Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 91 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I want to post the entire Psalm here from the Amplified Bible!

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

The Footnote for the Classic Amplified Bible says: The rich promises of this whole chapter are dependent upon one’s meeting exactly the conditions of these first two verses

That's why we have those two verses underlined! They ARE the prerequisite for obtaining, walking in and enjoying the PROMISES in this Psalm! Meditate on Psalm 91 and then declare, decree, proclaim and EXPECT them to operate in YOUR life! Here is Hillsong with "Made Me Glad":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Dare to Decide

Be it according to thy word. Exodus 8:10

I used to worry about making decisions for God. I used to be afraid to step out on faith and declare I was going to do something new that He’d shown me to do. I’d think, What if I fail? I was so scared of failing, I’d muddle around in indecision for weeks. Then one day I found out it wasn’t my power that was going to carry it out anyway. But it took my decision to move God in on the scene. Once I decided what I was going to do, and committed myself totally to it, God backed me!

What I learned is a truth from the Word of God that, if you’ll pay attention to it, will revolutionize your life. It’s truth that carries an awesome responsibility with it, but it’s a fabulous thing to realize.

Here it is: The right, the privilege and the power to decide has been left by God in the hands of men.

You have the right, for example, to decide where you’re going to spend eternity. You have a right to make that decision, and God will back your decision.

God can do everything for you but decide. He’s provided the power. He’s provided His Name. He’s provided the blood of Jesus. He’s provided the kingdom of God. He’s even made us partakers of it (Colossians 1:12).

But He’s not going to stuff that inheritance down our throats. Somewhere down the line we each have to make the decision to receive it.

Now the beautiful part is this: When you make that decision, God will back you to the hilt with His power. Once you make a decision to be born again, there’s no devil in hell big enough to stop you. All you have to do is decide.

Decide now. Declare your decision. Let it be done unto you according to your words.

Is God leading you in some new direction? Is He leading you to step out in faith for healing or prosperity or to take a whole new step of ministry? Don’t let fear hold you back.

AMEN! NEVER give in to fear! Here is Hillsong with "Ready or Not?":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional on The Spoken Word Church website is SO good!

Grow Your Faith

Everything begins small. The oak tree began with an acorn. The skyscraper began with a brick. Even weightlifters started their careers with just a few pounds. Little by little, they birthed new levels of strength and power.

Water the seeds of faith in your heart. Give them a chance to grow. You are just a portion of what you will be tomorrow.

"For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth." {Zechariah 4:10} "Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase." {Job 8:7}

AMEN! God is NOT 'expecting big things from you'! HE is expecting YOU to expect HIM to do those BIG THINGS! He is just about to do some turnarounds for many of His people! Be READY! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Shadow Step":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we read one of the portions of Scripture that has always stuck out to me so clearly! Luke 9:18-22:

18 Now it occurred that as Jesus was praying privately, the disciples were with Him, and He asked them, Who do men say that I am? 19 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life. 20 And He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? And Peter replied, The Christ of God! 21 But He strictly charged and sharply commanded them [under penalty] to tell this to no one [no one, whoever he might be], 22 Saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things and be [deliberately] disapproved and repudiated and rejected on the part of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death and on the third day be raised [again].

When Jesus asked them who THEY said that He was, Peter spoke his answer supernaturally by the Spirit of God Who came upon him and NOT through his own knowledge. How do we know? Because Jesus went on to say what He did in verse 22, but when these things that He spoke came to pass, not one of them actually knew what was going on! They were SO fearful! Why couldn't they comprehend and remember? Because they were not yet born again in their spirit man and did not yet have Holy Spirit living IN them. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us this in the Amplified Bible:

But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

More simply put, The Passion Translation says this:

Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.

If YOU are born again, then you DO have the ability to learn, know and understand the Word of God! Now put what you know into action and you will see GOD'S results! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is one that you will really want to hear!

The Unblameable Attitude

If thou…rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee… — Matthew 5:23

If when you come to the altar, there you remember that your brother has anything against you, not — If you rake up something by a morbid sensitiveness, but — “If thou…rememberest,” that is, if it is brought to your conscious mind by the Spirit of God: “first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Never object to the intense sensitiveness of the Spirit of God in you when He is educating you down to the scruple.

“First be reconciled to thy brother…” Our Lord’s direction is simple — “first be reconciled.” Go back the way you came, go the way indicated to you by the conviction given at the altar; have an attitude of mind and a temper of soul to the one who has something against you that makes reconciliation as natural as breathing. Jesus does not mention the other person, He says — you go. There is no question of your rights. The stamp of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus.

“And then come and offer thy gift.” The process is clearly marked. First, the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden checking by the sensitiveness of the Holy Spirit, and the stoppage at the point of conviction; then the way of obedience to the word of God, constructing an unblameable attitude of mind and temper to the one with whom you have been in the wrong; then the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God.

AMEN! I LOVE the part that says NOT to try to come up with something here, but to move in obedience when the Spirit of God brings something up to you! Your heart will be free, your offering will be accepted and YOU will be in a place of God's complete protection and abundant blessing for being obedient to HIS WORD! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Today's devotional from The Spoken Word Church website is vital!

Expect Supernatural Intervention. '

Elisha and his servant were surrounded by Syrian soldiers. The servant, trembling with fear, cried, "Alas, my master! How shall we do?" Elisha answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." The servant's eyes were opened, and he saw the invisible army of angels supernaturally assigned to protect them.

Expect the supernatural. Angels are assigned to you. Never underestimate the attentiveness of your Father. Nothing is ever as bad as it first appears.

"He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." {Isaiah 40:29}

"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." {2 Kings 6:17}

AMEN! Have confidence that the One, True GOD is looking out for you! ALWAYS! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Never Have I Ever":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

From our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we have Psalm 85:8-13:

8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)—but let them not turn again to [self-confident] folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land. 10 Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in which to walk.

What wonderful promises that we have here coming forth from the Word of the Living God! HE has never, nor will he ever, give up on HIS people! Find out who YOU ARE - IN HIM! You will never be the same again! Here is Hillsong Kids with Ask, Seek, Knock:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 84 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan has some familiar and encouraging verses!

4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

9 Behold our shield [the king as Your agent], O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed! 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

The Psalms are also SONGS of PRAISE and WORSHIP! SO use them! Here to encourage you further is Hillsong with a worship song from this Psalm! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another thought provoker!

The Missionary’s Master

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. — John 13:13

To have a master and to be mastered is not the same thing. To have a master means that there is one who knows me better than I know myself, one who is closer than a friend, one who fathoms the remotest abyss of my heart and satisfies it, one who has brought me into the secure sense that he has met and solved every perplexity and problem of my mind. To have a master is this and nothing less — “One is your Master, even Christ.”

Our Lord never enforces obedience; He does not take means to make me do what He wants. At certain times I wish God would master me and make me do the thing, but He will not; in other moods I wish He would leave me alone, but He does not.

“Ye call me Master and Lord” — but is He? Master and Lord have little place in our vocabulary, we prefer the words Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer. The only word to describe mastership in experience is love, and we know very little about love as God reveals it. This is proved by the way we use the word obey. In the Bible obedience is based on the relationship of equals, that of a son with his father. Our Lord was not God’s servant, He was His Son. “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience….” If our idea is that we are being mastered, it is a proof that we have no master; if that is our attitude to Jesus, we are far away from the relationship He wants. He wants us in the relationship in which He is easily Master without our conscious knowledge of it, all we know is that we are His to obey.

BECAUSE of our RELATIONSHIP with the Father by the Blood of JESUS, we are able to have intimate fellowship with HIM! The GOD of all the UNIVERSE! HE is waiting on US to make much more use of our time with Him! In His presence is not only 'fullness of joy', but EVERYTHING we will EVER need! Here is Hillsong with "Every Breath":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today's Psalm 82 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is a GREAT ONE!

1 God stands in the assembly [of the representatives] of God; in the midst of the magistrates or judges He gives judgment [as] among the gods. 2 How long will you [magistrates or judges] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 3 Do justice to the weak (poor) and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking. 6 I said, You are gods [since you judge on My behalf, as My representatives]; indeed, all of you are children of the Most High. 7 But you shall die as men and fall as one of the princes. 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to You belong all the nations.

We MUST know the signs of the times in which we are living by meditating daily on the Word of the Living God! Holy Spirit, Who lives IN every believer, will bring knowledge and understanding of the Word for us as we meditate on and then OBEY that Word! THEN we can walk in total freedom and confidence that GOD will see us through! Here is Hillsong with "New Thing":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional. This message is so verry important for every believer who desires to walk in the promises of the Word of God for health and healing and for every other area!

Time to Get Serious

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee.... I [will] remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Psalm 63:1, 6.

If you’re going to live in divine health, there are going to be times when you’ll have to be downright extreme about the Word of God. Times when you may be facing a sickness so severe that you need more than just a few moments in the Word and a quick prayer to receive your healing.

I want to tell you, in very practical terms, what I would do in a situation like that.

The moment I woke up in the morning, before I did anything else, I’d take Communion. I’d say, “Lord, I dedicate my body all day today to the service of my Lord Jesus Christ. I take Jesus’ pure blood shed for me.”

Then I’d put the devil in his place. I’d say, “I rebuke you, Satan. You’re not going to put any sickness and disease on me today. Regardless of the symptoms, regardless of what my body thinks about it, by the power of Jesus through His Spirit, I have overcome this sickness because He who is within me is greater than he who is in the world.”

Then, all day long, I’d thank God for my healing. I’d choose some teaching tapes that would fill my mind and my spirit with the anointed Word of God, and I’d listen to them throughout the day. In the afternoon, I’d praise God and receive Communion again to remind myself that the blood of Jesus is in my veins, that I’m part of God’s family.

You don’t have to wait until the second Sunday of each month or whatever to receive Communion. Jesus just said, “This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). And if you’re facing a serious attack of the devil, you need to remember Jesus all day and all night. You need to consider Jesus until thoughts of Him push the thoughts of that sickness right out of your mind.

That night before bed I’d receive Communion again, then I’d praise myself to sleep. If I woke up in the night, I’d reach over and get my Bible and read all the healing scriptures and make the devil sorry he woke me.

When the devil launches a serious attack against your body, don’t mess around. Get serious about the Word. Put yourself under its constant care and it will take good care of you.

AMEN! DO THIS and you will find yourself healed and whole, and being able to stand for anything and everything that God has promised in His Word! Here is  Hillsong with "The Passion":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share again from the devotional on our Spoken Word Church website.

Recognize Your Deliverer

God assigns deliverers. Moses was assigned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephath to help her use her faith for provision. If you are sick, look for the man of God who believes in healing. If you are having financial problems, look for the man of God who believes in prosperity. No one fails alone. If you fail, it will be because you chose to ignore those God assigned to help you.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." {Matthew 23:37-38}

GOD has already sent those people into your lives that are meant to minister TO and FOR you! Be QUICK to hear! QUICK to obey! And QUICK to tell HIS story! Here is Hillsong with "GO":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional on The Spoken Word Church website is so completely appropriate right now!

Use the Weapon of Praise

King Saul was often tormented by evil spirits. When this happened, he called for David, the Psalmist and shepherd boy, to play the harp. The evil spirits always departed.

Praise and worship are dreaded weapons in Hell. Demon powers are demoralized by it. Don't neglect this weapon. It is too powerful to ignore. As you lift your hands in worship and praise, you will literally purge the atmosphere of demonic activity.

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." {1 Samuel 16:23}

AMEN! PRAISE and WORSHIP are actually the highest forms of prayer! When we do this, we turn our eyes completely on GOD and off of everyone and everything else! HE deserves all of our praise! Let's make it our consistent lifestyle to have continual and intimate fellowship with the ONE Who loves us MOST and BEST! NOTHING can ever separate us from HIS great LOVE! NOTHING! Here is Hillsong with one of my favorite songs "Like Incense (Sometimes By Step)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Psalm 78 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. Look at verses 1-6:

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable (in instruction by numerous examples); I will utter dark sayings of old [that hide important truth]— 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but we will tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonderful works that He has performed. 5 For He established a testimony (an express precept) in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, commanding our fathers that they should make [the great facts of God’s dealings with Israel] known to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know them, that the children still to be born might arise and recount them to their children

THIS is the formula for a successful life and family! KNOW the WORD and then teach that WORD to you children. The promise for training a child in the way that they should go is that they will NOT always depart from it! THIS is the way that they should go! Knowing the Word of God! And then we also have this in Hebrews 12:1-2:

1 Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Keep your focus on JESUS and you will ALWAYS be a in position to succeed in whatever you put your hands to! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "New Thing":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Hebrews 11:6 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.

Our God is NOT pleased with THINGS, but with the FAITH of HIS PEOPLE! What is faith? Verse 1 says this:

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

FAITH is the PROOF that we BELIEVE God and His Word! FAITH says: God's Word says this, so it is so! Faith takes God at His Word and fully expects it to be manifest in their lives! I hope that YOU will choose the life of FAITH in what GOD has already done! Here is Hillsong with "Ready Or Not":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is a great one!

What To Renounce

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty. — 2 Corinthians 4:2

Have you “renounced the hidden things of dishonesty” — the things that your sense of honour will not allow to come to the light? You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone which you would not like to be dragged into the light? Renounce it as soon as it springs up; renounce the whole thing until there is no hidden thing of dishonesty or craftiness about you. Envy, jealousy, strife — these things arise not necessarily from the disposition of sin, but from the make-up of your body which was used for this kind of thing in days gone by (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1-2): Maintain a continual watchfulness so that nothing of which you would be ashamed arises in your life.

“Not walking in craftiness” that is, resorting to what will carry your point. This is a great snare. You know that God will only let you work in one way, then be careful never to catch people the other way; God’s blight will be upon you if you do. Others are doing things which to you would be walking in craftiness, but it may not be so with them; God has given you another standpoint. Never blunt the sense of your Utmost for His Highest. For you to do a certain thing would mean the incoming of craftiness for an end other than the highest, and the blunting of the motive God has given you. Many have gone back because they are afraid of looking at things from God’s stand-point. The great crisis comes spiritually when a man has to emerge a bit farther on than the creed he has accepted.

AMEN! Have nothing to do with those who are NOT children of God yet except to minister to them! I LIKE that! Here is Hillsong with "Bright As The Sun":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional for today is another of my favorites!

Family

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. — JOHN 1:12,13

No truth in all the Bible is as far reaching as the blessed fact that when we are born again we come into the family of God! God the Father is our Father!

He cares for us! He is interested in us — each of us individually — not just as a group, or a body, or a church. He is interested in each of His children, and He loves each of us with the same love.

However, our Heavenly Father is not the Father of everyone, as some supposed. Jesus said to some very religious people, “Ye are of your father the devil . . .” (John 8:44). Yes, God is the Creator of all mankind, but a man must be born again to become His child. He is God to the world, but Father only to the new creation man.

God is your very own Father. You are His very own child. And since He is your Father, you can be assured that He will take a father’s place and perform a father’s part. You can be certain that as your Heavenly Father, God loves you, and He will take care of you.

Confession: I am born of God. I am born into God’s family. God the Father is my Father. I am His very own child. He is my very own Father. He loves me. He provides for me. He takes care of me.

AMEN! Know who GOD says you are and dare to believe and act on that TRUTH! HE is waiting for us to take our rightful place in HIS authority and at HIS direction, by Holy Spirit Who lives IN us! Let's GO! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another thought provoking teaching! 

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.

I LOVE that last line the best! I truly desire that unbroken communion with HIM! When we have that, we are in position to have every need met, to know His will for our lives and to be aware of His presence IN us at all times! I hope that you will cultivate this precious and valuable communion with the ONE Who loves you MOST and BEST! There IS no greater love than HIS for us! Here is Hillsong with "Bright As The Sun":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE this from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional for today!

No Trespassing!

Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. — EPHESIANS 4:27 (Amplified)

I remember reading in Reader’s Digest about a lovely little patch of grass that people were prone to cut across. So the gardener built a small fence around this beautiful square of grass — just some small stakes and string. But people persisted in stepping over the string and walking across the grass. So the gardener painted a crude sign:

Gentlemen will not,
and others must not,
trespass on this property!

That gave me the idea of putting up a sign on my body. You can’t see it, because it’s in the spirit. But the devil can see it. My sign says:

NO TRESPASSING!
DEVIL, THIS MEANS YOU!

I did that by faith. I’ve had that sign up for years now, and the devil doesn’t trespass on God’s property — my body.

As the custodian of your body, it’s your job to see to it that Satan does not trespass on God’s property.

Confession: As a custodian of God’s property, I do not allow trespassers. I leave no room, nor do I even give a foothold for the devil. I allow him no opportunity.

AMEN! WE are the 'custodians' of our own bodies! I pray that YOU will continue to make the wisest choices for yourself and your family! Here is Hillsong with ("Not Today!")

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we read Hebrews 6. Here are verses 1-3:

1 Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God, 2 With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.] 3 If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching].

We are to 'go on' and 'get past' the basic teaching of the Word of God. In other words: GROW UP! We are to grow up in the Word of God by meditating on the Word and speaking of the Word and doing the Word! No one can help you grow up until you really WANT to! There IS a price to pay for consistent intimacy with HIM! It will cost you your whole heart! All that you are! BUT, the return will prove to be your best investment EVER! The return will be MORE OF HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Whole Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share with you from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional. This is SO good! 

His Still Small Voice

But the anointing which ye have received of [God] abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth. 1 John 2:27

Have you ever noticed that you are sometimes aware of certain things even before you know what the Word says about them? That’s because the Holy Spirit is inside you teaching you the truth. He speaks into your spirit. Then your spirit relays His promptings to your mind. Suddenly, you’ll have a new thought. I need to forgive that person, you’ll think, or I need to stop saying those unkind things.

As you become more aware of the Spirit of God in your everyday affairs, you’ll be quicker to hear and obey those promptings. You’ll actually get in the habit of allowing the Spirit of Truth to reveal the will of God to you. And, believe me, that’s one habit God wants you to have!

One of the first things that the Spirit said to me when I began to listen to His promptings was, Spend more time in prayer. As I obeyed, I began to be impressed to spend at least one hour a day in prayer. After I’d begun to do that, He revealed it to me in His Word (Matthew 26:40).

Since then, I have talked with people from all over the world who are hearing the same thing. Believers everywhere are hearing the Spirit of God direct them to more prayer.

God hasn’t given the Holy Spirit to just a few special Christians. He’s given Him to all of us. And if we’ll just learn to be sensitive to His voice, He’ll guide us into all truth!

Think about how different your life would be if you knew the truth of God about every situation! Doesn’t that just make you want to listen to your spirit? Doesn’t it make you want to be on the keen edge of what God is saying?

Start tuning your ear to His still, small voice within you. Honor Him and welcome His guidance into your everyday affairs. Listen for His promptings and be quick to obey. He’s ready to speak to you.

I have had this happen to me so many times! I have known something inside that I had enver learned before, thenI will see it in the Word later! THAT is how very close our consistent fellowship with Holy Spirit Who lives IN us can and should be! I hope that YOU will cultivate this intimacy with HIM! Your life will never be the same! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we are reading Hebrews 4. Verses 12-16 are especially powerful for us to know, understand and walk in!

12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do. 14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. 16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

AMEN! WE have the RIGHT and the PRIVILEGE to walk boldly right into the presence of God as if we belonged there, BECAUSE WE DO! So let's take full advantage of all that God has provided for us and run our race to WIN! Here is Hillsong with one of my old favorites, "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Jospeh Prince's "Grace Inspirations". This message is SO appropriate for the seriously chaoitic times in which we are currenlty living! 

Brought near to God

“You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you.” Genesis 45:10–11

My friend, the world we live in today is fraught with famine, economic uncertainty, corruption, and all kinds of evil and tragedies. People are more afraid than ever to travel by air or sea. Many people are living stressed, anxious lives just due to the chaos they see all around them. As Scripture says, the world will get darker, and it is (Isaiah 60:2).

But in the midst of all this darkness and uncertainty, see how today’s scripture speaks of “the land of Goshen”—a place of nearness to God—where you and your family can take refuge in. That’s what the grace revolution does for you. It is a revolution of restored relationship. It brings you near to God.

To be established on Mount Zion is to have an intimacy with God you never dreamed possible. And out of that intimacy, barrenness gives way to fruitfulness. Lack is replaced by abundance. Sadness and sickness with joy and life. Fear with love. Confusion and insecurity with peace and assurance. Defeat with victory. Breakdowns with breakthroughs. And aimlessness with divine destiny!

What happens when you abide in Goshen, this place of nearness to God? You dwell in the place of abundance. Goshen literally means “drawing near” to God, and you can see in the Old Testament story of Joseph, how being brought near to God is to enjoy His protection and provision.

When the land was in famine, Joseph said to his brothers, “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine” ’ ” (Genesis 45:9–11).

So in the midst of all the turbulence you see in the world today, I want you to know that there is a Goshen you and your family can take refuge in. It’s a blessed place where God says, “You shall be near to Me, you and your children, and your children’s children. There I will provide for you!”

Beloved, you stay planted on Zion and in the place of nearness and intimacy with the Lord by being established in your righteous standing in Christ Jesus. Our Lord Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day to give us an everlasting righteousness that is anchored by faith in Him (Romans 4:5). Now that is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Because of Jesus, today you can have the intimacy you’ve always longed for with God. Because God gave up His Son for your sins, you have His righteousness as a gift apart from your works, and you can come boldly to the Father as His beloved son or daughter. You can enjoy fruitfulness instead of dead works when you live in the realm of His love for you, and not out of a sense of religious obligation.

If you’ve been beaten down by negative circumstances, a long-term condition, or an addiction you can’t seem to break, you can be a prisoner of hope and receive His gift of righteousness afresh to reign over it (Zechariah 9:12, Romans 5:17).

You can have a fresh start in your career even when you have seen your dreams shattered, because you know that in the place of nearness, God loves you, hears you, and will restore you. You can live free of fear, terror, and oppression as you become more and more established in His righteousness day by day (Isaiah 54:14).

I pray that as you grow in your revelation of how Jesus has brought you to a place of closeness with God, you will walk in liberty. May you have victory over everything that is holding you back from fulfilling all that our Father has in store for your blessed future in Him.

AMEN! Remember the promise we have from Romans 8:37-39:

37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NOTHING! EVER! You can count on it! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Here's To The One":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another very vital message for every member of the Church! 

Springs Of Benignity

The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water. — John 4:14

The picture Our Lord gives is not that of a channel but a fountain. Be being filled, and the sweetness of vital relationship to Jesus will flow out of the saint as lavishly as it is imparted to him. If you find your life is not flowing out as it should, you are to blame; something has obstructed the flow. Keep right at the Source, and — you will be blessed personally? No, out of you will flow rivers of living water, irrepressible life.

We are to be centres through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living water in blessing to every one. Some of us are like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive from Him, He will pour out through us, and in the measure He is not pouring out, there is a defect in our relationship to Him. Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything that hinders your belief in Him? If not, Jesus says, out of you will flow rivers of living water. It is not a blessing passed on, not an experience stated, but a river continually flowing. Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness.

Is it not too extravagant to say that out of an individual believer rivers are going to flow? “I do not see the rivers,” you say. Never look at yourself from the standpoint of — “Who am I?” In the history of God’s work you will nearly always find that it has started from the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but the steadfastly true to Jesus Christ.

AMEN! WE are to have those 'rivers of living water' flowing through every arfea of our lives! Set YOUR heart to seek HIM until you are SURE and CERTAIN on the next step! Here is Hillsong with "I Am Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Psalm 67  from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. 

1 God be merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us—Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!—
2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You!
6 The earth has yielded its harvest [in evidence of God’s approval]; God, even our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him.

THIS is all God's will for us! He desires that we trust HIM alone! Our boldness in praise and prayer is thilling to our Heavenly Father Who desires that we have intimate fellowship with Him and learn to walk in all that He has provided for us through the New Birth and our New and Better Covenant that has been sealed with the BLOOD of JESUS! Let's make this our continual, daily practice! Let's walk in the LIGHT of all that He has done and BE the LIGHT in our corners of the world so that HE will be glorified and the lost will be drawn to HIM! Nothing will bring greater joy to the ONE Who loves us more than anyone else ever could! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Indescribable":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

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 God's Word your final authority in every area and on every subject! HE will ALWAYS confirm HIS WORD that WE SPEAK! So dig into the WORD of GOD! Study the WORD of GOD! Meditate on the WORD of GOD! Then SPEAK the WORD of GOD and watch HIM confirm HIS WORD with signs, wonders and miracles to draw all people unto HIMSELF! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share THIS from our partners, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and their great devotional "From Faith To Faith":

Let God Be Glorified

And Jesus went forth...moved with compassion...and he healed their sick…. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 14:14; 15:30-31

Religious tradition says that God gets glory when we bear up nobly under the agony of sickness and disease. But that’s not what the Bible says. It says God gets glory when the blind see and the lame walk and the maimed are made whole!

In India or Africa where people haven’t been taught those kinds of religious traditions, when someone stands up and announces, “I come to you as a messenger from the Most High God,” people believe what he has to say. When they hear that Jesus, the King of kings, shed His blood for them; when they hear that He’s sent His messenger to tell them that He’ll deliver them from sin and sickness and death today, they get excited. They don’t argue with the Word of God. So you know what happens?

People begin to get healed. People start throwing away their crutches and flinging off their bandages! When we learn to hear the Word of God like that, the same thing will happen to us. God is no respecter of persons. His Word works for everyone. It’s how we receive it that makes the difference!

AMEN! I have made it my 'determined purpose' to get to know JESUS more every day and to never let anyone or anything to get in the way of that desire and comittment! Here is Hillsong with "Highlands (Song of Ascent)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 64 is just for US today!

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; guard and preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel and conspiracy of the ungodly, from the scheming of evildoers,
3 Who whet their tongues like a sword, who aim venomous words like arrows,
4 Who shoot from ambush at the blameless man; suddenly do they shoot at him, without self-reproach or fear.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil purpose, they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, Who will discover us?
6 They think out acts of injustice and say, We have accomplished a well-devised thing! For the inward thought of each one [is unsearchable] and his heart is deep.
7 But God will shoot an unexpected arrow at them; and suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 And they will be made to stumble, their own tongues turning against them; all who gaze upon them will shake their heads and flee away.
9 And all men shall [reverently] fear and be in awe; and they will declare the work of God, for they will wisely consider and acknowledge that it is His doing.
10 The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust and take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory and offer praise.

Verses 7-10 tell of OUR outcome! BELIEVE IT! RECEIVE IT! Now CELEBRATE IT and HIM! Here is Hillsong with "Not Today!":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom, 

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we have Psalm 63 that gives David's 'formula' for encouraging himself in the Lord!

1 O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is. 2 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. 4 So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips 6 When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches. 7 For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice. 8 My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

WE have a BETTER COVENANT than David had! Remember, when YOU 'look upon the Lord in the sanctuary' remember that YOU are NOW the SANCTUARY! HE lives in YOU as a botn again believer! We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED! Encourage yourself in the Lord today and every day! Here, to help you with that, is Hillsong with "Like Incense (Sometimes By Step)":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

I LOVE this from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in Mark 12:28-31!

28 Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all [in its nature]? 29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. 31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Notice that the MOST important commandment that we have from Almighty God is to LOVE HIM first and foremost! HE should be our first love, our top priority, our #1! When He IS, then the second commandment to love others will come naturally and will be far easier to do! Why? Because the more we DO His Word, the more we will BE like HIM! And it is in HIS strength and with HIS ability that we are able to do so! Here is Hillsong Worship with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!