Devotion: You Are A Child Of God

Do you know what it truly means to be a child of God?  As a child of God, you have the right to the inheritance of the new covenant, a better covenant, built with better promises (Hebrews 8:6).  As a child of God, you have the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity (3 John 1:2).  As a child of God, you have a divine inheritance to the best in life, deserving all the Father has to offer.  Jesus tells us that he came that we “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

However, here is where so many miss the boat because they do not know how to become a child of God.  Not everyone is a child of God.  Only those who have received Christ and believe in his name have been given the right to become a child of God (John 1:12).  Only those who have faith that Jesus is the Christ are born of God and they have been given the right to be called a child of God (I John 5:1).  Everyone else is a creation of God.  Now you know that there is a difference in becoming a child of God and being a creation of God.  Do do not just be a creation; become a child by finding out what it takes to become a child of the Almighty God.  In becoming a child of God, “may you always be doing those good, kind things that show you are a child of God, for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord” (Philippians 1:9-11 TLB).

We pray that today’s inspirational message will help get you started on the right track to discovering what it means to be God’s child.  We also pray that this message will be a blessing to you and that you will share it with others so they may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Give Attention To My Words

Are you one who has a clear understanding of the things of God or are you one who is just downright confused?  Guess what, this is why God has told us to seek wisdom and know-how (Proverbs 4:5-7).  He tells us that we need to get understanding, get the ability to use good sense in our thinking, in our judgment, and in our actions, and get the ability to perceive and to explain the meaning or nature of things, because once we have these things, then revelation knowledge will come, and we will no longer be confused.  Our problem is that we have not taken the time to truly seek God, to truly find out what he is trying to tell us, or to truly find the meaning of the scriptures that we read.  God tells us to “study to show thyself approved unto God” so that we can “rightly divide the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15), but most of us do not adhere to this command to study.

The word of truth is given “to tell us what to believe (for doctrine), what is wrong (for reproof), how to correct wrong (for correction), how to live (for instruction in righteousness).”  We are to rely on the word of truth because it includes “everything needed to grow in maturity, to be perfect (meaning proficient or capable), and to do what God wants” (II Timothy 3:16-17).  The idea that we are to attend to God’s words hold little meaning for some because they believe that just carrying a Bible with them fits the commandment.  How so very wrong they are.  When we attend to his words, we learn that they are life unto those that find them (Proverbs 4:20-22), which means that God’s words are full, abundant life unto those that hunt for, look for, or seek those words.

God wants us to attend to his words, which means that we need to listen carefully to his words, and we need to pay close attention to what is being said.  This means that there must be more to knowing God then just opening the Bible, reading a few verses or so, and coming out believing that we are knowledgeable about the things of God.  Matter of fact, God tells us to immerse ourselves in his word.  He tells us that we must hunt for, look for, and seek the answers that he has provided us through his instruction manual.  This might mean that we will have to pick that Bible up, open it, and do a little more than just read it.  We may have to dissect it.  If we truly immerse ourselves in his word, while we hunted for, looked for, and sought the answers that he has provided us through his instruction manual, then we would eventually become knowledgeable about the things of God.  So, until we do, I guess we will just be . . . confused.

Today’s inspirational message briefly talks about giving attention to God’s words so that you will “get into the word and you will let the word get into you.”  As always, we pray that this commentary, combined with the message below will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: I Now Believe God Loves Me

Do you know that God loves you?  Do you believe that God loves you?  The two questions may seem redundant, but they are actually different questions.  While many Christians know that God loves them, they have a hard time believing that God loves them.  So many have this problem believing that God loves them because they focus on their faults and failures, never completely understanding that God has forgiven them of all their sins through their faith in Jesus Christ.  People often say, “I am just an old sinner saved by grace,” not realizing that they are confessing to still being a sinner.  When you are saved by God’s grace, God no longer considers you to be what you use to be, which is a sinner.  Yes, you may still commit sin, but you have a new nature, where your old sinful nature was crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) and you have been redeemed (Galatians 3:13).  And in being redeemed or delivered, you are now considered a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17) having put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).

Scripture tells us “That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit; and be made new in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, to which God has given life, in righteousness and a true and holy way of living” (Ephesians 4:22-23 BEV).  So, instead referring to yourself as “just an old sinner saved by grace,” maybe it is time to renew your thinking and change your confession.

So, instead of referring to yourself as “just an old sinner saved by grace,” maybe it is time to renew your thinking and change your confession.  Maybe it is time to make this confession, “I was an old sinner with a sin nature, but I have been saved by grace and given a new nature, a righteous nature.”  Since God has declared me righteous, I now believe that God loves me and if you want to know the same, I encourage you to read the fifth chapter of Romans and you will believe that God loves you too.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on doing just that.  We pray that this commentary will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Is Good

Scripture upon scripture, we find that our God is good all the time.  We see that God is good to everyone and that his tender mercies and his compassion are involved in all that he does (Psalm 145:9).  We find that God is good and so full of mercy that he is ready to forgive all that call upon him (Psalm 86:5).  We are told that God is good and that his mercy is everlasting, extending to each and every generation (Psalm 100:5).  Surely, our God is good all the time.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: the sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: the moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: and brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: and made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: and slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: and Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: and gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: and hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalm 136:1-26).

Today’s inspiration message focuses on the goodness of God and how wonderful it is to know that he is good.  As always, we pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Choose Life Words

There is a phrase that people say when they have finished complaining about something or when they want to complain but choose not to say anything that goes something like, “But why complain, no one listens anyway.”  We have been cleverly trained to speak certain negative catch phrases that actually speak words of doubt, fear, sickness, and even death and many of us have no idea that we are speaking such things into our lives.  We recently learned that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), which suggested that the words we say can actually affect our life.  We also learned the words we speak are like seeds that are planted in the ground and from those seeds; we reap a harvest from what we have sown or in this case, spoken.

However, we have a bigger problem; there is someone actually listening for those complaints.  We have an adversary, who “wanders back and forth about the earth walking up and down it (Job 1:7) like a roaring lion, seeking those that he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  As we have mentioned many times before, the fact that he is seeking or looking for those that he may devour means that he does not have the right or the permission to devour anyone.  Guess where that permission comes from?  We know that many believe that the permission comes from God (Job 1:8-12), but it is actually the words that we speak that gives him “permission.”  Scripture tells us that we have been trapped by what we say, ensnared by the words of our mouth (Proverbs 6:2 NIV).  It just goes to show that the words you speak are more important than you may have thought.

The Bible tells us “neither give place (opportunity) to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27), but those negative catch phrases that we speak actually give him place or opportunity.  It is the permission that he needs to do what he does best, which is “to kill, to steal, and to destroy” (John 10:10).  We need to be very careful with what we say, careful to choose life words because there is a little more riding on those words than our reputations.

As you read today’s inspirational message, reflect on those negative catch phrases that inadvertently come out of your mouth and remember that there is someone who is just waiting for you to speak them.  We pray that you will be blessed, informed, and all the better for having read both, the commentary and the message.  If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Fear Of The Lord

During the days of my youth, I remember that “fear of the Lord” I had when I first heard the story of the flood and the stories about the fire and brimstone.  Those stories made me absolutely petrified of God.  I remember thinking that one disobedient act on my part would cause God to punish me for that sin.  Because of my youth and my understanding of what was being said (taught) and/or my misapplication of what I heard, I believed God would strike me dead, raining fire and brimstone on me as punishment, when I committed a sin, because in my mind, immediate death was associated with a sinful act.

As I look back at the fear that I had for God then, I realize that that kind of fear was not the kind of fear I needed to have for God.  It was extremely unhealthy and gave me the wrong impression of who God truly is.  Though I was taught to never question God, the pastor, or any adult leaders in the church, I could not help but wonder why the God everyone told me loved us so much could be so cruel and mean.  Today, my definition of fear as it pertains to God is completely different.  Instead of being petrified, I now have a reverence for God and a desire to do all that I can to please him.  Funny how your opinion of God can change when you “diligently seek to truly know him” (Hebrews 11:6).

A Psalm of David.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:1-14).

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on what it means to have “a fear of the Lord.”  As always, we pray that this commentary along with the devotional will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by this message, please share it so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Claim Prosperity!

It is so amazing that when there is talk about good health (III John 1:2), wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), and total life prosperity (Joshua 1:8), the nay-sayers come out of the woodwork to denounce these messages.  They believe that as children of God, we do not have a right to these things.  They claim that if these things were “of God,” then there would be no sickness, no poverty, or the like.  They do not acknowledge the fact that there is a thief, an adversary, that is come to kill your good health, steal your wealth, and to destroy your total life prosperity (John 10:10).  If these be not those things, then what be the things that the thief is come to kill, steal, and destroy?

According to scripture, God has given us or provided for us, everything we need.

“So don’t be proud of following the wise men of this world.  For God has already given you everything you need.  He has given you Paul and Apollos and Peter as your helpers.  He has given you the whole world to use, and life and even death are your servants.  He has given you all of the present and all of the future.  All are yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ is God’s” (I Corinthians 3:21-23 TLB).

God has already made provision for us in every area of life.  He has prepared and given us everything that we need or will ever need.  Scripture says that we have the whole world to use, but for some reason, some teach that we are supposed to live in a state of poverty and humbleness.  God created enough abundance for all mankind.  While we see many believers struggling with financial problems, health problems, and your basic life problems, we must understand that these issues have little to do with God himself.  We have to know that God is not withholding anything from us.  However, our problem is a two-fold one.  First, we are being “destroyed because we lack true knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) about our new covenant promises, which by the way includes prosperity, amongst many other things.  The second is that we fail to remember that we have an enemy that wants to kill us, an adversary that wants to destroy us, and a thief that wants to steal our covenant promises.  We need to fight to keep all of our covenant promises, once we find out what they are.  By faith, we need to take our good health, our wealth, and our total life prosperity just like we would reach up and take fruit off of a fruit tree.  God has provided all of these things, this fruit, in abundance, and it is your responsibility to take or claim it as yours.  Do not allow your lack of knowledge or your adversary, your enemy, or the thief to keep or take it from you.  It is yours, so claim all of it.

Keep in mind that Paul said it was “no great thing for men to appear as false apostles, workers of deceit who were able to transform themselves to appear as Apostles of Christ.”  He told us that even “Satan himself is able to transform into an angel of light, so it is nothing for his servants, his ministers to transform into ministers of righteousness” (II Corinthians 11:12-15).  It is these servants of Satan, these ministers of righteousness and Satan, himself that have deceived the many.  We will be the first to admit that there have been many who have abused “the so-called prosperity message,” but should the behavior of these abusers be used to invalidate the truths contained in God’s word?  We think not.

As you meditate on today's inspirational message, do not allow the mere mention of the word “prosperity” to affect your ability to remain open-minded either; for a closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.  This message is a little different from most messages on this topic, but we believe that you will enjoy it and that it will minister to you if you allow it to.  Amen.

If this message has been a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.  Blessings.

Enjoy your blessings - KW