JUST BECAUSE WE GIVE UP ON A DREAM DOESN’T MEAN HE GIVES UP ON IT. THE Scripture says, “GOD REMEMBERED RACHEL.” 

15/06/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.
Genesis 30:22, NIV

COMPLETING YOUR INCOMPLETIONS
The Scripture says that God put a dream to have a baby in Rachel’s heart. But year after year went by, and she couldn’t conceive. Rachel remained without a child while her sister, Leah, had one baby after another. Finally, after years of frustration, Rachel grew discouraged and said, in effect, “This is my lot in life. It’s never going to happen.”

One of the things I love about God is this: Just because we give up on a dream doesn’t mean He gives up on it. The Scripture says, “God remembered Rachel.” It doesn’t say that Rachel remembered God. This is how much God wants you to fulfill your destiny. He is so loving, so merciful, that even when you become too discouraged to believe, God does not forget what He promised you. He remembers. You may have already said, “Forget it. It will never happen.” The good news is you don’t have the final say. God has the final say, and He says, “What I started in your life, I will finish.” Get your passion back. He will complete your incompletions.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You will bring to completion the good work You began in me. Thank You that the fulfillment of my dreams is on the way despite the secret frustrations of my heart. I believe that You will complete my incompletions and help me to fulfill my destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO
Perhaps like the woman with the issue of blood in the Gospels (Mark 5:25–34), you are facing an impossibly hopeless situation in your life. It could be a debilitating sickness, a marital situation, a financial crisis, or a prolonged challenge.

In the natural, the future looks dismal and there appears to be no reason to hope. If that is you, I encourage you to believe that you too can experience the kind of breakthrough this woman experienced.

Imagine: for twelve long years, she had watched helplessly as her condition went from bad to worse no matter what she tried. Most of us would have given up. How did she find hope in the midst of her hopelessness? What gave her the courage to hope again?

I believe that the secret to her faith can be found in these five words: “She had heard about Jesus.”

What do you think she heard about Jesus? This is an important question because whatever she had heard imparted an audacious sense of Bible hope and confidence in her. And this imbued her with a boldness and tenacity to risk everything just to touch the hem of His garment.

She knew well the religious laws concerning unclean persons such as herself meant that she could be subjected to public humiliation and, very possibly, violence if she was recognized. Clearly she must have had no doubt in her heart that she would be completely healed the moment she touched the hem of His garment or she would not have risked it.

The Bible does not tell us exactly what she heard about Jesus, but I submit to you that she must have heard story after story of how Jesus healed the sick everywhere He went, how good and gracious He was even to the unclean lepers or the down-and-out who came to Him.

What she heard about Jesus produced in her a positive, confident expectation of good, which we can see in what she declared: “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” This hope then resulted in a faith that was effortless.

Faith as defined in God’s Word is “the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen” (Heb. 11:1 NLT). In other words, the hope that she had in the goodness of Jesus became faith, and this faith gave her the boldness to press through the crowd and receive her healing from Jesus.

What are you hearing about Jesus? The more you hear about His goodness and grace, the more faith will unconsciously arise in you to receive your miracle.

GOSPEL CORNER: GOD TOLD JOSHUA THAT TO HAVE GOOD SUCCESS, HE HAD TO MEDITATE ON THE LAW DAY AND NIGHT.

14/06/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8–9, NIV

God’s Way Is Always the Best
When you want something so badly that you convince yourself you can’t live without it, you try to make it happen. You may pray night and day for it, but God is so merciful that He’s not going to answer that prayer if it’s not His best. He loves you too much to open that door. Why don’t you trust Him? He wants you to fulfill your destiny more than you do. He is in complete control.

Let these words sink down into your spirit: God’s way is better than your way. His plan is bigger than your plan. When you come to a closed door, consider it a test of your faith. Will you become bitter, live in self-pity, and give up on your dreams, or will you move forward knowing that God is still in control? If you pass the test, God will release what He has in your future. And many times it will be exactly what you’re praying for. God just wants to see that you trust Him enough to be happy even if it doesn’t happen your way.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You see the big picture for my life and make all things serve me for my good. Thank You for the assurance in my heart that Your ways are always better than my ways. I declare that I am going to stay in peace and trust that You are working out Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”


Look at the instructions that God gave Joshua when he was appointed as Moses’ successor: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

God told Joshua that to have good success, he had to meditate on the law day and night. Joshua lived under the old covenant, so how should we, who live under the new covenant, benefit from this scripture?

We need to read this portion of scripture in view of Jesus’ finished work. That is why it is essential for you to be firmly established on the rock-solid foundation of the new covenant of grace.

Now that you know that we are no longer under the law (Rom. 6:14), what is the new covenant way to be blessed and to experience good success? Joshua only had the law to meditate upon because the New Testament had not been written yet. For us, the secret to good success is found in meditating on God’s Word in the light of the new covenant of grace.

Before we can go into what it means to meditate on God’s Word, what exactly does it mean to “meditate”?

When the Bible talks about meditation, it’s not referring to a mental exercise. The Hebrew word for meditation in the Old Testament is the word hagah, which means to utter or mutter. So to hagah is to speak under your breath.

Notice that the Lord told Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth.” He did not say that it “shall not depart from your mind.” The key to meditating on God’s Word is not mental contemplation. It is in speaking God’s promises with your mouth!

“Pastor Prince, does this mean that I should keep repeating God’s Word? For instance, should I keep saying ‘by His stripes I am healed’ when I need healing?”

Meditating on God’s Word does not mean making vain repetitions of scriptures. It is much more and is something that first occurs deep in your heart.

The psalmist David captured the essence of meditation most aptly when he said, “My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue” (Ps. 39:3).

As you are meditating on God’s Word, ask the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh revelation of Jesus. Let that scripture burn with revelation in your heart.

And as you speak out of that burning revelation, God anoints the words that you speak. When you declare, “By His stripes I am healed,” and that declaration is uttered with a sense of revelation and faith in Jesus, there will be power in your declaration!

GOSPEL CORNER : DARE TO ASK BIG. PRAY A BOLD PRAYER: 

13/06/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15, NIV

KEEP ASKING
Perhaps you have a family member who has made poor choices and caused a lot of grief and pain. It may seem as though they will never get better, and you’re just about to write them off. I encourage you to keep on asking God to not only bring this person back, but also to help them do something great. I’ve found when God touches somebody who has been living way off course, He will use them to do amazing things.

You have the promise that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It says in Psalm 112 that the seed of the righteous will be mighty in the land—not ordinary, not average, but exceptional, powerful, amazing. Now, don’t pray a small prayer over your children. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing or not doing. Dare to ask big. Pray a bold prayer: “God, I’m asking that my children will be mighty in the land. I’m asking You to use them in amazing ways. Let them leave a legacy of faith that will be seen for generations to come.”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for Your promise of restoring a family member who goes off course. Thank You that the seed of faith that was planted in their heart never dies and will blossom at some point. I declare that they are coming back and that together we will serve You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

Join me in reading this wonderful report that Gisele from Texas shared with me that demonstrates how you can take authority over your situation by standing on the Word of God

My husband had surgery for hiatal hernia. It was a simple procedure where a piece of mesh was inserted into the affected area and he was able to return home the same day.

However, he became increasingly unwell after he got home. He was feeling very bloated, had a lot of pain, and was running a fever. He was admitted back to the hospital and we spent the next week there.

It turned out that a bowel obstruction was causing all his problems. Another surgery was planned. Honestly, we felt very discouraged and defeated at that point.

Then, I remembered learning a few weeks earlier from Joseph Prince about how Christians should take charge and command symptoms to go using the Word of God. I told my husband about it and we prayed, speaking God’s Word. I also commanded the bowel obstruction to be gone in Jesus’ name.

Later that night, my husband went for a series of abdominal tests. These were tests that the hospital had been conducting twice daily since his admission to benchmark his progress. The next morning, when the tests were being done again, my husband started feeling great and announced that he was going home.

The doctor was thrilled with his huge turnaround and told us that the blockage, which had been detected in all the other tests done previously, was not found in the last two tests. So my husband was discharged and we went home. Praise the Lord for His protection and healing!6

All glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. I love how Gisele did not take flight or freeze when she came under attack, even though as a couple they felt discouraged when they heard the doctor’s report.

She quickly put into practice what she’d heard me teach about exercising our authority through using the Word. She and her husband prayed, speaking God’s Word over his body, and she commanded the negative symptoms to go in Jesus’ name, as the apostle Peter did in today’s scripture from the book of Acts.

That, my friend, is how we go on the offensive against the enemy today.

GOSPEL CORNER: NO EVIL SHALL BEFALL YOU, NOR SHALL ANY PLAGUE COME NEAR YOUR DWELLING”

12/06/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!”
Judges 6:12, NLT

WHAT GOD CALLS YOU
When the angel addressed Gideon as a “mighty hero” and told him he was to deliver his people from the Midianite army, he was hiding in a winepress, afraid and intimidated. God was saying, in effect, “Gideon, you don’t recognize who you are. You’re wearing negative labels—insecure, weak, not good enough—but I’ve come to tell you who you really are. You’re a valiant warrior. You have courage, talent, and ability that you haven’t discovered yet.” Gideon finally changed his thinking, got a new image of who he was, and defeated the Midianites. But if the angel had not told him who God created him to be, he would have lived and died and never discovered who he really was.

You may feel weak, insecure, not valuable, and unqualified, but don’t let your feelings determine your identity. Feelings come and go and can’t be trusted. You have to go back to what your Creator says. He calls you a mighty hero, a barrier breaker, a giant killer, a masterpiece, a prized possession. Don’t get stuck in who you used to be.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You know me and what I am capable of becoming. Thank You that You have equipped and empowered me to be strong where I feel weak and less-than. I believe that You are transforming me into a mighty warrior for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO


When I was a student, I took on a part-time job in a factory that manufactured refrigerators. Like any teenager, I had just wanted to earn some extra pocket money.

It wasn’t a complicated job. I was part of an assembly line and all I had to do was use an electric drill to create an opening and to fasten a condenser securely onto the back of each refrigerator. I would be buzzing away on the power drill all day, earning my keep.

At that time, I had the habit of carrying a small booklet around with me. It was my little booklet of Bible memory verses, and I would read from it and speak the Word of God three times a day.

During that period, there was one particular verse in Psalm 91 that I would confess every day: “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Ps. 91:10).

It was my daily confession in the morning before I left for work, and during my break times, my coworkers would see me sitting in some corner, confessing this verse. It was a very powerful revelation for me, and I really wanted His Word, and in particular this truth of God’s protection, to drop into my heart.

One day, as I was assembling yet another refrigerator, I lost control of the power drill. It somehow slipped out of my hands and the drill went straight toward my stomach.

Everything happened really quickly. The power drill, which was spinning at full force, hit my stomach . . . and it just bounced off.

Some of the workers there who saw what had happened ran over, concerned for me. It was then that I realized I was completely unharmed!

The only thing that came to mind at that moment was the Scripture I had been meditating on. That day, the verse, “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” came alive for me.

I give thanks for the Lord’s divine protection over my life when I was a teenager. Don’t you just love our wonderful and beautiful Savior!

As you meditate on and declare His promises in His Word, I believe you’ll also see His saving and delivering power working on your behalf.

GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN LAGOS STATE

SHINA JO

11/06/24

PRESS RELEASE

The Lagos State Government has issued a call for heightened vigilance and the adoption of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of a potential cholera outbreak in the State. This call follows an excess of severe gastroenteritis cases reported in Lagos in the last 48 hours.

Speaking on the surveillance reports reaching his desk in the Ministry of Health, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed that cases of severe gastroenteritis have been reported in communities around Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Kosofe LGA, resulting in about 60 hospital admissions, and sadly five deaths have been recorded mainly from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

“We have activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been alerted to investigate a possible water contamination source in the Lekki Victoria Island axis. We suspect a possible cholera outbreak; however, samples have been taken for confirmation. As of April 28, 2024, Nigeria reported 815 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across 25 states.”, He said.

The Commissioner noted that following recent rains, Lagos State has seen a notable increase in cases of severe vomiting and watery stools, adding that urban slums and crowded areas with poor sanitation are particularly at risk.

Prof. Akin Abayomi explained that cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes severe diarrhea and can be life-threatening, adding that it poses a significant health burden in areas with poor water treatment and sanitation, and could impact Lagos State.

“Cholera spreads through direct transmission by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and indirect transmission due to poor sanitation and lack of handwashing. Symptoms of cholera include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, rapid dehydration, muscle cramps, fever and sometimes collapse,” he said.

According to him, treatment options for cholera include rehydration using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for mild to moderate dehydration. Intravenous Fluids is used for severely dehydrated patients given only in medical facilities and supervised by medical personnel.

“To prevent cholera, citizens are urged to ensure safe drinking water by boiling, chlorinating, or using bottled water, and avoiding ice products made from untreated water. Maintaining proper sanitation by using toilets, safely disposing of feces, and avoiding open defecation is crucial.

“Practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and clean water regularly, especially before eating, preparing food, and after using the toilet, is essential and following food safety guidelines,” the Commissioner advised.

He enjoined citizens to rely on the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and accredited local health facilities for guidance, advice, and updates on prevention, treatment, and management. He added that suspected cases can be reported via the following emergency hotlines: 08023169485, 08137412348, or by using helplines 767 or 112.S

While emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and taking proactive measures to prevent cholera outbreaks, Professor Abayomi promised to keep the public informed and restated the commitment of the Government of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensuring the health and well-being of its citizens. 

“We urge everyone to adopt these preventive measures and report any suspected cases promptly to safeguard our commun

.

For More Information Please Contact Us On 0802-5681-978 Or email gloria4gabriel@gmail.com

GOSPEL CORNER : WHEN YOU FACE DIFFICULTIES, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS GIVE GOD PRAISE.

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34:3, NKJV

SWITCH OVER TO PRAISE
When you’re up against challenges that seem too big or dreams that look impossible, you’ll be tempted to worry, to live stressed and complaining. In those moments, you have to pay attention to what kind of atmosphere you’re creating. Whatever you’re sending out, you’re going to draw in. If you go around complaining about how a problem is not going to work out, that negative atmosphere draws in discouragement and will stop your victory. You can’t reach your potential.

When you face difficulties, the best thing you can do is give God praise. A situation may be too much for you, but it’s not too much for Him. Don’t magnify your problems. Magnify your God. Thank Him for who He is. “Lord, You are the all-powerful Creator of the universe. You are the great I AM. You are my provider, my healer, my protector, my deliverer, my way maker.” That’s what causes God to show up—not begging Him, not complaining, not worrying. Switch over into praise. That’s what attracts the most powerful force in the universe.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You inhabit my praise and that You are here with me in all the challenges of my life. Praise You for being the Most High God who provides, protects, heals, and makes a way for me. I choose to magnify You and exalt Your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

Grace is the only thing against which the devil has no defense. If you are living by your self-effort to earn God’s approval, the devil has power over you because he can always point to something that you have not done. This gives him dominion over you.

If you claim God’s protection and healing based on what you have done, the devil, who is a master accuser, just has to point to one of your failures, and all your faith implodes. You will disqualify yourself mentally and inwardly from receiving whatever you might be trusting the Lord for.

But grace qualifies us for protection. Because Jesus paid the price, we who are in Him have a right to walk in divine health and protection.

When the devil accuses you, saying, “How dare you believe God for protection, when you are (he goes on to list your failures),” you just have to point to Jesus’ blood, which has paid for all your failures. With grace as your basis, the God of peace can reign over your fears and impart to you unshakable faith for His protection!

Something else happens when you understand His grace—you will also grow in your understanding of how perfectly loved you are by your Father in heaven. God so loved you and me, He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross on our behalf, carrying all our sins upon His own body so that today, we can come boldly to His throne of grace.

He did it so that today, we are not as sheep without a shepherd, but we are so deeply loved and cared for by our Abba Father. We are His children and when we call on Him, He WILL answer.

We have a God who demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners—when we had nothing to offer Him but our brokenness, our shame, our sins, and our disqualifications! Oh what perfect love!

The Word of God says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:18–19, boldface mine).

Are you fearful today? Ask yourself this question: Do you know how much God loves you?

You see, you can’t reason away fear. But when you have a revelation of His perfect love for you, every fear in your life will be cast out. To the extent that you understand His love for you, you will live fearlessly in dangerous times!

WAR AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

10/06/27/24

PRESS RELEASE

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arraigned Clara Chinwe Deborah Ogo, An 83-year-old and Founder of the renowned Arrow of God Orphanage in Anambra State, on charges of human trafficking. 

The arraignment took place at the Federal High Court, Awka Judicial Division, under the auspices of Hon. Justice Hauwa Yilwa, who is presiding over the case. reports that Clara Ogo stands accused of involvement in the buying and selling of human beings for various purposes

According to reports , Clara Ogo stands accused of involvement in the buying and selling of human beings for various purposes

For More Information Or Advert Placement Call 0802- 5681978 Or Email gloria4gabriel@gmail.com

GOSPEL CORNER : BELOVED, NEVER FORGET THAT “THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT, NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG, BUT TIME AND CHANCE HAPPEN TO THEM ALL

10/06/24

Beloved, never forget that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong . . . but time and chance happen to them all.” God wants you to have the right timing—His timing, and nothing is left to chance because you are God’s child.

Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.” You are that “good man” because you are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

Now, look at the word “happen.” In the original Hebrew text, it means “to encounter, to meet (without pre-arrangement), to chance to be present.” In a nutshell, it means “right happening.” My friend, you can depend on God to cause you to be at the right place at the right time, to have right happenings happen in your life!

I am sure that you would agree that being at the right place at the right time is a tremendous blessing. You certainly don’t want to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. That can lead to disastrous results.

In 2003, a brother from my church was in Jakarta, Indonesia, for a business trip. He was staying at the Marriott Hotel and he was in the lobby when a bomb went off just outside the hotel. The bomb tore through the lobby and he saw a body flying past him as the deafening blast reverberated all around him.

After the dust had settled, he found blood spattered on him and debris strewn all around, but amazingly, he was completely unhurt. At the very moment when the bomb exploded, he happened to walk behind a pillar and it protected him from the impact of the blast. Just think what would have happened to him if he had reached that pillar just a few seconds before or after the bomb went off!

No matter how intelligent you are, how fat your savings account is or how prestigious your family name may be, there is no way you can know beforehand when to position yourself behind a pillar just as a bomb that you are unaware of explodes near you. Only God can put you at the right place at the right time.

It was the Lord who placed this brother behind the pillar at the precise moment. His steps were literally ordered by the Lord. All glory to Him! Jesus is our true pillar of protection!

My friend, nothing happens by chance—the Lord knows how to place you at the right place and the right time! You can depend on Jesus for right happenings. They all come by His unmerited favor.

In the new covenant of grace, the Bible says that the Lord Himself writes His laws on your heart (Heb. 8:10). He can speak to you and guide you in everything that you do. Allow Him to lead you supernaturally!

GOSPEL CORNER : GOD WANTS YOU TO BE IN “GOSHEN,” WHICH IS A PLACE OF NEARNESS TO HIM

08/06/24

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, after Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he tells them to return to their father and to tell him, “Come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have” (Gen. 45:9–10).

The name “Goshen” means “drawing near.” God wants you to be in “Goshen,” which is a place of nearness to Him, and there is no place nearer to Him than being in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6).

God’s heart of love is not satisfied with just removing your sins from you. No, He wants more. He wants you in His presence. He wants you in the place where He can lavish the bountiful love in His heart on you!

When you draw near to Jesus, you enjoy divine protection. In recent years, new strains of deadly viruses have been making headlines. But whatever the virus may be, you can declare, “A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me, God’s beloved!” (Ps. 91:7).

When there were plagues and pestilences all over Egypt because Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go, look at what God said about the children of Israel: “I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people” (Exod. 8:22–23).

There is a difference between God’s beloved people and the people of the world. Although Egypt was plagued by swarms of flies and other pestilences, the children of Israel were safe in the land of Goshen, completely untouched by the troubles!

So even if there are bad things happening in the world today, remember that as God’s beloved child, you are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:11, 16). No plague, no evil, and no danger can come close to you and your dwelling place because you are safe in the secret place of the Most High. As the children of Israel were kept safe and protected in Goshen, so will you and I, whom God calls His beloved!

GOSPEL CORNER: BE STRONG IN THE LORD’S LOVE FOR YOU. BELIEVE THAT GOD IS FOR YOU AND NOT AGAINST YOU. 

O8/06/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
[What would have become of me had I not] believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Psalm 27:13, AMPC

THE GOODNESS OF GOD
When David was a teenager, he was stuck out in the shepherds’ fields, taking care of his father’s sheep. He had a big dream for his life, but nobody paid attention to him. David could have been discouraged, but today’s Scripture says he believed he would see God’s goodness when all the circumstances were against him. He was confident that he would leave his mark despite how long it had been, despite who didn’t believe in him.

The Scripture says there’s a set time for God to favor you. There are marked moments when God has planned to suddenly promote you, suddenly turn it around, suddenly open the door. For David, that happened when the prophet Samuel showed up at his home and anointed him to be the next king. David was saying, “If I hadn’t believed in God’s favor, I wouldn’t have been anointed by Samuel, wouldn’t have defeated Goliath, outlasted King Saul, and taken the throne.” You can rest knowing that God has already lined up the breaks, the protection, and the promotion to take you into your destiny.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You have set times when You show me Your favor in special ways. Thank You for the absolute confidence I can have that if I keep moving forward in faith, I will see Your goodness. I believe that You will amaze me with what You have planned. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:10–15 that God has provided us with the spiritual armor of truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace. Today, let’s look at the rest of the armor of God found in Ephesians 6.

Each piece of God’s armor is actually a weapon of right believing by which we experience His victory over the devil’s mind games. Let’s look first at the piece of armor the Bible calls the shield of faith with which to defend yourself and stand strong when the enemy comes against you with thoughts of fear, doubt, and confusion.

In apostle Paul’s time, a shield referred to the huge shield that was used by the Romans, which was as big as a door! See your faith as a mighty shield and picture this—as long as your shield of faith is up, you are untouchable.

No matter how many fiery darts the devil may pitch at you, ALL of them shall be quenched. Too many Christians are taking up the shield of doubt and quenching the blessings of God instead. Don’t let that be you—face your future with boldness with the mighty shield of faith.

Another area the devil likes to attack in your mind is the area of your salvation. When you come under attack, apart from the shield of faith, be sure to have on the helmet of salvation.

The word “salvation” comes from a beautiful Greek word soteria, which definitely includes eternal life, but is an all-encompassing word that means deliverance (from your enemies, diseases, depression, fears, and all evils), preservation, safety, and salvation. So put on the helmet of salvation by meditating on Jesus, and be filled with God’s wholeness, protection, healing, and soundness. Let His soteria insulate your mind against the enemy’s lies.

Lastly, you have also been equipped with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Wield the sword of the Spirit by praying in the Spirit and speaking out God’s “now word” into your situation. Declare His promises and the truth of His grace over yourself and your circumstances to guard your heart against thoughts of hopelessness, despair and fear.

My friend, the whole armor of God has everything to do with what you believe in Christ. When you believe rightly about His grace and His finished work, every evil strategy the enemy has against you will surely fail.

So be strong in the Lord’s love for you. Believe that God is for you and not against you. His truth, His righteousness, His faith, His gospel, His salvation, His Word, and His Spirit are all weapons of right believing to overcome all the devil’s attacks.