Daily Bible Reading - Thursday Feb. 12th

As I read and studied the scriptures this morning I still have on my mind about the devotional yesterday and how important it really is for us to watch what we speak over ourselves and others.  Today’s devotional picks up where yesterdays left off.  It really took me back to when I first started this journey and had to lose 50 or 60 pounds before my surgery date.  I would go out walking, not far cuz it was really hard to walk very far then but I remember I would say out loud while walking “I am thin and not fat" “ I am the head and not the tail" “ I can do this, I am strong and not weak"  I would walk and declare those things in my life and believe it or not I lost more then enough weight before surgery and was strong.  Right out of surgery I still kept that up, it really helped me to get stronger and walk more and the weight was coming off.  After awhile I think I got over confident or something because I stopped declaring things in my life and eventually the weight stopped coming off and I stopped exercising and started to eat the wrong things and got off track.  I dunno why I stopped declaring the Lords blessings over my life but did.  I can sure tell you though since I have gotten back on track and just recently started confessing the word over my life and speaking to the “mountain" my weight, it’s helped me get back on track and be motivated and eat the right things and now the weight is coming off again.  Yeah I know some say that’s just silly that it was my choice to eat the wrong things and not walk etc. etc.  but its really true.   Like the devotional says we have set backs but those set backs just set us up for a great come back, well I’m declaring right now that I am coming back stronger then ever before.  There is so much the Lord is doing in our lives it’s almost hard to keep up.  When we have the favor of God on our side there is no way we can be defeated.  I challenge all of you that read this to try declaring the Lords blessings over your life, confess you are the head and not the tail, that you are prosperous, that you are motivated and so on.  Try doing that when your alone or driving to work or to town or when your in the shower, I promise you that you will see results.  When we speak the Word of God over our lives the enemy has no choice but to flee.  Our words really are powerful as a two edged sword.

 

***Jan*** I used to put lil cards around the house with scriptures and declarations on it, on the bathroom mirror and frige and so forth and it sure helped me, Im gonna start doing that again.

 

***Lana*** Positive attitudes get us every where doesn’t it?  I really believe God intended for us to be positive and have the positive attitude in our lives.  I really would hate to live like a lot of people do with negativity; we’d get no where and do nothing with our lives.

 

***Bec*** Glad to see you back, we sure miss your wisdom when your gone!  I remember that song when we used to travel with an evangelist,  we’d sing songs like that at camp meetings, its positive songs like that I like to listen to sometimes when Im walking or just doing things around the  house, they really stick in your mind.   Can’t wait to hear about the sermon that stuck with ya.

 

Well I better get this posted; I hope everyone has a great day, hopefully it’ll be nice out.

 

Today’s Reading

Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6

 

Daily Devotional

 

Psalm 107:2
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary"

Notice this verse doesn't say "Let the redeemed of the Lord think so. Let the redeemed believe so." Of course it's important to think right, and it's important to believe right, but something supernatural happens when we declare something out loud. And, you don't even have to say it to anyone else, you can just say it to yourself–driving to work or in the shower, you can say, "The economy may be low, but I am blessed. I am prosperous. I will lend and not borrow." "I may have had some setbacks, but I know those setbacks are a setup for a comeback! This is still going to be my best year so far. The favor of God is turning things around."

You are prophesying your future. When you say what the Lord has done for you, when you declare that you are redeemed, you are opening the door for God to move on your behalf. The Scripture tells us that He watches over His Word to perform it. When you declare His Word, when you speak His promises, He is faithful to fulfill them and lead you into victory all the days of your life!

 

Today's thought: I declare God’s goodness, promises and favor in my life today.

Loved the portion in Psalms:

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,

to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.

In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, Oh Lord, even as we put our hope in You.

This gives me much comfort today especially as I face a sort of "famine" in my own life right now... it let's me know that no matter what happens to us the Lord knows what we are going thru and what we need.

Now I know this is a "bit" off topic but sure can tie into some of the things we have read lately and that was the sermon I heard on Sunday... the preacher was preaching in John where Jesus brought Lazarus from the cave after he had been dead for 4 days...

That sermon has been preached more times than I can remember for sure... but I got a visual picture in my mind that stuck this week.... after the Lord told Lazarus to come forth... you know I've always had in my mind he ran out of there all excited and happy for what the Lord had done... but in reality he came out of the cave bound.... in grave clothes. Yes he knew the Lord had done a miracle in his life but he was still bound by those grave clothes... the Lord told those people to take them off of him so he could be free... the minister likened that to what "grave clothes" do we have on?  "We" have to cast off those to receive what the Lord has for us!  Yes the Lord had done the miracle but until someone physically took the grave clothes off of him could he move in freedom!!!  Oh that excited me !!!  More of those bumps Andy talks about... and really this ties in to what all we have been saying about the "d" word!!!!  Then I got to thinking what are my "grave clothes" it was not hard to come up with some right away! ~ha  Many times I think the Lord has provided the "miracle" or the "way" but I missed it when I did not throw off those ole grave clothes and accept what the Lord provided for me!

In a way it saddens me that I was not in the place to "see" the provision thus missing something good the Lord had for me.... but there is the now... a new day with new mercies!  The Lord has so graciously brought it to my attention yet again so I have the "eyes" to see what my precious Lord intends for me! 

Thought maybe this would bless someone else as it did me.

.... so in leaving you today this redeemed lady is saying so!!! ~tee hee

Bec

You know saying out loud these words of affirmation are great, some say yes but the Lord hears our prayers if we are saying them only in our minds , Yes he does but the Devil doesnt....
I have heard some people talk about how strong the devil is and they actually think he is as strong as God , NO WAY... he cant hear your thoughts if they arent said outloud....when you walk around saying oh i hurt, im in pain, im tired, im depressed etc etc the devil hears all of this and works on it to make it more so....but if you declare out loud the name of JESUS and that you are REDEEMED , AlND that you are a precious gift and a child of Gods , the devil has no place to work on those things. My grandmother use to walk around her house with her hands in the air and speaking the sweet name of JESUS  and how she was blessed,... and you know she never had a lot materially but she never wanted for anything , she always had more than enough to give to anyone ...she was my role model growing up and still is ....

so raise your hands to the Lord and declare out loud all of these words of the last couple of days and see if it doesnt start making your life better....God is there , you are the one that keeps the distance between you both not him,,...

This speaking the words out loud makes me remember the dear pastor's wife I had thirty or more years ago who, when her children were fussy or her husband or she was out of sorts, would go to the front door, open it and say "Satan, get out of this house right now!!!" It works, it really does. Jan is so right. Satan is just waiting to hear us speak negatively and he can use it to make us more miserable. But speaking joyously out loud cancels him out and brings our dear Lord Jesus into the room and our hearts again. Try it, if nothing else it will make your kids and hubby think you are crazy and that's always a good thing!!
Hugs,
Lana