All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.   – Revelation 13:8
 
Even before the fall of man God had a plan. God’s plan to restore man began before man was even created. In fact, God’s plan for the kingdom of God on earth began before creation.
Remember the story of the rebellion in heaven inspired by Lucifer? From the time that God banished Lucifer from the kingdom in heaven and cast him to the earth, God has been planning to establish his kingdom on earth as a final conquest of the evil one.
Why do I say that? 1 Peter 1:18-21 tells us that we were redeemed by the blood of the lamb who was chosen before the creation of the world. Also, John, in Revelation 13:8, refers to the names “written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”
God had a plan of recreating the kingdom before the first kingdom of God on earth fell. There is no greater evidence of the love of God than this; God knew man would make wrong choices, so he had a plan to redeem man even before man fell.
God created man as an object of his love. He did not create man to be a slave who served only because he had no choice, but He created man so that he would have someone to whom he could show his love.
God also desired man to love him. That could only happen if man had a choice, so God created man with the ability to choose his own way. From the beginning God knew the choices man would make and it was this knowledge that enabled him the greatest opportunity to show his love.
How do we know God loves us? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
God's love for man drove him to make a plan of redemption. God has revealed his plan to us and we have been redeemed.
 
Prayer: Lord, I am victim of the sin nature just like every person that has lived. Thank you for your plan of redemption. Amen.
 
Message:  How do we know God loves us? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
 
Affirmation:  I know God loves me because he had a plan to restore his kingdom in me even before I was born.
 
Reflection:  God created man to have an object of love and when tested man failed miserably. What is it in man that hinders him from returning the love God shows him?

If you would like a full month of devotions on The King and His Kingdom JUST CLICK HERE 

                                                                                     The Kingdom Begins
 
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. – Genesis 1:1-2
 
Our understanding of God begins with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God…” Before creation there was God. Before time there was God. The beginning of our understanding of God is that He Is; He is Eternal: He existed before there was a sun, moon and stars with which to mark time.
The next thing we learn about God is also in Genesis 1:1, “…God created the heavens and the earth.” We cannot understand this statement by human reason because all of man’s logic is based on his relationship with time and matter – it is impossible for us to understand those things that transcend time and matter, except as God reveals himself. We don’t understand how God just “spoke” the worlds into existence, but that is what he has revealed to us.
After the creation there is much speculation as to what took place. Some feel that the original creation was just a “rough draft” and God later finished it off. Some believe that God created all of the universe complete and beautiful but a war in heaven caused the desecration of earth and Genesis records a “re-creation” of sorts. We don’t know what really happened we just know God created the heavens and the earth.
In the process of creating, God created man. Man was the crowning jewel of creation. It was to man God intended to reveal his love and it was for man he created the earth. This was the beginning of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is simply this; God enabling the spirit of man to be in full fellowship with himself without restraint or any hindrances. Keep that thought in mind as we explore the King and his kingdom this month.
It is in God’s plan that the life enjoyed in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve is to be repeated in the lives of those who believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. All that was lost when man sinned in the Garden is regained through faith in Christ. Yes, even death, the final effect of the original sin, will be done away with at the time our restoration is complete and we stand before Him.
 
Prayer:  God, you are awesome in creation and in the revelation of who you are. Give me wisdom to understand your purposes. Amen.
 
Message:  Man was the crowning jewel of creation. It was to man God intended to reveal his love and it was for man he created the earth. This was the beginning of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is simply this; God enabling the spirit of man to be in full fellowship with himself without restraint or any hindrances.
 
Affirmation:  I am in the kingdom of God and I stand before an open door to the best heaven has to offer.
 
Reflection:  God's kingdom on earth began with the creation of man. How did what Adam and Eve did in the garden affect the kingdom and God's plan for the kingdom?
 
Want a full month of devotions? Just CLICK HERE

Always Giving Thanks to God
 
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:19-20
 
In this fifth chapter of his letter to the church at Ephesus Paul is giving instructions concerning the walk of the believer. In fact, he seems to be describing what our faith walk should be. Take a look at some of the things he says:

• Be imitators of God (v1)
• Live a life of love (v2)
• With no hint of immorality (v3)
• Do not be deceived with empty words (v6)
• Live as children of light (v8)
• Find out what pleases the Lord (v10)
• Have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness (v11)
• Be very careful how you live (v15)
• Do not get drunk on wine (v18)
• Be filled with the Spirit (v18)

That is a lot of instruction in a very short span of words.
He concludes these remarks on Christian lifestyle by calling the believers to fellowship and worship. He says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” When we are together for fellowship or for worship, our conversation should be about spiritual things. His instruction here is that there is a lot of good news to talk about so don’t muddy the waters of fellowship with bad news.
If we are singing and making music in our heart to the Lord we will always be giving thanks to God. Many times through the day I am singing praises to God and often I’ll just offer him a praise like, “I love you Jesus,” “Your so good to me,” “Thank you for your grace and mercy.” In the process of establishing a lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord Paul is telling us to include praise and thanksgiving.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for all that you have done and are doing.
Message:  If we are singing and making music in our heart to the Lord we will always be giving thanks to God. In the process of establishing a lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord Paul is telling us to include praise and thanksgiving.
Affirmation:  I am often praising God and thanking him for his goodness.
Reflection:  This entire month of devotions has been on being thankful to God for who he is and what he has done. I encourage you to practice being thankful throughout the day. You don't have to wait until a time you have set aside to pray just begin to worship and praise him as you drive along, are walking, when you go to bed, when you rise up... At all times have a praise and thanksgiving in your heart.

You can have the entire book titled, "Thankfulness" at no cost. It is our ministry gift to you.
JUST CLICK HERE 

 
 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. – Psalm 9:1-2
 
Some scholars believe that this psalm was written after one of David’s victories over the Philistines. In these first two verses David is praising God from the depth of his heart, then beginning in verse five he gives the cause of his praise; “My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you; For you have upheld my right and my cause.”
David was a man of well documented weaknesses, but he was also a man of great faith. God calls him a man after His own heart, and so he was. David trusted God when he went into battle and when he had won he did not take credit for himself but rather gave God the glory.
He writes, “The Lord reigns forever, He has established His throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you” (v7-10).
“Those who know your name will trust in you.” The psalmist here is not just referring to those who have heard of the name of the Lord. He is speaking of those who “know” Him in a close and intimate kind of way, the way one knows a close relative or a dear friend. To know Him in that way is to trust Him because He is altogether trustworthy.
I pray that all of us who know Him and His name would have the kind of confidence that David had. That his full trust was in God is evidenced when he faced the giant, Goliath, with only five stones and a sling.
Did God honor David’s faith, prompting David to worship Him wholeheartedly, or did David worship God wholeheartedly and because of that God gave him great faith. Either way David worshipped. Wholehearted worship does inspire faith.
Prayer: God, grant me the heart of David to worship you. Amen.
Message:  David speaks of those who “know” Him in a close and intimate kind of way, the way one knows a close relative or a dear friend. To know Him in that way is to trust Him because He is altogether trustworthy. 4
Affirmation:  I have met Him and I have learned His ways and now I can say I know Him as a dear friend.
Reflection:  Think about how David gave in to his weaknesses at times, yet he knew how to repent and he knew how to worship with all of his heart. 

   To get the entire book of a month of devotions on being Thankful   CLICK HERE 

#dailygodwalk  #thankful  #faith   #hope  #christian #faithwalk 

​                                                   Faithfulness Is A Fruit Of The Spirit
 
The fruit of the Spirit is… faithfulness… Against such there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-23
 
Steve was a good man, but he was also hooked on meth. He entered our program but he couldn’t stay clean of drugs so we discharged him. Our policy was that when we put a person out they could come back in 30 days.  Steve was put out four times. Then he became truly converted and began to live the Spirit life. That was many years ago and he is still faithful.
Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. When we come to Christ the Holy Spirit is placed in us and as we learn to submit to his working in us we mature and begin to bear fruit. Our life may have been marked by wrong choices and inconsistencies, but when we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in us he makes us faithful.
Many years ago, as a young pastor my life was very inconsistent. I prayed little and spent very little time in God’s word. Once I was praying about the inconsistencies in my life and the Holy Spirit impressed upon me the need to have a daily devotional life. I struggled with it for a while then I began to be consistent with prayer and Bible reading every morning.
As I developed consistency in visiting with the Lord every morning I began to notice that the rest of my life was taking on a new order as well. Finally I could see the fruit of faithfulness being produced in my life.
Living in the Spirit produces faithfulness to God’s will for us. One of the things I have learned is that the Holy Spirit will only do in us what we allow him to do. If we are determined to live our way, he will let us, but he will have very little influence in our life.
The true test of our faithfulness is not in what we say we will do but in what we actually do in service to our Lord. Many have said, "I will go," but few have gone.
 
Prayer:  Lord, it is not in my nature to be faithful to your way. I need the Holy Spirit working in me to produce the fruit of faithfulness. In Jesus name, amen.
 
Message: The fruit of faithfulness is produced when we have a daily devotion that includes prayer and the word of God. 
 
Affirmation: I know that the first test of my faithfulness is whether I have a daily devotional life that includes prayer and reading God's word. Therefore, I am committed to a daily time of devotion.
 
Reflection: A daily time of devotion that includes God's word and prayer will draw us into a life in the Spirit. Think on how that will help you to be faithful in your faith walk.

​Hard Love Is Loving The Unlovely
 
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. - Matthew 25:35-36

                                     God’s Been Thinking About Us
 
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. – Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
 
Imagine that. God is thinking about us humans. We should never think that God doesn’t know us or that he doesn’t think about us. He does. His whole plan since the fall of Adam and Eve has been to restore us to right standing with him and to reestablish the close relationship he had with man before sin entered into the human race.
The entire record given us in the Bible is of God’s attempts to bring man into relationship with him. This particular passage is referring to the time that God would restore the Jews to their homeland, but the promise extends to all who will call out to him. God has been thinking about how to bless us.
In the very next verse God says, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will find me when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.
The Hebrew word translated, “think” literally means to devise a scheme or plan. It refers to cunning imagination; the ability to develop thoughts with purpose, or simply to think upon. The reason that is important to us is because his thinking about us drives him to come up with a plan for us.
The word translated “thoughts” actually means a plan. In fact in the NIV this verse reads, “For I know the plans I have for you.” God says, “I’ve been thinking about you and your situation and I have come up with a plan.”
What kind of a plan does he have for us? “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God’s plan for us is to listen to us when we call and to respond to our hearts cry with a firm hope for a blessed future.
 
Prayer: Lord, it is easy to get discouraged when I look at my present circumstances. Help to learn to call upon you with my whole heart and to realize at your plans for me include a secure future. In Jesus name, amen.
 
Message:  What kind of a plan does he have for us? “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God’s plan for us is to listen to us when we call and to respond to our hearts cry with a firm hope for a blessed future.
 
Affirmation:  I know that God has a plan to bless and prosper me and I have purposed to listen carefully as he speaks to me instructions which will guide me in releasing those blessings.
 
Reflection:  Give some thought to the idea that God thinks about us and has come up with a plan for our life. That should make you feel pretty special. Now, here is a question: If God has been thinking about you and has a plan for you, then shouldn't you pursue him to discover how to unfold that plan? Think of some ways you can discover and unfold God's plan for you.
 

                   The Lord Is Your Example
 
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1,2
 
How can we be imitators of God? How can we, who are mere mortal, imitate the almighty immortal one? This seems to be a tall order. It would seem that to be imitators of God that we would love as he loves. His love, as demonstrated by Christ is an offering and a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling aroma.

Is it possible to love like that? Yes, it is, by his grace. We have the example of countless men and women who have loved like that and have made their life a sacrifice to God for the benefit of the kingdom of God.

One writer gives this application: Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

We can only love the way Christ loved by submitting to his lordship in our life. We can imitate God only when He makes himself alive in us. We can love like Jesus loved, but we must be born of God (born again) to do that.

Let us indeed love Him as he loves us and love others as he loves them.
 
Prayer:  Father, teach me the secret of imitating you. I know that in my natural ability I cannot do it; I need divine intervention. I want to love as you love and share my life, yes, even give my life for the kingdom. Amen.
 
Message:  We can only love the way Christ loved by submitting to his lordship in our life. We can imitate God only when He makes himself alive in us. We can love like Jesus loved, but we must be born of God (born again) to do that.
 
Affirmation:  It is not hard to imitate God when it is God living in me. I can love like Jesus loved because it is His love living in me.
 
Reflection:  Do some self-examination to discover whether you truly love as Jesus loved. His love drove him to make great sacrifice - what is your love causing you to sacrifice for Him and His kingdom?