“The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23 NKJV
RELATIONSHIP:
Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.
Do you want to know truth? Be able to discern lies? Know how to figure it all out in these confusing times and have peace? The Bible says Jesus is the truth. I have experienced it and it has changed my life. I was once a hot mess of sin, promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and so much more. But I was lost and when I could not find my way, or find a truth, I numbed it with bad choses. When I found Jesus, and truth – I found peace and deliverance from those things.
If you want a relationship with God without truth you will get the counterfeit, hypocritical Christianity that has kept some of you away for too long. You need truth and relationship. You need to be honest with yourself and God (including honest repentance) and God will reveal truth to you. It becomes the two way, interaction that your relationship with God is built on. This is why Jesus is called the truth, because he is our only way to the Father.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen
BIBLE READING:
Dear Heavenly Father – Please give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who you are, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Open the eyes of our understanding, please, so we may know the hope of our calling and the vast sovereignty and power of the grace of the cross. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word and our sound mind. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! And we pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Today’s reading is the Book of Proverbs chapter 19 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).
The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life
19 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.4 Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they [a]abandon him.8 He who gets [b]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual [c]dripping.14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who [d]is careless of his ways will die.17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart [e]on his destruction.19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is [f]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.24 A lazy man buries his hand in the [g]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A [h]disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.
MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV
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I also wanted to remind and inform all of you, that instead of writing a book on fasting (since it is the topic I get asked the most about) I have created a Facebook group that is designed to be interactive and give you all the Bible verses on fasting, all the types of fast, and how to fast. In the group are specialist to help us along the way, like the creator of The Fasting Protocol (fasting for health and weight loss; which is part of fasting and important to know about – He can also speak to fasting in a healthy manner). The group is new and other experts are invited, I am hopeful they will join. So let’s join the group and see what we will learn about prayer and fasting. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862
Thank you for reading in 2023 – a Year of Grace and Provision
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace. Walk in wisdom.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!
If Not For Grace 