Shalom,

Do you realize that there is no time in the Heaven? The spiritual realm is timeless! That is why the Word of God tells us this in 2 Peter 3:8:

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. KJV

Time was created by God for us in this life! He controls the times! He declares certain "set times" (Psalm 102:13). Only God the Father knows the time of the appearing of Jesus for the church (Matthew 13:32)! He has set a "due season" for every good thing in our lives! Galatians 6:9 from both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.KJV

9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. AMP

Are YOU prepared to continue to wait on the Lord in patient trust that HIS time is ALWAYS the right time? The only way you can do this is to stay full of the Word and filled with the Spirit! Amen! Praise Him for the answers and at the perfect time, you will see them! Here is Hillsong Live with "You Never Fail":

Shalom  in  Him!

Shalom,

I am going to share something that really ministered to me from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! It isn't even an actual verse, but the sub-title to Psalm 7! 

An Ode of David, [probably] in a wild, irregular, enthusiastic strain, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

I hope by now that you have realized that God is not the least bit concerned that we can be TOO wild in our joy and rejoicing in Praise and Worship! Heaven is UNRESTRAINED when it comes to worshiping the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Check out the Book of Revelation! SO, let's get a head start right here and right now! Worship Him unreservedly with your whole heart and see how praise changes YOU! AMEN! Here is "Always Will" from Hillsong Live:

Always Will

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are so very blessed to be alive at such a time as this! God has ALWAYS provided for His people when they loved Him with their whole hearts and obeyed His Word! His Covenants are GOOD, but our New Covenant, based on better promises is the BEST so far! Look at Psalm 6:5:

5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol (the place of the dead) who will give You thanks?

When the Old Testament believers left this life, their spirit and soul did NOT go to Heaven! The Bible says that they went to Sheol (the place of the dead). Unbelievers went to hell and believers went to "paradise" (Luke 16:22-26)! It was not until the Church age, after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that believers began to go directly to Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8)! Hallelujah! The moment a believer in Jesus leaves this earth, they are immediately in the presence of the LORD! This is a glorious promise to look forward to, but not TOO soon! We have a job to do here and people that need us to do it! AMEN! Let's be about our Father's business without fear! Here is Hillsong Live with "Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I hope that YOU are enjoying this most beautiful day! I am led today to not share a teaching in particular, but to encourage you with a song! This is from the new "Glorious Ruins" CD from Hillsong Live. The song is the title song and the lyrics are here:

VERSE
When the mountains fall
And the tempest roars You are with me
When creation folds
Still my soul will soar on Your mercy

PRE-CHORUS
I'll walk through the fire
With my head lifted high
And my spirit revived in Your story
And I'll look to the cross
As my failure is lost
In the light of Your glorious grace

CHORUS
Let the ruins come to life
In the beauty of Your Name
Rising up from the ashes
God forever You reign

And my soul will find refuge
In the shadow of Your wings
I will love You forever
And forever I'll sing

VERSE
When the world caves in
Still my hope will cling to Your promise
Where my courage ends
Let my heart find strength in Your presence

Some people, when they mention the cross, are stuck in mental image of the suffering of our Lord during the crucifixion without following that through to the glorious Resurrection! The cross, in all of the suffering, would be meaningless to us with out the Resurrection! It would mean that God's plan had failed and the devil had won. But he DID NOT!!! He never understood the plan of God and actually thought that he had defeated Jesus, UNTIL!!! THEN Jesus grabbed the keys of death and hell and ALL AUTHORITY! Now the only power the devil has is the power to deceive! Whenever you face difficulty as a born again child of the Living God, remember this! Use this song as a point of contact that no matter what happens HE is always with you and out of the ruins of our former life and all of our mistakes, HE has made something glorious! HALLELUJAH! Here is the song:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's Devotion from Jerry Savelle's website! It is so good that I am sharing the entire thing here:

The Decision to Win

The Spirit of God said to me one time: “Son, if you are not willing to make a decision to win, then you are not going to win.”

Success begins with a decision to succeed.

The decision to succeed will produce an unwavering commitment to do what it takes to discover the spiritual laws relevant to your challenge (get wisdom), and to diligently apply them through to complete victory.

Nothing just happens or changes by itself. The Word of God shows how to make things happen.

God wants you to be successful even more than you want to be successful, but if you do not believe and act according to His Word, there is nothing He can do about it! However, when you do your part, He will always do His part.

Confession: I decide to win today. I make an unwavering commitment to do what it takes to get wisdom and apply it until victory is achieved.

So many times people like to fall back on the "God is Sovereign" excuse for why things don't work out! As though the God of the Bible, who cares about every aspect of our lives and loves us so very much that He even gave His own Son to die for us, suddenly decides NOT to confirm His Word this time! NOT SO! Yes, He IS Sovereign! And the Sovereign God CHOSE to give us His Word to stand on for every test, trial, situation and circumstance, and then promised to confirm His Word WHEN we stand on it (1 John 5:14-15)! SO, check out just what you are basing your prayer request on! Find what the Word says about your particular situation, and then refuse to be turned from your expectation of the promised result! YOU are destined, by God, to WIN, every time! But it must be HIS way! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Who Saves" (lyrics follow)  from the new Glorious Ruins album:

VERSE
The light of the world
Shining in love
Taking the fall upon Your shoulders
You shattered the dark
As You rose to life again

You search all the earth
For those who are lost
And leaving the rescued for the fallen
You're leading us home
As we call upon Your Name

CHORUS
You're the God who saves
You're the hope of all
Reaching out Your hand
As Your people call

VERSE
Our Saviour has come
Let Your will be done
Your kingdom on earth as in the heavens
Our freedom is found
Lord in no other name

You are the Way
The Truth and the Life
Your mercy has overcome our failings
The battle is won
Jesus in love You reign

BRIDGE
Here in Your light ever brighter
We lift Your Name higher and higher

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have shared 2 Chronicles 7:14 many times in the face of what has been happening in this nation and around the world! There are born again believers in every nation of the world! This promise is to ALL of His people who will obey this instruction! 

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. KJV

Continue to pray, in the Spirit and in line with the Word of God, and YOU can count on the promises of this verse being fulfilled in your life! It may take on a different look that what WE would think, but it WILL result in protection, provision and safety for you! AMEN! Look at the declarations made in today's Psalm from the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan:

Psalm 3:1 LORD, HOW they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.  2 Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!  5 I lay down and slept; I wakened again, for the Lord sustains me.  6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.  7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Continue to be a DOER of God's Word and expect God's results! Here is a picture honoring our Independence Day! Thank YOU, Father, for the United States of America and may her enemies, both foreign and domestic, come face to face with the Truth, and turn from their evil plans! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am really loving the Psalms again this time around! They are so appropriate that it seems like they were written TODAY! Look at Psalm 2:1-3:

 1 WHY DO the nations assemble with commotion [uproar and confusion of voices], and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme? 2 The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). They say, 3 Let us break Their bands [of restraint] asunder and cast Their cords [of control] from us.

Does that not sound like it was ripped from the current headlines? I am SO relieved at God's response to this! Verses 4-6:

    4  He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].  5 He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles (terrifies and confounds) them in His displeasure and fury, saying,  6 Yet have I anointed (installed and placed) My King [firmly] on My holy hill of Zion.

Our response? Verses 10-11:

   10 Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling [lest you displease Him].

Bottom line? LOVE the Lord your God! Love what He loves and hate what He hates! Here is Hillsong United with "One Way":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Psalm 1 is great advice and very appropriate for our times! Look at verses 1-2:

1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. 2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

I LOVE the Amplified Bible for this because it adds "nor stands [submissive and inactive] ". We are NOT to turn a blind eye to the evil and corruption that is going on in the world, and especially in our own nation! We are NOT to be moved by it, but we ARE to be aware! We are to love what and who God loves and hate what HE hates! He HATES sin! Why? Because it steals, kills and destroys the lives of those caught up in it! Don't be silent and refuse to comply with evil! Remember what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

So let's be aware, be heard, obey God's Word, preach the Gospel and EXPECT good things! Look at verse 3:

3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

That's us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "The Stand":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As we celebrate the birth of our nation this week, I hope that you remind yourself that ALL freedoms and rights come from the God of the Bible! The MOST important freedom that we have is the freedom to CHOOSE! Deuteronomy 30:19-20 shows us the choice that God has given us!

19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live 20 And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. AMP

Do you remember when Joshua said this in Joshua 24:15?

... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. AMP

He prefaced that declaration with a command to "choose YOU this day whom YOU will serve."

Will YOU choose Life? 1 John 5:11-12 tells us this:

11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. AMP

If YOU have received Jesus as YOUR Lord and personal Savior, then you already have this Life living in you! This is "Zoe", Life as God has within Himself! This LIFE brings the only REAL freedom! Look at John 8:36 and John 8:31-32:

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. KJV

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. KJV

Continue in the Word of God and live in the only REAL freedom that there is! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Freedom Is Here":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always stood on this Scripture for my children! Proverbs 22:6:

6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. AMP

I especially like the Amplified Bible for this one because it includes being aware of the particular gifts and talents that God has placed within them! This is vital for a parent to know and to do! We have the responsibility to recognize in them, with the help of the Spirit of God, those special endowments so that we can steer them to develop them! Teaching and training them to develop these "talents" will prepare them to be found faithful when the Master desires an accounting! Here are two more Scriptures, Ephesians 6:4 and 2 Timothy 3:15,  that encourage the training of our children! they are WELL able to grow in understanding of the thins of God! The SOONER we begin, the better!

4 Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.  AMP

15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus  AMP

AMEN! Here is an example of children taught in the Word and nurtured in their gifts! Hillsong Young And Free, the youth Praise and Worship team from Hillsong Church, with their first single called "Alive":

ALIVE!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am sharing Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food again! 

Made Manifest - June 29, 2013

"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life [zoe] also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life [zoe] also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:10-11). 

Paul is talking about zoe being manifested in our mortal bodies. But he's not talking about the resurrection of the body, for "mortal" means subject to death. When we're raised up, we'll have an immortal body. No, Paul is talking about having this zoe life of God which came into our spirits at the New Birth manifested during this life - in our death-doomed mortal flesh! 

I am convinced that if we learn how to walk in the light of life, and let that life which came into us at our New Birth dominate us, there is no reason at all why we can't live to a great age, if Jesus tarries His coming. I know the outward man is decaying, but the zoe life of God can be made manifest in our mortal flesh! 

Confession: Thank You, Father, that the life that is in my spirit can also quicken my mortal body. It can make my body full of life, health, and healing. Because in the great plan of redemption, which You planned and sent the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate, there is not only the rebirth of my spirit, but there is also healing for my physical being. "Himself took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses." What Jesus bore, I need not bear. By Jesus' stripes I am healed. I am made whole - spiritually, physically, and mentally. According to the Word of God, I am healed! I am whole! 

This is so very important for born again believers to know and understand! Look at this from our reading in Colossians today. Verses 2-3:

2 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One). 3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.

All of the "riches" lie hidden ONLY from those who refuse to make it their determined purpose to KNOW HIM! Don't let that be you! Make your decisioon today to go hard after HIM so that your life on this earth will point people TO Him! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God One And Only":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 28:1 says this:

1 The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.

Understand that if YOU have received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, then YOU are "the righteous" (2 Corinthians 5:21)! You SHOULD be as bold as a lion! How bold IS a lion? Look at Proverbs 30:30:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts and turns not back before any; AMP

YOU stand strong and refuse to turn back, give up or quit in the face of ANY and EVERY opposition! BE as bold as a lion in every aspect of your life! Refuse to let the impostor, who goes around AS a lion (he is NOT a lion, just posing as one! - 1 Peter 5:8), cause you to back down even a tiny bit! Look at Proverbs 28:15:

15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous and charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

Notice who is trying to ACT like a lion here! The "wicked ruler"! He is ALL talk! When "we the people" refuse to back down and actually take up our position of authority, then he WILL back down! We MUST give our angels something to work with! They are jut waiting for us to speak the Bible answer into the earth so that they can act on it and WE can win! AMEN! So what shall we do? Look at verse 14:

14 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 

WE will see the Salvation of our God and the wicked shall perish! CHOICES! Let's walk in the authority we've been given for as long as Jesus needs us to be here doing so. Soon and VERY soon, He will split the sky and lift us out of here! AMEN! Here is "The Bold Song" by Ken Blount:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Yesterday I shared my favorite Scripture in Philippians 3:10 and that MY goal is to KNOW HIM! Look at what David instructed his son Solomon to do as he took over rule of Israel and the building of the Temple in 1 Chronicles 28:9:

9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever!

Notice that David did NOT instruct his son to attempt the impossible, to live without ever making a  mistake! Instead, he instructed him to do the most important and most powerful thing that a believer can do - KNOW HIM! Have a heart that goes hard after God! WHEN you make a mistake, confess it (1 John 1:9) and then get back to the Word so that you can continue to know Him more! AMEN! Here is a new (to me) song that speaks powerfully about the importance of really knowing Him! NOT just knowing ABOUT Him (Religion) but really getting to KNOW Him, through His Word! It is called "What Do I Know Of Holy" by Addison Road. If this sounds like YOU, know that only YOU can change this by getting to know Him through His Word! (Hosea 6:3).

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Anyone who knows me well knows that the third chapter of Philippians is one of my very favorite portions of Scripture! Though i have covered it on this blog before, I can't NOT go into it again today! Look at verses 7-9:

7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. 8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

When Paul says above that he had "lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish", he was saying that whatever THIS world and THIS life have to offer, it doesn't even begin to compare with the life spent IN HIM and in the hereafter! God WANTS us to walk in the fullness of The Blessing, NOW, in THIS life! But in order to do so, we MUST make HIM our #1 Priority! How to do that? Look at Paul's decision in verse 10:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Paul MADE it a DAILY priority to get to know Jesus more!  He goes on to say this in verses 12-14:

12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

Are YOU "pressing on" to know Him and His Word, and to be obedient to what He says? There is NO substitute for knowing HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Live To Know You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love this from today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin!

"As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (Dan. 1:17). 

"God gave them knowledge and skill." 

God gave Daniel and the other three Hebrew children, knowledge and all skill. Eternal life is the nature of God. You've got God's nature in you. Know that! Believe that! Confess that! Then that nature will begin to dominate you! Learn to walk in the light of life. Learn to put that life into practice in your being. Walking in the light of that life will enhance your entire personality, and will increase your intelligence. 

Confession: I am a new creation. I am born again. I am a new creature. I have the life and nature of God in my spirit. That life is the light of men. I purpose to walk in the light of life. God's life is in me. God's knowledge is in me. God's skill is in me. God's ability is in me. God's wisdom is in me. He is instructing me. He is leading me. I am a child of God. The Spirit of God in me is leading me. I'll follow His leading. I'll walk in the light of life.

As YOU allow the Spirit of God to lead you, pay attention to this verse, from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today, found in Proverbs 25:2:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. AMP

What is He concealing FOR us to find out? The Wisdom of His Word! Simply reading the Bible will NOT bring knowledge, understanding or Wisdom! What will? Look at Joshua 1:8:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

"You shall meditate" is the Hebrew word "hagah", which means: to murmur, to ponder, to muse, to utter, to speak. So, read the Word, then think about it, allow the Holy Spirit to give you inner pictures of the Word, speak about it with like-minded believers, and when you get the understanding, then put action to it and you will see great success in all that you do! AMEN! HIS presence IN us makes all the difference in the world, and putting His Word in reinforces that "difference"! Here is Hillsong Live with "The Difference":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 24:3-4 are very important verses to know and understand!

3 Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Wisdom is a person and His Name is Jesus! 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us this! Knowledge is gained by spending time in the Truth of God's Word (John 17:17). Understanding comes when we allow the Teacher to teach us the Word (1 John 2:27), and then HE will lead us so that we can operate in the Wisdom of God! That is the only way that a born again believer is able to walk in the fullness of the Blessing of God according to the Covenant we have with Him through the blood of Jesus! It is NOT automatic! We HAVE a part to play! Our part is easy, Jesus already did the hard part! AMEN! Take advantage of all that He provided for you through all that He accomplished on the cross and through His Resurrection! You HAVE the Holy Spirit living in you! Begin to speak like it, look like it and act like it! THAT will point people to HIM! Here is an older song from Hillsong United called "Break Free":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love this instruction by Paul from Ephesians 6:10:

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. AMP

In our OWN strength, we are NOTHING! But IN HIM, and every born again believer IS, we have all of HIS strength and wisdom and might available to us to use! Look at the rest of Paul's instructions to us in verses 11-17:

11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. 14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, 15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. 16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

We are "wrestling" with an enemy that cannot be seen with the natural eye or defeated by natural means! We MUST deal with spirit beings by spiritual means! Look 1 Corinthians 10:4:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) KJV

Now look at Ephesians 6:18 to see one of our mighty spiritual weapons!

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

When we stay protected by the Armor of God and use the weapon of prayer in the Spirit, the enemy has NOT a chance of winning the battle! It's when we don't stay in the protection of God and don't get aggressive with our spiritual weapons that he can gain a foothold. STOP HIM by being diligent with the things of God on a daily basis! It is vital that we do so! AMEN! Here is a fun song by Hillsong Kids called "On The March":

ON THE MARCH LYRICS

I straighten up, I stand my ground
I'm in the army of God now
I'm not alone there's many more
We're gonna change the world.

I'm not afraid, How can I be?
My God is here, He's with me
I shine a light a light for you
In everything I do.

We're gonna change the world, We're gonna change the world
The army of God is on the march again
Hey, Hey
We're on the march again.

Have you got your belt of truth?(I've got that)
The breastplate of righteousness?(I've got that)
On your feet put the gospel of peace(I've got that)
Hold up the shield of faith(I've got that)
Put on the helmet of salvation(I've got that)
Lift high the sword of the spirit(I've got that)
Now you're wearing the Armour of God
'Cause we're a part of the army now

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I like this portion of today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

With what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you —Matthew 7:2

This statement is not some haphazard theory, but it is an eternal law of God. Whatever judgment you give will be the very way you are judged. There is a difference between retaliation and retribution. Jesus said that the basis of life is retribution— “with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” If you have been shrewd in finding out the shortcomings of others, remember that will be exactly how you will be measured. The way you pay is the way life will pay you back. This eternal law works from God’s throne down to us (see Psalm 18:25-26).

I would also add what Galatians 6:7 says, from both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. KJV

7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. AMP

Make sure that YOU are sowing only those things that you WANT to have pouring back into your own life! AMEN! and then remember, also, Proverbs 22:1:

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

"Good name" is the Hebrew word "shem" and it means: name, reputation, memorial. What we SAY and DO will be remembered by others, and will be brought to mind on every remembrance of us! Make sure those memories will be GOD memories! They may or may not like you, but God will be pleased! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Your Name High":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love this from the devotional on Jerry Savelle's website for today:

Boldness Before God

Remaining conscious of your righteousness in Christ will give you boldness before God and make your fellowship with the Father more intimate.

You will have confidence and boldness to come before Him and talk to Him as your best friend. There will be no sense of inferiority because you know that He looks at you and relates to you as if you are as perfect as Jesus.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15).

God doesn’t just want servants, He wants friends. He didn’t create Adam to have someone grovel at His feet with his face in the dirt. No! He wanted a man He could walk and talk with in the cool of the day (see Genesis 3:8).

Through Jesus’ sacrifice, the intimate relationship that Adam had with God before sin is now available to every believer. So come boldly to the Father today, secure in your righteousness in Christ, and talk to Him as you would a close friend.

Confession: Father, I come boldly before You knowing that You see me righteous and clean because of Jesus. As I share my heart and thoughts with You, I believe You will share Your heart and thoughts with me.

Remember what 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us:

19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? AMP

SO, when we "come boldly to the throne of grace", we need travel no further than where  we are right now! Just recognize His presence IN YOU, by His Spirit, and speak to Him as you would any other person! With reverential awe and respect, of course! How very blessed we are to have such intimate access to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Are YOU taking advantage of that wonderful blessing? We were NOT meant to live in this world without it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Father Of Creation":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Paul said this about himself in Ephesians 3:1-6:

3 For this reason [because I preached that you are thus built up together], I, Paul, [am] the prisoner of Jesus the Christ for the sake and on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace (His unmerited favor) that was entrusted to me [to dispense to you] for your benefit, 3 [And] that the mystery (secret) was made known to me and I was allowed to comprehend it by direct revelation, as I already briefly wrote you. 4 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 [This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. 6 [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

What Paul had "already briefly wrote" about we covered in Galatians 1:16, where he declares that he did not confer with flesh and blood to learn the Gospel, but with Jesus Himself, by the Holy Spirit! What was the mystery? Many things were included in this "mystery", the Greek word "musteerion". which means: a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to understanding, a hidden purpose, a secret will. One of those things is shown above, that the the church, all born again believers in Jesus, are now ALSO God's chosen ones! We are part of the family of God, adopted in, with all of the same privileges and inheritance as JESUS Himself! These things were mysteries UNTIL the time when God's people would have the Spirit of God living IN them and could understand the Word of God! Not everyone will follow on to know the mystery, as Paul did! Remember that some of the disciples complained that Paul's teachings were too complex for them (2 Peter 2:16). Why could Paul understand and they could not? Because Paul had FOLLOWED ON to know! Look at Hosea 6:3a in various translations:

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: KJV

3 Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him].AMP

3 Let us know, let us strive to know Adonai. CJB

3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. New Living Translation

3 We're ready to study God, eager for God-knowledge. THE MESSAGE

We WILL know, and the Word of God will become so very clear and logical, IF we will go after this knowledge of Him! Remember Paul's declaration in Philippians 3:10:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] AMP

There is only one person who has total control over how well we come to know HIM! That person, in  my life, is ME! Let's make it OUR determined purpose to know HIM more every day! Do you want to know another aspect of the mystery that has been revealed to us, the church? Look at Colossians 1:27:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: KJV

HE lives in US, by His Spirit! No longer in a building somewhere that we have to travel to, but IN US! There is so much more for us to learn about Jesus, about our Covenant sealed in His blood, about the Church, the Bride and God's plan for all of mankind! THAT should cause you to want to dive in deep RIGHT NOW! AMEN! Let's DO IT! Here is Hillsong United with "In The Mystery":

Shalom in Him!