Shalom,

Today I want to share "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers:

After Surrender – What?

I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. — John 17:4

Surrender is not the surrender of the external life, but of the will; when that is done, all is done. There are very few crises in life; the great crisis is the surrender of the will. God never crushes a man’s will into surrender, He never beseeches him, He waits until the man yields up his will to Him. That battle never needs to be re-fought.

Surrender for Deliverance. “Come unto Me,…and I will give you rest.” It is after we have begun to experience what salvation means that we surrender our wills to Jesus for rest. Whatever is perplexing heart or mind is a call to the will — “Come unto Me.” It is a voluntary coming.

Surrender for Devotion. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” The surrender here is of my self to Jesus, my self with His rest at the heart of it. “If you would be My disciple, give up your right to yourself to Me.” Then the remainder of the life is nothing but the manifestation of this surrender. When once the surrender has taken place we never need “suppose” anything. We do not need to care what our circumstances are, Jesus is amply sufficient.

Surrender for Death (John 21:18-19). “…another shall gird thee.” Have you learned what it means to be bound for death? Beware of a surrender which you make to God in an ecstasy; you are apt to take it back again. It is a question of being united with Jesus in His death until nothing ever appeals to you that did not appeal to Him.

After surrender — what? The whole of the life after surrender is an aspiration for unbroken communion with God.

Amen! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Fear Of God":

Shalom in Him

Shalom,

We read Isaiah 59-60 in today's "SpokenWord Bible Reading Plan" and I was really blessed by Isaiah 59:19-21:

19 So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]. 20 He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression, says the Lord. 21 As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord: My Spirit, Who is upon you [and Who writes the law of God inwardly on the heart], and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your [true, spiritual] children, or out of the mouths of your children’s children, says the Lord, from henceforth and forever.

We need NEVER allow fear and worry into our lives and homes! Our GREAT GOD has already promised what HE will do when WE trust in His WORD! HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with "Watch This":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest: devotional by Oswald Chambers.

Missionary Munitions

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. — John 13:14

Ministering as opportunity surrounds us.

This does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means being very selectly God’s in any haphazard surroundings which He engineers for us. The characteristics we manifest in our immediate surroundings are indications of what we will be like in other surroundings.

The things that Jesus did were of the most menial and commonplace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God’s power in me to do the most commonplace things in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels and dishes and sandals, all the ordinary sordid things of our lives, reveal more quickly than anything what we are made of. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty as it ought to be done.

“I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Watch the kind of people God brings around you, and you will be humiliated to find that this is His way of revealing to you the kind of person you have been to Him. Now, He says, exhibit to that one exactly what I have shown to you.

“Oh,” you say, “I will do all that when I get out into the foreign field.” To talk in this way is like trying to produce the munitions of war in the trenches — you will be killed while you are doing it.

We have to go the “second mile” with God. Some of us get played out in the first ten yards, because God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say — “I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.” If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.

Remember that anything that God says for you to do is for YOUR GOOD! If you remember something that God told you to do and you have not done it yet - DO IT! That would be disobedience and we do NOT want to be found in that sorry state! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Calvary's Enough":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle Ministries devotional.

God Withholds No Good Thing

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 NKJV

Many people read this scripture and think, “But I’m not upright; I just committed that same old sin again.” They think they cannot receive anything good from God because they believe they are not upright.

Others think, “I faithfully attend church, tithe, pray for an hour each day, confess the Word, and never watch R-rated movies. Compared to others, I am definitely walking uprightly before God.”

Truth be told, both of these attitudes are wrong for the same reason: they focus on the individual’s performance rather than on what Jesus accomplished on their behalf.

The Word of God says, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17 NKJV). Live by faith in what? Faith in Jesus and all He did on the cross. Faith in what God says in His Word.

If you have confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you now stand upright, holy, and blameless before God. If you sin, stop immediately and confess that sin to God. The Bible assures us that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV).

Know this: God sees you and treats you according to Jesus’ perfect performance, not your own. Therefore, as a child of God you can stand on the Word and believe that no good thing will be held from you.

Confession: I walk uprightly before God because of what Jesus has done for me. The Lord is my sun and shield, and He will withhold no good thing from me because I am perfect, holy, and blameless in Him.

AMEN! KNOW what the Word of God says about YOU and what belongs to you because of JESUS! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share the powerful devotional from The Spoken Word Church website!

Make up Your Mind to Overcome

Job is a great example of persistence in the midst of human suffering. He was stripped financially. His children were killed. His closest friends judged him guilty of some hidden sin, but he determined to overcome.

The opinions of others will never change your character. Ultimately and inevitably integrity wins. Always. Whatever the price, overcoming is worth it.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (Job 13:15)

Here is Brandon Lake with "Kids":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share the devotional from Jerry Savelle Ministries website. This is SO good!

Your Identity Determines Your Future

For as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 NKJV (brackets added by author)

If you want your future to improve, the first thing you need to do is change your identity, meaning what you see yourself to be. Your life today is a result of how you have viewed your identity in the past, and you will never think, speak, or act in a way that is contrary to your identity.

Gideon transformed from being a coward into a man of great courage the moment he took on a new identity (see Judges 6). When God called him a mighty man of valor, Gideon received his new identity and went on to become a strong and courageous leader. The only thing that changed that day was Gideon’s identity; he saw himself as God saw him.

Gideon could have been a mighty man all along, but God had to bring him to the point where he identified with God’s might rather than his own cowardice.

If you’re fed up with being the way you are and dealing with the same old problems, you can become a new person by taking on a new identity. You can throw off the old identity that you took on from other people, circumstances, and the world. Then you can take on the identity that was given to you by your loving heavenly Father and become the person He always intended you to be.

When you made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, your position became “in Him” or “in Christ.” Now that you are in Him, you have access to the future God has prepared for you—a future that overflows with success, fulfillment, and prosperity in every area of your life.

But let me offer a word of caution: If you cling to your old identity you’ll never experience life to the full. I’ve seen people who have been saved for forty years and still have not discovered who they really are. They still hold on to that old identity, they are losers in life and not the winners God has called them to be.

Just as Gideon had to receive his God-given identity, so you must receive your identity in Christ. Choose to identify with Him and to enjoy the abundant future that God has determined for you.

Confession: In Him I am a new creation. I am victorious, an overcomer who can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. My future overflows with success, fulfillment, and prosperity in every area of my life.

AMEN! Here is David Ingles with a very old song we have been singing for years called "I'm A New Creation":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional is another one that will cause your faith to soar!

Translated

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [able] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power [authority] of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood . . . . — COLOSSIANS 1:12-14

Darkness is the kingdom of Satan. And in that word “darkness” is everything Satan is.

Light is the Kingdom of God.

By means of the New Birth, you were translated out of the kingdom of darkness — and into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, the Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of light.

Our Heavenly Father has fitted His children (or made them “meet”) to partake of an inheritance — “the inheritance of the saints in light”! Part of your inheritance is that God has delivered you out of Satan’s authority of darkness, and He has now translated you into the kingdom of His dear Son!

God has made you meet — He has delivered you — He has translated you. Thank God, you can partake of your inheritance now. Don’t relegate it to the future.

Confession: Thank You, Father. You have made me able to partake of my inheritance now. I am redeemed. I am delivered from the authority of Satan now. I am translated into the kingdom of Your dear Son now. I am a citizen of the kingdom of light. I live in the light. I walk in the light. I am a saint in the light!

AMEN!

Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom!

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's"Faith Food" devotional! 

Redeemed

In whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood . . . . — EPHESIANS 1:7

Webster defines the word “redeem” as (1) To buy back; (2) To free from captivity by payment of ransom.

To walk in the highest kind of faith, you must know the reality of your redemption in Christ not as a doctrine, a philosophy, or a creed, but as an actual redemption out of the authority of Satan.

When Adam fell, mankind went into captivity.

But God had a plan — a great plan of redemption! And He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate it. (Webster defines “consummate” as complete in every detail: perfect.)

Now God’s Word tells us, “In whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption . . . .” How thankful we can be that we’re not trying to get redeemed. We already have redemption! We are redeemed and delivered now from the authority of darkness; from the power of Satan!

Confession: I am redeemed! In Christ I have redemption! Through His blood I have redemption! I’m not trying to get it; it’s mine. I have it now! Jesus bought me back. Jesus freed me from captivity by the payment of a ransom — His own life!

AMEN! There IS no greater TRUTH for our lives than THIS! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

The Witness

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. . . . And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life . . . . — 1 JOHN 5:9,11,12

Faith in God is simply faith in His Word.

Study God’s Word with this determination: I will find out what God says and agree with it. You can’t expect the things of God to work for you if you take sides against His Word. This may mean unlearning certain “religious” ideas. Too often we’ve been religiously brainwashed, instead of scripturally taught.

Find out what God says in His Word regarding: (1) What God has made available for us in His plan of redemption; (2) What the Father is to you; (3) What Jesus is doing for you now at the right hand of the Father; and (4) What the Holy Spirit is doing in you.

Then find out from His Word what God thinks about the following: (1) What He says you are in Christ; (2) Who you are in Christ; (3) What you have because you’re in Christ.

Even though it may not seem real in your life, start confessing, “Yes, that’s mine, according to God’s Word.” You will then find that faith’s confession creates reality.

Confession: I agree with the witness of God. What He says I am, I am. What He says I have, I have.

AMEN! Make time in God's Word your top priority! HIS WORD is TRUTH! There is no other! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 65 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today and verse 1 is my favorite verse today!

1 To You belongs silence (the submissive wonder of reverence which bursts forth into praise) and praise is due and fitting to You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed.

This verse tells me that in order to REALLY praise the LORD we must first spend time in His presence simply being aware of WHO HE IS! THEN pure and natural praise will burst forth from our innermost being! HE will be well pleased and WE will be most blessed! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I realy love tody's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Performance

Then said Jehovah . . . I watch over my word to perform it. — JEREMIAH 1:12 (ASV)

In all probability, you have faith in your employer. You believe what he says, and you act on it. If he promises to raise your salary, you don’t question him.

Also, you and your word are one. You are behind your word and your promises. If your word is no good, then you are not good.

But God’s Word is more reliable than the word of a man! God’s Word and God are one. If God’s Word is no good and it cannot be relied upon, then God is no good, and He cannot be relied upon.

But God can be relied upon! He stands behind His Word! He stands behind every Word He promises!

You come to know Jesus through the Word of God. Jesus introduces you to God the Father. Then you begin to act upon God’s Word. You test it. After a time of acting upon what God says in His Word, it becomes as natural to you as acting upon the word of the man for whom you are working.

Confession: I believe God. I act upon His Word. Then He watches over His Word to perform it in my life.

AMEN! We can COUNT on HIM! Hallelujah! Here is Brandon Lake with "The Great I Am Can":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

He that believeth in Me…out of him shall flow…. — John 7:38

Jesus did not say — “he that believeth in Me shall realize the blessing of the fullness of God,” but — “he that believeth in Me out of him shall escape everything he receives.” Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts. It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.

When Mary of Bethany broke the box of precious ointment and poured it on Jesus’ head, it was an act for which no one else saw any occasion; the disciples said it was a waste. But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said that wherever His gospel was preached “this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Our Lord is carried beyond Himself with joy when He sees any of us doing what Mary did, not being set on this or that economy, but being abandoned to Him. God spilt the life of His Son that the world might be saved; are we prepared to spill out our lives for Him?

“He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water” — hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. It is time now to break the life, to cease craving for satisfaction, and to spill the thing out. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "That's Who I Praise":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional!

Perseverance Gets Results

I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:8 The Amplified Bible

If, as God tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4, it’s His will for all men to be saved, why aren’t we seeing more of the masses of lost people born again every day? Have you ever wondered that?

I have...and as I’ve sought the Lord about it, I’ve come to realize that, for the most part, it’s because those of us who are already saved don’t pray persistently for those who aren’t. Instead of persevering—staying before the Father, praying for them to receive the bread of salvation—like the man in Luke 11:8 did for his friend, when we don’t see immediate results, we simply give up and go home.

What we don’t realize is this: Perseverance is the key to success in intercession!

Why? It’s certainly not because you have to change God’s mind. He never changes. His mind’s made up. He wants all men saved. The reason you have to persevere in intercession is to put pressure on the demonic forces that are trying to keep God’s will from being accomplished. Those forces must be broken down through prayer so that strongholds are destroyed and spiritual blinders are removed from the spiritual eyes of the people you’re praying for.

You see, God will not go against the will of any person. But He will move through your intercession to reveal Himself to them. Through your persistent prayers, He will bring them to the knowledge of their need for Him. Then they’ll reach out for Him and spiritual rebirth can take place!

If you’re sitting around waiting on God to save Aunt Mary or Uncle Jim or your best friend...stop sitting around! Get busy interceding for them. Persevere in prayer. Pray the prayer in Ephesians 1:16-23 for them, refusing to give up until they’re safely inside God’s kingdom.

Jesus has already laid down His life so that they can be saved. The question is, will you?

AMEN! I hope that YOU are one who perserveres in prayer! MANY people are counting on you to do so! And the BEST part? Your REAWARDS will be GREAT in HEAVEN! HALLELUJAH!!! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional by Joseph Prince is EXCELLENT!

The Power of Redeeming Thoughts

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT

What mental movies are you playing in your head today? Are they thoughts of defeat and despair or thoughts of victory and favor? Faith is simply saying what God says about you and seeing what God sees in you and your situation.

It takes a thought to heal a thought. Unlike the world, which teaches you to empty your mind to achieve peace, God’s way is to fill your mind with fresh, powerful, and redeeming thoughts.

The apostle Paul tells us, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT). So it’s not just trying to blot out bad thoughts with your willpower. It takes a thought to replace a thought. It takes a right belief to replace a wrong belief. You need God’s truth to replace the enemy’s lies that have kept you in bondage.

My friend, if a wrong, bad, or negative thought is lodged in your mind today and you can’t seem to shake it, stop trying! Perhaps you’re lying in a hospital bed and can’t help but think of the worst-case scenario. You’re attempting to suppress it, but it’s not working. Well, stop! Stop trying to erase it from your mind. That just won’t work. What you need to do is replace that destructive thought with a thought that’s from God. That’s the only way to deal with a wrong thought and begin the healing process.

Start to meditate on truths such as, “Surely Jesus has borne my sicknesses and carried my pains. The chastisement for my wholeness fell upon Him, and by His stripes I am healed. With long life He will satisfy me” (Isaiah 53:4–5 and Psalm 91:16). Begin to play mental movies of yourself getting well, being discharged from the hospital, having fun with your kids, or going on a nice holiday!

AMEN! SEE yourself with EVERYTHING that GOD has promised in His Word! Here is Brandon Lake and Brooke Ligertwood with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 60 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today and THIS is the verse I want to leave you with! 

12 Through God we shall do valiantly, for He it is Who shall tread down our adversaries.

AMEN! It IS by and through HIM that we have any hope at all! Make JESUS your #1 priority and see how HE blesses your life and family! Here is Tauren Wells  with "Take It All Back":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Health Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

God’s Word Is Good

Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.  JEREMIAH 1:12

I remember another situation in which I had to act on what the banker said. I needed a car that could pull my trailer up mountainous roads. So I bought a 1955 V8 Chevrolet. Well, I didn’t have the money to buy it. I found a salesman who would let me have it at cost. However, instead of letting me have it at cost, it cost him one hundred and fifty dollars to sell it to me.

So I called from California to Garland, Texas, to speak to my banker. I said, “Mr. Mitchell, I am buying a three-quarter ton pick-up truck.” Then I told him the price.

He said, “Wow! There’s got to be some mistake here.”

So the salesman got on the phone with Mr. Mitchell and said, “I’m staying with the figure I gave him. We made a mistake. We figured it wrong. He’s getting the truck at one hundred and fifty dollars less than what we put in it. But I’m a man of my word. I’m going to stay with what I said. He can have it for that price.”

Mr. Mitchell said, “All right. Just give the pick-up truck to him, and I’ll put the check in the mail for you.” Well, I drove that truck away in fifteen minutes. All the salesman and I had was the banker’s word. And all the banker had was my word. But we just acted on one another’s word and enjoyed the benefits thereof!

I wonder if God’s Word is as good as Mr. Mitchell’s word! I wonder if God’s Word is as good as the car dealer’s word! I wonder if God will back His Word up! I wonder if you can depend on what He said! You have to know that God stands by His Word. Then you won’t be afraid to trust Him.

Confession: I know that God stands by His Word. His Word says that I’m healed, that I’m not sick anymore. So I believe Him. I know that God’s Word works for me.

AMEN! Build your confidence in THE WORD of the LIVING GOD! Remember, HE IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE! {Numbers 23:19} You can count on it! Here is Seph Schlueter with "Im Counting My Blessings":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional by Joseph Prince!

Submission Releases God’s Favor into Your Life

Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand . . .” 1 Samuel 17:17-18

When God wanted to bring down a mighty giant who was terrorizing the nation of Israel, He sent someone who was weak in the flesh. Think about it. In the eyes of the world, what could be weaker against a trained and fearsome soldier than a young boy who had no formal military training, no armor, was dressed in a humble shepherd’s garb, and did not even carry any real weapons other than a sling and five smooth stones from a brook? It is no wonder that Goliath mocked this young shepherd boy and his strategy. When David stepped into the battlefield, Goliath asked him sarcastically, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (1 Samuel 17:43).

The implications of this battle were massive. It was not just a duel or contest between two individuals. The Israelites and Philistines had agreed to each send a warrior who would represent their nation. The defeated warrior would commit his entire nation to become servants to the other nation. It would be an understatement to say that a whole lot was riding on this one fight. And who does God send to represent Israel? In natural terms, He sent possibly the most unqualified person onto that battlefield in the Valley of Elah.

David was not even a soldier in the army of Israel! Do you remember how this shepherd boy ended up at the battlefield to begin with? David was there to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers who were in the army (1 Samuel 17:17-20)! And yet, David found himself standing on the battlefield as Israel's representative against the haughty Goliath. From delivering bread and cheese, he was now called upon to deliver the entire nation of Israel.

David was at the right place at the right time because he humbled himself and submitted to his father’s instructions to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers. Beloved, this is something you need to understand. Submission to God-appointed leadership will always cause God's favor to flow in your life, and you will find yourself, like David, at the right place at the right time!

The Bible says that we should not despise the day of humble beginnings (Zecheriah 4:10). There is nothing glamorous about delivering bread and cheese, but David did not despise it. And that put him right in the Valley of Elah, the wind blowing in his hair—a young shepherd boy with no military experience representing the nation of Israel against a mighty giant who was a man of war from his youth.

This is what God loves to do. He loves to take the foolish and weak things to shame the wise and mighty things of the world. So beloved, humble yourself and submit to the authorities that God has placed above you. And when you are faithful to carry out small tasks assigned to you, His favor is released in your life and you might just find yourself doing great exploits for God!

AMEN! (So be it unto me, according to YOUR WORD!) Here is Brandon Lake with "As For Me And My Home":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom.

Today I want to share another great devotionl with you! Here is Joseph Prince with today's "Daily Grace Inspirations":

Practicing The Word 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. — JAMES 1:22

Your spirit can be developed by four things. We have just examined the first: meditation. Now we will look at the second: practicing the Word. Practicing the Word means being a doer of the Word.

There are talkers about the Word. And even rejoicers about the Word. But we don’t have many doers of the Word.

Begin to practice being a doer of the Word. Under all circumstances, do what the Word of God tells you to do.

Some think that being a doer of the Word is simply keeping the Ten Commandments. No, that’s not what James 1:22 means. After all, under the New Covenant, we have only one commandment — the commandment of love. If you love someone, you won’t steal from him. You won’t lie about him. Paul said that love is the fulfilling of the law. If you walk in love, you won’t break any law that was given to curb sin. So, if you’re a doer of the Word, you will walk in love.

But being a doer of the Word for New Covenant Christians means doing primarily what is written in the Epistles. Those are the letters written to the Church. They belong to us, and we are to do them.

Confession: I am a doer of the Word, not just a hearer only!

AMEN! Here is my favorite new worship song by Brandon Lake called "Rest On Us":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am sticking with Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional for today because it is SO needful!

Practicing The Word

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. — JAMES 1:22

Your spirit can be developed by four things. We have just examined the first: meditation. Now we will look at the second: practicing the Word. Practicing the Word means being a doer of the Word.

There are talkers about the Word. And even rejoicers about the Word. But we don’t have many doers of the Word.

Begin to practice being a doer of the Word. Under all circumstances, do what the Word of God tells you to do.

Some think that being a doer of the Word is simply keeping the Ten Commandments. No, that’s not what James 1:22 means. After all, under the New Covenant, we have only one commandment — the commandment of love. If you love someone, you won’t steal from him. You won’t lie about him. Paul said that love is the fulfilling of the law. If you walk in love, you won’t break any law that was given to curb sin. So, if you’re a doer of the Word, you will walk in love.

But being a doer of the Word for New Covenant Christians means doing primarily what is written in the Epistles. Those are the letters written to the Church. They belong to us, and we are to do them.

Confession: I am a doer of the Word, not just a hearer only!

AMEN! Each one of us must come to a decision to MAKE JESUS LORD of our lives! Her are Hillsong Kids with one of my favorite songs that they did years ago called #1

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is again speaking of US putting GOD and HIS WORD first place!

My Meditation

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. — PSALM 119:97

A minister told me how he’d been trying to make a success of his church. If he heard of a pastor who was doing well, he would visit him and see what kind of program he had. Then he would try to put that man’s program into action in his church — but it never worked. And he’d fly all over the country doing this.

Then the pastor decided he would meditate in the Word the way he’d heard me teach. So he took a little time out each morning to meditate on the Word. He told me that after thirty days of meditating on the Word, one Sunday they had a landslide response. More people were saved than in the previous two or three years; his people were revived— and he began to have good success.

The ministry was this pastor’s life. That’s where he needed to have good success. Your life calling may be different. But it is certainly true that your way can also be prosperous, and you can have good success. Take time to meditate in the Word. Shut yourself in alone with your spirit. Shut the world out.

Confession: I will meditate in God’s Word. I will observe to do what His Word teaches. My way shall be prosperous. I shall have good success in life. I shall know how to deal wisely in the affairs of life. For the Word of God says so.

AMEN! MEDITATE on GOD'S WORD and you will find great WISDOM begin to flow from you! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I had trouble with Blogger for a few days, but it seems to be working now! I will catch up beginning with 8/24!

Here is Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional!

Day And Night

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. — PSALM 1:2-3

If you ever want to do anything great in life — if you ever want to amount to anything in life — take time to meditate in the Word of God. Start out with at least ten or fifteen minutes a day, and build up.

For many years, I held two services a day while in the traveling ministry. And in earlier years of field ministry, I would teach in the mornings, pray aloud all afternoon, and preach and minister at night. Because I ate only one meal a day during my meetings, I would grow weak expending all this physical energy.

Then the Lord spoke to me. He said, “Don’t spend all that time praying and wearing yourself out for the night service. Lie on the bed and meditate.” When I began to do that, my spiritual growth was greater than ever before.

Well, that’s what God promised: “. . . for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8). I wanted to prosper and have good success in the ministry. But this works whether you are in the ministry, raise cows, or sell automobiles!

Confession: I take time every day to meditate in God’s Word!

AMEN! I am SO glad that this was one of the very first lessons that I learned from the Word of God! MAKE HIS WORD YOUR TOP PRIORITY! HE DOES! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

Prayer Choice And Prayer Conflict

When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and pray to thy Father which is in secret. — Matthew 6:6

Jesus did not say — “Dream about thy Father in secret,” but “pray to thy Father in secret.” Prayer is an effort of will. After we have entered our secret place and have shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray; we cannot get our minds into working order, and the first thing that conflicts is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is the overcoming of mental wool-gathering. We have to discipline our minds and concentrate on wilful prayer.

We must have a selected place for prayer and when we get there the plague of flies begins — This must be done, and that. “Shut thy door.” A secret silence means to shut the door deliberately on emotions and remember God. God is in secret, and He sees us from the secret place; He does not see us as other people see us, or as we see ourselves. When we live in the secret place it becomes impossible for us to doubt God, we become more sure of Him than of anything else. Your Father, Jesus says, is in secret and nowhere else. Enter the secret place, and right in the centre of the common round you find God there all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "I Know A Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland!

No Consolation Prize

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4

I talk a lot about faith. But there’s another force that goes along with it that’s just as important. It’s patience—the ability to stand fast on the Word of God even when your victory seems slow in coming.

Patience is not automatic. It won’t go to work unless you let it go to work. So many people don’t understand that. They somehow think faith and patience will go to work for them without their help. They just let the devil tear their lives apart and then they say silly things like, “Well, I guess God sent that trial to strengthen my faith.”

Don’t you ever get caught saying that!

In the first place, James says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God...” (James 1:13). And in the second place, that trial isn’t going to make your faith stronger. In fact, it’ll destroy it if you’ll let it.

If I were to give you a set of weights, would that set of weights make you any stronger? No. As a matter of fact, if you dropped one of them on your foot, you could end up painfully weaker. It’s what you do with them that counts, right?

Well, the same thing is true when you run into some kind of trying circumstance the devil’s brought your way. If you just lie down and let it run over you, it will damage you. But if you’ll let patience have her perfect work, if you’ll remain consistently constant, trusting in and relying confidently on the Word of God, you’ll end up perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

“Wanting nothing.” That phrase alone should convince you that patience is no consolation prize. It’s a first-rate power that will put the promises of God within your reach. It’s a force that will make a winner out of you.

AMEN! Make sure that you are spending time in the Word of God every day! It IS your vital necessity! 

Psalm 70:4 4 May all those who seek, inquire of and for You, and require You [as their vital need] rejoice and be glad in You; and may those who love Your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified! AMP

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another favorit of mine!

Above Only

The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath . . . . — DEUTERONOMY 28:12-13

The reason why Christians continually make mistakes and fail is because their spirits, which should guide them, are kept locked away in prison, so to speak. Even in our churches, the intellect has taken the throne.

Any person who shuts his spirit away and never listens to it becomes crippled in life. He becomes an easy prey to selfish and designing people.

But the person who listens to his spirit is the one who climbs to the top.

Before I began to learn in 1959 how to follow the inward witness, it cost me financially. I had to borrow money to get out of a financial hole. Yet God had said I would have money to loan if I would follow the inward witness. But when I began to follow it, I started rising to the top. And I’ve been rising ever since.

Confession: (Make your own confession from today’s scripture.)

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional!

Love Fulfills the Law

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

There is a grace revolution going on and it is liberating precious people from the power of sin! The glorious gospel of grace produces glorious, victorious, and holy lives. If you know people who are living in sin and claiming that they are under grace, you know that they are most definitely not living under grace! How can they be when the Bible states that sin shall not have dominion over those who are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14)? The Ten Commandments cannot produce holiness in people. Grace is the power to go and sin no more (John 8:11)!

There are also people who believe that preaching God’s grace gives people a license to sin and endorses licentiousness. That is not what God’s grace does at all! On the contrary, God’s amazing grace transforms a person’s heart and produces true holiness, which isn’t just outward, but also deep, intimate, beginning at the very core of a person’s heart. Holiness is a fruit of God’s grace.

The word “holiness” in the New Testament is the Greek word hagiasmos, which is sometimes translated also as “sanctification.” The moment you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you were justified by faith and made perfectly righteous. You were also made holy or sanctified, which is to be set apart unto the Lord. And as you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, you are progressively transformed into His image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Now, you cannot be more righteous because you are already 100 percent righteous by Jesus’ blood. But under grace, you can grow in holiness in the way you live your life.

I am all for holiness and I am vehemently against sin. Where I differ from some preachers is in my focus on how we stop the power of sin and help God’s people grow in greater holiness. For many preachers the answer to sin is found in preaching the Ten Commandments. I believe that the answer is found in preaching Jesus and the gospel of grace.

Now, listen carefully to what I am about to say. Under grace, when you experience the love of our Lord Jesus, you will end up fulfilling the law! Under grace, you will end up being holy. Grace produces true holiness! As the apostle Paul boldly proclaims in today’s scripture, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

When the love of Jesus is in you, you can’t help but fulfill the law. When your heart is overflowing with God’s grace and loving-kindness, you will have no desire to commit adultery or murder, bear false witness, or covet. You will have the power to love your neighbor as yourself. Where does this power come from? From your being firmly rooted and established in the grace of God. You have the power to love, because He first loved you (1 John 4:19 NASB)! This is why the Bible declares that “love is the fulfillment of the law.”

In fact, when God’s people are under grace, not only do they fulfill the letter of the law, but they also exceed it and go the extra mile. For example, the law commands you not to commit adultery, and there are people who can fulfill just the letter of the law and not commit adultery outwardly. However, inwardly, they have no love for their spouses. Grace changes all that. Grace doesn’t just deal with the surface; it goes deeper and teaches a man to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

My friend, Christianity is all about God’s love for you. It is His love for and in you that results in inward heart transformation. Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship. Christianity is not about a list of dos and don’ts; it is about intimacy, love, and a warm, beating heart. First experience and taste the grace of God and His love will surely cause you to live a holy life!

AMEN! Here is Hillsong again with "Love Of God Can Do":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is Oswald Chambers with his "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional.

Self-consciousness

Come unto Me. — Matthew 11:28

God means us to live a fully-orbed life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside, and we tumble into a way of introspection which we thought had gone. Self-consciousness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of the life in God, and self-consciousness continually produces wrestling. Self-consciousness is not sin; it may be produced by a nervous temperament or by a sudden dumping down into new circumstances. It is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs rest in Him must be cured at once, and it is not cured by being ignored, but by coming to Jesus Christ. If we come to Him and ask Him to produce Christ-consciousness, He will always do it until we learn to abide in Him.

Never allow the dividing up of your life in Christ to remain without facing it. Beware of leakage, of the dividing up of your life by the influence of friends or of circumstances; beware of anything that is going to split up your oneness with Him and make you see yourself separately. Nothing is so important as to keep right spiritually. The great solution is the simple one — “Come unto Me.” The depth of our reality, intellectually, morally and spiritually, is tested by these words. In every degree in which we are not real, we will dispute rather than come.

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Gratitude":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is Jerry Savelle Ministries with their devotional for today!

Words – They Matter!

Words play an such important factor in determining whether or not you will live in the fullness of the Blessing or not. And if you want to live in the fullness of the Blessing, then you need to begin to confess it with your mouth.

Why is it so important to confess with your mouth that you live in the fullness of the Blessing? Why do you need to agree with God?

Because what you say out of your mouth matters. God knows it and the devil knows it. That is why the devil has worked so hard to deceive us into believing that what we say doesn’t matter. Remember that saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

The truth is that words can hurt you. The Bible even says they can bring death.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

If you are going to agree with God that you are living in the fullness of the Blessing, then you can’t agree with the devil (by speaking your circumstances) at the same time. That’s called mingled seed (Leviticus 19:19).

I am not saying to pretend that negative things are not happening. I am not saying to just pretend that your electric bill isn’t due or that your mortgage isn’t due. I am not saying to pretend that sickness and disease do not exist or that marital problems don’t exist. What I am saying is that pretending is not faith. Faith doesn’t pretend. Faith believes. Faith attacks. And faith is now.

No matter what you are going through, your situation does not change the Word of God. What will change your situation is when you get your words in line with THE Word, and THE Word says that you are blessed and highly favored!

AMEN! Find out exactly what GOD says about you and then NEVER allow yourself to forget that! Here is Brandon Lake with "Adoption Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this song of PRAISE and WORSHIP with you from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in Psalm 47!

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 O clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy!
2 For the Lord Most High excites terror, awe, and dread; He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the glory and pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5 God has ascended amid shouting, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne.
9 The princes and nobles of the peoples are gathered together, a [united] people for the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

THIS is a powerful psalm/song that brings all GLORY to our GREAT GOD and puts the devil on the run! And here is with Hillsong another one that does the same thing! "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers!

Does He Know Me?

He calleth…by name. — John 10:3

When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (John 20:17). It is possible to know all about doctrine and yet not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine outsteps intimate touch with Jesus. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine was no more to Mary than the grass under her feet. Any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could not ridicule out of her was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her; yet His blessings were nothing in comparison to Himself. Mary “saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus”; immediately she heard the voice, she knew she had a past history with the One who spoke. “Master”!

When I have stubbornly doubted? (John 20:27). Have I been doubting something about Jesus — an experience to which others testify but which I have not had? The other disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, but Thomas doubted — “Except I shall see…, I will not believe.” Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches come, or how they come, we do not know; but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “My Lord and my God”!

When I have selfishly denied Him? (John 21:15-17). Peter had denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses, and yet after the Resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. He restored him in private, then He restored him before the others. “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

Have I a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one sign of discipleship is intimate connection with Him, a knowledge of Jesus Christ which nothing can shake.

AMEN! We ALL have had our moments when we were weaker in our faith than other times. THIS is because we are HUMAN! Instead of getting down on yourself, get back up and get right back in fellowship with the ONE Who loves YOU more than anyone else ever could! Here is Hillsong with "Love of God Can Do":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share our devotional from The Spoken Word Church website! 

Run Toward God

Things happen in the presence of God that do not happen anywhere else. When you get in His presence, you think differently. You talk differently. You act differently. Your best comes out of you.

So get started today. Like any damaged product, we must return to our manufacturer for repair.

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."(John 6:37)

AMEN! THIS is the KEY to really grwoing up in the things of GOD! Pour yourself into KNOWING HIM! it will be the one of the greatest decisions you will ever make! Here is Brandon Lake wtih "Plans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers:

Chastening

Despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. — Hebrews 12:5

It is very easy to quench the Spirit; we do it by despising the chastening of the Lord, by fainting when we are rebuked by Him. If we have only a shallow experience of sanctification, we mistake the shadow for the reality, and when the Spirit of God begins to check, we say — “Oh, that must be the devil.”

Never quench the Spirit, and do not despise Him when He says to you — “Don’t be blind on this point any more; you are not where you thought you were. Up to the present I have not been able to reveal it to you, but I reveal it now.” When the Lord chastens you like that, let Him have His way. Let Him relate you rightly to God.

“Nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.” We get into sulks with God and say — “Oh, well, I can’t help it; I did pray and things did not turn out right, and I am going to give it all up.” Think what would happen if we talked like this in any other domain of life!

Am I prepared to let God grip me by His power and do a work in me that is worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me; sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me, and He has to get me into the attitude of mind and spirit where at any cost I will let Him sanctify me wholly.

AMEN! NEVER give up on YOURSELF! Keep continually in the Word of God and in time spent with HIM! Here are Brooke Ligertwood and Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this excellent devotional from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations"

The Whole Armor of God

. . .above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:16–18

Today I would like to share with you how each piece of the armor of God found in Ephesians 6 is actually a weapon of right believing by which we experience His victory over the devil’s mind games.

Let’s look first at the piece of armor the Bible calls the shield of faith with which to defend yourself and stand strong when the enemy comes against you with thoughts of fear, doubt, and confusion.

In apostle Paul’s time, a shield referred to the huge shield that was used by the Romans, which was as big as a door! See your faith as a mighty shield and picture this—as long as your shield of faith is up, you are untouchable. No matter how many fiery darts the devil may pitch at you, ALL of them shall be quenched. Too many Christians are taking up the shield of doubt and quenching the blessings of God instead. Don’t let that be you—face your future with boldness with the mighty shield of faith.

Another area the devil likes to attack in your mind is the area of your salvation. When you come under attack, apart from the shield of faith, be sure to have on the helmet of salvation. The word “salvation” comes from a beautiful Greek word soteria, which definitely includes eternal life, but is an all-encompassing word that means deliverance (from your enemies, diseases, depression, fears, and all evils), preservation, safety, and salvation. So put on the helmet of salvation by meditating on Jesus, and be filled with God’s wholeness, protection, healing, and soundness. Let His soteria insulate your mind against the enemy’s lies.

Lastly, you have also been equipped with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Wield the sword of the Spirit by praying in the Spirit and speaking out God’s “now word” into your situation. Declare His promises and the truth of His grace over yourself and your circumstances to guard your heart against thoughts of hopelessness, despair, and fear.

My friend, the whole armor of God has everything to do with what you believe in Christ. When you believe rightly about His grace and His finished work, every evil strategy the enemy has against you will surely fail. So be strong in the Lord’s love for you. Believe that God is for you and not against you. His truth, His righteousness, His faith, His gospel, His salvation, His Word, and His Spirit are all weapons of right believing to overcome all the devil’s attacks.

AMEN! DARE to BELIEVE all that GOD has promised in HIS WORD! Now go get what belongs to YOU from HIM! Here is Brandon Lake with "Coat of Many Colors":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 42 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I LOVE verse 11!

11 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

THAT is to be our continual response to the Word of God!  PRAISE should fill the atmosphere of our hames just as it fills the very atmosphere of HEAVEN! Let's practice  PRAISE and WORSHIP as our life style! Here, to help you with that, is Brandon Lake and Cece Winans with "I Know A Name":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" deovtional with you!

Ther Importance Of Truthfulness

speaking the truth in love.   — Ephesians 4:15

Being truthful with others is one of the most important qualities the Lord has taught me over the years. Ephesians 4:15 tells us we are to “speak the truth in love.”

As the leader of our ministry, I expect my team to be honest with me and to speak truthfully. Even if I don’t always like what they say, their honesty guarantees a clear and truthful relationship between us.

However, if someone on my staff were to tell me one thing and then tell a fellow employee something entirely different, it would create distrust between that staff member and me. If that happened, I wouldn’t know whether I could really count on that team member to be honest with me.

This is precisely what the Bible is talking about when it says that those chosen to be deacons cannot be “double tongued” (see 1 Timothy 3:8). The Greek word for “double-tongued” is dilogos, and it means, two-worded. It presents the picture of someone who says one thing to one person about a situation, but then says something altogether different about it to someone else. This “double tongued” individual is either inconsistent in what he tells people, or he is just simply dishonest.

Sometimes this characteristic of being “double tongued,” or two-worded, indicates that a person is a people pleaser. He wants everyone to like him, so he agrees with whomever he is with at the moment. This person may be concerned that if he takes an opinion contrary to his immediate audience, he will lose favor or influence with them. So instead of speaking his true convictions in an attitude of love, he finds himself violating his conscience. Beyond just remaining silent if he doesn’t agree with something that others say, he actually verbalizes agreement with those in his presence, knowing that what he says is not really what he believes.

This trait of being double tongued is a serious character flaw. And the Bible is very strong in telling us that a person who possesses this trait should not be used in leadership. A leader who tells the pastor, “I believe you’re right” and then tells the church members, “I believe the pastor is missing it this time” is not being a blessing to the pastor. In the end, he creates confusion and suspicion.

It’s a blessing to always know where I stand with a person and to never wonder if that individual really means what he or she says. When I can always count on a person to tell me exactly what he or she thinks, a foundation of trust can be established that is very important if we’re going to build a long-term relationship in the ministry.

My team is very honest with me. Because they are honest with me, I trust them incredibly. I know I can depend on their straightforward, truthful responses. Denise and I are visionaries — we are “idea people”! But we need the perspective of others to help us see all the details that must accompany a vision in order to bring it to pass. We need their honest input in our lives. That’s why God sent us our team.

Please remember on this subject of truthfulness that we are called to speak the truth in love — not to “bludgeon” each other in the way we communicate what’s on our minds! We must ask God to teach us how to present the truth in a manner that makes it easier to receive.

One reason that truth is rejected is the inappropriate way it is sometimes packaged. When truth comes bundled with harsh tones of judgment, criticism, and condemnation, it can cause the recipient to put up a wall of defense as a safeguard against the attack. But when truth comes wrapped in patience, tenderness, and love, it is much easier to receive.

This does not mean honesty is always easy. Taking the path of truthfulness can be very difficult. However, it is always the clearest and most noble path to take.

Sometimes the biggest challenge we face in this area isn’t speaking the truth; it is speaking the truth in love, as Ephesians 4:15 commands. So let’s look in greater detail at the manner in which we are to speak truthfully with each other.

In my own experience, I’ve learned that the truth in itself isn’t as hard to hear as the wrong way in which it is sometimes spoken. I think you know that cold water thrown in your face would not be a very enjoyable experience. In fact, it may be such a chilling encounter that you become tempted to respond in kind and throw water right back!

When you are required to confront someone and speak the truth, remember the principle of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you (see Matthew 7:12). In other words, be mindful to speak the truth in love to that other person as you would want to have truth spoken in love to you. Ask yourself this question: How would I want the truth spoken to me?

Brutally?
Harshly?
Impatiently?
Kindly?
Gently?
Humbly?

If you’re in a situation in which you must confront someone with the truth, imagine how you would respond to that same truth if it were being presented to you. Then try to picture what would help you receive it in the easiest way that would bring growth to your life and be a blessing. As you ponder these ideas, what you discover will create a path for you to follow to speak the truth in love into someone else’s life. As you follow that path, you will most likely end up treating that other person correctly — with dignity and respect — as you tell him or her what you perceive to be the truth.

If you are the one in charge in your family, ministry, or organization, you must set the example by being truthful with the people who live, serve, and work under you. When you are truthful, people will know you are being straight with them. Even if they don’t like everything you say, they will know they can always depend on you to tell the truth when they need to hear it and not “fudge” about it. If you are truthful, you will set the standard for integrity, truthfulness, and trust among all the members of your team.

Certainly, my own teams in Russia and the United States have many areas in which we can grow more. I’m not claiming that we carry out speaking the truth in love perfectly, but we sincerely attempt to walk honestly and openly with one another. I need what my team members have to impart to me — and they need what I have to impart to them! I personally count these people very valuable in my life and ministry. I want to do everything I can do to obey God in my attitude and conduct toward them — and that includes speaking the truth in love.

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I have to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again!

What My Heart Says

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth . . . . — DEUTERONOMY 8:18

I knew a man down in East Texas whose family was so poor that he didn’t have a pair of shoes until he was twelve years old. He had only a fifth grade education. But way back when money was money, he had two million dollars. He made his money in investments.

Two people who had been frequent guests in his home told me that he had said, “In many years of investing, I’ve never lost a dime.”

Here’s how he did it. He told my friend, “When someone comes with an idea and wants me to invest in something, my first reaction is mental. So I have a big closet I go into and pray about it. I wait long enough to hear what my spirit says.

“My head may say, ‘You’d be a fool to invest in that,’ but if my heart says, ‘Go ahead,’ I do. Or, my head may say, ‘You’d better get in on this one,’ while my heart tells me, ‘Don’t do it.’ So I don’t. I don’t pay any attention to my head. I just get in that closet and wait — all night sometimes. And sometimes I’m in and out of it for three days, just praying and reading my Bible, getting quiet so I can hear what my heart says.”

Confession: The Holy Spirit guides me in all the affairs of life. And I listen to what my heart says!

AMEN! Here is another of my favorite worship songs! Brandon Lake with "That's Who I Praise"!

Shalom in Him!