At God's Door Ministries

Matthew 7:24
2026-08-20
Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (KJV)
Is your foundation firm?
How are skyscrapers able to stand? I had to do some research on their structures and their foundations. I learned after construction is complete, a building will always move. It can sink, rise, slide, or a combination of these motions. Foundations ensure a building can safely resist all actions they are likely to face during their service life, while remaining fit for use. Foundations anchor the building. The taller the building, the deeper the foundation needs to be structured.
Like a building, you need a firm foundation.
Luke 6:47-48 For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does (obeys) them, I will show you what he is like: 48 He is like a like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock. (AMPC, edited)
Your foundation has to be built on and sustained by faith. You will have trials, tribulations, tests, and challenges. You will feel you are sinking and sliding, as if you are on a roller coaster, up one day and down the next. You don’t have to concern yourself with whether the enemy orchestrated them, or where they came from; God allows them all. You are being tested and settled. You have to know if you will be still be standing after the storm.
James 1:2-4 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. (TPT)
No matter what you face, when your foundation is firm, because you built it on the word, you will stand. You will be safe, victorious and remain on the battlefield, ready to complete your assignment, fit for use.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father God, You are my foundation. My ability to continue to stand is because of You. Sometimes the blows are continuous, and they are heavy. Sometimes I am left reeling, and I can barely believe what’s happening. I repent for acting like I would not weather the storm. As if You had not prepared me and would not be there with me. Thank You for reminding me, it’s only a test. The reason I will still be fit for Your use is because I am Your child, and I know I stand on faith. My foundation is based on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. My foundation is tested by my storms. My foundation is strengthened by my belief in Your love for me. My foundation is rock solid. Come what may, I will stand. Not because of me, my personal fortitude won’t get it done. It is because of You. You stand up inside me. Yours are the footprints in the sand…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Proverbs 2:5
2026-08-21
Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (NLT)
Do you want to know God more?
Have you ever said, “Lord, I want to know You”?
Psalm 103:7 He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. (AMP)
What made Moses different? Why did God show Moses His ways? Why were the children of Israel only privy to His acts? Moses’ initial meeting with the Lord established a relationship of reverential fear.
Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (KJV)
Because of their relationship, Moses learned the why of God, not just the what. The difference between Moses and the children of Israel was his reverence and desire for God.
Exodus 33:13a Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways so that I may know You [becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, recognizing and understanding Your ways more clearly] and that I may find grace and favor in Your sight. (AMP)
God does not want you to fear Him in a phobic or scary sense. He wants reverence, where you recognize His power and authority and give Him the worship and respect, He is due. He wants you to recognize a relationship with Him and knowledge of Him will cost you. Is this your heart’s cry?
Philippians 3:10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] (AMP)
Is your relationship, with the Lord, one where you know when and how God has moved? Is your communion close enough for you to see His hands at work? Are God’s friend? Draw closer and the answer you give to all these questions will be yes.
John 15:15 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.] (AMPC)
You want to draw closer to the Father to understand what He requires of you. You want to draw closer to the Father because you will need Him to help you obey Him. In drawing closer, you will fulfill your desire to know Him more.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father God, I want to know You more than anything. I know sometimes I don’t act like it and I repent right now. I understand You require reverential awe, not fear. I don’t want to obey You because I am afraid of what You might do to me. I want to obey because I honor You and I love You. I could not begin to know You until I recognized the magnitude of who You are. When I did, there was only one thing left for me to do; I bowed. I bowed then and I continue to bow now. I bow because I am humbled before You. I bow because I am unworthy and yet You allow me in Your presence. I bow to show You the admiration and honor You are due. You created me to worship You; I do so willingly and with my whole heart. You are the Almighty God, there are none like You. My understanding of who You are allows You to share more of Yourself with me. I can see in my mind, Moses standing in the cleft of the rock as You passed by. You allowed him into a place with You no man had been before. I know You are not a respecter of persons. I can know You like that…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Peter 1:8
2026-08-22
2 Peter 1:8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. (AMP)
Are you allowing God to be your gardener?
When God saved you, He gave you everything you needed to live the life He ordained for you to live.
2 Peter 1:3 Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness. (TPT)
You are the planting of the Lord. He is your husbandman.
Isaiah 61:3b So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God], The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (AMP)
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (KJV)
It is your job to allow God to cultivate you, and the fruit He gave you will blossom. There are steps to cultivating plants. God can use those same steps for you as well, if you submit to Him.

Plants need sunshine/sunlight to grow. They use light as energy for making food.

You need the light of God’s word to shine on you. The word is nourishment, and it shows you what pleases Him and what does not.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)

Plants need healthy soil. It is extremely vital. It provides an anchor and helps support the plants’ roots.

God’s love is the soil where you need to be planted. Then you will pull from the nutrients in the life-giving flow and get the support you need for every aspect of your life.
Ephesians 3:16b-17a Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit 17 so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded. (TVT)

Plants need fertilizer which also provides plants with nutrients to help them grow.

You need to be rooted and grounded in the word. The word is not only your nourishment; it is also your fertilizer. You need it to strengthen you and help you grow strong.
1 Peter 2:2 In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life. (TPT)

Plants need space. Overcrowding increases the risk of pest infestations and diseases. Without enough room, plants can grow slower and/or they do not grow to their normal size.

You need to have space, time away from everyone else, to be alone with the Lord. In His presence, you will learn to trust Him. The more time you spend with Him, the more confidence you will have in Him. Then you will not need those who are so close around you to validate you. Nor will you allow them to restrict your growth and kill your dreams.
Matthew 14:23 After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. (AMP)

Plants need water to survive. It is used to carry moisture and nutrients back and forth between the roots and leaves. Without it, the plant will die.

What is your water? It is the rain. Also called the trials and tribulations that come into your life. God uses rain in two ways. One way is to punish, correct, and teach you. The other way is to bless you. He uses the same trials and tribulations in both ways. You use what you experienced to bless others. Your tests produce a testimony to the favor and protection of God. They also increase your faith in God. Without rain, you will not be strengthened, and your faith will die.
Deuteronomy 11:17 And the Lord’s anger be kindled against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the land will not yield its fruit, and you perish quickly off the good land which the Lord gives you. (AMPC)
Leviticus 26:4 I will grant you plenty of rain in the seasons when you need it, and your land will produce abundant crops and your trees will be filled with fruit. (TVT)

Plants need time; they do not grow overnight. It takes some more than time than others; therefore, it also takes patience to grow plants.

You need to wait on the Lord. Allow Him the time He needs to prepare you for the task He created you to do. Remember, it takes some plants longer than others. It might seem as if you have been waiting too long. Don’t fall into the comparison trap. When you get that attitude, the enemy has an open door to torment you. He will whisper in your ear and tell you God loves this one and that one more than He loves you. That is why they have received their blessing and you have not. He will try to make you think there is something wrong with you. Ultimately, he will try to convince you, you will never receive what God promised. The same tests and trials that watered you will also create a plant that’s ready to be harvested in God’s time.
James 1:4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Plants need to be harvested as soon as they are ready. If not, the crop dies.

God knows when you are ready to fulfill what He ordained for you to do. You don’t get to determine if you are the one; ask Gideon (Judges 6:14-23). You don’t get to determine your assignment; ask Moses (Exodus 3:11-15). You don’t get to choose who he will send you to; ask Jonah (Jonah 1-3). Most importantly, you don’t get to decide you will not speak at all.
Jeremiah 20:9 If I say, I will not make mention of [the Lord] or speak any more in His name, in my mind and heart it is as if there were a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I am weary of enduring and holding it in; I cannot [contain it any longer]. (AMPC)
According to His plan, when the time comes, God will harvest you, affirm you, assign you, and your gift will make room for you.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I am Your planting. I am grateful. I repent for the times I thought I was ready, and I really wasn’t. Thank You for holding me until You were ready. I repent for thinking I knew what You called me to do. I repent for deciding I wasn’t the one for the task You picked for me and then trying to pick my assignment. I repent for thinking I could choose where I would go. I realize now, all of those wrong ideas amounted to me deciding I would not speak at all. Thank You for shining Your light on me and showing me what was in my heart. Thank You for keeping me and forgiving me. Now I live my life like the sunflower. I turn to greet Your light and it allows me to examine myself. I bask in the word. Without it, I diminish my ability to flourish. Thank You for calling me away to be alone with You and away from all the people speaking to me. I appreciate the rain because it makes me appreciate the sunshine much more. It used to be difficult because I thought I knew. It is not difficult anymore because I accept You know what’s best. Not only am I Your plant, I also allow You to be my Gardner and I wait for You…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

James 3:13
2026-08-23
James 3:13 Humility advertises wisdom; it shows in the quality of your conversation and actions. This distinguishes you with the reputation of someone who is acquainted with wisdom and skilled in understanding. (TMB)
Is wisdom evident in your life?
As you live your life, you don’t have to tell someone you are kind or caring or considerate; they recognize it when they deal with you. The wisdom, God gives, will also be evident in your life, as you gain it. Wisdom allows you to see things as God sees them. If you are willing to look through God’s eyes, your life and the way you live it will change. How and why? Because your choices will change, which will directly affect your life.
You will no longer desire what you think is best, you will want what God says is best.
Luke 9:23 And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. (AMPC)
Your responses to circumstances and situations will change.
1 Peter 3:9 Never retaliate when someone treats you wrongly, nor insult those who insult you, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing over them—because a blessing is what God promised to give you. (TPT)
Wisdom gives you a godly response to those things that used to make you angry.
Ephesians 4:26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. (AMPC)
Wisdom eliminates your need to retaliate.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice. For the Scriptures say: “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” says the Lord. (TPT)
Wisdom speaks to you when you feel sad, discouraged, depressed, etc.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you sad and crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. (MSG, edited)
As your responses and your choices continue to change, your thoughts will change.
Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: (KJV)
You learned fundamentals of wisdom on August 14; take a moment and read it again. Godly Wisdom will change what you think about, give you understanding and be apparent in your life.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I want Your wisdom. Your wisdom demands I choose You above me. Your wisdom requires me to love others as You love them. Your wisdom helps me to see others as You see them. Your wisdom helps me discern right from wrong. Your wisdom changes my thinking, and I will become what I think about. When what I think about changes, my actions change as well. Thank You for making this clear to me. Please do what needs to be done in me. I want Your wisdom to be evident in my life…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Corinthians 9: 25
2026-08-24
1 Corinthians 9: 25 The athlete knows how to draw from focused inner strength in order to win the crown; for them all their effort translates into a mere moment celebrated by a fading wreath of honor. For us to win your faith is of imperishable value! (TMB)
Who has chosen you?
In group structures, no matter the size, there are the chosen ones. It is simply a function of interpersonal dynamics and human behavior. More often than not, performance and ability are not the primary reasons for the choices made; the one doing the choosing also uses likeability, politics, the goal for the group, etc. Often, no matter how hard you work, it won’t be you. Sadly, you have no control over the matter.
There should be a difference when laboring in the kingdom. Even if there isn’t, there is a difference when you realize you are working for the Lord. You don’t have to work for Him to choose you. It does not matter what you have done, what you are doing, or what you have planned to do. It does not matter if you have skills or not, or if you are the smartest one or not. It does not matter if you are male or female. You don’t have to worry about being chosen.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (AMP)
Being chosen is only the beginning. God has given you promises and gifts as well. You can access the promises and be effective in using the gifts if you spend time with the Lord in prayer, study, meditation, and worship.
Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him And brings him before great men. (AMP)
Don’t spend the time with the Lord, so men/women of influence in the secular world will choose you as well. Don’t make your goal the high esteem of those in the spiritual arena that you respect. Neither of these will last forever. You will grow old and be forgotten. They will grow old, and their opinion will not matter as much. There is always someone else who will come along and be chosen instead of you. Spend time with the Lord because that is why He chose you.
Ephesians 1:4-5 God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him. 5 He destined us to be adopted as His children through the covenant Jesus the Anointed inaugurated in His sacrificial life. This was His pleasure and His will for us. (TVT)
Spend the time with the Lord because you want to hear “Well done, My good and faithful servant, you have gained My rest (Matthew 25:23).” Here are some more wonderful things to know. In the Kingdom, you will grow old and there will always be someone else. However, He will not forget you and He will not replace you. God wants as many as will come. He wants everyone to know Him. However, He will always choose you, because when He chooses you, it lasts forever.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, thank You for choosing me and welcoming me into Your Kingdom. It’s a wonderful feeling. I learned not to care so much about being accepted by the organizations I was a part of or by my jobs. I ran to the church for acceptance. I should have been running to You. I repent for allowing negative experiences, in the body of Christ, to affect my joy. Sometimes the “organized church” can be politically driven and influenced by individual desires and under the table interactions. I also repent for any part I played. Thank You for transforming my mind. I am so grateful self-serving behavior is not acceptable in Your Kingdom. In the world, they say, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” In Your Kingdom it’s both. Every Christian knows You, that’s not an individual advantage. I have to decide if I want to be fit for Your use. Being in Your presence, studying Your word, and laying aside every weight and sin are the things I can choose to do. I will do them. I want to hear You say, “Well done, Pam. You have been a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make You ruler over many things. You may enter into My joy.”…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Proverbs 2:4
2026-08-25
Proverbs 2:4 If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; (KJV)
Are you in search of wisdom?
There is a character in the movies named Indiana Jones. Though he had a PhD in archaeology and anthropology; he really was a treasure hunter. Nothing would stop him from finding the priceless artifact he was in search of. It did not matter if it might have cost him his life. If you have never seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, you may not be able to relate. There are also people in the Bible called the Bereans:
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (KJV)
Your search for wisdom has to be just as passionate.
Job 28:20-23 “So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live? It can’t be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly. If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, ‘We’ve only heard rumors of it.’23 God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.” (MSG)
Your love for God should drive your search.
Jeremiah 29:13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (AMP)
His love for you will hold you up, will keep you focused, and will bring hope when the search seems hopeless. What you will find is the Father is wisdom. He is the hidden treasure that will only be revealed to those who are diligent in their search.
Hebrews 11:6 Whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. (AMP)
The search for wisdom is worth your life because your life is worthless without it.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I am in search of wisdom. Nothing will stop me. I understand I cannot easily obtain it. I am sorry I thought I could go to bed without it and wake up with it. There was more I had to do in addition to asking You for it. I repent for not pursuing it; thinking growing old is all I needed to do to have it. You have taught me I must search and keep searching. Thank You. I know my search requires sacrifice on my part. It requires my life and I give it to You. In return, I get You, the wisdom I need to live my life pleasing You, and so much more. There is a joy that wells up inside of me because of this truth. There is a peace I get as I worship You that enlightens my understanding. You are the wisdom I seek. I love You…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Luke 7:30
2026-08-26
Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. (KJV)
Are you living in fact or truth?
Sometimes you get a report from those who are the experts in the field, whatever the field may be, and it is not good. The combined knowledge of the intellectuals, doctors, scientists, contractors, and pathologists says what they believe are the facts. They encourage you to accept their conclusions. Interestingly enough, they are not willing to entertain your input if it does not line up with their conclusions. You must distinguish “the truth” from “the facts.” A fact is a reality that you cannot logically dispute or reject. Fire is hot. It doesn’t matter how great your reasoning skills are, under natural circumstances, if you touch fire, your skin will burn. Thank God for the supernatural.
1 John 5:7-9a So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One; 8 and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides]. 9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority). (AMPC)
Read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for a deeper understanding of the powerful difference between facts and truth. You can find it in Daniel 3:19-25. The fact is the fire was so hot it burned the soldiers taking them to the fire.
Daniel 3:22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (KJV)
However, “the Truth” stepped in and the fire did not burn them.
Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (KJV)
Though you sometimes have to deal with those who don’t know or follow the Lord, don’t allow their intellect to cause you to waiver; don’t allow their titles to influence you; and don’t let their fame impress you. If you know “the Truth,” nothing else will matter.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I repent because I used to live my life based on facts and I missed the opportunity to praise You. Because of “The Truth”, I believe You have the final say no matter what happens. I know not only do natural laws apply to me, supernatural laws apply to me as well. You govern them both. I thank You for choosing to intervene supernaturally when it lines up with Your plan. My faith in You is not something I can rationally explain. There are no intellectual conversations that can give credence to why my faith exists. I have faith because of the hope You give me, because of what I have experienced with You, and because You are faithful. I’m grateful I don’t have to prove why I believe what I believe. I simply know it and that’s good enough for me…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Peter 1: 6
2026-08-27
2 Peter 1: 6 Here you will realize your inner strength and how fully competent you are to prevail in patient perseverance in the midst of any contradiction. It is from within this place of enlightened perspective that meaningful devotion and worship ignite! (TMB)
Are you progressing on your path to godliness?
There is a progression to develop the fruit of the spirit in your life. If you read 2 Peter 1:5-11, you will see the complete path.

God gave you a measure of faith that you needed for salvation. He then instructed you to grow your faith through prayer and obedience. If you do what He instructs, you will gain knowledge.

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding). (AMP)

Permit God to temper your knowledge and you won’t put debilitating pressure on yourself or others. Allow God to be God in your life. When you are under control, you wait for the Lord. You don’t run ahead. You also stay the course. You hold on, and you are strong.

2 Peter 1: 6 And in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness. (AMP)

Temperance leads to patience. There may be days when you fill like you can’t get it right. You may even feel discouraged. Don’t. Whom He loves He chastises. The Lord is working a greater weight of glory in your life. When you learn to be patient with yourself, you will also be patient with others.

2 Peter 1: 7 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. (AMP)

If you patiently submit to God and resist the devil, God will transform you into His image, godliness will be seen in you.

2 Peter 1: 8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. (AMP)
Take the time to read and study the entire passage. Get excited about the treasure that is in your earthen vessel.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I want to progress in You. I have accepted Your love, Your salvation, and a measure of faith. I want my faith to be stronger. You want me to increase my faith as well. You give me opportunities to become stronger in You, every day. I repent for not taking advantage of them all. Often, I caused myself to falter because my faith isn’t stronger. With lovingkindness, You compelled me to come. You continue to love me in the midst of my stumbles. Thank You for Your patience. Thank You for showing me the same patience You extend to me; I have to extend to myself and to others. Thank You for developing “love” in me. I’ve read about agape love, talked about it and taught on it. I am so much closer than I have ever been. I thank You for not giving up on me. I know the work You began in me; You will finish…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

James 3:17
2026-08-28
James 3:17 The wisdom that originates from above sets the pace in innocence; it loves peace; it is always appropriate (polite); persuaded about that which is good; filled with compassion; these fruits are pure goodness and without discrimination. (TMB)
Are you being bullied or are you a bully?
Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others. You may have encountered a bully in the world. Sadly, bullying happens. You need to know if you have ever been or if you are now the victim of a spiritual bully. This person can be anyone, whether they have a place of authority over your life or not. You expect for men and women of God to treat you with the love of God. Sometimes that is not the case.
Here are some natural indications you might be the victim of bullying:

You experience physical symptoms when it is time to be in this person’s presence.
You have changed your personality to accommodate this person.
You have continual feelings of hurt and anguish when you think about this person.
You have lost closeness with your friends/family because of your preoccupation with this person.
Your relationship with this person has produced feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem.

In addition to the natural indications, there are also some spiritual indications you might be the victim of bullying:

This person publicly confronts you without ever having a private conversation (Matthew 18:15).
This person demands your money, time, etc. without reference to you praying for guidance on giving (2 Corinthians 9:7).
This person treats you like a personal indentured slave instead of a servant of God (1 Thessalonians 2:6).
This person controls everything you do (1 Peter 5:3).
You have exchanged your desire to hear God and replaced it with the desire to hear/please this person (Exodus 20:19).

What do you do in this situation? The same thing you should do in all situations. Go to God. Ask Him to speak to you. Ask Him to help you determine if this is you, why this is happening, and what is causing it.
Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. (TPT)
2 Samuel 21:1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” (NKJV)
Keep in mind, you don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. Allow God to show you and heal you. Then you will not respond inappropriately.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. 6 Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. 7 Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. (TPT)
There is one more assessment that you have to make. If you are not sure based on the information already provided, here are some signs that you are a bully. You may dismiss these signs or justify your actions if you assess yourself. However, please think about how many times someone else has brought them to your attention.

You repeatedly upset specific people who interact with you.
You have a lack of empathy.
You can get aggressive, i.e., openly shouting, threatening or humiliating someone in front of others.
You are passive aggressive, veiling your negativity behind fake kindness. “Oh, you are doing it that way, that is so brave”.
You thrive around insecure people, making yourself feel better by evoking discomfort or insecurity in others.
You spread malicious rumors.
You misuse your power or position.

Remember, those who love God treat others with the love of God, including you.
John 13:34 So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. (TVT)
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, today my heart was heavy. Tears came to my eyes more than they usually do as You are writing this devotional through me. I know what it feels like to be bullied. Now, my heart rejoices because I walk in Your deliverance. Thank You for showing me what was wrong. Please forgive me because I know I responded incorrectly, more than once. I repent for not asking You, gaining understanding, listening to You, and allowing You to change me sooner. As I ask You for forgiveness, I forgive those who bullied me. Because I have such a strong personality, I could have hurt someone and caused them to feel bullied as well. I repent for what I did directly or indirectly. I am sorry. Please heal them as You have healed me. I want to love with a love that is pure and compassionate. I want to love with a love that doesn’t demand. I want to love with a love that shows mercy. Thank You for healing me and teaching me how to love…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Luke 12:7
2026-08-29
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (KJV)
What are you worth?
Do you sometimes feel as if your contribution is not important? How do you come to that conclusion? Do you make the mistake of comparing what you do with what others do and find yourself better or lacking?
2 Corinthians 10:12 Of course, we wouldn’t dare to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. They compare themselves to one another and make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and then they judge themselves by their own standards. What self-delusion! (TPT)
Maybe from your standpoint, the greater the notoriety or the more change you can affect, the more a task is worth. There may be some value to that opinion. However, you have to think about how worth is determined in the heart of God. He determines worth by how much He was willing to pay for it!
Romans 5:7-8 We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. 8 But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. (MSG)
He paid it all for you; who you were; who you are and who you will be. Your assignment is as important as anyone else’s because He paid the price for everyone. You don’t have the big picture. Work in the confounds of what you know and celebrate!
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, even as I begin to pray, I am reminded of the lyrics to a song by Anthony Brown. You thought I was worth saving. You thought I was to die for. How dare I minimize my contribution to Your Kingdom. I repent. You ordained the work for me to do before the foundation of the world. You formed me when You decided what work needed to be done. If I do what You created me to do with a pure heart, it is worth doing. My desire is for my work to come to You as a sweet savor. I will celebrate every task You complete through me. I don’t have the big picture. I don’t know whose life is being touched by anything I do. Thank You for helping me understand that no matter who does or does not value who I am, You count me worth it…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Luke 7:29
2026-08-30
Luke 7:29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. (NIV)
Are you lifting Christ?
No matter what area of sales you get involved with, there are a couple of phrases you will often hear “Always Be Closing” and “the product sales itself”. Evangelism is sales and marketing at the highest order. The word of God draws men all by itself.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (KJV)
It makes your assignment much easier. You are always closing because of how you live your life, the choices you make, your reactions in times of stress, etc.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
This is the way you market the saving power of Jesus. You don’t have to convince anyone of anything. You don’t need quick wit or enticing words.
1 Corinthians 2:1, 4-5 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God. (AMP)
Just be willing to live the God kind of life that demonstrates Him power. Lift Him up as you live your life every day. Lift Him at the grocery store when you let some go in front of you. Lift Him on your job when someone else takes credit for your work. Lift Him in every situation where the world is expecting something other than the love of God to show in your actions. His promise is to draw all men unto Him. They will know the truth because of the power of the gospel. They will see God at work in you, heed the call of the Lord, and be made free.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, thank You for making my evangelistic task easy. I repent for every time I said that I was not an evangelist, as if You only gave that task to a select few. You taught me if I am a believer; I am also required to evangelize. Please continue helping me lift You up and everything I say and do. Help me make You the example of my life, every day. If I lift You up, then You will fulfill Your promise. There are people in my life who I have prayed for to be saved. Help me live before them. My life can be a great marketing advertisement! Someone who knows who I was before will ask “what happened?” As they deal with me now, the answer to the question is Jesus. They won’t be able to deny what they see. They will be drawn to You…
Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Proverbs 2:3
2026-08-31
Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; (KJV)
Who is dictating your actions?
Have you ever been in a situation and the person knew something you didn’t tell them? Did you ask them how they knew and they said, “I just knew it”? In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. There are those who say this ability comes with experience. Police detectives have it, psychologists and psychiatrists use it. Then there is the discernment that comes from God.
The word describes being able to distinguish, discern, judge, or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment. The Holy Spirit gives the gift of discernment to enable certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation.
Discernment is a sign of your maturity in Christ and is also critical if you are to be successful on your assignment.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law. (AMPC)
You have to distinguish if the “Spirit of God” or some other spirit influenced what you saw and/or heard. Often, believers use their discernment when trying to decide about what to do or who to believe.
Hosea 14:9 Whoever is [spiritually] wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is [spiritually] discerning and understanding, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble and fall in them. (AMP)
When you are dealing with the people of God, you can miss it, and cause damage that lasts for years. Don’t run on your spiritual instincts. Always remain teachable. Seek the Lord before you act or speak.
1 Kings 3:9 “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (NIV)
You may find that your instinct was correct. You may also find you would have missed it. Either way, in every situation, you must seek the Lord, listen to His voice, and follow His instruction. Then you will act in a way that pleases Him.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I am coming to You, asking You to strengthen my discernment. Teach me. I know I think a lot. Sometimes I look at the signs, indications and implications and think I have it all figured out. Then I use my evaluation and experience to decide my next step because I think I know what happened and what I need to do. I repent for every time I followed my way without consulting You first. You and I both know, it does not matter how many times I was right; it was the times I was wrong, that cost me and others. The discernment, You give to me, allows me to see father and clearer. It helps me understand the spirit behind the actions and the attitudes that are not readily and naturally evident. It is Your discernment that allows me to respond to any situation by showing Your love with a godly attitude and in the right frame of mind. When I walk, using the supernatural discernment You provide, I see how, when, and where the devil stepped in. I need the discernment that comes from You. Please continue to teach me. I am ineffective without it…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

1 Peter 5:8
2026-09-01
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (KJV)
Are you on watch?
As a Christian, what is your first thought when you hear about a problem in someone’s life, whether they are at home, work or church? Do you conclude it is the work of the devil? When you are going through, do you examine your life trying to see what the devil is trying to kill, steal, or destroy? In spiritual warfare, or any warfare for that matter, your effectiveness begins with you.
Luke 14:28 So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it? (TPT)
Through your times of study and prayer, and definitely since the start of this devotional, your understanding of how the enemy works has been enlightened. Make sure you understand how he works in your life. Even though you are saved, the devil can still influence you. Do you say, “The devil is not in control of my life. Salvation made Jesus my savior and my Lord”. If you are saved, you would be right. However, salvation does not stop the devil from talking to you. Ask Eve.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (NKJV)
Eve did not know. That’s why the devil deceived her. He is tricky. Do you hear the devil asking you questions? Did God really say…? Is it really wrong to…? Maybe it is not the devil. Maybe you are asking yourself questions because you don’t know. To watch affectively, you must know what the word of God says. Study these other requirements, found in the Bible, as you watch.

Always be fully armed (Ephesians 6:11).
Know your weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
To take authority (Luke 10:19).
Be alert and observe everything that is going on around you (1 Peter 5:8).
Pray (1 Timothy 2:1).
Don’t abandon your responsibilities (Galatians 6:9).
Receive and obey the instructions of the Lord (Acts 5:29).
Do not get distracted (Joshua 1:7).
Seek the Lord when you don’t know what to do (Luke 11:9).
Be strong during times of testing (James 1:2-4).
Be thankful (Ephesians 5:20).

You cannot afford to give the devil an inch because you are not watching for him, not watching effectively, or you underestimated how cunning he is.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for keeping me. Thank You for reminding me I should always be on watch. Thank You for helping me recognize when and where the enemy is at work in my life. You showed me it is not always an attack against me. Sometimes he tricks me into negatively affecting someone else’s life. I am so sorry. Thank You for teaching me what my responsibilities are. I have to keep in mind the devil is cunning. He comes as an angel of light, yet really, he is the prince of darkness and the father of lies. I continue to repent for every time I miss it; every time I say something, I think is right or do something for the right reason and it turns out to be wrong. Thank You for showing me when someone got hurt, or I caused a problem. That is never my desire. I am grateful You forgive me and You see my heart. Help me be more aware of what is going on, in the spiritual realm. Show me how the enemy is using demonic tactics to affect my natural life. Draw me closer and shine a light on me as You continue to teach me to watch. I depend on You and You alone…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Romans 13:11
2026-09-02
Romans 13:11You must understand the urgency and context of time; it is most certainly now the hour to wake up at once out of the hypnotic state of slumber and unbelief. Salvation has come. (TMB)
Are you taking advantage of the time?
Have you ever decided you were going to witness to a person and heard these or similar statements in your head: “I’ll do it later.”, “I don’t want to seem pushy.” Or “I have to get myself together first.”? What did you do? If you did nothing, then you know you were being disobedient, right?
James 4:17 So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin. (TPT)
You may have called it procrastinating. Actually, you put off witnessing until a later time, as if time was in your hands. Maybe you didn’t obey because you didn’t feel comfortable, or you didn’t want to do it, or because you found something else to do, etc. The next time you have the chance to witness, here are some statements you might want to say to yourself, out loud, if necessary.

“Do I really want to disobey God?”
“I can’t act like time is on this person’s side.”
“The devil likes it when I fail to witness, another soul stays within his grasp longer.”
“I don’t want some dramatic event to happen before they cry out to the Lord.”
“God has a blessed life planned for them. I don’t want them to wait and possibly get saved in the last moments of their lives.”
“There is too much at stake. I need to tell them, the time is now.”
“What if someone had not witnessed to me?”

There is no guarantee the person you witness to will accept the Lord, however, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to share the gospel.
Ephesians 5:15-16 So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes. (TPT)
Don’t wait; do it now.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I thank You for this reminder. I know there are plenty of times I used an excuse instead of witnessing to someone. I repent for every witnessing opportunity I let pass by. I have often said, I will talk to anyone about the Lord who wants to talk. What if I am not approached? Help me be the one who approaches. I don’t want to pass up anyone in need of You. I want to take advantage of every opportunity You give me to lift Your name and to tell someone about You. Help me be strong in my determination to witness and let men see my passion for You. Use me, Father. Give me the words to create an understanding of need in the people I witness to. Help them see they don’t have as much time as they think. The strength of my conviction makes me willing to witness. I don’t want to die not having shared the good news with every person I could have shared it with…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

1 Thessalonians 5:6
2026-09-03
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Live alert and you will not become intoxicated by the indifference of others. (TMB)
Does it take all that?
There is a story that has been told for a long time:
The Ant works hard performing his tasks all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks he is a fool and laughs, dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. (Aesop’s Fable)
You must live your life as God has commanded. It may seem foolish to others. You spend time in prayer instead of watching a movie. You worship instead of gossip. You choose to live your life for the Lord now instead of having fun and giving Him the scraps. You may be referred to as radical, extra, or over the top.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (KJV)
If you are living as if Christianity is not fun, stop it.
John 10:10b I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (AMPC)
The excitement about where you will be when winter comes should show in your life and in your worship. Don’t allow anyone to interfere with it. Your worship is not just how you respond to music in a church service; it is how you live your life. God created you to worship Him. It takes all you have to give and more.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I thank You for leading me to recognize it takes all I have and more to live my life according to Your word and give You the worship You are due. I will continue to “do the most”. I repent when I allowed myself to be swayed by the conversation and commentary of others regarding my life. I will always stand up for my actions. It does not matter who thinks I do too much. I don’t care if I am seen as “way over the top”. I will say thank You when I am called a holy roller. I will live my life as directed by You, whatever it takes. If You require me to be “extra”, then I will be extra for You. I don’t want to be lukewarm; I will be hot…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Luke 21:8
2026-09-04
Luke 21:8 And he said, take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (KJV)
Are you one of the very elect?
Sometimes your desire to believe in someone clouds your judgement. They can entice you, have such an anointing, and manifest signs and wonders that you cannot deny.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (KJV)
Sometime your emotions can cause you to agree to do things contrary to the will of God. This is most sad when the person, causing you to stumble, is someone you trust in for spiritual leadership.
2 Peter 2:1-2 Just as false prophets rose up in the past among God’s people, false teachers will rise up in the future among you. They will slip in with their destructive opinions, denying the very Master who bought their freedom and dooming themselves to destruction swiftly, 2 but not before they attract others by their unbridled and immoral behavior. Because of them and their ways, others will criticize and condemn the path of truth we walk as seedy and disreputable. (TVT)
The word says even the very elect would be deceived if it were possible. It is not possible because the very elect accepted that God chose them and they chose Him right back. They have a genuine relationship with Him and unwavering faith in Him.
John 15:16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you. (AMPC)
You will not be deceived, and your fruit will remain when you know God for yourself. You have to read and study the word, spend time in prayer, dedicate yourself to worship, and meditate daily. That is how you develop a bond that will make you steadfast, strong, and unmovable. That is how you will be able to discern when you are being told something that is not true. That is how you will be rooted and grounded enough to resist.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, my desire is to be one of the very elect. Thank You for showing me I can. I want to be close enough to You to discern what is true no matter who is speaking. I don’t want to be caught up in cults, phoniness and things having a form of godliness, yet no power. I want to walk in Your power. I know the only way this can be true for me is to spend time with You. I repent for every shortcut I tried to take. Thank You for showing me I could only get so close if all I did was pray repetitious, quick prayers when I remembered to pray. I couldn’t build a relationship with You when I did all the talking. My prayer time had to be more than a laundry list of things I wanted You to do. Thank You for changing me. Now I don’t end our conversation without waiting to hear what You have to say. I spend dedicated time with You. I have learned to be still before You, to empty myself out, and wait for You to fill me. I was willing, and You met me at my level of expectancy and beyond. You helped me build a strong relationship with You and I thank You for it…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

1 Peter 1:13
2026-09-05
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
What are you thinking about?
Make sure you are aware of the things you spend time thinking about. You are what you think.
Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (NASV)
This passage is about being aware of what a person offers to you. However, the heart of the matter is what the giver said does not line up with what he thought.
Our thoughts are the fuel for our mind. Our thoughts fuel our dreams and aspirations or they can bind us from
accomplishing them. A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.
James Allen, author of As a Man Thinketh
The books you read, the movies you view, the songs you listen to, and the television programs you watch all affect what you think about. You probably realize you cannot control what enters your conscious thoughts. Well, that is also true for your subconscious thoughts. You must regulate what enters your conscious mind because your subconscious mind picks up and retains everything. Here is the progression that creates influence:

The gateways into your mind are your eyes and your ears. What you see and hear affects what you think about.

Matthew 13:15b Otherwise they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to me and I would instantly heal them. (TPT)

You talk about whatever is in your heart.

Luke 6:45 For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words. (TPT)

Finally, you have what you say.

Mark 11:23 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will]. (AMP)
Even if you are watching or listening to Christian programs. It is important that you examine the word that is being presented. Don’t use them as a substitute for getting your own revelations. Whatever you bring into your space the most will produce fruit. Your attitude, your thoughts about things, etc. will change. The changes can be so subtle you miss them. Sometimes that is good. Sometimes it is not so good. The Bible tells you what you should think about.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. (AMP)
How do you accomplish this with all that is going on in the world and in your life? You spend time in the presence of the Lord. You set aside private time with Him and allow Him to clean your conscious and your subconscious. He renews your mind in those moments you “dedicate” to Him. There, He shapes and reshapes what you think about. The thoughts you have in prayer and worship cause you to see everything in a different light. Those are the thoughts you want to govern your actions, attitude and response to all the world brings.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I want to spend my time thinking about You. I repent for the hours I wasted and the negative influences I allowed into my conscious and, therefore, my subconscious. I repent for thinking church service was enough. I don’t want my thoughts to be what someone else thinks about You. I want my thoughts to be what You direct me to think about. I love being in Your presence. Then I think about You, our relationship, our conversations, what You share with me about who You are, and how I’ve experienced You in my life. I base my hope in You and what You share with me through our interactions. Thank You for prompting me when I muddle my mind with movies, songs, and television programs that don’t glorify You. Also, please continue to remind me I cannot satisfy the time You require of me by reading a Christian novel, watching a Christian movie, or listening to a sermon. I don’t want to be pacified by or live vicariously through somebody else’s relationship with You. I want a relationship with You that You created and designed for me. I want to be in Your presence. I want to learn about You, from You. If I am faithful to these things, I know my desire for You will grow and grow…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Acts 17:11
2026-09-06
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (KJV)
Are you searching the scriptures?
There was always a teacher in school the students really liked. It was because of the teaching method. He listened to the questions each student asked. She always said, “there are no stupid questions”. He explained things so clearly. Most students wanted her for every subject.
As a believer, you go to church, bible studies or any other venue where the word is taught and/or shared. Why do you go? What do you do with the information you get? Are you among those who write notes and never go back and read them? In situations where you can gain biblical knowledge, including this one, you have the responsibility to go to God for yourself.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. (AMP)
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. New American Standard Bible NASV)
The Lord is better than the best teacher you have ever had. He knows you. He knows what you know. He knows what you don’t know. He knows how you learn. He knows what will trip you up and what He can tell you and you will understand immediately. Your desire for knowledge needs to be as passionate as His desire to teach you is.
Psalms 42:1-2 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (KJV)
Seek Him until you reach Him. Ask Him if there is a connection in your spirit. If there is, reach for more. If there is not, ask Him what you need to do to create one.
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied”. (AMP)
Be the one who wants to know what is true for yourself. Be willing to search until you find it.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, whenever I hear Your word being shared, I want to know what You are speaking to me specifically. I repent for those times when I did not stop and seek You because I thought a connection was made in my spirit and because I was excited about what I was hearing. Though I could sense what I believed was Your presence. I should have prayed to make sure it was You and not my emotions. There are also times when I questioned what I heard. In those times, though skeptical, I repent for not coming to You for clarity. Now I come to You. I’m grateful I can. If there is an error in the presentation, You will show me where the error is. You have also shown me sometimes it is me who caused my confusion and kept the truth from being clear. I did not have understanding and/or I had drawn inaccurate conclusions. I submit myself to You. You give me clarity and remove the confusion. Thank You. I don’t have to follow, blindly and without questioning, what’s being given to me. It does not matter what position, what title, and/or how much respect I have for the person giving the presentation. I have You. You are the final word in every matter. No matter what I feel about what is being said, I am thankful I can come to You. Father, today is my birthday and I would be remiss if I did not thank You for my life and for the opportunity to write this devotional. May it continue to bless others as it has blessed me…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Zechariah 3:1
2026-09-07
Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. (KJV)
Are you winning or losing?
The enemy’s job is to keep you from accomplishing what God has intended. If you have read the book of Revelations, you know God has already won. That should be great consolation to you. However, what about in the meantime? Don’t you want to live your life in God’s promises and provisions?
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (KJV)
Take time to reflect on your life. See where you have victories and where the enemy made you believe he defeated you. Ask God to show you what really happened. Is there something you could have done differently? Is there another perspective you could have or should have taken? What are you to do now and in the future?
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Only take heed, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your [mind and] heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your children’s children. (AMPC)
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! (AMPC)
Ask Him to expose whatever is in you, preventing you from standing against the enemy and winning. Submit everything God exposes to you back to Him.
Psalm 139:23 God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. (TPT)
When He shows you, ask for help, strength, more faith, deliverance or whatever is needed to get you from where you are to where you need to be.
Psalm 139:24 See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way—the path that brings me back to you. (TPT)
What God reveals, He heals. You don’t have to live a defeated life waiting until the end. You can win now!
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, thank You for the life You created me to live. I understand the enemy desires for me to live beneath my privileges. He doesn’t want me to walk out the promises You have for me in this life. I also understand the only way the devil gets victory is because I allow him to. I should have asked You to show me what is in me that keeps me from winning all the time. I am sorry. I ask now and I will continue to ask until I walk in the complete victory Jesus died for. Please help me recognize when there is something within me, something the devil sees and is able to exploit. Help me use the weapons, You have provided for me, with the greatest effectiveness. Continue to change me from glory to glory until I have Your characteristics and I look just like You. I will no longer be a sure target and a casualty of war. I am no longer a victim; I am victorious. Continue to use my deficits, my lacks and my flaws as steppingstones as You transform them into sufficiency, abundance and perfection. Show me what I have to give up. Show me what I have to put to the side. Whether it’s an attitude, an opinion, or a relationship. Transform me. I want victory in my life. I know You can show me. I know You will heal what You reveal in me. I thank You in advance…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Luke 22:31
2026-09-08
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (KJV)
Do you have your dossier compiled?
When you are facing difficult situations, how do you view them? During those times, you may have felt you were under attack. You were, just like Peter was. Did you stop to think that with each attack, you have the opportunity to grow.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. (MSG)
Jesus is praying for you just as He prayed for Peter (Luke 22:32). Yes, the devil wants you. However, experience is a pretty good teacher. Take the time to compile a dossier on the devil; he certainly has one on you. (Job 1:7, 2:2) With each attack of the enemy, you can gain an understanding of the devil’s strengths and your weaknesses, the devil’s weaknesses and your strengths, and the devil’s strategic positioning regarding you. You know the enemy has three things he does.
John 10:10a The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (KJV)
He wants to steal what the Father gave you, kill your joy, and destroy your faith. He has three ways he devised to accomplish his task.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. (AMPC)
He has been using these tactics since God kicked him out of heaven. He tried them with Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). He will try them with you. Do some military intelligence gathering. Analyze how he draws you in, and see where the “little foxes” are in your life (Song of Solomon 2:15). Trust God completely and be willing to hear all He has to say about your life, the good and the bad. Then you will know what the enemy’s weapons are and how to combat them with the word, just as Jesus did.

When he encourages you to walk in the flesh, use 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.
When he wants you to fight against people, use Ephesians 6:12.
When he tells you not to be an efficient soldier, use 1 Timothy 6:12.
When he wants you to fold under the hardship, use 2 Timothy 2:3-4.
When he wants you to believe you are fighting alone, use Zechariah 10:5.
When he wants you to fight without armor, use Ephesians 6:13-18.

Say with passion and commitment:
Psalm 144:1 Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. (AMPC)
Armed with the word and your declaration of strength, you win!
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, hear my petition and my cry. I know I have come and placed my cares at Your feet and then picked them back up again. I repent for doing that. I know You want me to stop. If I did, I wouldn’t keep making the same mess. I could also stop picking up the pieces after the enemy has attacked me the same way again. Though my actions don’t always show it, I want to understand how he attacks me and why he attacks me the way he does. Please help me evaluate those situations in my life. Help me see where the open doors are. Help me see where the cracks in the armor are. The enemy does not have to try anything new because he knows what way has worked in the past. Show me what is in me that makes his strategy work for him. Help me stop falling into the same trap that he has just disguised differently. I don’t want to be fooled. I don’t want to be drawn in by his tactics. Continue to help me analyze my attitude, thoughts and relationships and see where the problem areas are. Thank You for mending the fence You have placed around me. I want to win…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Matthew 4:1
2026-09-09
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (KJV)
Are you willing to be tested?
I am reminded of the story of Jonah and the big fish. There is one scripture that really stands out
Jonah 1:17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (KJV)
God was prepared for Jonah’s response because He is omniscient. He is also prepared for your responses. He made you and knows your thoughts. Nothing you do comes as a surprise to Him.
Psalm 139:1-4 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], Behold, O Lord, You know it all. (Amplified Bible)
Because He loves you and has a plan for your life, He sets up trials you must face. If Jesus has to be tested, then why not you?
Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered. (AMP)
Your desire may be to have a blessing filled life without hardship or issue. My Father used the phrase “living your life on flowery beds of ease”. You are not the only person who wants that life. However, because of Adam’s sin and Eve’s deception, life is not that way, even though it is how God designed it.
Job 14:1-2 “Man, who is born of a woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. 2 Like a flower he comes forth and withers; He also flees like a shadow and does not remain”. (AMP)
Armed with this knowledge, be ready for war. You also have to learn to be obedient through the things that you will suffer.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I repent for taking so long to say these words, “Thank You for every opportunity You provided for me to grow.” Though I can say them now because You helped me understand I have to go to through some tough times; they are still hard words to say. I don’t want to go through even though I know it’s necessary. I have asked You several times, is there another way for me to learn this? Your word says whom You love, You chasten. You will chastise me because of the choices I make that do not please You. Those choices can be deliberate or innocent mistakes. Your chastising makes me better because Your word also says when the testing is done, I will be perfect, entire, and wanting nothing. One reason You keep me close is because You love me. I want to believe another reason is because I make You laugh as I try to come up with ways to escape my times of testing and the chastisement for my wrong choices. Thank You for loving me enough to chastise me. Thank You for not moving the mountains. Through Your chastisement, I gain the strength to climb them…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

1 Thessalonians 5:7
2026-09-10
1 Thessalonians 5:7 Sleeping and drunkenness are typical things people do at night, but now the day of the Lord has dawned within us and has put an end to the slumbering effect and intoxication of the practices of darkness. (TMB)
What are you doing in the night?
What is it about the night that is incredibly inviting and exciting? Certain thoughts and behaviors comes to mind when you think about the night. It is when scary things are the scariest, where mischief and mayhem abound. It is a time when you think no one is watching and you can get away with almost anything. Probably because you tell yourself everyone is doing something and enjoying the night.
Luke 21:34-35 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth”. (NKJV)
You are a child of the light.
Ephesians 5:8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] (AMP)
You can use the word “night” metaphorically to mean the draw of the darkness of the world and the time when you know the enemy is working against you. You can also use the natural meaning of the word, which is the end of the day. If you do, you can use night for rest and meditation. Take time to ponder the questions of the day and the things that happened. Was God glorified? Did you take the opportunity to share Christ? Spend some moments reflecting on your life and purpose; spend some of your time in prayer and study. Seek the Lord for a clearer understanding of all you have encountered that day. Pray for His grace and mercy to complete what He has planned for your life.
Psalm 63:6-7 I lie awake each night thinking of you and reflecting on how you help me like a father. I sing through the night under your splendor-shadow, offering up to you my songs of delight and joy! (TPT)
It is time to put away the things you do when you think no one is watching, and live a life that can be watched.
Titus 2:7 And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness. (AMPC)
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I thank You for calling me out of the darkness into Your marvelous light. I repent for making choices without regard to those who might be watching me. You require me to live a life that can be watched. I will not dip and dodge, slip and slide, peep and hide. I will not live the spy life; trying to keep someone from seeing my undercover activity. I thank You for delivering me. Thank You for creating in me the desire to be a light before men. Whether I want it to be or not, my life is being watched. I want whoever is watching to see You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who helps me govern my actions and my speech. I will submit to instruction. I don’t want to lead anyone astray…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Matthew 6:13
2026-09-11
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. (KJV)
Do you still have doors open to the enemy?
Part of your assignment is to look for the enemy and learn how he works in your life. Matthew 6:13 is a God ordained request you should make every day. “Lord, lead me not into temptation and deliver me from the traps the devil has set”. There are traps the enemy sets to lure you in. Some of them you don’t have any knowledge of. There are also traps the enemy sets because you have given him and open door. You know God can deliver you from both because He is King of Kings and has all power. You just have to make sure you want to be delivered. Are you asking Him to deliver you because you know you should or is your request sincere? How do you know? You have to be willing to allow God to shine a light on your heart. You also have to be willing to allow Him to be Lord of your life, not just your savior and deliverer. When the traps are your pet peeves or favorite things to do; your response to the Lord must be, “Have Your way”. Don’t make excuses for yourself.
Romans 13:14 Instead, wrap yourselves in the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, and do not fuel your sinful imagination by indulging your self-seeking desire for the pleasures of the flesh. (TVT)
If you are unsure of the doors, you opened to the enemy, diligently seek the Lord, He will show them to you. Please remember, the devil uses the same tactics on you as he uses on everyone else.
1 Corinthians 10:13a No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]. (AMP)
He just customizes them for you. However, there are certain behaviors that open a door for the enemy, no matter who you are.

Holding grudges

When you hold grudges, you justify and embrace sin; and you come into agreement with the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27 Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. 27 And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]. (AMP)

Walking in unforgiveness

When you don’t forgive, you prevent your own forgiveness.
Mark 11:25 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others]. (AMP)

Being self-serving

When your goal is to get what you want, when you want, don’t compromise God’s standards in the process.
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” (AMP)

Straddling the fence

When you are wishy-washy, you are of no use to the Father.
Revelation 3:15-16 I know all that you do, and I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion. How I wish you were either one or the other! 16 But because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from my mouth. (TPT)
The Father will show you how to resist the temptations and/or how to move yourself out of the way.
1 Corinthians 10:13b But God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]. (AMP)
He wants to shut any open door. When He shuts them, be careful not to open new doors.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father God, I remember hearing the preacher talk about favorite sins. I realized I was making excuses so I could continue to do what I wanted to do. Thank You for leading me to a time of reflection and examination with You. You showed me my favorite sins, and the pathways and doorways I opened in my life. You showed me though I was praying for Your protection; I kept putting myself in harm’s way. Though I was asking You to deliver me; I kept bringing those same things back into my life. You love me so much. I remember, at that moment, I repented. That was the last time I needed to ask You to forgive me for and deliver me from those things. Thank You for revelation and understanding. Thank You for deliverance. As I continue to evaluate my life; I thank You in advance for deliverance when I need it. Thank You for closing every door I opened. Thank You for leading me away from temptation, and leaving the enemy without a new way in…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Romans 13:12
2026-09-12
Romans 13:12 It was night for long enough; the day has arrived. Cease immediately with any action associated with the darkness of ignorance. Clothe yourself in the radiance of light as a soldier would wear his full weaponry. (TMB)
Are you still making resolutions?
How many years have you made the same resolution January after January? This year, I am going to lose weight. This year, I am going to let go of the things I do that are not pleasing to God. This year I am going to eat right. This year I am going to pray and study more. This year I am going to work toward a promotion on my job. What prompted your resolution? Maybe you want to make more money. Maybe you received an unfavorable medical report. Maybe it is because you don’t want to buy more new clothes. Maybe you feal defeated in your walk with the Lord. You have to stop planning and stop talking about what you are “going” to do, and do it!! You might ask, is making a resolution a bad thing? That is something you will have to ask the Lord for yourself. However, here are two things to consider when you make resolutions.

Often resolutions are emotional and based on something that is currently going on for you personally. They can be a knee-jerk reaction instead of the result of time spent consulting God.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (NLT)
There is nothing wrong with setting goals. Wanting to spend more time with the Lord, wanting to lose weight, wanting to read the Bible more, wanting to make more money, etc. are good things. God is concerned with every aspect of your life. The question you should ask is, “Why do you want to accomplish your chosen goal, NOW?” Is it because it will make you spiritually stronger? If the goal is not spiritual, is it what God wants for you at this time? If it is what God wants, why do you need to make a resolution to do it? When you want to change, you don’t have to make a resolution. You can simply pray and ask God to change you. When you pray, ask the Lord what His will is for you. Ask Him what you need to fulfill His call on your life. Ask Him, “Will your desires bring Him glory?” Then ask Him to change you as He sees fit, and submit to His process.

Often the resolution is just talk. As Christians, because we belong to God and when we make a resolution, it is a vow to God. Keep these scriptures in mind.

Matthew 12:36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. (AMPC)
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 When you tell God you’ll do something, do it—now. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. 6 Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation? (MSG)
Do you really want to promise God something on a whim? You don’t have to, there is a better way.

Align yourself with God’s purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you”, says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. (AMP)

Walk in His plan.

Philippians 1:6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. (AMP)

Allow God to unfold your life before you.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)

Delight the Lord with your life.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. (AMPC)

Embrace the decisions God has already made.

Psalm 37:5, 7a Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; (NKJV)
You don’t need to make a resolution in January that you probably won’t fulfill and will abandon by February. Resolutions challenge you; the spirit of God flowing freely in your life changes you.

Get hungrier with desire for the Lord, EVERY DAY.
Look at how you spend your time and cut out those things keeping you from His presence, EVERY DAY.
Fall in love with the Lord, EVERY DAY.
Carve out time exclusively for the Lord, EVERY DAY.
Empty yourself of anything that is not like the Lord, EVERY DAY.
Release your ties to the world, EVERY DAY.
Become faithful and stop making excuses, EVERY DAY.
See the Lord beckoning you to Him, not demanding your time, EVERY DAY.

If you walk out your claim that Jesus is Lord of your life, EVERY DAY, you won’t need to make a resolution of any kind.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I repent for every empty resolution I have made in my life. Thank You for stopping me from making and breaking vows to You. Thank You for showing me I should want to be in Your presence on purpose, not because You require it of me. I must create time. I can’t just fit You in. I can’t rush to be with You, for a few minutes here and a few minutes there, in between doing the “important” things in my life. I know that is not enough for me or for You. There are promises I can have if I acknowledge You and ask for Your guidance every day. You will release all fears and uncertainties I have about my life and my future. You will restore me to the place You ordained me to be before I veered off the path, making my own way. I won’t have to wait for the battle to be over; I can rejoice because I know I will win. I will always be radical in pursuing my relationship with You. You hold my life in Your hands. Thank You for knowing what’s in my heart. Thank You for showing me making resolutions is not the way. Because I am special to You and You are special to me, You require special time. Thank You for creating a relationship where You can nudge me and say, “It’s our time now.” I am overwhelmed and amazed at the work You’ve done in my life because of our time spent together. I want more. I don’t have to make a resolution, I have to submit…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Ephesians 4:27
2026-09-13
Ephesians 4:27 Any sin that you tolerate is an open invitation to the devil. Do not give him a platform to operate from. (TMB)
Do you have a virus?
There are signs when you have a virus on your computer: it runs slower; programs don’t function properly; the actions that are routinely performed don’t run as expected, etc. Most computers have anti-virus software on them. They designed those applications to search for, detect, remove, and even prevent computer viruses, other malicious attacks, and more. These tools are critical because a computer without anti-virus software can be infected within minutes of connecting to the internet. The bombardment is constant. To keep your computer running smoothly, you need to use the antivirus software. It is best to use it on a preventative or maintenance program that runs all the time and according to the schedule you set. It will clean the entire system continuously and completely.
You have an anti-virus program for your life. It is the Bible. If you allow it to, it will:

Prevent the devil from making you run slower than you should.

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord. (AMP)

Search for those things would cause you not to function properly.

Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. (AMP)

Detect what is causing you to no longer do what you know to do the right way.

Psalm 139:23-24a Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me. (AMP)

Remove all traces of the devil and his destructive forces from your life.

Psalm 51:2, 7 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt And cleanse me from my sin. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (AMP)
The Bible is critical because the enemy began his attack before you were born.
Genesis 3:15 “I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring’s heel.” (GNT)
Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (KJV)
The devil works to infect your life and damage your witness by influencing how you respond to your trials, temptations, hurts, cares of life, desire for worldly gain, and more. Without the Bible, you are slower to obey; you don’t live a life that brings light wherever you go; you respond out of your flesh instead of being led by the Spirit; and ultimately, you move away from the things of God. You have a maintenance program set up for your life that can run constantly and routinely. It will make sure it washes you from head to toe.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. (MSG)
It is not enough for you to have the maintenance program available to you. Make sure you are using it.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this revelation today. I repent for those times I would go along, knowing something was not right and giving myself credit for soldiering on. Though I prayed about it, I did not stop long enough for You to do something about it. I never thought I was walking around with a virus that was affecting my witness. Thank You for reminding me I have the Bible in my life. It runs continuously in the background. It is my foundation and my instruction. I have the Holy Spirit in my life, Who brings the Bible to the foreground when needed. He gives me notifications and an unction that pops up when my thoughts don’t honor You and my actions don’t bring You glory. Help me do a virus scan, daily, for infections that have creeped in without me knowing it. I thank You for Your power; it’s able to wipe me clean and keep me protected. What a marvelous God You are. I don’t want to do things that draw me from You. I want to do things that bring me closer to You; I need You and I love You. Thank You for always being there and keeping me virus free…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

2 Timothy 4:17
2026-09-14
2 Timothy 4:17 Throughout my trial, I was so aware of the Lord’s tangible presence; he strengthened me with dynamic boldness and assured me that my life will be an accurate conduit of the message articulated in its most complete context, for all the nations to hear! And I was snatched from the very jaws of the lion! (TMB)
Are you seeing with the eyes of God?
Your relationship with God provides you with the ability to have such strength. You can be calm and without worry in the midst of a trial. Those watching your life will see what has happened or is happening and count you out. They will not understand how you are not losing control. Because of God’s presence, not only can you maintain composure, you can have peace and be victorious.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] (AMP)
Don’t you want this passage to be true for you? It can be. However, there are some things you need to consider. What governs your reactions? How do you make decisions? The people you spend most of your time with influence you. The conversations you have and the discussions about choices and decision making affect your perspective on life. When you have an encounter, you reflect on what they said. You react based on the information you gained.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion]. (AMP)
The effect can be good. However, depending who your friends are, the effect can be detrimental to you if you are not careful.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. (AMPC)
The greatest transformation of your actions and thinking comes when you spend time with God.
Ephesians 1:17-18 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people). (AMP)
He will enlighten you. You will see what He sees and react based on your knowledge of Him.
2 Kings 6:16-17 Elisha answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. (AMP)
Elisha saw with God’s eyes. He prayed for the Lord to open the eyes of his fear-filled servant. The time you spend with God allows Him to open your eyes. You see every situation for what it is and how God will use it in your life. Then you will not respond with fear, confusion, or defeat. You will see your victory as you walk in faith.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, You made a way for me to see my life through Your eyes. Thank You. I repent for the times I allow my circumstances to rattle me. I am sorry when I get frazzled when things “seem” like they were going to the left. I thank You because I can talk to You about every situation. I don’t have to talk to You from a place of anxiety and stress. I can talk to You like a child talks to her father, already knowing that he is going to work it out. I can ask You to show me the situation from Your perspective. You can tell me what You want me to know about what’s going on in my life at any given moment. I am grateful for the time I spend with You. I realize it is not just for me to get answers and direction. During this time, I am showing You, You can trust me. If I continue to be faithful to our time, You will continue to open my eyes. I get excited when I think about it. I can have peace that surpasses man’s understanding, if I abide in You…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Mark 4:15
2026-09-15
Mark 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. (KJV)
What is the status of your soil?
How do you know if you prepared the soil of your heart to receive the word? How do you know it will take root? Have you been in a service where you really felt the presence of the Lord and the word seemed to penetrate to the very depths of your soul? Did you cry? Did you rejoice? Did you go to the altar for prayer, desiring for the word to be sealed? What happened after the service? Did you make some changes in your life to comply with the word you received? When you continually till the soil of your heart (Hosea 10:12), the Father can plant His word and it will grow. Colossians 1:10 describes the rooted believer.
Colossians 1:10 So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]. (AMP)
When you are rooted, you hear the word, and you are changed, not just challenged.
Mark 4:20 “And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].” (AMP)
However, if you have not prepared your heart, you hear the word of Lord and one of these things may happen.

You will not even remember what the word was because the enemy will come and steal it.
The word will immediately excite you for the moment. It will truly challenge you. However, the word will fade just as the joy fades.
You will not fully commit yourself to the word which will prevent it from sustaining you.
You will not want to be associated with Christianity any longer because the word offended or troubled you, and/or your professed belief in the word caused others to persecute you.
You will give up on the word and became despondent, convinced that God does not care because He did not do what you wanted Him to do, when you want Him to do it.
You will stop reading the word and take your eyes off the Lord. You will move your focus to your many worries and all the cares of the world.
Your desire for worldly pleasures; wealth; fame; your own sense of security, not God’s; and/or anything else that is self-fulfilling will be greater than your desire for God.

When the word is not rooted in you, you are just hanging out at the church. You have to till the soil of your heart and break up the fallow ground. Prepare it to receive the word. The preparation allows you to identify what is stopping the seed of the word from taking root and growing. God is faithful to show you where the problem areas are and do what is necessary to fix them.
Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], 7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude. (AMP)
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I repent for living my Christian life selfishly. Because I did, there were so many pebbles, stones, and hard soil keeping Your word from taking root. Even though some of them were huge rocks, You helped me dig them out. I am grateful You brought me from a place where I was just by the wayside. Thank You for showing me how to cultivate the soil of my heart. I asked You to show me what I needed to change. You showed me and changed me because I tilled the soil of my heart and broke up the fallow ground. Now You have planted the seed of Your word in good soil and I’m grateful. The seed is growing bigger and taller and stronger and deeper every day. Thank You! As Your word grows, every now and then, there’s another rock that has to be dug out. Thank You for continuing to show them to me and helping me dig them out. I accept whatever means You see fit. Though sometimes it’s painful, I yield to the work that must be done and I thank You for it. Make me Your ultimate farmer…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Job 2:3
2026-09-16
Job 2:3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. (KJV)
Has the Lord counted you worthy of an attack from the enemy?
In business, there is a term “the go-to guy”. This is a person known by superiors, peers and subordinates as the one to get advice from, get any project accomplished, and is indispensable. In the military, this person has the capability to accomplish the mission regardless of the obstacles. Your time spent with God creates these characteristics in you.
Psalm 18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. (KJV)
Fellow believers can come to you and get spiritual wisdom, not fleshy advice.
Titus 2:1 But as for you, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christians].
2 Timothy 2:15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. (AMP)
God knows He can trust you to allow Him to finish the work He started in you, no matter the cost.
John 6:68-69 Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.” (MSG)
You offer what you have, and you inspire others.
2 Corinthians 9:12-13 The priestly ministry you are providing through your offering not only supplies what is lacking for God’s people, it inspires an outpouring of praises and thanksgiving to God himself. 13 For as your extremely generous offering meets the approval of those in Jerusalem, it will cause them to give glory to God—all because of your loyal support and allegiance to the gospel of Christ, as well as your generous-hearted partnership with them toward those in need. (TPT)
You allow your life and the things you go through to be used as inspiration for the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. 17 For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]. (AMPC)
The unbeliever cannot and will not deter you. However, you warn them and silence them by the way you live your life.
1 Peter 3:16-17 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words]. 17 For it is better that you suffer [unjustly] for doing what is right, if that should be God’s will, than [to suffer justly] for doing wrong. (AMP)
It’s a tough job.
Romans 8:19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s children to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. (AMPC, edited)
Somebody has to do it, why not you?
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I repent for those times I prayed and asked You to use me, the way I wanted it to be used. I wanted to do what I wanted to do, without regard for what You needed me to do. You did not give up on me. Thank You. Now I don’t count it strange to want to be someone who You can point out to the enemy. The funny thing is, You taught me it does not matter if my goal is to be an example You can use. The enemy is going to attack me, anyway. If setting me up for direct attack is part of the call on my life, then have Your way. Whether or not You decide to point me out specifically; I want the characteristics, You are proud of, in my life. Even as I am praying now, I sense You saying You don’t have to point me out to the enemy. He recognizes who I am. I give You praise. I thank You for developing tenacity in me. I will continue allowing You to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. I have gone through some tough, tough days. I know there will be more tough days in my present and in my future. I rejoice because You always give me a way of escape and I can bear what comes my way. Thank You for counting me worthy. I also know, with every tough day I gain victory over, I am strengthened to withstand the next one. Father, I give You glory…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Romans 13:13
2026-09-17
Romans 13:13 Our lives exhibit the kind of conduct consistent with the day, in contrast to the parade of the night of intoxicated licentiousness and lust, with all the quarrels and jealousy it ignites. (TMB)
Are you living the day life or the night life?
Ever been to Mardi Gras? Depending on where you are celebrating, there are continual days and nights of parties and celebrations. There are floats and parades. During the day, families with children take part in the celebrations and have fun. At night, the riotous activities begin, eating and drinking in excess, nudity, reckless behavior, etc. Half or fully drunken men and women fill the streets. They have thrown caution to the wind. Everyone is invited to indulge in the revelry. The devil is still sending out the invitation.
James 1:13-14 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). (AMP)
In the devotional on September 10, you explored night from the perspective of understanding the time you should spend with the Lord preparing yourself to be watched. Today, go deeper into your understanding of night life. You can also compare the night life to taking a vacation. When people take vacations, they get away from their jobs, their personal and professional worries, the weight of being in charge and responsible, etc. This is probably not you. However, some people go away and become someone else. They don’t act the way they normally and act. They feel they are free. They don’t know anyone where they are. No one knows them. The devil also tricks them into thinking whatever they do will stay secret. It is not true.
Luke 12:2-3 Everything hidden and covered up will soon be exposed. For the facade is falling down, and nothing will be kept secret for long. 3 Whatever you have spoken in private will be public knowledge, and what you have whispered secretly behind closed doors will be broadcast far and wide for all to hear. (TPT)
You want to make sure you realize there are no vacations from the Christian life. And you should not want one.

Do you want a vacation from the protection and provision of the Lord (Psalms 91)?
Do you want a vacation from the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7)?
Do you want a vacation from your burden bearer and heavy load sharer? (Matthew 11:28-30)?
Do you want a vacation from your savior? (Acts 4:12)?

Christianity is not a job, a burden or a weight; it is a life choice. When your life is in Christ, and you are abiding in Him, you don’t need a vacation. Don’t let the enemy glorify one or two happy memories of what your life used to be like while excluding the pain. Focus on what your life in Christ is like.
Isaiah 58:11The Eternal One will never leave you; He will lead you in the way that you should go. When you feel dried up and worthless, God will nourish you and give you strength. And you will grow like a garden lovingly tended; you will be like a spring whose water never runs out. (TVT)
Your life in Christ should not be overwhelming, it should be a party every day. You should be having a ball! Don’t be like the children of Israel who wanted to go back to Egypt. Don’t be like Lot’s wife, who turned to remember Sodom. Let go of those distorted “what life could be like” images the enemy plants. If you are overwhelmed, you don’t need a vacation, you need is a revival (Psalm 51:12). You may decide a vacation and not a revival is what you need. You may even think, on your vacation, you have escaped the eyes of those who know you. However, do you want to take that risk?
Matthew 18:6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea. (AMPC)
Your life has to be Christ centered and governed, at all times. You want everyone to enjoy and be blessed by how you live. It cannot be one way when people are watching (the day) and another way when you think they are not (the night). Always keep in mind, God is watching.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I repent for wanting to go on vacation from the life You ordained for me to live. I want the day life. I know the nightlife is fleshly fun, however, there is a destined end for that life, and it is not You. I know if I am overwhelmed; I don’t need a vacation. I need You to restore the joy of Your salvation. I need You to remind me of Your awe-inspiring presence I felt as You picked me up and turned my life around. Though You will cover me, I won’t have Your presence if I’m on vacation from You. I want You. I want my life to be an example of what happens when a person spends time with You. I want those, whom You’ve placed in my path, to enjoy Your blessings through something I might say, a song I might sing, or just a smile on my face. I want You. I want a life that brings You glory and is the same in the nighttime as it is in the day. Please do what You need to do in me, in order for Your light to shine through me, 24/7…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:

Revelation 12:12
2026-09-18
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (KJV)
Are you desperate?
Have you ever watched a sword fight or fencing duel? It’s like a dance with calculated and precise moves. For each step the challenger takes, there is a comparable step the defender has to take in order to stay safe. It is life or death, and both participants are aware. Just like the sword fight, any situation that may cost you your life makes you desperate. The devil wants your life. This makes you desperate as you battle with him. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Don’t let the devil catch you off guard; he is desperate as well.
Revelation 12:12b “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time [remaining]!” (AMP)
Not only does he have a short amount of time, he knows he will not win.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever. (AMP)
His strategy is to take as many with him as he can. He is unrelenting in his pursuit of you. Image yourself in a sword fight with him. He will attack, lunge, plot, plan, strategize, beat and graze. He wants to create what he hopes to be your demise. He has watched you and recorded your responses to difficult situations. He knows where your buttons are and strategically pushes them.
1 Peter 5:8b That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. (AMP)
You have to be on a reconnaissance mission continually; know the enemy’s position before he is upon you.
1 Peter 5:8a Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. (AMP)
Be as desperate as he is.
Luke 21:36 “But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].” (AMP)
Be on guard.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]. (AMP)
Know your weak spots.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But now I’m afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s clever lies, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may lose your single-hearted devotion and pure love for Christ. 4 For you seem to gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you preaching a pseudo-Jesus, not the Jesus we have preached. You have accepted a spirit and gospel that is false, rather than the Spirit and gospel you once embraced. How tolerant you have become of these imposters! (TPT)
Don’t move your buttons, turn them off. Ask God to help you stand as He deals with your weak spots. See yourself in a duel for your life. When he thrusts, you parry and riposte.
Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:
Father, I want to be passionate in my pursuit of You at all times. I repent for only being desperate when I am in the midst of what I perceive to be an overwhelming situation. I should be desperate every day. I want my unrelenting pursuit of You to cause me to see the enemy coming before he gets close. You have taught me, in order to increase my hunger for You, I must discipline myself to fast and pray at all times. I see what my obedience to Your instruction has done in my life so far. I will continue to do what is necessary. I want to see what the devil’s next trap is and where it’s located. Then I won’t step into it; I will dismantle it. I want to fend off the attacks of the enemy without missing a beat. I want to put the enemy on guard for me. Though these are not simple tasks, I know You can transform me. I believe You want transformation for me, and every believer. Thank You for shaping us into the image You had for us all before the foundation of the world…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here:
