Jesus’ covenant with us

"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:37-39

People who are passionate about Jesus and those around them are sure to shine for the Lord. God wants us to live on fire for God, because we are set apart for Him. He is a jealous God. The Lord wants all of our heart’s attention and devotion. Being in covenant with Jesus is the greatest decision you will ever make, changing your today’s, your future and knowing you have eternal peace in God. Loving the Lord is holistic, impacting every aspect of our lives. We love Him with all of our hearts, soul and mind. The more you draw from the Holy Spirit and live passionately for Him, the more moved you will be to make a real difference in community life and loving people becomes easier because you know you are loved in Jesus and is natural as you’re walking with the Lord.

How can you love the Lord extraordinarily today?

Is there something you could do to love your neighbour as yourself today?

Lord Jesus,

I love you so much and I want to love you more and more. Give me such a love for people, that I can shine your light on the earth Lord, amen.

Haven of peace

"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

In a healthy family, you are able to drop your bags and feel at home. Home is somewhere you feel at ease and comfortable with sharing how your feeling, your highlights and low lights. Pastor Kety Samways at Hills Conference said her and Pastor Sam, ‘Sanga’, have a tradition that while having a meal, their family share their highlights and lowlights of the day. Our heavenly Father is the ultimate listener and actually loves when we share whatever is on our hearts. What a blessing the Lord is. God delights in us and wants to help. The house of God is a haven of peace and safety where we are able to pour out our hearts to God individually and collectively. How have you been encouraged and ministered to by the Spirit of God at church or in your daily life? What could you bring to the Lord at the moment?

Heavenly Father, thanks for being my keeper, my hiding place. Today I want to share with you all my concerns, knowing you love me Jesus.

Living for Jesus

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

God always provides for us. We are always afloat because Jesus gives us the strength for every season. How genuinely blessed we are in Christ. Everything we go to do, is not on our own, we have the Lord continually with us. “Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never[under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake orlet you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”Hebrews 13:5 There is something so healthy about living for Jesus. God gives us such balance in every aspect of our lives.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your grace and goodness. So grateful for who you are and that in you we have all we need.

Jesus saves

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Have you ever asked someone what they believe in life and they say they think one day they will go to heaven because they believe they are a good person. Being a good person is awesome and yet is not the key ingredient to getting into heaven. Salvation is a free gift from God, as a result of belief in Jesus. With all the good you can do, that’s simply not enough. All we need to do is admit you need Jesus as Lord and Saviour. As believers, good works spring from the belief we have in Jesus. That’s a natural byproduct of following the Lord. Praise God for His saving grace and mercy that is available to every one of us.

Lord Jesus, thanks so, so much for saving me by your grace. I admit all I can do is not enough, I need you to save me Lord.

Unless you bless me

And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Genesis 32:26

Jacob had a tenacity to hold onto God until the Lord gave him a bless. What would you say to God is He said let me go because the day breaks? I suppose I may be passive and be polite, letting go. Yet God blesses Jacob’s perseverance in believing and not letting go. The Lord says His name will now be Israel, meaning a person, family, turned nation and geographical place. As you believe for what God has for you and don’t let Him go, how He is able to change your life forever. What are you holding onto God for today? The Lord expanded Jacob as a person as He became Israel. God increased His capacity. What has God called you? Has He given you a new name? Praise the Lord!

Heavenly Father, thanks for your blessing on our lives, because of Jesus. Help me hold onto you until you change my name and bless me and people I’m believing for in prayer.

Adds to your day

"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3

The best direction is with committing all you work at to the Lord. As you begin your day committing what you are going about to do to the Lord, what blessing God adds to your day. What creativity, humour, ideas and wisdom you will discover in the Holy Spirit. Every time you bring the Lord into your day, your entire day is made better. Our relationship with Jesus isn’t just a Sunday event, that’s so important, as is having a lifestyle of partnership with God. Today the quote in the Glorify devotional app was so uplifting. “10 minutes spent in the presence of Christ every day, aye, 2 minutes, will make the whole day different.” Henry Drummond

Lord Jesus, I want to commit all I do to you and invite the Holy Spirit into every conversation, every idea and everything I do. One moment in your presence is life changing. Thanks Lord, amen.

From the Lord’s heart

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14

You have been made with purpose, from the Lord’s heart. How very loved you are. Reason to praise Jesus, is the way every one of us has been created by God. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” How creatively made and unique is every person. You were created in God’s image. Realising how amazing we are, causes us to delight in the Lord. Recently I had a sore back and I realised how grateful I was to have a back! Wasn’t until my attention was on my back that I realised my need for healing from God and also how wonderfully I have been made. I was thanking the Lord. There are people who are disabled and yet they can be some of the most grateful and loving people. Some are a tune to how blessed they are and how unique, despite the deficits they may have to face in life.

Heavenly Father,

Thanks for the way you have made every one of us so wonderfully and uniquely. Help me to always be grateful for the way you have created me and place value on every living person, from conception to old age, all are created by you so beautifully Lord.

Living hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 1:3

As believers, we have living hope. We are risen in Jesus. The life we now live is brand new in Him. Living for Jesus is effortless, because Christ has done everything for us. He died and rose again and now we live in His life. How life changing is that! Praise the Lord! You just want to dance, when you think of what God has done. You just want to celebrate and praise Jesus. “Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.” Psalm 66:2. God has taken all the striving because we rely on Him not our own strength. We can say, “Jesus, because of you I rejoice, because of you I exclaim how great the Lord’s name is!” How would you like to celebrate Jesus today?

Heavenly Father, I bring you all the praise. You are my light and salvation. In you, I am really free! Thank you Jesus!

More of the Spirit

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

There is no reason not to run into the presence of God. Jesus has made a way for us to be bold and go to His throne of grace, for the mercy and grace for help in our time of need. Reaching for Jesus today and saying how much you need Him is a good place to be. Can’t do life on your own? We have the Holy Spirit, the most wonderful companion and help one could ever have. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” Isaiah 55:1 There is more of the Spirit for you. More of His love, more of His presence. Jesus has all you need. When you open your hands to the Lord, you are able to receive from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit, He meets us as we draw near to Him.

Heavenly Father, in you is all I need. Today Lord, I come to you, bringing my need before you and receiving your grace, mercy and help. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, that I may be empowered to live for you.

Shine

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39

If only the world had knowledge of the love of God… When people realise how much they are loved and accepted, they begin to shine. God has demonstrated his love to us by sending Jesus who gave His life for us. “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 That love that the Lord has given needs to be proclaimed around the world. God has already given His life for us. His salvation is freely given to whoever will come to Jesus. How grateful we are for the love of God to us personally. Nothing could possibly separate us from the Lord’s love in Christ Jesus. His arms are wide open to you. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out.” John 6:37

Heavenly Father, thanks for your great love that is given for all the world. I rejoice in your love and about who you are.

Favour of the Lord on your life

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

There is a blessing in blessing. Blessing from heaven is the smile from the Lord on your life. How much appreciated is the prayers of our loved ones for us and our families. His light shines over us, His face is toward us, He is for us, praise the Lord! As we pray the Word of God, the Holy Spirit moves over lives, accomplishes what we could not, and brings about the will of God in lives. Don’t underestimate what your cry to heaven amounts to, that is eternal. God hears our prayers of blessings for the people of the Lord. Praise Jesus!

Lord Jesus,

The way you move as we pray is unquantifiable. Help me remember that you listen and answer prayer from my true deepest cry.

Good plans

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

God has good plans for your future and your children and grandchildren. The people of God were about to be exiled for 70 years and yet the promise was for the generations to follow. God considers the next generations with compassion. Every time you help and bless and speak life over future generations, you are aligning yourself with the promises of God. There is calling, there is purpose and reason in being intentional about building people. You may be having a wilderness experience. That’s not the end of the story. When Jesus steps into the picture, there is hope for your future and your families’ lives.

Lord Jesus, thanks for your purpose and good plans. I find refreshment in every season from your Word of life.

Help everyday

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22,23

I remember when my children were younger trying to get them all ready in time for school and getting frustrated and not always being as patient as I would have liked to be. At these times, I have learned and am still learning, to stop for a moment, just breathe, and say a quick prayer for help for my manner. That simple technique has helped me so many times to be calm and more relaxed, when under pressure. I wonder if you have practical experience of how the Lord has helped you carry the fruit of the Spirit well?

All the fruits of the Spirit are a blessing to us and build community well.

Lord Jesus,

Thanks that you are the one who empowers us to carry the fruits of the Spirit in all of our lives. Help me be patient and gentle everyday.

Knowing the character of God

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

When you know the character of God, you are able to trust Him with all your heart. Joshua and Caleb had a different spirit about them. They believed that Israel should enter the promised land immediately. What made them so wholehearted? “Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.’” Joshua 14:9,10 Joshua could wholeheartedly follow the Lord because He trusted Him. They had spent time with God and knew what Jesus said was what to move on. Do you find it easy to take God at His Word. We are blessed to not hold onto our fears and worries and instead trust Jesus in every step.

Heavenly Father,

I know I am able to trust you Jesus, because you are the epitome of what is true and faithful. Help me lean on you every day, following you wholeheartedly.

Not shaken

 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.“ Psalm 16:8

Being close to Jesus, helps our resilience and ability to keep on keeping on. We never go on holidays from the need to keep up our spiritual disciplines and fervour for the Lord. Every time you reach for God, you are fulfilling your life in Christ. We don’t need to wait until we get to heaven to be close to Jesus. While we are on earth we have to awesome privilege of having relationship with God. What has the Lord being saying to you lately? How has God made you more resilient in the ups and downs of life?

Lord Jesus,

I want to fix my eyes on you as you are my Lord. Help me stay close to you always.

Cleft of the rock

The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalm 118:24

Every day is a day to celebrate and praise the Lord! Gratefulness is a key to lasting happiness and peace. Knowing Jesus is with you and you have been so blessed by God, is reason to thank Him. Thanking Him for all He has done and will do helps us have a great life perspective. What are you grateful for today? Yesterday, I went with my daughter to Bells Rapids, in the hills. Just seeing Shelley sitting up in the cleft of the rock, watching the incredible panoramic views. Reminded me how God has us in the cleft of the rock. The Lord is our rock and always worthy of all our praises.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your presence every day. Help me remember you, praising you for who you are and all you have done.

Fire of God

Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

Jesus is still coming back. The same Jesus the people saw being taken up to heaven, will come back in the same way. What a wonderful promise that everyone shares, Jesus is coming back and will be able to seen again. Now we are preparing for His return. Drawing closer to the Lord and not just maintaining, even more, taking spiritual ground for Jesus. God calls us to walk as Jesus walked on the earth, while waiting. Living stories are being created, of how the Holy Spirit is working in our lives to people around us. “Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid.” Matthew 10:8 Jesus gave the command to His disciples and is relevant to us today. God’s kingdom coming on earth is a partnership with Jesus and our responsibility. The fire you and I have received is not to keep to ourselves alone. The fire of God is for the world around us. Our covenant in Jesus allows us the authority of heaven and in His name, everything is possible.

Heavenly Father,

Thanks for the promise of Jesus returning soon. Help me be ready for Him coming back and operate in the work of the Spirit on earth in the present time.

Invitation to enter God’s presence

Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. Hebrews 4:16

God has taken our fears away. He welcomes us into His presence. We don’t need to be timid about the way we pray. The verse is saying to go confidently to Jesus the king. As we enter boldly before the throne of grace, the Lord will grant us His mercy and there will be grace for you. Bringing our felt needs to the Lord is a part of having a healthy relationship with God. He cares for all of our needs and is giving us the invitation to enter His throne room. What a wonderful God we serve. Praise His name for being our Father God. What is on your mind that you could bring in boldness to the Lord today?

Lord Jesus, thanks that I am welcomed into your presence. Help me pray bold prayers and dwell with you daily, amen.

Shield

You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for your word. Psalm 119:114

If there was a place you could go where you could feel completely free and hid from what affects you, that would be a haven of rest. Well, that’s life in Jesus. In his presence is a hidden place and knowing you are protected. Moses had a tent of meeting where he would wait for the word of the Lord. God met him as a friend. The Lord wants to meet you as his friend today. Very special is your relationship with Jesus. As you meet with him, you are going to find safety and that hidden place in His presence. There, you will flourish in Him.

Love you Lord Jesus. Thanks for being my safe place. I am hidden in you, in your presence is peace. I wait for your word Lord.

Jesus loves you

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

You come into a whole new life when you give your heart to Jesus. When we are baptised, we die as Jesus was crucified. The life we now live, is one empowered by the Holy Spirit, by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus loves you so much, He gave himself for you. That’s something to marvel at. The love of God is so great! We are now alive in Him. Living for Jesus means we walk as He walked on the earth. The Holy Spirit wants for flow through our lives, bringing heaven to earth for God’s praise. As we pray for people, the Lord’s hand moves on their lives, as we prophesy, chains are broken, people are set at liberty, and a way is made for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 We can be the ones calling, preparing the way for the Lord.

Thanks Jesus for your marvellous love. You gave your life for me and the life I live is in you, by faith. Today, I prophesy a way to be made for you Lord, eyes to be opened and people released in you Jesus.