A Tip for Reading the Word

A Tip for Reading the Word

Often, when we read the Bible, we make it our aim to read as much of it as possible in one sitting. But I want to suggest you do something very different. The next time you read your Bible, instead of reading as much as you can as fast as you can, read very slowly. Determine in advance that it doesn’t matter how much you read but how deeply you read. Set your heart not on gaining information but on getting revelation.

Certainly Bible study is very good and the Word itself admonishes us to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) Continue reading

The Power of God’s Word

The Power of God’s Word

The Word of God is not simply scribbles on a page or ideas in a book. The Word of God is full of life and supplies the “nutrients” you need to make it through each day. Think about it for a moment: When you eat a bowl of spinach, you cannot see how the nutrients in that spinach actually affect your body. You can’t see the process of nutritious food getting into your organs and joints and making those things strong.  You can’t visualize it—but it still happens.

It’s the same way with the Word of God. The Word of God has nutrients to build you spiritually. You cannot understand how His words affect you, but they do! Every word is a container of power. It is an injection of God Himself. His power is released into you through His words, and by these injections of God Himself, you can project Him and go forward in life.Continue reading

Restraining the Powers  of Darkness

Restraining the Powers
of Darkness

For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7 AMP)

Right now, God is marshaling His forces. Just as a nation would marshal its military forces to prepare for a possible war, He is assembling His spiritual army on the earth.

He is reminding every one of us as saints of the Lord that we are called to be soldiers for Him. He is commanding us in the body of Christ to be strong in His might, to put on the whole armor of God, and take our stand against the wiles of the Devil—not only in our own lives and families, but in our cities, in our nations, and in the world.

Although He loves each of us dearly and enjoys blessing us, the Lord of Hosts has more for us to do than sit comfortably in His spiritual pastures, feeding on His goodness. He needs for us to rise up now and fight His foes; to use the strength and revelation we’ve been given to take spiritual territory and expand the kingdom of God.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the details of day-to-day living, we forget that’s what we as believers are here to do. We get busy taking the kids to soccer practice and grocery shopping and going to work every day, and we lose sight of our true purpose. We start acting like we’re on the earth just so we can have a nice, happy life.

But we have a much higher calling. As members of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I are called to resist and restrain the powers of darkness in the earth. We are equipped by God to restrain what the New Testament refers to as “the mystery of lawlessness” that is at work in the world. It’s our job to hold back Satan’s forces until the time of the rapture comes and Jesus returns.

So load your weapons, soldier. Take your place in God’s army of prayer.

Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–7

This post is an excerpt from Devotions for the Praying Heart: Prayer Notes. To purchase your own copy of the book, visit our store.

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful gift of love we are celebrating today. Merry Christmas!

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.Continue reading