Rev. Fatima Deku
Sharing God's message in it's simple form
A couple of days ago whilst driving to pick up my little man,, a sister-friend called and as we were empowering one another, she brought up this song "through all the changes scenes of life..."
The song even though sang so many times, brought out different meanings and I have been meditating on it since.
Through meditation, I am reminded of the great Shepherd in Psalm 23, and the verse 3 says "He restoreth my soul"
The great Shepherd who can guard us and guide us through all the changing scenes of life.
This psalm teaches us that, no matter what the time is, no matter the circumstances, the changes that trials brings to life, there is One who can meet every need and fill every emptiness. The changes scenes of life cannot Stop Him, no time or season can elude Him. He is a friend who sticks closer than any. His love is not just talk, but is demonstrated through the life we live each day.
I encourage you tonight to read Psalm 23 like you have never read before, and raise your head up high knowing if God is with you, nothing can ever win against you!
Hallelujah!
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Hebrews 11:1-40
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...
By faith!
Keep your faith no matter your encounters!
Strive, no matter your pain!
Believe, no matter your challenges! Pray, without ceasing!
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In Acts 3... When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
Here the lame man does not ask for salvation, not even healing; he is simply asking for money. Peter and John do not take the opportunity to evangelise to him (although the end result has the man dancing in praise to God).
Hallelujah!
Let's continue to pray for those who do not "know or believe" as we have believed in the Salvation of Jesus Christ. And I promise you that, by the time this is over, many who do not believe, will come to believe!
This is the time to show what we are made of..
Colossians 3:1 tells us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.” In verse 5 we’re told to put to death the passions that come from below—"fornication, uncleanness, passion, and evil desire.” Then the Lord added the sin of greed or covetousness to the list, calling it idolatry.
This has nothing to do with how much money you do or don’t have—a poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. It has everything to do with what’s at the center of our affections. Is it Christ? Is it things above? Or is it things below?
Let's make sure our love for Christ eclipses everything else.
"How You Can Activate God's Presence In Your Life!"
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the apostle Paul says there are three things we can do simultaneously since they support one another—rejoice, pray, and give thanks. The prayerful practice of joy and thanksgiving leaves no room for stress or worry.
Tonight, do what am doing, at the first sign of stress, pray and give thanks to God for the joy that comes from trusting Him in all things. Not for all things, but in all things.
When a widow in Zarephath shared her last morsels with the prophet Elijah, he gave her a promise from the Lord. There would always be flour in her bin and oil in her jar until the rain came—an endless provision of resources during the drought.
The Bible often compares bread to the Word of God and oil to the Holy Spirit. These are our resources of daily life, and they will never be depleted. You can have all of the Spirit’s power you need and all the Word of God you can devour.
These resources bring contentment and peace in life. The jar will never run dry, and the bin will never be used up. Friends may fail us; money may run low; health may give way; circumstances may change. But we have a perpetual supply of grace—as infinite as God’s own character—as we walk in the Spirit and feed on the Word. God’s resources are as never-ending as the life He gives us through Christ our Lord.
Hallelujah!!
The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry.
(1 Kings 17:14)
The wisdom of God is a gift from Him.
The book of (James 1:5) says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
This Bible verse is contained in a larger passage and it is important to always read it in its context. That is any scripture must be read in context.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do" (James 1:2-8).
What does wisdom have to do with enduring trials? Perhaps this is James' exhortation that it takes wisdom to trust God. Even when we don't know why a trial is taking place, we can learn to trust God through it. The key word here is "learn to trust God".
A great biblical example is Job. He was not given wisdom to change his circumstances. Instead, God gave him the wisdom to trust in Him. Hallelujah!! Let's also remember that Mr. Job did not do anything wrong or be accursed by anyone. 😊
Another thing the Bible speaks of is "fear" (Proverbs 1:7) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The "fear" this scripture is talking about is reverence. To acknowledge God in every situation, like what will God say or have me do?
The "fear of the Lord" have to cause you to be humble, revere and surrender to His ultimate authority. Hallelujah!
If you are reading this with me, worry not, fret not about whatever is going on around you. As hard as it may be, do as am doing, seek the wisdom of God. Seek him through prayer, through praise and through worship. Read scriptures, read about Job, read about Abraham, read about David, just read and read. The word of God is full of wisdom and direction, it has a way of soothing our soul. May the Lord bless and meet you at the point of your needs.
Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12
We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means.
If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)?
I don't know about you, but I know prayer is needed no matter the situation. Prayer brings inner peace. Prayer, bring solace. Prayer energizes and empowers. Prayer shields and protect. Prayer delivers and vindicates. Prayer brings God's presence closer.
Beloved, let us continue in prayer, and hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Hallelujah!
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Our minds are like that gallon jug; they have to be filled with something. The more we fill our mind with godly thoughts, the less room there will be for ungodly thoughts. As the prophet Isaiah wrote, when our minds are focused on God we will be at peace (Isaiah 26:3). There will be no room for its opposite—worry and anxiety. The apostle Paul went further with a list of things to meditate on: things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8-9). That’s an expansive list—lots of things to choose from; lots of ways to remain free of worry.
Empty your mind of negative, ungodly thinking and let the good and godly thoughts rush in. There is no better source for good thoughts than the Word of God.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
(Isaiah 26:3)
"When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs."
~Thomas à Kempis
Hello there, yes you! Don't look back, am talking to you! Yes you, stay focused, for the Lord your God is mighty and His love is everlasting! Yes stay focused, for He who has been faithful throughout the beggining shall surely bring every good thing He has started to a victorious end... So stay focused and continue giving Him all the glory!!!!
It’s tough to pray through a messy, hard, complicated situation and not see answers. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you are there now.
May I speak hope into your heart with 3 ways to press through unanswered prayers?
1. Know with confidence God hears your prayers.
1 John 5:14 reminds us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (NIV).
2. Trust that prayer makes a difference, even when you don’t see the difference.
It may take a while for you to see God answer your prayers. But don’t miss an “in the meantime answer” you can receive right away. Philippians 4: 6-7 reminds us of the immediate answer to every prayer: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
Did you catch it? It’s the peace of God that will guard your heart and mind in the process while you’re waiting for God to reveal His answer to your request. When you pray, you can trust you are doing your part and God will certainly do His part.
3. Tell fear it has no place in this conversation.
These prayers are your gateway to feel an assurance you don’t see yet. But fear will beg you to focus on the problem more than God’s promises. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (NIV). We can choose to listen to God, not fear.
I pray this infuses your heart with hope to keep praying, sweet friend. He hears you… He loves you… He is with you.
One way Satan strikes us is by creating rage and bitterness in our hearts. Everyone has moments of anger, but when that anger settles into hatred, resentment, and a grudge-like spirit, we’re in danger of giving place to the devil. Even though he is a defeated enemy, it’s best to stay clear of him.
The father in the book of Proverbs told his son to guard his heart carefully, “for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NASB). In understanding, the heart is like a deep well from which flow “the issues of life” (NKJV). “Everything you do flows from [the heart]” (NIV). Just as a poisoned well can put an end to physical life, so a defiled heart can sicken the spiritual life (Mark 7:14-23).
It has then become very imperative for every believer to "guard the heart".. What filters do you have in place to screen out impurities? “Keep your heart with all diligence.”
Read God's word with diligence, ask Him to engrave it not only inside your heart, but most importantly, at the boarders too..
"Over everything His glory will be a canopy"....(Isaiah 4:5)
Tonight pray, tonight meditate, tonight visualize God's closeness and think of Him in that way. His presence will brighten the dark days, and His canopy of blessings will be a hiding place from any storm or rain. Ask His presence to envelope you, ask His glory to cover you.
The great music composer and minister, Rev. Charles A. Tindley says.. "When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea / Thou Who rulest wind and water, stand by me."
Hallelujah!!
If you can read this, praise the Lord! If you are awake and counted, praise the Lord!
Praise God, applaud Him in humility. Praise will transport you into the supernatural presence of God.
God responds to us in our praise and worship.
This morning, if you are awake and counted, praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
When Souls Wilfully Come, Use The Ancient Words To Impart....
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” - Psalm 145:8-9
Lord, for your goodness, we will sing!!
To pray without ceasing, simply means to have an attitude of faith or dependence of God might be. To understand a humble submission to the will of an ALL KNOWING GOD.
Living each moment with the awareness of His presence.
Praying at all times does not mean babbling unnecessary repetitive utterances either. Praying at all times, is being in constant communication through God's word in humility and submission.
Jesus, the Christ, sought special time alone to pray. There were times when he was praying and times he wasn’t.
I seriously doubt that anyone can actually pray all of the time without ever stopping. The only way that can happen is to redefine prayer from actually talking to God to thinking about talking to God. I am convinced that real serious prayer requires focus and concentration. If we think of praying without ceasing as non-stop praying, we run the danger of never actually praying at all.
I believe the call to pray without ceasing is closer to what Jesus taught his disciples. He told them “to pray and not give up” (Lk 18:1). This kind of praying is not necessarily 24/7. But it is tenacious. It keeps coming back to the Father again and again with the same concern as long as that concern seems unresolved. The opposite is to pray and quit. Lets remember a quest for instant gratification of what "we think we need" will always be in conflict with prayer. Also let's keep in mind God's goal in all of this is to get us to know Him better.
So, go ahead, read God's word. Read and ask Him for understanding. Meditate on what you read, think about it, use it to communicate with Him. Pray it out, pray it in submission, pray it in humility and with a contrite attitude. Pray and don't be faint, don't be tired, don't give up.
Pray at all times....
James says to confess our sins, then pray fervently. And then be ready to praise God whatever the answer.
Good morning!
As you are awoken, and counted, feed your spirit man with the word of truth.
Knowing His word helps one to plead His promises in prayer. Oh how often we would prevail with Him when we hold Him to His word, and say, "Fulfill this word unto thy servant, whereon Thou hast caused me to hope"
How grand it is praying when ones mouth is filled with His word, "for there is no word that can prevail with Him like His own"....... (Spurgeon)
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!!!!
Deuteronomy 32:4 " He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He "
Beloved, God's faithfulness means that everything He says, and does is certain. Trust in Him and you will NEVER be cut off from His faithfulness.
Whether in daytime or nighttime, we like to see as far into the future as possible. But there is no light that will give us that kind of vision. The equivalent of modern flashlights in the biblical world was an oil lamp, as described in Matthew 25.
They would illuminate, at best, a few feet ahead of one’s steps at night.
In Psalm 119:105, the psalmist used an oil lamp as a metaphor for God’s Word to say that we are given as much light as we need or can use.
Sometimes all we need is enough light to take just the next step—to do the next right thing. The apostle Paul called it walking by faith, not by sight.
Do you need light on your path? Turn to God’s Word for light enough to take you to the next step.
Healthy hearts soak up the water of God's Word. They are furrowed by faith and tilled by trust. That’s the kind of heart the Lord desires. Don’t rebel or distrust Him. Hebrews 6:7 says, “When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing” (NLT).