He Who Runs to God

Donna Braman

Guidance Series

BLESSED SHALL BE HIM WHO RUNS TO GOD

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:8

Sometimes we have  foggy notions of what it means to be blessed and deciding who the blessed are. Today, we're going to take a look at how the scripture describes the blessed and their characteristics.

But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says; "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the HUMBLE. James 4:6. People who operate in the pride of life are not blessed.

Blessed are those who TRUST IN THE LORD and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.Jeremiah 17:7. A blessed person never looks to the world for hope, and never depends on man to build their confidence of who they are. Watch out for men who are lifted up above where God has them and only has a earthly foundation and following, it is a false trust because what can be shattered will be shattered.

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse, the blessing if you OBEY THE COMMANDS of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. Deuteronomy 11:26-27. Blessings follow the obedient Christian. Don't believe a person is blessed who comes to church with their righteous show but their personal life is in a shambles and their home is worldly.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you PEACE. Numbers 6:24-26. A blessed person has a light about them, and inner aliveness and peace in their life.  Strife, confusion and cast down in spirit is not in their character, but their spirit is one of calmness in the midst of a storm. They have the ability to keep their focus on God's word and not be side tracked by what they see in the natural.

Don't repay evil for evil.  DON'T RETALIATE when people say unkind things about you.  Instead, pay them back with a blessing.  That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. 1 Peter 3:9. When someone calls you up and calls you everything in the book, blessed people do not get verbal back and then call someone and gossip about the accuser. That only feeds the strife, but earnestly pray how God can create a situation where you can do a kindness for this person, which always dismantles the anger.

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds NO SORROW with it. Proverbs 10:22. A blessed person does not whine and cry in pain, but accepts the place where God has put him at the moment and rejoices for he knows joy will come in the morning.  He is a praiser in the midst of darkness! It is no secret why sorrow doesn't stay with the blessed person very long. When you see a person arise from the furnace unscathed by its flames, know he is a blessed person. They can take ashes and turn them into beauty.

Blessed is he who has REGARD FOR THE WEAK; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. Psalm 41:1. If you have trouble from the oppressor, forget your own troubles and go help someone who is in need. When you get your focus on yourself and begin to pray for only yourself, that is when you need to start to pray for others and see how quickly God will restore your health, your finances, your family.

The Lord will give STRENGTH to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11. When calamity comes look around and see who is bold and speaks God's word over situations and always has a word for those in distress. It is not always your super religious, super spiritual, or gifted in the church that soars like the wings of an eagle, but it is the faith walkers who speak things into being. They have power in the tongue and they have boldness in the Lord and their steps are ordered by the Lord not by their own will power.

Blessed is the man who DOES NOT WALK IN THE WAY OF THE WICKED, STAND IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, OR SIT IN THE SEAT OF MOCKERS.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2. He is righteous and his desires are to uplift people in the Lord, please the Lord, and he doesn't engage in the delights of the world. The blessed man is in this world but not of it! He is a peculiar person and does not have a carnal thinking mind.

SEED WORD: The blessed man is not running around trying to impress others of his righteousness or giftedness, but you will find him with the meek, the lonely, the hurting, the orphans, the widows, the downcast in spirit, the sick, trying to teach others how to taste and open their eyes to see how good God is. What righteous act have you done this week to show you are blessed and highly favored by Almighty God? The blessed are equipped to do the work of Jesus!

Children of the Father's House

Donna Braman
Guidance Series

THE CHILDREN OF THE FATHER'S HOUSE

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 6:20-22

God tells us "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters." 2 Corinthians 6:18.

The word tells us quite a bit about what kind of heavenly Father we have as well as living principles with your earthly parents. The wisdom of Solomon says, Good friend, follow your father's good advice; don't wander off from your mother's teachings.  Wrap yourself in them from head to foot; wear them like a scarf around your neck.  Wherever you walk, they'll guard you; when you wake up, they'll tell you what's next.

Honor your father and mother.  Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God will give you. I was well into my thirties before this truth sunk in; that honor of my parents was contingent to me living long and my prosperity. That kind of lack of knowledge causes a lot of us to perish in the fulfillment of our lives.

So now, in the Kingdom family Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father.  That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. Jesus also tells us that whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1. As the father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. That little bit of fear is what produces respect with the heavenly father as well as with the earthly parents.

The bible tells us to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.  He says that when you left the womb he cradled you, since the moment of birth he has been your God and watched over you. For this reason, I bow my knees to the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

SEED WORD: For those who are without earthly parents or have parents who have fallen short of their duties as a parent the Lord has this to say to you: For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take you in and cradle and nurture you. Psalm 27:10  He says in his word; "I am the Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. Psalm 68:5-6. I lost my earthly father when I was a young child, but I can honestly say that my new husband and his family has been the greatest gift my heavenly father has ever given me. If you have parents today tell them you love them and show God thankfulness for them this holiday season. No one has a perfect family, but the thankfulness and respect for the one he has given you is dependent on the longevity of your own life!

Forgiveness

Donna Braman
Guidance Series

FORGIVENESS

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:18 and Matthew 6:14-15


It makes more sense to forgive others when we know how we were forgiven.  By far, it is easier to forgive others than to understand how we are worthy of forgiveness and to finally forgive ourselves of the wrongs we've done in life. But unless we can let go of old beliefs that we are not worthy to be forgiven, forgiveness and mercy to others makes little sense and is not effectual.


Here is what the bible has to say about forgiveness to us and then further scripture on forgiveness to others.
"If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves; and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then they will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14.


"I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins," says the Lord. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."


"I, even, I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."
Now if the Lord doesn't remember our sins, then how can we remember old transgressions of others?


"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  The bible says when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.


"Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Luke 6:38


SEED WORD: You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

God's Will

Donna Braman
Guidance Series

God's Will For Your Life

Scripture Reading: Prov. 3:5-6, Prov. 2:3-5 1 Peter 4:19, Romans 12:2

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  He has shown you what is good.  So, what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you.

If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.  Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep my teachings, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

The Lord delights in every detail of your life, and it is He who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. So keep persevering so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised in His word.

SEED WORD:

If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will see that Jesus' teachings are from God, and he will see if man's teachings are from God or from their own authority as well.  John 7:17

Grace Will Abound

Donna Braman

GRACE WILL ABOUND

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 4:15-16, Titus 2:11-13, 1 Peter1:13, Romans 5:1-2

     For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

     For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.  We should live in this evil world with self control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

     Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

     Because we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

SEED WORD:

     I can not count the times that God's grace fell on me when I wasn't even deserving of it.  It was during those times that I dropped the pride in my life and humbled myself  for without him I would have stumbled on my own two feet. There are times when you just can't do anything about a situation and that is when his grace will step in if we let our pride go.

Divine Guidance

Donna Braman
A Series of Guidance 
Devotionals

DIVINE GUIDANCE

Scripture: Isaiah 42:16

God tells us in his word that he will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths.  He will guide us and turn the darkness into light before us and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things he says he will do, he will never forsake us!

     Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.

     The Lord will send you an angel and He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither sleep nor slumber.  The Lord watches over you.  He is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

     The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you."  God's eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all of his steps!  You will hear a voice say, "This is the way; turn around and walk here as I direct you."

     God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path.  The Lord will show you the way, and He will teach you your paths.  He will lead you into all truth.  He is the God of our salvation, on him will I wait all the day long.

SEED WORD:

The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way right, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness! Proverbs 11:5

Further Scripture: Job 34:21, Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 121:3-6, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 37:23


For further information, or teaching lessons and articles go to: djbraman.blogspot.com

Thankfulness

Donna Braman

THANKFUL IN ALL SITUATIONS

I am filled today with such a thankful heart I hardly know where to begin.  But I thank the Lord this morning for the people who are a blessing to me, my family and friends and neighbors, the children in my life, for my brothers and sisters in Christ, for pastors and teachers who are a part of my life, for those who have loved me even when I was not so loveable, for the friend who built my deck, for the people he put in my life to serve and to help. I even am thankful for the thoughtful postman I have.

    Thank you Lord for the many ways You use these people to meet my needs, brighten my path, and lighten my load, to enrich my knowledge of You, and to counsel or correct or nourish me, building me up in the faith. How good and how pleasant it is to enjoy rich fellowship with those who love You!  Thank you Lord for every person you have brought into my life.

     I am thankful for those who have been in my life that have disappointed me, for I know we all have flaws, and that only you are flawless.  I'm thankful Lord that you have taught me to love even those with an ugly edge, and not to force others to meet my needs, for You are the only one that can meet my deepest needs and You are the one that is always available.  This makes me even more glad to have You as my deepest love, a friend that is always there.  My wonderful counselor, my ever present help in trouble, available around the clock.  How wonderful that I belong to You, the pure, unpolluted source from which all downstream love flows.  So I delight in people here in my earthly world, but first and last I come to You, the only perfect person, the only ideal person, the only One whose love is flawless, the only One who is worthy of my highest praise.  O, God, who is like You? There is none to compare with YOU!

     Some of the people who have hurt me the worst are the ones who drove me to your feet, upon Your Love 

to feed.  I'm grateful too, through all life's way no one could satisfy and so I found in You my rich and full supply.

     I am most thankful to You Lord for my husband, for each specific strong point and admirable quality you gave to me in my life partner.  Thank You for bringing us together, and for the way Your love sweetens our earthly love! I bless and praise You Lord for the many benefits You have given me through this dear one called my husband.  He lifts me up when I'm down.  He loves me even when I get an attitude, he loves me when I look my worst, he hurts when I hurt and he laughs with me over the silly, funny things. But most of all He loves You and we both make our home a house of love for you, that foundation I am so very blessed to have.

     Thank You Lord that we get to share our life, rewards, and inheritance with YOU.  Who can compare with You?  You are the strength of my life, and my portion forever.  Thank You that You are so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful, that You can meet and overflow the deeper love I have for you onto others.  My tower, My stronghold and Your name is Yeshua (Jesus).

     I thank You today Lord for my son, that beautiful wonderful gift you gave me 26 years ago that took my heart and love as he was laid upon my chest to nurture.  He has been a blessing to me ever since, even when he threw down in the floor at 2 years old fighting sleep, even when he spilled the bucket of paint on the new carpet at 9, even when he poured my Paul Mitchel shampoo on the hall floor for a makeshift slip and slide at 7, even when he whispered something ugly to me at age 12 and got whapped on the back end. He is all grown up now and graduated from UNC in 2007 and is in China teaching children English for a year. He is still the catcher of my heart.  The goodness of him far outweighs the natural behaviors of growing up.  I love the unique mind he has and the visible kindness like when he brought me breakfast in bed at 11. All the bear and eskimo kisses in elementary school, all the paintings he did that reflects his inner beauty. The consciousness he has to beautify and keep God's earth clean and natural.  He loved me still even when I got frustrated as he taught me this thing called COMPUTER, networking and widgets and all that goes with being a writer these days. Most of all I love him for taking the time to spend those days with me at church and building me a raised garden bed like Martha Stewart's before he left for China.  I pray blessings, protection and guidance from the Lord to Him and that the Lord will give him peace and joy throughout his life.   

SEED WORD:

I ask each and everyone of you to take the time today to get a piece of paper and write down the people you are thankful for and why and tell them.  Don't leave out the people who have angered you, hurt you or disappointed you, for even those relationships we are to be thankful for as they help mature us in the Lord and teach us the fruit of the spirit. Write down the blessings the Lord has provided for you, your health, your job, the food on your table, the family members, and thank him for the provision he gives you that enables you to GIVE to others in need.  Don't forget to share your meal this Thanksgiving to a shut in, to a lonely neighbor, or to simply go out of your way to lift someone up who is struggling with something, a word of comfort or a word in prayer!

Thank You Lord

Donna Braman
Praise and Thanksgiving
Devotional Series

THANK YOU LORD FOR MAKING ME ADEQUATE

2 Corinthians 3:5

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 10:24, John 15:15, Ephesians 4:16

I'm so grateful Lord, that the Christian life is not a rigorous self-improvement course or a do-it-yourself kit, that it is not a call to prove myself or improve myself by overcoming my own shortcomings and failures, in my own way or by own resources.  But it is You that is at work in me and in my situation, to break old patterns of thought and action, to create within me both the desire and the power to do Your gracious will, and to make me a joy to You in new ways.

Thank You for the many ways You use other people to counsel me and help me grow, and yet that Christ Himself is the Answer to my hang-ups, the one Source who can meet my deepest needs.  How I rejoice that He is wonderful in counsel and mighty in power, and that He heals from the inside out.

Thank You too, for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength.  I praise You that He is in me to enlighten me through Your Word, to flush away my anxieties and fears, my resentments and hostilities, my guilt and regrets, as water flushes away dirt and trash to keep me filled with Himself and to flood my heart with Your love.  Produce in me Lord the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Enable me Lord, to give thanks for all things as the hours and days and weeks pass.  I rejoice that You are able to do far more than all I ask or think according to Your power that is at work in me, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!

SEED WORD:

The Holy Spirit sends others to us to counsel us and to help us grow. He is also the Source who can meet your deepest needs, and it is in allowing Him to live through us that makes us adequate. Take time to thank Him today and rejoice that He is wonderful in counsel and mighty in power, and that He heals from the inside out! 

All Situations

Donna Braman

BE THANKFUL IN ALL SITUATIONS

Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 63:9

1Thessalonians 5:18

Thank You, my gracious and sovereign Lord, that You have been with me and carried me from the day of my birth until today...that You have known my whole life, from beginning to end, and that You wrote in your book all the days that You ordained for me before one of them came to be.

Thank You that in Your gracious plan to bless and use me.  You've allowed me to go through hard times, through trials that many people go through in this fallen world.  How glad I am that You're so good at reaching down and making something beautiful out of even the worst situations!  How encouraged I am when I think how You did this for Joseph, how his brothers hated and abused and betrayed him.  Lord, You worked these things out for blessing both for Joseph and his family and for countless other people.

I praise You that the things that happened in my past, both enjoyable and painful are raw materials for blessings, both in my life and in the lives of others.  So I thank You for the specific family into which I was born and the opportunities You did or did not provide. I thank you also for my extended family and my in-laws you have blessed me with. 

I thank you Lord for the things in my past that appear to be limitations, hindrances, bad breaks, the wounds of old hurts, the unmet emotional needs, the mistakes or neglect of other people, even their spite toward me or wrongs of me.

SEED WORD:

We don't like to revisit bad experiences or bad relationships but when we can be thankful for the hard times and bad experiences we then can begin to see how God put those in our lives to bring us to where he wants us to be.  When we can let go of blame we can begin to see what it is in us that God is trying to remake or correct. It is not about the other person at all, but about how God can help us to grow in a test of our love, patience, forgiveness and commitment to His ways. Sometimes, now I just say Lord, show me what it is in this situation that can make me a better person or grow in You from this test or trial.

Love By Design

Donna Braman

LOVE BY DESIGN

Scripture: Psalm 95:6, Psalm 139:13-16

For Thou didst form my inward parts, Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13.

I give thanks to You, O Lord and I stand in awe of You, for I am wonderfully made.  Marvelous are Your works!  Thank You that You uniquely designed and created me, with the same care and precision You used in creating the universe.  That you formed me in love exactly to Your specifications, that You embroidered me with great skill in my mother's womb.

I'm grateful that my looks, my abilities and my personality are like a special picture frame in which You can portray Your grace and beauty.  Your love, Your strength, Your faithfulness, to the praise of Your glory.  I rejoice that You have gifted me for the special purposes You have in mind for my life.  I thank You for Your loving wisdom in allowing the things that have influenced me throughout my life, the things that have prepared my heart to respond to You and live for Your glory.  I might not have turned to You if things had been different!

  

It's wonderful to know that You are not the least bit dissatisfied with my inborn talents, intelligence, aptitudes, appearances, and personality, for your hands have made and fashioned me.  I am one of Your original masterpieces!

I worship and bow down, I kneel before You, my Maker and my ever present help in trouble.

I thank you Lord for the Mother that you gave to me, to be the vessel that bore me and nurtured me to adulthood, took care of my needs, and desires.  I thank you Lord for her, even when we disagree for without her I would have never been!.

I thank you Lord for all the unique experiences I've had because they are all in your plan to make me everything that you have planned for me and even in my greatest pain is born my destiny of greatness.

SEED WORD:

Sometimes it's difficult to be thankful for our parents and for the painful experiences of our lives, but God will begin to implement His plan for our lives when we humble ourselves and learn forgiveness and accept  His unique design of our lives.  The greatest destinies have been born out of pain!

Equipped

Donna Braman

BELIEVERS MINISTRY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, for man to be adequately equipped for every good work.

Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16-17, Isaiah 55:8, Psalm 119:17

I glorify You for giving us Your Word Lord, that wonderful written revelation that gives us You and your Plan.  As snow and rain fall from the skies to meet our needs, so You have condensed Your thoughts, which are vastly higher than all human thoughts, into Your Holy Scripture.  I'm so grateful that You cared enough to communicate with us in this clear, unchanging, always accessible way, so that Your thoughts are now available at all times to refresh and nourish and teach me -  that you are still a communicating God, speaking these words to me as I am attentive to You, as I read and meditate with a listening heart.  

What a privilege it is to store Your Word in my heart, where You can use it at any moment to bless me and guide me...to keep me from sinning against You. You are a storehouse of inspired words that the Spirit can bring to my mind to help others.

Thank You that in Your Word I can see Your face and hear Your voice.  I can discover Your will and Your seasons, Your patterns for living and serving.  I can develop deeper faith and confidence.  Thank You that the Holy Spirit inspired Your Word and uses it to enlighten and guide me, and to change me more and more into Your image, from one degree of glory to another. 

SEED WORD: The word is living and it cuts through bone and marrow, if we will speak it and preach it, it will do powerful things. It doesn't need us to correct or judge another. It convicts on its own to new converts, sinners and Christians who have stumbled. All God needs for us to do is to be faithful with His Word and to uplift others in his word and to restore those who come to us back into his favor and righteousness. 

Mystery

Donna Braman
11-10-09

BEHOLD, I TELL YOU A MYSTERY, WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP,

BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED...

I magnify You, my God, for Your absolute purity, honliness and justice as the Judge to whom all people must give an account.  I praise You that Your fairness is intertwined with everything You do, that when the time is ripe You will end all sin and injustice, all corruption, all immorality...that You will right all wrongs and reward all loving service and suffering for Your sake.

Thank You that Your Son will return from heaven with a shout of triumph, that the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable...and in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall all be utterly changed.  We shall see the radiance of His face and the glorious majesty of His power.  It will be a breathtaking wonder and splendor unimaginable to all who believe!  Thank You that "whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future" You have planned for us.

What a joy it is to know that the government will be on Christ's shoulders, and that there will be no end to the increase of His government and peace...that His Kingdom will be established with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.  Your Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom...a kingdom that cannot be shaken.  You will never be voted out; no coup will ever dethrone You.  For all eternity You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  To You be the glory and the dominion forever and ever!

SEED WORD:

I ponder what it will be like for seven years with Jesus at the grand wedding supper.  I imagine Abraham being there and us getting to witness a greater laugh than he did when God told him of the birth to come from his barren wife.  I imagine King David worshipping and dancing before his son and rejoicing that when at age 16 when he slung that rock into Goliath's head he foreshadowed the crushing of Satan's head, the evil seed that Jesus' blood destroyed.  Think of the ways you might interact with all the souls now and that has been that you will see in heaven and what it is that they mean to you..  I can see myself jumping up and dancing with King David and oh what joy Jesus will have to be with us all.  Why, I'll bet you King David's crown is so big, and he is little man, will  be taken off and sat at the feet of his, great, great, great whatever grandson, the King of  Kings and the Lion of Judah!

Purpose in the Storm

Scripture Reference: Romans 8:28-29

Believers have a choice about how they will respond to life's trials. Either they can cast blame while becoming resentful and bitter, or they can turn to the Lord and ask, "What is Your purpose for me going through this difficult situation?"

Since recognizing God's purpose and plan is the way that faith grows, Christians have the right to ask "why?" Like a child learning new concepts, we see that when x happens, God does y, just as He promised. For instance, in the Old Testament, King David made destructively wrong choices for which God allowed CLEANSING STORMS into his life. The leader of the nation had wandered off the right path, but painful experiences drove him back to the center of the Lord's will. We might consider the divine method cruel, but David would disagree. He wrote, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep your word...It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." (Psalm 119:67-71).

Returning believers to right fellowship is only one of God's purposes for a life storm. Some difficulties are meant to blow away all distractions so we can focus our attention on the Lord and what it is that he's calling us to do. Other trials break our worldly mold so that we can be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Our personal pleasure is not the top priority. God's primary concern is to shape a wise and obedient servant who loves him and desires for him to reach the destiny and assignment God has for him for without obedience and learning how to fellowship and listen to God's instruction in his word and His Holy Spirit we take a road that is less fulfilling than God's plan for us and true joy and happiness can only come when we are walking in the will of God.

SEED WORD: When a storm rages into our life, the Lord is already planning how to turn destruction into good. Seek His objective, and work with Him to acheive it. The promise of Romans 8:28 is that we will reap gain from our losses. Sometimes, it is our pain and losses that we learn from and that God uses to bring about our divine assignment. I have learned two things in the midst of trials. One, that the sooner I start to praise and speak his word into my situation that His Spirit guides me through it more quickly. Secondly, I start to sing thanks for I know through his word that joy comes in the morning and manifestation of His Holy Spirit is on the way and I'm about to be promoted to a higher level of service to my Lord and have a closer, more intimate relationship with the Father. I had to go around the mountain a few times with trials before the Potter could shape this lump of clay into His design. You see, we have to be renewed in his image before we can be of much use in His Kingdom. After a few years in my walk with the Lord I learned the hard way how to go through fires instead of allowing these tests to paralyze me, or turning to my own power to change them, or resorting to the world's way of reacting to them which is to place blame and try to skirt around the trouble. Are you SINGING yet?

If you would like to leave a comment or need prayer contact me at: djbraman@gmail.com

None Like Thee

Donna Braman
11-09-09

THERE IS NONE LIKE THEE, O LORD; THOU ART GREAT

AND GREAT IS THY NAME IN MIGHT!

Scripture:

Jeremiah 10:6, Psalm145:3,5-6 and Daniel 5:23

I magnify You, O Lord.  I exalt Your name for You are great and highly to be praised.  I praise You for the glorious splendor of Your majesty and the power of Your awe inspiring acts.  Your power is unlimited, absolute, beyond imagining.  You are able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or dream of.  "There is nothing too hard for You."

Who is like You?" Majestic in Holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?"

O Lord Most High, You rule over the heavens and the earth, for You made all things by Your great power, and You keep them existing and working by Your mighty Word.  You are exalted high above every star and galaxy in the entire cosmos, yet You are also "the God of all mankind,"  the great, personally present, personally involved God who loves, rescues, and takes care of all who trust You.

You exercise Your gracious authority over all nations, and over each individual in all the world.  There is none like You, the true God, the living God, the everlasting King of the Universe. The only God I bow to.

I praise You for Your sovereignty over the all the events of my life and over the details.  With You, nothing is accidental, nothing is incidental, and no experience is wasted or without reason.   You hold in Your own power my breath of life and all my destiny and determine my steps.

SEED WORD:

Every trial that God allows to happen in our lives is a platform on which we reveal ourselves to God, our love and devotion and commitment and faith to Him and as others look on.  I thank Him today that I can move into the future without a false image of who I am in Him, and without defensiveness, or falsely trusting in the power of self.  But to be able to stretch out both my hands to whatever lies ahead, for He holds the future and He goes ahead of us to prepare the way and outcome when we can trust Him enough to rest in his everlasting love that never abandons us.

To see other sites of Believers Ministry go to djbraman.blogspot.com

King of Kings

Donna Braman

THE SUPREME KING OF KINGS

Scripture:
1 John 4:10, Revelation 1:18, 5:12

"And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power."

Praise be to the God of Israel, O King of the Universe.  How I love thee today, because You first loved me and sent Your Son to atone for my sins.  I stand amazed before You today that Yeshua, who by nature had always been You incarnate.  I thank Him today that He did not cling to His rights as Your equal...that He laid aside all His privileges, to be born as a human being...that He totally humbled Himself, submitting to the death of a common criminal, enduring infinite humiliation and pain...that on the cross You laid on Him the compressed weight of all my sin and guilt and shame, of all my griefs and sorrows, and He became sin for me, dying the death I deserved.

And how much I praise You that it was impossible for death to hold Him in its power...that You raised Him from the dead to be my Savior, to make me righteous in Your sight...that You highly exalted Him, giving Him a position infinitely superior to any conceivable command, authority, power, or control, both natural and supernatural.  Thank You that He is the Great High Priest...that He is able to save me completely, for He lives forever and prays for me, and for all of us who have come to You through Him.  I glorify You, my Father, with gratefulness and joy.

I bow today at your feet, the one who was dead, and is now alive forever and ever.  I exalt Him, I yield myself to Him, for He is worthy of the total response of my entire being: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

SEED WORD:
Let us always remember and be thankful and praise Him, the one that raised us up into a new man with Him, at the cross of calvary.  Today, my life is not my own, but is the one who lives in me, and daily I have to pick up my cross, shake off the rubbish from the world and say Lord, here am I, lead me today into more and more into Your will, not mine.


Google: djbraman.blogspot.com

Believers Ministry Family of Blogs:
calledtobeanintercessor.blogspot.com (articles)
believersministry.blogspot.com (prayerline)
believersministrydailydevotional.blogspot.com
djbramanbooks.blogspot.com (highlights of forthcoming books)

Transformation

Donna Braman

BE TRANSFORMED

Scripture:
Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 7:24, Psalm 40:8

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, and the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

I praise You O God of Israel that your Son, Jesus lived His life sinlessly, in total accord with reality, with no falseness, no self-deception, no dark secrets, nothing to regret, nothing to be ashamed of...that He proclaimed the truth, the one utterly reliable foundation for our thinking and living.  Thank You that He delighted to do Your will...that He withdrew for time alone in Your presence...that He was attentive to Your Voice and sensitive to Your working...that He lived in complete dependence on You, so that You in Him spoke those gracious and life-giving words and performed those mighty works.

Thank You that He demonstrated how I am to live and serve, completely depending on His life as He walked on earth, and beholding His glory, "the glory of the one and only" who came from You, full of grace and truth. What a delight to know that as I focus on Him, You transform me into His image by Your Spirit within me.  You work in me that which is pleasing in Your eyes.  You strengthen my heart in every good work and every good word, so that more and more I honor Christ by the way I live.

SEED WORD:
We can seemingly be doing all the right things in our work for Christ but without agape love backing it up, its impact will be almost nonexistent. Do our words and actions reflect that of Christ, and are we working in His will being led by the Holy Spirit? Or are we doing a "me" thing to establish "me" through doing works without faith and love.   Love is what will cause the lost and dying world to return to the empowered, end time, righteous church.  Did you know that agape love is empowered by the Holy Spirit?  The kind of love Jesus had is not cultivated by ourselves, for it is impossible. We need the Holy Spirit to give us understanding of this kind of heart that Jesus had and to demonstrate it with transparency.


I've added an additional article today on what real love in the church means and how to put action behind your faith. See also on this page an article on the end time church, Day Of The Lord. Click on: Called to be an Intercessor.blogspot.com

Believers Ministry Family of Blogs

http://calledtobeanintercessor.blogspot.com/
articles

http://djbraman.blogspot.com/
seminar teaching

http://believersministry.blogspot.com/
Prayer Line

http://believersministrydailydevotional.blogspot.com/

http://djbramanbooks.blogspot.com/
Highlights of forthcoming books

Please see Prayer Line today! Posted is an urgent special prayer request.

A King to All

Donna Braman

A KING TO ALL

Scripture:
John 3:16 And Psalm 45:2

Thank you Father, that You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ...that when the time had fully come, He wrapped Himself in human form, being born as a helpless baby in a poor family.  Thank You that He walked here on earth radiating the brightness of Your Glory and flawlessly expressing Your nature.  Through Him, people saw You in action, involved with them, available to meet their needs.  Thank You that He focused Your Almighty power into the lives of common people with deep needs just like me.  He preached the gospel to the poor, proclaimed freedom to prisoners of sin and recovery of sight to the blind, and set free the oppressed victims of sin and Satan.  He lifted up the downtrodden, the lost, the hurting, the broken.

Thank You for the way He rebuked the arrogant and looked with favor on the humble minded, opening wide the door of His Kingdom to those who were destitute and helpless in spirit.  I delight in Your tender mercies, O my God, by which the Sunrise from on high has come to us!

Thank You that through the Gospels I can watch this beloved One walk among ordinary people.  I can hear the gracious words that came from His lips.  I can see His compassion and tenderness toward needy people.  His anger at hypocrisy, His faithfulness, His intense love for His Bride whom he has covenanted with.

Fairest One of all Lord Jesus!  You alone are my heart's desire...my chief delight...my soul's glory, joy, and crown.  Every advantage life can offer is like rubbish, compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing You. You are worthy, Lord, worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored.

SEED WORD:
Sometimes we can lose our fire when circumstances aren't good in our life, but if I'm never blessed again, that gift of life he breathed into me the day I fell to my knees broken in spirit from the world's filth, is enough to make me praise and thank Him the rest of my life.  There is nothing that thrills my soul more than to see a person go to the foot of the cross and get saved.  A life has been reborn, and the angels even rejoice. Let us not shut out the ones Jesus wants so lovingly to come to Him.  Take the time in your busy life to help a young Christian mature or the lonely and desperate find their way to the greatest miracle of all, salvation. Let not our mercies and justice be withheld in our churches for the less fortunate. The church should be a place that radiates life, not judgment and hypocrisy.

Believers Ministry Family of Blogs:
http://calledtobeanintercessor.blogspot.com/
The Day of The Lord and other articles

http://djbraman.blogspot.com
Believers Ministry Bible Lessons

http://believersministry.blogspot.com/
Prayer Line

http://believersministrydailydevotional.blogspot.com//
A collection of devotionals

http:/djbramanbooks.blogspot.com/
Highlights of forthcoming books

Email: djbraman@gmail.com

Joy and Protection

Donna Braman

PRAISING THAT BRINGS JOY AND PROTECTION

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust."

I awakened with a song of praise in my heart. Oh how my heart rejoices in you my Lord.  YOU are my strong shelter in times of trouble and stress, my hiding place to whom I may continually go. Oh how you so lovingly provide for me, my Shepherd who guides and protects me, my Champion who upholds my cause as His child and defends my interests. My bridegroom who delights in me, my God who is mighty to save, who rests in His love for me and rejoices over me with singing, with shouts of joy.  You are my inheritance, my share in life, the One who satisfies my longing soul and fills my hungry soul with goodness. Oh how I search for you upon wakening with a thirst to be in your presence.

I praise you this day for Your Love and Your wisdom.  You are too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind.  You act on my behalf accomplishing what concerns me and fulfilling Your purpose for me as I call on You.  Thank You that You love me deeply and tenderly.  You are compassionate and gracious, full of lovingkindness, ready to forgive, patiently considerate, and generous beyond imagining.  You desire my love today and I desire yours. Oh how you rejoice to do good things for me today.  You delight to give me the desires of my heart as I delight myself in You.  How precious is Your love to me.  O God, Hashem, O, King of the Universe. I sing for joy as I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings as I bow before you today covered in the Tallit and in the healing wings of your mighty arms. I graciously wrap myself in your love, my lover, my life, my joy. My heart remains faithful!

SEED WORD:
Let us get our hearts on the one that matters and you Will delight in the goodness of Him. Go ahead and lay your burdens down to Him today and see if He won't breathe a newness in you.  Praise Him in the midst of your trouble and see how quickly you go through it. Watch a small child love on his Father and see how quickly that Father gives the child his desires.  Go ahead and ask Him for your hearts desire today!

Believers Ministry Family of Blogs

Here I will list the blogs I have created for my followers.  Please have a look!

http://calledtobeanintercessor.blogspot.com/
The Day of the Lord

http://djbraman.blogspot.com/
This is the home for my bible lessons.

http://djbramanbooks.blogspot.com/
Here I will write posts concerning my forthcoming books.

http://believersministry.blogspot.com/
This is my prayer line.  Make prayer requests and contribute.

http://believersministrydailydevotional.blogspot.com/
The Daily Devotional

Supernatural Help

Donna Braman
Let All That Has Breath Praise His Holy Name!


YOU HAVE A SUPERNATURAL HELP

Read: Ephesians 5:18, 20

Our supernatural help in worship is the Holy Spirit, that wonderful gift sent by our risen Lord to indwell us and empower us.  The Lord has not set before us the ideal of a life filled with praise and then left us alone to achieve it.  How could we, on our own reach such a high goal, with the down-pull of our old fleshly patterns of living; with the pain of our trials, large and small; with our tendency to depend on ourselves and get distracted from the Lord and do our own thing?

But we have the Holy Spirit!  Just think of what this means! He is within you as a fountain of water, springing up to fill you with fresh life - life that is eternal, life that is full. Through Him, time after time, you can know the aliveness that comes from the presence of the Lord.  Through the Spirit you can understand the Scriptures and experience the marvelous things God has freely given you in Christ.

Through Him you are linked in vital oneness with the Father and the Son, and have all you need for life and godliness.  You have all you need to inspire praise, comfort, encouragement, unspeakable joy, overflowing hope, strength in your innermost being, and power to love and serve.

SEED WORD:
You don't have to beg the Holy Spirit to fill you; He is eager to do so when we open our mouth and praise Him.  You don't have to earn His fullness, proving you are worthy of it.  You have only to let the Spirit fill you, consent to live under His grace, influence and control. That is how he performs His amazing ministries in you and inspires you to praise and worship Him.

Giving Thanks

Donna Braman

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise His Holy Name!

GIVING THANKS IN EVERY SITUATION

Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:18


A life of praise may appeal to you.  But what does it really involve?  You may be puzzled about what it means to praise continually and give thanks always, in every situation.  Won't this lead to denying your true feelings?  Does it mean that when you stub your toe or hit your head, your spontaneous response has to be "thank you Lord?"  Why do we have to say something we don't really feel?

The bible doesn't command manufacturing positive feelings.  Instead, it commands us to give THANKS!  It is not hypocritical to give thanks when you don't feel like it; it's obedience.

This does not mean you should deny your negative thoughts and feelings and attitudes, sweeping them under the emotional rug.  It doesn't mean you should put them in the closet again and again, so they can sneak back in and make you make unwise decisions.

King David wrote honestly about his feelings, facing them and telling them to God, and praised and gave thanks in the midst of them. David told God how troubled his heart was.  But as he did so, he honored God, speaking of him as "the living God...my God... the God of my life...my present help in trouble." His every word showed his desire to exalt and glorify God, even as he was chased by the enemy. He assured his soul that he would be delivered from his troubles. Psalm 43 is written in a similar way, "Oh God...the God of my strength, God, my exceeding joy."

SEED WORD:
Can we have joy in these times?  Absolutely!  Because in a situation that looks hopeless we have to take our eye off what we see in the natural and know that God has already gone ahead of us and made a way. Trusting in the Lord to deliver us gives us a great deal to be thankful for.  You can triumph in your tribulations when you have hope and thankfulness and that is what produces good things from God, for that kind of thankfulness and praise is God's delight.   Romans 8:22-23  and 5:2,3,11.

Worship Him

Donna Braman

Let Everything That Has Breathe Praise His Holy Name!

LET US WORSHIP HIM

Scripture:

Psalm 71

In genuine spiritual worship, we bow before the Most High God, the most merciful and reliable and winsome of all beings, and we crown Him as Lord of all that we are.  We consent to His gracious, transforming work in our lives; we agree that He can work in us so that we'll be willing and able to do His will.  In other words, we choose to let Him be God in our lives.  This is our greatest privilege, the highest thing we can do.

Worship also includes adoring God, admiring Him, appreciating Him, and letting Him know how grateful we are for His mighty works and the blessings He bestows on us.  Thus worship includes praise and thanksgiving, they overlap as we glorify and enjoy his presence in our lives.  Sometimes we do this in speaking, sometimes in singing, sometimes in silent reverence. So, the crown of worship is offering our lives to Him.

It doesn't matter whether our words are stumbling or eloquent.  God looks on the heart; He's searching for people who simply want to love and honor Him.  Hebrews 13:15 says, By him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.

Ephesians 5:18 says, Be filled with the spirit, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SEED WORD:

These verses remind me of the words of David in Psalm 34, " I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  I find that my worship is richer when I offer the Lord praise and thanks for three things: who He is, what He does, and what He gives.  You too can have lives filled with praise and thanksgiving.

Everything Praise Him

Donna Braman

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE HIM

Scripture: Romans 12:1
There are many worship styles in today's church but worship means yielding to God and coming before Him with praise and thanksgiving -  yielding to God as our Lord and Master. Romans 12:1, we see where God asks us to offer Him our bodies, our lives, our entire person.  This, He says, is true worship.

In genuine worship, we bow before the Most High God, the merciful God of creation.  We crown Him as Lord of all that we are.  We consent to His gracious, transforming work in our lives; we agree that He can work in us so that we'll be willing and able to do His will.  In other words, we choose to let Him be God in our lives.  This is the highest thing we can do.

Worship also includes adoring God, admiring Him, appreciating Him, and letting Him know how grateful we are for His mighty works and the blessings He bestows on us.  Worship includes praise and thanksgiving. We thank Him for His constant acts of goodness, his gifts, his spiritual blessings and for the very breath that we wake up with every morning.  We stand in awe of His greatness and sovereignty.  We celebrate together in exulting His majesty and splendor, His limitless power, and His bountiful love, which we do not deserve.  We thank Him for the Grace He gives us daily and magnify Him.  Praise includes speaking highly of God to other people, as well as directly to Him.  We crown Him with praise from our tongues through, singing, lifting our hands to him as God Almighty.

Seed Word:  The crown of worship are the jewels of praise and thanksgiving.  Jewels that radiate the glory of God to His delight and ours.  We come before His altar to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Praise is the avenue through which blessings are received. Praise, prayer and worship is an incense to God's nostrils and heaven stands silent for thirty minutes as the angels present the bowl of voices (incense) to God before the throne in heaven. Rev. 8:3.

Looking Up

Donna Braman

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

ON THE BOTTOM LOOKING UP

Scripture: 1 Samuel 27:1-7

Has the enemy come at you so bad lately that it has knocked the sails out of you or has left you feeling hopeless. Lets look at what happened to King David when the enemy tried to snuff his life out and destroy God's will for him.

David was tired of being chased by the enemy. For eight years Saul had relentlessly pursued him. With no indication that things would change, David began to despair about his future. God's anointed leader experienced a failure of faith. Though God had promised to prosper him, his trust faltered. He could not wait any longer.

Isn't that how we feel sometimes? We know that God has promised good things for those who wait on Him and every one of His promises is "yes" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20), but our faith, like David's wavers. But God was teaching temperance and patience to the young future King.

Israel's future King assessed his options and chose the "best one", to form an alliance with the godless Philistines. By moving from faith to human reasoning, he stepped out of God's will. David joined with the enemies of God's people. In doing so, he compromised the very thing to which he had committed himself, being Israel's leader.

So you can see by this example giving in to the enemy and joining with them is going to make your situation worse and take longer to get back in step with God's will for us. Sometimes even (so called) Christians in the church desert us, but you know God never leaves us.

Seed Word:

Fortunately, when you hit bottom in your Christian walk as David did, there is a way back. Focusing upon the Lord can lead you out of discouragement and back into His presence. The initial step is repentance: confess your lack of faith, receive God's forgiveness, and pledge to follow only Him, and refuse to allow nay sayers to discourage you. This is why David became a man after God's own heart, for he had a repentant heart when he stepped out of God's will and he began to allow God to direct him.

Next, strengthen yourself in the Lord, seek his approval and not man's. Rest in His power and recall His faithfulness in your past, and remember His promises. That way, you can center attention upon Him instead of troubles the devil sends your way. Finally, resolve to trust God for the future, and ask His Holy Spirit for help. (Mark 9:24) Repentance, Recall, Reflection, Remembrance and Resolve. Won't you walk upon the road that leads upward to the Father today!

The Rewards of Truth

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

THE REWARDS OF TRUTH

Read Proverbs 2:1-9

God's principles are the truths that we build a righteous and joyful life. In developing a scriptural foundation for living, we naturally learn the Lord's ways. Getting to know Him is the greatest blessing possible, and the more we experience Him, the more we will long to be in His presence.

Building truth is like digging for gold; if we find a tiny morsel, we keep scratching around until we come upon another. We keep building those morsels, feeding ourselves God's truth until we find a chunk the size of a an apple. Now we're biting into some sound principles.

We start to get excited about our morsels of our experience with the Lord and His word, and as a result, our intimacy, hunger and thirst for the Lord grows stronger. Walking in His truth gives us confidence and the assurance that He is always guarding and guiding His children.

Another benefit of learning and applying truth is spiritual discernment. Christians with a foundation of scriptural reality have the capacity to distinguish a lie, even when it is presented as supportable fact. We can recognize the 10% of the lie that makes the 90% all a lie because it's been twisted. A wrong offer of facts that was presented in an appealing way might have fooled us before, but it now prompts a check in our spirit.

In addition, growing in discernment and wisdom equips us for greater service in God's Kingdom. The more we experience Him, the better we become at discipling other believers.

SEED WORD:

Make sure you are growing in truth from the word and not from man. The word is not for man to change but for it to change man. The more of God's truth you know the more abundant living you will experience and the more you will be able to lead others into truth. The Lord allows no righteous act to go unrewarded. When we build a scriptural foundation of truth for our lives, we receive godly wisdom and new opportunities to serve Him. How great is our reward!

The Gospel of Freedom

Donna Braman

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

THE GOSPEL OF FREEDOM

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

When I start my day on Monday morning, I'm already thinking about next week's lesson. As the week progresses I listen carefully to what God speaks into my heart and what the Holy Spirit shows me. I do not wait until Sunday again to share what God has placed in my heart or speak His word to someone. You are called to do the same. You don't have to be a teacher or a minister to do what God has called all of us to do.

The passion to proclaim Jesus Christ is born from the Christian's conversion experience, but enthusiasm can fizzle unless we continue learning and growing in faith. We have no reason to speak about someone we barely know and has not manifested in our life. Our conviction of who God is strengthens the desire to share. We have the remedy for all of the world's ills; Christ and His Word. What good have we done for the Kingdom of God or for our unbelieving friends if we stay quiet about him and only want to talk about him on Sunday for two hours. That unspeakable joy and victory in our lives to overcome is what the seed of Christ produces in us and is seen by others by what we do and say.

Jesus does more than simply save people from the penalty of past transgressions; He frees men and women from sin's power every day. When Christ was on the cross, God saw each believer crucified with Him so that sin's allure was broken. That means we can say no to those things that enslave others. The Gospel message we are called to proclaim frees others and teaches victorious living.

Seed Word: Most unbelievers are trying to live smarter, find a purpose, and be happy. In the present condition of the world, many have become hopeless. Believers have the secret to that abundant life and freedom from worldly oppression because we operate and rest in the spiritual realm. When we can help lift the burden off someone by being that light of spirit and truth we can influence the lost. This is too big of secret to keep silent about. Open the word today and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a truth you can share with someone else.

Building in Truth

Donna Braman

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

BUILDING TRUTH INTO OUR LIFE

James 1:23-25

Building truth into our lives means that we cannot merely HEAR God's Word; we must DO what it says. James explains that a hearer is forgetful and when tough situations arise, his accumulated knowledge means nothing. But a doer is blessed. His prior experience tells him God will guide him through future valleys.

If you want to be a scriptural doer, first identify a point of need, the best place to begin building a foundation of truth is in the area you feel the most interest, pressure, or pain. For instance, if your problem is financial, start by opening the Bible and asking God to reveal the truth about money: Who owns all of it? Why does Scripture talk about tithing? Can money become our master? How can a person acquire wealth? We can use the Word of God even before we are familiar with all of it; many bibles include a concordance, which lists verses related to a variety of topics.

Second, make a personal application of the truth revealed in the Scriptures. Accept God's principle as authentic and real, and then be obedient to what He says. If we are learning about forgiveness, we forgive even though the act might be painful.

Third, observe and record what happens when you obey. People often make requests but neglect to notice or thank God when He answers. Thankfulness gives us the desire to praise and worship our Lord. Observing the Lord's provision will cement our trust and prepare us for future faith tests. Recording what He does ensures we will remember His care for years.

SEED Word: Building a foundation of truth requires a long-term commitment. The more we learn God's principles, the more fully will His Word support our life and reflect His light in us. Don't depend on man for your spiritual truth and growth, let the word come alive in you and once you have done what God commands you to do and he fills your barns and blesses you don't allow the cares of this world or carnal thinking to undo the truth the word has put in you because there are carnally minded Christians out there that will mislead you but when you've experienced God's blessings by being obedient to His word you are full of knowledge and wisdom and truly a Kingdom child that lives by the word of God. The more truth you know in the word, the more faith you have and trust in the word.

Choosing Truth

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

CHOOSING TRUTH

Read: John 8:30-32

Society is full of vain philosophies that promise much but offer nothing. Capturing truth in a deceptive world run by Satan, the father of lies, is as unlikely as catching wind in a paper sack. The only place truth exists is in God and His inspired word. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Jesus says in John 14:6, When we become Christ's disciples, Satan's deceptive power is broken. Believers can be free from wrong thinking and evil lies.

Unfortunately, some people will never apply biblical truth to their lives. By choice, they will remain captive to the world's lies. Many believers fear changing their ways to follow God, while others refuse to seek and serve him because living a true Christian life seems too difficult. Or, rather than allowing fear and laziness to defeat them, plenty of people arrogantly prefer relying on their own abilities. We might see small success while living as we see fit, but satisfaction and joy will remain elusive. Conversely, recognizing God's truth about life situations, finances, relationships, rejection, or loss - guides us to make wise decisions that can be carried out with strength, courage, and the comfortable knowledge that the Lord is at work.

SEED WORD: We cannot begin to build a truth-based life until we accept God's way as the only way. He honors our desire to make wise and biblically sound decisions. When we commit to applying truth, God accepts responsibility for revealing His principles through the scripture so that we can live righteously and triumphantly.

Discipline

Donna Braman

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

A woman disciplining her son sends him to sit quietly in a chair. Glaring over his shoulder, he walks to the chair and circles it a few times until his mother says in a firm voice, "Sit down!" The boy does, but as she leaves the room, he calls after her, "I'm standing up on the inside!"

We can't control people, not even our own children. But thankfully, this universal truth means that we cannot be controlled by others, either. Yet we often cast blame as if someone else's actions dictated our emotional response: "Joe made me so mad..."In reality, Joe could not make you mad; you chose to be angry (justified or not). We also decide whether to react in a godly or worldly fashion when someone hurts or frustrates us.

No matter how much blame we attempt to offload onto others, the Lord cannot be misled by our maneuvering. He looks only at the heart when determining how to discipline believers or convict them of sin. As a result, the blame games does not end up making us look better. Instead, it hinders our fellowship with God. The responses He is looking for are forgiveness when we are hurt and repentance when we do the injuring. Otherwise, we are too caught up in either vengeance or escaping culpability to focus on spiritual matters.

SEED WORD:

Followers of God are to sow peace and grow spiritual fruit like love, joy, and kindness. (Galations 5:22-23) If you are clinging to blame, all that is growing are the emotional "weeds" separating you from God's best. Ask Him for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others. The blame game is over.

Passion

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

A PASSION TO PROCLAIM HIM

Read: Colosians 1:28-29

What activities embarrass you? Maybe you feel uncomfortable singing in public or your face turns red when you are caught mumbling to yourself. Does talking about Jesus embarrass you? Staying quiet may seem safer than risking ridicule or being seen as as one of those church fanatics.

Unfortunately, silent believers waste their lives. We receive so many good things from God, a new way of thinking, forgiveness, healing, answers to prayer, and the Holy Spirit's presence. The list could go on and on. Our favorite subject should be Jesus Christ and His transforming salvation.

The apostle Paul spoke freely of his great sin before redemption. (Acts 26:12-18). He was a church persecutor transformed into Christ's spokes person by Grace. Nothing within Paul was worth saving, and he knew it. Consequently, the man never stopped publicly praising and proclaiming the Lord's love.

Even with the magnitude of Paul's sins, he received no greater measure of grace than any of us. That Grace is for everyone who comes to Him. We may have lived a moral life before receiving salvation, but sin still separated us from God. Believers sometimes neglect that truth and forget Jesus' transforming power. Then we find ourselves too embarrassed or uncomfortable to share about the great change He made in our lives.

SEED WORD:

We might be tempted to think we are better than the sinning Paul, the unmarried couple living next door, our drug sister or adulterous brother. We are not. What separates "us" and "them" is believers and unbelievers. We have received Jesus and they still need to hear our passionate love for Him because of what he has done in our lives.

Sometimes we can get on our soap box and preach all we want about what is the good news, but it is when we put our personal testimony with it that we have impact. So if you've overcome in a particular area tell it to people who are still stuck where you once were and how Jesus made you and overcomer.

Dressed for Battle

Donna Braman

09-04-09

DRESSED FOR BATTLE

Read: Ephesians 6:13-18

We start our day by dressing appropriately for the weather or an activity. But many believers leave the house unprepared, they fail to arm themselves for spiritual warfare. Our first prayer before rising should include step by step application of God's armor.

First, we strap on the BELT OF TRUTH. A leather apron protected the Roman soldiers abdomen; our protective girdle is the truth of who we are in Christ: saints with supernatural power from God's indwelling Spirit. Next, the breastplate deflects arrows. As difficult situations arise, we can repel the temptation to live by emotion, whether anger, fear, or dissatisfaction, and respond with a right spirit instead.

The SANDALS OF PEACE help us to stand firm. Roman battle sandals usually had thick, spiked soles so that the soldier could anchor himself in the dirt. Regardless of the enemy's fierce tongue coming at us, we can remain firmly planted in God's peaceful will. The SHIELD OF FAITH is no tiny round piece of armor; it is door-sized equipment representing Christ's protection against anything Satan throws at us.

Faith brought us salvation, the point at which we exchanged our old thought patterns for new ways of thinking. Consequently, with SALVATION'S HELMET, we put on the mind of Christ, which gives us discernment and wisdom. Finally, we take up the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT so that we can combat Satan's lies with Scripture's truth.

SEED WORD: Knowing precisely what we will face each day. The Lord has graciously provided the perfect equipment needed for our challenges. Always be sure to dress for battle.

To read further devotionals: www.believersministrydailydevotional.blogspot.com

Unseen Battle

8-31-09

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

AN UNSEEN BATTLE

Read: Ephesians 6: 10-12

Satan does exist - our broken society testifies to his reality. Those who ignore him do so at their own peril. This is also true of Christians because we are all at war against him. Spiritual warfare is personal; Satan crafts specific attacks for each individual. Though he cannot steal a believer's spirit from God, he can and does harass us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Every ambush and frontal attack is meant to defeat our witness so we can't live a victorious Christ centered life.

Our foe is not ominiscent, but he is crafty. He observes our strong and weak points to determine the best areas for attack. As soon as his prey becomes comfortable and least expects trouble, the Adversary springs a trap. Among his most deceptive tactics is hiding behind familiar faces in order to misguide our fury. For example, he may tempt a husband to make an unwise financial decision that angers the wife and leaves her feeling insecure. But the husband is not her enemy. He needs her love and forgiveness. The enemy is always Satan and his legion of demons.

The first rule of warfare is to know one's enemy, and thanks to Scripture, we can. The Bible also contains an important assurance: "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4)

SEED WORD:

The combined forces of hell cannot equal the supernatural power of a single believer. We have Christ living within us, the same Christ who was triumphant on the cross and whose final victory over Satan was a done deal when his blood was shed and He went to the depths of the earth and took the keys from Satan. Through Him, we can conquer Satan and win our unseen battles by speaking what Christ has already done for us. Satan just tries to keep us deceived from what our inheritance on the cross is. Christ has already won the battle for us and when battles arise, resting in Him in the storm, and speaking the truth is crucial to get through it. Jesus tells us to speak to our mountains. Satan is just a big noise in our head, because Christ has already gone before us and the outcome is set, and we must excercise our faith in that truth.