Victory247

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

There’s a difference between the attitude of “I guess I should read my bible today and spend some time in prayer”. Verses, “I actually get the privilege of reading God’s words to me, and spending time impacting my life by talking to Him”. “I have to know God better today!”

A classic event that was recorded in the Old Testament, Genesis 32:24-32, helps us understand this ‘hunger’. Jacob wrestled with an angel of God for hours. The angel injured him terribly and told Jacob to let go and give up. Jacob’s response is awesome, and sheds great light on the verse today; “I will not let go until you bless me”. Though Jacob limped the rest of his life because of the injury, God did greatly bless him.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, it’s not in me to create this ‘hunger’, I’m asking You to give me that desire. Even when I don’t feel like it, please make me hunger, because I want Your blessing and I want to be ‘filled’ by You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

We all have times when our plans don’t work out. We get delayed, interrupted, and inconvenienced. It’s easy to get frustrated and fight against everything that doesn’t go our way. But I’ve learned that every interruption is not bad. Every closed door doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Every delay doesn’t mean you’re not where you’re supposed to be.

There is something called a “divine interruption” where God, on purpose, will delay us to protect us from an accident. On purpose, He will close a door because it’s not His best. Sometimes, God will allow us to be inconvenienced so we can help someone else in need. We have to be willing to press through difficulty so we can be at the right place at the right time.

The next time you’re interrupted, delayed, or inconvenienced, don’t start thinking, “This is a pain. This is getting me off schedule.” Get a new perspective. Look for what God wants to do because it could be a divine interruption or divine protection. Trust Him today because He is directing your steps.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me. I surrender every area of my mind, will, and emotions to You. Use me for Your glory today and teach me to discern Your ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”  (NIV)

The word ‘meek’ was used to depict the Roman horse. These horses were big with rippling muscles. They had the power and girth to trample and reek serious havoc if they were to run wild amongst the village. But they were very tame and obedient to the rider.

The common feeling we get from hearing the word ‘meek’ is a timid, feeble being that cowers into a corner. But, Jesus was referring more to the Roman horse, massive strength that is under control.

As we depend on God and His Holy Spirit for our daily strength and character, we have massive power to live life well, and to help and impact others.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to depend on You moment by moment so that You can instill meekness into me; controlled strength.

“Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever”

(Isaiah 61:7, The Message)

In the Old Testament when this scripture was written, God’s people were going through a very dark time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to encourage them and give them hope for their future. When the time came, God was faithful to His Word!

Are you going through a difficult time today? Let this word bring you encouragement, too. God wants to give you double for your trouble. He is the God of restoration—that means He’s not going to just repay you for every wrong done, He’s going to go above and beyond and make things even better than they were before.

If you are facing challenges today or going through a time of adversity, remember, it’s always darkest just before the dawn appears. Your days are destined to shine brighter because God is faithful. As you stay in faith and are obedient to His Word, you’ll receive double for your trouble and see His promises come to pass!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your Word which lights my path and guides my steps. I choose to put my trust and hope in You today. Thank You for bringing restoration into my life as I keep my heart and mind stayed on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

This line in Jesus’ sermon is really paradoxical. Happy(‘Blessed’) are they that mourn. But having come to a real awareness of myself in the light of God, coming to that poverty of spirit, my heart is broken over my own condition. I mourn over my failures, over what I see of myself and in myself. But the promise of the Lord is…

‘they will be comforted’!

As God begins to minister to me, the power of His Holy Spirit and His strength, and I begin now to experience those victories of Jesus Christ in my life and that makes me indeed happy. But that doesn’t come until I’ve come to the end of myself, and that place of just morning in the fact that I have no strength, no ability, no power. I feel that helplessness. I cry out from helplessness and then I begin to experience the glorious power of God, doing in my life what I could not possibly do for myself. And that leads me then to a true evaluation of myself.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to realize and remember that simple prayer, “I can’t , but You can”. Empower me with Your Spirit moment by moment as I go throughout my day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them”
(Romans 8:28, NLT)

Every person goes through disappointments and things that don’t seem to make sense. It’s easy to get discouraged and think, “Why did this happen to me?”

We have to understand that even though life is not always fair, God is fair. He promises that He will work all things together for our good. I believe the key word in today’s verse is “together.” In other words, don’t just isolate one part of your life and say, “Well, this is not good.” “It’s not good that I got laid off.” “It’s not good that my child got sick.” “It’s not good that my relationship didn’t work out.” Yes, that’s true, but that’s just one part of your life. God can see the big picture. That disappointment is not the end. Your life doesn’t stop because of one setback. That is simply one piece of your puzzle. There is another piece coming to connect it all because God promises to work all things together for your good!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for working all things together for my good. I choose to release any doubt, any frustration, any confusion over my past, and I choose to trust in You. Help me to see the big picture as I keep my mind stayed on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

We so often are comparing ourselves with others around us. When we look at their flaws and faults, well, “I’m not too bad”. But when we look at the Lord, that purity, that holiness, that righteousness, we say, “Oh God help me”. That is what ‘poor in spirit’ is. It’s a true evaluation of ourselves, not in the light of man but in the light of God, where we see the real truth about ourselves and it brings us to that, “oh God I need help”.

Jesus said, really ‘blessed’ or happy is that person. Why? Because he has had a true encounter with God, and as the result, the kingdom of heaven belongs to him. Not just living for the temporary stuff, but for eternal things.

This verse is the first sentence Jesus says as He is beginning the famous “Sermon on the Mount”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank you that You love me in spite of my flaws, and thank you that I can be ‘blessed‘ (happy) because I communicate and encounter You. Keep changing me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“…you have stayed long enough at this mountain”

(Deuteronomy 1:6, NIV)

Have you gotten stuck in a rut staring at a mountain of disappointment, setbacks or difficulty?

That’s what happened to the people of Israel. They were headed toward their promised land. They had big goals and big dreams, but along the way they hit some setbacks and had some disappointments. They got so discouraged that they gave up on their dreams and just settled where they were. One day God said to them, “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” He was saying, “It’s time to move past this and embrace the blessing in your future.”

God is saying, “This is a new day. Get your fire back. Where you are is not where you have to stay.”Ask Him to help you move past your mountain. He will lead you and empower you to live in favor and blessing in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I give to You every area of my heart. I give You my questions, my disappointments, my doubts and fears. I choose to trade my sorrow for Your joy. I choose to press past my mountains so I can embrace the promises You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed”
(James 5:16, NIV)

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to be used by You. I choose to pray for the people in my life as You have commanded. Direct my thoughts and prayers today so that I can be a blessing to others and honor You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

Titus 3:5 (NIV)

‘Saved’  means He rescued us eternally. But also, it means that He rescues us from ourselves! See the list in Titus 3:3(‘enslaved to our passions, decieved, foolish…’). Making decisions based on what will make us feel good right now is a dangerous practice. The old slogan “if it feels good, do it” can over time completely wipe out our inner joy and destroy our lives.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give me the strength to make right choices. Help me to know that true satisfaction, inner peace and joy will rise up in my life as a result. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.