Daily Devotions

Living the love life

Clyde — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:50:27 +0000

May 20

Do you want your words to have the Power of God backing them up? Do you really want your words to blow the devil right out of the water and destroy his attacks. How about being able to speak The Word and people being healed instantly? Sound like a way you would like God to operate in your life?

You can have that power. There is power in your words, according to The Word. The problem is most of us do not know how to use that power. Most of us use the same mouth to speak blessings to others and to speak…….. not so much blessings to different people. You know the ones, like the guy who cut you off in traffic. Was that a blessing that popped out of your mouth? I didn’t think so. That is where the problem arises.

Do you recall The Word says God’s giftings and callings are without repentance? That means if He gives you the kind of devil destroying power in your words you want He can’t take it back. Can you image what that kind of power would have done to that guy that cut you off when you spoke those not so loving words?

We first have to prove to God that He can trust us with that kind of power behind our words. The only way we can do that is by learning to live a life of LOVE. That love of God will keep us from doing damage to others with high powered words. If you want God to put His power behind your words learn to walk in love no matter what happens.

Starting today I declare I will begin to walk in the love of God toward everyone. I will walk in love no matter what happens or how I am treated. Father, when I do not have the strength to do this on my own please be strong through my weakness. In JESUS Name.

Your decision making process

Clyde — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:49:25 +0000

May 19

Do you consider yourself a good parent, a good spouse, a good business person? Someone who makes well informed decisions? Someone who takes care to have all the facts before making a decision and still some times you make a bad decision?

King David was a mighty warrior and skilled soldier. He had experience and information that enabled him to make battle plans that would surely have allowed him to achieve victory over any enemy. Even though he had all that He knew He could not be guaranteed victory unless he followed God’s battle plan. David never enter into battle without going to God for instructions and he never lost a battle.

Have you been guilty of making your own decisions based on “the facts” or do you take every decision to God for His instruction before making the decision? Make a decision starting today to never make a decision without taking it before God for His input first.

3 Questions

Clyde — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:48:15 +0000

May 18

Let me ask you 3 questions I ask my new students right up front and my clients from time to time. Are you ready?

What do you want?
How bad do you want it?
What are you willing to do to get it?

Zacchaeus, do you remember him? If you recall he climbed a tree just to see Jesus. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus He invited Himself to dinner at the Tax Collector’s house.

Because of a visit from Jesus, Zacchaeus’s life was forever changed. Read about it in Luke Chapter 19. Zacchaeus made some decisions that day that changed his life and most likely the way many people felt about him. Read it, it is pretty neat.

Today’s thought is about Zacchaeus. He was willing to climb a tree just to see Jesus. Are you willing to go out on a limb to see Jesus or is that a little much to ask? He was not afraid to have Jesus in his home to have dinner. How much house cleaning would you have to do if you knew Jesus was coming to dinner, in the flesh? He was not afraid to listen to what Jesus had to say and change his life to line up with The Word. Have you been willing to do whatever God has spoken to you to do?

Make a decision today to be a Zacchaeus. Go out on a limb, bring Jesus home and let His presence change your life. In JESUS Name.

Preparation

Clyde — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:47:06 +0000

May 17

Are you having a tough time getting through your problems? Does it seem you can’t find the right answer in The Word to get you through?

There is one and only one solution for that problem. Spend more time in The Word.

We can not wait until the problem hits us right between the eyes to start looking for the answer in The Word.

I sing at our church and other churches from time to time. What do you think would happen if I waited until 10 o’clock Sunday morning to practice my song. Most of you also know I preach The Word. What do you think would happen if I waited until I was standing in the Pulpit before I decided to find out what God wanted me to preach?

The same thing is true in our walk with The Lord and our fight with the devil. The Word says the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but they are mighty for pulling down strongholds. That means we can’t fight the devil with our own carnal weapons. He will whip us every time. The only way we can defeat him is with The Word. The only way to have ammunition when we need it is to stash some away on a regular basis. If we do not spend time in The Word and in fellowship with God on a regular basis we will not have what we need when the hard times, temptations and tests of faith come.

Starting today I will spend more time with my Father. He loves me and enjoys my company. He is my Father and I am His child. In JESUS Name.

But God, I am not qualified to do that

Clyde — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:45:44 +0000

May16

Do you think you are ready to serve God or do you think He has lost His mind by asking you to do something?

I can tell you from experience God has not and never will lose His mind. He will however, do some things that may seem they will cause us to lose ours.

It is almost a sure thing if you think God has called you to do something and you feel confident you can do it, it is not God calling. It is also almost a sure thing if you hear God telling you to do something you know you can’t do, it is most likely God.

Let me give you 2 quick examples from The Word:

“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15).

But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Ex 3:11).

Neither Gideon nor Moses felt like they were the right man for the job. They were not important enough or from the right family. That really does not matter to God. He does not call people to do things they can do on their own because He would not get the Glory.

Take me for instance. I can not carry a tune in a bucket but when God tells me to sing, He anoints me and people are ministered to. On the other hand I can talk to people all day long in my natural ability and talent but, nothing would get accomplished without the power of The Holy Spirit. I can preach, on my own but, I can’t preach with power that will get people saved, healed, delivered and set free. Only God can do that.

The next time you think God has called you to do something ask yourself this question. Am I qualified to do this? If the answer is no then simply say “Here I am God use me.” God is not nearly as concerned about your ability as He is concerned about your availability. Listen and be willing to do those things you can not do. In JESUS Name.

Disciplining the flesh

Clyde — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:44:10 +0000

May 15

I don’t know about you but disciplining my flesh seems to be an ongoing battle. It seems each time I think I have the victory in one area something new pops up to battle. Am I the only one with that problem? I didn’t think so.

I can tell you this. The Word of God says Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We need to turn to Him for that victory. Living in the time we are living in we can not afford to lose those battles. If we continue with sin in our lives the power of God will not be manifested in our lives. I don’t want everyone around me to be leading people to Christ, casting out demons and healing the sick while I stand around watching because I can’t win the battle with some petty sin.

I can hear you saying it now. Petty? If you knew how big this problem is you would not call it petty. Well, it is petty when compared to what God wants us to do. I’ve said this before but it warrants being said again. The only way you win these battles is by spending quality time with God on a regular basis. Spend time praying, spend time reading His Word and spend time fellowshipping with Him, not asking for stuff, just fellowshipping, every day. That way you will be full of The Word to come against the attacks of your flesh and the devil. Remember, Jesus would not even fight the devil in His own power. He defeated him with The Word.

Do you want to beat up on the devil and make him run when he sees you coming? Get The Word inside you and use it. In JESUS Name.

The Storms of life

Clyde — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:43:06 +0000

May 14

Some time back my Pastor preached on the storms of life and 3 things Jesus would do for you when these storms come along. I may share that with you another time. Yesterday I spoke to you about total dependence on God and today He has been speaking to me about being in the desert.

How many of you are aware that being in a storm or in a desert is a position where you could easily have to depend entirely on God? Even what I spoke to you about day before yesterday involves depending entirely on God. Do you recall that message about Eric Liddell? He depended completely on God to get him into the Olympics because he would not compromise and run a race on Sunday.

I do not believe it is a coincidence, I do not believe in coincidences, I have been sharing with you about depending entirely on God for several days. I also do not believe this is just for one or two of us. I believe God wants all of His children to be ready to depend entirely upon Him so we can be part of what He is going to do.

Also, if you live in the U.S.A. you may well be in a financial desert very soon, unless God intervenes. Learning to depend on God while you have a little cushion will be a lot easier than having to do it when you have nothing.

If you are in a desert place right now you need to do two things. Number one you need to find out if you sent yourself there or if God sent you there. If it was God find out what you need to learn and learn it. Number two, when the devil comes after you, and he will, run him off with The Word. You will get weak in the desert but you can also use the desert time to get strong in The Word.

Learn, through your desert experience, to depend entirely on God and ask Him what you need to learn. In JESUS Name.

Depending on God

Clyde — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:42:00 +0000

May 13

Many of you know Donna and I are going through some tough financial times right now. You also know the reason for this is because I fell and shattered my heel bone on 1 June of 2009. The doctor told us I would never be able to return to driving our semi and hauling cars. That really put a crimp in what I could do from here on out in my life. I am 59 years old and with the economy the way it is it will be very difficult for me to find a job.

Some time back I found myself doing some reading and wondering why all this was happening. In something I was reading I was reminded The Lord may well be preparing us for something new. Something where we will have to be totally dependent on Him. Fortunately this is not the first time this has happened so we have experience and a track record. When we were in Italy as missionaries for 3 1/2 years we had no support but, God supplied our every need. I also received a word from a sister at church who said the problems I am going through were to prepare me for something big God had for us to do. She also said it may not be what I have been asking for or expecting but it would be from God.

Are you fighting battles in your life that seem like you can not survive? Perhaps God is taking you to a place where your only choice is to depend on Him. Let me tell you when we were in Italy, depending entirely on God, is when our ministry was experiencing the most powerful moves of God ever. With that in mind I am getting ready for something big to happen and I suggest you do the same.

If you can’t see a way out of your situation just quit trying to do it yourself and tell God you are depending on Him to take care of it. Once you do that hold on and see what He does in your life. Depending entirely on God for everything in your life gives you a freedom, in Christ, you can never experience any other way.

Keeping your comittimet

Clyde — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:40:28 +0000

May 12

Eric Liddell was an Olympic runner from Britain who won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was a man who had a deep commitment to the Lord and had future plans of being a missionary.

Liddell spent years training for the Olympics. He qualified for the Olympics in Paris and was ready to run. Suddenly the enemy raised his head against Liddell. One of his running events was held on Sunday. Liddell refused to run on Sunday, believing it dishonored the Lord’s Sabbath. He held to his convictions and brought great persecution on himself. He made a decision that even if it meant losing his opportunity to compete, he would not run. Just when the circumstances seemed hopeless, another situation arose that allowed Liddell to run on a different day.

Have you been wondering why things aren’t going well in your projects, your job or even your family? Could it be because you have been compromising your beliefs? Take your lead from Eric Liddell and stand your ground no matter what it may cost you. The Word says if we try and save our lives we will lose them but if we are willing to give them up we will save them. Give up your dreams and life to stand for Jesus today. Odds are in your favor it will not cost you anything if you take the stand but it could cost you everything if you compromise.

Remind yourself what your convictions are, then take a stand for Jesus. You may or may not face ridicule and persecution but God will vindicate you. In Jesus Name.

From the pit to the palace

Clyde — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:36:16 +0000

May 11

After the pit, after Potiphar’s house, after prison, there was the palace. Hallelujah and Praise God for the palace. In the palace a lot of good things happened. So many good things even if you were Joseph you would be able to say it was worth it.

We usually look at the blessings that touched so many others when we look at Joseph’s life but today let us look at Joseph for a moment.

While Joseph was in the palace he had two sons. He named his first son, Manasseh for, he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household” (Gen. 41:51b). His second son was named Ephraim because, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Whenever God takes us through the land of affliction, He will do two things through that affliction: 1) He will bring such healing that we will be able to forget the pain, and 2) He will make us fruitful from the painful experiences.

When we end up in affliction, either by our own doing or by God’s leading, (Yes, God does lead us into affliction) He will bring us out on the other side in victory and blessing, if we will simply learn the lesson the affliction was designed to teach us.

If our virtue will not stand the test God can not bless us. We must be able to stand our ground during the test before we are allowed to have the Power of God operating in our lives. If we will allow God to work in us in the problem, instead of crying for God to get us out of it, He will teach us and empower us.
No matter what you are walking through, no mater what valley you are in, run to God not from Him. Get as close to God as you can. Shut out everything else to hear and learn from Him. If you will do this you will not only win the victory you will be a blessing to many others. God will heal your memories and bring fruit from this very time.