Word: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16

Thought: Sometimes we think that a missionary is one who leaves His job and everything and goes to a remote place (mission field) and shares the good news – Undoubtedly they are missionaries, but God has called each one us to be a missionary. Every believer is a missionary and every non believer is a mission field. As Jesus commands before he left, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”, we are sent by Him to the place we are in to preach the gospel. Sharing the good news is a work of every believer and they is no full time or part time in this – it is every time in every place, both in season and out of season. Do you think the Lord has placed you without a purpose in your workplace – do you think it is earn and send for missions only? We have a bigger task entrusted on us – we need to preach the gospel and be the gospel in the place where God has placed us and it is not something to boast of, it is a duty of every believer to do this. The people with you in your workplace can hear the good news only through you and you are the only bible which they see everyday, so have this in mind and God will give you the opportunity to share the good news.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for planting me as a missionary in my workplace, help me to preach your good news to the people near me and grant me the courage and the right opportunity to share. Amen.

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Mat 4:11

We know Jesus was tempted by satan. Speaking the word of God, Jesus overcame all the temptations. What were the areas satan tempted?

Shortcuts to Needs: The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Mat 4:3 Jesus was hungry, satan asked him meet the need using His power but “Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Mat 4:4 Look at the provider and not at the path to provision.

Shortcuts to Miracles: ^“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down” Mat 4:5,6 All of us want to see miracles, but do we try without God. The word says “Jesus answered him, It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Mat 4:7 wait on the miracle working God; Lord will work at the right time.

Shortcuts to Authority: ^“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Mat 4:8,9 When we are pushed to get authority over a situation, do we sin by attempting to capture authority, the word says Jesus said to him, … For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Mat 4:10 Our Authority is God alone, serve Him alone, authority over situation will come through His presence in our life.

Prayer: Lord; help me to overcome temptation and walk a life according to the word of God. Amen.

Verse:…in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken … the Lord moved the heart …. Ezra 1:1

Story: Through Jeremiah the Lord had given a promise to the people of Judah who were taken into captivity by Babylonian kingdom. Promise was that they will come back free after 70 years and Lord will help them to build the temple of God. Babylonian empire was overthrown by the Persians, and for the promise of God to be fulfilled, Lord moved and heart of King Cyrus and he made a proclamation to all his kingdom that people of Israel could go back and start building the temple, as he was appointed by God for that purpose, also he gave a word that from the royal treasury they will provide the support too.

Lesson: 70 years in a foreign land as slaves, no possibility of the promise to be fulfilled. But Lord who promised is faithful to fulfill even if that needs a miracle. During the waiting time let us be like Daniel who held on to the promise. What are the promises that we received? If that requires the most powerful kings to pass a rule, yes Lord will make it happen. As one who promised is powerful to perform what He promised. One night; is all what it takes to move from troubles to triumphs, when the Lord moves.

Prayer: Father Lord, we are fully persuaded that the Lord who promised is powerful enough to fulfill the promises He gave. While waiting we will trust the word. Amen.

Word: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Thought: May of us might have this word in memory and we even might have advised friends in trouble, but when it comes to our life, do we really wait upon the Lord. Is our life embedded with the plan and way of God or do you struggle and toil in our own ways before aligning to His way? In the times of trouble, even before it strikes do we try to run away and get hit or get entangled by running in the wrong direction, before looking up on the Lord to deliver us. Waiting in the Lord is a daily walk, in EVERYTHING when we wait upon the Lord, He will help us soar high to mount up your wings as eagles and fly above and beyond your circumstances, fly away from your problem  and fly upwards towards the mountaintop. Also, He ensures to increase the tail wind (circumstances for) and reduce the head wind (circumstances against) , so even when we run (through the problem) we do not go weary, since we will have a easy run, rather than running against and toiling making us grow weary and to faint.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to wait upon you, that I might rise above the problem or go through it with ease.  Amen.

Verse:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deu 31:6

Thought:

The above verse Lord is encouraging His people to be strong. For the Lord is with them in every situation and Lord promised to never leave them. How to be strong when situation are not positive.

Content: “..be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb 13:5 To be content in the current situation, for we are sure the Lord is in control and He will never ever leave us, the assurance of this promise will deliver us from fear and spirit of contentment will come in.

Confidence: “So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.What can mere mortals do to me?” Heb 13:6 Irrespective of the situation we have to be confident that Lord who promised to deliver is faithful enough to keep His word. The Psalmist was confident and the word says “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid… The LORD is with me; he is my helper” Ps 118:6,7

Prayer:

Father, Lord I am content in current situation for you are with me. I am confident of future as you are my deliverer. Lord you will not leave me, Lord  I know you will never forsake me. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.