Day 72  The Lord Is Your Rock

2 Samuel 22:2 (New International Version, ©2010)

He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
 
Do you have a circumstance that you need to be delivered from?  A health problem, a situation of injustice at work, a stumbling block in your marriage?  You need deliverance and God is up to the task!!  He knows and He is able!! He's just waiting for you to bring it to Him.
 
I went to my trusty dictionary and one of the meanings for "deliverance" is salvation.  Hey, we've heard that word before!  So I clicked on "salvation" and this meaning came up:  "the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc."
 
Are you afraid you are going to lose your job, your marriage, your finances??  God is your "deliverer."  He will deliver you out of that situation as you turn it over to Him and ask Him to do it.
 
Today's Assignment:
 
1. Read all of 2 Samuel 22.  David was in a tough spot.  The enemy wanted to overtake him--and actually take him out.  This was his song of praise for what God had done for him.  In verse one it says "all his enemies."  Now that is good news!!  Write what that means to you in your journal today.
 
2.  Read these scriptures to build your faith even more.  Remember to make them personal and to thank Him for what He is saying to you.
 
    Psalms 34:4
    Exodus 33:21
    Job 5:19
    Psalms 91:3
    2 Peter 2:9
 
Prayer: 
 
Write your own prayer to God, thanking Him for His promise to deliver you from harm.  At this point you may just want to pray the prayer instead of writing it--whichever works for you.

Day 71  God Wants To Encourage You

1 Samuel 30:6 (Amplified Bible)

⁶David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

This is one of my favorite stories because it’s one of victory in the midst of dire circumstances.  David had lost everything!!  He lost his wife, his children, his house, his belongings, the respect and friendship of his army--everything. 

Vs. 4 says, “Then David and the men with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.”

Ever been there?  Ever shed tears in the middle of the night when you felt like there was no one to call on for help.  Ever felt like your morning was actually your darkest time??

Let’s go back to our story.  David’s life was in danger because the men of his army were threatening to kill him because he was responsible for their loss.  In verse six David turned to God for strength and encouragement.  He “inquired of the Lord.” (NIV) I am here to tell you that whenever you “inquire of the Lord, “ He will answer you!!  I have journals full of encouragement from the Lord—chapter and verse!! 

He will be to you as personal as you want Him to be.   Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  I can promise that He will be faithful to you!

Today’s Assignment:

1.       Read all of I Samuel 30 in one or more versions. 

Write how this story encourages you—that no matter what happens, you will “recover all.”

2.       “Inquire of the Lord” what you need to know about your particular situation.  Be alerted to God’s specific answer for you.  If it does not come today,  ask the same question tomorrow!  Keep asking until you get direction.  I promise you, you will if you don’t give up!

3.       Read the following scriptures:

Matthew 7:7 (Amplified Bible)

⁷ Keep on asking and it will be given you;  keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

Deuteronomy 33:25b (New International Version)

…..your strength will equal your days.

Job 16:5 (Amplified Bible)

⁵[But] I would strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.

Write your own prayer to God using your own words.

Day 69 and 70

If you are joining me for the first time today, I encourage you to click on the Archives and go back to Day 1 to begin your journey.  You are not behind!  You do not have to hurry to catch up.  A journey always begins at the beginning!!

If you are a regular follower, you know that we are laying the foundation of being a “believer.”  This last five days we have been recounting the miracles found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

I suggested that you put a highlighted box around those scriptures so when you need to refresh your faith, your eye will go right to these miracles.

I want you to know that these are not just historical stories.  Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the “same yesterday, today and forever.”  Hebrews 6:18 says that it is “impossible for God to lie.”  The Message Bible says:

“God can’t break His word.  And because His word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.”

Today’s Assignment:

1.       If you have not highlighted the miracles that I mentioned in the last five posts, take some time to do that, reading each one carefully.

2.      The gospels are written by four different people so there is more than one person writing about what they experienced. 

Below is a list of scriptures also found in the gospels.  Take some time and read them—also putting a highlighted box around them.  In doing so, you are bringing the words of healing off the page and into your heart.  They will be handy for you to read to strengthen your faith.

NOTE:  Do not be overwhelmed by the number of scriptures here.  Take your time.  Read each one carefully and let God talk to you through them.  I will be gone for ten days so you will not be receiving posts from me until after February 22^nd.     RELAX and enjoy your time in the Word of our precious God!!

Matthew 8:14-15

Matthew 8: 1-4

Matthew 9: 1-8

Matthew 12: 9-14

Matthew 9: 19-22

Matthew 20: 29-34

Matthew 9: 18-19, 23-26

Luke  4: 38-39

Luke  5: 12-16

Luke 7: 1-10

Luke 5: 17-26

Luke 6: 6-11

Luke 8: 43-48

Luke 18: 35-43

Luke 7: 11-17

Luke 8:40-42, 49-56

John 11: 1-44

My prayer for you:

God, open each reader’s eyes to Your goodness, Your greatness and Your glory!  Thank You so much!  Amen!

Day 68 Healed At That Moment

Matthew 15:28  (New International Version)

"Then Jesus said to her, 'Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted.'  And her daughter was healed at that moment."

The woman's faith connected with Jesus.  At this point, healing took place.  When the promise of healing comes alive inside of us, a conception takes place.  At this point of knowing, we can push the envelope with God.

If you read the whole account in your Bible (vs. 21-28), you will see that Jesus tested her to see what was in her heart.  Her daughter's future was on the line and she pushed the envelope by saying, "Yes, Lord,(I know that I have not been a follower of Yours) but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."

The woman resisted rejection and disappointment in order to get what her daughter needed.  Sometimes we have to step over our own fear of rejection and fear of being disappointed in order to have all that God has provided for us.

Here is another scripture that you can hold on to:

Jeremiah 29:13 (The Message)

"When you come looking for me, you'll find me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.' God's decree.  'I'll turn things around for you."

God caused this to be written in order for us to grab hold of it and embrace it.  Remember, He is not keeping things from us but He is keeping things for us.

Your healing is waiting for you!

Today's Assignment:

1.  Read the whole account in both Mark and Matthew and put a yellow highlighted box around them.

    Mark 7: 24-30
          Matthew 15:21-28

2.  Ask God to make you tenacious for what He has already provided for you at the cross.  Remind Him that He promised that you would not be disappointed.

Prayer:

(Write your own prayer using the scriptural promises above concerning a healing you might need.  (Or write a prayer for the healing of someone you know.)

Day 67  Take Jesus At His Word

John 4:49-50 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  

 ⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

 The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

The royal official was desperate because his child was near death.  Jesus just happened to be in Cana.  (Jesus is always near you in your time of desperation!)  The scriptures say that the man begged Him to come and heal his son…”come before my child dies.”

Here is Jesus’ answer:  “You may go.  Your son will live.”

Jesus didn’t say, “Wait for your son’s healing.”  He didn’t  say, “Sorry, healing is not for today,” or He didn’t say, “You don’t qualify for a healing.  You have too many sins going on.”  He just said, “Go….your son will live.”

Notice what the man’s immediate response was:

Vs. 50b  “The man took Jesus at His word and departed.”

I believe this man’s response is what brought about the healing.  It was this man’s faith in the word spoken that made his son well.

He didn’t stand around and beg.  He didn’t continue to cry out for his son’s healing and he didn’t doubt the word that came to him at that moment.  He “took Jesus at His word and departed.”

Here’s the result of that kind of faith:

Vs. 51  “While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that the boy was living.”

As he turned to depart, I can just hear him saying, “Thank You, Jesus!!  Thank You, Jesus!!  Thank You, Jesus!!”  When we get a truth from God’s word, we need to praise Him with that word so as to extinguish all the doubt that wants to come into our thought processes.  Remember, the devil always lies.  He always wants to stop Jesus so that the people will remain in sorrow and pain and despair.  That’s his job—to discredit Jesus.

Psalms 8:2 says that praise stills the avenger.  The avenger wants to come and steal your promise from you.  Praise will cause him to shut his mouth.  Then you can go on and “take Jesus at His word.”

Today’s Assignment:

1.      Read this story in its entirety.  Remember to put a highlighted box around these miracle accounts.

John 4: 46-54

2.      Read the following scriptures.  Meditate on them and what they mean to you personally.

John 5: 2-8

John 9: 1-11

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your word is still alive today—I can embrace the word that heals just like these people did in the gospels.  Your word is alive and it is sent to heal me.  Father, I choose to praise the doubt from coming on me to steal my healing.  Thank You, wonderful Jesus for dying on the cross that I might walk in wholeness.  I love You so much!  Amen.

Day 66  Woman, Thou Art Loosed

Luke 13:10-13 (New King James Version)

¹⁰ Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. ¹¹ And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. ¹² But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” ¹³ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Sometimes we have had a condition for so long that it becomes a part of us.  We learn to manage it, work around it or ignore it.  This lady, however, could not ignore it.  Look what it says.  She was “bent over.”  Imagine yourself bent over at the waist for eighteen years.  If we tried to do it for five minutes, it would completely change our lifestyle.

Our wonderful Jesus went to bat for her.  In verse 16 (NIV) Jesus had to set the religious people straight who were upset because He healed her on the Sabbath.  He said, “Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” 

Jesus didn’t care what day of the week it was.  He saw her misery and “called to her.”

Is He calling to you today?  Have you (or someone you know) had an infirmity so long that it has become part of your life?  I encourage you today to get in His presence today like this woman did.  That’s what these “meetings with God” are all about—being in His presence.  Wait for God to speak personally to you and then embrace what He has spoken and be free of that infirmity.

What did she do when she stood up??  She “glorified God.”  She brought the glory to God because she knew it was all His doing.  If she could have done it herself, it wouldn’t have waited eighteen years to be healed.  Jesus was just being faithful to His word (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, I Peter 2:24)  and He made a connection with a woman who needed it!!

Today’s Assignment:

1.    Highlight Luke 13: 10-13 in your Bible.

2.    Read the following scriptures and do the same:

Luke 14: 1-6

Luke 17: 11-19

Luke 7: 11-17

3.    Is there a phrase or word in any of these scriptures that speaks personally to you?  If so write it in your journal.  That is God speaking to you.  God wants to speak to you personally!!  You can then embrace those words and take them for your own.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for showing me the work of heaven being made manifested on the earth.  “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Thank You, Lord.  I ask You to speak personally to me as I study the gospel accounts of all that Jesus did while He walked this earth.  I need a personal word from You for my situation.  Thank You so much.  Amen.

Day 65  Don't Be Afraid; Just Believe

Mark 5:35-36 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
 ³⁶ Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Jarius had just gotten a bad report--his daughter had died. "Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid: just believe."

If you need a healing in your body, choose to think about how Jesus instructed the synagogue ruler.  He's saying the same thing to you today, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Let's go right to the assignment so we can strengthen our faith today!

Today's Assignment:

1.  Read the following accounts of how Jesus healed the people.    
    (Notice that we are still in the book of Mark.  Have your    highlighter ready and put a box around each healing account.)

     Mark 7: 31-37

     Mark 8: 22-26

     Mark 10: 46-52
    
     Mark 5: 21-24, 35-43

2.  Note that Jesus healed in many different ways.  It was not because He felt like doing it a certain way.  He carried out the healing a certain way each time because everything was very strategic in Jesus' life.

Read John 5: 19  Jesus said what He heard His Father saying and He did what He saw His Father doing. Perhaps He is demonstrating to us that there are many ways to receive healing.

Prayer:
Father, help me to believe that You still desire to heal today.  Speak to my heart personally so that I know that it is You speaking personally to me.  I choose to believe You so that I can be a walking/talking demonstration of Your goodness and Your greatness in the earth.  Thank You, Father.  Amen.

Day 64     Become What You Believe

Matthew 9:27-28 (The Message)

 ^27-28As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, "Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!" When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They said, "Why, yes, Master!"

Two people…….without hesitation……..fully convinced, said, “Why, yes, Master!”  They obviously knew who Jesus was and what He was capable of doing.  They had probably heard about Jesus and all that He was doing for the people.

I think reading through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John over and over would cause our faith to increase for miracles.

We have already established that Jesus is the same “yesterday, today and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8)  We also established that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and for our sicknesses.  (Isaiah 53: 4-5)  Now when we read the gospels,  we are training our minds to think in terms of the miracle working power of God—not only in their lives, but in our life!!!

The Bible says in—

Psalm 27:13-14 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹³ I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

The Amplified Bible says, “wait, hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring.”

Today’s Assignment:

1.      Read the following scriptures with the idea of training your mind to think above the circumstances you see around you:

Mark 1: 29:31

Mark 1: 40-45

Mark 2: 1-12

Mark 3: 1-5

Mark 5: 25-34

Note:  Take a highlighter and put a box around these miracles of healing.  Use all the same color.  (Example:  All healing miracles are highlighted in yellow.)

Prayer:

Father, I put my hope in You.  I know that I can’t do it, but I know that your miracle working power is still available today.  My hope is in You. Help me to walk this out, in Jesus’ name I ask this.  Amen