His Word, Our Path

The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. - Genesis 21:1, NLT

When God told Abraham and Sarah that they were going to have a baby, they were way past the age of childbearing. As time went by, with no sign of a child, Sarah told Abraham to sleep with her maid, thinking that way they could have a baby. But that was not the promised child. God did not put the promise in someone else. He put the promise in Sarah, but she was discounting herself. “I am too old. There is no way.” She had to quit counting on someone else to make it happen. Finally, at ninety years old, she gave birth to Isaac. God will put promises in your heart that seem impossible. Thoughts will tell you all the reasons it cannit happen. But how do you know that God will not do something extraordinary and uncommon? God put the promise in you, not someone else. You have to do as Sarah did and recognize who you are. You are gifted, you are talented, you are valuable, and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have the favor of God to see the promise fulfilled.

“Father God of love, thank You that what seems impossible always remains possible with You. Thank You that You have put promises in me that are part of Your plan and purpose for me. I believe that You have given me favor beyond what I have imagined, so that I can become who You say I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning, Happy Sabbath and Happy August!!!

“You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you.” - 1 Chronicles 17:25, NIV

In 1 Chronicles 17, God gave David the amazing promise that one of his descendants would always be on the throne. He would have an everlasting dynasty. David could have said, “God, that is impossible.” Instead, David understood this promise and dared to pray, “God, I am asking You for something big, not because I have all the talent, education, and connections, but simply because You promised it.”

The dreams God has placed in your heart may seem impossible. But you have to say, “God, You promised it; now I am bold enough to ask You for it.” When you do, do not be surprised if you have doubts. The enemy gets stirred up when you start asking God for big things. Doubts will bombard your mind when you start praying God-sized prayers and asking Him to take you places that you have never been, to touch a family member who has been off course, or to give you the hidden dreams of your heart. Negative thoughts will come: “Who do you think you are?” Just smile and reply, “I am a child of the Most High God.”

“Father, thank You that You created me to live an abundant life, not a small life. Thank You for the challenge to ask You for big things and to see the greatness of Your power. Help me to dare to ask big and to believe for what seems impossible. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

…singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.- Ephesians 5:19–20, NKJV

We are all making something. Some people are making sadness, thinking about what they have been through, what was not fair, who they lost. That is drawing in more sadness, more discouragement. Other people are making worry, playing all the negative thoughts over and over in their mind. “What if it does not work out? What if I do not get well?” That is drawing in more stress, more heaviness. Why not you start making melody in your heart to the Lord. Start having a song of praise inside. Instead of saying, “These children are so much trouble,” start saying, “Lord, thank You for blessing me with children.” Instead of saying, “It.is a pain to go to work,” say, “Lord, thank You that I have a job.” Instead of saying, “The medical report is not good. I do not think I will ever get well,” be saying, “Lord, thank You that You are restoring health to me.” Are you creating an atmosphere of doubt, worry, and mediocrity. Or are you creating an atmosphere of praise, victory, and abundance? All through the day, under your breath, be one who is making melody in your heart.

“Dear Father, thank You that I can make melody to You in all my circumstances because You are bigger than any of my circumstances. Thank You that I can put the old sad songs of defeat behind me and start singing songs of victory. I declare that I will create an atmosphere of praise to You today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Good morning!!!

Snerpa ehf - Tölvuþjónusta

As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. - Luke 24:30–31, NLT

Two days after Jesus was crucified and buried, two of His discouraged, heartbroken disciples were walking the seven-mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus when they were joined by a man they did not recognize. They were so focused on their great loss that they did not recognize the miracle of the moment, that they were walking with the risen Jesus. They were missing the joy in the journey. They did not see it until God suddenly opened their eyes and they recognized they had been in His presence the whole time. We see the difficulties and struggles every day, but are we seeing the joy in the journey? Could it be that God is doing great things, that we are actually in a great moment right now, but we do not see the good things? My prayer is, “God, open our eyes as You did for those two disciples.” There are great things happening right now—great memories to be made, great people to enjoy, great opportunities coming. Do not be so busy and stressed trying to get where you want to go that you miss it. Amen!

“Father God, thank You that no matter where I go or what I do or what I am feeling, You are always with me. Open my eyes to see You today and to recognize the great things You have gifted to me. I want to walk with Jesus today and find joy in my journey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. - Genesis 41:14, NIV

When Joseph was a teenager, God put a dream in his heart that one day he would be in leadership, but his brothers became jealous and sold him into slavery in Egypt. He was being his best, but his owner’s wife falsely accused him of a crime, and he was put in prison. For thirteen long years it was one wrong after another. But notice that each of these wrongs was necessary to bring Joseph to where God wanted him to be—the interpreter of Pharaoh’s dream, taking him from the dungeon to being made the prime minister of Egypt. Maybe you are having some wrongs in your life—someone betrayed you, a door closed on the dream you worked so hard for. How do you know you are not a Joseph? How do you know that the wrongs are not divine detours, the hand of God leading you into something more amazing than you have ever imagined? You can live out of a place of rest, knowing that the wrongs, the things you do not understand, are leading you into God’s perfect plan.

“Dear Father of love, thank You that what so often looks like a setback is really Your hand moving me toward Your purpose. Thank You that what is wrong will push open doors and bring opportunities I could never experience without it. Help me to live in peace while You work things out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. - Daniel 11:32, NKJV

Today’s Scripture says that when you know our God, when you know who you are talking to in prayer, you will not pray weak prayers; you will pray bold prayers. You will ask for big things, for things that seemed over your head, that other people think are far out, too much, that could never happen. You have to recognize the One who is putting that dream in your heart and get in agreement with Him. Do not talk yourself out of the purposes God puts in your heart. He is the all-powerful Creator of the universe. Do not go through life with a small vision, praying small, thinking small. You activate your faith by not only believing, but by asking, by saying, “God, let me impact the culture. God, let my children leave their mark. God, open doors so I can accomplish what You have destined me to do.” You do not want to come to the end of life and have to wonder what would have happened if you had prayed bold, believed big, and taken the limits off God. Bold prayers get bold results.

“Father God, thank You that You are the all-powerful Creator of the universe. Help me take the limits off what I believe You can do in and through my life to impact the culture. I open my heart to You and ask You to increase my capacity to pray bold prayers that get bold results. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

…you will do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. - Philippians 4:8, MSG

What is playing in your mind? What are you giving access to? You cannot think negative and have a positive life. You cannot think sickness and get well. You cannot think lack and have abundance. The battle is taking place in your mind. Why are you letting destructive thoughts in? Why are you letting fear roam around? Why are you letting worry have free reign? Why are you allowing doubt to hold you back? You have complete control over what you let in. You cannot stop negative thoughts from coming and knocking on the door, but you do not have to give them access. Be selective of what you allow in. Fill your mind with and meditate on these positive, hopeful, faith-filled thoughts today. “God is restoring health to me. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. My children will be mighty in the land. I am a masterpiece. I am one of a kind. I am made in the image of God. I am crowned with favor. I am wearing a robe of righteousness. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Glory! Hallelujah!!

“Father God, thank You for giving me Your promises to meditate upon. Thank You that Your Word instructs me to think on things that are true and right, wholesome, pure, and of good report. I declare that I will be selective in the thoughts I allow in. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. - 1 Corinthians 15:31, NKJV

The apostle Paul wrote nearly half the books in the New Testament. His missionary journeys and pioneering work for the gospel were amazing. He is one of the heroes of faith. You would think that he was such a mature believer that he would not have to deal with issues of the flesh and say that with his mind he served the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Yet he said, “I die daily. Every day I take my flesh off the throne and put down carnal desires.” As with Paul, we all have areas where we are letting the flesh dictate. If we would start dying daily, start walking by the Spirit, being willing to be uncomfortable, keeping our mouth closed, waiting with a good attitude, then many of the things that frustrate us now can be opportunities to grow. Do not respond the same way you have been responding to your spouse for the last twenty years, being impatient, frustrated, argumentative. When you die daily, God can trust you with more influence, more favor, more resources. Are you winning the war within?

“Loving Father, thank You for always calling me higher and to die daily to everything that keeps me from being my best. Help me to confront the areas where I struggle with the flesh wanting to rule. I believe that with Your help, I can overcome and be victorious. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning and Happy Sabbath!!!

“We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that is what they thought, too!” - Numbers 13:33, NLT

When Moses sent twelve men to spy out the Promised Land, ten spies came back intimidated and afraid. They felt like grasshoppers because they did not understand that God will put you in situations where you are the underdog. You do not have the skill, the resources, the training, the connections. As the Israelites did, if you stay focused on what you do not have, you will talk yourself out of what God has for you. The right approach is, “I may feel like a grasshopper, but I know that God being for me is greater than the world being against me.” So what do you think about what you have? Are you discounting what God has given you? God has given you the talent, the courage, the skills, the looks, and the personality you need. Do not go through life thinking you are at a disadvantage, that you are lacking. People may think you are a grasshopper, but do not underestimate yourself. Do not talk yourself out of the greatness God put in you. You will be amazed at where you can go with your talent, your courage, your faith, and your determination.

“Dear Father, thank You that You are always greater than any difficulty or adversity I will ever face. Thank You that You have given me everything I need to live out Your purpose for my life. I declare that I am not a grasshopper, but I am well able to go in and take the land. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. - Matthew 27:14, NKJV

Jesus went around doing good, healing people, and feeding the hungry, yet people ridiculed Him, slandered Him, told lies about Him. The religious leaders said, “He is from the devil. That is how He can heal people.” Jesus could not have been any more loving, kind, and generous, but certain people were determined to misunderstand Him, mischaracterize Him, and misjudge Him. What did Jesus do? Spend all His energy trying to straighten them out and prove to them who He was? No. He answered them not a word. He did not waste His time trying to convince people to be for Him who were never going to be for Him. You would think with all the negative talk, with all the rumors, slander, and lies, He would have missed His purpose. But people do not control your destiny. They can defame, denounce, and mischaracterize you, but your reputation is in God’s hands. What they say cannot stop your purpose. Do not make the mistake of engaging in battles you are not supposed to engage in. Do as Jesus did and answer them not a word. Do not pay any attention.

“Father God, thank You that Jesus did not worry about His reputation and how much and how often He was disrespected. Thank You for His example that I do not have to waste my time and energies trying to prove who I am or change what others think of me. I will not answer them a word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 3:15, NIV

Sometimes the still small voice of God speaks to us about very practical matters. “You are not eating healthy. This is not good for you.” You keep hearing it again and again, pushing it down. Do not ignore it. Or maybe you hear the whisper, “You need to get to work on time.” Or, “You need to treat your spouse better. You need to watch your words.” These are gentle whispers, impressions in your spirit, not your mind. Your intellect may say it is fine, but deep in your spirit you know you should do it. When we understand that the whispers are for our benefit, the whispers are God leading us down the best path, we will not ignore them or push them down. We will be quick to obey. When you do not feel at peace about a purchase, you put it back. When you feel a prompting to spend time with your child, you turn the TV off and obey. At work, you feel uneasy about being with someone. The alarm is going off. You trust your sensor and make the change.

“Dear Father, thank You that in the most practical ways You are speaking to me about everything that I am involved with. Thank You that You are directing me for my benefit and leading me down the best path. I declare that I am committed to obeying Your still small voice today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Good morning!!!