MATTHEW 9:29 – Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

God responds to faith.

God blesses people who have faith.

Don’t you appreciate people who have faith in you? Well, God appreciates people who have faith in Him.

But His reason is not selfish — as ours may be. God knows His ways are right and bring blessing, while protecting people from harm. So, when we have faith in God, we will follow His instructions, and the world will be a better place.

When everyone has faith in God, and follows His way of love, the world will be a perfect place.

Many people don’t understand God because they think He should respond to need, instead of responding to faith.

God doesn’t do that because it doesn’t work. Meeting human need without them having faith in God brings no lasting benefit.

MATTHEW 8:13 -Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

SAY THIS: God responds to my faith.

God bless

1 TIMOTHY 6:12 -Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Too many people have the idea that if something is God’s will for them to have that it will just automatically happen without any effort or involvement on their part.

Not so!

We have to cooperate with God. We must believe what He says. We must resist doubt and fear. To walk in the fullness of blessing God desires for us, we must fight the good fight of faith.

Israel was our example.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:11 -These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

They had to fight the giants in the land to possess what God said was already theirs. The promised land belonged to them already because God had given it to them. But it was still inhabited by others (including giants), who had to be driven out before they could enjoy what was theirs.

Since the Bible talks about the “good fight of faith,” you know that standing in faith may often involve a struggle.

There is a reason the Bible tells us to hold fast our confession of faith (Hebrews 4:14, 10:23). God knew we would be tempted to doubt because of the circumstances we would see in our lives.

God knew that faith would be a struggle.

So we should not be surprised at the fiery trials that happen to us. The devil is trying to steal our faith by trying to get us to doubt God’s faithfulness to His Word.

1 PETER 4:12 -Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

We may have to fight with our own logic. It may tell us it is impossible for things to work out, that God’s Word will not work for us, that we should not expect good things to happen to us.

But victory in and through Jesus is the plan of God. It is possible. We must continue in faith. That is the fight we must engage in.

SAY THIS: I will maintain my faith in God’s Word no matter what life throws at me. I will do whatever it takes to maintain my faith in God.

God bless

JOHN 8:31-32 -Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Notice carefully what Jesus actually said. It is not those who “start in the word” or “try the word for awhile” who will be made free. You must continue in Jesus’ message — His Word. It must be His accurate message — not just someone’s idea about it, or religious tradition.

Some translations use the word “abide” instead of “continue.” Abide means to stay somewhere continually. Either way, the meaning involves staying with it.

Note what Jesus said in verse 32, “and you will KNOW the truth . . .” Just hearing truth does not necessarily make you free. You must KNOW it is the truth. When you KNOW something, you will act on it. If you are not acting on something, you do not yet truly KNOW it. You act on what you know.

Hearing the truth is not enough. Loving the truth is not enough. Even speaking the truth is not enough. You must continue until you know that you know that you know that you know. Only then are you at the point where truth will make you free. Because only then will you be able to act with faith and boldness on God’s Word.

The devil is against you and is intent on keeping you in bondage. Only when you KNOW where you stand will you act in faith and overcome the strategies of the devil.

You may ask, “How can I KNOW the truth? I just have weak faith.”

Jesus gave the answer: continue in His Word. As you continue in the Word of God you will become convinced — you will know — you will have faith. When you reach the point of knowing something — you will act on that knowledge. In this way the truth will make you free.

This works in every area of life: your relationships, your health, your finances — everything. Continue in the Word of God on any subject — and you will eventually see the fruit of freedom in that area of your life.

God gave you His Word for your benefit — not for His benefit. God already knows the truth, and always acts on it. Because God loves you, He gave you His Word to help you.

SAY THIS: I will continue in the message of Jesus Christ. As I do I will know the truth. As I act on the truth it will make me free.

God bless

MATTHEW 4:4 – But He answered and said, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”

You may neglect the Word of God and still exist, but you will not enjoy life — really live — as God intended, without feeding regularly on God’s Word.

Just as you need physical food to remain strong physically, you also need spiritual food to stay strong spiritually.

God’s Word — the Bible — is the food that feeds our faith, and gives us spiritual strength.

Every day you need to feed, at least some, on God’s Word.

A helpful key is to develop good habits, such as reading the Word every time you eat food, or every morning when you awake, or right before you go to sleep. The time is not important, just that you remember every day.

There are many ways to feed on God’s Word available to us today. Reading, or listening to, teaching from the Bible is one way. Speaking the Word — especially when you personalize it, can really build your faith fast. Of course, nothing can replace your own reading of the Bible, or having it read to you.

Most of us have busy schedules. Time is scarce, and we must invest it wisely. Nothing will benefit us more — both in this life and in the one to come — than feeding on God’s Word.

All of us can find time for God’s Word, if we want to. You can write Scriptures on cards to read and meditate on whenever you stop in traffic, or whenever you have to wait for someone. Maybe listening as you travel, or as you prepare for work, is a good plan for you.

The important thing is that you have a plan, so you don’t let this most important habit slip.

Seeing the Word. Hearing the Word. Speaking the Word. Thinking about the Word. This is what builds our faith and keeps us strong spiritually.

SAY THIS: I will feed my faith daily on God’s Word.

God bless

PHILIPPIANS 2:3 -Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

When you start thinking you are better than other people, you are on dangerous ground. It leads to actions opposite to divine love.

Be on guard! The Bible warns us, and we should take heed.

Of course it’s not just what we think of others that’s important, but how we treat others. However, thoughts always precede and determine actions. So, we must guard our thoughts.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3 – Treat one another as more important than yourself.

Yes, every one of us is better in some way(s) than some other person or persons. But not one of us is superior in every way to everyone else.

Of even more importance is that we should not value a human being by their looks, abilities or accomplishments, but by their value to God. God is the true judge of human worth and He thinks that person you are tempted to look down upon is valuable enough to die for.

When you judge someone as not valuable, or judge yourself as more valuable than they are, you are setting yourself up as a judge with higher authority than God.

JAMES 4:6 -But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

God resists the proud!

Only a fool would want God to oppose them or resist them. Therefore, only a fool, or an ignorant person, would want to be proud — which is thinking you are better than others.

1 PETER 5:5 – Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

What do you have that was not given to you? Did you create yourself? So, what do you really have to boast about?

1 CORINTHIANS 4:7-For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Instead of being proud, be grateful for all God has blessed you with. And realize God has blessed you so you can also be a blessing to others — for they are important to God, too.

1 PETER 2:17-Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters.

Let us not fall into the trap that makes us think we are better than others.

SAY THIS: I will not fall into the trap of thinking I am better than others.

God bless

 In Matthew 6:31-34- We see that Jesus wanted his disciples to live uncluttered lives.  Likewise, you need to declutter your life.

Deal with your spiritual clutter – 2 Corinthians 7:1 – This is the clutter in your life that affects your spirit and dulls you to do the work and voice of the Holy Spirit . Fasting and prayer are a good way to identify spiritual clutter that you need to remove and renewing your spirit is a good way to get rid of it Ephesians 4:23

Deal with your devotional clutter – Colossians3:2 – This is clutter that affects your soul you need to honestly consider everything that you deeply love and you need to eliminate or re-prioritize anything that you love that competes with your love for the Lord God

Deal with your emotional clutter – Proverbs 15:13-15 – This is clutter that affects your heart and your ability to live without baggage you need to quit running back through the same sets of emotional stresses, regrets, hurts, pains and past experiences they dominate your heart and so you can’t feel the joy, peace and contentment of your spiritual life.

Deal with your informational clutter – Phillipians 4:8; Proverbs 15:14 – This is clutter that affects your mind and your ability to think and concentrate on the things of God – you can accumulate this clutter from the news, tweets, social networks, gossip, and any source of non-essential information declutter by eliminating unnecessary use of computers, cell phones, iPads, televisions, newspapers, etc – read more Bible.

Deal with your organizational clutter – Acts 3:1; Daniel 6:10 – This is clutter that affects your day and your ability to finish what God wants you to do make a skeleton schedule and stick to it so that you don’t waste time but you don’t stress, either – get rid of all of the other stuff that is keeping you from your essential duties flexibility is easier to accommodate around a skeleton schedule my main schedule is prayer and the ministry of the word Acts 6:4.

Deal with your recreational clutter – 2 Timothy 3:4 – This is clutter that affects your life – you need to evaluate how you spend your “spare” time with entertainment, amusement and pleasure – often the reason that you can only give God one hour a week every so often is that your life is cluttered with recreational stuff – you need to declutter.

To declutter takes a lot of time and effort but it pays off with huge benefits as you begin to accomplish more from your life in Christ.

When your life is cluttered you can’t seek God.

Declutter your life and seek God.

God bless

Paul continues to offer encouragement to Christians on this side of eternity. It’s true that we are suffering, as all of creation is, as we wait to be glorified with God forever. The fact that we suffer, though, does not mean that God is not with us or for us. Paul has shown that God is working to complete a purpose in us that He set out to do before He even formed the world (Ephesians 1:4). That purpose is to make us like Christ, and God is still using “all things” to finish this process (Romans 8:28).

Again, in this passage, Paul speaks from the perspective of saved Christian believers. References here to “us,” or “we” are not inclusive of the entire human race, but only those who have accepted Christ in faith (Romans 3:23–26; John 3:16–18).

In light of the fact that God foreknew us, predestined us, called us, justified us, and will glorify us (Romans 8:30), Paul comes to an undeniable conclusion: God must be for us. God must be for all of us who are in Christ by faith. What an amazing and life-changing thought. The one, true God, the creator of all things, is for us. With Him for us, who could ever possibly be against us?

Of course, anyone at all might be against us, in literal terms; any person or group might try to oppose us or afflict us. Paul’s question is who of any consequence could ever be against us? What could anyone against us ever hope to accomplish against us, if God Himself is for us? What chance is there that someone can thwart God’s intent to save those justified by faith in His son?

The question is whether we believe God is truly for us. Paul offers a definitive answer to that question in the following verse.

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

What does Romans 8:31 mean?Paul continues to offer encouragement to Christians on this side of eternity. It’s true that we are suffering, as all of creation is, as we wait to be glorified with God forever. The fact that we suffer, though, does not mean that God is not with us or for us. In the previous verses, Paul has shown that God is working to complete a purpose in us that He set out to do before He even formed the world (Ephesians 1:4). That purpose is to make us like Christ, and God is still using “all things” to finish this process (Romans 8:28).

Again, in this passage, Paul speaks from the perspective of saved Christian believers. References here to “us,” or “we” are not inclusive of the entire human race, but only those who have accepted Christ in faith (Romans 3:23–26; John 3:16–18).

In light of the fact that God foreknew us, predestined us, called us, justified us, and will glorify us (Romans 8:30), Paul comes to an undeniable conclusion: God must be for us. God must be for all of us who are in Christ by faith. What an amazing and life-changing thought. The one, true God, the creator of all things, is for us. With Him for us, who could ever possibly be against us?

Of course, anyone at all might be against us, in literal terms; any person or group might try to oppose us or afflict us. Paul’s question is who of any consequence could ever be against us? What could anyone against us ever hope to accomplish against us, if God Himself is for us? What chance is there that someone can thwart God’s intent to save those justified by faith in His son?

The question is whether we believe God is truly for us. Paul offers a definitive answer to that question in the following verse.



Romans 8:31-39 is one of the most encouraging and affirming passages in all of God’s Word. Paul has established that God is for all of us who are in Christ; for those who have been saved by their faith. No charge or accusation made against us can stand, because God has provided for our justification and Christ is interceding for us. Paul makes two lists of all of the things in the universe that cannot separate us from God’s love for us in Christ. Hard things will happen, indeed. Yet, none of them will cause our Father to stop loving us, nor are any of them signs that He has abandoned us. Our salvation is entirely, absolutely secure on account of His great love.

Romans 8 begins and ends with declarations of the Christian’s absolute security before God. There is no condemnation for those in Christ, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from His love. Having believed the gospel, we now live in the Spirit of God. That allows us to call God Abba Father. We suffer with Christ, and we suffer along with all creation while we wait for God to reveal us as His sons. With the help of the Spirit, we are confident that God is for us and loves us in Christ.

God bless

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:17

It is wonderful to know that God does not measure and judge you based on your performance today. Instead, He looks at Jesus, and as Jesus is, that is how He sees you. His Word declares that “love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

As new covenant believers, we do not have to fear the day of judgment simply because all our sins have been completely judged at the cross, and as Jesus is, so are we! Notice that it does not say that “as Jesus was on earth, so are we in this world.” That would have been amazing enough because during Jesus’ ministry on earth, healing, blessings and abundance followed Him everywhere He went. Yet, that is not what the Word says. What it says is, “as Jesus is” (notice the use of the present tense). In other words, as He is right now, so are we in this world.

What a powerful revelation! Just consider where Jesus is today. The Bible tells us:

He [God] raised Him [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:20–23

Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand today, in a position of power and authority. If I were you, I would take some time to meditate on this passage because the Bible tells us that as Jesus is, so are we right now, in this world. Meditate on how as Jesus is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,” so are we! See it in God’s Word for yourself. See yourself as Jesus is, far above every principality and power, far above every disease and physical condition, far above every kind of fear, depression and addiction, and begin to reign over every negative situation in your life today!

As Jesus Is Today, So are you!

God bless

On this Holy Week Wednesday, we are reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. We remember how sin has separated us from God and how Jesus, through his obedience, humbly served those around him. Today, I want to talk about how Jesus’ example of obedience calls us to live out a life of service and love for others.

Isaiah 50:4-9, we are reminded of humanity’s fallen state. Sin has caused a separation between us and God. We have fallen short of His glory and have become slaves to sin. But in John 13:21-32, we see Jesus’ obedience to the Father. He humbly served those around him, even washing the feet of his disciples, an act reserved for the lowliest of servants.

Jesus’ example of obedience is one that we must follow. In Hebrews 12:1-3, we are encouraged to lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely and to run with endurance the race that is set before us. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Our response to Jesus’ example of obedience is to lay aside our sin and serve others. We must recognize our own sinful nature and turn to Jesus for forgiveness, as we read in Psalm 70. We must follow Jesus’ example of obedience and service to others, putting their needs before our own. As we do this, we will be fulfilling the greatest commandment to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.

In conclusion, let us remember that Jesus’ example of obedience calls us to live out a life of service and love for others. We must recognize our own sinful nature, turn to Jesus for forgiveness, and follow His example of obedience and service to others. Let us persevere in our Christian walk, looking to Jesus for strength. May we honor His sacrifice by living a life of service and love for others. Amen.

God bless

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God has a specific plan for every Christian. Our family’s life verse is Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Other versions say that His plans are good and not of evil.

Romans 12:2 echoes that His plans are good saying, “…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God’s will is good in that it will bless you. His will is acceptable in that we should accept and embrace it. His will is perfect because it comes from the hand of our loving Heavenly Father and He knows us best. Just like God has a specific plan for each believer, He also has a general will for all believers.We will look at three elements as we continue through 1 Thessalonians 5.

Be Joyful

Verse 16 says, “Rejoice always.” A Christian cannot lose their salvation, but they can lose the joy of their salvation. David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Ps. 51:12), after he had sinned with Bathsheba. Joy is not always a feeling, but a way of living. “Always” is tough! It was Paul’s word to the church at Thessalonica, Philippi, and to us today. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). How can you always be joyful when everything is not joyful? It is a choice.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy is the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). He goes on to say, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jn. 15:11). The key word is “abide.” Joy is found in Jesus. The joy of the Lord is our strength. David said the Lord’s salvation is what brought him joy. We can be joyful in Him, even when our circumstances are not good. We are not always going to feel it, but we have to choose to rejoice. Our feelings will follow.

Be Prayerful

Pray without ceasing” (v. 17). We have to keep on praying, living in a constant attitude of prayer. Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer….” Always pray and never give up. Pray for big things. Pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”

Be Thankful

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (v. 18). There are so many verses that tell us to be thankful! The Psalmists were thankful in the Old Testament, and we are told again and again to be thankful in the New Testament (Eph. 5:4, Col. 2:6-7, Col. 3:15). It’s not always easy to be thankful but notice it does not say to thank God for all things but in all things.

God desires for us to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful at all times. To know the will of God and not do it is a sin. God never commands us to do something that He will not enable us to do. God does the impossible. He is the Way-maker! You may say, “But I feel like a hypocrite giving thanks when I don’t feel like it.” We do not live the Christian life on feelings but on faith. If we obey God, the sincerity and feelings will follow. We walk by faith and not by sight. In faith, hope, and love we can be joyful, prayerful, and thankful.

God bless