October 27

Standing Firm - Shield of Faith 27 by SGLY Ministry

…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2 NKJV.

Jesus is the Shield of Faith for He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Our faith begins at salvation and continues throughout our life as a believer, for ” it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NLT. Romans 1:17 NLT says: “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.”

Therefore, everyday we need to be holding up the Shield of Faith, to stand strong against the enemy who prowls around like a lion seeking to devour us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for providing Your Son, Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Faith to be my Shield, helping me daily to stand strong against the powers and principalities in the heavenlies. At the time of my passing into eternity I want to be able to say as Paul said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV. Therefore, I need to be wearing the Armor daily, holding up the Shield of Faith to guard myself from the firey darts of the wicked ones. I pray for strength God that I might be a good and faithful soldier in Your service daily. Thank You God. Amen.

Today: Wear the Armor–Hold up the Shield of Faith–Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13.
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 1 John 5:4 NLT

Thank You Jesus for being our Author and Finisher of Faith that saved us and will protect us daily.

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A Bible Devotion

You Are Not A Failure

EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You may have failed, but you are not a failure.

It is not the essence of what and who you are. Failure is just something that happened to you.

God created you, and He made you able to do good. Maybe you have not yet discovered what you were created for, but God has a plan for you. When you fit into God's plan you will find that God truly made you "a work of His art."

A donkey could compare itself to a race horse and think it was a failure. But a donkey was created for other things than running fast.

Find out what you were created to be and do. Then rejoice as you do it.

SAY THIS: I am God's unique work of art -- still in progress.

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Speak Positively

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. —Psalm 51:6

Focus on speaking words in faith today; keep your confession truthful but positive. Don’t deny the existence of your circumstances, but confess what God’s Word has to say about your situation.
For example, if you are sneezing, coughing, and finding it difficult to breathe, it isn’t truthful to say you aren’t sick. But you can learn to present a negative situation in a positive way. You can say, “I believe God’s healing power is working in me, and that I am getting better all the time.”

From the book Starting Your Day Right

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Believe in Yourself.

"How can I get some faith in myself?" a man asked Dr. Peale. "Take two steps. First, analyze your feelings of no power. This may take time. In the meantime, repeatedly affirm, 'I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.'"

No. 1 in a series of 100 Power Thoughts from The Power of Positive Thinking, the All-Time

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He Sees Your Tears

Thought for the Day

"There are times that our suffering and sadness seem to overwhelm us and, no matter how hard we pray or ask God to ease our burden, we can feel alone and abandoned. Know that God does hear you and feels your pain and is working to bring you a brighter future. It is knowing He is working to bring that to you that gives hope; it is that hope that can lighten your load and make your current suffering more tolerable."
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Today's Word

"My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees." (Lamentations 3:49-50 NIV)
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Today's Prayer

Father, I have great days basking in all that You have given me; however, there are also days when my tears flow. It is when they do that I have the hope for new days to come when the sun shines bright and I will again feel your bounty surrounding me. Knowing that you are always working for me gives me the hope that lets me carry on during those dark times. Amen

The Whisper Of God

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1 Chronicles 29:13 'Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.'

- When last did you stop and thank the Lord for all He has done for you?
- When last did you express your gratitude and thankfulness to Him?
- Now is a good time to pause and thank Him for His great faithfulness.
- Thankfulness and praise should be our lifestyle of choice.

PRAYER: Lord, right now I want to take a moment and thank You for Your great kindness, faithfulness and love towards me. I will praise You as long as I live. Amen.

Kind Regards
Pastor Andrew & Vanessa Roebert

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Teach me Your way, O LORD

Save Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Exodus 33:13

Teach me Your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth. Grant me undividedness of heart so that I may fear Your name. Psalm 86:11

Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Psalm 27:11

Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4

I find it interesting how much passion King David had to learn from God. No wonder God called him His friend!

When was the last time we sat down to learn something from the Lord, or of the Lord?

Don't worry if you have not sought out the Lord lately. Let's recommit ourselves to His teachings from now onwards.

Let's say this simple prayer: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10)

Have a blessed day!

Coffee with Jesus

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God Uses Failures by Max Lucado

What was I thinking taking this job? I should have done better. It’s all my fault. The voices—you’ve heard them all. When you lost your job, flunked the exam, or when your marriage went south…when you failed. The voices began to howl, laughing at you. You heard them and you joined them. You disqualified yourself and berated yourself. You sentenced yourself to hard labor in the Leavenworth of poor self-worth. Oh, the voices of failure. Failure finds us all.

But God’s Word is written for failures. It’s full of folks who were foul-ups. David was a failure, yet God used him. Jonah was in the belly of a fish and God heard his prayer. Perfect people? No. Perfect messes? You bet! A surprising and welcome discovery of the Bible is this: God uses failures! Miss this truth and you miss your Glory Days. God’s grace is greater than your failures.

From Glory Days

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Bible Verses

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

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Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

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Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. — Psalm 34:8

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Romans 16:17-18 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

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1 Peter 2:9 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

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2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

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Prayers

For the Spirit of Prayer

Almighty God, who pours out the spirit of grace and of supplication to all who ask for it; Deliver me, when I draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, so that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, I may worship You in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer for Compassion

I need to be forgiven, God, so many times a day.
So often do I slip and fall, Be merciful I pray!
Help me not to be critical, when other's faults I see;
For so many times, O God, The same faults are in me.

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O Lord, forgive Our insensitivity to the needs of others, 0 Lord, forgive. Our prejudice and fear that prevent us from loving, 0 Lord, forgive. The narrowness of our vision and our shrinking from your demands, 0 Lord, forgive. Our resentment against those who have hurt us, 0 Lord, forgive. Our desire to do your work in our way, 0 Lord, forgive. Our impatiance with those who are different from us, 0 Lord, forgive. Our failure to listen properly to other points of view, 0 Lord, forgive. Our fear of coming out of the fortress of our own souls into fuller life and deeper love, 0 Lord, forgive. – 276 Modern prayer from Toronto, Canada

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O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Of the Holy Spirit

Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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May the Holy Spirit rush into your life and lead you to boldly speak the name of Jesus without holding back.

May the Holy Spirit give you courage to face the world as the world is so much stronger.

May the Holy Spirit remind you what Jesus taught that you may teach others.

May the Holy Spirit lead you to places that you would never dream of going.

May the Holy Spirit be your guide as it did for those first disciples.

Let us pray…

Holy and Mighty God, it is difficult to admit that we are powerless and weak. It is scary to think we are nothing but sheep in the midst of ravenous wolves. Oh God, restore our hope in you through Jesus. Strengthen our faith that we may know your peace. Open our eyes that we may see your power. And send us forth in your name. May we not rely on our ingenuity, creativity or intelligence but may we seek your wisdom in order to bring your peace into this world. Loving God, you are the restorer of creation, not us. May we be your instruments and give glory to your name. Now may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, Oh God, our Rock, Redeemer and Restorer, Amen.

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Dear Father, thank you for today. Please be with those who are in need and guide them on the road they must travel.

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Father, we thank You again for this day and another chance to express our love, praise and thankfulness for Your never-ending mercy and blessings. Thank You for our daily bread and shelter. Strengthen believers with Your Holy Spirit, touching each heart with the assurance of Your love and presence because we need it. In every controversial situation we face please reveal Your presence stirring the desire in people to desire You. Amen.

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Dear Lord, thank you for this day. I ask that my weaknesses do not lead others to stray. Please give me the wisdom to make the right choices and lead by example.