Topic: The Negative Effect of Judging Others [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Tuesday July 24, 2018]

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. — Hebrews 13:15 (AMPC)

In other words, the very same things that we judge others for, we do ourselves.

The Lord gave me a very good example once to help me understand this principle. I was pondering why we would do something ourselves and think it was perfectly all right, but judge someone else who does it. He said, “Joyce, you look at yourself through rose-colored glasses, but you look at everyone else through a magnifying glass.”

We make excuses for our own behavior, but when someone else does the same thing we do, we are often merciless. Doing unto others as we want them to do to us (see Matthew 7:12) is a good life principle that will prevent a lot of judgment and criticism, if followed.

A judgmental mind is an offshoot of a negative mind—thinking about what is wrong with an individual instead of what is right. Be positive and not negative! Others will benefit, but you will benefit more than anyone.

Prayer Starter: Father, I ask for Your help to change the way I think of others. Please help me to not focus on the negative but to think of people the way I want them to think of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” – Matthew 14:30 (KJV)

Dearly beloved, I bring you greetings in the name that is above every name, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God and our soon coming King. Today, I’ve come to charge you to refuse to be distracted, regardless of the form or appearance of the distractions. More especially in this day and age where so many things are happening concurrently, refusing distractions is a must if you will achieve anything tangible.

Our text this morning, is a very familiar scripture. Peter found himself doing the impossible; he was walking on water, after the Master called him. The key to this great accomplishment, was the instruction he received from the Lord, and his quick obedience to that instruction. Look at the preceding verses;

“v28 – And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
v29 – And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”

One might be quick to think and assume that since Jesus had said to Peter “come”, then, that was all that he needed to succeed, and I agree with you; After all, Jesus’ word to Peter was not a mere command, but a command backed by the full creative power of God, with no margin for failure. In fact, as far as Jesus was concerned, Peter walking on the water, was already a concluded issue the very moment He spoke the Word. So, why then did Peter find himself sinking?

He took his eyes off Jesus, and started to pay attention to the boisterous winds, and unstable waters beneath him. Question, was the wind there when he got off the boat? The wind was there, but as long as he maintained focus, as long as he fixed his gaze on Jesus, the wind was immaterial. I have said this before and it bears repetition, when you look down, you will see discouragement and disappointment; when you look back, you will see regrets and mistakes; when you look around, you will see distractions, but when you look up, you see victory, triumph, hope. God wants us to be victorious this year, and our victory is already concluded, but to see the manifestation, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.

All Peter had to do was to maintain focus on the One who began the journey, and his victory was guaranteed, but then he allowed the distractions.

At the beginning of the year, God gave us His word as a ministry that this year is our year of Commanded Blessings, and throughout the year, the Word has gone forth letting us know that we are already Overcomers. Many of us as the Message translation describes, like Peter, “jumped out of the boat” with the word. However, the important question now is, are you still holding on to that word that you received? Are you still keeping your eyes on Jesus, irrespective of your challenges? Or are you amongst those who have for a moment, been distracted by the tales of woe of the economists, politicians, and the news media? Do you still judge God faithful in your family, business, career, health and all, to do that which He said He would, even in the face of seemingly contradictory evidence?

If there is one thing which is very crucial that you do as you live this life, it is to keep your eyes solely on Jesus, and avoid distractions. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; …”

Isaiah 50:7 says, “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” You cannot trust in God wholeheartedly and fail; you cannot look unto Jesus and see shame. As the song writer sings: “I cannot call on Your Name and end up in shame, no way! I cannot bow before You and bow before men, no way!”

I declare to you that God will do you good. You will not see shame. You will not be disappointed. God will favour you. Everything is working together for your good. There is no shortage with God, therefore there shall be no shortage in your life. This is your year of Commanded Blessings and you shall surely testify. I will hear your testimony!

I bless you in Jesus’ name.

Maranatha!

In His Royal Service

Dr Mike Okonkwo
The Presiding Bishop

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: Your Child Will Live [DCLM Daily Manna 24th July 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: 1 Kings 17:17-24 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him” (1 Kings 17:17).

MESSAGE:

God reveals Himself as a Comforter of the needy in their moments of trouble, as shown in the encounter between Prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. The prophet understood the God he served; that He could show up in mysterious ways. He could feed man using the birds or raw nature. He could withhold rain from falling for as many years as He desired. He is a Sovereign God who acts in excellence.

After miraculously surviving a harsh famine that threatened to take her life, the widow found herself in another trouble; her son died. Finding nowhere to go, she resorted to Elijah who had a God to cry to and He did not disappoint Elijah as He raised the child from the dead. “And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” By this, God proved that He is the Omnipotent Creator who is able to restore life to the dead. He can be trusted for a solution in desperate situations.

The world is witnessing the condition that prevailed in Israel in the days of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. The downturn in global economy with the unease and mutual suspicion among nations breeds a new level of war and undeclared battles. The world is searching for peace which our modern ideas have not been able to offer. They have rather given us anxiety and erosion of morals.

If we turn to God for help, He can restore the society to His original plan, away from the chaos that have rampaged it. Without God, there is no hope elsewhere for man.

Thought For The Day: The world is dead without Christ, the Source of life.

Bible Reading In One Year: Isaiah 35-36

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.