Bread of Life, JIL

” THE WHOLE CITY HAD COME OUT TO MEET JESUS AND WHEN THEY SAW HIM, THEY IMPLORED HIM TO LEAVE THEIR REGION.” MATTHEW 8:34

The above scripture reveals the sinful nature of mankind. Jesus had just cast out demons from two men and sent the evil spirits into a herd of swine. The entire herd then rushed to the steep embankment and into the sea where they drowned. The herdsmen reported what had happened to the people of the nearby town, and the entire community became angry with Jesus. The community’s concern was the potential economic impact and the potential loss of business. They were more concerned about their own financial welfare than their spiritual health. Sadly, when Jesus arrived, they promptly requested that he leave. Unfortunately, our society has grown accustomed to living with sin. We don’t want to think about God removing it, especially if it would mean a loss of perceived income. However, clinging to sin is one of the most deadly things we can do. Putting up with sin has the potential for disaster in our lives. It is important that we not depend upon the world for our survival but only depend upon our God who is loving and gracious to those who are faithful to him. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” WHILE I WAS FAINTING AWAY, I REMBERED THE LORD.” JONAH 2:7

Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we are ready to repent. We cannot get much lower than where Jonah ended up. He was trying his hardest to run away from God because he did not want to go to the city of Nineveh and preach to the people. He did not want to take the assignment the Lord had given him. Apparently, Jonah had forgotten that he could not hide from God. Our God is so gracious and loving that no matter how frail, clumsy, or how simple our prayer might be He still answers with his abundant forgiveness and mercy. Sometimes we do things that make us feel like we want to run from God. It doesn’t work. There is no place we can hide where He cannot find us. Dedicate each day to him and surrender to him always! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” DWELL IN THE LAND AND CULTIVATE FAITHFULNESS.” PSALM 37:3

” MY SON, GIVE ATTENTION TO MY WORDS; INCLINE YOUR EAR TO MY SAYINGS. DO NOT LET THEM DEPART FROM YOUR SIGHT; KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF YOUR HEART. FOR THEY ARE LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEM AND HEALTH TO ALL YOUR BODY.” PROVERBS 4:20-22

Our Lord tells us that we are to cultivate our faithfulness. Just as a farmer cultivates his land, we are to prepare and cultivate our faith. We are to work hard at developing our faith and making is stronger everyday. In order to help our crop of faith to grow strong we must surround ourselves with God’s words. They should be so familiar to us that they become the way we live our lives. Whether in good times or in troubled times our faith should stay steady. It should never waver. Our Lord is forever faithful, and we should work hard at becoming faithful to him. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“GOD’S WAY IS PERFECT. ALL THE LORD’S PROMISES PROVE TRUE. HE IS A SHIELD FOR ALL WHO LOOK TO HIM FOR PROTECTION.” PSALM 18:30

Scripture is very precise when it talks about the ways of our Lord. His ways are perfect. He is our protection. He serves as a shield when we are facing struggles of any kind. We are not perfect, but our Lord and Savior is! We will always face struggles while living on this earth. But with our Lord as our protector and shield we are able to face each problem with confidence, power and the wisdom God gives us. If we trust our Lord and depend upon him for our success we will prevail, for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“NONE OF THEIR ENEMIES COULD STAND AGAINST THEM, FOR THE LORD HELPED THEM CONQUER ALL THEIR ENEMIES.” JOSHUA 21:44

Our enemies come in all shapes and sizes. They come in every form. They can be physical, mental or spiritual. They attack from all directions and with a speed that helps them to accomplish their victory over us. However, we have the answers. We have belief and faith in the all-knowing God. Our God is the definer of life, our protector in life and our refuge when we need Him to be. There is no enemy that we have in this world that can conquer us if we keep our faith strong and our trust in God pure. He assures us that he will go before us and walk us through all anxieties, troubles and unknowns. We must believe. We must constantly surround ourselves with our God in heaven by reading and meditating on his Holy Word. We must pray and ask, for if we ask, we shall receive. And then we must believe that we receive because He is our source of strength! He has provided us with mighty promises throughout the Bible. We must know them and use them. For our God in heaven has never and will never fail on any of His promises! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” PUT AWAY FROM YOU A DECEITFUL MOUTH AND PUT DEVIOUS SPEECH FAR FROM YOU.” PROVERBS 4:24

“ PROVE BY THE WAY YOU LIVE THAT YOU HAVE REPENTED OF YOUR SINS AND TURNED TO GOD.” MATTHEW 3:8

Our speech is a part of the way we live. We are to live each day in proof that we have repented of our sins and have turned to our God in heaven. The words that we speak should be those that make us stronger in the Lord and not weaker. They should help us to build our faith stronger and not tear it down. Our words come from our heart. They represent exactly how we feel. Positive words help us to take our faith to another level with our Lord. When we profess things that we have not yet seen in real time we are professing our faith and trust in our Lord. We are putting into action our belief that our God in heaven is actively working in our lives. Some may think of us as foolish for what we do but we must shut them out and speak our faith into existence. We must stay focused on Jesus and his presence in our lives. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, WALK IN HIS WAYS, OBEY HIS COMMANDS, HOLD FIRMLY TO HIM, AND SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR SOUL.” JOSHUA 22:5

” SERVE THE LORD ALONE.” JOSHUA 24:14

Our Lord God in heaven wants 100% of us and not just a part of us. He wants us to commit our body’s, minds and souls to him. Our God sent his one and only son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our salvation, healings and the forgiveness of our sins. All it takes for us to be saved is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. However, He has so much more in store for us. He wants to do so much more for us while we live right here on this earth. He wants us to be doers of his word. We are to love Him, walk in all of His ways, obey His commands, hold firmly to him, (keep him close at all times) and serve Him with every ounce of strength we have. If we do these things our lives on this earth will not be trouble free but will be less stressful, more joyful and filled with the peace of God. We are to serve our Lord alone! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” DON’T LET ANYONE CAPTURE YOU WITH EMPTY PHILOSOPHIES AND HIGH-SOUNDING NONSENSE THAT COME FROM HUMAN THINKING AND FROM THE SPIRITUAL POWERS OF THE WORLD, RATHER THAN CHRIST.” COLOSSIANS 2:8

We are to stay well-grounded in the ways of Jesus. We are to stay connected, always living a life that is a testimony on his behalf. When we allow ourselves to become concerned with the things of the world, we open ourselves up to becoming a part of this world. We must remember that we do live in the world, but we are not of this world. It is important that we ask God to help us with the deeper things of the spiritual world. There is a war going on spiritually. Things that are happening on this earth today are signs of things to come. It doesn’t matter how bleak things look in this world we should understand that our God in heaven has everything under control. He has a plan. He has described his plan very well in scripture. He will be returning soon (at a time we do not know) for his children. There will be a time of judgement for those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There will be a time, for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, to receive their heavenly rewards for the good works they have done on behalf of His mighty name. Don’t let the devil strip you of the rewards awaiting you. Our Lord is returning soon, whether we believe or not. We are spiritual beings living in a human world. This is only our temporary home. Our Lord is returning soon! Keep praying and stay alert! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“MY CHILD, PAY ATTYENTION TO WHAT I SAY. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO MY WORDS. DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THEM. LET THEM PENETRATE DEEP INTO YOUR HEART, FOR THEY BRING LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEM AND HEALING TO THEIR WHOLE BODY.” PROVERBS 4:20-22

In this world we are surround all day long with the thoughts and understanding of the ways of the world. Because we live in this world it is very easy to become a part of the ways the world thinks and acts. In Proverbs our Lord is warning us about this very thing. The ways of the world have been a battle since Adam and Eve. There has always been good vs evil. Our Lord tells us that we are to listen very carefully to His words. His words are not just words in a book, but they are living words that set you free. They are promises that allow you to live a Godly life in a world if evil. They bring life and healing to all who listen. It is so important that we stay as close to our God in every way that we can. We should meditate upon his words and allow them to sink deeply into our heart. Every word that the Lord gives us is a blessing. Every word he gives us is a tool to fight the evil we live in and to become his children. It is impossible to live our lives with the devil holding our hand on one side and God on the other, as we will be pulled apart. God wants all of us! We must make our decision and walk either in faith with our Lord or in evil with the world. He wants all of us. We must surrender all. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” AND NOW, JUST AS YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST JESUS AS YOUR LORD YOU MUST CONTINUE TO FOLLOW HIM. LET YOUR ROOTS GROW DOWN INTO HIM AND LET YOUR LIVES BE BUILT ON HIM. THEN YOUR FAITH WILL GROW STRONG IN THE TRUTH YOU WERE TAUGHT, AND YOU WILL OVERFLOW WITH THANKFULNESS. COLOSSIANS 2:6&7

In order for our roots to grow deep in Jesus our faith must be fertilized each day. We must meditate upon his every word. We must understand his ways, remember his ways and put his ways into action in our lives. If we don’t do these things, then we will be leaving the door open for doubts to creep in. It is so important that we study his word each and every day. It is of great importance that we stay in communication with our Lord each and every day. When our roots grow deep, the Lord will be on our minds in everything we do and everything we say. As The Holy Spirit will speaks to us, we will be reminded of God’s ways. Our faith will continue to grow stronger and stronger. Even though we will continue to face difficulties our lives will become more joyful and peaceful because of the presence of Lord Jesus. He will no longer be someone we go to only in times of troubles, but he will be an integral part of our lives, whether good our bad. Let us always give praise to our Lord God in heaven! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS.

” FOR YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN NOT ONLY THE PRIVILEGE OF TRUSTING IN CHRIST BUT ALSO THE PRIVILEGE OF SUFFERING FOR HIM.” PHILIPPIANS 1:29

It is a privilege to know Jesus. It is a privilege that we have obtained, by his grace, to be able to serve Him. It is our privilege to not only know Christ on a personal level but also to serve him by suffering through persecution and other attacks on our faith. It takes a strong person of faith to be able to stand up in the face of persecution, fear, doubt, worry, sickness and disease, and despite those attacks, continue to live a life of joy and peace in our Lord. Our God in heaven has given us that privilege and we must take it and honor Him by trusting in his promises for our lives. There will be times of suffering, but we need to always remember that our Lord is right beside in all things and that we can do all things through Him who give us strength! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” AND HE HEALED EVERY KIND OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS.” MATTHEW 4:23

Believe that you receive! Plug into your source, Jesus Christ! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“THE SCRIPTURES ALSO SAY YOU MUST NOT TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD.” MATTHEW 4:7

To test our God is much more than trying to get him to do a miracle. To test our God is to insist that He prove that he is trustworthy. Testing God is like looking at today’s problems and saying that a loving God would not allow us to live this way. When we trust in God, we have total confidence in him with the faith that he will help us through all difficulties. When we trust that our God is in total control then we believe that no matter the situation He is with us and will help us. He may not help us in the way we think he should, but we trust that He is in control and will help us to overcome. When Jesus was taken to the highest point of the temple and the devil told him to jump off because God’s angels would protect Him, that was the devil trying to get Jesus to test God. If you have faith, you have trust! If you believe that the Lord has a plan, and you believe in His plan then you have trust in him. The Lord never said that you would have a life without troubles. However, He has offered a way through your troubles. It takes trust in Him and His ways! We should never test Him, but instead, just believe and trust! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” PHILIPPIANS 2:11

What does it mean when we say that Jesus Christ is Lord? It means the He is the only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. (1 Timothy 6:15) He is in absolute control of all things- nothing happens without his divine permission or exists apart from Him. And a time is coming when everyone will acknowledge that only He is truly worthy of praise- even those who’ve spent their lives opposing Him ( Is. 45:23, 24) PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“ ABOVE ALL YOU MUST LIVE AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, CONDUCTING YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST.” PHILIPPIANS 1:27

As followers of Christ, we should live our lives in such a manner that represents him well. As we read his mighty Word, we learn how he wants us to conduct ourselves. We should stand out in this world by living in joy, love, peace, honesty and in understanding and holy strength. Our Faith must continue to get stronger each day. Living as Christians in a world of confusion, hate and lies is a tall task. Our faith allows us to believe in the ways of Jesus without any doubts. Our faith stands in the face of fear and allows us to represent Jesus and the salvation message with strength and sincerity. It is our responsibility to stay strong in the Lord Jesus and spread his message of salvation. No matter our situation we are to be strong in faith, believe in the message of Jesus and think of the Lord first in our lives. When we do, we will make a difference in this world. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON FACES MANY TROUBLES, BUT THE LORD COMES TO THE RESCUE EACH TIME.” PSALM 34:19

Without our Lord and Savior our lives would be complete confusion in this day and age in which we live. There are things happening that most cannot explain. However, with our Lord by our side we are rescued from all of the lies, cheating and confusion being thrown around. Psalm 34:19 tells us that those who are in right standing with God are rescued from the many troubles they are facing. Our Lord has sent the precious Holy Spirit to guide us through the weeds of life. No matter the situation we find ourselves in, He is there to rescue us. He is there with pure Godly guidance. We must, however, be quiet in the Spirit and listen carefully. If we allow the things going on around us to become loud and a priority in our lives, then we are in putting ourselves in jeopardy. We must take time each day to set down with our Lord God in Heaven and talk with Him. We must also take the time to be quiet and listen. Communication is a two-way street. It is the same with our Lord. He listens to us and provides for us. But if we are not listening and watching we will miss the many miracles and gifts he gives us. So, take the time each day to listen to Him. He does come to our rescue! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

AS WE READ THROUGH THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE TRY TO APPLY THE MESSAGES AND THE PRINCIPLES HE GIVES US TO THE WAY WE LIVE AND HANDLE OUR LIVES. BELOW ARE THREE PRINCIPLES FOR MATTHEW.

PRINCIPLE #1: Our God accepts full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him. Verse 7:24 in Matthew says: ” Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock.” We should build our life on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. When we do, we have the assurance of him meeting our needs. He already knows our thoughts and our needs as told to us in verse 6:32 in Matthew: ” These things dominate the thoughts of the unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all of your needs.”

PRINCIPLE #2: God blesses us so that we can bless others. Our God is a giving God. He is able to bless us beyond what we think he can. When he does bless us, he expects us to be a blessing to others. He wants to use us to help others. He wants us to do so freely and not grudgingly. What he has given us he can quickly take away. Matthew 10:8 says: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received.”

PRINCIPLE #3: The eager anticipation of our Lord’s return keeps us living productive lives. Our Lord is returning soon. We don’t know the day or the time. Most people live lives that they feel are presentable to Jesus when they meet Him. Just like the ten bridesmaids we have to be prepared. Matthew 25:13 says: ” So you too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or the hour of my return.” How do you want to meet your Lord? Are you saved? Are you living a life that allows the Lord to work in your Life? Are you praying and praising Him faithfully? If not, the time is getting short but not too late! Find good teaching and develop good relationships with fellow believers. Find a church that teaches the true word of God and his Salvation message. Our Lord is returning soon!

PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” FOR I AM CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFECT IT UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS. ” PHILIPPIANS 1:6

Even as followers of Jesus, you and I have never and will never be perfect while living in this world. We are all a work in progress. Sometimes our Lord allows us to go through trials and tribulations for our own sake. As troubles come our way, we are able to cultivate our faith and become even stronger in our Lord and Savior. Our faith in Jesus and his promises become more real to us because it is He who helps us through the fire. It is He who takes our hand and gives us hope as we go through our tribulations. The stronger our faith becomes the more we can handle. We are able to walk into situations and through situations knowing that our Lord is in control of our life. Without allowing us to go through troubles in our lives we will never grow our faith. This is all a process in God’s plan for us. We must endure through our faith in the Lord. If we do not, then the evil around us will overwhelm us and take control of our lives. We must keep our spiritual being in shape just as we must take care of our physical bodies. The Lord our God loves us. He wants us to become close to him. We live in his family, and he will continue to protect us and surround us with is love and strength if we just allow him to. PRAISE THE LORD THROUGH ALL SITUATIONS!

AS WE READ THROUGH GOD’S WORD, WE SHOULD BE LEARNING HOW OUR LORD WANTS US TO LIVE OUR LIVES. IN EPHESIANS THERE ARE 5 MAJOR TAKE AWAYS AS TO HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR THE LORD.

1. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TO ALLOW JESUS TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN AND THROUGH US.)
2. ” Pray in the Spirit on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18 (NO CHRISTIAN HAS EVER BEEN CALLED TO GO IT ALONE IN HIS OR HER WALK OF FAITH.)
3. “ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.” Ephesians 4:28 (GOD BLESS US SO THAT WE MIGHT BLESS OTHERS.)
4. ” Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 ( TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT IS TO OBEY THE INITIAL PROMPTING OF THE SPIRIT)
5. ” A final word: be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” EPHESIANS 6:10 (ADVERSITY IS A BRIDGE TO A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.)

“BUT THAT YOU ALSO MAY KNOW ABOUT MY CIRCUMSTANCES, HOW I AM DOING, TYCHICUS, THE BELOVED BROTHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER IN THE LORD, WILL MAKE EVERYTHING KNOWN TO YOU.” EPHESIANS 6:21

Each time Tychicus is mentioned in scripture he is running errands for the apostle Paul. (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12). Some might be so bold as to call him Paul’s “messenger boy”. We might feel tempted to consider Tychicus’s ministry as minor, especially in comparison to Paul’s. However, as we take a deeper look, we see that Tychicus delivered messages to several churches and played a huge role in distributing the Word of God! Would we consider that to be unimportant? Of course not! Tychicus had a crucial ministry and he worked hard to fulfill it. Have you identified your ministry? Are you fulfilling the ministry God has given you? The Lord has a special work for each of us. Sometimes it is easy to say, “I don’t have a calling, I’m not a minister.” How wrong can we be? The Lord has a work for each of us. Ask God what it is. He will identify it for you. Remember, it doesn’t matter what the world thinks. It is all about fulfilling our work for the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

AS WE READ THROUGH THE BOOK OF DANIEL THERE ARE LIFE PRINCIPLES THROUGHOUT THAT PLAY ROLES IS OUR LIVES:

1- Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. When Daniel went to the King to interpret his dream, he did not use his own understand as the astrologers did. Instead, he asked for time to pray to God to see what his thoughts were. We should do the same. Read Daniel 2:16.

2- Obey God and leave all of the consequences to him. Daniel knew that he was to worship God in heaven and none other. He put his total trust in what his God commanded instead of what the King was demanding. Even though what we see in the material world as difficult or even life threatening, we should trust our God in heaven. He has it all under control. Read Daniel 3:15

3- We stand tallest and are at our strongest when we are on our knees praying. Daniel prayed 3 times a day praising God even when the King defied prayer to Daniels God and demanded prayer to himself only. Read Daniel 6:10,11

4- Listening to God is essential when walking with God. It is very important that our communication with our God in heaven is a two-way street. We must pray and praise him, but we must also listen. How is it possible for us to receive from him if we are never listening for his answer? Read Daniel 9:3

5- Our intimacy with our God, His highest priority for our lives, determines the impact of our lives. We must know our God. We must understand what he is all about. We must read and meditate on his word daily and ask for his help. We must be intimate with him so that we can fully depend upon him in times of trouble. Read Daniel 11:32

PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

The Bread of Life Ministries, JIL has a new dedicated e-mail for prayer requests. Please feel free to forward your request, with as much detail as you can to: jilinmylife@gmail.com.

” FOR YOU, O LORD, HAVE NOT FORSAKEN THOSE WHO SEEK YOU.” PSALM 9:10

” THE LORD’S PROMISES ARE PURE, LIKE SILVER REFINED IN THE FURNACE, PURIFIED SEVEN TIMES OVER.” PSALM 12:6

My life upon this earth can be so much more than I allow it to be. I hinder myself from the free gifts given to me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I allow myself to get busy with my earthly concerns. I set out each day on my own and when I confront troubles, I try to solve them on my own. When I run into sorrows, I try to overcome them on my own. I have a God in heaven who is gracious and not forceful. He wants me to come to Him because I need Him. He wants me to depend upon Him because I truly believe in Him. Because my Lord desires my love, I have a job to do. I must trust Him and believe in Him. I must concern myself with Jesus first in my life. I must learn to listen to Him and not be afraid of what he tells me to do. I must recognize his voice and commands for my life. I must take the time to learn his promises for my life. When I confront troubles, no matter how large or small, I must go to him for the answers. When I run into sorrows, I must allow Him to handle them. You see, with Jesus leading my life I cannot go wrong. He will take on all of my struggles and put them on his back and relieve me of the stress. He will take my sorrows and turn them into joys. We must, however, know his word well and put complete trust in his promises. My time upon this earth can be so much more when I allow Jesus to take control. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” UNLESS I SEE IN HIS HANDS THE IMPRINT OF THE NAILS, AND I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE PLACE OF THE NAILS, AND PUT MY HAND INTO HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE.” JOHN 20:25

” JESUS SAID TO HIM, ‘ BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME, HAVE YOU BELIEVED? BLESSED ARE THEY WHO DID NOT SEE, AND YET BELIEVED. ‘ ” JOHN 20:29

It is very important in today’s world that you and I have a great faith in Jesus. We are unable, like Thomas, to put our fingers into the nail prints of Jesus’s hands or put our hands into his side. Thomas had a hard time with faith. His mind was from the school of “seeing is believing.” Jesus told Thomas, and the others, that all of those who haven’t had the opportunity to see will be blessed. That includes you and me. We live in a society of “seeing is believing.” We have to overcome that in order to believe in Jesus and all that he has done and will do for us. Without faith we cannot believe. We cannot accept Him without faith. Our faith must be strong enough to believe that our Lord is still doing miracles. We cannot receive them if we have any doubts or fears. Even through hard times we must confess our faith in Jesus. We must remind our God of his mighty promises. He has never and will never go back on any of his them. If you don’t know his promises, then look them up. They were good for thousands of years ago and they are still good today. Remember, don’t be a doubting Thomas but instead, believe you receive because God in your source! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“BUT HE WHO LISTENS TO ME SHALL LIVE SECURELY AND WILL BE AT EASE FROM THE DREAD OF EVIL.” PROVERBS 1:33

With such busy lives it is very hard to take time and meditate on each and every word of God. It seems that time does not allow us to sit down and pray earnestly, meditate and listen. I have learned over the years that it not only takes time, but it also takes faith. We must believe what we are reading in the Word of God. We must be able to understand how to listen to our God and we must believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We must believe God’s word is not a history lesson but is a way of life. How do get to this stage in our relationship with our Lord? We must pray and ask him for his help. Ask him for wisdom, understanding and strength in your life. Go through the bible and learn his promises and memorize them. Be willing to profess his promises out loud in your times of need and worry. This will do nothing less than help you to build up your faith in the Lord and his mighty word. This will help you not to dread evil but to live secure lives. There will be two judgements at the end. One for the unbelievers and one for the believers. The unbelievers will be judged for their sins, but the believers will be rewarded for the works they have done for the Lord. You see, we don’t use works to get into heaven, but we do use works to bring others to heaven with us. As a believer we must stay alert to the voice of the Lord and what his plan is for our lives. We must listen and be workers for Christ Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” THE LORD BY WISDOM FOUNDED THE EARTH. BY UNDERSTANDING HE ESTABLISHED THE HEAVENS. BY HIS KNOWLEDGE THE DEEPS WERE BROKEN UP AND THE SKIES DRIP WITH DEW.” PROVERBS 3:19 & 20

Just how important is wisdom, understanding and knowledge? Our Lord puts great emphasis on all three. They were how he founded the earth and established the heavens. Our Lord is gracious in everything he does. He will provide us with his wisdom if we just be sincere and ask. He will provide us with understanding if we just ask. He will give us knowledge if we ask. However, for us to truly receive them we must believe that we will receive. Wisdom, understanding and knowledge is given to us to help us in our Christian lives. They are to help us in times of trouble and in spreading God’s Holy Word to others. We are to set our course in the direction God wants us to go. We must listen and be doers of his word. We must ask and we will receive! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

” SO I SAY LET THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOUR LIVES.” GALATIANS 5:16

” AND THE SPIRIT GIVES US DESIRES THAT ARE THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT A SINFUL NATURE DESIRES.” GALATIANS 5:17

” LET US FOLLOW THE SPIRIT’S LEADING IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES.” GALATIANS 5:25

When Jesus was taken from this earth God sent us the Comforter (the Holy Spirit of God; the third person of God.) As we are leading our lives, we are to depend heavily on the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us to stay on the right path. The Holy Spirit gives us desires that are strictly in line with what Jesus was teaching when he walked this earth. The Holy Spirit guides us down the correct path with wisdom, understanding, and yes, trust. We must trust what he says and take steps of faith in our journey. We must understand that we cannot follow the wisdom of the Holy Spirit without knowing what the Word of God says. We must know his promises, we must have enough faith to step out and trust in those promises. We must speak with authority in the name of Jesus. We must believe and then believe some more. Our God is with us all of the time. He is not a God that is there only when we are having troubles. He is with us always. We should talk to him every day and as often in the day as we think of him. He is our best friend, our Comforter, our Savior and our Creator. Who better than our Lord to lead our lives and for us to trust? Jesus is Lord and is our Lord all of the time! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND DO NOT LEAN TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL OF YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT.” PROVERBS 3: 5-6

When God invited Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted, the king requested wisdom. The wisdom given to Solomon taught him that only a fool tries to solve life’s problems without God’s help. In this life, tests come in all shapes and sizes. Some we anticipate; others blindside us. Some tests require us to endure; others involve us making the right decision immediately. No matter the difficulty, God instructs us to come to Him for the wisdom we so desperately need.

The apostle Paul faced discouragement and many intense trials, but he believed that God was in control. Therefore, he placed his trust in Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, ” WE ARE AFFLICTED IN EVERY WAY, BUT NOT CRUSHED; PERPLEXED, BUT NOT DESPAIRING; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED; ALWAYS CARRYING ABOUT IN THE BODY THE DYING OF JESUS, SO THAT THE LIFE OF JESUS ALSO MAY BE MANEFESTED IN OUR BODY.” Paul believed that the trials of this life came with a purpose. He considered them tools in the hand of God, who reshaped, refined, and refocused his life so that it could better reflect the life of Christ, full of purpose and blessing. No matter what we are going through our God is in control. He is using us for a purpose in his plan. Don’t feel sorry for yourself but put Jesus first and all things will work out for his purpose. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

FATHER GOD, I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU PRAISE AND GLORY FOR ALL OF THE GOOD AND GREAT THINGS YOU DO FOR ME EACH DAY. I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR MIGHTY PROMISES. I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FOR HELPING THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEALING AND HEALING POWER, AND FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS SHED UPON THAT CROSS FOR OUR SALVATION, HEALING AND FORGIVENESS. I LOVE YOU LORD. YOU ARE MY STRENGTH WHEN I NEED STRENGTH. YOU ARE MY SAFE PLACE WHEN THINGS LOOK REALLY BAD. YOU ARE MY LIFE AND I LIVE FOR NOBODY ELSE BUT YOU. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

“I PRAY THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTEND, SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, AND WHAT IS THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US WHO BELIEVE.” EPHESIANS 1: 18-19

There is a big difference between having the blessings of God and enjoying the blessings. We experience the Lord’s grace by learning what blessings he has provided for us and then claiming his blessings for our life by stepping out in faith. To truly enjoy his blessings for our lives we must take a step of faith and enter into them.

The disciples marveled at the miracles that Jesus performed while he walked this earth. However, the Lord’s greatest power was displayed at his resurrection when he was triumphant over death and sin. Do you need the Lord’s resurrection power in your life today? It is available by faith. Therefore, trust him to help you with all that bothers you. He is our Lord and our Savior. He has never and will never fail on any of his mighty promises! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!