December 22, 2024

When the Glory of the Lord is Shown Upon You

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified.

Luke 2:8-9

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What happens when the glory of the Lord is shown on you?  Scripture makes clear that it’s possible for every true follower of Jesus to see and understand the glory of God.  Indeed, our Lord reveals His glory to all who ask and seek it diligently.

Moreover, I believe the revelation of God’s glory will equip His people for the perilous days ahead.  Paul states that this revelation “…is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).  Therefore, as we pray, “Lord, show me your glory,” we’re actually praying, “Father, reveal to me who You are.”  And if/when the Lord does give us a revelation of His glory, it’s a revelation of how He wants to be known by us.

How many of us have prayed a prayer such as this?  This type of prayer is normally prayed when faced with adversaries we feel are beyond our control.   At a time when we are at zero, we always ask for His glory.  Why can’t we also ask for His glory when we are in our highest spirits?  I believe there we can experience more of His glory, too.  Moses’ experience with the glory of God demonstrates this truth.

The Lord sent Moses to deliver Israel without giving him a full revelation of who the God of Israel truly was. The Lord merely told him, “Go, and say I AM sent you.” But He gave no explanation of who “I AM” was.  I believe this is why Moses cried, “[Lord]…I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory” (Exodus 33:18).  Moses had a gnawing hunger and thirst to know WHO the great I AM was—to know what His nature and character were all about.  I therefore request us, brethren, to cry unto God to show us His glory in all aspects of life so that we can be able to testify to others.  How can we testify of His glory if we ourselves have not experienced it?  The shepherds experienced the glory.  (And, yes, they were terrified…just as the shepherds!)  But the angel said to them “do not be afraid” for he came with good news.  The testimony they had was “God brings good news.”  Trust me, God is bringing His glory in different ways and we will testify.  But I pray we will testify as we have experienced it and perceive it in Jesus’ Name.

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Dear Lord, thank You for being willing to show us Your glory forever more.  And I pray, asking You to open our eyes and ears to see and to hear You when You come in Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, I pray,  Amen.

God’s Love to the World

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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the Light,
for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the Light,
and does not come to the Light
for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the Light,
so that his deeds may be manifested
as having been wrought in God.
John 3:16, 19-21

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God’s love to the world was so unique—not just any father could do it. He gave us His only Son to die for the sins of the world; truly, what manner of God is He?  Can any man give up his son just like that? (No!)  In this scripture I am seeing love that is beyond my imagination.  The heart and purpose of God is clearly revealed in this verse.  God’s love is wide enough to embrace all persons.

…Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4

God gave His son as THE offering for sin on the Cross.  This atonement for sin proceeds from the loving heart of God. It was not something forced on Him (Romans 8:32, 1 John 4:10).  All we need to do is to believe on the Son for us to have eternal life.  And, as we believe
• we are saying indeed that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the only Savior for lost humanity.
• we are surrendering ourselves to obedience to Christ.
• we are fully assured and trust in Christ that He is both able and willing to bring us to final salvation and to fellowship with God in heaven.

In addition, when we believe we know we are not going to perish. ‘Perish’ in verse 16 points not just to physical death but to the dreadful reality of eternal punishment (Matthew 10:28).  Eternal life is a gift bestowed on us when we are born again. Are you born again?  ‘Eternal’  (in the same verse) not only expresses perpetuity but also quality of life—a divine type of life—a life that frees us from the power of sin and Satan, and removes us from what is merely earthly things in order to begin to know God.

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Dear Lord, we thank You and we give You all the glory and honor for Who You are and for all that You are able to do in our lives.  We thank You for the word at the right time when we are able to meditate and reflect on Your greatness and goodness to Your people.  Thank You that You had loved us and looked in our hearts and compassionately allowed Your son to pay the highest price for us.  We bless You for You are still speaking to us daily.  And we thank You for the ministration of your Word always.  May we find favor in Your eyes, Lord.  May we have Your grace so that we will see You one day in Your Kingdom. May You be blessed and be glorified in all the earth; in Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Spiritual Dawn

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Because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the Rising Sun will come to us from Heaven.
Luke 1:78

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This is an illustration of the new day springing forth.  Yes, because of God’s tender mercy, the rising sun will come to us from heaven…not anywhere else.  This is because the Creator is in Heaven and knows the start of everything and also the end.  He is the Author and Finisher of all things.  The spiritual is nigh; and we better be ready for it.

The night is nearly over, the day is almost here,
so let us put aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12

In this scripture, Paul believed in the Lord’s imminent return to transfer the faithful of His churches to Heaven (The Rapture).

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain
and you will do well to pay attention to it,
as to a light shining in the dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning start rises in your hearts.
2nd Peter 1:19

Yet I am writing you a new command,
its truth is seen in Him and you because the darkness is passing
and the True Light is already shining.
1 John 2:8

All the scriptures above show us that indeed a day is coming—the new dawn.  As Christians, we need to be ready for this new day for it shall take us by surprise if we are not careful.  I don’t want to associate myself with this kind of surprise; I need to get ready for the day.  However we also need grace for us to sail through.  All the signs are being fulfilled. The time is here.

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O Lord, our God, I thank You because You are a great God who reveals things to Your children before time because of Your lovingkindness. Give us the grace to understand the times we are in and to live a life pleasing unto Thee always.  Thank You for Your grace; in Jesus’ name I pray Amen.

Anxiety

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Do not be anxious about anything
but in everything
by prayer and petition
with thanksgiving
present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

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Brethren, the essential cure for worry is prayer.  And here are the  following reasons… Through prayer

1) we renew our trust in the Lord’s faithfulness by casting all our anxieties and problems on Him who cares for us

 

…Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Matthew 6:25 – 34

2) God’s peace comes to guard our hearts and minds as a result of our communion with Christ Jesus

Then God’s peace,
which goes far beyond anything we can imagine,
will guard your hearts and minds
in union with the Messiah Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on You,
    because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

Colossians 3:15

3) God strengthens us to do all the things He desires of us

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

4) we receive mercy grace and help in time of need

Therefore let us draw near with confidence
to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

5) we are assured that in all things God works for our good

I am not saying this because I am in any need,
for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in.
Philippians 4:11

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good
to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Therefore, I urge each one of us not to murmur and worry when we face the  adversaries of this life.  Take it to God in prayer.  He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  And there is nothing hard for him.  All things are possible.  Remember He has all the power to change any situation.  He was able to part the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass through; is it impossible for Him to take care of that problem you have?  He was able to calm the storms; do you think He can’t calm your storms?  Remember He never changes.  He is always the same… yesterday, today, and forever.  Whatever He says He will do, He will do it.  He said to cast all your cares to Me and I will take care of you.  And He will.

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Dear Lord, we bless You, we glorify Your Name for there is not any other God besides You.  You are the great I AM, the immortal, the  invisible, the One who is sovereign.  We bless You for You are God. We thank You for the everlasting love and mercy You shower upon us. We give You all the praise, Lord.  Thank You for Your Word that shows us Your lovingkindness for as long as You shall take care of our petitions; we see Your greatness, dear Lord. We thank You for taking care of our anxieties.  Help us, Lord, to trust You with our lives and everything about us more and more in Jesus’ name.  We give You all the praise and all the glory.  Thank You, Father, for answering our prayers.  In Jesus’ name I have prayed.  Amen.

God’s Goodness

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Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
Psalms 136:1-3

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This repeated refrain ‘His love endures forever‘ teaches us that God’s love is the foundation for all His actions on our behalf and the fountainhead of all our thanksgiving.  His love includes His mercy,  His faithfulness, and His kindness.  God, by His nature, is good.  We are seeing His love always.  He sent His Son to die for us (John 3:16).  All for His love for us—the love that endures forever.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5

Being full of His unfailing love means not ever reaching a point of lack in all aspects of life because He is giving Himself fully to us.  It is only  when we realize this kind of love and meditate on this kind of love that we appreciate how deep the Father’s love is for us, how incredibly vast beyond measure.

Our God loves us with all His heart.  Let us reciprocate by loving Him,  too, with our inner being.  Let us not live a life that displeases Him but rather a life that is set on pleasing Him.

Some people depend on chariots, substituting other gods for the One True God.  Remember God is the only One who is good.

“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied.
“There is only One who is good.
If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.
Matthew 19:17

I just love how He loves us all! Even those that are living in sin He still loves them because He created them.  However there is judgement to them that are not in Christ Jesus. And those that are in Christ Jesus they testify of His love that endures forever for they shall not be judged and so the joys shall never cease.

Therefore let us choose, brethren, to live a life that pleases the Lord. We should love Him for He first loved us.  We should also exercise the same love and goodness to others for we are created in His own image and likeliness.  There has to be no difference.

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Father, we give You all the praise and all the glory for You are the great God, the ‘I AM who I AM,’ the all-knowing and always present God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, dear Lord, and so we worship You.  Heavenly father, thank You for showing us Your goodness and mercy that endures forever in Your Scripture.  We love You and adore You; and thank You for the love that is given to us.  We pray for forgiveness for at times we have taken Your love for granted.  Teach us to appreciate Your love more and more.  And to love others and do good to them.  We adore You and give You thanks; in Jesus’ name we have prayed. Amen.

Good Deeds

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And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17

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The Bible represents general principles that permit spirit-led believers to determine the righteousness (or wrongness) of actions not expressly mentioned in God’s Word.  In everything that we say, do, think, or enjoy we must ask the following questions:

• Can it be done to God’s glory?
• Can it be done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?
• Can it be done while sincerely giving thanks to God?
• Is it a Christ-like action?
• Will it weaken the sincere convictions of other Christians?
• Will it weak the desire for spiritual things, God’s Word, and prayer?

God showed us the kind of God He is.  His deeds showed His love for us by sending Christ to die for us.  His banner over us is love.  His thoughts for us are of good and not of evil (Jeremiah 29:11).  The Word of God is to be enjoyed as it brings life (Proverbs 4:22).  It is like the two-edged sword that pierces the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Sisters, it is good to do good deeds to everyone around us
as it gives glory to God.

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Father, we thank You for Your Word always teaches us how to do good, righteous deeds.  We pray for forgiveness of all our sins and unrighteousness; dear Lord, forgive us.  I thank You on behalf of everyone. May You be praised, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Goodness

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Every day throughout November, we’ll bring you a  devotional focused on giving thanks, gratitude, or giving of ourselves. We welcome you to check in each day and give thanks along with us!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever.
Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
Psalms 118:1-2

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The whole of Psalm 118 praises the Lord for His everlasting love for His people…how good He is from the start to the end.  The Bible gives us Scriptures that show God’s goodness in many ways:

• Good and upright is the Lord therefore he instructs sinners in His ways. (Psalm 25:8)

The main theme is how God in His wisdom guides sinners so that they become faithful believers.

• The Lord loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of his unfailing love. (Psalm 33:5)

The love that is ‘unfailing’ is His unconditional love—the love that does not take into account what you have done (good or bad) in His sight.  And that His grace is sufficient and He still loves you anyway.

• Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

(Also see Psalm 119:68, 145:7, Isaiah 63:7, Jeremiah 33:11.)

• The Lord is good, a Refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

In the above sections of Scriptures we see the goodness of the Lord being shown in different ways.  Brethren, let us trust in the Lord always for, indeed, His love endures forever.

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Dear Lord, we thank You and we bless You for Your lovingkindness.  We give You all the glory and honor because You are our God whose love never fails and endures forever.  Teach us to trust in You always.  Teach us to depend upon You at all times.  Forgive us for making You too small in our lives and following our own steps in other ways.  Hold our hands and lead us on all to the glory of Your Holy name.  May You be blessed in all the earth in Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

God’s Pure Word

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As for God, His way is perfect:
The LORD’s Word is flawless;
He shields all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

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There are benefits and value to God’s Law and Word.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 19:8

The ‘precepts of the Lord’ are definite rules concerning righteous living that are a joy to the godly.  The ‘commands of the Lord’ are the authoritative source of guiding light for the faithful who seek His way. Therefore as we follow His precepts and commands contained in the Word we are assured of the tree of life.

 And if anyone takes words away from this Book of prophecy,
God will take away from him his share in the Tree of Life
and in the Holy City which are described in this Book.
Revelation 22:19

We may not ever have a careless attitude toward this Book…or any part of God’s Holy Scripture.  Such an attitude is manifested if we choose to believe only certain parts of God’s revelation and reject other parts that we do not like.  As at the beginning of the human pilgrimage on earth, failure to take God’s Word with absolute seriousness is a matter of life and death (Genesis 3:3-4).

Dear ones, every word of God is flawless.

Every word of God is flawless
He is a Shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Proverbs 30:5

His words are truth and they are right.

I have not spoken in secret from somewhere in a land of darkness,
I have not said to Jacobs descendants ‘seek Me in vain’.
I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
Isaiah 45:19

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Dear Lord, we give You all the praise and honor for You are the great I AM, the all-seeing, all-knowing God who is present everywhere.  We give You all the praise and honor because there is none who is like unto Thee.  We bless You, Lord.  Father, we pray in the mighty name of Jesus for the zeal to study Your Word and take all the precepts and commands therein and do them all to the glory of Your name. Whatsoever You have spoken since You are a true God, let it be true to our lives also in Jesus’ name. Be glorified and magnified at all times.  We also pray for forgiveness for we have previously taken Your Word not to its entirety.  We have chosen what is the best for our ears;  please forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Create in us a clean heart, dear Lord.  Blessed be Your holy name and all this we ask in the name of Jesus, AMEN!

The Word is Our Light

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Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

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Life is filled with choices that can either make you or break you.  At different stages of life you are presented with a variety of choices.  And to make such decisions without errors you need proper guidance—which only God’s Word can provide.

In John 1:9 the Bible says the Word of God is the True Light.  It is the Sword of the Spirit with which you pierce your way through the darkness of life.  If the True Light dwells richly in you then fear, defeat, failure, and all other results of darkness won’t have any place in you.  You won’t fear because the True Light will show you that God has not given you the spirit of fear.  You won’t be defeated because you will see that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  You won’t be sick because you will discover that by His stripes you were healed.  The Word of God will reveal to you what God sees you to be.

The unfolding of your words gives light it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130

It’s your responsibility to invest the Word of God in yourself by studying it regularly. If you can feed your mind with it and store it in your spirit, the Word of God will produce great results in you and you will glow with the glory of God.  You will have a clear direction in life and others will acknowledge that you are different.

We can live victoriously if we keep the Word of God in our hearts.  If there is any darkness in your family, academics, or business just take hold of the light of God’s Word and pierce through the darkness in the name of Jesus.

The Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths.

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Dear Lord, thank You for who You are to us.  Your love for us is so great…we bless You, dear Lord.  Thank You for the portion of Scripture this week that we need to walk in the understanding that it is only by Your Word we are given guidance. Thank You that You direct our paths in Jesus’ name.  We pray that You do not leave us alone;  guide and protect us always in Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen!

Divine Protector

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Every word of God is flawless,
He is a Shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Proverbs 30:5

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A ‘shield’ is something that protects; and so God is saying that He is a “…Shield to those who take refuge in Him.”  He protects those who come to Him for refuge.

After this the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision
…Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your Shield, your very great reward.
Genesis 15: 1

At this time Abram was fearful but God reassured him in a vision that He was Abram’s shield and reward—He would protect Abram.

Those who trust in the Lord, rather than in things that can be seen,
receive the Lord as their Help and Shield.  Consider these verses:

Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?
He is your Shield and Helper and your glorious Sword,
your enemies will cower before you and you will trample down their high places.
Deuteronomy 33:29

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.
Psalm 33:20

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield.
The Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Psalm 84:11

O house of Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and Shield.
Psalm 115:9

He remembers those who fear Him and promises to bless them.  God rules in heaven but has delegated the rule of the earth to humans.  All of us need to take God seriously on His words.  What He said He shall do…He will do it.  He cannot change His mind for He is unchangeable.

Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind;
for He is not a man that He should change His mind.
1 Samuel 15:29

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Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word.  Thank You because You are our Shield in our lives.  We thank You for You have showed us other Scriptures that have built our faith once and again…more and more.  Let Your grace be sufficient as we trust in You always.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.