"Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Acts 2:26-27

Twenty-one years ago, God said something to me that will mark my repentance forever. The only hope that any man has anywhere in the world is faith in Jesus Christ. In light of what's happening around us today, the truth of the statement is more painfully obvious than ever before. We are a generation with diseases no man can heal, with problems no man can solve. Your hope is in Jesus. Trust Him. And tell the world--their hope is in Him too. READ: Mark 4:35-41

"Like newborn babies you should crave-thirst for, earnestly desire the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation." 1 Peter 2:2

Have you ever been in a room full of babies? Infants crying. Crawlers hollering for certain toys. Toddlers pushing and whining to get their way. It can be quite a handful, can't it? When a bunch of spiritual babies get together, it's just about the same way! Of course, there's nothing wrong with being a spiritual baby. That's how we all have to begin. But God never meant for us to stay that way. That's why in 1 Peter 2:2 He says we should "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow...." He intends for us to grow up! He intends for us to feed on His Word, moving from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word until we grow up into mature sons and daughters. Begin now finding your nourishment in His Word and enjoy the reward of growing up in Him! READ: Ephesians 4:12-16

"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight,and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet....For this my son...was lost, and is found." Luke 15:21-22, 24

Next time you catch yourself struggling to make up to God for something you've done wrong, working to win His approval, let the story of the prodigal son set you free. Let it remind you that, in spite of your sins, your Father has received you with open arms. He's put a robe of righteousness on your back and His signet ring on your hand. He's put the shoes of sonship on your feet! READ: Luke 15:11-32

"Withstand (the devil); be firm in faith [against his onset] rooted,established, strong, immovable, and determined-knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace...will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen (and settle) you." 1 Peter 5:9-10

No matter how long you've been living by faith, no matter how much you've learned about it, every once in a while you may suffer a setback. You may run into some circumstances that just don't turn out the way you expected. If that happens, remember this: Those setbacks are just temporary. You may have lost a battle, but you're not going to lose the war. Just get up and go at it again. READ: 2 Samuel 21:1-6

"When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!" 2 Chronicles 20:21

Praise precedes victory! You can see a graphic example of that in 2 Chronicles 20. There, the Bible tells us that a multitude of forces were marching against Israel. The army of Israel was so outnumbered, they literally didn't know what to do. So they fasted and prayed until they received a word from God. "Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's." READ: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22

"For those whom He foreknew--of whom He was aware and loved beforehand--He also destined from the beginning...to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness]." Romans 8:29

As a believer, you're destined to be molded into the image of Jesus,to grow in spirit until you look just like Him. God's supernatural power began that process the moment you were born again. You were changed on the inside instantly. How successful you are in allowing this change to progress to the outer man is mostly up to you. We grow up spiritually just like we grow up physically. What can you do to speed this growing process along? Spend more time pursuing the things of the Spirit than you spend pursuing the things of the flesh. Become dedicated to the Word of God and to fellowship with Him. Be willing to pull aside from the busy things of life and get alone with Him, so He can guide you, teach you and share His likeness with you. READ: 1 Corinthians 3:5-18

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.... Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Hebrews 4:9,11

God's rest. Considering the hectic, busy lives you and I live that sounds like a pretty good thing to have, doesn't it? But exactly what is that rest? And how do we enter it? The third and fourth chapters of Hebrews compares God's rest with the children of Israel taking possession of the Promised Land. That land was to be a place where their every need would be met, a place of freedom from their warring enemies, a place no one would ever drive them from again. All they had to do was go in and possess it. But something kept them from it: unbelief and disobedience. As believers, we, too, have the opportunity to enter a Promised Land of abundance and peace. A land where we can rest from our struggles and enjoy the victory of God. To enter it we must do what the children of Israel failed to do. We must simply trust God and obey His voice. Get to know your Father. Work at it. Make it your "labor." He has a Promised Land of rest that is waiting for you! READ: Hebrews 4:1-11

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21

There's a dimension of living you can only experience when you make a decision to please the Father in every activity of your life.In that dimension, Jesus becomes real to you and manifests Himself to you. Love God with all your heart by keeping His commandments. He'll show His love to you by manifesting Himself to you in powerful new ways. READ: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing as under of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The living Word of Almighty God is the only power strong enough to discipline your flesh. It's the only power that can cause you to think, look, talk and act like a born-again man. Get caught up in the living Word today and discover the power that can set you forever free. READ: Psalm 119:1-9

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear Friend in Christ, I pray that this first month of 2012 has brought you in a deeper relationship with the Father, through Christ. Many things have happened already this year and far more will be happening for sure. Nevertheless, whatever comes our way we should be prepared to handle it in the strength of the Lord, who gives us the victory. Amen! So... be encouraged and praise His name in any situation. Praise is the key to open the door to VICTORY, remember? Grace & Peace,

"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:15-16

Being peculiar. That's not something most of us work to achieve,is it? But, you know, we should. God has called us to be peculiar--to stand out from the rest of the world as living proof of His power and His love (1 Pet. 2:9). READ: Exodus 10:20-29