Good morning, Lord Jesus. First of all, I seek You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. I look to You, to worship and pray, to watch and wait, to listen as You lead, to begin my day fully surrendered to You, as best as I can and all by Your grace. ...
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19).
Yes, Lord. I receive this prayer from the apostle Paul, inspired by Your Holy Spirit and imparted into my human spirit. Every dimension of the trinity of God, the tri-unity of God, is mentioned and moving in this flow of power and love from heaven to earth and from Your heart to mine -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, my God, I gladly receive this prayer, because I desperately need this prayer. I desperately need to bow my knees in humble surrender and trusting faith before You, my Father. I desperately need to be strengthened in my inner being with Your power through Your Spirit. I desperately need You, Lord Jesus the Christ, to be Lord of my life, as You dwell in my heart through faith in You. I desperately need to be rooted and grounded in Your love, so I can love You with an undivided heart -- with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, loving You and loving others, as an unhindered expression of Your nature through my life. I desperately need to comprehend with my mind what You're doing in my heart, as You're teaching me and empowering me to experience and know the love of Christ, more and more every day. And in all these ways, I desperately need to be filled with all the fullness of God. I took the photo above when I was in the midst of Your presence at Your revival at Asbury University. Revive my souls again with your presence this morning oh my God!
What more could I pray? What more could You desire? This may be a perfect prayer that perfectly expresses Your heart for my heart and Your will for my life. Lord, let it be so. "Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I am on my knees as I pray Paul’s prayer over you, I pray “that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God"( v.19), in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
“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” Deitrich Bonhoeffer
“To ignore evil is to become accomplice to it.” Martin Luther King Jr.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Albert Einstein
Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice and wait for Your leading.
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7).
There is a so-called "prince of the power of the air" who is a "spirit;" an evil and destructive spirit (Ephesians 2:2). It's the same spirit who is "the thief" who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). It's the same spirit Jesus called "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). And it's the spirit of destruction and death at work in our world, seeking to destroy and defile God’s creation by every means possible and at every opportunity available. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now" longing to be "set free from its bondage to decay" (Romans 8:19-23)
These past days have contained some battles. Our youth group that has been growing and flourishing has been under attack by personality differences, Marriages that are under attack. Workplace challenges are growing deeper, feelings of isolation, depression, fear are in many conversations I have with people, and the list seems to go on.
So this morning I say enough is enough! This morning in the power of the resurrected Jesus I am shouting at the devil! I am pushing back and calling out in prayer and the name of Jesus and calling out to you to also push back in prayer, in the laying of hands and anointing of oil and call out and push back against "the prince of the power of the air." To call out and push back against "the thief who comes to steal and kill and to destroy." To call out to and turn our hearts and our prayers and our hope to the One who says "I came that (you) may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). To call out and claim over our lives the One who is "rich in mercy," who reaches out to us in our distress. Who wars with us even in our sins, even in the places our own destructive acts, even where we have opened the door to destruction in our hearts or in our land throughout our generations to the accusing enemy of our souls and of Your creation. This morning we call and claim and invite and call on the God of angel armies to battle and push back against the darkness! (Ephesians 2:4).
O God, hear our prayer. Crush "the prince of the power of the air!" Grant us mercy in the face of its attempt to destroy. Stir in the hearts and prayers and proclamations of Your people who are called by Your name to take a stand in faith to speak against mountains of destruction, even as we humble ourselves to be desperately dependent upon You alone. “And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” Mark 11:22-25).
And as You bring us through no matter what we may endure, as we groan with all Your creation for the redemption of our broken, fallen world, may we continue to turn to You to be our Hope and our Help. "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:7). May You continue to fulfill Your Word through these days of what seems like unrelenting catastrophes: "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with (us)" (Romans 16:20). In Jesus' name we pray.
My family, I pray in faith in agreement with you that our God who is rich in mercy will give faith and grace to all to endure and overcome the "prince of the power of the air" and its destructive forces, in Jesus' name! And I join with you in prayer that lives would be restored and those caught in the storms of this season would experience the protection and provision of our God, in Jesus' name! May the presence of God in His mercy and love and through His people be evident in the midst of it all. God bless you my friends!
Please share with us your reflections in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that You are Lord, raised from the dead and raising me up to live my life in You this day.
"He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:5-8).
I can’t think of a better way to start a Monday morning than reading the amazing, wonderful, life changing words above and speaking and claiming them over your life as we begin a new day and a new week! I am destined to be a child of God! It's God’s "good pleasure" to pour out His grace into my life! I am God’s beloved! I am redeemed and restored in God! God’s desire is to lavish me with the riches of his grace! And God does not do this with any conditions, but freely; and not in scarcity, but in abundance. Out of the riches of Your grace, You lavish me with Your goodness -- all in Your joy and "good pleasure." "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 136:1)
So out of complete joy my response is Thank You! Thank you! Thank you Lord! You are a good God, in a good mood on the Monday morning! 'He who sits in the heavens laughs!" (Psalm 2:4). It was "for the sake of the joy that was set before you Jesus that you endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). And despite what's going on around us -- even in the things that break Your heart and ours -- You're always inviting us to know the truth of Your Word: "In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!" (Psalm 16:11).
O Lord, my God, "restore unto me the joy of Your salvation" every day (Psalm 51:12). Speak Your words of spirit and life into my heart that "(Your) joy may be in (me), and that (my) joy may be complete" (John 15:11). Though every moment and challenge of today and every day, help me see You and see myself in the light of Your truth and Your amazing grace and the "good pleasure" of Your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you take a moment of reflection and open your spiritual eyes to see God as He is and see yourself as He sees you, that His joy may be in you and your joy made be complete in Him as you walkout your door into the gift of today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice to begin my day pursuing Your presence. ...
"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9).
We all know the saying in life, “You reap what you sow.” Like a farmer sowing seeds in his field, what we sow is what we will harvest. Cactus seeds don't grow up into apples and apple seeds don't grow up into cactus. And if we sow nothing, we will reap nothing. What we sow today determines what we'll reap at harvest.
Lord, give me wisdom to sow good seeds today. Give me a heart to sow to the Spirit and not to the flesh. Let me sow words of spirit and life through the words I speak and sow thoughts of expecting good things in the thoughts I think. Let me sow into my spiritual life, spending some time in prayer, the Word of God and devoting some time to seeking the presence of God. Let me sow into the lives of those around me through my time and my prayers and all You've entrusted to me.
There will come a time of harvest for all that's been sown. And I want my harvest to be good. I want my harvest to matter. I'd rather eat apples than cactus. And I'd rather live in the peace of mind and the expectancy of heart that I didn't just squander away every seed of opportunity I had to make an eternal difference in the fields entrusted to me during my time on this earth. I don’t want to have to lower my eyes when I stand before Jesus and he asks me. “I called you out into fields ripe for the harvest, What did you plant? What did you sow? I will stand before you one day and I want to hear those words from Jesus, “Welcome my good and faithful son, you really were “all-in” with the life I gave you! You with joyful enthusiasm obeyed my commission to “Go and make disciples”” (Matthew 28:19). "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
By grace we are saved through faith -- "it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). And at the same time, You invite us to live out our grace every day, to live out our faith every day, as You increasingly move in our hearts with Your desires, growing us up into maturity in Christ (Philippians 2:13). We've been given much; and to whom much has been given, much is expected (Luke 12:48). "On the day of judgment (we) will all have to give an account for every careless word (we) utter; for by (our) words (we) will be justified, and by (our) words (we) will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37). "So then, each of us will be accountable to God" (Romans 14:12).
So give me a harvest perspective. Give me an eternal perspective. And from that perspective, give me a heart to sow to the Spirit every chance I get through every opportunity You give. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will sow seeds today, I pray you will be “all-in” with your life Jesus gave you. I pray you will start discipling someone, and reap a great harvest by the grace of God. I pray you will obey God’s call to go out into your “field” of today and allow His Spirit to plant seeds through your life this day and every day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes, open up my heart, and call out Your name as I start my day centered in You. ...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Jesus, As I live in the land of my inheritance, being salt and light in the spheres of my influence and fulfilling my destiny in Christ, I can rest secure in my true identity as a child of God. My security doesn't depend on my good works, but on my relationship with You. And at the same time, You're a good God and You want to do good through me and use my life each day to bless others through the fruits of Your Spirit in me. To my neighbors, co-workers, family and others you connect me with, help me not only bare those nine fruits listed above, but also be an example to them of justice, mercy, banqueting, hope, partying, laughter and compassion. In short help me be an example to them of You Jesus.
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security" (Psalm 37:3). Lord, I trust You to show me how to do good today. Let my good deeds and my good works flow out of the good heart You desire to form in me.
Come have Your way in me and through me today. Give me Your good heart to do all the good You put in my heart to do today and bear all the fruits of Your Spirit by and through the grace of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray our good God will do good things in your heart so you will bare good fruit by His Spirit through your life today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit in our morning communion of prayer. ...
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because (we) are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So (we) are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God" (Galatians 4:4-7).
Abba! Father! I cry out to You from my heart as a child of God, an heir of God in Jesus Christ my Lord. I cry out to You because Your Spirit moves in me to lift up my eyes to You, to open up my heart to You. And You lift me up into the heavenly realms of Your truth and Your Presence, where I know that I am in Christ and Christ is in me, where I'm seated far above everything that would try to steal my sense of identity and destiny, my hope and faith, my peace and joy, at the very right hand of God my Father.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead though our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace (we) have been saved--and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).
Through the blood of Jesus, I'm forgiven and free. By the ever-abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit, I'm filled the assurance my salvation and my identity as a beloved child of God, created to live out my life now and forever in the intimate, personal relationship with the One who created me and loves me as a son of God. I'm a son, not a slave; I'm a friend of God, not merely a servant (John 15:15).
Empower me to know my identity and live out my destiny today, rejecting every false identity the world, the flesh, and the devil would try to offer me. Today and everyday, I'm a child of the one true King. Lord Jesus, You are the "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). You are my King and Lord. And I welcome You as "the King of glory" to come in to my heart today and every day (Psalm 24:7). In Jesus' name I pray.
My family, I pray that with the ever-abiding Presence of God's Holy Spirit abiding in your heart, you cry out Abba! Father! I pray you may always know in your heart and be content in your identity as a child of the one true King. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak into my heart; lead me in the way that leads to Life. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. ...
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
You are my "white garments." You are my "robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). Because I abide in You and You abide in me by the Spirit of Christ within me, I am clothed with Christ. In Christ, my name is in Your Book; and in Your Book it says I am one who is empowered to overcome.
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5).
You've called me and equipped me and empowered me to overcome. By the power of the grace of God at work within me to will what is right and to do what is right, I am an overcomer. I'm in a personal, powerful, passionate relationship with the One who has overcome the world, and so by the grace of God. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, In this time of Marvel Avenger’s movies and super heroes, I pray you when you look at yourself in the mirror you will see that you are a “spiritual super hero.” That you are clothed in Christ, clothed in the armor of God that “the ruler of the world” and those entities aligned against God see and fear. I pray you may know and experience the power of God within you to overcome all that may ever come against you. You are more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8:37). Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Abide in me, as I abide in You; come into my heart, as I give my heart to You; be Lord of my life, as I acknowledge You as Lord of all. ...
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-21).
Live in me today, Lord Jesus. Keep forming me into Your image; keep conforming me into Your character; keep transforming me into Your nature.
It is the desire of the whole triune of God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that to transform mr completely into the image of Jesus the Christ. To completely transform my mind, heart, will and emotions and my very soul into the fourth member of the trinity. The Bible is full verses that state this desire and hope. Through your Holy Spirit living ing me You're changing me from the inside out to have "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), to "bear the name of Christ" (Mark 9:41), to be filled with "the Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9), "sharing in the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16), "sharing in the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:16), releasing the "aroma of Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:15), urged on by "the love of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:14), steadfast in "the truth of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:10), living each day in "the grace of Christ" (Galatians 1:6), sharing "the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27), joining my fellow workers and servants as "partners of Christ" (Hebrews 3:14), seeking to be "a faithful minister of Christ" (Colossians 1:7), letting the "peace of Christ" dwell in my heart (Colossians 3:15) and the "word of Christ" dwell in my spirit (Colossians 3:16), empowering me to be "crucified with Christ" so I can live my "life in Christ" more and more each day (1 Corinthians 1:30). As You are, so I am to be in my world (1 John 4:17). And I could go on and on.
I was created for this and called to this, you were created and called for this -- to be "conformed to the image of (Jesus Christ)" (Romans 8:29). Everything I do, everything I encounter, everything I overcome, and everything I become is for this purpose -- for You to make me more like You each day. Every choice and challengeAs I begin this new week and throughout every moment of my day is an opportunity for me to grow "to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ" as I "grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-16). I can't do this, but "the One who calls (me) is faithful, and He will do this" (1 Thessalonians 5:24). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you begin this day and week with the complete understanding of what the love and grace of the The Father, Son and Holy Spirit desires you to became and wants to help you become. I pray you prioritize and set aside time daily for to spend in your Bible, on your knees in prayer, and in accountability with others more and more every day, growing up into Christ, into the full measure of the stature of Christ, I pray you desire that it is no longer you who live but Christ who lives in you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning Jesus, my rock and my redeemer. I come to you this morning in a heart posture of worship.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel - not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell! As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!” (Galatians 1:6-10)
The apostle solemnly denounces, as accursed, every one who attempts to lay so false a foundation. All other gospels other than that of the grace of Christ, whether more flattering to self-righteous pride, more favorable to worldly lusts, more preferable to current lifestyles, or simply based on religious traditions are devices of Satan. Even if from an Angel whose authority is the highest possible next to that of God and Christ. A new revelation, even though seemingly accompanied by miracles, is not to be received if it contradict the already existing revelation. For God cannot contradict Himself
“The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satanʼs working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved“ (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). “For false messiahs and false prophets more preferable to will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Mat 24:24) “Suppose a prophet or one who foretells by dreams should appear among you and show you a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder should come to pass concerning what he said to you, namely, “Let us follow other gods” - gods whom you have not previously known - “and let us serve them.” You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the Lord your God will be testing you to see if you love him with all your mind and being.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the foundation on which your salvation and faith is built upon. Knowing this Gospel, Understanding this Gospel, and being able to share this gospel is a basic necessity of all who call themselves Christians. Yet I am amazed at how many Christians I encounter, Christians who have attended churches for 5, 10, 20 years or more that can’t do this basic necessity of their faith, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believers that when asked to share the Gospel that they supposedly believe in, get “deer in the headlight” expressions on their face! The Gospel is what saved them, redeemed them ,and is at the very core of their faith and something they should be able to share within the first week or so of coming to Christ! If Christians can not share this basic Gospel with others, then obviously they will not be sharing it with others, and I believe it is major reason why our churches are declining. Churches do not grow by pastors sharing the Gospel from pulpits on Sunday mornings. Churches grow by its members sharing the Gospel at their place of employment, to their classmates, neighbors and friends Monday-Saturday.
Do you know the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If someone were to ask you to explain to them the basic Gospel of your faith from creation through the resurrection are you comfortable, confident and excited to do it? As importantly, if someone where to share with you a gospel, even if it were accompanied by a miraculous act, could you discern if it was a false gospel? Have you asked of them and do you know the gospel being taught by your church, its leaders and your pastor? Is it the Gospel of the grace of Christ?
My family, the Gospel of grace in Jesus Christ is at the core of your salvation and faith. I pray you commit time in your Bible, in prayer, and in study to come to a solid understanding of the Gospel so you have a true foundation on which both to build your faith, and from which to share your faith with those around you, and not be false prophets and Satan’s workings, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Make me more like You today.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you" (2 Corinthians 13:13).
Lord, out of Your grace and Your love, help me learn to live more deeply in the communion of Your Spirit. Help me truly trust You to be alive and at work within me, to guide me and empower me in the ways that lead to life throughout the moments of my day. "For it is God who is at work in (me), enabling (me) both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
So come, Holy Spirit. You are welcome in this place; You are welcome within me. Come commune with me, come fellowship with me. Come be at work within me to will what is right and to do what is right, by the power of Your grace and Your love at work within me, O Lord, my God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you will deeply surrender and abide in the communion of the Holy Spirit through the grace and love of God, allowing the Lord to empower You from the inside out to will what is right and to do what is right, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Please begin 2020 by a commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
I have had many request for prayer this weak for various illnesses, anxieties, spousal issues, cancer and others. Jesus, whenever we feel sick, You are our Healer. Whenever we feel discouraged, You are our Encourager. Whenever we feel attacked, You are our Defender. Whenever we feel weary, You are our Strength. You're with us through it all and none of that will have the last word over us. The power of Your Presence dwelling in us is all we need to endure until we overcome in Your all-sufficient grace.
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:36). "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Lord, as You know, I have been praying for friends and loved ones who have not felt well or or are under some kind of attach in recent days. But You've been with them through it all, you have been standing by their side and abiding in their heart. I pray Lord You're already taken upon Yourself everything that would try to take hold of them, that they could be healed and whole and free (Isaiah 53:4-6 fulfilled by Christ in Matthew 8:17). So by the power of Your grace at work within them, I come into agreement and alignment with Your Word that will not return void and will accomplish Your good will for them. (Isaiah 55:11). Your will and Your plans for us are always good (Jeremiah 29:11). So I thank You now for what You've already done and all these good things of Your good will that we will see come to pass (Mark 11:24). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I earnestly pray this morning you are strengthened and encouraged, healed and free, thanking God now for all He has done and will help you to see and embrace in His good will for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit. And by the grace of God and the mystery of faith, You desire to be One within me (John 17:21). I wait now for Your leading in these morning moments of communion in prayer.
"Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
As I read this passage I was reminded of the movie, “War Room.”It wasn't about wars fought with rifles and tanks in foreign lands. No, it was about the war we fight much closer to home for hearts and souls, including our own, in the spiritual realm interwoven with our lives every day. We don't fight this war in the air, land, and sea. We fight this war on our knees. We fight this war in prayer.
And whether our "war room" is in a closet or on a tractor or behind a desk or walking down the sidewalk or in our favorite prayer chair where we seem to hear You the best, we wage our war in the heavenly dimensions of the spiritual realm. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV). This is "the good fight of the faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). This faith is in You with faith to believe that in whatever battle we face for ourselves for others, the victory is won through the cross and the blood of Christ (Colossians 2:15).
This morning I sit in my living room, war room spending time inThe Bible prayers writing this devotion. Here, In my war room of intimacy and worship and prayer, I seek Your face and listen for Your voice, to seek to see what You're doing and hear what You're saying, so I can agree in prayer according to Your divine strategies and Your Father’s heart (John 5:19). In this place, Your Holy Spirit helps me hear and obey the battle plans and high commands of "the Commander of the army of the Lord" (Joshua 5:15).
In the war room of the Spirit, teach me and empower me to fight and to win, to come into agreement with the victory You've already won. Empower me as I fight for my marriage, the souls of my children, my family and my domain. Empower me to fight for my community and nation, for my identity and destiny, for my church and The Church, and for all Your Spirit moves in my spirit to pray according the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). From this place in You, I cry out like David, "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; my rock and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me!" (Psalm 144:1-2) And from this place in You, I embrace Your promise and proclaim Your victory over my spiritual enemy: "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under (my) feet!" (Romans 16:20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will prioritize time spent in your war room of intimacy and worship and prayer in the Spirit so you may see mighty victories in the mighty name of Jesus from, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. ...
Yesterday God directed my reflection towards being generous. This morning He directed my reflection towards generosity again. God is really wants to impress this into my heart.
“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow” (2 Corinthians 9:8-10)
"No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 85:11).
You are not stingy. You are not controlling or distant in Your compassion and care. You are not cheap or manipulative with Your blessings of grace and lavishing of love. It's not in Your heart to hold back or withhold any of Your good things. You are a good and generous Father who loves to "give good gifts" to Your children (Matthew 7:11).
You are a "God (who) is able to provide (us) with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, (we) may share abundantly in every good work.... He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply (our) seed for sowing and increase the harvest of (our) righteousness" (2 Corinthians 9:8-10).
Lord, make me more generous like You. Give me the grace of "great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God" (2 Corinthians 9:11). Make me "a cheerful giver" -- full of joy in receiving and full of joy in giving (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Give me the grace to think rightly and "walk uprightly" with You. Line up my thoughts with Your thoughts, my heart with Your heart, and my nature with Your nature (Romans 8:29). Set me free from every fear of not having enough. Release me from any hoarding mentality that I need more of anything but you. Deliver me from every doubt about Your great generosity and covenant commitment to provide abundantly for all I need. And give me greater faith to believe "My God will supply every need of (mine) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
"Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you grow in the grace of knowing the heart of our God who withholds no good thing from us to give us great joy in receiving and then not with holding anything or being stingy live life in the great joy in giving, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me! God bless you, my friends
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
I was at the Waffle House (WH) talking to a waitress yesterday, I will call her Anna as not to use her real name. Anna is a good mom to her children. She shows up to the WH every shift on time, works hard, and cares about her customers. However, as a single mom raising 3 children, she struggles financially making ends meet, and lives paycheck to paycheck. Anna needs allot of dental work. Dentists hove told her she needs close to $10,000 worth of work which she does not have. Most of her teeth have some sort of decay, and she is constant pain. A month or so ago as we talked she told me about a program she found that helps people who need major dental work. They help pay for some on the cost, and then set up a payment plan for the balance. Anna applied for this program and was excited as she talked and though all the dental work would also be painful, she was so looking forward to have her teeth fixed and not be in constant pain anymore.
When I talked with Anna this morning I could tell something was wrong with her. She told me that her application for the program for some reason was denied. She was not sure why, but they would not help her. I reached out across the counter and held her hands and told her I loved her and how sorry I was. With sadness on her face and tears in her eyes Anna said thank you, and that she did not know what to do now.
That night before I went to bed as I brushed my teeth and looked at them, I thought of Anna. And I was saddened. We live in one of the richest countries in the world, we have to many resources, we are blessed with the ability to purchase so many things and live comfortably, yet we, including myself do such a terrible job of being generous and distributing this wealth.
Jesus, You Word tells me about your heart and your generosity with your resources and wealth. It tells me “I should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave,” 9Philippians 2:5-7)
If anyone could have an “entitlement attitude” that I work hard, I earned this, I deserve this, I am entitled to this and this is mine, it is you Jesus. For you are worthy of it all. But you did not. You resisted the temptation of comfort and entitlement, you became a slave, gave all and emptied yourself out of love for others, including me. Jesus, you modeled for me and gave me a tangible example that I am to deny the temptation that I am entitled to anything, and love and give with extreme generosity. If I claim to be your disciple, and to want to follow you and model my life after you, help me Lord to empty myself and my feelings of entitlement and love and be generous as you are.
My family, I pray today you will join me and reflect on your level of gratitude, feelings of entitlement and amount of generosity, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God HAS blessed you my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Lord I seek you this morning as my source of love, grace and mercy.
“I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering. For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way - struggles from the outside, fears from within.” (2 Corinthians 7:4-5)
Last year, 54 nations scored high enough to register “very high” persecution levels on Open Doors’s 84-question matrix. This year, for the first time in over 30 years of tracking, over 60 nations qualified. The listed nations contain over 360 million Christians living in places with very high or extreme levels of persecution, up from 340 million in last year’s list. Every day, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked. And every day, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned, and another 5 are abducted. And these Christians are all sons and daughters, grandparents and grandchildren, spouses and friends, neighbors and co-workers, just like you and me.. Jesus, you remind me this morning that there is not the “persecuted” church over seas and the “un persecuted” church over here, there is just The Church. Your prayer to the Father for us as the church and the family of God was, “So that they may be one just as we are one.” (John 17:11). This, morning, I fall back down on my knees in prayer and mourning with my family members who are being persecuted for their faith. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Jesus, you remind me as I watch the news that we are all connected. Remind me that there is not a “persecuted church” and “the church”, there is just one church and body. Your salvation was not simply focused on me and love for me, but was one of global focus and love, “For this is the way God loved the world” (John 3:16). You remind me that my salvation I live out today, my holiness is a social holiness, that we are connected, and I cant rejoice completely in my salvation while my brothers and sisters are suffering around the world, and in my communities. Lord help strive to restore and live out the complete joy of my salvation by helping those who are suffering in theirs, or have not yet entered into a saving relationship with Christ.
My family, I pray today the global implications of “For God so loved the world” reminds you of your connectedness with your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world and in your community. I pray your prayers expand today with a global perspective for The Church to which we are all called to be one with, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God Bless you my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, my Good Shepherd.
"As we work together with Him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, 'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
Teach me how to live more fully into the "now" of my salvation and into the "now" of time. Help me "see" and believe and embrace that "now is the acceptable time" and "now is the day of salvation."
If I'm focusing too much on my past -- whether my past failures or my past successes -- I'm not fully living into the "now" of my salvation. If I'm focusing too much on my future -- whether the fears of what is to come or the anticipation of what I hope to come -- I'm not fully living into the "now" of my salvation.
Of course, there of things of my past that make me who I am and give me a testimony of Your grace in my life, but I'm not to overly dwellon my past. And of course, there are things yet to come where I do need to plan and anticipate and even dream about with expectant faith, but I'm not to overly dwellon my future either. If I do, I'm in danger of missing out on all that You have for me "now" and all that You have for those to be influenced by You through my life "now."
Yes, Your promises are Yes and Amen today and every day forever (2 Corinthians 1:20). And Yes, You provide all that I need by the power of Your grace for me to fully live into all You've ordained for me each day, while it is still called "Today" in the "now" of my salvation. "Today (I) have obtained the Lord's agreement: to be (my) God; and for (me) to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and to obey Him. Today the Lord has obtained (my) agreement: to be (part of) His treasured people, as He promised (me), and to keep His commandments: for Him to set (me) high above all nations that He has made in praise and in fame and in honor; and for (me) to be (part of) a people holy to the Lord (my) God, as He promised" (Deuteronomy 26:17-19).
Lord, I thank You for my past and for my future, for all You've done and all You're going to do. And at the same time, I thank You for the power of Your grace to more fully live into the "now" of my salvation today -- not missing out on anything You have for me by overly dwelling on the my past or my future, but living fully "alive in Christ" each day (1 Corinthians 15:22). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you live more fully into the "now" of your salvation each day, including today, in the power God's grace at work and alive in you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.... For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them" (2 Corinthians 5:11-15).
We are "well known to God." And You know well the plans You have for me and each one of Your children (Jeremiah 29:11). ...
My Father, You know all about me. You've created me and saved me. You've loved me and corrected me. You've called me and anointed me, encouraged me and inspired me, equipped me and empowered me. You always go before me and You're always with me. You know every hair on my head and every hurt in my heart. You know every step that I'll take and every misstep I've taken. And yet You love me with "an everlasting love" (Isaiah 54:8).
The Bible says there came a time when "the Lord was sorry that He had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart" (Genesis 6:6). I know I've grieved You to Your heart at times. I wonder if You were ever sorry You made me. ...
But even as I write those words here in my devotion, I immediately hear You speaking to my heart. It seems I hear You saying: "No, My son. I chose to create you and never forsake you, even as I have chosen each one of My children. You are created in My image, but destined to struggle through your issues on your spiritual journey to maturity in Me. When you stumble and fall, when you falter or fail, I still love you and help you and even cause you to become more desperately dependent upon Me so that I can display My glory more completely through you. This is My way. This is My will -- that My children learn to trust Me and love Me and know My love for them on their journey to learn to love in the time they have on this earth."
Yes, Lord. "For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You desire that I would "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of (my) mind, so that (I) may discern what is the will of God -- what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).
Though humankind grieved You, at the same time "Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8). And by the power of Your grace through sacrifice of Christ, we are Your children who find favor in Your sight, despite all our sins and failures and all that grieves Your heart with us. "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us this ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). In Christ, we are the message -- through our changes hearts and changed lives by the power of the grace of God at work within us! "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making Hi appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
You want to bring me to the place here in my heart and soul where I am free to no longer live for myself, but live for You (2 Corinthians 5:15). And in living for You and allowing You to live in me, I am becoming more like You. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one Spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). This is the way of life and the will of God You've chosen for me and every one of us. "God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). Lord, in desperate dependence upon You alone -- upon the One who knows me well -- make me more like You today, as I learn to love more like You today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, as we enter into a new week of a new month, I earnestly pray in a new deeper way, without a doubt you realize, you completely understand, and that you truly know how much God loves you and longs to live through you, making you more like Jesus as you learn to love more like Him each day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and the center of my day.
"For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).
Lord Jesus, let Your face shine through my face today! I welcome you and your light to pierce through my darkness and push back any darkness around me today. Let Your glory overcome my simple clay and Your Spirit consume my flesh to make me more like You today. And let Your power--Your extraordinary power that comes only from You--be made perfect in my weakness, as I rest in Your grace to shine with Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you let the light of Christ pierce through your darkness and allow the face of Christ shine through your face every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak Your name and seek Your nature, as I begin my day embracing Your presence -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the Old Covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so that they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' Writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord -- who is the Spirit -- makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:13-18 NLT).
Spirit of the living God, come fall afresh on me, come rise up within me, come awaken me to "see and reflect the glory of the Lord." Come remove the veil of everything that would keep me from seeing and hearing and sensing the presence and power of the Lord, my God. You're the One who "makes (me) more and more like Him" as I am being "changed into His glorious image" -- morning by morning and moment by moment on my daily journey of worship and prayer.
Let my heart be tender and my mind be clear to hear Your voice and sense Your leading. Where my heart has grown hardened or my mind has grown dull through complacency or compromise, through passivity or rebellion, through settling for something less than the fullness of "Christ in (me), the hope of glory," come move again with a passion to persistently pursue the presence and the glory of God (Colossians 1:27).
May I never stop crying out from my spirit to Your Spirit, from deep to Deep -- every morning and throughout the moments of my day -- "Show me Your glory!" (Exodus 33:18; Psalm 42:7) Open the eyes of my heart, for as I see You and pursue You, so I seek to become more like You (Ephesians 1:18). As You are, so am I to be, so am I to become -- "changed into Your glorious image" to "see and reflect the glory of the Lord" (1 John 4:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, As we begin read through God’s Word I pray you will not just read through these chapters and my reflections but take time to allow them to move through and in you. I pray the Holy Spirit moves and rekindles a fire in your heart. I pray you ask the Holy Spirit to remove your veil this morning and every morning by morning and every moment of your day to passionately, persistently pursue the presence of the Lord and be changed into His image, as you see and reflect the glory of the Lord. I pray you then reject and share the Glory of God in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share in the comments box below your reflections from 2 Corinthians Chapter 3, prayers for removing of veils, or how else God leads you.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your words are spirit and life. Speak to my heart as I listen for Your leading and begin my day in the communion of prayer. ...
"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.... For we are not peddlers of God's word ... but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in His presence" (2 Corinthians 2:15-17).
Like a fresh, hot loaf of crusty, seasoned bread brought to my table at an Italian restaurant, break open my heart and dip it in the pure annointing oil of Your Holy Spirit. I want to soak in Your words and sit awhile in Your presence. I want to "taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:8).
Then I'll be ready to carry the aroma of Christ wherever I go, out into my day. May it be the nature of Your Spirit instead of the nature of my flesh that invites my world into relationship with You -- the God whose presence smells so welcoming and whose words taste so good. "God's kindness is meant to lead (us) to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
Let my words and my heart, throughout the moments of my day, be an expression of Your words and Your heart that You impart to me as I first soak and rest in Your presence in these morning moments of prayer. "Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing Him!" (2 Corinthians 2:14) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit will soak you in the heart and words of our Father God, then send you out into your day carrying the aroma of Christ everywhere you go, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
