Topic: Trust God Through the Hard Times [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Sunday September 2, 2018]

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] — Matthew 11:28 (AMPC)

Often when we think of trusting God, we think of trusting Him for things we need or want—financial provision, physical healing, the restoration of a relationship, or a promotion at work. A true relationship of trust in God extends beyond trusting Him for something and includes trusting Him through a situation. We need to learn to not simply look to Him for the results we desire; we need to learn to trust Him through the process of attaining them.

There was a time in my life when I focused intensely on trusting God for things, saying, “I want this, God,” “I want that, God,” and “I need such-and-such, God.” In the midst of my requests, He began to show me that getting all those things was not what was most important. Those things would come later, but back then He needed to teach me first how to trust Him while I was going through situations.

He wanted me to learn that He may not always rescue us when we want out of circumstances, but He is always with us as we walk through them. Because He is with us, we can go through trials in our lives with stable, positive attitudes, trusting God completely, even against seemingly impossible odds.

Remember, your attitude in every situation is yours to command. No one can force you to have a bad attitude or a good one; it is entirely up to you. Maintain an attitude of faith, praise, thanksgiving, and positive expectation, and you will definitely come out of your situation victoriously at just the right time.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for being with me in the midst of difficult times. Help me use them as an opportunity to grow closer to You. Teach me to receive Your joy and peace even when life isn’t perfect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Depend On God, Not The Gift [Andrew Wommack 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Mark 11:2 “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.”

Text: Mark 11:1-6

The gifts of the Spirit are not meant to be a substitute for our own faith in the Lord. We are not to depend so completely on some individual with a spiritual gift that we neglect our own spiritual growth and maturity. We can receive anything we need from the Lord without a gift of the Spirit operating through another individual, if we know how to believe. Dependence on the Lord directly is superior to dependence on the Lord indirectly through someone operating in one of the spiritual gifts.

What if there were no gifts of the Spirit and the Lord established that the only way we could receive from Him was through our own faith? There would be some individuals who would get born again who already had terminal diseases but didn’t have enough time left to mature in their faith and receive healing. They would die if it wasn’t for others interceding for them or someone with the gift of healing praying for them. That’s why the Lord gave these gifts–to keep us encouraged and alive so we can mature.

It is also wrong for an individual not to mature in his personal faith in the Lord and become dependent on the gifts. It is not right for someone to receive a miracle through someone with the gift of miracles and then just struggle along until the next time that gifted minister comes through town.

The Lord wants us to receive His power through these gifts, but then we must mature so that we can walk in God’s best on our own.

We are able to mature beyond a total dependency on the gifts to where we can hear and receive from God directly. But none of us will ever reach such a level of maturity in the Lord where there is nothing left to learn or receive. Let Him teach you through His Word today.

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: The Struggles of Life [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 2 September 2018]

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree … — 1 Peter 2:24

All life is a struggle—that is the nature of things. Even within our physical bodies, doctors tell us, a conflict for supremacy is going on. The bacteria in our bloodstream are waging a constant war against alien germs. The red corpuscles fight the white corpuscles constantly in an effort to maintain life within the body. A battle is also raging in the spiritual realm. “We fight,” the Bible says, “against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Darkness hates light. I have a dog that would rather dig up a moldy carcass to chew on than to have the finest, cleanest meal. He can’t help it—that is his nature. Men cannot help that it is their nature to respond to the lewd, the salacious, and the vile. They will have difficulty doing otherwise until they are born again. And until they are changed by the power of Christ, they will likely be at enmity against those who are associated with Christ.

Prayer for the day: When I consider the work of Jesus on this earth—which led to His supreme sacrifice—I pray all my labor this day will glorify You, my beloved Savior.

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

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: The Word Is Constant [TREM 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119: 89 (KJV)

As we climax the age, everything we see in this physical world is headed for corruption and therefore, susceptible to change. However, there is only one thing that remains constant and that is the word of God. The word is the same yesterday, today and forever. It never changes. It is like an ancient landmark, which the fathers have set. It is constant and it means the same at all times. The word of God is the final authority on all issues.

For instance, no matter how society may attempt to make gay marriage acceptable, we know that the scripture does not say a man shall be joined to a man. The word of God simply says that ‘’a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife {woman} and they shall become one. [Genesis 2:24} That is an absolute. That is an ancient landmark that cannot be changed, even in the face of 21st Century modernism.

In the same vein, no matter how much of good works a man engages in, or how much kindness he displays, the totality of his goodness cannot earn him his salvation. Yes the Bible encourages having high moral values, but as good as being kind is, there is only one doorway to salvation. The answer is an absolute. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’’ {John 3:3}. You are not saved and made righteous because of what you did, but because of what Jesus did.

Beloved, as a new creature, do not let the devil deceive you into thinking that God is angry with you. The truth is that He is actually in love with you. Yes, you may not qualify by human standards, but God not only qualified you, He chose you ever before the foundation of the earth was laid. There is nothing anyone can do about it. Believe the word of God and begin to see things from God’s perspective and not from your own small perspective because your natural sight is limited.

Further Reading: Proverbs 22:28. John 1:1-14, Mark 13:31

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 137-139; Evening- 1 Corinthians 13

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM’s 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: Go for Revelation Knowledge [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. – 2 Peter 1:2

If you were to look up the Greek word that’s translated “knowledge” in that scripture, you’d find out that it means more than just a mental understanding of something, more than the kind of knowledge that can be gained through your senses. It means exact knowledge. Knowledge that’s been revealed directly to your heart by the Spirit of God. I call it revelation knowledge.

The lack of that kind of knowledge has caused more faith failures than anything else I know. That’s because most Christians believe the Word with their minds, but they haven’t meditated on it enough for it to “light up” in their hearts. If they had, that Word would absolutely revolutionize their lives. Nothing in heaven or earth would be able to shake them loose from it.

I know a widow who got hold of that kind of revelation one afternoon. She’d been meditating in the scriptures that say if you’re a widow, God Almighty has taken His place as your provider and leader of your household.

She’d been feeling a little sorry for herself up until then. But when she received the revelation that God was actually head of her household now, she started talking to Him like she would a husband.

“I’m telling You, Lord, the plumbing in this house is pitiful. Will You please get it fixed?” she said. From that moment on, she never had any more trouble with her plumbing.

If you need something from God, determine right now that you’re going to do what that widow did. Determine that you’re going to meditate the Word until you get a revelation like that. Keep that Word before you until you receive a revelation of Jesus as your healer or your deliverer or your financier—whatever you need Him to be. Don’t settle for a shallow mental understanding of Him. Get a deep revelation and His grace will be multiplied to you!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1

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: Strength for Your Journey [Our Daily Bread 2 September 2018 Devotional]

Read: Habakkuk 3:16–19, Bible in a Year: Psalms 137–139; 1 Corinthians 13

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19

Hinds Feet on High Places, a classic allegory of the Christian life, is based on Habakkuk 3:19. The story follows the character Much-Afraid as she goes on a journey with the Shepherd. But Much-Afraid is scared so she asks the Shepherd to carry her.

The Shepherd kindly replies, “I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go.”

Much-Afraid echoes the questions of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (and if I’m honest, my questions too): “Why must I experience suffering?” “Why is my journey difficult?”

Habakkuk lived in Judah in the late seventh century bc before the Israelites were taken into exile. The prophet found himself in a society that overlooked social injustice and was immobilized by the fear of imminent invasion by the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:2–11). He asked the Lord to intervene and remove suffering (1:13). God replied that He would act justly but in His timing (2:3).

In faith, Habakkuk chose to trust the Lord. Even if the suffering did not end, the prophet believed that God would continue to be his strength.

We too can take comfort that the Lord is our strength to help us endure suffering and will also use the most challenging of life’s journeys to deepen our fellowship with Christ.

Prayer: God, sometimes my suffering seems too much to bear. Help me to trust You and continue to walk with You on this journey.

We can trust the Lord to be our strength in tough times.

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

This message was written By Lisa Samra [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Helping the Helpless [DCLM Daily Manna 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: 1 Samuel 22:1-5 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them…” (1 Samuel 22:2).

MESSAGE:

David was a man endowed with peculiar gifts from God. Little wonder he demonstrated this in the way he took special care of people who later became prominent in Israel. Right from his youthful days, he had rare concern for his parents and siblings. He showed this great quality even while in distress and danger as he was being hunted by King Saul.

There are lessons to learn from the life of David in his times. One, he took good care of his parents even while in distress. He secured for them a protective place far from the reach of King Saul. He moved them to be with the king of Moab, a town where his great grandmother, Ruth came from. We ought to learn from this by being supportive to our siblings and parents at home. Two, even while in distress, he manifested faith in God. He had hope in the Almighty and committed his ways to Him, expecting what He would do for him. Three, at a time like this, he did not put the messenger of God aside; he listened to Prophet Gad for guidance. We are to listen to our ordained leaders as God leads them to direct us. Four, we can also learn from David who helped those in trouble. He provided succour and warmth for them in their hour of need.

David was a Christ-like person who received sinners filled with guilt of sin. He understood the promises of God to those who trust in Him. Like David, genuine believers who are redeemed must be Christ-like in nature, providing succour and support for the helpless in times of distress and despair.

Thought For The Day: Jesus is the Helper of the helpless

Bible Reading In One Year: Ezekiel 20-21

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 Blessing of Faithfulness [Seeds of Destiny 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Scripture: A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Proverbs 28:20

Thought For The Day: God blesses a faithful person by committing greater things into His hands.

Faithfulness simply refers to the state of being faithful, either to God or to man. To be faithful then means, being strict or thorough in the performance of one’s duty, being true to one’s word or being steady in allegiance, loyalty and affection.

It has been confirmed that faithfulness is a trigger for the blessing of God. A faithful man does not beg to be blessed because to be faithful is to be blessed.

Now, the question is, how does God bless the faithful?
1. God commits the valuables to the reliable
God blesses a faithful person by committing greater things into His hands (Matthew 25:21). One who is faithful over few things becomes the lord of many things. God gives the faithful the privilege of handling greater things.

2. God Promotes the Consistent
Another way God blesses the faithful is by promoting them. God is ready to bless anyone who will not change his character because of the blessing. Some people were better as Christians when they were poor, when they did not have money; they would not miss church services; they would even come to church on non-service days. But when God blessed them with a Million Naira, they started giving excuses for not serving God or coming to church. Very pathetic!

Beloved, my counsel is, make up your mind to be faithful in all you do at all time, whether it is for God or for man.

Remember this: God blesses a faithful person by committing greater things into His hands.

Assignments:
1. Examine your life and identify areas of inconsistencies both in your character and in discharging your responsibilities.
2. Ask God for forgiveness and determine to be faithful at all times regardless of the prevailing condition per time.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask that You forgive any form of unfaithfulness or inconsistency of character and duty exhibited by me in times past. I receive the grace to be faithful and accountable at all time, both to You and to my fellow human beings, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE BLESSING OF FAITHFULNESS.

Amazing Fact: Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees centigrade.

Today In History: 02/09/1938 – The first railroad car to be equipped with fluorescent lighting was put into operation on the New York Central railroad.

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1 to 3:22, 2 Corinthians 6:1 to 13, Psalm 46:1 to 11, Proverbs 22:15.

Quote: To be faithful means to be consistent in doing the right thing. Culled from 21 UNCOMMON SECRETS TO FINANCIAL OVERFLOW by Dr Paul Enenche.

Prophetic Parental Blessing: Everything that has put an embargo on success in any area of your life, today that embargo is broken, in Jesus’ Name. –Dr Paul 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.

Open Heavens 2 September 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Do You Have Unlimited Joy?

Topic: Do You Have Unlimited Joy?

Memorise: “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”– John 16:22

Read: John 16:20-24 (KJV)

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 105-106, Mark 1:1-20

Open Heavens 2 September 2018 Sunday MESSAGE:

It is one thing to have joy, and it is another thing to have unlimited joy. Walking in unlimited joy is the will of Jesus Christ for all His disciples, which is why he said to us in John 16:24:

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Nothing gives unlimited joy as when a request is granted, particularly request for things that matters most to the person. The question then is, why do our prayers sometimes go unanswered? As revealed in Isaiah 59:1-2, one answer to this question is sin. In that scripture, the Lord said:

“1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

This brings us to another question: why should a child of God struggle with sin, since we know it hinders prayers from being answered? The answer to this question lies in the fact that many children of God do not hate iniquity, even though they love righteousness. One way or another, they assist and encourage iniquity. Another reason why our prayers go unanswered is revealed in James 4:3:

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Based on these scriptures, you may also want to ask, how can I avoid praying amiss? In answer to this, 1 John 5:14 says:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”

We must pray according to God’s will in order to receive the answer to our request or petitions. Nothing gives me joy as praying for sinners to be saved and seeing them confess to the saving grace of God. My moments of joy are those moments when those afflicted by the power of darkness are delivered after we have prayed for them at our meetings. The disciples shared in this unlimited joy when they returned from the missionary strip their Master sent them on. The Bible says they came back rejoicing, not because they were given gifts, clothes, houses or cars, but because they ministered deliverance to the oppressed and their prayers were answered (Luke 10:17). However, in Luke 10:20, our Lord recommended what should be the greatest source of unlimited joy to us saying:

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

Do you have unlimited joy?

Prayer Point: Open Heavens 2 September 2018 Sunday

Father, please let me begin to experience unlimited joy from today, in Jesus’ Name.

Also Read: Open Heavens 1 September 2018 – Authority to Forbid

Open Heavens 2 September 2018 Sunday Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

3. There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Open Heavens 2 September 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional 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. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 2 September 2018.

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.