Category Archives: Hope

Blessing and Victory by the Hand of the Lord

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I believe you, God, for every good and perfect gift;
for doubting that would cause me to be adrift
on the devil’s sea of unbelief,
with its dangerous waters and treacherous reef.
Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light.
I believe Your Word and reject any fright.
You’ve promised to shepherd me each new day–
With Your rod and Your staff, You’ll lead the way.
You’re the Light of the World, I can’t go wrong–
I can do all things in Him Who makes me strong.
Strong I am, and it’s easy to receive–
for You have said, just pray and believe.
Your help is sure, and you’ve said I can command
victory over the enemy by Your mighty hand!

P. A. Oltrogge

“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” James 1:17

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“The Lord is my shepherd…He leads me…He guides me…Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me…Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life….” (from Psalm 23)

“And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:18-20

“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

“I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” Mark 11:24

See also the following regarding God’s mighty hand:

Exodus 3:20
Exodus 13: 3, 9, 14, 16
Exodus chapter 14

Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in the Light

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What turns an ordinary person into a winner?

What makes a grateful saint out of a sinner?

Faith in the Lord, Jesus, God’s beloved Son–

trusting in the name and shed blood of the Holy One…

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.

Through Him, we’re victorious in any situation.

Despite sins, mistakes, or things we’ve done wrong,

He is our success.  In Him, we are strong.

P. A. Oltrogge

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:9-14

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18

Trusting in the Bigness of the Lord

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“…And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, MIGHTY GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6…

It’s important to contemplate the “BIGNESS” of our God. That’s a rarely used word, as some have considered its usage to be odd.

But BIGNESS is very appropriate for Almighty God’s description. And, for the renewing of our minds, it’s an excellent prescription…

to keep us from thinking small, when the works of our God are VAST. Trees, mountains, planets and the stars by His words were cast.

The Israelites were enabled to cross over the Red Sea upon dry land, when the waters were parted by Moses’ reliance on God’s victorious hand.

God’s GREATER power delivered three men from Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace fire. They didn’t even smell of smoke despite going through something that dire.

And the GREATNESS of God’s merciful love was plainly displayed…when all of mankind’s sins on His own beloved Son were laid.

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” are words that Jesus said. That BIGNESS was displayed when He raised Lazarus from the dead.

And many other difficulties brought before Jesus turned out to perfection—but the GREATEST triumph of all was at the moment of Jesus’ own resurrection.

So let’s remember the BIGNESS of our MIGHTY GOD in heaven—in every situation—even BIG forgiving—seventy times seven!

And remember to give as BIG as you can to others who have needs. “He who waters will himself be watered.” There’s blessing in such deeds.

The WIDENESS of His mercy, the BIGNESS of His heart…Don’t think small when thoughts that are BIG are what God wants to impart.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh.  Is there anything too hard for Me?”  Jeremiah 32:27 

“Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men.” Psalm 31:19 

“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12 

“For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.”  Psalm 47:2 

“Sing out the honor of His name.  Make His praise glorious.  Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!  Through the greatness of Your power, Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.  All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.’  Selah”  Psalm 66:2-4 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”  Psalm 103:2-4 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16 

“…and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NASB

“The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”  Proverbs 11:25 NASB

I believe in miracles, because I’ve had some God-given ones prior. I believe in miracles, are words that encourage and lift us higher.

And I believe in Jesus, the miracle worker, who was called a Nazarene. With our expectation in Him, and what He’s already done, miracles are sure to come on the scene.

…whatever the pain or problem, tell Him you’re trusting in His bigness over it…

He Upholds All Things by the Word of His Power

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…a favorite…

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4 New King James Version

The God’s Word translation reads “He holds everything together by His powerful words….”

Does something in your life need to be upheld or held together? Trust the One, who holds all things together….

Jesus upholds you by the word of His power…

Bright Blooms

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“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Jesus’ words in Luke 12:27

Hardy are the flowers which come up from the snow…
Hearty their spring greetings, saying winter’s soon to go.

Though their bulbs were asleep within the frozen ground,
God awakened them to rise, and spread His peace and joy around!

P. A. Oltrogge

of Jesus:

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…” John 11:25-26

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’”  Mark 9:23

…just as the flowers break through, so, also, God’s promises do… We’re believers, not doubters…

“…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” 1 Peter 1:23

photos/Unsplash

Scriptures: NKJV

Update from Mike Evans

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Shalom, shalom from your home in the Holy City, your Friends of Zion Center. This great lighthouse of Christian love only exists because friends like you have made it possible. And Israel so urgently needs it right now. The briefings and updates I’m getting confirm the serious nature of the threats. They are much worse than what the news is reporting, and the Jewish people need our prayers and help right now as they are under attack. As the Houthis in Yemen continue to launch long-range missiles, the warning sirens here in Jerusalem go off again and again. Each time this happens, hundreds of thousands of people have to go to bomb shelters just in case. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing those sirens, but they are a powerful reminder of just how great the needs of the Jewish people are right now

Today I’m asking you to do something great for God by comforting the suffering people of Israel. There are thousands who are still homeless…thousands mourning the loss of a loved one…thousands struggling to just get enough food to eat…hundreds of widows and orphans. The suffering in Israel is worse than anything I’ve seen in 50 years of ministry. These precious people need our help right now. 

Your support of the Jerusalem Prayer Team today allows us to comfort the people of Israel who have survived the terrorist attacks, to continue to purchase and deliver food, medicine, clothing, and other necessities of life for the poor Holocaust survivors and refugees of Ukraine, to continue to operate the Friends of Zion Museum, to stand up and speak out for Israel, and to meet urgent humanitarian needs among the poor Jewish people living in Israel. Thank you so much for being part of this vital worldwide prayer movement.

To help: http://www.jerusalemprayerteam.org

Father,

Remind us to pray daily for those where there’s war…
that they won’t have to live with such danger any more.

At this very moment, please protect those souls,
who are serving courageously in military roles.

By Your Spirit, convert people who have evil intent…
revealing to them the Lord Jesus, whom You have sent.

Thank You for having sent Your Son, as the Savior for our sins…
Now, for anyone who receives Him, a brand new life begins.

in His (Jesus’) name, we pray…

P. A. Oltrogge

God’s Heart of Compassion

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“Peace be with you.” John 20:21

The Lord’s great heart of compassion is at work always–at times, behind the scenes. 

He answers prayer for salvation, guidance, protection, healing, and provision well beyond our means.

Let’s not limit Him by doubting that He can do more than we could ever ask or think. 

Jesus came to establish the new covenant. Now, through Him, we have that blessed link.

“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works,” the Bible’s stated. 

God’s desire is to love, through His Son, to even greater measure, every person He’s created.

“If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, you shall be free indeed,” Jesus said, all because of that compassionate heart. 

When you take Jesus as Savior, you can forget the past, knowing God’s given to you a fresh start.

Even if there are times when you don’t recognize that He’s working in your life right then, 

He encourages you to always keep the faith. He’ll bring things to pass, though you may not know when.

Jesus told us of God as His heavenly Father. Those in Christ are children of God. Therefore…

as part of His beloved family, we can expect all of the good things that He has in store.

P. A. Oltrogge

And likewise, we want to extend loving compassion to others, through caring prayer and action…

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV

“…to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 NKJV

“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9 NKJV

“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:25

“…to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24 NKJV

“If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 KJV

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15 KJV

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8 NASB

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Jude 21-22 KJV

Psalm 78:38; 111:4; 145:8; Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Mark 1:41; 5:19; 6:34; 8:2; Luke 10:33; 15:20; John 3:16; 1 John 3:17

Book recommendation: Expect God by Rachel Shafer at: http://www.rachelshafer.com

Visit: http://www.givehim15.com

Grace and Truth Came Through Jesus Christ

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The Bible shares many different instances where Jesus healed–each one very compelling.  In Luke 14, we read of Jesus healing a man with “dropsy,” which is an old term used to describe abnormal swelling.

In coming for dinner to the home of a leader of the Pharisees, Jesus well knew…that healing would be considered “work” to them–which they believed that He, on a Sabbath, shouldn’t do.

So He first put the question to them–whether, on a Sabbath, healing was permitted in the law. After they refused to answer, He touched the man who was afflicted with dropsy; and he received of healing virtue for that bodily flaw.

He sent the man away and asked those remaining a new question–as to which one of them wouldn’t do the same.  If on a Sabbath, their son or even their animal fell into a pit, wouldn’t he work to get him, or it, out, despite their “We don’t work on the Sabbath” claim?

In other recorded accounts, too, Jesus healed on a Sabbath day, showing what God, the Father, certainly permitted–which was always extending God’s love and compassion, to which He, the Son of God, was steadfastly committed.

P. A. Oltrogge

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:16-18 NKJV

“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” Psalm 103:3 God’s Word states we are healed by Jesus’ stripes…He still heals today any type of malady or disorder. 

“The commandments, ‘Never commit adultery; never murder; never steal; never have wrong desires,’ and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses’ Teachings.

“You know the times in which we are living. It’s time for you to wake up. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers.” Romans 13:9-11 GW

See the Biblical account of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21

“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

“And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27-28

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

…praying for you daily, dear follower or friend of this blog… For further help, refer to any of the ministries previously referenced on this blog. Among those ministries are:

Monday-Friday, Visit: Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. CT, at: http://www.govictory.com

And on the Victory channel is “The Place for Miracles” at 1:00 p.m. ET or visit: http://www.richardroberts.org

Consider the Birds and the Lilies

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“In His Constant Care” by Greg Olsen. Used with Permission: http://www.GregOlsen.com

Look at the birds of the air…
They don’t sow, reap, or gather
Their needed food into barns—
But are dependent upon God, rather.

Consider how the lilies are clothed—
They toil not, nor do they spin,
But to the heavenly Father’s care
They’re blessed to give in.

Yes, consider these,
And consider giving in,
To the message of Christ’s love
Above this world’s din.

Partake, through the Bible, from God’s table
Of spiritual food fit for a King’s heir,
And be clothed in the love of Jesus,
The finest thing you could wear.

Consider the children,
So gentle and so tender—
What kind of faith
To them will you render?

One that speaks dislike
And contempt of others—
Or one that speaks love
And draws all men to be brothers?

The heavenly Father gave Jesus
To tell of God’s care and to guide.
When we take Him as Savior, He gives love
For all others for whom He has died.

So just like the lilies
Or the birds of the air,
May people of all nations be blessed to give in
To Jesus—the way to the Father God’s care…

P. A. Oltrogge

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies….” Luke 6:27

“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40

“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious, can add a single cubit to his life’s span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.

“But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“I know all the birds of the mountains….” Psalm 50:11

With God, All is Possible

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…from the ministry of CBN, by Dayna Lovelady

One quiet morning I sat down and began thinking of situations I faced that seemed impossible. The Lord gently said to me, Write all the things that seemed impossible but happened.

I pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, sat at my desk, and began writing a list of the impossible circumstances, mindsets, health concerns, and financial obstacles that once seemed unlikely to resolve. While writing this ever-growing list of my past, one by one, the memories of the challenges flooded my mind. I felt gratitude to God for changing those impossibilities into possibilities that are now testimonies. I filled multiple pages with these former hardships and my soul filled with joy because of what God did to turn those things around for my good and how He empowered me to take action as well.

Next, God said, Write the things that currently seem impossible in your life.

I grabbed more paper and wrote a list of things that seemed impossible in my life at that moment. I sat the lists side-by-side, and this changed my perspective. The current list of impossible circumstances became a list of things that had “not yet” occurred opposed to things that will “never” occur. I felt joy as I thought of looking at this list in the future and rejoicing over what the Lord did to transform my circumstances.   

Luke 1:37 (NKJV) states, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

This Scripture reminds us that God does not have limits like we do as humans. He can do anything He desires.  

What situations are you facing that seem impossible to overcome? What situations from your past once seemed impossible but happened anyway? Consider making a list of the things God did in your past. This list can serve as an encouragement for you now while facing new trials.

Matthew 19:26 says, Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Humans face impossibilities, but God does not. Remember this as you overcome the challenges you face. Trust God to do the impossible for you.

Prayer: Dear God, I am facing situations that seem impossible. I know through You, nothing is impossible. Help me focus on Your possibilities instead of my limitations. Help me remember the impossibilities I once faced but have overcome. Help me to place my hope in You as I wait. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Dayna has been with CBN since 2005. She is an Employee Engagement Manager unifying CBN and OB staff through technology, communication, and prayer. She has a Master’s of Business Administration and graduated from Regent University with a Master of Divinity. She enjoys family time, reading, running, weightlifting, fishing, and traveling in her spare time.

Visit: http://www.cbn.com