After God's Own Heart Ministries

Assured Of Victory

“Our Father dwells in tents as well as in temples, but His favorite abiding-place is in the hearts of mankind.” — J. Fred Jones

Psalm 46:1-11 NLT 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! 4 A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. 5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. 6 The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! 7 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. 8 Come, see the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world. 9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 11 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

While this Psalm may have been written to be sung by the Children of Israel in response to God’s continued faithfulness, mercy and blessings, I also read this as a song I can sing for my life.

God is indeed my refuge and strength and my help in times of trouble. When the earthquakes come and the storms roll in, my Heavenly Father brings peace and joy to my spirit, when I look to Him.  I must remind myself daily, that God’s Spirit does indeed dwell within me and therefore, all that His Spirit provides, is available to me.

In addition, I can relate to those “nations” that make war with me.  Those nations of fear, doubt, unbelief, complacency, apathy, etc.  All poised to wage war with the Spirit of God in me. However, just like the Psalm states, “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” is here with me!  My God is my fortress and He can handle every weapon that my adversary can set against me.

And finally, my end is assured of victory.  Not because of what I can do, but what my Heavenly Father does and who He is. He’s my fortress, He’s my shield.  He’s my protector and deliverer.  He’s my God.

I pray that each of you can say the same, for that is exactly who God wants to be and is to His Children.  We must realize the power of God’s Holy Spirit that dwells within us.  God wants us to stand, but not in our own power, but His.

Lets be obedient and give glory to God by surrendering our lives completely to Him. For when we do this, the world will know that He is God. More importantly, so will we.

May you grow in knowledge, wisdom and love of our Lord and Savior.

See God Based On His Character, Not Ours

“Trials are not enemies of faith but are opportunities to prove God’s faithfulness.” — Author Unknown

1 Peter 1:5-7 NLT  5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

It all boils down to how we see things.  If we see God in every aspect of our lives; the good times and not so good times, we then can get a clearer picture of His Sovereignty.  This is more than positive thinking, but positively knowing the character of God and our relationship to Him.

He doesn’t punish us because we are bad or reward us because we are good.  That’s what we do.  God is higher and greater than how we act and think.

God is faithful, because that’s His character.  God is holy and righteous, because that is His character.  God is just, because that is His character.  God is loving, because that is His character.

We are able to maintain our joy and peace through every situation in our lives, because we begin to understand the character of God and His love for us.  Its with this knowledge that we no longer see every trial or test as punishment for our wrong doings, but the opportunity to grow in faith and trust in God. We learn to no longer depend on our efforts, but what God is able to do.  We learn patience, perseverance and sufficiency in God alone.

We can put our entire hope in God, because His character dictates that we can and should.

May you find your joy and peace only in the One and Only God, who can and will sustain it for you.

All The Strength We Will Ever Need

“Faith makes it possible, not easy.” — Sally Nguyen

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The more that we decrease and the more that Christ increases in us, the stronger we become spiritually.  This strength gives us the ability to love others, including our enemies.  As long as we desire to stay in control, we will never realize how strong Christ is in us.

My brothers and sisters, the days to come will require supernatural, spiritual strength. Old doctrine, powerless religion, and fearful Christian believers will be overwhelmed by the mounting evil that is marshaling its strength against the Kingdom of God.

We must become weak in our own doings, surrender totally to Christ and be renewed and strengthened in the power and might of a Holy God, to stand against this unrelenting adversary.

By allowing Christ to manifest His presence in us and by walking in the authority of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God, we will be able to walk in victory in every situation and circumstance that comes our way. The adversary, nor his evil machinations will be able to stand against God’s people when operating in the strength of Christ. Satan must flee before the power and might of Christ.  PERIOD!

So let us not rely on our own strength, but in the strength of Christ. Let us focus on the joy of the Lord in our lives.  Let us not take for granted our relationship with Christ and His love for us. Don’t be distracted by the things of this world for nothing this world offers is or ever will be greater than the favor of Christ.

Dear Lord, thank you for your strength and power that enables us to withstand the evil plans of this world. Because of your favor Jesus, we are made strong. Help us to stay humble and trust always in You. This we ask in your name, Amen.

There’s So Much More

“Many times disillusionment comes simply because our circumstances don’t fit our concept of who God is and how He works.” — Mark Wiley

John 6:27 NKJV “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him”

As we begin another work week, I am reminded about these words of Jesus to those that followed after Him. The prior day, He had just performed the miracle of feeding thousands.  And here they were again “working hard” to get to Him.  I say working hard, because they did whatever they could to get to where He was.  Jesus addressed them with the words in the scripture above as well as telling them that they didn’t make the effort to see Him for what miracles He performed and what He had to say to them, but because He had feed them physically.

Jesus was trying to get them to understand that there is so much more to life than their physical needs, wants and desires.  He wanted them to know that the greater need, the greater blessing is to seek Him for the forgiveness of sin and the righteousness and love of God, Almighty.

It is unfortunately too easy to become complacent and even a little selfish in seeing Jesus as a means to satisfying our physical, mental and financial needs. Please don’t get me wrong.  Jesus often times does provide for us in these areas, just like he provided food for those that had gathered to hear Him preach.  But what we must remember is that “the Giver, is more important or greater, than the gift”.

Who Jesus is and the purpose of His life to us, must be more important than the resulting blessings and promises of receiving Him into our lives.  He didn’t come to give us what we want or desire, but eternal life and to know the love of our Creator.  This far surpasses any physical need we may have.  Yes, there are times this may be hard to accept.  But it is true none the less.

To God be the Glory.

In God’s Hands, The Furnace Is For Refining

“As sure as God puts His children in the furnace he will be in the furnace with them.” — Charles H Spurgeon

Daniel 3:21-25 NLT 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. 24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. 25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Sometimes, we often find ourselves in one of life’s furnaces.  Some of our own making and some we are thrown into. But for the Believer, we never have to be there alone, unless we choose to be.  And the only way we would choose to be is due to our lack of faith in the Word of God that states He will never leave us alone.  Not in the examination room, not in the board room, not in the court room, not in your family room or even if you don’t have a room of your own, God has promised to never, ever leave you.

If we can maintain our focus on Christ, the same miracle that we read about in Daniel, is the same miracle that God will and really is, doing for us today. I think we as Believers must get this notion out of our hearts and minds that God will keep us from the “fiery furnaces of life”.  But the fact of the matter is, that is not what the Bible says.

It is when we are in the “furnace” or during the storms or traveling through the wilderness of life, that we usually can see or hear God.  Its during these times that God gets our attention and focus.  Its during our “furnace time” that our plans and ways of living are exposed to the real heat of life and they are burned to ashes.  Its only after then that we can let go and allow God to do His refining work within us.

Just remember that a clay pot is just that until it is put to the fire.  Only after that does it become valuable, a work of art, something that is precious and meaningful to the Potter.  A masterpiece that is worthy of a special place in the Potter’s home.

I pray today that we change our perspective a little.  The Bible didn’t say that the three Hebrew boys were kicking and screaming and resisting when told they were going to be thrown in the furnace.  In fact, they were bold enough to tell the King to do whatever, because either God would be with them and deliver them, or if He didn’t, they still were not going to give in to what the rest of the world(kingdom) was doing.

The time is quickly approaching for all Believers to truly stand. Running and hiding in church is no longer going to cut it.  Hiding behind the pastor’s faith or church membership or a denomination or religious duties are not going to be enough, as if it ever was.

Do you have a relationship with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?  Is it a relationship where you can tell the storm to cease and it will?  Is it one where the fire of the furnace can’t touch you?  If not, today is the day that you can ask God to make your relationship with Him as such.  You can ask Him for a relationship with Him that will allow you to stand, no matter what.  It can be yours today, if you want it more than what you have right now.

The choice is always yours.  God is waiting.  Know that you are blessed to be faced with this choice.  For God is giving us all an opportunity to be saved and free.

Faith. You Have It In Something Or Someone. Why Not God?

“Faith is measured by your life, not your lips” – Dr. Tony Evans

Galatians 2:20 NKJV 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Christ not only spoke in love and in truth, but He also walked in both.  His life represented what He said.

My spirit cries out for me to do the same. To live more by faith and less by sight.  To see others as Christ would see them and to love others with a heart that loves like God’s heart loves me. To do more than just give lip service.

As I daily deny my selfish wants and desires, I believe that I come closer to truly depending on God to fulfill my every needs.  And it is this letting go, that I believe the faith in Christ grows stronger within me.

Yes, it is a daily battle to allow the Christ within me to have complete control.  But it is a battle that must be fought and won, in order to truly serve and love the God who has provide all, even more than I would ever need or desire.

May you find the strength and commitment to live and walk in faith.  For this is how we please God.

Can They See Your Fruit…And Would Anyone Want It?

“You cannot appeal to the flesh to gain the promises of the Spirit. Let God work out His plan.- Dr. Tony Evans

Galatians 5:22-26 NLT 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. 

We are greater than how we feel or in how we see ourselves.  God is also greater than what we can see or feel.  The Holy Spirit that dwells within us is more powerful than those things we must face in life. And finally, Christ has done so much more on our behalf than we will most likely realize in this life, until we stand before God and Christ opens the Book of Life to read our names.

We have been changed and are in the continuous process of being changed. We are no longer bound or slaves to our old fleshly selves.  We are new creations because of Christ. Let’s desire those things that God has given us access to: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  These “fruits” shows the world who we belong to; who we truly are.  This is how our testimonies are made effective.  By the fruit that we bare.

May God bless you and continue His perfect work in you.

No Middle Ground

“If we would talk less and pray more about them, things would be better than they are in the world: at least, we should be better enabled to bear them.” – John Owen

Psalm 81:5b-16 NLT 5b. I heard an unknown voice say, 6. ” Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. 7. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. 8.”Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! 9. You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. 10. For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. 11. ” But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. 12. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. 13. Oh, that my people would listen to me!  Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!  14. How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!  How soon my hands would be upon their foes! 15. Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, they would be doomed forever. 16. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”

You know, we all have our thoughts and beliefs of what we believe is right and wrong.  We think we know which paths we should take and travel and who to travel with or without.  Basically, God has given us free-will and therefore a choice to follow His Word or ours or even others.

We can choose to believe the promises of God; and there are many He provides, but with a simple stipulation: trust Him only! Or we can search for what we are led to believe is better.

The Children of Israel, God’s chosen people, struggled with this same problem, over and over again. Their results are recorded in many chapters and verses in God’s Word.  The lesson they should have learned and one we need to learn today is: God is right and if we follow Him, we will be under His protection, blessings and providence.  If we choose to do things our own way, we will fail and be subject to whatever awaits us, outside the Will of God.

Today, as Believers, we are faced with mounting opposition and pressures to be “politically correct”, tolerant and accepting of society’s wisdom.  We are labeled, “blind, out of touch, outdated, weak and even foolish”, to follow the Will and Word of God.

So today and everyday, we must choose to stand on something.  There is no middle ground.  Either the Word of God or the word of the world.

One day soon, all doubt will be removed on which choice is the right one.

May God speak to our hearts and give us His strength, boldness and faith to stand.

Truly Blessed

“Worry fades away when we know for sure that our future is in God’s hands.” – anonymous

Ephesians 1:3-8 NLT 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Heavenly Father, we thank You today for Your many blessings. You have watched over us this week and kept us close to Your loving heart. You have blessed our coming and our going. You have provided for us, even when we have not deserved it. We confess that as hard as we may have tried this week, we still struggled in total surrender to Your will and Your way.

But Father, our hearts are yearning to love like You have instructed us to. We desire to obey and follow after our Savior’s example, but realize that we can’t do it without Your very presence. So we ask Dear Lord that You continue to draw us close to You. Remove those things that hinder and bind us and blocks our view of You. We ask for strength to stand against the enemy and his evil ways. We ask for continued faith to hold on to Your hand, through the storms and the rains and the tears. We look forward to Your healing touch, both physically and spiritually. We know that whatever we lack, You will more than provide for us through the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for walking beside us, guiding us and dwelling within us.

And Father, we pray for our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Help us to be a blessing to them as You have been to us. Let Your light shine so brightly in and through us that Your love is all that they can see when they see us. 

Give us a grateful and thankful spirit. Help us to be content in where You have us in our journey with You. Teach us how to please You and to worship You in spirit and in truth. 

Finally Father, let our every action, words and deeds, bring glory to Your son, Jesus. For we realize, that if it wasn’t for His love for us, we would not know You and therefore be without hope. We thank You for hope, for peace, for joy and assurance of eternal life with You. We thank You for Your mercy and Your grace that You provide us each and every day. We love You, we thank You and we praise your Holy Name. This we pray and ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Know that God loves you and cares for you today. Think of how truly blessed you are, because of His love for you. And please remember that there is always someone, that needs to hear this from you.

Where’s Your Hope?

“True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.” — C. S. Lewis

What do you hope for and what do you put your hope in?

Is it hope that our Heavenly Father has heard our prayers of praise, thanksgiving and needs? Hope that the trials and troubles we face will not last always? Hope that through faith in Christ, our sins have been washed away by the blood that He shed on Calvary? Hope that each day, the Holy Spirit will help us to grow closer to Christ and help us stand against the enemy? And most importantly, Hope that we can live a life of righteousness, expecting Christ’s return for us as He has promised.?

I could go on listing the things I’m hopeful for, but this email devotional would be very long. But if this morning or sometime today, you would just take a moment to think on those things that we hope for in Christ and know that we can trust God to do what He has promised, today will be a day that we can live in victory.

Psalm 146:5 KJV – Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

I Peter 1:3-4 NIV-  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you.

Psalm 71:5 NLT – O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.

Psalm 42:5 AMP – Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.

Unfortunately, we tend to put our hopes in so many other things. I won’t list them because we each have our own list.  We know what and who we are putting our hopes and trust in.

But can I tell you, if its not God, then we are really wasting our time, energy, talents and resources.  Because nothing can nor ever will be able to fulfill us and complete us as God can and promised to.

Father, today we thank you for the hope we have in you. There is no one like you and therefore no one we can truly put our trust in, but you.  Yes, we love our family and friends, but only you can give us the strength and faith and hope for tomorrow.  Continue to be with us today. Help us to live by faith, and not by sight. Hoping that each moment we live today will be pleasing to you.  Thank you for your presence in our lives, the promises that we know you will keep and the hope that in you alone, that keeps us growing closer to you. In Jesus name we pray, who is the source of our hope, Amen

May God continue to fill your life with Him which is indeed our hope.