STAY STRONG

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Ephesians 6:10 KJV

As believers in Christ we are engaged in spiritual warfare, whether we want to be or not. This is why Apostle Paul is telling the brethren to be strong in the Lord and to equip themselves at all times for battle. The word in which we get ‘be strong’ literally means to receive strength. It is not your strength that equips you to stand; it is God’s strength invested in us when we submit to Him. That is why James 4:7-8 tells us that the power of resisting is found through submitting to God. The devil does not flee from your power, but from God’s power within us that overcomes him. We have the promise that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. 

If we are going to truly give the devil hell and defeat him and his strategies against us, we better make sure that we are strong in the Lord. It’s not one of submission, love and getting along, but it’s one of fighting and winning. Satan is not a nice guy, he won’t hesitate to kick you when you’re down. He will always look for weaknesses in you and will do his best to exploit them. This is why Paul made this statement to the Ephesian Church. Paul had gone through several battles, persecutions and trials in his life but through it all, he kept on winning. He knew it wasn't by his power nor by might but by the power of God's might.

To stay strong also means to "stand firm and remain courageous". If we are going to be strong in the Lord, you have to know there is an enemy that is stronger than your physical abilities and the only way to defeat him is in the strength of the Lord. You have to stay strong, stand firm and be strengthened with the Strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. On that name you have all strength required to win everyday. 

Further Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Declare This: Dear Father, my life is in You Lord and everything I have is Yours. I choose to stay strong always against the tricks of the evil one and I stand strengthened with Your strength in me everyday in Jesus name Amen.

DAILY BENEFITS

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." Psalms 68:19 KJV

It almost sounds too good to be true, how much God wants to bless His people. When we make up our minds to consistently follow God, we will receive His blessings constantly upon our lives, so much that your storage is always loaded. The opening verse started with a phrase “Blessed be the Lord” this means an act of worship, humility and reverence to God. If you want anything from God, you will always reverence and humble yourself. 

When a person decides to trust God and put Him to the test, be rest assured that He will do exactly what He promised. He makes all things beautiful and releases every good thing to those who follow Him. 

The word "Benefits" means profits, compensations and rewards. So on a daily basis, you can receive as much benefits as you can carry because there is enough for each day. It is God’s nature to bless His children, He does not keep books or ledgers on the blessings that He gives to us. If He did we would owe Him more than we even think we did. With God's blessings its impossible to overdraft your account.

As long as you are born again, you are a son or daughter of the Most High God and He does not just call you His son or daughter, He also calls you “an heir” through Christ. Which means you are entitled to His Blessings. You have complete access to the inheritance and as a joint heir with Christ Jesus, you inherit everything that He is.

Further Scripture Study: Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 4:7

Declare This: Dear Father, thank You for the complete access to Your inheritance. I claim and place a demand on it everyday in Jesus name Amen.

DAILY ENCOUNTER

"But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 NIV

The Lord Jesus had an encounter with a woman by the well in Samaria and they had a very fruitful discussion. After the meeting, the woman was transformed from her old life to a brand new person. One thing for sure is that when you encounter Jesus, the first thing that happens is; you will be confronted with the truth about who you are. Jesus told the woman about her life, she liked men and her moral life was the joke of the community. 

Jesus knew the truth about her, and forced her to see and admit the truth about herself. This is the way it is when we come into contact with God, suddenly His light shines on us and reveals the truth about us, then we understand that He sees us as we really are. When the real us is exposed by God, we have to admit the truth.

When you encounter Jesus, you will never thirst again, brokenness goes, temptation and the wrong habit dissipates, anxiety leaves, boldness and confidence increases, healing manifests, favor becomes your name and His Grace is released in abundance. Have a daily encounter with Him, it's to your advantage. When you do, He will load you with benefits daily.

Further Scripture Study: Psalms 68:19 

Declare This: Dear Father, my life is in You and everything I require comes from You. I will always call upon You daily and I will not depend on my own abilities but on You Lord. I will continue to always drink from the well that never runs dry in Jesus name Amen.

SPIRIT OF POWER

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

We live in a world of fear - fear of terrorism, inadequacy, disease, financial insecurity, and the unknown. Paul in prison writes to help and encourage Timothy about fear. There is no fear in God, He has given us power, love and a sound mind. Fear here means I have an awesome reverence and respect for God's awesome Power. I don’t want to do things my way, I want to do it His way because His way results in Power. 

True power comes from outside of self and it comes from turning self over to God. Not what I can do; but, what God can do through me. God has given us power to face everyday life and the Greek word for power here is "Dunamis"; it speaks of divine energy. God has given us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to enable us to focus on our heavenly Father, not circumstances. When we waver or are apprehensive, it is because our focus is on ourselves and not the limitless power of God given to us.

God gave Jesus all the power and as long as you have the Holy Spirit in you, you carry this same power. This kind of power will destabilize any arrow the devil tries to throw at you and it carries you when your strength seem low. With the Spirit of power, you can never miss out on the joy of life.

Further Scripture Study: Matthew 28:18 

Declare This: Dear Lord, thank You for the Holy Spirit who lives in me. I carry His Divine energy in me to do all I have to and to fulfill Your purpose in my life in Jesus name Amen.

INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

It is a short verse, only 8 words long. Why does Paul call Jesus "indescribable?" What kind of gift would it have to be called "indescribable?" Is it something that you’ve wanted all your life? Is it a gift that carries a lot of emotional feelings with it? Would it be a gift that you cared so little about that you wouldn’t even bother to find words to try to describe it? Would this make it an indescribable gift? Paul says that we can’t. Words aren’t adequate.

Paul calls Jesus "indescribable" because of His nature. How do you describe Jesus? What words would you choose? How do you describe a baby born of a virgin? How do you describe God in flesh, walking upon our earth & reaching out to the hurting masses of humanity? How do you describe God who has all knowledge and all powerful? How do you describe the Eternal and King of Kings? Many of the wisest men in the world have tried to describe Jesus but could not.

Paul called Jesus "indescribable" because of His purpose in coming to earth. John says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son......(John 3:16); How do you describe that? How do you put into words what God accomplished when He sent His only begotten Son into the world just because of you? I know there may be other reasons but I strongly believe that Jesus, God’s gift, is indescribable. He doesn’t owe us anything, yet He paid for everything; what an Indescribable God we serve. 

Further Scripture Study: John 3:16-17 

Declare This: Dear God, thank You for sending Your Only Son to die for me. What a precious gift beyond description. I am forever grateful to You in Jesus name Amen.

GREAT JOY AND DELIGHT

"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16 NIV

It's always important to read and study the Bible. I know how some people feel about reading the Bible; they know it's something they should do, but they don’t especially relish reading it, and they put it off as long as possible. It doesn’t have to be like that, because the Bible is the sweetest Book to read. It has all the action films, comedies, soap operas, romantic and love stories, dramas, news, reality shows, music, travel and even documentaries. For those who are willing to make the effort to understand it, the Bible is more than just a source of knowledge. It’s also a source of great joy and delight.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2. That’s what the Word does. It transforms us and gives us joy. The word of God is simple enough to be enjoyed by a child, and at the same time, deep enough to reward a lifetime of dedicated study. A three-year old can grasp the story of Jonah and the whale, and a Ph.D. in theology can spend a lifetime trying to fathom how God could become a man. The Bible rewards even a few minutes a day of reading, it has an inexhaustible supply of treasures for those who are more diligent.

God’s Word hasn’t changed. When we continue seeking God in His Word, He can give us the same kind of joy and delight that Jeremiah knew. Don't think reading the Bible is just a duty, no! It's a Joy and a Delight. It will give us delight because it is a book about the God we love, and on every page is written His love for us.

Further Scripture Study: Psalms 119:72 

Declare This: Dear Lord, Your Word is all I need to live a successful and prosperous life. I won't see Your Word as a burden but rather a source of Joy and Grace to me in Jesus name Amen.

WHY CHRISTMAS?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

        Merry Christmas!    Merry Christmas!! 
   

I declare this day will be the best of the best Christmases you've ever known. Seeing the review about Christmas and the billions of monies that it generates in the economy, is amazing. Jesus is the most celebrated man to ever live on this earth. His birth is lavishly celebrated and with great style by all and sundry; Christians and non-Christians alike. Looking at the city, you'll see elaborate decorations and lightings; only a truly great King - the King of kings can be celebrated like this. 

Have you ever wondered why since we are celebrating Jesus' birth, we don't send all the gifts and cards to the Church but to people around us? The reason is because Jesus' birth was for a greater purpose than himself. He was born, lived and died for a purpose. What is the true purpose of Jesus' birth, you may ask? 'YOU', 'ME', 'US', 'WE' are the reason for His birth; our salvation is the purpose of His birth. His life was a gift and He brought us the gift of the life.

Therefore, celebrating Christmas is more than celebrating the birth of Jesus; it is also a celebration of mankind and our glorious liberty from sin and death through Christ's birth. This is why, although we give special offerings in Church for Christmas, we do give to and receive lots of gifts from people. 

Make up your mind to celebrate and enjoy this season because it is about YOU. As you do, ensure you re-examine your life and position yourself rightly to continually live a life worth celebrating like Jesus' life! You are the reason for the Christmas.

Further Scripture Study: Isaiah 9:6 

Declare This: Lord, I thank You for coming to earth to set me free. My life is blessed and I am eternally thankful to You for everything You did to save me in Jesus name Amen.

IMPECCABLE GIFT

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 NIV

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." Oh if we could remember this profound statement each and every day when we crawl out of bed and begin our day. When we do, our days would be filled with wonder and testimonies. The heaviness that so many experience would be lifted by the gracious gratitude that comes from understanding that everything in life is a gift from Almighty God. The emptiness that so many experience would be filled with a fullness beyond measure. The grumbling and griping that so readily flows from our mouths would be transformed into words of gratitude to the Lord.

Everything, in all of life, is a reminder to us of God’s great and awesome love for us. One of the greatest gifts that God has given to us is the gift of His creation. Everything in all of creation points to the One who made it all for His good pleasure. 

God has given us the gift that none of us deserved, the gift of His Son. God knows our every deed before we were ever born. He knows the deepest secrets of our lives, the ones we pray nobody else finds out about; He knows the thoughts that ramble through out brain; greed, bitterness, hatred, selfishness, and the like. He knows all of this and more and yet He loves you so much He gave the Perfect Gift of His Son. Showcase the Gift to your world.

Further Scripture Study: Ephesians 2:8 

Declare This: Thank You God for giving me the Perfect Gift. There is nothing I did to deserve this but You still chose to give me the Gift. I will ensure I let others know about this Gift in Jesus name Amen.

HEART CHECK

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23 KJV 

We need to have a heart check, to see if we are attaining that higher level, if we are meeting the challenge of this day and if our hearts are doing what the Lord wants of us. It is God's desire to position us all to reach our highest potential in Christ and to exhibit His very life. It is expedient for us to check our hearts always because it's with the heart man believes and whatever goes into the heart comes outside. 

One of the ways to check your heart is to know if you're growing, that is, Personal Growth. To accomplish this you need to acknowledge that growth is a daily thing and when your heart is in order according to the Word of God, everything else will definitely fall in place as well. You have to grow in a new dimension each day and have the right motives. 

You see, when you become concerned about what you are becoming, you don’t want to take shortcuts for shortcuts and then you short-circuit yourself. You can't take a shortcut with your heart else you will experience shortness in your life. The Lord said His ways are not our ways, so does that mean we give up? No, we get on track everyday and keep rising. Don't allow any kind of information come into your heart and also be mindful of who you allow into your heart. Your heart is very delicate and precious to God. 

Further Scripture Study: Romans 10:9 

Declare This: Dear Lord, I know my heart is so precious to You. Therefore I will always guard and guide my heart for You in Jesus name Amen.

A THANKFUL HEART

"Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God." Philippians 4:6 AMP

Paul gives us the three important steps to take when giving our worries and concerns to the Lord. Paul tells us to make our requests known to God by "Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving". God not only expects you to be bold; He also expects you to thank Him for being good to you. It simply isn’t right to ask boldly without expressing thanksgiving. 

God blesses a thankful heart. When you give thanks, you put your focus on things worthy of thanks. Through thanksgiving you begin to see how God is working in your life. An unthankful heart will be unthankful even if they abound with blessings. A thankful heart gives glory to God. God is not glorified in a Christian who complains and sees only the negative things in life. 1 Timothy 6:6 tells us that godliness with content is great gain. Until we are content with what God provides, we will not see the greater things in this life.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." The only way we can be thankful in everything is to first learn how to offer prayer and supplication. When you can leave your problems at God’s throne, you can trust in His promise that all things work for your good. Praise and thanksgiving is the best sacrifice we can offer to God.

Further Scripture Study: Hebrews 13:15

Declare This: Dear Lord, I am thankful and grateful for all You have done in my life. With a thankful heart, I come boldly to Your throne of Grace with my sacrifice of praise in Jesus name Amen.

YOUR PRAYER

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6 NIV

There are three instructions Paul offered us when we find ourselves anxious and worried and they are "Prayer, Petition and Thanksgiving". God honors prayer that comes from the heart and not prayer or other actions that are done to show off our spirituality. A common question people ask is "If God knows what I need before I ask, why do I need to pray at all?" He instructed and commanded us to pray. The truth is God does not need our prayers to be God, He is a Self Existing God but we need Him to exist. He knows tomorrow and He has planned every step of our life. God even knows where our decisions will take us even when we choose to disobey and neglect His plan.

Prayer does not reveal our needs to God, but prayer conditions our heart for God. Prayer teaches us to look to God and it's for our benefit. When we pray, it should remind us to stop and examine our lives and the direction we are going. Prayer is the time we spend with God. Prayer is a very important way in which God speaks to us. No relationship can grow without communication. There are many people who live in material abundance and are destitute spiritually. You can’t experience the abundance of the Christian life without an intimate walk with Christ. Without prayer, you can’t walk close to Him. 

So instead of carrying your worries and burdens, you are to take the first step Paul gives you in moving from a place of turmoil to peace: Get close to the Lord in prayer. Once you are in that intimate, face-to-face place with God, take that opportunity to give Him your worries, fears, and concerns. When you give God your problems, in return He gives you His peace.

Further Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 

Declare This: Dear Lord, I thank You for allowing me to come boldly before You in prayer. I know that You love me and want to richly meet the needs I am facing in my life today. By faith I thank You in advance for acting to my requests in Jesus name Amen.

SEEK HIM

"Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6 NIV

The Bible says the greatest treasure to be found is not silver or gold, but the Lord. Silver, gold and other treasures will never truly satisfy you because one day it will all perish. But the treasure we have in God will truly meet the deepest needs of our souls, and it is eternal. The Bible says "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away".

In our text verse, it says that now is the time we need to seek the Lord. Why? because it is a divine command and instruction. The Hebrew word here for “seek” is “Darash”, it means to inquire, ask, place a request or demand, or to read something repeatedly and study. To "seek" God also means that you “study” His word, not flipping open your Bible once or twice, but really “digging in” to it. 

When we really “seek” something or someone, we put a lot of time and effort into it. God is not hidden, He can be found as long as our hearts are inclined to look for Him. We must take advantage of this gift, and make the most of it while we have it. God has given you the right to inquire and demand from Him.

That word "While" means there's a time limit when we cant seek Him anymore. There is a window of opportunity here and it will not remain open forever. It is available now, but one day it will be too late to seek Him. We are in the last days of the end time. 

Further Scripture Study: John 7:34; Matthew 24:35 

Declare This: Dear Father, thank You for the easy access to You. You have given me a command, I will ensure to daily seek after You in Jesus name Amen.

FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". 1 John 1:9 KJV

God is faithful to forgive, this means, God didn't find out about the sin when you confessed it because He knew about it all the time (before and after the sin). When you confessed it was when you got rid of it, that's when you were cleansed of its effects in your life. When you make a mistake or go off track, remember, you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2:1). Always run to Him. He knows what you are going through, you don't need to be afraid. He didn't tear you apart for the sins you committed before you made Him Lord of your life, did He? Then how much more merciful and loving do you think He'll be now that you're His own? 

Don't run from God rather run to Him. No matter how badly you've sinned, He's eager to hear from you. When we go before the Father to confess our sins, our failures and weaknesses, we are admitting that we are human and in need of forgiveness. True confession is painful, but when we do, "He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." God is a good God but please don't take Him for a ride.

Further Scripture Study: Romans 10:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Corinthians 1:18 

Declare This: Dear Father, I thank You for the privilege to come before You to confess my sins, whether knowingly or unknowingly in Jesus name Amen.

STRONGLY ENCOURAGE

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching". 1 Timothy 4:13 ESV

To Exhort means to "strongly encourage". Here we see Paul's charge to Timothy to strongly encourage those around him to follow the teaching of God's Word. You and I need to strongly encourage one another in the faith and also to the world at large because there are people following us who assume we know the way. Our wives, our sons, our daughters, our brothers and sisters, our friends and even our older ones sometimes look to us for guidance. We need to make sure every aspect of our lives points the way to Jesus because once you know the way to Him you can be an encourager and go anywhere in life without getting lost. 

Just as the Lord encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:1-9), the Lord want us to be strong and be an encourager too. Set aside special times to encourage someone who needs Christ, someone who wants the grace of God, someone who is desperate for an answer. This is our responsibility and mandate the Lord wants of us, we must do it while it is day for the night comes when no man can work (John 9:4).

Paul's challenge to Timothy is to be a preacher of God's Word; I am challenging you today to do the same thing. Let the preaching of God's Word be part of your resolution. Encourage someone and resolve in you that you'll be a compass to those around you. Be diligent, give your self wholly and persevere. 

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 11:30 

Declare This: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Love. I will ensure I fulfill Your mandate for my life and be an encourager to those who needs this Love in Jesus name Amen.

HE IS YOUR FRIEND

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NIV

The greatest act of sacrificial love provided is by God and He did this on our behalf. He laid down His life for His friends and sacrificed Himself for us. Oh what an honor. This love is sacrificial and undeserved.

Paul writes in Romans 5:7-8, “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The greatest act of sacrificial love was when Jesus willingly (John 10:18) sacrificed His life to free us from our bondage to sin "so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin" (Romans 6:6). Jesus laid down His life for you and calls you "Friend". 

Consider this for a moment, the Christian is a friend with the Creator of this world. Jesus is my friend. He is your friend too. This friendship isn't all one-sided, He has showed that He is a friend; we must also show that we are His friends by doing what He tells us to do. That commandment was "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you are to love one another". We show that we are friends of Jesus by the quality of love and self-sacrifice that we show.

Further Scripture Study: John 13:34; John 1:14; Philippians 2:7-8 

Declare This: Heaven Father, I thank You for making me Your friend and for laying down Your life just for me. I will increase my love for others and genuinely give of this love in Jesus name Amen.

DON'T ABANDON

"Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you." 1 Timothy 4:14 AMP

Paul, from the verse above advised Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gift within him. Paul told the Corinthians, “I have fed you with milk and not meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (1 Corinthians 3:2). The Corinthians were still spiritual babies as far as Bible knowledge was concerned due to neglect of God’s Word. Forgetting God will cause regret.

Neglect prevents spiritual growth. Neglecting to study God’s Word will cause one to eventually disobey or out rightly reject God. When you neglect to pray, you are giving room for the wrong information entering into your spirit. What you neglect to do influences others; in other words, when you don't pray and apply the Word of God - it influences others to do likewise (i.e., our children, spouse, members of the church) and also contributes to others outside the body of Christ to remain lost. 

You can change it. Action is the key to victory. Choose to renew your mind and rededicate your commitment every day.

Further Scripture Study: Jeremiah 18:15 

Declare This: Heavenly Father, whatever it is I've neglected knowingly or unknowingly; I ask You to forgive me. From this day, I make a turn around and ensure I do all I have to do in Jesus name Amen.

DEVELOP YOUR ABILITIES

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." Romans 12:3 NIV

Are you dedicated to using the gifts God has given you? You might say but I don’t have the faith to use my gifts, that’s not true. Looking at our text verse above God has given (distributed) us the exact amount of faith to use in unfolding our gifts. God has not only given us gifts, but He has also given us the faith needed to use our gifts.

God has given us just the measure of faith necessary to use our gifts. We shouldn’t seek a faith big enough to move mountains until we have a faith big enough to move us. The existence of a gift is a call to exercise it. Eyes are purposeless unless they exercise the function of sight. When we don't exercise our faith, our spiritual life is heading for collapse. Paul advised Timothy, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you; Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all”. 

Take time out daily to develop your God given abilities. Keep stirring yourself up and stay growing in your faith work. 

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 4:20; 1 Timothy 4:14-15

Declare This: Dear Lord, Your Word is the answer and solution to all I need, therefore, I choose to always use Your Word to develop myself thereby increasing my faith level in Jesus name Amen.

BE AGLOW

“Never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord." Romans 12:11 Amp

The heart desire of any Christian should be to please the Lord by doing His will and fulfilling His call. Many sincerely want to do this but don't know how. So you hear them say, "I want to serve God with all my heart; I want to be on fire for Him, I want to be consistent in every activity in church, but I don't know how to stay consistent in the things of the Spirit. 

One of the surest ways to constantly be aglow in the Spirit is to be "constantly filled with the Spirit". Without the Holy Spirit in your life, you can't do anything for the Lord that will be acceptable to Him or that'll make any impact in your world. There's a constant infilling of God's Spirit that you ought to be experiencing everyday of your life. God says, "be filled with the Spirit" meaning you are the one responsibility for the filling not your Pastor or your friend. 

The fact that you've received the Holy Spirit doesn't mean you're always be aglow or filled what the Spirit, no! You have to always function under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit 24 hours everyday. That's how God wants you to live. Always talk the Word to everything that concerns you and never allow what's going on around you dictate your level of glowing or the level at which you should be filled. Giving attention to the Spirit will constantly bring out a glow in your life and it sure will radiate the beauty of God through you.

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 4:18; Ephesians 5:18-19 

Declare This: Dear Father, I recognize it's my responsibility to be filled with the Spirit; I have no excuse but to constantly radiate Your very life through me by staying in Your Word always in Jesus name Amen.

ONE WISH

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5 KJV 

How do you get wisdom? The Bible says you get wisdom by asking God because wisdom comes from God. So you have to talk to Him about it and you ask for wisdom. It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from Him comes knowledge and understanding.

If God were to come to you one day and say, "I’m going to give you one wish. You can ask for anything in the whole world. You can have one wish." What would you ask for? A guy got a chance at that one time. In the Old Testament, God came to Solomon and said, "You’re the king of Israel. I’m going to grant you one wish. What do you want more than anything else in life?" Solomon thought it over and said, "I’m so inadequate as a leader. I don’t know what to do with these people. More than anything else I want wisdom. The Bible says that God was pleased with that request. He said, "Solomon, because you asked for wisdom, I’m going to give you the other things too: wealth, fame, long life." Solomon not only became the wisest man, but he was the wealthiest man and he lived a long life.

If God came to you and said, "What do you want in life more than anything else?" If you could have one wish from God, what would you ask for? Would you ask for wisdom? He says, that’s how important wisdom is. Proverbs says, "If you don’t get anything else, get wisdom." The reason we don’t have wisdom is we don’t ask. James 4:2 says "You have not because you ask not." As a pastor, I wouldn’t dare presume to lead my church without continually asking God for wisdom. It’s not my church, it's His church. I encourage you to ask Him and He will surely give it to you. 

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 2:6; Matthew 7:7 

Declare This: Dear Father, Your wisdom is all I need to live a victorious life. I ask for more wisdom to do in Jesus name Amen.

PLEASING GOD

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6 KJV 

The Book of Hebrews Chapter 11 has been termed "Faith's Hall of Fame"; It's about men and women who lived in faith. They each received a word from God for their lives or for their generation. Faith was the location where they lived, and because they stayed in that place where God had called them to be, they brought great pleasure to Him. Everything we do in life is done by faith and God simply wants us to use that same faith to believe in His Word. 

If you love someone, you aim to please him or her. The foremost commandment is that we should love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is impossible to obey that commandment without seeking to please God. We can fake ourselves by being nice to people on the surface, while in our hearts we don’t care about them. But God knows our every thought, and so we can’t fake Him out. Even if we fulfill a list of religious duties or live outwardly moral lives, God judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. 

So if you want to please God, one word underscore this in our text verse; "Faith". Faith is not just something nice, if you care to practice it. It is impossible to please God without faith. Faith is when you get up and your body is wrecking with Pain and you say dear Lord I am the healed of God; Faith is I don’t have money in my pocket right now but I trust You to take care of me; this is Faith that Pleases God. I know I can’t see it yet but my trust is in You alone and I am certain my testimony is on the way. 

For those who stay in faith, there is a reward. God is The Rewarder. For those who continually live at the address of faith, who refuse to be moved by circumstances; who adamantly reject any inclination to throw in the towel and to give up; who rebuff any temptation or pull to let go of the word God gave them; it is just a matter of time until their faith is rewarded. They will receive the full manifestation of what they believe. 

Further Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Mark 12:30; Hebrews 4:12-13 

Declare This: I declare that I live in faith. I have resolved that I am never moving from the place of faith where God has called me to be in Jesus name Amen.

YOU ARE THE CALLED

"Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ". Romans 1:6 KJV

You are called to belong to Jesus Christ. You are called to a life of obedience to God and to a life of serving the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many people have heard the gospel message, that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to live among men, and that he died and was raised from the dead to show us that He is the Son of God. Through the gospel message, many have come to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; Through the gospel message, those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God now belong to Christ, they are called to a life of obedience to God and to a life of serving the gospel of our Lord. 

The call of God, the gifts and anointing of the Holy Ghost are for all God's Children. There must be a "call" on your life to carry out the Gospel and a call has benefits but the benefits cannot be given until the call has been answered. The call comes with the supernatural and has the message of the Spirit. The Call is spiritual and when God calls you, He alone will prosper you and give you all you require for life and godliness. 

You have been called, this means elected, hand picked, chosen and appointed by God unto the good life. Be a yielded vessel; A yielded vessel is a vessel willing & ready to receive, a humble & loyal vessel. Never look down on yourself the moment you know you are the called, you have to believe that He has called you. How you believe it will determine the extent you want to go. Don't play with the Call of God in your life. 

Further Scripture Study: Galatians 1:15-16; 1 Peter 2:9 

Declare This: Dear Father, I thank You for calling me and for entrusting this Gospel onto me. I am a yielded vessel ready for the Master's use at all times in Jesus name Amen.

WHY WORRY?

"Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. Philippians 4:6 AMP

Reading Matthew 6:25-34, three times in this short passage Jesus commanded, "Take no thought", that is, "Do not worry" and the way He said it shows the comprehensiveness of His charge. In verse 25, He acknowledges worry as a common practice and says, "Stop worrying. In verses 31 & 34, He uses the same word, but in a way that means "Don't even start worrying." Worrying paralyzes you, making you too upset to accomplish anything productive. When you worry, you are choosing to be mastered by your circumstances instead of God's truth.

Worry is devastating and because of worry, many make foolish life decisions, incurring painful consequences. To continue worrying about anything, or to start worrying in the first place, is to violate the Lord's command. But more important than what worry does to you is what you are communicating about God. When you worry you are saying in effect, "God, I just don't think I can trust You." Worry strikes a blow at the Person and Character of God. The candid truth is that worrying is a complete waste of time, it's a demonstration of faithlessness. Take no thought (do not worry) about anything, but in everything pray, thank God and believe that God is able.

Further Scripture Study: 1 Peter 5:7 

Declare This: Dear Father, I refuse to worry or be anxious about anything that concerns me. I choose to hold on to the truth of Your Word and stay in faith in Jesus name Amen.

ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE

“The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15 ‭AMPC‬‬‬‬‬‬

Have you ever met someone who feels like they are aptly knowledgeable in all subjects, when in actual fact they really are not? Hosea 4:6 says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Destruction comes when there is no knowledge. 

True knowledge is from God and as Christians our first and most important manual is the Bible and we need to always study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth. You must always refer to it in order to be able to live a successful and productive life because the knowledge needed to win on all grounds is right in there. 

Also there are other Bible based literature that we can read, as well as some other informative materials that we can study to help broaden our knowledge. Don’t just be a novice Christian who goes through life without sufficient knowledge, equip your mind and increase your knowledge so that you will be able to win in all aspect of life. Take out time to study for yourself, remember that there’s no way knowledge can be acquired if we don’t seek it.

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 8:10; 2 Timothy ‭2:15 

Declare This: Thank You Father for Your Word, which gives me the knowledge to live and reign in this life. As I study, I declare that my eyes of understanding is being enlightened daily in Jesus name Amen.

GO TO WORK

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. " Romans 12:13 NIV

The above verse of scripture is commanded to every Christian. All of us are to serve, all of us are to be encouragers, teachers, givers, etc. You have to be encouraged to keep giving, to keep sharing and open your heart to others. We may not have a gift that makes us especially proficient in one of these areas, but we are commanded by Christ to do them. As we obey God's instructions, the Holy Spirit gradually unveils special abilities and gifts in our favor especially in areas we never thought we could function in.

We should expose ourselves to various kinds of Christian service, perhaps first in the area of our natural abilities. For example, teaching in Children's church, singing in the choir, using your technical knowledge in the media department, talking to your friend about Christ, visiting the nursing home, or preaching. You may be surprised what God will reveal to you when you do. There is always room for anyone who is willing to "go to work" for the Lord, all you need do is take the step.

Satan will try to quench and kill the zeal you may have, don't blame him when he tries because he is only doing his job. He does this primarily by introducing fear and then adds low self-esteem as a compliment. When you fear, it will disable and paralyze every push and drive you may have and it will keep you from reaching your God-given potentials and render you powerless. You have to understand that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Go to work and put him to shame. Serve in that area that you feel more comfortable in church and ministry at large.

Further Scripture Study: Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:13

Declare This: Dear Father, I refuse to be lukewarm in the things of the Spirit. I am encouraged and also an encourager in sharing and making my abilities known in Jesus name Amen.

BENEFICIAL LOVE

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV

I have one question for you; how much do you think God loves you? One writer said it this way, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart... Face it, friend. He's crazy about you." No one has ever loved more deeply than our God. Believe it or not, He loves you so much that His Son Jesus Christ had to die for you.

God's Love is beneficial and has a destination. He said if you believe, you will have everlasting/eternal life. So what is everlasting life? simple; It is having Jesus. He said "I am the life" (John 14:6) and also it says "this life is in the Son and whosoever has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). Everlasting life is the very Life of God, It is the highest and supreme form of life that is superior to the devil, demons and any other god. This life is not subject to discouragement, defeat, failure or any habit.

As a Christian, there is nothing that can keep you from His love, except "you". The very characteristics of God's love should stir faith and hope in your heart so that you can enjoy the Life that destroys sickness, dismisses diseases and makes infirmity invalid.

Further Scripture Study: John 11:25 

Declare This: Dear Father, thank You for not holding back Your love for me. I choose Eternal Life now and always in Jesus name Amen.

SERVE ZEALOUSLY

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord". Romans 12:11 NIV

God’s Word has the answer and it's always right. We must serve the Lord zealously or serve passionately, fervently, eagerly and excitedly. As Christians, we all should always be excited serving the Lord. Serving the Lord is what life is all about for the Christian and we do this basically by serving others. 1 Peter 4:10 says "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."

This word zeal means “devotion and diligence” and to be diligent is the same Greek word Paul uses to tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15; “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved....correctly analyzing and accurately dividing the word of truth.” It takes diligence to serve and when serving zealously, you must also be “fervent in spirit.” A zealous teacher will never make his students fall asleep in his class because whenever he teaches, he is connected with his students and they are all on the same page.

Please keep in mind that when serving the Lord, you don't draw attention to yourself like many do. God will be the One exposing and showcasing you to others. Serving Christ zealously, enthusiastically, any way you can, any time you can, any where you can; will make things right with you when things are going in the wrong direction. Serve passionately in Church and participate excitedly, in your commitment, attendance, giving and time.

Further Scripture Study: Acts 20:19 

Declare This: Dear Father, I am passionate in my service to You and my commitment to the things of the kingdom is my utmost priority in Jesus name Amen.

WALK OF FAITH

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 
2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV 

Many people are still trying to figure out what this “Christian” thing is all about. What should we experience after we have been saved. We hear about change, but what should change? Another angle on this question, is that of modern spirituality. What I’m saying is that many people today are claiming spirituality, claiming a relationship with God, claiming to be saved, but demonstrate nothing of what God has said in His Word. They demonstrate nothing of a genuine walk with the Lord. They act their relationship to God as though putting on a mask of religiosity will draw the love of an all-knowing Holy God. God's Word declares He wants a relationship with us, pure and unadulterated. 

The Walk of Faith is a walk of life, it is an honest walk, a spiritual walk and a worthy walk. This walk of faith is not occasional but a daily, momentary walk for all to see. It is expressing your faith by creating reality with your speaking and with your daily corresponding actions. It does not walk based on how you feel or the amount of tears from your eyes; it does not beg or doubt but has authority and speaks. 

When walking by faith; it is either you are heading into greater alignment with the Word of God, or are we not; it's either you are allowing Christ to become your authority to help you through life or you are still trusting your own ways? it's either you are walking in the newness of life, or the old ways; whatever position you are in right now, you can still make head way because this walk of faith is a walk that leads to a perfect destination in Christ. Don't leave the work for the devil.

Further Scripture Study: 1 John 5:4

Declare This: Dear Father, I am making head way in my walk of faith. I refuse to allow distractions or the cares of this world dictate my faith walk in Jesus name Amen.