Faith

Promise of the Day:
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
(John 20:29)

Prayer:
Dear Lord in whom I put my trust, Hebrews 11:1 is another verse which helps me to understand Faith: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." When Peter walked on water he was fine as long as he knew he was going toward You, Jesus, and kept his confidence and faith in You. As soon as he removed his eyes from You he began to sink. My confidence is in You Lord, and You have promised if You have called me to something, You will see it through. You are so good to stand by me even when my faith is weak.

"I do not ask that He must prove

His Word is true to me,

And that before I can believe

He first must let me see.

It is enough for me to know

'Tis true because He says 'tis so;

On His unchanging Word I'll stand

And trust till I can understand."

(E.M. Winter)

Amen, so be it!

Power!

Promise of the Day:
And I will put my spirit within you. (Ezekiel 36:27 KJV)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You have promised that Your Spirit will be within me. That same power that raised You from the grave is the same power within me! And You have also given me Your Word, the Bible to be used as my sword and my light. I have all I need through Your Spirit: power, light and guidance. No matter what I face, I know You are with me, my God, my strength, my salvation and my power. Amen

An Overcomer!

Promise of the Day:
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory... (I Chronicles 29:11 KJV)

Prayer:
Dearest Lord, I have been reading (again) the letters to the seven churches from Revelation 2 and 3. At the end of each letter it refers to being an "overcomer". To me, an overcomer is one who conquers over Satan and this world. It is one who has accepted You as Savior. Faith is that key to the overcoming life. In John 5:4 it states "...this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith", and in John 16:33 You state that You "have overcome the world". With You in me, I too have the Power to overcome. Thank You for being in me and helping me to be an overcomer. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Faith is the victory!

Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory

That overcomes the world!

(Ira Sankey)

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world! Amen

The Book

Promise of the Day:
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, You have said Your Word is like a 'double-edged sword' . And with Your Word hidden in my heart I can use it against Satan to resist him and cause him to flee. I use Your Word for Praise and he is defeated. Your Word is my protection and Your promises give me peace. I speak Your Word as my 'Sacrifice of Praise'. Your Word is my light through this dark world. Thank You for Your 'sword of the Spirit', Your holy Book. Amen

Rely on God

Promise of the Day:
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

Prayer:
Dearest Lord, there are many verses in Your Word telling me to be in total peace when I put complete trust in You. Psalm 91 is a great Psalm showing Your protection as You say You cover me with Your 'feathers'. You are my shade, my Jehovah-Nissi (Psalm 121); my shelter (Psalm 61). And Isaiah 12:2 states I will trust and not be afraid. I Cor 5:23 is the best for me: "You are Christ's and Christ is God's." So I am one with You, one with the Trinity. With this promise, what can I fear? I will be at peace. You are my safety.
Amen--Thank You, Lord.

Disturbed?

Promise of the Day:
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." (John 14:27)

Prayer:
"Oh the peace that Jesus gives, never dies, it always lives". Your peace, Lord is what I ask for. Not the peace of ignorance, as in the saying "ignorance is bliss". But Lord, to know, to be aware, to be in hard times, to have bereavement and still have the peace that passes all understanding, this is what I pray for. It is the peace of one whose mind is stayed on thee. You are my resting place, dear Lord, and in You will I put my trust. Amen

Simplicity

Promise of the Day:
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
(II Corinthians 11:3)

Prayer:
Lord, the way to You is so simple. Yet it was a very intricate, very deep, very involved plan as far as You were concerned. We will never be able to understand all that Your sacrifice entailed. All that went into the simplicity of my salvation is way beyond my finite mind. My whole life as Your child will be one of rest and peace and simplicity, because of the love and complexity You put into it. Perhaps this is why we are so easily led astray. Satan wants us to think it is involved, and we must do a lot for ourselves. Thank You for making it simple, yet incomprehensible. You are such a great and awesome God!
Amen

Watch and Pray

Promise of the Day:
Call upon me, and I will answer...(Psalm 91:15 KJV)

Prayer:
Lord, I do find I talk with You almost all the time. I dialogue with You to keep my thoughts on You. When I do this watching and praying, I have found the cares of life roll off my shoulders and I do have peace which can only come from You. You told Your disciples to watch and pray that they not fall into temptation. When my mind is not on You, my defenses are down and the armor slips. To watch and pray is to have the meditation of my heart focused on You, dear Lord, with my praises lifted to You. And when I say "amen", it is not good-bye, but "amen" for so be it. And so, Lord, our conversation can go on day and night. Amen, So Be It!

Faith Without Sight

Promise of the Day:
He went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, The Christian Life is actually "faith without sight". When we see, it is not faith, but reasoning. You told Thomas "Blessed are they who do not see, yet believe." Every day I get up to face the day, not knowing what that day will bring, but trusting You to see me through it, and I pray that as I surrender each day to You I will do and say what is pleasing to You. When I noticed today's date, the 23rd, I thought of the 23rd Psalm. This Psalm reminds me You are my Shepherd, and You lead me to find green pastures and still waters. I may not know the way I take, but I know the Shepherd who is leading me. I will go forth each day, not knowing, but trusting! Amen

Above The Clouds

Promise of the Day:
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth.
(Ecclesiastes 11:3)

Prayer:
" Above the Clouds the sun is always shining." This could be: 'behind the clouds of life the SON is always shining.' You, Lord, cannot be blocked out. You have promised to always be with me. Another familiar song is "Singing in the Rain." The flowers and grass wither and die without the rain--and so the clouds are needed in each life to bring us the blessings from the rain. Faith will see the clouds emptying themselves and making the dryness of life rejoice. Here in the NW when we have a cloudy day, we get what is called "sun breaks". So it is in life, not only do we need the rain, but You, Lord, are always near so that You give us "Son" breaks to remind us of Your presence and love. Someone has said that 'The blue of heaven is larger than the clouds.' Thank You, Lord, for the rain and for the 'Son' breaks. Amen

He is Light

Promise of the Day:
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)

Prayer:
You, dear Lord, are not only IN the Light, You ARE the Light. Because of You, even death is only a shadow. Your light is to be part of my inheritance, as it says in Col. 1:12 that "The Father...has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Your light gives me joy in the darkness of this world. The light I let shine before men is really a reflection of Your light. I am like the moon, as I face You, the 'Son'. I will reflect Your light and the shadows are behind me. May my life and light truly glorify You, my Savior and my Lord. Amen

Thanks Be to God

Promise of the Day:
Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. (Psalm 75:1)

Prayer:
Your works, O Lord, declare Your Glory wherever one looks. You are righteous and just, and You are in control of the kingdoms of the earth. Psalm 75:7 states You put down one and exalt another. Your blessings are over all of the earth. Be exalted O Lord, above the heavens! Isaiah 40 says You sit above the circle of the earth. You do not become weary or tire. You are Majesty! I ask 'who am I that You care?' and yet You tell me I will renew my strength in You. Unto You I give my thanks and my praise. I will declare You forever and sing Your praises!
Amen

God's Promises!

Promise of the Day:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.
(II Peter 1:4)

Prayer:
Lord, You have not promised me skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all my life through. But You have promised me strength for each day; You have promised that You will never leave me or forsake me. You have promised You will give rest to the weary, comfort to those who mourn. And most of all, You have promised my sins are forgiven and forgotten! You have promised me Eternal Life, and I will be presented 'faultless' before the throne of God, clothed in Your righteousness. You cannot say no to something You have promised. Thank You, Lord, that what You say, You will do! Amen

God's Will

Promise of the Day:
"Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above."
(John 19:11)

Prayer:
O Lord, I know no other like You! You came as a human, a mere man, so that You could give Your life for me. Even then Your life could not have been taken except You gave it. And now You give me the same protection. Nothing can reach me or touch me unless it goes through You first and You allow it. As I am held in the palm of Your hand, anything Satan throws must go through Your nail scarred hand first, and by the time it reaches me it is Your will to be used for my good.

"Shall I pass through waves of sorrow!

Then I know it will be best;

Though I cannot tell the reason,

I can trust, and so am blest.

God is Love, and God is faithful.

So in perfect Peace I rest." (Unknown)

Thy Will be done, Lord. Amen

The Cup

Promise of the Day:
"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39)

Prayer:
O the Cup, Lord! That cup that caused Your sweat to be drops of blood on Your brow! What was in that cup? For one thing, I believe that cup contained the sins of the whole world. You took our sin, not merely to carry it as a burden, but you drank it so it became one with You. I also believe the bitterness of the Cup was that You were then separated from the Father. God cannot look on sin and You became 'sin'. It was a point in time when sin and God would clash, and God had to turn away. Yet You continued Your task until You could cry "It is Finished". O how You love, Lord! You gave of Yourself so that I might live! O how You loved ME! Love so amazing, so Divine! Amen

Mountains

Promise of the Day:
"I will make all my mountains a way." (Isaiah 49:11)

Prayer:
Lord, I think this is what the verse means which states if my faith is no larger than a mustard seed it will remove mountains. We all have mountains, and some loom very high. It's not only the rocks in the road, but the mountains that cause me to lean so heavily on You. Since I pray for grace and patience, what else can I expect but to come face to face with a mountain in the path. Moses had mountains and he found You there. He first met You on the mountain at the burning bush. Later he received the law while on the mountain. Another time his face 'shone' as he had been with You, on the mountain. These mountains are from You, Lord, and I pray that my life will show that I have met You even on the mountains. Amen

Woe Is Me!

Promise of the Day:
"Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips."
(Isaiah 6:5)

Prayer:
Lord, when I come into Your presence I say with Isaiah "Oh, Woe is me!" Isaiah had unclean lips and You purged him. My whole being needs purging, Lord. Cleanse me--as Peter said, 'not just my feet, but all of me'. May Your cleansing fire bring me forth as gold! Thank you that after the cleansing You envelope me in Your robe of righteousness, just as though I had never sinned. Isaiah 6:7 states it "thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.". You are my Redeemer and my Savior! Amen

God Cares!

Promise of the Day:
"The Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, it is so amazing that as Your child, You care for me as though I were Your only one. You are a gracious God, a merciful God, and Your compassion's are new every morning (Lam. 3:22). This is what is so great--Your compassion's are NEW every day! I am not really sure I understand how this can be, but it would seem that each day You are just as compassionate as the day before. As finite beings, our feelings change, and some days we have more feelings than other days, or they wane and die out. But You, O Lord, are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You Lord for caring for me at all times, and every day. Amen

Victory!

Promise of the Day:
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Col. 2:15)

Prayer:
Then came the morning! Death had lost and Life had won! The darkest day of history was when You died on the Cross, Dear Lord. It is also the brightest day of history as You smashed the head of Satan and rose triumphant that I, too, might live. You overcame death and hell that I, too, can be an overcomer and be clothed in Your righteousness. You trod the winepress alone (Isaiah 63:3) that I might someday walk with You in white. O Lord, there is none like You!
You alone have gained the Victory, that I might march on in strength. We live and serve in absolute confidence because You have won the Victory!
Thank You, Jesus. Amen

Grace

Promise of the Day:
God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ(by Grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-6)

Prayer:
But for Your Grace I would not be saved; but for Your Grace I would go my way; but Lord You are faithful and have kept me by Your 'Amazing Grace'. A song I used to sing says "Without Him I would be nothing; without Him I'd truly fail; without Him I would be drifting like a ship without a sail" I often wonder how one can face all life sends our way without You, Lord. No matter how deep the water or dark the night, You are there, and as Psalm 66 states, "You brought us out to rich fulfillment." 'Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!"
Amen

Hour of Need

Promise of the Day:
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
(Jeremiah 17:14)

Prayer:
You, O Lord, are the Great Healer. You are always just waiting for me to call on You. In the allegory of 'Hinds Feet in High Places' all Much-Afraid had to do was call out the name of the Shepherd and he was there. I know You never do actually leave me, yet when I call, You let Your presence be made known. It is as though my call removes a barrier that has come between us. It triggers the nerve that moves Your mighty arm. In Isaiah 40, vs. 9 it says to 'lift up your voice' and verse 10 states 'behold the Lord God will come with might.' Then verse 11 says He is like a shepherd and in His arms he will gather His lambs. What a great God! O Lord, how great Thou art to hear my weakest call and answer. Amen

Who Are You, Lord?

Promise of the Day:
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:9,10)

Prayer:
Lord, Often when I cannot sleep, I go through the alphabet saying names for You. Throughout Scripture there are many verses that have names to describe You. II Samuel 22:2,3 lists several names: You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; My God, my shield, the horn of my salvation. You are my stronghold and my salvation; my refuge, my Savior, and You are worthy to be praised! In
I Peter 2:7 You are Precious to me, and the Chief Cornerstone. In I Cor 1:24 it states you are the power of God and the wisdom of God. You are all these, and yet You care for me! Your desire is to me. O Lord, how great thou art!
Amen

I Am So Blessed!

Promise of the Day:
All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance...is from Your hand, and is all Your own. (I Chron. 29:14-16)

Prayer:
"O that you would bless me indeed" O Lord. Jabez asked to be blessed in
I Chron. 4:11, and it says You 'granted him what he requested.' I look at my life and I see that I am already blessed--how could I ask for more? Each day I wake up, I am blessed. Each day I can see a sunrise, or sunset, I thank You for my eyes, and I am blessed. As the song goes "every time I hear a newborn baby cry, or touch a leaf, or see the sky, then I know why I believe" and I am blessed. I have a comfortable home, with food on my table, and I am blessed. Our promise verse states "all this abundance...is from Your hand" and I praise You and exalt You. I am SO blessed! Amen

Faith Rewarded

Promise of the Day:
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)

Prayer:
Yes, Lord, Abraham believed You. He looked ahead to the promise of a land, a nation, and the Messiah and by faith he believed. We have the completed work of Christ to look back on, yet many still cannot accept it. There is the saying that 'hind-sight is 20/20 vision', yet the majority are still blind, and ignore the promise already given to us.
One of the servants of old whom I love to think about is Noah. Noah had never seen rain, he didn't live near the sea, he probably had no idea how many species of animals there were, let alone how to find them. Yet he worked, year after year, for 100 years, building the ark because God told him to. And once completed, he must have stood back in amazement as the animals arrived. His reward? Hebrews 11:7 states he became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. I, too, am the recipient of righteousness, not having seen You, but I believe You came, died, rose again and You are waiting to receive me into Glory! You are such an awesome God! Amen

Songs of Deliverance

Promise of the Day:
Thou art my hiding place;
thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.
(Psalm 32:7)

Prayer:
Whatever You ask me to do, dear Lord, I know You will be my protector and my deliverer. I have said over and over that if You bring me to it, You will see me through it. When I read this verse of promise, I can almost visualize a whole multitude dressed in their spiritual armor, marching and singing of Your deliverance. We are all pilgrims here on earth, Lord. All of us who are Your children, looking for that city not made with hands. You have delivered me from sin; You have delivered me from Hell and Satan; You have protected me all the way and the end of the journey will be with You in Glory. What a 'Song of Deliverance' I have to sing about! Amen

Breastplate of Righteousness

Promise of the Day:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

(Psalm 139:23, 24)

Prayer:

You are Righteous, Lord. This is one of Your attributes--All Righteous. When I receive You, put my trust in You and become Your child, then I, too, am righteous and I know Your righteousness is everlasting. I am covered by You as with a breastplate of righteousness, and protected from the darts of Satan by this breastplate. Thank you for preserving me in Your righteousness. Amen

The Two-Edged Sword

Promise of the Day:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any

two-edged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the

joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

Prayer:

One of my greatest needs, Lord, is to have the ability to recall the right words to say. I know Your Word, much of it is hidden in my heart, but I need the Spirit to bring Your Words into my thoughts, and then out of my mouth. There are answers to everything 'under the sun' in Your Word. Your Word is right and true. Your truth and mercy still endures. Your word have I hidden in my heart so that I might not sin, and I will be faithful to You. Use Your Word through me to draw lost souls to You. I pray in Jesus name, Amen

My Shield

Promise of the Day:
After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, 'Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.' (Genesis 15:1)

Prayer:
You are my strong shield for everything, Lord. You come between me and all of life! It may be the scorn from someone, or an indignity given me, or a tragic happening, yet with You as my shield, none of these things can phase me. Your shield can even use the mistakes made by me, the sins, or wrong choices I make, and turn it to my own good. It will help me to be an 'overcomer' as I learn with confidence that nothing can harm me when I have Your protective shield. You are my Shield now, and will be until I am with You in Glory.
Amen

Spiritual Armor (Part 2)

Promise of the Day:
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:16,17 NIV)

Prayer:
In today's world, Lord, helmets are worn for many things--riding bikes, skateboards, roller skates, at any construction site, the frontlines of war--all to protect the head. The head is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body, housing our brain and mind. Salvation covers me like a helmet, protecting me against a lost eternity, assuring me of hope for the future.
The Shield of Faith protects from the fiery darts of Satan, and helps me to fight the giants in my life.
But without the Sword of the Spirit, Your Word, I am at a loss of how to fight. Your Word, hidden in my heart, can cause Satan to turn and run. Your Word says to resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Your Word is not only my weapon, my sword, but also becomes my shield and helps me put on my helmet. Thy Word, O Lord, have I hid in my heart!
Amen

Spiritual Armor(Part I)

Promise of the Day:
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14,15 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, to be a good soldier, I must put on Your armor. First is the 'belt of truth'. We think of a belt as something used to hold something up. You hold me up, by Your power and Your Word. You hold me up and keep me from falling.
The 'breastplate' protects the heart. I am protected by You and Your Word, and when the Father sees me, He sees me as righteous because you cover me with Your 'breastplate of righteousness'.
You give me 'Peace'. My feet are covered with the shoes of the gospel of Peace, so that I can carry Your peace to others. With my mind stayed on You, I am covered with Your Truth, Righteousness and Peace. Thank you Lord for helping me stand firm. Amen

Preparing For Battle

Promise of the Day:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
(Ephesians 6:10,11 NIV)

Prayer:
David told Goliath "...I come against you in the name of the Lord.."(I Sam 17:45) Your name, Oh Lord, is above all names! Your Glory is above all the earth! Without You I am nothing, but with You I can do all things. With You, nothing is impossible! Satan may have his schemes and lies, but You have conquered Satan. You have crushed his head. Your armor will cover me.
Psa. 27:1 states "the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life..." I have confidence in You! I will wear Your armor! Amen