December 10th, 2024 I love your LORD

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word that reveals the depth of Your wisdom and love. As it is written in 1 Corinthians 2:16, “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” Lord, I humbly desire to live in alignment with Your Spirit, to hold Your thoughts, feelings, and purposes in my heart.

Lord, I confess that my own thoughts and abilities are limited and often fall short of Your will. My heart yearns to walk in harmony with You, to be one spirit with You as Your Word promises in 1 Corinthians 6:17. You have joined Yourself to me so that You can speak heart to heart with me. I long to hear Your voice clearly and to follow Your ways. Father God, I desire that Your thoughts become my actions, and that I live so closely with You that I never lack the power to overcome the evil of this world. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may feel Your heart of compassion for those who are hurting or burdened by sickness and pain. Use me, Lord, as a vessel of Your love, reaching out through my hands to fulfil Your purpose on this earth. Today, I renew my commitment to walk in union with You. Help me to give my full attention to Your Spirit dwelling within me. I choose to yield to Your voice, Lord, rather than the distractions of this world or the desires of my flesh. Let the mind of Christ flow through me, transforming my thoughts and actions according to Your will. Lord, I ask for Your wisdom to guide my heart, mind, and soul. I admit that I often lack the understanding needed to navigate life’s challenges. Please grant me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to comprehend the gifts You have freely given. Teach me spiritual truths through Your Holy Spirit, and grant me the discernment I need to live faithfully each day. Abba Father, I bring before You my family and friends, each one by name: Andus, me, Alezandra, Pieter, Andus Jnr., Jacques, Didi, Gizel, Cuba, Devan, Johan, Odette, Anabelle, Briana, Jean, Jacklyn, Mom, Oom Frik, Elsa, Llewelyn, Zelda, Sean, Patrick, Duane, Nikita, Matthew, Elijah, Paul, Carla, Jadyn, Adam, Jocelyn, Aurther, Dante, Benjamin, Violette, Alison, Elma, Alette, Peet, Elmarie, Ben, their children, Douw, Zayeen, Lea, Megan, Josh, Hannelie, Alan, Rina-Hannes, Karina, Petro, Bianca and her daughter, Wilma, Koos, Saddika, Kevin, Moosa, Aneesa, Ras and his wife, their child, Lorraine, Kiewiet, Deon, and Veronica. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over each person on this list. I ask that You bless us with Your supernatural favour and protection. Lord, You know the struggles we face, the fears in our hearts, and the challenges we encounter. I pray for Your peace, love, and provision to fill our lives today. You have given me dreams of joy and prosperity, Lord, and I trust in Your timing to bring these dreams to fulfilment. Father, I am in need. My vehicles need repair, and I lack the resources to fix them. I place my trust in You, my Provider, to meet my needs. Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, I ask all these things. Amen. 🌸

Restoration to my Marriage

Heavenly Father, During this season of fasting, I bring my marriage before You in prayer. Although the future remains unknown to me, I trust in Your Word, as written in Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” Lord, I come before You seeking guidance and strength for the road ahead. I am uncertain of what lies before me, yet I feel compelled to lift up my marriage to You, asking for Your intervention and support. Help me to be the wife You desire me to be. I recognise my limitations and my need for Your assistance. Transform my tendencies toward selfishness, impatience, and irritability into kindness, endurance, and the ability to bear all things. Take my ingrained habits, reactions, and protective defences, and replace them with patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Break down any walls around my heart with the revelation of Your love. Grant me a new heart, filled with Your peace, joy, and love, as described in Galatians 5:22-23. Lord, I invite You to reveal any sin within me, especially in my relationship with Andus. I confess the moments when I have been unloving, critical, angry, resentful, disrespectful, or unforgiving toward him. Please help me to set aside my own hurt, anger, and disappointment, enabling me to forgive him fully and without reservation. Guide me to be an instrument of reconciliation, peace, and healing in our marriage, and grant us the ability to communicate effectively. Rescue us from the brink of separation, and let us not venture into the realm of divorce. Lord, help me to be my husband’s helpmate, companion, supporter, and friend. Teach me how to create a peaceful and welcoming home, a refuge where he feels safe. Show me how to take care of myself and maintain my attractiveness to him. Shape me into a confident and creative woman, rich in spirit, mind, and soul, so that he may feel pride in me as his wife. Today, I lay my expectations at the foot of the cross and release Andus from any responsibility to fulfil me in areas where I should seek fulfilment in You. Help me to accept him as he is, without trying to change him. While acknowledging that he may not change in some areas, I also release him into Your hands to change in ways beyond my expectations. I entrust any necessary changes to You, recognising that only You are perfect, and I look to You to work in both of us. Teach me, Lord, to pray for Andus with a heart of love. Where love has faded, rekindle it with new life between us. Grant me understanding of what it truly means to love unconditionally and show me how to express it in a way that speaks clearly to him. Unite us so that we may be in agreement on all things, as written in Amos 3:3. May You, the God of patience and comfort, help us to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). Make us a team, working together for the good of our marriage, forgiving one another’s weaknesses, and building each other up. Help us to pursue peace and edify one another, as in Romans 14:19, and may we be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Lord, I pray that our commitment to You and to each other may grow stronger each day. Enable Andus to lead our home as You have ordained, and show me how to support and respect him in this role. Help me to understand his dreams and perspective, and reveal to me what he desires and needs. Grant me insight into potential challenges before they arise and breathe new life into our marriage. Today, I ask You, Father, to make me a renewed person. Give me a fresh outlook, a positive perspective, and a renewed relationship with the husband You have given me. Let me see him with new eyes, filled with appreciation, love, compassion, and acceptance. May You bless him with a new wife, and let it be me. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, Amen.

Day 2 prayer

Good morning, Abba Father,

All glory and honor belong to You, Holy God. Today, I come to praise and worship You with all my heart. Thank You for the precious rain, a reminder of Your grace upon all creation. As I look out my window, I see the water nurturing the grass, plants, and all living things, a beautiful display of Your love. Thank You for this wonderful blessing, Lord. Father, I feel blessed to have this time to be in Your presence. You know me by name, You understand my heart, and You know my deepest thoughts. I’m grateful for each moment I can dedicate my life back to You, seeking to purify my heart, mind, and body in Your presence. As I continue this second day of fasting, I confess my struggles, Lord. I battle with negativity in my thoughts, actions, and words. Please forgive me for these shortcomings, for my anger and frustration. I lift up those around me, even those who test my patience, releasing them to You in Jesus’ name, asking that You bring them peace and fulfil their heart’s desires. My husband is away for a time of rest. May You bless him during this time, and may he find true restoration. Lord, You know why I am fasting and coming to You. Today, I lift up Andus, me, Alezandra, Pieter, Andus Jnr., Jacques, Didi, Gizel, Cuba, Devan, Johan, Odette, Anabelle, Briana, Jean, Jacklyn, my mom, Oom Frik, Elsa, Llewelyn, Zelda, Sean, Patrick, Duane, Nikita, Matthew, Elijah, Paul, Carla, Jadyn, Adam, Jocelyn, Aurther, Dante, Benjamin, Violette, Alison. Father, I pray for supernatural favor, protection, and guidance for each one, that Your angels would watch over us. You know my mother’s struggles with her breathing, Lord; please bring her relief and strength in her body. I pray for healing, restoration, and peace in all my relationships, blessing each person I’ve named. Lord, I also lift up my friends: Elma, Alette, Peet, Elmarie, Ben, Douw, Zayeen, Lea, Megan, Josh, Hannelie, Alan, Rina-Hannes, Karina, Petro, Bianca, Wilma, Koos, Saddika, Kevin, Moosa, Aneesa, Ras, Lorraine, Kiewiet, Deon, and Veronica. You know their needs, Lord. Elma is still hurting after being robbed; Alette is anxious about her job loss. Please guide, protect, and bless each of them and bring new opportunities into their lives. Today, as I draw closer to You, I dedicate my life to You. I want to be intentional about my relationship with You and those around me. I ask that You, Holy Spirit, would reveal the purpose You have for me. I’m weary, and my body is tired. I ask that You strengthen me to approach this fast with conviction and with Your guidance. Lord, I acknowledge my faults, my struggles with resentment, and my tendency toward hurtful words. I release my pain and anger, and I forgive those who have wronged me, as You have forgiven me. Please grant me the wisdom and understanding that only Your Holy Spirit can give. I pray for this fast to renew my mind, body, and soul. Throughout this day, as I pause to pray and seek You, I ask for refreshment through Your Spirit. Help me adopt a spiritual perspective that brings both physical and spiritual renewal. Jesus, I long to rekindle my relationship with You. I want my mind to be renewed, my words to reflect Your goodness, and my life to have a positive impact on my family, work, and the restoration of my financial situation. Please guide me out of the debt I’ve incurred and help me make wise choices. Finally, I bring my mother before You, asking for Your healing touch on her lungs, that she may breathe freely. Please, Lord, bring life and healing to her body. In Your holy name, I pray, Amen.

Prayer for forgiveness

Dear Father God, O Lord, my God, I come humbly before You, asking that You cleanse my heart of every fault and renew a right spirit within me. Please, Lord, forgive me for the thoughts I have held, the words I have spoken, and the actions I have taken that have not brought glory to You or have strayed from Your commands. Specifically, I confess to You my thoughts about others who seem to succeed through dishonesty or harm. I acknowledge the words, thoughts, and actions within me that are not pleasing to You, Lord, and I ask Your forgiveness. I repent of these and choose to turn from this path, desiring to live fully in Your way. I trust in Your mercy, for You are gracious and slow to anger, full of compassion and loving-kindness. Forgive me, Lord, for any times I have taken Your mercy for granted. Lord, You alone "know the secrets of the heart." Reveal to me any hidden sins that I may not yet see. Show me any place in my life where sin remains unrecognised. Open my eyes to the truth about myself, that I may clearly see and understand it. Search my soul, O God, and lay bare my innermost motives, helping me to discern where I need change. I am willing, Lord, to surrender any unfruitful patterns that do not align with Your best plan for my life. Give me strength to make the necessary changes and courage to align my heart with Yours. As I pray, I ask for Your mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness and the greatness of Your compassion. Blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from all iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Cleanse me from hidden faults and lead me in the way everlasting. O Lord, my God, I desire to stand clean and right before You. I receive Your forgiveness now, with gratitude, so that I may experience times of refreshing in Your holy presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

The Story of Ruth

In a time when the land itself seemed to weep with hunger, a family fled from Bethlehem in search of life. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion ventured to Moab, a foreign land that promised refuge. But Moab, while offering them a temporary home, became a place of heartbreak. First, Naomi lost Elimelech, her beloved husband. Then, after her sons had married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, they too were taken from her. In the space of years, Naomi’s once full heart was left barren, emptied of the loves that had defined her life. Yet, within the shadows of this sorrow, the whispers of God’s plan began to stir. Naomi, broken yet not without faith, learned that God had once again provided for His people in Bethlehem. She decided to return, urging her daughters-in-law to stay behind in Moab and find new husbands. Orpah, with tears in her eyes, kissed Naomi goodbye. But Ruth... Ruth held on. "Don’t ask me to leave you," she pleaded. "Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God." As they journeyed back to Bethlehem, something was unfolding. Though Naomi felt abandoned by God, calling herself Mara, meaning “bitter,” the presence of Ruth beside her was a glimmer of divine grace. God was still writing their story, and though Naomi couldn’t yet see it, He was weaving their lives together with something beautiful. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, they were greeted by the town’s murmurs. But Ruth, full of love for her mother-in-law and trust in a God she barely knew, sought to provide for them. She went to glean in the fields and by chance—or perhaps, by divine design—found herself working in the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s late husband. Boaz, a man of honour, noticed Ruth and her tireless devotion. He ensured her safety and offered her more than what she had hoped to gather. Ruth, in awe of his kindness, wondered why such favour had fallen upon her. Boaz, with a gentle smile, spoke of the love she had shown Naomi, blessing her under the wings of God. The romance of this story isn’t just in the budding affection between Ruth and Boaz, but in the way God moved within their lives—quietly, tenderly, and purposefully. Even as Ruth and Boaz began to draw closer, it was clear that the real force at play was divine. The love between them was not just their own but a reflection of God’s love for His people. One night, following Naomi’s guidance, Ruth approached Boaz as he slept at the threshing floor. In a moment both daring and humble, she lay at his feet, symbolically asking for his protection, and Boaz, stirred in the night, responded with a promise of redemption. In the end, their union not only saved Naomi from her grief but also laid the groundwork for something far greater. Ruth and Boaz’s love brought forth Obed, the grandfather of King David, and through their lineage, the very bloodline that would lead to the birth of Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer. What seemed like a tale of loss became a story of God’s faithful love, bringing together not only two hearts but generations of promise. It leaves us to wonder, in our own lives, how God might be working behind the scenes, crafting beauty from our pain, love from our sorrow, and purpose from our wandering.

Our Father

Our Father

“…therefore, pray … Our Father in heaven …” Matthew 6: 9 Here’s how Jesus taught us to pray: 1) Our Father in heaven. When you say “Father,” you acknowledge that you’re part of God’s family and have a special relationship with Him. This relationship entitles you to approach Him anytime, confident that you are loved, welcomed, and assured of His favor. When you say “in heaven,” you recognize that you are drawing from the highest source of goodness, grace, mercy, provision, protection, and authority. What a privilege! 2) Hallowed be Your Name. This should always be foremost in your mind: “Whatever I do today, Lord, let it honor You.” Your life should inspire others to want to know the One you serve. 3) Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Every time you choose to say no to yourself and yes to God’s will, you demonstrate what it means to live as a citizen of His kingdom. Note the words “as it is in heaven.” Is anyone in heaven fearful or doubting? Stubborn or disobedient? Critical or negative? When the enemy brings something to your door that’s contrary to God’s will, you have the authority to rise up and say, “If it’s not approved in heaven, it has no place in my life here on earth.” When it comes to disobedience, refuse to accept the package and sign the receipt. The one thing Satan hopes you never discover is that you have the God-given authority to restrict his movements in your life. 4) Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Notice the word “daily.” You can’t fight today’s battles on the strength of yesterday’s bread; you must have a fresh supply. In the wilderness, God’s people were only permitted to collect enough manna for one day; if they collected more, it rotted. It’s wonderful to talk about what God did yesterday and what He’s going to do tomorrow, but all you’ve got is today. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Only as you partake of what God provides for you today will you be able to stand up to the challenges you face. This prayer is an expression of faith. The very act of asking means you believe God has what you need and cares enough to provide it for you. It says, “I don’t need to go to anybody else but You, Lord.” So hang up the phone, turn off the TV, shut the doors, get down on your knees, approach God in faith, and pray, “Give me what I need for this day.” God knows what you need, even when you don’t. As you partake of what He provides for you each day, you’ll be able to handle whatever life throws at you. And remember, when people start getting on your nerves for no apparent reason, or you start having mood swings, or you begin living by feelings instead of faith, it’s probably because you’re not eating right! If that’s the case, it’s time to go back to your source and say, “Lord, I’ve come for my daily bread.” 5) Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12 Let’s clear up some misconceptions about these words. Satan will try to convince you that you haven’t truly forgiven the person who wronged you. No, you can make the right decision and still have the wrong feelings. This is when you need faith to carry you through. You have done your part; now you are waiting for God to do His. God has the power to change your feelings toward the one who hurt you, and then your job is finished. You are instructed to “invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessings (favor) upon those who abuse you” (Luke 6:28). You might say, “Bless them? Are you serious?” Yes, the word bless means to speak well of. You’re extending mercy to those who don’t deserve it. But isn’t that what God does for you? The truth is, you cannot truly forgive without the Holy Spirit’s help. So today, why don’t you pray, “Holy Spirit, breathe on me and give me strength. I forgive them for what they did. I release them from this debt and ask You to bless them. I turn the situation over to You. I trust You for my total restoration. Help me, Lord. Heal my heart, in Jesus’ name, amen.” Now, by faith, leave it all in Your Father’s hands, move forward, and anticipate His blessings. You won’t be disappointed. 6) Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13 Jesus taught us to pray, “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Satan knows your areas of weakness and will exploit them. But there’s good news. It’s your weaknesses, not your strengths, that draw you closer to God and make you lean on Him. Paul wrote, “I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This verse sounds contradictory. You want to be freed from your weaknesses, not boast about them. Paul gives you several reasons: 1) Your weakness prevents pride. Paul writes, “So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations” (2 Corinthians 12:7). You’ll often find a weakness attached to strength, to keep you from becoming boastful or running ahead of God. Gideon chose 32,000 men to fight the Midianites, but God reduced them to 300 (Judges 7). Why? So that Israel would know it was God’s power, not their own, that saved them. 2) Your weakness creates fellowship. Your struggles show you how much you need the support of others. Vance Havner said Christians are frail, but when they stick together, they can stop traffic. 3) Your weakness enables you to help others. It’s the broken who become masters at mending. Your ministry can come out of your most painful experiences. The things you’re reluctant to share are often the things God will use to help others.

Steps to Deepen Your Relationship with the LORD: Commitment, Surrender, Faith, and Sacrifice

1. Make up your mind: Spiritual growth doesn’t happen passively. It requires a deliberate decision and commitment. As James 1:7 warns, a person who is uncertain and wavering cannot expect to receive from the LORD. To build a meaningful relationship with Him, prioritise it above all else and set your heart steadfastly towards spiritual growth. 2. Break up your will: Surrendering your will to God and aligning it with His purposes is crucial for spiritual progress. Like Israel wandering in circles in the wilderness despite being so close to the Promised Land, it illustrates the importance of obedience and alignment with God's will. As Hebrews 13:20-21 reassures, when we allow God to work in us, He equips us to fulfil His good purposes. 3. Wake up your faith: Act on the promptings of God’s Spirit and trust His guidance. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that faith is foundational; those who seek God earnestly are rewarded. Trusting in God's faithfulness and diligently seeking Him will deepen your relationship and strengthen your faith. 4. Take up your cross: Following Jesus requires self-denial and embracing His path wholeheartedly. Matthew 16:24-25 teaches that true life and meaning are found in surrendering to God’s will, even if it means sacrificing personal desires. Taking up your cross symbolises a commitment to follow Jesus faithfully, no matter the cost. In conclusion, building a relationship with the LORD involves making a firm decision, surrendering your will to His, actively trusting Him, and embracing the path of self-denial and obedience. By prioritising these steps, you can cultivate a deeper, more meaningful connection with God.

God's Eternal Rewards: Understanding Divine Recognition and Remuneration 3 July 2024

…He will receive his reward. - 1 Corinthians 3:14 NIV Scripture 1: "...The fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss..." - 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Scripture 2: "No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age." - Mark 10:29-30 NIV Scripture 3: "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." - Luke 14:13-14 NIV These Scriptures clearly teach that God rewards your deeds. Some rewards will come in this life, and some will come in the next. Perhaps you find yourself saying, "I served God faithfully, so why am I still struggling? Doesn’t God notice or care?" Yes, God notices and He cares. But He doesn’t promise that the work you do for Him now will always result in immediate gain. Many of the rewards God has for us are so great that it will take eternity to appreciate and enjoy them. Jesus said, "Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name… will by no means lose his reward." - Mark 9:41 NKJV No deed for God will go unrewarded – even a cup of cold water or a prayer in the middle of the night. “…He will receive his reward.” - 1 Corinthians 3:14 NIV How will God evaluate and reward what you did for Him during your lifetime here on earth? Based on three tests: 1. The Relationship Test: The life God rewards is not a life of performance apart from a relationship with Him. Unless you abide in Him and obey His commandments, you will not bear fruit for Him. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5 NIV. He commended the church at Ephesus for their good works, then turned around and condemned them because they hadn’t kept their love for Him alive. "I know your deeds, your hard work... Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first." - Revelation 2:2-4 NIV 2. The Motive Test: Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." - Matthew 6:1 NIV. Note the words "to be seen." What should our motive be? To serve God and bring glory to Him! Even simple things like eating and drinking can do that: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV. Your most religious actions are worthless if your motive is to enhance your own ego. 3. The Love Test: Christ said, "Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great..." - Luke 6:35 NIV. When it comes to good works, why is always more important than what. The Bible says, "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully." - 2 John 1:8 NIV. Keep your heart pure and your motives right! God notices and values your faithfulness. Even if the rewards aren't immediate, they are sure and eternal.

A prayer for repentance and reconciliation - 2 July 2024

Isaiah 59:16 (KJV): "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore, his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." Lord, You know my heart, as I have laid it bare before You in my prayers. Sometimes, we drift away from praying and become hardened towards You because our interest in prayer is often superficial. We say we pray, read about its benefits, and feel uplifted, but Isaiah suggests that You are astonished by such shallow views of prayer. True worship and intercession must go hand in hand; one cannot exist without the other. Intercession means aligning our minds with Christ’s concerning those for whom we pray. Too often, instead of worshipping You, we get caught up in analysing how prayer works. Are we truly worshipping You, or are we debating with You? Doubting Your ways shows we are not in true worship. We bombard You with our demands, dictating our desires, without seeking to align with the mind of Christ. If we are hard toward You, we become hard toward others. Are we worshipping You with such fervour that we seek Your mind for those we pray for? Are we living in a holy relationship with You, or are we rigid and self-righteous? Do we claim to live but are spiritually dead? If there is no one interceding properly, let us be that one. Let us worship You and live in a holy relationship with You. Help us engage in the real work of intercession, knowing it is demanding but free from pitfalls. Unlike preaching the gospel, which can have its challenges, intercessory prayer is pure and sincere work. Prayer Dear Abba Father God, I apologise for my hardened heart and humbly confess that I have misunderstood the true essence of intercessory prayer. Reflecting on my life, I realise that I have been bombarding You with my needs, desires, and wants, while rarely offering You the praise and worship You deserve. It is astounding that You have not extinguished my life despite my shortcomings. It is incredible to think that I am speaking to the God of the Universe and that I am reborn through Jesus Christ, yet I constantly miss the mark. Your mercy and grace surround me, and I am humbled that You have not grown weary of me. I acknowledge my struggle with a hardened heart and humbly repent. Please, Abba Father, forgive me. May Your Holy Spirit search me, cleanse my heart, and create in me a clean heart and a pure spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, Amen.

Israel's Journey and Divine Assurance: A Story of Faith and Rebellion

Once upon a time, the people of Israel stood on the brink of a great journey. They were about to cross the Jordan River and conquer lands inhabited by powerful nations with towering cities. The inhabitants of these lands were the fearsome Anakites, giants known for their strength and might. The Israelites trembled at the thought, having heard tales of their invincibility. But a reassuring message came to them: "Do not fear, for the Lord your God will go ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy and subdue these nations before you, and you will quickly drive them out as He has promised." The Lord reminded them, "After I have driven these nations out, do not think it is because of your own righteousness that you are taking possession of this land. No, it is because of the wickedness of these nations that I am removing them. Remember, it is not your righteousness or integrity that grants you this land, but My promise to your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." The Lord then recalled the times when the Israelites had angered Him in the wilderness. From the day they left Egypt, they had been rebellious. At Horeb, they had provoked the Lord’s wrath to the point where He was ready to destroy them. When Moses went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets inscribed with God's commandments, he spent forty days and nights without food or water. The Lord gave him two stone tablets with the commandments, but the people below had already turned away and made a golden calf to worship. Upon descending the mountain and seeing their sin, Moses was so furious that he shattered the tablets. He then interceded for the people, fasting and praying for another forty days and nights, pleading with the Lord to spare them despite their wickedness. The Lord listened to Moses and did not destroy them. Moses also prayed for Aaron, who had led them in this sin. He destroyed the golden calf by burning it, grinding it to powder, and scattering the ashes into a stream. The Israelites had a history of rebellion, whether at Taberah, Massah, or Kibroth Hattaavah. Even when the Lord commanded them to take possession of the land from Kadesh Barnea, they doubted and disobeyed. Moses reminded them of his continuous intercession, laying prostrate before the Lord to save them from destruction. Moses recounted how he pleaded with the Lord to remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and not to let their enemies say He brought them out of Egypt to kill them. The Lord listened and instructed Moses to carve out two new stone tablets and come up the mountain again. There, the Lord rewrote the Ten Commandments and Moses placed the new tablets in an ark made of acacia wood, as commanded. As they journeyed, they remembered the death of Aaron and the succession of his son Eleazar as priest. The tribe of Levi was set apart to carry the ark and minister before the Lord. They had no inheritance among the Israelites because the Lord Himself was their inheritance. The Lord asked Israel to fear Him, walk in obedience, love, and serve Him with all their heart and soul. He reminded them that the heavens and the earth belong to Him, yet He chose their ancestors and loved them. Therefore, they were to circumcise their hearts and no longer be stubborn. The Lord is mighty and awesome, showing no partiality and defending the cause of the fatherless, widow, and foreigner. The Israelites were to love the foreigners among them, remembering they were once foreigners in Egypt. Thus, Israel was to fear the Lord, hold fast to Him, and praise Him, for He had performed great and awesome wonders before their eyes. From seventy ancestors who went down into Egypt, the Lord had made them as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Discover God's Promises - 1 July 2024

2 Peter 1:3-4 "According as His divine power [GOD] has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these, you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." If you’re facing a challenge to your faith, the very first thing you should do is turn to the Word and find the promise of God that addresses your situation. Second Peter 1:3-4 assures us that there is a promise for everything we face. Once you have found that promise and settled it in your heart, focus your attention on it. Keep it in the forefront of your mind. My stepson demonstrated this to his dad. He wanted to visit his granny, but there was no money for petrol. Our stepson prayed and, in faith, believed that they would be able to visit her. He prayed for several days and believed it would happen. He said, "Thank you, LORD Jesus!" O how great the LORD is—they were able to visit their granny. God made a way for them to get the necessary petrol and drive to her. "God has provided me with everything needed for life and godliness." 2 Peter 1:3