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July Blessings
July 1: The Father Has Life in HimselfI sometimes experience a belief that really hurts…that I am dispensable…that I am invisible…that I am unnecessary, and no matter how much I struggle, that belief stays stuck in my mind. No amount of struggle, warfare or arguing can get rid of it. Death reigns in my mind. “FOR AS THE FATHER HAS LIFE IN HIMSELF, SO HE HAS GRANTED THE SON TO HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF ”(John 5:26). I bless you to celebrate that the perfect Father has Life in Himself. Therefore, He granted His son, Jesus, to have Life in Himself as well, and He sent Jesus to grant you that Life too. “BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME” I bless you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God who came to bring you Life in His Name. Stop struggling and allow Jesus to speak Life into your darkened understanding. Only He can turn death into Life. In His Name, you can experience Truth for your understanding, instead of believing every thought that enters your mind. In His Name, you can receive Hope for your hopelessness, instead of receiving the despair the father-of-lies offers you. In His Name, you can encounter Light for your darkness, instead of leaning on your own understanding that is under the control of the father-of-lies. “…..YET YOU REFUSE TO COME TO ME TO HAVE LIFE” (John 5:40). I bless you to come to Jesus to have Life…instead of trying to fix things yourself. Enter into the Life that He is offering you…instead of trying to take revenge. Embrace His Life…instead of withdrawing from others in pain. Come to Him…so that he can feed you with His Life. “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE” (John 6:48). I bless you |
July 2: Believe…And You Will Have Life
“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE” (John 6:48). I bless you to grasp that you do not have Life on your own. The Father has Life in Himself….. and He granted Life to His Son…..and through His Son, you have been granted Life as well. “BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME” I bless you to believe…..to believe that you can have Life…..to believe that the Spirit gives Life….to believe that your fear can turn to Life…..to believe that your shame can turn to Life…..to believe that your confusion can turn to Life. “…..THE WORDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE” (John 6:63). I bless you to receive….to receive Life…..to receive Life through the Spirit…..to receive Life for your fear…..to receive Life for your shame…..to receive Life for your confusion. Jesus is the bread of Life. You cannot speak Life into your own situation. Tell Him exactly how you feel and what you believe about your fear….your shame….your confusion. And He will speak His Life into you. I bless you |
July 3: Selfish AmbitionsI have been thinking lately how much the enemy of God has deceived me. “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). Realize that he was a murderer from the beginning, looking for opportunities to instill untruths in you…lies that would take you captive from the inside out. One of the lies the enemy instilled in me is the belief that I am not needed here on earth. Some people actually feel invisible. Others feel overlooked. It does not matter in what form these lies come, the common denominator is “I am unnecessary…disposable…unwanted.” “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). His name is the father-of-lies. When he lies, he speaks his native language. That is the only language he knows…and he lies to you every day. Realize that the lie of feeling “I am unnecessary…disposable…unwanted, “creates pain. This belief causes you to want to DOsomething so you would BECOME someone who IS necessary…needed…wanted. “FOR WHERE YOU HAVE ENVY AND SELFISH AMBITION, THERE YOU FIND DISORDER AND EVERY EVIL PRACTICE” (James 3:16). Recognize that this is exactly what the father-of-lies had planned. He planted the lie that you are not needed, so that you would develop an ardent desire for fame, rank and power. This plan of the father-of-lies works really well, since you would become so busy harboring bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart that you would have no time to become quiet before God and find out what the will of the Perfect Father is for your life. I bless you to bring your lies of feeling unwanted and unneeded to the Perfect Father so that you would become free from harboring bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart. The father-of-lies would lose his hold on you and you would become God-oriented instead of goal-oriented. I bless you
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July 4: May the Work of God be Displayed in Your Life“"NEITHER THIS MAN NOR HIS PARENTS SINNED," SAID JESUS, "BUT THIS HAPPENED SO THAT THE WORK OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED IN HIS LIFE"” (John 9:3). I bless you today to allow the work of God to be displayed in your life: His Light in your darkness…His Hope in your hopelessness…His Wisdom in your confusion…His Righteousness in your sinfulness…His Wholeness in your brokenness…His Power in your weakness…His Peace in your anxiety…His Comfort in your sorrow. I bless you to take your focus off the incident that happened in your life that causes you to feel so guilty and condemned. It is not what you did, that matters, but what Jesus did for you…so that the Comfort and Compassion of the perfect Father might be displayed in your life. Capture that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, who does not change like shifting shadows. “EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF THE HEAVENLY LIGHTS, WHO DOES NOT CHANGE LIKE SHIFTING SHADOWS” (James 1:17). I bless you to take your focus off your parents or other persons of authority during your childhood. It is not about what they did or did not do, that matters. It is about whether you are willing to submit the hopelessness that resulted from that relationship, to Jesus…so that the Hope of the perfect Father might be displayed in your life. “FOR HE SATISFIES THE THIRSTY AND FILLS THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS” (Psalm 107:9). I bless you to know that the perfect everlasting Father wants to satisfy your longing to be healed from the damaging incidents in your life and fill you with His good and perfect gifts from above. I bless you |
July 5: Will You Lay Down Your Life for Me?I was having a discussion the other day about the antichrist. We were wondering who it was and from where it would come. Was it a person? Was it a force? Was it already here or was it still to come? Then I thought to myself, “I don’t know who the antichrist really is, but I know that I have an antichrist already living inside of me. He is very powerful. He is very selfish. And he is very anti Christ.” I would like to introduce you to Self. “BUT EVERY SPIRIT THAT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS IS NOT FROM GOD. THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD IS COMING AND EVEN NOW IS ALREADY IN THE WORLD” (1 John 4:3). Self seems to be its own person who runs its own life. Self has its own will…its own desires…its own ambitions…its own defense…its own esteem…its own righteousness. Self does not acknowledge or obey Jesus. In fact, Self serves as an agent to the father-of-lies to rival Jesus Christ as Lord. “THEN JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME, HE MUST DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. 25FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR ME WILL FIND IT” (Matthew 16:24-25). I bless you to understand that Jesus is the Anti-self. He has His own Righteousness that He would like to establish in you. He has His own Will for your life. He has His own Defense against the father-of-lies. Your everlasting Father would like you to deny Self and allow Jesus to take its place. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, "WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME”” Would you consider laying down Self for Jesus? I bless you |
July 6: The Man Who Loves His Life Will Lose ItToday I would like to continue talking about Self, who lives in me. Self seems to be its own person who runs its own life in me. Self has its own will…its own esteem…and its own defense of criticizing, condemning and controlling. The only one Self cares about is itself. It always makes sure it comes out at the top, even if it has to step on others to accomplish this. “THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE” (Galatians 6:8). Capture that you cannot please Self and the Spirit. Understand that if you allow Self to sow criticism, condemnation and control, you will reap destruction, but if you sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit you will reap Life. “HOWEVER, I CONSIDER MY LIFE WORTH NOTHING TO ME, IF ONLY I MAY FINISH THE RACE AND COMPLETE THE TASK THE LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN ME” (Acts 20:24). I bless you to consider letting go of your faultfinding, not holding onto it as something praiseworthy…a means to bring someone down so Self can raise itself up. May you become someone whose only focus is to finish the task the Lord Jesus has given you…someone who would transfer His Love…project His Power…deliver His Message. “THE MAN WHO LOVES HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, WHILE THE MAN WHO HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETERNAL LIFE” (John 12:25). I bless you to lose your defense of disapproval, disagreement and disaccord, which serves to please Self. Know that criticism is a poor way of dealing with someone’s heart. Grasp that faultfinding does not portray the heart of your Father and is not the heart He wants you to have. Criticism steals your joy and the joy of your friend. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’” Would you consider laying down your life of criticizing, condemning and controlling, for Jesus and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given you? I bless you
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July 7: Will You Lay Down Your Life of Mind-reading?I have discovered that I have a sinful nature that lives in me. I would like to call it Self. One of the things Self likes to do is to contrast and compare itself to others through the habit of mind-reading. It seems to have this insatiable longing of always being the BEST. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, "WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME”” Understand that Self cannot be changed. You cannot make it holy. It can only be exchanged…for the nature of Jesus. I bless you to lay down Self with its behavior pattern of mind-reading by placing it under the authority of Jesus. Do this each time it tries to exercise its habit of mind-reading. Do not assume you know what others are thinking of you. Do not read between the lines. Stop gathering information to prove your presupposed point. Quit surmising. Desist from guessing. Allow Jesus to substitute your sinful nature of contrasting and comparing for His own nature of Love. “THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE” (Galatians 6:8). I bless you to grasp that Satan, the master of deception, will take advantage of your habit of mind-reading, each time. Know that he WILL use it as an opportunity to drag misinterpretations into your mind…seeing yourself and others in a false light…inserting more than is there. If you allow Self to sow to please its sinful nature through mind-reading, you will reap misunderstanding and destruction. However, if you sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit you will reap Life. “HOWEVER, I CONSIDER MY LIFE WORTH NOTHING TO ME, IF ONLY I MAY FINISH THE RACE AND COMPLETE THE TASK THE LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN ME” (Acts 20:24). I bless you
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July 8: Will You Lay Down Your Life of Forsaking the Task?Today I would like to continue talking about Self, the sinful nature that lives in me. Self seems to be its own person who runs its own life in me. Self is self-contained with its own will…its own esteem…and its own defense of dealing with its pain. Sometimes this means running away from a task…refusing to follow through…forsaking the job. “YOU WERE TAUGHT, WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRE…” (Ephesians 4:22). I bless you to lay down your life-pattern of giving up…abandoning hope… throwing in the towel. Know that Self lives in a sea of deception, controlled by the father-of-lies. Self does not know the Truth. It does not acknowledge God. Understand that Self is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. It is not connected to God’s Hope, Power and Love. It is not a good source from which to live. “FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM SO THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN” (Romans 6:6). May you understand that Jesus died for your Self, so that you should no longer be a slave to its task-forsaking habit and other sinful patterns. May you surrender Self to Jesus to be crucified…and exchange it for Himself. Jesus IS Hope, Truth and Love. Jesus is a good Source from which to live. “HOWEVER, I CONSIDER MY LIFE WORTH NOTHING TO ME, IF ONLY I MAY FINISH THE RACE AND COMPLETE THE TASK THE LORD JESUS HAS GIVEN ME” (Acts 20:24). I bless you to lay down your life of giving up and forsaking the job. God wants you to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given you. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, "WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME”” I bless you |
July 9: Will You Lay Down Your Life of Over-indulgence?“LIKE A CITY WHOSE WALLS ARE BROKEN DOWN IS A MAN WHO LACKS SELF-CONTROL I would like to remind you that Self, who lives in me, is self-contained. Since it is not connected to God’s Love, Truth and Hope, it has its own defense in dealing with its pain. Sometimes this involves over-indulgence…turning to something or someone else to an excessive degree…to ease its pain. “BUT SINCE WE BELONG TO THE DAY, LET US BE SELF-CONTROLLED, PUTTING ON FAITH AND LOVE AS A BREASTPLATE, AND THE HOPE OF SALVATION AS A HELMET” I bless you to give up Self, who is self-contained. Invite Jesus in to heal you with His Love and save you with His Hope…so you can become self-controlled. “THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE” (Galatians 6:8). I bless you to give up seeking relief from your pain through over-indulgence of any kind. Instead, PAUSE BEFORE YOU INDULGE and investigate the pain that instigates you to overdo. Identify the hurt. Find the belief that the enemy has planted in your mind, the thinking that persuades you to run to over-indulgence to eliminate the heartache… to run to Self with its practices to shut out the hurt… to run to a form of abuse to squash the anguish. Surrender Self with its deceitful desires and solutions, to Jesus for His free-setting Truth. Know for certain that if you sow overdo and overuse, you will reap destruction. But if you sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit you will reap Self-control. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, ‘WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME’” I bless you to lay down Self with its habits of self-gratification… unrestraint…excess “for we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). I bless you
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July 10: Lay Down Your Life of Anger and Rage“YOU WERE TAUGHT, WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRE…” (Ephesians 4:22). I would like to remind you that Self, who lives in me, is corrupted by its deceitful desires. Self is also self-contained and depends on its own understanding as its only resource. Not only does Self rely on its own understanding, but it deals with its heartache by responding to its own sinful desires. Sometimes this involves violent and uncontrolled anger. “THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE” (Galatians 6:8). Take notice that if you sow to please your sinful Self with its deceitful desires of anger and rage, from that nature you will reap destruction. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, "WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME”” I bless you to consider laying down your life of becoming enraged at yourself and those around you. Know that anger is a cover-up for deep-seated feelings of unworthiness. “GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP"” (John 10:11). May you notice that you are not the only one who is being asked to lay down your life for another. The perfect Father asked Jesus, His son, to lay down His Life…for you, “because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” I bless you to see that Jesus LAY DOWN HIS LIFE to BECOME YOUR LIFE AND BREATH AND EVERYTHING ELSE. You do not have to respond to Self’s deceitful desires with anger and rage. Instead, decode your understanding. Catch sight of what you really believe about yourself and others. Then offer this to Jesus to become your Life and Breath and Everything Else. I bless you
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July 11: Lay Down your Life of DepressionI would like to remind you that Self, who lives in me, is self-contained. It is not eager to let in other opinions, especially God’s. It depends on its own understanding as its only resource, which renders Self to feel hopeless and abandoned by God’s Hope, Truth and Love. Since Self is self-contained, it has its own defense in dealing with its pain of feeling hopelessly abandoned. Sometimes this involves depression…a period spent in dejection and hopelessness. “THEN JESUS ANSWERED, "WILL YOU REALLY LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME”” I suffered from depression. I would spend three days at a time in dejection and hopelessness. My period of depression would be marked by sadness, inactivity, excessive sleeping and suicidal thoughts. I suffered from depression for years, until Jesus asked me, “Will you lay down your dejection and hopelessness for My Hope. Will you lay down your understanding for Mine? Will you lay down Self for Me?” “HOW FOOLISH! WHAT YOU SOW DOES NOT COME TO LIFE UNLESS IT DIES” You might think depression is an uncontrollable monster that suddenly grabs you, but I have discovered that this monster is just Self, living out its own self-contained life in me. Self loves its own understanding, its own defense and the outcome of these. It is NOT WILLING to let God in. It was only after I became willing to lay Self down and let it die, that I gave permission to God’s Love, Hope and Truth to enter my heart. “FOR IF, BY THE TRESPASS OF THE ONE MAN, DEATH REIGNED THROUGH THAT ONE MAN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THOSE WHO RECEIVE GOD'S ABUNDANT PROVISION OF GRACE AND OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS REIGN IN LIFE THROUGH THE ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST” (Romans 5:17). I bless you to realize that death and depression does not have to reign in your heart. Capture that you can receive God’s abundant provision of Grace…availing His Love, Truth and Hope…and reign in life through Jesus Christ. By the way, my depression has been cured! I bless you
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July 12: Self and the SpiritHave you ever traveled in Newfoundland, Canada? I have. You might know that one of the things that pose a real threat to drivers there, are the moose. Because they are so dark, moose are very hard to spot on the highway, especially at night. During 2009, there were 660 collisions between drivers and moose. They would show up when you least expected them. You have to strain your eyes while you are driving…looking for moose. Never could you relax by taking your eyes off the road. “I KNOW THAT NOTHING GOOD LIVES IN ME, THAT IS, IN MY SINFUL NATURE. FOR I HAVE THE DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD, BUT I CANNOT CARRY IT OUT. 19FOR WHAT I DO IS NOT THE GOOD I WANT TO DO; NO, THE EVIL I DO NOT WANT TO DO—THIS I KEEP ON DOING” (Romans 7:18, 19). The moose in Newfoundland remind me of Self in me. Self is always around. Self is a real threat to me. I have had many collisions with Self the last year…many of which were fatal. Never can I relax and forget about Self, because even when I have the desire to do good, Self would get in the way. It would show up when I least expected it, full of anger, malice and jealousy. The evil I do not want to do, Self would keep on doing. “THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES. 6THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE; 7THE SINFUL MIND IS HOSTILE TO GOD. IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD'S LAW, NOR CAN IT DO SO. 8THOSE CONTROLLED BY THE SINFUL NATURE CANNOT PLEASE GOD (Romans 8:5-8). I have good news! I came to realize that Self is not the only one living in me. There is another living in me…THE SPIRIT OF GOD HIMSELF. Many times during the day, Self appears unexpectedly, just like the Newfoundland moose, ready to do evil. However, I realize I do not have to have my mind set on what Self desires, FOR THOSE CONTROLLED BY SELF CANNOT PLEASE GOD. Instead, I can place Self under the authority of Jesus to be crucified, and allow God’s Spirit to reign in and through me. I now have a daily moment-by-moment choice. I BLESS YOU TO REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE A CHOICE TOO. I bless you
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July 13: Live a Life Worthy of the Calling Assigned You“NEVERTHELESS, EACH ONE SHOULD RETAIN THE PLACE IN LIFE THAT THE LORD ASSIGNED TO HIM AND TO WHICH GOD HAS CALLED HIM. THIS IS THE RULE I LAY DOWN IN ALL THE CHURCHES” (1 Corinthians 7:17). The other day I was very discouraged. I went for a walk on the beach and asked God to send me encouragement. When I got home, a friend had sent me a story. The story was about a man who received an assignment from God. The Lord showed the man a large rock in front of the man’s house and asked him to push against the rock with all his might. The man was obedient. For many years, he toiled from sunset to sundown, pushing against the rock with all his might. But then the man became discouraged. He went to God and lamented, “I have labored long and hard for You, Lord, putting all my strength to do what You have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged the rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?” God responded compassionately, “My friend, I asked you to push against the rock with all your might. Never once did I mention that I expected you to move it. Your calling was only to be obedient. But look at you, with all the toil and exertion, you have become patient and disciplined, which will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace in your life. Because you have done what I have asked of you, I WILL NOW USE MY OWN STRENGTH TO MOVE THE ROCK!” “AS A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, THEN, I URGE YOU TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED” (Ephesians 4:1). I would like to encourage you by telling you that God never expected you to move the rock. He is only asking you to be obedient and do the work for which He had called you, whether that be a teacher, a mother, a father, an encourager, a giver, a leader, or any specific task for which He has called you. I bless you to know that through being obedient, you will become patient and disciplined, which will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace in your life so that you may share in His Holiness. Be encouraged that if you are obedient to that which God has called you, GOD HIMSELF WILL MOVE YOUR ROCK. I bless you
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July 14: Cut the Ropes that Hold Your Life Patterns“SO THE SOLDIERS CUT THE ROPES THAT HELD THE LIFEBOAT AND LET IT FALL AWAY” (Acts 27:32). I bless you today to consider cutting the ropes that are holding your lifeboat of sinful behavior patterns and habits afloat…and let it fall away. I bless you to cut the ropes that are keeping Self alive. Know that Self loves to sulk, spending time in dejection and hopelessness when things don’t go its way. Keep in mind that Self is not self-controlled, but often surrenders to uncontrolled anger and rage when it is provoked. Take into account that Self responds to its deceitful desires with patterns of over-indulgence, mind-reading and forsaking its tasks whenever it is aroused. “HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. 25FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS” (1 Peter 2:24,25). I bless you to believe that you do not need to keep Self with its deceitful desires alive. Jesus Himself bore your sins on the cross, so that you might die to Self’s sinful behavior patterns and live in the Righteousness of Jesus. Allow Jesus, your Shepherd and Overseer, to tend to your needs and heal your wounds whenever Self is aroused. Allow the Righteousness of Jesus to become your reaction whenever Self is provoked. “THEREFORE, RID YOURSELVES OF ALL MALICE AND ALL DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY, AND SLANDER OF EVERY KIND. 2LIKE NEWBORN BABIES, CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK, SO THAT BY IT YOU MAY GROW UP IN YOUR SALVATION, 3NOW THAT YOU HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD” (1 Peter 2:1). Therefore, I bless you to rid yourself of Self, who is full of malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that your perfect Father has sent JESUS TO BECOME YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN PLACE OF SELF. I bless you |
July 15: Take hold of Jesus Christ when You Are Young“DON'T LET ANYONE LOOK DOWN ON YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE YOUNG, BUT SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE BELIEVERS IN SPEECH, IN LIFE, IN LOVE, IN FAITH AND IN I bless you to not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in the way you speak. May Jesus speak through you. Set an example in the way you live. May Jesus live through you. Set an example in the way you love. May Jesus love through you. Set an example in the way you believe. May Jesus believe through you. Set an example in your holiness. May the Righteousness of Jesus shine in and through you. “IN THIS WAY THEY WILL LAY UP TREASURE FOR THEMSELVES AS A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR THE COMING AGE, SO THAT THEY MAY TAKE HOLD OF THE LIFE THAT IS TRULY LIFE” (1 Timothy 6:19). Know that if you allow the love and life of Jesus to be displayed in your life when you are young, you will be laying a firm foundation for the rest of your life…and you will take hold of the life that is truly Life. “AS A RESULT, HE DOES NOT LIVE THE REST OF HIS EARTHLY LIFE FOR EVIL HUMAN DESIRES, BUT RATHER FOR THE WILL OF GOD” (1 Peter 4:2). I bless you to celebrate that if you allow the Righteousness of Jesus to be revealed through you when you are young, you will not live the rest of your earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. I bless you |
July 16: Overcome so You May Receive Life“YOU WERE TAUGHT, WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRES…” (Ephesians 4:22). We have been taught to put off our old Self…the Self that is being corrupted by its DECEITFUL DESIRES. I thought to myself the other day, “If the old Self is being corrupted by its Deceitful Desires, then these DECEITFUL DESIRES must be a real problem.” How do these DECEITFUL DESIRES corrupt Self? My Self has many DECEITFUL DESIRES. Some of them are to be loved…to be needed…to be important…to be successful…to be noticed. There is nothing wrong with these desires, except if they are DECEITFUL DESIRES. Behind each of these deceitful desires stands a belief. The belief “I am invisible” produces the deceitful desire to be noticed. This desire is meant to trick you into thinking that if you are noticed, you finally would find that for which you have been seeking all your life. The belief “I am a failure” produces the deceitful desire to be a success. This desire is meant to deceive you into thinking that you would be OK, if only you could prove that you were a success. The belief “I have no purpose” produces the deceitful desire to be needed. This desire is meant to mislead you into believing that when you are needed, you have arrived to your purpose in life. These deceitful desires cause bewilderment. They obscure the Truth. They lead us astray. We become so busy chasing after the deceitful desires that we do not get around doing the only thing that really matters…the Will of the Father. “HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL GIVE THE RIGHT TO EAT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD” (Revelation 2:7). I bless you today to overcome the urge to yield to Self…to overcome the urge to surrender to your deceitful desires…to overcome the urge to follow the beliefs of “I am a failure, I have no purpose, I am invisible.” I bless you to embrace that if you overcome the urge to follow Self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, you will have Life on earth and in Heaven. I bless you
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July 17: Everyone Is Fighting the Same Battle“BE SELF-CONTROLLED AND ALERT. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. 9RESIST HIM, STANDING FIRM IN THE FAITH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BROTHERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE UNDERGOING THE SAME KIND OF SUFFERINGS” (1 Peter 5:8-9). I bless you today to take note that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering you are. Yes, everybody has the father-of-lies as an enemy. He came to deceive everybody with his lies…not only you. He came to kill, steal and destroy all…not only you. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour…not only you. May I remind you that to deceive means to cause someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. This is the roaring lion’s weapon. Grasp that your brothers throughout the world have been victimized by deceit…not only you. “THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WHAT LOVE IS: JESUS CHRIST LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. May you have compassion when someone believes falsities…when someone shows poor judgment…when someone fails you. May you understand that the father-of-lies stole their Truth, killed their Joy and destroyed their Hope. Therefore, be self-controlled and alert. Look out for the roaring lion’s lies. Resist receiving his deception as truth. Stand firm in your Faith. Embrace the Truth. Then pass this on to your brothers, who are also deceived. Do not let their deception cause you to hate them. I bless you to embrace that Jesus laid down His life for you…and you ought to lay down your life for your brothers. “Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” I bless you |
July 18: Receive from God so that Others May Receive as Well“PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, 4WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES, SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT WE OURSELVES HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4). I sometimes listen to arguments people have with atheists to prove to them that God really exists. They talk about evolution, how old the world is and if Noah’s ark really existed. They try to prove scientifically whether there is a God or not. Then I think to myself…If only I could tell you about the Comfort I have received from God during a time when there was no comfort. If only I could tell you about the Hope now living in and through me where before there was only brokenness and despair. If only I could tell you about the Righteousness of Jesus that has turned my hatred and jealousy into Love. Do you have something you have received from God that is worth sharing with someone else? Have you received Hope for your despair? Have you received Comfort for your sadness? Have you received Love for your hatred? Have your sinful behavior patterns been exchanged for the Righteousness of Jesus? “THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE AMONG US: HE SENT HIS ONE AND ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM” (1 John 4:9). I hope you could answer positively to all my questions. If you could not, then you have not grasped that the perfect Father loves you so much that He sent His one and only son, Jesus, into the world that YOU MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM INSTEAD OF THROUGH YOUR SINFUL NATURE. THEN YOU HAVE NOT GRASPED THAT JESUS CAME TO EXCHANGE YOUR SELF FOR HIMSELF. SIMON PETER, A SERVANT AND APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, “TO THOSE WHO THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST HAVE RECEIVED A FAITH AS PRECIOUS AS OURS” (2 Peter 1:1). Simon Peter received faith through the Righteousness of Jesus. I have received Love, Truth and Hope in exchange for my hatred, deceit and despair. What have you received through the Righteousness of Jesus so that you may share with others what you have received from God? I bless you |
July 19: He Has Saved Us Enough to be Holy“….WHO HAS SAVED US AND CALLED US TO A HOLY LIFE—NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE BUT BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE. THIS GRACE WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME” One of the things that turned my life inside-out was when I realized that God did not just barely save me in a meager manner…He saved me enough to be holy. He did a thorough job…a complete job…a perfect job. Throughout my life, I had the idea that God saved me just enough to go to Heaven. Holiness was something extra…and holiness was up to me. I believed that if I wanted to be holy, I had to muster all my strength together and better my Self. I believed I could make my Self more attractive by smiling more often, slamming less doors and entertaining more guests. However, big was my surprise when God called me one day to make me holy by the Grace given me in Christ Jesus. He assured me that this had always been part of the package of Salvation before the beginning of time. “THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE AMONG US: HE SENT HIS ONE AND ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM” (1 John 4:9). At first, I did not know what to do with this Grace. Then slowly I started understanding that God wanted me to expose every situation to Him moment-by-moment in order that Self should no longer act through me, but be exchanged for Jesus. I give Him my hands to work with, my feet to walk with, my mind to think with and my heart to love with. I do not try to smile when I am sad; instead, I give Him the sadness. I do not stop slamming the doors when I am mad; instead, I give Him the anger, the hatred and the jealousy. I do not entertain more guests to feel loved; instead, I give Him the loneliness and abandonment that lives in my heart. “I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME” (Galatians 2:20). My life changed eternally when I received God’s entire Salvation that includes His Holiness by Grace. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Why don’t you try it yourself? Your life might be changed too. I bless you |
July 20: Jesus Has Come to Give You Understanding“BUT YOU HAVE PLANTED WICKEDNESS, YOU HAVE REAPED EVIL, YOU HAVE EATEN THE FRUIT OF DECEPTION. BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEPENDED ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH AND ON YOUR MANY WARRIORS, 14 THE ROAR OF BATTLE WILL RISE AGAINST YOUR PEOPLE” (Hosea 10:13, 14). I have many warriors. I have the warrior who fights to the bitter end, defending my sinful nature, Self so Self can stay safe and alive in me. This warrior will attack, blame and drive away anybody who challenges the reign of Self. I have another warrior who is very good at hiding Self whenever its safety and esteem are challenged. It hides Self in the dark dungeons of depression. Another warrior is a bit of a coward. It scoops Self up and runs to safety whenever Self is provoked, not daring to come close to the battlefield. It watches from a distance, thinking its own thoughts and leaning on its own understanding. I bless you to grasp that if you depend on your own strength and your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against you…and you will plant wickedness…you will reap evil, because you have eaten the fruit of deception. “BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT; GET WISDOM, DISCIPLINE AND UNDERSTANDING” I bless you to change your ways. Dismiss your warriors. Get wisdom, discipline and understanding. Buy the Truth and do not sell it. “WE KNOW ALSO THAT THE SON OF GOD HAS COME AND HAS GIVEN US UNDERSTANDING…” Know that the perfect Father sent Jesus to replace Self with Himself. Jesus came to bring you understanding. Ask Jesus for His understanding when you are experiencing emotional pain instead of depending on your many warriors and eating from the fruit of deception. Expose every thought, belief and situation to Him moment-by-moment…a hundred times a day. Try it. It will change your life. It has changed mine. I bless you
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July 21: Self Likes to BoastA friend came over the other night and said something that made me think twice before I acted. He said, “We should learn to talk about ourselves without boasting.” I have seen people advertise themselves on Facebook in various ways. They publicize their exotic trips to exotic countries. They announce important achievements of spouses and children. They broadcast their own endeavors and goals. However, listen how Jesus chose His words while speaking to His Father: “I KNEW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME, BUT I SAID THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE STANDING HERE, THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME" (John 11:42). Observing the entire hullabaloo on Facebook, I wonder whether people publicize all their endeavors to the benefit of themselves…or the benefit of others. After much pondering, I have decided that I have an answer to the question, “How do we talk about ourselves without boasting?” My answer is, “When you talk about yourself, let it be to the benefit of other people.” This is how Jesus talked! “IN THIS SELF-CONFIDENT BOASTING I AM NOT TALKING AS THE LORD WOULD, BUT AS A FOOL If you boast, you are not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. If you boast, you are not talking to benefit other people, but to raise your Self up. Boasting keeps Self alive. The question is “Why?” Why do you have to show off? Do you feel unworthy? “CHRIST,…FILLS ALL THINGS EVERYWHERE WITH HIMSELF” (Ephesians 1:23). Jesus wants to fill you with Himself. Jesus wants to exchange your Self with Himself… and Jesus will not say anything that is not to the benefit of others. I bless you to allow Jesus to heal your unworthiness and fill you with Himself so that you can talk about yourself without boasting. May everything you say and display be to the benefit of others. “LET ANOTHER PRAISE YOU, AND NOT YOUR OWN MOUTH; SOMEONE ELSE, AND NOT YOUR OWN LIPS” (Proverbs 27:2). I bless you |
July 22: Wives and Husbands“WIVES, IN THE SAME WAY BE SUBMISSIVE TO YOUR HUSBANDS SO THAT, IF ANY OF THEM DO NOT BELIEVE THE WORD, THEY MAY BE WON OVER WITHOUT WORDS BY THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR WIVES, 2WHEN THEY SEE THE PURITY AND REVERENCE OF YOUR LIVES” (1 Peter 3:1, 2). Many wives seem against submission to their husbands. I am not. It is a beautiful thing. Wife, I bless you to realize that you are being submissive for your husband’s sake. May you realize what an honor it would be to you if you could win your husband over without words by your behavior of purity and reverence! “YOUR BEAUTY SHOULD NOT COME FROM OUTWARD ADORNMENT, SUCH AS BRAIDED HAIR AND THE WEARING OF GOLD JEWELRY AND FINE CLOTHES. 4INSTEAD, IT SHOULD BE THAT OF YOUR INNER SELF, THE UNFADING BEAUTY OF A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT, WHICH IS OF GREAT WORTH IN GOD'S SIGHT” Wife, I bless you to believe that you too can acquire the inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight…but you need to do what is right, put your hope in God and not give way to fear. “FOR THIS IS THE WAY THE HOLY WOMEN OF THE PAST WHO PUT THEIR HOPE IN GOD USED TO MAKE THEMSELVES BEAUTIFUL. THEY WERE SUBMISSIVE TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, 6LIKE SARAH, WHO OBEYED ABRAHAM AND CALLED HIM HER MASTER. YOU ARE HER DAUGHTERS IF YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND DO NOT GIVE WAY TO FEAR” (1 Peter 3:5, 6). Husband, I bless you to be considerate as you live with your wife. Acknowledge that she is the weaker partner. Treat her with respect, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Know that your wife is an heir with you of the gracious gift of Life in Christ Jesus. “HUSBANDS, IN THE SAME WAY BE CONSIDERATE AS YOU LIVE WITH YOUR WIVES, AND TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AS THE WEAKER PARTNER AND AS HEIRS WITH YOU OF THE GRACIOUS GIFT OF LIFE, SO THAT NOTHING WILL HINDER YOUR PRAYERS” (1 Peter 3:7). I bless you |
July 23: A Tree and its Fruit"WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS. THEY COME TO YOU IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE FEROCIOUS WOLVES. 16BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM… 18A GOOD TREE CANNOT BEAR BAD FRUIT, AND A BAD TREE CANNOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT. 19EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE. 20THUS, BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM” (Matthew 7:15, 16, 18-20). I bless you to look out for false prophets. Know that they will not appear like ferocious wolves on the outside, but they will come to you in sheep’s clothing. Take notice that they might even tell you that they prophesy in the name of Jesus, drive out demons in the name of Jesus and perform many miracles in the name of Jesus. However, there is one thing that the false prophets will not be able to mimic…and that is the Fruit of the Spirit. Only those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful Self with its passions and desires and display the nature of Jesus. “BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, 23GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL… 24THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCIFIED THE SINFUL NATURE WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES” (Galatians 5:22-24). I bless you to know that you will recognize someone by his fruit, since every good tree bears good fruit and every bad tree bears bad fruit. Therefore, watch out whom you trust. Observe them, especially at home with their family, and watch for the fruit of love, peace, patience and self-control. Likewise, watch out that you do not become a false prophet. They will recognize you by your fruit. Do you carry the fruit of love, patience, self-control and faithfulness? It is easy to say that you are performing many miracles in the name of Jesus…but have you crucified your sinful Self with its passions and desires? Remember, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by your fruit you will also be recognized. “MANY WILL SAY TO ME ON THAT DAY, 'LORD, LORD, DID WE NOT PROPHESY IN YOUR NAME, AND IN YOUR NAME DRIVE OUT DEMONS AND PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?' 23THEN I WILL TELL THEM PLAINLY, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU. AWAY FROM ME, YOU EVILDOERS!' (Matthew 7:22-23) I bless you |
July 24: The Eyes of the Lord Are EverywhereYesterday I felt very sad. I had to drop my daughter off at the airport. After saying good-bye, I sat in my car for a long time, crying. I missed my daughter, but that was not all of my sadness. Suddenly I felt very alone and afraid in a big world of darkness, deceit and despair. This was a moment in my life that I knew I had to surrender…not just the feeling of sadness, but also the underlying belief that I was not safe in this world where most people lived to follow and obey the father-of-lies. And that is what I did…I looked at my daughter’s plane flying away above the building of the grocery store and invited Jesus into this place in my heart of sadness and fear. Drying my tears, I walked into the grocery store and started shopping for vegetables. Suddenly, a Christian song started playing through the sound system of the store, “I am safe when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be.” Awe filled my heart, as I stood frozen in front of the celery. “God knew I was sad. He knew I was afraid. And He knew I was in the grocery store. He was quieting me with His Love. He was rejoicing over me with singing.” “THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE EVERYWHERE, KEEPING WATCH ON THE WICKED AND THE GOOD” (Proverbs 15:3). I bless you to embrace that you are safe. God is keeping watch over you. His eyes are on you. He knows how you feel. He knows your beliefs. And He knows where you are. THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, I bless you to embrace that the Lord your God is with you. Invite Him into your feelings of sadness and beliefs of fear. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His Love. He will rejoice over you with singing. I bless you |
July 25: Self Loves to Be FirstThe other day, my daughter and I walked across the beach to visit friends of ours. After our visit, our friend offered to take us back home by boat. Looking forward to walking home on the beach during a brilliantly sunny day where waves splashed beauty onto our souls, my daughter and I declined the offer. Not feeling slighted, neglected or insulted, our friend offered to walk a part of the way back with us across the beach. “I WROTE TO THE CHURCH, BUT DIOTREPHES, WHO LOVES TO BE FIRST, WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US. SO IF I COME, I WILL CALL ATTENTION TO WHAT HE IS DOING, GOSSIPING MALICIOUSLY ABOUT US. NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT, HE REFUSES TO WELCOME THE BROTHERS. HE ALSO STOPS THOSE WHO WANT TO DO SO AND PUTS THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH” I would like to warn you that Self, the sinful nature in us, LIKES TO BE FIRST. When someone treats Self with disdain or indifference, like refusing an offered boat ride, Self could very easily feel slighted…neglected…insulted. This could result in sinful acts of having nothing to do with the offenders…gossiping maliciously…refusing to be welcoming. “BUT YOU HAVE PLANTED WICKEDNESS, YOU HAVE REAPED EVIL, YOU HAVE EATEN THE FRUIT OF DECEPTION…” (Hosea 10:13). I would further like to warn you that Self has eaten of the fruit of deception. Self is filled with deception by the father-of-lies. Self possesses no Truth. “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. THE WORLD CANNOT ACCEPT HIM, BECAUSE IT NEITHER SEES HIM NOR KNOWS HIM. BUT YOU KNOW HIM, FOR HE LIVES WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU” (John 14:17). I bless you to understand that Self does not see the Spirit of Truth…nor does it know Him. However, you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. You do not need to yield to Self, who likes to be first. I bless you |
July 26: Embrace…Expose…Exchange“HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. 25FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS” (1 Peter 2:24, 25). Today, I would like to draw your attention to two actions: “He Himself bore our sins…so that we might die to sins…” These two actions are closely connected. Have you ever tried to get rid of sins…the perpetual gossiping…the excessive boasting…the continual pouting? I have! It did not work…until I found out that I could not die to my sins without having Jesus bearing my sins. Although Jesus already bore my sins on the cross a long time ago, I discovered that I had to allow Him to bear my sins daily, moment-by-moment. This is how I deal with my sins: EMBRACE YOUR SINS: First,I accept my sins. I individualize them. I name them. More importantly, I find their underlying beliefs of abandonment, condemnation and shame, because these are the lies from the father-of-lies. EXPOSE YOUR SINS: Next, I expose my sins. I stop protecting myself from feeling abandoned, condemned or shamed. I deprive myself of the shelter where I like to hide when I feel ashamed. I quit blaming others when I feel condemned. I cease running away when I feel abandoned. EXCHANGE YOUR SINS: Then, I submit each individual sin and its underlying belief to Jesus…to bear it for me. You see, by bearing my sin, Jesus does something to it. He disarms it with His Truth. He disbands it with His Love. He discomfits it with His Hope. On the bearing shoulders of Jesus, my sins and their beliefs are held up to God’s supernatural Power of Light…and exchanged for His Truth, Hope and Love. “GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD” (2 Corinthians 5:21). I bless you to bring each individual sin with its underlying belief, to Jesus…so He can bear each sin and deprive it of its power. I bless you
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July 27: I Died to Sin“HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, SO THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SINS AND LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED. 25FOR YOU WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT NOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS” (1 Peter 2:24, 25). Take note that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree…not so that our sins might die…but so that WE might die to our sins. “WHAT SHALL WE SAY, THEN? SHALL WE GO ON SINNING SO THAT GRACE MAY INCREASE? 2BY NO MEANS! WE DIED TO SIN; HOW CAN WE LIVE IN IT ANY LONGER?” I have died to many sins. I have died to depression…withdrawal…pushing people away. I have died to blaming, hating and condemning others. I have died to gossiping. I have died to boasting. “FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM SO THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN” (Romans 6:6). I have died to these sins, because I have no need to live in them any longer. You see, my old Self…that person who is filled with shame, condemnation and abandonment…was crucified with Jesus. My condemnation was turned to acceptance. My shame was turned to respect. My abandonment was turned to belongingness. I do not have to gossip and boast anymore to gain respect from others. I do not have to hate because I feel condemned. I do not have to withdraw because I feel abandoned. These sins serve no purpose to me anymore. The sins that used to manifest through my body were done away with. I am no longer a slave to them. “IN THE SAME WAY, COUNT YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN BUT ALIVE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS” (ROMANS 6:11). In the same way, I bless you to die to sin. May your Self be crucified with Jesus. May your condemnation be turned to acceptance. May your shame be turned to respect. May your abandonment be turned to belongingness. Then you too will count yourself dead to sin, because sin will serve no purpose to you anymore. I bless you
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July 28: We Are Being Given over to Death for Jesus’ Sake“FOR WE WHO ARE ALIVE ARE ALWAYS BEING GIVEN OVER TO DEATH FOR JESUS' SAKE, SO THAT HIS LIFE MAY BE REVEALED IN OUR MORTAL BODY” I have realized recently how many times a daySelf, the sinful nature in me, needs to be given over to death, so that the life of Jesus might be revealed in and through my body…through my actions and reactions. There are so many opportunities in my daily life where I have a choice to give Self over to death for Jesus sake. There are the times when I feel threatened by other people’s successes. There are the times when I feel attacked by other people’s Selfishness. There are the times when I feel discouraged, alone and afraid. “LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS I bless you to throw off everything that hinders the life of Jesus being revealed in and through you…especially your sinful nature, Self. I bless you to know that the only way to give Self over to death is to give Self over to JESUS…every day…a hundred times a day…whenever it is provoked. JESUS IS YOUR SAVIOR. All authority has been given to Him. He is the only one who has the power to tie the noose around Self and its sinful habits and patterns. Jesus will get rid of Self and put HIMSELF in its place. I bless you
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July 29: On Earth, as it is in Heaven“We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from life, I have noticed that I have many expectations. Before I get to my expected destination, I have already envisioned certain outcomes for certain occurrences. I have formed presumptions. I have made calculations. I have it all planned out ahead of time…what I am going to say…what I am going to do. And I expect my expectations to be fulfilled. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART I have discovered that to live according to my expectations is just another way to lean on my own understanding. Sometimes it feels so much more convenient to envision an outcome for an occurrence than to trust in the Lord with all my heart. It is so much easier to form my own presumptions and to make my own calculations than to acknowledge God in these ways. It is so much faster to plan my own future than to allow God to make the paths straight. “YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 6:10). I have noticed that I need to surrender my expectations to my perfect Father…moment-by-moment…every day. God has already made the calculations. He has already planned the outcome. He has already made the plans in Heaven. He is looking for someone who is willing to lay down her expectations…for His. Whenever a picture forms in my head, I need to say, “Perfect Father, may Your Will be done…not the will I am living through my expectations.” Whenever a plan forms in my mind, I need to say, “Perfect Father, may You do with me as you have already planned in Heaven. Only Your Expectations are valid.” I bless you |
July 30: A Hardened Heart Causes Ignorance“SO I TELL YOU THIS, AND INSIST ON IT IN THE LORD, THAT YOU MUST NO LONGER LIVE AS THE GENTILES DO, IN THE FUTILITY OF THEIR THINKING. 18THEY ARE DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND SEPARATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM DUE TO THE HARDENING OF THEIR HEARTS” (Ephesians 4:17-18). I bless you to realize that a hardened heart causes ignorance…A DARKENED UNDERSTANDING…FUTILE THINKING. I bless you to grasp that a hardened heart causes ignorance-- a lack of knowing God’s Truth… a lack of experiencing God’s Hope…a lack of perceiving God’s Love---SEPARATION FROM THE LIFE OF GOD. I bless you to understand that a hardened heart causes ignorance…CAUSING A LIE FROM THE FATHER-OF-LIES TO SEEM LIKE THE TRUTH. “AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN, DO NOT CONFORM TO THE EVIL DESIRES YOU HAD WHEN YOU LIVED IN IGNORANCE” (1 Peter 1:14). I bless you to see that a hardened heart causes a vicious circle. A hardened heart causes ignorance…and ignorance causes futile thinking and a darkened understanding…and a darkened understanding causes separation from God’s Love, Truth and Hope…and separation from God’s Love, Truth and Hope causes you to conform to evil desires. “IN THE PAST GOD OVERLOOKED SUCH IGNORANCE, BUT NOW HE COMMANDS ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TO REPENT” (Acts 17:30). NOTICE THAT GOD DOES NOT OVERLOOK IGNORANCE! Repent from your hardened heart and living in the ignorance of your own understanding and the futility of your own thinking. And you will no longer be separated from the Life of God. The lies of the father-of-lies will be exchanged for God’s Truth. Your hopelessness and despair will be exchanged for God’s Hope. Your animosity will be exchanged for God’s Love. I bless you
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July 31: The Calloused Heart of Bitterness“THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE TO SAY TO JOSEPH: I ASK YOU TO FORGIVE YOUR BROTHERS THE SINS AND THE WRONGS THEY COMMITTED IN TREATING YOU SO BADLY.' NOW PLEASE FORGIVE THE SINS OF THE SERVANTS OF THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER." WHEN THEIR MESSAGE CAME TO HIM, JOSEPH WEPT” (Genesis 50:17). I bless you to forgive your husband…your wife…your father…your mother…your brother…your sister the sins and the wrongs they have committed in treating you so badly. Stop holding them accountable for all the offenses they have committed against you. Your bitterness will not heal you, nor will it help you. Know that it is not your offender’s offenses that damaged your heart, but the beliefs you have adopted from the father-of-lies, “I am a failure…I am a disgrace…I am a victim.” Know that your failures are not due to your offender’s wrongdoing, but due to the father-of-lies’ infringement on your heart. Your disgrace is not due to your offender’s misdeeds, but due to the father-of-lies’ misdeed of deception. Know that you have been victimized by the father-of-lies...attacked by God’s enemy…run down by the roaring lion. “THERE WILL BE NO MERCY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SHOWN MERCY TO OTHERS. BUT IF YOU HAVE BEEN MERCIFUL, GOD WILL BE MERCIFUL WHEN HE JUDGES YOU” (James 2:13). I bless you to show mercy to others. Show compassion to the person who has done you harm, even though your heart demands punishment. DO THIS SO THAT GOD MAY SHOW COMPASSION TO YOU…AND HEAL YOUR BROKEN HEART. “FOR THIS PEOPLE'S HEART HAS BECOME CALLOUSED; THEY HARDLY HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES. OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM” (Acts 28:27). I bless you to understand that bitterness causes a calloused heart, so you do not hear God’s voice…so you do not see God’s reaching hand. See with your eyes the beliefs adopted in your heart by the father-of-lies. Hear with your ears the roar of the roaring lion. Understand with your heart the misdeeds of deception committed against you by God’s enemy…AND TURN TO GOD TO HEAL YOU. I bless you |
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