Colossians 3:1-4 – “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.”

Let us discuss the subject of “Focus.”  What we Focus on affects our faith and forms or transforms our life view. What we focus on is reflected in our words and actions.

If we focus on Jesus and His finished work on the Cross, our hearts sing with jubilation because we know He defeated the devil totally. We know He disarmed the powers of darkness and triumphed over them. We know He opened the door to salvation and victorious life in the present and eternity. We are Free! We are Victorious!

When difficulties arise, and problems abound, what do we instinctively do? Most would say, “I turn to the LORD.”  

• If that is true, then why do our words contain elements of fear or doubt?
• If that is true, why do we focus on the problem rather than the problem solver? 
• If that is true, then why do those difficulties occupy so much of our thinking?

What we focus on affects our faith and either builds or weakens it. If we focus on the problem rather than the promise and problem solver, we empower the problem. It is not mind over matter or simply speaking something that makes it happen—it is genuine, linking our hearts to His heart and allowing His faith to overflow in our hearts.      

Most believe that Jesus overcame the devil.  The question is, “Do we genuinely believe we have?”  If we are IN Him and He is abiding IN us, we have been granted authority over all the enemy’s power.  

I have discovered that when my focus is wrong, my speaking, thinking, and actions will also be wrong. I have found that when I speak to myself in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, making melody in my heart and focusing on Him, His Promises, Provisions, Person, and Power, my focus changes, and my faith is strengthened.  David encouraged himself in the LORD, and so should we.

I recommend that every day, you find a passage of scripture that contains a promise of God that addresses a need or condition in your life and meditate on it.  Once that promise takes root in your heart, you embrace it and instinctively trust that Word, add to it another and another until you have filled your heart and mind with Him!  If we are full of Jesus and our focus becomes God and His Word, we will find it easier to deal with difficulty. Our expectations will change, our faith will become solid, we will discover the ways of the Lord, and His guidance will become clear.

Make a conscious decision today to rejoice regardless!  Decide to be joyful when all is well and when nothing is well.  But, in Everything, Give Thanks! Commit to making Jesus your focus!  You will be amazed how difficult it becomes to doubt as you behold Him in your heart! As you see the Finished Work of the Cross, you will find it impossible to doubt. We take our burdens to the altar and pray, then pick them up and go out into the day. STOP IT! Leave it there!

May the Lord of Hosts guard and guide you throughout this day!

Romans 8:37-39 – “ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

How we think about things matters and affects every aspect of our lives.  Our mindset can be fixated on the present and dominated by the past, causing us to live with a life view that is more wishful than expectant.  The other option is to live with a mindset that embraces the eternality of the present because we are IN Christ, and He is IN us. We are one with Him, and through His Victory, we are victorious.

If we make God out there, over there, or up there, we will struggle with many things in the Bible. However, if we can embrace the reality that as a believer, God is not out there, over there, or up there, He is IN us! We are to live the Life of Christ being lived in and through us. We have the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. We are Victorious! That is what God says!

If we relegate God’s Promises, Power, and Miracles to the past, we rob ourselves of many precious promises and provisions of God’s Covenant. If we think we can only be victorious when we get to heaven, we miss the rich potential of this life. God has given us weapons of warfare and the armor of God so that we can walk victoriously and enforce the Victory of Calvary. He is the same, past, present, and future, and His Word never fails!

We need to change our mindset. We need to stop thinking theologically or theoretically and start thinking eternally. What does that mean? 

• It means seeing Jesus’s Full Victory as our present promise and hope.
• It means seeing ourselves as being IN Him and He IN us.
• It means seeing ourselves as abiding in Him and His Words abiding in us. See ourselves as One with Him!

We need to stop viewing life through human frailty and view it through God’s limitlessness. What is it that God cannot do? He cannot and will not Lie, Die, or Fail, but there is Nothing He cannot do outside of that. He also said that because we are in Him and believe, there is Nothing impossible for us. Therefore, stop thinking carnally, naturally, or theoretically and start thinking the way God thinks.  

I ask that you pray this prayer: “Father, give me the vision to see, faith to believe, and the courage to do what You have directed and desire in me.  Amen!”

Have a fantastic day, and walk into the richness of God’s provisions, purpose, and power!

Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The lovingkindness of Yahweh indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

What truth, promise, and hope that passage affords.  We need encouragement as we near the End and the Coming of Jesus. 

Isaiah 24:11 – “There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All gladness turns to gloom. The joy of the earth is taken away into exile.”

In these verses, we have both a warning and a promise of encouragement. You may say, “That is not a very good or encouraging word.”  Maybe not on the surface, but the prophet spoke of the growing evil and destruction in the world.  He told the people of God to enter their rooms and close the door for a time.  Does that sound familiar?  Remember what Jesus said about prayer?  Enter your closet (room) and pray!

The prophet declared that God would visit the iniquity (judge) of the earth’s inhabitants and expose the corruption. He gave a powerful word of hope and promise.  Isaiah 26:3 – “The steadfast of mind, You will keep in perfect peace BECAUSE they trust in You!” The way of the righteous is upright, and He makes their paths level.

Remember the old song that contained the words, “Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear. Evil is abounding on every hand…”  For the believer, we have the promise of peace and protection.

There is a limitless condition in which we can live: abiding in the vine. Jesus said in Luke 15:7, “IF you abide in Me, AND My words abide in you, ask WHATEVER you wish, AND it will be done for you.” Done for, not just given to. God will be an active player in the process. He will do it. That means we just believe and receive. Do not muddy the stream trying to do His part.

In Luke 16, Jesus said that Luke 15 was given to keep us from stumbling. Given to provide us with a steadfast mind by which we are kept in Perfect Peace!

Several thoughts:

• Focus on God, not the conditions around us.
• Engage in hopeful intercession, not fretful pleading.
• Know that in order for a fruit tree to bear fruit and the most fruit possible, it has to be properly pruned.

Pruning means cutting away all the useless and unnecessary things. Then we produce fruit prolifically. Dark times are coming and, in a measure, already are here. Evil will become even more evil, but those abiding in the Vine with steadfast minds will be Kept! Have No Fear!

Our call is to trust and pray. The promise is peace and protection. We have hope even in times of hopelessness. We have peace in the midst of storms. We are steadfast, and that assures us of His peace, power, and protection. Today, we have Hope because we are IN Him, and through Him, we are more than conquerors. Do not fear what is coming or what you see, but rather Look to Him at All times and In All Things.

Therefore, I challenge you to begin seeing yourself as God sees you, Victorious! Then, you will see God’s goodness in your situation and walk in perfect peace.

May the LORD of Hosts guard, guide, and provide for you today and every day!

Acts 13:52 – “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”  LSB

The word today is “Continually.”  The disciples were continually unceasingly filled.  This speaks of a state of mind and condition.

The order of how these are listed is interesting.  Joy is listed first.  They were continually filled with Joy!  Joy is an emotion and contains the expectation and anticipation of gaining an earthly possession or experiencing something.

It is a condition void of despair, doubt, fear, or hopelessness. It is infectious and becomes a doorway for entrance into God’s presence. We enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise. The Joy of the LORD is our strength.

Being continually full of joy, their hearts and heads were prime receptors for the continual flow of the Holy Spirit. Some have occasional moments of Joy but not continual Joy. Many have occasional infillings of the Holy Spirit but are not continually filled.

We seem to marvel and almost fictionalize the New Testament Book of Acts Church with zero expectation that we, too, can have that presence, power, and result. We can have what that had IF...The “If” is the clincher. If we become as they were, we will see what they saw. 

• Their focus was continually on God.
• They continually meditated on God’s word.
• They were in a continual mindset of prayer.
• They were 100% committed to Him and His purposes.

They knew persecution, difficulty, and tests would come, but they were continuously filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit. Part-time Christianity held no appeal for them. They had jobs, duties, families, and obligations, but God was their First and Primary focus. The result—they lived in a state of overflowing Joy and the overflowing presence of the Holy Spirit.

They feared nothing, expected God to fulfill His Word, and knew they were More than Conquerors through and in Jesus. Their key to victory is embodied in the word “Continually.” They continually sought God, rejoiced, received, and expected to hear and see God daily. Too often, we are okay with part-time Christianity, occasional JOY, and infrequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit.

Let us decide to go All-In for Jesus.  When we do that, we will begin to see what they saw, experience what they experienced, and do what they did.  Today, make the decision that you are All In and watch the flow of Joy and the Holy Spirit completely change your world.

May the Grace of God guard you and the Peace of God lead you from victory to victory!

Jeremiah 17:15 – “Behold, they keep saying to me, “Where is the word of Yahweh?  Let it come now!”

Rejoice; this is the Day the Lord has made, and we have an endless number of reasons to rejoice!  I have attained the age chronologically where family is foremost, second only to the Person and Purposes of God. I pray that today will be a day of revelation, purpose, productivity, and peace for each of you, my friends.

The text resonates powerfully with me and many today: “Where is the word of Yahweh? Let it come now!”  Have you ever cried that prayer?  Many of us have and are praying for it now.

The people of Jeremiah’s day were troubled and even fearful as they asked about the word of the Lord.   Jeremiah was troubled in his heart.  As we reread the previous chapters, we discover that Jeremiah had declared that God had said, “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes.”  He had declared that God declared that He (God) would cause them to Know His Power and Might. They would know His name – YAHWEH, in its fullness.

The prophet warned against following their own human hearts, minds, and desires. They were to reject a mixed or divided heart and trust God completely. That is His word to us today, too! Yet, they were clamoring about seeking to know the Word of the Lord!

In Jeremiah 21:8, the prophet spoke from God’s heart: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” God had placed two doors in front of them (choice). The choice is between what we want and what God wants; if there is a conflict between the two, one leads to life and the other to death. We sometimes confuse or mix our desires with His and make that mixture the purpose of God, failing to achieve His purposes and enjoy His abundant provisions.

In Acts 28, the apostle Paul quoted Isaiah and declared that it is possible to hear, not hear, see, and not see and become so filled without mixed or divided minds that we hear and see but do not understand. We become spiritually blind, and that leads to death. Understanding results in the heart becoming enlightened and returning to God fully. That produces healing for the whole person, body, soul, and spirit.

Where is the Word of the LORD?  It is in our hearts, minds, and mouths, in our circumstances, in our yearnings, and in our total surrender to His purposes.

It would behoove us to remember that God is not taking something from us when we give up something to seek Him first and foremost.  He gives us more! But it is more that is rooted in and devoted to Him.  He must be First, Second, Third, etc.  If He is First, what we call second becomes a part of Who He is and becomes better than we could make it.

The Word of God today is – “Come unto Me and rest. Seek FIRST the Kingdom and His Righteousness; THEN all will be supplied.”  So, I ask, “What is the Word of the LORD?”    He is Lord!

I encourage you to purpose in your heart to allow Him to be Lord of All, and He will lead you to the highest and best. You will lack nothing because He is everything! What a Life He is offering, and that life is yours! Hallelujah!

Pray this prayer: “Father, help me become one with You just as You and Jesus are.  Help me to surrender my heart fully so that You are LORD OF ALL in my life!  Please make this a day of incredible victory for me.  Amen!”

May you enjoy the wonderful presence of the LORD today in your walk with Him!

Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

A typical day for me begins with waking up, getting dressed, making a cup of coffee, taking my Bible, and spending time sipping or gulping my coffee, reading, and praying.  In that alone time with the Word and the LORD, I find my inspiration for the day and frequently my instructions. I cherish that time and protect it.

When my day is to begin extra early, with other duties or needs, I rise a bit earlier to ensure that my morning routine is kept intact and my time with the Word and the LORD protected.  I remember the Words of Jesus, “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” I receive that as my directive. I have learned the truth of that statement and the value of hearing from God daily through His Word and Spirit.

The reality that Peace with God is achieved through Faith and Obedience is uplifting and encouraging. Paul said something very interesting in that verse: “Through whom (Jesus) have we obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand…” Wow!

Consider some words and thoughts that are important:

• Introduction. If you are introduced to something or someone, does that mean you have a thorough knowledge of them or it? An introduction is a door or entryway, not the finished product. It is the beginning. This grace into which we have been introduced through faith and the new birth is Amazing and introduces us to the process of growing from grace to grace and glory to glory. God desires maturity in Him in us so that we can not only navigate life’s events but also help us.

• Difficulties and trials come to every believer, and rather than mumbling and grumbling about our lot in life and having a why me attitude, we should reread Romans 5:1-5. The difficulties of life bring about perseverance.

• Perseverance, Proven Character, and Hope.  Perseverance is learned through experience. Perseverance brings about proven character, and proven character produces Hope!

That is incredible! Hope does not allow shame to grip us because the Love of God is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

The Christian Life is not a life without problems, but it is a life of victory and transformation. We are not to desire trouble, but when it comes, rather than lamenting it, we should use God’s promises to learn how to walk victoriously in and out of it. We are more than conquerors through Jesus!

The Bible teaches that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will experience tribulation, trials, and difficulties. That fiery trial is not to punish us but to enable us to grow, and as we learn to walk victoriously through it all, God empowers us with His Spirit. We can then set captives free and exercise authority over all the power of darkness.

Today, rather than grumbling about problems, rejoice that God is God, and through Jesus, you are more than a conqueror! Today is your day to rejoice and take another step toward spiritual maturity that enables you to walk in the fullness of Kingdom Victory! This is the day the Lord has made, and we are His and Joint Heirs with Jesus, so it is our day – Why Not Begin to Rejoice?  

May God’s Grace and Peace Guard you today and every day!

Romans 8:1 – “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Life is a fleeting thing, and the brevity of human life is never more at the forefront of our minds than when someone we know and love crosses over to the other side.  Our mortality becomes an unavoidable reality, and we think, or should, about life and eternity.

Many people live in turmoil because they face the dilemma Paul addressed in Romans 6 and 7.  They realize that in their mind and hearts, they love God and want always to do what is right, but there are times when their flesh does things that directly violate what they believe is right and good. They lament, I want to do better, so I am a terrible person, and God could never love me; I am so sinful. They allow the devil to shipwreck their faith and live in condemnation.

We are three-part beings: Spirit, Soul, and Body. God transforms us in our Spirit, and we express ourselves through our Soul (mind, will, and emotions) and live in a house of clay our Bodies.  Our bodies will die, but our spirits will live forever!  We are imperfect and have not attained spiritual perfection, but we are or should be pressing toward that goal.  With the help of the Holy Spirit and by the Grace of God, we are being transformed into His Image and moving from glory to glory.  We are not yet what we shall be, but we are not what we once were.

Romans 8:1 gives hope and comfort if we can and will receive it. Therefore, it links back to the previous verses in Chapter 7 and reminds us that Condemnation is not part of our inheritance. We are not defined by our mistakes and shortcomings but by our Faith in Jesus and our surrender of our hearts to Him. We are all flawed vessels, but through the Blood of Jesus, we are New Creations and growing in Grace! Hallelujah!

We must become able to see ourselves as transformed and rejoice in our Hearts!   We must refuse to allow actions or mistakes of the flesh to become the qualifier for receiving from God. You cannot earn favor; it is by Grace, not Works!

Therefore, since we cannot earn it and it is a Gift by Grace from God, learn to live with the expectation that He will do what He said and give you His best even if you are not your best!  His Love for you covers a multitude of sins.

Today would be a great day to declare – I am Saved, Being Saved, and will be Saved!  I am the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and I Overwhelmingly Conquer Through Him! That is Who I am, and Who I am is not defined by my flesh but by my spirit!

I ask that you pray this prayer: “Father, help each of me to trust You to enable us to overcome the temptations of the flesh and become who You designed me to be. Help me reject condemnation and run to Your Light and Love! It is Christ IN me that is my Hope! It is Christ THROUGH me that is my expression of life. It is Christ WITH me that enables us to be overcomers! Thank you, Father!  I receive it from you.  Amen!”

May today be filled with God’s goodness and peace!

Jeremiah 51:15 – “It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding, He stretched out the heavens.”

The prophet reminds us that the Living God, our God, is the Creator of all things!  The consciousness of God’s immensity looms large as we read this.  His incredibly deep love explodes before us, and His peace wraps around us like a glove. God desires that we understand our responsibility to Him, ourselves, and others. Most believers realize that we have a responsibility to God, and many understand that we have a responsibility to ourselves. But what about our responsibility to others? Often, that idea is absent.

We reflect on our hurts and wounds and say, “Wait a minute, God, don’t You know what they did to me? Don’t You know how they are living?  Don’t You know that they keep making the same irreligious mistakes?”  In that mindset, it is difficult to grasp and embrace our responsibility to others.  We ask, what is our responsibility to others?

Jeremiah 51:15 reminds us that God is the Creator of Everything! He has All Power and Wisdom. In Jeremiah 51:36, we discover that God has committed Himself to plead our case, and when retribution is proper, He exacts vengeance—We Do Not, or We Are Not to Do That! Yet, try; we will, and sometimes it feels so good, or we think it does. Momentary gratification is not victory!

Romans Chapters 12-15 consistently teach us that the spiritually strong are to care for the spiritually weak. This is taxing and requires more effort, compassion, and patience than most have learned. In Romans 12, we are informed that we belong to God totally! We have a gift or gifts to be used to bring peace and nurture those in the faith. In Romans 12:18, “If POSSIBLE, (big word), so far as depends on you, be at peace with everyone.”   Wow!   That is a tall order, God!

Romans 13:10 reminds us that love does not do evil against others. Our love for God allows us to love ourselves rightly, which is translated into loving the unlovable and the loveable. Difficult order? Absolutely! But it is God’s directive and is not to be manufactured or pretended, but an outflow of the Love that is IN us!

Romans 14:1 directs us to accept the one who is weak in the faith, not judge them or look down on them as lesser than us. Remember, we were weak and are still in some areas. We live for, in, and through Jesus! In that light, we live for others and are our brother’s keeper.

Romans 15:1 – “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weakness of those without strength and not just to please ourselves.” It is not about us! Romans 15:7 tells us to accept one another JUST AS Jesus accepted us. Be careful accepting someone is not to be viewed as endorsing or condoning wickedness. We are to pray for love and provide godly examples rather than spewing forth condemnation and judgment. We are not God! We also have flaws!

Romans 16:17-20 gives us a powerful and revelatory directive and explanation. A professing Christian who causes division and dissension is to be noted. They cause others to stumble and wage war against the unity of the Body of Christ. We Never embrace or enable Evil, but we do love and pursue peace (God’s Peace, not just the absence of conflict.)

When we focus on our responsibility to God and get that in order, to ourselves, and in harmony with God’s Word, we can respond to others JUST AS Jesus… When we do that, we discover the fulfillment of the promise in Romans 16:20: the God of peace will bruise satan under our feet! Peace will come to our house (ourselves and our homes, businesses, and churches.)

How do we do this?

• The first step is to get a right view of God.
• The second is to develop a right view of our purpose, who we are, and how we are to live and think.
• Third is others – We are to strengthen the weak, encourage everyone, and demonstrate the Love of God.

I ask that you pray this prayer with me:  “Father, help me prioritize rightly and relate to others biblically and godly. Transform me into manifestations and demonstrations of Jesus. I give myself to You. Make today the beginning of a new journey that produces Your Peace and Power.  Please help me remember that no weapon formed against me can prosper, and no stronghold can remain. I bow to You and set my heart on You and being Who You said I am – An Overcomer!  Amen!”

May the Lord guide your footsteps as you embark on today’s victorious journey of faith!

Revelation 4:1 – “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”  LSB

The Holy Spirit asked me, “Do you want a door open in Heaven?”  Then, the follow-up question was, “Do you have a door open in heaven?”  Then, the third question, “How can you have an open door in heaven?”

Three Valid Questions:

In my Christian walk, I have learned that giving a quick answer is often a mistake.  The Lord’s questions are always designed to provoke thought and self-examination. They are designed to bring to a destination, reveal a deficiency, or unveil a reality.

In Revelation 4, John saw. Either in the natural or through the eyes of the Spirit, He Saw… We need eyes to see the unseen in the seen. John saw the open door in heaven (a portal), and he was invited to enter through it. If we do not see the door, we are not likely to go through it.

The door (portal) always seems to be open, just not seen with natural eyes.  Inside are the wonders of heaven and what God has and is doing. But to see it, we must see the door, receive the invitation, and enter.

The door is there.  The invitation has been extended.  What is needed to make it a reality for us?   We have to enter through it.  How?  What did John say?  “Immediately, I was in the Spirit, and I beheld.”  He could only enter by the Spirit—he could only enter as he was in the Spirit!

How? Through worship. It was Lord’s Day, a special day for the early Christians. The resurrection of Jesus was on that day of the week, and they commemorated it by gathering together to worship. John was alone. He had to be in the Spirit Alone! Therefore, we can live in an attitude of worship and communion with Jesus in the Spirit. In the Spirit, we develop eyes to see and ears to hear.

There is an open door in heaven!  We can see it and enter through it.  We have been invited to come before the throne with boldness (because of His work and our inclusion in the family) and present our petitions to the Father.  

The open door indicates access. It reveals God’s heart to supply our needs and transform us into true manifestations of Jesus. It reveals the reality that we can come into His abode, which is two-way: us to Him and heaven to us.

I urge you to refresh in your mind whose you are and who you are in Him!  The door is only accessible by the Spirit.  Our goal is to be in the Spirit so we can see & hear.  That will give us confidence & boldness, enabling us to Do what Jesus did and even Do the Greater Works.   Remember who you are IN Him.  So, now go & do as you are.  Just BE!

May God’s Grace, Peace, Power, Presence, and Provision be with you today and every day!

Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  LSB

What a day to be alive, especially if we realize that each day brings us new opportunities, victories, and revelations.  The blessings of God are new every morning, every afternoon, and every evening.  The flow of God’s Love never ceases.  He IS and IS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

When I read passages like that in Hebrews 11:6, I sometimes ask, “What about those who do not?”  I do not want to be one who does not diligently seek God.  I do not want to be one who does not believe in the Is-ness of God.  I want to believe, and I do believe!

God IS!  That is a powerful thought that is all-encompassing.  He IS! 

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God IS Faithful. 
• 1 John 1:5 tells us that God is light and there is no darkness in Him. 
• 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not slow in keeping His promises and is patient with us. 
• Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God, which is God, is ALIVE. 
• James 1:17 tells us that God is the giver of good gifts.
• John 4:24 tells us that God is Spirit. 
• Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a human being and has no capacity to lie or fail. 
• Psalm 116:5 tells us that God is gracious, righteous, and full of compassion. 
• Psalm 84:11-12 tells us that God is our sun and shield. 
• Job 12:7-10 tells us, “In His hands is the life of every creature.”

GOD IS!  He is with us and has promised never to forsake us.  Tragically, we sometimes envision Him as over there, up there, or out there rather than being Here and IN us!  We are IN Christ, and Christ is IN us, and He Never Ever Changes! 

My prayer is, “LORD, enlighten our hearts to believe in the presence of God! Help us to see what You are doing and hear what You are saying. Help us to have a renewed awareness of God’s IS-NESS and walk in the confidence, assurance, hope, and power of Your Presence.” 

God is not abstract but The Living God!  God is with us All the Time!  He is aware of everything in our lives, hearts, minds, and hands.  He wants to guide us and has promised to do just that.  He wants to protect us and has promised to do just that.  The Father wants us to have the Kingdom and be anointed and empowered to do the works of Jesus and the greater works He planned. 

Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, and Jesus identified that the prophecy was about Him.  But He has given us the authority and power to operate in His Name.  Therefore, if He is IN us and we are One with Him, then this prophecy also applies to us.

The Spirit of the LORD is on me and you BECAUSE… Because? Yes, because He has anointed us to proclaim the Good News to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, sight recovery to the blind, empowerment and anointing to set the oppressed free, and Ultimate and Total Victory of the Cross.

Jesus sent the disciples out with power and authority.  He confirmed that this is for all who believe and will obey.  We are to bring the sick to His healing, the dead to life, the lepers to cleansing, and those possessed and demonized to liberty.

Mark 16:15-18 – “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my Name, they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

WOW! It is time to believe in God’s ISNESS and, rather than preaching and testifying of theory, become Doers of the Word. If God is the same past, present, and future, WHY NOT NOW? (Somebody ought to write a book about that. Wait, they did; it is available on Amazon.) We have a world to win, and the world is not interested in our theories about God; they want to see the Living God Living in us! 

God is, God Does, God Can, and God Will. “Father, I ask that You help us see You as the LIVING GOD and the Present God. Help us see ourselves as You see us, not as the devil says we are, nor as the world says we are, nor even as we think we are, but as You See us! Clothe us with Your Holy Spirit and free us from limited thinking and defeatism. Amen.”

Some live in pessimism, some in optimism, some in what they call realism, and others in fatalism.  I choose to Live in GOD IS-ISM.  My God IS!  My God Lives!  My God, Reigns!  My God is The Living God, and He is Your God, too! 

Shake yourself, put off the old thinking, adopt a new view of God, and live as if He is telling the truth—because He is!

May God be with you every step, guarding and guiding you daily!