Are you performing daily routine spiritual maintenance?

“The cares and anxieties of the world, and distractions of the age, the pleasure, delight, false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.”
Mark 4:19 The Amplified Bible

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Are you aware that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you are not careful and allow it? I heard a story once that the Lord told a woman during prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men (& women too). “You have so many things to maintain,” He told her. “You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your boat, your machines, your hair… and the list goes on and on.”

This nation, especially us Christians, have become maintainers of so many natural things that we don’t have any time left to maintain our own spirit or our spiritual walk with Jesus! Our daily walk with the Lord! As Christians we must protect that precious time with Him and if anything add to it, not take away from it. We should be tithing (at a minimum) of our time to the Lord also. A tenth of 24 hours is 2.4 hours, that’s the least we should be giving Him each day! But He says tithes AND offerings. An offering is above and beyond your tithe!

If you have found yourself in the situation described above, too many things to maintain and no time for God. Then it’s time to simplify your life. I’ve had to learn that myself. Now when I’m considering something that I think I need, I don’t just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it. Where will the time come from that I need to maintain and use it? Am I going to have to take from my time with the Lord to maintain this new thing. Is it really something I need, or do I just want it? You can’t expect the heathen world to think like this, but we as Christians should be doing so every day.

Second Timothy 2:4 says, “Don’t get entangled in the affairs of this life. It so easy to do because the things of this world, the natural things, are so much more real to our senses than the things of the spiritual world. But we must remember we are a spirit and we must train ourselves to be sensitive to the spiritual world as well. One thing I’ve learned since becoming a Christian: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer, meditation of the word, and just being with the Father, Jesus , and the Holy Spirit. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that. Because this life, as I know it, will pass away one day and all that is in it. All my earthly toys and high maintenance items will pass away, they will not come with me. What will then be most important – should right now be most important! Where will I spend eternity?

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, thank You for calling me into Your marvelous Kingdom and for translating me out of darkness. Increase in me the knowledge of You, Oh Lord, that I may know the full calling you have placed upon my life. Take me Lord and do with me what You will, I have chosen to give myself unto You, I have made the choice. I have chosen the way You told us to choose. I have chosen life! (Deut 30:19) Father take this earthen vessel and mold and shape me, put me in Your fire and burn up that which is not of You, Oh Lord. Lord help me to learn to maintain my walk with You first of all. You said if we would seek first the kingdom of God, and Your righteousness; that all these other things would be added unto us. Father help me to make You first always. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Did you get that? Did you really get it?

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the
divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead–Father, Son and
Holy Spirit–and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].Colossians 2:9-10 Amplified Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSES…
Read this very carefully and then re-read again:

All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus Christ, ALL. Remember He was the Word become flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God! (John 1:1) If the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and the Word was God, then Jesus is God in bodily form or in the form of humanity. Now if you are in Him and He is in you, ((John 14:20 KJV) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.) then you are complete in Him. We have the full power of the Godhead (God Himself, The Holy Spirit, and Jesus) dwelling within us if we are born again, IF we are “IN” Christ! Why aren’t we walking in the miracles that Jesus did then? We need to learn to put a demand on that power of God that dwells within us. To bring forth all the power of the Godhead when we speak or act according to the Word of God. We need to expect (“Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles”, Pastor Rod Parsley) the same results that Jesus got, that Paul got, that Peter and John got at the gate beautiful. How has it come to pass that this isn’t happening? I’ll tell you why I think it hasn’t, because the doctrines of men have crept stealthily into the Church over the ages. Those that don’t believe in the power of the Holy Spirit within (because they don’t have Him living in themselves) have caused the Word of God to be of no effect in the church today, just as we were warned would happen by the scriptures. It’s time to get those that don’t believe the Word of God is what it says and their false doctrines out of the Church and then get Christ and His power back in! (See 2 Timothy 3) Even if that means removing church leaders – Let God handle that through prayer. I don’t know about you, but as for me and my house we shall believe in the Lord God and the truth of His Word!

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, help me to understand the fullness of Your power that dwells within me. Give me a revelation of what it is like and what it is to be used for. Help me to put aside all things of the natural that hinder me from experiencing Your power in and through me and to learn to expect the same results that Jesus and the early church got when they applied Your Word to sickness, disease, and evil spirits. Let the power of Your Holy Spirit manifest itself fully in all that I do and say so that the world will see the Glory of the Lord manifested bodily in me just as it was in Jesus. But always remind me and help me to guard my heart and to give You all the Glory and all the honor. Father I will, that Your Kingdom come and Your will be done here, now, on earth as it already is in heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Do you have the keys?

I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. – Matthew 16:19 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
The Greek text of that scripture literally reads, “I give you the keys of the kingdom. Whatever you declare locked on earth is locked in heaven and whatever you declare unlocked on earth is unlocked in the heavenlies.”

He was talking about the battle zone, about where Satan’s forces are operating. He was telling us that God has given us power to bind the wicked spirits in heavenly places and to loose the angelic powers of God to work in our behalf.

Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Where? In heaven, in earth and under the earth. That covers it all!

As believers, we have total authority over the powers of Satan (through our relationship with Jesus). We can take authority over the evil spirits that are trying to destroy this nation. We can take authority over them in the Name of Jesus and pull down their strongholds.

It is time we began to realize how important we are to world affairs. Since the day Jesus gave us the Great Commission, the life or death of the world has been in the hands of the Church. We are the ones who have the mighty Name of Jesus and the awesome strength and power of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of the Word of God to bring life and abundance to every creature. We are the ones whose prayers can change every office of authority in this land. (Prayer elected Trump over Hillary!)

It’s up to you and me to begin to intercede right now and use the power God has given us. We may come from different lands with different backgrounds, but we all have one thing in common—Jesus Christ is our Lord. And that alone is enough to alter the spiritual complexion of this earth. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ( 2Ch 7:14) God wants to heal America if we will only pray.

MY PRAYER…
Father, I just want to thank You that You have sent Christ to me as an example of how to live the live of faith. You said in Your Word that “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” then I need to be living like I really have those keys! I need to be living by the faith. Father, let Your Holy Spirit give me the want to, the strength to, and the power I need to live by faith in You and what Jesus has already done for me. Strengthen me day by day as I walk with You. Lead and guide me into the “Christ-like” life style everyday. Show me those things that need to change and be removed from my life. Draw me ever closer to Your side. Help me to become God inside minded and to walk and talk as Christ did always. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Is His Power at work in you?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
Ephesians 3:20-21 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Of all the names for God in the Bible, this is my favorite: El Shaddai, Him who is able to do immeasurably more, The God of more than enough! The Great ‘I Am’, I am anything that you need! Our God today is the same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and then fed 5,000 men (not to mention the women and children who were there with their men) on a green hillside with only a couple of sardine sandwiches and a loaf of bread, then provided 12 baskets of left-overs! I have personally experienced His provision of multiplication of food, it wasn’t the magnitude of the above, but it was still awesome. He longs to do more than we can ask and imagine, but most of us haven’t really given Him much of a challenge or much of a chance. We try to do it all ourselves. Dream big dreams for God. Then step aside and let Him go to work for you and just hang on! Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). What He did before He will do again and again!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty and awesome God, do in our day what You did in days past. You said in your Word that You change not, that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You gave us faith to believe and then You are amazed at the smallness of our faith. Give us vision to see Your plan, to have greater Faith, and to do greater things. We ask this, not for ourselves or our experience, but for a sign to Your people so that the harvest will be large and that Your glory will be great and for the salvation of the world. In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Beware the company you keep!

I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people. – 1 Corinthians 5:9, The Amplified Bible

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
The company you keep has such an influence on your spiritual life. Fellowshipping with godly people will help speed you on to victory, while fellowshipping with those who are ungodly, immoral, LGBT, or whatever will drag you down to defeat. That’s why God has said in His Word: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” ( Heb 10:25)

That’s why the Bible has some things to say about your friends. That’s why it tells you to separate yourself from the world. Because the world and its evil, immoral companions will corrupt you. This is not talking about ministry, where you are actively out ministering to the lost. Jesus Himself ministered to sinners. You have to mix with them to preach to them and pray for them. What the Bible is talking about here are the people you choose for your close friends. The people you spend your leisure time with. The people you buddy, buddy with on a regular basis.

If you want to walk in the things of the Lord, don’t choose friends who walk in the things of the world, people who talk and act ungodly, who don’t give God any place in their lives, people who lust after sex and money and other immoral things. They’ll pull you down. As you rub shoulders with them, you’ll expose yourself to temptation. You’ll get so familiar with sin it will start to appear less repulsive to you. Sooner or later, you’ll fall into it.

So choose your friends wisely. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Tim. 2:22 ) Fellowship with those who call on the Name of the Lord out of a pure heart. Expose yourself to their love and peace. Let their faith rub off on you!

MY PRAYER…
Father, I just want to thank You that You have sent Christ to me as an example of how to live and to love others. You said in Your Word that we should not forsake fellowship with each other. Father, let Your Holy Spirit give me the want to, the strength to, and the power I need to live by faith in You and what Jesus has already done for me. Strengthen me day by day as I walk with You. Lead and guide me into the “Christ-like” life style everyday. Show me how to avoid relationships with those who would distract me from the business You have for me, from the lifestyle that You would have me to live. Draw me ever closer to Your side and strengthen my spirit man from within. Help me to become God inside minded and to walk and talk as Christ did always. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Which do you follow ‘traditions of men’ or the ‘Word’ of God

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men (change your thinking and cause you to stray from the Word of God), after the rudiments of the world (doctrines of men and of demons), and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8 King James Version Italics added to add clarity to what is being spoken.

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Watch and pray, that’s what Jesus told His disciples in the garden. Lest you be deceived. You can’t just watch and you can’t just pray. You must do both! Take everything that comes your way: talk, videos, tapes, radio, television, written correspondence, books, etc. and pass what it says or depicts through the ‘filter’. The filter of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for us. The Word of God. It doesn’t matter who or where it’s coming from, pass it through the filter! Paul warned the church at Galatia, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” I don’t care if it’s the preacher at the church your family has gone to since great-great-great-great-great grandpa, or if it’s your favorite televangelist, the priest at local catholic church or whomever. It doesn’t matter who is saying it, if it doesn’t line up with Jesus Christ and Him crucified for us, with the Word of God…chuck it out quick! There are tons of sayings out there that people attribute to the Word of God or the Bible that are just plain twisted scripture at best, some are just old wives tales and they are NOT God’s Holy Word! There are even some teachings in churches and by so-called pastors that do not come from the Word of God at all in anyway, don’t allow them to get planted in you! Guard what you allow to pass through your eye gate, your ear gate, and to come out of your mouth gate. Check it yourself with your own Bible. Because whatever passes through these gates is what gets into your heart. DO not be deceived into following the traditions of men or the”church”, make sure it is really from the Word of God! Remember, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” “Keep (guard) your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Prov. 4:23

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, help me to put a guard on my heart. Help me Father by giving me the wisdom and revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for me. Let Your Holy Spirit always remind me to pass everything through Your Holy filter. That I may discern that which is of true value and is truly edifying according to Your Word. And to be able to shut out, turn off, or otherwise disconnect from that which is not in line with Your precious Word.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Are you taking the easy way?

“Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSES…
The world wants an easy way (the wide gate and the broad way, the worldly way, the I don’t have to do anything way.) Most of the churched people just want a Savior only, if that (fire insurance against the coming fire of judgment) but not a Lord of their life. A Lord is one who governs our lives in all aspects. They are not willing to allow Jesus to be their Lord as well as their Savior, and He must be your Lord before He can be your Savior! They still want to do the things of the world all week long and then come on Sunday morning and expect God to bless them. Some even only make it to church once in a while or on special occasions and still think He should be their Savior. But Jesus wants you fulltime, He wants a daily fellowship with you. The way to the full and righteous Life and to Godliness is narrow and the only way in is through the narrow gate, through Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) He also said in His Word: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25) Both of those are pretty clear to me, there is no other way to the Father or to everlasting life, except through Jesus! NO other religion or NO other prophet, or NO other so-called god or great spirit is going to get you there, only Jesus. And we are supposed to be a part of a congregation or fellowship, a church, as we call it today! Not loners – loving Jesus by ourselves! That is NOT His Way! And certainly not forsaking Him and living in sin and immorality as is most of the world today. Those who practice sin and immorality will be judged accordingly on judgment day and it cannot be avoided.
The New Testament is clear, a Savior who is not Lord also is not a Savior and no friend. It has to be more than just knowing about Jesus and God. It has to be knowing them personally and daily! Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, speaking doctrines of men that are not found in the Word of God, or are the Word of God twisted and misaligned for their purposes. These are nothing more than ravenous wolves whose sole purpose is to lead you astray where they can devour you. You shall know them by their fruits. Let’s not only make Jesus Lord and Savior, let’s live in a way that shows that He controls our lives and that His Spirit within us produces our character, which is His character, from within.

MY PRAYER…
Most Holy Father, these are my hands, my feet, my tongue, my body, and most of all my heart. I present them to You this day, from this day forward please take control of my life and my will so I may be wholly yours, not just in word, but in thought and in deed as well. Today Lord, I lay my life and my will at Your feet and I take up Your life and Your will for me.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Are you full of the Godhead and His Love?

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted
people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically,
through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your
being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the
divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God
Himself]!
Ephesians 3:17-19 Amplified Version (we turned up the volume so you could hear what God was saying to you!)

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSES…
Love that surpasses knowledge. That’s very difficult to explain, but when you have loved your spouse for decades you begin to experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you begin to understand this phrase. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all His great riches, a full sibling (brother or sister) to Jesus Christ the Lord, and you know you are seen as holy, without reproach, and blameless, you begin to understand this phrase. The Love God has for His children. To stand in His great and awesome presence fully accepted and fully received! UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – Love that isn’t dependent on us doing something to earn it. Just making Jesus our Lord and believing in Him. Just let God touch you now with His awesome love.

MY PRAYER…
Holy and incredible Father, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words can ever tell. Help me to have the knowledge so that I may not only be like You, but that I may know You in experience just as I know You in faith. That I may be filled with all the fullness of You and have the richest measure of Your divine presence, being wholly filled and flooded with You Yourself. Father that I may be so full of You that anyone gazing on me will see nothing but Your light shining forth. That I may bring Glory and Honor unto to You.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Love is more than a 4 letter word that means lust!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Love is NOT lust or SEX or even a sexual act.
Notice that love does not focus on me or on self, but instead the focus is on others. Each of the qualities of love in the verse above is based upon an affectionate, compassionate, and forgiving attitude that regards others of value and not self first. It is an unconditional love. It is a God kind of Love. These principles are based on the way Jesus saw people. The Jesus kind of Love is the basis that makes our faith work. Did you ever notice that the middle of the word “sIn” is a big I! Did you know that I is one of the most commonly used words in the English language today! Too many times we let our self (our EGO, the “I”) get in the way and we forget to walk in love. Love someone today, with the ‘AGAPE’ love of God through Jesus. Put the I in your ego aside for once and see others as Jesus and the Father sees them. Through the Father’s Love. Love for someone is laying down yourself for the sake of them.

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father, teach me to notice others and value them just as You do. I know You loved me when I was not lovable, and redeemed me when I was not worthy. Help me to take my eyes off myself and see others as You see them. Help me to love others as You love ALL mankind. Father, give me the will to and the want to, to be able to change in the area of walking in love.
In Jesus’ name, Father, I pray.
Amen

God’s plan – Sowing and reaping!

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Galatians 6:7

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Those of you practicing immorality know this, You will reap from what you sow. If you are homosexual you will reap of the diseases that affect those who do so. Don’t think that LGBT is okay,it is NOT okay in God’s eyes and you will reap the consequences.
Just because you feel like you’re under pressure these days, you’re not alone. Satan is putting more pressure on more people right now than ever before. He’s pressuring us mentally, financially, emotionally and every other way he can. The pressure has gotten so great everywhere that governments don’t know what to do. Businesses don’t know what to do. Families don’t know. Some Churches and pastors don’t even know.

But praise God, Jesus does! He says we can give our way right out from under any pressure the devil brings to bear.
Giving is always Jesus’ way out. Whenever there’s a need, He plants seed! In fact, in Mark Chapter 4, He compares the entire kingdom of God to a seed. Just think about the importance of seeds for a moment. Every living thing on this earth came from a seed. You came from a seed. Then you were born again from the seed of God’s Word. Jesus Himself was The Seed planted by God. God sowed Him in sacrifice. He came forth and grew up into many brethren.

So, when Satan puts you under pressure, go to Jesus and let Him tell you how and where to plant your seed. If you’ll do it, that seed will grow up until it breaks the powers of darkness and lack. It will release you from the pressure the devil’s been putting on you. I’ve seen it happen.

If the devil’s pressuring you, don’t panic…plant! Plant your time. Plant your money. Plant the clothes off your back. When your harvest comes in, you can laugh and say, “Hey, Devil, who’s feeling the pressure now?”

MY PRAYER…
Most High God of the Mountains, the seas, the plains, and the skies, You are my source for all of my needs It is your law of sowing and reaping that makes things happen. I acknowledge Your presence in all I do and everywhere I go. Please, continue to lead and guide me by Your Holy Spirit. Help to know when and where to sow and to what to sow that I may receive the harvest that You have for my life. Continue to remind me that You are always present in everything I do or say. Father, help us to understand Your ways. In the name of Your Holy Child, Jesus, I pray.
Amen