Topic: Bless The Lord Oh My Soul — Friday December 9, 2017.

”Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” – Psalm 103:2 (KJV)

Today, I come to encourage you to stop everything and bless the Lord. “Why do I need to bless the Lord?” may be your question. Beloved, our scripture today encourages us not to forget His benefits. Why will the Psalmist enjoin you not to forget God’s benefits? It is because as human beings, we are so quick to forget that which God has done. We are easily clouded by the various needs, that we forget to thank Him for even some things we forgot to pray about what He has done.

Today, the 9th of December, can you stop and look back at the year? Many people who saw the beginning of the year are no more today. Many men and women with dreams and aspirations who came into this year with determination are no more. It is not because of your righteousness, it is simply a function of grace. That is why you need to thank God. The Psalmist brought a few things that we take for granted to the fore. Think of it, He forgave you all your iniquities. Did you deserve it? No, but He preserved it for you. He paid the price long before you were ever conceived and beyond that, He also gave you the grace to receive Him into your life as your Lord and Saviour. Beloved, don’t ever commonise your salvation. Jesus died for the whole world, but not everyone has accepted Him. That is enough to thank God for.

When the devil wants to overwhelm you with things that are yet to be answered in your life, remind yourself of the many things He has done and be confident that He who did that will do the one you consider outstanding. God is not a man to lie. He is Faithful to His word. Heaven and earth may pass away, but every word that He has spoken concerning you will come to pass.

Beloved, don’t write yourself off; indeed, a living dog is better than a dead lion. You might not be where you desired to be; but as long as you are alive, get ready, a miracle is coming your way in Jesus’ name.

Further Reading: Psalm 103:1-5; Ecclesiastes 9:4-5

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Daniel 11-12; Evening- Jude

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: Outside In? — Saturday December 9, 2017.

Read: Galatians 3:23–29, Bible in a Year: Daniel 11–12; Jude

All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27

“Change: From the Inside Out or the Outside In?” the headline read, reflecting a popular trend today—the idea that outward changes like a makeover or better posture can be an easy way to change how we feel on the inside—and even change our lives.

It’s an appealing concept—who wouldn’t want improving our lives to be as easy as a new look? Many of us have learned the hard way that changing deep-rooted habits can seem nearly impossible. Focusing on simple external changes offers hope that there is a quicker path toward improving our lives.

But although such changes can improve our lives, Scripture invites us to seek a deeper transformation—one that is impossible on our own. In fact, in Galatians 3 Paul argued that even God’s law—a priceless gift that revealed His will—couldn’t heal the brokenness of God’s people (vv. 19–22). True healing and freedom required them to, through faith, be “clothed” in Christ (v. 27) through His Spirit (5:5). Set apart and shaped through Him, they would find their true identity and worth—every believer equally an heir to all of God’s promises (3:28–29).

We could easily devote much energy to self-improvement techniques. But the deepest and most satisfying changes in our hearts come in knowing the love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:17–19)—the love that changes everything.

Prayer: Lord, we’re so grateful we don’t have to rely on ourselves. Thank You for Your Spirit renewing us every day and drawing us closer to You and Your love.

In Jesus, true and lasting transformation is possible.

Insight:

How does God’s love transform us? Second Corinthians 5:17–18 tells us, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” As Christians we are already new, transformed creatures through Christ’s death for our sins. But that doesn’t mean our transformation is complete. What’s our part in this transformation? We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) so that we are no longer “infants in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1). And we are to no longer “conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (Rom. 12:2). But we don’t accomplish this on our own. The Holy Spirit is at work inside us. As we “contemplate the Lord’s glory, [we] are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

As we pray, read the Bible, and fellowship with God, the Holy Spirit reveals more about Jesus, helps us to love Him more, and transforms us to more closely resemble Him. Alyson Kieda

This message was written By Monica Brands [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic — Love: The Secret of Success [Saturday December 9, 2017]

Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13:8, The Amplified Bible

Fear of failure. It’s haunted all of us at some time in our lives. Popular psychology tells us to adjust to it. But the Word of God tells us that there is a failure-proof way to live without it. It is the way of love.

If you want to know real success, you must learn to be moved and motivated by love. That’s how Jesus was when He was on the earth.

Even when John the Baptist was senselessly, brutally murdered and Jesus went away to be alone, He didn’t deviate from the way of love. For Matthew 14:6-14 says that even then in that emotionally taxing time when the people followed Him and would give Him no solitude, He was moved with compassion and healed their sick.

I used to wonder how Jesus could just turn away from that terrible crime and not retaliate. What I didn’t realize was that He did retaliate. He overcame the works of Satan with compassion. He defeated hatred with love. He attacked Satan in the spirit realm by destroying his works of sickness and disease.

Compassion doesn’t strike at the surface of things. It goes to the root of the problem. That’s why it always succeeds.

“But wait!” you may say. “I can’t operate like that. I’m not Jesus.”

Yes you can, because the Word of God says that His love has been shed abroad in your heart! (Rom. 5:5). And 1 John 2:5 says His love is perfected in you as you keep His Word.

Commit to living the life of love today. Watch God turn failure into success at home, at work…in any situation. Love never fails!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:1-14

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: Word Made Flesh [Saturday December 9, 2017]

The Word was made flesh . . . full of grace and truth. — John 1:14

On the cover of your Bible and my Bible appear the words “Holy Bible.” Do you know why the Bible is called holy? Why should it be called holy when so much lust and hate and greed and war are found in it? It is because the Bible tells the truth. It tells the truth about God, about man, and about the devil.

The Bible teaches that we exchange the truth of God for the devil’s lie about sex, for example; and drugs, and alcohol, and religious hypocrisy. Jesus Christ is the ultimate truth. Furthermore, He told the truth. Jesus said that He was the truth, and the truth would make us free.

Prayer for the day: Almighty God, I thank You for the truth which You have given me through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

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.