Topic: Open Arms [Tuesday March 14, 2017]

Read: Psalm 139:17–24, Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 23–25; Mark 14:1–26

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

The day my husband, Dan, and I began our caregiving journey with our aging parents, we linked arms and felt as if we were plunging off a cliff. We didn’t know that in the process of caregiving the hardest task we would face would be to allow our hearts to be searched and molded and to allow God to use this special time to make us like Him in new ways.

On days when I felt I was plunging toward earth in an out-of-control free-fall, God showed me my agendas, my reservations, my fears, my pride, and my selfishness. He used my broken places to show me His love and forgiveness.

My pastor has said, “The best day is the day you see yourself for who you are—desperate without Christ. Then see yourself as He sees you—complete in Him.” This was the blessing of caregiving in my life. As I saw who God had created me to be, I turned and ran weeping into His arms. I cried out with the psalmist: “Search me, God, and know my heart” (Ps. 139:23).

This is my prayer for you—that as you see yourself in the midst of your own circumstances, you will turn and run into the open, loving, and forgiving arms of God.

Prayer: Gracious Father, I recognize today my desperate need of Your love, wisdom, and grace. Search me and know me. Pour out Your grace and mercy in my life to bring healing to my heart.

When worry walks in, strength runs out. But strength returns when we run to God.

Insight:

There is no place where David is outside God’s protective presence and care (139:7–12). Recognizing that it was a great privilege to know such a God, David prayed a prayer of commitment, seeking to live a blameless life (vv. 23-24). Even as he asks God to “search and test” him (v. 23), he was well-assured that God already knew him through and through, for he had declared at the start of this song, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me” (v. 1). The Old Testament patriarch Job made a similar statement, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Job’s world had been turned upside down, having lost his wealth, his family, and his health (1:14–2:7). In the midst of his trials he boldly asks, “Does [God] not see my ways and count my every step?” (31:4). Perhaps, like David and Job, you may be going through a rough patch. We can be encouraged that our God knows and cares. What is your response to the truth that God knows everything about you and His arms of love are always open?

This message was written By Shelly Beach [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Riches and The Kingdom [Tuesday March 14, 2017]

Text: Matthew 19:23-30

Key Verse: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:23).

Bible history reveals that in different generations, the truly wealthy individuals were the most righteous ones. For instance, Abraham was the richest in his days yet, he was called the friend of God. He was very rich in cattle, silver and gold. The same was recorded about Isaac, Israel, Joseph and others. They prospered anywhere they found themselves. In our text, Jesus reveals the truth about the rich and the Kingdom, pointing out that it is hard for a rich man who sets his heart on his riches to get saved.

In the preceding seven verses, a rich young man had been to Jesus, wanting to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, after faithfully keeping the Ten Commandments. To be perfect, Jesus asked him to sell all his worldly possessions and give to the poor to have treasures in heaven and thereafter follow Him. The Scriptures recorded that the young man went away sorrowful “for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:16-22). Christ is not against getting rich or rich people.

He desires we prosper as our souls prosper. Money, with the comforts that it can bring, has a powerfully intoxicating effect in the hearts of men and women that it can become an idol. If we’re not very careful, it can totally overwhelm and decrease the love of God in our lives. It is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches to get to heaven. The Lord promised that everyone who had forsaken possessions or comforts for His name’s sake will receive a hundredfold (on earth) and inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:29).

Thought for the day: Our greatest riches are the riches we have in Christ.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Samuel 1-3

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.

Topic: Activate the Power [Tuesday March 14, 2017]

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. – Ephesians 3:20

As a believer, you have the power of the Holy Spirit inside you. But that power won’t go to work until you put it to work!

The Holy Spirit won’t just muscle in on you. He won’t come in and turn down the television set and jerk you up off the couch and say, “Now you listen to Me.”

No, He’s a gentleman. He’s sent to help you to do the will of God, to strengthen you, to counsel you…but He won’t do a thing until He’s asked.

That’s why the book of James says if you’re in trouble or afflicted, pray. It’s prayer that puts the power within you to work.

Just think about that. The Spirit of Almighty God. The Spirit that hovered over the face of the deep and carried out God’s Word at Creation, that same Spirit is inside you—waiting for you to call on Him!

If Jesus came into your house and sat down at your table, you’d put aside everything to talk to Him, wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t just rush through and say, “Jesus, I’m so glad to see You. I wish I had the energy to talk to You, but You wouldn’t believe what kind of a day I had today. I mean, everything in the world went wrong and now I’m just too tired to do anything but lay here and watch TV. Maybe we can spend some time together later.”

You wouldn’t do that, would you? No! If Jesus were sitting there in your room where you could see Him, you’d fall on your face and begin to worship Him. You wouldn’t care how tired you were or what kind of day you had. You’d jump at the opportunity to fellowship with Him.

The Holy Ghost is in you. He’s waiting on you. He’s ready any time of the day or night. He’s saying, “I’m here to help you and strengthen you. I want to comfort you today. You know that problem you’ve been having? I want to help you get that out of your life.

The Holy Spirit has some things He wants to show you—things you’ve been trying to figure out on your own. He’s waiting there with the power to overcome every obstacle in your life. Take time to pray. Pray in the spirit. Pray with understanding. Pray and activate the power that works within you today.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:16-21

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: Happiness [Tuesday March 14, 2017]

So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. — Matthew 6:34 (TLB)

King George V wrote on the flyleaf of the Bible of a friend, “The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.” Too many think of happiness as some sort of will-o’-the-wisp thing that is discovered by constant and relentless searching. It is not found by seeking. It is not an end in itself. Pots of gold are never found at the end of the rainbow, as we used to think when we were children; gold is mined from the ground or panned laboriously from a mountain stream.

Jesus once told His disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” The “things” He spoke of were the things that make us feel happy and secure—food, drink, clothes, shelter. He told us not to make these the chief goal of our lives but to “seek the kingdom” and these needs would be automatically supplied. There, if we will take it, is the secret of happiness.

Prayer for the day: Forgive me, Father, for the times when I am anxious. You have promised to take care of all my needs.

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.

Today’s Scripture: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…” – 2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV

Topic: Victory is Always on the Way [Monday March 13, 2017]

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God promises to always lead us into victory? That means no matter what is going on in your life today, no matter what’s happening in the world around you, no matter what anybody says, you should always be thanking God because victory is always on the way!

You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to celebrate what God is going to do in your life. Praise is putting action behind your faith. In the middle of adversity or a tough time, start making a list of who you’re going to invite to your victory celebration. That means if you’re in the hospital, start planning what you’re going to do when you get out. If you lost some money when the stock market went down, start planning your coming-out-of-debt party. When things don’t look good in the natural, remember, we serve a supernatural God. With God leading you into victory, you can always plan for increase. You can plan for restoration. You can plan for a comeback, and you can plan for victory because He is leading and guiding you in Jesus’ name!

A Prayer for Today: “Father, I give You thanks and praise today for the promise of victory. Give me Your vision for the future so that I can move confidently into the abundant life You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Topic: Recovery of Destiny [Monday March 13, 2017]

The recovery of destiny anchors on discovery of the Word.

The word is light that makes people live right.

It is revelation that birth revolution.

Destiny will be ruined and doomed when drawn away from the Word.

So, get back to the Word, to take back your destiny.

Return to the Word to restore your world.

Everything good in the world originates from the good Word of the Lord.

True discovery is the path to recovery.

2 Chr 15:1-18, 34:14-33

Topic: Still Running? [Monday March 13, 2017]

Finding it difficult to forgive those who’ve hurt you? Understanding God’s grace can help. — Daniel 4:5

In April 2005, many Americans and the world heard the story of the “runaway bride,” Jennifer Wilbanks. The thirty-two-year-old Duluth, Georgia, resident disappeared just days before her six hundred-guest wedding was to take place. Her family and fiancé, certain she had been kidnapped, pleaded for her safe return, and the missing bride became a national story for the major news media. When she turned up alive, the truth was revealed that the bride-to-be ran because of “certain fears” that controlled her life.

Most of us would say, “Well, she should have talked to her fiancé or her pastor instead of running away.” But how many of us easily confront our fears? You may not have ever physically run away as did Wilbanks, but I bet emotionally there are things you’re running from. You’re constantly looking over your shoulder trying to keep whatever you’re afraid of from catching up with you.

Satan loves causing people to dread and avoid confronting unpleasant issues, because he knows that he loses power when his lies are confronted. Even though a lie is not true, it becomes reality for the person who believes it. Don’t believe the lies Satan tries to deceive you with.

Lord, expose the lies that I’ve believed and that give strength to the fears that harass me. Shine Your light of truth on them and break their deceptive power. Amen.

Topic: Conspiracy & Fornication [Monday 13, March 2017]

Memorise: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. – 1 Corinthians 6:18

Read: Job 5:12-14, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (KJV)

12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 1-3, Isaiah 58:13-59:15

MESSAGE:

A conspiracy can be defined as a secret plan by a group of persons to do something unlawful or mischievous. Whenever you agree or partner with one or more persons to do something against God’s express word or will, you are guilty of conspiracy. The attitude of the Holy Spirit towards conspiracy is clear from His judgement against Ananias and Sapphira, who conspired to test Him with their lie (Acts 5:1-11). Ahithophel and Absalom also engaged in conspiracy against the Lord’s anointed, King David (2 Samuel 15:12). They paid for this sin with their lives, and they both died similar deaths through hanging (2 Samuel 17:23, 2 Samuel 18:9-14). Do you know that many people still conspire to lie to the Holy Spirit today? When auditors are visiting some churches, their pastors will connive with accountants to present doctored records. On arrival, when the auditor asks the accountant if the books presented are the actual financial records, they would affirm that they are. That is conspiring to lie to the Holy Spirit! Those who engage in conspiracy often die together, just like it happened to Ananias and Sapphira, Absalom and Ahithophel, and Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 26:9-10). This is where married couples need to be extremely cautions. If your spouse is going the way of destruction, never follow him or her. Do all you can to deliver him, but if the fellow refuses, let him or her take the evil step alone. Are you engaged in a conspiracy to defraud your employer or government? It’s time to pull out of such schemes and repent.

In like manner, the Holy Spirit hates adultery and fornication. Why? It is because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are His dwelling place. Adultery separates God from His temple. It keeps God outside His throne in your heart. Some people erroneously think that they can fornicate without affecting the presence of the Holy Spirit in them. No way! How can you expect the Holy Spirit, whose personality is defined by holiness, to dwell in a body yielded to filthiness? The Bible in James 4:4 says,

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Fornication strips the glory of God away from you and clothes you in rags and shame. There is nothing glorious about sexual sin. It never adds anything to you; rather, it always takes away your prized possessions. Repent and flee fornication daily! Whatever separates God from you is something to resist by all means!

Action Point: Confess and repent of any form of conspiracy of sexual sins you are involved in. Break away from every form of relationship that facilitates these.

Open Heavens 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.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: The Operation of Faith [Monday March 13, 2017]

Scripture: Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Thought For The Day: Until the Scripture is your picture, it cannot become your future.

Faith is a spiritual walk that requires the taking of definite steps. It is important to note that faith is not all about looking at Scriptures, identifying the promises you like and start confessing them until they happen. It is not possible to walk in faith without taking steps (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith without action steps is foolishness, assumption and presumption.

What then are the required steps of faith to take?

1. Have deep revelations of the Word: Revelation imparts the knowledge of your rights and causes you to speak with the voice of authority and audacity. So, the deeper your light, the stronger your voice.

2. Have a clear vision of your future: The Word of God comes to pass for those who see well (Genesis 13:14). Until the Scripture is your picture, it cannot become your future. What occupies your mind determines the strength of your faith.

3. Make bold declarations: Let the revelations you receive from the Word of God fuel your convictions and declarations.

4. Embark on Faith praise: Praise God to consolidate your convictions of your revelations. When you praise, you move God into action.

Remember this: Until the scripture is your picture, it cannot become your future.

Assignment(S):

1. Go through today’s study again.

2. Consistently praise God in faith for your expectations.

Prayer: O LORD, I praise You for Your Word to me. I believe that You have abundant blessings in store for me and I receive them in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE OPERATION OF FAITH.

Quote: The God we serve is the God Who possesses the ability to turn tables. He has the capacity to make masters become servants, and servants become masters in just one breath. Culled from ACCESS TO ALL POSSIBILITIES by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Numbers 19:1 to 20:29, Luke 1:1 to 25, Psalm 56:1 to 13, Proverbs 11:8.

Today In History: 13/03/1639 – Harvard University was named after a clergyman, John Harvard.

Amazing Fact: The average human heart beats 100,000 times a day. This works out at 3.7 million times a year and 2.5 billion times during a lifetime.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Dr 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.

Topic: You Are In His Favour [Monday, 13th Mar. 2017]

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52

It is very importantly to know that, as a son of God, you are not one looking for favour from God. The love of God has brought you into His favour. During the Old Testament, the people had to do certain things to get into the favour of God. But in this dispensation, were we are now sons and daughters of God, we are always in His favour because of what Christ has done.

God’s favour has brought us into His blessings. Ephesians 1:3 says, “blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” You are not only blessed; God has made you a blessing through the gifts He gifted you with. His favour brings you into the blessed zone, where you are filled with His blessings daily.

In His favour, He has provided all that you need to live a successful and purpose-driven life. Scriptures says in 2 Peter 1:3 that “…His divine power has given unto us all things that pertains unto life and godliness…” His favour has made sure you do not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:10). Today, you don’t need to cry and plead for His favour, because He is pleased that you are now in His favour. And as long as nothing will separate you from His love, nothing will also separate you from His favour. Enjoy God’s favour always.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for bringing me into Your favour. I know it is not about what I have done that merited me a place in Your favour, but what Christ has done. I enjoy Your favour daily and in all aspects of my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.