Category: Devotions

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Daily Devotion

Revive Your Faith

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."  Romans 1:17

I apologize for the hiatus…as life goes on, many are the road blocks.  In my case, much of my own problems were caused because of my own "busyness".  I hope you all enjoy!  Be blessed and I plan to bring you more soon!

Marquita

Revive means to restore life, to bring back from the dead.  Because God through Jesus Christ is life to us, a "revival" is the restoration, the return, the bringing back to Christ.  How is a person revived?  By a confession of faith in Jesus Christ's sovereignty.  Without faith, we cut ourselves off life support–we pull the plug on how God could have changed the situation.  Without faith, you cannot know God, you cannot please God, and you cannot walk with God.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

We must learn to trust in God's promises.  You see, this was what I have been suffering from.  My faith had been choked like the seeds among thorns (Luke 8:14) by every little obstacle I encountered.  I somewhat cut myself off from God by not daily reading the Word.  I would be drained by giving advice, wisdom and divine insight to everyone else, and I would not use the resource I needed to refuel.  I would still spend time praising and worshipping God–communicating in a one-sided way to Him–which is not communicating!  So all the while my faith is withering away, because I am not using all of my lifelines to God.  Yep, I was in desperate need of revival.  God laid it on my heart that much like I cultivate friendships with others by spending time with them and talking to them, I needed to spend time with Him and talk to Him–but more importantly allow Him to talk back to me.

We need to revive our praise, our worship, and our communication to God.  All of these things are essential to developing our faith.  But the most important thing I learned is that we cannot do only one or two of them and not the other.  We must give them all to Him: all of the praise, all of our worship.  We must communicate with Him else the lines of communication get warped and we turn away from Him.  Go back to God because He wants it all.  Let the love of God within you revive your faith in His works and restore you to life.

"But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat."  Luke 8:54-55

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"No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of God and their righteousness is of me," says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17

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Daily Devotion

Bloodied But Unbowed
 
"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."  2 Corinthians 4:8-9
 
God never ceases to amaze me.  Tonight I had the favor to watch the most powerful testimony I've seen in a while.  You see we all go through things–willingly and unwillingly.  We experience things at our own hands and at the hands of others.  Sometimes we inflict these troubles upon our selves or we appear to be the target of a random act of violence.  Sometimes we faithfully endure these situations hoping and praying that God will miraculously deliver us from the oppression that we are experiencing while at other times we muster that last bit of courage and make whatever decisions God instructs to turn the situation around.  But most times, we do not ever leave the battle unscathed.
 
Bloodied but unbowed…taken from a very inspirational poem; now taking an additional meaning because of the scriptures above.  Everyone who followed Jesus' teachings during this time was persecuted.  Having had the favor to see what they lived in while trying to spread the message, I am humbled and truly know what they mean.(I went to Turkey in 2006 and in Cappadocia are the Underground Caves that made the Underground City where the persecuted Christians lived.)  Nowhere in the Bible does it say that life will be pain free; in fact, it often says the exact opposite.  As Christians we will suffer.  But we must not give up and surrender our power to the enemy.  We must not succumb to the attacks he brings against us.  Why?  Because Jesus already defeated Satan.  Our job at this point is to glorify God by keeping the faith.  Keep on believing and being steadfast.  Do not bow in defeat.  We are not crushed!  We are not driven to despair.  We are not destroyed.
 
'"Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.'  John 15:20
 
Here is the link from the video and I most definitely think you should look at it and give God all the glory.
 
http://www.tbn.org/watch/files/index.php?file=2010_8_3_300k.wmv&show=85
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"No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of God and their righteousness is of me," says the Lord.  Isaiah 54:17