I have blotted out your sins and dissolved them like the mist.

Isaiah 44:22 New International Version (NIV)

22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
    for I have redeemed you.”

I love how the New Living Translation says Isaiah 44:22... I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” (NLT) God has swept away all of our sins like a cloud, with just one blast from His nostrils, any remnants of our mistakes and failures vanish just like the morning mist is consumed by the heat of the sun.

While this promise of God's forgiveness is found in the Old Testament, it really points to the day when the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, would once and for all pay the ultimate price for us to be completely forgiven.

When God looks at you, He doesn't see all of your shortcomings and failures. For all those who have received the free gift of Jesus Christ, He sees you as fully justified and holy. While our past sins may continually scream to get our attention in the mental realm, to our God they have vanished into thin air because of the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

May we walk in a greater revelation of having our sins forgiven today and may the accuser of the brethren have no access into our thought life. As Romans 8:1 says... There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (WEB)

You are holy and free from blame because of Jesus Christ's death.

Colossians 1:21-22 New International Version (NIV)

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your mindsbecause of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

The New International Version Bible says Colossians 1:21-22 this way... 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.  (NIV)

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross has done for each one of us what nothing else could do. Jesus completely reconciled us to His Father through His death so that He might present us holy and blameless to His Father. We are free from any accusation and the Father sees us completely spotless because of Jesus!

God sees us this way because of the shed blood of Jesus and not for anything that we have done to earn or deserve His favor. The next time a condemning thought comes to your mind, remember this promise and the incredible power of the cross. You are holy and completely free from blame because of Jesus Christ's death!

I knew you before you were born and I designed you for My purposes.

Jeremiah 1:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

In today's promise, God is speaking to the prophet Jeremiah and reassuring him that before he was even conceived in his mother's womb, God knew him and designed him for His purposes. I don't know if you have wondered about this Bible verse before, but I have.

How could God have known Jeremiah before he was even conceived? The best way that I can try to comprehend it would be if I compared our creation with how an architect designs a building. (I realize this analogy could never adequately describe the creation process, but it helps me to grasp this promise.) Before a building is built, it has to be designed by an architect.

In the design process, the architect spends much time thinking about the plans and purposes for the building He is going to create. No detail will be too small for the architect to overlook. Even though the building is not yet created, He has already created it in his mind and then he commits the design to paper.

When I think about how God says that He knew us before we were conceived, I think that He carried our design in His heart before the creation of the world and knew us intimately before the wonderful day of our conception.

If you have ever felt misunderstood by anyone, if you have ever felt alone in this life, may the promise that God knew you before the foundation of the world bring great comfort to your heart today. You are His workmanship, created in Christ to accomplish His special purpose!

All My plans will be fulfilled, for I know the end from the beginning.

Our Elder Brother is known as the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. The Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit have always been and always will be. In today's promise, we read from Isaiah 46:10 that God knows the end from the beginning and all His plans will be fulfilled.

Many times in life, I feel like I can only see a few short steps ahead but it gives me such great comfort to know that my God and Father knows the end from the beginning. In Psalm 139:16 King David makes this declaration about God... Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. (WEB)

God has a plan for your life. He knit you together in your mother's womb and ordained every one of your days, writing them in His special book before one of them ever came to be. We can rest in our God and Father's goodness to watch over us and fulfill the plans He has for us. For He is a good Dad and He knows the end from the beginning.

Jeremiah 1:5 (WEB)
“Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you.
Before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you.
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

I am seated in the heavens and My kingdom reigns over all.

Psalm 103:19 New International Version (NIV)

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

In Psalm 103:19, King David tells that God has prepared His throne in heaven and His kingdom reigns over everything in the universe. While this might be something that we all can agree on, do we live each day with the confidence that our God and Father really is the ruler of heaven and earth?

While we know that the Bible says that the devil is called 'the prince of the power of the air' (Ephesians 2:2), we also know that Jesus is called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! While we know that the enemy goes about as a roaring lion seeking those whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), we also know that our Savior is called the true Lion of Judah who has triumphed over all things (Revelation 5:5).

In Colossians 3:1-2, Paul the Apostle encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven... 11 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. (WEB) If we focus on all of the darkness that surrounds us in the world we live in, we may get discouraged and lose heart. 

I pray that today's promise will be a reminder to each one of us that our God reigns in heaven and on earth. May we set our hearts and minds on things above, knowing that the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it!

Not one of My promises will ever fail you.

Joshua 23:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

I would encourage you to read the entire chapter of Joshua 23 when you get a chance. This is Joshua's last chance to share his heart with the people of Israel before he dies. In this final address to them, he reminds the Israelites of God's faithfulness as he encourages them to stay true to God.

The New International Version says Joshua 23:14 this way...
“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. (NIV)

There is a saying that hindsight is 20/20 vision. What this means is when we look in the past, we can see clearly what has taken place. There is no need for guessing when we look backwards. As Joshua was exhorting the people of Israel about moving ahead, he encouraged them to remember God's faithfulness in their past. He reminded them about how God delivered them and fulfilled every promise He had made.

The encouragement of God's faithfulness in our past should give us the courage to believe that He will continue to be faithful in our present circumstances and well into the future. May we all hold fast to the truth that every one of the promises that God has made to us will never ever fail.

At the end of the age, My righteous ones will shine like the sun in My kingdom.

Matthew 13:43 New International Version (NIV)

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

In Matthew 13, Jesus shares a few stories that illustrate the kingdom of God. In verse 43, He tells His disciples that one day the righteous (those who are in right relationship with God) will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom.

What an amazing analogy this is! In Ephesians 5:8 the Bible says... For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, (WEB)  Since we are called to be children of light, Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:43 that we will all shine like the sun in our Heavenly Dad's kingdom.

What an amazing sight heaven will be! Millions of God's kids, each one shining with the brightness of the sun, living for eternity in the kingdom of their Father. I wonder if we will need sunglasses just to talk to each other? (grin) All kidding aside, may this picture and promise bring encouragement to you as you walk by faith in a world that sometimes can be a dark place to live.

Announcements

Youth Leader Training
Date: 15th Feb 2019, Friday
Time: 7pm - 11pm
Venue: Corps Community Hall
Facilitator: Bro Low Kar Leong

Southwest Cell Group
Date: 22nd Feb 2019, Friday
Time: 8pm
Venue: Bro John Lee & Shirley Home

World Day of Payer
Date: 1st March Feb 2019, Friday
Theme: Come - Everything is Ready
Country Focus: Slovenia
Time: TBA
Venue: TBA
Details: TBA

When Jesus appears, you will receive a crown of glory that will never dim.

1 Peter 5:4 New International Version (NIV)

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

You may ask the question... why will we receive a crown of glory? The simple answer is that since we are part of God's royal family, we all get to wear a crown. Romans 8:16-17 says.... 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. (WEB)

All those who have called upon the name of the Lord throughout the centuries can hold on to this promise. When Jesus appears, each and every one of us will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away. Not because we have done anything in our own effort to earn or deserve it. The crown that we receive does not come from our own self-effort but solely because of God's grace and goodness.


Because our Father loved us, He determined in His heart thousands of years ago that we would share in the eternal riches of His Son, Jesus Christ and be born into His amazing royal family (Ephesians 1:3-6). On that great and glorious day when we will see Jesus face to face, we will receive our own crown of glory, signifying to all of heaven that we belong to God.

I believe the crown of glory that we will all receive will simply serve as a token of our Father's affection and a symbol to the heavenly host that we are called to rule and reign with Jesus in His royal family forever. May today's promise encourage your heart and give you hope for the glorious future that is in store for you.

You are more than a conqueror through My love in Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37 New International Version (NIV)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Just before today's promise in verse 35, the Apostle Paul talks about some of the hardships that can come against the beloved of the Lord... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (WEB) He responds to this question by making the declaration that is the inspiration for today's promise!

Even in the midst of all these things, we are more than conquerors through the love that God has poured out into our hearts through Jesus Christ. We are not just conquerors, we are MORE than conquerors because of His amazing love! No matter what challenges you are facing today, God's love will conquer every trial and tribulation. There is nothing in all eternity that is able to separate you from His amazing, unconditional, everlasting love.

My prayer today is that we would all be overwhelmed with a tangible sense of His closeness and the reality of this promise.  May we join in the words that Paul the Apostle wrote two thousand years ago and say together... 'We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!'

I will guard those with a childlike heart.

Psalm 116:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.

The New Living Translation Bible says Psalm 116:6 this way... The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. (NLT) In Luke 18:15-17, Jesus tells His disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to little children and unless they change and become like little children themselves, they would not be able to enjoy its benefits.

The reality of today's promise is that Fathers protect their children. It is not some great miracle that they do because that is what good fathers do. Today's promise tells us that God protects those who trust in Him with the simple heart of a child. Having the heart of a child is not limited to those who are physically little. For no matter how old we become, God is much older than us! The Bible describes God as being The Ancient of Days.

While we are not called to be childish, we are encouraged to be childlike. Little children are completely dependent on their parents for everything. To be fed, to be clothed, to be protected, everything. Without their parents' care, they are completely vulnerable. When we trust our God and Father with the simple heart of a child, I believe that He responds by being our safe place and our defender in every situation.

I look after foreigners and I help the fatherless and the widow.

Psalm 146:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

God's heart is always out for the underdog. He is always looking to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That is just part of His character. In today's promise, Psalm 146:9 says that God looks after foreigners in a strange land and helps those who are fatherless and widowed.

The New Living Translation says Psalm 146:9 this way... The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. (NLT) If you are in a position where you feel weak and vulnerable in this life, be comforted in knowing that God is watching over you.

If you are living in a place where you don't feel that you belong, God will protect you. If you feel fatherless and need a Father's love, God will be a Father to you. If you are widowed and battling with feelings of loneliness, He will be your husband.  Whatever need you might have, be encouraged in knowing that God cares for you and He will look after you.

I will not withhold anything good from those with an upright heart.

Psalm 84:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

God is good and every good and perfect gift comes from His hand (James 1:17). Today's promise once again reaffirms this truth. He will not withhold any good thing from those who have an upright heart. The enemy of our souls would want us to believe the opposite... That God isn't good and that He is distant and angry.

My prayer today is that each one of us would reject every lie that would try and make us believe that God isn't who the Bible says He is, so that we can align our thoughts and prayers with the truth that the Lord is good and His mercy will endure forever!

May the sense of His goodness flood your soul today and may you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is your sun and your shield. The truth is that He loves you with all of His heart and He will not withhold any good thing from you.

My love will persevere through every situation.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version (NIV)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The Greek word for love used in this passage of Scripture is the word agape which speaks of the unconditional love of God. Today's promise speaks of the tenacious heart of our Father that will simply not give up on us no matter what we go through.

God's love is relentless and consistent. His love for us does not change like shifting shadows, but will persevere through every circumstance. His love will always protect us, His love will always trust, His love will always believe the best about every situation and His love will always stay true. This is the love that God has for us.

It is not like any love that we have experienced on earth. Even the love from the best father, mother, brother, sister, friend, spouse, etc. would only be a shadow of the unconditional, everlasting love that God has for us. My prayer today is that we would have power to grasp the vastness of the immeasurable love that God has for us as the Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-19...

14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (WEB)

I will not let you be tested beyond what you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Jesus told us in John 16:33 that in the world we will have trouble. Sadly, bad things do happen to good people. We all experience heartache, loss and pain as a result of the fallen world we live in. But Jesus goes on to encourage us that we can be glad because He has overcome the world!

In today's Scripture, the Apostle Paul tells us that we will not be tested with any temptation or trial more than we are able to endure. There may be circumstances in our life that rage against this promise, but hold onto the promise that God's grace is sufficient in every trial. He will give you the grace to endure and He promises to provide you with a way of escape when the load gets beyond what you can deal with.

If you are in the midst of great trials and challenges in your life today, my prayer is that our God and Father would comfort you and strengthen you with the promise that you will not be tested beyond what you can endure. And I also pray that He will provide you with a way of escape for every trial that you face.

Cast all your worries on Me, for I really care about you.

1 Peter 5:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I have not yet met a person on this earth who has not had an anxious thought at some point or another. I think that most of us have lots of anxious thoughts to deal with. Why do we worry? Probably because we think that we will somehow change the outcome into something better by obsessing over it. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 that if our Heavenly Father looks after the birds and the grass of the field, He will look after us... so take a deep breath and relax. God is looking after you.

In today's promise, the Apostle Peter encourages us to cast every care that we have upon God because He really cares for us. The Greek word for casting literally means to throw upon. God wants you to throw each one of your cares on Him so that you do not have to carry them any longer.

When I think of this promise, the image that comes to mind, is a backpack full of rocks that we are carrying. Every time we take a rock out of our backpack and throw it away, our load gets lighter. I think Papa God wants us to do the same thing with every care that we have. When we throw our cares on Him, we are committing the responsibility and concern for each worry into His loving hands.

Since He is much much bigger and stronger than us, He can carry our burdens much better than we can. So cast every care that you have in your own backpack onto God because He loves you and wants to carry every one of your burdens.

I will shield your life and deliver you from the wicked.

Psalm 97:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
    for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
    and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

God is our protector. God is our defender and He promises to shield us and deliver us from the hand of the wicked. The New Living Translation says Psalm 27:10 this way... You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. (NLT)

No matter how great the opposition you are facing, God is greater because good fathers protect their kids. It is that simple. The world can be a very scary place to live in apart from this revelation. But when we know that our Dad is the biggest, the strongest and the most loving Dad in the universe, it makes all the difference in the world!

May we all be convinced of this truth on a deeper level than we have ever known before. My prayer today is that the knowledge of our Father's protecting love will bring a sense of peace and rest and security in our soul so that we will be confident that He is indeed our fortress and our shield.

May we echo the words found in Psalm 91:1-2 that says...  1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” (WEB)

If you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me.

Jeremiah 29:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

When my children were young, one of the games that I would play with them was called 'hide and seek'. I would hide and then they would try to find me. The game is pretty simple and lots of fun. The whole point of this exercise was that they would eventually find me... and that was the best part!

I would never have thought to try and hide myself so thoroughly that my children could never find me. That would not have been fun at all, for the real joy was in them finding me. I don't think our Heavenly Father is much different, though His ways are way higher than my ways for sure!

He absolutely delights when we seek Him with all our heart and He loves to be found by us! Today's promise tells us that we will indeed find Him when we search for Him with all our heart. If you are feeling discouraged today, hungry for God but somehow feeling that you have not yet apprehended Him, don't give up. Keep seeking. Keep knocking on the door. Keep on asking. He promises to be found by you!

Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (WEB)