Romans 15:1-2 – “We then who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not seek to please ourselves. 2. Let everyone one of us please his neighbor in good and constructive ways.”

Good morning, everyone! What a day to be alive and enjoy the richness of God’s Person, Peace, Purpose, and Power! This is the day the Lord has made, and we have the opportunity to rejoice, be glad, and uncover many hidden blessings awaiting us. So I say rejoice, and again, I say rejoice!

Are we selfish and self-centered? I don’t know, are we? Do we look for opportunities to bless others? Do we think about what might be in it for us when we do things or decide not to do them? Do we love our neighbors as ourselves?

Someone once said, “If I love my neighbor as myself, I would probably be the stuffings out of them because I hate myself.” I understand that people sometimes get down on themselves and have a negative self-image, but most want the best for themselves. Therefore, if I want what is best for me, then should I not also desire that for others? Love has the power to transform, giving us hope and optimism for a better future.

Sometimes, the things that cost us nothing are the things that mean the most to others. It might be a smile, a kind word, a prayer, or encouragement. Sometimes, just lend an ear and listen without judging, commenting, or critiquing. These small acts of kindness have a profound impact, making us feel empowered and impactful.

When I think of what Jesus has done for me, it is impossible for me to ignore the needs of others. I find myself in the same condition as Peter when he addressed the lame man at the temple. I do not have gold and silver, but I have confidence in Jesus, and I can pray, encourage, and love you.

I can do things that cost me nothing materially but may have eternal value for others, so I seek God’s help to enable me and inspire me to do them.

Today would be a fantastic day to ask God to show us those who we can bless of those who cross our paths. Someone said, “You are the only gospel some people will ever read; what is the gospel according to you?”

I want to be a manifestation of Jesus to others. I know that I have flaws and deficiencies, and sometimes, I am the one needing help, but I want people to see Jesus when they see me. Not that I am perfect, far from it, but that I love Him with all my heart, and He is my everything!

Have a fantastic day, and as you bless others, you will be blessed. Luke 6:38 will become a reality in your life in a powerful way!

2 Chronicles 20:22 – “When they began singing for joy and praising, Yahweh set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were defeated.“

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word, the Lord, purpose, and life, many things exploded in my consciousness.

In 2 Chronicles 16, King Asa, who walked in righteousness and had witnessed a miraculous deliverance from the million-man Ethiopian army, relied on a powerful neighboring Armenian king to help him.

The prophet Hanan came and reminded him of something we tend to forget.  I say forget because what we do suggests we do not see nor believe this truth.  “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth.”  God sees ALL, hears ALL, knows ALL, and can do ALL.  He looks for opportunities to manifest Himself to those who seek and serve Him.

We can be like King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 if we know and embrace this truth.   Three powerful enemies were coming to destroy them.   He and the people cried out to God.  The prophet Jahaziel said, “Be cool, don’t sweat the small stuff; this is not your problem because God has taken it for Himself.  The battle is not yours. It is Gods.” 

Jehoshaphat did something amazing that demonstrated his faith and confidence in God.  He said, “Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe in His prophets, and you will be delivered.”    He put the choir out front with instruments of worship, and everyone began to praise God.

In verse 22, we read, “AND WHEN they began to sing and to praise…”  God did His thing and destroyed the enemy, turning them against each other.   Not only was Judah delivered, but ALL their enemies were filled with fear!

Here is what I want us to see: 

• God sees, hears, and knows everything.
• God looks for opportunities to save, heal, deliver, and bless us.
• We must take action with our faith.  
• Praise Him in good and bad.  
• Rely on Him; he cannot and will not fail.

Begin to allow the Holy Spirit to train you to listen and then act upon what God says!

No weapon of the enemy is more powerful than God.  Nothing is impossible, BUT we must believe.   If we believe, we will act like believers.  Then, sit back and be amazed at what God does!  Why Not Now?

Have a fantastic day and live victoriously by faith; God cannot and will not fail. 

Philippians 4:12-13 – “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in abundance; in any and all things I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to fellowship with me in my affliction.”

When Paul said he had learned to be content, he did not mean that suddenly God dropped a dose of contentment into his heart or that he just decided that he would be content.  He learned it!   As with most things in life, we learn through doing and experiencing.  Paul endured trials, tribulations, persecutions, disappointments, and victories. In all of that, he Learned Contentment!

In trials, Paul learned that God was unfailingly faithful.  In need, He found that God supplied.  In everything, he learned that God was The Living God and did not lie, could not fail, and would not abandon him; therefore, He became Content!

It is like praying for patience. Patience is learned; it is not a spiritual gift that God deposits in you; you Learn it!   How do you learn patience?  By dealing with things that make you impatient.   I prayed for patience and never had so many trials in my life.  I complained, and the Holy Spirit whispered, “Well, you prayed for patience.”    

I pray that the LORD will enable you to take all your life experiences and put them in the bowl, discover the truth of God’s faithfulness, Learn Contentment, and, in your patience, possess your souls as you faithfully wait on Him.  He will not fail nor forsake.  His purpose is to bring you to the place you realize that you are who He says you are – More than a conqueror and victorious! 

Today is your day to shine.  Grab hold of this day and declare God’s promises over it.  He does not lie, cannot fail, and will never forsake you!  THIS IS YOUR DAY!

Numbers 13:27:28 – “Thus they recounted to him and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. ²⁸ Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.”

As I contemplated today’s devotional message, the overriding theme was implicit and explicit obedience. Unhesitating obedience!  Numbers 13 gives us the account of the 12 forward scouts who conducted a reconnaissance mission in Canaan, the Land of Promise.
They saw the land and its fruitfulness and beauty, but they also saw the fortifications, giants, Nephilim, and their own inability (in their minds). They let their view become dominant over God’s promise.

Their expression was Nevertheless or But…  Too often, we let our “buts” get in the way. Rather than “But we can’t, we need to be like Joshua & Caleb, BUT GOD…” There are good “buts” and bad “buts.”

Numbers 20 is the account of Moses losing the privilege of bringing them into the place of promise.  He acted out of human frustration rather than explicit obedience.  The rock Paul tells us was Christ and followed them in their journey. God said to speak to the rock (symbolic of prayer).

In his frustration, Moses resorted to what he had done and, in anger, struck the rock twice. The smitten rock only needed to be prayed to, not crucified again. His failure to explicitly obey disqualified him from the blessings of seeing the fulfillment of the promise.

We are people of the New Covenant and have the Promise alive in us.   We, too, face problems and need God’s provision. Our Rock has sent us another comforter to empower us to overcome.   We have the gifts of the Spirit to equip us. We have the love of God to enable and identify us. Our explicit and instant obedience defines and determines the measure of our success.

Obedience flows from one of two foundations: fear or Love. Our obedience as believers is either out of love or reveals our immaturity. 1 Corinthians 12:2 reminds us of our greatest need and mission—”Learn to Love.”  We are cells in the Body of Christ, and what affects others affects us. It also reveals whether we have learned to love and the level of our obedience.

1 Corinthians 12:26 is revelatory. “Whatever happens to one member happens to ALL. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.” Is that descriptive of us? It is evidence of our level of grace and maturity.

• Obedience out of love takes no consideration of ourselves but the Body and Him.
• Obedience out of love expresses faith and complete trust.
• Obedience out of love releases the Spirit of God to bring the fullness of God to us and release His Promises through us.

Remember that you are Victorious! You have the Promises! You live in this world, but you are not unaffected by it; you affect it. May today be a day of rich blessings and God’s presence for you!