"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” Joel 2:25
It is one thing to be grateful that God’s grace & love cover us each and every day. It is another thing though to believe that God does not just ask us to move on from our past but He can actually restore and pay back things that were stolen from us. That requires faith and a revelation of His supernatural favour & abundance.
The word for you today is to know that God saw everything that the devil (and people!) took from you. It may be physical or internal. He did not miss one thing
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God” ISAIAH 43:2-3
The more that Jesus is revealed in your life, the more of His life you experience. Grace reveals the loving heart of God as our Abba - Our Daddy. The amazing thing about this verse is that it tells us whatever comes our way we should not be afraid. How is that possible?
“No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.” 1 Cor 2:9 (MSG)
You can’t outthink God. You cannot overestimate His love for you or the good plans He has for your life. So often we settle for less than what God has for us. Content to just get through life in ‘limp-home mode’, we think promises such as these are reserved for until we get to heaven.
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" Lam 3:22-23 (NIV)
It is good to stop and reflect, to look back and take stock. Perhaps as this year draws to a close you are happy to see the end of it or perhaps you look back and see blessing and renewal. The prophet Jeremiah wrote these words in the middle of what was one if the worst periods in Israel's history.
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
God wants us to look at Jesus’ work on the cross and know that it is finished, complete! Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” You cannot complete a completed work. You cannot finish a finished work. Our salvation is won. Our sins are all forgiven. We are made forever righteous by His blood. Christ paid completely and perfectly for our total forgiveness, righteousness and every blessing!
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“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
God wants us to look at Jesus’ work on the cross and know that it is finished, complete! Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” You cannot complete a completed work. You cannot finish a finished work. Our salvation is won. Our sins are all forgiven. We are made forever righteous by His blood. Christ paid completely and perfectly for our total forgiveness, righteousness and every blessing!
I
“But to those who embraced Him and took hold of His name were given the authority to become who they really are – the sons of God!” John 1:12 (Passion Translation)
We were made to be part of God’s family, created by God to have relationship with Him. This verse reminds us that when we embrace the person of Jesus and we take hold of His name then we have authority to be who we really are.
Many people may try to tell you who you are. They like to define what you can and cannot do and expect you to meet some definition of what they think you should be like. As a result some people carry a picture of themselves that others have spoken into their lives.
"Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”Luke 12:6–7
Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that God is too busy taking care of the “big things” to be interested in the little problems they are facing. It may be your child’s tantrums or a quarrel with a friend, no matter how trivial it sounds, if it troubles you, then God wants to take care of it!
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:18 (NIV)
Jesus came to bring peace – shalom, also translated as wholeness, completeness, absence of striving and prosperity. The angels sang from the heavens that because of Jesus, those on whom His favour rests are guaranteed shalom.
As a child of God today, the favour of God rests on you. It’s there to stay,
“Go and search carefully for the child…” Matt 2:8
The wisemen travelled for miles in search of the child Jesus. They set out on a journey with a clear goal – to find the child king who would save the world…but it wasn’t quite as they expected!
As we know so well, Jesus was not found in a palace or in a place of importance but in a stable. Today people still expect to find the savior of the world in the wrong place. You won’t find Him in good works or religion rather He reaches to meet us where we are.
“Go and search carefully for the child…” Matt 2:8
The wisemen travelled for miles in search of the child Jesus. They set out on a journey with a clear goal – to find the child king who would save the world…but it wasn’t quite as they expected!
As we know so well, Jesus was not found in a palace or in a place of importance but in a stable. Today people still expect to find the savior of the world in the wrong place. You won’t find Him in good works or religion rather He reaches to meet us where we are.
“In Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind” John 1:4
It’s hard to see in the dark; it’s hard to see a way forward or a future. In this world, the way is obscured by so much noise, so many things jostle for our attention and energy – especially at this time of year. Presents, food, functions, all good enough in their own right, can add to the darkness.
Jesus brings light to impenetrable darkness.
“In Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind” John 1:4
It’s hard to see in the dark; it’s hard to see a way forward or a future. In this world, the way is obscured by so much noise, so many things jostle for our attention and energy – especially at this time of year. Presents, food, functions, all good enough in their own right, can add to the darkness.
Jesus brings light to impenetrable darkness.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”2 Corinthians 8:9
How can a follower of Christ become rich in this world of oppression, depression and expression?
The moment you are born again, you have Jesus in your life. When you have Him in your life, then you can get ready for His abundant supply to come your way! But don’t just look for the blessings like many Christians do!
First seek Jesus who is the source and when you find Him, learn to rest in Him. Here in the rest that Jesus offers you will find the power of true wealth.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”2 Corinthians 8:9
How can a follower of Christ become rich in this world of oppression, depression and expression?
The moment you are born again, you have Jesus in your life. When you have Him in your life, then you can get ready for His abundant supply to come your way! But don’t just look for the blessings like many Christians do!
First seek Jesus who is the source and when you find Him, learn to rest in Him. Here in the rest that Jesus offers you will find the power of true wealth.
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
I don’t know about you, but I would say that this is good news. God sees all our sins - past, present and future - and says, “Your sins I will remember no more!”
Does this mean God has lowered His standards?
No, He is still perfectly holy. He did remember all our sins - 2,000 years ago at the cross. Every sin that we have committed or will commit has been punished to the full in the body of Jesus
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
During the day, the devil may whisper in your head, “You cannot go into God’s presence because you have not been reading your Bible and serving in church.” Or he will tell you that it is because of the sin which you have just committed.
The devil will always make you feel that you are not qualified or clean enough to go near God. But the truth is, regardless of how you feel and what you have done, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
During the day, the devil may whisper in your head, “You cannot go into God’s presence because you have not been reading your Bible and serving in church.” Or he will tell you that it is because of the sin which you have just committed.
The devil will always make you feel that you are not qualified or clean enough to go near God. But the truth is, regardless of how you feel and what you have done, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
