Live Out The Word of God In Every Aspect of Your Life.
Choose Your Fights
“Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.” -Proverbs 3:30NKJV
There are many things that are worth fighting for, and yes, there will be battles to be fought such as fighting injustice, standing your ground for truth, resisting temptation, and defending what is right.
It is, however, fruitless to argue or have needless fights over trivial matters because trivial matters are not worth fighting over. Save your energy to battle for the things that really matter such as fighting against sin, opposing the lies of the enemy, and contending for the faith.
Linda A. Knowles
Love Is Truth
Isaiah 5:20 NLT
Miserable People
Learn to develop a thankful heart and let the fruit of your lips be praise to the Lord Most High. He is worthy of all praise, and we are told in the Word of God to give thanks at all times. Find something to thank God for because God is faithful and He is worthy of all glory.
“Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18BSB
Linda A. Knowles
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
Satisfaction In GOD Alone
“The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.” -Proverbs 10:3 (NLT)
When you trust GOD, you do not need to worry. You have no reason to because the LORD your GOD takes care of you and He is the One who meets every need you have and sees the deepest desires of your heart. The Word of GOD says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need,” (Matthew 6:33 NLT). When you are delighting yourself in the LORD by loving Him with all your heart and following Him wholeheartedly, you are blessed of the LORD.
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Satisfaction cannot be found in anything or anyone else. Satisfaction can only be found in GOD. Those who depend on GOD and rely upon GOD alone will always find themselves satisfied. Because of GOD, through CHRIST, you have been made complete, made whole, which means you have all you need in GOD. He is your All In All.
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The other side of that: GOD does not satisfy the wicked. The ungodly are self-reliant, do not have reverence for GOD, and live for themselves. Living in disobedience to GOD and His ways and showing disdain toward GOD and His Word brings destruction. “Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.” (Psalm 25:3 BSB).
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For all who are led by the Spirit of GOD are children of GOD. The Spirit of the Living GOD (Holy Spirit) has been given to you to guide and lead you into all truth. He is your Comforter, residing in you, a child of the Most High GOD, “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him,” (Ephesians 1:14 NLT).
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REFLECTION: Are you finding satisfaction in GOD or do you look to other things to satisfy you? Do you truly understand that satisfaction is found in GOD alone and He is the only One who can satisfy your every need and longing? “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing,” (Psalm 34:9-10 NLT). Having reverence for GOD and the things of GOD begins first with the fear of the LORD. To fear GOD is to have deep respect for Him. The deepest need every person has is his/her spiritual need for GOD. The Word of GOD says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” To be poor in spirit is to recognize your need for GOD and your need for the Savior. When you fear the LORD, you have wisdom because the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the Only One Who Can Satisfy the deepest longing of my heart and soul. You are the Only One able to breathe life into me. Draw near to me as I draw near to You, and let me learn true reverence and holiness in Your presence. With joy, let me drink deeply from the Well of Salvation as I cling to You and Your truth. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might be able to discern what is pleasing to You and what is not pleasing to You. Guide me into all truth, and open my eyes to see what You want to show me and open my ears to hear You speak clearly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” –Psalm 63:1-5
Your Words Are Sweet
“I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.”
Psalm 119:124 (NLT)
YOUR WORDS ARE SWEET
By Linda A. Knowles
Like Mary, O God, let me sit at Your feet
to devour the Words that You speak
For Your Words are like honey on my lips
And Your decrees ever sweet.
Deal with Your servant gently, O Lord,
and teach me Your ways;
That I may listen to all Your commands
to take heed of and obey.
Follow Him Wherever He Leads
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Hope, trust, faith, and belief in GOD are never misplaced, and with GOD, all things are possible. Our GOD is able to do far above and beyond what we could ever ask or think.
He is the LORD who delivered His people out of slavery, the LORD who made the blind to see, made the lame to walk, and the One who calmed the sea.
The GOD who did all that is able to take you through whatever you’re going through. He is able to get you through to the other side. Whatever mountain you are facing, He is able to help you climb. He is the GOD who specializes in the impossible. Is there anything impossible for Him? Nothing is impossible for Him, but without Him, you can do nothing. He is the One who will strengthen you and supply you with the strength you need. He is the One who will lead you through the storm. He is the Cleft of the Rock where you can take shelter from the storm. Rely and depend on Him for He is GOD. He will never disappoint you.
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“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” -2 Timothy 1:7
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'” -Romans 8:15
When you are a child of the Most High GOD, you’re surrounded by the Heavenly Hosts, protected, and safe in the arms of GOD. Just follow Him wherever He leads, and know everything is going to be all right. Remember GOD knows what you need before you even ask Him. He has supplied all you need to get through whatever place you find yourself in at the moment. He cares about you and does far beyond what you could ever ask or think.
Keep your mind fixed on GOD. Trust in Him, and He will keep you in perfect peace.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are so good. Thank You for being my Shelter. There is no other GOD like You. You are the Sure Foundation, and as long as I stand upon You, I know I cannot sink. You have me engraved in the palm of Your hand, and I know You have not forgotten me. Be with me, LORD, for with You, I have no reason to fear for You have not given me the spirit of fear but of love and of power and of a sound mind. Thank You for taking me this far. LORD, my help comes from You alone for You, O GOD, are my Portion forever. You are my Shield and my Fortress. Thank You for the work You are doing in me and the work You will continue to do in me. Have Your way in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
May GOD bless you abundantly,
Linda A. Knowles
Let God Handle Your Enemies
“Huddle together, you nations, and be terrified. Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Yes, prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless. Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed. For God is with us!” -Isaiah 8:9-10
Your enemies can devise all the schemes and plans they want to try to take you down. They have one major problem; they have to get through the blood of Christ in order to get to you. They can come up with clever word games and other manipulative tactics, but they can never thwart the plans of God for your life. The Word of God is not chained, and when the Word of God goes out, the Word of God will accomplish the purposes for which it was sent. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies cannot be stopped by any mortal. Immanuel (God With Us) is a declarative name, and because God is with you, you are made victorious. The Lord Your God is your Immanuel, and God being with you rescues you from the clutches of the enemy. “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Keep standing on the promises of God and obeying His commandments as He is fighting your battles and as He is taking care of your enemies. Always remember the battle belongs to the Lord.
REFLECTION: “If you love me, obey my commandments,” (John 14:15). Christ said, “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.” In dealing with your enemies, you do not deal with them as the world does. You don’t pray for their demise or for something bad to happen to them. Vengeance belongs to God alone. As a child of the Most High God, you are to continue walking in obedience to the teaching of Christ and to know, as well as to keep at the front of your mind, that your responsibility is to love your enemies and do good to those that hate you. If you love the Lord, you will obey Him and His teachings and keep trusting in Him to take care of those who are against you. Let God be God, and you remain blessed by loving your enemies, praying for them, and doing good to those who hate you.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, to You be all the glory. You alone are God, and You said vengeance belongs to You. Bless my enemies by meeting their deepest need to know You and who You are. Lord, teach me how to do good to my enemies and show me ways to bless them. Forgive me for the times, I have desired revenge, and help me to remember Your ways are not my ways. Help me to remember you work all things out for good. Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen me as I continue to do Your will and obey Your teachings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” -Isaiah 50:7
Linda A. Knowles
Times of Desperation Are The Best
You might be thinking, “Seriously, Linda? Times of desperation are the best? Are you crazy?” Probably, but I have had a lot of time to think about desperation since I have been through desperate situations myself as well as knowing some others who have found themselves in situations and circumstances beyond their control. I have thought a lot about people in the bible who have found themselves in the most dangerous or crazy situations. *Let’s face it. We’ve all had those moments where we have come face to face with trials and not knowing what to do in those situations… those situations that have had us laid out before the LORD, those situations that have had us completely at the end of ourselves, that have us carefully tuning in to hear GOD’s voice speak, paying more attention to what the Word of GOD has to say, and clinging to GOD more than we usually do.
“In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.” -Psalm 34:6 (NLT)
Are these times pleasant when we are going through them? NO. However, those are the rawest of moments where GOD can work WITHOUT US trying to help HIM because there is nothing of self to get in the way because we have given up the situation to GOD, completely surrendering whatever it is to HIM. That’s where GOD wants us: FULLY SURRENDERED TO HIM, relying on HIM, not just in the bad times but in the good times as well… in the time of blessings and in the time of tribulations. *In the pages of Scriptures, we see Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah who all lived for GOD, served GOD, and did great things for GOD. However, they all went through trying times. Through it all, they clung to GOD with steadfast devotion and unwavering loyalty. Their success did not come by walking an easy road but by walking a narrow road paved with humility, suffering, persecution, and all while walking in obedience to GOD who upheld them no matter what the circumstances or situations they were in. GOD worked everything out for their good and for HIS purposes, and GOD can work things out for you just as HE did for them. Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah were blessed for enduring their times of trial, those desperate situations. Remember it was desperate times which took Joseph from the cistern to the palace (Genesis 37-41), Daniel from the Lion’s Den into prosperity (Daniel 6:28), and Nehemiah from cupbearer to heading up the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-9).
REFLECTION: “For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses,” (2 Kings 18:6). You can be like Hezekiah who did not depart from following GOD but kept the commandments of GOD. Cling tightly to GOD at ALL times. Be faithful to the GOD who has been faithful to you and who has kept you. Be loyal to the GOD who has not let your enemies triumph over you. Walk with HIM and follow the LORD’s commandments, obeying Him with wholehearted devotion. Without GOD, you can do nothing. With GOD, you are an overcomer and made victorious. *PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Your power is made perfect in weakness. You are the Horn of My Salvation, and You are the Wellspring of Life. No matter what the circumstance, good or bad, I will put my hope and trust in You for with You all things are possible. Thank You for times of desperation because, in those moments, You teach me and show me more of Your goodness, Your faithfulness, and Your grace. Thank you for making my feet like a deer able to climb the mountain heights You have set me on, and when I come to You to have my strength renewed as I wait upon you, let me rise up with wings like an eagle. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.” -Isaiah 50:10
Divination/Witchcraft: Spellbound Captivation (Part 1) Introduction
Divination has permeated societies and cultures around the globe. It has filled our schools, homes, businesses, churches, commercials, television shows, media, movies, books, literature, video games, and the internet. Divination has disguised itself in what seems to be the most innocent to what is obviously blatant. It has filtered itself through words of manipulation and deceit as well as in vain repetition.
Divination is fathered by none other than Lucifer, the devil himself, called Satan, the serpent of old, and the adversary to your soul. In 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV), it states, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” and Jesus Christ Himself called Satan the Father of Lies as we can see in John 8:44 (GW) which states, “You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’t know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he’s doing what comes naturally to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies.”
Satan will never show you sin in its actual form because Satan knows if you knew what sin looked like, there is no way you would go near it. He will dress the sin to look fun, innocent, tantalizing, and/or seductive which will leave you wanting more if you are not paying attention and are unable to discern what is good and what is evil.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength,” (Deuteronomy 6:5). THE FACT IS SATAN WILL LIE TO YOU. If you are involved in any form of divination and call yourself a Christian, understand one thing: divination removes God from the throne of your life; And if God is not sitting on the throne of your life, there is only one other sitting on that throne. You cannot serve God and Satan at the same time. They do not share the same throne nor do they share the same kingdom. Understand divination, no matter what form you are entertaining, MUST be repented of and you must turn away from all divination, not just portions of it.
You are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the basic law of the temple is holiness. Do not defile your temple by entertaining that which is displeasing to God.
Linda A. Knowles
Coming Next: Divination/Witchcraft: (Part 2a) Spellbound Captivation Vain Repetition & Meditation…
When There Are Those Who Never Believed You Could Be Successful
No need for revenge.
Let your enemies fall apart at the seams
while you succeed,
and leave vengeance to God alone.
“For the battle is the Lord‘s…”
1 Samuel 17:47 (ESV)
“‘…for the battle is not yours but God’s.'”
2 Chronicle 20:15 (ESV)
Never Take His Sacrifice Frivolously
Jesus is the Savior, and if we truly love Him, we will obey Him. He is our LORD and our GOD. We are never to treat His sacrifice frivolously as Christ is the only means of salvation provided for us, and never take His mercy and grace for granted. He came here to earth as GOD in the flesh and dwelt among us. He is able to empathize with our weakness for He was tempted in every way yet He was perfect. His power is made perfect in weakness, and His grace is more than sufficient, and He is with you always, and HE is your strength.
“Then Jesus told her, ‘I Am the Messiah!'” (John 4:26 NLT)
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)
“Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!'” (John 20:28 ESV)
“Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” (Romans 9:5 NLT)
“Then he said, ‘I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.'” (John 1:51 NLT)
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2 ESV)
“The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this reason the Son of God was revealed, so that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8 BLB)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 KJV)
“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT)
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB)
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20 KJV)
“The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2 ESV)
“He safeguards the steps of his faithful ones, but wicked people are silenced in darkness because humans cannot succeed by their own strength.” (1 Samuel 2:9 GW)
Stained Glass Confessions 