Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about the enormity of our faith. I know what you might be thinking, “why does Saundra use words like enormity”. I honestly couldn’t think of any other worth that best describe the importance of our Faith. God loves us so much, and He loves us even more, when we love Him in return. Have you ever wondered why that’s all that He asks of us? Loving Him, and loving each other, supersedes the Laws of Moses. We all know that God is the great “I AM” and we were commanded to fear Him in the Old Testament, but Jesus taught us about another side of Him. Jesus actually showed us His “softer side”. He died so that we could have a relationship with Him, and it means a lot to Him to know that we love and trust Him, despite having never really seen Him.

Do you know how easy it is to not believe in God? There are so many different cults and religions, whose sole purpose is to try to discredit Jesus Christ. There are many who say that He never lived, or that He did live, but He was only a prophet like Isaiah or Samuel. Then there are the people who say that there isn’t a God at all. They believe every word the scientist says about things like evolution, and the “Big Bang Theory”. If you sit and listen to these groups argue their point, they all have very valid and logical arguments, which can honestly make you scratch your head, and go into deep thought. The enemy is working overtime to tempt us, and draw us away from God, so we’re constantly under His attack, and most of the time we don’t even know it.

A few years ago, right after I completely surrendered my life to God, I was on fire for the Lord. Everyone that I came in contact with knew that I was a child of God. I had a conversation with a friend, who had openly said that he didn’t believe in “God” per say. He said that maybe there’s some higher power out there, but He didn’t believe that it was my “God”. He had had a very bad experience with his religion growing up, which lead him to believe that a loving God wouldn’t have allowed this to happen to him (in so many words). So me embracing my renewed “Christian’ life, I was determined to win this guy to Christ, so I shared my testimonies. I shared how God brought me out of alcoholism and a not so great childhood, and how He showed me the light. My friend wasn’t convinced. He said, “see this is what I don’t understand, you take all of these steps to make life better for yourself, and yet you give all of the credit to this God”. Then he started firing questions at me, most of which I didn’t quite have the answer to, but what I did know, deep down in my Soul, is that Jesus is real, and so is God.

That day, I decided to go back to the drawing board, because I didn’t win that soul to Christ. I needed to speak to God, and see what it was that He wanted to say to this young man. I wasn’t thinking about what Jesus said here: “…do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12) In that moment my Spirit said to me, “Show him”. From that day forward, I’ve been attempting to show Jesus through me, so that the lost can see Him, and meet Him face to face. Sometimes there just aren’t enough words to express how good God is, or that can explain how you know that you know that there is only One True God, and One Savior, Who is Jesus Christ!

We should always live our lives as true vessels for Christ, because the truth is, we see Christ every day. God once said: if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chr. 1:14-15) Honestly, why would God ask us to seek His face, knowing that we would never see Him, while we’re in the flesh? He is in everything, and that’s exactly where we’ll find Him. If we choose to see the beauty in all of His creations, and love without fault, and quickly forgive, our hearts will stay full of His love. Once that spirit grows on the inside of us, we’ll be able to see God in everything and everyone, and even the lost man will be able to see Him in us.

God loves you, and all that He asks is that you believe that He gave His Son, so that you could have the greatest life imaginable, by Faith. It’s an enormous deal to believe in Him despite what a big part of the world says. We’ve been given a place in His Kingdom, just because we believe. He’s willing to forgive us of every sin, and love us despite our flaws, all because of our faith, so don’t allow the enemy to lie to you any longer. If you feel in your heart of hearts that Jesus is real, then confess that to God. Confess that you’re a sinner, and that you need Him to survive. Ask Him to come into your heart as Lord and Savior, and just because you believed in Him, you are delivered. I’m not making this up, it’s His promise. If you want more information, take a few minutes to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verse today is: In whom ye trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:13)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about faith. Bible.com didn’t post any devotional scriptures today, so I wanted to write about what it takes to make your New Year the best it could be, faith. I was reading a lot of Facebook statuses today, and a few people mentioned that 2010 wasn’t a very good year for them, but 2011 will be a better year. I thought about how I used to say that every single year, but year after year, I would get the same results. I then thought about how 2010 was such a good year for me, despite going through a divorce, being bankrupt, and losing one of the most special people in my life, my Grandmother. The average person would’ve buckled under the pressure of these things, but I am a blessed child of God.

God has truly given me beauty for ashes. In every test I faced, I just remember that the Lord is in control, and I am still blessed. I know that weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning, and I continued to praise God. I never hated anyone, or was even angry when people tried to purposely hurt me. I was quick to forgive, and I stepped away from negative people and negative thinking. As a result, I’ve never had to want for anything this year. I’ve been able to take several vacations, going to places I never thought I would go, moved into a new home, a new office, have a new love in my life, and have experienced great concert and plays; I could go on and on. I haven’t gone without anything I needed or wanted because I obeyed God, and embrace the seasonal changes that took place. I took them for what they where, lessons, and I learned from them. I rejoiced everyday, and not just when things were good.

One of my favorite passages in the bible is when He said, “Ask, Seek, Knock”. Jesus said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8) I think this the key to having everything that you want and desire out of life. At the same time, it requires action—faith and works. So if you want a great 2011, you have to make it great. Pray and ask God to show you His will for you, ask Him for what you desire, and how you want things to go. Then work towards it, and He’ll give you everything you need to obtain it. Trust me; He’ll let you know if what you ask for is the right thing for you.

Nobody’s life is 100% happy and blissful all of the time, that’s unreal. If Jesus, the beloved Son of God, suffered you too will suffer; there’s no way around that. However, suffering is a state of mind, it’s temporary, and God has made it so that time heals all wounds. We have so much power, but don’t know how to tap into it. There are many different things out there to see and do. It wasn’t until I got out of my own world, that I was able to see the spiritual world that was introduced to me by Jesus Christ. Freedom is bliss! So no matter what you go through in life, know that you’re free. The more you seek the Lord, the more you’ll be able to rejoice through the trials of life. The more you seek pleasing Him, rather than pleasing yourself, the more you’ll be able to appreciated and spot His blessings. God knows what’s best for us, and He’ll answer our every prayer, but He’ll answer it how He sees fit, so rejoice in everything that comes your way!

Tomorrow I’m going to take a piece of paper and write down all of the things I want, and hope to accomplish, in the New Year. I’ll then reflect, and see how many of those things can and will be used to serve God. Then I’ll pray and ask, seek, and knock. I’ll seek His will, and pray for His wisdom. I’ll expect Him to give me all of the things I ask for according to His will, and I will see them manifest. It seems like James had all of the answers when he wrote this passage, the New International Version of the bible titled it “Submit Yourselves to God”; please take a moment and read this today. It’s written: You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:2-3) Please keep this in mind when you’re writing out your New Year’s resolutions.

Faith is like a muscle, it you don’t use it, it’ll weaken, and you’ll have no power behind it. You must exercise your faith every day. When you pray, know that you know that because you stamped that prayer with the Name of Jesus it will be answered. I remember when I used to pray with so much doubt, that I would end my prayer with “if you see fit please bless me with this…” That’s okay to say, but I said it because I doubted that He was going to answer my prayers, because I didn’t think that I was worthy. I used it as an excuse for my weakened faith muscle, so when my prayers wasn’t answered I could say, “I guess it wasn’t meant for me”.

I’ve learned over the years that I am worthy because I am a child of God. It has nothing to do with me, but it has everything to do with Jesus. When I pray in Jesus’ Name, God is answering me on the Merit of Jesus Christ—like I have the best co-signer in the history of the world! Anything His Name is stamped on will be heard. However, if you don’t know Him as Lord and Savior you have nothing, or no one to help you along the way. You’re living life on the roll of the dice, but with Jesus He’s a sure thing. Take the few moments to get to know Him, by taking the God Quiz today. My favorite verses today are: So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:21-22)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about being forgiven of sin. It’s one thing to say “Jesus died for my sin”, and it’s another thing to actually believe that. You might be thinking what I mean by that, but you know that I’ll explain. There are so many believers that live in the bondage of sin, even though Jesus has set us free. The fact that sin doesn’t have to slow us down somehow doesn’t always register. Sin is no longer an issue for a child of God, and we don’t have to be a slave to it. Sin is like an addiction, we can overcome it, but it’ll constantly be an issue for us for awhile. Sin is appealing, and the world dresses it up as if it’s the cool thing to do, but it could be detrimental to our lives mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When you’re addicted to something—whether drugs, alcohol, money, other people, etc.—it becomes something that you’d risk your life for. You start living in the moment, and the only thing that matters is getting that next fix, regardless of the repercussions it’ll have on you, and the people you love. Sin has the same exact affect in the life of a believer.

We’re born into the flesh, which is made from the dust. It’s weak and frail, and not meant to withstand the test of time. In the flesh we’re weak by design, but by the Spirit of Christ, we’re stronger than we could ever imagine. The Apostle Paul wrote: The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. (I Cor. 15:44-49 NLT) Sin to a believer is like kryptonite to Superman, because we are indeed still in the flesh. At the same time, we’ve received the Spirit of Christ, and He lives within us, so we are working toward becoming “the heavenly man”. Each day we seek righteousness we become stronger and wiser, regardless of sin. However, if we allow sin to consume us, we stray, and become stagnant, and are no longer growing in the Spirit.

The enemy will have us believe that we are the worst people in the world when we sin. He uses guilt and fear to his advantage, that’s why it’s so important to continue to seek the face of the Lord. It’s important to remember the Lord’s promises, that He died so that we can be cleansed of all unrighteousness, and it’ll never have dominion over us again. God has called us to complete a very special task in this life, and sin is the only thing that can separate us from His grace. The awesome news is that He’s taken care of that once and for all, so there’s truly nothing in our way. Please don’t allow the enemy to deter you any longer, because you think you’ve done something extremely wrong, or you’re too bad, or have too many bad habits to be saved. There’s nothing you can do, big or small that can separate you from the love of God. Once you believe, and confessed Jesus as Lord, you’re a child of God forever. There is no turning back, however the enemy will always have you believing that you’re always falling short. Today is the day where you can stand up and say enough is enough. Each day is a new day, repent for your past sins, and ask the Lord for help and guidance to stay on the narrow path of righteousness, and He will, He promised.

The question still remains, “why do so many believers allow sin to consume them?” It’s due to a lack of knowledge, and a lack of faith. There’s no way to live in freedom if you don’t know how. The only way to live free is to live for the Lord. Do your best to be righteous, and repent when you aren’t. Hunger and thirst for the wisdom of the Lord, and He will give you the key to living a stress free life. Notice I didn’t say “sin free” because as long as we’re in the flesh we’ll fall short, but as we grow it will become less consuming and life altering. If you’re consumed with sin, then it’s time to do some self-reflection. Ask the Holy Spirit for help in identifying those crippling sins that affect your daily life, and repent for them. Surround yourself with positive people, as it’s written: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33)

Paul goes on to say: The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:56-58) In the Name of Jesus you are delivered from the law! All of the “thou shalt not’s” are no longer that scary, thanks to Jesus Christ. He’s given us a way to trample over the enemy and live in victory, by one selfless act; all we have to do is believe in Him. If you don’t believe in Him, then sin equals death for you. There’s no way around it. Take a few moments to take the God Quiz right now, and be free! My favorite verse today is: Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:14,18)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY MONDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you’re enjoying the beginning of another workweek (for most). My brother Demitrius is in the following documentary, done on his middle school Washington Jesuit Academy. Here’s the link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/november-12-2010/washington-jesuit-academy/7470/. WJA is a wonderful middle school; I thank God for it, and other schools like it. They truly educate these boys, so they can become men for others. Both my brother and nephew are alumni, and WJA has changed their life, for the better. Everything that they’re saying in the video is true–the staff is very supportive and loving–and on top of that, religion is a priority. The teachers are awesome, and they truly care about the future of each boy that comes to the school. Please pray for the continued success of WJA, and other schools like it around the country, they’re much appreciated and needed. They further inspire me to want to teach, so I could make a positive impact on young women and men, in organizations like these. Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!

Today’s scriptures are about fellowship with God and Jesus Christ. Jesus once said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” (John 6:44-45 NIV) In order to get to the Father, we must go to and/or through the Son. It’s not as complicated as it seems, but we must know who Jesus is, and the role He plays in our life. To fellowship with Him takes on a whole new meaning, because it requires interaction, communication, and sharing love with Him. Unlike just believing in Him, which can be done by anyone, fellowship requires effort. Being a believer is just the first step. I want you to ask yourself a fairly easy question, but you need to be completely honest with your answer–How often do you interact with God, through Jesus Christ?

Faith is one of the most important parts of being a Christian. The Apostle Paul wrote: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (11:1KJV) What did Paul mean by that? Well the New International Version (NIV) of the bible translates it: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. From the beginning of time people preached about the love of God, even though most of them had never seen Him, but they were confident in Who He was, and what He taught. Most believers gained their confidence in Him, by building a strong and relationship with Him. They fellowshipped, worshiped, and praised Him, which helped build a bond, that assured them of His love.

Jesus’ coming was prophesied for years before He was even born, so people already expected the Messiah [the Son of God] to come. When He came they already believed in Him, because they believed in the Father that sent Him. He lived, died, and was resurrected, which changed the life of every human being, then, now, and forever. I don’t think a lot of people can grasp the complete truth in this, because it seems so unreal. There are people who suffer from internal pain–heart wrenching pain that they can’t seem to shake–and they can’t imagine anything other than that. They refuse to open up their heart to have faith in Him, because that comes with the risk of being hurt again. If you’re one of those people [like I used to be], then I need you to understand there is no one in this world who can love you like Jesus Christ. God loved you so much that He gave us His Son Jesus Christ, who reigns over us, and takes care of every aspect of our life, now and throughout all eternity. Jesus was created to give you life, so you can lay down your burdens and be free.

To have faith in God is to trust in Jesus Christ, and to trust in Jesus is to be obedient, and keep His commandments. It’s written: Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:21-25) Faith in the “implanted Word”, who is Jesus Christ, is the only way to save your soul.

I can promise you that when you experience the love of God, through Christ, you’ll truly understand what life is all about. Jesus is freedom, and through Jesus, God lives in our heart. He’s there to lead and guide us, shape and mold us, into the person He truly created us to be. All He asks us to do is have faith in Him, and through that faith we love Him with all our heart. I don’t care what else goes on in life, we can always depend on Jesus to be who He is, and He’ll always be there for us. God made sure that we will never have to be apart from Him again. If you don’t know Jesus as Lord, then you don’t know God as Father–to have faith in the Son, is to have faith in the Father. Remember faith can move mountains, and the first step of your faith walk is to take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verse today is: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1John 4:15)

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