Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.’ 2 Corinthians 2:14
What do you smell like today? Is that question too personal? Not to God! Paul says we are warriors returning from conquest with the smell of victory incense permeating our presence. To those who see us and know us, this aroma points them to God. Gods’ victory over our wills and His victory for us over death. We are God's conquest and conquerors. Let's live surrendered to His will, displaying His grace and victory in our lives. In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! "Love covers all transgressions." Proverbs 10:12
Our Lord is intimately acquainted with all our ways. Darkness and light are alike to Him. Not one of us is hidden from His sight. All things are open and laid bare before Him; our darkest secret, our deepest shame, our stormy past, our worst thought, our hidden motive, our vilest imagination...even our vain attempts to cover the ugly with snow-white beauty. Our Father God comes up so close. He sees it all. He knows our frame. He remembers we are dust...best of all, He loves us unconditionally! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! Heavenly Father,
We realize our present and future can be affected by our past. The enemy of our soul would love for us to dwell on the negatives of our past and for us not to believe you for blessings now and for the future. Today, we unfold the past and put it into its proper perspective; and, that is to put it behind us. The undone things and missed opportunities of the past are behind us; therefore, we choose to maximize the moment given to us now, and declare it's filled with numerous testimonies of what God can do when we trust him and keep moving forward to greater things each day, no matter what yesterday was like. We bring all of our energies to bear one thing: regardless of our past, we look forward to what lies ahead; and we strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which you have called us to. This we pray in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen! I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18
Heaven is something we see with our heart. When we are discouraged, doubtful, and depressed, we need to have the eyes of our hearts "enlightened." The dawn needs to rise in our darkness and we see the dawn of hope and the riches of our inheritance. But when things look bad, sometimes the only way to remember these things is to sing them, pray them, and read God's promises of them. We sometimes struggle in our confidence that God will act in response to our prayers and do what we have trusted Him to do in our lives. We pray, fill us with your Spirit and comfort our doubts and kindle our passion that we may serve you with boldness and share your grace with others. God is our hope. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan is no play or pretend thing. He and his power are real and intended to harm. But rather than spending our time worrying about him, let's resist him when we are tempted and focus on Jesus. He's the one who won the big showdown at Calvary, triumphing over Satan. He took Satan's greatest tool and disarmed it. Jesus broke Satan's stronghold over us. Now we can resist and Satan will flee. |
Pastor Derrick RichardsonPastor of Community Abundant Life Church Archives
April 2024
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