“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” James 1:12

I just read a blog I posted some time back. Man it hit me so hard. I have been going through one of the hardest trials in my life and have forgotten how to practice enduring until God has done what He needs to do to get His glory out of the trial.

BLESSED

Consider the very fact that you are in a trial is the very evidence that you are divinely positioned in the will of God. Often times we look for signs and prophetic words to give us evidence that we are in the will of God. I believe that God does give signs and uses men and women in a prophetic manner but often times the most powerful evidence we have  that we are divinely positioned in the perfect will of God is that all hell is breaking loose against us. The very evidence of trial and affliction is the evidence that God is divinely at work in our lives. The apostle James considered the man who was in the midst of affliction and trials as a man that is blessed and loved by God. I guess at this point in my life I am extremely blessed and loved by God.

ENDURETH

The dictionary defines the word endure as, “To undergo (as hardship) especially without giving in: to suffer without giving in.” It is one thing to understand the definition of endure and another thing to understand God’s spiritual purpose for allowing affliction and hardship in our lives. The revelation is this, “God allows us to endure things that are often to hard to bear so that He would bring glory out of our tribulation”. God will literally strip us and chastise us to prove to us that He is the one in control, that He is the one that blesses, that He is the provision, that He is the source of our joy, our peace, our strength and if anything ever gets in the way of that and begins to take credit for who He is and what He does He will strip us of it.

ENDURING

Enduring isn’t a pleasant thing to undergo in our christian lives but it is God’s divine tool for forming us and chastising us. It is the very evidence that God is at work in us. The funny thing about enduring is that you cannot run from it and the reality is that if you do try to run from it you can often times extend the timeframe for which you must endure. It is hard to endure, it is hard to undergo God’s chastening, ” No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). Enduring is painful, it hurts, it often times is confusing because we have so many questions which go unanswered by God during the time of affliction. But regardless it is the divine evidence that you are in the perfect will of God. We must all stubbornly or peaceably learn to endure while God is at work in our lives.

HE SHALL RECEIVE

What a promise! James says that the man that endureth shall receive. We might not receive what what we want but we shall recieve what God had intended. There is not a man or woman alive who can stop the perfect will of God in your life when you come into a place of complete surrender and trust to God. Someone told me recently, ” You cant reason with God” that is so true. We often times in the affliction try to reason, to bargain or deal with God. We give Him the big “IF” if I endure this will you give me what I desire, if I stick around will you bless me with what I want, that is not trusting God during your time of affliction. To trust God is to say, God I hope yet I dont hope, I want yet I dont want, I wish yet I dont wish. In other words whatever the outcome of this enduring my heart will be content with your perfect provision in my life. To trust God is to honestly say, “God I leave it all in your hands whether it seems to work in my favor or not, I will trust that your provision is perfect and far better than what I could have planned or desired for myself. The promise is clear that once you have endured you shall receive Gods intended provision for your life.

PRAISE HIM IN THE PAIN

Praise Him in the pain, because one day the pain will end but the praise will have been stored up in heaven as treasure. Praise Him in the confusion because one day the confusion will end. Praise Him when you have no answer because one day He will give you an answer. Praise Him in the discipline because one day the discipline will end. Praise Him because you shall receive. Praise Him because the prophet said, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

MY FAVORITE QUOTE

“It is in the quiet crucible of your personal private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you’ve been through” Wintley Phipps

© 2009 Apostolic Messenger

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

This is an article that was written by a young lady in our church (Tanya Chavez) for the church Newsletter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. 

Definitions vary across the world. Poverty in America is defined by a family income of $15,000 or less. In Haities we can see poverty portrayed as people who are in desperate need of resources “eating mud cakes.” This entire month I have been bombarded with different ideologies (definitions so to speak) when seeking conversation among friends. I feel as if I am getting so wrapped up in the minds and comments of men, that I am loosing sight of Jesus. There are times I literally feel like I need to escape and just ask God, “What do you define success as?” I want to live to please God and the bible says I ought to do this. Therefore my definitions that have been influenced by men, need to be redefined by God. Continuously He reminds us that “My ways are not your ways” (Isaiah 55:8). We can continue to measure success around the definitions our family and peers provide, or we can be encouraged and look to God’s word. Think of the word, “Restore.” This word can be found in the bible supporting our definition. But what about Psalm 69:4 where the Psalmist is crying out to God, “Though I have stolen nothing, I must restore it.” What was he trying to restore? Under mans definition, this cry doesn’t make sense. He had done nothing and there was no need of “restoration”; and yet he had the ability to acknowledge that Gods understanding outweighs ours. To understand there’s some things I may not be aware of in my life that need to be restored; But He knows! Join in with the Psalmist and ask God to “Restore” you under His “definition.”

By Tanya Chavez

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1 15-16 KJV 

What is holiness? The bible teaches us that God is Holy and He requires His people to live holy lives. But what does He mean by holy? Does He mean to live like a monk in a monastery completely separate from modern society? No, that would not be practical for any of us and that is not the realistic calling of the Bible. God’s commandment to His people was given to them within the context of society that was expected to work, have families and normal relationships. Practical Holiness is a call to live in this world without letting the world live in us. The root meaning of Holy is to separated or sanctified – this means to live in a modern world in a way that is pleasing to God. When it comes to holiness God always begins in the heart for this reason I would like to discuss this question. Where does practicing true God pleasing holiness begin?

THE GOD OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER

The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 11:13 that, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever”. What does this mean? This means that who God was in the Old Testament remains the same in the New Testament and what God expects of His people does not change. In the Old Testament God gave a command to His people He said in Leviticus 11:45, “…ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” and in the New Testament the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:16, “Because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy.” He is the God of yesterday, today and forever; many modern Christians have forgotten that God still absolutely requires us to live a holy, pleasing life before Him. Peter goes as far as to call us a royal priesthood, a chosen generation, a peculiar people. Wow what an amazing and glorious privilege to be considered in the eyes of God royalty, chosen and peculiar.

TRUE HOLINESS BEGINS IN THE TONGUE

The Apostle Peter states in his writings that we ought to be holy in all manner of conversation, some versions of the bible say conduct but for the sake of this study will stay with King James Version of conversation. Peter declares to us be holy in your conversation, I think all of us can understand that conversation begins in the tongue. And so it is that practicing holiness begins with us beginning to bridle our tongue. We must understand that the tongue is directly connected to our hearts (spiritually speaking). Our tongues will always give evidence of what the condition of our hearts is. Jesus said this concerning the heart and the mouth, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” whether we realize or not it is our tongue that defiles us. We cannot truly practice holiness when our tongues are out of control, when they are unbridled and quench the Spirit that God has poured in us. It does us no good to practice holiness in other areas of our lives and our tongues continually are out of control.

HE WHO CONTROLS THE TONGUE CAN CONTROL THE BODY

Did you know that the bible teaches us that whoever can control their tongue can also control their entire body? Holiness that is practiced often ends in failure because we have not brought our tongues under the power of the Holy Spirit. Listen to what the Apostle James says about controlling the body, “…If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” The man that can control his speech, his conversation can bridle; bring into subjection the whole body. It is at this point that I declare to you again that holiness begins by controlling the tongue. Likewise James also reminds that the man that cannot control the tongue will defile his whole body (James 3:8).

WE WORSHIP GOD WITH OUT HEARTS AND TONGUES

We must consider the fact that it is our tongues that we use to worship God, to pray to God, to encourage one another and to share His holy word with one another. And yet many times we use this same tongue to hurt one another, to curse one another, to gossip about one another and to argue with one another. James ask us a simple question, “…can a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?’ The answer is no, either a fountain gives off good water or bad water not both. He uses this question to ask whether our tongues should be in this condition where they are giving praise to God on one hand and the other being used in a carnal unholy way. He says this should not be so. James says, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” Our tongues should have the liberty to praise God and open our hearts before Him and likewise be under the control of the Spirit and used to build up and edify.

THE TONGUE SHOULD GIVE LIFE AND SAVE FROM TROUBLES

The Bible says in Proverbs that, “in the tongues is the power of life and death.” We can give life to people and ourselves through the use of the tongue or we can destroy others and ourselves through the power of the tongue. Consider these scriptures in regards to the power of the tongue:

Proverbs 15:4 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit”

Proverbs 21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles”

Many people cannot practice holiness in their hearts because they have a breech in their spirit. What this means is that their spirit is like a wall that has been broken in a certain place and that wall no longer has the power to keep good things or bad things out it has been breached. So anytime God pours in His blessing the enemy can easily come through the breach and rob the person of what God has given him. How can we practice holiness when our spirits have been breached because out tongues are out of control. Many of the troubles that we suffer are caused be our very own tongues.

BEGIN HOLINESS WITH YOUR TONGUE AND THE BODY WILL FOLLOW

If what James is teaching us in his writings is true, then controlling the tongue is the key to practicing holiness before God. He teaches us that if we get a hold of our tongue and are able to control its speech then naturally the power to control our entire bodies will follow in line. A holy tongue means a holy heart and this is the holiness that God is after, holiness and purity in the depth of our inner man.

God Bless,

© 2008 Apostolic Messenger

  ”And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

I recalled this story in a message that was preached in Spanish by Bishop Juan Fortino from Miami. I will do my best to share it with you in English.

There was a gardener who had a beautiful garden and in this garden he had many different flowers, trees, some fruits and vegetables and in one little corner he had one tiny little bamboo growing. The bamboo loved his gardener more than any of the other plants and trees in the garden. He loved him because the gardener use to take extra time to talk to him everyday. One day while the gardener was watering him the bamboo asked the gardener what his purpose in the garden was? The bamboo said I know the flowers are here because they give a beautiful fragrance to the garden. And I know the trees are here because they give shade to the garden, and I know the fruits and vegetables are here because they give you food. But what am I here? Why do you pay so much attention to me? The gardener said, “I have a very special purpose for you that you cannot see yet.” Although the little bamboo did not know what his specific purpose was, he was still very excited because he now knew he had a purpose. Time went by and the little bamboo grew into this great, mighty bamboo, he was taller than any of the trees in the garden. One day while enjoying the cool morning he noticed the gardener coming his way but this time he did not have his usual bucket of water he only had a large knife in his hand. As the gardener approached the bamboo he asked the bamboo, are you ready to be used for your purpose?” The bamboo was very excited and he replied,”Yes” I am ready to be used for my purpose. So the gardener begin to cut the bamboo down with the large knife and the bamboo screamed and said, Master what are you doing? That hurts so much! The gardener said, if I am going to use you I need to cut you down. The bamboo said, If you must cut be down so I can be used then have your way master. After the gardener cut the bamboo down he took him to the side of his house and laid him on a lng bench. The bamboo said, what are you going to do to me now master? The gardener said, if I want to use you I must split you open and rip your heart out and all your insides. The bamboo screamed, no master that will hurt to much! The gardener told the bamboo if I don’t then I cannot use you. The bamboo said, if you must split me open so that you can use me then do what you must master. The gardener split open the bamboo and the bamboo screamed out with pain but before he knew it the  gardener was done. The gardener left the bamboo to dry out for a couple of weeks on the side of his house and the bamboo was growing in anxiety wondering when and how the gardener was going to use him. At this time he noticed that the gardener did not pay as much attention to him as he used to. He noticed that the gardener spent most of his time taking buckets of water to the trees and the plants that were in the garden. The once little bamboo was wondering if it would have been better for him to stay in the cool of the garden then to want to be used by the master. Afte a couple of weeks the gardener returned to the bamboo and he began to put the bamboo back together. The bamboo was just so happy to be touched by the gardener that he had completely forgotten that the gardener had a special purpose for him. When the gardener was done putting the bamboo back together he picked him up and took him to the side of the stream where he used to get the buckets of water to fill the garden. The bamboo asked the gardener, master what are you going to do with me now? The gardener said, I am going to use you as a pipe from the stream to my garden. The bamboo replied, master you are going to use me to water the garden? You mean I will bring water to all the plants and trees in the garden now? Yes the gardener replied, I will now use you to bring life to my garden, without you they will not have water. The bamboo was overjoyed and could not believe the gardener would give him such a wonderful purpose. The bamboo now understood why the gardener had to what he did to use him. Many times we do not know why we are going through the thing we are going through but we can be sure that God is working His purpose out in us. Sometimes God has to cut us down, rip everything out of us, let us dry out then put us back together to use us. Remember no matter what you are going through God is going to get the glory out of your life.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

God Bless,

Well I back from the holidays and ready to get back to my blog. December was a pretty crazy month for me. It started by me getting really sick; a combination of the flu, bronchiits, allergies and being really busy. It really put me down for almost the entire month. Despite this I was able to still enjoy the holidays with family and friends. I thought I would start the New Year by pointing out a couple of things that happen when we pray.

Five things that happen when we practice prayer:

1. We humble ourselves in the presence of God

2. We practice faith because we are praying to a God that we cannot see

3. We practice obedience because we obey God’s command to pray

4. We practice trust because we trust God to hear and answer our prayers

5. We practice spiritual relationship with God because we speak to Him in prayer

Three things that happen when we pray:

1. We are ushered into the presence of God through prayer

2. We are quickened made alive (spiritually) through prayer

3. Our minds are able to percieve the spiritual things of God

The power of Prayer:

1. Prayers are answered

2. We can see the power of God manifested in our lives

3. The will of God is known and accomplished

4. The carnal man is crucified and spiritual man is at liberty to live the fulness of the spiritual life.

The benefits of prayer are many and the truth of the matter is we cannot have success in our spiritual walks unless we practice prayer on a daily basis. Prayer releases the Spirit of God to work freely in my life; emotionally, physically and most importantly spiritually. It is for this reason that I am completely resolved to pray more faithfuly in the year 2008. I encourage all my brothers and sisters in the Lord to make a covenant with the Lord this year; a covenant to pray, to have fellowship and relationship with God it is a resolution you will not regret.

God Bless

Just wanted to tell all my friends, brothers in Christ, family and fellow bloggers have a blessed, anointed, Spirit filled, joyous, loving Christmas and New Years. May the Lord bless you and your family abundantly in His Spirit and in His presence.

 God Bless,

Thank for praying for me brother Noe! I needed some counsel and friendship. Thanks for this story you sent me I thought I would share with everyone on my blog.

I thought this might help you! Have you in my prayers all day!

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem (An Angel Story)
Author Unknown
Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guestroom. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.” The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, “How could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him,” she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die.” “Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.” Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later. Think about this: Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in. Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months. Should you despair over a relationship gone bad, think of the person who has never known what it’s like to love and be loved in return. Should you grieve the passing of another weekend, think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family. Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance, think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk. Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror, think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine. Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking “what is my purpose,” be thankful. There are those who didn’t live long enough to get the opportunity. Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember, things could be worse. You could be them!!! May today there be peace within, may you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be, may you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith, may you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you. Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly…

God Bless,

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it” Luke 14:28 NLT

Jesus Christ teaches us that before you begin a great work you must first sit down and consider whether you have the means and the abilities to accomplish the task that is before you. Once you have consider the cost, what it will cost you personally; whether it is your time, money or personal change you must then sit down and form a strategy or a plan to ensure that you are successful. This principal applies to both the material world and the spiritual world. In either endeavor you must have a plan a strategy that will guide you in accomplishing your task. To many times we fail in our walk with God because we do not follow the strategy, the plan He has given us, we have not taken the time to stop and consider what it is that we really need to do to bring about effective change in our lives. So often times we are excited and motivated but because we did not have a strategy our plans often end in failure. What is it that you want to do for the Lord? What changes would you like to see in your own personal life, whether it be spiritual, financial or relational? Do you have a plan? Have you counted the cost? Before you embark on your next task or great change take time to consider the personal cost and challenge that it will require. Consider taking these intentional steps before embarking on your task:

1. A SPIRITUAL STRATEGY: Nothing changes by accident; you have to work at it. And this is where some Christians have a problem; we are taught to pray but we are not prepared to suffer, to go through hard times, to stick with the plan the strategy that God has given us. We need to look hard into His Word, ask the Spirit for guidance, evaluate where were at spiritually and form a spiritual plan according to His Word.
An example may be: Your not growing in the Word of God, you understand this is detremental to your spiritual growth. You may first consider some scriptures that command us to study God’s Word, such as Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved…” then you sit down and consider what it will take for you to have a positive time of biblical study daily. What personal sacrifices will you have to make? What materials such as a study bible or concordance will you need to purchase? What areas of your life will you need to change to ensure proper devotion to God’s Word? This is what it means to sit down and consider and to form a strategy.

2. BIBLICAL POSITIONING: If you study spiritually successful people, you may notice they don’t just work hard in a focused way, they position themselves. They position themselves in the will of God? Are you lined up in the will of God? Are you confident that it is God calling you to this task, calling you to make this change? When reading Ephesians chapter one you will notice that one of the words that Paul uses frequently in the chapter is the word ACCORDING. He is simply trying to express to the church that if we are going to be spiritually productive and successful in God’s Kingdom we must do everything according to His will. We must pray in the Spirit and be sure that we are living and positioning ourselves according to the biblical principals that God has ordained for us.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER: This is best exemplified in a marriage. In a successful marriage partners hold each other accountable to a spiritual, financial, relational strategy that they have formed. Being faithful to their plan in both the good and bad times will help ensure that their marriage is a success but often times one may want to do something that is not part of the strategy and that is where the partner help the other be accountable to what they have promised. Likewise their are also other partners that can help you be successful, partners that will counsel, will advise you and will look over your shoulder and consider what is best for you. Such partners are your Pastor’s, parents, professional counselors people who wil have your best interest in mind. Consider having a partner whether it’s a pastor, a friend or a professional counselor who can give you sound, unbiased advice and keep you accountable to your plan.

4. SPIRITUAL PLANTING: Whether you are planting a garden, trying to start a business or beginning a ministry you have to believe that what you are planting is going to be productive. Planting takes faith, a belief that it is the right thing to do and the right time to do it. You don’t plant seeds in stony hard ground. You must consider whether the place you are about to invenst your time, energy and resources are going to bring a spiritual harvest into the Kingdom of God. This is not in reference to God’s Word (because the Word of God must be sown everywhere) this is in reference to where we choose to exercise our time and energy into the work of God’s Kingdom.

5. CULTIVATING SPIRITUALLY: We must continue to work the ground where we have planted the seed, continue to water it with the word, with faith,with worship. Invest time and effort into what you have set out to accomplish. Faithful cultivation is the key to ensuring that whatever you have planted has the greatest chance to grow and be fruitful Many ministries die not because it was not God’s will but because they did not continue to cultivate the ministry, the calling with the Word of God, with Worship with personal consecration and discipline. These are key to allowing the Spirit of God to water the ground you are working on. We must understand that we are doing a spiritual work and this spiritual work must be watered by the Spirit. Cultivating the spiritual ground allows the water of the Spirit to find its way into the ground and cause spiritual growth. The only biblical way to cultivate of break the ground is through prayer, the Word and consecration. The reality is that this is where most people fall short.

6. DISCIPLINED PATIENCE: Remember your job is to plant the seed and to cultivate it but only God gives the increase. We must be disciplined and patient as we wait for God to bring the increase. A grapefruit tree has a certain time that it brings forth its fruit. Until then it is up to us to be patient, to continue to work, to be disciplined in our spiritual lives. If we are patient in our work for the Lord, whether it be winning souls, building relationships or trying to bring about personal change in our lives; God will give the increase.

God Bless,

Mans imagination cannot fathom the immense greatness of heaven. Our minds are limited in their ability to perceive supernatural things such as heaven. What is heaven, where is heaven, how does heaven look and who will be in heaven these are some of the questions that man has attempted to answer regarding heaven? Words cannot describe such a supernatural place neither can the mind perceive such divine things in our present carnal state. The only answers we have regarding heaven are the divine scriptures which have been given to us by God. Surely it is a great, awesome, unimaginable wonder.

SCRIPTURES DESCRIBING HEAVEN

The Father’s House:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

A Heavenly City:

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16

A Holy City:

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2

The Throne of God:

“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Revelation 7:15

A Place of Holiness:

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27

A Place of Divine Joy:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

A Place of Prestine Beauty:

“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” Revelation 21:18 

A Place of Worship:

“And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:14

A Place of Perfect Light:

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 21:23

A Place where God Dwells:

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revealtion 21:3

Meditate on these scriptures and consider whether it is worth living and suffering for the Creator of the heavens and earth. Consider that one day you shall see God as He is; in His perfect beauty and holiness. Remeber we are only pilgrims in this world, sojourning till we find a city whose builder and founder is God. It will be a glorious day the moment we meet our Father in heaven. Is your name written in the Lamb’s Precious Book of Life? Are you ready to stand with God and behold the wonders and the beauty of that city called New Jerusalem? It is going to be a glorious day when the bride meets Jesus in Heaven.

We Shall Reign with Him:

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21

God Bless,

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35 

If there is one thing that we as Christians lack in our spiritual lives it is a daily-consecrated time of devotion to God. To many times we look at our devotional time as a hard arduous task and I will admit that praying is not easy but it doesn’t have to be something that is looked upon as rigid. Our prayer time or devotion time to God should be the most beautiful refreshing time of the day for us. It is in devotion that God restores me, forgives me, speaks to me and strengthens me. It is for these reasons that my time of devotion to God should be the most important part of my spiritual walk. There are no spiritual secrets to learning to devote yourself to God in prayer and spirit. It is a matter of practicing it daily until it becomes an habitual part of your spiritual life. The need and rewards of daily prayer are to many to list and the reality is that to few Christians really practice a life of daily devotion to God; it simply is the greatest need in the church today. If you are struggling in your prayer life I want to encourage you to start again, ask God to give you the strength.
Here is a sample of a one-hour devotion you could practice:

10 minutes of your favorite worship music
10 minutes of reading the bible
10 minutes of worship (no music)
5 minutes of confession
10 minutes praying for need of the church and others
10 minutes praying for your own needs
5 minutes of worship

Remember the idea is to get into that daily habit of prayer. As you grow in your prayer life you will find your own way of praying. For example when I first started praying I used to listen to worship music to help me concentrate but I eventually grew to the point where I needed to pray in a quiet atmosphere. Now my devotion is pretty simple, I read the word of God for about 10 minutes and then I pray. I spend the first part of prayer in simple worship to God and then I usually start my confession and petition for forgiveness. I then begin to thank God for all He has done and provided. I then begin to intercede for others; praying for the needs of the church, needy, family and those in authority. I usually end my prayer by praying for protection against the enemy and worshipping God for hearing my prayer. For me this easily fills up an hour of devotion. I believe that if the majority of Christians would practice this hour of devotion in their daily lives they would have no problem living in the fulness of God’s will.

“And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41

The greatest growth I have had in my spirituality has come through the practice and power of daily devoting myself to prayer. The secret to overcoming temptation is found in finding God’s strength in prayer before the temptation comes. If we wait till the temptation arrives to pray then it is proably to late. Overcoming and being victorious are found in gathering up God’s strength and grace before the moment of testing and temptaiton comes. If you want to grow, if you want to know God more intimately you must learn to devote yourself to God in prayer. Their simply is no other way.

God Bless,