"if anyone loves God."

November 4

"If anyone loves God." 1 Corinthians 8:3 (NKJV) 3 "But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." God is awesome and beautiful, He is our counsellor and our friend, and He loved each one of us before we loved Him. As I ponder on the words I read here, I want it to take root in my heart. If "I" love God, then "I" will be known by God. Does God know you? Yes, you, and I are. Remember, God knows your name (Isaiah 43 verse 1); God even knows where you live (Psalm 139). God called you by name. These couple of verses reminds me that from the minute of my birth to the day I lay my head down; God knows me. He is omnipotent, all around us, we are His. I remind myself always that I am here for a reason and a purpose. John 3 verse 16 reminds me of God's unfailing love towards me. Today, I want to challenge you to meet Good in the pages of Scripture. Let the Word of God wash over you, cleanse you, and heal you. When we focus on God's love for our lives we see the Scripture is alive. The Spirit of God will take the Word of God and revive our souls. How does it work? Why does it happen? Easy - this book - the Bible is alive. Pulsating with life, God's life. It's not a dead, book of theology, it's aflame with life-giving power. Reading the Scriptures we breath the breath of God. This renews, restores and rejuvenates our souls. My hearts desire is to stay focused on Scripture, I want the Word to become infused in my soul. Because I am a neurotic, unstable, middle-aged woman I need my feet planted in God's Word. I want to encourage you to carefully study the Scripture. Because without it I do not believe I would make it. Prayer Father God, thank You for giving me Scripture. I am asking You Lord, that when I read or listen to it, it will change me. Lord, I know You love me, I love You. Lord, open my ears and heart this morning so Your words can penetrate my heart, so that I will never be the same. Lord, make me receptive to hear from You. I want to Your Holy Spirit to teach and guide me. Taking me to the next level in my life. Thank You, Lord, in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

Where does your strenght come from?

November 3 Where does your strength come from?

Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. 1 "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." Where does your strength come from? One day I experienced a total melt down at home. Covid 19 has taken it's toll on my life. I was standing washing dishes in my kitchen and I had experienced a feeling of total dread. I thought something terrible was going to happen to my family. This fear was so real I cried for days. The only confidence and peace of mind I could find is God. My little boat was sailing in stormy seas. I was uncertain and so afraid it seemed difficult and I was out of sorts. I prayed and in that time I was feeling emotions of being so much alone. My battle with fear was real. The only way I got out of this dark and lonely place was to find my strength in God. I run to the Lord, Jesus Christ and I am learning that without Jesus in my life I cannot make the day. Fighty battles of self-destruction and emotional turmoil isn't fun. By studying God's Word, I am focusing on the way forward and letting go of my difficulties. We need to store the Word of God within our hearts. When times of difficulties cloud our minds, we can draw from the Word. By doing this we have hope and courage ready to fire against the pains and hurts we are facing. I know my life seems boring to other people. I bake cakes for a living but God has been so gracious towards me. He opened the door for great opportunities. I am so grateful that I can experience God's grace in my own life new every day. What is my strategy going forward? Get up each day, take a shower, make my bed. Give my husband something to eat. Love the people in my life. Trust in God with all my being and know only God knows where my strength comes from. My strength is in God Almighty. Hiding God's truths in my life, my heart and my mind. Words to live by when facing turmoil "Lord, Jesus I don't understand this, but I trust You today." or "Thank You, Jesus, You brought me this far, I know You won't leave me now." or "Yes, this pain is so real, but my victory in You is unknown." Prayer Thank You, Lord, that You are a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Today we pray about our challenges, Lord, please guide us and help us. You care deeply about me. Lord Jesus, You want me to stay close to You because Your presence brings joy and abundant life! This morning please align my heart with Yours and remind me of Your goodness. Remind me of Your faithfulness. I bind the feelings of dread in Jesus Christs Name today. Lord, please give me the strength to look up and praise You. No matter what I face, I will choose to place my hope in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

I will serve Jesus Christ, as long as I live.

November 2

As long as I live, I will serve. God Psalm 91:16 (NKJV) 16 “With long life, I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” It's something we all are facing, aging isn't negotiable. I am in my late fifties and approaching sixty. It's clear I cannot do everything I did when I was in my thirtys. Facing my sixties is something I have to do. I don't look the same and my body is changing. These days I am living my life to the fullest. Focusing my time and attention on the Lord Jesus. My mom phoned me last Monday in tears, her brother passed away. He was 79 years of age. She feels sad and realised that she's the last of her family. We spoke about her brother and then I reminded her that on one is leaving earth alive. The only person I recall leaving earther alive was Enoch who lived for 365 years. Enoch and walked off with God into heaven. We need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Study your Bible make time to come into the presence of God and draw near to Him. By staying connected to God we are able to hold onto the word that God is our salvation. Serving the Lord Jesus is our main aim. Today make the effort to praise the Lord Jesus and get into His presence. Reading Psalm 89 verses 15 in the message, the Psalmist reminds to praise God. Praise is our password to opening heavens door. When we praise we are opening the doors for God to enter our lives. Prayer Good morning Father God, I want to enter into Your presence today. The Psalmist reminds me to praise You. Today, I am grateful and happy that You have opened the door so that we may enter into Your presence. In praising and worshiping You we declare we will serve You, as long as we live. Lord in our praises we want to draw closer to You. You remind me today "blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise." Today we want to claim You, walk in Your presence and bring You glory and honor. Lord, I need Your direct intervention in my life today. Thank You, for this time we can spend together. Thank You, Lord for a new day. In the Holy name of Jesus Christ. I will praise You and Honor You. Amen

Are you standing on your soapbox?

November 1 Are you standing on your soapbox? Nehemiah 8:4a (NKJV) 4 "So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose." As a priest and scribe, Ezra requested to read the Word of God to the people. On hearing the Word, some of the people wept, but to sing praises to the Lord God. Are you standing on your soapbox today? Where are you giving your impromptu speech? Is it on the Internet ~ your Blog spot, your Facebook account or Instagram? We have the ability to spread the Word of God to so many people over the Internet, let us make use of it. On this medium, we can teach people, counsel people and encourage people. Take a moment and think of how many people you can reach? So many are on the Internet today, let us use this platform and spread the Word of God. Prayer Abba Father, You are the glory of my strength and Your favour is exalted in my life. Lord thank You for establishing me today. Thank You for granting me a life of support with You and with people. Thank You for the happiness in my life because of Your supernatural favour in my life today. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Do not pay back evil for evil

October 31

Do not pay back evil for evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NLT) 15 "See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and all people." It's human nature to take revenge on someone who has hurt you. You would say haha, laughing at this statement. Do you know what so and so did to me yesterday? I am going to repay him or her back. It happens that we find people mistreat us and they think they can get away with it. So how can we change our reaction to this statement? The Apostle Paul lived 2000 years ago; he would not understand the people of today. Nothing has changed, people are people, and we tend to pay back evil for evil. How can we change this reaction? I know it will be hard to do this without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We need someone to help us stop acting out. How can we reverse this reaction? If we have to change our perspective on people, we need the help of the Holy Spirit today. With Him, we have the power to change any situation. The devil waits for you and me at every intersection, it's his hope and desire to kill each one of us. So when we act on our revenge we are actually taking part in the devil scheme to kill and steal. Now he is using us in confusing our values so that good appears to be evil, and evil appears to be good. Now, what is the answer to this problem? Paul writes; in Ephesians 6 verse 11: "Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's scheme." We can unmask Satan and defeat his schemes, and that's through a close walk with God, a daily study of the Scriptures. We need to pray. We need to guard our minds, our mouths and our morals. It's not necessary to pay back evil for evil. The minute we forgive someone who offended us we are able to move forward. Prayer Good morning Father God, LORD, please forgive me, I am so guilty of taking offence. I seem to believe everyone is against me. I confess I do take revenge. Today, I pray Lord God, renew my mind. I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me. I have not allowed Him to help me deal with my own iniquity. Forgive me, I have sinned against You Lord my God. I humble myself before You and I pray, help me let go of offences and forgive immediately. I want to walk with You, Lord. Help me be the lessor in any given situation. I want to practice humility. I'm in trouble. Please forgive me in Jesus Name, Amen

"Don't give up."

October 30 "Don't give up." Galatians 6:9 (NLT) 9 "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Most people get tired and are not in the mood for doing what is right. They sometimes do what is necessary because "no one cares." Today I want to encourage you not to give up. Yes, sometimes people take advantage of you, and you really go the extra mile, yet people misuse you and let you down. My suggestion to you is: take a break, take some time for being alone in the morning, relax a little and give yourself breathing space. Now, after this couple of minutes, hours or half-day go back and do your best. Remember that excellence is a state of mind; you are excellent. You know what is right and you have practiced it all year round, don't give up now. You don't know when you are going to reap your harvest of blessings. Stay focused on end. Prayer Abba Father, this time of year is dreadful, and we get tired of doing good, people disappoint us always. Remind us that You are still in control and that we will reap what we have sown. Help us stay focused in Jesus Name, Amen.

The righteous will "be long remembered."

October 29

The righteous will "be long remembered." Psalm 112:6 (NLT) 6 "Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered." Matthew Arnold wrote, "Christ came to reveal what righteousness is." The Lord Jesus defends the defenseless and the beaten-down he comforts. Jesus Christ feeds the hungry and, healed the sick; touching the dirty and offensive, and He suffered for you and me, we didn't deserve it. Let us praise the Lord Jesus for His compassion and for demonstrating it to us today. We are trying to imitate Him, but still, we lack the kindness and love needed to grow. I still wonder how to live out a righteous life. Is it by acting and trying to be pure in heart? We need to do acts of kindness and love our enemies as we love ourselves. We know the Lord Jesus was very involved with the poor and sick people in His time. He cared for their wellbeing, are we doing the same? Can we say "I am the righteousness of God in Christ?" Prayer Heavenly Father, I want to offer You a great sacrifice of my love. I am praying to create in my a pure heart and a right spirit with You. Please, Lord forgive me my iniquities, and I am the righteousness of God in Christ today. Amen.

"A Godly life."

October 28

"A godly life." 1 Timothy 6:11 (NLT) Paul's Final Instructions 11 "But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness." The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy that he is a man of God and that he should run from all the evil things in this world. Timothy was a young man and learning to live a "godly life," as do many of us these days. So exactly how do we pursue a holy life? To my thinking, one should always guard your heart because of it in our hearts that we allow things to take root. I love chocolates and can crave it all the time. We need to keep desiring the "Word of God." Invest in spending time in God's word, read and pray without stopping. We build our religion in attending church as often as we can, it keeps us connected to fellow believers. An example, if you take a burning coal from the fire and set is aside it starts to cool down. In due course the coal becomes ash, it doesn't have the fire to keep its heat. Attending church is good for all who want to experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit moves when there are more than one believer attending church. This is how we build our fellowship with people and draw closer to God. Prayer Lord God, today I want to be in pursuit of a godly life. Holy Spirit please teach me to guard my soul and renew my mind. Taking hold of Your Word today, help me to get rid off my bad habits. As a child of God, I want to keep my light shining for You Lord, Jesus. Lord, here I am, please help me today, to stay focused on all that is good, pure and Holy. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Find life? In the Lord Jesus Christ

October 27 Find Life? Proverbs 21:21 (NLT) 21 "Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor." Are you pursuing righteousness and unfailing love? Proverbs says we will find life when we pursue righteousness. We all are living according to some code or value system. We do things in a specific way believing it enriches out lives. Righteousness is the right standing with the Lord God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. To find life, we need to live righteous lives. By confessing the following "I am the righteousness of God in Christ." We start living our lives stretching out toward the Lord God. Our confession brings us into right standing with God. The Holy Spirit within us reminds us of our right standing with the Lord God through the Lord Jesus Christ. We make a 180 degree turn back to the Lord God, we are grabbing hold of the Lord God in repentance of our sin. I know the Lord Jesus Christ has been my salvation and I am holding onto Him. Jesus died on the cross for my sins as well as your. Prayer Father God, we are pursuing you today. In repentance stand before You, please Lord forgive us our sins. You died on the cross for me, I am asking come into my heart today. Forgive me my sinful nature, I accept You Lord Jesus Christ, as my Lord and my savior. I confess I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am born again of Jesus Christ, You are my Lord and my savior. As we seek Your kingdom, add onto us as promised in Matthew 6 verse 33. In Jesus Name, Amen.

"God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

October 26 "God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) 7 "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." The age we live in is very wealthy, people have many resources available to them. The challenge lays in giving when you know people are in need. Being generous seems to be a mind set. You are generous or you aren't. As simple as that. We read in todays scripture "decide in your heart how much to give." As a working person I gave my tithings and some to people I knew that were in need. Something that makes me angry is when pressured to give money and I wasn't prepared for it. I once came out of the shops and a beggar stood between me and my car begging for money, I felt pressured to give her money. She didn't allow me to get into my car. This made me angry, I decided that when someone puts pressure on you to give money that money cannot be a blessing. Going forward it's a good thing to help people in need, I find that being generous God blessings come to me. It's a wonderful feeling when you see God, open doors that were otherwise closed. God is faithful and He is always looking how He can bless each one of us. The Grace of God rests on people who have a giving heart, He blesses each one of us with good fortune. Prayer Father God, thank you, for blessing my finances so that I may be a blessing to other people. Thank you, Lord that You have taught me to be a cheerful giver, I like to give without reproach. My heart feels happy when I am able to bless other people. Because I know Lord, You bless me each day. I have never gone without anything I need, by Your Grace. Lord, I am grateful to You for open doors of great opportunities, blessings undeserved. I praise You and worship You Lord Jesus, as I come into Your presence today. You are more than Holy, You are all I need. I love You, Lord Jesus. Amen

"Let your eyes observe my ways."

October 23 "Let your eyes observe my ways." Proverbs 23:26 (RSV) 26 "My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways." Son or daughter; did you read today? O dear Lord, as we meditate and focus on Your Words of wisdom today, here are our hearts. We are people with many exciting lives, and sometimes we lose hope and sometimes we don't always come to You. As we reminded today to give You our hearts, we also want to ask You to help us in observing Your Ways. There are so many things keeping us busy that we lose sight of what is essential. Lord, sometimes we need You to come closer to us so that we can observe Your ways. Today is one of those days, help us understand Your word and help us to live the lives You have planned for us. As little children, we sit and wait for Your guidance, and we are eager to learn from You today. As we train our eyes to stay focused on You today, we pray to ask for the right attitude with You Lord as well as with people. Prayer Heavenly Father, today we give You our hearts and Lord we set our sights on You, we want to learn more of You and become more like You. Help and guide us in the name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.