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Your Thoughts: "Lord, Open My Eyes"

11/30/2019

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

This Psalm recounts a day in the life of the prophet Elisha taken from 2 Kings. In the story, Elisha is being hunted by an enemy Syrian king, because of specific prophesies he gave the king of Israel to defeat Syria. When the Syrian king finally finds out exactly who is telling the king of Israel his military secrets, he commands his army to seize Elisha.
So, during the night, the Syrian army completely surrounds the city and the prophet’s home. The next morning when Elisha’s servant comes out to do his morning chores, he sees the army surrounding them; fearful, he goes back inside to tell Elisha. However, when Elisha comes out to look at the impending army, he turns to his servant and says, “Have no fear, The Army that is with us is larger than the one against us.” Yet, Elisha’s servant could not see the army of God surrounding the Syrian army. He could only “see” the problem set before him. Once Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened, the servant was able to see God’s angelic army of horses and chariots of fire surrounding the Syrian army.

What does all this have to do with you? –Well, just because you can’t see God’s army surrounding you, does not mean it’s not there. Even when things seem the bleakest, do not give up! Because, the reality is, God can change the tide of opportunity in seconds! He can even change an impending army of enemies to your advantage.
So, go ahead, “Lift up your eyes unto the Hills, your help comes from the Lord. Not just any lord, The LORD who made heaven and earth.” L.

**Now it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today’s verse

Study Reference: Psalm 121:1-2, 2 Kings 6
From: “Your Thoughts: Lord, Open My Eyes.” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Joel Robison

New Generational Strongholds

11/29/2019

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye ask of The Father in My name, He may give you.”
John 15:16

Let's just imagine for a moment, that you have already been chosen by God, but all the enemy of our soul needs to snare you, are the strongholds passed down by your family to keep you from fulfilling God’s original destiny for your life. And, although strongholds can exist because of outlying circumstances within our community, our country, and so on; the most powerful accomplices of strongholds, are instilled in us through our families. Families have the opportunity and strength to literally change the way we were destined to become. Through their influence we can walk boldly into our destiny; strong, reverent, and aware of God’s power in our lives; or weak, ungodly, and ignorant of God’s desire for our life.

It can be reduced to the sins of the father, which the Bible says are visited on the children for three generations. Many of us understand and personally know about the sins of our parents; however, we may not know the sins of our great-grandparents. And, for certain, we do not know about the shortcomings of our great-great-great grandparents. We do not know about their personal strongholds, but the enemy of our soul does. And, a slip in one direction can mean instilling a curse into our entire bloodline. For example: imagine that your parents abused alcohol, or, had some other issue. It could have been suicide, atheism, murder, drug abuse, lying, cheating, stealing, tardiness, idleness, pride, jealousy, fighting, ignorance, promiscuity, hatefulness, gambling, gossiping, cursing, vengefulness, pessimism, complaining, racism, sexism, there’s tons more... –the list can go on. These traits are going to influence you simply by your parent’s daily and continuous interaction with you. It will permeate deep into your psyche, occurring so easily and naturally, you believe it is how you actually think; when in fact, it is what you were taught.

There is a wonderful adage that explains the true concept of what a generational stronghold really is. It’s about how an Indian elephant is trained. Indian elephants, although massive, are much smaller than African elephants. However, they are still massive. In order to train them, it has to start when they are very young, if not, they will understand their own personal power to leave their confines and/ or kill their owners. So, when an elephant is very young, its owner will use a strong rope to tie one foot to a very strong tree. The baby elephant, born with the awareness of the power God instilled in his spirit, will try to do everything within its power to free itself from the tree, pulling its foot, kicking the tree, even trying to use its small trunk to push the tree down. But, because the tree is strong, and the elephant is young, it cannot free itself. The owner will continue to tie the elephant to a strong tree throughout its infancy. By the time the elephant is an adult, although he is massive and powerful, because of its training in infancy, whenever he is tied to a small, insignificant tree, even with a weak cord, he will not even attempt to break himself free. He already believes that fighting the stronghold that holds him back is futile. The now adult elephant, although massive and powerful, does not know of its own personal power instilled by God from birth, to break free. He is unaware that God gave him the power to destroy every enemy, every stronghold, and every master that would attempt to enslave him.

It is the same for us. There are things that we dare not change, because deep inside ourselves we believe we are unable to fight. We believe we are powerless against something that is really weaker than we are. We could not fight back as toddlers; as children we were powerless against the strongholds within our family; however, now that we are adults, are we like the trained elephant? Are we ignorant of our power to vanquish the enemy of our soul? Or, do we open our eyes and accept the power already given by God at birth to eliminate any power, entity, or principality attempting to use its wicked influence on our lives. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we not only have the personal power of choice God gave us from birth; we also have the additional power of The Holy Spirit to vanquish the devices of our enemy. Like the elephant, our lack of power exists only in our minds, not in Spirit and not in Truth. God says, “I knew you before you were born, and took the time to number all the hairs on your head.”

The question is, now that you know that you have the ability to break free from whatever stronghold is holding you back, what will you do? Do you remain hiding behind the misdeeds of others in your past, blaming them for what they did or did not do to you? -Still giving them the power they had when you were a child; or, do you break free using the power God gave you from birth? Whether the issue is because of our parents, community, or country; Our acceptance of Jesus Christ opens our eyes to break free of every—not some, not a few; but, every stronghold in our life. The Bible says,

“...Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statues, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:25-26

Upon our baptism as adults, after we have been baptized of The Holy Spirit, we are cleansed of all filthiness, idolatry, and any generational strongholds in our lives. It means that we have received a fresh start to our lives and no stronghold will imprison us again. It means we have received power from The Holy Spirit to eliminate anything we do not want within. The Love of God will break any and all strongholds in your life; yet, you must still make the choice to accept His Power to do so! Someone in the family has to be first, why not you? L.

Study Reference: John 15:16, Ezekiel 36:25-26, Jeremiah 1:5-10, Matthew 10:30
From: "New Generational Strongholds." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Juniors Bildarchiv/Alamy

Thanksgiving: My Gratitude

11/28/2019

“ And when ye will offer a sacrifice of Thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer [it] at your own will. On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I [am] the LORD.” Leviticus 22:29-30
“...Saying, Amen: Blessing, and Glory, and Wisdom, and Thanksgiving, and Honor, and Power, and Might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 7:12

In The U.S., we are celebrating Thanksgiving; a national holiday set aside as a reminder to thank God for Blessing our nation and All its residents. We thank Him for the bad times, and the good. We thank Him for the things that look like blessings; yet, are really lessons. And, for those things that we believe are lessons, that eventually turn out to be blessings. We thank Him for the things we take for granted, like clean water, food, shelter, and each other. We thank Him for abundance, even if we do not have it as yet. We thank Him for the clothing we wear, even if by modest standards, we barely wear any. We thank Him for the opportunity to be able to thank and honor His presence in our lives. We thank Him for the health and well-being of our friends, family, and ourselves. But mostly, we thank Him for the opportunity to commune with those we truly love, one more time; even, if they get on our very last nerve! We thank Him for teaching us how to persevere, love and forgive others. And, most of all, we thank Him for His Grace, Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Favor.

For those of you who truly understand God’s Love in your life, even in the midst of your most arduous circumstances, May God’s Light continue to shine through you, and for you. May the abundance of His Peace, Love, Grace, Mercy, Favor, and Forgiveness; find you and every member of your family.

And, just in case I have forgotten to personally thank YOU; then, I would truly like to take this opportunity to thank you whether you have been reading, In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living, for one day; or, since the beginning of the new year. It is with sincere gratitude that I thank YOU for taking the time to read these words and for being a part of this journey with me! –Thank you once again, and Much Love from my family to YOURS. -May God continue to Bless YOU! L.

Study Reference: Leviticus 22:29-30, Revelation 7:12
From: "Thanksgiving: My Gratitude." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Olga Osipova

Faithfulness, Not Relying On Gratitude

11/27/2019

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” And He said unto him, “Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” Luke 17:15-19

Sometimes we question God's Integrity based on our own integrity. We think because our integrity wavers between good and evil that somehow God will intentionally betray us. Well, this is partly true, if we are referring to betrayal by Truth. God is consistently Righteous, Holy, and Truthful. If anything, we are the ones who continually betray God with the inconsistency of our actions, words, and thoughts.

In Luke 17:11-19, is the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus as he passed through Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem. To fully understand the story, you have to know some of the historical correlation between the Samaritans, Jews, and the disease leprosy. All lepers, unlike others who were ailing in ancient times, had to stay away from their village for two reasons; first, villagers felt leprosy was contagious, and second, according to Hebraic law, there were to be no prolonged interactions between the healthy and the sick. This was especially true if you were a priest. Once someone was regarded as having leprosy, they were expelled from their village, and other lepers became their new family network, without regard to tribal heritage or culture. Now the thing about the Samaritans is, the governing Jews despised them. Samaritans were Jews also, however, because they were racially mixed and had intermarried non-Jews from neighboring tribes, the governing Jews felt they were not “pure-bred.” We read into this in the exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:9.

As the story goes, the 10 lepers, outcasts of Hebrew society, ailing with the ultimate disease of their day, cry out to Jesus to heal them, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  Merciful and faithful He hears their plea for mercy, and says to them, “Go show yourselves unto the priests.” Although it is taboo to go near the priests, obediently they start to go; and, as they are walking, they are healed.

Here is the part we forget even today—gratitude. Only one leper—the Samaritan, upon finding himself healed, returns, and in a loud voice, begins to glorify God, giving thanks, prostrate at Jesus’ feet! Ordinarily, most people refer to the lack of gratitude shown by the other nine, citing Jesus’ query, “…Where are the nine?”  However, since today’s Daily is on faithfulness, let us note, it was the Samaritan, a man from a group the Jews believed to be impure, and possibly unholy, who came back to offer gratitude.

More importantly, let us remember, although the nine did not return to offer their supplication of gratitude for receiving mercy and healing, Jesus in His Faithfulness did not retract their healing! So, although we may waver minute by minute; God never does! Today, in between the food, family and friends, like the last leper, take the time to offer praises of Love and Gratitude for ALL that He has already done!  L.    Happy Thanksgiving!

Study Reference: Luke 17:11-19
From: "Faithfulness, Not Relying On Gratitude." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Groza Danut

In Quest of Gratitude

11/26/2019

"For it is God which works in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure. Do ALL things without murmurings and disputing; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:13-15

I went to a prayer meeting on a Tuesday night where there were at least 3000 or more people present. It was absolutely amazing; and, I felt an empowering gratitude to see so many people rapt in prayer and supplication to God. It was a time to pray for the transition of people returning to school. We prayed for the children going back to school, their families, parents, teachers, administrators, school bus drivers, maintenance workers, and any other person associated with a school. We prayed for their safety, surety of knowledge, and that it would be their most amazing year ever! For most of us, back to school marks the end of summer; and, as we look towards fall, many of us will reassess our lives leaning towards one decision or another. As I read Philippians 2:13-15 above, I thought about gratitude.

Let us truly understand this biblical text; it pretty much says, “Stop Complaining! I know the world has problems, but there’s work I need for you to do! I need you to shine as a light unto the world!” The truth is, this is not the best text to read when you are reassessing your life. The very act of reassessment is based in complaints. These complaints propel us to change those things that are not working in our lives for new, hopefully more fruitful horizons. However, since we are rapt for change anyway, let us declare today that no matter what happens, we will try getting through the entire day without complaining about any given thing. You will need to confide in at least one other person so they can hold you to it.

Let’s start with the alarm clock (at least you have the gift of opening your eyes!), your clothing (oh, so you have clothing?), your commute (you have a car that runs?), mass transit (oh, so you have money for the train or bus?), and sometimes the hardest one—co-workers! (At least you have co-workers to work with! You could be doing all the work yourself!) In a time when so many people around the world are starving, homeless, unemployed, or in the middle of wars, cultural genocide, and natural disasters, let us practice gratitude. The kind of gratitude we often forget due to our preoccupation with asking God for more. If you really need more, ask, but be careful; “To whom much is given, much is required!” (Luke 12:48)

Take some time today to write down all that you are grateful for; you will be surprised how far a little gratitude will go. You never know, maybe your gratitude will be so infectious it will last all week, maybe even a whole month! Maybe, it will affect others in your surroundings so much, it allows your former “grumbling” spirit to shine so brightly with gratitude, YOU will be as a beacon of “light unto the world.”   L.

Study Reference: Philippians 2:13-15
From: "In Quest of Gratitude." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

Continuing The Blessing Cycle

11/25/2019

"But this I say, he which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purpose in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remains forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

The principle of blessing and serving others is very basic; it is a continuance of the Blessing Cycle God has bestowed on you and your family. In fact, in many instances it can be a cycle that began long before you were born.

When I was 10 years old, I watched as my Grandmother created a “care box ” full of supplies for a neighbor in the small town where we lived. The neighbor was apparently going through a rough time financially, and was having difficulty feeding her family. My grandparents were certainly not wealthy. However, they were more fortunate than many others in their small town in Central America; because, they had a small income from several farms and a monthly income in U.S. dollars from my parents and other family members in America.

As I watched my Grandmother stockpile all the supplies she bought into the box, I asked her who the supplies were for. —A little stunned by her response, I said, "But Grandma, you don't even like that woman!" And she said, “I don't do this for her, I do this for you.” —Looking at her in disbelief, I said, “-Huh, me?” She repeated her statement, and further explained, “I do it so that if YOU ever find yourself in need, someone will do this for you.” Somehow, even at ten years old, I understood. Now that she has passed on, I realize that I have been blessed many times due to her acts of kindness. And now, I have lived long enough to see acts of kindness from others extended to members of my own family.

The Blessing Cycle is a really simple premise. However, if you really need to fully understand this concept, here it is; bless others with your gifts, talents, and /or fortune, so you and your generation / descendants will be continuously blessed. L.

Study Reference: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
From: "Continuing The Blessing Cycle." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

Thanksgiving -A Sense of Gratitude

11/24/2019

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.”
Isaiah 49:16

The Bible chronicles the life of King David from the time he was a shepherd defeating Goliath, to his anointing as king of Israel; it also documents his countless exploits, and his eventual death. We know the episodes of his deepest despair and his most amazing triumphs. And, although God called him “...A man after Mine own heart,” (Acts 13:22) David was not allowed to administer the immense undertaking that would become The Tabernacle of God; a building worthy enough to hold the Ark of the Covenant. While we look at David’s life, it is easy for readers to see how the Spirit of God governed his life, both as a youth, and as an adult. We can easily understand those times when God was displeased with his actions; as in, his disobedience in taking a census. An act which resulted in the death of 70,000 as his penalty; or, his affair with Bathsheba, which resulted in both the death of her husband and David’s child.

For the most part, many of you are successful in your own right. You have worked hard, studied well, and persevered so you can now reap the benefits of a decent life. Chances are, you have probably made your family proud of your accomplishments. So, why is it so easy to see the Hand of God in the minute details of David’s life and not in your own? Why do we continually believe God is not watching, caring, and/or faithfully ordering 'our' steps as we remain faithful to Him?

Today, it is all about Thanksgiving—a sincere gratitude for ALL things in our lives, whether it has the appearance of bad or good, success or failure. Why? Because, sometimes the things that appear to be a blessing can become a burden; and, the things that appear to be a curse, can transform our spirits and become an enormous blessing in our lives. Let’s take the time to put things into perspective and thank God for His Love, Guidance, Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness, because without it, it is impossible to fully live. L.

Study Reference: Isaiah 48:17, 49:1, 49:16, & Hebrew 10:35-36
From:"Thanksgiving-A Sense of Gratitude." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: Husni Che Ngah

Wait!

11/23/2019

"Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, faint not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

"Wait upon the Lord!..," that's what all the preachers say.

Many years ago I read, Book of Angels, by Sophie Burnham. It was in reference to the angels mentioned in the Torah, the Bible, and other religious writings. One angel in particular is an angel whose entire body and wingspan is covered in eyes; and every time an eye blinks, it records the passing of a human being. As you can imagine, thousands of eyes continuously blink per millisecond, going off like tiny little flashes of twinkling lights. And still the preachers say, "Wait upon the Lord." We look at the children who were born just the other day, and think to ourselves, "Could they really be thirteen now?" And still we hear, "Wait!" Then one day it hits us! Our own personal revelation after tons of trials, errors, false starts, and bad finishes. The reason we wait upon the Lord is, it actually saves us time! I know, you're saying, "UH?" Well, think of it this way.

Imagine you are in a car traveling miles, and you just passed the last opportunity to exit. After 30 miles you realize you are going in the wrong direction. You now have to travel even farther to gain access to the next exit which will allow you to get back to the road you were actually supposed to be on in the first place. So, let's do the math; 30 miles in the wrong direction, 30 miles to go back to the starting point, and 30 miles to get where you were actually going in the first place. Hmmm.., 90 miles for a 30-mile trip.

I know what you are thinking; we need a GPS! Yes, that was the point! We need God's Positioning System to get it right the first time. So as the preachers like to say, “Wait upon the Lord;” it will save you time in the long run! L.

Study Reference: Isaiah 40:28-31
From: "Wait!" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

Starting With Us

11/22/2019

"For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be for them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
1 Peter 4:17-18

It is interesting to note that when God planned the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he began with judging the righteous first—the people who profess to believe in God. It doesn't sound familiar? Then, let’s look it up.
In Genesis 18:23-26, Abraham asks God,

“Will Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure, there be fifty righteous within the city; will Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should get as the wicked, that be far from Thee; shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

In a more modern version it would say, “Lord, suppose there were only fifty righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, would You destroy the righteous with the wicked?"  And of course, God responds,

“If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

So, an entire nation would have been spared if fifty righteous people existed in Sodom and Gomorrah. Most of us already know the dismal end of this story. Abraham, wondering if God will find fifty people, negotiates the number of the righteous down to ten people. So, God promises Abraham if He finds ten—ten righteous people in the nation of Sodom and Gomorrah, he will spare the entire nation. We can imagine that God, being God, searches the hearts of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and after not finding ten people who within their hearts stand on the side of righteousness, He destroys the two cities and its inhabitants.

Let’s fast forward to today’s world. In our fast paced era with all its bells and whistles, fast cars and fast people; quick fixes and hot tempers; high tech and low standards--where do you fit?  Many of us spend far too much time looking at, and complaining about, the routines of non-Christians and those who do not believe in God. When in fact, we should be paying attention to the caveat found in today's verse, remembering that when the time comes, we will be judged first, not them. Will we be found righteous in the eyes of God or as the verse says, scarcely saved?

So, the question today is, if God approached a beloved human being today, the same way he appeared to Abraham, and told him or her that He planned on destroying your city tomorrow; would your city and its inhabitants be saved because of you? —Or, would you ignite the flame that burns the city?  L.

Study Reference: 1 Peter 4:17-18, Genesis 18
From: "Starting With Us." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: istock

Patience

11/21/2019

"Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith produces patience.”
James 1:2-3

Patience is one of the hardest things for us as Christians; and, God works with us on a continuous basis to learn the art of patience. The issue with patience is, our time is limited. We want, what we want, now, not later. It is indicative of our generation. We have learned how to make things faster, streamlining as many things as possible, taking out some of the extraordinary to make room for the mundane and the ordinary. We have become so accustomed to the basic, when we see something just a little above ordinary, we are inspired.

Take a look around; we have fast food, fast lanes, quick-dry, instant-this, and instant-that. Gone are the days of slow-brewed, slow-broiled, homemade, and hand-done. The problem is, although we want everything as quickly as possible, God’s timing is still the same. A day is still 24 hours; and, one year is still 365 days, give or take a leap year. And, although calendar days were originally named by men, “the rising of the sun and the going down of the same,” still represents one day. God’s original clock works on a schedule, both for days and for human beings. This has not changed since the beginning of time.

For most of us, patience is a problem; I am no different. If I could walk faster without running, type faster without practicing, and learn more without studying, I am certain I would sign up in a minute. But the truth is, everything takes time—everything. We are the decision makers of what we do with our time. Even when we seemingly have no choice, we have a choice. We have the choice to work and be miserable, or to work and be thankful. We have the choice to wait on line with patience, while doing something that interest us, or wait in line tapping our foot and complaining about the slowness of the process. We have the choice to spend our time with people we love, or waste it with mundane onlookers who could care less about our life. We have the choice to learn something new every day, expanding the horizon of our knowledge; or to sit back comfortably believing we know everything we need to know in this life, remaining closed-minded and archaic.

...Learn to have patience. Patience with what you do, with whom you love, with what you learn, and more importantly, with God. God answers all prayers necessary for you to have the best of the life you have chosen for yourself. Respect those things not chosen for you and understand that somehow they are not distributed to you for a reason. Acknowledge those things placed in your life, taking the time to reflect backwards so you can learn how certain decisions made in the past have resulted in the here and now. Have patience. Patience removes fear. Be patient; for God created time, and time always wins whether you are patient or not. -L.

Study Reference: James 1:2-3
Excerpt from: "Patience:" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Peter Gridley / Getty

The Turmoil of Faith

11/20/2019

"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

We often speak about King David when we speak about a turmoil of faith; however, we really do not need to go as far back as King David to understand the turmoil of faith; we can simply look within our own hearts. Our acts of faith deeply test every preconceived notion of what or who we believe God is. If you believe God is merciful, you will test and confirm His mercy. If you believe He is benevolent, you will test and confirm His benevolence. If you believe He is... you will test and confirm.

A few days before Christmas I, along with an entire subway car full of riders, became the captive audience of a "fire and brimstone, death and destruction” Christian, who felt inclined to speak about the end of the world. Many of the things he said were true as found in the book of Revelation. However, it was two days before Christmas. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to speak about the Love of God, at a time when a significant amount of people in the world planned to celebrate the Love and birth of Jesus Christ? —A time when he could possibly reach out to those who did not know Christ? —Or, where he could speak to those who may not have had their families and who were alone for the holidays?

Yes, fire and brimstone have their significance, and there is a good possibility that he was sent like Jonah to warn the populace. However, more riders would have been inclined to accept his literature had he prompted their soul's quest for the Love of God, as opposed to their common fear of death and destruction. Yet, I have to believe the wrath of fire and brimstone is how our captor saw God.

Your depth of faith has a direct correlation to how you view God. Ask yourself this, do you really believe your prayers will be answered? Is He truly Omnipotent? Are there limitations to His power? —Does God really Love You?
How you see God is a direct reflection of your life's paradigm of who God is. King David saw God as merciful. —How do YOU see God? L.

Study Reference: Matthew 5:1-12
From: "The Turmoil of Faith." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock

"Teach Us To Pray, Too"

11/19/2019

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”
Isaiah 44:22

Today we are continuing our study of prayer’s correlation to forgiveness, and its relation to accessing the higher spiritual realm of answered prayers. As written on the previous day’s post, Teach Us To Pray, and An Exercise In Forgiveness; there is a direct relationship to your forgiveness of others, and your answered prayers. Obviously, it does not mean that none of your prayers will be answered if you do not forgive those who have hurt you; because, if that were true, there would be no prayers answered at all. However, by releasing those whom you may be holding hostage in the dungeon of unforgiveness, you literally release the windows of Heaven to bless your life on a far greater level than whatever you are currently experiencing. Consider making the prayer below a part of your morning, afternoon, and/or evening meditation for the next 21 days. You are probably thinking to yourself, “I am already so blessed; I cannot imagine what else God could possibly add to my life for a greater blessing!” That’s probably true! Yet, by uttering a prayer to aid in releasing the binds of unforgiveness in your spirit, for the next 21 days, you may just find out exactly what you have been missing!

First, find a quiet place to calm and relax your spirit. Slow down your breathing; and, more importantly, remember to accept the words as you speak. Below is a prayer to help you release the binds of unforgiveness.

“Lord God, today I claim the power of forgiveness. I release those people in my life that I have held in the spiritual limbo of unforgiveness. I release it from my life. I promise, Oh Lord, that I will not hold on to the pain caused by others in my life –not one more day.

In honor of Your Love for me, I will utter these words daily, “I forgive you. I forgive you, I forgive you!” until I can feel the release of unforgiveness in my spirit. As I release my pain to you, I will release to you those who have hurt me.
Lord, I offer my heart, mind, body, and spirit to you for cleansing. Allow Your Love to claim my heart so that I can offer compassion to those whom I believe have been harmful, disrespectful, or neglectful to me. Be patient with me.
I claim the power of The Holy Spirit to help me overcome this obstacle in my life; and, I ask You to reveal the supernatural cleansing power of forgiveness over my life.

Lord God, I ask for healing in my body, mind, heart, and spirit. And, I claim your promise to open the windows of heaven to bless my life. Thank you for your Patience, Love, Compassion, Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness. –In the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. –Amen.”

If you add forgiveness to your life, eventually you will be able to spiritually dismiss every errant spirit that had you bound. You will be able to come from under the weight of unrelenting unforgiveness to experience the full freedom of God’s Love! L.

Study Reference: Isaiah 44:22
From: “Teach Us to Pray, Too (II)” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: pinterest

Your Thoughts: Reasonable Sacrifice

11/18/2019

“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:5

When I consider a sacrifice of righteousness, it means that, although some things can seem socially appealing or even innocent to do, if God has asked me not to do it, I trust that in obeying Him, it will ultimately be to my benefit –no matter how I feel at the moment.

Yet, there are times when our sacrifice will be in our willingness to change the trajectory of our current life’s path. At other times, it may mean dismissing someone or something from our life, so that we can live a life fueled by the Will of God. Ultimately, it can be as simple as prayer & fasting, or as radical as selling everything you own, and moving to another country to enact His Will. In Romans 12:1 the Bible actually indicates that we have a reasonable sacrifice to maintain our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. This means that we have a basic duty to truly take care of our bodies; and, to praise, pray, and worship God with our life and our deeds.

What about you? What does it mean to you to offer sacrifices of righteousness?

After reading today’s verse, you may be wondering how offering God a sacrifice of righteousness could ever aid you in developing a deeper relationship with God. –Well, it’s actually a very basic premise. We only sacrifice ourselves for the things we deeply need, or those we truly love. L.

**Consider writing out what today's verse means to you, not simply a translation of the text; but, as God's personal promise to you.

Study Reference: Psalm 4:5
From: “Your Thoughts: Reasonable Sacrifice.” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Google images

Oppressed? -In The Midst of Spiritual Turmoil?

11/17/2019

"Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up; he, fighting daily oppresses me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up, for they are many that fight against me, O Thou Most High. Although I am afraid, I will trust Thee. In God will I praise His Word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
Psalm 56:1-4

There are times when we feel so under sieged by life, we can feel as if we have nowhere to go, and no one to speak to. It can feel as if there are powers working against us everywhere. The oppression leads to depression, loneliness, and despair. It becomes hard to reach out to others because trust, on so many levels, becomes questionable.  What can we do?

Before the Israelites crowned David as a king, God anointed him as a warrior; a warrior who singlehandedly killed hundreds. Yet, he was the one who, while under siege by his enemies, wrote the words found in today’s verse. So, even if you are an anointed warrior, there are times when you will get tired of fighting,–exhausted of living a life under oppression. Understandably, living a life of war, unrest, and chaos, eventually has to get tiring. We were originally meant to live in the midst of God’s original peace, with our minds at rest, basking in the beauty and glory of God’s Love. Unlike David, we may not live within the ravages of war, continuously fighting enemies on every front. Yet, many of us live lives oppressed by daily war and unrest right in the midst of our own households, jobs, and relationships. We are exhausted from ongoing bouts of mental anguish, and pounced on by unending battles that steal our peace and wear us down.

There are some people who like to fight. In many instances fighting with others distract us from delving deeper into ourselves to find the core root of an issue. It becomes easier to blame others for the oppression and depression that lies somewhere inside ourselves. It allows our focus to shift from the person in the mirror to someone in the flesh. Yet, this is not the path to peace. When we find ourselves fighting with everyone in our midst, about everything in our lives, it is time to start looking within; this is the only place to find the root of spiritual chaos.

When you find yourself in the midst of spiritual chaos, it is time to renew your focus, get on your knees, and speak openly to the One who will guide you through the unfamiliar territory that is a depth of peace. In today’s verse, David asks God to be merciful to him. He recognizes his own shortcomings and pleads with God for mercy. He places his fears before God with the understanding that, God will accept his fears and replace it with peace. Once you have given your fears to God, He squelches your spiritual chaos. Your inner peace becomes so powerful, you will fear no man, power, or principality. Once you emerge from bent knees in supplication to God, you will deeply understand your connection to Him through Jesus Christ, gaining the balm of a peaceful spirit. Then, like David, you will be able to say with conviction, the words found at the end of Psalm 56:11-13:

“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God. I will render praises unto Thee. For Thou has delivered my soul from death; will not Thou deliver my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the Light of the living?”   L.

Study Reference: Psalm 56
From: "Oppressed?" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Thetylershields

Blessed Indeed!

11/15/2019

"…Blessed is he that blesses thee, and cursed is he that curse thee. And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together. And, Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them three times!”    Numbers 24:9-10

In the verse above, Balaam understood that he could only curse those that God allowed him to curse; however, although he was keenly aware of the limitations of his spiritual authority, he attempted to use his divine gift as an oracle for his own profit, prestige, honor and wealth. All perfectly fine, until he decided to use his gift in opposition to God.

When Balak, king of the Moabites, summoned him to come to Moab to curse Israel, Balaam makes an appeal to God to learn if he can curse the Israelites. Although God tells him not to go to Moab and that he cannot curse the Israelites; he openly disobeys by attempting to go to Moab anyway. By the time he has the encounter with the angel armed with a sword to stop him dead in his tracks, he repents--sorta-kinda.

Like us, Balaam tries to find another way around God’s response to his query, because, the promise of the king’s wealth is much too profitable a lure to resist. In his repentance, God allows him to go to Moab, but tells him he will only be able to say what He tells him to say. Nevertheless, by the time Balaam meets with the Moabite king, he is ready and willing to curse the Israelites on behalf of the king.

King Balak takes him to the top of the mountain where he can see the encampment of the Israelites on all four sides of Moab; east, north, south, and west. They build seven altars, and offer sacrifices to curse those seen in the east. But instead, God speaks through Balaam, blessing the Israelites in the east. Balak takes Balaam to the part of the mountain where he can see the north; he builds seven more altars, and offers sacrifices to curse the Israelites in the north. And again, God speaks through Balaam, blessing the Israelites in the north. This is repeated for the Israelites seen from the west. And again, God speaks through Balaam and blesses the Israelites. To make matters even worse for King Balak, Balaam then faces the wilderness, a direction where there are no Israelites encamped at all, and there, he foretells God’s vision of the Israelites exalted over the entire kingdom. Balak realizes that there isn't anywhere that the eye can see where God’s people will not be blessed. And so, he prophesizes the grandeur of their nation over the land and the surrounding people.

You can imagine how angry King Balak was with Balaam for his inability to enact a simple curse against God’s chosen nation. However, the most important lesson for modern-day Christians is simple. As God’s beloved and blessed, YOU, who have chosen to give your life and love to Jesus Christ, are divinely blessed. No one can curse, enchant, destroy, or erase the blessings that God has placed upon you. No one! Here's what we learned from Balaam's very own lips:
“God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless, and He hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it!” (Numbers 23:19-20)

God’s blessings cannot be taken away, reversed, destroyed, or erased! Take refuge in knowing that whomsoever God has Blessed is truly blessed indeed!   L.

Study Reference: Numbers Chapters 23 through 24
From: “Blessed Indeed!” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: devushka, firestock

The Desert Experience

11/14/2019

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

The passage above, found in the book of Isaiah, reminds us not to keep our minds focused on things of the past, because God is, a God of creation; the kind of creation that has nothing to do with the former things discarded by the wayside for His purpose. -Instead, the kind of creation that is far beyond anything you could ever dream for yourself. He is also the God of restoration, the kind of restoration that can make the former things we believed extraordinary, seem like trash.

If you believe you have had extraordinary success in the past and are going through a desert experience now, it is very difficult to forget the good times. It can also create deep anxiety every time you relive the successful times in your mind. However, in biblical times, there were times when God's people experienced seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. And, the people had to prepare for those periods when life was not as abundant as in the past.

Modern society is not accustomed to this type of preparation, and as Americans, even less. We believe we should live in abundance at all times, even when we do not have abundance. Sometimes it is with the gift of hope and faith, and sometimes it is with pure avarice. Remember the passage above; it is God’s promise to you while you go through your own unique desert preparation period that, He will enact a new thing in your life. It can be a new opportunity, in a new direction, where He has repositioned you in a new place; or, it can be something so completely out of your paradigm, you’ll never see it coming.

Either way, stop worrying. Keep your eyes open so you can see when your opportunity springs forth. And, keep your faith strong; God will create an oasis in your desert to replenish you! L.

Study Reference: Isaiah 43:18-19
From:"The Desert Experience." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

The Power of Unity

11/13/2019

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there Am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20

The human hand is the most significant analogy concerning the power of unity. A hand wide open with fingers outstretched, used with force, can slap, causing redness and pain to an offender. However, a hand with fingers clench tightly into a fist will produce a powerful punch, knocking out the offender. The power of unity in your life offers a powerful punch to any entity that threatens you or those you love. A family, neighborhood, or nation wrought together can be a powerful force against any foe. Unity transcends all other issues, if you can unify any group for a cause, good or bad, the results can be miraculous or devastating, depending on the goal.

Unfortunately for humanity, one act of discord separated us from God. Because of trickery and delusions of grandeur, we became subjected to evil. It is still like this today; we allow trickery and delusions of grandeur to take us from the Spirit of God, forgetting that, only with communion or common union with God can our lives be blessed. The most remarkable story of unity in the Bible came after the ascension of Jesus. It occurred, on the day of Pentecost, after the disciples replaced Judas Iscariot with Matthias and were 12 in number again. In one accord and in one vision, they were visited by the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus. In their unity they were granted the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, allowing all that gathered within hearing distance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their own native language.

Today, it is not that difficult for people to understand the concept of unity; it is why we clan, gang, club, fraternize, commune, and sect. Even in our separation we attempt to unify, reconstituting all of our individual preferences as close to one accord as possible.

When in prayer, the Bible says, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there Am I in the midst of them.”
It is true, you can pray by yourself; but, just imagine how significant the prayer would be if your whole family was praying together, or your friends, or your colleagues, or your city, or your nation, or this world; all in one accord, in one purpose, as one mind, calling out for an act of God. The action of unity is God’s purpose for your life, stop waiting for others; it could be that the unifying factor is you. Isn't it time to join God in unity?   L.

Study Reference: Acts 1:1-26 & Acts 2:1-21
From; "The Power of Unity." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

Your Thoughts: Protected!

11/12/2019

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver Me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover Me with his feathers, and under His wings shalt I trust: His truth shall be My shield and buckler. I shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at My side, and ten thousand at My right hand; but it shall not come nigh Me." Psalm 91:1-7

Recently, a young pastor, speaking to a group of Chaplaincy students, told a story regarding his 5-year old son. As a Chaplain, Pastor, and former soldier, he and his wife decided that they would shield their young son from all the violence and violent images readily available to children, for as long as humanly possible. So, in an effort to do so, they continuously screen everything he watches. Recently, while in a store making a purchase, he realized that there were movie previews playing in the background of the store. When he looked at his son, he noticed that his son had placed his head on the counter, shielding his eyes from the sudden onslaught of violence shown on the screen. He calmly said, “Son, what’s wrong?” His son, still shielding his eyes, quietly said, “Daddy, I’m scared.” Picking up his son and cradling him close to his chest; he said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Daddy is here. And, Daddy wouldn't let anything happen to you.”

As he told the story, I could “see” the entire incident as it unfolded in my head; and, I thought about God’s promise to shield His children when we are scared, under siege, broken, or fearful. Today’s passage, taken from the beginning verses of Psalm 91, reminds us that God has given us the promise of His protection. It outlines His promise to protect us from snares, pestilence, dark terrors, or daily projectiles. –And, He does not stop there! He throws in His protection against those things that hide within the crevices of darkness; and, even those things or people that come for us in the fullness of day. He tells us that, thousands may fall from the peril around us, but it will not come near us.

Like our Heavenly Father, the father in our story protected his son from the onslaught of a perceived danger. He shielded him from the terror that was imagined in his son's young mind. –Now, consider your Heavenly Father as He shields you against the “thing” that has you scared, under siege, broken, or fearful. Consider being under the shadow of His Wings, away from any of the things that have taken residence in your life, keeping you feeling trapped and afraid, with your head bowed and eyes shielded.
If you can understand just how much the father in this story wanted to keep his son protected, then consider just how much more your Heavenly Father will protect YOU! L.

**Now, it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today’s verse in your journal.

Study Reference: Psalm 91
From: "Your Thoughts:“Protected!" In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

A Knock At The Door

11/11/2019

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Ephesians 6:18-20

Have you ever wanted to give up praying for someone who you thought was lost? —Maybe for someone who would never make it into God's house, much less His Kingdom? One day, after our usual after church luncheon, we sat at the dining table having a very lively discussion concerning our Pastor's sermon on "Vision."

As the discussion continued, there was a knock at the door. When our host opened the door, a young woman with a beaming smile asked, "Can I speak to you for a moment?" Thinking that she might know the young woman’s family, our host said, "Sure, come in! "

After the young woman came into the house, the entire group greeted her. When she saw the group seated at the table, she turned smiling to our host and said, "Are you Christians?" Our host, smiling back said, "—Yes!" The young woman beamed even wider and said, "So am I! --I go to the new church up the street, but I couldn't sit in there any longer knowing that there are so many people outside the church who need to know about Jesus. So a group of us decided to walk door-to-door instead of going to our afternoon youth meeting."

We continued speaking with this young woman as she gave her testimony regarding how she came to know Jesus Christ. Let's just say, although she was the product of a Christian home, for years, she was the intent focus of her mother's prayers and bouts of fasting. Surprisingly, it turns out that our host knew her mother, although she had never met our young visitor. As she continued to speak, we realized that we all knew her brother, an amazing young pastor.

This young woman, the product of her mother's prayers, pleas, and God’s amazing Grace, was the one  that God chose to place an overwhelming Spirit to leave the confines of the pews, to personally go out into the neighborhood, and tell others about Christ.

Don’t give up on those you pray for; maintain an eternal view of any and all circumstances that you may be faced with. The passion God has for your life and the lives of those you pray for is no comparison to a circumstance.
--So, go ahead, Pray for them again! L.

Study Reference: Ephesians 6:18-20
From: "A Knock At The Door."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Pinterest

Your Thoughts: Our Power Reserve

11/10/2019

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak...” Psalm 6:2-a

In today’s culture we tend to honor strength in the mind and body, it is how we determine whether we are fit for a particular task or not. To most of us, weakness is seen as a flaw; and yet, it is in our weakness and often at our breaking point that the Holy Spirit shows up to instill His Strength.

This last minute rescue is a confirmation of the verse found in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where Jesus says, “My Grace is sufficient for thee; for My Strength is made Perfect in weakness!” It is where you say, "Help me Lord Jesus. Have Mercy on me, O Lord, ...I am weak. —I cannot fight this battle one more minute, of one more day! —I have done everything I know how to do. -You, Oh Lord, are The Power and The Way. I give the reins of my problems to You.
--Not my will, but Your Will be done! Amen." Then, let it go!

When we have finally run out of options, our reliance on God tends to be greater, allowing Him to use His Strength to intercede, overpowering our weakness. So today, if you are feeling low, burdened, or weak, all you need to say is, "Have mercy on me, O Lord ...I am weak..." L.

*Now, it’s your turn to write down your own thoughts in your journal regarding today’s verse.

Study Reference: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Psalm 6:2
From: “Your Thoughts: Our Power Reserve.” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: hippopx