Shalom,

Today we read half of Psalm 119 and tomorrow we will read the other half! I will share a few verses here, but then I challenge YOU to read through these verses and find the Word of God in every verse!

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will).
2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart.
3 Yes, they do no unrighteousness [no willful wandering from His precepts]; they walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded us to keep Your precepts, that we should observe them diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed and established to observe Your statutes [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]!
6 Then shall I not be put to shame [by failing to inherit Your promises] when I have respect to all Your commandments.
7 I will praise and give thanks to You with uprightness of heart when I learn [by sanctified experiences] Your righteous judgments [Your decisions against and punishments for particular lines of thought and conduct].

Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's daily devotional from Jerry Savelle Ministries!

Your Righteous Nature

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

Jesus didn’t come to help you overcome your sinful nature; He came to completely do away with it. That’s why the Bible says, “Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6 NKJV).

Jesus took away all of your unrighteousness and gave you His righteousness—His own right standing with God. He did away with your old sinful nature and gave you His righteous nature.

You cannot be partly righteous and partly unrighteous; you don’t have to struggle with a split personality. You are a new creation: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).

Your old sinful nature is a thing of the past. The work Jesus did at the cross made you a new person, one who is in right standing with God. You now have a righteous nature—His nature—abiding within you.

Once you see yourself as God sees you—as the completely righteous person you are—your righteous nature will begin to manifest. You’ll start to think and act like a righteous person. You’ll be able to freely declare, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!”

After all, it’s your righteous nature.

Confession: Thank You, Jesus, for completely removing my old sinful nature and giving me your own righteous nature. I walk by faith in the fact that I am now righteous, and I believe my righteous nature is going to manifest from the inside out today.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is today's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin!

A Better Covenant

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. — HEBREWS 8:6

All through the Old Testament, we find men who understood and took their place in the covenant. Joshua could open the River Jordan. He could command time to stand still. Elijah could bring fire out of Heaven to consume not only the sacrifice, but the altar as well. David’s mighty men were utterly shielded from death in time of war as long as they remembered the covenant. When you read about them, you think you’re reading about “supermen.”

Nearly all the prayers in the Old Testament were prayed by covenant men. Those prayers had to be answered.

The believer today has the same covenant rights as believers who lived under the Old Covenant. In fact, we have a better covenant established upon better promises. Therefore, we ought to be able to do all that they did and more, because we have a New Covenant, a better covenant — established on greater promises.

Confession: Through Jesus, I have a covenant with God. It is a better covenant, based on better promises. I have better covenant rights than Abraham, Joshua, Elijah, and David had. I take my place as a New Testament believer in prayer. My prayers have to be answered.

Here is a song that I really love by Brandon Lake called "Plans" because HIS are ALWAYS BEST!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional!

The Roaring Lion

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Isn’t it interesting in the above passage that the devil has to seek out those whom he may devour? This means that he can’t devour everyone. Don’t surrender your authority to him and be found among those whom he can devour! Also, did you notice that he roams about like, or as, “a roaring lion”?

I asked the Lord why the devil goes about as a roaring lion and not some other creature. He led me to Proverbs 19:12, which says, “The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion”.

The devil is an imposter who goes about as a roaring lion because he is imitating the King of kings, our Lord Jesus, the real lion of Judah. He wants people to think that our King is full of wrath, anger, and rage against us. He comes at us roaring with the voice of condemnation, accusation, and shame.

Satan wants you to have the impression that you have failed God, and that He is not only disappointed with you, but is also downright furious with you. Now, if you believe that about God, would you be taking refuge under the shelter of His wings? Would you be taking your rightful place of authority, power, and strength? Of course not. In fact, you will flee from God!

Believers who are under a cloud of condemnation won’t pray the prayer of protection. They feel unworthy of God’s promises and, in fact, are expecting punishment and judgment from God.

That is exactly where the devil wants you to be. When you run away from God, you are running straight into the devil’s snare. You abdicate your place of authority when you abdicate your place of intimacy with God.

Beloved, you need to know this: You are loved. God is not mad at you. In Christ, you can have the confident assurance that you are forgiven, loved, and righteous (Ephesians 1:7, Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Lord Jesus has taken all your punishment at the cross so that today, you can enjoy His undeserved, unearned, and unmerited favor. God sees you in Christ, who is completely spotless and without blame.

Based on our own deeds, none of us qualify for His protection. But because of what our Lord Jesus has done for us on the cross, we can all come boldly to His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Because of what He has done, we qualify to dwell in the secret place with the King of kings, where the phony “roaring lion” has no power over us!

AMEN! This TRUTH is SO powerful and SO important for YOU to KNOW! John 8:31-32 tells us THIS:

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

GET FREE! STAY FREE! Give the WORD first place in your life! Here is Tauren Wells with "Take It All Back":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional!

Limiting God

Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. . . . . — PSALM 78:41

Can you limit God? The Bible says Israel did. And we have limited Him.
We have limited God with our prayer life.

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, said, “It seems God is limited by
our prayer life. He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks
Him to do it.”

Why is that?

God made the world and the fullness thereof. Then God made man and
gave him dominion over all the works of His hands. Adam was made
the god of this world. However, Adam committed high treason and sold
out to Satan. Then Satan became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).

God didn’t just move in and destroy Satan. If He had, Satan could have
accused God of doing the same thing he had done. But God devised a
plan of salvation. And He sent His Son, whom Satan could not and did
not touch, to consummate that plan. Through Jesus, God redeemed
mankind!

Now authority has been restored to us through Jesus Christ — and
when we ask God, then He can and will move. That is why it seems He
can do nothing unless someone asks Him to do it.

Confession: I take my place in prayer. I join forces with my Father in carrying out His will upon the earth!

AMEN! Learn to LIVE in the WORD of GOD! Everything yo will ever need is found there! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional from Jerry Savelle Ministries is SO good!

God Is On Your Side

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

There are a lot of Christians who are not convinced that God is for them. They mistakenly think God is somehow partly to blame for the bad things that happen to them (never mind their poor choices and decisions).

How would you like to be commander-in-chief of an army where half of your troops don’t even know who the enemy is? They’ve got their weapons pointed towards headquarters, blaming you for all of their problems. As ridiculous as this sounds, it’s a pretty good description of God’s army. I’ve had people tell me about a particular trial they are facing and then ask, “Why did God let this happen to me?” They don’t realize that God is not against them—He is for them!

Jesus made it clear who our enemy is when He said, “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV) and “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 NKJV). He went on in the same verse to say, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

It is the devil who comes to steal from you and to try to destroy you. God is a good God; everything He does is for your good and for your benefit. He will never ever cause a harmful situation in your life to prove something to you or to teach you something. You are so loved by God that He is willing to give you freely all things to enjoy.

God is on your side!

Confession: Father, I believe You are for me and not against me. I thank You that You are a good God who loves to freely give me all things.

HALLELUJAH! You NEVER have to doubt how GOD sees YOU! Here is Brandon Lake with "Plans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Daily Grace Inpsirations" devotional by Joseph Prince is invaluable for you today!

All Your Needs Supplied

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

A well-known picture of God as our Shepherd and healer is articulated in the beautiful Psalm 23. It was written by David, a shepherd who saw the Lord as his Shepherd. Take a moment and read the psalm for yourself in your Bible.

When you see the Lord as your Shepherd, you will not lack, and that includes not lacking for health. Whatever needs you have, you will not lack because your Good Shepherd provides.

You don’t have to run yourself ragged trying to take care of everything and live as though you have no God. Whatever medical condition you are faced with, stay close to the Shepherd and allow Him to provide for you.

And did you notice the first thing the Shepherd does? The psalmist wrote, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2).

When you allow Him to be your Good Shepherd, He will bring you to green pastures and make you lie down. You can rest, for He will provide for you. He will lead you beside still waters where you can drink and be refreshed. The Hebrew word for “still” is manuka, which means “rest.” He wants you in a place of resting in the victory He has already won at the cross.

It is not by coincidence that many of Jesus’ healing miracles took place on the Sabbath. He healed a man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:10–13), a woman bowed down for eighteen years (Luke 13:10–13), a man with dropsy (Luke 14:2–4), and another man with a thirty-eight-year infirmity at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:2–9), all on the Sabbath.

God told His people to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest (Exodus 20:8–11). When we rest, God works; when we work, God rests. I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford not to have God working in every area in my life!

Maybe you or your loved ones have been dealing with a chronic condition. Allow me to explain that “rest” doesn’t mean you don’t do what your doctors have advised or don’t carry out the physiotherapy exercises prescribed to you, and you simply sit at home in denial. Rest is not inactivity; it is Spirit-directed activity where you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in what to do, and you do it without worrying because you know He is in control.

Do you want to know the result of allowing the Lord to give us rest?

Let me show you what King Solomon said:

But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.

Don’t you love that? I pray that you will experience that in Jesus’ name—to come to a place where there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence in your life. Amen! —1 Kings 5:4

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs!"

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional!

Blinded

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. — 2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4

No man in his right mind would speed down the highway at one hundred miles an hour past flashing red lights and signs that said, “Danger! Danger! Bridge Out!” But a man who was drunk or on drugs would.

Likewise, no man in his right mind would go through life and plunge off into eternity and hell, lost. But people do it. Why? Because the devil has them doped and blinded.

In the case of my Brother Dub’s salvation, I realized it was the devil who had bound Dub and was keeping him from being saved. So I said, “Satan, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I break your power over my brother Dub’s life, and I claim his deliverance and salvation.”

We do not have control over human wills, but we do have control over evil spirits that bind and blind men. I’m convinced this is an area we’re going to know more about and take advantage of in the future.

Confession: The god of this world will not blind the eyes of my loved ones, because I will take the Name of Jesus and break his power over them!

AMEN! Be FIRM in your stance on the WORD of GOD and HIS plans and purposes for YOUR LIFE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Plans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Andrew Womach's devotional!

Love And Trust

Matthew 9:18, 'While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.'

Jesus could have healed this girl by His spoken word, but He did as He was requested to do. This illustrates how the Lord ministers to us according to our faith. Jesus ministered to him at the level where his faith was and didn't rebuke his little faith (James 1:5).

There is a human faith which is limited to believing only what we can perceive through our five senses. But the supernatural, God kind of faith goes beyond what we can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel. God's kind of faith calls those things which be not as though they already were.

We exercise faith almost daily in such things as sitting on a chair and driving a car. But our faith is no better than the object in which it is placed. If I were to sit in a chair made of cardboard, I would go crashing to the ground. Regardless of how much faith I had, my faith would fall flat because the object of my faith was faulty. Hebrews 12:2, tells us that we are to be 'looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.' We must transfer our faith from human self reliance and independence, to reliance upon, adherence to, and trust upon Jesus Christ in all areas of our lives. Faith, in its simplest definition, is to trust, to rely, and to depend upon the resource of another. God's Word declares that the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, can never fail or disappoint us.

Love produces faith, or is what makes faith work. We naturally trust those who we know truly love us. A revelation of God's unconditional love for us will make faith just naturally abound in us. Are you struggling with faith? You have a deficiency in understanding how much God loves you. Let Him reveal His love to you today.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is today's "Daily Grace Inpirations" devotional by Joseph Prince!

Come to Jesus Just As You Are

Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven. . . .Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Come to Jesus Just As You Are

Imagine this: you are about to enter into a time of worship in church and as the leader gives the invitation, he asks you and all the other believers to first search your hearts for any sin that would keep you from the Lord’s presence. Tell me, what happens to your heart when you begin to search for sin? And what happens to your worship?

One of the things that I was taught during my formative years as a Christian was that I had to search my heart for sin before I could worship the Lord. Each time I did so, I felt as though I was entering a dark and dingy storeroom full of cobwebs. I pictured myself peering around and searching for all my sins with a little torchlight. Been there? And the more I searched, the more I found and the more I felt unworthy to enter God’s holy presence.

So instead of being more conscious of the beauty and love of my Savior, I became more and more conscious of my sins, uncleanness, and guilt. Initially, my hands would be raised and I would be all ready to praise and worship God. But the more I searched my heart for sin, the more my hands would hang down with dejection.

How could I worship God? How could I have the courage and audacity to enter His courts with praise?

As I grew and matured in the things of God, I realized that the idea that you had to be “right” before you could worship Jesus is man’s tradition. For instance, the woman in Luke 7, who came to Jesus with an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, simply fell at His feet and worshiped Him. She washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair before anointing them with the oil.

The Bible clearly records that the woman was a sinner, and many believe that she was a prostitute, but it says nothing about her stopping to search her heart or confess her sins before she worshiped Jesus. She worshiped Him just as she was, and after that, Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

I believe that the devil has tried to rob us of this tremendous truth. Whatever your need is, whether you are mired in debt, trapped in a particular sin, or fearful for your future, come to Jesus.

He is your Savior. He is your healer. He is your provider. He is your peace. He is your forgiveness. He is your “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), which means that He is the great “I AM” for whatever you need Him to be in your situation.

Whatever lack you may be facing right now, He loves you and He is your solution. Come and worship Him just as you are, and He will meet you at your point of need. You don’t have to worry about the mistakes you have made because you are worshiping your forgiver. You don’t have to worry about your sickness because you are worshiping your healer. If believers really knew this truth, even wild horses would not be able to stop them from coming to worship God!

Beloved, come and worship with the boldness and confidence that this woman did. You will hear Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another great lesson for walking in God's very best!

Taking Your Place

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. — COLOSSIANS 3:1-2

The elevation of the believer to be seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father took place potentially at the resurrection (Ephesians 2:5-6). Meditate on this passage until it becomes real to you. Remember, every heavenly blessing is yours (Ephesians 1:3). But you have to take your place there to enjoy them. The believer whose eyes have been opened to his throne rights in Christ may: (1) Accept his seat, and (2) Begin to exercise the spiritual authority that seating confers on him.

The devil bitterly resents our entrance into his domain. He has been used to exercising authority and ruling over someone’s life, so he will concentrate his forces against us when we come into these mighty truths. And no truth encounters such opposition as the truth of the authority of the believer!

The only place of safety is to be seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion. If the believer abides steadfastly, by faith, in this place, he cannot be touched by the enemy. So take your seat in heavenly places and keep it!

Confession: I set my affection on heavenly facts. I keep myself mindful that I am seated with Christ in heavenly places far above the enemy!

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 108 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I rally LOVE verses 1-5!

A song. A Psalm of David.
1 O God, my heart is fixed (steadfast, in the confidence of faith); I will sing, yes, I will sing praises, even with my glory [all the faculties and powers of one created in Your image]!
2 Awake, harp and lyre; I myself will wake very early—I will waken the dawn!
3 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; and I will sing praises unto You among the nations.
4 For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great and high as the heavens! Your truth and faithfulness reach to the skies!
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth.

HALLELUJAH! There is NEVER a time when it is wrong to PRAISE HIM! HE IS WORTHY! ALWAYS and FOREVER! Give Him YOUR praise now and see how it changes your life! Here is Brandon Lake with "That's Who I Praise":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am sharing again from Jerry Savelle Ministries devotional!

You Are Hand-picked by God

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. Ephesians 1:4 AMPC

Did you know you were chosen by God before He even laid the foundation of the world? What’s more, He chose you because He loved you. When you know you’ve been chosen, it makes you feel special.

The Apostle Paul also uses the word elect when he speaks of being chosen. We are the elect of God. Do you know what it means to be the elect of God? It means “hand-picked by God.”

Once you fully understand what Paul is saying, you’ll find it easy to walk in your true identity. You’ll begin to think, “I’m chosen by God. Of course He will heal me. Of course He will give me victory. I’m hand-picked by God, and I’ve been set apart for Him.”

God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you” (Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV). Knowing this gives you great confidence that God is going to see you through, no matter what you may be facing today. After all, you’ve been hand-picked by God.

Confession: Thank You, Father, for choosing me before I was ever born, before the foundation of the world. Thank You for setting me apart and making me blameless in Your sight. You hand-picked me because You loved me.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Coat Of Many Colors":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional! We have been going through these daily after Morning Prayer! I have been SO blessed by them! 

The Agent: God

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. . . . Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him . . . . — COLOSSIANS 2:10, 12-13

Notice the expression “through the faith of the operation of God.” Jesus was quickened (made alive) by the faith of the operation of God — and we were made alive at the same time. It was God who raised Jesus from the dead. It was God who gave Jesus a Name above every name. It was God who blotted out “the handwriting of ordinances” against us, took it out of the way, and nailed it to His Cross (Colossians 2:14). It was God who stripped the powers of darkness of their authority and handed it to the Son (Colossians 2:15). And it was God who quickened us “together with Him.”

In the mind of God, legally speaking, it was when Jesus was quickened and made alive, that we were recreated. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus . . .” (Ephesians 2:10). This fact of our re-creation becomes a vital reality in our lives when we are individually born again (made new creatures).

Raised with Christ! Quickened with Him! Seated with Him (Ephesisna 2:4-6)!

Confession: Through the faith of the operation of God, I was quickened together with Christ and was seated with Him in heavenly places.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake and William Benjamin Hastings with "More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional!

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:5-6

There is nothing–absolutely nothing–that is more important than learning to love. In fact, how accurately you perfect the love walk will determine how much of the perfect will of God you accomplish. That’s because every other spiritual force derives its action from love. For example, the Bible teaches us that faith works by love. And answered prayer is almost an impossibility when a believer steps outside of love and refuses to forgive or is in strife with his brother.

Without love, your giving will not work. Tongues and prophecy will not work. Faith fails and knowledge is unfruitful. All the truths that you have learned from God’s Word work by love. They will profit you nothing unless you live the love of God.

First Corinthians 13:4-8 paints a perfect picture of how love behaves. It’s patient and kind. It’s not jealous or proud. It doesn’t behave rudely or selfishly and it isn’t touchy. Love “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? But don’t despair. You are a love creature. God has re-created your spirit in the image of love. And He has sent His love Spirit to live in you and teach you how to love as He loves. You can live the love life. Begin today.

AMEN! DARE to TRUST the ONE Who LOVES YOU MOST! Here is Brandon Lake with "Gratitude":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek":

Has anyone Ever Spit In Your FACE?

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him.… — Matthew 26:67

Some years ago, I visited another church in our city to hear a special speaker who had come from afar. That evening at the meeting, the local church I was visiting announced they would be starting a building program. As I sat in there, God’s Spirit spoke to my heart and instructed me to sow a sacrificial seed into their new building program. It was a time when we desperately needed money for our own building program, so anything I sowed would be sacrificial. However, the amount the Lord put in my heart was significant.

What made it even harder for me to give this gift was that this church had acted maliciously toward our church in the past. They had lied about us, scoffed at us, and even prayed for our downfall. And now the Lord was telling me to sow a large gift into this same church?

Throughout that entire service, I argued with the Lord. The issue really wasn’t the money, although we could have used the money ourselves at that moment. The issue I was wrestling with was giving a gift to this church that had treated us with contempt for so long.

Finally, the Spirit of God asked me, Are you willing to sow a seed for peace with this church? That clinched it! I pulled my checkbook out of my pocket to write what I considered to be a sizable gift for this other church. Writing that check was difficult, but once it was written, my heart simply flooded with joy because I had been obedient. There is no joy to compare with the joy that comes from being obedient!

One week later, the pastor to whom I gave the gift was at a meeting with his staff and church leaders. The pastor told his leaders, “Look at this puny little check Pastor Rick gave us! Couldn’t he have done any better than this?” When I heard how he viewed the sizable gift I’d given, I was quite shocked. But when I heard what this pastor did next, I was literally stunned. He devoted the next part of his staff meeting to discussing all the things he didn’t like about me and our church. He poked fun at us, ridiculed us, mocked us, and put us down in front of his people. Instead of being thankful for the gift we gave, he once more demonstrated utter disrespect and contempt for us.

When I heard about this event, it hurt so badly that it cut deep into my heart. How could anyone say the gift we gave was puny? It would be considered significant in any nation of the world. But what hurt the most was that the pastor had put us down and publicly made fun of us in front of his staff and leadership. I remember feeling as if I had been spit on — and as the years passed, this same pastor spit on us many more times.

For instance, when we dedicated our church building — the first church to be built in sixty years in our city — it was a moment of great rejoicing. But soon after our dedication, this man stood before a large convention of several thousand people and sneered at our new facility. For a second time, he injected a dagger into my heart! At a time when this pastor could have been rejoicing with us, he chose to make it another opportunity to spit in our faces.

How about you? Can you think of an instance in your life when you did something good for someone, but that person didn’t appreciate what you did? Was he so unappreciative that you felt as if he’d spit in your face? Were you stunned by his behavior? How did you act in response to that situation?

I think nearly everyone has felt taken advantage of and spit on at some point or another. But imagine how Jesus must have felt the night He was taken to the high priest where He was literally spit on by the guards and temple police! For three years, Jesus preached, taught, and healed the sick. But now He was being led like a sheep to the spiritual butcher of Jerusalem, the high priest Caiaphas, and to the scribes and elders who had assembled to wait for His arrival.

In the trial that took place before the high priest and his elders, the religious leaders charged Jesus with the crime of declaring Himself the Messiah. Jesus replied by telling them that they would indeed one day see Him sitting on the right hand of power and coming with clouds of glory (Matthew 26:64). Upon hearing this, the high priest ripped his clothes and screamed, “Blasphemy!” as all the scribes and elders lifted their voices in anger, demanding that Jesus die (Matthew 26:66).

Then these religious scribes and elders did the unthinkable! Matthew 26:67-68 says, “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?”

Notice that it wasn’t just a few who spit in his face that night; the Bible says, “…they spit in his face.…” The word “they” refers to all the scribes and elders who were assembled for the meeting that night. One scholar notes that there could have been one hundred or more men in this crowd! And one by one, each of these so-called spiritual leaders, clothed in their religious garments, walked up to Jesus and spit in His face!

In that culture and time, spitting in one’s face was considered to be the strongest thing you could do to show utter disgust, repugnance, dislike, or hatred for someone. When someone spattered his spit on another person’s face, that spit was meant to humiliate, demean, debase, and shame that person. To make it worse, the offender would usually spit hard and close to the person’s face, making it all the more humiliating.

By the time Caiaphas and his scribes and elders had finished taking turns spitting on Jesus, their spit was most likely dripping down from His forehead into His eyes; dribbling down His nose, His cheekbones, and His chin; and even oozing down onto His clothes. This was an extremely humiliating scene! And remember, the men who were acting so hatefully toward Jesus were religious leaders! Their hideous conduct was something Jesus definitely didn’t deserve. And what makes this entire scene even more amazing is that Malchus — the servant whom Jesus had just healed — was in all probability standing at the side of Caiaphas and watching it all happen!

These religious leaders didn’t stop with just humiliating Jesus. After spitting on Him, they each doubled up their fists and whacked Him violently in the face! Matthew 26:67 says, “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him.…” The word “buffet” is the Greek word kolaphidzo, which means to strike with the fist. It is normally used to picture a person who is violently beaten.

As if it wasn’t insulting enough to spit on Jesus, approximately one hundred men viciously and cruelly struck Him with their fists. Not only was this brutal — it was sadistic! Humiliating Jesus with their spit and curses didn’t satisfy the hatred of these men; they wouldn’t be satisfied until they knew He had been physically maltreated. To ensure that this goal was accomplished, their own fists became their weapons of abuse.

It appears that these scribes and elders were so paranoid about Jesus getting more attention than themselves that they simply wanted to destroy Him. Every time they spit on Him, they were spitting on the anointing. Every time they struck Him, they were leveling a punch against the anointing. They hated Jesus and the anointing that operated through Him to such an extent that they voted to murder Him. But first they wanted to take some time to personally make sure He suffered before He died. What a strange way to render “thanks” to One who had done so much for them!

When I get disappointed at the way others respond to me or to what I have done for them, I often think of what happened to Jesus on that night when He came before these Jewish leaders. John 1:11 tells us, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Although these men who spit on and hit Jesus refused to acknowledge Him, He still went to the Cross and died for them. His love for them was unwavering — unshaken and unaffected by their wrong actions.

As you think of how people have wronged you, does it affect your desire to love them? What have these conflicts revealed about you? Is your love for those unkind people consistent, unwavering, unshaken, and unaffected? Or have the conflicts revealed you have a fickle love that you quickly turn off when people don’t respond to you the way you wished they would?

The same Holy Spirit who lived in Jesus now lives in you. Just as the Spirit of God empowered Jesus to love people consistently, regardless of what they did or didn’t do, the Holy Spirit can empower you to do the same. So why don’t you take a few minutes today to pray about the people who have let you down or disappointed you? Then forgive those people, and decide to love them the way Jesus loved those who wronged Him!

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Ancient Gates":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional that speaks of all that JESUS has done for US!

Firstborn From The Dead

Who [his dear Son] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. — COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

Although He is coequal with the Father, the eternal Son of God accepted a subordinate place and undertook the task of reconciling the world to God through the blood of His Cross.

For this purpose, Jesus yielded Himself to death (Matthew 27:50). When Jesus was made to be sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), He was turned over by God to spiritual death, which is separation from God. This occurred when that heartbreaking cry fell from Jesus’ lips, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” Jesus’ spirit was delivered up for our offenses, that He might be raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). It was the wisdom of the Father that yielded Jesus, the Righteous One, to death, that our debt might be paid, and Jesus might become THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD!

Confession: Thank You, Jesus, for dying for my sins. Thank You, Jesus, that You paid my debt so that I might be free!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Coat of Many Colors":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am sharing today's "Faith Food" devotional so that you can get a better picture of just who WE, as the Church of Jesus Christ, are to be in this world!

To The Church

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body . . . . — EPHESIANS 1:22-23

What a need there is for the Church to awaken to the appreciation of her mighty place and privilege — to be exalted to the place God wants her, and to realize she is to rule over the powers of the air!

How often the Church has failed in her ministry of authority, actually bowing down in defeat and being overcome with fear.

“. . . And gave him to be the head over all things TO THE CHURCH . . . .” To the Church! The reason Jesus is Head over all things — the devil, demons, sickness, poverty, and everything else that’s evil — is for the benefit of the Church! We need to sit reverently and meditate before these mighty truths so their tremendous meaning can grasp our hearts. In this attitude, the Spirit of Truth can lift us into the place where we can see the full meaning of what God’s Word is saying: That God made Christ to be the head over all things for the sake of the Church, so that the Church, through the Head of the Church, might exercise authority over all things.

Confession: Jesus is my Head. Jesus is Lord over all. Jesus has given me authority over all the hosts of the enemy. Greater is Jesus that is in me than he that is in the world. I am more than a conqueror through Him that loved me and gave Himself for me.

AMEN! Remember, YOU ARE exaclty who GOD'S WORD says you are! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional by Joseph Prince!

Don’t Confuse Faith with Emotions

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Some years ago, the wife of one of my key leaders was diagnosed with a cyst in her womb that the doctors said had to be removed by surgery. She was told they might even have to remove her whole womb. Of course, this couple was very affected by the news. I met with them to pray with them and to partake of the holy Communion.

Honestly, I didn’t feel any faith when I prayed for them. In fact, I felt quite helpless. But I heard the Lord telling me to rest. I heard Him telling me not to even try to use faith and to simply rest in His faith. So I simply said, “Growth, I curse you to your roots in Jesus’ name. Be plucked out by your roots and be thrown into the sea.” At the same time, I also prayed the Lord would cause her youth to be renewed like the eagle’s.

A few days later, she had a final scan before her surgery. And guess what? Her gynecologist said the whole growth had simply disappeared and that it was a miracle! But the Lord didn’t stop there. Her monthly period had actually stopped for some time, but soon after I prayed for her, it returned. The Lord had renewed her womb and her youth. Hallelujah!

I felt no faith when I prayed for her, but her healing was not dependent on what I felt about my faith. Don’t look at your own faith and think, I don’t have enough faith for the breakthrough I need. Faith is nothing more than looking to Jesus.

There were only two individuals in the Gospels whom Jesus described as having “great faith”: the centurion who believed Jesus only had to speak a word and his servant at home would be healed (Matthew 8:5–13) and the Syro-Phoenician woman to whom Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:21–28).

And neither of them was conscious of their own faith.

Do you want to know what they were conscious of? They were conscious of Jesus. They saw Him as the One who was faithful and powerful. They had a great estimation of His grace and goodness. And as they saw Him in His grace, He saw them in their faith!

Don’t worry about whether or not you have enough faith. Just look to Jesus. Spend time in His presence. Watch or listen to sermons that are full of Jesus. When you touch Jesus, you touch faith because He is the author and finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:2). The Bible declares He is faithful, and He will not allow you to go through more than what you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will carry you through.

HALLELUJAH!!! Always remember that the PRICE had ALREADY vbeen PAID IN FULL by JESUS! HE desires GOOD for you even more than YOU desire it for yourself! Here is Brandon Lake with "Count 'Em"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 100 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I LOVE this! 

Psalm 100
A Psalm of thanksgiving and for the thank offering.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!
3 Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

HALLELUJAH!!! I promise you that if YOU will pray, sing or even SHOUT this Psalm daily, your entire outlook on life will change!  Our great GOD has placed EVERYTHING that we will ever need in order to live a full and wonderful life within His WORD! Learn to LOVE the WORD! Your life will never be the same! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministries devotionl!

You Are A World Overcomer

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 NKJV

Are you feeling overcome by the world? Are you feeling less than a conqueror? If so, you are in good company. We all go through times when we don’t feel like the totally victorious Christians the Word says we are.

But at times like these, when you are tempted to yield to feelings of condemnation, remind yourself that your feelings will lie to you. Feelings are just that: feelings.

Your feelings will fluctuate depending on how you perceive yourself, your circumstances, and the situation around you. Feelings will even cause you to doubt what the Word of God says about you. When you allow yourself to be led by your feelings, you will not get the victory that is already yours in Jesus.

However, if you refuse to be led by your feelings and choose instead to believe what the Word of God says about you and your situation, your feelings will eventually yield to the truth and change. As you meditate on the Word of God and see yourself as an overcomer through the eye of faith, victory will come easily.

The Bible doesn’t say, “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our feelings.” No, it says, “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” So take this radical step today: decide to walk by faith regardless of what your feelings might say.

Confession: I am not moved by what I feel. I am not moved by what I see. I am moved only by the Word of God, and it says I am an overcomer!

Amen! DARE to BELIEVE that what GOD says about YOU is TRUTH! Now EXPECT that TRUTH to manifest in YOUR life! Here is Benjamin William Hastings and Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share with you this exciting and encouraging Psalm 98!

Psalm 98
1 O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations.
3 He has [earnestly] remembered His mercy and loving-kindness, His truth and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world, and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands; together let the hills sing for joy
9 Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge [and rule] the earth; with righteousness will He judge [and rule] the world, and the peoples with equity.

THIS is how the LORD desires to see YOU and ME! Let's NOT disappoint HIM! Here is Brandon Lake with "I Know A Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is something that every born again believer whould KNOW and act on!

His Body

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. — 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27

We’ve sometimes prayed about the Lord’s work upon the earth like this: “Lord, You do this. Lord, You do that.”

But think about what Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 and 19, “ . . . All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore . . . .” The Lord Jesus Christ conferred the authority on the earth upon us. He commissioned us to go.

Actually, the authority that Christ can exercise on the earth has to be exercised through the Church. The Church is His Body. And the Church is here. Christ is not here. He’s at the right hand of the Father. Christ is the Head of the Church, but all of His orders have to be carried out through His Body. Everything Christ does on the earth has to be done through His Body.

You’re a member in particular of Christ’s Body. He has conferred upon you authority over all the power of the enemy!

Confession: I am a member in particular of the Body of Christ. I am a worker together with God in the completing of His work upon the earth. I am well-equipped. I am endued with power and authority in Jesus’ Name. And I will faithfully fulfill my part in God’s plan.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "The Great I AM Can":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have taken a week off for vacation and personal time! Today I want to share this devotional with you by Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest"!

The Collision Of God And Sin

Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree. — 1 Peter 2:24

The Cross of Jesus is the revelation of God’s judgment on sin. Never tolerate the idea of martyrdom about the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken. There is nothing more certain in Time or Eternity than what Jesus Christ did on the Cross: He switched the whole of the human race back into a right relationship with God. He made Redemption the basis of human life, that is, He made a way for every son of man to get into communion with God.

The Cross did not happen to Jesus: He came on purpose for it. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The whole meaning of the Incarnation is the Cross. Beware of separating God manifest in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. The Incarnation was for the purpose of Redemption. God became incarnate for the purpose of putting away sin; not for the purpose of Self-realization. The Cross is the centre of Time and of Eternity, the answer to the enigmas of both.

The Cross is not the cross of a man but the Cross of God, and the Cross of God can never be realized in human experience. The Cross is the exhibition of the nature of God, the gateway whereby any individual of the human race can enter into union with God. When we get to the Cross, we do not go through it; we abide in the life to which the Cross is the gateway.

The centre of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much. The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened — but the crash is on the heart of God.

THANK YOU JESUS for ALL YOU HAVE DONE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have alwasy loved today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Source

Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. — LUKE 10:19 (ASV)

Authority is delegated power.

Its value depends on the force behind the user.

Jesus said, “I have given you authority.” Who gave it? Jesus did. Who is Jesus? Jesus is God manifested in the flesh! That means that God said it. Therefore, God said “I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.”

(Serpents and scorpions represent demons and evil spirits and the power of the enemy.)

God Himself is the Power, the Force, behind this authority. The believer who is fully conscious of divine authority can therefore face the enemy without fear or hesitation.

Behind the authority possessed by the believer is a Power far greater than the power that backs our enemies. And those enemies are compelled to recognize that authority!

No wonder John says, “. . . greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Confession: I am a believer. Jesus has given me authority. God has given me authority. God Himself is the Power behind this authority. And this authority God has given me is over all the power of the enemy.

AMEN! Her is Tauren Wells with "Take It All Back":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share one of my favorite portions of Scripture!  1 John 5:11-15

11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. 13 I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. AMP

HALLELUJAH!!! THIS is our PROMISE! I encourage you to spend even more time inthe Word of God and in praying in the Spirit so that Holy Spirit, our TEACHER, can teach us more and more of God's Word and how to walk in it! Your life will NEVER be the same! Here is Brooke Ligertwood and Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspiration" devotional!

You Are an Heir of the World!

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13–14

God’s blessings are part of our inheritance in the new covenant of grace, which Jesus died to give us. God’s Word tells us that “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us . . . that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Isn't it interesting that the Lord is very specific in mentioning that Christ became a curse for us on the cross, so that we can experience and enjoy the blessing of Abraham? He does not want us to simply experience any kind of blessing. He wants us to experience the blessing of Abraham. I think it behooves us then to find out what “the blessing of Abraham” is and who can receive it.

The Bible tells us that “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Are you Christ’s? Do you belong to Jesus? Then that makes you an heir according to the promise.

Every believer in Christ is an heir. Whenever you hear the word “heir,” it speaks of something good. It speaks of an inheritance that you don’t work for, an inheritance that is yours not because of what you do, but because of whose you are.

In this case, as a new covenant believer in Jesus, you belong to Jesus and you have a blood-bought inheritance in Christ as the seed of Abraham. You, beloved, are an heir according to THE promise!

Now, there are many promises in the Bible, but what is THE promise that God made to Abraham? We can’t claim this promise if we don’t know what it is. We need to go to the Word (use the Bible to interpret the Bible) to establish what the promise is. And we find the answer in Romans 4:13—“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

The promise to Abraham and his seed (you and I) is that he would be “the heir of the world”! In the original Greek text, the word “world” here is kosmos. Its meaning includes, “the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures.”

Now, that is what you are an heir to through Jesus' finished work! In Christ, you are an heir of the world—its goods, its endowments, its riches, its advantages, and its pleasures.

This is THE promise that God made to Abraham and his seed. Don’t apologize for it. It is your inheritance in Christ!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional!

Come Alive Today

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Resurrection. What do you think of when you hear that word? Most people think of the past. Of a stone rolled away. An empty tomb. And a risen Lord.

Praise God, Jesus is alive today, isn't He?

What we don't fully understand is this: He's not the only One who has been resurrected. We've been resurrected too!

We were spiritually resurrected the day we made the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives. That day we passed from death to life. The greater part of your resurrection has already happened!

Think about it. When you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, the Spirit of God hovered over you. The glory of the Lord came into your being. And that glory consumed the old, sinful man that you were. That old man died. And in his place a new creature was born.

Oh yes, there will be a day when the earthly body you live in will be raised and glorified—but you don't have to wait until then to be free from sin and from the sickness and poverty and failure that goes with this natural world. You're free from all that right now!

You may be sitting there thinking, Well, if I'm so free, why can't I quit smoking? Why can't I lose this weight? Why am I always sick?

Because you've let Satan convince you that you're still under his power. You've let him talk you into living as if you're still spiritually dead!

So, today I want you to begin considering yourself alive! Begin thinking of yourself as one who already has the life of God instead of an earthly being who's waiting for the Resurrection. Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to the power of Jesus. You'll find yourself living a whole new life today!

HALLELUJAH and AMEN! In JESUS we are ALIVE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Daddy's DNA":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministies devotional

Face The Problem

4My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 6So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” Psalm 55:4, 6 NKJV

God doesn’t want you to run away from any situation in defeat. Victory is always His plan for you.

Running away from problems and troubles is always society’s mentality: “Oh, if I could just leave this place. If I could just get in the car and go.” Looking for the easy way out of trouble and misery doesn’t work. Running from the problem that causes those feelings won’t do any good. If you avoid dealing with the issue now, it will be even more difficult to stand and face it later.

People often quit their job because of someone they work with, only to end up working with someone worse at their next place of employment. God wants you to learn to face your problems and overcome them by applying His Word. He wants you to learn to work with unpleasant co-workers by overcoming evil with good. When they blame you for something you didn’t do, bless them, and help them.

Being a doer of the Word isn’t always easy, but it always works.

Although David wanted to fly away and be at rest, he changed his speech and declared a few lines later “As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me” (Psalm 55:16 NKJV).

God doesn’t want you to leave any situation in defeat. If it is God’s time to move you on, He won’t use negative circumstances to lead you. Instead of running from the problem, overcome it. And then move on.

Confession: I choose to face the problems before me today. I will apply the Word of God to them, and I will overcome them. I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.

HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional!

Right Place, Right Time

I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. Ecclesiastes 9:11–12

Today, I want to bring your attention to Psalm 91:1 and Ecclesiastes 9:11. Did you notice that the number 911 occurs in both passages? The number 911 is very significant for our times. It is a number that marks the largest-scale terrorist attack on American soil to date. Our hearts were broken that day, the world changed, and we will never forget what happened.

While I know that chapter and verse markers in our Bible aren’t inspired, it is my personal opinion that the prayer of protection in Psalm 91 marks the times we are living in and gives us a crystal clear reason why we don’t have to live in fear.

In Ecclesiastes 9, King Solomon tells us that the winner of the race is not necessarily always the fastest one, and the person who wins the battle isn’t necessarily always the strongest. He points out that men of understanding are not the only ones who gain riches and men of skill do not always experience favor. And then he says this: “Time and chance happen to them all.”

Solomon then goes on to talk about those who are “like fish taken in a cruel net” or “birds caught in a snare.” (Notice that he’s saying this of the “sons of men” and not the “sons of God.” As believers, we are the sons and daughters of God.)

There are therefore two categories of people—those who are blessed because they find themselves at the right place at the right time, and those who are caught off guard in an evil time and find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t know about you, but I know which category I want to fall under!

As a son or daughter of God, rest assured that the blessing of being placed in the right place at the right time is yours because of our Lord Jesus! Despite the dangerous times we live in, you can expect Him to protect and deliver you from every snare of the enemy.

AMEN! Make sure that YOU are fully taking in the Word of God every day! HE will NEVER let you down!  Here is Brandon Lake with "Plans". 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers! 

Vision By Personal Purity

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. — Matthew 5:8

Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God. We have to grow in purity. The life with God may be right and the inner purity remain unsullied, and yet every now and again the bloom on the outside may be sullied. God does not shield us from this possibility, because in this way we realize the necessity of maintaining the vision by personal purity. If the spiritual bloom of our life with God is getting impaired in the tiniest degree, we must leave off everything and get it put right. Remember that vision depends on character — the pure in heart see God.

God makes us pure by His sovereign grace, but we have something to look after, this bodily life by which we come in contact with other people and with other points of view; it is these that are apt to sully. Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the outer courts as well are to be brought into perfect accord with the purity God gives us by His grace. The spiritual understanding is blurred immediately the outer court is sullied. If we are going to retain personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean there are some things we must scorn to do or to think, some legitimate things we must scorn to touch.

A practical way of keeping personal purity unsullied in relation to other people is to say to yourself — That man, that woman, perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend, that relative, perfect in Christ Jesus!

This is SO very important! No one can keep your fellowship with the LORD powerful except YOU! Here is Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake with "Love Of God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

 I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

Interest Or Identification?

I have been crucified with Christ. — Galatians 2:20

The imperative need spiritually is to sign the death warrant of the disposition of sin, to turn all emotional impressions and intellectual beliefs into a moral verdict against the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself. Paul says — “I have been crucified with Christ”; he does not say, “I have determined to imitate Jesus Christ,” or, “I will endeavour to follow Him,” but, “I have been identified with Him in His death.” When I come to such a moral decision and act upon it, then all that Christ wrought for me on the Cross is wrought in me. The free committal of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the chance to impart to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.

“…nevertheless I live….” The individuality remains, but the mainspring, the ruling disposition, is radically altered. The same human body remains, but the old satanic right to myself is destroyed.

“And the life which I now live in the flesh,…” not the life which I long to live and pray to live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh, the life which men can see, “I live by the faith of the Son of God.” This faith is not Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith that the Son of God has imparted to him — “the faith of the Son of God.” It is no longer faith in faith, but faith which has overleapt all conscious bounds, the identical faith of the Son of God.

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Ancient Gates":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministries devotional!

The Counterfeit

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:16-17 NKJV

The term counterfeit refers to something that was made in imitation, so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine. Therefore, a counterfeit cannot be considered a counterfeit unless it is identical in appearance to the real thing.

A counterfeit $20 bill looks and feels like a genuine $20 bill, but in reality it is a worthless scrap of paper. Although your five physical senses may assume it is genuine, the truth of the matter is that it’s a fake, a deception, a lie. The only way to determine whether a $20 bill is genuine or counterfeit is to inspect it closely and put it through certain tests.

Just as a $20 bill must be tried to determine its authenticity, so must every perceived blessing be tried. If you have been praying for something in particular, and that something appears on your doorstep, do not welcome it into your house without first testing it. When you have been standing in faith for a while, it can be easy to accept an apparent manifestation without first checking it out with the Word and with your inner witness.

The devil has no power over you. The only way he can gain access to your life is by deceiving you. He oftentimes does this by presenting you with a counterfeit answer to prayer so that you will accept something that is designed to steal, kill, or destroy in some area of your life. To do this, he has to come to you with something you are eager to have.

The only way to see through the devil’s deception is to judge it against the Word and the Spirit. If the enemy has brought anything that is a counterfeit into your life, the Word of God will expose it for what it is. If it is a counterfeit, you will not have peace in your spirit.

Inspect every gift closely and put it through these two tests. The Word and the Spirit will alert you to counterfeits. By accepting only the good and perfect, you will keep yourself from the harmful and destructive. You will ensure that every gift is a true blessing from your heavenly Father.

Confession: I declare that every good and perfect gift comes from my heavenly Father. I will not be deceived by the enemy, who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. By testing every gift by the Word of God and by the Spirit, I will walk in God’s favor and blessing all the days of my life.

AMEN! Our GOD only gives us GOOD GIFTS!!! Here is Brandon Lake with "Plans":

Shalom in Him!