Topic: Obey Quickly [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Monday April 9, 2018]

Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. — 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus said to ask God for daily bread (See Matthew 6:11). He also called Himself the “Bread of Life” (See John 6:35). Seek God’s direction in the morning to gather His daily words for you. You will feel well nourished all day long. Obey quickly if God tells you to do something.

Even if God gives you a difficult task, don’t put it off and dread it all day. Abraham rose early to offer Isaac on the altar; God blessed his obedience and provided an acceptable sacrifice in place of Isaac (See Genesis 22:1–14). David rose up early on the morning that he was to kill Goliath, and through him God delivered the Israelites from their enemies (See 1 Samuel 17:20–53). He will bless and deliver you too.

Prayer Starter: Father, I thank You that whatever You ask us to do, You also give us the grace to do it. Please help me to trust You more. Help me to choose Your will instead of my own…and step out in faith to obey You in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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Topic: Beware Of Marriage Destroyers (Part 1)

Dear Reader,

Happy Resurrection Month! You must thank God for the victories He won for you on the cross of Calvary and thank Him for His helps since the year began. It is important for you to know that there are certain things which should of necessity, not be found in your marriage if you must enjoy a sweet marriage. They are things that you must avoid, in order to have the best in your marriage. These things cause stress, pain, arguments, quarrel, lack of peace, separation and sometimes, even divorce. Most of them are caused by man himself. A good knowledge of some of them will help keep your marriage free from such things. This week, I shall be looking at two of them.

WRONG COMPANY: A man does not have to be foolish to be destroyed, all he needs to do is walk with the foolish and soon, the folly in his friend will rub off on him too. Walking with a foolish person is as bad as being foolish. The Word of God says: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).The companies you keep either make or mar you; it doesn’t leave you the same. The major cause of problems in some homes today is wrong company, caused by family members who keep receiving counsel and moving with people who always cause trouble in their homes.

A wrong association will affect you negatively. It will make you do things that you may never have done on your own. You must be careful about your choice of company and friends. A wise man once said, Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are and I would like to ask you the same question today as you are reading this article: Who is your friend? If your friend is one that is a liar, a cheat, a thief, one that beats his wife or one that is covetous and you think you are not like him or her, then, you are wrong. Very soon the nature of your friend will begin to rub off on you and the end result will be destruction. That shall not be your portion in Jesus’ name!

Anyone that constantly provokes your spirit and gives you wrong counsel against your wife, husband or family wellbeing will destroy your home. The Word of God says: Be not deceived: evil communication corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33). A wrong company or association corrupts good manners. The basis for any association should be agreement (Amos 3:3). When the company or association you keep, is not in agreement with the things you believe in, then you must end your relationship with that company. Friendship, as they say is by choice and not by force! Separate yourself from wrong friends. Be selective in your association. Select your friends with wisdom. Do not allow wrong company to destroy your home and marriage.

SLOTHFULNESS: This is another thing that can destroy marriages. It simply means laziness. Successful families don’t just happen; they are consciously made to happen. If God had to work for six days when He was creating the world in Genesis 1, you must be ready also to do what it takes in order to enjoy a successful family life. Get rid of laziness or slothfulness because the fruit of laziness is shame. There are some women that find it difficult to attend to their husbands, especially in the area of cooking. They leave everything for their house-help including the upbringing of the children. This habit can easily destroy marriage and family. Knowing what to do to improve the state of your family and not doing it or doing it for a while and giving up will not bring the success you desire; rather this attitude can destroy your marriage and family. You must co-operate with God by playing your own part and getting rid of spiritual and physical laziness in order to enjoy a successful family.

A brother who read one of my tracts, Created to Create, said, “I was very happy when I read your tract. I am in business now. But I used to be very lazy, right from my youth; to the point that I was always late to school because of oversleeping. But after reading your tract, which mentioned a sister that decided to sell boiled water for drinking in school and prospered by it, and another lady who sold tomatoes and bought a car with the profits, I became ashamed of myself, because my business was not prospering due to my lazy attitude. I was challenged to change my lazy ways and decided to do according to your advice in that tract. God touched my soul and I was converted. I thank God for opening my eyes. My life and my business are no more the same!”

I see the same thing happening in your life, as you take the right steps to get rid of every act of laziness and slothfulness in your life in Jesus’ name! I curse every sluggish, dull and drag attitude that has stolen away the beauty in your family before now and I decree that God release unto you, the grace to be diligent, so that you can enjoy your family in Jesus’ name!

You need Jesus Christ to help maintain the right company and strengthen you at all times. If, peradventure, you, the reader, is not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

“Please click to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

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Topic: Leaving a Legacy [Our Daily Bread 9 Monday April, 2018]

Read: Isaiah 49:14–16, Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 13–14; Luke 10:1–24

A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. Malachi 3:16

Some years ago our sons and I spent a week on an abandoned backcountry ranch on the Salmon River, Idaho’s “River of No Return.”

One day, exploring the ranch, I came across an ancient grave with a wooden marker. Whatever inscription the marker may have borne had long since been weathered away. Someone lived and died—now was forgotten. The gravesite seemed tragic to me. After we got home I spent several hours reading about the history of the old ranch and that area, but could find no information about the person buried there.

They say that the best among us is remembered for 100 years or so. The rest of us are soon forgotten. The memory of past generations, like our markers, soon fades away. Yet our legacy has been passed on through the family of God. How we’ve loved God and others in our lifetime lives on. Malachi 3:16–17 tells us, “a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. ‘They will be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I prepare My own possession’ ” (nasb).

Paul said of David that he “served God’s purpose in his own generation” and departed (Acts 13:36). Like him, may we love the Lord and serve Him in our generation and leave the remembering to Him. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord.

Prayer: May I be faithful to You today, Lord, as I spend my time loving others with Your love. Help me to trust You with the legacy I’m leaving behind.

Living for the Lord leaves a lasting legacy.

Insight:

Throughout Scripture, we gather a picture of how to leave behind a godly legacy. Psalm 78:4 reminds us to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Deuteronomy 6:5–7 declares: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

When we wholeheartedly love the Lord and others, live an obedient life that is pleasing to Him, and tell our family and others about the many wonders God has done throughout history and in our lives, we leave behind a legacy that can impact the next generation and the next and the next.

What legacy will you leave? Alyson Kieda

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

This message was written By David H. Roper [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

The post Our Daily Bread (ODB) Devotional 9 April 2018 – Leaving a Legacy appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: Understanding God’s Word [Andrew Wommack Monday April 9, 2018]

Luke 8:12, “Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

Text: Luke 8:4-13

The first type of person Jesus describes is someone who doesn’t understand God’s Word (Mt. 13:19). Before God’s Word can penetrate your heart, you have to understand (not comprehend) what it’s saying. If the Word isn’t understood, then it will be like seed scattered on top of hard-packed ground (the wayside). The birds will eat the seed and there will be no fruit.

Mark 4:15 and Luke 8:12, make it clear that these birds represent Satan, and Mark says the devil comes immediately to steal away the Word. Satan did not have direct access to the Word in any of the other heart-types which Jesus described. Satan cannot steal the Word from us if we will hide it in our hearts (Ps. 119:11). This first type of person simply heard the Word but didn’t receive it. He never applied it to his life, so he lost it.

Notice that Luke links belief and salvation with the Word being sown in our hearts in the same way as Romans 10:14-17. If there is no Word, there cannot be any belief or salvation (I Pet. 1:23). We must preach the Word – not just morality or social issues.

Luke’s use of the word “saved” could include, but is not necessarily limited to, forgiveness of sins. Salvation includes much more than forgiveness of sins. This verse could describe a person who didn’t receive the Word and, therefore, was eternally damned. It could also be describing a Christian who simply doesn’t receive the Word in a certain area of his life and therefore doesn’t experience the victory that Jesus provided for him. Are you experiencing His victory in your life?

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

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).

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Topic: Leave the Past Behind [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Monday April 9, 2018]

…But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. – Philippians 3:13

Failures and disappointments. Aches and pains from the past that just won’t seem to go away. Most of us know what it’s like to suffer from them but too few of us know just what to do about them. So we limp along, hoping somehow they’ll magically stop hurting.

But it never happens that way. In fact, the passing of time often leaves us in worse condition—not better. Because, instead of putting those painful failures behind us, we often dwell on them until they become more real to us than the promises of God. We focus on them until we become bogged down in depression, frozen in our tracks by the fear that if we go on, we’ll only fail again.

I used to get caught in that trap a lot. Then one day when I was right in the middle of a bout with depression, the Lord spoke up inside me and said:

Kenneth, your problem is you’re forming your thoughts off the past instead of the future. Don’t do that! Unbelief looks at the past and says, “See, it can’t be done.” But faith looks at the future and says, “It can be done, and according to the promises of God, it is done!” Then putting past failures behind it forever, faith steps out and acts like the victory’s already been won.

If depression has driven you into a spiritual nose dive, break out of it by getting your eyes off the past and onto your future—a future that’s been guaranteed by Christ Jesus through the great and precious promises in His Word.

Forget about those failures in the past! That’s what God has done (Hebrews 8:12). And if He doesn’t remember them any more, why should you?

The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning. So if you’ll take God at His Word, you can wake up every morning to a brand-new world. You can live life totally unhindered by the past.

So, do it! Replace thoughts of yesterday’s mistakes with scriptural promises about your future. As you do that, hope will start taking the place of depression. The spiritual aches and pains that have crippled you for so long will quickly disappear. Instead of looking behind you and saying, “I can’t,” you’ll begin to look ahead and say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!”

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:1-14

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.

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Topic: Encourage Yourself [TREM’s Devotional Monday April 9, 2018]

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” – 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV

David refused to allow his emotions to run wild. He knew it could be controlled. Beloved, you have God inside you. You have the Holy Spirit inside you. You are not an ordinary person. The scripture said that the “Spirit helpeth our infirmities” (Romans 8:26). He helps our weakness. At that moment when you are weak, you need the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit brings you to the point of knowing that all things work together even in that your challenge and difficulty. God is not falling out of His seat. In good times and bad times, He is still in charge.

David and his men cried, but then he took hold of himself. He encouraged himself in the Lord. He reminded himself that there is something bigger than his situation. He reminded himself of the goodness of God. That is how to control your emotion. Find out what God said that has no margin for failure and hold on to it. Man’s word has margin for failure. What did God say about you? Human beings can say anything. Talk is cheap. Anyone can talk. But as long as it is not what God said, it doesn’t matter. Keep on saying what God said. What God said will encourage you and help control your emotions. Declare the word of God. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His word will never pass away.

Only goodness will gravitate to you. People often gravitate towards light; they will gravitate towards you. Creation will favour you. You are called and raised to fulfil destiny. Your heaven will never be shut. Your ground will always produce. You will reveal the glory of God. Everything God has spoken concerning you shall find expression in your life.

Further Reading: Psalm 91, Lamentations 3:19-26

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 1 Samuel 13-14; Evening- Luke 10:1-24

If you missed yesterday devotional click 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.

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Topic — Despise: Not Allowed [Teens’ Open Heavens 9, April 2018]

Memorise: And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke 6:31

Read: Ephesians 4:2 (KJV)

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 12:1-34

MESSAGE:

Many times, we look down on our younger ones, we think they are too small to have our respect and honour, but this is wrong. Naaman’s maid was only a small girl and a slave too, but she was the solution to his biggest problem. If Naaman had made it such that she dared not to try to suggest anything to her bosses, Naaman would have died a leper.

I am the last born of my family and today by God’s grace I am the best thing that ever happened to the family. The younger ones are important to your destiny. If you mistreat them now, you may be blocking your own blessings in the future. God values them, so you should also place value on them. Respect your younger ones.

Action Point: Always treat your younger ones with love, they might be the ones that God may use to make life better for you in the future.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Teen Open Heavens 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 beautyh Your love has 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 caring quest,
Strives to show others Your 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 fires 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.

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Topic: Dealing With The Lifestyle Of Disobedience [Seeds of Destiny Monday April 9, 2018]

Scripture: And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:6.

Thought For The Day: When your obedience is complete, nothing is permitted to disobey you.

Previously, we saw that the lifestyle of disobedience is a deadly enemy of destiny. Disobedience aborts a man’s glorious destiny.

Now, our anchor Scripture makes it clear that when your obedience is complete, nothing is permitted to disobey you. This means when your obedience is not complete, everything is permitted to rebel against you.

It has been confirmed that one of the consequences of disobedience is the crash of destiny; that is to say, disobedience prevents God from driving your destiny according to His plan and purpose, and if God is not the Driver of your destiny, destiny accidents are inevitable.

Now, how can you deal with the lifestyle of disobedience?
i) Check out areas of disobedience in your life
You see, there are times that many things in your life may not be seen until God shows them to you. It was in the year that king Uzziah died that Isaiah saw his filthiness and repented (Isaiah 6:1-5).

ii) Promptly repent of every act of disobedience if you want your destiny safeguarded.
Just as Isaiah repented when God revealed his sin to him, make up your mind to repent likewise.

iii) Never respect anyone enough to agree to disobey God
There are many people who have disobeyed God out of respect for people. Adam respected Eve his wife and ate the forbidden fruit she gave him whereas God commanded that he should not eat it.

Beloved, my counsel is, do not agree with anyone to disobey God, even if it is your boss at your place of work. Make God the priority of your life above everyone and everything.

Remember this: When your obedience is complete, nothing is permitted to disobey you.

Assignments:
1. Check areas of disobedience in your life.
2. Promptly repent of every act of disobedience.
3. Never respect anyone enough to obey him by disobeying God.

Prayer: O Lord, give me the grace not to respect anyone enough to disobey You in order to obey them. Help me to obey You unconditionally, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEADLY ENEMIES OF DESTINY (PART 1).

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 33:1 to 29, Luke 13:1 to 21, Psalm 78:65 to 72, Proverbs 12:25

Amazing Fact: Your eyes remain the same size after birth but your nose and ears never stop growing.

Today In History: 09/04/1963 – Winston Churchill became the first honorary U.S. citizen.

Quote: The truth is, who you are determines how you are; who you are determines what you can attract; who you are determines what you can become. Culled from WHO ARE YOU? by Dr Paul Enenche.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to 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: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

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Topic: Heavenly Thinking [DCLM Daily Manna Monday April 9, 2018]

Text: Colossians 3:1-11 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

MESSAGE:

When a man is born again, his orientation becomes totally revamped. His mind is tuned to focus on those things that are above with earnestness. His ambition is no longer to acquire the things of this world upon his own lust. As believers in Christ, we must seek God’s overriding control in every aspect of our lives. In anticipation of Christ’s coming, Paul exhorts Christians to refrain from behaving after the manner of the unregenerate.

He talks about the things to “put off” and things to “put on” (Colossians 3:8-10). In verse 11, the Apostle talks about “Neither Greek nor Jew”. One identifying characteristic of those who are conformed to the image of Christ is the fact that they begin to see humanity as God sees all men. God sees no race, social or economic classifications.

Today, we are being challenged to live as if Christ will come the next moment. As the elect of God, we must pattern our lives in line with the principle of holy living and unfeigned love towards God and fellow men. Paul admonishes those who claim to have been crucified with Christ but are still attached to everything that unbelievers cherish, laying up treasures for themselves here through primitive acquisition of worldly riches and care less for the needy to turn over a new leaf.

In many societies, corruption is the mainstay. Sadly, some of those who claim to have given their lives to Christ are still caught in this cankerworm. Remember, there is no middle course to living in life. You are either living by faith or by sight, governed by the dictates of sensual judgment. The one you choose will impact either positively or negatively on your destiny.

Thought For The Day: Better to sow to the Spirit for life than sow to the flesh and reap death.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Samuel 4-8

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: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

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