Topic: Being Real with God [Our Daily Bread 8 September 2018 Devotional]

Read: Read: 1 Peter 5:6–10, Bible in a Year: Proverbs 3–5; 2 Corinthians 1

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

I bow my head, close my eyes, lace my fingers together and begin to pray. “Dear Lord, I’m coming to you today as your child. I recognize your power and goodness. . .” Suddenly, my eyes snap open. I remember that my son hasn’t finished his history project, which is due the next day. I recall that he has an after-school basketball game, and I imagine him awake until midnight finishing his schoolwork. This leads me to worry that his fatigue will put him at risk for the flu!

C. S. Lewis wrote about distractions during prayer in his book The Screwtape Letters. He noted that when our minds wander, we tend to use willpower to steer ourselves back to our original prayer. Lewis concluded, though, that it was better to accept “the distraction as [our] present problem and [lay] that before [God] and make it the main theme of [our] prayers.”

A persistent worry or even a sinful thought that disrupts a prayer may become the centerpiece of our discussion with God. God wants us to be real as we talk with Him and open up about our deepest concerns, fears, and struggles. He is not surprised by anything we mention. His interest in us is like the attention we would receive from a close friend. That’s why we’re encouraged to give all of our worries and cares to God—because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Prayer: Dear God, You know what’s on my mind today. Help me to experience the peace that comes from sharing my concerns with You.

Distractions don’t have to derail our prayers.

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

This message was written By Jennifer Benson Schuldt [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Plant a Seed and Watch It Grow! [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 8 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. – Mark 4:30-32

Jesus compares the workings of the kingdom of God to planting seeds in the earth. “When the seed is sown,” He said, “it grows up….”

Notice He didn’t say that it would occasionally grow up. Or it grows up if it’s God’s will. He said, “It grows up and becomes greater.” Period.

God’s economy isn’t like ours. It isn’t up one day and down the other. It’s always the same and it always works perfectly. If you have good earth, good seed and good water, you’re going to have growth. It’s inevitable.

So, if you’re facing a need, don’t panic…plant a seed!

That seed may take the form of money or time or some other resources you have to give. But no matter what form it takes, make sure you put life in it by giving it in faith and surrounding it with praise and worship. Say, “Lord, as I bring You my goods, I bring myself. I give myself to You—spirit, soul and body.”

Pray over that seed. Fill it with faith, worship and the Word. Then plant it. You can rest assured—it will grow up and become greater!

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:11-31

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: You are Standing Upon a Sure Foundation [TREM 8 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” Isaiah 28:16 (KJV)

Not too long ago, one of my sons was leading in devotion, and he said, “When there is a shaking or an earthquake, things get re-arranged. What is here will move to another side and vice versa.” Therefore, what God is doing in the present situation around the world, is that, things are being re-arranged and you are being re-positioned. People who have never been millionaires will now have opportunities to be millionaires. It’s a re-arrangement.

In Isaiah 28:16, the Bible says “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” Just like earthquakes shake foundations; so also the things that have been rooted over the years that have been difficult to uproot in your life will be uprooted. You are entering a season of new things. I am excited because without any fear of contradiction, I know that you will testify.

Hebrews 4:1, it says “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” God is telling you what to fear. In other words, don’t fear the devil or what he’s doing because the devil has been dealt with. He said the fear you should have is the fear of not entering the rest that God has prepared for you. Verse 9-11 of Hebrews chapter 4 says, “There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

You must learn to enter your REST by believing in what Jesus did for you.

Further reading: Isaiah 28:14-22; Hebrews 4:1-16

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Proverbs 3-5; Evening- 2 Corinthians 1

“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: A Blessed Fragrance [DCLM Daily Manna 8 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: Psalm 147:1-20 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely” (PSALM 147:1).

MESSAGE:

Is there a direct relationship between enthralling praise and a supernatural intervention? Yes! The Bible is replete with such proven case studies. Jehoshaphat praised the Lord, and the confederacy of enemies against Judah scattered. Paul and Silas praised God at midnight and an earthquake liberated them from prison fetters. To those who praise the Lord heartily from truly transformed hearts, God often responds with immediacy. Real praise provokes the power of God.

David, the author of the psalm under consideration, understood what it meant to praise the Lord. He didn’t praise God just because it caught his fancy. His praise arose out of an intimate relationship with God, a keen awareness of His majesty and a tacit acknowledgement of His great deeds. Praises ignite God’s power.

Clearly, the praise that God accepts must flow from the in-depth part of the soul. It is a voluntary acknowledgement of the wholesome nature of the Almighty that is worthy of infinite adulation. The psalmist aptly teaches us how to praise God and what to praise Him for. Acceptable praise, from the text, needs be sincere, relational and enthralling.

Do you find it difficult sustaining your praises and thanks-offering before the Lord? From today, praise God more for who He is, what He does and for the radiance of His glory. Let your praise outstrip narrow supplications and self-serving prayer schedule and discover the awesome power that moves mountains and breaks every yoke.

Thought For The Day: Praise is a wonderful fragrance before the Most High.

Bible Reading In One Year: Ezekiel 38-39

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: Keys To Activating Faith [Seeds of Destiny 8 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Scripture: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; – 2 Corinthians 4:13

Thought For The Day: What you see out of God’s Word determines what you see out of life.

Previously, we saw the results of faith; we saw that faith is the key that opens the door to the realm of all possibilities. We also saw that faith is the spiritual weapon for the uprooting of mountains and the levelling of obstacles, amongst others.

Having looked at the results of faith, it is very important to know how faith can be activated by the Christian.

Now, how is faith activated?
1. Receive Faith Instructions
This is the instruction of the Word; faith is activated by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17); what you receive by instruction affects what you believe. The bankruptcy of God’s Word equals the bankruptcy of faith.

2. Access Word Revelation
Instruction precedes revelation. Faith comes by receiving the revelation of the Word of God. So, do not just stop at reading the Word, proceed in the Study of God’s Word until you see revelations out of the Word. Faith is fed by the revelation of God’s Word. What you see out of God’s Word determines what you see out of life (Psalm 119:18).

3. Possess Heart Conviction
Word information will lead into faith revelation; and faith revelation will lead to heart conviction. This is the realm of persuasion beyond confusion and dissuasion.

4. Release Faith-Based Declarations
The proof of faith is declaration. Instruction leads to the revelation; revelation leads to conviction and conviction leads to declaration. You don’t believe it until you have declared it (2 Corinthians 4:13).

Beloved, my counsel is, make up your mind to receive faith instructions, access word revelations, possess heart conviction and release faith declarations.

Remember this: What you see out of God’s Word determines what you see out of life.

Assignments:
1. Make up your mind to be diligent in the study of God’s Word.
2. Release faith-based declarations continually and consistently.

Prayer: O Lord, I receive the grace to be diligent in the study of Your Word. Help me Lord to declare Your Word always in order to activate my faith, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE FAITH-WAY OF LIFE.

Amazing Fact: The human feet have 500,000 sweat glands and can produce more than a pint of sweat a day.

Today In History: 8/09/1866 – The first recorded birth of sextuplets took place in Chicago, IL. The parents were James and Jennie Bushnell.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 1:1 to 2:22, 2 Corinthians 10:1 to 18, Psalm 52:1 to 9, Proverbs 22:26 to 27

Quote: Strong faith is a product of strong relationship. Culled from 15 KINGDOM STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL by Dr Paul Enenche.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The six over-flooded Destiny Recovery services by 6 am, 7:20 am, 8:40 am, 10 am, 11:20 am and 12:40 pm. Come with your friends and loved ones.

Parental Prophetic Blessing: I decree the strength and wisdom of God on your life that will make you fulfill your purpose for living, in the Name of Jesus.–Dr Mrs Becky Enenche.

Also Read: Seeds of Destiny 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: Choose To Believe [Andrew Wommack 8 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

John 12:39-40 “Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

Text: John 12:37-40

This could be interpreted as the ultimate teaching in predestination. That interpretation would be that these people were never given the opportunity to believe because of Isaiah’s prophecies. However, the Word of God makes it clear that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13); “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20); and “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). No one has ever been denied the opportunity to accept salvation (Ti. 2:11).

Mark 6:5 says that “he (Jesus) could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” In that instance, it is evident that the reason Jesus couldn’t do any mighty work was not because He didn’t possess the power, but because He chose not to use that power against a person’s will. He couldn’t perform the mighty works because of His decision to uphold our freedom of choice.

Likewise, these Jews could not believe because of their choice to reject Jesus. They could not believe because they chose not to believe. “They stumbled at the stumblingstone” (Rom. 9:32), which was Jesus.

Isaiah did not predestine them to this fate. Rather he saw that very few would receive the report (Isa. 53:1) about the Messiah, and therefore would be kept from the knowledge of salvation because they rejected Him in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found (Col. 2:3). This is what Isaiah prophesied, and it came to pass. Be careful what you choose.

Also 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).

Topic: Be Honest with God [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 8 September 2018]

God loveth a cheerful giver. — 2 Corinthians 9:7

The greatest blessing of giving is not on the financial side of the ledger but on the spiritual side. You receive a sense of being honest with God. You receive a consciousness that you are in partnership with God—that you are doing something constructive—that you are working with Him to reach the world for Jesus Christ. You are also enabled to hold on to this world’s goods loosely because the eternal values are always in view. How do you give? Is it liberally and cheerfully? Or is it sparingly and grudgingly? If you have been giving God the leftovers of your substance and your life, you have been missing the true joy and blessing of Christian giving and living.

Prayer for the day: Forgive me, almighty God, for so often giving You the leftovers. In my heart I know I can never outgive 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.