"Thou hast granted me life and favor, and Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.”   Job 10:12

 
Understanding balance is probably one of the most difficult things for us to do. We stand in awe of those who are athletes, dancers, and acrobats; because, their discipline allows them to be able to achieve feats that somehow seem unnatural to us.  I remember the first time I saw Michael Jordan play basketball. While he was already in the air, he stepped upwards twice as if he was actually going up a staircase to dunk the basketball. He languished in mid-air as he placed the basketball in the net, while all  the other players watched him from below his unseen staircase to the hoop. To viewers, he seemed to have a God-given ability far superior to his opponents. But to his teammates, he was the hardest working member, practicing more hours than any other player on his team. 

Sometimes we look at our own lives, and do not understand the balance between relying on our natural abilities and/or God’s Divine interaction.  Often, one is clearer than the other, as it should be. While at other times, we can hardly determine which one is which. The truth is, save yourself some time and effort in trying to decipher the origin and just give God the glory, because either way, the gift came from Him.  

Yes, there are times when you will receive God’s favor and emerge the victor when you have not trained for the fight. However, it is better to study for the exam and pray to ace it, than to pray to pass it and not study. If you have studied for the exam, at least God in His compassion can move the information buried deep within the recess of your brain and send it to the forefront.

There are times when God will use your natural ability and there are times when He will use His.
Ideally, we train, develop, and strengthen our natural ability, because, as we do so, it is homage to God for the gift He has given us. Yet, we rely on His strength because we know we cannot accomplish much without it. 

You alone know what is natural to you and what is not; and, it is up to you whether you give God glory for your simple knowledge, superior skill, or His favor.  So, achieving true balance is individual; it is your ideal understanding of how God responds in your life, and can be the difference whether your gifts are used for greatness or mediocrity.   L. 

Study Reference: Job 10:9-13  
From: "The Balancing Act." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: istock

“…And the Lord said to Balaam, thou shall not go with them; thou shall not curse the people; for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, get you into your land for the Lord refuses to give me leave to go with you.”
Numbers 22:12-13
 

King Balak, the Moabite, was in such distress after the Israelites destroyed the surrounding cities in his land, that he sent messengers to petition Balaam, the oracle, to come to Moab specifically to curse Israel. However, Balaam understood that he could only curse those that God allowed him to curse; so at first, he refuses the king’s proposal.  Yet, the king simply dismisses his refusal and raises the bounty.  Lured by the promise of prestige, honor, and wealth, Balaam petitions God yet again, asking if he can fulfill the king’s request to curse Israel. God tells him once again not to go to Moab to curse his blessed nation.  However, with much thought and stubborn resistance, he leaves his home to pursue the goal of cursing Israel for the king.

Like Balaam, there are times when we earnestly petition God for an answer, yet we stubbornly ignore His response to our plea because we dislike His response.  Balaam saddles his favorite donkey and embarks towards the city of Moab.  However, unbeknownst to Balaam, God has sent an angel, armed with a sword in hand, to kill him if he persists in traveling the road to Moab.  Although Balaam cannot see the angel standing in the middle of the road determined to seal his fate for disobedience, his donkey clearly sees the angel and the sword.  In fear, the donkey turns off the main road onto a vineyard path. But again, the angel is standing in the way, armed and ready. 

It is interesting that the donkey, a modern-day symbol of stubbornness, is then beaten by Balaam in anger for veering off the road in disobedience to him, his master.  The donkey takes yet a different path where walls line the road on both sides, but he sees the angel again standing with his sword drawn.  Not having room on either side of the angel to move forward, he plows himself into the wall, falling to the ground.  Balaam, angrier than he was the first two times the animal veered off the road, beats the donkey again and threatens to kill him. God opens the mouth of the donkey to speak to Balaam, his master; and then, opens the eyes of Balaam to see the angel with the sword standing in the road ready to kill him. 

Note that Balaam, as the master, readily beat his donkey, and was ready to kill him for his disobedience.  Yet God, as Master, had more compassion on Balaam, allowing him to see the angel that stood ready to kill him for his own disobedience.

Many times in our ignorance and disobedience we defy God’s response to our desire, literally placing our very lives at risk.  Simply because we have petitioned God for a positive answer to something that appears desirable to us, not understanding that it is not in the Will of God.  In our modern world, the story of Balaam would be like getting into your car, traveling a few blocks, determined to do what you clearly know you should not do, and your car gets a flat tire. So, you fix the flat, and a few miles later, the car breaks down.  Then, you get the car fixed, determined to continue with your agenda, and the next thing you know, you get into a major car accident; or worse, someone is reading your eulogy. 

If we are going to ask for an answer, let’s pay attention to the response and obey.  If not, it’s best that we do not ask if we are not going to listen.  At least in not asking, maybe we can plead ignorance.  Because, anytime we decide to do something that God does not want us to do, like Balaam’s donkey, He can use anyone or anything to prompt us back in the right direction.  Or, like the armed angel, to stop us dead in our tracks.   L.

Study Reference: Numbers 22:12-13, Numbers 22:21-34
From:"Not Listening, Not Seeing." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
​Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: crazy frankenstein

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

Many people consider the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:11-14), a story primarily about all the wayward people who have not  joined “the fold,” or the church as yet.  People like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), whom Jesus sought out with an invitation that ultimately changed his life. However, if you reread the parable, it could also be referring to those of us who were once an integral part of “the fold,” yet somehow, lost our way back for one reason or another. For some of us, if we offer ourselves enough reasons, it can be easy to leave “the fold.”

Sometimes, like us, the sheep wanders far from the fold, looking for what appears to be “greener pastures.”  It can be as simple as a new place for grazing that appears more advantageous, when in fact, the “greener pasture,” is as full of weeds as the pasture we left behind.  From afar, we fail to notice the large patches of brown grass, dandelions, and poisonous weeds growing among, what seemed to be, lush green grass.  But, after a while, we discover that it doesn't matter where we are, we can’t run from ourselves; everywhere we go, there we are.

Sometimes, like us, the sheep sees something more interesting, not a greener pasture, but an exciting distraction. These distractions are mere illusions that prompt us to believe we see something much more interesting than our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  While we are distracted, we lose sight of the fold, stubbornly ignoring the Shepherd when He calls us to come back home.  These distractions are usually things we highly value, things worthy of leading us astray.  It can be the excitement of a new lifestyle where fame, money, friends, power or prestige takes precedence.  A lifestyle where we have decided Jesus does not fit in; so we go, a few feet at a time, until we realize we are so far from the Shepherd, we can’t seem to find our way back.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.”  But now, we have to admit, we have difficulty hearing the still small Voice of God calling us to come home.

Sometimes, the fold is just too crowded; there are so many sheep that, a few sheep may get too close to us, stepping on our toes—I mean—hooves.  So, we leave the fold due to an unkind word; or, because of an attack from inside the confines of the corral —the one place where we least expect it.  Not realizing that, we are all  still a work in progress.  Even Christians can be vicious to each other.  We can reenact the malicious behavior and arrogant attitudes found in the world, transferring them to our brothers and sisters within the fold.  All because we have become so accustom to our actions outside the church, we simply forget to practice what we preach, forcing people away.  —Yet, Jesus offers forgiveness saying, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  

Each person must discover for themselves the importance of being within "the fold."  It teaches us more about ourselves in regard to our sensitivities, attitudes, relationships, and our walk with God.  Our perseverance within the fold can help us to understand the complexities and duality of being both Christian and human.  A complex and comprehensive life where we strive daily to become the best living sacrifice to God; though blemished and battered, in a world that openly applauds us for being our worst.  

Given all the distractions, it is easy to get side-tracked; it is even easier to backslide.  If you have been gone for a while, and consider yourself a little wayward, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.”  The question is, like a member of His flock, can you still hear His Voice calling out to you; or, will He have to come for you Himself?  L.

Study Reference: Isaiah 44:22, Matthew 18:11-14, Luke 19:1-10
From:"The Lost Sheep." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
​Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: H.B. Mertz/Troll's Tongue

“For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for what we see not, then do we, with patience, wait for it.”    Romans 8:24-25
 

In 1873, Horatio Gates Spafford, a wealthy lawyer and real estate owner, wrote the hymn, It is Well With My Soul, a beloved hymn for many Christians. However, most people do not know how he came to write such a powerful hymn. 

After the Great Chicago Fire in the United States in 1871, Mr. Spafford, like most real estate owners in Chicago, lost almost everything he owned; however, he was grateful to have his family intact; Anna, his wife, and their four young daughters.  Two years later, in an effort at giving his family a much needed retreat, he planned a family vacation to Europe on the steamship, Ville du Havre.

On November 22, 1873,  the day the entire family was to set sail to Europe, Mr. Spafford, delayed by a business venture, sent his wife and four daughters ahead, with plans to meet them in Europe once he concluded his business.  Unfortunately, while the ship was crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the Ville du Havre, was hit by another ship. Over 200 people died in the wreckage including Mr. Spafford’s four young daughters, all under the age of eleven.  Although his wife survived the sunken wreckage, all his daughters were gone.  It is said that he wrote, It is Well With My Soul, while sailing the same route as his wife and daughters.

If you have ever sung the lyrics to, It is Well With My Soul, you already know that it stirs up the spirit of clarity, somberness, finality and peace.  Although the original title of the song was Ville Du Havre, taken from the name of the steamship, it is best known as, It Is Well With My Soul.  In the song there were originally five stanzas; however, over the years, some stanzas have been omitted depending on your hymnal and denomination.  For those who do not know the words, take some time to read/ listen to the stanzas [in the video] below.
 
We are saved by hope, not hope that is evident; or, hope that is seen; if it were apparent, we would not need faith to attain it.  It is the Hope of God that pulls us through tragedy and sorrow; and, our knowledge that, in our faith, full and focused, we will overcome any sorrows that may come into our lives.  If you really believe this, like Horatio Gates Spafford, you will be able to say, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well, it is well, with my soul.'”   L.

Study Reference: Romans 8:24-25
From: "It Is Well With My Soul." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
*From the album, "Together for the Gospel Live" from Sovereign Grace Music. 

“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then Jesus said unto Peter, “Put up thy sword into the sheath; the cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” John 18:10-11

 
We sometimes take a degree of pride in rescuing our friends and family from going through difficult times. However, there are times when we have to let our loved ones go through their own personal trials. It offers the opportunity for them to learn their own lessons, in their own time so they can become the person God wants them to become. If we continuously step in, how and when will they be able to learn the lesson God has planned for them to learn?  Understandably, it is the lesson that teaches us strength. It is the lesson of failure that strengthens our resolve and builds the character necessary to produce success. Think of a toddler learning to walk.  Walking is an essential lesson we really cannot teach our child; he or she must go through the process of wobbling and hitting the ground until, miraculously, the child is able to take more than one small step. Through the process of elimination, the more wobbling and falling occurs, the better a walker the child will become. If we attempt to teach our child to walk too early, we stress their young legs, and, he or she will become bow-legged. This will lead to other complications and can affect their stance for the rest of their lives.

If toddlers never attempt to walk on their own, they will not build the muscle strength necessary to sustain their legs and body weight. If they do not decide to push through the process of learning to walk, they will not walk. Obviously, this will also affect the rest of their lives.  Walking is a miraculous process that has been scheduled precisely for each child at the time God believes they are ready. It simply just happens as part of their personal developmental clock.
As children, learning to walk becomes a metaphor for the ups and downs of life, teaching us how to get back up, even after we have hit the ground more than once. The process of getting up and falling down again, literally teaches us how to rise after a fall. Sometimes we cried, and other times, we simply got up and tried again.

After a toddler learns the art of standing, falling, getting up, and walking; they must also learn to maneuver around all the obstacles in their path. If not, walking through their environment will be a very painful process. The act of maneuvering through an obstacle course within their environment, teaches them how to eliminate errors in judgment, correcting their miscalculations and judgment errors towards a more excellent path.  If this all occurs according to God’s perfect plan, the child can use those chubby little legs to outrun even the most agile adult. -And, we will find ourselves chasing and wondering how a toddler who just figured out how to use those chubby little legs a few weeks ago, learned so quickly how to use them to get away from us.

How do we know when we should let our loved ones go through their life-lessons on their own?  When the lesson God is trying to teach them continuously appears in their life.  And, although it takes on different forms, if we really look at it closely, it is the same old lesson.  Like toddlers learning to walk, there are some lessons they simply must learn on their own.  It is the same for us.  There are times when we need to allow our loved ones to go through their own issues, to learn their lessons, so they can move on.  Like a more experienced parent, we enable them to correct their judgment errors, so they can build an unobstructed path back to God.

In today’s verse, the Apostle Peter truly wanted to help Jesus when he pulled his sword, cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant.  He thought he was protecting Jesus, defending His honor, not understanding that he was inadvertently trying to prevent the specific course of events that would change mankind forever.  Thankfully, Jesus knew He had a destiny to fulfill, and no amount of help from anyone else was going to alter the course of His destiny. -So today, for a change, let go, and let God handle it.  L. 

Study Reference: John 18:10-11, Philippians 4:12-13
From: "Aiding & Abetting." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Pete Conolly
​

​“LORD, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. ...So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”   Psalm 90:1, 12

 
 As I wrote today’s Daily, I thought about all the irrelevant things we focus on that have no impact on our spiritual development.  It’s so easy for us to get entangled with the minutia; those little things thrown in our path, to keep us from maintaining the principles that are supposed to govern our lives. For those of us who are from other countries, it is difficult not to get entangled in the infamous net of avarice called, “The American Dream;” a type of greed that simply begets wanting more, more—and yet some more. We watch others to determine where we stand, so that we can base our self-esteem on whether we are doing better or worse than our neighbor. If you are happy, and know that you are a child of God, you are already doing a whole lot better than many of your neighbors!

Oseola McCarty, at 87 years old in 1995, gave her entire life savings to the University of Southern Mississippi. It was to be used as a scholarship for underprivileged students experiencing financial difficulty. For those of you who have never heard of her, Ms. McCarty, an African-American washerwoman, donated $150,000 earned from payments of one-dollar bills and coins, saved over her lifetime from washing other people clothes by hand. When her bank called her to ask how she wanted the money allocated upon her death, she told them she wanted the entire sum donated to the University of Southern Mississippi, while she was still alive.  

The reason this story is so intriguing, is because, she was a woman from very humble circumstances.  She lived in a tiny house in rural Mississippi; one of the few places in the U.S. where you can still find outdoor plumbing and few modern amenities. She had a black and white television, broadcasting only one channel; a rotary telephone, no car, no cell phone, and definitely no iPad; just a scotched-taped Bible and air conditioned shoes.  —You know, the kind with the holes in the bottom and the toes out. Yet somehow, she was able to think about the plight of African-American students, having problems paying their tuition, to stay in a college she herself had so desperately wanted to attend. When her neighbors and friends heard about the amount of money she had accumulated, they urged her to use her savings to take a cruise, or at least, a much needed vacation; however, she insisted on the scholarship. Because of her selfless act, a local businessman matched her gift to the university, increasing the gift’s value to $300,000.  When her initial gift was announced on the local evening news, it gained national attention from every conceivable type of press and publication. She appeared on several nationally syndicated talk shows on every major network; and was invited to the White House by the Clinton Administration. Traveling via limousines, she was given world-class accommodations at hotels, cruise ships, and so much more than the original $150,000 could have possibly bought.  By Ms. McCarty’s death in 1999, there were so many other contributions to her scholarship fund that, school administrators estimated that her gift would continue helping students far into an “indefinite future.” 

 There may be a time in your life when you will be asked to give away what appears to be the most valuable thing in your life.  Know that if the request comes from God, you will gain so much more than you could possibly imagine.

Love God, live well, love much, and laugh often. Take the time to remember, life is not that deep! Take the time to be kind, and to show compassion to those who need it. Ask God for forgiveness, allow His forgiveness to take hold in your life, and forgive yourself for whatever you believe you have done. Life is so fleeting, so temporary; we waste a lot of it on irrelevancy. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and allow the breath of God to renew, and replenish your life.  L. 

Study Reference: Psalm 90
From:"Giving It All Away." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Reaction

“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 wellbeing 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, Forgiveness, Mercy, 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 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. -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 

 













​“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. The LORD make His Face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The LORD lift up His Countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”     Numbers 6:24-26


I was speaking with a longtime friend of our family, who, many years ago, was invited to church by my Mother and her best friend.  As it turns out, she kept visiting the church until she became a baptized member; this was about 18 years ago.  As we were having a discussion on the question of Bible Study, she said, “It's true. I really should know my Bible more.”   I looked at her and asked, “Why do you think you attend church or read your Bible?    She looked at me as if she knew I was asking a question I planned on answering. “It’s so you can speak to others about Jesus.” I continued. “It may be a little bit more complex than that, because, there are people who should work within the church; but primarily, it is to speak to others about Christ. The more you know, the more you can respond to their questions when they ask you about God. And, you can be sure, they will ask!”  I said.

She thought about what I said for a moment and she got very excited, as if she had just remembered something significant.  Then, she looked at me with her eyes sparkling and said: 

“You know, while I was in a store shopping a few days ago, a woman I had just passed in the aisle came up to me and said, “Excuse me, are you a Christian?”   “Yes.”  I said, wondering what made her ask. “Oh,” said the woman, “Can you pray for me?”  I was so surprised that the woman asked me to pray for her, I smiled and said, “Oh, yes!”  I felt blessed that somehow she knew that I was a Christian; and, even more blessed that God was using me to intercede on her behalf.  I held her hands, and just as I was about to begin praying for her, another woman walked up and said, “I’m sorry, are you about to pray?  --I overheard your conversation and I have so much to thank God for!  Just this morning I asked God for a job and He just answered my prayer!  --Can I join?”   

Our friend, surprised at the first request, was even more surprised by the second request!  Nevertheless, all three women locked hands, and in the middle of the store aisle, she began to pray for both women.

When you are a Christian, the very Light of God shines so brightly within you, your countenance changes!  Christ places such an indelible mark on your life, it is discernible by all.  You do not have to tell anyone that you are a Christian, they will know. They will see it in your temperament, your actions, your compassion, and your heart.
—It will be so prevalent in your life, even perfect strangers will see His reflection in you. L.

Study Reference: Numbers 6:24-26 
From:"Reflecting The Light." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell

“...And Jesus departed from there, and came near unto the Sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and He healed them.”  
Matthew 15:29-30



As I read the passage for today’s daily devotion, I realized that when Jesus was near the Sea of Galilee speaking to the multitude of 4000 men, not counting the women and children, those listening to Him had been with Him for three days without food.  As we can imagine, the people must have been so rapt by the teachings and healing miracles taking place, that their spiritual fulfillment and physical nourishment came from what they heard and saw in the presence of Jesus, and not from what is considered physical food.  Nevertheless, Jesus turned to His Disciples in Matthew 15:32 and said: 

"I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."

Jesus' statement, “I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.”  encourages Believers  to remember that, when we pray and fast, seriously awaiting an answer from God about the life issues we are faced with; and, we are prepared to see the miracle of His Word take form,—we will receive an answer. —We will not be sent away unfed or unfulfilled.  The act of fasting for three days, maintaining God's Word through the body's spiritual gates of what we see and hear will only strengthen our resolve and maintain our spiritual focus. 

So, if you are having some degree of difficulty reaching a level of clarity about an issue affecting your life, maybe it's time for you to try prayer, reading, and fasting.  It removes the cobwebs cluttering your mind, the unnecessary debris clogging up your body, and releases your spirit to access God more fully.  —Not to mention, receiving an answer that just might change the entire direction of your life.  L.

Study Reference: Matthew 15:29-39
From: "Fed And Fulfilled." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo:  bigstock

“…That ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people; sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  
Joshua 3:4-5

 
The idea behind learning new things is to maintain a given standard, while applying new techniques to update both our skills and our thinking.  It is the difference between rubbing two sticks together to create fire and lighting a match; or, between lighting a match, and clicking a lighter.  All three techniques will create fire, yet, each one is a more efficient tool than the last.

If we are unaware of or afraid to use more efficient tools, we will not be able to function more effectively and efficiently at the same task as someone else. And, we cannot use these tools to our advantage or to advance our heavenly directive. Others will be able to incorporate it into their daily routine, creating a new standard for all within their environment.  They will know, and you will not.  Of course, there are advantages to using the old tried and true methods of our fore-parents.  And, there are times when modern amenities offer a much more advantageous outcome.  In most instances, time is the deciding factor.  --What does all this have to do with God? 

God created us to evolve; and evolve we have.  He has given us the decision to choose the latter things over the former, or vice versa.  Coupled with the option to remain stagnant or to move forward, He provided a promise that if we remain steadfast in each step of our journey, we will be prompted toward a more excellent way.

When we read about the Children of Israel moving from the wilderness, through the Jordan River, and into the Promise land, they were clearly bombarded with the burden of learning new things. They had to release everything they had previously learned from their parents about living life in the wilderness, and accept the new directives from God, in order to live in the new land of promise.  The previous standards of their fore-parents had become irrelevant; they now had to adhere to a new directive —and, a new standard, if they were to survive.

When we read the New Testament, the Sanhedrin represented the former things; the animal sacrifices, isolation of the priests from the people, and worst of all, putrid thinking. With the arrival of Jesus Christ came a more advanced directive —an evolution of thought; a new and more efficient way to God—a new breed of Judaism; a new religion called, Christianity.   

No more did we have to go through a priest to talk to God.  No more did we have to offer a blood sacrifice to atone for our sins.  The veil of the tabernacle that separated us from God was destroyed.   And a new, more efficient and excellent way, was created for us to access God directly.

Some of us prefer the old ways, there's nostalgia in it. Our parents did it that way; our grandparents and great-grandparents did it that way.  Why should we change the process?   

There are many reasons, but consider this; we change the process to access more time.  More time to be with those we love.  More time to do the things we love.  More time to learn and create. And, most of all, more time to grow closer to God.   L.

Study Reference: Joshua 3:4-5
From: "Learning New Things."   In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Joel Robison

“...The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.”     Ecclesiastes 9:11


Recently, I read a quote that said, “Experience is the best teacher, but a hard grader. She gives the test first, the lesson later.”   It is a profound statement from Larry Dierker, a former Manager of the Houston Astros baseball team.  
Life experience is like having a road map with a secret shortcut. The only problem is, sometimes, God places a detour on the route without telling you! The detours are added so that we can learn that, no two events in our life are the same. The experiences of the past can indicate future outcomes; however, they are not the future. You can do all things the same way, yet have different results; because, people, events, circumstances, and, even you are not the same from day to day. 

Remember the story of The Tortoise and The Hare?  The hare knew he was faster, sleeker, and more adept at running a race against the tortoise.  He laughed at the very notion that a tortoise would have the audacity to challenge him to a race. After all, he was used to running from hawks, eagles, and other very adept predators. So, instead of training and developing his skills for the big race, he became a “slacker,” relaxing —taking his racing skills for granted. While he sat unfocused, procrastinating, and relying on his previous knowledge of racing, the slower, more focused, steady-paced tortoise walked; yes, w-a-l-k-e-d across the finish line. What a lesson for the hare! What an even bigger lesson for the tortoise!

As we can imagine, the tortoise was ridiculed by both the other animals and his peers. And, we can be sure he wanted to give up many times, knowing in his heart he could not possibly win a race against the hare. But, somehow he kept moving; faithfully, one step at a time, keeping his eyes on the finish line and not on the ridiculers perched on the sidelines.  By taking the risk and keeping the faith, he was able to fulfill his destiny, ambling across the finish line at his very own pace. 

Past experience is a good road map, it allows you to save time by building on the learned lessons of the past; but, don't forget that life is an evolutionary experience; like a beautiful origami pattern, God unfolds it as you go along. L.

Study Reference: Ecclesiastes 9:10-12 
Excerpt from:"The Tortoise and The Hare." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Twipz Biswas

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“Now as He was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground; but He touched me, and set me upright.”      
Daniel 8:18
 

​Have you ever wondered whether or not there is true healing in the hands of an anointed person?  Do you ask yourself whether or not the blessed olive oil actually works in the hands of a healer?  Working with my 13-yr old nephew to boost his science test scores, we flipped through a picture book of the human body for him to learn more information about puberty—yes, puberty.  As I was going through the book, I noticed a Kirlian electromagnetic photo image of a healer’s fingertips.  Apparently researchers wanted to know whether the act of laying-hands-on healing was true; so, they took special photos using an electromagnetic device to see if it would capture a physical change in or around the healer’s hands in the act of healing. 

The first photo captured the blue electromagnetic field of the healer’s fingertips prior to contact with the sick. The second photo was an image of the fingertips while they were actually in the act of healing. Viewers could see a fiery white break within the circle of light surrounding the healer’s fingertips, while the hands were in the act of healing.  This white-lighted area was the point of contact between the healer’s fingertips and the patient. It signaled the exact area where the transference of energy leaves the healer and enters the believer. Although I did not know this information previously, there is a very specific instance in my life when I changed the way I hugged other people. 

As a young manager I was having an especially tiring day.  Although, at the time, I had no idea it showed on my face; but, I was totally worn out.  Deciding to take a much-needed break, I left my office.  On the way, I ran into an older more seasoned manager, an Italian woman probably about forty at the time. We spoke often, and I trusted her wisdom, advice, and judgment.  She took one look at me, and said, “Hi, are you okay?”  “Oh, I’m fine.” I said, in that customary tone we use when we really want to keep others at a distance. “Oh?” She said softly, “Come here.”  As I came to her, she pulled me towards her, and she hugged me, her two arms wrapping completely around my shoulders. I thought it was going to be that customary five-second hug people normally give each other, but she held on. Suddenly, I felt completely at ease and my entire body relaxed. I did not know it at the time, but I really, really needed that hug!  “Do you feel better?” She asked.  “Yes.” I said. “You sure?” She said, as she continued hugging me.  “Yes,” I said again, limp in her arms, “I really needed that!”  As I walked back to my office, I promised myself, from that day forward, if I hugged anyone, male or female, I would fully hug him or her, so hopefully, my hug would heal whatever ailed them. 

In my favorite church, there is a specific point in the service where every person literally leaves their seat to greet one another. It is a combination of hugging, kissing, and shaking hands, depending on how well you know the other person. It is an act of gratitude, acknowledging God’s gift of experiencing yet another week together. If you are married or have children, hugging should be a given. However, as single New Yorkers, we can go without touching another human being for days, even months. New York City is a friendly city; but, not "touchy-feely"  friendly.  No matter what city you live in, if you plan on hugging someone, truly hug him or her.  It transfers God's healing power to the other person, and there’s a pretty good chance it will cure whatever is ailing you too!   L.

Study Reference: Daniel 8:18
From: "Healing Hands"  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Jesslee Cuizon

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”       Galatians 5:25
 

​I once wrote: "... Raise your level of output to excellence, improve your relationships, stand in your integrity, maintain your ethics, and allow your reputation to speak for itself.  When it all comes down to it, our character, reputation, integrity, and core values is all that we have. When others look at us and our work, they will see the true measure of our walk with Christ. Remember, it is never what you say; it is what you do that counts.”  L.

After I wrote the last statement, I thought about it a little more. -So, today I am taking part of it back, I should not have used the word "never."  What you say is important; however, what you do is much more vital. 

Some of us believe that integrity is in our actions, i.e. what we do.  But in reality, we know that the action first starts in our head. Prior to the actual action comes the decision to do the action. 

Years ago, as a young manager of a large retail store I was charged with the job of interviewing potential sales and operations employees. At the end of the interview was a key question posed to potential employees, “If you had the opportunity to steal a pair of socks, or $100.00 bill, which one would you take?”  Think about your answer for a moment before reading further. Make  your decision now; then, keep reading.  

If the interview was going well, the response would guarantee them the job.  If it were not, the response would solidify their dismissal.  Although the question was not perfect, it gave some insight into the thinking mechanism of the potential employee. Given a choice like this, what would your response be if you were in their shoes? 

Our lack of integrity is ingrained from the fall of Adam & Eve. Imagine for a moment that, you allow someone to live in your mansion with all of your home’s amenities at their disposal; and, the one thing that you ask them not to use is the thing that they consume with some degree of pleasure.  As imagined, you would throw your guests out on their heels as God did in Genesis 3:9-19.

It appears integrity was difficult from the beginning of man’s time on earth and is something we have to continuously remind ourselves that we are capable of.  For some of us, standing in integrity is a given; while, for others, it can be questionable, toeing the line based on our circumstances, while ignoring the consequences. Yet, the consequences are key. You want more from God, but can God trust you with what He has already given you?  If you are given more, will your integrity quotient move closer to toeing the line, or towards pressing the mark? 

For most of us, these questions are answered when God either adds more obstacles in our way, or increases His blessings in our lives.  So, consider this; if someone asked you the question, “If you had the opportunity to steal a pair of socks or $100.00 bill, which one would you take?”   What would be your response?

-Well, the correct answer is, “I would not take either one! I do not steal!”   L. 

Study Reference: Galatians 5:25, Psalm 51:1-17 , Genesis 3:9-19
From: "Socks or The $100 Bill?"  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: wwd

“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 

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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 pass 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 our life; yet, we 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
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​“...And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas; and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy house. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”     Acts 16:27-33
 

The news reported two separate incidents of total despair that occurred in the same week. I do not have all the details, just the results. Two men, after losing their jobs and in total despair, went home and took the lives of their children, their spouses, and then themselves.  These men killed their families over the loss of a job!

Somehow they could not see a brighter future for their families or themselves.  Do you think there were Christian men or women around either of them?  Men or women who believed in the strength of God?  Chances are there were Christians around them, who, concerned about themselves, ignored their distress; Christians who did not understand why it was important to share their faith in God.

Remember, YOU may be the one who will transform someone from performing such an inane act of desperation and despair into an act of faith.  I know sometimes we don't feel like it, sometimes we are going through our own level of distress; but, think of it this way, you with your faith firmly anchored in Jesus would have saved two entire families from death by the hands of their fathers. 

In today's verse, Paul and Silas are imprisoned; and, although the Spirit of God rattles the entire prison, releasing their shackles and opening the prison doors, they do not run.  The prison guard, awakened from the noise, and seeing the prison doors opened, assumes that his two most important prisoners have fled.  Yet, when he reaches for his sword to take his own life in despair, he hears Paul's voice reassuring him that they are all indeed still there. The guard is so stunned that his prisoners did not flee, that he wants to know more about Jesus and to be baptized. By the time they finish ministering to him, in repentance he releases them, takes them to his own house, and bandages their wounds. While there, his two former prisoners minister and baptizes his entire household.
 
There are times when we must dismiss our own trials and tribulations to address the needs of others, understanding that, as we take care of others, God will take care of us.  Remember, the reason you are learning the lessons of Jesus is not to simply say that you are a Christian, it is to share your faith and be a Christian.   L. 

Study Reference:  Acts 16:20-40
​From: "To Be, or Not To Be." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”    
Matthew 5:23-24

 
Jesus gave two very specific commandments to His disciples when He was asked which of the commandments were the greatest.  His response was, “Love God with all your heart and all your soul. And, love your neighbor as yourself.”  Yet, in addition to this, He made a very specific point concerning forgiveness while He taught the masses how to pray.

It is a concept so radical, that most of us overlook it.  It simply states that, if we have not forgiven those whom we believe have hurt us in some way, then, before we honor God with our sacrificial gifts –whether monetary, spiritual, or otherwise; we must first make amends with those people whom we have not forgiven.  In other words, the cleansing of your spirit to remove unforgiveness is so important to God, that although your sacrifice may be extremely important to YOU, God says to keep your gift, sacrifice, fast, prayer, or whatever else you believe you should submit to please Him, at the foot of the altar. Jesus asks us to literally leave our gift in stasis, until we have taken care of our forgiveness problem.
 
Unforgiveness places a huge barrier between you, God, and the abundance He has already ordained for you from the beginning of time. The Bible says that God’s blessing is above all that we could ever ask or think. So, I don’t know about you; but, I want every last bit of abundance God has scheduled for my life.  I do not want to leave one gift unopened! I do not want the foolishness of a stubborn heart to get in the way of receiving any of the wonderful things He has already planned for my life. Especially since, that gift may just be the gift that I have been waiting on my entire life.  It may be just the thing that will release my spirit to completely fulfill my destiny in this world.

What about you? Will you allow the stubbornness of unforgiveness to permanently place a wedge between you and all the wonderful gifts God is eagerly waiting to dispense to you?   If not, then take care of that issue.  L.
 
**Now it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today's verse in your journal.

Study Reference:  Matthew 5:23-24
From: “Your Thoughts: Spiritual Roadblocks...” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Maroesjka Lavigne

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”      
Proverbs 3:5-6


Although the Bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, it is not easy for us to forego our own intellect to fully trust in God.  After all, it was God who gave us the highest intellect of any life-form known on earth.  So, it is easy for us to use our intellect to mastermind solutions to our problems without reference, reverence, or submission to God.  It is only after we have exhausted every potential solution to our problems that we vaguely even consider God, instead of referring to Him first.

The thing to remember is, in going to God first we gain the best solution to propel our lives a quantum leap forward, bypassing all those weary obstacles that stand against us daily. –So next time, instead of waiting until all else fails, why not start with Him first?

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

Study Reference: Proverbs 3:5-6
From: "First Thing First!" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: L.A.C.
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​“…And He said to Jeroboam, take thee ten pieces; for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee, …because they have forsaken Me…”
1 Kings 11:31-33
 

King Solomon, King David’s son, was considered the wisest king of Israel. He was chosen by God to build the ultimate temple, the Tabernacle of God in Jerusalem. Like Noah, God gave Solomon specific measurements to build His tabernacle. The remnants of which is still present in modern-day Jerusalem today. Given this great task, we can imagine that Solomon, like his father David, was truly loved by God. Yet Solomon lost his reverence for God by accepting and appeasing the idols of his many wives. His act of disobedience caused the dismantling of the twelve tribes of Israel. And, as a result, the mantle of leadership would be stripped from the House of David, leaving Solomon’s successor, his son Rehoboam, to ultimately lead only two tribes of Israel.

Instead, God blessed Jeroboam, a servant in King Solomon’s household with the mantle of leadership, giving him ten of the twelve tribes.  At first, he accepted God’s promised blessing, with the understanding that, he would lead Israel in reverence, back to the one true God as King David had done. But then, something happened —success.  

He was accepted by the people to become King of Israel.  And, although he built two altars to offer sacrifices to God, he feared that the people, in their repentance and worship of God, would remember their love for King David, and return the kingdom back to Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. So instead, he created two golden calves to replace what should have been God’s altar, convincing the people that it was too difficult for them to travel to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God.  He further convinced them to offer sacrifices locally, to the god of Egypt—the golden calf. They listened, and accepted this illicit behavior.  

The story, found in 1 Kings 11, is a reminder to those in  positions of leadership that, whether you lead a ministry, state, or nation, your decisions impact a greater realm than your own life.  If you make a decision, remember to work with God’s leadership, not against it. If your ego, fear, or pride takes precedence over your love for God and the people whom He has asked you to serve, there is no question about it, you are headed for disaster. Here’s what happened to Jeroboam’s lineage because he led the people in worshiping and offering sacrifices to idols.

“Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung till all be gone.  Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city, shall the dogs eat. Him that dieth in the field, shall the fowls of the air eat; for the Lord has spoken it.”  1 Kings 14:10-11

There’s more, but you get the picture. God allowed his reign to last twenty-two years; but, He cursed his entire lineage, wiping them off the face of the earth. He didn't even allow their bodies to be buried in the ground. It would have been better for Jeroboam to have followed God’s lead, or not accept the mantle of leadership of God’s people. Unfortunately, Jeroboam’s ego got the best of him, and his entire lineage suffered because of it.  So, make a note; if you are going to lead God’s people, lead with God in mind.  L.

Study Reference: 1 Kings, Chapters 11-14, 15:29-30
​From: “Leadership Change.” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo:  Tomasz Zajda

"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
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​“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”      Matthew  6:9-15


​While I was writing, In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living; I learned that forgiveness would become a key factor in my personal life and in my ministry.  While writing, I realized that the Bible is full of forgiveness. (Consider reading, An Exercise In Forgiveness, and  Teach Us To Pray, Too.) As a matter of fact, the entire book is based on how God forgave humanity for our initial sin against Him. And, although the Bible is full of ancient stories concerning every aspect of modern life, many of them are stories of redemption by way of forgiveness. It was not until I began to research the Bible for my book that I also realized that many aspects of our spiritual growth, as Christians, are lessons learned based on forgiveness. But, as in all things, we must first begin with prayer.
 
Today, most Christians take prayer for granted; however, when Jesus walked among the multitudes, people really didn't pray. They took their supplications to the priest, along with their designated sacrifice, and the priest intervened on their behalf in regard to their need.  When the people asked Jesus how to pray, they really did not know that they could offer a plea or prayer directly to God, without being in front of an altar with a sacrifice.  That’s one of the reasons why His teachings were considered sacrilege by the Pharisees.

In Luke 11:1 the Bible says,
“And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
 
Depending how you were raised, the denomination you belonged to, and whether you really believe that you can speak directly to God, many things will factor into your decision to pray. Yet, let’s take a look at –The Lord’s Prayer; the prayer that Jesus taught His Disciples and the new Believers we now call Christians.
Let’s see how the components of The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 are broken down.
 
(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,

• This prayer opens with a salutation expressed directly to our Father in Heaven.

Hallowed be thy name.

• Immediately we are blessing the Name of God. It’s like visiting someone’s home, and after you greet them, you immediately tell them how wonderful they are! Needless to say, you will be welcomed into their home with love and gladness.

(10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.

• This offers the power of agreement indicating that the kingdom of Heaven should reign. And, not only do you  come in peace and without conflict against God, you  agree that His reign should be on earth as it is in Heaven.
• You also recognize that God’s omnipotence reaches far above Heaven and earth, extending its command to cover your life. 

(11) Give us this day our daily bread.

• Like the manna that fell in the wilderness afresh daily, asking God for your daily bread expresses that you expect your provision to come from Him.

(12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.*

• This statement is a provisional statement, signifying that you recognize, know, and accept that your forgiveness is provisional upon your forgiveness of others.

(13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

• This statement openly asks God for His leadership and guidance against those things that you might fall prey to.  It reaffirms your personal understanding and plea for salvation against the power of darkness.

For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen.

• And, of course, the last line signifies that you agree that the Kingdom of God be glorified, in the ultimate power of God for eternity.  

 
The interesting thing is that, you have only spoken The Lord's Prayer, and look at all that you have already said!
Now, there’s much more that you can say; but, if you have decided to offer this prayer only, it’s a really good place to start.   L.

Study Reference: Matthew 6:9=15, Luke 11:-4
From: "Teach Us To Pray." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
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