Beloved in Christ Ministry

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians  12:10 , NIV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria We all have seasons in life when we feel overwhelmed. When unexpected things happen, we can be tempted to get discouraged. We may feel like we don’t have what it takes, or we may feel weak. Anytime you feel this way, you have to realize that feelings aren’t facts. The truth of the matter is that God has equipped you and He already has a plan for you to come out of that difficulty. Scripture says, when you feel week, that’s when God’s strength rises in you. His strength will overcome any opposition you may face. Remember, anytime you feel week, that’s when God is strong on You! Keep praying, keep believing, keep pressing forward and rise up in the victory He has in store for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for...

It’s not your job to figure out how everything is going to happen. Your job is just to pray, obey and say what God says. –Kenneth

It’s easy to get lazy about spiritual things. You don’t have to jump into some kind of major sin to lose ground spiritually. You don't even have to get rebellious. All you have to do is nothing! If you want to live in victory, you have to keep yourself spiritually active. Learn more in this article by Gloria:  http://bit.ly/1CwPOn7

Healing has been provided for every believer. It’s been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. All we have to do is reach out with the hand of faith and take it. –Gloria

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3, TLB) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria When you become a follower of Christ, not only do you receive eternal life but you are blessed with spiritual blessings. Scripture tells us that we are blessed with every blessing in heaven. What are the spiritual blessings of heaven? Peace, joy, favor, abundance, grace, and so much more! You are blessed with earthly talents, and you are blessed with spiritual blessings! Today, let that sink down into your spirit. God has also given you talents, fulfillment, favor and abundance. You are blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. You are blessed with confidence and assurance that your God is who He says He is. You are kept safe and secure in the hand of Almighty God. Think about all of the blessings that God has given you and thank Him for them to...

Hebrews 13:5 …He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ribbon end For six whole hours, the Son of God was suspended between heaven and earth. And at the height of His suffering on the cross, He cried out in the deep darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:45–46) For the first time, Jesus addressed His Father as “God”. The Father had forsaken the Son. As Judge of the universe, God had to turn His back on His Son, who was carrying the filth of the world’s sins, for His eyes are too pure to behold evil. (Habakkuk 1:13) If the Father had not turned His back on His Son, He would have to turn His back on you today when you call out to Him in your hour of need. But because Jesus has taken your place, today, you take His place, and you have God’s face smiling on you always! Right now, God’s face is smiling on you. His countenance is shining on you. I can stand before you and declare, “The Lord make His face shine upon you.” (Numbers 6:...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ ” (Matthew  20:30 , NLT) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria Today’s verse talks about two blind men that no one really paid attention to. No one gave them much of a chance — but Jesus did! All through scripture we see that He had such great compassion and mercy, everywhere He went and He still has it today. Maybe you feel like life has overlooked you. Maybe you feel like the people around you don’t really see what you are going through. Today, know that God sees you. He’ll never overlook you even when people overlook you. He is good and no matter what has happened in your life, remember that His mercy endures forever. Notice what these men did — they called on Jesus. Even when people tried to quiet them, they called even louder. They had confidence that He would hear them and you can have...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” (Philippians  1:12 , ESV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria We can learn so much from the apostle Paul. He was deliriously happy and joyful because of what Christ had done in his life. Even when he was chained and shackled in a dark prison because of his faith, Paul praised God and counted it a privilege to deliver the message of the gospel. He had His eyes focused on the prize of eternity! He didn’t let a bad day throw him off course. He didn’t get depressed when people didn’t like him. No, He stood confident in Christ knowing that praise prepares the way for victory! One thing we know is that you can’t defeat a person who is always happy and praising God. If you are in a battle today, if you need a miracle in your circumstances, follow Paul’s example and open your mouth and begin to praise to Him! Develop an attitude of faith and expectan...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph through Christ...” (2 Corinthians  2:14 , NASB) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria Do you take time to look back and see the victories that God has given you? Do you have them written down somewhere in a journal? It’s so important to meditate on the victory of God in your life everyday because it helps you to take hold of what today’s verse is saying — that God always leads us in triumph! Today, if you are going through a difficulty, instead of focusing on your problems focus on your God. Declare, “Thank You, God, for leading me into victory!” Meditate on His faithfulness in days past and keep an attitude of expectancy. Give Him thanks and praise because He is leading you into victory in every area of your life! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me in so many situations. Fill me with expectation for what You will do in the future in Jesus’ name! Amen.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “...with God all things are possible.” (Matthew  19:26 , NIV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria God promises that with Him, all things are possible! Possibility is powerful! Possibility means you aren’t limited. It means you have options. No matter how you may feel right now, you aren’t stuck and you aren’t confined to your circumstances. No, you have a door of possibility in front of you, the question is: will you walk through it? How do you walk through that door of possibility? By placing your faith in Him. By trusting that He is at work even when you can’t see it. By praying and believing and worshiping Him in the good times and bad. Today, meditate on the fact that God has the power and ability to restore broken families, He can restore lost dreams and work miracles beyond what you could ever imagine in the natural. Choose to trust, choose to believe, look for His goodness and know that with God, all things are possible! A PRAYER F...

Giving Back to God TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:30, NKJV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria Everything we have has been given to us by God. He entrusts us with His resources and wants us to be good stewards of what we have. In scripture, Jesus talks about some men who were entrusted with some resources. They all had different amounts but they were supposed to be faithful and increase what they had. How do we increase what we have? By sowing, by giving, by being faithful and obedient to Him. Just like planting a seed in the natural yields a harvest of increase, when you sow finances to God’s work, you’ll receive an abundant harvest in return. Remember, God wants to bless you. He wants to increase you. When you give, when you sow, when you honor Him with your first fruits, that’s when you’ll see the windows of Heaven open. That’s ...

Romans  4:25 who [Jesus] was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. The Bible tells us that Christ was delivered up for our sins and raised from the dead for our justification. You may already know why Jesus died for our sins, but do you know the significance of God raising Him from the dead? Let me give you an illustration to help you understand the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s say that you are living in a foreign country. One day, you happen to break a major rule of the land. You appeal to the king for mercy. He says, “A rule is a rule. I cannot bend the rule for you. What will others say about my integrity? However, if you can find a substitute to take your punishment—three months in jail—I will allow it.” By God’s grace, you find a willing substitute. He goes to prison on your behalf and you don’t see him for some time. Days, weeks and months pass by. Now, how or when will you know that your crime has been fully...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John  16:33 , NIV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria It’s easy to be positive and encouraging when everything is going your way, isn’t it? But every one is going to have obstacles to overcome in life. Problems have a purpose, and part of God’s purpose for allowing you to face obstacles is to test your attitude. That’s why you need to be positive even in negative situations. Remember, God wants you to live life to the fullest. And He has provided a way for you to enjoy your life, even when you’re going through hard times. Look closely again at John  16:33 . Jesus has just told you that you will face tribulation. But then He says, “Take heart!” That’s the secret. One translation puts it this way: “When you have trouble, cheer up.” What God is saying is that you can choose to be joyful and pos...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians  4:18 , NKJV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria God wants you to focus on the good things He has for you, which are far greater than the things you can see around you. Unfortunately, too many people give up when they face tough times. They stop expecting anything good to happen. But the truth is, hardships and trials are really opportunities for you to go higher. Whatever struggles you’re going through right now, no matter how large or small...they are subject to change. God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Your health may not look very good today, but it’s subject to change. You may be out of work today, but that’s subject to change. Your finances may look dismal today, but that’s subject to change! You may be struggling in your relationsh...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will.” (Psalm 37:5, NLT) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria Commitment is a very important word in life. It’s is an essential part of your job, your marriage and your relationship with God. In the Bible, when God says that He is committed to you, He means committed no matter what. He wants you to commit everything you do to Him, so that He can help you succeed. You can’t be the employee, spouse, or friend God wants you to be without having complete commitment to the cause. The same is true, possibly even more so, in your relationship with Christ. He wants you to commit everything you do to Him because He truly does desire good things for you. You just have to be willing to give it all to Him. A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, help me to be totally committed to You, because I know You are to me. Thank You for promising to help me if I turn my commitments over to You. In Jesu...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians  2:13 , NLT) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria Do you desire to please Him? When you become a believer by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God begins working in you. He changes your desires from self-seeking to God-seeking. When you make a wrong choice or do something that displeases Him, most times, you know it immediately. There’s uneasiness on the inside of you. You might even feel a little sick to your stomach. That’s because the desire to please God is built inside of you. That “feeling” is the Spirit’s gentle conviction that keeps us on the path He has for us. But notice He didn’t just give you the desire to please Him; He gave you the power to please Him, too. He didn’t just call you; He equipped you! Follow that inner prompting so that your actions will line up with your heart’s desire. And remember, even when you make a mis...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria Surround yourself with the right people and you can fulfill the dreams God gives you. Put yourself in relationships with people who are not only like-minded, but are also seeking to honor God in their own lives. Here is a thought to consider today: if your friends don’t point you toward God’s goal for you, then they’re not very good friends. You want to be around dream-builders, not dream-crashers! When you prune the relationships around you, you’re not cutting things out of your life; you’re making room for growth so that you can reach your God-given potential! When you make room for God’s best, you can walk away from the lesser things that the world has to offer. A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, I know You have my best in mind and in Your plans. Thank You...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians  3:23 , NIV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria You can probably think of many times in which you simply did not give your best effort, or didn’t really try very hard. Every person, because of our human imperfections, sometimes chooses to be lazy and not try. But the example given by Christ, and the one mentioned in Colossians 3, is completely the opposite. Christians are to be the best at whatever they do, because they are to do everything as if they were doing it for God alone! When you put your whole heart into whatever it is you are supposed to do, God will recognize that and bless you for it. You should strive for and pursue excellence in all you do, for the sake of God; He blesses excellence! A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, I want to do my work and everything else with true excellence. Give me Your power to be an example of Christ to thos...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people” (1 Thessalonians 1:4, NLT) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria When others look at your life, do they know that God loves you? Can they see the change in you? Do they know you are a follower of His? Remember, the evidence is in your words and actions. The most important thing you could ever know and show is that God loves you. His love changes us. His love empowers us. His love takes us to new levels. His love gives us eternal life. Open your heart fully and receive His love today. Then turn around and love Him in return by following His commands. Make the decision today to let His love show all over you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father in heaven, thank You for loving me, for empowering me, and changing me to be more like You. Have Your way in my heart so that I can be a shining light of Your love to the people around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John  3:17 , ESV) TODAY’S WORD  from Joel and Victoria You’ve probably heard the saying that “you may be the only Jesus someone ever sees.” There may be a desperate person who is in need of something as small as a smile or a little money, and you might be the best or the only example of Jesus’ love to them! With this in mind, look for ways today to live with true compassion and a caring attitude toward others. That’s how you can plant seeds of God in someone. You may not be around to see the seeds grow into a large and beautiful plant, but you could make a life-changing impact where you are! A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, I thank You for Your love and compassion for me. Help me to live life in the same spirit. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.