Posts with the category “21-days-of-prayer-and-fasting”

"Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up." Romans 14:19 NLTPaul wouldn't yield an inch when it came to standing on the central truths of Scripture. But when it came to traditions, personal opinions, and personal preferences, he said, "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (v. 5 NKJV). Under the law of Moses, being circumcised was considered equal to having a cove...  Read More

"Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." Psalm 37:42 NLTEvery opportunity in life comes with two things: the possibility of succeeding, and the possibility of failing. When you reach the end of your life, your greatest regrets won't be over your failures, but the opportunities you failed to seize because you were afraid of failing. So here are some principl...  Read More

"They... looked, and there was a company of Ishamaelites, coming... on their way to... Egypt." Genesis 37:25 NKJVIf Abraham and Sarah had been willing to wait a little longer, Isaac would have been born and the promise of God fulfilled. But they became impatient, and as a result, Ishmael was born. One of the names given to God in Scripture is "Redeemer," because He can redeem our mistakes and turn...  Read More

"Boaz begot Obed by Ruth." Matthew 1:5 NKJVHumanly speaking, the chances of a Gentile like Ruth marrying a wealthy Jew like Boaz were less than zero, because the law of Moses forbade it. "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever" (Dt 23:3 NKJV). If ever a door looked shut, lock...  Read More

"Be alert and of sober mind." 1 Peter 5:8 NIVAmy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at twenty-seven. The BBC described her as "the preeminent vocal talent of her generation." One of her biggest hits was "Rehab." It won three Grammys. "They tried to make me go to Rehab but I say no, no, no." She wrote it when doctors told her she was in imminent danger of dying of alcoholism. Her own words give us...  Read More

"You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 NKJVGod instructs us to seek Him, but not as though He is hiding from us. When we seek God, we make a decision that's necessary for bringing us into the spiritual realm. Some levels of blessing are never received unless they are diligently sought. It's your seeking after God that moves Him to respond. "But w...  Read More

"Now about the collection for the Lord's people." 1 Corinthians 16:1 NIVWhen a recession hit Jerusalem, Paul asked the believers at Corinth to give offerings to meet this need: "Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that...  Read More

"Every man shall give as he is able. "Deuteronomy 16:17 NKJVWhen it comes to giving, here are two important truths the Bible teaches us about money: (1) God does not expect us all to give the same amount. "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you" (v. 17 NKJV). Paul writes, "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable acc...  Read More

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there." Job 1:21 NKJVHere is what Job said about his great wealth: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there." Job understood that we all enter life with our hands empty, and we all exit life with our hands empty. The only thing we can take with us when we go is what we have sent ahead. Jesus talks about this: ...  Read More

"You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth." Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJVAfter four hundred years of living like slaves, the Israelites were about to take possession of the promised land. And God had a concern. What was it? The same concern He has about each of us. When you have little, you realize how dependent you are on God. But when you have much, your tende...  Read More

"'The silver in Mine, and the gold in Mine,' says the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:8 NKJVGod owns everything. If you doubt that, read these Scriptures: "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts." "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein" (Ps 24:1 NKJV). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Fa...  Read More

"Selah." Psalm 44:8 NKJVAfter sharing great truths and insights with us, the psalmist often uses the word "Selah." It means "pause and reflect." For years people have said that experience is the best teacher. But the truth is, evaluated experience is the best teacher! Stopping to reflect is one of the most important activities you can do in order to grow. It provides a superior value than motivati...  Read More

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 NKJVIn 1982, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to take the life of President Ronald Reagan by shooting him with a handgun. Reagan's daughter, Patti, later recounted what she learned from her father when he was in hospital: "My father said he knew his physical healing was directly dependent o...  Read More

"Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." Proverbs 19:2 NLTIf you are impulsive, you tend to lack discipline. You can be thoughtless, or insensitive to others, or driven by appetite. You may have a hard time with delayed gratification. You have a low frustration tolerance. You get bored easily. You can fly off the handle. If this describes you, here are six principles you sh...  Read More

"As He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17 NKJVWhen you put your trust in Christ as your Savior, God sees you "in Christ." The words "in Christ" appear no less than seventy-eight times in the New Testament. When God looks at you, He doesn't see you with all your flaws and imperfections; He sees you in Christ. And since Christ has atoned for all your sins, you are "accepted in the beloved" (E...  Read More

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3 NLTYour thoughts create your feelings, and your feelings dictate your approach to life. So by changing the way you think, you can change how you feel and how you approach life. Unlike the world, which teaches you to empty your mind to achieve peace, God's way is to fill your mind with fresh, pow...  Read More

"Worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins," Hebrews 10:2 NKJVTo become a worshiper in the fullest sense requires two things. First, an understanding that God's love toward you is not predicated on your love toward Him. The moment you accept Christ as your Savior, God accepts you and clothes you in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, you are always worthy to appro...  Read More

"The Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Mark 18:20The book of Mark concludes this way: "They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Understanding the will of God is not a precise science, and the most spiritually mature among us can get it wrong. But this much you can count on: God will us...  Read More

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3 NKJVAfter four hundred years of living as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites struggled with low self-esteem. So, God said to them, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt" (vv. 3-4 NKJV). Notice the words "built" and "rebuilt." How can you bui...  Read More

"Bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 NLTPlanting a seed is only the first of a season's worth of steps. There is watering, fertilizing, weeding, and protecting the struggling plant from pests, diseases, storms, and adverse weather. Many flowers and vegetables require stakes, cages, and other supports to help them stand tall and bear their frui...  Read More

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 NIVThe first step to getting what you want in life is knowing what you want. Jesus said, in essence, "The key to getting what you want out of life is to focus on what I want for your life." Note the words "seek first." This word "seek" means "to strive for diligently" or "to desire s...  Read More