Posts

Showing posts from August, 2020

Be Amazing!

Image
  “...I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well...” (Psalm 139:14) Be Amazing Life will try to make you feel as though you’re anything but amazing. Disappointments, betrayals, and rejection will try to steal your sense of value. You may feel ordinary, but because of your Maker, there’s something about you that makes you extremely valuable. You’re an original. You can’t get any more prestigious than that. If you’re going to recognize your value, you have to see yourself as amazing, as wonderful. It’s not because of who you are, but because of who made you. You have the fingerprints of God all over you. All through the day, you need to remind yourself, “I am amazing. I am a masterpiece. I have been wonderfully made.” Don’t discount what God has created. Don’t go around feeling ordinary when in fact, you’re extraordinary. People may try to make you feel average. Are you going to believe what people say about you, or believe w

The Power of God’s Word!

Image
  The Power of God’s Word “ …So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. ” (Isaiah 55:11) No wonder the Scripture says,  “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord ” (Deuteronomy 8:3). God’s Word is powerful. Active. It accomplishes. Wherever it is sent, it prospers. To fulfill God’s purposes, we need more than material things. We need to absorb God’s Word. As we do so, we learn more about the mind of God and open ourselves to receive revelations he wants us to know and enjoy. Jesus says, “ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life ” (John 6:63). By his Word we are renewed inwardly. His Word is like discovering the treasure of treasures. “ For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord ” (Proverbs 8:35). This treasure is much better than

PRAY!

Image
  Lord Jesus, I come before you today with a repentant heart, seeking forgiveness. Thank you for your love and mercy, and for the chance to live a new life in you. Amen.

Fix Your Eyes on Christ!

Image
  Fix Your Eyes on Christ “ Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” (Hebrews 12:2) Most of us have issues to face while we are living in this world. Problems, challenges, and changing circumstances just go with the territory. One of the most difficult lessons to learn for us as believers is to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ instead of only focusing on the problems facing us. Constantly fixing our eyes on problems is debilitating. It leads to depression. In fact, we can make idols of our problems if that is all we think about. Jesus did not focus on the cross, its shame, or the humiliation from the soldiers and crowd. He focused on the joy, the forgiveness, and the eternal reward that would come from what he was doing. We have the promise, “ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you

Expressing Gratitude and Praise!

Image
  Expressing Gratitude and Praise “ Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”  (Psalm 50:23) Do you like it when people express gratitude to you and perhaps even praise you for something you have done? It strengthens your relationship with that person. God loves for us to express our gratitude and praise to him. To praise God and express our gratitude to him embellishes our relationship with him. And our relationship with him is all that matters. If we conduct ourselves in the right manner, we place ourselves in the right position where we can experience the salvation of God, subject to his timing. Throughout all of the areas of our lives, we can work at expressing gratitude to God and praising him for allowing us to live in the beauties of his creation. Even when things may not be going our way, there is usually something we can express gratitude for in every day. “ I will praise the name of God with a song, and wil

PRAY!

Image
  Lord God, you alone revive my soul, and you surround me with your loving presence. You fill my heart with joy, and I promise to worship and obey you. Amen.

Titles Not Required!

Image
  “...Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms...” (1 Peter 4:10) Titles Not Required Too often we pursue titles and positions, thinking we’ll feel good about ourselves when we have them. “When I make it to sales manager, when I get on the varsity cheerleading squad, when I’m the head usher, the senior partner, the lead supervisor…” That’s fine. But you don’t need a title to do what God has called you to do. Don’t wait for people to approve you, affirm you, or validate you. Use your gift, and the title will come. If David would have waited for a title, we wouldn’t be talking about him today. When he went out to face Goliath, David wasn’t a general, a corporal, or a sergeant. He wasn’t even enlisted. He didn’t have a title, a name badge, a uniform, or a single credential. He went out knowing God had called and given him the gift to defeat Goliath. In a few years they gave him a title: King of Israel.

Saved to Do Good Works!

Image
  Saved to Do Good Works “ Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. ” (Titus 2:14) Among other things, we have been saved to do good works. Let’s be clear about this: good works do not save us, and we are not saved by the good works we do. “ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ” (Titus 3:5–7) The Lord Jesus Christ himself has done the work of salvation for us. We are justified or made acceptable to God by receiving the gift of salvation that he has provided through Christ. We now trust in him alone for our salvation. However, we are saved to do the good works he has appointed for us to do. He has

Turning Points!

Image
  “...So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed...” (John 8:36) Turning Points In the Scripture, Rebekah instructed her son Jacob to deceive their father. Jacob turned out to be a deceiver just like her. Jacob’s Uncle Laban had the same problem. He deceived Jacob. There was a spirit of deception in that family. It looked as though it would continue from generation to generation. But at one point, Jacob admitted he was wrong, and God changed him (see Genesis 32). That was the turning point. The curse was broken. Some of the things you struggle with every day have been passed down to you. The dysfunction, the addiction, the low self-esteem didn’t start with you, but it can end with you. God is saying, “I’m about to break its power in your family line.” This is a new day. Freedom and wholeness are coming to your house. Put your faith out there and say, “Christ broke the power of this when He rose from the dead. It is finished in our family. We are free indeed.” A Prayer for Tod

Adorn the Doctrine of God!

Image
  Adorn the Doctrine of God “… Not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. ” (Titus 2:10) True faith is having a personal relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. Christianity is not a list of dos and don’ts or just an intellectual belief in the tenets of the Christian faith. We have been born again to a living hope, a relationship with the risen Savior who literally lives in and through the life of believers. That being the case, Scripture exhorts us to be good examples of what we proclaim: “ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel ” (Philippians 1:27). If we are to be effective, our daily conduct cannot contradict what we say we believe in. We live in a difficult environment, and it is critical we work at s

The Desires of Your Heart!

Image
  “...Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart...” (Psalm 37:4) The Desires of Your Heart Today’s Scripture doesn’t say you have to earn or make the desires of your heart happen. No, God is going to give them to you. You’ll know it’s the hand of God because it’s going to happen without a struggle. If you keep delighting in the Lord and meditating on His Word, filling your mind with thoughts of hope and faith, then without even trying, you’re going to come into your time, and God will give you the desires of your heart. You have to trust God’s timing when things aren’t happening as fast as you would like. Every season is not harvest. There are seasons of watering, planting, weeding, and fertilizing the ground. These are important seasons. They are times of testing when God is seeing what you’re made of. Are you going to keep a good attitude when you’re doing the right thing but not receiving the desires of our heart? Have faith and patience. You’re cl

The Tablet of Your Heart!

Image
  The Tablet of Your Heart “ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. ” (Proverbs 3:3–4) Have you ever thought about what is written on the tablet of your heart? In Kingdom of God we stress the importance of soaking the heart in the Word of God. The heart is like a sponge and soaks up whatever is around it. Whatever we soak our hearts in becomes our treasure. If the water is dirty, then the treasure is dirty. If the water is pure, then the treasure of the heart will be pure. The Word confirms this: “ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks ” (Luke 6:45). We must ask ourselves what is the abundance found in our hearts. Whatever it is, that is the treasure of our hearts and what will manifest itself in our liv

Pass the Test!

Image
  “...Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him...” (James 1:12) Pass the Test In the Scripture, David was anointed to be the next king of Israel at the age of seventeen. After this incredible promise was given to him, David did not go to the palace for a coronation; he went back to the shepherds’ fields. He was anointed but not appointed. He had to pass the test of being faithful taking care of sheep. He had to pass the test of being good to King Saul even though Saul was trying to kill him. David didn’t take the throne until he was thirty-seven. It took twenty years for him to take the throne, for him to be prepared for where God was taking him. Don’t get discouraged by the preparation process between the time God puts that dream in your heart and the time it comes to pass. If you keep the right attitude, every struggle you go through, every disappointment, every

How to Experience God’s Favor!

Image
  How to Experience God’s Favor “ May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. ” (Psalm 90:17) Our relationship with God through Christ means LIFE, FAVOR, and REWARD! We all want to experience a full and meaningful life to enjoy in this world. Scripture tells us we can experience the favor of God if we establish the right kind of relationship with him. The favor of God is available to us and brings us rewards. You would think the world would be pounding the path to the door of one who promises such things. For those of us who practice Kingdom of God (and who have become yield active  converterlators , converting our perishable time, talents, and treasures to imperishable values), we have discovered this great secret of the kingdom. We have found life, favor, and reward already in this world. Furthermore, we are anticipating much more in the life to come. Therefore, we pray God’s favor to rest on us. Power bel

Guard Your Blessing!

Image
  “...Your brother was here and tricked me and has carried away your blessing...” (Genesis 27:35) Guard Your Blessing Esau was the firstborn son of Jacob and knew he would receive his father’s highest blessing, which included inheritance as well as being the leader of the family clan. But his twin brother, Isaac, deceived their father into giving him the valuable blessing. Esau took the blessing for granted until it was carried away by his brother. Sometimes we let other people carry away our blessing. We let what they say about us—their disapproval and discouraging words—keep us from who we were meant to be. You have to put your foot down and say, “I’m not going to let people talk me out of my dreams or let a coworker make me feel inferior as though I’m not good enough. I’m not going to let a coach, a teacher, or a counselor talk me into living an average, mediocre, get-by life.” You have seeds of greatness. You are destined to leave your mark on this generation. Don’t let anyone carr

Is Knowing God Your Top Priority?

Image
  Is Knowing God Your Top Priority? “ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death ” (Philippians 3:10). “ Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you ” (Job 22:21–25). Here it is in a nutshell: Knowing God through Christ is priority number one in the life of the Christian. As we get to know God and store his Word in our heart, the Word of God will become personally operative in our life. Paul  wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection above all. Job  realized that a relationship with God was more valuable than the finest gold. God  becam

PRAY!

Image
  Lord God, forgive me whenever I am apathetic and fail to carry out your will. Thank you for your steadfast love and words of encouragement from the Scriptures. Inspire me to act when confronted with a task that will further your Kingdom. Amen.

Cultivating a Relationship with God!

Image
  Cultivating a Relationship with God “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. ” (Revelation 3:20) In Kingdom of God we focus on our relationship with God. This verse in Revelation tells us how Jesus Christ will come into our lives, much like having a friend over for dinner in order to develop a relationship with us. “ Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’  ” (John 14:23) When you think of someone making his home with you, it is as intimate as you can become with anyone. Not only is Jesus with us individually, but he also is with us when we are gathered together as believers. “ For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. ” (Matthew 18:20) One reason he wants us to have a relationship with him is for us have a proper relationship with others. “ But if we are liv

PRAY!

Image
  I sing and shout for joy, Lord God, because you are always with me. Your love revives my soul, and I trust in your care. I will praise your holy name forever. Amen.

Sourced in God!

Image
  Sourced in God Memorize and Meditate “ For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. ” (Philippians 1:19) Soak your Heart This verse is power-packed. I want to soak my heart in it. Our communion with God through the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ provides the way for our deliverance, both in this world and the world to come. In Kingdom of God, we learn through Scripture and we practice keeping Jesus Christ as the focus of our life. We realize that everything is sourced in him. His Spirit can supply the peace, love, patience, and kindness we need. He also has the power to ultimately make all things turn out for our good. He is the God of provision and of all power. Sow to the Spirit We learn to communicate with God through prayer, which simply means talking with God. We learn to communicate with God as we acknowledge that all things are sourced in him. We admit that without his

Be Happy with Who You Are!

Image
  “...I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway...” (Romans 7:19) Be Happy with Who You Are Many people don’t really like who they are. They focus on their faults, their weaknesses. They’re constantly critical toward themselves. That recording of all the things wrong with them keeps playing in their mind, “You’re impatient. You blew your diet. You should be ashamed of yourself.” They wonder why they’re not happy, not realizing they have an inner war going on. It’s very freeing when you can be happy with who you are even though you have some areas in which you still need to improve. Think about what the apostle Paul said in today’s Scripture. Even he still struggled in some areas. If he would have been down on himself, he would have never written almost half the books of the New Testament and become one of the heroes of faith. You don’t have to have it all together to do something great. If you’re waiting till you overcome every weaknes

The Compass of Life!

Image
  The Compass of Life Memorize and Meditate “ And he said, ‘…. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.’”  (Genesis 24:27) Soak your Heart If we expect to receive God’s guidance, direction, and blessing, it is critical that we are “on the way” – the Lord’s way. If we expect him to answer our requests, we must make sure we are abiding in him and his Word is abiding us. We must bring our lives into harmony with his revealed will for us. Only then are we empowered to fulfill the mission he has given us. What better time to check that we are “on the way” God has chosen for us than when we are meditating on the Word he wants to incorporate into our life? Sow to the Spirit As we talk with God, it is important for us to make sure we are conforming with the directions he seeks to give us. Pray, “Lord, I want to make sure what I am doing is in accordance with your revealed will for me at this time.” Abraham’s servant fulfilled his mission by “being on t

An Expected End!

Image
  “...For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end...” (Jeremiah 29:11) An Expected End The Scripture says that God declares “the end from the beginning.” When God planned out your life, He started with where He wants you to end up, and then He worked backward. His plans for you are “to give you an expected end.” The good news is that you don’t end in defeat, in failure, in disappointment, or in heartache. You end in victory, fulfilling your destiny. You can live in peace, knowing that in the end, all things are going to work to your advantage. But there will be difficult seasons in your life when it looks as though things didn’t work out. You may be in a difficult season right now, and it may look as though your dream has died. You have to remind yourself that’s not how your story ends. The Most High God has already planned it for an expected end. If you’ll keep moving forward, He’ll weave it all toget

The Best Anxiety Preventive!

Image
  The Best Anxiety Preventive Memorize and Meditate “ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. ” (James 1:21) Soak your Heart For the Word of God to work in our heart, we need to make sure we have a clean heart, free from the control of sin. This is why we confess and repent of our sin to restore a working relationship with God. One of the best protections against sin gaining control is to humbly accept and plant the Word in our heart. God’s Word can save us from fear, anxiety, and a host of other maladies seek to control us. The Psalmist said he hid God’s Word in his heart so he would not sin against God. We want to soak our heart in the Word. Sow to the Spirit As I meditate on these concepts, I want to sow them to the Spirit by praying them into my heart and soul. I ask God to implant his Word deeply within my inner being. His Word is food for my spirit and soul. More times than I can rememb

Treasure Up These Things!

Image
  “...But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart...” (Luke 2:19) Treasure Up These Things Mary was engaged to the man of her dreams when the angel appeared and said she was going to have a baby, the Messiah, without knowing a man. We focus on how amazing that supernatural birth was and forget that she had to explain that to her fiancĂ©, Joseph, who would in all likelihood call off the wedding. She had to accept the fact that for her whole life she would have to put up with shameful rumors and negative comments about who the father was. She could have easily been defensive, cynical, and bitter. But today’s Scripture says she took in all that God had said and “pondered it in her heart.” She thought about it over and over. What she kept close to her heart was what God promised her. When worries come, people are spreading rumors about you, or a loss happens, keep what God has promised and said about you close to your heart. You will rise above the negative. A Pray