Making Him Known

Acts 17:16-33

There are three questions that everyone needs to be able to answer correctly: Who is the one true God? What is He like? And is it possible to have a personal relationship with Him? Throughout the history of mankind, countless people of all nations have been haunted by these questions.
When the apostle Paul was in Athens, he provided answers for the people there by preaching about Jesus. Today, Christians continue to share about Jesus because it is God’s will that every single person have the correct answer to those three questions. (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Think about all the religions of the world and how many people are involved in those myriad faiths. Most live in fear, uncertainty, and darkness.
Imagine we are walking into church Sunday morning and sitting before a giant statue of bronze or gold. We might sing a few songs, then take up an offering and lay it on the foot of the statue. After singing several additional melodies, we return to our houses. What would we carry home with us? What assurance could we claim? There would be no joy, peace, or assurance in this life or the life to come because we bowed down to something that is lifeless and unable to hear us.
We believers know the true God. There is a world of people out there who long to know Jesus, but they have never heard about Him. Do not be content to just live your Christian life. Find a way to share your peace and joy with someone else.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


You’re No Surprise to God

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5(KJV)


Do you ever feel like God is disappointed with you? I used to feel this way until one day He said, “You know, Joyce, you’re no surprise to Me. I knew what I was getting when I got you.”


Think about it! God knows the end from the beginning, and all the days of our life are written in His book. Every decision we’re ever going to make, good or bad, God already knew them before we ever showed up on planet earth. He already knows today every word in our mouth that is still unuttered, even what we’re going to say a year from now.


Sometimes we go around thinking that God is so disappointed with us all the time. It’s true that we make mistakes. And we’re not supposed to be lighthearted about them, we need to take them seriously. But in spite of our mistakes, God has hope for us and knows that He can change us if we’ll stay close to Him.


God’s not disappointed. He’s full of hope where we’re concerned! He believes in us more than we do ourselves.


Prayer Starter: Lord, Your hope for me is so encouraging and inspiring. Even when I don’t believe in myself, I know that You do, and that gives me the strength to overcome my mistakes and follow You.


Pursue a Life of Holiness

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. 1 Peter 1:15(KJV)


I think we need to be a little more careful than we are with how we live. Not that we have to be so careful that we live in fear, but careful in a godly way, not a legalistic way.


Because if we’re not careful about who our friends are, what television programs and movies we watch, what kind of books we read, what kind of music we listen to, how we spend our money, and what we do with our time, we could end up living wasted lives.


As Christians, we must pursue holiness and realize that we are sanctified, which means we are set apart for God’s use. In fact, the minute we accept Christ as our Savior, we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and set apart for a God-given purpose. And if we’re not fulfilling our purpose or if we’re not pursuing our purpose, we’re going to feel empty and frustrated.


I urge you today to pursue your purpose of holiness. When faced with tricky decisions, ask God what to do and choose the path of holiness that He has laid out for you.


Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, alert me before I do something that would pull me away from a life of holiness. With Your guidance, I want to live carefully, following the path of holiness You have for me.


The Blessings of Our Inadequacy (2)

2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Many people would scoff at the idea of inadequacy as any kind of blessing. Too many of us have been tormented by such feelings rather than blessed by them. At the same time, Christians can use them as stepping stones to blessing:
1. Our inadequacy forces us to do our work in the power of the Holy Spirit. Anything that puts us on our knees and drives us to God has to be good.
2. An awareness of our limitation can relieve us of the burden of trying to do God’s will in our own strength. Without the Holy Spirit, we will be crushed by weights we cannot carry.
3. Another blessing is that such awareness “frees” God to use us to the maximum of our potential. When we are lowly enough to feel our need, then God will raise us to great heights.
4. Acknowledging our shortcomings allows God to get all the glory for His work. Spiritually minded people can tell when something is of God and when it’s not. If you are in the Spirit, the glory will rightfully go to the Lord.
5. Inadequacy can enable us to live in contentment and quietness of spirit. Either we will give God our burdens and cease striving, or we will proceed in our own strength and become overwhelmed.
Like Paul, we should not claim adequacy in ourselves, but rather acknowledge that our adequacy is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5) What area in your life are you trying to manage in your own power? Relinquish control and watch for God’s blessing.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


God Knows We Can’t Be Perfect

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12(KJV)


There are many people who are so afraid of making a mistake that they don’t do anything. Instead, they sit around saying, “What if I’m wrong? What if I miss God?”


Do you know what God told me one time? He said, “If you miss me, I’ll find you.”


If we are wandering off somewhere and not sure where we are, we can just lift up our hands and say, “Jesus, come and get me! I’m confused. I think I made a wrong decision.”


God knows we cannot be perfect, so He sent His son as a perfect sacrifice for us. Now we’re pressing toward the mark of perfection. In Philippians 3, the apostle talks about pressing forward to what lies ahead and forgetting about the past.


God is calling you to press forward today. Stop living in fear of making mistakes, because everyone makes mistakes, period. God is not asking you to not make mistakes. He’s calling you to press forward, trusting Him to lead you. He’s asking you to call upon Him. Don’t live in fear of your imperfection. Live with faith in God’s perfect plan for you.


Prayer Starter: God, I don’t want to live paralyzed by fear of my imperfection and my mistakes. I know that instead, I can call out to You, and You will help me press forward to the mark of perfection.


The Blessings of Our Inadequacy



2 Corinthians 2:15-17
Most of us assume that feelings of inadequacy are enemies to be subdued rather than friends to be employed. In some cases, however, these feelings can prepare us for our greatest accomplishments. That is what Paul found when he set out to preach the Gospel to all creation. In spite of his great learning and varied gifts, the apostle acknowledged that he was not sufficient of himself to minister for the Lord. By taking that attitude, he was able to step out beyond his own personal limits and tap into supernatural power.
Many times we fail to take this extra step because we too easily surrender to our inadequacies. We may use our limitations as an excuse for not taking on difficult assignments. We say, “I can’t do this,” or “I don’t want that responsibility” when faced with God’s call to serve. Know that the Lord will not accept such excuses because He has given the Holy Spirit to empower us for any task He assigns. If we fail to claim this power, then we run the risk of multiplied failure. First of all, we miss out on the joy, peace, and contentment derived from stepping out in faith to answer God’s “impossible” call and watching His enablement. In addition, our hesitancy may deprive other people of the benefits of our service. You may not feel that you have a lot to offer, but never underestimate the impact of one person who has learned how to depend upon the adequacy of Almighty God.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


You Can Come Over Anytime

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Ephesians 3:12(KJV)


God has given us permission to fearlessly, confidently, and bodly draw near to His throne of grace. In fact, we are encouraged in Ephesians 3:12 to approach Him freely.


This means we can go into the presence of God anytime we feel like it. We can go 200 times a day if we want to go, with an “in and out” type of privilege. God doesn’t even tell us we have to knock on the door or wait for someone to say, “Come in.”


Suppose you have a friend who says, “You know what? You can come over anytime you want to come. You don’t even have to knock because you are welcome anytime, day or night. Just come on in!”


Now just think…God is saying that to you, unreservedly, which means you don’t have to be careful or hesitate or wonder if you’ve worn out your welcome. It means even if you make some mistakes or do things you shouldn’t do, you can repent of your sins, be cleansed in the blood of Jesus, and go boldly into His presence.


Prayer Starter: Lord, how wonderful it is to be able to enter Your presence anytime. I am so grateful for this privilege, and and thank You for encouraging me to come.


Building Bridges to the Kingdom

Matthew 25:31-34

Sometimes Christians limit their spiritual responsibility to God and their local church. But the Bible says that every single believer around the world is related to us as an arm is connected to a body. We are all part of the body of Christ. If our vision for service stops at the local church, our effectiveness for the kingdom will be diminished.
God’s kingdom is the realm where He rules in the hearts of men and exercises His authority. We who have been saved by the grace of God are a part of the kingdom, which is set up in the hearts and lives of believers. One of these days, that realm will also be a physical reality with a new heaven and new earth. Until then, we are all at work to build the kingdom by sharing the message of Jesus Christ with the world. That is the task of the church – the same mission given to the 11 disciples when Jesus ascended to heaven.
Our responsibility is to construct the bridge of understanding about God’s grace. The Holy Spirit ultimately walks a lost person across the bridge, but we are charged with building it in the first place. Certainly God could have chosen to write a message in flaming letters across the midnight sky. Then people from every culture could see the Gospel, recognize the presence of God, and be saved. But instead, He placed His plan of salvation in the hands of each of us so we can take part in His work. Now is the time to build bridges for Jesus.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


The Victory We Have in Jesus

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9(KJV)


The Bible says that Jesus experienced death for us. So you and I do not have to experience eternal death because He has paid the penalty for our sin and given us the gift of eternal life. Now that is something to rejoice about!


Because of Christ’s resurrection and victory over death, what happens when you wake up in the morning? I believe that when Christians put their feet on the floor in the morning, hell ought to shake. Demons should tremble when they realize we’re up!


That’s exactly what will happen when we realize who we are in Christ and understand the authority we have in Him. We are soldiers in the army of God. We have authority in Him!


Jesus has defeated sin and death. Now we need to consistently walk in the authority and victory that He provides for us. Then you will be extremely dangerous to the enemy of God.


Prayer Starter: God, thank You for the victory I have in You. Every day, help me to further understand the price You paid for me, so that I can walk in all the authority and victory that You have for me.


Our Dual Citizenship

Philippians 3:14-21

Sometimes we hear people say, “I don’t believe in mixing religion and politics.” But for a follower of Jesus Christ, it is impossible to exclude God from any area of life. This holds true even for “politics,” which in Greek refers to the behavior of citizens of a country.
Paul realized his rights and privileges as a citizen of heaven extended to earth, and we, as God’s children, likewise have dual citizenship. Being part of God’s kingdom means countless privileges: we are related to the Father, we have Jesus s our personal Savior, and we know the forgiveness He offers. What’s more, we have access to all the promises of Scripture as well as to the very throne room of God. There are also responsibilities: obedience, worship, evangelism, and support for the work of the church. In addition, we are obligated as Christ – followers to be good citizens of our earthly country. That means we must become involved in the life of our nation-praying for its leaders, educating ourselves about candidates’ views, and exercising our right to vote.
We also have the obligation to live out life the way God designed it to be. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus says believers are salt and light – they are to be the means by which the culture is penetrated, flavored, preserved, healed, and rescued from the darkness. It does no good to keep the light hidden or to allow the salt to lose its flavor; God is glorified when believers live out their “saltiness” and “brightness” before a watching world. (v. 16) Are you letting your light shine?


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


The Key to Possessing Your Promised Land

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10(KJV)


God wants to lead you into your promised land…after all, you have been recreated in Christ, born anew, that you might live the good life that God prearranged for you. But to follow God into that life, He will have to prepare you first, and that means some things will need to change.


Now, don’t be afraid of the word change; it just means that you stop doing some things you’ve been doing and start doing some things you haven’t been doing. For example, stop thinking negative thoughts and start thinking positively, stop settling in your comfort zone and step out of the boat, stop procrastinating and start taking the opportunities that arise.


It’s not enough to just read about and talk about the Promised Land. Decide that you are going to possess your promised land. God is good; He will lead you there. Just be willing to follow and accept the positive changes that God wants to bring to your life as He prepares you to be a blessing to others.


Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, show me the changes I need to make in order to possess my promised land. Thank You for preparing me to be a blessing to others and fulfill the destiny You have for me.

How To Save A Nation

2 Chronicles 7:14

To our flesh, changing the direction of a nation seems somewhat impossible. With all the other objects or ideals people worship outside of God, it’s no wonder that the thought of seeing an entire nation turn to God seems unlikely, especially when it appears godless men and women are running the country.
However, we must remember that whoever is in authority over us is placed there by God.
“It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding” (Daniel 2:21). Kings, mayors, governors, senators – they’re all placed in their positions of authority by God. And they can be removed by God just as easily.
And through our prayers – contrite and humble – God can turn a nation of rebels into a nation of disciples. “If . . . My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Do you want to see God move in your nation?
Get on your knees and make the biggest difference you can possibly make as a Christian: ask God to turn the nation to Him.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


What Are You Hoping for?

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee. Zechariah 9:12(KJV)


I have a question for you: What are you hoping for? What are you expecting in life? Are you looking for something good to happen or are you expecting to be disappointed?


So many people are feeling hopeless these days. However, Jesus did not die for us to be hopeless. He died so that we could be full of hope.


The devil wants to steal your hope and he will lie to you. He’ll tell you that nothing good can happen in your life or that the things you care about won’t last. If you’re struggling with a difficult situation, he’ll tell you it will never end. But you have to stay full of hope and remember that the devil is a liar. God can change everything!


Our Father is good, and He has good plans for your life. If you will maintain your hope, especially in the midst of troubled and uncertain times, He has promised you “double for your trouble”. So refuse to give up hope. Start expecting God to do something, something good!


Prayer Starter: Lord, my hope is in You. Satan is a liar and I will not listen to him and lose hope. I expect You to do good things in my life.


The Troublemaker Within Us

Galatians 5:17-18

I used to wonder if the Christian life truly worked. Even after I had been a pastor for a while, I wondered. I would look at the Scriptures and then at my life, and they did not always match. Most people have the idea that the Christian life does not work out the way the Bible says it does, but I could not be content with doubting God’s Word. So I fasted and prayed, confessing everything I could think to acknowledge. Still, I believed I was missing something.
I discovered the real reason my Christian life was not working according to Scripture: I had been overlooking one very important truth, a truth that would ultimately transform my life of faith from a burden to a buoyancy. The problem was coming from within me. That is, our greatest troublemaker is our flesh. The main cause of defeat for the believer is the propensity to sin.
We have a new nature when we are saved. But Scripture reveals that, because of the way our thinking has been “programmed,” we retain certain desires that do not fit a child of God. These attitudes and yearnings may come and go for the rest of our life, but our desires no longer define who we are. We are new creatures in Christ because He broke the power of the flesh. Therefore, we cannot live the Christian life without God. A battle wages between the Holy Spirit and our flesh, and the only way to win is to allow Jesus Christ to live through us.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


Follow the Ark

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Joshua 3:3(KJV)


Are you facing any new opportunities right now? Whatever those opportunities may be, it’s always important to “follow the ark.”


What do I mean by that? Well…sometimes we can hang on to old, stale situations in life, simply because they are familiar to us, and we’re really just afraid of getting into uncharted territory. And then there are times we can sense something new ahead of us and we just want to step right into it, before it’s God’s time for us to do it.


In Joshua 3:3, God talks to Israel about following the ark of the covenant. The ark represents the anointing of God…the presence of God…the will of God. It’s very important for us to learn to follow the will of God and not our own will or the will of others.


God has a plan for you and me, and the only way to see that plan unfold is to follow the ark, or the will of God, and not our flesh or other people or our emotions.


Remember today that whatever God’s will is for your life, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it.


Prayer Starter: God, like the Israelites, I know that I need to “follow the ark.” My timing for the new opportunities doesn’t matter…only Your will matters. As I follow You, I know that You will make a way to bring Your plan for me to pass.


Prevailing Peace in a Life of Conflict

John 14:27

Conflict is part of living. A common problem today is that most people don’t know how to deal with conflict – nor do they understand the source of real peace. So we have rapidly become a tranquilized society; whether drugs are acquired over the counter or on the street, the common goal is to escape from conflict.
People tend to define peace as the absence of hostility and anxiety, but the biblical term actually refers to something far broader. Jesus used the Greek word meaning “to bind together.” Scripturally, peace is the sense of wholeness or inner completeness that brings stability to a person’s walk, no matter what is transpiring. Jesus spoke not of peace that comes today and goes tomorrow, but rather of prevailing – that is, undefeatable – peace.
The key to enduring peace is found in a relationship. If you want tranquility that is everlasting, you need to build a relationship with Jesus Christ. We, too, can taste the oneness that He and the Father experienced. When the Lord says, “My peace I give to you,” He is not referring to a loan. His peace is a free gift, available to every one of His children.
If we will focus our attention upon Christ, He will give us perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3) That does not mean we are immune to sudden shocks – occasional times when we are thrown off balance by circumstances. But the power of the Lord’s prevailing peace is adequate to carry us through anything He allows us to experience.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


You Can’t Out-Give God

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38(KJV)


Some put money or the world’s system of commerce before God. But the Bible states in Revelation 18 that if we put our trust in money, it’s going to fail. I’ve found that the way to deal with money, instead of struggling with it, is to try and out-give God…because we can’t.


The more we give away, the more we’ll receive. The more we obey Him with our finances, the more He blesses us. The more we do for other people, the more God has other people do for us.


Society tells us to invest everything in the world’s system and work all the time to make more money. But if we do, we’ll really never have anything that matters, especially joy. And we won’t be able to enjoy the money we have because we won’t be using it God’s way.


It may not make sense according to the world’s system, but God doesn’t want you to simply make money and hoard it away. God says that by giving it away, you will have more in the end. I challenge you to increase your generosity today. Trust me, you can’t out-give God.


Prayer Starter: God, Your plan for my finances isn’t like the world’s, but I know that when I give the way You tell me to, You will take care of me. My money is Yours and I will use it as You see fit.


The Believer’s Struggle (2)

Romans 8:6-9

In the lifelong struggle with temptation and natural desire, believers are told to “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ. This becomes a daily activity by which you decide who is going to live your life for you today. Are you going to live in the flesh, or is Jesus going to have the privilege of living His life through you?
People have different terms for the “flesh,” but simply put, it is the natural part of each person that desires to operate in opposition to God. It usually manifests itself by challenging the restrictions that the Lord set for mankind’s good. We will always have this fleshly nature, but we don’t have to live by it, and we don’t have to succumb to it. Why? Because we have the Holy Spirit living within. Once He indwells us, we possess two mindsets – the mind of the Spirit leading toward God and the mind of the flesh leading away from Him.
Because these two ways of thinking are opposed to each other, conflict and warfare result. We are in a real battle, which requires real weapons. We have the helmet of salvation so that we will not surrender our minds to the flesh. The breastplate of righteousness defends our emotions from giving way to natural desires. We put on the belt of truth, which enables us to walk in truth rather than in the flesh. There is a real shield of faith because there are real darts of doubt. In other words, we are at war, but we are well equipped for it. God always leads us in triumph.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


You Can Win the Battle Today

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6(KJV)


Right now, you and I are in the middle of a war. As long as we live in this world, we are going to have to resist becoming like it.
It’s a daily battle, and sadly, the church today is full of worldly, carnal, fleshly believers. But if we want to live in a way that can change our world, then we have to stop living in the flesh and start living in the Spirit.


Every one of us needs to continually make adjustments to put our fleshly desires under the Holy Spirit’s control and not let our emotions or mind rule us. Scripture explains that the spirit wars against the flesh and the flesh wars against the spirit, so they are continually antagonistic toward each other.


It’s a war! The devil hates us, and he is constantly working overtime trying to make sure that we give in to the flesh.


Ultimately, you decide who wins in your life. You don’t have to be subject to your flesh. You can live in the Spirit, bringing your flesh in line with His Will. You can win the battle today.


Prayer Starter: God, I want to win the battle today. My flesh will lead to death, but living in Your Spirit leads to life. I choose Your Spirit today. Help me bring my flesh in line with Your will.


The Believer’s Struggle



Galatians 5:13-16
Many people think that life will be clear sailing after they get saved. Instead, they often find that life seems to be filled with more struggles than before. We should not be dismayed, however, because this is the normal Christian life. Before we met the Savior, we were drifting downstream, but upon salvation, we began a journey through rough waters and hellish currents.
In the epistle to the Galatians, Paul warned us not to use our newfound freedom in Christ as an excuse to revert-instead of drifting back downstream, we must take the yoke of Jesus and learn to walk in the Spirit. Paul specifically says “walk” (v. 16) because the Christian life has direction. We are climbing new heights toward a specific goal, and climbing means struggling.
We grapple every day with lust, jealousy, and pride because we live in a world filled with such things. At the same time, we can learn to walk by the Spirit and rise above our temptations and enemies. Yes, it’s tough to be in a perpetual fight. Many people have no stomach for such constant exertion; when they see the high standard of Jesus’ example, they sometimes drop out of the contest and settle for doing the best they can in their own strength. But doing the best we can is exactly what Paul says won’t work – it is simply not good enough. That’s why the Holy Spirit came. We can learn to let Him do the best He can by fully submitting to Him. Then we will walk in victory.


Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries


He Holds It All Together




And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17(KJV)


Colossians 1:17 is a pretty awesome scripture. It tells us Jesus is holding EVERYTHING together. Wow! Even people who don’t realize this are held together by Him.


Think about it. We can’t have a good marriage if Jesus isn’t holding it together. If Jesus isn’t leading and guiding our personal relationships, then we aren’t going to have good ones. Our finances would be a mess without Jesus. Our minds and emotions would be a wreck without Him. Everything would be a mess without Jesus.


If Jesus is not the most important thing in our life, then we need to rearrange our priorities. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek God and His kingdom first because if we don’t have first things first, then everything else will also be out of order and cause us problems. God’s way of being, doing and seeking His kingdom, is to find out how He wants things done- how to treat people, how to act in situations, how to spend money, what kind of attitude to have, and what kind of entertainment He approves of.


Start today by giving Him first place in your life. He’s holding you together…He created You to follow Him. Put Him first in your life.


Prayer Starter: God, I am nothing without You. You hold me together…in fact, You hold everything together. You are the most important thing in my life and I put You first.


Never Cast Out

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)


Is there any instance of our Lord's casting out a coming one? If there be so, we would like to know of it; but there has been none, and there never will be. Among the lost souls in hell there is not one that can say, "I went to Jesus, and He refused me." It is not possible that you or I should be the first to whom Jesus shall break His word. Let us not entertain so dark a suspicion.


Suppose we go to Jesus now about the evils of today. Oh, this we may be sure–He will not refuse us audience or cast us out. Those of us who have often been and those who have never gone before–let us go together, and we shall see that He will not shut the door of His grace in the face of any one of us.


"This man receiveth sinners," but He repulses none. We come to Him in weakness and sin, with trembling faith, and small knowledge, and slender hope; but He does not cast us out. We come by prayer, and that prayer broken; with confession, and that confession faulty; with praise, and that praise far short of His merits; but yet He receives us. We come diseased, polluted, worn out, and worthless; but He doth in no wise cast us out. Let us come again today to Him who never casts us out.


His Service, Face, Name

His servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their forehead. (Revelation 22:3-4)

Three choice blessings will be ours in the gloryland.

"His servants shall serve him." No other lords shall oppress us, no other service shall distress us. We shall serve Jesus always, perfectly, without weariness, and without error. This is heaven to a saint: in all things to serve the Lord Christ and to be owned by Him as His servant is our soul's high ambition for eternity.

"And they shall see his face." This makes the service delightful: indeed, it is the present reward of service. We shall know our Lord, for we shall see Him as He is. To see the face of Jesus is the utmost favor that the most faithful servant of the Lord can ask. What more could Moses ask than-"Let me see thy face?"

"And his name shall be in their foreheads." They gaze upon their Lord till His name is photographed upon their brows. They are acknowledged by Him, and they acknowledge Him. The secret mark of inward grace develops into the public sign-manual of confessed relationship.

O Lord, give us these three things in their beginnings here that we may possess them in their fullness in Thine own abode of bliss!

You're going to a new level

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Everything you have experienced in this season of your life has been preparing you for the next level of glory. People will wonder how are you able to do so well where He’s promoting you to, and it will be because of all that the anointing of God has taught you. You prayed for God to take you higher. He has heard you and is taking you deeper in your trust in Him. To get there, you’ll have to go through this. The higher you go, the deeper your trust must be. Your destiny awaits you and He’s preparing you to walk in it!

Prayer: Father God, thank you for speaking to me and encouraging my heart. Thank you for everything you’ve brought me through. It has prepared me for the next level of glory. Help me to continue to trust you with my life as you take me from faith to faith and from glory to glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


To rightly the divide the Word of God takes times of reading it, meditating on it, and also studying it.  Each way opens up the truth of the Word.  I look at the Word of God like rock, and I am a miner seeking for gold.  Yes, I might get lucky and find some on the top, but most gold takes a lot of digging and working. 


When we open our Bible and start reading it, sometimes things can jump right off of the page and we go, “Wow! That was good!” and we get all excited.  But there are other times that we read the Word and nothing really hits us.  That is when we need to ponder and chew on it for a while.  Do this during the course of the day.


You might say, “How do I do that?”  Let me show you a couple of different ways.  When you find a verse that speaks to you, write it down or put it on the wallpaper on your phone.  Then throughout the day look at it, say it a few times, and think about what it is saying to you personally.


Before I got a Smartphone, I used to write scriptures on 3 by 5 cards and carry them with me, or hang them in places I would go, like on a mirror or the refrigerator.  Be creative, and you will see that you will be digging up nuggets before you know it.  His Word will be rightly divided in your life, and you will be a worker for the kingdom who is not ashamed!


Confession:  Today, I am going to be a doer and a digger of the Word.  I am going to let the Word of God have first place in my life, and I will study it so that I can rightly divide it and not be ashamed.


Today’s Bible Reading


Jeremiah 8:8 – 9:26


Colossians 3:1-17


Psalms 78:32-55


Proverbs 24:27


Bible in a Year: 365-Day Reading Plan : English | King James Version (KJV)


GOD KNOWS HIS OWN

2 Timothy 2:19-21 (NKJV) Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.


Today I would like to look at verse 19, and then tomorrow we will look at verses 20 and 21.


When a king put a seal on something, like a letter or a package, that item became very valuable.  If you messed around with it, you could be killed.  God has put His seal on us, and that makes us very, very valuable.  This verse states that God knows His special people.  I do not know about you, but I am glad I am one of His special people!


God’s love for us is so amazing that He knows each of us in a very unique way.  He created us, and therefore knows all about us.  He knows what makes us glad, what makes us sad, what brings peace to us, what brings fear, and He is an ever-present help in time of need.  This verse says, “The Lord knows those who are His.”  I would rather have God know me, and for me to be in His will, than anywhere else. 


So today, live in peace knowing that you are sealed by God and watched over.  He knows you and loves you.  He is working on you and has not given up on you, so do not give up!


Confession:  The Lord knows those who are His, and since I am His, I know that everything is going to be ok.   In this life, God is leading, guiding, and directing my steps.  He cannot let me down because I am His.


Today’s Bible Reading


Jeremiah 10 – 11


Colossians 3:18 – Colossians 4


Psalms 78:56-72


Proverbs 24:28-29


Bible in a Year: 365-Day Reading Plan : English | King James Version (KJV)


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