Be Strong and Courageous

A daily dose of His Word and time with Him, makes a huge difference in the way your life unfolds. Following hard after Him brings a peace into your world and calms the choppy seas.

August's Message, Day 1:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 NIV

It's truly amazing what blessings pour forth from heaven if we are just obedient to His Word and to His ways. He does ask us to follow hard after Him, knowing His Word and pondering it often, and diligently doing what He asks. It takes effort, but the benefits are numerous. Prosperity and success is within our reach, and we can be strong and courageous in Him, without fear, and without discouragement, because the Lord our God is with us wherever we go. Nice perk. If you're struggling a bit with the events and direction of your life, getting to know Him and His Word just a little bit better goes a long way to clearer sailing ahead. 

Speak Life, Live in Truth

For Sunday:  Try to make positive strides to speak words of encouragement and life into all those around you. Know His Word and read it often. By faith, live always in His truth. His Spirit is always within you, guaranteeing your life with Him.

July's Message, Day 31: For Sunday

Live your life by faith. Live your life for Him. Speak the words you'd like to hear yourself. Start fresh this day and resolve to be different and make a positive difference.

Day 25:

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3 NIV

And:
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Day 26:

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ...but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:5,6,8-10 NIV

Day 27:

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them. Jeremiah 9:8 NIV

Day 28:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Day 29:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV

Day 30:

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 NIV

The Divine Whisper is there to guarantee your place with Him. He is there to give you understanding to His Word. He is there to make you the person He created you to be.

Live by Faith, Not by Sight

The Holy Spirit lives within all believers to guarantee the day when our spirit will live with Him and we'll be given our new glorified bodies. This life is a life of faith, for our eyes can certainly deceive us, and we can only partially see the reality of all that God is and all that He has created.

July's Message, Day 30:

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 NIV

God has given us the Holy Spirit, who resides within us, guaranteeing our salvation and our new glorified bodies that we receive at Christ's coming for the church, the rapture. As long as we are in these perishable bodies we are away from His intimate presence, but when we die, our spirit goes to Him, and at the rapture we receive our imperishable bodies for eternity. Yes, we await that wonderful and glorious day! We long for this day looking forward to it by faith, "For we live by faith, not by sight." Our sight only gives us a dim and partial perception of all that there truly is in all God's creation. The spiritual realm is invisible, and scientists also "believe" that much of our universe is made up of "dark matter" and "dark energy", unable to be visualized or easily determined, yet mathematical formulas tell us it must be there. Do not just trust in what you see, but have faith in what you believe and know to be true. 

The Author and Final Authority of Truth

What is "truth"? Truth is God and truth is His Word. Truth surpasses all logic and all proof and sometimes the only way to definitively know truth is to have faith in the origin of all truth - Him. Learn everything you can, know His Word well, and remember that truth lies in Him - He's the author and the final authority.

July's Message, Day 29:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV

As mature believers, we must know what God's Word says and what His Word means. Otherwise, it is quite easy for the world and the enemy to quickly deceive us into believing something contrary to God's Word, His truth, that by which everything else must be measured and subject to. Satan has perfected the art of half-truths, which are absolutely the most dangerous, since on the surface they sound logical and legitimate. One can only discern the error by careful analysis and true knowledge of His Word. This does not mean that the sciences or knowledge that we obtain from this world is all bad, for in fact, God is the author of everything in creation, and we are simply trying to discover and understand it all. You must continually use a balance scale to weigh the "facts" as it compares to His truth. Truth is greater than all logic, and greater than all proof, and sometimes faith is the only bridge bringing us to truth, surpassing all logic and proof. It may sound quite contrary, but remember, God uses the simple to confound those who seem wise in their own eyes. Learn everything you can and use every intellectual tool at your disposal to understand and make sense of it all, and at the end of the day remember to weigh it all with your faith in His Word.

Throne of Grace

Mercy and grace lie waiting in His presence. We can boldly enter into His throne room and become refreshed, renewed, and revitalized to make it through another overwhelming day of life. He says, "Come, come boldly in."

July's Message, Day 28:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Christ made it possible for us to enter into the "Holy of Holies", the very throne room of God. The veil has been torn into two and we can boldly enter in to personally receive His unmerited mercy and grace. That's nice to remember when times get tough and we feel exhausted and overwhelmed with life. For most of us we need to knock on His door daily and enter into His forgiving and reviving presence. He says, "Come, come boldly, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Pure Thoughts, a Peaceful Heart, Bring Noble Words

Words come out of the wellspring of your heart. Focus on pure thoughts, a peaceful heart with no ill will, and let His Spirit direct your speech. It takes practice daily to stay in the right frame of reference.

July's Message, Day 27:

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them. Jeremiah 9:8 NIV

Here we see again, that it's more than what we speak, it's about what is in our hearts and minds. We can let the negativity come out like a deadly arrow and speak poison and lies, or maybe even worse, we can speak cordially, yet harbor ill will and let it fester and boil deep within us. The cure must begin in our hearts and in our minds, by striving to continually think noble and pure thoughts and have the, "love your neighbor as yourself," attitude. No, not easy, but we need to practice that every day. To tame the tongue and cleanse the mind and have a tranquil heart takes lots of effort. Let His Spirit direct your thoughts and words and bring peace to your heart. 

The Untameable Tongue

Impossible to quench, like a raging wildfire, our tongues bring praises and curses alike. To curtail the tongue requires quieting the heart and cleansing the mind with His Word and time with Him. You'll be thankful at the end of each day for what you didn't say.

July's Message, Day 26:

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ...but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:5,6,8-10 NIV

The tongue is truly untameable, virtually impossible to continually control. Out of our mouths come a mix of blessings and curses, nurturing and poison, encouragement and condemnation, and hope and despair. As James states, "this should not be." Yet out of our mouths simply flow the thoughts in our minds. If we could get a reign on our thoughts, we might have a chance to reign in our tongues. It is only by continually renewing our minds, by washing them clean with His Word, that we stand a chance to control what comes out. If it is in our heart and in our mind, it will most definitely come out our mouth. So begin each day with a fresh cleansing of your heart and mind with His Word and time with Him. At the end of the day you'll be thankful for what you didn't say.

The Power of Our Words

God spoke creation into existence. Our words have similar effect, the power of life and death. Choose your words wisely, edit them as best you can prior to release, and if necessary, try to rephrase them after-the-fact. Words are rarely forgotten, and they will come back to us. Once received, they have eternal effect.

July's Message, Day 25:

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3 NIV

And:

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Truly, our words have the power to speak life and death, and those powerful words are rarely forgotten by those addressed. We must realize that God "spoke" the entire creation into existence and we, created in His image, have similar power and effect with our words. We must learn to hold our tongue and choose our words carefully, as what is spoken once, has effect eternally. Once the power of words is released, we cannot retrieve them and edit them effectively, although it would be good to attempt to edit prior to release! Remember, also, what we release will ultimately come back to us. So choose your words wisely and edit them prior to release, and if you misspoke or have opportunity, try to rephrase and edit after-the-fact. Post-editing can be great for damage control, but you can never retrieve how the first edition was received. 

Become You with His Assurance

For Sunday:  Constantly strive to become God’s vision of you. Rest in His promises, and be assured of His love. Let your faith grow strong as you trust in Christ’s finished work on the Cross. You’re in the Father’s hand and He’ll never let you go.

July's Message, Day 24: For Sunday

Always be thankful for Christ's sacrifice for you, and be assured of your salvation. There is absolutely nothing more loving and powerful than the forgiving drop of blood He shed for you.

Day 18:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14 NIV

Day 19:

Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1 Timothy 3:2-4,7 NIV

Day 20:

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:6-9 NIV

Day 21:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 NIV

Day 22:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:20-21 NIV

Day 23:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 NIV

The Divine Whisper is always there inside you, whispering to remind you of who you are in Christ: a forgiven child of the King, for now and forevermore. No more guilt. No more shame. Just His forgiving and endless love.

No Condemnation

"No condemnation," means eternal assurance for those who believe in Christ, that there is no sin, nothing, that could ever separate them from His love and heaven itself. Yet, always be thankful and penitent and live like He lived. Live by your spirit and His Spirit within you.

July's Message, Day 23:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 NIV

Every believer should have those two words always in their heart: "no condemnation." Christ perfectly fulfilled the law of the Ten Commandments and was our spotless sacrifice to forever take our place, and being our atonement for sin, redeemed us from the penalty of all sin. There is no condemnation and no sin unforgiven for those who call Christ their Lord and Savior. Be assured, without guilt or shame, that all your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future, and nothing can separate you from His love and ever keep you out of heaven. With that said, that fact doesn't give us a license to sin, but we as thankful believers are expected to live lives pleasing to Him. We are to be repentant and always striving to be mirror images of His life example. But always remember, regardless of what you may have learned or been told, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." You have His eternal assurance.

God's Grace, Christ on the Cross, Our Faith in Him

Our righteousness and holiness was lost in the Garden of Eden. But God has seen fit to pour out His grace, through Christ on the Cross, and simply asks us by faith to believe. Christ is the bridge to get back home.

July's Message, Day 22:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:20-21 NIV

Christ did not die for nothing, for our righteousness and salvation only comes from God's grace given through Christ crucified on the Cross. We obtain His righteousness, not by anything we could ever do, for we are all born sinners without holiness, but only through our faith in Him and looking forward to the day when He brings us home and imparts holiness back to us. Christ is our bridge to regain what was lost in the Garden of Eden. God's grace, Christ on the Cross, our faith in Him, it's that simple. Don't take it for granted and don't take it lightly. Christ loves you, and gave His life for you, and asks you to come and believe. Share what He has done and help set the captives free.

Our Indescribable God

Indescribable. That is precisely what the Lord our God is. Yet as majestic in every way that He is, He is also near and dear and loves each of us in an unconditional and indescribable and unfathomable way as well. I can't wait to go home!

July's Message, Day 21:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 NIV

As I too, am awe-struck by the immeasurable depth of the riches of the Lord our God, I will borrow a few descriptors from one of my favorite Chris Tomlin songs, "Indescribable," to paint a picture of His supreme awesomeness: indescribable, majestic, uncontainable, amazing, all-powerful, untameable, unfathomable, incomparable, unchangeable, and the list could go on indefinitely. No mere mortal words can ever describe nor begin to understand and explain the infinite complexity and wonder of the Lord our God. And that same God knows the number of hairs on your head, knows you by name and His special name, and had you in His heart and mind from before time itself began. Wow, what a welcome homecoming it will be!

Constantly Becoming

Spirituality and Christian character must be constantly cultivated to become worthy and honoring of Christ. Never be satisfied with where you're at, but always strive to be "becoming."

July's Message, Day 20:

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:6-9 NIV

Again in this Scripture we see the characteristics of the elder, deacon, overseer, or bishop, any and all, in leadership and ministry positions. This is of course the ideal for all of us to strive for and a checklist to live by. If we are lacking in any of these areas, it would be of great benefit to focus on those areas so that we may, in fact, become the mature Christian leader that is worthy and honoring of Christ. Do not sell yourself short and yearn to be the best for God that you can be. These characteristics must be cultivated and strengthened on a regular basis. Do not be complacent and believe that you have "arrived" and nothing more needs to be done. Spirituality and character are ongoing processes that need constant attention, nurturing, and growth. You must be constantly becoming.

Character of a Leader

If you're in a leadership position, there are high standards of character that you should possess and exemplify. Moreover, you are representing God, and as such, should continually portray yourself in His light, and better still, not just portray this character, but exude this character at all times.

July's Message, Day 19:

Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 1 Timothy 3:2-4,7 NIV

This Scripture is directed to the "overseer", the elder or deacon, or truly any individual in a leadership position, especially one that directly represents God. This would apply to any believer in this type of role model position, and really should be applicable to every believer as the honorable life to continually strive for. This is an admirable list of qualities to live by indeed: above reproach, faithful to spouse and family, temperate, self-controlled, respectable inside the church and out, hospitable, able to teach, sober, gentle, peaceable, one who doesn't put money first but manages money well, and is well known for all these qualities and more. Yes, another tall order to live by, but this Scripture is one of the best motivators and the ideal to strive for. Leaders, these words should be blazed into your heart and mind and flow freely from your character at all times and in all places. 

We Are His Very Own

While we eagerly wait for His return, the rapture, the "blessed hope", we should be living lives that are worthy of, and mirror, Him. Our salvation and redemption comes through the heavy price paid by Jesus on the cross. We are His own.

July's Message, Day 18:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14 NIV

God's grace is poured out on us through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The "blessed hope" is His return for us, the rapture, the event that we as believers look for, long for, live for, and hope for. Since we are His very own, bought with a heavy price, we are called out of this world and called to be in union with His Spirit and to live exemplary lives that mirror Him. We will always be sinners and never be perfect, but we should always be repentant and empowered and enabled by His Spirit to continually be better. HIs salvation offer is to all people, anyone who would come. We, His redeemed people, are asked to be His messengers and tell all the world the Good News.

The Best Gift is Giving of Yourself

For Sunday:  There is nothing more important that you can do than giving of your time, talents, and abilities to encourage and help those in need. Remember, it doesn’t have to be grandiose. Sometimes it’s the little things that have the most impact. Just try to practice them often.

July's Message, Day 17: For Sunday

Pray and ask God how you can effectively give the best of yourself to help others. Seek to use all your gifts, both natural and spiritual, to further God's Kingdom and build up the body of believers.

Day 11:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 NIV

Day 12:

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42 NIV

Day 13:

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 NIV

Day 14:

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

Day 15:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48b NIV

Day 16:

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:7-8,16 NIV

The Divine Whisper is calling you to proclaim His message and to be His message. With Him, you have everything you need to be bold and powerful and effective. Just go.

Freely Received, Freely Give

The miracles start with you. He’s calling you out to freely give back to the Kingdom for all you’ve freely received. You’re not going alone, as the Holy Spirit is with you to empower you all the way. Just answer the call and have the faith to go, and watch what He can do through you.

July's Message, Day 16:

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:7-8,16 NIV

There we have it, "Freely you have received; freely give." As believers, we are His disciples, and He is calling us out to proclaim His message. We have been given much and are expected to give back much to Him in return. This message is as valid today as during the time Christ walked the earth. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse from disease, and drive out demons. A very tall order indeed, but all that is still well within our reach, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Miracles have not disappeared, we are just not as sensitive to them or knowledgeable about them. The miracles start with you and your willingness to step out in faith and answer His call, empowered by the all-powerful Holy Spirit. Just remember that we are not of this world, just sheep among the wolves, so watch your back, be prepared and prayed-up, and watch the miracles unfold.

Entrusted Responsibility

If you’ve been given much and been entrusted with natural abilities and spiritual gifts, then much will be asked and required of you. This has all been given to you by God. It is your responsibility to use it all well. This should be your motivating and driving force for this life.

July's Message, Day 15:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48b NIV

Along with the principle of "reaping and sowing," this principle of "entrusted responsibility," is paramount in God's economy. Not only should those of us who have been blessed with much in the way of possessions give generously, but we also bear a heavy spiritual responsibility. In addition to giving, we are entrusted to use all of our natural and spiritual gifting to build up the body of believers. There are multiple spiritual gifts and each believer has at least one if not more given to them by the Holy Spirit. We also have natural talents and abilities. The more the gifting, the more it should be used effectively, for God has given this to you. The list is long and varied, but just as an introduction, here are the main spiritual gifts: apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers, prophecy, ministry, leadership, administration, mercy, giving, encouraging, helps, service, discernment, faith, healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom. So if your natural talents and abilities are significant and your spiritual gifting is also strong, be prepared to be asked by God to use everything in profound ways for Him. This is what you were created for, and this should be your driving force through this life. 

Seize Every Opportunity

Helping hands and encouraging words can go a long way in helping someone get on the road to healing and recovery. Always be willing to help provide the essentials such as food, clothing, and shelter, but don’t forget the encouraging conversation and a helping hand in the everyday tasks.

July's Message, Day 14:

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

Anything done unto just one believer is done unto Christ Himself. Sometimes we forget about the little things like hospitality and visitation, but these oftentimes can make huge differences in people's lives. We should never skimp on the essentials such as food, clothes, and shelter, but sometimes it's the visit or the phone call that can have the greatest impact. Conversation and encouraging words go a long way to help in people's healing processes. So too, does a real helping hand to run errands and do basic chores. There are innumerable ways in which we can make positive and lasting influences in people's lives. We just have to take the time and seize the opportunities.

Perfect Gifts from Above

We all enjoy getting gifts and we should enjoy giving that special and perfect gift to those we love as well. Sometimes we’re disappointed in what we get and how our perfect gift floundered. God, however, will not disappoint us, He always gives us just what we need, even if we think different at the time.

July's Message, Day 13:

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 NIV

We all like to think of ourselves as good parents, and as such, should truly enjoy giving great gifts to our children and those we love. It's just one way to express our love and reap joy from the joy we bring to them. But we are imperfect, selfish, and sinful human beings and so we give imperfectly and selfishly as well. However, it is not so with our perfect, caring, and loving Father above. He certainly knows how to give the perfect gifts and has unlimited resources to do so. He is just waiting for our interaction with Him. He wants to hear about our victories and disappointments and hear our heart's desires. He already knows them all, but just like we need to sit and talk with our children, He enjoys the conversations, too.

Miniscule Goes a Long Way

Grandiose giving may be great, but God multiplies even the miniscule. Just give of your heart in simple things and simple ways and don’t overlook the insignificant. Nothing given from the heart escapes God’s attention.

July's Message, Day 12:

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42 NIV

It's not about the grandiose, it's about the intent and condition of your heart. It's as much how and why you give, as it is what you give. Give out of your abundance, but give when you are lacking as well. Giving of even a little is great therapy for the heart and soul, for both giver and receiver. So don't overlook those seemingly insignificant or unimportant opportunities to give. As God sees it and multiplies it, a very miniscule amount can go a very long way. Food meant for one can potentially feed the thousands.

Humble Anonymity

Be spiritually mature without recognition, and give freely of yourself anonymously in humility. God sees and knows all and He’s the only one who matters. The only recognition and reward you need comes from Him.

July's Message, Day 11:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 NIV

God knows your spiritual condition and God knows your heart in giving freely of yourself. You do not need to announce and proclaim your spirituality. If it is true and from the heart, it will be self-evident. Likewise, nor should you publically parade your giving and service done unto others. No one needs to know besides God, as He is the only one who eternally matters. Humility is prized above all else, and being anonymous is a wonderful thing in the kingdom of God. Humility in this way allows you to be free to do and give with proper motivation, and with no ongoing external pressures. So be spiritually mature without recognition and give freely in humility and anonymity. The best recognition and rewards come from Him.

You'll Find What You Seek

For Sunday:  Every breath you take and everything you have and everything that you are ultimately has its source in Him. It’s all His, so give freely of His goodness by sharing yourself with others who are less fortunate. Giving from the heart is the ultimate healing therapy.

July's Message, Day 10: For Sunday

Seek Him and you'll find Him, seek trouble and you'll find that, too. Give to gain and give to live. The universe revolves around God's economy, not the reverse.

Day 4:

But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. Jeremiah 20:11 NIV

Day 5:

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17 NIV

Day 6:

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV

Day 7:

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:7-11 NIV

Day 8:

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV

Day 9:

Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! Proverbs 11:27-28,30-31 NIV

Follow your heart and give freely of yourself. Listen to the beckoning call of the Divine Whisper and follow His lead.

Leave a Lasting Legacy

You will certainly find what you seek. Seek Him and find favor and thrive, or seek "Other" and live in evil, fall, and be forever forgotten.

July's Message, Day 9:

Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! Proverbs 11:27-28,30-31 NIV

It comes down to this: Who are you seeking, and in whom do you put your trust? You will find what you seek, whether good or bad, and you will also live in the consequences of those choices. Choose to thrive, to find His favor, and to live in eternal bliss with Him. Be wise in His eyes, save lives by sharing your testimony, and know that even greater will be your reward in heaven, far exceeding anything that you'll experience here on earth. What about the others, who reject Him, choose the path of evil and destruction, and trust in self and the world? They too, will receive their just reward, here and in eternity to come. They will eventually fall, perish, and be forgotten forever. Leave a lasting legacy and seek and follow Him.

To Give Is to Gain

Give freely and you will gain even more. Hoard it all to the last morsel and drop and you will lose even that. God's economy is counter-intuitive, but if you follow His principles, blessings in abundance, with peace and prosperity, surely will come.

July's Message, Day 8:

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV

Yes, here it is again. The "you reap what you sow" principle. Give freely of yourself and your resources and you will gain even more in abundance and be refreshed as well. That's how God's economy works. Keep it all to yourself and hoard every last morsel, and you will lose even that. Matthew 13:12 (NIV) states it this way: "Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." It sounds harsh and counter-intuitive, but remember, God's upside-down Kingdom is meant to confound the wise in their own eyes. Give and you will receive, bless others and you will be blessed, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Just follow God's principles, not the world's, and peace and prosperity will come.

Serve Him Not Self

Have you chosen your way yet? Serving Him or serving self? Serving Him brings glory, honor, peace, and immortality. Serving self brings wrath and anger, trouble and distress. It's an easy and free choice, and God shows no favoritism, He just asks each of us to come.

July's Message, Day 7:

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:7-11 NIV

Glory, honor, peace, and immortality apart from Him is impossible. Persistence in doing good is first and foremost following Him and knowing His truth. To reject Him and reject the truth, means you are self-seeking and self-serving, following the way of evil, and will ultimately bring about His wrath and anger, with trouble and distress. Choose you this day whom you will serve. It's a free choice and there are certainly consequences for each option. God does not show favoritism, He just beckons each of us to come. Which path have you chosen? Glory, honor, peace, and immortality, or wrath, anger, trouble, and distress? Seek and serve Him, not self.

By His Hand Not Yours

Revel in your accomplishments, revel in your successes, and revel in all the things that God has done and given to you. It is by His hand, not yours, that all this has come about. Freely He gives, but remember, just as easily can He take away. You best be pointing to Him.

July's Message, Day 6:

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV

Let's not forget the One who is our Maker and Source of all good things. Do not be deceived by pride and seriously think that simply by your own power, strength, and abilities, that you've acquired and accomplished all the successes in your life. God blesses and provides, He allows and enables successes, and He has given you those talents and abilities. Never forget, too, that in a single moment your health may fail, your possessions may be stripped away, job and career lost, loved ones gone, and you could be left with nothing and unable to start over. Sorry, but it is a reality check, for truly the Lord gives and has the ultimate power to take away. You are not in control, He is. Boast in Him and all He's done and given to you, for it is all by His hand not yours.

Have Confidence and Pray

Respect our leaders and be confident in them, for God has placed them in positions of authority just as He has placed us. Pray for them, pray for positive change, and pray that you’ll grow closer to God as well.

July's Message, Day 5:

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17 NIV

We all must give an account to Christ, and His rewards or the withholding of such, will be done in perfect righteousness. We are called to be confident in those in authority, because God has placed them, too, just as He has placed us in our positions. Be responsible, submit to authority, pray for our leaders that God may guide and direct them, and pray for positive change. Never underestimate the supreme power of prayer. Prayer is our greatest tool for change, our greatest weapon against the evil of this world, and the greatest means we have to get close to God.

Independently Dependent

For Independence Day:  Be independently dependent on God. Without Him we are nothing. We were created that way. With Him we are victorious conquerors of this life, and nothing coming against us can prevail. Without Him we’ll be crushed by every obstacle and enemy that comes our way.

July's Message, Day 4: For Independence Day

But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. Jeremiah 20:11 NIV

Independence from oppressors and persecutors is a wonderful thing, and we in America are truly blessed. But even better than independence is dependence on God. That is the way we were created. Apart from Him we are nothing. When He is with us, no one and no thing, can stand against us and prevail. So we must revel in our freedom and live dependently on Him. That will bring about great victories in our lives, and great joy and peace that comes with living our lives for Him.  

Most Importantly, Pray

For Sunday:  Pray wholeheartedly, pray consistently, pray with passion, pray with confidence, pray with anticipation, and pray effectively. Nothing is more important and nothing is more powerful than prayer. Great will be your reward.

July's Message, Day 3: For Sunday

It's all about prayer. It's about talking to God and letting your requests be known and letting your heart be seen. Just like anything else, to be proficient and effective, you have to practice it often. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing your prayers answered in powerful ways.

Day 27:

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 NIV

Day 28:

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Colossians 4:12 NIV

Day 29:

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20 NIV

Day 30:

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:13-16 NIV

Day 1:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8 NIV

Day 2:

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NIV

The Divine Whisper is listening. Are you praying and talking to Him, and letting your heart be open? 

Pray, Cooperate, Press On

Be worthy, be transformed by His power, and let His glory shine through. Continually pray and press on, learning from the past, changing in the now, and hoping for the future.

July's Message, Day 2:

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NIV

The single most important thing that you should be praying for yourself and for others, is that God's Spirit would continually transform, mold, and shape each of us into the godly person that He wants us to be. We are made worthy by His power, bringing forth the transformation of the mind and the renewal of the heart. It is by this transformation that we bring glory to Him and His glory shines through us. Pray constantly for this change to take place and for your cooperation with this change. If you are not willing and resist, change will not take place, and you will live the life of a believer stuck in quicksand, never able to break free into the realm of spiritual maturity. You must throw off the chains daily and grab His hand to pull you out of the muck and mire of your past and press on toward the bright future He's prepared for you.