to encourage you to keep trusting God, to keep praising Him, and to never cease loving Him. No matter what you are facing, God is there to see you through. In good times, and in troublesome times remember the Lord. When your day has sorrow, seek Him. When your day has joy, give Him praise. It is in the humility of your praise and thanksgiving towards God that His blessings will be unlocked for your life. The Lord said; “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 NAS.

The Lord knows the trials of your heart and the hardship in your midst. He is calling you to trust Him and to seek Him. Give Him thanks, and open your heart to hear the words that He is speaking to you. He will not let you down. “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, 
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, 
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand” Psalm 95:1-7 NIV.

You can start by praying this prayer of thanks to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I give You thanks and praise for my life and for all the wonderful blessings You have bestowed upon me. I trust You Lord, and I repent for my sins. Forgive me for not coming before You with thanksgiving as I should.  I ask that You would help me to be more thankful, and show me the things in my life I have to be grateful for. I ask that You would deepen my love and thankfulness towards You and others. I love You Lord and I give You praise!

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

Did you know that without faith it is impossible to please God? The Bible teaches us this about faith; “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1. The concept of faith is displayed all throughout the Scriptures. Faith is so important because without it we cannot move forward in our walk with God, and we cannot reach our life’s destiny in Christ.

To have faith does not mean that you will always feel assured in your emotions. It means that no matter what you are facing and no matter how you feel, you choose to continue to walk forward in Christ and trust His hand of intervention in your life. In 1 Peter 1:21 it says; “Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” This means that it is through your belief in Jesus Christ that your faith begins. When you receive Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and Savior you are taking a step of faith. This is where your faith begins, but this is not where it ends. To walk a victorious Christian life your faith must grow as your walk with the Lord grows also.

The importance of faith is displayed in the Scriptures in Matthew 14:22-33. It says;

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd.

After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.

Later that night, He was there alone,  and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said,“why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter was afraid, but when Jesus bid him to come, he obeyed. Once Peter was out on the water, he became doubtful though, taking His eyes off of Jesus and onto his circumstance. It was because of this that he began to sink.

Have there been times in your own life when the Lord has asked you to step out of the boat, and onto the water in faith? Have you obeyed; or have the waves and the storms of life held you back, causing you to take your eyes off of Jesus Christ, placing them onto your circumstance?

The Lord is faithful and His desire is for each person to obey Him and to put their trust in Him, no matter what the circumstances may be. This is not always easy to do, but this is true faith; to obey the Lord in each and everything He asks of you, regardless of how you feel about it. To obey the Lord is faith put into action.

Today, we would like to encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus. No matter what you are facing in your life. The Bible promises us trials. However, there is also a promise of hope, that no matter what may arise in your life the Lord Jesus will be there to pull you out. Just like Jesus did for Peter when he cried out; “Lord, save me!” Put your life in the hands of the Lord, and walk out on the water in faith. Jesus will not let you down. He will see you through, and be your protection in an uncertain world. In this life there is nothing to hold fast to, but when you put your full faith in Jesus Christ you can be assured of Him and His faithfulness in your life.

You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. Forgive me for grieving You Holy Spirit. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Help me to trust You, to walk out on the water, to stay there, and to receive Your blessings in my life. I ask for Your help in all that I do, and I ask for increased faith.

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen

With the uncertainty and difficulties of life being evident, peace is something that everyone desires yet most never receive. True peace is something that can only come from God. It cannot be attained, achieved, earned, or purchased. It must be given to us from the God of peace. In the Old Testament one of the names of the Lord is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). In the New Testament it says that; “He Himself (Jesus Christ) is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).

The Bible teaches us that there is a peace that passes all understanding. It is a peace that can guard our hearts and our minds. In Philippians 4:4-9 it says;

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

From this portion of Scripture we learn that in order for the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds we must first rejoice in the Lord. This means knowing Him, accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, and then rejoicing in Him; Praise Him and thank Him for your life. Through this relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ we can attain a gentle spirit within ourselves, and this gentleness will be the evidence of our relationship with Him, before the people in our lives.

Next we see that when difficulties arise we are not to be anxious about it; but we are to pray to the Lord, making our petition and requests known before Him, and thanking Him in advance by faith for what He is going to do on behalf of our prayers to Him. When we do this; “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Lastly we see that the Apostle Paul is instructing believers in what their actions and thoughts must be in order to have true peace. He teaches that our minds are to be set on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This means putting our focus on things that are good and from God, and not on the things of this world. Then the Apostle Paul says that what we have learned or received or heard from him, or seen in him; we are to put it into practice. Paul was their minister and their spiritual leader; he was their example in Christ Jesus. He was instructing them that they needed to serve Jesus Christ like he did and live a life of purity and integrity like he did; then “the God of peace would be with them” (Philippians 4:9).

Today we encourage you to seek the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, and receive His peace for your life this day. The Lord desires you to walk in peace in your life; and by your obedience to Him, and by keeping His commandments, you can receive this peace. Also, God desires us to put into practice what those He has raised up in our midst, His ministers, have taught us and shown us by their example. If you do this then “the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. Forgive me for not walking in Your ways and keeping Your commandments. Forgive me for not obeying Your ministering servants who You have sent to help lead, guide, and direct me, into Your ways. Help me to live a life of purity and integrity so that I can receive Your peace that passes all understanding, and have You the God of peace be with me all the days of my life.

In Jesus Mighty Name I Pray,

Amen

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). The Lord desires for us to forgive others the same way He forgave us when He hung on the cross. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid the price that we owe God for our disobedience and rebellion against His Spirit. The Bible teaches that our flesh wars against God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Mankind by nature is rebellious against God. This is why people sin. Sin is when an individual disobeys God. When Adam and Even disobeyed God in the garden it brought sin into the world and separated mankind from God. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the ultimate price for our sins, and created an avenue for us to be reconciled with God. The Scripture states that; “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus offered Himself as a sinless sacrifice to God, so that we could be cleansed of our sins to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). God was and is willing to forgive each person for their sins, but in exchange He requires every individual to forgive others. Matthew 6:14-15 says; “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Though forgiving others may seem difficult, in the book of Matthew we see an example of how important forgiveness is. This story helps us to put the difficulty of forgiving others into the proper perspective.

Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)

Forgiveness is so important in your walk with God. It frees you to live a life liberated in Christ, and it moves the heart of God to extend mercy towards you for your own wrongdoing and transgressions before Heaven. Forgiveness is a choice and not one that is always easy. However, as you take a step of faith and obedience to release from your heart the hurt that someone has inflicted upon you it enables you to live a life of greater integrity, humility, and love. It is in forgiving others and seeking forgiveness from those you have wronged and from your Heavenly Father, that you will also begin to forgive yourself as well. It is important for every person to forgive themselves, to forgive others, and to seek forgiveness as well.

Today we encourage you to seek the Lord’s forgiveness and to freely forgive others. The Lord desires your obedience concerning forgiving others of their sins against you, the same way He freely forgives you your sins.

You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I forgive those who have wronged me and I release any un-forgiveness from my heart. I repent for not forgiving others the same way you have forgiven me. I also forgive myself for the wrong I have done, and I ask You Lord to help me to live a more obedient and repented life.

In Jesus Mighty Name I Pray,

Amen

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”(1 Samuel 15:22).

The Lord does not desire for us to live a life of legalism and ritual, but He desires for us to have a daily relationship with Him. The most important aspect of having a relationship with the Lord is obeying His commandments. Jesus said; “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obeying His commandments does not only pertain to the written revelations of the Word of God (Logos) contained in the Scriptures, but the living and spoken Word of God (Rhema) revealed to us directly by the Holy Spirit. When God speaks, He expects us to listen.

The Scriptures are our guide. They give us a framework of Who God is and what He expects from us. Through reading the Bible we learn about God and His precepts and commandments. We learn about Him through the Scriptural accounts of His relationship and interactions with mankind throughout history, and the revelation (Rhema) He spoke to men and women of the faith in times past. Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8); He continues to reveal Himself in, to, and through mankind through His spoken Word today.

Out of the many ways God speaks and reveals Himself to mankind, the main way is through His servants. In the Old Testament, God’s servants were known as priests and prophets. The priest’s main duty was to serve God and minister to Him through animal sacrifices as offerings to the Lord, for the purpose of making intercession for the sins of the people. They were the only ones who could approach the Sanctuary, where God’s presence dwelt, without being struck down. The priests were chosen by God out of the lineage of Levi (one of the twelve sons of Jacob); specifically Aaron, the brother of Moses. The first priests were Aaron and his four sons, with Aaron serving as High Priest (Exodus 28:1). The first-born male descendants of Aaron would become priests for proceeding generations of Israelites and Jews (Exodus 40:15).

The prophets were chosen by God as well. Their calling included: speaking the Lord’s message to the people; anointing kings, priests, and prophets; and proclaiming either God’s blessing or God’s judgment against the nations and over the land. Though God spoke to mankind from the beginning of Creation, and there were most likely other prophets whom He selected from among the people for His purposes, (i.e. Abraham who is called a prophet in Genesis 20:7, and Enoch who prophesied in Jude 1:14) the first and fullest example of someone walking in the prophetic office was Moses. The Lord spoke to Moses face to face and then Moses would reveal the will of God to the Israelites (Exodus 33:11). He spoke God’s Word and God’s Laws to the people, anointed the priests, appointed judges, and led the newly formed nation of Israel out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.

In the New Testament, God’s chosen servants are divided into five distinct offices of ministry. These five offices are; Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher (Ephesians 4:11). Within these offices of ministry are various operations, administrations, and gifts of the Holy Spirit; which God distributes as He chooses, to whom He chooses, for the building up of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). The Apostle builds the Church by bringing together Christian leaders and new believers through a move of the Holy Spirit, to begin a work of Christ within a community. After laying the foundation for that work, they appoint a leader over the newly formed group and go on to their next mission. They are the true missionaries who have signs, wonders, and miracles accompany them when they preach (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Evangelists proselytize, Pastors shepherd the flock of believers, and Teachers teach God’s Word to the Church. The Prophet of today is no different than the prophets of old. They speak God’s Word to the people. They make pronouncements and proclamations as the Holy Spirit gives them utterance. They anoint and launch leaders into their destiny who have been chosen by God for His purposes in both the Church and Secular arenas. Most importantly and because of their close relationship and walk with the Lord, they know what God is going to do before He does it as He reveals it to them (Amos 3:7).

One of the best examples of the importance of obeying God when He speaks through His servants can be found in 1 Samuel 15. In this portion of Scripture we see that God has sent His prophet Samuel to give a message to Saul, King of Israel. God commanded Saul to send his army to attack and totally destroy the Amalekites and not let anything or anyone survive. God was judging the Amalekites through Saul due to their wickedness against Israel. King Saul sent over two hundred thousand troops who attacked and killed all of the Amalekites as God had commanded. However, Saul decided that Agag King of the Amalekites should be spared, as well as the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and everything that was good.

The Lord was angry with Saul because he disobeyed God’s instructions through the prophet. When Samuel the prophet questioned the King about this the King told Samuel; “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

After being confronted by the prophet again the King said; “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
 as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, 
and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.”

King Saul thought he could disobey the Lord and get away with it by giving sacrifices to God. God was requiring the King’s obedience, not a sacrifice. Because of Saul’s sin God rejected him as king and gave the kingdom to another. “Then Samuel said, ‘Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.’ Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

Today we encourage you to seek the Lord and obey His voice. The Lord requires your obedience over sacrifice. Often times in obeying the Lord there will be a sacrifice one has to make. However, it is not the sacrifice itself that pleases God but the obedience of your heart. So obey the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your life this day. You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I desire to know Your will and obey Your voice. Speak to me through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit within my heart, through Your Word, and through Your servants and prophets. I repent for disobeying You Lord, and choose to serve You with my whole heart this day.

In Jesus Mighty Name I Pray,

Amen

One of the most important aspects of the Word of God is giving. The Bible teaches us that we are to give, the importance of our giving, and how to be led by the Holy Spirit in our giving. In 2 Samuel 24:24 the Bible teaches us that we are not to give God that which costs us nothing, but we are to give God our very best. Malachi 3:10 says; “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

When giving of your tithes and offerings it is important to be led by the Holy Spirit. Giving should not be a legalistic ritual. Giving should come from your heart and be presented as a pleasing offering before the Lord. How can you please God through your offerings? To please the Lord in this manner you must give with a repented heart. First clearing your conscience before the Lord by asking Him to forgive you of your sins and wash you clean with His blood. Secondly, it is vital to seek the Lord where you are to give your finances and how much the Lord is requiring you to give. Sowing financially is likened unto sowing seeds into soil just as a farmer does. If a farmer does not sow his seed into good soil he does not receive a good harvest. Likewise, if an individual sows without seeking the Lord first for His guidance on the matter, then they could end up sowing into soil that does not reap them a good harvest. As Christians it is important to obey the Lord in every aspect of our lives including giving.

Giving in obedience to the Holy Spirit is vital. First, through an individual’s financial giving they position themselves to receive a spiritual inheritance in the Gospel. In life there are those who are called to the full time ministry and those who are not called in this way. However, those who are not called still have an important role to play. It is through giving that an individual can be a part of the Gospel that is being preached throughout the world. The Bible says; “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10: 14-15. When an individual gives into God’s Kingdom they are helping to send those who have been called by God to preach the Gospel, and in this there is a great reward.

Secondly, when an individual gives they will receive a blessing from the Lord in their lives in every aspect. The Bible says; “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” Luke 6:38. An example of reaping and sowing is shown in the Scriptures. 1 Kings 17:8-16 says; Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

This woman obeyed the Lord and did what the man of God spoke to her to do. Because she responded in faith and provided for Elijah, the Lord provided for her. She gave all she had and did not hold back from the Lord. She gave her very best and received the reward for her obedience. This day we encourage you to give to the Lord what He is requiring of you. Do not hold back. Step out in faith and obey His voice. It is in this that you will receive His blessings and position your heart for all He has in store for your life. You can start by praying this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I seek You this day regarding my finances and my financial giving. I ask that You would forgive me for in any way not giving as You have commanded me to, and I pray that You would show me the higher way to walk in this matter. I ask for You to speak to my heart, and lead me in my giving. Please fill my heart with the faith I need to obey You.

In Jesus Mighty Name I Pray,

Amen