New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

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The One Thing Missing

Today's Scripture: “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” 2 Kings 4:16, NIV

Today's Word: in 2 Kings 4, there was a well-to-do lady who had a nice house and influential friends, but she was barren and her husband was old. Whenever the prophet Elisha traveled through their town, she graciously provided him with a room and food. One day God gave Elisha the desire to bless this woman with the one thing missing in her life, and within a year she was holding her baby boy. What she thought was too good to be true became a reality.

God knows how to put desires in people’s hearts to be good to you. You keep doing the right thing, honoring God, and He’ll line up the right people to help you. God is a supernatural God. He created the universe. He can make things happen that seem too good to be true. Take the limits off God. He has
Prayer for Today: “Father, thank You that You are the Almighty God who makes what seems too good to be true become a reality. Thank You that I can take the limits off You by believing that Your promises are coming to pass. I believe that when I am doing the right thing You will reward me with favor. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Expansion

Today's Scripture - So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 1 Samuel 30:4, NIV

Today's Word: First Samuel 30 records the greatest defeat David had ever suffered. He and his six hundred men returned from a mission only to find their city burned, their wives and children kidnapped by Amalekite bandits, and all their possessions stolen. Then David’s men started blaming him and talked about stoning him. It wasn’t fair that the wrong thing happened when David was doing the right thing. But God doesn’t promise that life will always be fair. It’s what we do in these unfair times that determines whether we get stuck and let it sour the rest of our lives or whether we move forward and see God expand us. What made David a champion is that he shook off the defeated mind-set and went forward to recover all that had been taken plus spoils from the bandits. He understood the principle that you have to get up when you’ve been knocked down and not use it as an excuse to stop. On the other side of the excuse is expansion, a new level of our destiny.

Prayer For Today: “Father, thank You that Your power to strengthen me in times of unfairness is greater than any force that comes against me. Thank You that I can put discouragement behind me and push forward in faith. I believe that expansion is coming—something greater, something better. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

The Appointed Time

Today's Scripture: “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” - Genesis 18:14, NIV

Today's Word: It had been twenty-five years since God promised Abraham “to become a great nation,” and now at ninety years old, Sarah laughed at the seeming impossibility of having a son. God said in effect to her, “You may be doubting, and you don’t see how, but I have already set the right time.” Even though the fulfillment took far longer than they thought, at the appointed time it happened just as God said. Whatever God has promised you, He’s already set the right time. It’s already in your future, but you have to understand that God’s timing is not our timing. On the way to your promise being fulfilled, there will be opportunities to get discouraged and give up on what you’re believing for. Don’t live with an “it’s never going to happen” mentality; live with a “right time mentality.” If you knew your right time was coming in one month, you wouldn’t waste time trying to figure it out or be worried. God doesn’t tell us when, but He promises that when the time is right, He’s going to make it happen.

Prayer For Today: “Father, thank You that I am not limited by my circumstances or seeming impossibilities. Thank You that what looks as though it’s too late to be fulfilled is not a problem for You. I believe that You have the right time, an appointed time, and that You will make it happen. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Switch the Channel

Today's Scripture: Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given. - 1 Chronicles 16:12, NLT

Today's Word: Emotional wounds are a powerful force in our lives and hold the potential to hinder our growth. If you’re always reliving your hurts and watching your bad breaks on the movie screen of your mind—talking about them and telling your friends—that’s just reopening the wound. You may be in pain today, but don’t sit around nursing your wounds. Don’t let bitterness and discouragement set the tone for your life. As long as you’re replaying the negative, you will never fully heal.

You have to change the channel. When you look back over your life, can you remember one time where you know it was the hand of God promoting and protecting you? Make the decision to switch over to that channel. Get your mind going in a new direction. Start remembering your victories, your successes, and the hard times you overcame. Today can be a turning point in your life. Drop any emotional baggage you’re dragging and step toward an abundant life. Trust God and step into the great future He has for you.

Prayer For Today: “Father, thank You that You have the power to heal the emotional wounds in my life. Thank You that I can stop reliving the negative things that play and replay in my mind. I declare that I am dropping the baggage and stepping forward into the abundant life You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Today's Scripture

And as long as Moses held up the rod in his hands, Israel was winning; but whenever he rested his arms at his sides, the soldiers of Amalek were winning.

Exodus 17:11, TLB

Hands Lifted Up

Exodus 17 tells the story of Joshua and the people of Israel who were in the midst of a great battle. Moses was on a hill overlooking the battlefield, holding up a staff of God in the air, interceding for them. What Joshua didn’t realize in the midst of the battle was that the only reason he was winning was because Moses was holding up his hands with the help of two others.

Without Moses doing his part, the Israelites would have been defeated. Your challenge is to live in such a way as to cause others to win. With every right decision you make, with every step of faith you take, you are holding up your hands. Every time you resist temptation, you are winning for your children. Every time you are kind and respectful, every time you help someone in need, every time you serve someone and give, every time you pray for someone and encourage them, you are planting seeds of blessing through your faith. Your life of excellence will be rewarded and will help them live a life of victory.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You bring people across my path so I can be a blessing to them and help them win. Thank You that I can speak a kind word, lift them up when they’re hurting, and encourage them to follow You. Help me to be aware of other people’s battles and intercede for them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Today's Scripture

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!”

Judges 6:12, NLT

What God Calls You

when the angel addressed Gideon as a “mighty hero” and told him he was to deliver his people from the Midianite army, he was hiding in a winepress, afraid and intimidated. God was saying, in effect, “Gideon, you don’t recognize who you are. You’re wearing negative labels—insecure, weak, not good enough—but I’ve come to tell you who you really are. You’re a valiant warrior. You have courage, talent, and ability that you haven’t discovered yet.” Gideon finally changed his thinking, got a new image of who he was, and defeated the Midianites. But if the angel had not told him who God created him to be, he would have lived and died and never discovered who he really was.

You may feel weak, insecure, not valuable, and unqualified, but don’t let your feelings determine your identity. Feelings come and go and can’t be trusted. You have to go back to what your Creator says. He calls you a mighty hero, a barrier breaker, a giant killer, a masterpiece, a prized possession. Don’t get stuck in who you used to be.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You know me and what I am capable of becoming. Thank You that You have equipped and empowered me to be strong where I feel weak and less-than. I believe that You are transforming me into a mighty warrior for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Today's Scripture

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:27, NIV

Who’s Walking with You?

on the Sunday after Jesus was crucified, two of His disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were so discouraged and sorrowful that Jesus was gone, that their hopes and dreams were shattered. They were so focused on what didn’t work out, this great disappointment, that they didn’t recognize the risen Jesus who suddenly joined them in their journey and conversation. In that incredible moment, He began to explain to them all that the Scripture had predicted about Him, how He would be crucified and rise from the dead on the third day. It wasn’t until later that day that they realized their seven-mile walk had been in the presence of the risen Savior.

How many times on our daily journey are we not recognizing what God is doing? We’re so caught up in dealing with problems, trying to fix our finances or our family or an illness, that we don’t see all the good things God is doing in the present moment. Don’t be so focused on what’s wrong that you don’t recognize that Jesus is walking with you through it all.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are walking with me and working in my life every day. Help me to not be so focused on today’s challenges that I miss the good things that You’re doing in this present moment. Open my eyes as You did with these two disciples so that I can see. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Today's Scripture

The men were afraid that the ship would hit the sandbanks of Syrtis, so they lowered the sail and let the wind carry the ship.

Acts 27:17, NCV

The Winds and the Waves

in Acts 27, God promised Paul that he would stand trial before Caesar in Rome, but the ship he was on was caught for fourteen days in a huge storm with hurricane-force winds. When all hope had been given up of being saved, the captain decided to stop fighting the storm, lowered the sails, and let the wind blow them. But when they shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul shared the good news with the islanders, and many were healed and became believers. What looked like a setback in God’s plan for Paul was actually a divine detour to move him to people in need.

While we stand against sickness, addictions, and abusive situations, there are some storms and troubles that are leading to where God wants you to go. You have to quit trying to make it work out your way. It’s a divine detour. If you fight it, you’re not going to win. What you can’t see is that trouble is transportation, moving you into your purpose, perhaps into a position to make a difference in someone else’s life.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that the winds and waves that I face today cannot stop Your plan for my life. Thank You that my purpose is firmly and securely anchored in You. I believe and declare that the storms and detours cannot defeat me and are pushing me into my destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

He Sees You

Today's Scripture: “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9, NLT

Today's Word
God sees things that we can’t see. So often we let our circumstances determine who we are, how people treat us determine our value, and how good we perform determine our worth. God looks beyond all that. He sees the giant killer in the shepherd boy David. He sees a mighty hero in Gideon who’s hiding from the Midianites. In the former pr******te Rahab, He sees a respectful, honored woman who is in the family line of Jesus. God knows your heart. You may have done things you’re not proud of, but God sees the redeemed you. You may be intimidated, thinking you’re not that talented. God sees the history maker in you. Maybe you’ve been hurt, abandoned, or betrayed. God sees the valuable you, the blessed you, the favored you. Nothing that’s happened to you has changed the true you. God looks beyond our mistakes, the hurts, the bad breaks, and He sees who He created you to be. He hasn’t lost the vision of who you are. He won’t stop working until He brings out the best you.

Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You see my heart and know who I am and all the potential that is in me. I struggle and make mistakes, and there is so much I need to improve on in my character, but my heart is committed to You. Show Yourself strong in my life today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Today's Scripture

If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like.

James 1:23–24, GW

The Right Mirror

James says that God’s Word is like a mirror. It reflects who you really are. What God says about you is the true image that you need to keep in front of you. You are not defined by people, by your past, by how you were raised, or by what didn’t work out. You are defined by your Creator. When you look in the mirror of God’s Word, you’ll see that you are valuable, talented, confident, favored, blessed, and worthy. You have to see it on the inside before it will happen on the outside. You have to start seeing yourself as whole, as free, as forgiven and clean, as redeemed and restored. Start seeing yourself as blessed, prosperous, crowned with favor, one of a kind. As you see yourself as God sees you, it begins to heal a damaged self-image, to repair the hurts and scars that have caused you to see yourself as lacking, inferior, unqualified. It may not happen overnight, but if you keep seeing yourself the right way, little by little you’re going to become what you’re seeing.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You have made me the way I am and that what You say about me is my true image. Thank You that Your Word defines me rather than what other people say about me or what has happened in my past. I declare that I am becoming more and more like who You say I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”