Arise and Shine

Daily devotional – Sharing God’s Word..

recent posts

about

  • Walk His way

    God’s Word will bring blessings, but just knowing Scripture however is not sufficient until you live it. All the Bible knowledge in the world is worth nothing if it doesn’t translate into witnessing to it, living and walking in His light.

    “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it …they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25 NIVUK)

    ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like….But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation…’ (Luke 6:46-47, 49 NIVUK)

    The crucial piece that connects reading His word to walking in it.. is believing.

    For we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIVUK)

    There is a way or manner of the heart that must accompany how you live. God wants your soul to be satisfied with Him first and then your life will undeniably line up.

    The more you read and see God’s glory, the more your practice will be patterned by His character. Let the revelation He gives you through His Word propel you into action.

    We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8 NIVUK)

    When you do what He says in a way that honours Him, then you do it with a heart that realise His steadfast love is better than life..

    “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. “(Psalm 63:3-4 NIVUK)…

    Nothing compares with the surpassing worth of knowing Him

    “And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands, but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. “(Philippians 3:9 AMP)

    Walk in the knowledge of Him!

  • Priorities

    Sometimes you might feel as if your day or life is getting out of control. You might even know the cause of this, but choose not to deal with it cause it is too uncomfortable.

    It is necessary to prioritise your time with God, to ask for His direction and to stop finding reasons to delay your spiritual growth. What is God calling you to do right now?

    What is more important at this time, right now?

    Is the way you feel maybe a reason for not confronting the things in your life that you know you need to make a priority and deal with?

    Your first priority is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

    “‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus… Is Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:29-30 NIVUK)

    Whenever your priorities are out of order, you will be placing something else above God. When you have God at the forefront, it is much easier to put everything else in place for He gives you the love, strength and devotion you need.

    It is time to make it a priority in your life and intentionally spend time with God. Build on your relationship with Him, renew your mind and take a step in the right direction! It might be a huge step to take but also a very necessary and important step! Stop procrastinating and stop keeping yourself busy with things that distract you from growing Spiritually.

    Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIVUK)

    The enemy tries to convince you that it is ok to leave it for later and fill your life with distractions that would have no impact in your life!

    There is more to life than holding on to issues that will rob you from your purpose, from what God intended for your life.

    Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV)

    God knows you better than you know yourself and He has made His will known to you. He knows what is best for you now and for your future. As you read through the Word of God, you can see the priorities that God has established for your life. Ask God to reveal them to you.

    But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIVUK)

    Look at the alternatives and choose what is most pleasing to God and best for your spiritual wellbeing. If you don’t care for yourself, you won’t be able to adequately care for others.

    What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36 NIVUK)

  • Repent

    To repent is to renew your mind, to take in a whole new point of view as you look at it from God’s viewpoint. It is to change your attitude towards sin and God which occur in both your mind and heart.

    It is about God opening your eyes and your heart to reveal who He truly is and what He has done for you…

    “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIVUK)

    Listen to God’s guidance and discern His will and His way.. and turn to that.

    Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]; (Matthew 3:8 AMP)

    The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NIVUK)

    Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19 NIVUK)

    For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You. (Psalm 86:5 AMP)

    “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]….” (Hebrews 12:2 AMP)

  • Love one another

    In a time of uncertainty and fear I am reminded of a song by Michael W Smith .. “Above all” It reminded me that no matter what you may face, God is greater and He loves you immensely!!

    “Above all powers

    Above all kings

    Above all nature

    And all created things

    Above all wisdom

    And all the ways of man

    You were here

    Before the world began

    Above all kingdoms

    Above all thrones

    Above all wonders

    The world has ever known

    Above all wealth

    And treasures of the earth

    There’s no way to measure

    What You’re worth

    Crucified

    Laid behind a stone

    You lived to die

    Rejected and alone

    Like a rose

    Trampled on the ground

    You took the fall

    And thought of me”

    For the Son of God to become man, to bleed, to suffer such agony and endure a death of shame and desertion by His Father.. this is the depth of love which the most inspired mind fail to fathom.

    “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIVUK)

    Paul is not saying that Christ’s love cannot be known, but that it will always exceed your knowing. His love is even more than you can comprehend. He loves you more than you can understand! You are privileged to know, feel and treasure the love of Christ yet, even in the realm of personal knowing, there is always more of Christ’s love to be experienced…

    Do not measure God’s love to how much you ‘feel’ loved. A ‘feeling’ is not a measure of truth. God’s Word is truth and His Word says you are loved by Him.. unconditionally! When Jesus came to earth as an example OF you, He showed you how much you are capable of loving others..

    You love because He first loved you..

    And he has given you this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister… (1 John 4:19;21 NIVUK)

    We don’t love others because of the gratitude towards God for loving us first.. You love others because God showed you what love looks like!.. A love that you can feel and experience, a love that is even MORE than you can comprehend.

    Above all, love each other deeply… (1 Peter 4:8 NIVUK)

  • You have been redeemed

    You have been set free from captivity because Jesus paid your price in full.

    “In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence),” (Ephesians 1:7-8 AMP)

    When you understand your redemption you can also understand your true identity in Christ. You are no longer held captive to guilt, sin or death. Today and every day, you can live with the knowledge that you are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The Cross was a success.

    “(Jesus) Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.” (Titus 2:14 AMP)

    “….Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 AMP)

    Far beyond your comprehension is the price Jesus paid to redeem you. It is done.

  • God is love

    “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 NIVUK)

    The way we love is mostly dependent on emotions and feelings., but God’s love is completely unconditional. God IS love. It is the fundamental essence of His nature and character. He is perfect in love. His love is made known by His absolute pure desire to care for you , to share and to give.

    “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIVUK)

    “This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9 NIVUK)

    “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NIVUK)

    He does not only give love, but God is the source of all love. A perfect love. Even before you were born, Jesus gave His life as the ultimate expression of His Father’s love..

    You are loved! ❤️

  • Unlock your freedom

    “…Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32 NIVUK)

    God has a plan and purpose for your life and He wants you to prosper and excel in it. He created you to be a testimony to His glory and goodness and wants you to realise the great potential that is locked up inside you.

    “But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. (1 Corinthians 2:9 AMP)

    By the renewing of your mind, by reading and studying His Word and understanding His good and perfect will, you are able to unlock the treasures of your true identity. Your original design is how God created you to function in.. Not as slaves to sin but set free by His death and resurrection.

    “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIVUK)

    God’s truth is not hidden from you, but it is there to be discovered by you. You have the key of faith to unlock and access a life of freedom in Christ.

  • Compassion

    “They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” (Isaiah 49:10 NIVUK)

    We serve a compassionate God who cares deeply for you. To have compassion is a deep awareness of, and sympathy for those who are in need. It inspires acts of kindness and mercy.

    “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NIVUK)

    “And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 AMP)

    Jesus showed His Father’s compassion on earth. It flowed from His heart toward those in need. It is not about observing from the sidelines, but a heartfelt care for another with intent and action. It exemplifies the character of God in who He is and how He responds to me and you.

    And as Jesus came to earth as an example of us, it is no wonder God encourage you to also show compassion..

    “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15 NIVUK)

    ‘This is what the LORD Almighty said: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” (Zechariah 7:9 NIVUK)

    “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18 NIVUK)

  • No separation

    “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?..

    …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39 NIVUK)

    Even the greatest of threats that you might ever face are not able to separate you from God’s love. What an encouraging promise to know that God’s love for you will never change, fail, or be conditional to how you feel or act or see yourself. Nothing you will ever experience will be separate from being intimately loved by God. As you awake to this new day, be constantly aware of His love and presence in every situation you might face.

    God’s love for you is so intimate and real that He felt it worthy of giving His Son to die for you.. Cancelling all separation.

    “But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” (Romans 5:8 AMP)

    “The Lord appeared from of old to me [Israel], saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you. ” (Jeremiah 31:3 AMP)

  • God is good

    “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIVUK)

    “You are good, and what you do is good;…” (Psalm 119:68 NIVUK)

    God is always good. It is in His nature to be good. How you feel or what your circumstances are has no influence on God’s goodness.

    “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:9 NIVUK)

    You may never fully understand why some things still happen in this world that cause suffering and destruction, but one thing is always true.. God is not the author of sin. He is on your side and His power in you is greater than the powers of darkness that try to come against you.

    “‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’” (John 16:33 NIVUK)

    We all make some wrong choices in life which have consequences to you and those around you, buy you also know that His goodness surrounds you like a shield. He always has a good plan for you. He is abounding in grace towards you and He is committed to finishing all the good things that He has started in you.

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28 NIVUK)