By Symbols & Tokens
1Thess.2:18 “For we wanted to come to you–certainly I, Paul, did, again and again–but Satan blocked our way.” (NIV)
Satan will not block your way in Jesus Name. Every way that has been blocked, in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we command it unblocked! The reality of spiritual activity is before us in an undeniable way. Read the rest of this entry
New Season
Isaiah 11:1 “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.”
When you search the Bible for the phrase point of contact, I am not sure you will find it. I have checked the different translations that I could lay my hands on and I did not find it. So why do we do it? It is because everything we do, by God’s grace, is scriptural. Read the rest of this entry
Take It Back, V
Rom.14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit.” (emphasis added).
I get my joy back by first admitting I lost it, analyzing the cause, correcting what is wrong, focusing on the good in your life, and spending time with God every day. Next find a way to give back. Find a way to sacrifice, find a way to be a blessing. Read the rest of this entry
Take It Back, IV
Psalm 126:3 “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY.” (NIV, emphasis added).
The Lord has done what great things for us, so we focus on the great things that the Lord has done, and we are filled with joy. The opposite is also true; if you do not focus in on the great things the Lord has done for you, you will not be filled with joy. Read the rest of this entry
Take It Back, III
Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
The second thing to do to get your joy back is to analyze the cause. Lam. 3:40 “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (NIV, emphasis added). So far we have identified that an unbalanced schedule, an unused talent, an unconfessed sin, and an unresolved conflict sap joy Read the rest of this entry
Take It Back, II
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
After we have admitted that our joy is lost, the next thing we need to do to get our joy back is to analyze the cause. We have to identify the kill joys and we are going to run through a few to get you started. This list is not exhaustive, but it is pretty detailed. Read the rest of this entry
Take It Back, I
Ps.43:4 “There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!”
In yesterday’s devotional, God began to talk to us about the importance of having joy in our lives as His children. Cranky Christians are bad witnesses. So, how do we get our joy back and how do we sustain our joy? Seven things! Are you ready? Read the rest of this entry
Joy Restored
Nehemiah 8:10 “…Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
We are going to start our devotion today with a survey and the question is, what would you say is the easiest thing for you to lose? For me it used to be my keys until I solved the problem by creating a house for my keys. What is the easiest for thing you to lose? Read the rest of this entry
It Is Time
John 4:10 “Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
How have you been responding to Jesus? The Samaritan woman got the gift God had for her and got to know who she was speaking to because she chose to be vulnerable. It is easy to look at this Samaritan woman and call her different names. But the question remains, Read the rest of this entry
Will You?
John 4:25-26 “The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
Jesus was vulnerable, you have to take off the mask, you have to take it off! I want to encourage you to read the entire John 4. It is a beautiful story. I will just go straight to where we are going but read it so you can get the context. Jesus was thirsty on the cross, but that was not the first time He was thirsty. Read the rest of this entry
