I Declare (Decree) Unto You~Minister Darrick D. McGhee

It’s a wonderful day to be a child of God. Today, the Lord pressed it upon my heart to do something different. Instead of sending a devotional, the Lord has commissioned me to declare His blessings over your life. On today, I Declare (Decree) Unto You! The Bible declares in Job 22:28 - Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

My brother, my sister, I Declare (Decree) Unto You:
That the peace of God will enter into your mind and destroy all confusion sent by the enemy; (Philippians 4:7)
That the joy of the Lord is your strength; (Nehemiah 8:10)
That you will use wisdom when making decisions; (Proverbs 4:7)
That you will gain understanding of your God-ordained assignment; (Psalm 119:104)
That the plots of the enemy against you are canceled in the name of Jesus Christ; (John 10:10)
That the blessings of God will overtake you; (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
That you are a blessing to the nation; (Malachi 3:12)
That your children are purpose-filled by the Lord; (Matthew 21:16)
That no weapon that is formed against you will prosper; (Isaiah 54:17)
That the healing hand of God will cancel every sickness or disease and replace it with wholeness; (Isaiah 53:5)
That you are no longer a victim but a victor in Jesus’ name; (I John 4:4)
That He which has begun a good work in you will complete it in you; (Philippians 1:6)
That you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you; (Philippians 4:13)
That your God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory; (Philippians 4:19)
That the lies of man have no power over your life; (Psalm 110:1)
That the generational curses in your life are broken from your life; (Matthew 11:29)
That your finances are pressed down, shaken together and running over with abundance; (Luke 6:38)
That you are blessed to be a blessing; (Hebrews 6:14)
That you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the hand of God; (Psalm 139:14)
That you are free to praise the Lord; (Psalm 150:6)
That you have the authority to bind every demon and ungodly spirit. (Matthew 16:19)
Today, I ask that you recite this to yourself (as I have done to myself) and share it with your e-mail buddies. Beloved, walk in what God promised you.

A Limp

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

For some reason when I read this verse, I get a visual image of Jacob leaning upon his staff. If you remember the story he had an encounter with the Lord and walked with a limp from that day forward. It was during that encounter that Jacob's name was changed from Jacob- meaning deceiver- to Israel- meaning prince.

What a dramatic "transformation". To have God call you a "prince" when you were known as a deceiver. That certainly would have been quiet an experience, one no doubt that could have easily "puffed" him up. He could have become proud and arrogant. That wasn't God's plan for Jacob, so at the same time his name was being changed he received a limp. Though he was now a "prince", he had to depend upon the support of a staff to help him walk-- how humbling.

I think also about the Apostle Paul. He saw things that wasn't lawful for men to see. He was taken into places by God and shown things that could have easily puffed him up with pride. But again, that wasn't God's plan for him either. So, thus the "thorn in the flesh". The buffeting he received kept Paul humble.

When God is doing something through your life, when He is giving you revelation and insight, when He is using you in the gifts of the Spirit, when He is doing signs and wonders through you, when He is taking you "from glory to glory", the last thing you need to do is allow yourself to get "puffed up". Guard against spiritual pride-- it will cause you to fall. That isn't God's plan for you either.

We may be being used by God to bring Him glory, but we all walk with a "limp" (the inability to walk without help), thus having to depend upon a "staff" to hold us up. None of us can ever think that we can do it on our own. None of us can ever think that we can walk this walk by ourselves. None of us can ever think that we don't need God's help- we do. The Lord is the "staff" that supports us through our daily journey. Without Him holding us up, we will surely fall.

Have a great day. We all have a "limp"- the need for help and support. The Lord is that "staff" that holds us up.

For further reading:
Genesis 32:20-30
2 Corinthians 12:6,7
Proverbs 16:18
Psalm 23:4

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

Daily Declaration

I am thankful to God for His Blessings in my life!
By the grace of God, today I have new opportunities coming my way!
I am equipped for today’s challenges!
Better jobs, contracts, customers, promotions, bonuses, dividends and offers avail themselves to me!

I welcome opportunities to grow mentally, spiritually, physically, socially, and financially!
I am ready for increase on every level!
My eyes are perceptive to recognize unique opportunities tailored for me!

My mind is alert!
My spirit is discerning!
My soul is anchored!
My body is prepared!
I am ready to receive the bounty of God’s good will for my life!

Uncommon favor rests upon my life for uncommon blessings!
I have prepared all of my life for this moment!
I am more ready now than I ever been!
Good things are flowing my way today!

Thank you, Jesus for abundantly meeting every need in my life! Empower me, O Lord, to
Become everything I shall have wished I had become when I stand before Thee!
I give you praise for being my Lord!

-Bishop Dale C. Bronner 2010

Bogged Down

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh." Romans 8:12

Have you ever been "bogged down"? The term means to "be stuck"; "cause to slow down"; "grind to a halt.". Years ago we lived on a creek so we spent a lot of time enjoying the sand bar and water. At times you could be walking along on the sand and all of a sudden you would step onto a soft place and bog down- we called these soft spots "quick sand". Once you got in one you would sink to your knees. Getting out was very difficult, especially if it was a large area. You would have to try to pull your leg out and try to make a step with your other leg, and usually it would bog down too. You would have to keep trying to make steps, one after the other, until you could finally get back on solid ground.

There are several things that can bog you down physically- mud, quick sand, snow. People can get "bogged down" in their thoughts and in their emotions. You can also get bogged down by pressures on your job- added work when you haven't finished the first assignment.

There is another area of being "bogged down" that I want to discuss this morning. It is something that will bog you down spiritually to keep you from advancing in victory, in knowing God's purpose for your life and in fulfilling your destiny. It's your own flesh. Your flesh is like a "boggy" place. It wants to suck you in and get you stuck so that you can't move or go anywhere in your walk and relationship with the Lord.

The more time you spend catering to your flesh, the more time you spend giving into its wants and desires, the more time you spend entertaining it, the more time you spend feeding its appetites, lusts and desires... the more "bogged down" you will become. It is like that quick sand that I described earlier. It will get a strong hold on you and won't let you go- you'll be stuck! And you will have to struggle and work hard to get yourself out. (And believe me, the flesh doesn't let go easily.) The only way that it will let go of its hold is through death. The flesh has to die.

Are you wondering why you feel like you aren't making any progress? Do you feel like you aren't going anywhere and wonder why you are at a stand still? Are you struggling but not advancing? Perhaps it is your flesh that is bogging you down? I described above what we would have to do to get free from the areas of quick sand. To get ourselves free from the flesh that has caused us to get stuck/bogged down is by denying it. The more we deny our flesh, the more freedom from it we have. The more freedom we have from it, the less power it has over us. The less power it has over us, the harder it is to get bogged down. The harder it becomes to get bogged down by the flesh, the easier it is to live in the spirit.

Have a great day. Is your flesh bogging you down? Then get unstuck by denying it, crucifying it and yielding to the Spirit.

For further reading:
Romans 8:13; 6:6,7
Galatians 2:20; 5:16,17,25

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

Do Not Judge The Book, Read It!~Minister Darrick D. McGhee

It’s a wonderful day to be a child of God. Have you ever known someone who loved to judge other people? They received great pleasure from pointing their finger at another person’s less fortune. Every mistake a person makes, this individual is the first person to let it be known. If this same person were to fall short, they spend hours and days justifying why they did what they did. Have you ever known someone who loved to act as though they sit next to God in Heaven? They have an answer for every question. They can always tell you why you are going through, what you are going through. How do you handle people like this? What do you say to a person who thinks (s)he has all the answers? Have you ever seen how man’s judgment has ruined many people? It has destroyed many ministries, many marriages, many families and many friendships. People have walked away from the church as a result of this.

Today, I have been commissioned to come and minister to you. My friend, Do Not Judge The Book, Read It! What does this mean you may be asking? Before you form an opinion about someone based on their outer appearance, learn how to look within that person for the truth. The Bible declares in 1 Samuel 16:7 - … for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Many times we judge other people based on what someone else has told us about them. You may never personally know this person, but because someone else formed a negative opinion about this person … you have also. To judge the book by what the cover displays, shows your lack of wisdom. To allow others to determine how you feel about someone, displays your lack of maturity. The Bible declares in Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Do Not Judge The Book, Read It! Learn how to form your own opinions about someone. Learn how to befriend people that others avoid. Their avoidance may derive from a lack of security within themselves.

My brother, my sister, who are you judging today? Who have you written out of your life? Was that God’s plan or based on your friend’s opinion? Beloved, before you write your book report, make sure you have all of the factual information necessary. Do not finalize your opinion on someone without having solid proof to support your conclusion. The Bible declares in 1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. Do Not Judge The Book, Read It! Start seeing people with the eyes of Christ. Start treating people with the love of Christ. Stop allowing others to dictate who you will befriend and why. You are a child of God. Judging someone else is not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. Stop it! The same measure of judgment you place on someone else, God will return that same measure back on you. The Bible declares in Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Do Not Judge The Book, Read It! Prayer for Today: Father, forgive me for ever judging someone else. Forgive me for allowing others to control how I see and treat others. Allow me to see people with the way Christ sees them. In Jesus’ name … Amen!

The Enemy of Unbelief

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:23,24

Belief isn't a hard thing to do, or have, that is if it wasn't for one "little" thing-- unbelief! It would be easy to believe if we weren't hit by unbelief. Unbelief comes to try to steal our faith. It comes to try to keep us from receiving the promises of God. It is an enemy to our faith, therefore, it has to be dealt with as such.

Unbelief can't be ignored. It can't be overlooked. You have to do something about it. The father in the story above recognized that he had unbelief and he confessed it to Jesus. He didn't try to cover up the fact that it was there. He didn't try to hide it from Jesus. He didn't try to defend the unbelief. He didn't try to pretend that it didn't exist. He didn't let pride get in the way, but readily admitted that it was there.

If there is unbelief in your heart concerning a matter, don't ignore it, don't try to justify it, don't try to act like it doesn't exist- recognize it for what it is, then confess it to the Lord. It is not a "negative confession" to admit it is there- it is the first step to getting rid of it. Once you have confessed it to God, ask Him to "help your unbelief". Then begin to renew your mind and heart with God's word- "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

Jesus didn't scold the man. He didn't turn His back on him. He heard the cry of an "honest heart" and He met him where he was. Jesus hears the cry of your heart as well when you are feeling weak in your faith. He won't turn away from you. He will help you to overcome the unbelief.

Have a great day. Unbelief is an enemy to our faith, and must be dealt with.

For further reading:
Mark 9:20-27; 11:22-24
Matthew 21:21,22; 14:27-31

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

Mind Games

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11

When you look up the word devices in the concordance, it means: a mental perception, thought, the mind, an evil purpose. So when I read this verse I see a two-fold meaning. First, I see that it means we are not ignorant of what goes on in satan's thinking/mind- we aren't ignorant concerning his thoughts toward us. His thoughts are to "kill, steal and destroy" us. Secondly, I see it to mean that the devices he uses against us are attacks against our mind. His main weapon is to play "mind games" with us.

It has been said that the mind is the battlefield. It is against our minds where most of the attacks against us take place. Satan comes against us with accusations- "You are no good; you aren't going to make it, God doesn't care about you; who do you think you are?; etc.". He tries to plant seeds of doubt in our mind- "Did God really say that?; what if God doesn't show up on time?; etc". He brings confusion to our minds in order to make us "wishy-washy" (double minded) in our faith. He tries to make you think that your situation is hopeless and impossible, and too big for God.

Satan has his mind set on destroying you and he does that by coming against your mind/thoughts. But the Lord has provided everything we need to be victorious in the battle. We have been given the helmet of salvation to protect our minds. We have been instructed to capture wayward thoughts and cast them down. We have been told by the Lord what we should be thinking on in order to have victory and peace of mind. If we set our mind on the things that God says instead of what satan says then his devices, plans, purposes and thoughts against us won't prevail.

Have a great day. Satan's thoughts and plans are to destroy you, and he carries out his plans by attacking your thoughts.

For further reading:
John 10:10
Ephesians 6:11-18
James 1:8
Revelation 12:10
Philippians 4:8
2 Corinthians 10:4,5

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell