Lord, you remind us to ask, seek, and knock, you remind us that if we seek you that we will find you, if we knock that doors will be opened for us, and if we ask of you and believe we shall receive. Many times we allow pride to get in the way, we allow our unruly minds to lead us astray, but today oh Lord, we realize that your promises are true and that you are faithful to the end, and that is why we come humbly before you this day as we know at times we are ignorant in our asking, but that you know our needs before we ask, and will grant them according to your will, so let us not become tired or weary as we wait for the things we ask, but continue to seek the things of God, to continue on in prayer and worship, and to draw from your strength which will sustain us. Help us O Lord, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen!

“For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desires, he blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord; the wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God, God is in none of his thoughts.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, I refuse to believe that you are among the wicked who renounce God, or the foolish who said God will not require an account of your doings, that God is in none of your thoughts. But know that if we renounce God, if we forget God, Satan will rule, if he is not first in our thoughts, we would do evil, thinking there is no consequence to our actions; but know that God will require an account of your stewardship, and if God dwells in your heart, if you learn to put God first, you will never be known among the wicked who renounce him, but among the faithful who accept him. Praise the Lord!

It is assuring to know that no matter how rebellious and ungrateful and unkind we are, whenever we are troubled, when all else fails us, that God is still merciful, and will hear and answer our prayers. Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and nights because of his disobedience to God; yet, when he called on the Lord, he was delivered. Many of us only remember God when we are troubled and all else fails. But, we need not learn the hard way like Jonah, we should be obedient to God, praying to him in good times and bad times, and acknowledge him in all our ways so that he will direct our paths. God already knows the way we should go, but he gives us the opportunity to choose, and when we are disobedient to his calling, he puts roadblocks in our way. Sometimes we yield, and sometimes we try to push through the roadblocks, but understand this, if we are obedient to God, he will make all our pathways smooth, every stumbling block he will roll away, therefore, remember the Lord your God always and call upon him, for he is a good and merciful God.

There is power in your name, there is healing in your name, and there is deliverance in your name, for all who call upon your name and believe. Oh how good it is to know I know the Lord! I will call upon your name in the morning, at noon and at evening time.  “I will praise you O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works, I will rejoice and be glad in you, I will sing praises to your name O Most High; for you O Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble, and those who know your name, will put their trust in you, for you O Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you, all those who call upon your name.” Praise the Lord!

If I have wounded some poor soul today, if I have caused one foot to go astray, if I have walked in my own willful way, if I have been unforgiving, unkind, and hurtful in any way, dear Lord, please forgive me. You promised that if I am walking in your way that you would keep me from falling, and I am trusting you with my whole heart, I am surrendering all to you this day, create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. All this I ask in your precious name. Amen!

How assuring it is to know that God’s mercies unto us are new and returning every day? Therefore, why are we unable to begin anew, to turn over a new leaf, to right wrongs, to restore broken relationships, and to forgive and forget past hurts and move ahead? Jesus Christ was wounded for our transgression, bruised for our iniquities, chastised for our peace and beaten so that we could be healed; But are we healed, do we have any peace? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot be begin anew and keep falling back into the same habits. We cannot be totally healed without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Master of our lives. Without us walking daily with him, we will have no peace. We must surrender all to Jesus, for when we are born again old things are passed away and we are become new, and God will prevent us from stumbling, he will direct our paths, his peace will dwell in us, and we would always be reminded, that he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, chastised for our peace, and by his stripes we are healed. Praise the Lord!

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, he has given me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”, all because I have accepted him as Lord and Master of my life, because I am not ashamed of him or his word, and I will continue to proclaim his good news of salvation from day to day. Whosoever will, may come, and as a result, you will no longer be termed forsaken, nor your land be termed desolate, for the Lord will be your delight and he will delight in you. Praise the Lord!

This year, I am sure you are looking for great things to happen, you may have experienced rough times in 2013, and at times longed for sweet peace, there were probably a lot that you were expecting and did not receive, you may have prayed, fervently prayed, but your answers have been delayed, but, you will never find peace, nor will your favor increase, or be perfectly blessed, until your all on the altar of sacrifice is laid.

I may lose all that I possess, but thanks be to God that I will never lose the blood that Jesus shed for me, this blood which delivers me, this blood which gives me strength from day to day, this blood that holds me up when I am too tired to walk, this blood that cleanses me from every stain of sin will never lose its power. There is wonder working power in the blood of Jesus. Thank you Lord!

Dear Lord, please lead us and guide us through the new year, open new doors for us to walk through, lift up the light of your countenance upon us, use us in exceptional ways, humble us so that we may walk  in your ways, sustain us and enable us by your grace. Lord, we can do nothing in our own strength, but we could do all things through you who strengthen us, and we are so thankful for your love. There is no one else, who could love us so much, no one else so full of compassion as you are, and that is why we could begin this new year with confidence, with a new start, and with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude, make us humble Lord!