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coram_deo 09-Oct-21, 04:39 |
 Play The Right Mental Movies 09 October 2021 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 I can still remember what happened when I visited a lady from my congregation in the hospital. Heather had suffered a stroke that completely paralyzed the left side of her body. As I prayed for her, she lifted her right hand in a gesture of prayer. Amazingly, her left hand followed suit, albeit slowly. This was something that she had been unable to do following the stroke. By the grace of God, she was beginning to experience healing in her body, with sensations starting to seep back into her left arm. Within a few moments, though, as she lay in the intensive-care ward, intubated and hooked up to incessantly beeping medical equipment, her left arm started to tremble with strain. "Don't worry about praying for a breakthrough," I assured Heather. Smiling at her, I gestured to one of my pastors who was with me and told her, "Leave the praying to us." Then, tapping my index finger on the side of my head, I told her, "But watch your mental movies. Make sure that you play the right movies in your mind." What did I mean by that? I was telling her to see what God sees and ignore all the sounds, scents, and sights that her natural senses were picking up in the hospital environment. I was encouraging her to fill her mind with mental images of herself being healthy, strong, and basking in the love of her family at home. I didn't want her to keep seeing all the worst-case scenarios in her mind. Then I said to her, "It takes a thought to heal a thought." It was a word that I had received in my spirit for her. For some reason, I just felt like the enemy had succeeded in planting a wrong thought or mental picture in her mind, and that had to be removed and replaced with the right thoughts, pictures, and beliefs that are based on the unchanging Word of God. Shortly after our meeting, Heather was discharged from the hospital and her condition improved. My friend, if you are being tormented by wrong or negative thoughts in your mind, you need the truth of God's Word to uproot them. Keep meditating on God's Word and promises to you. As you do, the negative, defeatist thoughts that have kept you in fear and anxiety will be replaced with God's good thoughts to bless you with peace and wholeness in every area of your life. Let His Word give you a vision of a bright future full of hope and good things! |
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coram_deo 13-Oct-21, 01:30 |
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1–3 - OCTOBER 13 - PRESENTING THE REAL GOD There is so much wrong believing today about who Jesus is. I am asking you to throw out every idea, concept, and picture that you may have of a “religious” Jesus. Allow me to introduce the real Jesus to you, for this is where it all begins. I’m not talking about the religious Jesus you may have heard about growing up, but the real Jesus who walked along the dusty streets of Jerusalem and upon the raging waters of the Galilee. He was the one whom the sick, the poor, the sinful, the down and out, and the outcast instinctively gravitated to and felt at ease with. He was God in the flesh and He manifested God’s tangible love. In His presence, those who were imperfect didn’t feel fearful of Him, or sense judgment or condemnation from Him. To those who sought Him for healing, restoration, and supply—no matter what their past or background—He always extended a loving, compassionate heart and hand to them and oversupplied their need. Contrary to what a lot of people think, you don’t have to be “religious” to have access to God and His help. In fact, the less “religious” you are, the better. The real Jesus didn’t come to bring a new religion. He didn’t come to be served and waited upon. No, He came to serve, and serve He did. The real Jesus created the universe with one command and orchestrated the paths of each planet so that none would collide. He had every right to demand service from those He created, yet He supplied service. He bowed down and with His own hands washed the grime and filth from His disciples’ feet. Those same hands would later be pierced with coarse nails at the cross, and He would with His own blood wash us of the grime and filth of all our sins by taking them upon His own body. What a far cry from the condemning, judgmental, faultfinding God whom many have portrayed Him to be! This is the true Jesus—totally unlike what many of us have been taught about God. He is willing and able to meet your need today and love you into wholeness. |
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coram_deo 13-Oct-21, 11:00 |
Q: I’ve always heard that we should store up our treasures in Heaven. I’ve also heard that when we die we can’t take anything with us, so what does this mean? – S.T. A: As an old man was dying, he told his grandson, “I don’t know what type of work I’ll be doing in Heaven, but if it’s allowed, I’m going to ask the Lord to let me help build your mansion, so be sure to send up plenty of the right materials.” This troubled the young man for some time until he realized what his grandfather was saying. “Store your treasures in heaven…. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:20-21, NLT). Obviously, the grandfather in his wisdom, was sending a message to his young grandson that if he lives according to God’s Word, he will be sending up the right materials. God is busy at work preparing a place for each person who repents of sin and receives Christ as Savior and eternal life in Heaven. But what are these treasures? It is the fruit of our lives while still on Earth: obeying God, praying for others, witnessing to the truth of His Word, doing unto others in the Name of Jesus. We should think of these things as the right materials — the things that really count. Storing up the truths of God’s Word in our hearts is also a key to walking in the right way — God’s way — on Earth. When we read and study His Word, it helps prepare us for whatever comes into our lives and helps us in the good and bad times. The Bible tells us about the fruit of the Spirit which is love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22-23). Walk with God and be faithful every step of the way, for it produces these qualities that please God. |
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coram_deo 15-Oct-21, 12:46 |
Q: Sometimes I wonder if friends are worth the trouble. Mine seem to always discourage me about my faith in God. While they say they believe there’s a God, they claim He really doesn’t care much about what happens on this planet. If people can really go that far to believe in God and then doubt His power, isn’t that a dangerous position? – D.G. A: God could have created us, and then abandoned us and forgotten all about us. There are many who believe this. They assume God isn’t interested in them — so why should they be interested in Him? To them, God is distant, remote, and unconcerned about the problems they face every day. But this isn’t true! God not only put us on this journey called life, but He wants to join us on it, if we will only let Him. The psalmist asked, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). When we take a stand for God’s truth, some of our friends may drift away, not wanting to be reminded of the things of God. We cannot prevent them from walking away from us. But we can pray that they will not walk away from God. He will often use the life of a Christian to bring conviction to their hearts which can result in them turning their hearts to Him. If we understand this truth, it gives us assurance that God will use us to lift up His name to others in spite of the ridicule we might encounter. No matter what happens, God will never abandon those who faithfully live for Him. Human friends may fail us, but God never will. Once we understand this, life is never the same. |
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coram_deo 15-Oct-21, 21:37 |
Q: It’s hard to forget the past and try to do better. I have a lot of regrets but surely there is a way to move forward and not be stifled by yesterday. – F.P. A: Whatever has happened in life so far — both good and bad — cannot be altered, and all the decisions and events that have made us what we are today are indelibly inscribed in the story of our lives. But hope for better days is attainable. How? By looking to the Lord. The future doesn’t need to be a copy of our past, nor does God want it to be. No matter what your life has been like to far, God wants to put our feet on a new path, a better path — His path. And regardless of what we may think, His path promises joy, peace, and purpose — far beyond anything we could imagine. We all go through life building. We build upon learning and experiences, and just as a careful builder lays a solid foundation before constructing a building, so God’s Word gives us a solid foundation for building our spiritual lives. The Bible says, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11, NIV). The first pillar of turning life around is to recognize our sin and repent of it, asking God to forgive us and save our souls. Through His sacrifice on the cross, sin was conquered. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the foundation of our hope, the promise of our triumph. We must make it our goal to build strong foundations for life — foundations constructed from prayer and the truths of God’s Word. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). |
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coram_deo 18-Oct-21, 21:31 |
Worship Activates Angels 19 October 2021 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7 Beloved, we have a resource that is greater than any attack the devil can launch against us. Would you like to know how you can activate angels in your life? The most important key is worship. As you offer your praise to the Lord, the passage above tells us that's when angels are most active. Our Lord Jesus defined "fear" as "worship" for us. When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, Jesus responded by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:13, which says, "You shall fear the Lord your God." But He changed the word "fear" to "worship" and said to the devil, "For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God'" (Matt. 4:10, boldface mine). Beloved, when you worship the Lord, His angels camp all around you, surrounding you to deliver you. If you are going through a difficult period in your life and are fearful, choose to worship Him. Fear fills our hearts when we are occupied with ourselves, but when we worship the Lord, we become occupied with Him, His beauty, and His goodness, and His angels surround us like a protective shield. My ministry receives praise reports from people all over the world who, upon encountering His love for them personally through the preaching of the gospel, go on to be conscious of and full of thanksgiving for His goodness and grace upon their lives. Let me share with you a praise report from Sophia (who lives in Georgia, US), who's also experienced the Lord's intervention and protection. "Today, I read your Daily Grace Inspiration titled God's Angels Are Watching Over You, and was really encouraged. I recall an incident when my daughter and I were driving down the road behind an eighteen-wheeler when a vintage-looking car suddenly tried to get between our vehicle and the truck. I thought, "Why are you—" Right then, I heard a voice inside speak to me, asking me to be quiet. So I let the car squeeze in front of us. Immediately after I let the car in, one tire of the eighteen-wheeler blew. Surprisingly, the vintage car stayed in front of my car, taking the full impact of all the flying pieces of the exploded tire." "Once there were no more tire pieces coming from the truck, the vintage car returned to the left side of the road and drove off quickly. It then dawned on me that perhaps the driver of this car was an angel of the Lord. I was so encouraged to know that God protects us in these days and times!" Amen! When God gives His angels charge over you, they go ahead of you to guard and protect you from all sorts of danger. And yes, they may even choose to travel in vintage cars. Hebrews 13:2 says, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (KJV). |
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coram_deo 20-Oct-21, 10:00 |
Q: How can we determine if a pastor is preaching from the Bible and not from another source that may sound good but is not God’s Word? – D.P. A: Through Bible study and prayer, we are given discernment to tell the difference between what is of God and what is not. God’s people are instructed to test the various doctrines that abound, and test them against the standard of the Word of God. This should drive us to daily Bible reading. People sit in church week after week listening to sermons. Many slap the preacher on the back and say, “Your talk was wonderful this morning.” But how many pause to think about what was really said, and did the teacher back it up from the Word of God? A trustworthy authority figure welcomes honest questions and will answer them frankly. A true person of faith is willing to be corrected by the Word of God. Those who speak against the authority of Scripture are not interested in questions; they only want loyalty and power over other people’s lives. Victims are often from religious homes and churches in which people are not instructed to question authority figures nor taught to make decisions on their own. False teachers keep people busy. Exhaustion sets in. Deception follows. Unless we maintain our physical strength, we will lose our spiritual stamina. Jesus warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). Now who is behind this deception? It is none other than Satan himself. His method is to imitate God, often disguising himself as a minister of righteousness. Thousands of uninstructed Christians are being deceived today. False teachers that seem like the epitome of scholarship and culture are actually clever and crafty, adept at beguiling thoughtless people. We must read the Bible for ourselves and seek God, for His Word is truth. |
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coram_deo 23-Oct-21, 08:01 |
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: My friends and I were talking about how we want desperately to be near to God and know that He is with us. We work hard at doing good to others. We try every day to be better than the day before, but it seems the harder we try, the more defeated we are. What’s the secret? – T.A. A: Many Christians know they should be better people, and they struggle with all their might to change their behavior. But most of their attempts at self-improvement fail, and they end up frustrated and discouraged. They can echo the words of the Apostle Paul when he said that he desired to do good but often failed (Romans 7:18-19). Why is this? The problem is that we rely on our own strength instead of the strength that comes from God’s power. We not only need to know how God wants us to live; we also need the power to achieve it. God gives us this power through the work of His Holy Spirit within us. He is our constant, unchanging companion; He is our Guide. This is His promise: “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Possessing God’s Spirit within us isn’t a once-for-all event, but a continuous reality every day of our lives. But we must tap into His truth — the Word of God — asking Him to lead and guide our every step, our every thought, and our every action. As we yield our lives to His Lordship and give each day to Him through reading and believing His Word, and through prayer, we can look back each night and thank Him for fulfilling His promises to us. The Bible says that we should draw near to God, and He will draw near to us (James 4:8). What a rich promise this is. |
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coram_deo 25-Oct-21, 07:49 |
See God’s Love And See Your Provision 25 October 2021 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8 When you change the way you see yourself and God, you will see changes in your negative circumstances. A lady from Tennessee discovered this when she was about to give up on her failing graphic design business. Around that time, she was given my book, Destined To Reign, which completely changed the way she saw herself and her career. She said, "My mindset about myself, and more importantly, how much God loves me through Jesus Christ, began to change. I began to believe and see that Jesus is my success, that it's not my career that makes me a success...Within two months, I began to see my business turn around. Six months down the road, business is booming—I am receiving royalties each month that I never dreamed I would get!" Beloved, believe that you are greatly, immeasurably loved by your Father in heaven, and you can't help but see His goodness in your life! |
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coram_deo 26-Oct-21, 09:45 |
Q: Drugs are destroying our world, certainly our young people. What drives people — young and old — to this crutch? – A.C. A: Anxiety fills the hearts of people today. While battles rage around the world and storms gather in the human spirit, depression steals rest from our souls. This is an unfolding phenomenon that grips hearts with indescribable fear. Society is caught up in a powerful windstorm by turning to drugs to calm their hearts and minds. Millions of barbiturates are swallowed every night to help the nation sleep. Millions of tranquilizers keep people calm during the day. Millions of pep pills wake people up in the morning. The Bible warns that these flights from reality bring no lasting satisfaction. Volumes could be written on the problem of drug addiction. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have reported that antidepressants are now the most prescribed drugs in the United States. They are sometimes called the “designer drug.” In an interview on CNN, one physician stated, “It’s hard to believe that so many people are depressed, or that antidepressants are the answer.” This doctor is wise, indeed. Drugs are not the answer to man’s troubled condition. There is only one answer to the travail of this present age, and it is found in the pages of God’s Word, the Bible. Being under the responsible care of physicians when battling emotional trauma can help tremendously, but do not dismiss the peace of mind that comes from the Great Physician. Jesus brings deliverance to those who are weighed down. The Bible encourages us to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. It is good medicine for our minds and hearts (see Philippians 4:8). |
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coram_deo 27-Oct-21, 04:15 |
Q: My college assignment is to debate a fellow student about the impact of Jesus’ life when he lived on Earth – without using the Bible. She claims that Jesus only impacts those who are weak and need religion. Is it true that the calendar is based on the life of Jesus? – M.T. A: We face a dark time in the history. The forces of evil seem to be gathering for a colossal assault on the Word of God. To set the Bible aside is to disregard the very beginning of time. Journalist Kenneth Woodward wrote, “The centuries themselves are measured from the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. At the end of [1999], calendars in India and China, like those in Europe, America and the Middle East, will register the dawn of the third millennium … the birth of Jesus… number(s) the days for Christians and non-Christians alike. For Christians, Jesus is the hinge on which the door of history swings, the point at which eternity intersects with time, the Savior who redeems time by drawing all things to himself. As the second millennium draws to a close, nearly a third of the world’s population claims to be his followers.” From the history of music comes the story of Handel’s “Messiah.” When the oratorio was first performed in 1742, a member of the audience expressed gratitude to Handel for “producing such a wonderful piece of entertainment.” “Entertainment!” Handel replied. “My purpose was not to entertain, but to teach them [something].” For centuries now, Handel’s message has resonated in hearts, combining Job 19 and 1 Corinthians 15 to proclaim, “I know that my Redeemer liveth … for now is Christ risen from the dead.” God has given a message not only for past times and this time, but for all time. |
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coram_deo 28-Oct-21, 06:14 |
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 - OCTOBER 28 - EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE In Ephesians 3:18–19, we see that when we know the love of Christ, we will be filled with the fullness of God! That is amazing! But notice in today’s scripture that Paul didn’t stop there. God becomes big in your life when you know His love. He will give you not just exceedingly, not just abundantly, but exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think! So when you know His love for you, you can ask big and think big, and God will still exceed all that you ask or think! It’s all about His love for you and me. Yet, there are people today who continue to boast in their love for God, believing that He would bless them in tandem with their good works. In my own life, there were some things that I had been believing God for, but for years, nothing happened, until I realized just how much God loves me. When I realized how much He loves me, it was like all of a sudden, the floodgate of His blessings opened wide, and all kinds of good things started happening to me, in me, and around me. One such occasion was when my daughter, Jessica, was about two years old, and she was suffering from a viral attack that the doctors could not remedy. She cried all day and night. I tried everything I knew. I was binding and loosing, I was confessing the Word of God, I was shouting, I was laying hands . . . all to no avail. And then the Lord brought me to Genesis 22, where God told Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering to Him—a foreshadow of God sacrificing His own Son, Jesus. As I read the passage, I realized just how much God loved me. He loved me so much that He did not withhold His Son, His only Son, the Son whom He loved, for me. I began to weep from a deep and intimate sense of God’s overwhelming love for me. At that moment, I felt His love all over me. And right there and then, my daughter stopped crying in the other room. From that point onward, she was completely healed! As I was experiencing a fresh revelation of His love for me, the miracle for my daughter happened! Let me share another testimony with you. Bill, a brother from California, wrote to thank me for my teachings about our inheritance as God’s beloved children when we believe right. He shared that prior to his honeymoon in Cancun, rain and thunderstorms had been forecast for 80 to 90 percent of the duration of their trip. One morning during his quiet time with God, it occurred to him that because God loves him and his wife, he could pray to God to change the weather for their honeymoon, for surely this was no big deal for the God of the universe. So three days prior to their departure, he prayed just that. This was Bill’s report: “The sun was shining with storm clouds in the far distance everywhere we went during our six-day honeymoon. The thunderstorms were spectacular but always at a distance. Rain only fell late at night after we had retired to bed. Even though fierce storms were predicted along the entire coastline, we woke up every morning to sunshine and freshly watered, beautiful nature. Some will scoff and call this a coincidence, and some simply won’t believe that God changed the weather for one of His own. But I believe that’s exactly what He did!” Let me say this again: when you know His love for you, you can ask big and think big, and God will still exceed all that you ask or think! When you believe right, the floodgates of blessings open! Nothing is impossible when you believe right in the person of Jesus and in His love and goodness. Praise God! This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs. |
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coram_deo 30-Oct-21, 20:06 |
Come Out Of Hiding 30 October 2021 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy…He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8, 10-12 When I visited the Mount of Beatitudes in Israel some time ago, the Lord opened my eyes to see for the first time how He had met the man with leprosy in Matthew 8:1–4. After preaching to the multitudes, our Lord didn't go down the mountain toward them. Our Lord had actually walked down the mountain in another direction, very likely in the direction toward Capernaum (see Matt. 8:5). As I took a path down the mountain toward Capernaum that day, I saw slabs of stone strewn along the foot of the mountain. These stone slabs are just the right size for a man to crawl under and find shelter. Right then and there, I had the revelation of how the man with leprosy could have hidden under one of these slabs for fear of being discovered by the people, and how our Lord Jesus had known the man was hiding there and deliberately gone to seek him before the crowds caught up with Him. In Jesus' day, those with leprosy were ostracized and isolated in accordance with the law of Moses. Because they were conscious of how unclean they were and what the law required of them, their natural response was to withdraw and hide. But hiding didn't get the man with leprosy in Matthew 8 the healing and restoration he needed. Fortunately, hearing about the goodness of God—how God wanted to be a loving Father to him and take care of all his needs—got him out of hiding and into seeking the Lord for his miracle. It changed his mind from seeing a God Who ostracized and condemned unclean people to seeing a God Who loved them no matter what their condition. This change of mind lit his faith and put courage in his heart to seek and receive the healing he so desperately wanted. Like the man with leprosy at the start of his story, could you also be hiding from God today? Maybe you've been struggling with an addiction or cycle of defeat that you can't seem to get out of. Maybe you've been a victim of sexual abuse and you blame yourself for it. Maybe you've had a failed marriage or business, or made a bad decision that has led to loss. And maybe your failure has caused you to avoid God, avoid going to church, and avoid people in general. Beloved, whatever may be causing you to feel "unclean" or disqualified today, God wants you to change your mind about Him and, instead of hiding from Him, to run to Him! |
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coram_deo 02-Nov-21, 21:44 |
Q: My class is studying the properties of water and the various sayings about water. I thought it would be a boring subject but I am learning so much about its value. What does the water of life mean? – C.M. A: Everyone gets thirsty, and when that happens what satisfies the most is a good cold glass of water. Our bodies are made up largely of water, and if we don’t have enough water to drink, the cells and organs of our bodies can’t do their jobs. The first verse of Psalm 42 says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” When deer are thirsty, they want water. Water is the only thing that will quench their thirst. Just like our bodies need water, our souls need God. Even the best things in life, whatever makes us happiest, can’t be enough for us for very long. Only God can meet our deepest desires. We must not let anything — or anyone — come between God and us. Just as our bodies need food and water, our spiritual lives need to feast on His Word — the water of life. Jesus Christ is the source. He is the Bread of Life for our hungry souls. He is the Water of Life for our thirsty hearts. Pray that the dew of Heaven may fall on Earth’s dry thirsty ground, and that God’s righteousness may flood our souls as the waters cover the sea. Jesus said that whoever will drink of the water that He gives will never thirst… that the water He gives will become in us “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). |
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coram_deo 05-Nov-21, 04:57 |
Q: What is the secret to building a happy home? – H.B. A: No achievement in life is greater than building a happy home and raising children who love Jesus. Parents’ main job is to be sure their children grow up in a home where God is honored and Jesus’ love is shared. This is quickly being lost today and the results are devastating. But God bless those who desire to provide this most secure environment for God’s first institution — the family. It’s a lot of work to take care of children and help them grow. Parents not only bear the responsibility of teaching children how to behave, how to work, how to obey, and how to get along with others; they are responsible to teach them about the Lord and how He wants us all to live in the midst of a dark and evil world. Children suffer greatly when parents shirk their God-given responsibility. The Bible says that children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). God is interested in marriages, families, and home life. God the Father is the example of preparing the right kind of home. Nothing made by the hand of man has ever been so beautiful as starlight on the water or moonlight on the snow. And the same hand that made trees and fields and flowers, the seas and the hills, the clouds and sky, has been making a home for us called Heaven. Those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will enjoy the grand home that Christ is preparing for those who love Him. Heaven is the home that God created and He possesses. His throne room is His headquarters. Heaven is a wonderful place and the benefits for the believer are “out of this world!” “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). |
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coram_deo 06-Nov-21, 08:30 |
Q: During 2020, due to COVID-19 my husband and I began home schooling our son. He is just now getting into competition and the coach says that he is too meek and will probably not make the team. While we do not want him to be timid, neither do we want to make him so competitive that he loses sight of living a Christian life, even among his teammates and adult coaches. Are there examples of a successful person doing both? – H.S. A: Eric Liddell, a missionary to China and an Olympic runner, was competitive and determined to use his abilities to the fullest. But his meekness, kindness, and gentle spirit won admiration even from people he defeated. He was described as “ridiculously humble in victory” and “utterly generous in defeat.” That’s a good definition of what it means to be meek. The world has been successful in convincing society that meekness is a weakness. This is not true at all. Meekness involves being yielded. The word yield has two meanings. It can mean to let go (be passive) or surrender for something greater. Eric Liddell let go of pride whenever he won a race, and he also gave honor and respect to anyone who beat him in a race. He was gracious. Jesus expressed this idea when He said, “He who loses [or surrenders] his life… will find it” (Matthew 10:39). When we surrender our will to the will of Jesus, it means that we let go of what we want and give ourselves to God to do whatever He wants for us. He blesses this obedience in ways that cannot be imagined, though it may not be what we anticipate. “He who believes in Him will not be disappointed” (1 Peter 2:6, 1995 NASB). Pride comes from looking only at ourselves; meekness comes through looking at God. |
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coram_deo 08-Nov-21, 03:55 |
Q: It is hard to be thankful when things are falling apart, yet I know that is what the Bible says we should do. But if I thank the Lord for problems when I really don’t mean it, isn’t that lying to the Lord? – U.H. A: Long ago, a minister named Matthew Henry was robbed. He wrote in his diary, “Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my [possessions], they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” This is a convicting and true account. How many of us can really look at difficulties in this way with thankful hearts? Yet the Bible says, “In everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Thankfulness isn’t our usual response when something goes wrong. We may have a hundred good things to be thankful for — but let one bad thing happen, and it’s all we think about! No matter what happens, we are to give thanks. We must develop a habit of thanking God each day. Does He expect us to thank Him that we’ve received a bad health diagnosis? Not at all; but He does want us to thank Him for being with us through our journey — every step of the way. Thanking God for every blessing is a good place to start; it will take a while to get through all the goodness God has provided. Most of all, we should thank Him daily for what Jesus has done for us, to be watchful and mindful that the Lord is near to those who call on His name (Romans 10:13). |
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coram_deo 09-Nov-21, 05:37 |
Q: The organization I work for gives a beautiful gold cross to all employees who serve the community during the year. Some refuse the gift saying that it offends them (because it is a cross). Others wear it proudly. What is the significance of the cross? – C.R. A: From New York’s Fifth Avenue jewelry stores to the airport souvenir counters in Rome, Italy, one piece of jewelry is universally displayed — the cross. It has become a symbol misused by many who do not comprehend its significance. What does the cross of Jesus mean? If we stopped people on the street to ask that question we might hear, “It’s a symbol for Christianity.” If we asked them, “What happened at the cross?” Some might say that Jesus was nailed to the cross. Others might say the cross is a myth. While most connect the emblem of the cross to religion, many do not understand its meaning. Walk into the great cathedrals whose spires pierce the sky, and you will see paintings and sculptures memorializing robust men who are still revered, and kind women who reached down to the lowly in compassion. But they are silent in death; they can do nothing today. Sadly, artists have depicted Jesus as feeble, weak, and dead — still hanging on the cross. But this is not the truth; for the One who is depicted hanging lifeless and broken on the cross is instead full of the breath of life, full of glory. He emptied His life’s blood on the cross so that He could fill us with the gift of eternal life by His resurrection. The cross represents the suffering love of God, bearing the guilt of man’s sin, which alone is able to melt the sinner’s heart and bring him to repentance for salvation. The cross gives a new purpose to life and shows the immeasurable love of God. |
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coram_deo 09-Nov-21, 17:40 |
From the Joseph Prince Ministries’ app: The Battle Is Real 09 November 2021 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91:7-8 Imagine you are in a battlefield and all around you soldiers are being slain. On one side, you see a thousand fall. On the other, ten thousand crumple one by one to the ground. You hear screams as bullets find their targets. It is a disturbing picture and I thank God that the majority of us have not had to experience the horrors of being in a physical combat zone. But that does not mean that we are not under attack nor does it mean that we do not see death claiming its victims all around us. We are assaulted daily from all directions by tragic newsflashes, by doctors' reports, and by attacks of the devil launched at us. And every day, we see casualties around us as we read about people dying in accidents, in attacks, or of diseases. Please understand that I am not in any way suggesting that such occurrences are equivalent to the experiences of those who may have been in wars. What I do want to establish is that believers are in a spiritual war, and we should not be ignorant of the enemy's tactics. When the enemy attacks you, do you recognize his weapons? The projectiles he shoots may not come with arrowheads or be filled with gunpowder, but they are no less deadly. His weapons come in the form of crippling thoughts and crushing fears. When you hear about a plane crash and are paralyzed by the thought that your next plane ride might be your last, you have been shot. When you read about a shooting at a concert venue and fear going near one in case the same thing happens to you, a "bullet" has been lodged in your mind. I want to teach and equip you to combat these oppressive thoughts. Unfortunately, many believers who may experience these dark thoughts allow them to take root and grow. They water them with worry, fertilize them with anxiety, and allow them to sun for hours in their mind. How? By replaying the bad thoughts over and over again and letting them go on and on like a broken record. As a result, these believers can't sleep, they suffer from chronic panic attacks, and they might even develop autoimmune and psychosomatic conditions. What begins in the mind can take root in your heart, and can even lead to adverse effects on your physical body. When those negative thoughts come your way, you must not give them time to take root! |
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coram_deo 11-Nov-21, 22:47 |
Q: Is it really possible to have the God who created the world and mankind to be our friend? He is so perfect and we are so imperfect. It seems far-fetched! – G.F. A: Think of it: The infinite, all-powerful, holy God of the universe wants to be our friend! This is a staggering truth. He wants us to know Him personally, and to discover what it means to walk with Him every day. He wants to have communication with us through His Word and through prayer. He wants to comfort us when we are upset or anxious, and to encourage us when we are dejected or depressed. He wants to guide us when we face difficult decisions, and He even wants to correct us when we’ve done something foolish or wrong. We can scarcely grasp the overwhelming perfection and holiness of God. But He is perfect. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). And it is His absolute purity that helps us understand the depth of man’s sin. Yet in God’s perfection, He provides a way for the human race to turn to Him in repentance of sin against Him and have fellowship with Him because of the free gift of salvation He offers. God has declared: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends” (John 15:14-15). When God forgives, there is an immediate and complete change in relationship. This is the greatest discovery we can ever make: to know that we are created by God, to know Him personally, and to be His friend forever. |
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coram_deo 13-Nov-21, 08:12 |
From Joseph Prince Ministries: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5–6 - NOVEMBER 13 - THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD’S CHASTENING Pastor Prince, how can you say there is no chastisement and punishment in the new covenant? Today’s scripture states it very clearly. My friend, there is confusion in the church because the original Greek word for “chastens” in today’s scripture has been poorly translated. The Greek word is actually paideuo, which means child training. Pai is where you get the word pediatrician (a doctor who specializes in treating children), while deuo means to teach a child. You will find that the translation of the word paideuo as child training is more consistent with the context of the passage. Read on. The next verse says, “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (Heb. 12:7). Clearly, because God deals with us as sons, He disciplines and brings correction to us just as earthly fathers would their sons. Now, think about this for a moment: would you give your son a sickness, terminal disease, or accident to teach him a lesson? Then why do you think your loving Father in heaven would do that? No way! When you train your child, you give him lessons that will teach him things to benefit him in the future. And for him to benefit from the lesson, how can he die from it? So God would never use terminal sicknesses or fatal accidents to teach you and me—His children—lessons. In the new covenant, while there is no longer any punishment for sins, there is child training. But God does not train His children with sicknesses, diseases, or accidents any more than you and I do. He does it through His Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17, Heb. 12:9). Yet, sadly, there are still Christians who accuse our heavenly Father of using sickness and disease to discipline His children. What kind of God is that? Come on, He is our Abba! Abba is the most affectionate term you can use to address a father in the Hebrew language. It means “Daddy!” Do you really think your Daddy God will punish you that way? If you earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly Daddy who loves you (Matt. 7:11). Sicknesses, diseases, and accidents are from the devil, and because of Jesus’ finished work, we have been redeemed from every evil work and curse. We can receive protection from every evil occurrence, sickness, and disease. Our heavenly Father is one who “forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Ps. 103:3–4). And by the stripes on Jesus’ back, we are healed! Whenever you hear a teaching that puts fear in your heart, such as “God gives you diseases and accidents to teach you a lesson,” you can be sure that what you are hearing is not the gospel, or good news, of Jesus. The good news of Jesus always liberates as His perfect love removes every fear. The good news always imparts faith and exalts the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross! My friend, reject anything that even remotely suggests that God is angry with you and is going to discipline you with painful, deadly things when you fail. Our Father is full of grace and mercy and wants us to be healthy, provided for, and protected from all evil occurrences! Let’s start to expect good gifts from Him. This devotional is taken from the book Reign in Life—90 Powerful Inspirations for Extraordinary Breakthroughs. |
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coram_deo 13-Nov-21, 08:42 |
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: Is it true that God’s salvation is a form of a pardon as though we never committed a wrong against Him? And does this have anything to do with committing the unpardonable sin? – P.S. A: Sometimes a person convicted of a crime receives a pardon — and is freed from paying the penalty. Why? The person receives mercy. Most people who have experienced this are indebted to the one who forgave them. This marvelous demonstration comes from the very Word of God. All Christians have been pardoned. God Himself shows us mercy. Even though we are guilty of sin, we don’t have to pay the penalty, because Jesus did that for us. Some people think only about God’s love and not about His judgment. But the Bible says that those who do not believe have been judged already (John 3:18). We must not take sin lightly and just assume that God will forgive us. We make a mockery of God’s forgiveness when we deliberately engage in sin because we think He will forgive it later. God’s kindness — His mercy — should make us want to stop sinning and live a victorious life because we love Him and desire to obey Him in all things. The unpardonable sin involves the total and irrevocable rejection of Jesus Christ. It is dangerous to turn away from His voice that calls us to eternal salvation. Sin has tarnished every area of life, and Christ wants to erase its stain. Scripture has the remedy for sinfulness — it is to acknowledge our sin against Him and repent and turn from a life of sin. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He has made a way for this to take place through His mercy and grace, and He wonderfully pardons us and promises us eternal life with Him. What a marvelous hope! |
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coram_deo 15-Nov-21, 10:00 |
Q: Why is it so hard to find God’s will for our lives? My friends and I pray that we will know His will so we can be obedient and follow Christ as the Bible instructs, but this is one of the hardest things in the Christian life to accomplish. – G.W. A: It is wonderful to want to know and do God’s will and He has not made it difficult. To know the will of God is the highest of all wisdom. Living in the center of God’s will puts the stamp of true sincerity upon our service in His name. God’s will is for us to become more and more like Christ. In order to do this we must not fail to read and study His Word, because this is how He reveals His will to His people. If we are ignorant of God’s Word — His message to us — we will always be ignorant of God’s will. Now many may say this is too simplistic. But many just use it as an excuse not to search for God’s will. When we go to God in prayer and ask for His guidance — which He promises — He reveals His thoughts to us through His holy Word. The Bible tells us that our thoughts are not His thoughts, but He has given us 66 books of Scripture that help us know the mind of Christ. Finding God’s will is not difficult, but living God’s will is only done through obedience to His truth. We must submit every area of our lives to His authority. Nothing must be excluded from His influence and nothing must be withheld from His control. It has often been said, “If Christ is to be Lord AT all, then He must be Lord OF all.” |
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coram_deo 17-Nov-21, 06:03 |
Hear How God Is Always Good Toward The Sick 17 November 2022 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Mark 5:25-29 NLT She had been hemorrhaging continuously for 12 years. Medical science had no answer. Money to pay for expensive medication had run dry, very likely with all faith and hope that she could be made well. And then one day, she heard of a travelling preacher, teacher and healer. She heard about His compassionate touch, His kind eyes and healing hands. She heard that everyone who came to Him to be healed was healed. Suddenly, faith to believe that she would be next sparked on the inside. And when this woman touched Jesus with that faith, power left His body and healed her instantly! What had fired up her faith? It was simply hearing about how good, kind and loving Jesus was that led her to believe that He was both able and willing to heal her. God is just as willing to heal you today. Just focus on His love for you. See His heart to heal you of your condition and faith will ignite in you, sparking off an explosion of healing in your body! |
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coram_deo 19-Nov-21, 09:09 |
• It contrasts the atheists’ way of thinking (Live for yourself!) with the believers’ way of thinking (Live for God.) Not that believers live perfect lives, but their mindset is different from when they were not believers. • Overcoming temptation by looking to Jesus (and not self effort.) This is key, and in my opinion, the *only way* to overcome temptation. And it’s reflected in the verse, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) How does one look to Jesus and seek first the Kingdom of God? I’m sure believers’ opinions differ on this, but the way I do it is by handwriting the Holy Bible, prayer and memorizing and speaking aloud verses and passages from the Bible. Jesus Christ was described in John 1 as “The Word” and Jesus is throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though He’s obviously not identified as Jesus in the Old Testament ‘cause Jesus was the name given to Him upon His birth to the Virgin Mary. But seeking first the Kingdom of God is not so easy when you’re going through difficult trials, especially when they’re related to health. But God is faithful and will get us through them. From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Q: How can I resist the sin of temptation? – F.T. A: Temptation isn’t the same thing as sin, and it isn’t a sin to be tempted, but it is a sin to give in to the temptation. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was tempted by the devil, but Jesus didn’t give in to Satan’s temptations. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way, yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus will always point the way to victory. He will always provide us a way of escape. He will empower us to overcome! How is this done? We must take our eyes off the sin and look to Him. We must want to do His will, which is to live for Him in every decision we make. We need to know what God’s Word teaches about right and wrong. Every day we are battered by messages from the media, advertisers, entertainment, celebrities, and even friends. The world hammers away at its message: “Live for yourself!” But, we are to live for God. We must ask Him to help us recognize temptation when it comes — and depart that environment, that person, that temptation. The story of Joseph (Genesis 39) helps us not only see how temptation can put us in a snare, but it also gives us an up-close look at what departing from temptation looks like. Questions that help us recognize the difference between right and wrong are: Does this glorify God? Will it harm my health? Will it cause someone else to stumble spiritually or morally? A wise Christian once said, “When in doubt, don’t.” When our hearts are filled with God’s truth, it helps us recognize Satan’s ploys much quicker. The Scripture says, “Depart from me…for I will keep the commandments of my God” (Psalm 119:115). |
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coram_deo 23-Nov-21, 02:18 |
Q: I am part of the baby boomer generation and we grew up at a good time in America. I don’t know that my grandchildren will ever know the good times that our nation once knew. It seems like everyone should slow down and turn the culture around. Is this a pipe dream? – S.D. A: Sometimes we fail to remember that life is a journey. We become so preoccupied with our immediate concerns that we don’t step back and see the whole picture. For many people life is a constant struggle just to survive. Others have everything they could ever want yet remain unsatisfied and unfulfilled. Some see their own life’s journey as a series of unrelated events – some good, some bad – strung together like beads on a string. Others feel trapped like a leaf in a rushing stream, tossed about by circumstances beyond control. Many people may never have stopped to think about the road they are traveling. But God didn’t intend for our journey through life to be this way. Instead, He meant for it to be filled with joy and purpose, with even the most ordinary events being part of His plan. He also wants to guide us as we make decisions and to give us hope for the future. Most of all, He wants to make this journey with us. Sometimes we get tired of the burdens of life. Sometimes life touches one person with a bouquet and another with a thorn bush. But the first may find a wasp in the flowers and the second may discover roses among the thorns. If you will believe in the Lord Jesus and follow Him, you will learn that He goes before you every step of the way. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). |
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coram_deo 24-Nov-21, 00:55 |
Acknowledge Jesus’ Presence By Giving Thanks 24 November 2021 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 There are Christians who know in theory that Jesus is with them, but they do not actively practice His presence. For me personally, one of the best ways to practice the presence of the Lord is to thank Him all the time. You can give thanks to Him for everything. Just say, "Lord, I thank You for this beautiful sunset. I thank You for Your love and for surrounding me with good things and good friends." There is no limit to what you can thank Him for since every good and perfect gift that we enjoy today comes directly from Him (James 1:17). Even if you have had a rough day at work and you are facing a seemingly impossible challenge, you can practice His presence. The moment you realize that your heart is heavy with worry and your mind is plagued by anxiety, share your challenge with Jesus and thank Him that this problem is not bigger than His hands. Begin to surrender it to Him and depend on Him for His strength, power and peace. As you do that, you are already practicing the presence of the Lord. And as you honor His presence and behave like He is indeed with you, He sees it as faith in Him and intervenes on your behalf for your success in whatever situation you may be in. It is sad when Christians behave like some husbands who bring their wives to a party, only to ignore them completely. Their wives could be right there with them physically, but these guys are so engaged with their own friends, talking about the stock market, economy or latest game on television, that their wives might as well not be with them. Ladies, do you know men like that? Now, men who are reading this book, I know you are not like that, so don't get offended, all right? I know you cherish and love your wife. What I am trying to illustrate is that just because someone is with you physically, it does not mean that the person feels appreciated by you. Appreciation only occurs when you start acknowledging the presence of that person. Now, what does the word "appreciate" mean? It means "to increase in value." If you appreciate someone, the person increases in value in your eyes. My friend, the Lord is already with you, so start to practice His presence. Begin by thanking Him, appreciating Him and increasing His value in your eyes, and you will see Him acting on your behalf. |
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