Topic: Relax! God Is Working [Joyce Meyer Devotional 18 March 2019]

Being relaxed feels wonderful. Being nervous, tense, and worried are not so wonderful. Why aren’t more people relaxed? Jesus said if we are weary and overburdened, we should go to Him and He will give us rest, relaxation, and ease (see Matthew 11:28–29).

Jesus wants to teach us the right way to live, which is different from the way most of the world lives.

It would be putting it mildly to say that I was an uptight woman for the first half of my life. I simply did not know how to relax, and it was due to me not being willing to completely trust God. I trusted God for things, but not in things. I kept trying to be the one in control. Even though God was in the driver’s seat of my life, I kept one hand on the wheel just in case He took a wrong turn.

Relaxation is impossible without trust! If you know you can’t fix the problem you have, then why not relax while God is working on it? It sounds easy, but it took many years for me to be able to do this.

I know from experience that the ability to relax and go with the flow in life is dependent upon our willingness to trust God completely. If things don’t go your way, instead of being upset, you can believe that getting your way was not what you needed. God knew that, so He gave you what was best for you, instead of what you wanted.

If you are waiting much longer than you had hoped to, you can get frustrated, angry, and upset, or you can say, “God’s timing is perfect; He is never late. And my steps are ordered by the Lord.” Now you can relax and simply go with the flow of what is happening in your life.

When it comes to things that are out of our control, we can either ruin the day or relax and enjoy it while God is working on the situation. As long as we believe, God keeps working!

Prayer Starter: Father, right now I commit all of my cares, concerns and circumstances to You. Help me, moment by moment, to trust You—to give my burdens to You and relax in Your love, knowing You have everything under control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Jesus Is Not Out Of Touch With Our Reality [TREM Devotional 18 March 2019]

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. –Hebrews 4:15 KJV

Child of God, we have a High Priest that is gone to heaven. We have a man that can identify with us. He is in heaven right now and his name is Jesus. He is there to tell the father I know what they are going through. Jesus knows what you are going through. He feels what you are feeling. He can identify with you because He sat where you are sitting.

There are some situations that you cannot express but the High Priest is in a position to explain better what you cannot articulate. He knows what it is to go without food and He knows what it is to be tried and tempted. He knows what it is to face challenges in life. The Bible says He was in all points tempted but He didn’t fall and because of it; He is our High Priest. He is saying to the Father on our behalf; I know what it is for the enemy to bombard their minds but they are holding fast. But he would not speak effectively on your behalf if you are not holding fast the promise of God.

The book of 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 says “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body”. In other words, the enemy is buffeting us left, right and centre and trying to get us discouraged but we refuse to be discouraged because the more he is attacking us the more the life of God manifests in us. Don’t ever believe the devil or fall for his lies, God has a great plan for your life.

Further Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:20-28

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Deuteronomy 32-34; Evening- Mark 15:26-47

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 18 March 2019 – Job Complains To God

TOPIC: Job Complains To God

READ: Job 7:11-21 King James Version (KJV)

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

THE MESSAGE:

Job, in bitterness of soul, complained to God about his predicament. His experiences were overwhelming that he resorted to complaining, thus: His bed did not give him comfort because he could not sleep (verse 13); He was having terrifying dreams (verse 16); He hated his life because there was no hope (verse 16); God kept his eye on him and made him his target (verse 19).

The above issues mounted much pressure on Job so much so that he felt God had abandoned and refused to forgive him. The truth still remained that God had neither found him guilty nor abandoned him. God still had goodwill for Job only that he had not understood the will of God for his life. The pressure of suffering can force Christians to complain like Job but we should not give in.

Beloved, God does not permit His people to complain, either for good or bad. When the Israelites were travelling to the Promised Land, they complained against God, who also punished them (Numbers 11:1). Therefore when faced with suffering, resist the urge to complain. Humbly seek God and present the matter to Him with thanksgiving and He will visit you fast.

Prayer: Father please deliver me from the temptation of complaining in Jesus Name.

Click HERE to read previous messages

Topic Focus [Open Heavens for Teens 18 March 2019]

Memorise: “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” – Proverbs 4:25

Read: Philippians 3:15-21

15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

16 Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

17 Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.

18 For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One).

19 They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party.

20 But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,

21 Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.

Bible In One Year: Deuteronomy 31-32, Luke 1:1-23

MESSAGE:

Focus is a person’s point of attention. If, for example you have been told to throw a stone at a bottle some feet away from you, you will have to focus on that bottle if you want to hit it. If you place focus on something else, you will not hit the bottle. The same is true of life. If you are focused on being the best student at something (e.g sports or academics) in your school, you will be the best. No matter what point you are in life, there will always be a new goal to pursue. Without focus, you cannot achieve your goals.

Avoid distractions. It is obvious that teenagers place a lot of focus on the wrong things, things like “how many friends do I have on social media?” “What is that clique saying about me?” how can I be the most popular in school?” None of these things are worth your focus. After a while, the trending thing on social media will no longer be remembered. Before long, you will be separated from the friends whose opinions you seem to value so much. At the end of it all, you will realise that you are left with yourself and your achievements; the things that really matter. FOCUS!

Action Point:Set a goal to be achieved every week and focus on achieving it.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 5:

1. Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go!

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

2. At the Sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

4. Onward, then, ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King;
This, through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: An Unreliable Neighbour [DCLM Daily Manna 18 March 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Genesis 26:6-16 (KJV)

Key Verse: “For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him” (Genesis 26:14).

MESSAGE:

A charcoal-burner carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a friend, a fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbours and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The fuller replied, “The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal.”

The goodwill that existed between Abimelech and Isaac was like that of the charcoal-burner and the fuller. Isaac was a son of promise, while Abimelech was an uncircumcised Philistine. Abimelech appeared to be a good neighbour at first when he rebuked Isaac for fearing to introduce Rebecca as his wife. He used his kingly authority and charged the Philistines to refrain from harming either Isaac or his wife. However, the growing prosperity of Isaac, awakened the envy of the inhabitants. The envious Philistines were afraid that from a sojourner he would go on to be a settler, and acquire rights of property. Abimelech asked Isaac to depart from his land because he was waxing too great for his comfort.

The Philistines exhibited the carnal and corrupt nature of fallen man which grieves at the good of others. Like Abimelech, the sinner may pretend to be good initially but when his selfish interests are at stake, he reveals his true nature.

The only proven agent that can change the charcoal-burner nature of the sinner is the blood of Jesus: it washes whiter than any fuller on earth can achieve. Why not turn your heart over to Jesus today?

Thought For The Day: Envy and wickedness portray the nature of the carnal mind.

The Bible In One Year: Numbers 31-32

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: Fuelling Your Prayer Life By The Word [Seeds of Destiny 18 March 2019 Devotional]

You cannot be worded and be prayerless; to be wordful is to be prayerful.

SCRIPTURE: Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Hosea 14:2.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You cannot be worded and be prayerless; to be wordful is to be prayerful.

The Scripture makes it clear that we are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We are expected to pray as often as we breathe. Since breathing is continuous and endless, prayer should also be continuous and endless. Today, we shall look at one key that helps to put us in a prayer mode, thereby fuelling our prayer life.

Now, one of the things that fuel our prayer life is the Word of God. The Word of God is a fuel for prayer. The Word of God and prayer are inextricably connected.

Our anchor Scripture makes us to understand that every time you carry the Word of God, you turn to the Lord in prayer effortlessly. As a matter of practice, anytime I find new revelation from God’s Word, I express it in prayer.

In John 15:7, the Bible says, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. You cannot be worded and be prayerless. Many people do not pray because they lack what to say or they lack the Word of God with which to pray. But when you are full of the Word, prayer flows naturally. Having utterance in prayer is not a matter of vocabulary but the right word to talk to God about from His Word. When you study God’s Word, you would realize that there is too much to tell God about your life, family, church and the nation, etc., at the place of prayer from the Word of God.

Beloved, you cannot be worded and be prayerless; to be wordful is to be prayerful. My counsel is, make up your mind to deepen your prayer life by a consistent study of the Word of God.

Remember this: You cannot be worded and be prayerless; to be wordful is to be prayerful.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Ask God to open your eyes to behold wondrous things out of God’s Word (Psalm 119:18).
2. Strengthen your prayer life by studying the Word of God.

PRAYER: Open my eyes Lord to behold wondrous things out of Your Word (Psalm 119:18). I receive the Word to boost my prayer life by studying Your Word consistently, Lord in Jesus Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEDICATION TO PRAYER AND THE WORD.

DAILY READING: Numbers 26:52 to 28:15, Luke 3:1 to 22, Psalm 61:1 to 8, Proverbs 11:16 to 17.

QUOTE: Anyone who does not take the Bible serious can never operate with faith. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

AMAZING FACT: The human skin is completely replaced about 1,000 times during a person’s lifetime.

TODAY IN HISTORY: 18/03/1965 – Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov, becomes the first person to walk in space.

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 18 March 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Christian Discipline (IV)

TOPIC: Christian Discipline (IV) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 18 March 2019)

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 32-34; Mark 15:26-47

FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:13-21

MEMORY VERSE: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:16

The MESSAGE:

Discipline is defined as an act or the practice of training people to obey rules and orders and punishing them if they do not. To be disciplined as a Christian takes more than mere discipline in its literary content.

There are so many references to being disciplined as a Christian as it is found in daily development. A Christian who refuses to pray against indiscipline is likely to become guilty of indiscipline. It may sound somehow strange that coming late to church on a service day is indiscipline.

There is this story of a Pastor who always preaches indiscipline in church. He would not condone fraud or tamper with church fund. Even after paying the church workers, all the remaining funds are accounted for and kept safe in the bank. The only loophole in the accounting system is that he was the sole signatory. There was a time his church held a fund-raising ceremony, which was well attended. Among the donors was a big-time contractor who donated a huge sum of money towards the church building project. It was in cheque form; instead of the pastor adding the donation to other donations, he directed that the said donation by the contractor be domiciled in his own (pastor’s) account.

He went further to write his name at the front and back cheque in bracket. After a while when the cheque ought to have matured, the pastor was “disappointed” at getting to the bank only to be told that the contractor/donor had stopped the cheque because the bank was confused as to which account the money was to be paid into, when his intention was drawn to the anomaly in the cheque.

The pastor could neither go to the contractor for any assistance nor the bank where the cheque was rejected. Out of indiscipline of the mind, the pastor lost his face with the contractor/donor and robbed his church of financial assistance which could have assisted the work of God. There is no discipline in the so-called pastor.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
BE TRANSPARENT IN ALL YOUR DAILY TRANSACTIONS.

PROPHETIC WORD:
You will not be a hindrance to the work of God.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1. Father Lord, make me a pillar in Your house of worship, in the name of Jesus.
2. Lord, make me a disciplined Christian in all my ways, in the name of Jesus.
3. I will not be a destroyer of good things, in the name of Jesus.
   EVENING
4. Father Lord, let me be a terror to temptation in all my daily living, in the name of Jesus.
5. The devil will not write the last chapter of my life, in the name of Jesus.
6. Anything that will make me derail from your way, Father destroy it in my life, in the name of Jesus.
7. Father, let discipline not depart from my family, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Rhapsody of Realities 18 March 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – You Represent Him

Topic: You Represent Him

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17).

The verse above is quite instructive; it says, “Whatsoever”; that is, anything you do, whether in word or deed, it should be in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because you’re in Him; you’re born of Him. He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches…” (John 15:5). 1 Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We’re in an inseparable union with Him. Your conduct, manner of life, and character should always reflect Him, because you’re His icon; you represent Him.

Christ should, and must, be seen and heard in you. Jesus said he that has seen me has seen the Father, because He epitomized the Father; He was the Father’s reflection; His glory; the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). Today, you live in the earth, and do whatever you do as the representative of Jesus; you function in His Name.

Therefore, live and talk as a God-man. This consciousness brings a different perspective to your character. Read our theme verse again: it says live, talk, conduct your life in the Name of the Lord Jesus! Think about it: how many hurtful or abusive remarks can we make in His Name? None! How much untoward conduct can you display in His Name? None! When you talk and act in the Name of Jesus, the result is excellence; He’ll be heard in your speech, and seen in your actions.

Live every day as a conscious representative of Jesus Christ. Never forget who you are; don’t take a holiday from your identity with Him. Let your Christ-character be consistent wherever you go. When you’re in church, at home, office, marketplace, wherever you are, your communication and actions should be the same—gracious, kind, excellent—in the Name of the Lord.

CONFESSION
I’m an ambassador, a conscious representative of Jesus Christ, living in His Name! My communication and actions aptly depict my union and oneness with the Lord. And as God’s Word gets into my spirit, I’m transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT; Matthew 5:48; Colossians 1:27-28

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 2:1-20 & Deuteronomy 11-12

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 24:1-11 & Exodus 27

Click HERE to Read previous Messages

Rhapsody of Realities 18th March 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.