Topic: Back on Track [Joyce Meyer Devotional 23 December 2018]

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. — Isaiah 54:2

We are God’s own handiwork. He created us with His own hands. We got messed up, so we had to be recreated in Christ Jesus. We had to be born again so that we could go ahead and do those good works that God had preplanned and predestined for us before Satan tried to ruin us.

Just because you and I have had trouble in our lives or just because we have made mistakes does not mean that God’s plan has been changed. It is still there. All we have to do is get back on track.

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for the incredible plan You have for my life…and for Your grace and mercy that allows me to get back on track when things don’t go as planned. Father, I choose to put the past behind me. Help me to move forward in confidence, knowing You have great things ahead for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 23 December 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Signs and Dangers of an Overcharged Heart

TOPIC: Signs and Dangers of an Overcharged Heart (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 23 December 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Luke 21:34-36

MEMORY VERSE: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” – John 14:1

The MESSAGE:

In these last days, it is evident that the devil has not changed his tactics of using his time-tested devices to steal, to kill, and to destroy. You should never, for a moment, be ignorant of his devices, else, he will take undue advantage of you. The fiery darts of the devil are launched against the heart to keep it perpetually “charged” and restless. The danger is that just as a physical battery may pack up due to overcharging, so also can the human heart pack up when it is perpetually “overcharged”. The question then is, how can one detect the signs of an overcharged heart?

Your heart becomes overcharged when you engage in worry and anxiety, and you keep meditating on the magnitude of your problems and focussing your attention on it rather than on God who has the solution. It becomes overcharged when you give in to discouragement and failures of the past, and refuse to forgive yourself of the past mistakes and errors that resulted in the failures. It becomes overcharged when you give in to the spirit of fear and listen to the conversation of unbelief. It becomes overcharged when you keep making negative confessions and research into the devastating effects of the problem rather than the solution. Your heart becomes overcharged when you keep observing evil timetable, evil cycle, evil records, and believe that it would soon repeat itself in your life. It becomes overcharged when you keep working by sight and not by faith. You must filter what goes into your heart and flush out the evil thoughts and imaginations. You must see all problems as temporal, press forward, and take a bold step of faith. Pay attention to yourself and avoid your heart being overcharged with the cares of this world. Guard what comes into your heart to avoid evil thoughts that may lead to self-destruction. Some people have become drug addicts and drunkards because of the problems of life.

Some have allowed discouragement and depressions to overtake them. This is why many people fail in the battle of life and suffer depressions. You must realise that you are a divine project that God cannot abandon. Do not lose hope. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). As Christians, we may come under satanic oppression and torments once in a while, but we certainly have a Commander who is willing to deliver us. So, fear not! Sad to say that many of us have internal crises as a result of the release of adverse chemicals from and in our bodies.

This ought not to be so. Worry pulls you in different directions, but hope pulls you in one direction. Fear pulls you in the opposite direction and strangles your faith. In fact, worry has definite physical consequences: headaches, neck pains, ulcers, and even back pains. Worry affects our thinking, our digestion, our co-ordination and even our sleep. When you tighten your facial skin, your body organs are under tension and they may begin to malfunction. You should rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16) rather than be sorrowful. The more you laugh and smile, the more your life is prolonged. A merry heart, the Bible says, does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones (Proverbs 17:22). Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ. Cast all your burdens on Him, He will surely help you.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
WORRY PULLS YOU IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS BUT HOPE PULLS YOU IN ONE DIRECTION.

PROPHETIC WORD:
You are released today from the bondage of fear and worry.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1. Weight of doubts and fears, be lifted off my soul, in the name of Jesus.
2. Cage of faithlessness, break by fire, in the name of Jesus.
3. I cast my fears and burdens upon Jesus. O Lord, take over, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

1. I have this blessed assurance that Jesus is mine, therefore, I shall not be dismayed, in the name of Jesus.
2. I release myself from the captivity of fear of failure, in the name of Jesus.
3. I shall make it, no matter how tough and challenging the situation may be, in the name of Jesus.
4. I am a conqueror through the love of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, 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.

Topic: Redemption Truth Gives Redemption Benefit [TREM Devotional 23 December 2018]

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree” Gal. 3:13

One of the strategies of the devil is to keep the believer caged in a world of guilt. He keeps reminding you of the things you have done and the areas you have missed it. He enlarges them before you to the extent of robbing you of the finished work of Calvary and magnifies the scripture that says: the soul that sinneth shall die (Eze. 18:20).

Beloved, I know the scripture cannot be broken, I know that the soul that sins shall die; but that is why Jesus came. He died, not for any sin He committed, rather He came into this world, took your place, took the punishment that was reserved for you, and exchanged His righteousness for your sinful nature. When He went to the cross, He went in your place so that you will not have to pay the price any more. He paid the ransom for your soul. The devil has no right to cage you in a world of guilt because Jesus paid the price.

However, if you do not come to terms with this truth, you will live in perpetual bondage. A clear understanding of the redemption truth is what gives you access to the redemption benefit. Because Jesus paid the price, sickness, poverty and death – all the rewards of sin – have been taken away and in its place, you have life and it is available to you in abundance. So, you can now live your life free of sickness, poverty and death.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus in this season, be conscious of all that He paid for so that you can enjoy the full benefit. Ignorance is not an excuse; don’t be a cheap prey. don’t ever walk around with your head bowed; Jesus paid the price, so celebrate your freedom today.

Further reading: Gal. 3: 6 – 29

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Nahum; Evening- Revelation 14

“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.

Topic: In Abundance or Affliction [Our Daily Bread 23 December 2018 Devotional]

Read: Job 1:13–22, Bible in a Year: Nahum 1–3; Revelation 14

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1:21

Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts encourages readers to search their lives each day for what the Lord has done for them. In it, she daily notes God’s abundant generosity to her in gifts both large and small, ranging from the simple beauty of iridescent bubbles in the dish sink to the incomparable salvation of sinners like herself (and the rest of us!). Ann contends that gratitude is the key to seeing God in even the most troubling of life’s moments.

Job is famous for a life of such “troubling” moments. Indeed, his losses were deep and many. Just moments after losing all his livestock, he learns of the simultaneous death of all his ten children. Job’s profound grief was evidenced in his response: he “tore his robe and shaved his head” (1:20). His words in that painful hour make me think Job knew the practice of gratitude, for he acknowledges that God had given him everything he’d lost (v. 21). How else could he worship in the midst of such incapacitating grief?

The practice of daily gratitude can’t erase the magnitude of pain we feel in seasons of loss. Job questioned and grappled through his grief as the rest of the book describes. But recognizing God’s goodness to us—in even the smallest of ways—can prepare us to kneel in worship before our all-powerful God in the darkest hours of our earthly lives.

Prayer: O God, You are the Giver of all good things. Help me to recognize Your generosity in even the smallest ways and to trust You in seasons of loss and hardship.

Why not start a gratitude list? Watch how the regular practice of thankfulness changes your daily life.

INSIGHT
Job 1 captures the weight of why God allows suffering through two vividly contrasting portraits. First, we see the joy shared in Job’s family while he wholeheartedly served God. This image is followed by one of a still-devoted Job grieving the near-complete destruction of that life.
To learn more about why God allows suffering, visit christianuniversity.org/CA211.
Monica Brands

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Respect Your Superiors [Open Heavens for Teens 23 December 2018]

Memorise: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” – Romans 13:7

Read: Romans 13:1-14 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Habakkuk 1-3, Revelation 14

MESSAGE:

Your superiors are in your life by God’s doing. They exist by the will of God, and so God recognizes their place and authority over you and He expects that you do too. Asides this, any superior that is placed before you has paid his dues passing through the stage you are at the moment. Hence, they are meant to be respected; treated with honour and value. If everyone consciously respects their superiors, the Church, and even the world at large will be a better place, because everyone will know their place live at peace with each other.

Another reason why you should respect you superiors is because sooner or later, you will become someone’s superior too, and it is the way you treat your superiors today that you will be treated when you become a superior tomorrow.

Key Point: The law of harvest works in all areas of life

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 4:

I. God give us Christian homes!
Homes Where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty
Thy love hath wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother in queenly quest,
Strives to show others Thy way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

4. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Children are led to know,
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fire burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

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: No Longer the Rejected Stone [DCLM Daily Manna 23 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Mark 12:1-12 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:10,11).

MESSAGE:

It is only the fool who says in his heart that “there is no God” and argues that God is not the Lord over the universe. Even Nebuchadnezzar, who doubted God’s existence eventually acknowledged Him as “the most High…whose dominion is an everlasting dominion…” (Daniel 4:34).

The husbandmen who took custody of the vineyard planted by a householder could not render the expected fruits at the appointed seasons. Instead, they ill-treated the messengers of the householder by killing some and injuring others. The last messenger was the heir of the man whom he reasoned they would reverence. Instead, they seized him and killed him and planned to take full ownership of the vineyard. But the Lord of the vineyard would come, destroy those wicked husbandmen and let out the vineyard to others.

The parable is about the continual and unreasonable assaults of the Jews on the servants of God – the prophets and Christ whom they eventually crucified. Jesus Christ was rejected and killed by those He came to save and show God’s perfect way. However, the Gentiles who were not His people embraced Him and were called God’s people. The consolation is, at the end of time, God’s people will reign with Him, singing and praising God for their redemption, and then it will be an everlasting joy for what the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished among the inhabitants of the earth.

For now, the duty of every Christian is to make sure that he is among that happy crowd and work tirelessly to ensure he brings sinners to Christ by taking the gospel to them.

Thought For The Day: He that overcometh shall inherit all things.

Bible Reading In One Year: Hebrews 11-13

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: The Anointing Of Praise [Seeds of Destiny 23 December 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

Thought For The Day: You cannot be a worshipper and be powerless. You cannot be a praiser and be a weakling.

From our anchor scripture, it is confirmed that praise is key to the anointing. When you praise God for what He has done for you, it secures, validates, stabilises, establishes, authenticates and seals that miracle. When you thank God for what you expect or what was prophesied; it becomes an action of faith that moves God into action for greater manifestations.

What are the outcomes of praise?

1. The Release of Power: When we praise God, the Hand of God is released in power. You cannot be a worshipper and be powerless. You cannot be a praiser and be a weakling (2Kings 3:15).
2. The Release of Supplies: The Hand of God is released in supplies. Your supplies are released to you by the Hand of God when you praise Him (Psalm 67:5-7).
3. The Voice of God and Divine Direction: Praise releases the Voice of God, and the Voice of God is the Voice of direction (2Kings 3:15-17).
4. The Empowerment of the Voice of Man: Praise empowers the voice of man. Your praise to God empowers your voice such that when you speak, things happen (2Kings 3:17).

What are the keys to effective praise and worship?

1. Focus on God. To praise God acceptably, you must refuse to be distracted by your needs and challenges. You must focus on God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:29-31).
2. The Attitude of Gratitude: Praise God with gratitude. Identify the things God has done in your life and praise Him (Psalm 100:4).
3. Purity and Uprightness of Heart: Praise God in purity and uprightness of heart (Psalm 29:2).

Beloved, my counsel is, praise God in the beauty of holiness and you would see the Hand of God.

Remember This: You cannot be a worshipper and be powerless. You cannot be a praiser and be a weakling.

Assignments:

1. Make praise a lifestyle.
2. Be focused on what God has done for You and praise Him for what He is yet to do.

Prayer: O Lord, I will praise You at all times. I ask for the grace to stand in uprightness. Remove from my life every distraction that would hinder my praise to You, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PRAISE AND THE ANOINTING

Quote: victims of depression are never candidates of oppression. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 8:11 to 10:19, Romans 8: 9 to 25, Psalm 18:16 to 36, Proverbs 19:26.

Amazing Fact: A human body has 60,000 miles of blood vessels. In comparison, the Earth’s circumference is only 25,000 miles.

Today In History: 23/12/1672: Giovanni Cassini discovered a moon of the planet Saturn (Rhea).

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.

Topic: Go When You’re Ready [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 23 December 2018 ]

With long life will I satisfy [you], and show [you] my salvation. – Psalm 91:16

Did you know that it’s not God’s will for you or anyone to die young? His will for you is to live the full number of your days. You ought to live 70 or 80 years, and if you are not satisfied, live awhile longer! The Bible says that when Abraham died, he died at a good old age, full of years. That’s the way it ought to be with all of us.

Some believers don’t realize that and they’ve gotten themselves in a mess. When they get sick, instead of just believing for healing, they start wondering if it’s God’s will for them to die. Maybe He’s ready to call me home, they think.

Don’t ever entertain thoughts like that. If God has His way, He won’t call you home until you’re good and ready to come. The Apostle Paul understood that. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, he said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Paul didn’t die until he and Jesus were ready for him to go.

Regardless of your age, if the devil is telling you God isn’t going to heal you because it’s time for you to go home, he is lying to you. God promises in Psalm 91:16 that if you are living under the shadow of the Most High, He will satisfy you with long life. (That means that you are abiding in Him as Jesus taught in John 15.)

If you’re not satisfied that you have finished your course yet on this earth, it’s not time for you to die. So ignore the devil and keep right on living. Resist sickness and disease in the Name of Jesus. Stand on God’s promise!

Then, when you’re ready to go on to heaven, go! But go satisfied, healed and ready! Go in victory shouting the words of that old joy-filled song—”Heaven is near and I can’t stay here. Goodbye world, goodbye.”

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 34

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: What’s in a Gift? [Billy Graham Devotional 23 December 2018]

For unto us a child is born . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

To Christians the joy of Christmas is not limited to His birth. It is built even more on the triumph of His death and resurrection—that gave meaning to His birth. The mysterious spirit of generosity which possesses us at Christmas is the afterglow of Calvary. The fact of the cross illuminates this day and hallows it. As we exchange our gifts, let us remember that they are symbolic of the unspeakable gift of God’s love.

I do not believe that Christians should be giving expensive gifts to each other. We should quietly give simple little gifts that are expressions of our love and devotion to the recipients. These gifts become symbolic of the gift of God’s love. How much money could be saved and invested in the Kingdom of God by thousands of Christian families every year if the true meaning of Christmas was observed.

Prayer for the day: Loving God, my heavenly Father, in Your gift of Jesus I see Your immeasurable love reaching out to all mankind. How I praise You and adore You!

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: Supernatural Faith [Andrew Wommack Devotional 23 December 2018]

John 20:25 “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Thomas refused to believe what He couldn’t see or feel. Our five senses were given to us by God and are necessary to help us function in this life. But if we do not renew our minds to acknowledge the limits of our five senses, they will keep us from believing. Faith can perceive things that the senses cannot (Heb. 11:1).

There is a human faith and a supernatural, God-kind of faith. Human faith is based on physical things that we can see, taste, hear, smell, or feel. God’s kind of faith believes independently of physical circumstances. To receive God’s gift of salvation, we have to use the supernatural, God-kind of faith which isn’t limited by our five senses. This is because, to be saved, we must believe for things that we can’t see or feel. We haven’t seen God or the devil. We haven’t seen Heaven or Hell. Yet we have to believe that these things exist. Human faith can’t believe what it can’t see.

Man is so destitute that he can’t even believe the gospel on his own. To receive God’s gift of salvation, we have to receive the supernatural, God-kind of faith first. Where does this faith come from? How do we get it?

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God’s Word contains His faith. As we hear the Word of God about salvation, We receive God’s faith so that we can believe the good news of our salvation. We actually use God’s faith to get saved.

This God-kind of faith doesn’t leave us after our born-again experience.

God’s faith becomes a fruit of the Spirit which is in our hearts. We never lose this supernatural faith. We just have to renew our minds to God’s faith which is in us, and then learn how to use it.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).