Have you ever wondered what gives a person the strength to become a champion, such as Daniel or David in the Scriptures? The book of Daniel tells us that “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Dan. 11:32).
Daniel himself started out as a young captive taken from Jerusalem to serve in the courts of Babylonian and Medo-Persian kings. Yet Daniel stood out among his peers. Over his lifetime he interpreted dreams by the wisdom of God and demonstrated an “excellent spirit” people around him could see (Dan. 6:3).
He always found favor in the eyes of the Gentile kings he served and experienced supernatural deliverance when there seemed to be no way out. Daniel walked out of the lions’ den unharmed, because he knew his God, His power, and His heart for him.
Dear reader, is this what you desire today—to walk in strength, wisdom, and favor that is undeniable and irresistible? Do you desire to see the God-kind of miracles and breakthroughs in your life? Then I encourage you to keep hearing and growing in your knowledge of God’s grace and mercy toward you.
In Daniel’s story, the Lord, through an angel, addressed him as a “man greatly beloved” (Dan. 10:11). So the more you hear about and are confident in His love for you, the more you will live life with boldness and a different, excellent spirit that sets you apart from others and testifies of His power in your life.
Consider also young David, the shepherd boy who was bold enough to challenge and take down Goliath when others were cowering in fear. David knew God as a covenant-keeping God Who loved him. David would have been reminded of God’s love for him every time he heard his own name called, for David’s name means “beloved,” the beloved of the Lord.
I believe David became such an amazing worshiper, a leader beloved by His people, and a man after God’s own heart because he knew and was conscious of how much the Lord loved him. Even when David failed, I believe it was his revelation that he was still beloved of the Lord that kept him going.
Beloved, I pray that as you continue to read the word of His grace and listen to messages of His glorious grace, you will come to truly know the Lord’s love for you and embrace it heart and soul. His love will make you strong and cause you to do great exploits. When you know how much God loves you, you will bring down the giants in your life, and your life will testify of His goodness and glory!
Beloved, if you want to have faith for your breakthrough, make sure you are hearing and believing right about God through the word of Christ. By the way, in Romans 10:17, it is the word of Christ, not the word of God, as written in some Bible translations. The Greek word used here is Christos for Christ.
What’s the difference? The word of Christ refers to the word of the new covenant, the word of His grace.
In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul says, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). What is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among the saints? It is the word of His grace or the word of Christ. The Bible exhorts us to “Let the word of Christ [Christos] dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16).
So if you’re feeling discouraged, I encourage you to keep hearing messages full of the grace and finished work of our Lord Jesus as was proclaimed by the apostle Paul. This was what the crippled man in Acts 14:8–10 did.
Whatever your circumstances, keep hearing about how your sins have all been forgiven through Christ and how you are today the righteousness of God in Christ.
Whatever the prognosis you’ve heard, keep hearing about how much God loves you and wants to be a loving Father to you, to watch over you, provide for you, and deliver you from all your fears and afflictions.
My friend, when you give priority to this daily, you will have the word of Christ dwelling richly in you. And it is this word of His grace that will impart faith and hope to you.
When you know God’s love for you, it will cause you to run to Him instead of hide from Him. His love upon you and in you will make you strong. It will cause you to overcome every temptation and fear, slay your giants, and live life with greater boldness and victory!
Today’s Scripture “Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day…” Joshua 14:12, NKJV
NOW IS THE TIME Sometimes we think that we’re running out of time to accomplish a dream. You might think you’ve made too many mistakes, missed your chance, or you’re too old. That’s the way Caleb probably felt. For forty years he had been kept out of the Promised Land because of the negative report of the other ten spies. He had been courageous and obedient. It looked like other people stopped his dream. But what God promised, He’s going to bring to pass. When Caleb was eighty-five years old, God said, “I haven’t forgotten about you. I said you’d go into the Promised Land, and now’s the time.”
It’s not too late for you to become all you were created to be. God has not forgotten about the dreams He put in your heart. You’re not running out of time; you’re running into time. God is ordering your steps. You haven’t missed out on what is best; it wasn’t the right time. You’re about to come in to some bests—best opportunities, best relationships, best health, and best resources.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY “Father, thank You that whether Your promise is fulfilled in my life today or years from now, You will bring it to pass in Your perfect time. Thank You that I too can say, ‘God, give me this mountain.’ I declare that every giant, every obstacle that stands in the way, will be conquered. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
What mental movies are you playing in your head today? Are they thoughts of defeat and despair or thoughts of victory and favor? Faith is simply saying what God says about you and seeing what God sees in you and your situation.
It takes a thought to heal a thought. Unlike the world, which teaches you to empty your mind to achieve peace, God’s way is to fill your mind with fresh, powerful, and redeeming thoughts.
The apostle Paul tells us, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Phil. 4:8 NLT).
So it’s not just trying to blot out bad thoughts with your willpower. It takes a thought to replace a thought. It takes a right belief to replace a wrong belief. You need God’s truth to replace the enemy’s lies that have kept you in bondage.
My friend, if a wrong, bad, or negative thought is lodged in your mind today and you can’t seem to shake it, stop trying! Perhaps you’re lying in a hospital bed and can’t help but think of the worst-case scenario. You’re attempting to suppress it, but it’s not working.
Well, stop! Stop trying to erase it from your mind. That just won’t work. What you need to do is replace that destructive thought with a thought that’s from God. That’s the only way to deal with a wrong thought and begin the healing process.
Start to meditate on truths such as, “Surely Jesus has borne my sicknesses and carried my pains. The chastisement for my wholeness fell upon Him, and by His stripes I am healed. With long life He will satisfy me” (Isa. 53:4–5, Ps. 91:16). Begin to play mental movies of yourself getting well, being discharged from the hospital, having fun with your kids, or going on a nice holiday!
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on agro allied operators in the country to ensure the use of appropriate and safe feeds as part of strategy to safeguard the health of humans and animals. NAFDAC’s Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied and Product (VMAP), Dr Rametu Momodu has also sought for more cooperation of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) at the national level for effective collaboration towards the development of the industry through efficient regulatory practices. She made the call during the Agro Merit Industrial Outreach at the Poultry Show which held in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
According to her, the NAFDAC sensitisation became necessary as part of the Agency’s mandate to bridge the gap between the regulator and the regulated. However, Momodu said the industrial outreach was a great opportunity to meet with NAFDAC stakeholders so as to enlighten them on what the Agency does and why it embarks on such activities..
The programme brought together farmers and operators of poultry businesses to learn how to adapt innovation and regulatory measures to advance their processes. Also, Momodu said the sensitisation was used to train agro farmers, providing them information and the opportunity to cooperate with NAFDAC. “And all of these are to enlighten, educate and to tell them what we do and the reason we do them. “We know we run a business but it is good business to do things properly.” Momodu said, “If they use animal feed products that are not certified by NAFDAC; we are not sure of the efficacy, quality and effectiveness.” On the contrary, she said, “As you have seen from one of the presentations, if they use the products properly they are going to get better birds, which are birds that are healthier and that is good for business: it is good for the farmers, and for us that are buying the birds to eat.” Consequently, she reasoned, “We are going to eat better quality birds. We are not going to eat diseased birds or birds that are not bred properly.” Momodu stated that the mission of the VMAP Directorate is to protect human and animal health by ensuring that only safe and effective veterinary medicine and allied products are available for use in Nigeria. She said, “The regulation of animal feed stuff is done to assure the production of safe feed.” Momodu said VMAP under her leadership will deliver on the directorate mandate through open door policy, science based approach to issues, collaboration and cooperation with all stakeholders. Mr Sampson Adetunji Odipe, the managing director of Agro Merits Limited, one of the major importers & distributors of major raw materials for the feed and food industry, lamented that as a country Nigeria cannot feed its people. Part of the problem is that the governments in Nigeria are not engaging the right people. “To talk to them in government, you need connections here and there, but we are not interested in that,” stated Odipe. According to him, banks in Nigeria are declaring billions in profits every year, while in the agro sector, people are throwing in the towel; how do you reconcile that, he asked. Also in the manufacturing sector, Odipe observed that people are crying and weeping. They (governments) are supposed to invite the banks and ask them how they have been making this money: “have they been supporting the manufacturing sector?” “Maybe they are giving rebates to the manufacturers but without people like us that will bring in the raw materials, how will they produce? “You will go to the banks, and they will tell you they only give single digit loans to tbe manufacturers: can they operate without people like us? Similarly, Odipe said even resorting to private people is not better either. “When you go to private people they will tell you they collect five per cent interest per month, that is 60 per cent in a year; how do you survive that,” he asked According to Odipe, the way out is to have direct access with the Ministry of Agriculture. “We must be able to feed ourselves, at least, he reasoned, adding “It’s so alarming that we can’t feed ourselves.” Similarly, Odipe lamented that getting raw materials for locally produced animal feed was a huge challenge. He observed that the agro sector is the most lucrative. “Farmers in Europe and elsewhere laugh to the banks, but here the adverse is the case.” He urged the government of the day to take a closer look at what’s happening here. “The Czeck Republic is a country of 10.7 million people; go out and see what they are doing. “Go to Denmark, they are less than six million people; look at what they are getting from agro sector. We are just a country of 200 million people. Sincerely, the situation here is so disheartening.”
In Lagos, 340 Women Beat Husbands To Stupor In One Year – Govt
The Lagos State Government has reported 340 cases of women pummeling their husbands to submission in the state in the last one year.
Executive Secretary, Lagos Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this recently.
She said incidence of reporting of domestic violence from male increased during the last one year.
Vivour-Adeniyi disclosed that 340 male reported incidences of domestic violence perpetrated against them by their wives between September 2022 and July 2023.
Violence against Women and Girls is what we hear in the News Always,a situation many have attributed to Men refusing to speak Out when they are Victimized.
For Readers Out there, What do you have to say about this?
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Proverbs 18:21, AMP
Set Your Life Direction Did you know that the words you speak today are setting the direction for your life? If you want to know what you’re going to be like five years from now, listen to what you’re saying about yourself. “I’ll never get well. I’ll never break this addiction. I’ll never recover from this setback.” You’re prophesying your future. You can’t speak defeat and have victory. You can’t talk sickness and have health. You can’t speak lack and have abundance.
Pay attention to what you’re saying about yourself, your family, your finances, and your health. You’re going to become what you’re continually saying. That’s why it’s so important to get in a habit of speaking victory over your life. All through the day say what God says about you: “I am blessed. I am strong. I am healthy. I’m surrounded by favor. Something good is going to happen to me.” The fruit of those words is blessing, favor, and abundance. It’s not enough to just think it; we give life to our faith by speaking it out. That’s prophesying victory.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that my words have the power to help set the direction of my life. Help me to give my faith a voice by speaking words of life and blessing over myself and my future. I will declare what You say about me and eat its fruit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
What are you saying of the Lord today? If you are saying He gave you the trouble you are presently in or an illness to teach you humility, it’s time to change what you believe about Him. If you really believe that God is the author of your problems, would you really be running to Him for help?
My friend, let’s be like the psalmist who declared, “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust'” (boldface mine).
The Hebrew word for “refuge” here refers to a shelter from storms and danger. This shelter is like the bunkers that some people have in their homes to protect them from natural disasters or an enemy’s attacks. In the figurative sense, when you say the Lord is your “refuge,” you are also declaring that He is your place of hope.
The Lord is also your fortress. In Hebrew, the word used for “fortress” here refers to a castle or stronghold, a place of defense and protection against large-scale attacks.
Isn’t that a beautiful picture? Whatever you might be going through right now, you can declare that the Lord is your refuge and your fortress—your protection in both small as well as big attacks.
Perhaps you have not been saying that God is behind your troubles. Perhaps you are not saying anything about the Lord at all. Perhaps God seems far away and you feel cut off from Him.
If that is you, can I encourage you to take a break today from whatever you have on your busy to-do list, and simply take time to dwell in His sweet presence? God is not distant; sometimes we are just too distracted to hear His voice or sense His loving presence.
Take a moment and see yourself in His secret place. Abide under His shadow. Savor His favor. Receive His wisdom. And find rest for your troubled soul.
The feeling of being distant from God is only a feeling, nothing more. He has promised in His Word that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).
Our Lord Jesus paid for you to have access to God’s constant presence. At the cross, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” when God turned His back on Him (Matt. 27:46). He took our place and was rejected by God when He carried our sins so that today, we can take His place of being in the constant presence of the Father and take Him as our refuge and fortress.
LAGOS FIRST LADY LAUNCHES Y2023 MATERNAL, NEWBORN, CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK
…As LASG Restates Commitment to Improving Access to Maternal and Child Health Services, Attainment of UHC
First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu today flag-off the Y2023 Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (MNCAH+N) Week at the Badagry Local Government Secretariat of Lagos State.
The MNCAH+N Week is a vital health event in Lagos State that emphasizes the importance of practising good health-seeking behaviours for the well-being of mothers, children, adolescents, and the whole family. Lagos State has been a pioneer in this initiative, commencing the program in 2012 to provide essential healthcare services to under-five children, mothers, women of childbearing age, and men.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sanwo-Olu, who addressed health stakeholders, community and religious leaders, women, youths and adolescents highlighted the importance of addressing key health challenges in Lagos, such as the under-five mortality rate of 59 per 1000 live births and the Exclusive Breastfeeding rate of 58%.
She noted that during the MNCAH+N Week, healthcare providers will offer services including routine immunization, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, growth monitoring, malnutrition screening, and managing malnourished children, among other health services.
She said: “To implement this year’s MNCAH+N Week, a multipronged approach will be taken, with all stakeholders expected to support the initiative. The program will run from November 6th to November 10th, 2023, across primary healthcare centers and designated sites, offering services like routine immunization, vitamin A supplementation, de-worming, malnutrition screening, counseling on infant and young child feeding, family planning services, and more.
“This program is designed to ensure that all children receive necessary healthcare, particularly those who have defaulted on immunization or have never been immunized.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu who was represented at the event by the Wife of the Chairman of Ojo LGA, Mrs. Abimbola Idowu advised pregnant women against patronizing quacks for antenatal, delivery, and post-natal health service needs stressing that continued patronage of quacks under any guise poses danger to the heath and well-being of pregnant women and their unborn children.
“We also need to discourage pregnant women from patronizing quacks who hide under the guise of Traditional Medicine while practising orthodox medicine illegally. These quacks further endanger the lives of victims who patronize them. I commend the efforts of the Traditional Medicine Board and appeal to them to intensify efforts in monitoring and exposing these quacks operating in our communities”, She said.
While appreciating and commending the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his relentless efforts towards improving the health sector and continually put measures in place to ensure inclusive, prompt and effective healthcare services are provided for all residents, the First Lady disclosed that Governor Sanwo-Olu in response to the fuel subsidy removal declared free ante-natal delivery and post-natal services for all pregnant women in State Public Hospitals.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu emphasized the government’s zero tolerance for sexual and domestic violence, urging the community to work together to eradicate such crimes.
She appealed to the Chairmen of the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State to support the MNCAH+N week and give it the publicity it deserves in their respective areas. She also expressed gratitude to the health family, development partners, line ministries, local government chairmen, and the Chairman of Badagry Local Government for their support.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu thanked traditional, community, and religious leaders and the media for their continuous support and encouraged the press to provide extensive coverage of the initiative.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi outlined the objectives of the program, explaining that the MNCAH+N week which occurs twice a year across the State, focuses on ensuring the well-being and health of mothers, expectant mothers, newborn babies, children up to the age of five, and teenagers.
“Its core purpose is to promote healthy lives, thereby contributing to the growth of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole”, He said.
Prof. Abayomi emphasized the importance of well-nourished mothers during pregnancy, noting that the nutrition of the mother directly affects the child’s development in the womb.
According to him, the Lagos State Government has established various programs, infrastructure, and manpower development to support healthy pregnancies and ensure that mothers and babies remain healthy.
“Access to antenatal care in primary health care centres across Lagos is encouraged to monitor and identify potential issues during pregnancy and delivery,” He said.
The Commissioner stressed the significance of child spacing and responsible family planning to provide adequate resources and care for children. With a considerable portion of Lagosians being under the age of 30 to 35, he urged young adults to practice safe sex and responsible social interactions to avoid unwanted pregnancies and neglected children.
Abayomi also highlighted the government’s shift towards prevention rather than treatment and the deployment of experienced staff to strengthen community-level healthcare services, aiming to keep residents healthy and happy, thus contributing to society’s well-being.
The Commissioner expressed the State government’s desire to see fewer individuals in hospitals with sickness and disease, focusing instead on maintaining a healthy community.
“This initiative aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s goal of shifting from treatment to prevention to ensure the overall well-being of Lagos State residents”, he concluded.
Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye disclosed that nutrition programs are being implemented in Lagos State health facilities to ensure mothers are well-nourished during pregnancy and encouraged on exclusive breastfeeding in order to provide a balanced diet for growing children.
He said: “Another concern we addressing is the issue of child stunting, which affects physical and cognitive development. To combat this issue, nutrition programs have been implemented to ensure mothers are well-nourished during pregnancy, encourage exclusive breastfeeding, and provide a balanced diet for growing children”
Dr. Ogboye reminded all about the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme tagged Ilera Eko health scheme, mandated by federal law, and urged everyone to have it for themselves and their families.
“This insurance covers various healthcare needs and is essential for accessing antenatal care, immunizations, and birth control,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chief of Lagos Field Office, UNICEF, Celine Lafoucriere commended the Lagos State Government’s unwavering commitment to children’s health and well-being, applauding the State government for prioritizing children’s health and consistently organizing the biannual MNCAH week.
Said She: “The Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has demonstrated its commitment to the well-being of its residents, particularly mothers and children, through initiatives like the MNCH week. This dedication aligns with the broader goal of providing quality healthcare services to all Lagos State residents”
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to support the Lagos State government in achieving universal health coverage, particularly for children and mothers.
Today’s Scripture For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV
The Weight Of Glory Glory means honor, favor, and influence. We like those things, but we don’t always realize there’s a weight that comes with it. If you’re not prepared for it, the favor won’t be a blessing, it will be a burden. We have to pass some tests before God will trust us with the weight of glory. The delays, the disappointments, and the bad breaks are tests ordered by the Lord. Will you be good to people who are not being good to you? Will you stay in faith when you’re overlooked for a promotion or a setback slows your dreams? These are all opportunities to prove to God that you can handle the weight of glory.
***When you understand that God uses difficulties to get us prepared, to stretch our faith, to change us, you don’t complain when things don’t go your way. You realize it’s serving a purpose. When you do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening, you’re getting ready to carry the weight of glory. That’s why God doesn’t remove everything instantly, so be patient.***
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that the difficulties I face are temporary and are working in me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Thank You that Your plans for me are for good, and greater is coming. I believe I’m going to make it through and come out better. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
To understand the grace of God, it is essential you understand the differences between the old covenant of law and the new covenant of grace.
To help you accelerate your understanding of law and grace, I want to share with you one of my favorite scriptures. I have preached this verse around the world, from Hillsong Conference in Sydney, Australia, to Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas.
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.—John 1:17″
The law was given through a servant. Grace and truth came through the Son. The law talks about what man ought to be. Grace reveals Who God is.
In the first miracle of Moses, he turned water into blood, resulting in death. In the first miracle of grace, Jesus turned water into wine, resulting in life and celebration. The letter (the law) kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6).
Under the law, God demands righteousness from sinfully bankrupt man. But under grace, God provides righteousness as a gift. Now, which covenant would you like to be under? The answer is obvious!
The truth is, through the cross at Calvary, all who believe in Jesus and acknowledge Him as their Lord and Savior are under the new covenant of grace. Yet today many believers are still living in confusion, and get law and grace all mixed up by holding on to some aspects of the law and some aspects of grace in their Christian beliefs and walk.
Jesus said you cannot put new wine into old wineskins. The new wine will ferment and break the wineskins, and you will lose both (Matt. 9:17). In the same way, you cannot put the new wine of grace into the old wineskin of the law. One will cancel out the other (Rom. 11:6).
Under the law, God said, “I will by no means clear the guilty, but I will visit their sins to the third and fourth generations” (Exod. 34:7). But under grace, God says, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 8:12).
There has been a change! Can you see with absolute high-definition clarity that there has been a radical change and it is all because of Jesus?
Choose to live wholly under the new covenant of grace today, where through Christ’s perfect finished work at the cross, you have God’s righteousness as a gift, and God’s own Spirit of life leading you to victory over areas of defeat.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5, NKJV
TROUBLE CAN’T FIND YOU We all have things that come against us—an illness, the loss of a client, people who don’t like us. It’s easy to live worried, wondering how it’s going to turn out. But David writes that in the time of trouble God will hide us. It doesn’t say we won’t have trouble. Difficulties may come, but God’s promise is that He’s going to hide us. He’s going to make you invisible to the enemy.
You don’t know how many times trouble has come, but it couldn’t find you. Sickness had your name on it, but when it showed up, you were invisible. That accident was sent to take you out, but when it arrived, you were nowhere to be found. You didn’t know anything about it. You were just going about your day, being your best, and forces that should have stopped you, troubles that should have defeated you and caused you great heartache, didn’t have any effect on you. Why? You were invisible to the enemy.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for Your promise of protecting me when troubles come. Thank You that I am invisible to the enemy. Thank You that my children, my health, my finances, my marriage, and my dreams are all invisible to the enemy. I will live from a place of peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
The moment you invited Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, all your sins were forgiven—your past sins, your present sins, and your future sins. Once you are born again, you are in Christ. You do not have to try to get forgiveness. You have the forgiveness of sins through His blood, and this forgiveness of sins that you have is not according to what you have done, but according to the riches of God’s grace—His unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor!
The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). In other words, the punishment for sin is death. It also tells us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22 NIV).
Blood is thus necessary for the forgiveness of sins. That is why even under the old covenant of law, sin was covered temporarily through the blood of sacrificial animals.
The good news of the gospel is that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, came down from heaven to earth and sacrificed Himself at the cross. His perfect, sinless blood provided forgiveness for all our sins.
You and I cannot pay for our own sins, so He did it for us. Now, whosoever believes in Him will never die but will receive the gift of eternal life. Hallelujah!
Dear reader, notice how David describes the blessedness of a man whose sins are forgiven:
“”Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”—Romans 4:7–8 NLT”
Oh, what joy and what a blessing it is to receive the forgiveness of sins! Conversely, when believers start to question if they are truly forgiven, it leads to all kinds of insecurities, fears, and destructive bondages.
Fear and insecurity cannot exist in a healthy relationship with God. In a marriage relationship, for example, if a wife never feels secure in her husband’s love for her, she will never draw strength from or find joy in her marriage. Instead of thriving, that marriage will disintegrate over time. Similarly, our heavenly Father does not want us to live trapped in perpetual insecurity because we are never sure of our forgiveness.
Today, based on the Word of God, rejoice and thank God for the blessing of His forgiveness, so dearly paid for and so freely given to us. Let this truth of the gospel anchor and put strength in your heart, and drive away every fear and sense of insecurity.
Today’s Scripture …being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:21, NIV
Fully Persuaded The Scripture talks about Abraham being fully persuaded that God would do what He promised even when it seemed impossible for him and Sarah to have a baby.
When you’re fully persuaded, you’re not going to change your mind. You’re not going to let people talk you out of it. You’re not going to let circumstances cause you to quit believing. Before you see the promise, there’s a waiting period. When you don’t see anything happening, every thought will tell you, “You’re wasting your time. Just accept that it’s never going to happen.” That’s a test. God is seeing what you’re made of. Are you going to get talked out of it, or are you going to be fully persuaded? You have to dig down deep and say, “I’m not moved by what’s not changing. I’m not discouraged because it’s taking so long. I’m not worried because it’s not improving. I know God is a faithful God. I’ve seen Him do it in the past, and I know He’ll do it again in the future.”
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that my faith and trust are anchored to You and Your power at work in my life. Thank You that I don’t have to be moved by the tests and troubles I face because I am fully persuaded You will do what You promised. I declare that my hope is in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
Storms of life. You know them well. They overwhelm you. Wave after wave of relentless battering that knocks you off your feet till you don’t know which side is up. Till every ounce of energy is used up and you feel so weak, abandoned, and lonely. Perhaps you’re caught in one of life’s storms right now.
When the disciples of Jesus were out at sea, caught in a turbulent tempest, and tossed by the waves, who came to them in their darkest hour? It was Jesus Himself (Matt. 14:22–33). Jesus came in style, walking on the raging waters. The loving Savior came to them at their exact point of need to rescue them.
What does this tell you? That He is above the storms. He walks above—He is greater than—every adversity and opposition that you may be facing right now, and He comes to you to rescue you!
With the billowing waves beneath His feet, His first words to His disciples were, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!” (Matt. 14:27 NLT). What comfort those words must have brought to the disciples who were exhausted and shaking with fear for their lives.
My friend, when the storms of life rage, don’t go by what you see and hear all around you. Don’t go by your negative feelings and emotions. Live by the truth of God’s Word, which encourages you to “be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic . . . For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deut. 31:6 NLT).
Our God is a personal and loving God who is with you in your boat right in the midst of the howling storm. He knows how to lead you to victory every time. He cannot fail you!
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