STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH OUR TRUST OUR UNITY

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace because they trust in Jesus. Trust in the Lord forever, for, in the Lord God, you have an everlasting rock.

My faith has grown stronger since my son's death because God has shown me if we lean on Him and be patient, He will fight our battles and give us peace.   So, do not worry about the enemy's plots against us because God is with us, and if we keep the faith, He will keep His promise. When we trust God, we learn how to trust others, not weak, but in an understanding way. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, but because of the love Christ had for the Father, He was able to love and pray for Judas as he did for all the disciples. Our faith connects us to Jesus, and Jesus connects us to the Father, which connects us to each other.

Lord, today we will abandon the idea of perfection that focuses on outer appearance and focus on our character, integrity, and the things of the Spirit.   Lord, help us be mindful of our imperfections, so we do not judge others for theirs.   Lord, our goal is to be closer to You, so remove all that is not of You from our hearts, so everything else in our lives will fall into place. Thank You, Lord, for removing our self-righteousness and giving us the Fruit of love, kindness, and self-control.   Lord, thank You for the Fruit of forgiveness, so we are set free to move forward and let You fight our battles. So, thank You for the people You put in our lives as a blessing, a lesson, and a season. Father, we thank You for peace, wisdom, knowledge, and the same inheritance as Your Son, even though we are not worthy. Lord, teach us to consult with You in all decisions we make, so we will take the best course of action and not lean on our own understanding. Lord, we will actively seek the lessons that adversity brings and glorify You before, during, and after the storm. Lord, help us become aware of the people, actions, and thoughts that contribute to our division and help us strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. In Jesus' name, Amen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR LET US PRAY

Matthew 18:19 - Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Father, as we are blessed to see a New Year, we ask that You help us examine the various aspects of our lives: the physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, professional, and financial; help us identify the things that are not of You, and replace them with the things of the Spirit.  Lord, teach us how to master our moments of decisions through prayer and guidance from You.  Father, let Your Word remind us daily that we no longer live, but You in us and help us act accordingly.  Lord, let us be mindful that money and possessions are useless if we are not using them to build up Your Kingdom and help others.  Father, let the Word teach us how to become a better version of ourselves and let us not be driven by compulsion; but guided by the Spirit through self-control.  Father, let us change the negative energy in our homes and atmosphere to positive by praying together, lifting each other up, and not tearing each other down.  Father, help us overhaul our lives one problem at a time; and discard everything that is not productive to move forward.  Jesus, let us be mindful of the time and energy we direct toward worrying about the things out of our control; and trust in You so we do not grow weary trying to carry the load.  Lord, each morning You allow us to see, we will establish a "go with the flow" attitude within ourselves and let Your Word nurture us through the various situations that arise.  Lord, we will see each moment of each day as an opportunity to share Your love and goodness with every person that crosses our path, in Jesus name, Amen

OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON UNITY AND SHARING RESOURCES

Cooperative economics is a business practice that can also develop our neighborhoods and communities and create jobs.  But, first, we must unite to govern ourselves and work together to build our own businesses, own our homes, create our own schools and hospitals and stop letting other people come into our area and take our money out.  We have the financial power: between our mega Churches, Athletes, movie stars, and entertainers to meet our shared economic, social, and cultural needs.  We can create and control our own enterprises if we work together and think about others as much as we do ourselves.

Ephesians 4:1-6 I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Father, help us realize that our survival depends on working together and sharing resources.  Lord, teach us how to work together to grow our own food, open and patronize our own businesses, and become a mutual aid society through our Churches and fraternal institutions to empower ourselves through cooperative economics.  Lord, our ancestors did things that we feel cannot be done today; when we are more intelligent and have more freedom and resources, why not.  Father, we have been programmed by segregation to be divided, so, Lord, reprogram us through the Spirit and bring unity and love back into our lives.   Teach us how to share our wisdom and knowledge with all people to help lift each other up and stop tearing each other down.  Jesus, the world can be a hateful and cruel place; we ask that You guide our actions as believers; give us an eagerness to be humble and kind to each other, and help us have a heart of patience and forbearance.  Lord, thank You for the hope we have in You, let that hope unify our thoughts and decisions, and invoke peace through the Spirit, in Jesus' name Amen.

Drawing by RonWatsonDrawings.com

JESUS HELP US AVOID EMPTY FRIENDSHIPS

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Recognize friendship as a remarkable gift and responsibility by establishing clearly in our minds that the primary purpose of every friendship is to help each other become better versions of ourselves, like Jesus.  We should seek an earthly friendship that elevates, encourages, challenges, and brings us to life.  Not a friendship drains our energy and enables us to betray ourselves and our purpose and separate ourselves from these relationships. Some people will never be true friends because they are too self-absorbed or bitter and only be around people they can use to build themselves up. Others are so bitter it makes them untrustworthy because they trust no one. But, if they are connected to the Spirit, there is a chance for true friendship.

Father, surround us with like-minded people, not those who seek their own glory.  Lord, remove the mask that self-absorbed, bitter, and broken people wear to convince others that they're someone they're not; and reveal to the world who they really are so we can keep our distance or guide them to You.   Father, let their deeds show their motive, so we are not lead astray by following them into darkness.  Lord surrounded us with Spiritual Soldiers that kept us marching in the right direction with the right attitude.  Surround us with those who lift us up and not hide in the shadows of envy and jealousy, tearing us down.  Father, thank You for Guarding Angles that protect us from enemies disguised as friends.  Jesus, thank You for removing us from those relationships that drain our energy and use us to lift ourselves up.  Thank You for Your faithfulness, even when we are not.  in Jesus' name, Amen

COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Luke 10:30-37 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ...the same

We are all responsible for our own actions, but we are also responsible collectively for actions against humanity, injustice, and those that cannot speak for themselves.  We are collectively responsible for the slave trade in Libya, we are aware of the injustice to our brothers and sisters; but we do not stand against it, we are guilty of being silent.  Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them.  We are collectively responsible for raising our children and witnessing for our Savior.

Father, help us understand, that it is a sin to be silent to injustice; and we are just as guilty of allowing evil to happen".  Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD." Lord, let us not turn a blind eye to the injustice that is happening in Libya and around the world; give those that represent the people the courage to speak up for justice, and demand persecution for those responsible.  Father, there is so much evil in this world and we "the people who are called by Your name, are not doing enough to stop it" please give us Christ-like strength and courage to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.  Father, fill the hearts of our Spiritual, Political, and communities leaders with compassion and love; so they will stop this inhumane treatment, of our people, right now in the name of Jesus.  Lord, we pray for all who are suffering inhumane treatment, for those who are falsely incarcerated.  We pray for those who are abused, mentally and physically.   We pray for our young people who do not know You and we ask that You do not reject them because we dropped the ball, in Jesus name, Amen

Jonathan Nelson - I Believe (Island Medley) (LIVE)

Joshua 1:9 Trust is a valued character trait often lacking in today's world. We have to learn to trust God in every circumstance and in every area of our lives.

Come, let’s go back to the Lord, man has hurt us, but Lord, You will heal us; our friends have wounded us, but Lord You will bandage our wounds.  Father, give us new life, through the Holy Spirit, let the Spirit raise us up; so we will trust You, and develop a relationship with You.  Give us Your wisdom and the knowledge of You, Father, heal this land and it will be healed, save us and we will truly be saved.  Father, there’s no greater love than that shown by the sacrifice of Your only Son, Jesus, Your, forgiving love is one of the greatest manifestations of Your divine nature, thank You for sharing Your love with us.  Even though we are still sinners, You give us grace, mercy, and favor; please continue working with us, and draw us nearer to Thee as we Trust in Your promise.  Lord, we respond to Your love with gratitude and thank You for not rejecting us, in Jesus name, Amen

WE ARE CREATED EQUAL SPIRITUALLY

Our differences make us fascinating, and we should embrace what makes us unique. God created us as individuals; just like snowflakes, no matter how much it snows, there is not one flake alike, but it is all snow. We are all different, but we are all created equal spiritually, men and women of all ages, cultures, and creeds. What makes us different is not as important as what makes us the same, our Spirit. When we choose the things of Spirit, we have life, but if we choose the world we are headed for self-destruction, how can we determine what path we are following. If what we hunger for does not make us happy, add meaning to our lives, or help others, we may have an appetite for the wrong things. Our hunger should be a desire to be perfect in ourselves because every step we take in this direction will bring us closer to Christ.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith.

Father, teach us how to be happy with who we are because we are wonderfully made by You; let us not focus on our appearance but who we are inside. Lord, we teach our children that their differences are wrong, so we add worldly things to their lives that do not matter. Instead of teaching our children who You are, Father, we turn their focus to the things of the world; that makes them covet over money and material things. Lord, help us build their character through Your Word and help them be more like You; and less of the world. Jesus, give our lost people guidance so they can lead their children and their children's children to You.  Jesus, help us live a spiritual life, being mindful that; when we act contrary to the things of the Spirit, we invite unhappiness into our lives and the lives of those around us. Father, let the Word direct our words, thoughts, and actions in Jesus' name, Amen.

BETTER STEWARDS WITH YOUR MONEY

The same way we have convinced our children that Santa is real is the same way we convince them that Jesus is real, by teaching and allowing them to hear the Word.  We have been programmed by society to spend our money on material things, which keeps us in debt and stressed out, and living from paycheck to paycheck.  We will go out and spend thousands of dollars on a man-made holiday, but we won't spend time or money with Jesus who made man; this is our problem, we desire the things of the world that leads to problems, debt, and death, instead of the things of the Spirit that gives us unity, peace, and life.

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

Father, please reprogram us so we can become better people, remove our desire for the things of this world that keeps us down and against each other.  Lord, let us not covet over money, and help us teach our children; that it is not the material things that will carry us through life, but the spiritual things.  Father, show us that everything in this world will pass away, only the things of the spirit will prevail.  Lord, we will fearlessly make known the things of the gospel, for which we are the ambassador.  Father, our faith, and prayer are the energy and atmosphere in which we wage war against the flesh, the enemy, and darkness; it is how we are strengthened in the power of Christ.  Father, You, know our needs and our wants; please bless us according to Your will, in Jesus name, Amen

GLUTTONY IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD

Proverbs 23:20-21 Be not among drunkards or gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags. Galatians 5:16-26 I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ...

Father, let us not overindulge in the things of the flesh; but keep us focused on the things of the Spirit and strengthen our fruit of self-control. Lord, teach us how to fast as a manner of self-control; that enhances our prayer lives and deepens our relationship with Christ. Jesus, draw us closer to You so self-control will be less of an issue for us. Father, let us not excuse our own indulgence while judging others for their indulgence. Father, give us an appreciation for the biblical disciplines of self-denial; and let us not be enslaved by anything material or physical as we pick up our cross daily. Lord, help us esteem, extol, and cherish the teaching of the Word that helps put our fleshly cravings to rest and gives us the strength to repent from them. in Jesus' name Amen

BRAG ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF CHRIST

Jeremiah 9:23-24This is what the Lord says: The wise must not brag about their wisdom.  The strong must not brag about their strength.  The rich must not brag about their money.  But if someone wants to brag, let him brag that he understands and knows Me.  Let him brag that I am the Lord, that I am kind and fair, and that I do things right on earth.  This kind of bragging pleases me, says the Lord.

Father, You, give happiness to us, Your servants, because we give our lives to You.  Thank You, Lord, for Your kindness, forgiveness, and great love for all who call on You.  Jesus, teach us what You want us to do and how to respect and trust You completely.  Lord, we will praise You with all our hearts, and we will honor Your name forever.  Father, You have a great love for us, and Your Son has saved us from death, so we brag and boast about His sacrifice and goodness.  Lord, we boast about Your provisions, mercy, and grace; Lord, we brag about no longer being controlled by our past or our sin; and we boast about our future with You in eternity,  in Jesus' name Amen.

WE CAN'T JUST LISTEN TO THE WORD

James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing

Father, give us ears that want to listen to Your Word and let us be slow to anger; because anger makes us do things out of Your will. Lord, remove from our lives every kind of wrong; help us accept Your teachings that have been planted in our hearts, that will save us. Jesus, let us not only hear the Word but act on what is written so we do not forget. Father, let Your Word fills us with happiness, joy, compassion, wisdom, and knowledge when we study and receive the Truth.   Father, help us tame our tongues; let us not serve evil and You with the same tongue, let the words of our mouth be acceptable in Your sight, so we will bring honor to You.  Lord, You said, “if any of us is deficient in wisdom, let us ask, and You will give to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach or faultfinding, “so we are asking for wisdom and knowledge and the strength and courage to obey, in Jesus name Amen

CONVICTION BUILDS OUR CHARACTER

2 Corinthians 7:9-10  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us. Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly sorrow produces death.

Godly grief gives us the conviction that defines who we are; it is the building block of our character. People without conviction neither know Christ nor themselves; our conviction only happens when we understand who Jesus is in us.

Father, when we claim to be Christian and live in darkness, we do not know Christ. Father, none of us are perfect, and we all fall short. Still, we see the difference between stumbling unintentionally living in habitual, continual sin without any pangs of conscience, guilt, or remorse. Lord, create in us a clean heart; please remove all that is not of You, especially the sins that separate us from You.  Father, give us godly grief for our sins, so we will repent and turn away from our iniquities. Lord, open our hearts and minds, fill us with Your Spirit; so we will be compelled to obey and do good work, in Jesus' name, Amen

STAY TENDERHEARTED AND KEEP A HUMBLE ATTITUDE

1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Greek Show brotherly love. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9Do not repay evil for evil. Do not retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Lord, when You dwell in us we develop the right attitude and if we stay focused on You, we will stay humble.  Father, give us Your love and forgiveness when people come up against us; so we will not retaliate when we are wronged.  Lord, help us not focus on our enemy and the darkness around us, so give us eyes for the things of the Spirit.  Father, thank You, for the hedge of protection You have around us as You order our steps; around the obstacles of this world, that will make us stumble and fall.  Jesus, help us become honorable, true, and pure and fill us with Your Spirit as we practice what we have learned, and received from the Word.  Let us shine with Your wisdom; and give us the knowledge, strength, and courage we need to witness to others, about Your goodness.   Father, thank You, for life health and strength; and the peace we receive from Your grace,  in Jesus name, Amen

THE LORD IS MY SAVIOR

May the god of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen 

Do not forget Jesus is the reason for the season

We Fall Down - Donnie McClurkin

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken us that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let us be tempted beyond our ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure.

Father, recharge us with Your strength and courage to create in us a quiet place where we can hear our Savior speak to us.  Father, when our day-to-day struggles and enemies beat us down, thank You for the Holy Spirit that helps us get back up and stand on Your promise.  Jesus, please remove all the fleshly obstacles that make us stumble and fall, give us eyes that see, so we will stay on the path of righteousness and avoid the traps of evil.   Father, hold our hands and order our steps away from the flaming arrows of the enemy.  Jesus, we give thanks unto You for You are good and Your mercy endureth forever, we pray in Your name, Amen

THE START OF A NEW DAY LET US PRAY

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Father, we are Your children who are called by Your name. Lord, search our hearts and remove all that is not of You; we may boldly approach Your throne with a pure spirit, and You will hear our prayers. Thank You, Jesus, for starting a new day; thank You for the blessing. Lord, give us patience and kind words for all we encounter today; help us uniquely touch someone, so they will see Your light shine through us. Father, bless our children, give them hope and guidance and keep a hedge of protection around them. Lord, bless those called home and give their families the strength and courage to give back to You what You so Graciously gave them. Lord, we pray for those falsely incarcerated, wrongfully killed, and sold as sex slaves, and we ask that You serve justice to those responsible. Lord, we pray that You save this world from the self-destruction course we're on; and teach us how to work together in unity as one body to build up Your Kingdom. Lord, give our Spiritual and Political Leaders Your love for the people, so Your House will operate as a Sanctuary, not an organization, and the people will be focused on You and not the world.   Father, let Your Son's character be reproduced in us to help us become the Christians You created. Lord, let Your beauty shine through us, so the world around us will be drawn to You.  Father, give us Your love, joy, peace, and all the other fruit of the Spirit; that develop as we cultivate our relationship with You.  Thank You for the forgiveness of our sins and the strength to forgive others; in Jesus' mighty name Amen

BELIEVERS CAN FEEL HIS PRESENCE

The eternal living Christ has made His presence known in many ways and on many occasions. The Scriptures repeatedly remind us of His presence, from the beginning with God’s presence in creation and when Jesus walked as a man here on earth.

Acts 3:20-21 That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Lord, thank You for allowing us to feel Your presence and love, a love that is the will rather than emotions. Father, we acknowledge that You are our creator, our redeemer, and the final Judge of all things, so give us Your courage to stand on Your Word and let our actions represent You.  Lord, keep us from being religious fanatics but inward-changed men and women; who will testify of the goodness of You.  Lord, set us apart for Your service, anoint us with Your wisdom, so we will become Your disciples and commissioned for Your excellent work. Lord, give us the knowledge to implement Your Words in our daily lives so we will be special messengers of Christ Jesus. Father, fill our hearts with Your Truth, so we will have assured freedom from doubt and uncertainty. Lord, let us be full of confidence and conviction that the penalty of our sins has been paid; by the blood of Jesus and through our faith, we have been saved, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen

Giants by: Donald Lawrence

Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”  48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

JESUS, HATE, AND SIN CANNOT CO-EXIST IN THE SAME TEMPLE

A subject that reveals our sins will not appeal to us; we do not want to hear about things that are offensive or opposing to God when living in sin. No one who has had an abortion intends to talk about it (unless it's to stop someone else from having one); most times, they are ashamed of their sin. The KKK wears hoods to hide who the Haters are, people who hate enough to kill someone because of their beliefs or skin color. We, who live in the flesh, do not want to hear God's Word about our sins; some even justify their sins. People that commit adultery hide and sneak around; because they know they're doing wrong but blame the person they are cheating on. People that desire worldly things; will sacrifice their souls to keep them; they do not care about the consequence.
We can keep claiming we love Jesus "like Judas did" and live in sin. But do not be fooled that we are passing the test when we willfully sin against God's Word, "This is called blasphemy. " It applies to such sins as cursing God or deliberately degrading things related to Him Mark 3:22-30 and Matthew 12;22-32). 1 John 1:6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but live in spiritual darkness; if we are not practicing the Truth, we are not part of the Truth. As we study God's Word and understand the true meaning of His Word, we become more Christ-like and change our ways.

Lord, You said that You are entirely convinced that we are full of goodness; although most Christians today live in sin, You still show the same love and mercy. Father, we understand that sin is a sin, but we are committing an abomination now: against the Word, the Church, and humanity, Lord, we have become like Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus, how can we say we know the Word but do not heed the Word? Forgive us for the way we choose to live. Father, we have turned the Churches into businesses, and our Spiritual Leaders live like Rock-Stars; while the communities and neighborhoods around the Church fall apart. Lord, we no longer use the Churches as Sanctuaries; for those who seek refuge or help, we turn Your lost sheep away. Jesus, we need Your help right now; bring unity among Your people who are called by Your name. Our struggles are no longer against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, the power of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil.   So, Lord, we need Spiritual unity that gives us strength and courage; to fight against the things of this dark world, Lord, let those who claim YOU stand up and be a light that brings hope and justice to someone's life. Lord, help us live in such a way that we do not get shame of You or ourselves;  Father, we humble ourselves to You and ask for Your forgiveness, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Silentnight by The New Mount Zion Men's Choir

Isaiah 9:6–7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Father, help us develop a Christ-like character so. we can become the disciples You created us to be, and help us be submissive to Your Word.  Jesus, open our eyes that we may see the wonders of You, that will profoundly alter the course of our lives.  Lord, give us ears that hear Your, wisdom and knowledge, that will increase our faith and draw us nearer to Thee.  Father, nourish our Fruit so we will develop: love, forgiveness, compassion, kindness, understanding, self-control, and unity with others.  Lord, remove our materialist desire and replace them with the things of the Spirit; that will compel us to do good, and stay on the path of righteousness.  Jesus, give us a forgiving spirit and remove all obstacles that keep us from sitting at Your feet or hindering our blessing from You.  Jesus, thank You, for willfully dying so we could live; so give us this day our daily bread and forgive us for our sins, nourish our souls with Your Word; so we will be in full body armor at all times, and help us keep our flesh at rest.  In Jesus name, we pray, Amen

WE MUST HEAR THE WORD AS IT IS WRITTEN

Luke 20:45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,46, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and, for a show, make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

Lord, our Spiritual Leaders, are preaching to please people and not You; they speak against sin but never about any particular sin. Father, we all fall short, but how can we claim to love You; and indulge in so many forms of violating Your Word.  Father, we must hear the TRUTH of the Word to receive transformation, so let us receive what’s good to develop Fruit.  Jesus teaches us the importance of prayer, study, and witnessing to others; through our testimonies and actions that honor You and lift others up.  Lord, help them understand that we are not judging; just speaking the Word as it is written gives it power in our lives.  Father, let us not be religious fanatics’ but inward changed men and women, eager to serve You and others.  Lord, give us a heart of true repentance through Your strength and courage so we can turn away from our sins, that separate us from You, in Jesus name Amen

JESUS LIVES AND IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE OUR SPIRITS WILL DIE

1 Corinthians 15:1Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel, you are saved if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to  Peter and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.


Father, we are set free from sin through Christ and nothing else; Salvation is by grace through our faith in Jesus. Father, we know that "the only thing that can save us is our faith expressing itself through love, which gives us peace. Lord, when we focus on Your will, we find peace, love, and order in our lives, and we can help bring that same peace, love, and charge to others. Jesus, we have not seen You, but we have been in Your presence, and we believe You are our risen King. Thank You, Lord, for dying so we could be set free from sin, and we ask that You remove all that is not of You, and fill us with the Holy Spirit, so we will be submissive to Your will. Father, we pray for all lost people, help us help them see Your light; through our good deeds and faith. Thank You, Lord, for forgiveness and help us forgive those who wronged us. Father, let us not be self-righteous; but be patient with the right attitude, while we wait for Your will to be done, in Jesus name Amen

JESUS NEVER KNEW US

The Word of God is to give wisdom to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young. The daily study enables us to understand better and enhance our relationship with Christ. The Word teaches love and self-control; it gives us direction and guidance for developing a disciplined lifestyle. When we study the Word daily with an open heart and mind, the Holy Spirit will penetrate our fears, doubt, worries, and sinful lifestyle; and fill us with the love and faith of Christ; this is what enables us to be submissive to Him. We cannot walk in the dark and be accepted by Christ, even if we are being used as His vessel; if we participate in the world's sins, we walk in darkness.

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Father, help us follow Your Son and listen to His instruction, so You will not forsake us. Lord, teach those who witness for You that we, too, must live as we teach; and not walk in darkness by pleasing the flesh. Lord, let those who plot against us not draw us into their evil schemes, which take our eyes off You, that will entice us to give in to evil. But, fill us with Your strength and courage to stand by Your Word; and not self-righteousness, which takes us out of Your protection. Father, only Jesus' wisdom and knowledge will save us from the ways of wicked men, so give us Christ-like character that will help us follow the path and plan You have for our lives. Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice that has saved us from sin through grace. Thank You for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others, and may Your Word continue working in and through us, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Whitney Houston - I Look to You

Jeremiah 29:12-14Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

WHY OUR PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED

John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

As long as what we ask for is developing and affirming our Christ-like character, He says yes.   If our prayer request is for compassion, love, kindness, self-control, or faith strengthening, Jesus' answer is always yes. If our prayer request takes us out of His will, His answer is usually "No." Jesus will not answer prayers that take us out of His will or make us more prideful and self-serving? 

Father, we are not worried about our journey because we know You are guiding us; and where You lead, Lord, we will follow because You are in control. Jesus, we believe that Your Word is accurate, so when times get rough, help us stand on Your Word and remove all doubt and fears. Lord, You are our world's Savior, yet You came to be a servant, not to be served. Lord, give us Your desire to serve others, and let us not think too highly of ourselves. Father, keep us humble and provide us with patience and ambition to please You, so help us walk in Your will. Jesus, teach us how to pray and help us teach our children and our children's children. Lord, help us examine ourselves and all that is not of the Spirit; please remove it, in Jesus' name; amen.

Michelle Williams - 'Say Yes' ft Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland

Once God has established His purposes for our lives no one can say NO. What God has shut, no man can open and what God has opened, no man can close.  Satan and His followers will wear themselves out in efforts to make a situation turn badly for believers, yet God will still accomplish His plans for us.

WE NEED UNITY

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Romans 12:4-5 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another

The enemy and Satan recognize the power of unity; Satan knows we have been equipped to stop him from messing up God's plan for our lives, and  Satan is desperate to stop us. This is why we are constantly under attack; he wants to keep us fighting to take our eyes off the prize, which is our Savior. This is also why we are surrounded by Spiritual Soldiers who fight with us in unity and strength. Satan makes excellent efforts to cause division because he knows we will become ineffective if he succeeds. This is why Jesus calls us to become one body to work in unity to overcome the evil and darkness of this lost world; we cannot do it alone.

Lord, as Your people, we must overcome division, so we can come together and fight our battles. Jesus, let us not join those who cause confusion; we must not help Satan and his followers tear us down, but work together to build each other up and strengthen Your Kingdom. Father, help us recognize those with dark souls who are the source of disunity and act under Christ's authority to eliminate the threat. Father, let us be as desperate to serve You and others as Satan is to destroy us. Lord, You are a God of peace and unity; it is against Your nature to work amid confusion, so search our hearts and remove all that is not of You.  Lord, unify us to work together, accomplishing great work,  helping our neighborhoods, communities, and empowering ourselves. in Jesus name Amen

WE ARE ALL ONE WORKING ON ONE ACCORD

FROM SELF-SERVING TO SERVING CHRIST

Hebrews4:12-13 for the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than a double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing souls and Spirits, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before his eyes to whom we might give account.

The Word of the Lord is different from any other words written in any other book. The Word of the Lord brings life to those who study and hear His Word. God's Word possesses the power to change us from self-serving individuals to Dedicated men and women of Christ.

Lord, Your Word is sharper than a double-edged sword, and it has the power to change us from self-serving people, two servants of Christ. Father, Your Word penetrates deep into our hearts to cure our lousy psychology, our distorted self-image, and our arrogance and pride. Lord, You judge our thoughts and attitudes and keep us in touch with Your purpose for our lives. Lord, give us a strong desire for Your Word so it may separate us from all that is not of You and all that hinders our blessings. Jesus, help us discover Who You Are and help us deal with our doubt and fears; we pray to You with faith, Amen.