March 17: KEEP BELIEVING!

 

[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped on in faith

 that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised….

(Romans 4:18 AMP)

 

1.       Today I will live in the now!  I will live in the now because my ability to walk by faith and not by sight enables me to dare to do what hasn’t been done before.  God has called me to be a pioneer and a visionary, so I must keep believing, no matter what things look like in the natural realm.  The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and His witness in my inner man propels me to fulfill all the prophecies spoken over my life!

 

2.       Today I will repent of any religious attitudes that remain in me, refusing to revere the past, as I recognize new realms of revelation.  I make the decision to live this day in the now, because no matter what report I hear from the religious, who are rebellious to the realities of Christ, I realize that these are the good “new” days, and they are getting better because the best is yet to come!

 

3.       Today I will not be afraid of the radical change that comes from living in the now.  The fire that is shut up in my bones is ignited by the Holy Ghost and He is effective in all of His endeavors to establish and enlighten me.

 

4.       Today I will keep believing as I see the plan for my life unfold.  Even if I don’t know the next step to take, I remember that Abraham went out not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8), so I move with God in faith and trust for His moment-by-moment direction.  In Him     I move.

 

5.       Today I will listen for God’s voice, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!

 

6.       Today I will meditate His Word, in an effort to locate the gifts of faith which He has imparted to me.

 

7.       Today I will be glad that change is on the horizon and that I am not frozen in time so that     I am unable to accept it.  Today, when I pray, “Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” I will really mean it from the bottom of my heart; I will pray it in faith!  I want heaven to change this earth, and I will continue in my believing to see that God’s Word is performed in my surroundings. Even if everybody else in the world gives up on their faith today, I will keep on keeping on because I have come too far to turn back now!  Today my faith will put me over, and today I will live in the now!

 

By faith, in Jesus’ name, I will keep believing today!

March 2: PARADIGM SHIFT!

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:2 – The Message) 1. Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I have the ability to change my life by changing my mind! I am not bound to think like everybody else. I can think beyond my culture and heritage and generation. I can imagine things that exceed my experience, and move past my past points of reference. My mind and thoughts are my own, willfully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus, and are bringing my life into the now! 2. Today I will dare to dream, even when the apparent reality in my life shows no promise of changing or improving. I will expose myself to new ideas, and childlike faith . . . to let myself believe that dreams, even illogical and improbable ones, can and do come true! 3. Today I will empathize with someone else. My spirit of understanding will enable me to see the situation through their window, and to stop trying to force them to see through mine. I don’t have to be right today – someone else may have a valid point that I will be willing to acknowledge and accept. I will even overcome my fear and dread of letting myself finally see myself the way they see me! The truth will set me free! 4. Today I will allow vigorous discussion and idea-exchange with those who do not necessarily think like I do, and the stimulus will release creative energy in me that will flow from the inside out. In speaking with those who may even disagree with me today, I will remain confidently confrontational, without becoming combatively contentious. 5. Today I will listen, learn, read, talk, inquire, investigate, ask, think, converse, reflect, meditate, study, and pay attention to the world around me, in an effort to keep my mind open . . . vital . . . flexible . . . pliable . . . changeable. I will maintain an attitude of youthfulness and sense of wonder, by refusing to let my mind become petrified in its prejudices. 6. Today I will welcome a mental revolution – a brainstorm – a radical idea – an inspiration! 7. Today I will have a new outlook on my life, and today I will live in the now!

Father, show me where I need a paradigm shift today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

February 14: GOD’S LOVE!

“. . . God is love.” (I John 4:8) Behold what manner of LOVE the Father has bestowed on me, that I should be called a child of God (1 John 3:1)! In this the LOVE of God was manifested toward me, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that I might live through Him. In this is LOVE, not that I LOVED God, but that He LOVED me, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for my sins (1 John 4:9, 10). For God so LOVED me that He gave His only begotten Son, that if I would believe in Him, I would not perish, but would have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to me to condemn me, but that I, through Him, might be saved (John 3:16, 17). For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrated His own LOVE toward me, in that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:7, 8)! LOVE has been perfected in me in this: I may have boldness in the Day of Judgment, because as He is, so am I in this world. 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. I LOVE Him because He first LOVED me (1 John 4:17-19). Therefore, having been justified by faith, I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also I have access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And, not only that, but I also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the LOVE OF GOD has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit who has been given to me (Romans 5:1-5). Today I will LOVE the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is similar to the first . . . Today I will LOVE my neighbor as I LOVE myself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). Because of the LOVE of God in me, I will suffer long, and be kind. I will not envy, will not parade myself, and will not let myself be puffed up. I will not behave rudely, nor look out only for my own best interest. I will not be easily provoked, or think evil about others today. I will not rejoice in iniquity, but will rejoice in the truth . . . will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. LOVE NEVER FAILS (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)! Today, by His grace, strength and power, I will LOVE my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate me, and pray for those who use me for spite, and persecute me (Matthew 5:44). In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who LOVES me. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the LOVE OF GOD, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 8:37-39)! I am LOVED, and today I will live in the now!

January 20: NO CONDEMNATION!

 

There is therefore NOW no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,

 who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  (Romans 8:1)

 

1.       Today I will live in the now!  I will live in the now because no condemnation exists for me in the NOW.  He who knew no sin became sin for me that I might become His righteousness—and I am the righteousness of God in Christ now.  I am forgiven now.  I am holy now.  I am justified now.  I am clean now.

 

2.       Today mercy is working on my behalf, to withhold from me what I really deserve.  I will make myself comfortable at the mercy seat, because Jesus has enabled me to do so.  I am accepted in the beloved, and today I will act and feel like I am accepted.

 

3.       Today grace is working on my behalf, to pour out on me what I really don’t deserve.  I will make myself at home at the throne of grace, because Jesus has invited me to do so.  My transgressions have been removed from me as far as the east is from the west, and today  I will think and speak like I am forgiven.

 

4.       Today the blood of Jesus is working on my behalf, to wash away all of my guilt and shame.  He was wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities.  His cleansing blood is alive now through the Eternal Spirit.

 

5.       Today the word of God is working on my behalf.  It is written in the logos word that my sins have been thrown into the sea and have been cast behind His back.  It is spoken in the rhema word that He is saving me to the uttermost, as He lives to make intercession for me.

 

6.       Today the Holy Spirit is working on my behalf as He leads me into all truth.  I will walk in the Spirit today and not in the flesh.  As He reveals Himself to me as the Spirit of Adoption, I will be secure in the family of God, boldly crying, “Abba, Father!”

 

7.       Today I will enter into rest, knowing that I do not have to be motivated by fear.  My heart does not condemn me and, therefore, I have confidence before God.  I will glory in the cross, believe the resurrection with my heart, and confess His Lordship with my mouth.        I am saved!  I have eternal life!  I am a new creature in Christ!  I have passed from death unto life!  Today I will know that God is good, and today I will live in the now!

 

Father, help me to walk in the Spirit today.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

January 15: NO PROBLEM!

 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)

 

1.       Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I know that there is more to what is happening in my life right now than meets the eye.  I also know that my problems are actually opportunities for God to show off for me and through me and, therefore, I am excited about what is about to happen around me and in me!  I feel like I have a front row seat, and it is just a few moments until Showtime!

 

2.       Today I will not worry about the situations concerning me right now, because worrying will not change them.  Instead, I will convert the mental energy that I would need to really worry into effectual, fervent prayer.  I am careful for nothing but in everything, by prayer and supplication, I thankfully make my requests known to God.

 

3.       Today I will realize that I am not alone in this.  God is for me!  Who can be against me?  He’ll never leave or forsake me.  He will be with me always, even to the end of the world.  And though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is with me.  His rod and staff comfort me.  The fourth man in my fiery furnace will cause me to come out without even the smell of smoke on my clothes!

 

4.       Today I will be proactive, instead of reactive, to my problems.  Because I have been given dominion and authority, I can do something about my situation.  I am not helpless.  God will show me what I can do today that will make a difference, and after I have done all that I can, I will stand in faith for God to do the rest.

 

5.       Today God is sending someone to help me.  Someone has the answer that I am looking for.  Someone has the solution to the problem.  Someone has a key to unlock the mysterious part of the situation.  Someone is bringing me the word of the Lord.

 

6.       Today I will have a good attitude.  My strong spirit will prevent me from being overwhelmed by my problems.  The same God who delivered me from the bear and the lion, will also deliver me from the present giant that I am facing!  In all these things I am more than a conqueror!

 

7.       Today I will rest in the faithfulness of God.  He has never failed me, and He never will.  I am not worried, anxious, fearful or depressed.  My situation could totally change for the better today.  I will keep things in perspective.  I will not be negative.  I will not burden others with the details.  I will not exaggerate and magnify my problems—I will magnify the Lord!  Today, God and I are bigger than my problems, and today I will live in the now!

 

Father, help me to see my problems today as opportunities.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

January 7: WAKE UP!

 

And do this, knowing the time,

that NOW it is high time to awake out of sleep….  (Romans 13:11)

 

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead

and Christ will give you light.”  (Ephesians 5:14)

 

1.       Today I will live in the now!  I will live in the now because my spiritual eyes are wide open, and I am aware of all that God is doing for me…in me…through me…today.  I will not sleepwalk through this day.  I am alive!  I am awake!  I am aware!  My spiritual senses are heightened!  I am sensitive to God’s presence in me and all around me!  And, because I have been awakened, I have also been enlightened—Christ has given me light!  I will walk in the light today.

 

2.       Today I will recognize the positive.  I will appreciate the beauty in the world.  I will locate the noble in others.  I will be thankful.  I will be grateful.  I will be aware of the benefits with which I am daily loaded.  I will believe that all things are at work together today for my good.

 

3.       Today I will notice the needs of people around me.  I will be moved with compassion for others.  I will make the effort to be less self-centered than usual.  I will prefer my brother/sister.  I will be aware that it’s not all about me today and will find joy in caring about someone else.  The selflessness will be a relief to me.  I will find pleasure in listening—really listening.  I will look at people.  I will make eye contact.  I will make spirit-contact.  I will make a difference.

 

4.       Today I will not complain about my surroundings or my routine, but will see, instead, how blessed I really am.  I will notice the details of my life today and will enjoy them.  I will embrace and celebrate my normal life.  I will even find excitement in the usual as I stay “awake.”

 

5.       Today I will look at things from God’s perspective.  I will empathize with God and try to discern His perspective on things.  I will sit with Him in heavenly places.

 

6.       Today I will rightly divide the Word and my state of awareness will produce new revelation in me.  I will awake to the necessity of spiritual warfare when needed and will fight the good fight of faith.  I will not wrestle with flesh and blood.  I am spiritual first and, therefore, will live spiritually today.  I will awaken to spiritual reality and will not be bound to the limits of the natural realm.

 

7.       Today my spirit is awake.  My soul is awake.  My mind is awake.  My creativity is awake.  My perception and discernment are awake.  My wisdom and understanding are awake.  My body is awake.  My senses are awake.  Because I am awake, I will see things that I never saw before, and today I will live in the now!

 

Father, help me to wake up today.  In Jesus’ name, amen.