It has been an interesting week and it has caused me to realize the importance of the battle front and the enemy’s tactics to bring discouragement, fear, oppression and all sorts of other ugly symptoms. Thankfully I have chosen to walk by the spirit and be renewed by the spirit that brings life!

John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but spirit gives birth to spirit.

I want to share a story on how the Lord works in a life that is sensitive to His spirit when in need of prayer. Just this week I sensed an urgency to call my husband to have him agree with me in prayer for the day, because I sensed if it were a day for oppression or opposition to come that would be my day ahead. Well shortly after praying with him I received a call from a co-worker desperate for God to move in her family. Taking time out to encourage and pray for her and her family I took this call very seriously. Shortly thereafter a student stopped and plopped a seat in my office area and I knew instantly she was there for prayer! The Lord confirmed some things in my spirit before a word was spoken. It was a time of listening, sharing, caring and prayer. This morning I was encouraged to see how much she was encouraged, and how she is realizing how important it is to proclaim God’s promises over her life. I would share this with you to say this; God is not far away, He is very near and is waiting for us to call upon Him. Can you take a moment out of your busy schedule and pray for that child, a neighbor, maybe a spouse or co-worker. Possibly even time out for you to just seek His face. Take a moment and relax at His feet, choose to sit and wait upon Him. Sometimes that is needed most.

Be desperate for Him to move in your life today!

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)

I got up this morning with a list of things that needed to be done. So, right after my quiet time, I tried to get started. “Tried” is the operative word here.

Armed with my trusty to do list I immediately got down to work with my first task. Unfortunately, that item involved me contacting someone else and they were unavailable. I tried moving on to the next task but, then again, nothing went as I planned. I had a list of six different things that I believed needed to be done. Of those six, I was only able to complete two successfully.

By the time I got to the last item on my list, I was feeling anxious and just a bit worried. I had created all kinds of scenarios in my mind of what could happen because I had not finished what I thought needed to be done.

Then the Holy Spirit spoke a word of comfort in my spirit. These are things beyond your control. Trust God. He was absolutely right. Instead of trying to trust in myself and my list, I needed to turn it all over to God and trust Him. He knew what needed to be done and when it needed to be completed. My little vision is very limited, but I serve a God who sees all the way to eternity. And so, I’m casting all of my cares on the Lord and trusting in Him to sustain me. (Psalm 55:22)

If you find yourself in a similar situation today, I invite you to join me in trusting God. No matter what the problem is, cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Never will He leave you or forsake you. He knows what you need and you will receive it in His timing. Today, decide that you will trust Him and receive His peace.

Blessings,

Joyce

This day I would choose to say that wisdom is most needed when making decisions for our lives. I would not want to make many of life’s decisions without the wisdom God. He tells us in His Word to ask of Him. Seeking the wisdom of God for our lives is crucial in every decision whether it is personal, family related, financial, even job related. The Lord would ask us to seek Him and we will find Him!

James 1: 2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Today Oh Lord, I come before your throne of grace with confidence seeking your wisdom that I might impart it to others, May your words bring life and healing as we seek you this very hour. I thank you Lord for the wisdom with every decision for our lives and our families lives that are yet to come. Only you Oh Lord, grant us that understanding, help us to not be unstable in any way. Teach us your ways Oh Lord, that we walk wisely regarding all things. Help us to discern good and evil in each day. Lord we need your strength for today, we need your wisdom, and we need your guidance in every situation. We thank you for hearing our petitions today, for seeing our hearts and guiding our path in life. We bless You and praise You in Jesus most precious name. Amen!!

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7a)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

Your thoughts are a powerful thing. You have the power to think yourself into hopelessness or into hope. You have the power to inspire yourself or to think that you will never reach your goals, live your dreams or have a joy-filled life.

The amazing thing about your thoughts is that once you start thinking a thing and believing it, that’s what you’ll start speaking to yourself and others. If what you’re thinking has you worried and discouraged, don’t be surprised when you begin speaking your thoughts out loud. Negative thinking is habit forming but so is positive thinking.

Today, begin training your mind to focus on God’s power and your possibilities. There is nothing too hard for God. You can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you. Choose to speak life over your circumstances. God has delivered you before and He will do so again. In the mean time, watch what you think and say.

Meditate on this - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8) And remember “not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Blessings,

Joyce

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 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 3:14-21)

I know that you’ve heard before that God loves you. And chances are you know that He cherishes you too. You can read your Bible anytime and find a multitude of verses that testify to that fact. However, it’s still a struggle for many people to fully accept in their hearts what their minds know to be true.

Paul understood this struggle. In todays scripture passage, he prays that the Ephesians would recognize and appreciate just how much Jesus loved them.

Do you understand “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ?” If not, pray that God will turn your head kowledge into a heart experience. Remember the One who first loved you before all others. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Blessings,

Joyce

Just as I began to type this today, the Lord answered prayer for the young woman B who is giving Him ultimate praise today! The Lord has opened the door for her and she is rejoicing! Hallelujah! She is now in a permanent resident and praising God for His continued hand upon her life…

When I think of these two words I think of the ultimate responsibility we have to praise the Lord with our all. Take time to enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise today, for in doing this you will be able to overcome any doubts, fears or anxiety that may be trying to take over your life. Give Him Ultimate Praise Today! It will make a difference in your life when we Praise the Lord no matter what it looks like…

Psalm 150 (NIV)

 1 Praise the LORD.
       Praise God in his sanctuary;
       praise him in his mighty heavens.

 2 Praise him for his acts of power;
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.

 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
       praise him with the harp and lyre,

 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
       praise him with the strings and flute,

 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
       praise him with resounding cymbals.

 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
       Praise the LORD.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:9-10)

The book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, the renewal of the spiritual lives of the workers and the restoration of true worship in Israel. Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer, which placed him in position to help the Jewish exiles who returned to the promised land to rebuild Jerusalem. Through dependence on God, Nehemiah reminded the exiles of their spiritual heritage and encouraged them to successfully rebuild the city walls.

The book also describes how sorrowful the people were when they heard the reading of the Law. They remembered how they ignored and betrayed their relationship with God. Many cried as they realized just how sinful they had been.

The leaders in charge, however, told the people to turn their mourning into celebration. They encouraged them to understand God’s message and to accept His mercy.

Just as the Israelites were encouraged to find their strength in the joy of the Lord, that is true for us today. We’re all imperfect and inadequate. We make mistakes and we sometimes sin. The good news is that the Lord does not want us to stay in that place. We can ask for forgiveness, repent and rest in the assurance that because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven.

You don’t have to continually beat yourself up over the mistakes you may have made. Don’t focus on your inadequacies, mistakes and sins. Ultimately, it’s not about you - it’s all about God. He is the source of your joy and your strength. Delight yourself in Him.

Blessings,

Joyce