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Romans 8:37 (NIV) says, "…In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." But do we really know what it means to be more than a conqueror? I know it took many years for me to learn what it means and how to live the victorious life Jesus died to give us as believers. I remember many years when I went to church faithfully every week, yet my private life was pathetic. It was so frustrating because I really loved God and was a born-again believer, but I wasn't experiencing victory over the problems in my life so that I could really live for God and help people.
You must be ready and alert — spiritually awake, to know what God is doing. Only through a heart connected to God in worship and prayer will your lamp be burning. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning. Luke 12:35 In this passage, it is important to embrace "being girded" as it means being ready to serve. As we read on, we see Jesus says that "the Master" responds as He will "gird Himself to serve" those who are found doing these things.
Many years ago, when I first started fulfilling my calling as a healing evangelist, the Lord gave me clear instructions. I was to first teach the people because they need faith to believe and receive their healing. And that's exactly what I do, teach and then minister. I am a firm believer that we need to give the people a reason to believe, a foundation for their faith. And this foundation is found only in the Word of God. His Word tells us that "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17. And it is this hearing by the word of God that I want to focus on in this devotional.
Does God have a plan for your life? If so, what is it? Most people think of specifics: He plans for me to be a teacher. His plan is for me to go to school and become a doctor. He plans for me to marry and have 2 children. Some of your gifts and callings are decided in advance before you are born. Those gifts and callings lead you to fulfill God's intention for your life (PURPOSE of GOD). The end result of God's purpose or intention is to bless you and for you to bless others.
When we first enter the world, we don't come with baggage. We don't arrive with conditions or scorecards. We don't withhold affection based on status, background, performance, or past mistakes. We arrive—helpless, open, and wired to love and to be loved. Have you ever noticed how a baby reaches out to anyone willing to hold them with warmth? How a toddler will wrap their arms around a stranger's leg just because they remind them of someone safe? There is no evaluation, no judgment. Just pure connection. That's our truest design.
During the apostle Paul's second missionary journey, he was determined to go from the Galatian region to a place called Bithynia, in what is now northern Turkey, near the Black Sea. There was nothing wrong with Paul going to that place—the people there needed the gospel. And yet Acts16:7 says: "…they were trying to go to Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them." This must have been frustrating. The fire of the Holy Spirit burned in Paul. He wanted to tell more Gentiles about the salvation of Jesus. But the Spirit put on the brakes.
Our words have the power to build up and encourage others. However, they also have the power to tear others down. This is why the writer of Proverbs wrote, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21b). But what does that mean? The truth is, you will either bear the fruit of encouraging others and enjoying great relationships with them, or you will suffer the consequences of the harsh words you speak. The lesson for those of us who want to enjoy close relationships is to speak life to those we love.
Life is filled with moments that test our faith. We pray, wait, and sometimes wonder if God is listening. Yet, Scripture reveals a profound truth: God desires to move on our behalf, but He also calls us to take responsibility and step forward in faith. From the beginning, God has demonstrated His willingness to intervene in our lives. He is not distant or indifferent—He is actively working to bring about His promises. When the Israelites stood at the edge of the Red Sea, terrified by Pharaoh's advancing army, their cries reached God.
The thought that comes to mind is a meme often seen on social media that reads, "But first, coffee." I write it with a smile. I wake up gradually. I need all the help I can get before interacting with the world. The coffee, the quiet, the gentle rituals—they help ease me into presence. All joking aside, beneath every morning routine and every breath we take, two core questions reside within us. We instinctively ask them, though the noise of life often distracts us from hearing the answers. Most demands are loud and urgent. They expect our full attention, allowing little space for stillness. But first things must come first.
Christians often say that they feel "led" to do something, meaning that they think or sense that the Holy Spirit is leading them in a particular direction. Yet many struggle to discern whether it's truly Gods voice or just their own thoughts and desires. Being led by the Holy Spirit is being in tune with Him. The Lord desires for every believer to be led by the Holy Spirit. He wants to make His voice known and is releasing revelation to those who are positioned to hear it.
