GLORIOUS GRACE! - 69

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…

Actually, our bodies are designed for faith. Fear was foreign to man until Adam sinned against God. For the first time, Adam knew fear, and he hid from God and said, “I heard Your voice…I was afraid…I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)

Since then, man has been living in the realm of fear—fear of the future, fear of what others might say, fear of diseases, fear of flying…Actually, every fear is born out of the feeling of being cut off from God. If you think that God is angry with you, that He is out to punish you, how can you trust God for your blessings and miracles?

But there is good news for you. There is a sure antidote for fear. The apostle John says that “perfect love casts out fear”. When you know that God so loves you that He gave His Son to take on your sins, so that you can take on His blessings, then you will stop fearing.

And if God did not withhold His “beloved” Son Jesus from being crucified for our sake, why should we think that He will withhold lesser things like healing, children, career, finances or a blessed marriage from us? (Romans 8:32).

Thought for the day!
Today, you don’t have to hide from God, but you can run to Him without fear because He is not out to punish you but He is out to protect and provide for you, so fear not! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 68

Luke 15:20 - So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–24), the father did not say one word about the loss or waste, though his son had indeed wasted his inheritance on riotous living. The father only saw his son’s home-coming as an opportunity to show him how much he loved him and to restore to him what he had lost.

Like the father in the parable, it is your heavenly Father’s desire to embrace you when you return to Him and show you how much you are loved. And it is His good pleasure to restore to you what you have lost. (Lk 15:22-23)

The truth is that the moment you come to Him, He immediately restores to you the robe of honour to cover your sins, the ring of authority to declare your position of power and dominion, and the sandals on your feet (which servants do not wear) to reinstate you as a son in His house.

Thought for the day!
The heavenly Father reassures you, if you return to Him, that you had never lost the position of son-ship. And He celebrates your return to Him because you are His beloved child. 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 67

Luke 7:13 - When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

There is no trial, difficulty or challenge we face today that our Lord Jesus cannot identify with. The moment we experience a trial, right there and then, He feels it too, because He “in every respect has been tested as we are” (Heb 4:15), and He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

Jesus’ compassion for you is the same compassion He felt for the widow at Nain. (Luke 7:11–15). When Jesus saw her, He was moved with compassion and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Now, some people might also be moved to approach her, but only to say, “Look sister, something is terribly wrong. Why such things are happening? You must find out what is wrong. You better ask God what sin you have committed, and repent. Or perhaps there is a curse in your life that needs to be broken.”

Isn’t it beautiful that Jesus did not extend more confusion or condemnation towards her? He only extended His compassion to her, telling her, “Don’t weep.” This same Jesus will also come to us when we are distraught and say, “Don’t cry.” He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb 13:8). His sympathy will move Him to give us the miracle we need in our life.

Thought for the day!
Jesus, who understands what you are going through, will also breathe life into your dead situation!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 66

Romans 5:5 – and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Today, some express hope as if we can’t be sure what will really happen. We say, “I hope I will win that prize. I hope it won’t rain tomorrow. I hope everything works out well.”

But “hope” in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of good. God wants you to have a confident expectation of good because as His child, He favours you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area of your life, including your family, job, ministry, health and finances!

God’s Word says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” You may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is a hope that springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.

When you are in a doubtful situation or going through a trial, you can say, “Jesus loves me this I know,” you can then say, “I believe that I will get / pass / be healed / be reconciled...” as per your situation.

Thought for the day!
When you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive expectation of good. Being conscious of how much God loves you, gives you a hope that does not disappoint. 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 65

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

The truth is that every word you speak has power — to build or destroy hopes and dreams, to restore or cause loss, to heal or break the spirit, to bring delight or despair, to bless or curse — for God’s Word says that death and life are in the power of the tongue.

So stop lining your words up with the negative circumstances. Instead, start lining your words up with God’s Word and release the power of His Word to work for you.

For example, instead of speaking lack and poverty, say, in the name of Jesus, I pronounce my life blessed. I pronounce my life successful. I pronounce my life great. Darkness and gloom, poverty and sickness, defeat and depression, will not be in my life!”

Instead of speaking sickness, say, God’s Word declares that no evil befalls the righteous. So no evil will come on me now and in the future!”

God wants you to have a life filled with good days and an abundance of every good thing. So say, “In the name of Jesus, I command blessings, favour, health, provision, protection, dominion and power to fill my life!”

Thought for the day!
Line your words up with God’s Word and release the power of His Word to work for you.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 64

John 10:4 - When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Have you ever seen a farmer trying to drive a bunch of geese from one location to another? He goes behind the geese, doesn’t he? Compare this to a shepherd who leads his sheep. He goes before them and the sheep simply follow him. Jesus is our shepherd and we are His sheep. He does not drive us, but He leads us. He goes in front of us.

In the Old Testament, God led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Do you know how God appeared back then? He appeared in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to keep them cool by day and warm by night. Where was that pillar? It was in front of them.

As long as they followed Him, the Israelites did not have to worry about anything. God took care of all their needs. He gave them water when they were thirsty, and bread and meat when they were hungry. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. They were kept in good health throughout the 40 years of their wandering in the wilderness.

Yes, Jesus our shepherd goes before us.. He is the great “I AM”... I AM your provider, healer, counsellor, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification… He is everything we need Him to be!

Thought for the day!
Jesus our shepherd wants us to just follow Him. If we know His voice and follow Him as He leads us, all our needs will be taken care of. 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 63

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

Jews greet each other with the words “shalom, shalom” (we can do that too)… “Shalom” does not just mean peace of mind, but also wholeness for your entire being—spirit, mind and body. It means having a sense of completeness and soundness. In other words, shalom encompasses your provision, health and total well-being.

When Jesus spoke He would have used the Hebrew word “shalom”, and not the English word “peace”, saying, “Shalom I leave with you, “My shalom” I give to you…” Interestingly, the word “leave” here actually means “bequeath”, the way a rich man bequeaths his estate to his beneficiary. The disciples understood that having “Jesus’ shalom” meant having His abundance.

His peace was different.. It would change whatever trying circumstances that beset them. Even if it was a mega storm, it would have to bow to His peace. The Prince of Peace merely spoke, “Peace, be still!” and the winds and the sea obeyed Him. (Mark 4:39).

That is the kind of peace that Jesus has bequeathed to us. Therefore, believe that His shalom which He has left with us will change all our difficult situations, taking us from sickness, lack and mental anguish to health, provision and total wellness!

Thought for the day!
Jesus has bequeathed us His shalom, which does not just mean peace of mind, but also wholeness for your spirit, mind and body.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 62

1Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people

God calls us “a royal priesthood”. This means that we are kings as well as priests under the king-priesthood of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, kings and priests were two distinct groups of people. You were either a king or priest, but not both at the same time.

Today, because we are in Christ, we are king-priests—a royal priesthood. This means that we have a double portion of speaking power, because as kings, “the word of a king is powerful…” (Ecclesiastes 8:4), and as priests, “pronounce blessings in the name of the LORD, and by their decision all cases of dispute and assault shall be settled.” (Deuteronomy 21:5)

As a "king-priest" parent, when you bless your children, your words have the power to set in motion supernatural events which will bring them into God’s abundance and overflowing grace that will empower them to win the battles of life!

So when the devil puts thoughts in you saying that you will fall sick, or that you will never be successful, you must remember that the devil is neither a king nor a priest. There is no power in his words. But there is power in yours because you are a king-priest in Christ!

So instead of agreeing with him, believe and declare the Word of God against him (Ps 91; Joshua 1:8, etc).

Thought for the day!
You have a double portion of speaking power because you are a king as well as a priest in Christ Jesus. Use your double portion of speaking power and see the blessings come to pass!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 61

John 6:63 - It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

The Bible tells us that God breathed into man and he became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) and the Word of God is living and active (Heb 4:12); {also read 2 Timothy 3:16}. This means that when you read the Bible or listen to God’s Word preached, you are imbibing the very breath of God which gives you life.

That is why there may have been times you walked into church or prayer meeting, feeling tired at first, but left at the end of the service feeling refreshed and energized. God’s Word had breathed life into your body! You will become healthier, stronger and even looking younger, because you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer.

Proverbs 4:22 tells us that God’s words are “life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh”. So if certain symptoms are attacking your body, double up on God’s medicine. Simply feed more on God’s Word, and you will find life and health flowing through your body again.

Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt 4:4). He made us, so He knows best what our bodies need daily.  If it is important to eat our meals every day, how much more feeding on God’s Word?

So whatever you do, remember to get your daily feeding of God’s Word. Choose whichever form (Read, listen) you prefer and get His Word into you!

Thought for the day!
We cannot live when we stop breathing. In the same way, we cannot live well without the Word because it is the very breath of God which gives us life and health!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 60

Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

People of the world feel helpless as the systems of the world go up and down. Recession, Unemployment…

God does not want you to feel helpless because you are not of the world. (John 17:16) You are of God and therefore need not be subject to the world’s systems.

Notice that the verse says that “God shall supply all your need”. It does not say that God may supply some of your needs. It also says that God will do it “according to His riches”. It is not out of His riches. If a millionaire gives you a hundred dollars, it is out of his riches. But if he gives to you according to his riches, it means that he is lining up some of his millions for you!

So how do you stop yourself from feeling helpless in uncertain times? Don’t look at the wavering situations. Look at that stable, unshakable Word of God and you will feel better. Don’t focus on your circumstances or the bad things that are happening in the world, because you will get “earth-sick”.

Thought for the day!
Fix your eyes on the unshakable Word of God. Your heart will become stable and you will see God supplying all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 59

John 8:32 - "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

It may be a fact that someone is sick. The doctors can say that he / she is sick. The X-ray film shows that he / she is sick. But God’s Word says that by Jesus’ wounds he / she is healed! (Isaiah 53:5; 1Pet 2:24). That is the truth about the fact or situation. What is the difference between fact and truth? Facts change, but truth—God’s Word—remains!

Consider the cold, hard facts some people face. When such situations hit us and we allow the “facts” to settle in our hearts, we end up feeling greatly troubled. But when we let the truths of God’s Word settle them all, we will sense the Holy Spirit bearing witness to the truths that we believe. He is the Spirit of truth. (John 16:13). He is not the Spirit of facts and does not bear witness to facts.

When God’s people choose to defy the facts and walk instead in His truths regarding their situations, the Holy Spirit in them will bear witness to the truths that they believe and the facts will change.

The next time you are hit by disturbing facts, let God’s Word settle the truth about your situation. And as the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truths that you believe, the facts will change and you will receive your miracle!

Thought for the day!
Believe and confess what God tells you about a situation and see the facts change and line up with the truth. Facts will change when you rely on the truth and the truth—God’s Word—remains unchanged always!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 58

Isaiah 55:11 - so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Believe with all of your heart that as the Word of God goes forth, it produces the very effect that the Word promises. So if the Word on healing goes forth know that healing is already exploding in your body. Your miracle has already happened.

Very often, as you are reading the Word on your own or listening to anointed preaching of the Word, you will feel God’s peace and joy, and feel faith springing up in your heart. As the Word goes forth and you find that you are strengthened to receive your miracle, that is the time to say, “Lord, I receive my healing right now.” That is the time to say, “I receive Your restoration for my marriage.” That is the time to say, “I receive Your breakthrough for my finances.”

You don’t have to wait until a church leader or friend prays for you. Every time your faith is strengthened as you hear the Word, confess it through your mouth to receive your miracle, for God’s Word is out to bless you!

Thought for the day!
As the Word of God goes forth, it produces the very effect that the Word promises and it succeeds. It shall not return void.  

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 57

Isaiah 48:17 - Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go.

God instructs us for our own benefit. He wants us to benefit in every area of our lives—health, career, marriage and family relationships. The Bible says that it is God who teaches us for our own good. And it is He who leads us in the way that we should go.

But we are constantly bombarded with things to do every day… What was the Lord’s response to Martha’s complaint that her sister was sitting at His feet and listening to Him, instead of helping her with the many tasks? The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only ONE thing. Mary has chosen the better part (Vs.39), which will not be taken away from her." (Lk 10:41–42)

Many of us are like Martha. We worry about many things. And we are so busy that we have no time to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to His Word and enjoy communion with Him. When we fail to draw from Him, we end up running on our own strength, and relying on our own wisdom to get things done. We can never have a plan that is better than God’s!

Do you want to be led by God’s wisdom and timing in your decision-making? Then, spend time with Jesus, open your Bible and say, “Lord, speak to me.” You will find that your heavenly Father takes care of your troubles, and He teaches and leads you!

Thought for the day!
God always has our best interests at heart. We have to listen to His Word and just have fresh, daily communion with Him, and He will make our way fruitful. 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 56

John 13:8 – Peter said to Him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."

Notice what the Lord said to him: “Peter, if I don’t wash your feet, you have no part with me.” What the Lord was actually saying to Peter was, “Peter, you cannot walk together with me, if you don’t let me wash your feet.” So Peter said, “Lord, [wash] not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” (Jn 13:9)

But Jesus answered him saying, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. (Jn 13:10)

Once Christ is our Lord and Saviour, we are bathed all over, and cleansed by His blood once and for all eternity! His blood has perfected us forever (Hebrews 10:14), and we only need to wash our feet because we walk in the world and our feet pick up dust and dirt, causing us to be unholy.

So how is Jesus washing our feet today? Eph 5:25–26 tells us that “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word”

Yes, we are cleansed with the washing of water by the Word. The more we come under anointed teaching that unveils Christ through the Word, the more the cleansing goes on. And as we are washed, instead of stumbling, we will be walking and even running!

Thought for the day!
As we receive a deeper revelation of Christ through His Word, we will see victory in our daily walk!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 55

Matthew 6:33 - seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

God doesn’t want you grabbing the newspaper first thing in the morning and reading all the bad news in the world. He knows that if you do that, your heart will be full of cares, anxieties and even fears.

When you are reading the newspapers, magazines, medical journals, economic reports, watching movies or surfing the Internet all the time, then you are getting your “nourishment” from these sources instead of God’s Word. But if you constantly feed only on earthly things, you will fill your heart and mind with cares and worries.

Jesus doesn’t want you to end up worrying about things in your life—as these are the things that the Gentiles (people of the world) seek. He says that your heavenly Father knows very well that you need these things. (Matthew 6:31–32)

That is why He promises you that if you would seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all the things that you need,  will be added to you. It will not just be given but added, which means greater in quantity and quality!

So don’t grab the newspaper or call your friend first thing in the morning to talk about the latest bad news. Instead, grab your Bible first and read all the good news God has for you for the day.

Thought for the day!
Pursue God and His righteousness first, and all the things that you need will be added to you.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 54

1 Corinthians 2:12 - Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

You are familiar with the story of how David, with a sling and a stone, killed Goliath. But have you ever wondered why David succeeded while the others in the army of Israel did not even dare to face Goliath?

David’s secret was that he was only conscious of victory and not defeat, because he knew a God who had rescued him time and again (1Sam 17:37) and he faced Goliath in the name of the Lord. (1Sam 17:45, 47) David was conscious of the favour God had done for him.

So don’t feed on the negative words of man or the devil. It will only cause you to be anxious and fearful. Feed on God’s Word by studying the Bible and listening to messages about who you are in Christ and what He has done for you. Pump yourself up with God’s Word until you are full of the Spirit and consciousness of God, so that you might know the things that have been freely given to you by God!

Thought For The Day!
Be conscious only of God’s goodness and faithfulness. The same God, who did tremendous things for you in the past, will do the same for you again. 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 53

Matthew 4:4 - He [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus turned the Word of God on him, saying, “It is written…It is written…It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)

Likewise, if the devil makes you think, “Look at the meagre balance in my bank account. How am I going to pay my bills?” just say, “I'm not going to worry because I know that my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). It doesn’t matter how much I have in the bank. God’s Word tells me that as the need arises, the supply will be there!”

When fear grips you, don’t try to rationalize or reason your fear away. Instead, speak God’s Word into the situation. Say, “It is written, ‘For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Should the devil remind you of the pain in your body, you know what to say… (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)  It has to line up with God's Word, because by the wounds of Jesus you are healed!”

When the devil tries to deceive you, give him the Word of God. There is something about the Word of God that scares him and he can't hang around those who use it. It reminds him of Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who rendered him powerless and of no effect when He said, “It is written…” and this reminder scares him away.

Thought for the day!
Turn the Word of God on the devil when he comes to tempt or scare you. Use the Word of God liberally. You will render him powerless and of no effect! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 52

Psalm 91:2 – I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."

When a great storm arose as Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, He did not say to His disciples, “The storm is here to teach us courage.” Instead, He took authority over the storm and said, “Peace, be still!” And there was a perfect calm. (Mark 4:39)

What have you been saying about your situation?

When you feel the pain in your body, don’t say of the Lord, “God wants me sick to teach me to trust Him more.” Instead, say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

And while trying to make ends meet, don’t say of the Lord, “The Lord keeps me poor to keep me humble.” Instead, say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

We will not speak negative words and be fearful like the people of the world. Instead, we will speak God’s Word and reign over these things. Like the psalmist, we will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”

So find out what God’s Word says about your situation, believe it and declare it. And because God’s Word cannot return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), you will see what you believe and confess come to pass!

Thought for the day!
So do not fear. Declare God's Word and reign over the things that the people of the world are afraid of.

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 51

Psalm 103:20 - Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, obedient to His spoken Word.

Notice that the verse says that angels are “obedient to His spoken Word”. Now, who gives voice to God’s Word? We do! Each time we speak God’s Word, we give voice to His Word. And when angels hear His Word, they respond! (Read Daniel 10:12 – the angel says, “your words have been heard and I have come because of your words”)

So when angels hear you saying, “Thank You, Father, that “no evil shall befall me, no scourge come near my tent” (Ps 91:10), they will come to your aid because you are giving voice to God’s Word. But you must give audible voice to God’s Word. Even if you cannot quote the verse perfectly, they can still come to your rescue.

It is not your ability to quote an entire verse perfectly that releases God’s power, but faith in His Word and in His love for you. And one Word of His is enough to send your enemies running away.

However, if you know God’s Word by heart but refuse to proclaim it, the power of His Word cannot be released. So, give voice to God’s Word and see His angels respond.

Thought for the day!
God’s angels are activated for your benefit when you speak aloud His Word! 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 50

Isaiah 54:2 - Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.

As we come to the end of 2016, let us know that our God has seen our future and He declares that it is good. (Jer 29:11)

When God declares your future good, it will be good! It will be filled with many wonderfully good days! Plans for your welfare! To give you a future with hope!

So what do you do when the Lord tells you that you are going to have a good future loaded with His blessings? You prepare for it! In other words, before the blessings come, before the increase comes, He wants you to enlarge the place of your tent and stretch forth the curtains of your dwellings. Get ready for expansion!

God wants you to get ready, and expect such favour and increase in the days ahead  “That you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace… (Isa 54:3-4)

Because God has declared your future to be good, know that you stand on “favour ground” from today. Expect good things to happen to you. Expect to see the favour of God on you and your family. Expect the blessings and increase of the Lord. Expect many good days to show up in your life! Thank the Lord for His faithfulness to His promises! (Num 23:19)

Thought for the day!
Get ready for expansion because the Lord has seen your future and He declares that it is good!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 49

Romans 8:16–17 - it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…

When you are born of the Spirit, you are no longer a “slave”, but a child of the Most High God. And God does not just call you His child. He also calls you “an heir” (Gal 4:7). In fact, Romans 8:17 says, that you are “joint heirs” with Christ.

As a joint heir with Christ Jesus, you inherit everything that He has. How precious Jesus is to the Father, is how precious you are to the Father. The way the Father loves Jesus, is the way the Father loves you!

How accepted are you by God today? Look at Jesus. That is how accepted you are! Christ is the measure of your acceptance. How favoured are you by God? Look at Jesus, who is seated at the Father’s right hand. You enjoy that same favour today because whatever Christ enjoys, you enjoy!

All that belongs to Him belongs to you. That is why it is in your interest to know Him more, to see Him in all His glory and beauty. And because Jesus is so glorious, it will take you a lifetime to discover everything that He has done for you and has for you.

Thought for the day!
You are an heir of the Most High God. You are a joint heir with Christ Jesus. So find out all the blessings that your rich inheritance includes (you’ll find these in the “Last Will” - the Bible!) and start walking in them today!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 48

Deuteronomy 28:2 - all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the LORD your God. (listed till Vs.14)

God loves to bless us. Now, you may think that you may not qualify for God’s blessings because of the “if” clause here, and in the preceding verse. You know that no matter however hard you try, you just cannot keep all of God’s commandments. In fact, the Bible says that if you fail to keep just one commandment, you fail to keep all. (James 2:10). But you are being blessed! How?

Because, Jesus is the one who came to qualify us for every single blessing because He has kept all of God’s commandments. When He died for us on the cross, He redeemed us from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13)… but the blessings of the law remained… so, the blessings of yesteryears are still ours today! Believe this and receive the blessings by faith!”

The law says, “You must deserve the blessings.” But “From HIS fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:16-17). So receive the blessings by grace, through faith in the merits of Jesus.

We don’t receive, because it is a question of how much we believe God for His blessings. We should know that in Christ, all of God’s promises are “Yes”, and because we are in Christ, we can say “Amen!” to His blessings! (2 Cor 1:20)

Thought for the day!
Jesus is the one who qualifies us for every single blessing, by grace, and in Him every one of God’s promises is “Yes”

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 47

Deuteronomy 28:6 - Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

This promise refers to being blessed in the affairs of one’s daily life, whether in or outside one’s home. Do you believe it? Do you believe that every day, your family and work life are blessed? Or do you think that you are blessed only during Christmas when you receive your gifts and year-end bonus, or when you get that promotion you have been wanting?

No, you are blessed every day and you have God’s Word for it. Psalm 68:19 says, Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. And because God’s Word says so, believe that every day of your life is loaded with benefits. Start the day expecting it to be loaded with the benefits that God has prepared just for you.

We can’t make our blessings happen. But if we will just believe what God has said in His Word and act like it is so, the blessings will manifest in our life. In fact, God wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed! His Word declares it. Believe God’s Word. Believe Him for the blessings and you will find yourself loaded with His daily benefits!

Thought for the day!
Start the day expecting it to be loaded with the benefits that God has prepared for you. (Look at the assurance in Gen 28:15, emphasis on the last phrase) 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 46

Genesis 15:8 - And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”

Are you discouraged because a breakthrough that you have been praying for is yet to manifest? And you are asking, “How will I know that I will get it?” Abraham faced the same situation and asked God the same question.

But if you read on (Genesis 15:9–21), you will realize that God took Abraham’s question very seriously, and went on to show him just how serious He was about being his provider, protector and helper. God was so serious that He was willing to bind Himself to a covenant.

A covenant is not like a contract. A contract is binding only for a period of time, or until certain terms are fulfilled and has an expiry date. But a covenant is permanent and lasts till death. That is why marriage is a covenant, not a contract. It is permanent—“Till death do us part”.

In Abraham’s time, when you make a covenant with someone, you bring an animal, usually a ram or goat, and kill it by cutting it into two, thereby shedding blood. What all this means is that both parties are obligated to protect and provide for each other. And the one who benefits is always the lesser or poorer party.

Today, God is in covenant with us, by the blood of Jesus and we are the lesser, poorer party. God, the Creator being the most powerful, has everything to offer us! And we inherit the blessings of Abraham! (Gal 3:6-9; Gen 12:3)

Thought for the day!
God has bound Himself to a covenant, an iron-clad guarantee of His blessings and provision in our life. The breakthrough we are waiting for is guaranteed by a covenant!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 45

Romans 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Are you faced with challenges in your life right now? Are you having marital problems and financial woes? Maybe your child is going astray or an old illness has returned. What then will you say to all these things?

Do you know what God wants you to say? He wants you to say, “If God is for me, who can be against me?” Yes, you just say what God desires.

If you knew that the President or the Prime Minister was for you, you might feel that everything will be okay. But you have an even better backing! The Bible tells us that God, the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is for you! What problem can fasten its grip on you when the Almighty God is for you? Can the devil overcome God who is on your side?

Regretting the past and worrying about the future won’t change anything. Look to your heavenly Father, instead. Because He is for you, you can be confident that He will help you and provide for you.

Thought for the day!
We have the Almighty’s backing! We should not allow fear to grip us, but be confident that God will help us, because He is for us!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 44

Hebrews 8:10 - …and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

When God says, “I will be your God,” that is a declaration that He will work miracles in your life. So if it is a miracle you need, it is a miracle you will get!

If there is a huge sea blocking the way to your blessing and God says, “I will be your God,” it means that He will open the sea for you so that you can receive your blessing. If you are sick and God says, “I will be your God,” it means that He is going to be “the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26), and you will be healthy. He is the great "I AM WHO I AM" to be your all in all...

But not only did God say, “I will be their God,” He also said, “they shall be My people”. To be God’s people means to be the protected ones. Not all on this earth are God’s people, though all are His creation—only we who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, and we who believe in Him.

Regardless of the situation in the world, you are protected and you will walk in the blessings of God, when you remain steadfast as His people.

You will experience the supernatural life as God’s Kingdom people. Your part is to believe what He declares and behave like it is so! Avoid unbelief.

Thought for the day!
God’s power comes into every challenge we face because He says that He is our God and we are His people. Let us remain as His people!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 43

Luke 17:15-16 - Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him.

People who have a grateful heart are always praising God. You hear them say that…They know that God is the reason for every blessing they get. But there are those who look to God for blessings and when they get blessed, they just go on their merry way.

Jesus had an encounter with both these types of people when He walked into a village one day. Ten lepers cried out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13). Now, when you call out to Jesus for mercy, He always hears you.

So these 10 lepers cried out to Him for mercy. And “they were cleansed”. (Luke 17:14). But only one came back and fell at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Notice the very sad words of Jesus that followed: “Were not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17).

Remember to give God the praise, glory and honour, and acknowledge that He is the source of every blessing in your life.

Thought for the day!
When we praise God and give Him thanks for His blessings, we position ourselves for even greater blessings!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 42

Deuteronomy 28:8 - The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

God’s way is better and it has no side effects. He wants to bless everything you undertake in His way. That means that whatever you take up, whatever you set your hands to, God will command the blessing upon it, be it a person, thing or business. Let us believe this Gospel truth. So if you touch your child, he is blessed. If you touch your guitar, anointed music flows forth. If you touch your business, it prospers. When you touch a sick person, he gets healed. When you touch someone who is facing lack, his needs are met.

In the Bible, everything that Jesus touched got renewed. He touched the eyes of two blind men and their eyes were opened. (Matthew 9:28–30). He touched the coffin of a widow’s son, and the young man sat up and began to speak. (Luke 7:12–15) He touched the leper and the leprosy departed. (Mark 1:40–42) Under the old covenant laws, if you touched the unclean, (leper), you became unclean. But Jesus touched the leper and the unclean became clean!

Everyone whom Jesus touched received a blessing. He paid the price for us to have this blessing. His loving hands which imparted blessings to so many were nailed to the cross so that today, God can command His blessing on all to which we set our hands!

Thought for the day!
Because Jesus lives in us by His Spirit, what we touch will be blessed. Believe this truth and do it in faith!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 41

Galatians 4:6–7 - And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Perhaps these questions have been popping up in your head: “If You are a Christian, why are you sick? If your heavenly Father is so wonderful, why do you have so many problems? Doesn’t your God help you, His child?”

And if you have been tempted to ask, “God, I am Your child. Why is this happening to me?” know that Jesus knows exactly how you feel because 2,000 years ago, the devil played the same trick on Him by asking —“If you are the Son of God…” (Mt 4:3). The devil’s intention was to make Jesus doubt His Son-ship, and the devil wants to do the same thing to us today. Learn to tell the devil – “It is written…” (Mt 4:4)

He wants to destroy the Spirit of son-ship in you. He knows that once you really believe that you are a child of God, something happens—you begin to live life as “an heir of God through Christ”… we are joint heirs with Jesus (Rom 8:17)

As a child and an heir of God, you inherit all the blessings of God which Jesus died to give you, including salvation, healing, provision, wholeness, favour, intimacy with God and answered prayers. Just enjoy every bit of your inheritance in Christ, not because you deserve or earn it, but because it was paid for by the blood of Jesus!

Thought for the day!
As joint heirs with Christ, His inheritance is our inheritance too!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 40

Ephesians 4:32 - And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Some people say, “I can forgive, but I cannot forget.” Now,  nowhere in the Bible does God tell you to forgive and then to forget.

God only tells us to forgive because God in Christ has forgiven us a debt we cannot pay. When we do this, we do ourselves a favour because harbouring bitterness and unforgiveness can destroy our health!

When you really forgive someone, you forget the sting, if not the event. You no longer feel the pain inflicted by that person. That’s forgiveness!

Forgive by faith, and do it once and for all. Spend time in prayer. Take out your diary and write down for each person: “Father, I bring this person (name) before you. You know what he/she did to me. Father, as You forgave me through the sacrifice of Jesus, even though I did not deserve it, I now forgive this person, by faith, and I let go my anger against him/her, in the name of Jesus. Amen!”

Joseph had forgiven his brothers before they came and bowed before him. He remembered what they did to him, but he did not remember it with bitterness. (Genesis 50:15–21).

Thought for the day!
When we forgive others, we free ourselves from bitterness and stinging pain which can destroy our health!

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 39

Ephesians 2:7 -  in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever blown things out of proportion and got angry with God when you were going through a trying time? This happened to Jesus’ disciples when a storm hit them hard. In their fear of drowning, they cried out to Jesus, who was getting some much-needed sleep in the boat, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)

For accusing Him of not caring, you would think that they received a rebuke from Jesus. But it was the wind which received His rebuke, and a great calm followed. (Mark 4:39) Because of His tenderness toward His own, Jesus did not take offence. Instead, He wasted no time taking care of the problem that had caused His disciples so much anxiety and fear.

Your heavenly Father sees you trying to stay afloat when you are in the midst of a storm. He wants you to know how tender His heart is toward you, how He is not offended by all the negative things you have ever said. So let go and experience afresh the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward you!

Thought for the day!
In the midst of your storm, Jesus wants you to know that He wants to help you and He will help and bless you. 

GLORIOUS GRACE! - 38

Philippians 2:9-10 - Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him “the name that is above every name”, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth

Whatever is troubling you, has a name, and therefore, it must bow to the name of Jesus! Every disease has a name, and so must bow to the name of Jesus. Poverty must bow. Shame must bow. That is the power of the name of Jesus because that is the name of the one who died for you, who rose again and today is at the right hand of God, for you!

That is exactly what happened when a severely demon-possessed man saw Jesus. The demons in him fled when Jesus commanded them to go. The man was left whole, healed and in his right mind. (Luke 8:26–35)

If someone is sick, lay hands on him and say, “In the name of Jesus, cough, stop. Fever, be gone in the name of Jesus. Health flows in your body in Jesus’ name!” If there is strife and confusion at home, deal with it the same way. Even if the problem is rebellious, don’t give up…(Mk 8:22- 25 -26). Keep taking the name of Jesus. Just do your part.

Thought for the day!
Whatever is troubling you, has a name, and so it must bow to the name of Jesus!