Thursday, February 21, 2019

Knowing Who I Am In Christ (from Joyce Meyer)

"Knowing Who I Am In Christ"

Have you discovered how amazing your life in Christ is meant to be? This list reveals the truth about who God created you to be and how He wants you to live!


  • I am complete in Him Who is the head over all rule and authority—of every angelic and earthly power (Colossians 2:10).
  • I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
  • I am far from oppression, and will not live in fear (Isaiah 54:14).
  • I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18).
  • I have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
  • The Spirit of God, who is greater than the enemy in the world, lives in me (1 John 4:4).
  • I have received abundant grace and the gift of righteousness and reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
  • I have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my heart enlightened, so that I know the hope of having life in Christ (Ephesians 1:17-18).
  • I have received the power of the Holy Spirit and He can do miraculous things through me.I have authority and power over the enemy in this world (Mark 16:17-18Luke 10:17-19).
  • I am renewed in the knowledge of God and no longer want to live in my old ways or nature before I accepted Christ (Colossians 3:9-10).
  • I am merciful, I do not judge others, and I forgive quickly. As I do this by God’s grace, He blesses my life (Luke 6:36-38).
  • God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
  • In all circumstances I live by faith in God and extinguish all the flaming darts (attacks) of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16).
  • I can do everything that God has created me to do in this life through Christ Jesus who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
  • I am chosen by God who called me out of the darkness of sin and into the light and life of Christ so I can proclaim the excellence and greatness of who He is (1 Peter 2:9).
  • I am born again—spiritually transformed, renewed and set apart for God’s purpose—through the living and everlasting word of God (1 Peter 1:23).
  • I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works that He has prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).
  • In Christ, I am dead to sin—my relationship to it is broken—and alive to God—living in unbroken fellowship with Him (Romans 6:11).
  • The light of God’s truth has shone in my heart and given me knowledge of salvation through Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
  • As I hear God’s Word, I do what it says and I am blessed in my actions (James 1:2225).
  • I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me (Romans 8:37).
  • I overcome the enemy of my soul by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11).
  • I have everything I need to live a godly life and am equipped to live in His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).
  • I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9).
  • I am the righteousness of God—I have right standing with Him—in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
  • I am the head and not the tail, and I only go up and not down in life as I trust and obey God (Deuteronomy 28:13).
  • I am chosen by God, forgiven and justified through Christ. I have a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness and patience (Romans 8:33Colossians 3:12).
  • I am redeemed—forgiven of all my sins and made clean—through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7).
  • I have been rescued from the domain and the power of darkness and brought into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).
  • My life is rooted in my faith in Christ and I overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done for me (Colossians 2:7).
  • I am called to live a holy life by the grace of God and to declare His praise in the world (Psalm 66:82 Timothy 1:9).
  • I am strengthened with all power according to His glorious might (Colossians 1:11).
  • I humbly submit myself to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Jesus (James 4:7).
  • I press on each day to fulfill God’s plan for my life because I live to please Him (Philippians 3:14).
  • I am not ruled by fear because the Holy Spirit lives in me and gives me His power, love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
  • Christ lives in me, and I live by faith in Him and His love for me (Galatians 2:20).

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

A Prayer for Your Kids at Bedtime (And 10 Verses from Psalms to Bring Peace)

(a re-post from https://www.ibelieve.com/motherhood/a-prayer-for-your-kids-at-bedtime-and-10-verses-from-psalms-to-bring-peace.html)

So often, by the end of a full day, we just want to get everyone to sleep and fall into bed ourselves. I wish I could say that I’ve prayed with my children every single night since I’ve been a mom. But I haven’t. And many times, even in my best efforts, I’ve been known to fall right asleep as I’m praying with them or reading a Bible verse.
Other times, I’ve awakened in the night, and have been compelled to kneel at their bedside as they’ve slept, asking God to surround their lives in mighty ways with His love and care, and to give them great purpose and hope. Maybe you’ve found yourself there too many times. No one will ever fully know of a mother’s prayers on behalf of her children, the countless hours and heart-cry over them, but God knows. And He sees. And you can be assured beyond any doubt, that He is at work, in them and through them for His great glory.
Whether you’re in the habit of praying for or with your kids each night and looking for fresh words, or you’re just starting to pray for them before they sleep, here is a prayer you can pray for your children before bedtime, each night reminding them of God’s constant presence and peace.

A Prayer to Pray Over Your Kids at Bedtime

Dear God,
We come before you and we thank you for this day and all that it’s brought our way, the good things and the hard things too. Thank you that within it all, you’ve reminded us again how much you love us and are always with us. We pray that you would help us to leave all of our cares and worries with you right now. Forgive us for the times we didn’t get it right today, in our attitudes or actions. We confess our need for you, and we thank you that you’re so loving and forgiving, compassionate and kind. Help us to be more like you every single day. We ask for your wisdom to keep learning and growing closer to you Lord, and we thank you that each morning is a fresh start again.
We thank you, Father God, for your word that reminds us you never sleep or slumber. You are always watching out for us and your great care is constantly covering our home and family. We ask for you to take away any fears or anxious thoughts tonight, and that you would bring your perfect peace, the peace that goes far beyond our own understanding, to guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

We know that in you, we are safe and secure...

We believe you are close, and your protection is more powerful than we could ever imagine. Thank you that you constantly remind us we never have to be afraid, in the day or the night. So we choose to put our trust in you as we lay our heads down and close our eyes to rest. We need the sleep and peace that only you can give. We pray for good dreams, for your blessings to surround us in every way.  
We pray for all those we love, our family, our friends, our neighbors, our pets, and we ask that you would show each of them your great love and care in amazing ways. We thank you Lord that nothing is too big or small for you to care about. You know all that concerns us, and you remind us that you are fighting for us, even as we sleep, even in ways we may not always see. We love you and we’re so grateful for your promise to always be with us.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

10 Verses from Psalms: To Pray with Your Kids Before Bedtime

For Protection

 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” … For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:1-2,11
“The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” Psalm 121:5-6

For Peace and Rest

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-2
“I lie down and sleep, I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Psalm 3:5
“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7

For the Reminder that He is always with us

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power, his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:4-5
“Even the darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:12-14
“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8

For Freedom from Fear

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
God reminds us over and over in His word that He loves us more than we could ever fully know. He longs to help us and is always there. His words of life give us hope that He is our strong tower. He promises to draw near to those who are seeking after Him, and is faithful to see us, and our kids, through every struggle of this life. Your prayers are never in vain with the Lord. He hears every word, He sees your heart for your children, and His arms are open to their every need.
Peace.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

The Prayer Acronym Named "ACTS"

AAdoration - Give God praise and honor for who He is, what He's done, and what He continues to do in our lives.  (I've also seen this letter listed as "Acknowledge")

CConfession - We will continue to fall short of His holiness and should confess our sins to Him with a sincere heart of repentance.

TThanksgiving - Telling God what we're grateful for and giving Him thanks for his goodness, kindness, mercy, grace, etc.

SSupplication - Bringing our requests to God for the needs of others and ourselves.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

"The Law & The Prophets" and "The Great Commandment"

Half of the original 10 commandments identify ways you can fail at loving God, and the other half identify ways you can fail at loving people (failing to honor God is deeply connected to failing to honor people).  This helps bring new and expanded meaning to the "great commandment" that Jesus spoke of in the New Testament (Luke 10:27, Mark 12:29-31 and Matthew 22:37-40).  It's a combination of the two main themes of the original 10 commandments.

The great commandment is "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

What does Jesus mean by "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets"?

If people obey the great commandment, they'll automatically be obeying all 613 laws (and prophets) from the old testament.  Jesus came to fulfill the law and show us by example how we should live (so that we too can fulfill the law).  The one who loves fulfills the law (Romans 13:8).

Friday, February 8, 2019

Growing & Using Our Faith

I heard the Holy Spirit tell me this today: "Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17).  If you're not speaking My Word, you won't hear My Word, and you'll lose your faith.  And when you're faith goes, your hope goes. (Hebrews 11:1)"
 
Faith is like the manna that the Israelites received from God in the desert.  They couldn't store it up.  They only had each day to collect and use it, and there was only enough for each day; they had to wait until the next morning for fresh manna.  Faith is a lot like that manna; we can't store it up (not in the way that you would think).  No matter how many weeks, months, or even years that we've been building our faith, it fades fast if we stop building it.  We have to fill ourselves every day in order to stay strong in The Lord.  And that's a good thing, because it continues to keep us grounded in Him (our ultimate source).