Luke 9:1-2

Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases. Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

God never sends us out without equipping us. I’m becoming more convinced every day that we don’t realize the authority we really have in this life and fail to use it. If we see ourselves as victims who are weak and incapable, we will be just that. God gave us power and authority over demons and power to heal diseases. We need to exercise that authority and not allow the Devil to take what is rightfully ours.

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave us His authority to go and make disciples of all nations and to proclaim the kingdom of God. When He gives authority, He also gives responsibility. We have a responsibility to make disciples, and He has given us the authority to do it. We are not empty handed. He has given us each a gift to use to win others to Christ, and we are to use it. We will be held responsible for how we have used that gift.

Proclaiming the kingdom of God in our anti-Christian world today may seem overwhelming, but we have the power and authority to do it. Prayer is power, so use it. Understanding God’s word and standing on it in faith is power. Using your spiritual gift to serve others is power. Praising God is power, and we have the ability to do it every day. If we fail to continue doing the good we know to do because we become discouraged and don’t see the desired outcome, we are giving up the fight. We must continue to do what He has called us to do. Pray, read, learn, serve, share, and worship. Exercise your authority in Christ, and demons will flee. The sick will be healed, and God’s kingdom will advance.

Have a blessed day!

2 Kings 9:22

When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be as long as there is so much prostitution and witchcraft from your mother Jezebel?”

Joram was the second son of Ahab who became king after his death. God had pronounced judgment on the house of Ahab for the abhorrent sin they committed in allowing Israel to fall to Baal worship and the injustice of killing an innocent man just because Ahab wanted his vineyard. Ahab did whatever Jezebel – an avid Baal worshiper – wanted, and the nation had turned from God. God had vowed to sweep away all the males from Ahab’s lineage and declared a violent death for Jezebel, where the dogs would eat her flesh. Without a doubt, Ahab’s house was one destined for disaster, and the question Joram asked Jehu was a very pertinent one indeed. Joram knew his days were numbered, even if he didn’t want to believe it. He was biding his time while keeping a watch for the shoe of judgment to fall.

“Do you come in peace?” asked Joram, who was very comfortable occupying the throne of a sin-filled nation who had turned from God. Joram might very well have asked his question this way: “Are you going to allow us to continue living as we are – in the middle of degradation and debauchery?” Perhpas, he could have worded his inquiry this way: “Have you come to tear away what is wrong in our lives so we will turn to God and live according to His will for us?” Joram clearly wanted things to stay the same as they had always been for him so he and his mother would be happy and comfortable. In his eyes, there was no need to change anything because Baal worship was working just fine for them. What it did for the nation and in God’s eyes did not matter. To Joram, peace was keeping the status quo of his corrupt condition.

When God takes over a life to transform it from a corrupt nature, He may very well send a Jehu to destroy the old order and create a new one. He will not allow us to live for Him and keep the sins of a past life that abhorred Him. He loves us too much to leave us in a sinful condition that will only disrupt and delay His perfect will and plan for us. He wants to trade our illusion of peace for His peace, which is lasting and productive. This might require the shaking or sifting of things that hinder our relationship with Him and could be uncomfortable, disappointing, or even downright painful to endure. One thing is for certain: it will require we leave the throne of our life and make Christ king.

Jehu’s response to Joram explained the situation well. There could be no real peace in Israel as long as God’s people engaged in prostitution and witchcraft, which were characteristic of Baal worship. They could no longer appease or arouse Baal and expect God to tolerate them. He had come to take over! No longer would they believe the lie that Baal blessed them because of their ungodly acts of illicit sex, manipulation, intimidation, and domination. In order to have real peace, they would have to give up the sins they had come to accept and enjoy.

Regardless of what the world may say, God determines what is sin and what is not. Jehu came to take away the reign of the ungodly in Israel, and Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. Breaking the chains of sin includes permanently forsaking the besetting sins we have befriended. Total transformation requires we completely turn to Christ and live for Him. We cannot live for Him and keep allegiance to a lesser god by practicing the things God clearly forbids in His word.

A Jezebel spirit compromises God’s word with the world. Jezebel places self on the throne and rules from what pleases her flesh while trying to appear good and acceptable to those who follow God. Selfishness never produces peace; it stirs up strife because it serves self at the cost of others. There can never be peace as long as a Jezebel is on the throne, and God has declared to permanently remove her. Christ has not come for the peace of Jezebel; He has come to give us peace. Rejoice today that He has the power to overthrow evil in your life and give it the godly order that will truly bless you, keep you, protect you, sustain you, provide for you, and make you victorious over the enemy. Christ, alone, is worthy of your worship, and until He is all that you worship, you will have no real peace.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 69:30-31

I will praise God’s name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. That will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

More than our sacrifices, God desires our praises. When we praise Him, exalt His name, and thank Him for the things He has done for us, we are relating to Him personally. We are acknowledging Him specifically and entering into relationship with Him. A sacrifice is something we present to Him to atone for sin. He has already atoned for our sin on the cross. What pleases Him now is the engagement of relationship for which Jesus has already paid the price.

As humans, we enjoy being around people that make us feel special in some way. Those people who always appreciate others and make an effort to express it are never without friends. Everyone needs to feel loved and accepted. We are created in God’s image, and He is pleased when we express our love and appreciation to Him. He loves us like no other, and we should be drawn to respond to that love in songs of praise and thanksgiving.

Take time to sing a song of praise to God today, and just thank Him for what He has done for you. While you might have pressing needs or are waiting for Him to move in some way, exalt Him through praise instead. God dwells in our praises, and you will find His presence consuming your thoughts and replacing anxiety with peace. Let Him know how much you love Him for who He is to you and not for what He can do for you. No one likes feeling taken for granted. God has already given us His very best, and everything we need now is found in Him. Make this a day truly pleasing to the LORD with your praise.

Have a blessed day!

1 Thessalonians 4:13

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

Since I’ve become a widow, I’ve noticed the very different ways people grieve. By far, the worst is by those who have no anchor in Christ or faith that God has a plan for their lives. In truth, some people never get through the grieving cycle because they have no hope and cannot come to accept the loss. The very best gift we can leave our families is the peace of knowing we belong to Christ and have simply gone to live with Him in eternity. Those who know Christ understand that they will see us again one day, and they can live their lives in peace.

Grief is designed to help us accept losses and move on to new phases of life. We may always feel the pain of a loved one’s absence, but that pain does not have to be paralyzing. Christ gives us hope of eternal life after we die and new life after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Without Him, we have no real hope. With Him, however, we can continue in the abundant life He came to give us.

Take time to share your testimony and your faith with your family and loved ones. Make them fully aware of your love for the Lord. Some day when God has called you home, that testimony of faith may be what gets them through some very rough days. Your relationship with Christ may also be what persuades them to follow Him, too. I have complete peace about where my husband and my parents are today, and I know it is only a matter of time before I see them again. While I miss them, I’m assured of a reunion where we will not experience the pain of separation again. They left me with the gift of knowing their faith, and I want my son to know mine, as well. Death can truly be simply, “See you later.”

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 18: 29

With You I can attack a barrier, and with My God I can leap over a wall.

I once watched a video of a teenage girl who was one of the top high school pole vaulters in the state of Texas. While this was a remarkable achievement in itself, hers was even more awe inspiring because she was blind. Her vision problems, however, did not hold her back in her love for track. She just had to learn to make adjustments and do things differently than the ordinary person would. Instead of watching the goal, she counted steps and jumped in faith. We could all gain more from life if we could learn to count our steps and jump in faith.

The Devil will certainly establish barriers to keep us from reaching our goal or pursuing our dreams. We must decide how important each goal or dream is to us when we encounter the barriers. I fear too many of us, including myself, give up at the point we reach a wall. If we are ever going to succeed in life, we must be willing to attack barriers and leap over walls that the Devil builds for us. With God we can do just that, but are we really willing to attack and leap, or is it just too much effort?

To overcome any obstacle, you must be willing to attack. This might mean doing things differently than planned. If our successes were meant to be easy, everyone would succeed. Anything worth achieving will require work, and we might have to adjust our approach or our thinking to get past the barriers that stand between us and our dreams. With God, however, this is possible.

What barrier or wall stands between you and your dream? Are you attacking that barrier or whining about it? God will help you get on the other side of that wall, but you may have to count your steps and be willing to jump. Pray for the passion, determination, and faith to get you past your barriers and toward the goal to which you are called.

Have a blessed day!

Luke 1:73b-75

He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from our enemies’ clutches, to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days.

This was a part of Zechariah’s prophecy at the presentation of his son, John the Baptist. No doubt, people stood by in awe and amazement as he spoke since God had silenced him throughout Elizabeth’s pregnancy. This was a message God wanted His people to know, and He knew how to make them pay attention. While this one sentence is only a small part of the entire prophecy, it speaks volumes to us today.

God rescued us from the enemy’s grasp so we can live holy and righteous lives without fear in His presence all our days – forever! We do not have to live in fear or shame while the enemy gloats over us and taunts us. We are free from condemnation and can serve God as worthy servants. We can come before His throne of grace in full confidence, without accusation or fear of judgment.

I love the phrase, “in His presence.” We are no longer captive and should never act or respond as if we are. In Christ, we are “in His presence” and not under captivity by the enemy. We are loved, accepted, and highly favored. Many times, people are taken out of the Devil’s prison through salvation, but there is still a job of discipleship in taking the prison mentality out of God’s people once they have been rescued. Moving from fear to full confidence often takes time and readjustment to the new environment of His presence.

Practice being in His presence today. Let go of fear and any accusing thoughts the enemy has planted in you. Regardless of what others might think, God loves you and accepts you. He has gifted you to serve Him, and He will fulfill all He has purposed for you. You were never created to serve the opinions of others. You were created to worship God and to serve in His presence. Embrace your privilege to serve God in worship today.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 16:1-2

Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

This Psalm was written by David, who had learned to take refuge in God. He was threatened by wild animals while herding sheep and had successfully killed those who tried to attack his flock. He was hunted by Saul, who sought to kill him out of jealousy. His men turned against him in response to their own hurt at Ziklag. His son led a rebellion against his throne, and he was caught in the turmoil of trying to protect both the country and his son. Through it all, David learned to seek God for refuge. There are just times when we need someone greater than ourselves to look out for us. By seeking God as a refuge, David became victorious in every one of the vicious threats against his life and his throne.

If God has brought you to a place, the enemy will certainly attack because a move of God on your life is a threat to him. Seek God for refuge and protection. David knew a vital truth – any good that came into his life came from God. Therefore, God would defend it. When you become a Christian, Satan often attacks you in some area to cause you to doubt because your faith threatens his influence in your life. If God has called you to minister somewhere, the Devil will attack that area in some way to try to convince you God isn’t in it. If you lose heart and give up hope, you may be persuaded to leave your post. He will try whatever means he can to gain influence in your life again. This is where you must take refuge in God.

When you are threatened with bad things, take refuge in God. He is the Giver of all good things, and He will withhold nothing good from you. He will use all the bad things that happen in your life for your good and His glory. Turn it all over to Him, and trust Him to bring more good things to your life. Satan will try to make you think God is mad at you and that He is punishing you. God has already punished Jesus for your sin. That was the reason for the cross. Turn everything – your sin, your worry, your guilt, your fears – over to God, who is your Protector from the enemy. Satan’s battlefield is your mind because you will act according to what you believe. David reminded himself that he had no good besides God. Remind yourself of that today, and allow God to protect you from all that threatens you. You exist to worship Him and to bring Him glory. God will not destroy you; He will reveal His glory in you!

Have a blessed day!

Proverbs 16:9

A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.

A man or a woman can feel the desire to do something but quite often not understand just how to do it. While you may have a dream, you most likely don’t know just how to achieve it on your own. You must commit these things to God and follow by committing yourself to Him. God will then direct your steps to reach the very dream He has placed in you.

I have a dear friend who wants to write a book entitled How Not to be a Writer…or Anything Else You Want to Be. I think this is an excellent idea for a book, and I can’t wait to read it! Most of us spend too much time dreaming and procrastinating and never actually doing the very thing we want to do. I’ve been guilty of praying for an open door when God has already placed me in front of one and is just waiting for me to walk through it. If a door doesn’t look exactly the way we’ve pictured it in our dreams, we often don’t recognize it. We must allow God to direct us and stop waiting for Him to take us in the steps we plan for ourselves.

Commit your dream to God, then follow by committing your life to Him. Step out in faith in the direction of your dream, and watch for God to show you the next step to take. You cannot figure everything out ahead of time. If you knew exactly what to do to get where you want to be, you wouldn’t need God. The whole reason He placed a dream in your heart that is bigger than you are is to increase your faith and to build relationship with you. Let Him determine your next step, and be willing to take it. He probably won’t show you the next step until you’ve taken the first.

Have a blessed day!

Acts 19:15

The evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize – but who are you?”

God drove away demons and performed great healing miracles through Paul at Ephesus. Even the face cloths and work aprons Paul touched carried power to heal and drive away demons. When the Jewish exorcists saw this, they attempted to try to drive away demons in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preached. These exorcists desired the power Paul possessed, but they did not have a relationship with the One who gave the power. They could not just claim the power like a magic potion and drive the demons away. The demons knew who Jesus was, and they knew Paul had authority to call on His name, but they did not recognize the Jewish exorcists. They, in turn, overpowered the exorcists and drove them away.

God will not grant His power by illegitimate means! If you want to have power and influence, you must have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. If you deny and reject the Son, you have no power with the Father. If you persecute and try to destroy those who are called by His name, you will have no godly power. Jesus gave us authority to make disciples, to heal the sick, and to overcome evil in this world. To have this authority, you must submit to His lordship. You cannot claim it by mere association. Who you are in relationship with Jesus Christ matters, and even the demons recognize who has power and who doesn’t.

As Christians, we are connected to real power. We have access to the very throne room of heaven. We need to call upon the Father daily, asking for healing for each other and for the destruction of evil forces that surround us. We just need to remember that we are powerless without Him, but in Him we have great power! He is with us today and has promised to never forsake us. Take advantage of your relationship with Him today, and pray. You are much more powerful than you think!

Have a blessed day!

Luke 1:41-42

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:  “You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed.”

The only way Elizabeth could have known Mary was pregnant was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She knew her own child was a miracle and that God was moving in the earth, so she certainly was aware that something special was happening. When she heard Mary’s greeting, her own baby leaped, as if he recognized someone great had just entered the house. The unborn John the Baptist rejoiced at the sight of the unborn Jesus, and the mothers knew something far beyond their imaginations or abilities was at work. They knew this one way – through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Having been a barren woman, Elizabeth probably felt cursed. Barrenness was thought to be a sign of disapproval from God. Her barrenness, however, was simply God’s delay in granting her a child so His glory could be revealed in her. The filling of the Holy Spirit allowed Elizabeth to see things she could not see otherwise. She now knew she was not cursed but blessed, and God allowed her to see even more of what He was doing.

When God is moving in our lives, He will fill us with the Holy Spirit to show us things we could not see on our own. He will bring important information to us at just the right time. He will continue to confirm His word to us and reveal even more of His plan as we submit to Him. He often draws back the curtain for us to view just a glimpse of something that others cannot see, and we know certain things for sure that we can’t explain or even describe. While we may have no physical proof, we just know things in our spirit that only God could have told us. That certainty will give us joy and peace that no one else may understand, but it is God’s gift to assure us through the working of His plan. Grab hold of that word, rejoice in it, pray, and share it with those who need it. Not everyone can accept it, but the Holy Spirit in others will allow them to agree with it, as Mary did.

As a child of God, you are not cursed but blessed. Expect Him to show you things by the Holy Spirit that no one else will know or even understand. Ask Him what He is doing in your life, expect Him to reveal it, and rejoice in what He shows you. Believe His promises, stand on them, and rejoice in them. He is working out a great plan in you, and He will bring it to pass. He will even bring others into your life to confirm His word to you and to share in your joy.

Have a blessed day!