Break Free

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose."

(Acts 16:25-26, NIV)

Praising in the Midnight Hour

Paul and Silas were put in jail for spreading good news. 

It wasn't fair. 

They were beaten with rods without a trial. 

It was unjust. 

As they sat in the prison, bloody, bruised and uncomfortable, they began to sing praises to God. 

All of the sudden, there was a great earthquake. 

The prison doors flung open, the chains fell off and they walked out as free men. What happened? 

They praised their way to victory!

If we're going to live in victory, we have to know how to praise in our midnight hour—when things seem the darkest, when we're in pain, disappointed, lonely or experiencing a loss. 

When you praise Him NO MATTER WHAT, that's when God can enter your situation. 

That's when He can break your chains and set you free!

Even if you aren't in a difficult season, remember, praise paves the way to victory. 

Praise is what we are called to do! 

Today, Praise Him, not because of how you feel but because He is worthy! 

Praise Him in your midnight hour and get ready to embrace the freedom and victory He has prepared for you!

A Prayer for Today

"Father, right now I lift my heart to You. I declare that You are worthy to be praised, and Your worth doesn't change because of my circumstances. I will bless You in the midnight hour knowing that You are good, and You have victory and freedom in store for me in Jesus' name! 

Amen."

From Today's Word 

Stay Strong!!!!

Cast it on Me...No Matter

CAST YOUR BURDEN ON ME, AND I WILL SUSTAIN YOU.. 

No matter what your circumstances may be, I can—and will—carry you through them. 

Sometimes you are weighed down by a situation that seems too heavy for you. 

Do not try to cope with this burden alone. 

Instead, bring it into My Presence and cast it on Me, releasing it into My care and keeping. 

Although your circumstances may not change right away, you can find real relief through this process. 

Casting your burden on Me is a spiritual transaction. 

You acknowledge that I am in charge of your life and that outcomes are ultimately My domain. 

This lightens your load immensely, relieving you from feeling responsible for things beyond your control. 

When you come to Me weary and burdened, I have promised that I will give you rest. 

Take My yoke upon you—trusting in My unfailing Love—and let Me carry your heavy load. 

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. 

From "Jesus Today " by Sarah Young 

Stay Strong!!!!

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"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." 

—Psalm 55:22 NKJV 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

—Matthew 11:28–30 

"I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."

 —Psalm 13:5

Got HOPE?

BE JOYFUL IN HOPE. 

SOMETIMES THE CIRCUMSTANCES of your life (and the condition of this world) make it difficult for you to be joyful. 

When you're searching for Joy, where do you turn? 

One of the best places to find true Joy is in hope.

I want you to know the hope to which I have called you—the riches of My glorious inheritance. 

Since you are a co-heir with Me, this blessing is definitely for you. 

When present circumstances are weighing you down, grasp onto hope for dear life! 

It will help you not only to survive but to thrive—to live joyously. 

In some ways, hope is like a hot-air balloon. 

It is very buoyant, so it can lift you up above your troubles. 

It enables you to soar in the heavens with Me—helping you see things from a heightened, big-picture perspective. 

To embark on this heavenly journey, you must climb into the basket beneath the balloon—by trusting fully that your hope in Me will not let you down. 

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. 

From "Jesus Today "by Sarah Young 

Stay Strong!!

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"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

—Romans 12:12 

"May God] give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." 

—Ephesians 1:17–18 ESV 

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." 

—Proverbs 23:18

Hold Tightly!!

THOUGH YOU WALK IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE, I will revive you. 

So don't let problems intimidate you. 

Remember that I, the Mighty One, am in your midst, and I am Greater than all the trouble in the world. 

My right hand will save you! 

Hold tightly to My hand and you can walk confidently through your toughest times. 

I enable you not only to endure your hardships but also to grow stronger through them. 

However, because you are on an arduous journey, there will be times when you feel weary and faint. 

Do not interpret this as a sign of My displeasure with you. 

It is simply part of living in a fallen, sin-stained world. 

Remember that you are not alone: I am with you, and your brothers throughout the world are experiencing the same kind of sufferings as you. 

Stay in communication with Me as you persevere along this challenging path. 

My living Presence will revive you—Strengthening you and Blessing you with Peace. 

From "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young 

Stay Strong!!!!! 

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"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me."

—Psalm 138:7 NKJV 

"The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

—Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV 

"Resist your enemy the devil, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 

—1 Peter 5:9 

"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." 

—Psalm 29:11

Laden With Worries

TRUST IN ME FOREVER, FOR I AM THE ROCK eternal. 

It is easy to trust Me for a while—especially when things are going well in your life. 

But I am calling you to trust in Me at ALL times, no matter what is happening. 

I understand what a difficult assignment this is, and I know that you will sometimes fail in this venture. 

But I continue to love you perfectly even when you don't succeed. 

Let this assurance of My unfailing Love draw you back to Me—back to trusting Me. 

Though your trust is imperfect and unsteady, I am the Rock eternal—absolutely steady and unchanging. 

You can rely on Me! 

When your walk through this world feels wobbly, remember that I am your Rock. 

I always provide a stable place for you to stand. 

I can easily bear all your weight, including the weight of your problems. 

So come to Me when you are feeling heavy laden with worries. 

I invite you to lean on Me—trusting Me with all your heart and mind. 

From "Jesus Always " by Sarah Young 

Stay Strong!!!!!

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"Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal."

—Isaiah 26:4 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

—Matthew 11:28 NKJV 

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding."

—Proverbs 3:5 AMP

Belly of the Whale

Happy Monday!!  STAY STRONG!!!

"Since we have the same spirit of faith…we also believe, and so we also speak."

(2 Corinthians 4:13, ESV)

Say What?

Scripture says, "The spirit of faith is in our words." 

My question today is, "What's coming out of your mouth?" 

Are you talking about how big your problems are, or are you talking about how big your God is?

As believers, our attitude should always be an attitude of praise—

"Father, business may be slow, but I want to thank You that You're supplying all of my needs." 

"My circumstance may seem impossible, but thank You, God, that all things are possible with You!" 

We should always find a reason to give thanks!

This is what Jonah did. 

After complaining for eight verses, he had a change of heart in verse nine. 

He said, "God, in spite of my difficulties, I'm going to offer unto You the sacrifice of praise with a voice of thanksgiving." 

While sitting in the belly of the whale, instead of complaining, he began to worship. 

The next verse says that the whale spit him out onto dry ground, and he went on to fulfill his destiny.

If you feel like you're in the belly of a whale, if you feel trapped, if things seem dark, remember, praise always precedes the victory! 

Open your mouth and declare His praises! 

Say what the Word says and watch the breakthrough come to pass!

A Prayer for Today

"Father God, I humbly come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ. I commit my words and thoughts to You. I choose to say what the Word says. I choose to speak the truth and trust that You are working for my good in Jesus' name. 

Amen."

From "Today's Word"

Stay Strong!!!

Strength and Victory!!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me..."

(Psalm 23:4, NKJV)

Walk Through

Do you ever feel like you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death? 

During the tough times, it's easy to get discouraged. 

I love what it says in the verse, "though I walk through…" 

No matter what you are facing today, know this: you are not alone, and you are just walking through. 

You don't have to stop and live in the tough times. 

They are only temporary!!

I encourage you today; don't allow fear to paralyze you in the middle of "the valley of the shadow of death." 

Remember, God is with you. 

He is walking beside you. 

He is Strengthening you. 

He is making a way of escape for you. 

He is lining up people and situations to bring you out of that tough place into a place of Strength and Victory. 

Don't give up! 

Press on and walk through! 

Begin to get a vision of your life on the other side. 

See yourself more loving, more faithful, stronger and more blessed than ever before. 

As you keep moving forward and walking through, you will get to the other side and experience the victory God has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

"Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Thank You for walking with me even in the hard times. I trust that You are taking me through my circumstances to a place of victory and strength in Jesus' name. 

Amenl"

Stay Strong!!!!

From "Today's Word "

Through the Darkness

WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A DARK time—a hard time—it's easy to project that darkness into the future. 

The longer you struggle with adverse circumstances, the darker the way before you appears—and the harder it is to imagine yourself walking along bright paths again. 

The temptation is to just give up and let misery become your companion. 

So it is crucial at such times to remember that I am your CONSTANT Companion. 

Moreover, because I am Sovereign God, I am able to turn your darkness into Light. 

When you feel on the verge of sinking in despair, turn to Me for help! 

Cling to My hand, and walk by faith through the darkness!

Do not focus on the circumstances that are weighing you down. 

Instead, through eyes of faith, look ahead to brighter times, and praise Me for them. 

While you worship Me in the midst of darkness, I enable you to see the first gleam of dawn on the path before you. 

Continue walking worshipfully with Me—a walk of faith. 

As you persevere along this path, the dim light will gradually shine brighter and brighter till the full light of day. 

From "Jesus Always "

Stay Strong!

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"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.'

   —Isaiah 61:1 

"You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light." 

      —2 Samuel 22:29 

"We walk by faith, not by sight."

    —2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV 

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.  

    —Proverbs 4:18

The Only One...

PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME, AND I WILL KEEP YOU SAFE!

There is a deep, deep yearning in your heart for safety and security. 

You can mask these longings with activity for a time, but only for a time. 

These feelings actually serve a very good purpose. 

Properly used, they can point you to Me and My sufficiency. 

I am the only One who can really, ultimately keep you safe. 

Whenever you start to feel insecure—about anything—come to Me. 

Talk with Me about your fears and concerns; then affirm your trust in Me. 

Voicing your trust connects you with Me at a deep level. 

It also pushes back the darkness of deception. 

The evil one has been deceiving people ever since time began, since the Garden of Eden. 

Do not listen to his lies. 

Instead, put your trust in Me, for I am absolute Truth.

As you come to know Me—the Truth—better and better, I make you increasingly free. 

Stay Strong!!!

From "Jesus Today"

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"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."

 —Proverbs 29:25 

"The LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 

—Genesis 3:13 

"Jesus said to [Thomas], "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." 

—John 14:6 NKJV 

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

—John 8:32 NKJV

True Faith

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
ACTS 16: 25

As Christians, we say we walk by faith, but do we fully understand what it means?

Jeremiah preached faithfully for more than sixty years without ever having a positive response to his message.

In fact, he faced being stoned to death.

But he lived by faith!

When the apostle Paul was thrown into prison because he'd preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, he lived by faith.

In fact, Paul prayed and sang hymns to God in prison.

Can you imagine what those jailers must have thought?

I doubt very much that Paul felt like singing.

But he had learned to live by faith, NOT by his feelings.

God commands you and me to exercise our will, to make the deliberate, conscious choice to walk by FAITH.

Start Trusting God!

Live by faith in Him — and in His Word!!

The rest will take care of itself!

STAY STRONG!!!

Temporary Trouble

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

 -  2 Corinthians 4:17

You may not call your troubles right now "light" and "momentary," but they are. 

When we see our troubles compared with others', they don't seem so heavy. 

We also have a God who asks us to come to Him with our burdens and He will give us rest. 

Our troubles won't last forever. 

They may last a day or a few years, but with an eternal perspective, they are only a moment—the equivalent of one second when we use an eternal calendar. 

We must also see those troubles as achieving something greater—an eternal glory. 

Those troubles introduce people to God's love and strength. 

Outsiders watch a Christian's reaction to troubles and understand true faith. 

The temporary is achieving the eternal. 

It's tough now. 

It'll be glorious later."

From "The 100 Most Encouraging Bible Verses"

Stay Strong!!!

Don't Worry - Pray!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." 

- 79 Philippians 4:6 

Don't worry. 

About anything. 

Worry, many feel, is their duty when hit with stress. 

They think that by worrying they are doing something and are therefore engaged in the solution. 

Worry solves nothing; it only makes things worse for yourself. 

Philippians 4:6 says don't worry . . . pray. 

Present your need before God and leave it there. 

If you went to valet parking and left your car with the attendant but worried about it all during dinner, you would have a terrible time. 

You are saying you don't trust the attendant, and that the car was more important than dinner. 

When stressed, we need to leave our worries with God and walk away. 

If we worry, we're saying that we don't trust God with the keys to our lives. 

We lose appreciation for what else He's given us. 

We think He doesn't hear us or care. 

Worry solves nothing. 

Presenting your need to God and leaving it there for Him to handle solves EVERYTHING."

Stay Strong!!

Your Boss

"For exaltation (promotion) comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another."

(Psalm 75:6-7, NKJV)

When God is Your Boss

I know this man who was upset because his boss was really against him. 

The boss was always trying to make him look bad and would never give him any kind of recognition. 

The truth is that his boss was jealous of him. 

But, this man just kept being his best, working unto God. 

There were several promotions that he should have received, but because of this unfair boss, he was passed over.

One day the CEO of the corporation was in town, and this man had to make a presentation. 

The CEO was very impressed. 

About a year later, a position became available that should have gone to the man's boss, but the CEO bypassed the boss and called this man directly. 

Today, instead of working for the unfair boss, the tables have turned. 

The boss is working for him.

Always remember, promotion comes from the Lord. 

When you stay faithful and keep a right attitude, that's when God will promote you. 

One touch of His favor and things will totally turn around! 

Keep abiding. 

Keep being faithful. 

Stay on that high road. 

God will make your wrongs right and promote you in your due season!

A Prayer for Today

"Father God, today I humbly submit myself to You because You are good and faithful. I choose to work and live according to Your Word because I love You and desire to honor You. I receive Your mercy and grace today so I can live a life pleasing to You in Jesus' name. Amen."

From "Today's Word"

Stay Strong!!

Declare Your Trust

TRUSTING ME is the alternative to falling into despair or escaping into unreality. 

When you're in the midst of adversity, it can be hard to think clearly. 

Yet this is when it's vitally important to make wise decisions. 

Sometimes it's as if choices are swirling around you, waiting for you to grab onto the right one. 

However, there is one choice that is always appropriate and always effective: the decision to TRUST Me with all your heart and mind. 

If you're on the verge of sliding into the depths of despair, stop and DECLARE Your Trust in Me. 

Whisper it, speak it, shout it! 

Spend some time thinking about all the reasons you have for being confident in Me. 

Remember and rejoice in My endless, unfailing Love for you. 

If you've been numbing your pain through denial of reality, expressing your trust can bring you into contact with ultimate Reality—Me! 

Confide in Me, beloved, for I am infinitely knowing. 

I understand everything about your circumstances, and I WILL help you!

Just simply Ask!! 

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"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding."

—PROVERBS 3:5 AMP 

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."

—PSALM 52:8 

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

—ISAIAH 41:13

Stay Strong!!!

Cast All Anxiety...

Happy Monday!!

THE PRESENT MOMENT is the point at which time intersects eternity. 

It is also the place where you can encounter Me—your eternal Savior. 

So keep your thoughts focused on the present as much as you can, enjoying My Presence here and now. 

Invite Me into whatever you are engaged in. 

Ask Me to help you do your work heartily. 

Working collaboratively with Me lightens your load and enables you to be more effective. 

Share with Me not only your work but also your leisure—thanking Me for both. 

When something upsets you, don't let fearful or obsessive thoughts take over your mind. 

Instead, talk with Me about whatever is troubling you. 

Then cast all your anxiety on Me, knowing that I care for you. 

If you ask, I will open your eyes and awaken your heart so you can see more fully all that the present contains. 

I delight in meeting with you in your wide-awake heart! 

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"I came into the world so that you may have life in abundance—till it overflows. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."

—COLOSSIANS 3:23 NASB 

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

—1 PETER 5:7 

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."

—JOHN 10:10 AMP

From "Jesus Lives"

Stay Strong!!!