STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH AND HELP US OVERCOME OUR UNBELIEF

Matthew 9:6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe, and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

When the Scribes heard Jesus declare the man's sins forgiven, they accused him of blasphemy. So He decided to perform a visible miracle "He told the paralyzed man to arise, take up your bed and walk" to show that He has the authority to forgive sin. But, they didn't understand, so they only became more hardened in their hatred and unbelief.

Lord, fill us with true belief and faith that will remove all douth and fears, that help us be doers and hearers of the Word. Let the Holy Spirit give us Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You in our daily lives. To give us eyes that see things from a Godly perspective, so we do not miss the lesson. Father, let our faith purify our hearts and draw us near Thee. Let our faith comfort us in the midst of fears and adversity. Lord, You were tempted in all ways as we are, with unbelief and doubt. But, You overcame all temptation, so we can too; through faith in Your Word. Thank You, Lord, for being active and present in our lives, even when we cannot see You, even when we were sinners and rejected You, and even when we didn't believe You. Thank You for choosing our hearts and minds to dwell in and making us a part of Your Holy family. So, thank You, Jesus, for breaking our chains of doubt and unbelief. In Jesus' name Amen 🙏

OUR OBLIGATION

This is our obligation to each other, "thus says the Lord."

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor to build him up for his good. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that we might have hope through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures.
What we are blessed with is not for our pleasure but for us to bless others. We are the blessings that the weak pray for, so be a blessing to lighten the load of the least of them.

Lord, teach us how to "rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer." Lord, give us Your heart ❤️ a heart filled with compassion and love for the weak. Open our hearts and minds to Your will and purpose. Give us eyes seething through the Spirit and ears that hear Your instructions. Let our actions encourage Your people to hold firm in their faith that You are their helper and we are the vessels. So, let us open our hands generously to our brothers and sisters to lift them up in the name of Jesus. Father, You said, "whatever we do to the least of us, we do for You. So, help us serve You through those in need and give us a discerning spirit of who, when, and where, in Jesus' name Amen 

WE NEED DIVINE POWER TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES

And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse . . . Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord."

We can only love our enemies through His will and not our emotions. It is not natural to love those that hate, hurt, or betray us, so we cannot forgive in the natural. It has to be through the supernatural, which only comes with divine connection. When we have a relationship with Christ, we can live a holy life and love our enemies.

Father, help us understand that there is no reward if we only love those that love us. But, there are great rewards for loving and forgiving those that persecute us. Lord, we know we cannot do this ourselves, so thank You for Your divine intervention. Lord, give us strength and understanding when under attack, so we do not respond in anger. Lord, help us practice what we have learned and pray for our enemies. Lord, let Your light fill their dark hearts 🖤 and make them rich by Your grace and love, so they too can be called Your children. In Jesus' name Amen

RAISE THEM IN THE WAY TO GO 🚶‍♀️

Matthew 19:13-15 One day, some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those like these children." And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

We have to nourish the seed God planted in our children before they were born, and they will be deeply rooted. So, no matter what they experience as they walk through this Valley of death, they are not alone. Because the more we sow into them Spiritually as a child, the more protection around them. We should never apologize to our children, especially when they are young; they will make mistakes. We are responsible for raising them in the way to go and then praying them through life, and God got the rest. If they have been rooted in the way to go 🚶‍♂️ they may stray off the path, but Christ is going to find them and lead them back. Just like He came and found us.

Father, help us nourish our Spirit with Your Word and let us take time to teach our children and children's the way to go so they do not stray from You. Lord, let us understand that daily nourishment is vital to our health, relationship with You, and living a balanced life. Lord, help us make time to pray and study with our loved ones, to help nurture their spiritual well-being and create room for You to move in their lives. Lord, search our hearts and minds and remove all that separate us from You to create space for Spiritual Fruit to grow. Thank You, Lord, for saving us and giving us eyes that see our need for You daily. Thank You for giving us ears that hear Your instructions around the obstacles ahead of our children and us. Thank You for teaching us to do right by others, although they do not do right by us. Thank You for teaching us how to breathe so we are not quick to anger and control our emotions. Thank You, right now in advance, for breaking the chains of drug or sex addiction, depression and thoughts of suicide, identity crisis, or whatever they are dealing with, bind and loose us from it, in the name of Jesus, Amen

THE PAST IS BEHIND US

We have been crucified with Christ. No longer we live, but Christ who lives in us. And the life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us.

Some people are still reliving our past, but we're not, we have moved on, and we pray that they will be able to soon. Because we "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, we are doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? He will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" He has forgiven us, and we should forgive.

Father, we thank You for a new day and for being in our right minds. Lord, search our hearts and remove all that is not of You. Let us not love the world or the things in the world, but give us a strong desire for the things of the Spirit. Because all that is in the world desire the flesh and pride in their possessions, which is Yours. Lord, strengthen our faith and help us overcome our unbelief so we do not pass away with the world and its desires. Fill us with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to do Your will, so we will abide forever. So, prune our Fruit and strengthen our relationship with You. So, when the last hour comes, we will be ready. In Jesus' name Amen

OUR PAST IS BEHIND US SO KEEP MOVING FORWARD INTO OUR FUTURE

JABEZ

 Bless me indeed (praying for true happiness), and enlarge my territory (enjoy more of our inheritance of the Lord), and let thy hand be with me (God's protection), and keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me (sin is the thing that Rob us of our joy)! Please grant me my request, Amen.

WALKING WITH CHRIST THROUGH THIS VALLEY OF DEATH

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I have walked through some dark Valleys; one was when I lost my mother. But, God did allow me to rekindle our relationship and get to know her. When I lost my brother Shawn. I grieved and carried guilt for years until I realized God received his soul because he gave his life to save others. So I know he is sitting at our Lord's feet. But, the darkest walk was when I lost my son Eddie. I still grieve for him and pray for Justice to all responsible for his death. So, yes, I have walked 🚶‍♀️ through some dark Valleys; but, God was always holding my hand through it all, shining His light so I could see.

Father, when our hearts are full of darkness and suffering, we look to You. Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice and Your grace. Lord, we come to You with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving even though our suffering. 🙏  Thank You for Your faithfulness that has released us from sin and the wrath of our Father. Thank You for holding our hands "when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, so we will fear no evil." Thank You for your comfort when we were suffering and in pain. Thank You for the Spiritual Soldiers You surrounded us with to help carry our cross ✝️ Thank You for working behind the scenes in our favor and keeping our enemies at rest. Thank You for eyes that see and ears that hear and keep us on the path of righteousness. Thank You, Lord, for choosing our hearts to dwell in and making us a part of Your Holy family. Lord, heal us mentally, Spiritually, physically, and emotionally as we continue walking through this Valley so we will fear no evil. Thank You for the Spiritual growth and awareness we received from our suffering. In Jesus' name Amen

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

In all our ways, acknowledge Him, and will make our path straight 

We are in the world, but the world doesn't have to be in us. We are set apart from the world and described as His children through our sanctification. As His children, we are a part of a great fellowship. Where Jesus is Lord, and all we do should be done in acknowledgment of Him.

Lord, we acknowledge You as our creator and our Savior. We worship You with a voice of praise and the meditation of our hearts. We honor You with our lives. We are grateful for The grace that You give to us and new mercy each day. Lord, we believe You are the Son of God, and You died on the cross so we could live, thank You for restoring us to our heavenly Father.  Lord, let Your ears be attractive to our prayers and let Your presence surround us. Father, take control of our lives and help us walk in Your way daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name Amen 🙏 

PRAY FOR SOMEONE

In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Pray for others "The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold." Pray for someone today.

Father, thank You for keeping us through the night and Thank You in advance for Your hedge of protection around us today. Lord, You said, "For where two or three have gathered together in Your name, You are there in their midst." Lord, we come together asking for peace in the lives of those who are in pain and turmoil. Lord, we pray for better Stewardship for those in financial despair and a blessing to lighten their load. Father, we pray for the marriages you brought together; let no man or woman bring division 🙏. Lord, we pray for understanding, wisdom, and the knowledge to implement You in all we do. Lord, we pray for those that are struggling to make ends meet. Lord, help them prioritize their needs and stay focused on You, so they will spend wisely. Lord, we pray for the homeless, the sick, and shut-in, our seniors and veterans; help us provide for their needs. Father, we pray for the falsely incarcerated and those sold into slavery and persecution for those responsible. Lord, we pray for those who lost family members and loved ones to COVID give them the support and strength they need to move forward. Father, we pray for all those who asked us for prayer. You know them Lord, name by name, need by need, bless them according to Your will. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 

THE FLESH ONLY SATISFIED IT'S SELF

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

The flesh can be very wicked, especially if it has a dark soul. The crucifixion of an innocent man proves how evil and dark our souls can be without Him.  Jesus knew His purpose was to save us and to accomplish this, He had to die. But, it was how we made Him suffer, and we knew He was innocent. 

Thank You, Lord, that You understood us and did not hold what our ancestors did to You against us. So, teach us not to be resentful or angry in our hearts towards others. Father, help us set our minds on things above, not on things on earth. For we have died with You, and now You live within us. So, put to death what is earthly in us and baptize with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to walk in righteousness. Lord, we admit to You that our flesh is much stronger at times, and we allow the enemy to win. But Lord, we ask You for strength and wisdom to defeat the enemy the next time he comes against us. Lord, help us study daily and pray without ceasing because You know that nothing good dwells in our flesh. Father, we desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out without You. In Jesus' name Amen

WE HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY AS CHRIST

Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, nothing shall hurt you.

We walk and operate in the same authority that Jesus had when He walked this earth. So with that authority, we can speak things into existence.

Father, we now agree with the authority we have through You. Help us understand we can change, heal and bless when we walk in the absolute Universal power of our Lord. So, we speak life and healing over our lives, mentally, Spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Lord, we talk about guidance and protection for our children and children. Lord, we talk about healing over the sick and lost. Lord, we speak of understanding and unity in our marriages, relationships, families, friends, and enemies. Lord, we talk about employment in the lives of those looking for work. Give them work ethics that show their full potential. Lord, teach us how to be better Stewards with Your money and bring us out of our financial strongholds. Father, let those who contact us see You in us through our faith and actions. Father, search our hearts and minds and remove the enemy of jealousy, envy, strife, gossip, and procrastination, things that keep us in the flesh. Lord, let the Word give us a strong desire for the things of the Spirit, as the old is washed away and made new. Thank You, Lord, for forgiveness and for teaching us how to forgive. Thank You for the same birthrights as Your Son and the same authority; to speak life, joy, and peace into our lives, not death and destruction. In Jesus' name Amen 🙏 

STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH

Faith is being sure about realities we believe are accurate but cannot see with our physical eyes. God's Word also says that "without faith, it is impossible to please Him…

Let your faith kick defeat out the door. Let your faith Kick fear and doubt out the door. Let your faith kick unforgiveness out the door. Let your faith kick your insecurities out the door. Then stand firm on His Word, with those same feet that you kicked all those adversity out the door with, and watch God blow your mind.

Lord, help us keep our faith when our day-to-day struggles get difficult. Let Your Word help us overcome our unbelief, surround us with Spiritual Soldiers to help us reflect on Your promise. Lord, we know we're already loved, and we are already chosen. So, help us find and serve our purpose. Thank You for being faithful to us even though we are not; thank You for clothing us in mercy, grace, and so much favor. Lord, baptize us in the Spirit of Job, help us love You like You love us. Lord, we thank You for where we are; help prepare us for the next journey. Walk with us through this Valley of death, and we will fear no evil because You are with us, deep in our hearts and minds. Lord, You have brought us through so much; sometimes, we wonder why we doubt You. We would not be here if You did not come to our rescue, and we are so grateful. So, Lord, we believe You died for us allow Your Spirit to come into our lives and remove all that is not of You and take control of our lives. In Jesus name Amen

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips."

Don't curse your relationship with your mouth. Don't speak negativity in your children's lives. Don't speak things of the world into existence. Instead, speak the things of the Spirit in our lives and others. There are so many things we speak into our lives, our children's lives, and our relationships. Unfortunately, when we focus on the wrong things, the bad things come out of our mouths. Try not to focus on the negative; stay focused on Christ and pray before speaking.

Lord, our words have tremendous power, so teach us what to say and when to say it. Lord, help us have an effective prayer life to help us carefully watch our mouths. Father helps us understand that negative thoughts in the Spirit realm will hurt everything in our lives, including our speech. So, Lord, let not our tongues get ahead of our Spiritual minds set, and we repent for the foolish things we have said to others, especially our children and loved ones. Lord, help us pray before we speak, so we do not speak in anger or gossip. Father, when we are in our emotions, let us be slow to speak and keep us in a humble tone. Lord, let us be people overflowing with love and self-control to help us bridle our tongues, in Jesus' name Amen. 

PRAY FOR YOURSELF

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

It's great to have people interceding in prayer for us, but we need to have faith and pray for ourselves as well. Self-prayer acknowledges that we must seek Him first, before all else, before anything else in life.

Father, You knitted us in our mother's womb to serve Your purpose and honor Your name. And by doing so, You will give us rest. Lord, thank You for the favor, mercy, and love that we recognize daily. Thank You for pulling us out of the pit of darkness and leading us to Your never-failing light. Lord, thank You for Your strength when we are weary. Lord, in gratitude, thank You for all the blessings lessons and for keeping us safe through it all. We pray that we find peace of mind and soul, so lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. Father, search our hearts and remove all that is not of You, to give You room to move and show us Your glory. Lord, help us develop a relationship with You and let the Word give us an understanding of Your loving nature. Jehovah Mekoddishkem, let us find our direction in life and help us avoid the obstacles ahead of us. Lord, align our will with Your will, in Jesus' name Amen.

RESPECT IS DUE TO ALL

I will knock before entering a closed door. I will respect my Elders. I will hold the door for the person behind me. I  will stand up for justice for all. I will say hello when I enter a room. I will say please and thank you. I will stand up for seniors/expecting mothers. I will say yes sir/Ma'am and no Sir/Ma'am.

Because that's the way, I was raised with respect. "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, also do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Father, we know that respect and honor are essential to You because it says so in the Word. Paul reminds us that all authority comes from You, so when we respect people in authority, it is a way of showing respect to You, Lord. 

Lord, You tell us to "Honor our father and mother" So we can live along in life." Fathers, help us not provoke our children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Lord, baptize us in the Spirit of kindness and compassion to help us love and forgive each other just as You have forgiven us. Father, let the Holy Spirit teach us how to love our enemies, as we do good for others expecting nothing in return. Lord, You are a giver of good things. Help us imitate Your kindness and compassion to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

WE CAN'T WALK ALONE

Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

We cannot walk through this Valley of death alone. We need Christ to light our path and others to lighten the load. So, grab His hand through the Word, prayer, worship, and praise, and He will surround us with Spiritual Soldiers to help guide us through. We will still run across rough terrain, but we are equipped with the Holy Spirit that keeps us from crossing the rough patches alone.

Father, we give to You whatever is causing us to feel like we're walking in uncertainty or confusion. Lord, give us David's understanding of You, our protector, so we too can walk with confidence that You are with us. Lord, give us eyes that see the deep ditches on the right, the dangerous quag on the left, and the narrow path in front of us. Give us ears to hear Your instructions around all the obstacles ahead of us; so we don't stumble and fall. Thank You for the table You prepared for us in the presence of our enemies. Thank You for the Spiritual Soldiers You surrounded us with and the Guardian Angels that keep the fiery arrows from harming us. Thank You, Lord, for the vital role You play in our lives, watching over us to ensure all our needs are met and shielding us from any evil that comes our way. Thank You, Lord, for waking us up in our right minds, and Thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around us today. Thank You, for walking with us, In Jesus name Amen

BLACK MEN

Daniel 7:9 "As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. Revelation 1:15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

Black men are constantly living under a deficit of role models and representation. Consider all that alongside the fact that America has a well-earned reputation for criminalizing and killing innocent Black men, especially those trying to lift us up. So, there is no perceived gain when we talk down on our black men or watch them killing each other. So, WHY are we like this? Everyone else is against us; now we are too. We must be reprogrammed if we are to survive.

Lord, behold, our enemies make an uproar; those who hate us due to the color of our skin. They lay crafty plans against our people; they consult together against our treasured ones. They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!" They conspire with one accord; against us, but You Lord stands with us so we will not be shaken. Father, let those who persecuted us be brought to Justice ⚖ in Jesus' name. Thank You, Lord, for keeping us through another night, and Thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around us today. Lord, keep our children and our children's children covered in the blood. Father, give us eyes that stay focused on You and ears that hear Your instructions so we do not fall over the obstacles ahead of us. Father, we pray for our men, young and old making them the head and not the tail. Give them the love Christ has for the Church for their families. Lord, fill them with the courage of David and the knowledge of how to implement You in their lives. Lord, surrounded them with Godly men who will help to keep them accountable and encourage them to grow in their walk with You. Father, teach them to work hard to provide for their families and discern financial matters. Lord, let them be a Godly example to our children. And if they are not fathers, we pray that they will find a younger man to help instruct in the way of the Lord. Father, fill them with hope and strengthen their faith to give You room to move in their hearts. In Jesus name Amen

IT STARTS WITH LOVE

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like, unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

When we love ourselves, then we can love others. Self-denial can be challenging, but self-destruction is so easy for us. Self-compassion is an art that is feared by many and lost on most. But scripture is clear about the first two commandments. Love ❤ is the glue that brings everything together, and it starts in us for Christ then flows through us to ourselves and others. Matthew 22:39 tells us that the second greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves. But how many of us can honestly say that we love ourselves. How much time do we put into caring and comforting ourselves?

Father, show us how to love You and teach us how to love ourselves. So, everything else will fall into place. Lord, help us nourish our Spirit with Your love daily through our studies, prayer, worship, and praise. Lord baptize us with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to pursue righteousness and obey Your Word. As it convicts and inspires us to show love and compassion to all, even our enemies ❤ Father, search our hearts and minds bind all unforgiveness and everything that keeps us from sitting at Your feet and loose us from them. To give You room to move in our hearts and minds to help us develop Fruit. Lord, fill us with the Spirit of love, wisdom, and understanding that give us peace beyond our comprehension. Thank You, Lord, for Spiritual growth and all the Spiritual Soldiers around us. Thank You for forgiveness and for teaching us how to breathe and forgive. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and favor, so much blessing. Thank You for Your sacrifice of love through Christ and how to implement You in our lives. In Jesus name Amen

LIVE A HOLY LIFE

Romans 12:1 appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Holiness is loving people that don't love you; Caring for people you don't know; Helping people just because you're able to; forgiving someone that betrayed you, and not gossiping about people you don't like. "When God was forging a relationship with the Israelites, he told Moses to "Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy. Everything that belongs to God is holy.

Father, help us purify ourselves from everything that separates us from the Spirit. Help us make every effort to live in peace with everyone and give us a forgiving heart ❤. Thank You, Lord, for saving us not because of what we've done but because You love us. So, baptize us with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to pursue holiness through Your Word. Lord, we pray for patience, a forgiving heart, and a kind Spirit to help us in our walk. Give us eyes that see You and ears to understand Your instructions on living a holy life. Lord, prune our Fruit and strengthen our faith as You guide us around the obstacles that would make us stumble and fall. Father, help us be Disciplined and focused as we walk through this Valley of death; bring honor to You. So, we will fear no evil and have no doubt You are with us. Now, Lord, we confess our sins because You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In Jesus name, Amen 🙏

DO NOT NEGLECT THE CHURCH

Hebrews 10:25 -Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

The Church is the only organization created by God; every other organization is created by man/woman to assist in God's plan. The Church helps equip us for His service. The Church gives us a place to find prayer partners and study buddies. The Church is a place anyone can start a ministry. The Church is the building that Jesus used to assemble Saints together for worship and praise. The Church is also a place people meet people evenly yoked. Finally, the Church provided safety and protection from danger or difficult situations. 

Lord, You're the Head of the Church, and You are the only mediator between our Father and humanity, and there is no salvation any other way. Lord, let us not neglect our Churches because of this virus or any other reason in the name of Jesus. Lord, let the Church continue facilitating our fellowship, worship, ministry, and care for those in need. Lord, through the Church, we function as Your heart, mouth, hands, and feet to serve Your purpose to reach those in darkness. So, Intervene in the Church and help us function as one body, Making clear what part we play. So, let us continue coming together to educate and bring the people the consciousness of God. Help us encourage each other to release the Holy Spirit that lives in our hearts. In Jesus name Amen