“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11 NKJV)

The best way to love one another is to love God and experience His love in our hearts.  When we try to love people with our own supply of love, it runs out quickly.  Sometimes people are hard to love.  Sometimes we are hard to love.  But if we go back to His love, we find an endless supply.

I’ve learned that when we begin to act in love—just because God has asked it—our emotions will get in line, and soon we will feel it.

Sometimes it is very difficult to extend love to others—particularly when they have been offended or hurt us.  We know in our hearts that we should radiate that AGAPE kind of love.  But deep in our souls and bodies lies a strong resistance.  That’s when it’s so important to lean on God and borrow some of His love.

Say something good about a person who has said evil things about you.  Begin to speak God’s Word about that person, and your feelings and emotions will change into the love of God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today we see that it’s very important to love our enemies.  We should do good to our enemies and pray for them.  In doing so, You can change our enemies and make them to be at peace with us.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.  Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.  Then you will be successful in everything you do.  Study this Book of Instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.   (Joshua 1:7-8 NLT)

At a critical moment in your Joshua’s life, God spoke to him some of the most positive, inspiring, and courage-building words in the entire Bible.

Hearing God’s Word is a lifelong process.  We learn as we go, and we never fully arrive.  There are always enriching new insights to be gained and intimate moments with God yet to be experienced.  This is the “little by little” Isaiah talked about (Isaiah 28:9-10).

For true learning to take place, information must be encountered repeatedly.  The same is true of learning God’s way; we benefit from “soaking” in His Word, from “chewing” on it as we ask Him to reveal what a particular passage means and how it relates to our lives.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11 NKJV)

How can we stand against the wiles of the devil if we haven’t put on the whole armor of God?  In Ephesians 6 we read about seven pieces of armor.  We need each one of them.

Each piece of armor is offensive, not defensive.  There is nothing to cover our backs because we can never turn our backs on the devil.  We’re always to move forward in God!

Our orders are to “occupy” until Jesus comes (Luke 19:13b).  OCCUPY is not a passive verb, nor does it denote a defensive position.  Rather, it denotes action—an active stance—an offensive maneuver.

Then Ephesians 6:13 says, “having done all, to stand.”  When I looked up the word STAND, I found that it means “to stand as a conqueror.”  We stand as conquerors—soldiers who have already won the battle.

What are our orders from the Lord?  First, put on the whole armor of God—be prepared!  Second, take the offensive—move forward with God as your Captain!  Third, occupy the land—until Jesus comes!  Fourth, stand as a conqueror—the battle is won!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that we are victorious and that we always triumph in Christ.  We are not defeated.  We are victorious through Your Word and the power of Your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

It is so important for us to live forgiving lifestyles. Forgiveness is not something we use now and then, or when we are in a difficult situation. Forgiveness is a way of life. It is a part of the new nature we receive when we are born again.

At times we may grow impatient with people, but we must remember that we sin daily, and we need forgiveness daily. Others sin daily, and they, too, need forgiveness daily. When we expect to receive God’s grace for OUR sins, we must also extend it to others.

What is living in grace? It is receiving God’s grace and giving it to others. I make it a habit, every morning, to forgive anyone who might offend me during the day. Before anyone can offend me, they are forgiven. Today let’s choose to be tenderhearted and to forgive in the name of Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We forgive anyone who may offend us today—even before they do it! In Jesus’s name, we extend the same grace to others that we have so freely received.

Amen.

“What is truth?”

Pontius Pilate asked Jesus this question shortly before he ordered Jesus to be crucified.

We don’t know what tone of voice Pilate used.  Perhaps, he asked in dismay, believing truth could not be discovered.

What we do know is that people continue to ask this question—in many tones of voice.  People today are as puzzled as ever about what is true and what is false.

Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me” (John 15:26 NIV).  Paul said those who followed Jesus would be people who walked in truth: “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:9-10 NKJV).

As Christians, we can know the truth, believe the truth, speak the truth, and act in a way that is in full agreement with the truth of God.  If you sincerely desire to establish a life of blessing for yourself and your family, you need truth.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)

Be anxious for nothing. Instead of feeling anxious about circumstances and situations in our lives, the Bible advises us to pray about them.

If you are anxious about something, take it to God in prayer. Make your petition known, and then thank God that He is answering your requests. Giving thanks demonstrates that you have faith that He will give you things in line with His Word. Remember to give God thanks on a daily basis.

Sometimes I thank the Lord for answers; yet the problems begin to look worse than ever. However, I do not give up and become discouraged; I continue to give thanks. It seems as though the thanksgiving is the very thing that causes my prayers to rise—just like the leaven in bread causes rising power in the dough.

When you feel anxious, turn your worries into praise and thanksgiving. Let your prayers and praise rise up to heaven, and watch your heavenly Father soothe your anxiety and resolve your cares.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today we will not be worried and anxious, but we will use our faith and make our supplications with thanksgiving. We expect our needs to be met in You.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?  (Hebrews 1:14 NKJV)

The writer to the Hebrews in the New Testament tells us that God has appointed angels to minister to the heirs of salvation.

Are YOU an heir of salvation?  Are YOU in the household of faith?

Then you have special angels appointed just to YOU.

Guardian angels show us just how much God loves us and how He is always doing everything to meet our needs, to prepare us, to assist us in all kinds of situations and circumstances.

What needs has He met?

What are you believing for?

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Philippians 3:10 NKJV)

For years I did not understand the part of this verse that speaks of “the fellowship of His sufferings.” What does it mean “to fellowship” in His sufferings? I could better understand the “power of His resurrection” than the “fellowship of His sufferings.”

Then I began to ask, “Why DID Jesus suffer?” I realized that He suffered for the lost. Jesus suffered to the point that He was willing to die. When we enter into the fellowship of His suffering, we will feel the way Jesus felt toward lost souls, and we become willing to die.

Moses was willing to die so that his people might enter the Promised Land. He said to God, “If You’re going to erase their names from the book, then you might as well erase mine too.” Paul felt it, too, when he said, “I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:3).

What were these men feeling? The fellowship of the Lord’s suffering. I believe that the Holy Spirit will let us enter into that fellowship of suffering for the lost.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us to remember that Jesus suffered to save the lost. Never let us think that we are too spiritual to have a burden for the lost. Thank You for helping us, by Your Spirit, to enter the fellowship of the Lord’s suffering.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… (Ephesians 6:12-18 NKJV)

How do we “wrestle” against these powerful spiritual beings?  Our “fight” is to stand in the victory that Jesus has already won for us!  Paul says that we are to “take” the whole armor of God, which Jesus has provided for our complete victory.

You and I are caught up in the most angelic wrestling match at all times; we need to be ready for whatever the devil tries to throw at us.  We need to have our loin girt about with truth, which means we’re not into any false doctrine or flaky teachings.  We must surround ourselves with the Word, the Word, the Word!  We also need the breastplate of righteousness.  We must examine ourselves and be sure we are walking in righteousness.  Wherever there is sin or carnality, the devil has a way to get to us with the intent of destroying our testimony and our Christian walk.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12 NKJV)

Have you ever wanted to become something that you are not? Have you ever said, “If only I could be strong in faith and free from fear. If only I would do certain things.” Jesus has given us all power to do and power to become anything that He is—in all our circumstances.

Once I received some heavy criticism from a pastor in our city. I was so angry that I wanted to tell him off immediately. But the Lord said this: “How should you treat your enemies?” I admitted that the Word days we should pray for them, do good to them, and bless them. And God said, “THAT is the very way I want YOU to treat your enemy.”

I replied, “That may be the way YOU treat Your enemies. But I can’t.” He said, “Yes, you can. You have Jesus. You have the power to become like Me.”

I began to bless that pastor with my mouth. He later invited me to be a guest speaker in his church. When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes one’s enemies to be at peace with him.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray that TODAY we will enter into what You have for us. We will walk in the power and anointing of Jesus Christ. We will know that in us is Jesus—doing all the work.

In His Name,

Amen

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. –(Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV)

When you think about the times a sense of thankfulness fills your mind, it is not usually in times of need or anxiety, but it is in exactly those times that we need to fill our thoughts with God’s presence and recall His blessings.

When we are thankful, we are in the right spiritual place to make our requests known to God and to receive His peace.

What are you most thankful for?

“Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19b NKJV)

Sometimes the act of departing from sin seems like an overwhelming mountain, especially if the sin is a habitual thing or exists in a blinded area of our lives.

Some Christians fall into the trap of grading themselves on the curve. This can be very deceiving. We should never compare the sin in our lives to what we see in the lives of people around us.

The Lord, instead, has shown me there are three easy ways to overcome iniquity. First, we look ahead to what would happen if we were to continue committing this sin. When we look at the ultimate results of sin, we often realize that they are very dangerous.

Secondly, we must look around. God has been so good to us. Look at all of the many blessings He has given us. Start counting blessings. We are complete in Christ. We don’t have to be involved in sin. Finally, we need to look within. He Who is in us is greater that he that is in the world. We are vessels to bring glory to God. By looking ahead, looking around, and looking within, we can depart from iniquity.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us today to name sin as sin, help us not to grade ourselves on the curve, but by Your Word. Help us to forsake sin and receive Your mercy.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

Who is responsible for acting against iniquity?

The Bible message is a very clear one: if we do not deal with the iniquity in our lives, God eventually will. If we do not clean up our unclean nature, our unclean nature will keep us in a miry pit.

In most cases, God does not act in a supernatural way to eradicate iniquity from a family or a nation. He has given us free will; He allows evil people to wage evil deeds. God removes His hand of blessing when the evil heart of man functions according to its unclean nature.

Don’t wait for generational iniquity to run its course in your family tree.

Take action now—in your own life and in your family’s.

Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.  (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NKJV)

No one wants to play a game and have disadvantages against himself. Every one of us want to get every advantage possible in both spiritual and natural things. Unforgiveness is a DISADVANTAGE. It gives SATAN an advantage over you. The scriptures tell us to FORGET what others have done to us and to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” This is an ADVANTAGE. In the past I have occasionally felt that I had a right to be unforgiving. But one day the Lord said to me, “Unforgiveness is a luxury you can’t afford. It is too expensive; it costs you your spiritual advantages.”

You will have already formed your victory for the day if you pray this prayer in the early morning, before your day begins: “Father, I forgive all people their trespasses before they EVEN trespass against me.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

With an act of our wills, we forgive those who trespass against us. We forgive with the forgiveness of Jesus. We forgive in the person of Jesus. We do not walk by feelings of forgiveness. We walk by faith and obedience to Your Word.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by not means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV)

The name of Jesus is higher than any name.

Devils quiver at His name.

Angels are launched into flight in His name.

The sick are healed and the oppressed are delivered by His name.

No evil thing can stand against the name of Jesus.

When you speak in the name of Jesus, you are speaking from the identity of Christ Jesus. You are standing firm on the conviction that Christ is in you and you are in Christ. You are completely covered by the blood of Jesus, so nothing of your old nature is evident. Christ is your all in all. This attitude positions you for victory!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. -(Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV)

When I read these scriptures, I find that they closely parallel the words in Psalm 1. Truly when we put our trust in the Lord and meditate on His Word, then we are fruitful and productive, even when the circumstances around us are falling apart.

Jeremiah lived in a day when the people worshiped idols. Even when Jeremiah knew that an enemy kingdom was soon to overwhelm Israel, he kept fresh and alive in God. There may have been drought AROUND him, but there was no drought IN him.

When at one time I found my circumstances very overwhelming, I said to the Lord, “What’s wrong with my life? I just want to run away and change my name.” The Lord answered, “This is not the time for ‘isolation;’ this is the time for ‘insulation’ with the Word. A right heart can overcome bad circumstances.” I insulated my thought-life with His Word, and soon my circumstances became fruitful.

Dear Father,

Don’t let us put our trust in natural things, but let us put our trust in You, our Supernatural God. Turn our times of drought into times of fruitfulness.

Amen.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9 NKJV).

The devil didn’t make you do it. Your forefathers didn’t make you do it. What you have done, you have done.

Own up to your own faults, errors, and sins. The Bible tells us that people who cover over their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

God’s promise is sure.

Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.  (Mark 10:52a NKJV)

Faith makes us whole. Physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We may think that the Bible is not useful for today’s situations, but it really will work in whatever area we need. Sometimes we look to the natural world for wisdom, when God’s supernatural wisdom, instead, will absolutely answer our dilemma.

Once I had horrendous battles with my thought life. A person had wronged me in a certain circumstance. I had great bitterness in my heart.

I said, “God, help me. Give me an answer. Certainly, my mind is sick in this area.”

And God gave me a beautiful scripture, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). So, I began to pray that scripture. I said, “God, I commit my ways to You this day.” My thoughts began to get in line. It was so wonderful. My thought-life did a turnaround, and wholeness came into that area of my thinking again. Faith makes you whole, wherever you are.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You that we have Your promises that will bring provisions and answers to all problems. Give to each of us a special promise that will bring forth a needed provision.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, that problem runs in my family.” The person may be talking about a particular weakness or disease or, perhaps, a certain vulnerability of some kind.

More and more, we are learning that certain physical ailments certainly do run in families—arthritis, asthma, cancer, obesity, alcoholism, heart conditions, diabetes, digestive tract, kidney problems, and chronic pain.

Emotional and psychological behaviors can also be inherited. Some families seem to be riddled with depression, lust, and anger.

Iniquity is likely at the root of a host of many other negative things in a family lineage—sterility, divorce, adultery, rebellion, debt—the list can go on and on.

The good news is that God gives you the ability to outrun anything that runs in your family.

My foot stands in an even place   (Psalm 26:12a NKJV).

Did you ever feel like your foot was slipping? That you were slipping in your faith and commitment? The devil would like for all of us to slip and slide. But God says, “Your feet stand in an even place.” When we stand on His Word, we are in an even place.

Once when our ministry went through a financial trial, the devil told me just to close the doors and hang it up. He said that I had never been capable of making good financial decisions—that I had blown it. But God didn’t say that to me; in fact, God gave me a promise that if I would trust Him, He would bring me through. While the staff was crying the blues, I stood on an even place. I said, “God will deliver us, God is delivering us,” and in one month we had a total turnaround.

When it looks uneven, put your confidence in the Word, and it will keep you even—until the circumstances come in line with the evenness of God’s Word. Let me pray for you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray that if we slip and slide, we will know in our hearts that there is no temptation You cannot lead us through victoriously. We have Your deliverance because we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Thank You for our deliverance and our strong place of standing on Your Word.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Revelation 21:7 NKJV)

These promises made to overcomers are absolutely, positively marvelous.

Sometimes we want to ride through our lives on a pink cloud and play a harp—with nothing to overcome.

But we are not in kindergarten; we are in a battle. Battles take weapons, endurance, and guts. God wants His people to have spiritual guts. With His Word in us, we can overcome wrong mental attitudes, bad habits, and any defeat.

Years ago, God told me to be an overcomer in one area of my life. I thought, “God, I can’t do it.” This area had been a stumbling block for so long that I was blind to it. But the Lord sweetly said, “I’m not asking YOU alone to overcome, I am asking you to release Jesus to be the Overcomer in you. You have a new nature—an overcoming nature.” I then made the decision to allow His nature to take over in my life. Too often we are “undercomers” and will never surmount that which God would set before us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You today we’re not defeated Christians—we’re victorious Christians. We are Christians who overcome in all things. We are more than conquerors,

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  (1 John 4:18 NKJV)

Fear torments. No one disputes that. But God’s love frees us from fear. When we realize the greatness of God’s love, then we will not be afraid.

Fear makes us immature, and PREFECT here means “mature.” We are not made mature when we allow fear to overwhelm us. The more we read God’s Word, the more we realize how much He loves us. We find His provision and His love printed on every page of our Bible. God is absolutely wild about you! He loves you, and the more you bask in His love, the more freedom you will have from fear.

The best thing about God’s love is that it is an unconditional love. God loves is always there to comfort you. When you go astray, God’s love is there to guide you back on the right path. And as God’s love fills us, it will overflow from our lips, our hearts and our spirits.

When we speak the truth in love, we begin to grow up in His Son. Speak God’s Word today, in love, and watch fear flee from you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you today that we are set free from fear in the name of Jesus. We are set free from fear because of Jesus’s overwhelming love for us.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

Think back on a time when God delivered you from an impossible situation or an unpleasant attitude.

Can you recall how diligently you prayed, how much time you devoted to painstakingly searching the Scriptures for the promises of God?

While your deliverance is fresh in your mind, read Psalm 48, say out loud “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, because He has delivered me (state your name) from (state the situation or condition).” Now, contemplate the mercy of your heavenly Father, who came to your rescue simply because He loves you.

Doesn’t that excite you and make you want to tell someone about how wonderful God is, how He is able to deliver you from your circumstances or attitudes?

Well?

Do it!

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8 NKJV)

Every one of us needs miracles and wonders. The two things that precede miracles and wonders are faith and power. POWER means “miracle-working power” or “the fullness of the Holy Spirit.”

To be filled with faith, we must be full of God’s Word and full of the Holy Spirit. We must pray, live, and walk in the Spirit in order to see wonders and miracles.

Sometimes our faith may seem weak or just neutral. At one service I felt led to pray for people who had foot problems. Afterward, a woman came up to me and said, “Please come look at my daughter.” The woman’s daughter was walking up the steps to the platform with great joy.

I said to the woman, “What happened?” She said, “Several years ago my daughter crushed the bones of her feet, and she could hardly walk. But now she’s walking normally.” When we go after God’s Word, miracles will come after us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray today that we will be so committed to the Word and to the power of the Holy Spirit that signs and wonders will truly follow us. We give all the glory and praise to Jesus.

Amen