All of us are called to be missioners for God, and may he strengthen our conviction to speak out against injustice wherever we may find it, and to stand up and defend God’s name at every turn in our lives.

If you have not yet learned the secret to doing battle with the enemy and to overcome, scripture instructs us in Ephesians chapter 6: 14-18, to, “Put on the Belt of Truth which controls our hearts and minds, to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness which is our confidence, to put on the Sandals of Peace which involves being prepared to spread the Good News of Christ, to put on the Shield of Faith, to quench the fiery darts of the wicked at every turn, to put on the Helmet of Salvation, which protects our minds from doubting the truth of God’s saving grace, which is ours for the taking at no cost to us, to put on the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, we must trust in the truth of God’s word, being confident in it, use it to break strongholds in our lives, use it as a weapon against the enemy, and above all Pray in the Spirit at all times, be vigilant and persistent in prayer. Praise the Lord!

If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us from all unrighteousness. Praise the Lord!

We all have desires, but some of these desires are not right in God’s eyes, some of these desires are the result of greed that have overcome us, they are the result of lust, envy, jealousy and covetousness. Let us ask of God to control the desires of our hearts, to give us the mind-set to depend on him, to grant us the desires of our hearts which are good for us, and remove those desires which are wrong for us, and let us trust God completely, knowing that he is the giver of all good things, and that he promised that he will not withhold anything good from those who love him and trust him and walk in his ways. Praise the Lord!

Whatever has you bound up, God can loosen. Wherever you have been, God can redirect you, whatever you have done, God will forgive you, just humble yourself and return to the Lord, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.

Let us show God how much we appreciate his greatest gift to us, His Son Jesus Christ by being Christ-like. Lord, we know that you have also offered to us the free gift of salvation, but because of greed, pride and arrogance, we have not yet accepted it. It’s not that we don’t need this, but we are afraid of letting go of the things we now have, doubting that you have better prepared for us, but help us to understand, that in you is fullness of joy and with you is life giving water, so lead us Lord in your righteousness. Amen!

Lord, we confess to you our ignorance in our thinking, for the many times we are uncharitable to those who are different from us, for the tolerance of injustice against someone because we are not close to them. Lord, if we have been unkind to strangers, if we have encouraged others to treat them unfairly, accept our repentance Lord. Instill in us the love which casts out all fear, doubt, prejudice and contempt, hatred, and injustice, that we may love one another even as you love us. Amen!

God’s will is not for us to suffer because of what we have done, but that we may turn away from wickedness and live,  that we will all come to acknowledge our sinfulness and repent. God sees and knows all what we have done, there is nothing hidden from him, so when we blot from our minds the evils that we have done, know that in order to accept the free gift of salvation, that we must confess them and lay them at the feet of Jesus.

If pride and arrogance have hindered you from prayer and worship, if other things in your lives have become first place, if you have not made time to give God thanks for what he has done for you, if you have testimonies of God’s goodness that you have not shared, if you have not been trusting God enough for anything, the time for change is here. God will never turn you away, you just have to return to God. Praise the Lord!

There are so many things in our lives that we devote too much time and energy to, when this time could be better spent in the service and worship of the Lord. If you find that there is any one pastime, person or thing that is demanding so much of you that you find little time for anything else, it has become an idol. Give it over to God to direct and control.