Category Archives: Devotions

A PRAYER FOR LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND

November 20, 2019 12:55 am , 4 Comments ,

Following Christ with a singleness of heart takes tremendous courage. It means we need to leave behind everything that is not part of God’s plan for us. It’s tempting to live life focused on the past or worry about what lies ahead in the future.

I believe it’s necessary to completely leave the past behind to experience God’s best for our lives. The ones who are not lukewarm in their pursuit of Christ are moving at a rapid pace toward God’s divine plans.

Prayer is our most powerful spiritual tool to open up HEAVEN’S floodgates. We experience God’s glory when we are on our knees often, in a position of submission, willing to let the Lord carry out His plans for our lives. Otherwise, we will be stagnant and continue to wallow in the muck that has held us back in the past. Christ is calling us to bravely follow Him no matter what the cost might be. He is calling us to move forward and He desires for us to take up our cross of surrender daily (Matthew 16:24) and leave the past behind forever.

The Lord whispered words to my heart during a time I was struggling to let go of the past, and He encouraged me to stay focused on what is eternal.

Be still and quiet every day so that you can hear My voice. I will give you what your soul is yearning for if you keep focused on Me. Don’t look back to the past. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Simply walk with Me and live in the present moment. Savor what I am giving you in the present and enjoy every single breath I am giving you.

With a fierce determination to stay on God’s path, I have been seeking the Lord for His purposes for my life. In the process of seeking Him with all my heart, He has helped me to completely leave my past behind. As I chose to let go of the things that were holding me back, it immediately set things in motion for the new beginnings that God wanted to release in my life.

Because of Christ’s gift of the cross, we are free to live in victory every moment of every day. As we turn away from sin and follow Christ with total commitment, we will continue to live victoriously. We only need Christ and His love. It’s when we yield every part of our hearts and allow Christ’s love to work through us that we easily leave the past behind.

Beloved Jesus,

Thank You for being the greatest friend and faithful shepherd to us. Thank You for loving us perfectly. I ask You to be with the ones who are struggling to leave the things of the past behind them.

I ask You to raise up a generation that follows You with a singleness of heart and lives with integrity. Give them a new sense of courage and hope for the future. Help the children and younger generations to trust You and follow You where You are leading them.

Heal every hurt from the past and take away every traumatic memory from those who have been mistreated. Help them to walk in total forgiveness and let go of the people who are not meant to be a part of their lives. Let them be willing to leave the places You’re calling them away from and let them move toward the new beginnings You have planned for their lives. I ask You to breathe life and strength into their souls as they trust You to renew their spirits. I pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.

 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Philippians 3:13

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 This post includes a portion of  an article I wrote in 2008.

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GOD’S MERCY ENDURES FOREVER

September 1, 2019 10:41 pm , 2 Comments ,

My heart is filled with compassion for people who are experiencing tragic circumstances in America and other countries. As I was praying about the tragedies in the news, I thought about the enduring mercy of God.

In Psalm 136 (NKJV), it says, “His mercy endures forever.”

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.

3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:

4 To Him who alone does great wonders. For His mercy endures forever.

5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens. For His mercy endures forever.

6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters. For His mercy endures forever.

7 To Him who made great lights. For His mercy endures forever—

8 The sun to rule by day. For His mercy endures forever;

9 The moon and stars to rule by night. For His mercy endures forever.

10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn. For His mercy endures forever:

11 And brought out Israel from among them. For His mercy endures forever;

12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm. For His mercy endures forever;

13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two. For His mercy endures forever;

14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it. For His mercy endures forever;

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. For His mercy endures forever;

16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness. For His mercy endures forever;

17 To Him who struck down great kings. For His mercy endures forever;

18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever—

19 Sihon king of the Amorites. For His mercy endures forever;

20 And Og king of Bashan. For His mercy endures forever—

21 And gave their land as a heritage. For His mercy endures forever;

22 A heritage to Israel His servant. For His mercy endures forever.

23 Who remembered us in our lowly state. For His mercy endures forever;

24 And rescued us from our enemies. For His mercy endures forever;

25 Who gives food to all flesh. For His mercy endures forever.

26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

 

Hallelujah.

 

Even though it can be tempting for hurting people to feel forgotten by God, it’s a distorted view of God’s character to believe He has given up on anyone. God has not forgotten one single person on the planet, but many have forgotten Him. Our generation is living in an unprecedented time of evil. Many have chosen to turn away from God because they don’t understand His true nature.

God is love (1 John 4:8).

No one understands why such tragedy can exist in the world. There are things we will never be able to understand in this life until Christ’s return or after we reach our heavenly home.

However, there is one thing I am certain of more than anything else.

Jesus Christ loves us very deeply.

Our minds cannot comprehend how deep His love is. It is perfect. It is indescribable.

His love redeems sinners.

His love sets captives free.

His love heals.

His love comforts.

His love is enough.

As we turn toward God wholeheartedly with faith-filled prayer and truly live each day as conduits of the love of Christ, we will see change in our world.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving-kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103: 8-13

Our Heavenly Father,

I am in awe of Your goodness. Thank You for Your enduring mercy and love. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. I lift up the people who have been affected by recent tragedies and I’m asking You to encourage those who have experienced excruciating circumstances. I know You are filled with compassion for the hurting ones. I ask You to comfort them in their sorrows. Fill them with the hope and knowledge of Your eternal love. Keep them in the palm of Your hand and fill the hole in their hearts with Your love and peace. Bring beauty to replace the pain and restore hope in their lives. Let countless people turn to You and trust You during the storms of life. Thank You in advance for the miracles You will do in the days ahead. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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BASKING IN CHRIST’S LOVE AND PRESENCE

August 21, 2019 9:49 am , 2 Comments ,

The sun looked magnificent and glorious as I was driving alone and talking softly to the Lord. As I was approaching the top of a hill, I saw the most breathtaking view of the mountains in the distance. It was majestic.

I’ve always loved the mountains and enjoyed this route more times than I could count; however, this day was different than anytime before. The splendor in the sky and the beauty of the mountains surrounding me were mesmerizing. The awesome wonder of God’s creation captured every fiber of my being. Christ’s presence came to me so powerfully that it felt heavenly in an inexpressible way. As my worship music played in the background, the voice of the Lord whispered words to my heart.

My love for you is higher and wider and more magnificent than these beautiful mountains.

My heart melted in His presence. Heaven touched me and drew me close to the heart of God. I basked in His great love for the rest of my trip.

Christ’s presence is the greatest gift of life and nothing satisfies the soul like spending time with Him.

Some days, distractions can rob us of the quietness we need. It’s very easy to be in a big hurry and miss these spectacular God moments. We don’t have to be driving through gorgeous scenery to bask in God’s glory. We can commune with the maker of the heavens at any moment of the day.

The love of Christ beckons us to open our hearts to Him. Jesus is waiting for each one of us to stop what we’re doing and rest in His perfect love. Our relationship with our Savior is better than anything else in life. No amount of money or success could ever compare to what we have in Christ. He is everything.

In the busyness of life, remember to slow down. Be quiet. Bask in the most perfect love you’ll ever find and let Christ’s presence wash your burdens away.

Our Beloved Jesus,

Thank You for Your amazing love which surpasses our understanding. Let us be strengthened with power through Your Spirit and let Your glory permeate our lives every day. Let us be rooted and grounded in Your love. Help us to comprehend more of the depth of Your great love for us and let us rest in Your presence continually. We love You and pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3: 16-19

This devotion is a revised version of a previous “Live Abundantly Now” blog post.

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A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

July 19, 2019 12:31 am , Leave a Comment ,

There is a fierce battle raging around us. The spiritual battle is intensifying as the day of Christ’s return draws nearer. In Ephesians 6:12, it tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities that want to thwart God’s perfect plan in our lives.

Prayer is our greatest weapon against the powers of darkness and we are empowered to live victoriously as we put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

Victory comes to those who are clothed in God’s armor and completely hidden in Christ.

The safest place to be during the intense spiritual warfare is in the secret hiding place with Christ. Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

There is no in between place of hiding in Christ. Lukewarm Christianity does not work and the victory cannot be won without being fully submitted to Christ. Light and darkness cannot be in the same room. It’s either dark when the lights are off or it becomes light when the light has been turned on.

Every surrendered believer in Christ has the authority to defeat the dark forces. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

May you stay surrounded by the light of Christ and live fully hidden in His love.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your goodness and mercy. Protect us by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ and surround us with Your magnificent light. Let us submit to You every day and flee from the devil. Let us dwell in the secret place of the most high and abide in the shadow of Your wings always. Let us be hidden away in Your love and protected in the battle. Let us continually walk in repentance and press into the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Strengthen us with Your might and let us clothe ourselves with the armor of God.

Help our sons and daughters to be ready to conquer every power or principality that may come their way. Remind them to clothe themselves spiritually and let them live victoriously. Help them stand and be grounded in Your truth. Help them to walk in freedom and faith all the days of their lives. I trust You, LORD, to keep our families strong and prepared for the raging battle. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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PRAYER CHANGES LIVES

July 12, 2019 5:17 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Prayer is like breathing and connects us to our lifeline—Jesus Christ. Prayer changes circumstances and changes lives. Prayer changes us from the inside out and makes every single day worth living because we are connecting with the creator of the universe.

Christ has all the answers to all of life’s problems. When you need strength, fall to your knees and say: “Lord, help me.” Draw near to Christ and release your concerns to Him. Pray without ceasing by surrendering your thoughts to Christ and seeking Him above everything else. Trust the Lord with all your heart and let prayer change your life.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being the anchor of our lives and giving us the breath in our lungs. Fill us up with more of Your Holy Spirit and empower us to be all You created us to be. Let us live as mighty men and women of prayer every day. Let us draw near to You continually and let us walk closely with You through our prayers. Woo us into Your arms and onto our knees throughout each day. Let us pray without ceasing and let us give thanks continually for all You’ve given us through Jesus Christ. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

 

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REFRESHING YOUR SOUL IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST

February 15, 2019 12:56 am , Leave a Comment ,

It was morning time. Christ’s presence could be felt strongly as I sat on my porch, reminding me of the refreshment that comes in communing with Christ. Christ’s voice enveloped my spirit and beckoned me to draw close to Him.

In my heart, it was though Christ was speaking these words: My heart yearns for you to sit at My feet. One glance from you makes My heart leap. I want your love more than anything else. All that your soul needs is found in Me and My love. Come enter into a beautiful love story with Me. Let My love carry you through life’s challenges. Come find refreshment and rest forever in My perfect love.

After a morning of stillness, I was refreshed once again by the love of Christ and ready for a new day of living in Him. The love of Christ is always the answer and truly the way to find peace in a chaotic world.

Beloved Jesus,

Thank You for refreshing our souls with Your love. Help us to draw near to You every day. Let us carry this message of Your beautiful love to a broken world that so desperately needs You. We love You and are waiting for Your return. I pray in Your mighty name, Jesus. Amen.

You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.

Song of Solomon 4:9 (English Standard Version)

This revised post was originally written in 2012.

© Copyright 2019 – LIVE ABUNDANTLY NOW

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CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS AND A PRAYER

December 24, 2018 4:05 pm , Leave a Comment ,

As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on all Christ has given us. Apart from Christ, we would be destined for a hopeless existence. His gifts to us are limitless…His love, peace, joy, faith, and the never-ending list of heavenly treasures are the greatest blessings of life.

I can imagine the perfect Christmas gift for us to give Christ would be to continually allow His Spirit to produce abundant fruit in each one of our hearts. In the coming year, let’s pray without ceasing and give Christ every part of our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of Christ. Thank You for sending Your son to save the world from darkness and to give us eternal life. Thank You for all that You give us and thank You for enabling us to live with an abundance of hope, joy, peace, and love. Let us live a life led by Your Holy Spirit and take hold of every gift You have given us through Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate our amazing Savior and share Christ’s love with the hurting people in the world. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” Galatians 5:22-23″ (The Passion Translation)

May your Christmas be joyous and filled with the glorious riches of Christ.

Love & prayers,

Amy

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LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE IN CHRIST

December 13, 2018 1:30 am , Leave a Comment ,

Many years ago during one of the hardest seasons of my life, I learned the most about abundant living. While battling hardships and trials, I sought the Lord for the answers to my problems, and He diligently answered me. He led me to a Scripture in the Bible that jumped off the pages when I read it.

Deuteronomy 30:6 says, “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.”

In these verses, I found the answer to what my heart longed to know. The word ‘circumcise’ is derived from a Latin word meaning, to cut. In the midst of excruciating trials, it felt like my heart was being circumcised. God was cutting away the idols in my heart that were hindering me from fully loving Him and fully living life. The process was painful, but ultimately it led me to the abundance my soul was longing for.

Everyone wants to live abundantly. The Bible says that Jesus came to give us life, and to give it more abundantly (John 10:10). Yet, how many people truly tap into the abundant life that Christ offers? Could it be the way we view our lives or what we equate happiness with?

For a season in my youthful years, I was seeking abundance in the wrong places, which led to disappointment. In God’s infinite grace, He took me through a season of testing, so that I would come forth as pure gold (Job 23:10). Through the stretching and tests, He led me to the true source of abundance.

The things in my past, that were the hardest to endure, are what led me to the abundant life in Christ—a life of genuine joy and peace—that is not determined by things or circumstances. Through the hardships, God gave me a new heart—a heart that rejoices because of His love.

Are you in the midst of being pulled and stretched? Do you feel as though life is caving in around you?

To be rebuilt, a house needs to be torn down first. It can be an excruciating process. Do not lose heart. God is building a beautiful spiritual house out of your life. He uses every loss and every struggle to bring good in the lives of those who love Him and live according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Nothing He allows in our lives is in vain. He uses it all.

For a child of God, it is pure joy to face trials because we know that no matter what is happening, Jesus is walking along beside us and carrying us through all of life’s hard situations.

Christ wants for us to love Him with all of our hearts, so that we can truly live abundantly and bask in His great love. In loving Jesus Christ more than anything or anyone, we can’t be shaken. When our lives are built upon Christ, we can’t lose our foundation and nothing or nobody can steal our joy.

Countless people in the world have been duped into believing that abundant living is found in wealth and material riches.  The true abundant life is found in knowing Christ deeply. Jesus is everything—when we know this, then we know that any other good thing we have in life is only the icing on the cake.

May you enjoy Jesus this Christmas season and find hope through Him in the weariness of life.

Lord, I thank You for the abundance of joy and peace that You give to us in all seasons of life. Help us to continually look to You as our only source. Let us keep our eyes fixed upon You and enjoy You every day. Let us be content in all circumstances and know You are all we really need to live abundantly. We pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.

“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

This revised post was originally written in 2008.

© Copyright 2018 – LIVE ABUNDANTLY NOW

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TREASURING THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

December 4, 2018 1:12 am , 2 Comments ,

As we celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas season, let us all remember why He was born. Christ came to give new life.

His love is a gift that breaks into the dark places of the soul and brings forth light. He strengthens us when we’re weak. He fills us with love when we’re loveless. He soothes our sorrows when we’re mourning. He heals the heart when it’s broken. He gives us joy in all circumstances and gives us the desires of our hearts as we find our delight in Him. He fills us with an inexpressible peacefulness that transcends all understanding. He restores the broken things and makes beauty out of our mistakes.

He is the redeemer of every painful trial we’ll ever face.

God brought forth Christ the Messiah for all people, so that we could live eternally in hope and peace no matter how dark it becomes in the world. His light overcomes all darkness and His love is never-ending. Without a doubt, the love of Christ is the best and most indescribable gift we’ll ever receive.

Nothing else can satisfy our longings. Only Jesus Christ is able to meet our deepest needs and it’s in Him alone we find true contentment.

May we keep Christ the focus of our holiday festivities and treasure the true meaning of Christmas.

Beloved Jesus,

Thank You for Your love, kindness, and mercy. Help us to keep our priorities straight in the midst of busy days. Let us be keenly aware of Your love and light this Christmas season. Let us rejoice over the gifts You have given us through a loving relationship with You. We pray in Your name. Amen.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:15

 

© Copyright 2018 – LIVE ABUNDANTLY NOW

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THE JOY OF THANKSGIVING

November 18, 2018 1:54 am , 2 Comments ,

We have so many spiritual blessings to be thankful for. Christ’s presence is everything. A relationship with Christ is the greatest gift any of us will ever have. He is the anchor that keeps us from sinking into the depths of darkness as we press into Him through prayer, worship, and by meditating on the Scriptures. Without Christ, there would be no hope or true life.

With Christ, we can find rest in our souls by surrendering our worries to Him. We truly have more than 10,000 reasons to sing Him praises.

Every day is a day to give thanks, because of Christ’s never-ending love for us. A heart that’s filled with thanks will always be a heart filled with joy.

May you rejoice in the gifts you’ve been given through Jesus Christ. He is with you and will never leave you or forsake you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your never-ending mercy, grace, and kindness. Let us rejoice over the gift You have given us through Your son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for enabling us to live with an abundance of hope, joy, peace, and love. Let our gratitude flow from our hearts every day and let us always seek after that which is good. Help us share Your love every day and always do good to each other. Let us never stop praying and be thankful in all circumstances. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

Have a joyous Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

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