Confidence before God

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-15

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...

Confidence before God. Through the presence of Jesus at the Father's right hand and the intercession of the Holy Spirit, we can have confidence and come boldly before the Creator of the universe and know that he not only hears us, but also cares for us. Wow, what an audience! Oh, and one final thing, he also ACTS on what we ask.

MY PRAYER...

Abba Father, for the grace of your listening ear I thank you more than words can say. Through the authority of Jesus, my brother, and by the grace of your interceding Holy Spirit, I offer you my thanks and love this day. Amen.

THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“...and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe...”

(Ephesians 1:19, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:19 that we would understand the exceeding greatness of God’s power for those who believe. Notice the power is only activated when we believe. That means right now the Creator of the universe is just waiting to release healing, restoration, favor, promotion, abundance. The only catch is that we have to believe.

I think about Mary, the mother of Christ. When she was a teenager, the angel came to her and said, “You’re going to have a child without knowing a man.” Her first thought was, “That’s impossible. That’s never happened before. That defies the laws of nature.” She said to the angel, “How can this be?” He answered back, “The Spirit of the Lord will come on you and cause it to happen.”

I love the way Mary responded. She didn’t argue with him. She didn’t try to talk herself out of it. She simply said, “Be it unto me even as you have said.”

Has God placed a dream in your heart that seems impossible? If you will choose to believe, then His strength will rise up in you. His ability will supersede your ability, and the greatness of His power will bring to pass every dream and every desire He has placed within you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for exceeding greatness of Your power. Help me to see, to know, to recognize Your hand at work in my life. I choose to believe and open the door for You to have Your way in every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://cupofjoeblog.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/god-confidence/

http://northvalleyyouth.blogspot.com/2010/09/confidence-2-place-of-self-confidence.html

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

A man who saw the Future

Reflection on Genesis37:1–11

We don’t know Joseph’s reasons for telling his brothers about his dreams. But even if his motives were entirely innocent, sharing his dreams had disastrous results. His brothers already hated him because they saw that their father, Jacob, loved him more than any of them. Joseph’s dream that implied he would rule over them one day made them that much more angry.

Many of Jesus’ “older brothers”—the Jewish leaders of his time—reacted violently to his claims of lordship too. But as with Joseph, God blessed Gentiles through Jesus and will one day reveal his true identity to all of Israel (see Romans11:25–26). The children of Jacob will recognize who Jesus is and bow down to him—just as he foretold.

YOUR NEW SKIPPER

Romans 8:12, 13

We are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die

When I was in the Navy, we called the captain of our ship "the Old Man." Our Old Man was tough and crusty and nobody liked him. He used to go out drinking with all his chiefs while belittling and harassing his junior officers and making life miserable for the rest of us. He was not a good example of a naval officer. So when our Old Man got transferred to another ship, we all rejoiced. It was a great day for our ship.

Then we got a new skipper--a new Old Man. The old Old Man no longer had any authority over us; he was gone--completely out of the picture. But I was trained under that Old Man. So how do you think I related to the new Old Man? At first I responded to him just like I had been conditioned to respond to the old skipper. I tiptoed around him expecting him to bite my head off. That's how I had lived for two years around my first skipper.

But as I got to know the new skipper, I realized that he wasn't a crusty old tyrant like my old Old Man. He wasn't out to harass his crew; he was a good guy, really concerned about us. But I had been programmed for two years to react a certain way when I saw a captain's braids. I didn't need to react that way any longer, but it took several months to recondition myself to the new skipper.

You also once served under a cruel, self-serving skipper: your old sinful self with its sinful nature. The admiral of that fleet is Satan himself, the prince of darkness. But by God's grace you have been transferred into Christ's kingdom (Colossians 1:13). You now have a new skipper: your new self which is infused with the divine nature of Jesus Christ, your new admiral. As a child of God, a saint, you are no longer under the authority of your old Old Man. He is dead, buried, gone forever.

So why do you still react as if your old skipper were still in control of your behavior? We'll answer that question tomorrow.

Prayer: Praise You, Lord, that my relationship with my old skipper, that old sinful self, is gone. I choose to live today in the realty of my new nature in Christ.

sources:

http://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/week-7b-genesis-371-3830/

http://notopramen.com/the-future-internet/

http://www.ficm.org/

Benefit of a Believer

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...

I believe! I believe that God not only knows me, but cares about me. I believe that God not only created the universe, but he knows the number of hairs on my head. I believe that God not only sent his Son to save the world, but that he's sending him back to bring me home. What's more, I believe that God is pleased by my belief.

MY PRAYER...

Almighty, Most Holy Lord, I thank you for your steadfast love and enduring faithfulness. I thank you for your grace and mercy. I thank you for your might and power. I thank you for your awesome holiness. I thank you... for being you and choosing to reveal yourself to mortals like me. Through Jesus, your final Word, I pray. Amen.

THE ABILITY TO BELIEVE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“...God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”

(Romans 12:3, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

One of the greatest abilities God has given each one of us is our ability to believe. If you believe God’s Word, you can be successful. If you believe God’s Word, you can overcome mistakes of the past. If you believe God’s Word, you can fulfill your God-given destiny. There is incredible power in what you believe. What you believe is greater than your circumstances, greater than your trials, greater than your medical report, and greater than your bank account! When you get into agreement with God and believe what He says about you, then what you believe will supersede any natural law. I have a friend that came to this country with nothing but the clothes on his back. Today he runs a Fortune 500 company. Against all odds, he believed he could do what God placed in his heart.

Today, nurture those seeds of faith by dwelling on His Word. As you get the Word of God in your heart, faith will come to you. Faith will grow and strengthen in you. Faith will rise up in you and empower you to take hold of all the blessings God has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You for Your Word of truth which sets me free and deposits faith in my heart. I lift up my eyes to You. I turn my focus toward Your Word and invite You to have Your way in every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://www.christian-wallpaper.com/powerpoint-templates/

http://disciplesgurnee.org/what-we-believe

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

A man who saw Angels

Reflection on Genesis 28:10–22

Jacob’s dream, in which he sees God’s angels ascending and descending a stairway to heaven, seems to be a turning point in his life. It appears to be the moment when God becomes personal to him. Jacob’s life after this encounter certainly wasn’t perfect, but God was able to use him in a central role to fulfill ancient promises.

We too must have a personal encounter and a relationship with God before we can experience his work in us and through us. And our encounter with him centers around Jesus. Our relationship with God depends on how well we know his Son. How intimately do we experience his presence? How clearly do we hear his voice? Above all else, we are to seek closeness with the One who bridged the gap between heaven and earth.

NEW AGE DECEPTION

1 Timothy 2:5

There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

The fourth unifying factor of the New Age Movement is a cosmic evolutionary optimism . There is a New Age coming. There will be a new world order with a one-world government. New Agers believe in a progressive unification of world consciousness eventually reaching the "omega point." This is a counterfeit kingdom and we know who its prince is.

Fifth, New Agers create their own reality . They believe they can determine reality by what they believe, so by changing what they believe, they can change reality. There are no moral absolutes because there is no distinction between good and evil.

Sixth, New Agers make contact with the kingdom of darkness . Calling a medium a "channeler" and a demon a "spirit guide" has not changed the reality of what they are. They are in contact with the god of this world instead of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Recently I received a call from a lady who was concerned about the turn of events in a small group she was attending. It had started out as a group of supposedly Christian women. The one woman began to function as a medium, and they thought they were hearing from God. They recorded six hours of videotape, and in that six hours, five different personalities can be identified in the medium. The group was convinced they were hearing from God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and two angels.

The lady functioning as a medium was later identified as not being a Christian. In the tape her eyes roll back in a trancelike state. At one point a voice says through her, "It's going to snow here tomorrow." I'm surprised that when it didn't snow the next day, they couldn't see the snow job being done on them!

How can a thinking person, professing to be a Christian, consider this as anything other than demonization? But it isn't just lonely homemakers who are being deceived. This deception is invading every area of society today.

Prayer: Father, keep me alert to the deception of New Age thinking around me, and help me dismiss the darkness I encounter with the light of Your truth.

source:

http://kevinnunez.org/2012/03/08/angels-god-employs-supernatural-agents/

http://reikichic-connielynnwest.blogspot.com/

http://www.ficm.org/

Speak like God

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Ephesians 4:15

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...

Speaking the truth is hard enough. You mean I have to do it in love? Yes, if I am to be Christ's man or woman, I must speak to others as he did.

MY PRAYER...

Father, forgive me for the bitterness in my heart and unfairness on my lips. Through your Spirit, help me better use my speech to bless others and glorify you. May I speak your truth with your love today in all my conversations. Through him who is Truth and Love I pray. Amen.

HE DELIVERS YOU FROM ALL

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all”

(Psalm 34:19, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

Isn’t it good to know that we serve a Deliver? You might feel afflicted today, but God is working to bring you out of that difficult situation. It may not be in the way you thought, but you have to trust that God has your best interest at heart.

An affliction is defined as the cause of persistent pain or distress. I know that afflictions can take on many forms — a sickness or hardship, a temptation, a coworker or family member. There are so many things that can come against us, but God promises in His Word that no weapon formed against us shall prosper! Those afflictions are only temporary. Stand in faith believing that God is on your side, and you and God are a majority! It doesn’t matter what your circumstances look like, get up every morning and say, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. My Deliverer is coming!”

As you stand and trust the Lord, He will deliver you out of all your afflictions, and you’ll see His hand of blessing in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for being my deliverer. Thank You for making me righteous through the blood of Jesus. I trust that You have a good plan for me, and You will deliver me out of all affliction in Jesus’ name! Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91210596/11x14-canvas-wall-hanging-kind-words-red

http://www.brilliancemastery.com/2011/leadership/can-you-deliver-feedback-without-cringing/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

Faithful Steward Of God’s Purposes

Reflection on Genesis24:1–67

A steward is one who is commissioned to oversee and execute the affairs of another. The closer a steward is able to represent the mind of their superior, the better they fulfill their role. Therefore, when a steward is on assignment, ideally they have no personal will or agenda; they strive to have the mind and will of their supervisor.

Abraham’s unnamed servant in Genesis 24 (perhaps Eliezer; see Genesis 15:2–3) was an excellent example of a faithful steward. His mind-set was to represent Abraham’s will and interests as faithfully as possible. That’s a great picture for us; we are stewards of Jesus’ domain, and our goal is to have his mind and will. By looking at Abraham’s servant, we can gain insight into how to be a more faithful steward of God’s purposes.

NEW AGE THINKING

Psalm83:18 NIV

Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD--that you alone are the Most High over all the earth

The New Age Movement is very attractive to the natural man who has become disillusioned with organized religion and Western rationalism. He desires spiritual reality but doesn't want to give up materialism, deal with his moral problems, or come under authority.

I've discovered six unifying factors in New Age thinking. We will consider three of them today and three tomorrow.

The first is monism --the belief that all is one and one is all. It says we all swim in one great cosmic ocean. History is not the story of humanity's fall into sin and its restoration by God's saving grace. Rather, it is humanity's fall into ignorance and the gradual ascent into enlightenment.

Monism is a counterfeit to the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:21. That unity is possible only when we are united together in Christian fellowship.

Second, all is God . If all is one, including God, then one must conclude that all is God--trees, snails, books and people are all of one divine essence. A personal God is abandoned in favor of an impersonal energy force or consciousness, and if God is no longer personal, He doesn't have to be served.

New Agers say, "When I was a little child, I believed in God. When I began to mature, I stopped believing in God. Then I grew up and realized that I was God."

A third unifying factor refers to a change in consciousness . If we are God, we need to know we are God. We must become cosmically conscious, also called "at-one-ment" (a counterfeit of atonement), self-realization, god-realization, enlightenment, or attunement. Their faith has no object, neither does their meditation, so it becomes an inward journey. To us, the essential issue is not whether we believe or mediate, but who we believe in and what we meditate upon. We believe God and meditate upon His law day and night.

Prayer: Lord, I affirm that I am nothing, can do nothing, and will amount to nothing apart from You. You are the object of my faith and life today.

source:

http://www.christianglobe.com/esermons/lectionaryPowerPoints.asp?theDate=10/20/1996

http://northvalleynews.org/2011/faithful-stewards/

http://www.ficm.org/

Rider On The White Horse

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

Job 19:25

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...

Beyond what these words were first meant to convey, we know today that our Redeemer will return as the Rider on the white horse in triumph and victory. Hallelujah, what a day!

MY PRAYER...

Conquering King, Immortal God, I look forward to the day of your ultimate triumph in our world. Until that day, I pray that your Kingdom may be reflected in my church, my family and my life. Through the Rider on the white horse, I pray. Amen.

HOW WILL YOU ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS?

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“ ‘...Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty”

(Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD

Are you facing a situation that seems impossible? Have you been fighting a battle for a long time? The key is: don’t go around talking about how big the problem is. Don’t go around confessing that you’re never going to make it. No, start declaring, “The gracious hand of God is upon my life!” When you realize God’s hand of favor is upon you, you will accomplish your dreams faster than you thought!

When those thoughts of doubt come, declare the truth of God’s Word! “How are you going to get out of debt?” “The gracious hand of God is upon my life.” “How are you going to get well?” “The gracious hand of God is upon my life.” “How are you going to break that addiction?” “The gracious hand of God.” “How are you going to accomplish your dreams?” “The gracious hand of God!”

The more you brag on God’s favor, the more you declare and believe His promises, the more you’ll see His favor. As you keep standing in faith, as You keep hoping in Him, you’ll see His promises manifest in your life. You’ll experience His favor and victory and see every dream and desire come to pass!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for placing Your dreams and desires within me and for creating a plan to bring them to pass. Even when I can’t see a way, I trust that You are making a way. You are good, and today I declare that Your gracious hand is upon every area of my life in Jesus’ name! Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://breath35.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/%E8%AC%9B%E9%A1%8C%E5%A4%A7%E7%B6%B1%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB-revelations-1911-21/

http://mysteryoftheinquity.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/jerusalem-ufo-and-rider-on-a-white-horse-in-cairo-are-signs-of-maitreya/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx