I pray that the love of God engulfs you today. I pray that the peace of God flows through you today. I pray that the protection of God surrounds you today. I pray that the grace and mercy of God goes before you and behind you today.
Have you ever been asked if you know how to defend your faith? That particular question has always given me a little bit of … concern. When I hear the word “defend” it automatically makes me think of a defensive or battle stance.
Yes, it is important to know why we believe in the Triune Godhead. However, I believe that instead of defending our faith, we should show our faith. The word of God says that people will know that we belong to Jesus by the LOVE we show one another. If more people would show, rather than defend, the world would be a much more peaceful and loving place. Be the change you seek…
John 13:34-35
New International Version
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I’m highlighting this amazing band because of their love for Christ and their love of people. Music can reach where words cannot. (Rev. Marcia Davis) #Christafari
I love you with the never-ending, ever reaching, and amazing love of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
I pray you were greeted with love this morning. If that was not your morning, please let me be the first to hold your face in my hands and tell you how much I love you.
I love you because I know that you were fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that the same amazing Creator that made a rose also made you. Yes, we all have our thorny places, but we also have great beauty, because we are a reflection of our Creator.
I know there are many different types of love languages that help us express and receive love from one another. As children of God, we are the reflection pure love. We are love in action. We are acts of service, loving touch, words of affirmation, giving of gifts and so much more.
The instructions we were given to reflect and show the love of God is this:
Matthew 22:37-40
New International Version
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a]38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
How blessed are we to be able to wake up and talk to God? How even more blessed are we that God is waiting to hear from us?
Only God knows the reason we were created. This morning we wake up and acknowledge that we are limited in our knowledge. God is our source of all. In the Old Testament, God led the children of Israel to the promised land. Throughout their journey, God was their Source of nourishment, both spiritually and naturally.
He was the source of water and food. Water is life. There is a reason why we call God the Living Water. Who ever would have thought that water could come from a rock…BUT GOD!!!
Numbers 20:7-11
New International Version
7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff,(A) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.(B) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff(C) from the Lord’s presence,(D) just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together(E) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”(F)11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water(G) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
Who ever would have thought that God would literally allow food, or manna, to fall from the sky…BUT GOD!!! There is a reason God is called the Bread of Life.
Exodus 16:9-12
New King James Version
9 Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for He has heard your complaints.’ ” 10 Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”
We can follow God knowing that everything is already taken care of. Don’t worry about what you are going to eat, drink, or wear, just focus on the voice of God.
Be blessed family. Growing up, whenever I would be leaving my mother’s house, she would walk me to the door and say, “Take the Lord with you.” My mom was teaching me that there is nowhere I can’t go that God won’t be there. She was reminding me to put on my armor of God. So I say the same to you. Even though God is always wherever we are, be intentional in taking the Lord wherever you go. In Jesus name, Amen.
In the 51st Book of Psalms, we have heard and read the very familiar scripture passage of “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me (vs 10, 11).” David knew that his heart and mind were out of synch, or cadence, with the God.
David also asked God to, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit within me (vs 13),” because his attitude needed a true adjustment.
The question that must be extracted from this plea to God is what characteristics results from having a clean heart, a renewed and right spirit, a restoration of joy, and a generous spirit? David tells God that when he is restored and renewed he will, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and convertsinners to God (vs 13).”
David also declares in verse 14 that if God forgives him and removes the heaviness of the sins he committed that “O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall show forth Your praise (vs 15).”
Family, what joy we are able to experience if we are living a life dedicated to God. What a LIGHT we can can be for the Kingdom of God! I invite us ALL to search our hearts and minds. Have we become so focused on all other areas of our lives that we have slowly moved away from our first love?
How do we get back to God? We must return to God with a “child-like” attitude. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19 andverse 14 Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, forthe kingdom of heaven belongs to such AS THESE.”
When a child has been away from a parent for an extended amount of time, what is their typical reaction? The child drops everything and runs with excitement, hope, and joy back into the parent’s arms. The parent picks them up and holds them tight. Oh how we could be if we ran to God that way? That’s right, WE CAN!!! RUN FAMILY, RUN!! The arms of God are waiting.
Pastor Smokie Norful
Father God,
Psalm 51:10-17
New King James Version
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
I pray that your life is on the most divine path possible. I encourage you to follow the voice of God and to always get confirmation that it is God’s voice you are following.
The Godly path will take trust even when the path looks unsure. Whenever God directs our path it does take trust and it also takes being intimate with the Holy Spirit.
If you have something in your life, like an addiction or stronghold, that you keep fighting with and you want to break free from, it may require a deep level of fasting and prayer. The main thing to remember during any fasting is to make your focus on getting closer to God. God is a Waymaker and a Miracle Worker.
Our Prayer: Father God, our hearts are turned toward you. We are crying out to you and seeking your face. We know you are the God that heals, restores and redeems. Thank you for being the healer and restorer of our mind and body. I specifically lift up Pastor John Gray and his health. We surround him with intercessions to heaven. Restore, redeem and heal every part of his life and body. We visualize and see him perfectly whole and standing in perfect health in this earthly plain. Strengthen his family and surround them in your perfect peace. In the precious and perfect name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sinach
Be blessed family. I love you with the everlasting and amazing love of God.
I just have to say thank you for all of your kind words and prayers while I have taken time away to heal.
I am so happy to be back. Yes. I’m having to learn to navigate life a little differently, but what a praise report I have to share.
There are so many friends and family, both seen and unseen, that have truly surrounded me with love and support. I discovered that I am a lot stronger than I thought. I was stuck in a sadness for a moment but then I thought about the goodness of God and my spirit leaped up in me with a new vitality.
I kept reminding myself of the Word of God. I knew that I could do anything because it is God who gives me the strength. Amen.
Family, keep praying and visualize me running, leaping, and jumping for joy, in Jesus name. There is a song by Bishop Paul Morton that says, “I’ll pray for you and you pray for me and watch God change things.”
Philippians 4:10-13
New King James Version
Philippian Generosity
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [b]be abased, and I know how to [c]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [d]Christ who strengthens me.
Sacred Journey Devotionals - Where Christianity and Metaphysics Meet 