“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert…”
(Isaiah 43:18-19 AMP)

Devotion:

January 1st ushers in a brand-new year, afresh with lofty ambitions, hopes and dreams. The troubles of the year just past fade away. With pen in hand or computer keyboard under our fingertips, we excitedly write down our “New Year’s resolutions, believing that this year is going to be better than the last.

God’s admonition to His chosen people, Israel, is a good reminder to the Church today, especially at the start of a New Year. Whether the year before was good or bad, let’s take whatever lessons can be learned and move on. Dwelling on the past hinders our full participation in the future.

There’s something much better than New Year’s resolutions, and that’s the Word of God. Make your most important “resolution” this year to spend quality time, meditating the Scriptures. God’s promise to do a new thing in each of our lives will come to pass as we draw close to Him.

Don’t worry that it looks impossible—with God all things are possible to him who believes. As God spoke to Israel, He is the God who puts a road in the wilderness, who makes a way where there seems to be no way. And, if you feel you lack in some area…that you don’t have what it takes, know this: He is the God who creates rivers in the desert and supplies all that you need.

Have a happy and blessed New Year!

Prayer:

Lord, I pray that You will speak into my life Your good plans and purposes for this new year. I thank You for the blessings and I let go of the troubles of last year. By faith, I receive the new thing that You are doing in my life and trust You to bring it to pass. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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As we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, let’s look at this week’s scripture, a prophecy about Him that was written 700 years before His birth. Though Jesus operated on earth as a man dependent upon the Holy Spirit, His Names, “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” reveal His power and divinity while “Wonderful Counselor” and “Prince of Peace” describe His gentle and compassionate nature.

This humble, meek Savior, who sacrificed Himself for the salvation of man, His own creation, was with us for only a short season before He returned to the Father. But soon, Jesus will come again to reign upon the earth. His government will surpass all the governments of the earth in power and peace. The injustices, division and violence that now plague our fallen world will be no more, for Christ will establish His kingdom and uphold it with justice and righteousness when He comes, and He will reign forever.

This Christmas as we look upon the newborn baby in the manger and the angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” let us remember that this sweet little babe will majestically return to earth as the most powerful of all—“King of kings and Lord of lords!”

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to the earth as a newborn babe, born of a virgin. I give You glory as the angels sang that night so long ago. I thank You, most of all, that Jesus paid the ultimate price for my sins, so that I can be forgiven and spend eternity with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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And looking toward His disciples, He began speaking: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever].
(Luke 6:20 AMP)

Devotion:

In the list we commonly call the “beatitudes,” the first one is our focus this week. Jesus is teaching His twelve disciples and the crowd that has assembled around Him. He addresses the humble…those who have child-like faith.

There are many examples in both Old and New Testaments of men and women who are filled with pride. Think of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Jezebel, the Pharisees, Herod, Elymas and others who tried to thwart the will of God for His people. Each of these may have been blessed for a season, but their blessings were short-lived. And, some of them met with a terrible end.

Believers in Jesus Christ receive a double “kingdom” blessing! Their end is blessed…an eternity spent with Jesus in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told such as these that the “kingdom of God is yours,” but He wasn’t speaking only about after we leave this earth, but also in our life here and now. The kingdom of God is within you, and as a citizen of that kingdom, you are blessed as you believe by faith and walk in kingdom principles. In the kingdom, you can be healed when the doctor says there’s no hope…you can become rich when you were born to poor parents…you can speak what you want and it will come to pass.

Don’t get bogged down by fear and earthly limitations you or others have put on you. Lift your sight higher—the kingdom of God is yours!

Prayer:

Lord, I pray Your blessing is upon me as I humble myself before You. Thank you that You have not made us, your children, wait until heaven to experience the blessings of Your kingdom, but they are working in my life right now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
(Romans 16:20 NCV)

Devotion:

When you are sick in your body, filled with anxiety, or facing a serious challenge in your life, it’s hard to feel peaceful. However, as children of God, we are not limited to earthly emotions, but we can walk in peace, no matter how impossible the situation seems.

Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” If you are born again, the grace of Jesus is with you and you have God’s peace living inside of you.

Peace represents wholeness in every area—your health, family, finances, ministry, business—whatever it might be. Whatever you are lacking, the God of peace will make whole. Other translations of this week’s scripture say, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Under your feet…Got it? He will give you power over satan and no longer will you be defeated by the enemy.

So today, whatever you are believing God for that satan has stolen, delayed or tried to destroy, know that help is on the way! The God of peace will soon take him out of the way, and you will be free!

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for Your peace that is so far above what the world offers. I believe I receive Your promise today that You are giving me power over what the devil has done in my life (name a situation where you’ve been experiencing attack or setback). The devil is under my feet and I am victorious! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.
(1 Corinthians 13:11)

Devotion:

When you are a baby or even a toddler, it’s normal that you’re wearing a diaper and making sounds that are unintelligible. Babies are not expected to contribute anything to the world—they’re just cute and bring joy to those around them.

As a child grows older, their abilities and responsibilities increase. They are able to dress themselves and carry on a conversation. They go to school and learn and begin to contribute to society through raking someone’s yard or babysitting.

It’s the same thing for a Christian. As a baby Christian, you have the Savior living inside of you, praise God! You begin to receive “unctions” from the Holy Spirit guiding you in your new way of life. But, as you grow into mature Christ-likeness, you have received much, and more is required of you. (See Luke 12:48.)v

Now, you live in the kingdom of God, and the Kingdom operates on a higher level than the world. Our speech is different—we call things that are not as though they were. Our sight is different—we don’t depend on what we see with our eyes, but we walk by faith. And our walk is different—it has purpose. We run the race that God has set before us to tap into His glorious destiny.

My friend, I decree over you today, “You are no longer a spiritual baby, but a fully-matured believer that walks in the superior ways of the Kingdom. You fulfill all of the good plans and purposes God has for your life through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. You are victorious in every situation because Christ lives in you.”

Prayer:

Father, thank you that I have “put away childish things.” I am “grown up” in Christ and moved only by love, faith and whatever I see in Your Word. I am a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and God’s destiny is being fulfilled in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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No doubt about it! God is good—good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
(Psalm 73:1-5 MSG)

Devotion:

Do you ever feel inferior, left out, or like you are doing without what others have? The psalmist felt the same way as he gazed upon the “rich” of this world, who had gained their wealth through living an ungodly lifestyle.

Psalm 73 goes on to say, “So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked” (verses 16-17).

God’s blessings and provision are promised to born-again believers and come without sorrow or painful toil. (See Proverbs 10:22.) Despite enjoying earthly wealth and possessions for a season, the person who rejects Christ and lives only for himself will find that his final end is destruction.

You live in the kingdom of God, where riches of every kind abound. You can access all that you desire—God has already laid it up in store. Line up your faith and your words with God’s Word, live a life of integrity with a pure heart, and you will receive both spiritual and earthly riches. God will be good to you!

Prayer:

I thank You Father that You have been good to me. I thank You for each blessing I’ve received. (Name a few things God has done for you.) I pray that You will keep my heart pure, unstained with the world’s sin, but fervently following after You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
(2 Corinthians 9:11-12 NIV)

Devotion:

This week, we take special time out to celebrate Thanksgiving, though every day should be an expression of gratitude to our God for the many gifts we’ve received through His Son: salvation, family, healing, provision, protection and so much more!

The Scriptures share that God blesses us richly, so that we can be generous toward others. Helping and giving to those in need is truly the gospel in action—a testimony to our faith in Jesus Christ.

This week, as you make plans to gather with family for a delicious feast, think of someone who might be spending the holiday alone, and invite them to join you. Or take a ready-made, hot Thanksgiving meal or holiday basket to a family who might be struggling to make ends meet.

When our blessings overflow into the lives of others, we receive a double harvest…a thankful heart for receiving and the joyful satisfaction of giving. Happy Thanksgiving!

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for Your abundant blessings to me. I pray for those who may be struggling, and ask You to show me what You’d have me to do to be a blessing to someone in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.
(Ephesians 6:12 AMP)

Devotion:

Is there someone you’re having difficulty dealing with…a family member, a boss, a neighbor, or someone else? Whatever the wrong that’s been done to you, it’s the demonic power behind it that is your real enemy.

The devil is a thief, who has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Satan and his demonic army are formidable foes. They look for unsuspecting or weak individuals to inhabit and carry out their sinister strategies against the people of God. Know this, however big the problems you are facing might seem, God is bigger!

When the giant Goliath taunted and threatened the armies of Israel, little David went after him with a slingshot, five small stones—and unstoppable faith! You have greater faith than David did because Jesus lives inside of you. God has given you the power to look past the offense to see the real enemy. Armed with faith, you are a “giant killer” and can overcome all things!

Prayer:

Lord, I pray the next time I am tempted to blame someone, You’ll remind me that the real enemy is not the person, but rather the forces of darkness that operate through him or her. I put my trust in You and bless the person who’s hurt me. I pick up my slingshot of faith and aim it at the real enemy—the devil. Thank you, Lord, for the victory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
(Psalm 35:27)

Devotion:

Walking in faith, spreading the Gospel, helping the poor, giving to God’s work, and obeying whatever the Holy Spirit tells you to do…these are all “righteous causes” that please God. When you make them a priority in your own life, you will have abundant joy. You will start off each day declaring, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.”

The Scriptures are filled with admonitions to “praise the Lord!” Being joyful makes you feel good no matter what you’re going through. And, the joy of the Lord gives you strength. Magnify His greatness and He will bring increase and prosperity into your life. It is God’s will that you prosper, “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]” (3 John 2 AMP).

God’s will is for you to prosper spiritually, physically, financially, and in every area of your life, In fact, He takes pleasure in your prosperity! If you’re not seeing this in your own life, start confessing Psalm 35:27 and believe this word is for you! Faith requires corresponding action. As you favor God’s righteous causes, you will experience God’s prosperity.

Prayer:

Lord, Thank you that it is Your will for me to prosper in (name an area where you are struggling; i.e., health, family, business, finances). You are the mighty God of heaven! I magnify your greatness and Your wonderful promises to man. I believe You will increase me and take pleasure in my prosperity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
(Isaiah 12:3 NIV)

Devotion:

Let’s back up one verse in this scripture to verses 2 and 3 in the Good News Translation (GNT): “God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord gives me power and strength; he is my savior. As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so God’s people rejoice when he saves them.”

Have you ever been really, really thirsty, so dry your throat feels parched? You reach for a glass of cool, clear water—and oh, it tastes so good! Well, that’s what this scripture is saying about God’s saving power. Don’t be afraid! You can depend on Him to come through for you.

Whether you’re sick and need healing…deep in debt and they’re about to repossess your car or foreclose on your home…or whether your unmarried teenage daughter says, “I’m pregnant” or your son calls home and says, “I’m in jail. Can you bail me out?”

God is always willing to rescue you when you cry out to Him with your heartfelt need. Whatever your need is today, trust your heavenly Father to do what He says He will do. His Word is true. Rejoice in God, your Savior, and He will give you strength and power to overcome!

Prayer:

Lord, I bring my need for (name your need) before you today. My trust is in You. Thank you for filling me with strength and power, and for (speak the answer you are expecting from God). I rejoice now by faith that I will receive the victory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s book, The Law of Confession. To order this powerful, must-read book, click here. Discover how the words you speak produce either good or evil and will determine your destiny and affect everything around you.

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