Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Our opening verse in The Passion Translation says, “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” He’s telling you to roll your cares and concerns over to Jesus. How encouraging that is. It’s a simple invitation to a life of unending peace and joy. Hallelujah!

The Amplified Classic version renders it thus: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately {and} cares about you watchfully.” This means leave none out. There’re people who care so much and are troubled about many things. It seems they must worry to be “happy”; what a terrible way to live.

God loves you. He cares for you affectionately and protectively watches over you. This is what He says of Himself with respect to you. He doesn’t want you flustered or worried about anything. Worrying will steal your joy and reduce your effectiveness.

You may say, “The things I worry about are things of the Kingdom; I have a target to win many souls, so it gets me worried.” No. He told us to win souls; but He didn’t tell us to worry about winning them. So, refuse to worry! Every so often, say, “I refuse to be anxious over anything; but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, I make my request known unto God. Therefore, His peace that surpasses all understanding garrisons my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”

The things He asked us to do are never burdensome. He said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me…and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” That’s it! He’s taken the stress out of life. Yours is to act on His Word. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God, and His peace that surpasses all understanding shall garrison your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

PRAYER / CONFESSION

I’m full of joy, basking in the grace and glory of Christ and full blessings of the Gospel. I’m conscious of God’s love and care for me and for every detail of my life; everything that pertains to me has been perfected! I live in peace and function from a place of rest now and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God (Colossians 1:25)

As I studied the Bible, I realized that God never left us in the dark about anything. For example, the songs we sing are supposed to be according to dispensations but many don’t realize it. Our praise of God has to be according to our dispensation—where we live in God’s calendar—His prophetic timing, and where we are with God.

When you don’t understand this, you may think that every song is okay, but that’s not true. The Apostle John, while exiled on the island of Patmos, expounded on three different groups by the revelation of the Spirit. The first group is found in Revelation 5:8-9. These are four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The apostles are part of the 24 elders, and they represent the Church. Read the lyrics of their song in Revelation 5:9.

Then, we have the second group in Revelation 14:1-3. These are the 144,000 (about 12 thousand from each of the 12 tribes of Israel). The Bible says, “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3).

They sang the song, but nobody could capture or understand what they were singing. Why? It’s because the song didn’t belong to the dispensation of the four “beasts” and twenty-four elders.

Lastly, the third group—the tribulation saints—who got the victory over the beast. This is found in Revelation 15. But these tribulation saints who’re divided into two groups (the Jews, and those who became Christians after the Rapture) sang two songs. They sang the song of Moses, and they sang the song of the Lamb (read Revelation 15:3-4).

This immediately awakens an understanding in the Church of Jesus Christ that our singing has to be according to revelation and our dispensation. We have to sing songs that truly praise and worship God; songs that are consistent with who we are in Christ, our dominion and heritage in Him (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Hallelujah!

PRAYER / CONFESSION

Dear Father, thank you for choosing me to know and walk in the knowledge of your will in wisdom and spiritual understanding. I’m guided by the Holy Spirit to walk in your light and in your truth, today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1).

The Word of God is the wisdom of God. In Proverbs 8, we read of the appeal of Wisdom. In the eighteenth verse, for example, Wisdom says, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.” How come, in spite of this, there’re more poor people in the world? It’s because many ignore Wisdom.

Again, Wisdom says, “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (Proverbs 8:20-21). This is enough for you to bury yourself in the study and meditation of the Word daily. When you give the Word attention, you’re giving attention to Wisdom.

Sadly, many haven’t cultured themselves to exalt Wisdom, to embrace and celebrate Wisdom. How do you exalt or honour Wisdom? It’s by honouring the Word, giving the Word first place in your life, making the Word your only arbiter.

Proverbs 4:7-8 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.” The wisdom of God—the Word of God—will bring you to a place of honour. That means if you’ll not exalt the Word of God in your life and in the lives of others, you’ll not come to a place of honour.

Also, it says Wisdom will promote you; meaning that if you exalt the Word of God, you’ll have life’s promotions. You may be promoted at work, or in school, but being promoted in life comes from exalting and giving the Word first place in your life. Make up your mind that you’ll always honour the Lord by honouring and exalting His Word.

PRAYER / CONFESSION

I immerse myself in the Word; therefore, my life is the expression of the wisdom of God. As I give time to studying and meditating on God’s Word, I’m more acquainted with the character of the Father; I have insight into His perfect will, and I walk worthy of Him, pleasing Him in all things. Hallelujah!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life… (John 14:6).

Knowing the origin of life is one of science’s most perplexing mysteries. No one has ever created life. The very source or substance of life hasn’t been known to man. But 1 John 1:2 tells us something so profound; it says, “…life was manifested, and we have seen it….”

This means life came out of obscurity and was shown to us. How? Who or what did John and the people of his day see that they called life? It was Jesus! He is life personified. Hallelujah! Imagine that you saw someone or something that says to you, “I’m life; I’m responsible for your existence.” What would you think?

Well, it happened. That’s what we read in our theme verse. Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life….” That’s an amazing declaration! Who could ever dare say such a thing? Jesus proved His claim: A man named Lazarus was dead and buried for four days, and they sent for Jesus. When Jesus got there, He said to Martha, Lazarus’ sister, “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

Moments later, Jesus stood by the grave of Lazarus and “…cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43). To the utter bewilderment of the people gathered, Lazarus came back to life! Hallelujah! That wasn’t the first person He would raise from the dead. He had raised the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17), and Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:41-56).

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. God gave Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as God has given Him (John 17:2). This covers everything that He came to do; it’s the biggest of them all: He came to give us life. You received that life and became a partaker of the divine nature when you were born again. 1 John 5:11-12 says, “… this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Glory to God!

PRAYER / CONFESSION

I have the very life and nature of God in me, because I’m born again. This God-life makes me impregnable, causing me to walk in victory, glory, dominion and excellence always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.