Tag Archives: delight

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT! OOOOHHH GLORRRAAAA!

Once again, we are absolutely delighted that you have joined us in our weekly Corporate Prayer and Fasting. My heart is overwhelmed with compassion for all who don’t know who or where to turn to in these days of immorality, deceitfulness, confusion and chaos. While those of us who have placed our personal faith and confidence in the Eternal Word of God are truly privileged and grateful, yet we feel the weightiness of such a burden and responsibility to intercede on their behalf. But By The Amaazing Grace of God, we will continue to look to the hills, from whence cometh our help. Remember, Beloved, all of our help comes from The Lord Jesus Christ! Shall we bow before The Maker of  Heaven and Earth?

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are!

Abba Father, here we are again! As we hear the call of Holy Spirit, inviting us to seek Thy Face, our hearts reply, Thy Face Oh Lord we seek! We bow in humble and obeisance, basking in the radiant ambiance of Your Magnificent Majesty! We draw nigh to You with our hands lifted high and our hearts rejoicing in Your Sovereignty! For You Are the Self-Existent, Creator and Sustainer of all living creation. With holy-boldness we cry out, knowing that in Your Presence there’s fullness of Joy and at Your Right Hand are pleasures forever more! Sweet Jesus!

Thank You for loving us! Thank You for choosing us Thank You for redeeming us! Thank You for forgiving us! Thank You for keeping us! Thank You for being such a patient and understanding God and Father to us! We know that there was and is nothing in us that merits such loving-kindness, mercy and grace that You’ve poured out upon our lives! From our Mother’ womb You have kept us, carried us, shielded us from dangers seen and unseen. Hear our sincere confession, “If it had not been for the LORD on our side, our enemies would’ve swallowed us up a long time ago!”

We praise You Heavenly Father for directing Holy Spirit to open our eyes and break-thru the shallowness of our stony hearts, revealing to us The Wondrous Grace of Salvation that You have made available to any who will humbly seek and accept the Sacrificial Atonement of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ! We bless You for adopting us into Your Royal Family and decreeing us as joint-heirs with Christ!

Sweet Jesus, teach us to see sin through Your eyes and to acknowledge it as evil wickedness and rebellion against the Lover of our souls! And when we sin, quicken our spirit to repent immediately and to confess with our mouth our wrongdoing, that we might receive the Gracious forgiveness of our Heavenly Father!

We bless Your Holy Name, not only because You have forgiven us more than we could ever know, but because over and over You’ve blessed us even when we failed to keep our promises to You! For this we pray, “Abba Father, forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart. Holy Spirit, because You have given us the assurance, that as we confess our sin, You are Faithful and Just to forgive, pardon and restore us back into rightful fellowship with You, we ask and thank You NOW for Your forgiveness! For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory! in The Precious Name of Jesus!”

Precious Lord, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we intercede on behalf of every unsaved soul, please quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come to you today confessing a “sincere Yes” to your Amazing Gift of Grace that they might be able to receive You as their personal Lord and Savior! We’re believing that You will Divinely orchestrate their footsteps settleling them into a local church home today.

Lord, we ask You to put a fresh  “committed YES” in the heart and mind of every backslider! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will wholly submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, and learn to love and live their lives walking to please You First!

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! Send Your assurance with an double-portion-outpouring of Divine Favor upon each who needs encouragement and empowerment to stand steadfast, immovable in the midst of these wicked and evil days! Console and Comfort us to know that we are never alone and never without Your Very Present Help!

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, kidney disease, heart/lung disease and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Therefore, even as You walked this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able to do the same right now! Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Heavenly Father, we pray according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nation, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions and our churches! We come against the Spirit of rampant immorality, hatred, corruption, deceitfulness, rhetoric ambiguity, racism, bigotry, pride, arrogance, and human-supremacy! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts, that You speak to them in dreams and visions letting them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens are keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

Heavenly Father, we bring so many others that we’ve failed to mention before Your throne O God. Those who are broken hearten, feeble in mind, body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life who have no idea where to go or who to turn to, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near; our leaders of the world. We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless. Keep us ALL in your care. These favors we ask in Jesus mighty name!!

Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are suddenly trembling in terror and retreating in shameful defeat, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, we stand in agreement with You Who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have chosen to live in Your House, we shout with exceeding Joy unto The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us, You are making Your Ways and Salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So!
Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS SAVES!

SELAH!

PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNIN’ FAMILY! GOTTA MOMENT! AWEMAAZIN!

 

Welcome to a new day! Today, we’re excited that you have joined us in our Thursdays’ Day of Corporate Fasting & Prayer! Once again, we appreciate the opportunity and privilege to entreat The Presence of our Great High Priest, pouring out our hearts desires, petitions and supplications with Thanksgiving. We know that He delights in our embracing Him in earnest expectation, confident that He Who Rules Forever by His Power is able to save and deliver us from any of life’s maladies! Shall we pray?

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God; Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood! This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long! This is my story, this is my song; Praising my SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG! OOOOHHH, Sweet Wonder! OOOOH Sweet Wonder! Jesus, The Son of God! OOOHH SWEET WONDER! OH! SWEET WONDER! JESUS, THE SON OF GOD!

 

Abba Father, it is with great joy that we entreat Thy Seat of Mercy today! We’re confident that You have afforded us this awesome honor and privilege, not because we deserve it, but based solely on Your Loving-Kindness towards us, we draw nigh into Your All Encompassing Presence! Lord, we Thankya for Your Faithful Obedience to please The Heart of The Father by sacrificing Your Life in our stead, that we might become Sons of The True and Living God! And for this cause, we bow in humble gratitude, fully aware that as we come before you, empty and void of anything that would warrant such awesome graciousness, but because Your Righteousness, we are now the beneficiary of All that You are in the eyes of God!

Sweet Jesus, we know that You already know everything about every single one of us, because of Your Omniscience and Omnipresence! Because You walked among us, allowing Yourself to be tempted at all point as we are, You learned what we experience in these earthly tabernacles and can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities! Therefore You, as our Great High Priest, are able to intercede on our behalf continuously searching and conveying the very thoughts, intents, emotions and physical weaknesses that we’re often unable to articulate to The Father of All Grace, Compassion and Comfort! We Thankya Lord Jesus, for being our Very Present Help!

Precious Lord, while we try to please You by trusting in Your Word, You know that sometimes, it’s difficult to over-ride the noise of the pestilence, the chaos of uncertainty and the pain of condemnation, guilt, and shame that seems to lure us into the valleys over-shadowed with danger, fear, anger, bitterness, anxiety, hopelessness and self-doubt! That’s why we gladly run to You, daily to find the forgiveness, refuge, peace, restoration that You have prepared for any who would come to You in hope-filled assurance that You will never deny Your Word!

Heavenly Father, we’re forever blessing You for continuing to renew our strength, understanding and power as we open our hearts to You,  depending and relying only on You. As we yield before You, we pray for those who are unsaved, we’re believing You to ignite a Spirit of Godly-repentance that they may respond with a “SINCERE Yes” from their heart and mind sparking  an unquenchable desire to come to You today, accepting Your invitation of Saving Grace to be their Lord and Savior!

Lord, we’re believing You to put a “COMMITTED Yes” in the heart and mind of every backslider! Make today their day to come back to You and  back to YOUR church, where they will be nurtured, encouraged and trained in The Ways of Holiness that they might live everyday of the rest of their lives glorifying You to a lost and dying world as their personal Lord and Savior!

Father,  touch our brother, touch our sister who has been afflicted by any sickness and disease, including the spirit of cancer, kidney failure, high blood pressure, low blood pressure and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. We come into agreement with your Word and declare that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! And as You are strengthening these, we ask that you also invigorate, encourage and replenish the spirits, minds and bodies of those who are charged to care for their loved ones!

We pray also Father, that You preserve every believer thru the tests that they must go thru and keep them constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that You will bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised them in Your Word. Release Divine power, Supernatural strength, consolation, health, provision, prosperity and protection!

Abba Father, as we lift up our children, our grands and great-grandchildren, we’re trusting You to cancel every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them! Realizing that You have a plan and purpose for their lives also, we’re committing them into Your Providential Care, with the blessed assurance that their steps and stops are being ordered by Your eyes!

Father, stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name that we may have a desire for an even greater personal, intimate relationship with Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that they might prove what is the perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!

Abba Father, as we lift up every spiritual leader, we ask for an immediate manifestation of that special miracle for each and every one of them who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit! Dear Jesus, we’re trusting and believing You to Grace them to be the examples in their homes, churches and community that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall in love with You, trust wholly in and commit to live their lives serving You!

Knowing that You Sovereignly Rule and Reign over all the affairs of mankind, Heavenly Father we pray, according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nations, local and national government, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts,  speak to them in dreams and visions and let them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens are keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly! He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out will fall into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself and his violent schemes will come down on his own head.

Heavenly Father, as we close our prayer, we bring so many before Your throne O God. Deliver all those who are broken hearted, feeble in body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near! We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless.

Father, we believe that every demonic-induced spirit of temptation, addiction, rejection, self-hate, suicide, fear and failure is already defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness is being released now as You Faithfully keep us ALL in your care. in Jesus Mighty Name! 

Father, we now rejoice  in confident quietness, earnestly expecting and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shameful defeat! We are eternally grateful that You have listened and receive our prayers as sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne! Your Love and Truth surround us as a wall and NO GOOD THING  will You withhold from us as we walk upright before You!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and HALLELUJAH!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS SAVES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNING SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH! GOTTA MOMENT? AWESOME!

I am excited that you’ve decided to join us once again in our weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We are eternally grateful that God has extended His Scepter towards whosoever will entreat His Presence with our praise, petitions and supplications find Grace & Mercy, Wisdom and Understanding to withstand these last and evil days! SHALL WE GO IN…

Welcome Holy Spirit! We are IN YOUR PRESENCE! Fill us with Your POWER, LIVE INSIDE OF ME! YOU’RE MY LIVING WATER! NEVER-ENDING FOUNTAIN; COMFORTER & COUNSELOR; TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL…HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! SING WITH ME HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD; FOR ALL 2 C HOW GREAT, HOW GREAT…IS OUR GOD!

Our Father and Our God, we come before You, once again, giving Glory and Honor to You! For You Alone are Worthy of all praise! There is none like You, neither will there ever be! For You Alone are Holy and Righteous! We bless You for revealing GODSELF to all who will call upon Your Name. We bless You for that day You opened the eyes of our understanding that we might behold The Light of Your Glory in the Face of Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus enabling us to accept His Life, Death, Burial & Resurrection as Substitutionary Atonement for our sin! We’re eternally grateful to Jesus’ Loving Obedience that caused Him to endure the suffering, despising the shame of Calvary’s Cross that we might be delivered, redeemed, vindicated, adopted to inherit the rich benefits of The Kingdom of God! For this cause we bow our hearts and our heads, in humble reverence crying out, Hallelujah to The Lamb of God!

We bless You Holy Father, for by Your Own Hand You have bought us unto GODSELF! For it is IN YOU that we live, move and have our very being! You are the Source and Sustainer Who Satisfies all life! We know that no man is justified by his own works but by faith IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST alone are we saved! We bless You Holy Spirit for abiding in us, leading, guiding, enabling all who have placed our personal trust in Jesus to live our lives everyday, yielding to The Spirit of Truth, which is able to transform us from Grace to Grace, perfecting us that we might exemplify Your Divine Nature to this lost and dying world!

Sweet Jesus, You are The WORD PERSONIFIED! We bless You for teaching us how to walk upright, enduring the mockery of those who despise and reject Truth! Your unconditional Love, Kindness and forgiveness towards us, while we were yet sinners, provokes us to love and forgive others who offend us, knowing not what they do. We bless You for Your Patience and Compassion that yet allows You to look at us through Blood-Stained Eyes, remembering our human frailty—EVEN SINCE WE’VE BELIEVED—and so graciously offering us mercy instead of justice, washing us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us from all unrighteousness and restoring our peaceful fellowship with You, as we quickly repent by confessing our sin against You!

For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory!

Precious Lord, because no man can come to the Father except you draw them, we intercede on behalf of every unsaved soul, please quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come to you today confessing a“sincere Yes” to your Amazing Gift of Grace and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior! We’re believing that You will Divinely orchestrate their footsteps settleling them into a local church home today.

Lord, we ask You to put a new “committed YES” in the heart and mind of every backslider! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, and learn to love Your Word and live their lives walking in holiness in order to please You First!

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, kidney disease, heart/lung disease, dementia, sickle-cell, MS, Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Heavenly Father, You have decreed that You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Therefore, even as You walked this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able to do the same right now! Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Dear Lord, we’re believing for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You will release Divine power, Supernatural Strength and Health, Wholeness, Provision, Prosperity and Protection! We’re trusting that You will preserve each and everyone of us thru the tests that we must go thru and keep us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that at the appointed time,You, will bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised in Your Holy Word!

Heavenly Father, we pray according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nation, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions and our churches! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts, that You speak to them in the nighttime with dreams and visions! Let them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens is OMNSCIENT and keep records of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! Send Assurance that we are never alone, and never without Your Very Present Help!

Father, we’re thanking You for an outpouring of Your Divine Favor upon each and every one of your children who are seeking employment, promotion, approval for student/car/home loans! We acknowledge YOU as Jehovah Jareh, Who shall supply all of our need according to Your Riches in Glory!
Father we decree that every demonic-induced spirit of addiction and fear is defeated NOW because of Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness and Purpose is being released in the lives of Your people now, in Jesus Name!

Heavenly Father, as we close our prayer, we bring so many before Your throne O God. Those who are broken hearten, trapped by sorrow and grief, feeble in body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near; our leaders of the world. We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless. Keep us ALL in your care. These favors we ask in Jesus mighty name!!For we believe that YOU WILL KEEP ALL WHO WANT TO BE KEPT!

Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shameful defeat, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, we stand in agreement with You Who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have chosen to call us ‘MINE’, we shout with exceeding Joy unto The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us, You are making Your Ways and Salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS STILL SAVES! HALLELUJAH!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

ABOVE & BEYOND!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee:… Isaiah 43:1-5

 

One thing for certain, two things for sure: Life happens fast and furious! Preparing for the unexpected is a challenge for any of us! Saved or Unsaved, huh?

Yet as believers in The Lordship of Jesus Christ, we’re taught to do just that! The Word of God warns us that when faced with seemingly overwhelming circumstances, to resist the urge to give in to panic and anxiety! How many times has your circumstantial evidence threatened to destroy all hope for recovering the calmness that you once enjoyed walking in the comfort of God’s favor? #bothhandsup!

Nevertheless, time and wisdom have trained us that Satan delights in using the intermittent turbulent winds and upheaval waves of chaos, temptations and uncertainty to manipulate and vex the minds of unsuspecting sainted-souls of God’s elect.

From the beginning, The Master of Deceit, has proven himself quite adept in distracting our hearts away from what we know of God, derailing our commitment to trust and subccumbing to questioning, doubt, unbelief and ultimately dissipating our hope-filled confidence into pits of  desperation, fear and despair!

Although, sometimes it appears as if Satan has been declared the victor, it behooves you to not fall for the ‘ookey-doke’, and never ever underestimate The Power of God! God is Sovereign! Hence, your enemies can’t intrude into your life, except God allows! And the only reason that ElShaddai everrrr temporarily permits the Hell Hounds to invade your personal space, is to prove that His greater purpose excels far beyond your temporary pain and discomfort!

Therefore, Beloved, don’t believe everything you see! The enemy’s arsenal is flanked by confusion, isolation, intimidation and fear. #FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL! Chances are, it ain’t what it looks like! Besides, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but as Children of Light, we’ve inherited HOLY GHOST POWER, LOVE AND SELF DISCIPLINE! (Ref. 1 Peter 4:12-14)  #WOW! #DIDJAHEADAT?

Regardless of what attempts to impede your trust and confident reliance on The Presence and Prominence of your Loving Heavenly Father, you stand your ground, cling steadfastly to what you’ve already experienced and continue to stride safely through the murky rivers of Life!  Albeit, some water gets into your boat, just keep in mind that The One who commands the sea and the waves is onboard, therefore your life is anchored in the Cleft of the Rock!

Precious Ones, faith in God’s Loving Care gives us eternal assurance that whenever life assails against us, we can ride out the storms resting in the quiet confidence that THE SELF-EXISTENT LORD WILL NEVER…NO NOT EVER… LEAVE OR FORSAKE US! (Ref. Hebrews 13:5) YEP!  REMEMBER, even if you’re going thru Hell, jus keep moving!  JESUS IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT 4 U!

JESUS LIVED ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CIRCUMSTANCES! SO, WHAT’S UP WITH U?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

FATE OR FAITH

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?  1 Samuel 17:28-29

The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want! Psalm 23:1

 
Life is challenging! WOW! Is that ever grossly understated?

If you can’t say Amen then like the ol’ saints used to say, ‘Jus keep getting up in the morning and going to bed in the evenings!’ Surely surely, sooner or later you’ll get the depth of the revelation, huh? Regardless of how your attempt to walk circumspectly, there is always going to be something or someone who’s sole purpose in existing is to challenge your peace, patience, prosperity, position or your purpose. #ijs

Here’s the clincher! Sometimes your worst adversity comes from your own house! I mean, one might expect opposition competing for a job, after all the unemployment rate being as high as it is. And of course, given the diminishing numbers of viable bachelors/bachelorettes these day you kinda know how steep the competition is for someone looking for the whole package (head, body and heart). But when you gotta overcome rejection and disrespect from those who are closest to you, even your own brothers and sistas, well that’s a beast of an entirely different species!

Most of the time when 1 Samuel 17 is preached or taught Goliath stands out as David’s most prominent archenemy! Yet, upon closer observation of the context, David faced serious opposition even before he dealt with the 10 ft. Philistine. Remember what happened that day God sent Samuel to anoint the next King of Israel? (Ref. 1 Samuel 16) Well, it was only after much resistance from his own Father, Jessie, that David was even considered an option. Isn’t it something when your own kinfolk can only see you the way you used to be or never acknowledge that where you are now is not necessarily your final destination?

Even more grueling, is rising above those who’re secretly intimidated by your desire to excel to dimensions beyond where they’ve chosen to settle in the comfort of complacency, paralyzed by their fears rather than risk failure. 

But the young shepherd boy had somehow learned that when you can’t find support or encouragement from without, you don’t give up! Flip the script by looking to the only One Who’s qualified to determine your true worth or define your destiny is The Creator and Giver of Life, The Lord Almighty! Down thru the years, David had learned how to draw strength and to encourage himself by trusting in the Unfailing Love he found in The Presence of His Shepherd, Yahweh, translated, I AM THE ONE, or I AM WHAT I AM!

While most of us can look back at those ‘almostsesses’  and rekindle those undeniable ‘look what the Lord has done moments’, sometimes it takes us a while to realize the folly of depending on self …and others, to get out of our mess, huh? Fortunately, when we do finally come to the end of ourselves, we must recognize that when God decides to bless you, it doesn’t matter who tries to curse you! In fact, I’d dare say that it behooves any who attempt to mistreat or abuse a Child of God, to be careful. God loves His children and doesn’t cotton much to those who seek their destruction. Oh Gggglorrra!

In the midst of foreboding clouds of impending threats, persecutions, peer pressure, hopelessness and despair, we jus gotta believe that nothing just happens! Inspite of all the circumstantial evidence, GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL of our steps and our stops! Needless to say, He rarely fills us in on the details, nevertheless He assures us that in Him, we are more than conquerors! (Ref. Romans 8:37) Hence, the precious personal revelations awaiting you as you place your faith in His Irrefutable Word, is well worth enduring the weight of confronting every challenge!

Beloved, God’s got a plan for your life and IT’S ALL GOOD AND YES, IT ALL TRUE! You jus gotta fight the good fight of faith to win! God appoints Divine Coincidences! NOW…IS THAT NOT A CAUSE? FATE OR FAITH?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray and Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WEIGHT ON THE LORD!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14

Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Isaiah 55:22

 

While glancing back at the TV screen on my way into the kitchen one morning, I couldn’t help but hear this early morning’s breaking news report that sometime during the nite, while most of us slept in the comfort and safety of our homes, a group of bomb-strapped terrorist had stormed into a Pakistani school house killing over 120 people, including a number of 1st to 6th grade students, teachers and anyone else who crossed their sight lines!  Filtering my hearing to the commentator, he continuied on saying that Isis had proudly stepped up, acclaiming responsibility for this heinous act in retaliation for a previous attack against their forces!

After reminding myself again, why I’m not an avid news watcher, I came up stairs to ask my husband whether or not he’d heard about it, and he had. Almost simultaneously, both of us asked “What is this world coming to”? ” It’s as if nothing is sacred, nothing is restricted by basic human morality!

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit cut into our conversation; “The End!” I repeated, as if the light had just been cut on. “The End!” The world, as we’ve known, is coming to an end,  in live and living HD color! Who nu? The 21st century generation would be eye witnesses to the actualization of the antiquated prophetic utterances of God’s servants.

I found myself praying, “Lord, as Pastors, preachers, teachers, evangelists, your servants, what are we supposed to do? How can we continue to preach trust and hope to comfort and encourage your people surrounded by the presence of lawless gross darkness? Especially when we ourselves are fainting, wearied, overwhelmed and being choked by the cords of cares and chaos!”

The Holy Spirit interrupted my self-induced saga; “Tell them about JESUS! After all He is The Only Hope of the World! Preach, JESUS! The Eternal Light that yet shines out of the darkness. Remind them that all these things MUST be before The Kingdom of God ushers in The New Life! Hail to the scattered sheep that NOW is the time for Salvation! Warn them that time is winding up, spiraling intently towards eternity and NOW is the time to prepare to meet their Master in peace; for He could show up at any minute!”

“Encourage your fellow-sojourners to take full advantage of these days, not trembling in fearful foreboding but celebrating God all day, every day!”

Suddenly my mind drifted back to the wisdom of those ol’ skool Churrch Mothers! ‘Babygurl, you need to wear this world like a loose-fitting overcoat, that you can drop off at a moment’s notice!’ That was their way of reminding us that we are not home yet! We’re still passing through this barren land on our way to Heaven!

Beloved, if all your hope is wrapped up in what you can collect, seeking man’s approval and striving to attain society’s standard of success, then my precious one, the best you can expect to see in this world is constant decadence of morality and amplified misery. But as The Redeemed, we have an resounding advantage over those who are yet in darkness. GOD IS STILL GOD!

Hence, God is not surprised at anything that’s happening! He Reigns Supreme Ruler over ALL His Creation, astutely aware and actively involved in the intrinsic detailed affairs of man-kind! And to top it all off, God loves us with an Everlasting Love that compassionately invites us to come boldly before His Throne daily to find Hope AND Help in HIS Mercy and Grace!

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast ,and which enters the Presence behind the veil…” Hebrews 6:19a

Therefore, Beloved, we do not give up HOPE! BUT!  As believers in The Testimony of Jesus Christ, we eontend for the faith, waiting patiently in earnest expectation, resting in quiet confidence and believing to see that THE ONE WHO HAS PROMISED IS FAITHFUL TO PERFORM!

Didjaheardat? WOW! WEIGHT ON THE LORD!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

JESUS CARES!

jesus-cares

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. Psalm 142:3-4,7

 

LIFE happens!  Whether we embrace it or ignore it, time is spiraling into eternity at the speed of life. Most of us do our best to respond to the inevitable uncertainties maintaining an assemblance of confidence and control! Amen? Howevvrrrr, there are those uninvited episodes when the roof just comes crashing down and the very foundation of your being quakes uncontrollably leaving you traumatized by tragedy and utterly destroying every ounce of normalcy!

The subscript of today’s scriptures says this text was penned by David finding himself victimized by Saul’s inner insecurities and covetousness, hiding in a cave, imprisoned by the hopelessness of circumstances beyond his control! I know it’s socially inappropriate for us to discuss such matters publicly, BUT! Since it’s jus us, have you ever been ensnared by a state of desperation, despair and hopelessness, and try as you might, couldn’t muster up enough strength to pull yourself up out of a pit full of depression?

I realize that this might be a stretch,  BUT! Have you ever been surrounded by a crowd of people, simultaneously isolated and paralyzed by inner fears, feeling as if no one really cared about you? Of course, we realize who the originator of these irrational thoughts and conflicting emotions is, that ly’n devil, right? ‘Cuse me, may I submit this thought for your consideration, right here? I believe that the same God who Divinely orchestrates our mountaintop experiences also schedules sporadic excursions through death-valleys! Yet, you must understand that everybody is not assigned to your hardships and struggles! Hence, you have to be careful who is privy to your vulnerabilities!  Uuuh, remember, Job’s frienemies?

It’s during these times that we need a freedom that’s only accessible through a personal intimate relationship with The Overseer of your soul! Isn’t it just good to know that when the Bible invites us to take it to the Lawd in prayer, that it includes the bad, ugly and indifferent as well as the good and wonderful! Why waste time acting as if You need Jesus to meet you in the penthouse, when you’re stuck in the cellar?#ijs, God already knows everything about everything! He’s jus waiting for you to speak up!

It just delights our Heavenly Father’s heart, knowing that we trust Him to BE GOD in, through and over our lives!  Didjaheardat? DATZ JUS HOW MUCH HE REALLY LOVES AND CARES ! #AWEMAAZIN, huh? I KNOW HE CARES 4 U & ME! GIVE YOUR ALL 2 JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

A GGRREAT-GOD DAY!

A GOOD GOD DAY 3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:4-5

Good morning Lord!

Thank you for this day that You have made! (Ref. Psalm 118:24) According to Your WORD, my #1 Priority today, is to glorify and celebrate YOU! It sounds like you’ve invited me to party with you all day.  Although, You’re the One throwing the party, strangely, I feel as if I’m the Honored Guest. WOW!

As I embrace this brand new day considering WHO You are and WHAT You have promised to do for, in and thru me, my heart-joy springs up erupting into eternal hope, confidence and peace. I shutter in pure amazement, pondering the depth of your Love and Compassion towards me. O the Wonder of Your never-ending loving-kindness overwhelms me with such comforting securing Grace!

I revel in Your unrivaled Greatness and I’m no longer intimidated by my smallness, frailness nor past failures! Suddenly, I become intensely aware that I am surrounded by The Mountain, The Fortress that can’t ever be shaken nor penetrated! This awesomeness is not easily described, due to the severe limitations of my finite intellect and verbal capacity. I find myself gasping at the mere suggestion that I AM the object of such affection. Yet this Truth encompasses my spirit, soul and body and I embrace my wholeness and completeness, as I dwell in the Presence of The All-Knowing, All-Loving, Caring, Creator-Giver, Father of All-Life!

I linger longingly in Your Sanctuary, fearing the inevitable interruptions and mysterious distractions that await me as I meander through this day. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that it was for this cause—that I may spread the Good News to some lost and weary one, that there is Hope beyond this world and that The Master is on His way—that I am called to Your Kingdom.

Today, I concede, confidently trusting and committing myself into Your Hands; resting assured that You are faithfully leading and guiding me, triumphantly and victoriously over every situation that I may confront along the way!

Strapped in The Full Armor of Your Righteousness with my feet clad in The Gospel of Peace—I forge forward rejoicing in my GGGRRREAT-GOD DAY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

BELIEVERS’ DELIGHT!

THE BELIEVERS' DELIGHT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doeth he meditate day and night! Psalm 1:1-2 KJV

How well God must like you – you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. THE MESSAGE

 

When the Holy Ghost pricked my heart with this text, immediately my mind went to the scripture about the sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was complaining to Jesus ‘Lord, it ain’t right that Mary should be sitting in here with all yall, while I’m in the kitchen working trying to get this food ready’. However, I don’t think she expected Jesus to respond like He did, huh? Jesus didn’t rebuke Mary, but he told Martha that Mary had chosen, ‘the best part’. (Ref. Luke 10:42) Unfortunately, Martha’s got a whole lot of sisters and brothers out here, even those who are in the Kingdom of God!

I gotta confess, I was totally shocked when I realized that not everyone who’s name is written in The Lambs’ Book of Life, finds the WORD OF GOD delightful. I’m not trying to be sanctimonious or self-righteous, I’m just giving my experience, k?

The truth of the matter is, Satan wants to keep all of us, saved and unsaved alike, from the WORD OF GOD—By Any Means Necessary! He works deligently to distract us from spending time, reading, studying, and particularly, meditation and prayilng the Word.

Case in point, how many times have you made a decision (especially at the beginning of a New Year), that ‘This year, I’m gonna get in my Bible and see what God has promised me! I want to know what God wants to say to me. I want to know WHO GOD IS AND WHO I AM in him’. And what happens? Suddenly—out of nowhere, here comes something or someone that needs your immediate attention. Seriously, fires just seem to pop up everywhere you look, right?

Beloved, don’t take the bait! Somebody said, the best defense is a good offense! Hence, it’s important for us to hide God’s Word in our hearts, so that when challenges, tests, trials and tragedies interrupt our lives, instead of caving in to the pressure of temporary circumstances, out of our hearts will flow the Eternal Well-spring of Life, a confident assuring hope that our ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) When we make time to fill our spirit, with the Immutable Word of God, we might bend, but we won’t brake!

We must remember that while the issues of life are often a surprise to us—nothing that has, is going on now, or will ever happen in our life, will ever make God say “OOPS! WHERE DAT COME FROM – HOW DID THAT GET PASS ME”! #didjaheardat? Com’on now!

As believers, we must be fully persuaded that The God we serve is SOVEREIGN! HE IS ULTIMATELY ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. And when you know that you know this, YOU KNOW that SATAN AIN’T RUNNING NOTHING! In fact, before he can get to you—HE’S GOTTA GO THRU JESUS!

The scripture says, that ‘Greater is He who is in us, than who is in the world’. (1 john 4:4) and even when our own heart condemn us, “He’s greater than our hearts”. (1 John 3:20) WOW! Beloved, if you are truly Born-Again, Blood-Washed Believer, your spirit man is always on, we just need to stay tuned, and open to hear what the Spirit is speaking to our spirit. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Truthfully, many of God’s people are so busy, (just like Martha) caught up in the grid of daily life, trying to get their children to sports activities, a promotion, a new degree, upgrade their house, car, purse or spouse that there’s rarely time left to fellowship with Jesus around His Word!

Precious one, when we take time, pausing to delight ourselves in His Presence, meditating in His Word, GOD Will direct your steps, instruct your hearts and lead us in the right pathways! God delights in our deligent seeking and rewards us with Grace to walk secure in His Peace, regardless of what’s going on around, and even on the inside of us.

I know it ain’t my business, but I’m jus say’n, WHAT DELIGHTS U?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

PURPOSE TRUMPS PAIN

PURPOSE TRUMPS PAIN

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

 
“Don’t put a question mark where God has put a period.” Sounds good, huh? Plastered on a billboard, right? Unfortunately, it’s potetency seeps out in everyday real life! Because that’s exactly what many of us do when things don’t workout like we think they should. We marry our soul mate and three years later, we’re widowed. We train up our children to love and follow Jesus, and they’re addicted to cocaine. We finally get that promotion and are able to buy our dream house and the doctor reports confirm that your wife has Stage 4 breast cancer!

Sometimes life doesn’t make sense! Perhaps, that’s why God told us not to lean to our own understanding, knowing His ways are beyond our human comprehension, huh? But He does tell us that before we breathed our first day, He’s designed each day to work together for our greatest good and His Higher Glory. I surely recognize that to the carnal mind, in the midst of tests, trials and tragedy, this offers little help (and even less hope). But there is some Good News for those who’ve become wearied in well-doing! The True and Living God Who takes pleasure in our prosperity is in complete control of our end from the beginning! (Ref. Romans 8:28)

Contrary to this new 21st Century Gospel-Lite philosophical preaching that asserts that if you choose to follow Jesus, (as if you ever would) the rest of your journey will be a flowery bed of ease,  God recycles those who have put their faith and trust in Him alone into agents of transformation for the upbuilding of His Kingdom in the Earth! While The Father of Comfort is determined that you reach the fullness of your Destiny, He’s Sovereignly ordained that you face resistance, struggles and adversity in this life, in order to produce and prove your Godly character.

It’s easy for us to get stuck in the muck and mire of our pain and waste it! #Datsoundsabitharsh, huh? Honestly, while life is filled with unexpected uninvited disruptions, nothing happens coincidentally! God doesn’t waste pain! It’s in the midst of these sporadic interuptions that we discover what God has put on the inside of you, not to deminish you, but to prepare you for the next level of your mission. Hence, we must decide whether or not we’re going to remain pitififul or allow this to make us powerful!

I tend to think about it like this, everytime I use my painful experiences to help somebody who’s facing a challenge that I’ve already come thru, I just imagine the demons trembling in terror. Remember the scripture that says, if they only knew what was going to happen when they crucified our Lord and Savior, they never would’ve done it! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:8) Ha! Ha! So, I gotta admit that turning the tables on the devil is absolutely delightful. In fact, I tell him, “Satan, you’re gonna regret every moment of this more than I ever will!”

Beloved, by using the lessons we gain to help somebody else, we’re heaping coals of fire on the devil’s head! If you will allow the pain to transform your mind, you gain a greater understanding of God’s miraculous Power and sustaining Grace! Besides that, your faith will boister a personal confidence that affirms ‘IF GOD DID IT BEFORE, HE’LL DO IT AGAIN! As I allow these experiences to make me better rather than bitter, I can be content regardless of my circircumstances!’ (Ref. Philippians 4:11)

Somebody said, NO PAIN NO GAIN! However, unless you change your perspective, this offers little to motivate you in the furnace of affliction! In order for us to grow through these seasons of difficulties we must be fully persuaded that because of God’s unconditional Love and immutable Faithfulness, the only reason God has allowed this, is because He knows He can trusts me with this trouble! WOW! PURPOSE TRUMPS PAIN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee