It is finished! It is already done! He is the only way to the Father! He knows our end from the beginning. He is Creator, He is Lord, and He is God! Allow Him to restore your soul today. What a Good Friday it is!

Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

In today's focus, the word perfect is addressed again. This time God is instructing Abram to walk before Him and be perfect. God had a great purpose Abram and it couldn't be fulfilled outside of his obedience. The whole human race depended on his obedience. He had to be able to hear God's instructions, and his life had to exemplify that which God desired. Christ makes us perfect before the Father. Let us surrender to Him. By His power and might, let us walk perfect as He is perfect.

Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

What exactly is grace? According to the Strong's Bible Dictionary, grace means acceptance and favor. We too need God's grace. God's grace is free and we are undeserving of it. The word perfect doesn't mean that Noah didn't do anything wrong. It means integrity, moral, sincerely, and whole.  So Noah received God's grace because He chose to obey Him instead of walking in His own way. I'm sure that it wasn't easy.  He didn't have the power to do this on His own. It was God's power that kept Him. He wants to do the same for us.

Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

What are some areas in your life where you need to trust God more? As Abraham, we must trust and have faith in God. He is the true God. No matter what His instructions are, or where He leads us, He has a plan for our lives. We may not understand everything but we have to know in our hearts that He holds our tomorrow. His plan is better than ours.   


Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

How do you define self-worth? Is it in friendships? Is it in your outer appearance? Is it even in possessions?

In this very self-centered world, we can easily lose focus of our true worth!

What is worth anyway and why is so important? Is it the way that people define us? Or Is it how we feel about ourselves from day to day? The simple answer to this question is No!

The Webster's Dictionary defines worth as the value of something measured by its qualities or by the esteem in which it is held; the moral or personal value of something.

After viewing this definition, the word value stood out to me. I was reminded of how I didn't realize that I had value and that my worth was far greater than the choices that I made in my past. Like myself, many others place value on things and even other people, but they rarely stop to reflect on their own self-worth.


So where is our true worth found? Our true worth is found in Christ! This may not be the popular answer, yet it is truth!

In Genesis 1:27 the following words are recorded, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

So we must first understand that we were created in God's image, not the images that we create for ourselves nor how others view us. 

And just what does it mean to be created in God's image? The Strong's definition of image is likeness; of resemblance to. The Webster's Dictionary goes on to define image as a visual representation of something.

Furthermore, Job 33:4 states, "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Isaiah 64:8 records, "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

Therefore what can we conclude from these scriptures? We were made by God, for God, and in His likeness. We bear God's image! 

What a life changing revelation! We are so much more than the world's standard and even the false picture that we paint for the world to see! We were made body, soul and spirit. Our spirit man is eternal as God almighty is eternal! We were made beautiful just as we are! No changes needed! No opinions accepted!


We are beautiful because God is beautiful, and we are made like Him! Nothing more, nothing less. We have to accept this truth for ourselves. It begins with surrender and recognizing the divine nature of Jesus Christ! And as we surrender our lives to Christ, He reveals our worth to us. He restores our souls, delivers us from bondage and, through His power He helps us love the beauty that we are in Him.  Then we can come to a realization that no matter what we have been through, no matter what choices we have made; we were created by God and are valued by Him! We have worth and our worth is found in the living God, the Creator of heaven and earth! The Alpha and The Omega, Jesus the Christ!

 If you haven't already, place your trust in Christ and in Him you will understand your value!  Let Him be glorified in your life! He is alive and is the giver of life! In Him, you will never again question your worth!

Enjoy this worship song by one of my favorite gospel artists, Kari Jobe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKzS4SjBeb8

#hope-in-Christ


Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

Scripture Focus:
Romans 6:16 NKJV - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Word Analysis (Blue Letter Bible):
Present - (yield; stand with)
Slaves - (servants)
Obey - (submission)

What is the thing or person that keeps us from fully surrendering to Christ? Is it religious tradition? Is it family? Is it our careers? Friends? Spouse? or fleshly desires?

I ask this question because I had to personally reflect on this myself. First let's look at the definition of surrender?

Dictionary.com and the 1828 Dictionary define surrender in the following way:
To yield to the power of another; to resign; to give up; to relinquish

This definition is very powerful and eye opening! I don't think that we realize how much things or people cause us to draw back from seeking God with our whole heart. Or how we have surrendered to many things, but not Christ.

The scripture above from the book of Romans describes the effects of surrendering to anything other than Christ our Lord. The result is sin and death.

This scripture comes to life for me because recently I walked in stagnation and I had not surrendered my all to Christ. I was reflecting on my past and what man (people) had done to me or spoken against my life. I experienced heartbreak, disappointments, and  even abuse. I was confused and didn't understand why those things had happened to me. One example, I watched my dad suffer through sickness and die from kidney failure. As a result of all of this, I struggled with trusting others. I struggled with religion because somehow I knew that there was more to God than that. I internalized my pain and wanted acceptance and affirmation from others. Sometime later, sickness came as a distraction as well. I was diagnosed with asthma and then Type 2 Diabetes. The Diabetes was partly the result of steroid treatment for asthma.  

Then One day, I begin to have a "But God Experience." God begin to remind me of His promises for my life! He spoke to my heart and helped me to understand that He is all that I need! He showed me that even in the absence of everyone else; I am not alone! He is with me and He will never leave me nor forsake me as other had. You see, He never left my side; I pulled back. I got distracted and begin to surrender to the voices of my past and the voices of my pain. God showed me that some of my faith died with my earthly father. Yet, in His great mercy, He reminded me that He is my father. He is eternal. He is the giver of life, sovereign, just and He created me for His glory. I needed to surrender my heart to Him and so my journey began with a simple "Yes."

Each day Christ continues to draw me nearer as I continue to say "Yes"! I thank Him for His grace and mercy. By His power and great love, He is causing me to surrender it all to Him. Now as I go into my prayer room every morning, I want to stay there and commune with Him. I know where He brought me from and I don't want to return. He is my peace. He is my joy. He is the only hope there is for my life. He is life, life eternal!

So I say you today, put your trust in Him; lean not to your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6)! The things and the people of this world can not fulfill what is only found in Him. Find our whatever your "it" is and begin to say "Yes" Lord I surrender it all. Then seek after Him with all of your heart. There, in the secret place of the most high (Psalm 91), you will find rest for your soul!


Let us be found only slaves of Christ!


Enjoy this worship song:

I Surrender All!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8tFO7Plm8


#Hope-in-Christ



Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

Scripture Focus:

Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Cor. 15:47 - The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is from heaven.

Phil 2:9-10 - Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth

As we continue in the affirming truth series of scripture, Jesus is now identified as savior and Lord of all!

In the above scripture references, we find that we must confess and believe in our hearts to be saved. Christ is the only way to be saved from our sins. Therefore, this is another confirmation that Christ is Creator and one with God the Father because no earthly man can save one from sin.

He is the Lord from heaven above according to 1 Corinthians 15:47. His name is above every name according to Philippians 2:9-10.

This devotional causes me to reflect on my own personal experience in coming to the knowledge of truth. From the time I was a young girl, I was not aware of this eternal truth! It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I learned I needed a relationship with Christ and that He is the only way to the Father. I didn't know how to do it or what to even say. I knew in my heart that there had to be more, but I had been raised in religion not relationship.

One day after going through many years of heartbreak and pain. I entered a salon and met the woman that would lead me to this very truth. I went in to be made beautiful on the outside, but God had another plan for my life! He wanted to make me whole! He had been drawing me by His spirit for some time. I had gone through depression and somehow knew that something was missing from my life. God wanted to give me true beauty. Eternal beauty in Christ!

A few minutes after entering, I sat down in the beautician's chair and soon learned that she was an evangelist. I felt very comfortable talking to her and I then begin to open up. She spoke the words that would change my life forever. She stated, "Want God more than you want anything else." I was confused so I asked her to repeat what she had just said, and she did.

As I was headed home, I begin to weep. I begin to talk to God. I told Him that I was sorry for wanting anything more than He. Through supernatural intervention, He led me to the cross of Christ. That day I asked Christ to be my savior and Lord, and I have not looked back. I have been walking with Him for over 10 years now and He is so very faithful!

I am a living witness to this affirming truth! Christ is savior and Lord! In me, He turned a mess into a message. Call upon that name by faith and He will do the same for you. He is that very peace and joy that  we all long for!

Enjoy this worship song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vec_kfgD6Mc

Your turn, leave your answers in the comment section:
H - How do these scriptures help you to know God?
O - What other observations did you notice in these scriptures?
P - Why do you think the words were recorded? Purpose.
E - How do these scriptures encourage you more?

What do you think is the overall message of hope?

Be blessed,
hope-in-christ
 

Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

Scripture Focus:
Romans 13:14 - But put on (sink into, array, clothe one's self) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (carnel, human nature apart from divine influence) to fulfill its lusts.

Gal. 5:1 - Stand fast (persist, persevere) therefore in the liberty (freedom) by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again (anew) with a yoke (burden) of bondage (slavery).

As women, many of us love to go shopping, dress up, and look beautiful! Have you ever thought about your spiritual attire? We spend so much time being concerned with the things of this world and our outward appearance. As I was studying the above scriptures, I started to make this analogy and ask myself the following question: "Am I adorned with Christ?"

You see we now live in a time where there is great compromise and holiness is not at the top of many agendas. However, the word of God instructs us that we must participate in our walk with Christ.  We must live holy, set apart lives. This should be at the top of our daily agenda.

We hear so much false doctrine and many people are not reading the Word of God for themselves. Therefore, there is confusing and deception on every hand. God knew that these times would come, and He reminds us in His word to stand fast or persist in the liberty of our freedom in Christ. If sin is a yoke, how can we walk in it and the freedom of Christ all at the same time? We can't!

Also, don't be entangled again or anew causes us to better understand that sin is a type of slavery of which we should not return. Our lives are renewed in Christ!

The only way that we can truly be overcomers and walk out the above scriptures is by falling in love with Jesus and adorning ourselves with Him. He must be our top priority! The phrase stand fast denotes fighting through or for something. Therefore, this is a daily process. Outside of Christ, we are weak! As we walk with Him, He gives us power to overcome!

So today and everyday let us walk in liberty and be hidden in Christ, our hope! Let us be adorned with His beauty, grace, and holiness! Besides, this is true definition of beauty!

Enjoy this worship song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vNPcmLzlvI

Be Blessed,
hope-in-Christ


Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.


 

Scripture Focus:
Hebrews 1:1-2 - God (Supreme Divinity), who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,  has in these last days spoken to us by His  Son, whom He has appointed (ordained, set) heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:3 - who being the brightness of His (God's) glory and the express image (exact expression, marked likeness, exact copy, facsimile) of His person, and upholding (bearing, carrying) all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down (to confer a kingdom of one, to settle) at the right hand (place of honor and authority) of the Majesty (greatness, divinity) on high,

Have you have ever tried to understand the triune nature of God? This is something that our finite minds can't completely grasp! However, we can truly say that Christ is because He has made Himself real in the lives of those of us that walk with Him! He is a wonder, a great and mighty God!

This devotional is the second in the series of "The Affirming Truth of Christ."  In the first post, we reviewed how Apostle John identifies Christ as the Word (Logos). The scripture focus today comes from the book of Hebrews. It describes Christ as the express image of His (God's) person. One of the words used in Strong's is facsimile. When I first saw this term, I automatically thought about a fax machine. I then looked it up on dictionary.com and it stated, "An exact copy." You see when an individual sends a fax it is the image of the original. Therefore, it further confirms Christ and God as one. What a great mystery to me! This is so amazing to read! When someone questions the deity of Christ, we can take them to this particular scripture. It also identifies His power! No one has the power to purge sins except He be God! Can you? Can I? We know that the answer to both questions is no!

In addition, the above text continues to reveal that God communicates with us. Therefore, we can confidently tell those that don't believe to ask Him to reveal Himself to them and He will. He wants all to know Him. They don't have to look any further!

Now dig a little deeper:

H - How do these scriptures help us to better understand God?
These scriptures help us to understand the love that God has for us. He had a plan before He even created the universe.  

O - What are some other observations?
1. Only Christ can cleanse us of our sins by His great power and authority.
2. We can know Christ for ourselves.

P - What is the purpose of these recorded scriptures?
They identify Christ as the only truth and the only way to the Father because the world has many religions and beliefs.

E - What encouragement can we take from this?
1. There is security in Christ.
2. Provision has already been made; we just need to surrender our lives to Him.

Be Blessed,

hope-in-christ


 

Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

John 8:31-35 - NKJV (Biblegateway.com)
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.


This morning as I went into my prayer room a song by Eddie James started to play in my heart. The song is titled "Free to  Run." As I knelt to pray, I began to sing this song. I then felt the peace of God in my heart for what He has called me to do. I could hear the Lord whisper verse 36 of John 8, "Who the Son sets free is free indeed." Then I heard, "Don't be bound by the opinions of man as you go forward." "Whom I have loosed, no one can bound again!"

​ In the scriptures cited above, Jesus was ministering to the Jews; he was trying to help them to understand that they weren't free because of their lineage. He was revealing to them their spiritual condition. When we come to Christ and we allow Him to cleanse us of our sin, we then have a freedom because the Spirit of God now lives in us.

God has called us to do great works in this earth! Often times as believers, we are walking around still bound. We are no longer bound by sin but by the opinions of others and our own fears. We know in our hearts that we are called by God but we often allow these things  to overshadow that call on our lives! We have to remember to seek to please God and to walk out our salvation and purpose in the freedom of Christ our Lord!

Therefore, let us be reminded that He called us and we didn't call ourselves! Let us run-on in Him, walk in His will, and simply pray for others to do the same. Our identity is found in Him! For only in Him do we live, move, and have our being! In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So we are not to fear, but walk in His strength and power! Let us be free to live for Him and hold fast to His promises! We are free indeed!

Enjoy this worship song by Eddie James on Youtube!
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6M9eiBydvg
​

#hope-in-Christ​



Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.