GOD IS YOUR STRENGTH

By Joseph Prince – Posted April 8, 2017

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

When you say, “I can manage this problem by myself, Lord,” God says, “Okay, you do it then.” But when you say, “Help me, Lord! I need You. I cannot do this on my own,” God says, “Good, I have been waiting for you to say that. You cannot, but I can. Now, watch Me!” That is how God is—He loves it when you depend on Him.

You see, when you think that you are strong and don’t need God, He cannot help you. But when you need Him and look to Him, He will not leave you weak and helpless. He comes and becomes the strength of your life. He becomes the breakthrough that you need.

A church member with a smoking habit came to me one day and said,

“Pastor Prince, please pray that God will help me. I want to stop my smoking habit.”

I told him simply, “You cannot, but God can.”

He replied, “Yes, I know that I can’t. But with God’s help, I will discipline myself and try my best to quit the habit.”

I told him, “No, you cannot, but God can.” I repeated this to him a few times until he realized that it was not his self-discipline or willpower that would help him overcome his smoking habit, but the power of God. He finally understood that true deliverance from this destructive habit would not come by his own strength, but by “[being] strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”.

When I saw him again a few weeks later, he said, “Pastor Prince, since that day, I didn’t even try to stop myself from smoking. But each time I lit up, I told God, ‘I cannot, but You can.’ Then one day, the craving was gone! Jesus has completely delivered me from my bondage to nicotine!” This man experienced true deliverance, not just an outward form of discipline and willpower.

So when you say, “I can do something about it,” you are still relying on your human strength. But when you say to God, “I cannot, but You can,” you have just tapped into the real source of your strength—Jesus. And as you rest in His strength, you will see His power manifesting in your life!

Thought For The Day

As you rest in God’s strength, you will see His power manifesting in your life!

The Power of Righteous Living

By Joel Osteen – Posted April 08, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
Isaiah 26:7, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

Righteous living is simply following God’s ways. When we honor God and His Word above all, it pleases Him, and He promises to make our way smooth. Righteous living keeps us connected to God and closes the door to the enemy. Righteous living is the evidence of our faith in Him. In other words, when we follow God commands, it proves that we have faith in Him because Hebrews tells us that faith without action is dead or useless. 

Today, take time to search your mind and heart. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any areas that need adjusting. Don’t allow yourself to be comfortable with any unrighteous, self-defeating thoughts or actions. Be determined to live, think, speak and act the way God does! Let His righteousness flow through you today and every day so that you can keep your faith alive and move forward into the abundant life He has for you.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, I commit to You every area of my life—my mind, my will and my emotions. Reveal to me anything that isn’t pleasing to You. Show me Your ways so that I can walk with You and live righteously in every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  

Be Decisive

By Joyce Meyer - Posted April 08, 2017

…A man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. 
—James 1:8

Whatever the problem or situation, decision is always better than doubt and indecision. For example, if you have had a quarrel with someone, it is much easier to decide to apologize than it is to stay angry and be filled with unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment while you are waiting for the other person to apologize to you. Be a peacemaker, and you will have a lot of joy. I spent many years making war; and believe me, the price I paid was high. It cost me my peace and my joy and sometimes my health. Jesus has a way, and we can do it His way and enjoy life. Indecision wastes a lot of time, and time is too precious to waste. 

Become a decisive person, and you will accomplish a lot more with less effort. No one learns to hear from God without making mistakes. Don't be overly concerned about errors. Don't take yourself too seriously. You are a fallible human being, not an infallible god. Learn from your mistakes, correct the ones you can, and continue being decisive. Don't fall back into a pattern of indecision and double-mindedness just because you are wrong a few times. If you feel that God is prompting you to give something away, do it! Get it off your mind. Take some action and sow the seed. If you believe it is right, then do it. That is how you will find out for sure.


Devote a reasonable amount of time to waiting on God. Don't follow fleshly zeal, but do follow your heart. Don't be afraid of yourself! You will not be the first person to make a mistake, nor will you be the last. The fear of failure keeps thousands trapped in indecision which definitely steals joy and complicates life. Don't be afraid to make a decision and then follow through on it. Just do it! 

 

 

Captured by Grace: Transforming Grace

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted April 8, 2017

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
John 1:43

Commodities like lumber, cotton, sugar, coffee, and wheat are traded in markets based on contracts. A contract for x-amount of a commodity can be purchased today, which gives the buyer the right to purchase that commodity at a certain (lower) price in the future. A futures contract is a bet on the future, not on the present. If the commodity fails to meet the expected price, the contract expires worthless.

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:29

What if Jesus called us to Himself today based on how He hoped we would turn out in the future? What if we failed to meet His expectations and He rescinded His offer of salvation? That is not how God’s grace works. When Jesus called His first disciples in Galilee—Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, James, John—He called them just as they were, not as He hoped they would become. There is a future expectation, of course. God’s purpose is that, by grace, all His children will be conformed to the image of Christ. But we were called yesterday and are loved today just as we are.

God calls us in spite of our not being like Christ. He transforms us the same way He saves us: by grace alone. 

The sinner, apart from grace, is unable to be willing and unwilling to be able. 
W. E. Best