“...I will walk within my house with a perfect heart”
(Psalm 101:2, NKJ)

This time of year, people often take time to reflect and set goals for the New Year. But have you ever set “perfection” as a goal on your list?

Now, that may seem a little strange or unobtainable to many, but really, in God’s eyes perfection isn’t about performance. In fact, it isn’t about behavior at all. What God is looking for is a heart that is perfect toward Him. Scripture says that man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. That means that He is more pleased with someone who has a heart toward Him who may mess up than He is with someone doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons.

The condition of your heart is extremely important to God. When you have a right heart, you are humble before Him. You seek His ways. You get up each day with a desire to please Him. You submit every area of your life to Him, and you are willing to make adjustments and receive correction so you can grow and come up higher.

As you prepare for the coming year, make knowing Him your number one priority. Yield yourself to Him and let Him shape your character. Serve Him with all your might and let your heart be perfect toward Him!

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“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor...”
(Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

Do you need wisdom or direction in your life today? The scripture tells us that Jesus is our Counselor. And He’s not just any kind of Counselor, He’s a Wonderful Counselor. When something is wonderful, it means it is unusually good, marvelous or astonishing. Think about that for a moment. God is a marvelous, astonishing, unusually good Counselor — the very best you could ever have!

Today, no matter what you may be facing, no matter what kinds of decisions you have to make, consider God. Ask Him to direct your steps and confirm His perfect will for your life. Remember, He is the best counselor there is. Let Him direct and guide your path. Seek Him with your whole heart, put Him first, and let Him lead you in blessing and victory in every area of your life.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you”
(John 15:7, NIV)

In life, we all have ups and downs. There are seasons that are more difficult than others, seasons of testing, trials and temptation where our character is being developed and our faith in God is being strengthened. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and then three steps backward. But if we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is always going to be this way. Even in the strong seasons, you'll start looking for things to go wrong.

God doesn’t want us to be living life like a roller coaster. He wants to bring us to a place of stability where we remain strong in Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will remain.” The word “remain” means “to be fixed, immovable, not affected by circumstances.” If you will just keep abiding in Him, just keep meditating on His Word, He’ll bring you through. He’ll make you strong, He’ll keep you stable, and you’ll keep moving forward into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!

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“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
(II Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Every person has had negative things spoken over them in the past. Maybe someone told you that you don’t have what it takes or that you’re not going to be successful. It’s almost like they cursed your future. But the good news is that the blessing of God is greater than any curse. If you’ll get rid of those negative strongholds and choose to believe what God says about you in His Word, you will begin to see a turning point in your life.

Today, declare blessing over yourself — that you are strong and courageous. You are full of talent, creativity, and wisdom. You can accomplish your God-given dreams. You walk in divine health. You have favor with every person you meet. Everything you touch is going to prosper and succeed. Those seeds of greatness on the inside of you are growing stronger and stronger. That hidden treasure is about to burst forth and you’re going to come in to new seasons of increase, new seasons of favor, new seasons of God’s blessings! You are who God says you are. You have what God says you have. Declare you can do everything God says you can do, in Jesus’ name, amen!

Who can tell who's next to need words of encouragement or any insightful reminder at any given moment? That is why I thank technology that mobile phones are a great help for quick messaging people. There have been moments that I was in dire circumstances when I suddenly received a text message from a sister or from our pastora, that as I meditated on that message, I exclaimed that indeed it's just the one that I needed! See, the inspirational thoughts from our brothers and sisters truly make a difference :)

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 1:6, NIV)

Learning to walk in the destiny God has for you is a process. The first step is to get a vision, a clear picture from God that you can see. The next step is to trust Him — to believe in faith that it will happen. And then finally, you take a step of faith and live out what God has promised no matter what your circumstances or people around you have to say.

First you dream it, than you believe it, and then you live it. Every dream I’ve ever received from God has followed this same pattern. We see in scripture that even the great men and women of the Bible walked through this process. They had to overcome doubts, they struggled on their journey, but they held fast to what God said knowing that He is faithful to complete what He started in us!

Today, if you are having a hard time believing what God has promised will come to pass, understand that you are in a process. Don’t empower doubt with your words. Instead, keep declaring that He who promised is faithful! Keep the vision in front of you knowing that it is for an appointed time. Dream it and believe it because it won’t be long until you are living the blessed life God has prepared for you!

Joyce shares a list of confessions that remind herself of God's love and power. These confessions were included in her book, "Knowing Who You Are In Christ"

I personally believe in the effect of these affirmations daily because they truly make a difference! I think there is something herein that completely changes my way of thinking. Truly that where the mind is, the body will follow.

I love all people, and I am loved by all people.

I prosper in everything I put my hand to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life – spiritually, financially, mentally, and socially.

All my children have lots of Christian friends, and God has set aside a Christian wife or husband for each of them.

All my household are blessed in their deeds: we’re blessed when we come in and when we go out.

I take good care of my body. I eat right, I look good, I feel good, and I weigh what God wants me to weigh.

I operate in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are tongues and interpretation of tongues, the working of miracles, discerning of spirits, the word of faith, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, healings, and prophecy.

I know God’s voice, and I always obey what He tells me.

The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost.

I do all my work excellently and with great prudence – making the most of all of my time.

I am creative because the Holy Spirit lives in me.

I love to pray. I love to praise and worship God.

I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. I will speak forth the righteousness of God all the day long.

I have humbled myself, and God has exalted me.

I am a giver. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I love to give! I have plenty of money to give away all the time.

I cast all my care on the Lord for He cares for me.

I don’t give the devil a foothold in my life. I resist the devil, and he has to flee from me.

I don’t have a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

I am not afraid of the faces of man. I am not afraid of the anger of man.

I am a new creature in Christ: old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.

I have died and have been raised with Christ and am now seated in heavenly places.

I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.

I am a doer of the Word. I meditate on the Word all the day long.

I am not passive about anything, but I deal with all things in my life immediately.

I do not judge my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus after the flesh. I am a spiritual man and am judged by no one.

I take every thought captive unto the obedience of Jesus Christ, casting down every imagination, and every high and lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

I am a responsible person. I enjoy responsibility, and I rise to every responsibility in Jesus.

I have been set free. I am free to love, to worship, to trust with no fear of rejection or of being hurt.

I have compassion and understanding for all people.

I catch the devil in all of his deceitful lies. I cast them down and choose rather to believe the Word of God.

I am anointed of God for ministry. Hallelujah!

Work is good. I enjoy work. Glory!

I have a teachable spirit.

I do not think more highly of myself than I ought to in the flesh.

Pain cannot successfully come against my body because Jesus bore all my pain.

I am a teacher of the Word.

I lay hands on the sick, and they recover.

I do what I say I will do, and I get where I am going on time.

I don’t hurry and rush; I do one thing at a time.

God opens my mouth, and no man can shut it. God shuts my mouth, and no man can open it.

The law of kindness is in my tongue. Gentleness is in my touch. Mercy and compassion is in my hearing.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he; therefore, all of my thoughts are positive.

I do not allow the devil to use my spirit as a garbage dump by meditating on negative things that he offers me.

I am a believer not a doubter.

No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, but every tongue that rises against me in judgment, I shall show to be in the wrong.

I am slow to speak, quick to hear, and slow to anger.

I cast out devils and demons; nothing deadly can hurt me.

I never bind a sister or brother with the words of my mouth.

I am always a positive encouragement. I edify and build up; I never tear down or destroy.

I will cry to God Most High Who performs on my behalf and rewards me.

My son has a sweet personality, and he is not rebellious.

I don’t speak negative things.

My children love to pray and study the Word. They openly and boldly praise God.

My children make right choices according to the Word of God.

I am an obedient wife, and no rebellion operates in me.

My husband is wise. He is the king and priest of our home. He makes Godly decisions.

I use my time wisely. All of my prayer and study time is wisely spent.

I walk in the spirit all of the time.

All that I own is paid for. I owe no man anything except to love him in Christ.

I love to bless people and spread the Gospel.

I am an intercessor.

I receive speaking engagements in person, by phone, and/or by mail every day.

My daughter operates in Godly wisdom and discipline, and she is full of energy.

I never get tired or grow weary when I study the Word, pray, minister, or praise God; but I am alert and full of energy. And as I study, I become more alert and more energized.

I will study the Word of God. I will pray.

I do not hate or walk in unforgiveness.

I do not fear. I am not guilty.

"In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock"
(Psalm 27:5, NIV)

Have you ever watched children play hide and seek? They look for the best place to hide in the house or yard and wait quietly for their friend to try to find them. It's a fun game for kids, but even as adults, we need a good place to hide from time to time. Sometimes we need a place of refuge, a place of safety, a place to rest when we feel overwhelmed by the circumstances of life; a place where the enemy of our soul can never find us.

The good news is that God has the perfect hiding place for you! You don't have to hide in your job. You don't have to hide in relationships. You don't have to hide in food or addictions because God Himself promises to hide you! He freely offers you shelter from the storms of life any time you call on His name.

Remember, there's only one place the enemy cannot find you. There's only one place where opposition cannot steal from you. There's only one true place of safety and rest for your soul, and that is in the arms of Jesus. Know that He loves you, and He is ready to receive you when you call on His name!

“...Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered”
(1 Peter 3:7, NLT)

Did you know that the way you treat people has an impact on the effectiveness of your prayers? The Bible says that the prayer of the righteous person is powerful, but if we aren’t treating others with honor, kindness and respect, then we aren’t allowing His righteousness to operate in us. When we don’t treat others the way we should, it closes the door to God’s power and hinders our prayers.

This is especially true in a marriage relationship. Marriage isn’t just an agreement between two people to live life together. Marriage is a God-ordained institution that helps us understand love and unity. When two people are married, they become one physically, spiritually and emotionally. This particular passage is directed toward husbands, but it applies to all believers as well. We should always treat others “with understanding,” which means considering their needs above our own. We should always aim to treat others with kindness, dignity, and respect and quickly choose forgiveness.

Today, choose love. Choose to treat others with respect. Let righteousness flow through you and open the door for His power in every area of your life!

Introduction:

1. Examination of text
2. Christians "lay hold on hope." Heb. 6:18
3. Must not be moved away from "hope of gospel.,, Col. 1:23
4. Must be steadfast, unmovable. I Cor. 15:58
5. Must not be "carried about." Eph. 4:14
I. SOME THINGS THAT COULDN'T MOVE PAUL
1. Persecutions. Acts 20:23;21:10-14
2. Tears and pleas of brethren. Acts 21:10-14
3. Discouragement caused by loss of his work. Gal. 4:11;2 Cor. 11:1-3
4. False Brethren. 2 Cor. 11:26
5. Severe criticism. 2 Cor. 10:10
6. Failure of others. Gal. 2:13
II. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MOVE US?
1. Desire to be popular
2. Courtship of the world
3. False brethren
4. False doctrines
5. Love of money
6. Love of pleasure
7. Inability to give up loved ones for Christ's sake

Hello folks! I am in this moment that I feel overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle of life. My daily activities merely starts with a cup of coffee, and the abrupt opening of my personal computer to work on the online activities that I have to do. While working, that's when I send my boys and little boy off to school, just giving them divided attention. The work goes on, depending what the demands of the day are. And usually... this exhausts me because at the back of my mind I know I've done an unworthy deed, a futile existence.

3 weeks later, things are beginning to change. I've learned to enjoy life attending to offline activities and just letting the Lord take the lead in my daily activities. I'm still learning so many things. I'm gradually getting involved in church and community activities, also beginning to enjoy sending my littlest one off to school. Life is simple, yet life is fantastic!