More Than Conquerors

Copyright © 2012 by Warriors for Christ International.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2012905105

ISBN: : Hardcover    978-1-4628-6657-1

ISBN: Softcover        978-1-4628-6656-4

ISBN: Ebook            978-1-4628-6658-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Warriors For Christ International

+27 (0) 11 864 8085

www.wfc.co.za

hisword@wfc.co.za

302016

Contents

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

WHO IS THE ENEMY?

HOW CAN I RECEIVE JESUS?

CONTACT WARRIORS FOR CHIRST

1 A Big God for a Big Year

2 Deep Roots

3 Visionary or Vision-Hairy

4 God’s Plan

5 An Earnest Desire

6 Run the Race to Win

7 Be Obedient to the Voice of the LORD

8 Be Obedient to the Voice of the LORD

9 Ye Are the Salt of the Earth

10 Ye Are the Light of the World

11 But Who Are You, Really?

12 The Pruning of the Branches

13 Abide in Me

14 Sin Against Who?

15 I Am Not a Second-Class Citizen

16 Do Not Neglect So Great a Salvation

17 I Love the Lord Because . . .

18 Faith and Works

19 Rejoice Always

20 Fight a Good Fight

21 The Fiery Tongue

22 Stand.

23 The Sword of the Lord

24 Glory to God

25 Living Faith

26 Let My People Go

27 Idolatry

28 Pride Goes Before Destruction

29 Who Shall Separate You?

30 NEVER GIVE UP

31 A Lesson on David and Goliath

32 Be Ye Holy

33 New Year, Old Promises

34 Zero Tolerance

35 Going Forward in Faith

36 The Power inside You

37 Let God Be True

38 I am That I AM

39 More Fasting, More Anointing

40 Serving the Lord Always

41 Carry Your Candle

42 Doers of the Word

43 The Mind of Christ

44 All in Good Time

45 These Hands

46 The Pattern

47 A Heart of Forgiveness

48 The Mind

49 A Coat of Many Colours

50 Conforming, Transforming, Renewing

51 Joseph, the Dreamer

52 Fighting a Good Fight

53 Faith Cometh by Hearing

54 God Is Not a Spark

55 Tithes

56 The Worms of Destruction

57 Fields of Opportunity

58 Jesus Loves You

59 Living with Customs

60 The Fear Factor

61 Jesus Is Alive

62 The Sky Is Not the Limit

63 Persevere

64 Diligence

65 Rivers in the Desert

66 Getting Out of the Desert

67 Be a Living Sacrifice

68 Jesus, I Will Run to You

69 A Lesson on Psalm 1

70 Back to Basics

71 Ye Mighty Man of Valour

72 Your Past, Tomorrow’s Prisoner

73 Are You a King?

74 And It Came To Pass

75 It’s All About Love

76 What Did God Put in Your Hand?

77 Raising the Dead

78 The Spirit of the Lord God Is Upon Me

79 Offences Will Come

80 Who Are Ye?

81 God is Your Protection

82 Watch and Pray

83 Moaning or Growing

84 Be of Good Cheer

85 What Would You Do?

86 Limiting God

87 A Life of Risk

88 The Father of All Lies

89 Faith Like a Mustard Seed

90 Don’t Lose Your Jesus

91 Perfecting Heaven?

92 The Walk of Faith

93 The Realities of Life

94 God’s Blessings

95 Jesus on the Cross

96 At the Altar

97 Hide His Word

98 The Comfort Zone

99 Looks Can Be Deceiving

100 Patience Produces Perfect Work

101 The Arrest

102 The Confrontation

103 He Was Wounded

104 Serpents and Scorpions

105 In The Beginning

106 Jesus Loves You

107 Purging Your Conscience

108 When Your World Collapses

109 In the Belly of the Fish

110 A God of Grace and Mercy

111 Confess With Your Mouth

112 Confess the Spoken Word

113 The Power of the Word

114 Who Is the Word?

115 The Bond of Perfectness

116 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

117 Different Folks, Different Strokes

118 After a Great Victory

119 Entering the Holy Place

120 What a Friend We Have In Jesus

121 Trust in God

122 Be Bold

123 Jehovah-Nissi, My Banner

124 The Slothful Man Shall Not Eat

125 Children Are An Heritage of the Lord

126 Forgiveness

127 Showing Compassion

128 The Teacup

129 Praying the Word

130 The Wicked Will Not Prosper Over You

131 His Love Is So High

132 Four Acts of Faith

133 The Word of Our Testimony

134 The Ways We Lead

135 At the Master’s Feet

136 Be Ye Not Unwise

137 Born Again

138 Fighting the Battle Alone

139 Working Power

140 Bearing Burdens

141 Avoiding the Lions

142 The Gory of the Lord Is Upon Thee

143 Stand in the Gap

144 Sitting With Sinners

145 Receiving Revelation

146 He That Overcometh

147 Peace Shall Be Your Portion

148 In the Real World

149 Finding Wisdom

150 Living Under the Wrong Power

151 A Perfect Life

152 The God of Our Salvation

153 A Light At Home

154 What You Need To Know About Yourself

155 Using the Keys

156 He Is Going To Do Great Things

157 Have a Passion for the Kingdom

158 Knoweth the Heart?

159 The Kingly Anointing

160 In the Valley

161 Doubting the Word

162 Choices

163 The Righteous Shall Flourish

164 Authority in the Name of Jesus

165 The Promise of the Father

166 Don’t Live in the Dark

167 Please Answer the Door

168 Death to Debt

169 Standing By

170 For All Eternity

171 God Never Changes

172 An Empty House

173 God’s Right Hand

174 Consider the Ant

175 Grudges

176 Touching the Hem of His Garment

177 The Word of the Lord

178 Debtors to the Spirit

179 The Power of Praise

180 A Heart of Worship

181 Promotion . . . God’s Way

182 Half-Time

183 What Doest Thou Here?

184 Nothing To Hide

185 Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?

186 Have a Desire For the Kingdom

187 Jesus Won the Ultimate Battle

188 The Hand That Held the Hammer

189 Birds of a Feather

190 Relationship

191 Walking on Water

192 Your Birthright

193 Pray Together

194 Be a Witness

195 Where Is the Hope?

196 Give More

197 A Warm Greeting

198 When We Don’t Need God

199 Loving God, Hating Brethren

200 Rejoice Always

201 Running With Footmen

202 Self Assessment

203 The Power of the Cross

204 Tar On My Car

205 Addressing Your Mountains

206 The Pain of Growth

207 Fighting the Right Battle

208 A Divine Appointment

209 A Friend of Sinners

210 A Lesson on the Sword of the Spirit

211 The Tax Collector

212 Your Way or His Way?

213 Your Contribution

214 Murmuring

215 When Words Are Just Words

216 I Had Fainted

217 What Is That In Your Hand?

218 Temperance

219 Fact . . . or Truth?

220 Cast Thy Burdens

221 Greater Is He That Is In You

222 Confessing Your Faults

223 He That Dwelleth In the Secret Place

224 Where Is Your God?

225 The Shepherds and the Wise Men

226 Seedtime and Harvest

227 Love and Fear

228 Redeem the Time

229 Trading In the Fig Leaves

230 Friend of Sinners

231 Spiritual Dehydration

232 An Empty Womb

233 Restore Unto Me the Joy of Thy Salvation

234 The Wisdom of God

235 Have BIG Dreams

236 Waiting For the Victory

237 Worth More Than a Sparrow

238 Might In Your Hands

239 The Candle of the Lord

240 The Light Shineth

241 Feeling Condemned

242 Who God Is . . . I Need

243 Dealing with Disputes

244 Prophesy To Your Dry Bones

245 The Wrestling Match

246 God’s Blessings

247 Nothing Is Insignificant

248 The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me

249 Enough is Enough

250 Being Impartial

251 Knowing the Abominations

252 My Trust Is In the Lord

253 Humble Yourself

254 The Power That Worketh In Us

255 Build My House

256 Showing Empathy

257 What Is Your Potential

258 To Lotto Or Not To Lotto

259 A Long Distance Call

260 I Have Loved You

261 Honour and Fear

262 Polluted Bread and Blind Sacrifices

263 Ministry or Employment?

264 The Law of Truth

265 Tears On the Altar

266 On Tithes and Offering

267 Victory For the Faithful

268 Give Thanks Unto the Lord

269 When You Don’t Know What To Pray

270 The Wilderness After the Red Sea

271 The Wilderness Is Where I Grow

272 Getting Out Of the Wilderness

273 You Are Beautiful

274 The Watchman

275 Open Doors

276 As For Me and My Household

277 A Child of Integrity

278 God’s Grace

279 Resist the Devil

280 Are You a Doer of the Word?

281 Speaking Life To a Child

282 He Succours Them That Are Tempted

283 Facing Discouragement

284 I Am So Happy To Be Me

285 A Song of Praise Unto the LORD

286 Casting Down Thoughts and Imaginations

287 Your Past Is History

288 Draw Close To God

289 When God Is Not Among You

290 Words of Life

291 Make a Difference

292 Whatever It Takes

293 My Trust Is In the Lord

294 Need a Testimony

295 I Squandered My Money

296 Stretching the Impossible

297 I’ll Be a Winner

298 Silence

299 You Are a Fruit-Bearer

300 They That Wait Upon the Lord

301 What Have Ye?

302 The God of Peace Be With Thee

303 Knocked Down or Knocked Out?

304 God Chose You

305 Spiritual Weapons, Carnal Victory

306 Shattering Strongholds

307 Breaking Generational Curses

308 Soul Ties

309 Giving It All to Jesus

310 Head on a Charger

311 Our Forgiving God

312 Wages and Gifts

313 Jesus Christ, My Ark

314 The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

315 Patience Produces Perfection

316 The Mediator Between God and Men

317 God of the Impossible

318 Newness of Life

319 A Soft Word

320 Our Spiritual Belonging

321 The Prince of Peace

322 Start At the Beginning

323 Live Your Dream

324 Rejection Is Not of God

325 This Is the Day

326 I Am a Friend of God

327 Trading Your Glory

328 Standing On Solid Ground

329 That Which Cannot Be Stolen

330 In This World

331 Walk In the Light

332 Who Is There Like Thee?

333 Celebrate Your Freedom

334 All Things Work Together For Good

335 Day of Adversity

336 JEHOVAH

337 Get Answers from God

338 Bit by Bit

339 Afraid To Go Forward

340 Love the LORD

341 Develop a Christ-Like Character

342 Losing Focus

343 It Is Finished

344 The World’s Expectations

345 The Royal Family

346 The God of All Flesh

347 Be Obedient to the LORD

348 Only Human

349 Love Yourself

350 Where Are You?

351 God Is Good All the Time

352 The Joy of the LORD

353 The Way, The Truth and the Life

354 Desperate for a Breakthrough?

355 It’s What The Lord Has Done For Me—Part 1

356 It’s What The Lord Has Done For Me—Part 2

357 It’s What The Lord Has Done For Me—Part 3

358 It’s What The Lord Has Done For Me—Part 4

359 It’s What The Lord Has Done For Me—Part 5

360 His Only Begotten Son

361 The Holy Spirit

362 An Open, Honest Relationship

363 The Moses of Today—Part 1

364 The Moses of Today—Part 2

365 The Moses of Today—Part 3

366 The Moses of Today—Part 4

INTRODUCTION

For this purpose was the Son of man manifested; that he might destroy the works of the enemy.

Dear beloved friend,

I greet you today in the precious name of JESUS. There is no man or woman who can say, I have lived a life without trials and tribulations. As you read this message you may find yourself in an area where you have your own mountain to climb.

More Than Conquerors was written for the person who wants a deeper life—a life of purpose, a life of prosperity and a life of meaning. It does not mean that you will not have mountains to climb; but you will realize that the climb can be a climb of joy and victory.

The graveyards are full of people who never got to live the life that God ordained for them. Our prayer is that as you read the daily devotionals in this book, you will come to know who God is and the marvellous life that you can have in Him. Our prayer is that your life will be transformed through Jesus Christ so that you too can declare, I will rejoice in tribulation also.

But more importantly, we want you to know that God has already secured your victory. You may not see it, you may not believe it—but God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to overcome all the works of the enemy—and Jesus did this triumphantly by dying on the cross of Calvary, rising again from the dead and ascending into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Today you can walk in this victory. All it takes is believing in the name and the completed work of Jesus Christ.

May your life be transformed as you read this book!

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

The messages contained in More Than Conquerors are based on Biblical references. In many occasions a verse is quoted from the Word of God with the relevant scriptural reference provided. In order to help you navigate through the Bible we have provided a simple example below:

The Bible is made up of 66 books, split between an Old Testament (comprising 39 books) and a New Testament (comprising 27 books). There are three portions to consider when navigating the Bible:

1. The name of the book;

2. The chapter within the book; and

3. The verse within the chapter.

In the picture above, the book of John is used. John is the fourth book in the New Testament (Matthew, then Mark and Luke, and then John).

Once in the book of John, you need to navigate to chapter 3 (there are a total of 21 chapters in the book of John). Thereafter go to verse 16 (There are 36 verses in John chapter 3).

When Scriptural references are quoted, they are always quoted in the order of book, chapter and then verse. In the above example, the reference will be denoted as John 3:16.

WHO IS THE ENEMY?

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . . spiritual wickedness in high places.

In order to be more than a conqueror, it is critical that one is able to identify who the enemy is. It would make no sense if, for example, South Africa attacked the United States if it was the United Kingdom that attacked South Africa first. You have to know who is attacking you so that you can fight the right enemy to get your victory.

The Bible tells us that we do not wrestle flesh and blood. In other words, it is not our friends or family or people that hate us that we need to fight with. On the contrary the Bible teaches us to love our enemies and to do good to them that hate us.

When reference is therefore made to enemy in More Than Conquerors we are talking about a spiritual warfare that needs to be fought. The Bible tells us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (not swords or guns or anything of that sort), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

Strongholds are spiritual. And therefore your war is of a spiritual nature. When we say, the enemy rises up against you we do not mean a physical person, but a spiritual enemy called Satan and his army.

Much has been done to make Satan look like a good guy—he is not. He is the father of all lies and he has come to steal, kill and destroy you.

Please do not think that Warriors For Christ fights with people. We teach what the Word of God teaches—love your enemies (as in actual flesh and blood) but fight against the spiritual enemy (Satan, the devil and his army) that is attacking your life.

HOW CAN I RECEIVE JESUS?

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

There is no doubt about it—God loves you and He has purposed a life for you. But the Word says that there is no other name by which man can be saved but by the name of Jesus Christ.

Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour is the most important decision you can make in your life. Jesus loves you, and He loved you enough to leave His home to come to this world. He was arrested illegally, brutally beaten, spat upon, whipped and had a crown of thorns pushed into His head. The Bible says that He could not be recognized by the time He went to the cross.

And He endured this suffering, went to the cross, and died for you. Died so that you could live a life of joy, peace and hope. If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour today, we exhort you to pray this prayer:

"Dear Lord Jesus,

I need You. I need Your grace to forgive me and I need Your love to change me. Thank you for your amazing love. Thank you for giving me life and eternity. But above all, thank you for dying on the cross for me.

I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. I believe that You are the Son of the living, Almighty God. Now I am a Christian, and I know that You live in me. I belong to you. I want to live my life for You and love You all the days of my life.

Amen."

If you have prayed this prayer, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us so that we can get in touch with you. Our contact details are on the next page.

CONTACT WARRIORS FOR CHIRST

Warriors For Christ began in 2004 in South Africa with a vision to lead men and women into the promises that God has for them. The ministry started as a daily devotional that went out 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday.

More Than Conquerors is a collection of these messages, in one book, compiled to help you walk into the promises of God.

We would love to hear from you and encourage you to contact us on the details below:

For general enquiries                 hisword@wfc.co.za

Prayer Requests                      prayer@wfc.co.za

Get Involved With Us             conquerors@wfc.co.za

To subscribe to the Daily Devotional    subscribe@wfc.co.za

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, we would love to help you grow and to get settled into a local church. Please e-mail us at mynewfamily@wfc.co.za and we will contact you.

1 January

A Big God for a Big Year

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

—Matthew 19:26

I want you to take a bold step of faith and confess, I am going to celebrate this year. This year is going to be a year of breakthrough in my life. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Every word that rises up against me shall be brought to judgment, in the name of JESUS. I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me the strength.

Now … I want you to take an even bolder step of faith and actually believe what you just read above. I want you to remind yourself daily that you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. I want to tell you that the defeats and the failures that you suffered last year will be turned around to blessings and victory, by fire, in the name of JESUS.

I want you to know, for certain, that the mountains and the wilderness that you have been battling with will melt before you in the name of JESUS. I want you to develop a fighting spirit that believes that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above all you could hope, dream, think, imagine, ponder on, or sleep on. I want you to take a stand and confess, I serve a BIG GOD who wants to do BIG things in my life this year, in the precious name of JESUS.

The situation that you feel is hopeless shall be turned to victory. The sickness you have given up to will bow to the name of JESUS. The financial breakthroughs that you have been waiting for shall be your portion this year. The enemy that has risen against you in one direction shall scatter in seven directions.

The devourers and the wasters that wreaked havoc in your life last year must scatter in the name of JESUS this year. The Bible says that the name of JESUS is above all names and that by that name, the name of JESUS, demons tremble and flee. This year is going to be the year of breakthrough and reaping in your life.

2 January

Deep Roots

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together.

—Isaiah 41:19

This year expect God to open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out His abundant blessings into your life. As you set your vision for this year, notice from Isaiah the trees used in the context:

The cedar tree is one of the most aromatic and resistant types of wood known. The cedar tree is a durable, strong tree that was used in the construction of the temple that Solomon built. Psalm 92:12 says that the righteous shall grow like the cedar tree. You will grow stronger and stronger in Christ; you will go from strength to strength, having your spiritual strength renewed by Him and in Him.

The shittah tree is a form of acacia tree, and is indigenous to the desert. It is very thorny, but has a very enduring wood. It is next to impossible to get rid of an acacia tree. The more you try to get rid of it, the faster it grows. Because it can thrive under severe conditions it is God’s reminder to you that this year you will be immovable and steadfast. The season to go through the desert will come, but God assures you that you will stand, even during your dry season.

Myrtle trees are lowly, humble trees that are beautiful to look upon. They have a sweet smell, are evergreen, flourish in watery places and bring forth much fruit. Psalm 92 says, those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing.

The oil tree, from which oil was extracted—The oil was used for anointing, for burning lamps, for healing and for anointing the dead. It was one of the most valuable products to the Hebrews. The use of oil was a sign of gladness. Expect this year to be a year of rejoicing, a year when His glory shall be made manifest in your life.

3 January

Visionary or Vision-Hairy

Where there is no vision, the people perish.

—Proverbs 29:18

Ever heard the phrase, He’s had the wool thrown over his eyes? Well, sadly, that’s a lot of Christians today. Satan has thrown the wool over the eyes of God’s children and has made them content with just living life a day at a time, waiting to perish. Surely God did not create you to just sit around and wait, like the ten virgins at the gate of the wedding feast?

There is a vision that God has for each one of us. There is a purpose and a well-developed plan that God, in all His wisdom and knowledge, has intricately crafted together just for you. Have you caught onto the vision or has Satan thrown the wool over your eyes too?

Jonah had the wool thrown over his eyes. Instead of going to Nineveh, as God instructed him to, he jumped onto a boat and headed for Tarshish. That’s what a lot of Christians are doing currently. God wants you to head in one direction and you’re on a one-way ticket to nowhere, heading in a completely different direction to where God wants to take you.

Why must you have a vision for your life? Because without a vision you will perish. But there is more to this story than just your death. When you are not living the vision God has planned for you, other people are perishing too. Other people are being defeated by Satan. Other people are losing their eternal lives to a lake of fire.

Even Satan knows the plans God has for your life. And he will do what he can to distract you from getting into that vision. Why? Because God does not think small. When God planned your life He planned something magnificent. And Satan does not want you to know this magnificent plan. The longer he can keep you out of it, the more people he can get to join him in eternal damnation.

Call upon God; allow God to reveal your future to you. He is the God of light—He wants you living in His light and revelation.

4 January

God’s Plan

For I know the plans I have toward you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.

—Jeremiah 29:11

Are you living a meaningless and purpose-less life? You live day in, day out, the same routine with the same familiar people. Ecclesiastes opens, For what has man for all his labour, and for the striving of his heart, with which he has toiled under the sun?

Do you know God’s plans for your life? Once you know God’s plan for your life, you will discover that life takes on a whole new meaning. You will begin to understand what JESUS meant by, Ye are the branches. This year, earnestly desire to follow God, His will and His plans for your life.

Before we can, however, get into knowing God’s plan, you need to know God’s Son, and you need to have a personal relationship with JESUS. If you knew JESUS a long time ago or only heard about Him now, today is your opportunity to start a new life with Him, by saying the prayer below, believing that what you confess is true:

"Dear Lord Jesus,

I need You. I need Your grace to forgive me and I need Your love to change me. Thank you for your amazing love. Thank you for giving me life and eternity. But above all, thank you for dying on the cross for me.

I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. I believe that You are the Son of the living, Almighty God. Now I am a Christian, and I know that You live in me. I belong to you. I want to live my life for You and love You all the days of my life.

Amen."

If you have prayed this prayer, I welcome you to your new family.

5 January

An Earnest Desire

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth … and He will tell you things to come.

—John 16:13

The key to knowing God’s will is to abide in Christ through the Holy Spirit. As you abide in Him and continue to walk with Him, He will guide you in making the most important decisions in life.

Proverbs 3 tells us to trust God with all our hearts and to acknowledge Him in all that we do. If we do that He promises, once again, to direct our paths. If you are willing to trust and obey God in all that you do, God will reveal Himself to you and direct your steps as a way of life.

Furthermore, Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." God doesn’t say that you must climb mountains or fast for the rest of your life or swim the widest river before He will answer you; God promised Jeremiah, and He promises you, that if you would just call to Him, not only will He answer you, but He will reveal to you great and mighty things that you, in your carnal mind, could not have known otherwise.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus commands us to seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Putting God’s Kingdom first is the first step on the pathway of God’s miracles and discovering God’s will and plan for your life. To do so, turn to the Word of God, which is the atmosphere in which you may understand His will, recognize His way, and hear the voice of the Spirit (Psalm 119:18).

If you earnestly desire to know God’s plan for your life, take Paul’s advice given to the Philippians in chapter 2, "Therefore, as ye have always obeyed, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you may shine as lights in the world."

6 January

Run the Race to Win

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

—Hebrews 12:1

Iused to be actively involved in any sport that came my way; one of the most exciting events was Athletics Day. Being completely undisciplined but totally motivated to run in any race, I would try out for the marathons, the sprints, the relays, the long jumps and the high jumps. And I failed dismally at almost all of them. When I look back, I ask myself, "Why did I run in every race I was offered?" It was simple—I enjoyed running. It was never about winning but more about just having fun.

Paul takes the task of running a race a little more serious than I did. Running a race for him was having a dream and a purpose accomplished at the finish line. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul remarks, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain.

Many Christians today live life for the day. As long as there are clothes in the cabinet, food on the table and a God to supply their needs, they consider their lives a successful Christian life.

Paul, on the other hand, exclaims, Looking unto Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. Jesus knew why He was coming to earth. He knew His purpose—to die for the sins of the people, to claim back the authority given to man, to set the captives free—and Jesus ran that race, enduring the cross and despising the shame. Jesus knew the reward—fellowship could be restored between man and God—and that was the joy that was set before Him.

Consider your life—what is your reward when you reach that finish line? Will you, like Paul, receive the Crown of Righteousness? Will you run the race with patience and joy and with all determination to endure to the end? Will you be able to tell others, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course; I have kept the faith?

7 January

Be Obedient to the Voice of the LORD

And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great.

—Genesis 12:2

H old on just a minute there, God. Have you looked at me? Are you sure you have the right person? inquired 75-year old Abram.

Well, perhaps the above words are not found in the Bible, but that must have been what Abram was thinking. How could I, an old man, married to a sixty-year old woman, possibly be a father of a child? After all, Sarai is barren and cannot bear me any children.

Jesus tells us that with man, some things are impossible; but with God, all things are possible. God, from the time of creation, has always taken circumstances that appeared dark and made light shine forth. He has taken the impossible, and made it possible.

Abram had to take a huge leap of faith when God told him the plans that He had for him. And God always holds true to His Word; He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Abram was called a friend of God because he believed God and obeyed everything God told him to do. He looked past the circumstances and focused on God’s direction for his life. And truly, today, he has become the father of many nations.

Moses was supposed to die at the age of two. But God had a plan for his life. He was going to lead God’s chosen people to the Promised Land. Through his obedience to God’s word, Moses delivered the Israelites from the land of Egypt.

David was only a child when Jesse was asked to bring him before the prophet Samuel. When David’s family saw him only as a shepherd boy, God saw him as a king. And David went on to kill lions and bears, conquer giants and armies, and become one of the greatest kings through simple obedience to God’s word.

8 January

Be Obedient to the Voice of the LORD

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

—Genesis 16:2

Abram was promised to be Abraham, the Father of Many Nations. But after waiting many years and not seeing anything materialize, Sarai decided, Okay, so maybe I am barren. But my maid, Hagar, she can bear Abram’s children for me. And so Abram agreed to Sarai’s request.

When man starts playing God, there are consequences. We go back to the Garden of Eden. Why did Eve eat the fruit? Because she wanted to obtain wisdom and, as the serpent said, be as gods. And there were tragic consequences for their disobedience.

Abram had to bear the consequences for his actions as well. For listening to Sarai, and neglecting to be obedient to God, Ishmael was born. This resulted in calamity between Hagar and Sarai. Later, there was friction between Ishmael and Isaac. And today we are still witnessing the consequences of Abram’s disobedience to God in the wars between the Israelites and the Palestinians.

In the book of Judges we read the story of Samson. In Judges 13:5, we see that God had a purpose for Samson before he was even born. But the instruction was clear—drink no wine and do not cut his hair. We go on to read of how Samson ripped a lion apart like a baby goat, killed thirty Philistines out of anger, and then killed a thousand men with a donkey’s jawbone. And then he met Delilah, who managed to convince him to tell her his little secret. And eventually, his hair was cut, and his eyes ripped out because of that act of disobedience.

I cannot stress how important it is that you listen to the voice of the Lord. If you believe in JESUS, you serve a God that is alive, that has a mouth that speaks to His children. Be obedient to that voice of God, and you will walk into a life of abundance.

9 January

Ye Are the Salt of the Earth

Ye are the salt of the earth

—Matthew 5:13a

Have you ever wondered why God calls you the salt of the earth? Here are a few reasons and facts about salt:

1. Salt is used for seasoning

Salt is used as a seasoning to enhance the taste of food or to make bland food taste good. And, just as salt alters everything it comes into contact with, so must God’s life in and through you make a difference in every life you touch.

2. Salt is used as a preservative

For centuries salt has been used to preserve foods such as meat, fish and dairy products. Without salt these foods become impure and inedible. Likewise, you should be pure and perfect before the Lord and before this world. You are required to be in this world, but not to conform to the world’s way of doing things; but rather be a royal priesthood and a peculiar nation.

3. Salt was used in sacrifices

In Leviticus 2:13 we read that every meat sacrifice made to God had to be seasoned with salt. Why? Because salt is incorruptible. It cannot change its nature. 1 Peter 1:23 says that you are born again into an incorruptible seed by the Word of God which lives and abides forever. You are required to present your body to God a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him—your body should not be corrupted by the world but rather remain incorruptible for the great day when we shall see our Saviour and Creator.

Just as food is used to keep food pure and seasoned so too must you keep the earth pure and seasoned. Salt renders food pleasant and palatable, and preserves from decay. As a child of God, live your life in line with the Word of God and keep the earth from entire moral corruption.

10 January

Ye Are the Light of the World

Ye are the light of the world

—Matthew 5:14a

A young student once exclaimed that the opposite of light is not darkness; but rather, darkness is the absence of light. In Genesis 1 we read, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep . . .And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

God is light. He is a luminescent and "in Him there is no darkness at all." When God created the earth it was without form (or shape) and darkness ruled; there was a lack of complete order. But, from the opening verse of the Bible, we realize that God’s experience with creation itself reflected God’s normal process of bringing order out of chaos.

Before the fall of man, there was order. The entrance of sin into our lives created chaos and God was left to bring light back into the world. He sent His Son to die on a cross so that light could be restored to a world drowning in darkness.

Then Jesus sent forth His Holy Spirit and through the Holy Spirit we are now required to reflect the Light to the world. Jesus does not call us light bulbs to shine in the physical realm, but we are instead sons of a Light that can never be extinguished; and we need to shine forth into a world filled with spiritual darkness.

Where exactly is the light needed? We need to be a light in a dark world, exposing Satan’s plans and reveal that which lurks in the darkness. We need to set the captives free and we need to break down