Author: Joanne

Hope As The Gift of A Saviour!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

– Luke 2:11

Happy Holidays! May you have a wonderful day in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, as you celebrate His first coming make sure that your heart is prepared and ready for His second coming. For Jesus said in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

As I reflected this morning on what Christmas was like for me over the years especially as a child, I realized that every year the one thing I desired more than anything else in the world was to receive a gift. Not just any gift but a gift that will make me feel loved, appreciated, valued and special. After all, Christmas is about giving gifts, right? However, I never received a gift at Christmas, not from family nor friends.

There were times when I was involved in gift exchange as a youth in Church and I prayed that the person who picked my name will give me such a gift but I always got a gift that was an ornament of little value that had no meaning to me. On the other hand, I would investigate the needs of the person whose name I selected and give that person a gift that he or she can enjoy no matter the cost. After a while, I decided never to be involved in gift exchange anymore because I was always disappointed with the gift I received.

In recent years before I left home to live on my own, I would watch others put their gifts under the Christmas tree, which they excitedly opened on Christmas morning. I was just as excited for them but deep within my soul sank with the pain of sadness.

For many years I questioned, “What’s wrong with me? Am I not valuable and special? Don’t I mean anything to the people in my life? Don’t I deserve good gifts?”

I concluded that there is no place in this world for me. That I do not belong anywhere. That there is no hope. That I don’t deserve anything good. Therefore, I give of my best to everyone else because they deserve the best and to preserve whatever little sanity I have remaining, I decided to retreat so that I would have no expectation of anyone and I would no more be disappointed.

I was wrong. There is hope and I have hope. I do deserve good gifts. I am loved and appreciated by, as well as valuable and special to God. He demonstrated His great love for me by giving me the best gift ever, that is, the gift of a Saviour, Who is hope, Who gives me hope and in Whom is my hope.

Luke 2:11 tells us, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.”

When I read and meditated on this verse this morning, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that the day Jesus was born a Saviour, hope (expectation, trust, confidence) was delivered to me as the gift of a Saviour. This tells me that Jesus doesn’t only give hope but He Himself is Hope. Therefore, He is my hope. He gives me hope. Hence, my hope is in Him only.

The Anointed One the Lord has delivered, preserved and saved me from the danger or destruction of the negative thoughts and lies of the enemy perpetrated by the spirit of bondage to fear; He has brought me into a state of prosperity and happiness, and has given me eternal life and blessedness in His kingdom, when I received the Spirit of adoption, whereby I cry, Abba, Father (see Romans 8:15).

Thus, I do belong somewhere, I belong in the kingdom of Abba Father who has adopted me as His precious daughter and given me the greatest gift of all, which I deserve. From Him comes every good and perfect gift (see James 1:17). Hence, there is no other place I would rather be today and always than in His presence, where there is fullness of joy and seated at His right hand where there are pleasures forevermore (see Psalm 16:11). There He can reveal to me His secrets and truths about His love and purpose for me.

Today, if you are feeling sad and disappointed because you did not receive a gift or the gift you expected from a loved one, know that Abba Father has already given you the best gift you can ever desire because you deserve it. Reach out to Him, His is waiting with open arms to welcome.

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Abba, Father, I worship and give You glory today and always. Thank You for hope as the gift of a Saviour. I declare that Jesus is my Hope, He has given me hope and in Him only I hope. I declare that I am no longer influenced by the spirit of bondage to fear which I have not received, instead, I am continuously blessed as I have received the spirit of adoption, whereby I cry Abba, Father. Therefore, I am loved, appreciated, valuable and special to God as His precious daughter, and I find my place in His kingdom forever. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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Safe in the Strong Tower of Jesus’ Name!

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

– Proverbs 18:10

In no other name is there found an answer to all of life’s problems, protection and comfort for those who call on that name but the name of Jesus. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ expresses all that God is, His attributes or characteristics as He has revealed Himself to us. The name of Jehovah speaks of His self-existence. Therefore, He depends on no other creature. He is the “I AM THAT I AM!” (see Exodus 3:14); a character that no other creature can lay claim to because every creature in heaven and earth is created by and for Him and consists in Him (see Colossians 1:16–17). He has created all things for His pleasure (see Revelation 4:11). Not only is His name love, merciful, grace, forgiving, healer, protector, provider, peace, faithfulness, among others but it is also a strong tower.

The name of your Heavenly Father as a strong tower is a secure place that you can run into and find rest just as a child rests on his or her mother’s breast. When you rest in Jehovah’s name you are safe (strong, made lofty, set on high), and lifted high above all your challenges. It doesn’t matter how big, intense, painful, debilitating the challenge is, call on the name of Jesus. You may not always get an immediate answer when you call on others but you are guaranteed an immediate answer every time you call on the name of Jesus.

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Papa, I worship You today and always for You alone deserve my worship. Thank You for Your name that is above every other name. Your name that is a strong tower. I declare that every time I rest in the name of Jesus I am lifted high above all my troubles. Therefore, I overcome them all and walk in victory. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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Strengthened by the Spirit of God

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

– Ephesians 3:16

Both in the Old and New Testaments various times believers are encouraged to be strong, strengthened, of good courage, courageous, and not to fear, be anxious, be dismayed or depressed. Is it because God knows that there would be troubling situations in life that can and will evoke these spirits that are not of Him?

In Ephesians 3:16, the Apostle Paul’s prayer is that God with the riches of His glory (dignity, honour, praise, worship) and by His Spirit (breath) will endow you in your inner man (heart) to be strengthened (empowered or increase in vigour, wax strong) with might.

Your Heavenly Father ensures that provision is made for your strength. He Himself is your strength (see Habakkuk 3:19), His joy is your strength (see Nehemiah 8:10), and you are strengthened by the Spirit of God. Yet, it is a conscious decision that you must make to remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (see Ephesians 6:10) even in difficult times, knowing that your strength and courage are forced or influenced by God’s Holy Spirit dwelling inside you.  

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Abba, I worship and give You glory. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who dwells inside me forcing and influencing Your strength and courage in my heart. I declare that I am strengthened by the Spirit of God. Therefore, even in difficult times I will remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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Be Strengthened in Your Heart as You Hope!

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

– Psalm 31:24

You have dreams, visions, desires of your heart (mind, inner person) that you have prayed about and would like to be fulfilled in your life time. Often, your dreams, visions, desires are so strong that they arouse anxiety and depression as you anticipate their fulfilment. It is comforting to know that your prayers are answered and your heart’s desires are granted to you. Sometimes, that which you seek seem to take very long to be fulfilled and you wonder if God is even hearing your prayers much less answering them. Nevertheless, you continue to hope (wait, tarry, be patient, trust, stay) in the Lord.

Don’t give up hope. Be of good courage (be strong, be strengthen, be courageous, overpower). For God discerns the entire temperament of your inner heart. He is your strength (see Habakkuk 3:19) and you shall be strengthened in your heart as you hope in Him. It is said that when you are at your wit’s end and about to give up that is when your breakthrough, your answer is just around the corner. You just do not know it because you cannot see it. Should you give up now after coming this far, you will miss the fulfilment of your heart’s desires. Stay in the Lord a little while longer. Even though your vision tarries wait for it because it will surely come to past at its appointed time (see Habakkuk 2:3). God is faithful, keep hoping in Him.

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Abba, I worship and honour You. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for strengthening my heart in times of dismay. I declare that I will be of good courage and continue to hope in the Lord until I see the manifestation of my dreams, visions, heart’s desires. Therefore, I will enjoy the fulfilment of my blessings. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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Hinds’ Feet On High Places!

The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

– Habakkuk 3:19

Since life’s challenges are inevitable never try to avoid them no matter how impossible they may seem. The mountain of challenges that you are faced with this moment can easily become a place of worship the very next moment. This is only possible, not by might not by power but by the Holy Spirit (see Zechariah 4:6). God has already equipped you with His strength to overcome the challenges of life.

God is not simply the supplier of but He Himself is your strength (ability, might, power, influence). It is He who will make (appoint, bring, put, change, charge, convey, determine, consider) your feet like hinds’ feet, and will make you to walk upon your high places (elevation, place of worship, mountain). In other words, God Himself being your strength will control or take charge of your feet like hind’s feet on high places. Therefore, you have the resolve and are able to triumphantly walk upon your mountain of challenges and successfully transform it into your place of worship.

No matter how high and big your mountain of challenges seems, how long it takes you to climb it, how tired your feet may become, how frustrated, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed you may feel at time when you think about this mountain, you will get to the top because you are not alone climbing it in your own strength, for the Lord God who is your strength is right there with you ordering your steps in His Word (see Psalm 119:133). Though He is bringing you to the top of your mountain of challenges, He is also waiting for you at the top of this mountain to enjoy your worship there.  

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Abba, I worship and give You glory. Thank You for being my strength and for making my feet like hind’s feet on high places. I declare that the Lord my God is with me as I climb my mountain of challenges. Therefore, this mountain of challenges will become a place of worship where my Heavenly Father delights in me. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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I Am the Melody God Sings!

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

– Zephaniah 3:17

Can you imagine that the Creator of the Universe, the Most High God, the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God delights in you? You ask, “Who me?” Yes, you! You are His treasure and He finds pleasure in you. Your relationship with Him is reciprocal, He first loves you so your love for Him is a response to His love for you. When He looks at you in the palm of His hands, He sees you as the apple of His eyes (see Zechariah 2:8), His valuable treasure.  

To demonstrate His love for you in times of tribulation, as only He can, God will save (bring to a place of safety, help, defend, rescue from the enemy, deliver) you. Assuredly, when you are anxious and depressed He will rest (be silent, speak not a word, hold His tongue, be still, be quiet) in His love (affection and faithfulness). As He shows you His salvation that only comes from Him and quiets you with His love, delightfully He will rejoice (be bright, be cheerful, be glad, make mirth, greatly joy) over you with joy and singing. He sings over you songs of deliverance (see Psalm 32:7) so sweetly on His lips like the hummingbirds chirp their songs. You are the melody that He sings. Say it to yourself, “I am the melody that God sings!”

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Abba, I worship and give You glory. Thank You for Your love for me, showing me Your salvation, quieting me in Your love when I am anxious, depressed and overwhelmed by suffering. I am so elated to know that You delight in and sing over me songs of deliverance. I declare I am the melody that God sings. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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Encourage and Build Up One Another

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Evidently, life gets very demanding for persons who have various responsibilities in their homes, Churches, ministries, organisations, careers, et cetera. Circumstances are sometimes unfavourable and some people difficult to deal with. At times, life throws curve balls at you that you must field nonetheless but for which you are occasionally unable to. Hence, you become frustrated, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and regularly feel alone in your pain. In these difficult times you will encounter persons who are experiencing such so you are admonished to comfort (encourage, speak consoling words, exhort, show compassion, support, strengthen) and edify (build up, augment, add to, advance, improve, enhance) them.

Comfort yourselves by encouraging and speaking to yourselves with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (see Ephesians 5:19). However, sometimes you may not always have the words of encouragement to say to others but even your very presence is a support or demonstration of compassion for them. At times that is all they need, someone who can be present with them with a listening ear or to help them with a mammoth task that they have been struggling to complete.

Additionally, edify one another by building one another up in your most holy faith (see Jude 1:20). This is to enrich the lives of one another. It requires a deliberate choice and tremendous effort to invest in a strategic plan of action for your personal construction venture in like manner as a builder plans for the construction of a house. It therefore means that you must have a personal plan to build up the lives of others who are overwhelmed, anxious and depressed because of the challenges in life.

Two are better than one (see Ecclesiastes 4:9) so purpose in your heart today to encourage and build up one another, especially in these challenging times.

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Daddy, I worship and praise You for You alone are Holy and worthy. Thank You that in Your Wisdom You have created us for one another. Thank You for the people You have placed in my life who have been a blessing to, encouraging and building me up, especially in challenging times. I declare that from hereon I will make a deliberate choice and great effort to personally be a source of comfort and enrichment to others who need me just like I need them. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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Shaken and Shattered Yet Securely Strong!

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

– 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Suffering knows no boundaries, does not discriminate, seeks no one’s permission but invades lives unannounced at any time. Suffering shows up in various packages – the sudden death of a loved one, sickness, abuse, financial challenges, anxiety, depression, just to name a few. Even the strongest of believers are impacted by suffering. If you are not attentive you can easily succumb to the impact of suffering.

Surrounded by suffering you are shaken and shattered yet securely strong in the Lord like a Live Oak tree that withstands tempestuous winds and remains rooted in the ground. Being rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus guaranties your strength always, especially in difficult times. That is because your strength is not dependent on the absence of suffering but your strength is the joy of the Lord (see Nehemiah 8:10) that you experience even in the midst of suffering. This joy springs from inside you as the Holy Spirit inspires your soul.     

Shalom!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I worship and adore You with all of my being. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who lives inside of me. I declare that because of the joy that springs from the depths of my soul, though I’m surrounded by suffering and I’m shaken and shattered, I’m securely strong in the Lord. Therefore, I am unmovable because I’m rooted and grounded in the Christ Jesus. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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God Has a Plan for Your Life!

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. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity…

– Jeremiah 29:11-14a

It is the disappointments, hurts and mistrust resulting from betrayal; the uncertainties in life; the cunning and mean devices of others; the pressure to always accomplish and secure a future, wondering what others think about you and trying to make a good impression on those in authority who might be able to influence a promotion you desire at the expense of others which intensify anxiety and depression. If only you realize that vain is the help of man (see Psalms 60:11-12; 108:12) but God has a plan for your life so you can hope in the Lord.

God knows (ascertains by seeing, acknowledges, perceives, discerns, is aware of, experiences) the thoughts (intention, plan, purpose, inventions that springs from His thoughts) that He thinks (regards, values, computes, conceives, reckons, invents, considers) towards you. Such thoughts of peace (shalom – a state of wholeness or completeness, without any deficiency or lack), and not of evil (bad in a moral and ethical sense, harm, calamity, displease, affliction, adversity, distress), to give you an expected end (a future, prosperity).  

Understand that not only does God know you but He also knows the plan or purpose He has for your life, so call on and pray to Him, He will hear and answer you; seek and search for God with all your heart, you will find Him. Not that God is lost, He is your ever present Papa but He is patiently waiting for you to access or grab hold of that which He has already provided for you. Today is the day the Lord will turn away (change, return, withdraw, re-establish, bring back, recompense, restore) and God’s liberating power will release you from your captivity. Hallelujah!

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Papa, I worship and give You glory. Thank You for the plan or purpose You have for me life. I am so glad that you know exactly what it is and that You are not trying to figure it out. I declare that I am secure in God’s plan for my life and that my only resolve is to abide in Him and He in me. When I call on and pray to Him He hears me and when I seek and search for Him I find Him right here with me always. Therefore, I am restored and delivered from my captivity by the liberating power of God. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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God Knows You Best!

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

– Jeremiah 1:5

Have you ever told someone you thought knows you very well, “You of all persons should know me better than that? How could you believe that about me? How could you say or do that to me?” No one truly knows who you really are no matter how much time you spend together and how much of your life’s experiences you share. Yet you expect some people to know you so when your expectations of them are not met, you are misunderstood and betrayed, you feel disappointed and hurt. Such unfulfilled expectation of others could trigger anxiety and depression.

The good news is that the Creator of the universe, the One who created you knows you inside out, He knows everything about you. As a matter of fact, even before He formed (God’s creative work, moulded, fashioned, shaped into a form as a potter does clay, determined your purpose, predestined and elected) you in your mother’s womb He knew (ascertained by seeing, acknowledged, acquainted with relationally and experientially, perceived, discerned, personally knew) you. This kind of knowing speaks of intimacy. Not only did your Creator God know you intimately before you were born but then He also sanctified (set apart from profane and ordinary use, treated as holy, dedicated) you. God’s intention for you is good. He has a special and an extraordinary purpose for your life so that you can be a blessing to others.

If you lack confidence in who you are and feel that your gifts are not good enough, know assuredly that your calling is just as important to God as any other. If you are not aware of your purpose or calling in life you can ask your Heavenly Father and He will reveal to you His plans for you. God knows you best! Therefore, it does not matter what others think or how they feel about you.

God bless you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Abba, I worship and honour You. Thank You for being my Creator and for life today. I am so happy that You know me so well and that there isn’t anything in my life that takes you by surprise. I declare that I am set apart by God for a special and an extraordinary purpose to be a blessing to others. Therefore, I confident in who I am in Christ. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!

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