Victory247

“The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer”

Psalm 6:9 (NIV)

“Grace” is getting something we don’t deserve; a gift, salvation…”Mercy” is not getting something we do deserve; not punished for our wrongful actions.

There are times when we know we have done wrong, sinned, and come up with all the reasons and excuses for our actions because we don’t understand God’s mercy. He so badly wants us to “admit it and quit it”, so that we can move forward in our growth.

If we honestly admit to Him, then He can say; “I forgive you, and won’t hold that against you. I give you ‘mercy’. Start over.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, don’t let me live in defeat, don’t let me believe the lie in my head that “You won’t forgive me for that one”. Thank You that You always hear my prayers even if I don’t deserve it. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“But let all who take refuge in You be glad”

Psalm 5:11 (NIV)

As a kid, I played my local golf course hundreds of times. There was a long par 5 hole that takes you far away from the clubhouse. Behind the green sits a little old shelter that was overgrown with vines and weeds. The unkept little shelter use to bother me, but over time became just part of the background.

One summer afternoon a rainstorm hit the golf course hard and fast. I felt helpless till I remembered the shelter. I sprinted to my place of ‘refuge’ during 30 minutes of driving rain. I was safe, I was ‘glad’. I never looked at that dingy little building the same.

Maybe we all need to take ‘refuge’ in the One who can truly shelter us from life’s pressures and attacks. If you do, your affection for God will always grow.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, shelter, comfort and protect me. I need You in the midst of life’s stresses. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom…”

(Psalm 111:10, AMP)

The word ‘fear’ in this instance doesn’t mean “to be afraid;” it means to have honor, respect and revere Him because He is God. The more we truly ‘fear’ Him for who He is and worship Him, the more supernatural wisdom will operate in our lives. We’ll better know what to do in difficult situations, and we’ll be a voice of godly counsel with our friends and family.

We need to reverently worship Him by declaring that He is our Provider, our Healer, our Redeemer. When we focus on God instead of focusing on our problems, wisdom will flow through us, and we’ll be empowered to live a life of victory!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I choose today to honor and worship You. Thank You for filling me with Your wisdom today so that I can live in victory the way You intend. Help me make wise choices and honor You in all that I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Morning by morning, I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation”

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

Prayer is actually talking to the God of the universe. Sometimes we just throw our ‘requests’ into the air out of habit, or for good luck. When praying with others we tend to say words that will impress, or at least, not make us  sound bad.

I asked some college students if Jesus Himself walked through that door, put His arm around you and said, “what can I do for you today, how can I help?” Their eyes lit up with ‘expectation’, because they could picture those prayers being heard by a living Diety who can and will act.

The bible tells us to pray in just that way. He is really right beside us, listening.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are at my side listening and desiring to work for me, through me, and inspite of me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent”

Psalm 4:4 (NIV)

When we go to bed it can be a great opportunity to think and pray. We get so busy that when we get some free thinking time we fill it with phones, texting, Facebook, TV, ipods…God knows that all of us need ‘silent’ time. Time to think, reflect, plan and talk to Him.

My children just don’t understand why I don’t turn on the radio right when I get into the car. Or why I don’t fall asleep with the TV on in bed. Those are my much needed ‘silent’ times. Don’t get me wrong, I listen to the radio, watch TV and do all those other things listed. But I need to make sure I’ve had quiet time.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to find and take advantage of the ‘silent’ times You give to me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked”

Psalm 1:1 (NIV)

‘Blessed’ is a deeper form of happiness. God is telling us to avoid ‘the counsel (advice) of the wicked’ to attain “blessedness”. What is this ‘counsel’ He is referring to?

Music and TV’s counsel us how to cheat, hate, have all kinds of sex, drink, lie, degrade others…and none of these seem to effect the actor’s happiness. Those scripts seem to always work out because they are scripts!

In reality, all of those things listed (even if they have been forgiven), leave deep wounds and life altering scars. They kill healthy relationships and strangle our inner “blessedness”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, as I watch and listen, help me discern what the bad ‘counsel’ is that my actions should not follow. Fill my mind with Your bible, quiet prayers and Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account”

Philipians 4:17 (NIV)

Paul was basically thanking them for sending money and supplies that helped him reach out to others while on his missionary journey. I like how he put it all in perspective with this verse. When we give, not only will it open us up to God’s blessings, it gets ‘credited’ to us in God’s bookkeeping ledger.

So, when we give our time, kind words, money, possessions, a helping hand…we are the ones who need to say thank you to those whom we gave. Because in God’s economy we are the ones who will truly benefit! “Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, show me opportunities to give of myself to others so that I may gain great blessings from You, both now and in heaven. Help me to act in Your strength. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”

Philippians 4:13 (New American Standard Bible)

Wow. Does this mean I can fly, dunk, or play the violin if I have never touched one before? Probably not what Paul was writing about. The key to this verse is that our strength to accomplish and “be”, can come from God working in us.

Through the Bible and His Spirit, He can develop our character, enhance our motivation, give us the right perspective, and make us wiser. All of which will ‘strengthen’ us to accomplish greater things. His desire is that we place our dependence and trust in Him (faith). We can go through our day asking Him for strength even in the things we feel capable in. Our faith and strength will grow!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I know You can grow my abilities and talents. Remind me to continually, in my thoughts, whisper prayers for strength so I can see You work through me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation”

Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Paul was in a smelly, nasty prison when he wrote this, chained twenty-four hours a day to a different Roman guard (for those of us who can’t relate; no TV, cell phone or internet access). Paul was a wealthy, top corporate exec of the Pharisees before he turned his life over to Christ. But now he is in a very humbling situation. So he really knows ‘what it is to be in need’ and ‘to have plenty’.

So what’s ‘the secret of being content’?—>

-> He truly trusted that God would take care of him, even if he died. His life was in God’s hands. He knew it was God’s responsibility to work things out.

-> He didn’t have the “if-then” mentality. “If things work out, then I will be happy”, “If I get this new job, then I will be fulfilled”, “If I had a romantic relationship, then my life would be complete”…

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to truly appreciate where I am in life, who I am, and what I have. Give me peace in my spirit, quench my unrest with thank You’s. I place my life in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

Have you every thought about what you think about? Try to stop periodically and evaluate your thoughts. How negative or positive were they? What kinds of words, sentences and paragraphs went across the screen of your brain?

“Good thinking” is a healthy diet for the soul. Negative and corrupt thoughts decay your inner well being.

It’s almost like the college student who went to the hospital for no apparent reason till the doctors found out he was living on fast and junk foods. He went on vitamins, added fruits and veggies, then got his health back.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to ‘fix’ my thoughts on good things, thankfulness, fond memories… Thank You that we can confess and move on from bad thoughts. Cause my insides to flourish. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.