AGAINST

 David, My beloved psalmist, wrote: "Many are they that rise up against Me. Many are they who  say of my soul, 'There is no help for him in God.'  But You, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head."

As you begin this new year, you have a better understanding of how many foes you have.  It seems there are more against you and your nation than there are those who are with you.  This is a lie.

Just as I opened the eyes of Elisha's servant to see the multitude of angel armies that were on Elisha's side, I open your eyes to see that there are more for you than are against you.  I have gathered My army of angels to fight for you and your nation in this new year.  Do not fear.  I always win My battles.

PSLAM 3:1-3; 2 KINGS 6:15-17

CONSISTENT

You have learned as a parent that you must be consistent in your efforts to discipline your children. My Father and I are consistent in our discipline of you and all in My body on Earth.  

The writer of Hebrews said that we should not despise the chastening of the LORD.  My Father and I love you, and we discipline you because we want to protect you and help you to mature spiritually.

My Father allowed this pandemic, but He did not cause it to punish believers.  Because many of those things that distracted you were taken away for a season,  you how have more time to pray and draw close to Me. During this season when you are no longer distracted by many things, draw close to Me in prayer.  Be consistent in your prayer life and pray without ceasing every day.

HEBREWS 12:5-11

KNOWLEDGE

 As you begin your day today, I want to ask you this question:  "Where will you seek knowledge today?"  So many in your age are dependent upon their phones or computers to inform them of the things they need to know.

You live in the age of knowledge. The knowledge that you have the opportunity to receive today is eternal knowledge. The day will come when worldly knowledge will pass away.  

The eternal knowledge that I offer to you daily is the knowledge of My love and the knowledge of My Word.  Begin your day today and every day by seeking eternal knowledge, and you will have the strength to face whatever comes your way each day.

EPHESIANS 1:17; COLOSSIANS 1:9

PREMIUM

When I walked on Earth, we had no such word as premium.  When you buy something at a premium price, you are willing to pay a higher price to purchase something of great value.

Peter wrote that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with My precious blood.  I paid the premium price to purchase you when I died to forgive you of your sins.  I was willing to pay the price of My own life to redeem you from sin because you are of great value to Me.

Remember today that I died to redeem the whole world from sin.  Every person on Earth is of great value to Me, and I do not want any to perish.  I want all to come to know Me as their Lord and Savior.  Pray for those who have not repented and received Me by faith.  I long to have them enter My kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy.

1 PETER 1:19;  2 PETER 3:9

RECENT

You look at your phones to discover the most recent calls to make sure you have not missed any calls.  You also have voice mails that will reveal messages people have left, and you can actually hear their voice.  You also have the ability to read written messages that others have sent you.

The age you live in is full of technical inventions that aid you as you go through your day.  Now, I want to express to you what provision I have made that will aid you as you travel your journey through life, and most important day by day.

My most recent call to you that I give you daily is, "Love one another as I have loved you."  My voice mail to you today and every day is to yield to My Spirit as He instructs you throughout the day.  Those who are led by My Spirit are sons and daughters of God.  My written message to you is My Word.  Read it, hear it, and heed it.  Keep the lines of communication with Me open also.  I long to hear your voice in prayer.

JOHN 13:34; ROMANS 8:14; PSALM 119:105

CAST

Most of My disciples were fishermen who cast nets into the sea to catch fish.  Once the net was full, they pulled the net in and emptied the fish into their boat. Peter loved to fish. Peter exhorted believers to cast every care (all anxieties, concerns, and worries) upon Me.

I want you to be free of every care.  I do not want you to wait until you have a boat load of cares before you empty your net and throw your net out again.  The moment you have a worry, I want you to pray and give that concern to Me.  

I love to receive your burdens.  They are like gifts to Me.  Once you release your burden to Me in prayer, I give that burden to My Father and we intercede together. Then we are able to perfect whatever is a concern to you and fill your mind and heart with the peace that passes your understanding.

1 PETER 5:6-7; PHIIPPIANS 4:6-7; PSALM 138:8

POWER

Paul warned Timothy that there would  be people who had a form of godliness, but who would deny the power  thereof.  He told Timothy to stay away from such people.  One of the most important lessons you can learn as you seek to grow spiritually is to understand My statement: "Without Me you can do nothing."  

Paul wrote this in his letter to the Ephesians: "Now unto Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."

This Christmas Day as your turn on the lights of your tree and the lights outside your home, I want you to realize that the lights will not work without power.  I have called you to be a light shining in this dark world. To fulfill this call, you have to be connected to My power.  My power is the power of My Holy Spirit. Yield to Him today and you will be able to give the gift of My presence to others in addition to the physical presents you will give.

JOHN 15:5; 2 TIMOTHY 5; EPHESIANS 3:20

STRUGGLE

The word, "struggle," means to fight violently with an opponent.  My servant Paul made it clear that  My body on Earth is not fighting against people, politics, or armies of flesh.  As you pray and penetrate the spiritual realm, you are fighting against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and wickedness in high places.

I have already won the victory over all these demonically influenced entities.  However, your job is to use your kingdom keys to bind the adversary with all of his evil angels and demons, and to loose My army of angels to fight for you.

I have already made a show openly over all My adversary's armies.  I have given you My armor and My weapons and My keys.  Use them today, and you will enforce the victory on earth that I have already won for you.

EPHESIANS 6:11-18; MATTHEW 16:19;  COLOSSIANS 2:15

GOVERNMENT

It was prophesied by Isaiah that the government would be upon My shoulders.  This prophecy should give you great peace because this means that I control nations.  Yes, with all the chaos of governments worldwide, I am still in control.

The psalmist wrote about the nations and kings of the earth who had set themselves against Me, the anointed One.  They intended to break Me, but I will laugh at their attempts.  They do not realize that I am the One who promotes and demotes them.  I am the One Who sets nations against nations to fulfill My purpose.

What is My purpose?  My purpose is the same as it has been from the beginning.  My purpose is to draw all men to repentance and to redeem them from their sins.  When you pray that My Kingdom come and that My will be done on earth as it is in heaven, you are praying for My purpose to be fulfilled.  You are praying for a worldwide harvest of souls.  Keep praying. Ask of Me and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance and all the earth for your possession.

ISAIAH 9:6-7; PSALM 2 (Read all of it) 

CAPTURED

 You rejoice when some one who has been causing all kinds of evil is finally captured.  Solomon wrote that "When the wicked rise, men hid themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase."  Many in your nation are still in fear, and they are in hiding.  Their thoughts are on survival during the difficult times that may come in your nation.

I have not called you to survive.  I have called you to overcome.  It is your faith in Me that will cause you to overcome the world with all of its evil.  

Keep your focus on Me in the days ahead, capture every negative thought of worry, doubt, or fear and give those thoughts to Me.  Remember My promise to you is that I will always cause those Who trust in Me to triumph in Me.

PROVERBS 28:28; 2 CORINTHIANS 2:14, 10:3-6

Merry

Why do you wish one another to have a Merry Christmas?  I was not born in December, but I am delighted that people in most nations celebrate My birth on December 25th.  Many do not even realize why I was born.

It is more than appropriate to greet one another during this wonderful season with this enthusiastic statement, "Hope you have a very Merry Christmas."  

I want to greet you with those words also, but I want you to know that I am your hope, and only I can give you joy that will make you not only merry, but also will cause you to be strong in faith. A merry heart does good like a medicine.  You can have a merry heart every moment of each day of the year because in My presence is fulness of joy.  Take time today to allow My joy to invade your soul.

PSALM 16:11; PROVERBS  17:22 

COLORS

 I love to see the colors of Christmas.  Each color tells My story.  The green represents when I came to the green earth.  The red represents the blood I shed to pay the redemption price for your sins when I died to forgive the sins of the world.  

The silver tinsel and the gold garlands that decorate the Christmas trees remind Me that you are My vessels who are worth more to Me than silver or gold.

The bright, white lights on the trees outside and inside your home represent the truth that I am the light of the world Who lights every man that comes into the world.  When you were conceived, I was present at your conception, and one day you will see the light on My face when I receive you to live with Me for all eternity.

JOHN 3:16, 1:9; 2 TIMOTHY 2:20

PENETRATE

 Even  before the foundation of the Earth, My Father and I designed works for you to accomplish while you are on Earth.  The choice you have is to yield to My Spirit so that you can be directed to do that work.

I told My disciples to work while there is still day.  Then I added that I am the light of the world.  Even though the darkness seems to be growing by the minute in your nation and throughout the world, never forget that the light is still here.

Light always has the power to penetrate the darkness.  You are now the light of the world that can penetrate the darkness in this world.  Daily draw closer and closer to Me so that My light within you will grow brighter and brighter.

EPHESIANS 2:10; MATTHEW 5:14; JOHN 9:4

RETREAT/ADVANCE

 I know that you finally heard Me speak to you when you were on a retreat, and sat by the lake to ask Me questions.  The question you asked Me was, "What is wrong with your life."  

I responded that You needed to receive My love. Until that moment you had been trying to earn My love through what you did for Me.  Then you heard that I had freely given you My love over 2,000 years ago when I died to redeem you from sin.

Today you are asking Me many questions about what is happening in your nation.  You are hearing many lies, but the truth is that I love you and your nation.  You can hear My voice today and every day, and I want you to know that My plans for you and your nation are good, not evil.  I want you to advance in faith today by believing that I can change what has happened in your nation, and I plan to do just that.

JEREMIAH 29:11

BUDS

You were excited this morning when you saw the buds on your Christmas cactus begin to open. up.   The same excitement you felt when you saw the buds begin to display beautiful blooms is the same excitement that I feel when I see those who you have prayed for to be saved begin to open their hearts to receive Me as their Lord and Savior. Keep praying for them.

Every part of your Christmas cactus represents what I have done for you when I redeemed you from sin. The thorns on the green leaves represent the peace of mind that I purchased for you when the crown of thorns was set on My head before My crucifixion. 

The pink or red blossoms represent the blood I shed to reconcile you to My Father.  On that fateful day when I became the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, I gave you a Christmas gift that you will never exchange.  That gift was My righteousness exchanged for your unrighteous sins.

ROMANS 3:25-26

GOOD TIDINGS

When the angel appeared to the shepherds in the field, he said, "Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,  which shall be to all people."  The shepherds were watching their flocks at night because its was lambing season. They were present to help the mother lambs deliver their baby lambs.

I am the Lamb of the world Who was born to redeem the world from the grip of Satan.  Many in the world have been fearful during this pandemic, but the good news is that I was born to provide a way for all who believe in Me to be set free from the bondage of fear.

Be sure to share this good news with family and friends this Christmas. Those who will receive these good tidings will receive more than just Christmas presents.  They will receive My presence that will give them fulness of joy and pleasures forever more.

LUKE 1:19;  PSALM 16:11

Light

 I am the light of the world.  I rejoice when I see all the homes with bright lights outside.  I rejoice even more when I see My light shining on the faces of people.                                      

I want your light to so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify My Father in heaven.

MATTHEW 5:16                                    

YOKE

When I walked on Earth, I set the example of how you are to daily walk.  I was yoked to the Holy Spirit and that empowered Me to do My Father's will daily.  I gave the invitation to every believer to come to Me and take My yoke upon them.

After the Spirit came upon Me at My baptism, I was enabled to remain meek and lowly of heart.  I want you to be yoked to My Spirit daily.  Ask for a fresh anointing of My Spirit so that you can be empowered to do My Father's will.

When you take My yoke upon you, you will recognize that without Me you can do nothing, but with the power of My Spirit that lives within you, nothing is impossible.  Tap into this power daily.

MATTHEW 11:29

GOODNESS

When someone called me good Master, I responded, "Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God:...." I am God in the flesh who demonstrated God's goodness in flesh form.  

When Moses asked My Father to show forth His glory to him, My Father allowed His goodness to pass by Moses. An important aspect of the glory of God My Father is His goodness.

From the very beginning of mankind, My adversary has been lying to people by telling them that God is not good.  Many are believing that lie in your nation because of the evil that is happening in your nation now.  However, the truth is that the devil is the one who brings darkness and evil to a nation.  As the world grows darker, be encouraged because My light within you will shine brighter and brighter, and men will see your good works and glorify My Father in heaven.

MATTHEW 19:17; EXODUS 33:19

PRESS

Your nation is under extreme demonic pressure.  This means that it is time for you as My body on Earth to press into Me.  James exhorted believers to press into Me by submitting themselves first to Me and then resisting the devil.

Submission to Me with a heart that is ready to obey Me is the vital first step that must be taken before you can resist the devil.  I have given you all power in My name to destroy the works of the devil.

Ask for My Holy Spirit to reveal to you the principalities and powers that are over your nation now, and then resist the devil by praying for every work of the devil to be destroyed.

JAMES 4:7

ORIGINAL

I have heard the saying that there is nothing new under the sun.   This means that history repeats itself.  It also means that My adversary always uses the same tactics. He is using lies to bring down your nation.

My Word gives warning not to be ignorant of Satan's devices.  Paul wrote Timothy that in latter times many would depart from the faith, because they listened to seducing spirits, and the doctrines of devils.

The liberty you enjoy as a nation now is being threatened by My adversary who is a liar and the father of lies.  Great deception has been released into the atmosphere.  I exhort you who know My truth to use the keys to the kingdom that I have given you to bind those lying spirits and seducing spirits and to loose My Holy Spirit of truth over your nation.

1 TIMOTHY 4:1

RECEPTION

I have observed the joyous receptions that follow a wedding.  The bride and groom are honored, and people congratulate the bridegroom and say how lovely and beautiful the bride is.

The day is coming when there will be a receiving line in heaven.  After that reception, you and every believer will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb. I am the Lamb Who was slain to redeem the world from sin even before the Earth was formed.  

I am preparing My church to be My beautiful bride.  Be patient while My Holy Spirit prepares you to be conformed to My image.  Cooperate with Him as He helps you to overcome the temptations the world and the devil offer you.  Keep your focus on Me, your Bridegroom, and be confident that you will one day see Me face to face.

REVELATION 19:9; REVELATION 5:9

RENDER

The day will come when I will render to every man according to his deeds. This should be a sobering thought for all.

My Father has given Me all power to judge mankind, and every man who ever lived will have to appear before My judgment seat.  There are two judgment seats (one for reward and one for punishment).

Those who believe in Me will be judged for reward.  Others will appear before the Great White Throne of Judgement and they will be judged according to their works.  Pray for those who have yet to believe in Me.  Pray for them to come to know and believe in Me so that their names can be written in My Lamb's Book of Life.

ROMANS 2:6; REVELATION 20:12

SUSTAIN

I am your "Good Shepherd," and I will sustain you even through times when there is lack in your life.  During this pandemic so many have encountered lack in their lives.

When I gave My teaching on the mountain, I promised to supply your needs.  I not only have the ability to sustain you by keeping you supplied with the necessities of life, but I also can sustain your soul (mind, will, and emotions) in these difficult times.

My grace is sufficient to supply every need you may be experiencing.  Do not hesitate to go boldly to My throne room of grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

HEBREWS 4:16

STOP

When you were a child, your mother would immediately put her hand out to stop you from crossing the street into the rushing traffic.  I want you not to be discouraged about the times that you are experiencing right now in your own nation and over all the world.

My hand is not so short that it cannot save.  I am putting My hand of mercy out right now to stop the lying lips in your media and in your government.  Lying lips are an abomination to Me.  Your intercession right now is needed to open the spiritual realm for My hand to reach down from heaven to stop the plans of the enemy.

Your voice is needed on Earth to proclaim both Who I am and what I plan.  Keep praying for My will to be accomplished on Earth.   I have given you all power to destroy the works of the devil, and now you need to give these truths voice on Earth.

ISAIAH 50:2