Always available

The fact that the Holy Spirit lives inside of us proves His willingness to always be available to speak to us and help us when we need Him. As we continue to grow spiritually, we will experience temptation, but God has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to resist it and make right choices instead of wrong ones. 

Nevertheless, no human being is perfect and we will make mistakes. But God's forgiveness is always available to us through Jesus Christ. Receiving this forgiveness strengthens us and enables us to keep moving forward with God. It also puts our hearts at peace, sets us free, and helps us hear God's voice clearly. 

Feeling defeated and condemned by every mistake we make weakens us. Instead of using our energy to feel bad about ourselves, we should use it to make sure our hearts are tuned to God's voice as He leads us into greater strength and deeper relationship with Himself. His forgiveness and His presence are always available to us through the Holy Spirit. As you seek God today, I encourage you to receive His love and mercy. His arms are open and He is waiting to spend time with you. 

God's word for you today: Remember that the Holy Spirit is always available to you. 

From the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

You

Don't spend your life trying to do what you are not gifted to do. When people work in jobs where they are not gifted, they are miserable - and so is everyone around them. But when people are in their proper places, they will excel in their jobs and be a blessing to their employers and coworkers. 

If we do what we are good at doing, we will sense God's anointing (presence and power) on our efforts. We will know we are operating in our gifts and that doing so honors God and ministers life to others. God speaks to us through this anointing, giving us peace and joy to know we are fulfilling His plan for our lives. 

God's word for you today: Do what you're good at - it's God's gift to you. 

- From the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer. 

Pray

Praying God's prayer and not our prayer is the only way to do it. 

I believe one of the reasons we sometimes feel unfulfilled in prayer or sense that we are not "finished" praying about a matter is that we spend so much time just praying our prayers. 

There is a better, higher, more effective way: praying God's prayers. 

When we pray our prayer, we can pray about something for fifteen minutes and still feel unfinished; but if we are being led by the Holy Spirit and praying God's prayer, we can pray two sentences and feel completely satisfied. 

- Joyce Meyer 

Pray and give thanks

Giving thanks is so important to being able to hear God's voice because, like praise and worship, it is something God responds to. It's something God loves, something that warms His heart. Anytime we give God pleasure like that, our intimacy with Him increases - and that makes for a better relationship with Him. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

http://bible.com/1/dan.6.10.kjv

Restore

Our personality is our soul (mind, will, and emotions), but often it has been wounded by our experiences in the world. God promises to restore our souls if we will cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Open your soul to God and ask Him to heal every wound and bruise. 

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

http://bible.com/1/psa.23.3.kjv

Peace

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful - Col 3:15

Meditate on a time when your faith has grown. What was it that helped you grow in your faith at that particular time? Remember how great God's peace felt also?? 

  
God is the author of peace and every good thing. 

Family

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God - http://bible.com/1/mat.5.9.kjv

Families are made up of people with different personalities and emotions. Sometimes family members feel happy, and other times they feel angry. How a person is feeling should not change a family's peaceful home. Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." This includes the members of your family. 

Faithfulness

God's faithfulness always shows up! It's there right when you need Him - gracious and sufficient 

Trust in Jesus

Redemption

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today, reflect on the redemptive power of God's forgiveness. 

There is nothing more powerful, faithful, sacrificial, and life changing than the forgiveness God has given you through His son Jesus Christ.

Completely forget your old life and meditate on the life change you experienced through God's forgiveness. 

Praise God and thank Him for new life in Christ.

Remember

When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 22:14

The act of communion is an act of remembrance. Jesus says, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." When we partake in communion we are remembering the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made by dying on the cross for our sins. 

Take time today to remember Christ's sacrifice. It is because His death and resurrection you have new life, so never forget the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. Your future has been forever changed. 

Refuge

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust - Psalm.91:1

This is a Psalm about God's faithfulness and God as our refuge, He is our fortress, He saves us, and He protects us. 

God is always faithful no matter the circumstances. He is there when times are good and when times are not so good. He is even there when you don't feel like He is. 

Everybody's journey in life is different as they grow in Christ, but God's faithfulness is always the same. 

Thank God for His faithfulness and take comfort in knowing He will always be there for you.

Mentors

Thank God for our mentors .... 

One of the many ways that God develops us is through the wisdom of others as His wisdom and teaching is shown to us through those people we look up to. 1 Peter 5:1-11 is one of many passages that stresses the importance of mentoring others and being available to God to shape others into His image. 

Who are the key people in your life that have helped you get to the place you are today in your relationship with Christ? It could be a mentor, a teacher, a pastor, a family member, or a close friend that has invested their wisdom, knowledge and experience into your life. 

Take time to remember and appreciate them because God placed in your life for a reason, season or as in my case - a lifetime! 

Never de-value or take for granted the investment they have made in you

Remember

God is a mighty God. Nothing is impossible with Him. He can move mountains, make the sun stand still, and heal the sick. 

In Joshua chapter 4, we read how God completed the mighty task of bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. God led the Israelites out of slavery and into freedom just as He had promised. Because of the magnitude of what He did, God did not want the Israelites to ever forget what He had done for them. God wanted the Israelites to forever remember the miracle He performed for them and what a mighty and powerful God He is. 

Think back for a moment. God has done some amazing things in your life. He may have performed a miracle of healing or delivered you from the bondage of an addiction and into your own Promised Land. Take time today to remember the mighty things God has done for you. Praise Him and commit to Him that you will never forget the amazing things He has done for you.

Occupy

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field - deu.28.3

As you begin your week, know that you are fully equipped to do the work that is set before you. 

On the natural side, you have the skills, you have the knowledge and you are intelligent enough. 

On the spiritual side, you have the insight, you know the nature of the battle, you are good and ready in prayer to occupy your sphere of influence with the word of God. 

Let the week be victorious, amen! 

Fight in praise

When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots and soldiers far outnumbering you, do not recoil in fear of them; God, your God, who brought you up out of Egypt is with you. When the battle is about to begin, let the priest come forward and speak to the troops. He’ll say, “Attention, Israel. In a few minutes you’re going to do battle with your enemies. Don’t waver in resolve. Don’t fear. Don’t hesitate. Don’t panic. God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.”

http://bible.com/97/deu.20.1.msg

Mindset

In everything you set your mind into, always have a foundation and know where your source is. There will come a time in that season where you will need strength, favor, grace, endurance etc...and if your hope and faith is fixed in the right direction, you will come through victoriously. 

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - Philippians 1: 6

Communion

The communion table: a constant reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and I. A great place to be thankful :) 

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many - mark.14.22

Prayer list

If you are like me and you have a list of things that you are waiting on God for: salvation for friends and family, deliverance over strongholds, financial freedom, jobs, peace of mind in decisions, emotional rest etc....; then you know that waiting is not just waiting to see what happens with your list.

It's a combination of fasting and praying, letting it go (emotionally) and totally leaning on God in faith, trusting Him - and not worrying about it! 

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope - Psalm.130.5.

Forgive

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

http://bible.com/1/eph.1.7.kjv

It really doesn't matter what you've done, it matters that you know that Christ is always there to forgive and redeem you from your sinful nature.....as long as you come to Him in repentance and aubmission. 

Temptation

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

http://bible.com/1/jas.1.13.kjv

Worship

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

http://bible.com/1/mrk.10.51.kjv

This is awesome because how many times do we ask God for something..... Then after we have it, we forget all about Him, serve Him no longer and go on our merry way??

Lesson to learn: our relationship with God shouldn't be based on what we can get out of Him, it is entirely on worship and intimacy. This way, we will always remember to give glory and praise to the Giver, whom it is due. 

True worship

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

http://bible.com/1/mrk.10.23.kjv

Lord help us that our "stuff" doesn't get in our way of serving you, the giver. 

Pray and fast

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

http://bible.com/1/mrk.9.29.kjv

There are some challenges that we face that are not going to change just by talking and dieting.....it needs prayer AND fasting!!!!!

Lesson

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied - http://bible.com/1/num.23.8.kjv

We, as humans are placed in peoples lives for reasons and seasons. While we are in their "space", we need to be better at exercising grace and mercy; showing the compassion of God....and not being judgemental, all in the name of having the power to say "I told you so".

Every single one of us have our own challenges that we face and each comes with it's own length of days. Hopefully, at the end of it, we gain lessons learned. 

Affirmation

If your friend plays a sport or has a hobby where he or she must perform live, always attempt to attend his or her events. Afterwards, be deliberate about complimenting his or her skill. This will encourage him or her greatly, especially if his or her primary love language is Words of Affirmation.

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 neighbour as thyself.

http://bible.com/1/mat.22.37.kjv