https://renewalchristiancenter.org Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/23/a-reason-to-give-in-worship Sun, 23 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/23/a-reason-to-give-in-worship

"After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as He promised . . . you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb.
. . . In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' 
And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with His mighty hand."
Exodus 13:11-16

God delivered the Hebrews out by visiting several plagues on the Egyptians. The killing of the firstborn son of every human and animal was of eternal significance. It broke the back of Pharaoh and caused him to acknowledge the mighty power of Yahweh.
God made a distinction between the Israelites and Egyptians by sparing their own sons. The LORD then asked the Israelites to give him the firstborn males of every womb from that point on. This was to remind them of how God had graciously dealt with them in Egypt.

God was aware that future generations, not privy to the experience of the redemption from Egypt, would have questions about worship and giving of the firstborn males to God. He prepared them with an answer, "When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed the firstborn both of people and animals . . .  This is why I sacrifice to the LORD."
Without a heartfelt reason behind our worship, there will be neither commitment, passion, nor joy to it. We will either refuse to worship or at best worship grudgingly. 

When our worship is based upon God's goodness to us; when our worship is informed by the fact that God shed the Blood of His firstborn Son to save our lives; when our worship is informed by the fact that God brought us into a spacious land flowing with milk and honey; when our worship is informed by the fact that it is Yahweh who gives us breath and the ability to work and obtain wealth, we will have no reason to worship God grudgingly. We will have no reason to be compelled to give of our Time, Talents and Treasures to the God who redeemed us and continues to graciously sustain us. Giving worship to God will be a cheerful experience.

So what is the basis of your worship and giving? Is it out of love and appreciation for what God has done for you? If so, then grudging worship and giving should never be part of your being! 

PRAYER:
LORD, please forgive me for any ingratitude. Help me to worship and give to You with joy and meaning. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/21/no-entry-permit-for-the-destroyer-because-of-the-blood Fri, 21 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/21/no-entry-permit-for-the-destroyer-because-of-the-blood

Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover Lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.
When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
Exodus 12:21-23.

I wonder if we truly understand the authority and divine protection we have as Believers. I wonder if we truly utilize that authority and consciously walk in that protection. I wonder if our lives and God's Church would be different if we appropriated all the spiritual resources at our disposal in the daily occurrences of life. Particularly, I wonder if we truly ponder over the power we have through the Blood of Jesus. As I reflect on this passage, I don't think we consciously remind ourselves of the power and protection we have as children of God. Knowledge is great,  but a continual application of that knowledge is what makes the difference in situations.

Moses reminded the Israelites that, "When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood . . . and will pass over the doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down."
The blood of the lamb at Passover, which was symbolic of the Blood of the Holy Lamb of God who was slain on the cross, was a bulwark against the activities of the destroyer. The presence of the blood meant the entry permit had been taken away from the destroyer.

We must take a fresh look at the power of the Blood of Jesus and consciously walk in the victory we have through the Blood. We have forgiveness through the blood, we have access to God's throne through the blood, and our homes are spared from the activities of the enemy because of the Blood of Jesus. 

This means: Our bodies must be spared from the destructive attacks of the enemy. Our jobs, homes, children, marriages, and relationships must be spared. God's Church must be spared.
Because of the Blood of Jesus, none of the weapons against us shall prosper. Surely, they will gather, but not by the Lord, just as the Bible says in Isaiah 54(KJV). The Spirit of God will lift up a standard against him. That is a divine promise.
There is no entry permit for the Enemy because of the Blood of Jesus. 
Question: What if we radically believed this and lived in righteousness and obedience?
The Enemy must give up every false permit he has obtained against us. 
The Blood of Jesus has made him permitless!

PRAYER:
Jesus, I thank you for Your Blood. Please help me to consciously appropriate the victory I have through Your Blood. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/20/my-times-are-in-your-hands Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:30:56 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/20/my-times-are-in-your-hands

But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Let me not be put to shame, LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead.
Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
Psalm 31:14-20

My times are in your hands.
What better place to place your life than in the hands of God. David was a man who experienced extreme pain and extreme glory. As the anointed future king of Israel, he found himself running to preserve his life from King Saul for years. He slept in caves and survived by doing odd jobs and security work. But through all his trials, he looked up to God for sustenance and protection. So, he writes, "But I trust in you, LORD . . . My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies . . . let your face shine on your servant."
 
Your times are in the hands of God.
May God deliver you from the hands of your enemies; from those who pursue you.
May the face of God shine on you, and may God save you in His unfailing love.

Because you cry out to God, may you never be put to shame.
May God silence all lying lips against you.
May the lips of those who speak arrogantly against you be sealed.

May you enjoy the abundance of good things God has stored up for those who fear Him.
May you enjoy God's abundance in the sight of all.
May God shelter you from all human intrigues and accusing tongues.
May God shine His face on you.

PRAYER:
Father, I receive these blessings for your glory. May all that I am and ever hope to be bring honor to your name. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/19/stand-still-and-see-the-deliverance-of-the-lord Wed, 19 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/19/stand-still-and-see-the-deliverance-of-the-lord

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses. . .  "It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you. You need only to be still."
Exodus 14:10-14

God had a plan of deliverance that was being diligently carried out. It involved some hair-raising moments when it seemed as if the enemies of Israel had the upper hand over God and His people. But over and over again, God assured Moses that those scary and trying moments were all part of the plan. They were designed to bring Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt to their knees in a way that would cause them to revere Yahweh in a most glorious manner.

At the Red Sea, the Israelites looked back only to see all the elite forces of Egypt marching furiously after them. Terrified, they said to Moses, "It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert."
But Moses simply assured them to stand still and see the deliverance of the LORD. He uttered these memorable words: "The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again."

The workings of God have not changed. His faithfulness and loyalty to His children remain the same through the ages, but neither has the goals of the Enemy. He is still pursuing God's children to steal, kill and destroy. Like the forces of Pharaoh, the forces of hell are relentless in their pursuit of the righteous.

The words of Moses to the Israelites are still relevant today, "Stand still and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you."

These are not empty words. If we take them to heart and believe them, we will see the deliverance of the LORD in our situations. The forces of "Egypt" are no match for the forces of the God of the-angel-armies. The Egyptians we see today, we will never see again because God is fighting for us. Let us stand still and see the deliverance God is bringing.

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that the battle belongs to you. I will stand still to see your deliverance.
Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/18/wandering-by-divine-design Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/18/wandering-by-divine-design

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.  . . . By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light . . .  
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth between Migdol and the sea.  . . . Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.'  And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this.
Exodus 13:17-14:4

God knows the plans He has for us. They are plans to prosper us and not to harm us. They are plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). The wisdom of God is infinite; our wisdom is finite. God is omniscient; our knowledge is limited. He knows what is best for us and will give us nothing short of His very best. He knows how to prepare us to adequately handle the blessings He has in store for us. He knows what we can and cannot handle. But the question is: Do we really act as if that is truly the case?

It is fascinating to reflect on why God did not lead the Israelites on the shorter route from Goshen in Egypt into the Promised land of Canaan. The most logical thing was to take the shorter route through Philistine country. But God chose a longer wandering route.

God gave two reasons. First, it was too soon to expose the Israelites to warfare. The shorter and logical route was lined by a string of Egyptian fortresses and there would have been massive attacks against the Israelites. This would have been discouraging and caused a resubmission to Egypt. God wanted to spare them from that experience.
Second, God wanted to give Pharaoh the impression that the Israelites were just wandering aimlessly around in the desert. Pharaoh would come after them and God would gain glory over him in the process.

Divine delays and wanderings are rather frustrating. Many times, those long delays and desert wanderings evoke lots of questions from us. But the truth is, God knows what we can adequately handle. Sometimes quick success can expose us to battles that we might not be able to handle. So, in His infinite wisdom, God might take us around the desert in a long and wandering route to adequately prepare us to handle our blessings and also outwit the enemy.

There is a reason for the desert wandering. Be patient. It is a divine design! It is part of the plan!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that you have a reason behind my wanderings. Please help me to patiently wait on you. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/17/the-protective-power-of-the-blood Mon, 17 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/17/the-protective-power-of-the-blood

"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." . . .  
At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt . . . Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people . . .  Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." Exodus 12:12-32.

Pharaoh had resisted God's command to release the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery.
Releasing them was going to be a massive economic loss to Egypt because the Israelites provided free labor for the king's projects. No plague seemed strong enough to cause Pharaoh to bow to Yahweh. The plague of frogs, gnats, darkness, flies, hail, and locusts seemed to have no effect on Pharaoh. But there was one plague that brought him to his knees: the striking of all the firstborn sons of Egypt. Every Egyptian household, including Pharaoh's, lost their firstborn son but God spared the Israelites because of the blood applied to their doorposts.
God said to Moses, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you."

The blood on the doorposts was a precursor of the blood of Jesus that was going to be shed for our redemption. The Bible tells us in I Peter 1:2 that we are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus.
The blood of Jesus continues to be a spiritual mark on every believer. We are protected by the blood of Jesus. When the enemy sees the blood on a believer, he has to pass over. Destructive plagues must pass over. Every form of evil must pass over us because of the sprinkled blood on our lives.

We must live with confidence and assurance because we are covered and protected by the blood of Jesus. Jesus made a public spectacle of the Enemy through the shedding of His holy blood on the cross. That is the source of our victory and protection.

Would you take a moment today to reflect on the protective power of the blood of Jesus?
Would you take a moment to thank God for sending Jesus to shed His blood for us?  
The power in the blood of Jesus is unrivaled. Thank God for the blood of Jesus. 

PRAYER:
Prayer: Father, I thank you for the blood of Jesus. Thank you for the forgiveness and protection that is mine because of the blood of Jesus. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/16/god-makes-a-distinction Sun, 16 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/16/god-makes-a-distinction

So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.
There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt -- worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you!' . . .  Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.
The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you -- so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." . . . the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.  Exodus 11:4-10

If only we could have a glimpse of the divine plan a little ahead of time before it fully unfolds. Sometimes, God will intimate to us what is ahead. In His compassion and concern for our humanity, He gives us a little glimpse of what to expect so that we would not be utterly discouraged and give up. He might give us a warning about the challenges ahead. But other times He would remain completely silent because He expects us to trust His plan and leadership. Moses was fortunate. God told him to expect stiff resistance from Pharaoh.

I believe there were two lessons God wanted Moses to learn:
First, God said to Moses that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened in spite of all the miracles Moses would be performing. But there was a divine agenda behind it all: "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt."

As you wonder about the fierce resistance to the manifestation of the promises of God in your life, don't lose sight of that lesson. It could well be that God is allowing things to get to a seemingly impossible level so that you will see the manifestation of His power in an even greater manner. He might well be wanting to multiply His wonders in your situation.

Second, God said to Moses, "Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel." God will always protect His own even in the midst of divine judgment. Be assured that God will not leave you vulnerable. Amidst all the challenges and seeming destruction around us, God has distinctly set you apart with divine protection. 
God makes a distinction between His own and those who do not belong to Him.
Don't be afraid. You have already been set apart with divine protection. Your life is marked with divine distinction. 

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the assurance that the intensified challenges are meant to result in an even greater manifestation of your power in my life. Thank you also for making a distinction in my life with your divine protection. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/15/praising-the-lord-morning-and-night Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/15/praising-the-lord-morning-and-night

It is good to praise the LORD, and make music in your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!
Psalm 92:1-5

Lord:
As I reflect on the gift of life, I am reminded that it is simply by your grace that I have lived to see another day. The mystery of sleeping and waking up with the breath of life is beyond my understanding. There are many who did not wake up from their sleep, but you have graciously allowed me to see the light of another day. So, I offer my praises to you this morning. It is good to praise you this morning and proclaim your undeserved love to me.

Tonight, as I retire from the events of yet another day on earth, please help me to reflect on your faithfulness. Help me not to forget that it is because of your love that I had not been consumed by the myriad of things that could have snuffed out my life. An accident could have ended my life. An unexplained malfunction in my body could have ended my life. Being at the wrong place could have resulted in tragedy, but your faithfulness keeps me to see the end of yet another day. Help me to proclaim your love in the morning, and declare your faithfulness at night.

I sing for joy at what you have done in my life.
I thank you for the many storms you have brought me through. I thank you for the strength you have given me to persevere and endure.
The plans you have for me are for my good and never for evil; they are plans to prosper me and not to harm me. They are plans to give me hope and a future.
Your works are great and your thoughts are profound!

As wonderful as you have been to me, my heart is filled with gladness at that which you have ahead for me. With the eye of faith, I see you doing exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ask or imagine. So, I praise you this morning, and tonight I will declare your faithfulness.
"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night."

PRAYER:
Father, I praise you this morning, and tonight I will declare your faithfulness. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/14/discouragement-when-the-going-gets-tough Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/14/discouragement-when-the-going-gets-tough

Therefore, say to the Israelites:  'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them . . . I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD."
Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country." But Moses said to the LORD, "If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips."
Exodus 6:6-12.

When we find ourselves in the fiery furnace of long afflictions, our hearts become discouraged. Even a word of prophecy or an assurance from God doesn't seem to settle in our spirit. When the going gets tough, it is easy for discouragement to set in.

That was the case with the Israelites. Things had gotten really bad and they watched their slave masters mercilessly whipping their leaders with lashes at the instigation of Pharaoh. They had had it and they wanted no more reminders of what God was going to do for them. They told Moses that they were tired of the promises. They would not listen to him. 

Moses was also discouraged, he was hesitant to go before Pharaoh with one more instruction from Yahweh that he should let His people go. He was blunt with God, "If the Israelites would not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?"
That was not an easy place to be as a leader. And it is not an easy place to be for any Believer.

But God was about to show His mighty power in the midst of the extreme discouragement.
Are you discouraged? Are you tired of hearing the repeated promises of God? Can I encourage you to hold on just a little bit longer?  In the midst of your discouragement, God is about to move! The chains are about to be broken. In an instant, God can catapult you to new heights and your discouragement will turn into a powerful song and testimony to the glory of God.
Look ahead with confidence. Our God is more than able.

PRAYER:
LORD, help me to hold on even in the midst of discouragement. Help me not to focus on my problems but to focus on how mighty you are. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/13/god-is-a-covenant-keeper Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/13/god-is-a-covenant-keeper

Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Why, LORD, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?  Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty right hand he will let them go . . .  I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.
Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites . . . and I have remembered my covenant.  . . . I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment." Exodus 5:22-6:6

God is a Covenant-Keeper. He might allow us to experience severe challenges to strengthen our faith and deepen our trust in Him, but He will always come through for us. One of my favorite thoughts for meditation is that "In the end, God always wins." That is the plain truth!

Moses, the man to whom God had appeared in the burning bush and given assurances to that he would rescue the Israelites, found himself asking the "why question." "Why LORD, why have you brought trouble on this people? . . .  You have not rescued your people at all."

Moses spoke out his frustrations to God. He was saying to God: "God, you sent me with great hope and assurances but you have not kept your promise. Things have actually gotten worse and your people are worse off than when I first delivered your promise to them." And God responded, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh . . .  I have remembered my covenant . . . I will redeem you . . . with mighty acts of judgment."

I believe one of the reasons why God allowed so much room for Pharaoh to operate was because He wanted Pharaoh to repent from his hardness of heart. He is a God of compassion and He always deals with us with great mercy. Mercy always precedes God's judgment.
But in the end, God always keeps His covenant. God's promises are "Yes and Amen."

As you meditate over this devotional today, if you happen to find yourself asking the "why questions," as I do sometimes, pause and remember that God is a covenant-keeper. He will remember His promises to you. It is okay to ask the "why questions," but rekindle your hope because God has not forgotten His promises to you. He will remember and keep His covenant. 

PRAYER:
Lord, there are times when I ask the "why questions." I ask why the unending delay. But please help me to remember that you are a covenant-keeper and at the appointed time, you will show me your glory. Please forgive my human doubts and help me to remember how mighty a God you are. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/12/the-closer-the-victory-the-fiercer-the-battle Wed, 12 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/12/the-closer-the-victory-the-fiercer-the-battle

Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword."
But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor?" . . .  That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.  But require them to make the same number of bricks as before . . .  They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'  Make the work harder for the people . . .  And Pharaoh's slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers . . ." Exodus 5:2-14

Are you surprised that when the battle gets fiercer, the closer you sense that victory is at hand?
It is normal for an opponent to pull out every trick in the book and muster every form of resistance the closer he senses defeat. Adversaries do not easily give up. They release their fiercest resistance and destructive attacks when they sense that their defeat is imminent.
The history of every major war attests to that.

Spiritual battles are no different. In fact, things on earth run parallel to things in the spirit realm. 
The closer we get to our God-ordained victory and destiny, the more furious our Adversary becomes because he knows that our victory will further God's agenda. This will diminish the Enemy's reach and destructive influence. We see this clearly in Pharaoh's reaction when Moses and Aaron asked him to release the Hebrews to go and sacrifice to God. He said: "Make the work harder for the people" . . . And Pharaoh's slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers.

But you see, the truth is: Pharaoh did not know the power of our Almighty God. He said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him and let Israel go?  . . . I will not let Israel go."
Pharaoh did not know the God of the burning bush. He did not know the God who was about to turn the waters of the Nile into blood. He did not know the God who was about to bring total darkness and frogs upon Egypt. He did not know the God who was about to strike every Egyptian firstborn son dead. He did not know the God who was about to drown his horses and chariots in the Red Sea.

But you and I know this God. He is our Father. He is our Savior. He is our Lord and King.
So, when the battle gets fiercer, remember it could be because the Enemy is sensing that your victory is very close. The closer the victory, the fiercer the battle. Keep pressing on.

PRAYER:
Father, please give me the strength to keep pressing on. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/11/god-who-understands-our-humanity Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/11/god-who-understands-our-humanity

Moses said to the LORD, "Pardon your servant, LORD. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
The LORD said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
But Moses said, "Pardon your servant, LORD.  Please send someone else."
Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and He said, "What about  your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on His way to meet you, and He will be glad to see you.  . . . I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him."  Exodus 4:10-16

God is never authoritarian in His dealings with humanity. In spite of His omnipotence, omniscience and Sovereignty, there is always an astonishing element of humility and "reasonableness" when He deals with us!

Could it be because we are made in His image and a little "lower than God?" (Psalm 8:5 NLT) Could it be because "He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust?" (Psalm 103:14 NKJV) Or could it be simply because He just loves us and desires more than anything to have fellowship with us? After all, He proved His love by sending Jesus to die for us.

God had appeared to Moses in the burning bush and given him an assignment to go back and rescue his fellow Hebrews from slavery. He had given him assurances accompanied by signs and wonders to use in Egypt. Moses was so crippled with feelings of inadequacy that he made excuses:  "I have never been eloquent . . .  I am slow of speech and tongue."

God was angry but the anger lasted only for a moment. Even as Moses was "ignorantly" complaining, God had already set the solution in motion. He had arranged for Aaron to complement his weakness of speech. God understood the humanity of Moses.

God is humble enough to listen to our excuses and complaints. He is not pleased with them, but He does not destroy us because we express our fears. The key thing is for us to understand that He has already made provision to complement every form of weakness we may have. Don't dwell on your weaknesses. Dwell on the provision God has already made to help you succeed.
God understands our humanity. He will never leave you without help.

PRAYER:
God of compassion and God of love, I thank you that you always look beyond my inadequacies and complement my weaknesses with your divine provision. Thank you Father.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/10/prepare-to-receive-the-plunder Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/10/prepare-to-receive-the-plunder

". . . Then you and the elders [of Israel] are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.
And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians." Exodus 3:18-22.

I always find it puzzling as to why God allows His children to go through severe challenges before He finally comes to the rescue! I have preached numerous messages on the value of adversity and how they strengthen and increase our faith and dependence on God. The benefits of going through adversity are endless but the reality of the experience is never pleasant. Sometimes, they even throw us into a "crisis of faith." Those are moments when we ask all the "why questions." Why is God allowing this? Why is God delaying? Why is the Adversary getting away with that? Why does God seem so silent?

Well, there might be challenges, adversities and delays. There might be severe opposition, but God is not unaware of it. The God who told Moses that He had come down to rescue His people was the same God who told Moses to expect resistance and opposition from Pharaoh! 
He made it clear to Moses: "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch forth my hand and strike the Egyptians . . .  After that, he will let you go."

God, your Redeemer lives. He has the path of your redemption all figured out. He knows the opposition you are encountering and He knows what needs to be done. Stand still and see His deliverance because He is about to stretch forth His hands and strike the Enemy and compel your release from his clutches. Don't lose heart. Deliverance is on the way.

But then there is more! You will not be released empty-handed. Your release will be accompanied by plunder from the camp of the Enemy. God will restore whatever the Enemy has stolen from you! Prepare for restoration. Prepare to receive the plunder. God has it all figured out. You will not leave empty-handed. Amen.

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that you have my redemption all figured out. In the end, you always win. I wait with joy at the plunder you are about to bring my way. Help me to use it for your divine purposes just as the Israelites used the plunder to build your Tabernacle. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/09/i-am-who-i-am Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/09/i-am-who-i-am

Moses said to God, suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, 'What is His name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." This is what you are to say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you."
God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob -- has sent me to you.'
This is my name forever,
The name you are to call Me
From generation to generation
Exodus 3:14-15

Feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty and fear are common and even normal when an assignment seems treacherous. Moses had been away from his people for a long time. He fled Egypt to evade prosecution and a possible death sentence for murder. He had settled as a fugitive in the desert and was now married with children. Suddenly, God appears to him after forty years of silence and sends him back to Egypt to rescue his fellow Israelites! He needed every bit of assurance that he would succeed.

Moses had to start with some logical questions: If the Israelites ask me who you are, what am I to tell them? What name am I to give them? I know you have appeared to me in this burning bush but they have had no encounter with you. So what am I to tell them? Who are you, God? How do I introduce you to them?

This is, certainly, one of the most profound exchanges in all of Scripture. Moses wanted an assurance of who God was. God gave a simple answer: "I AM WHO I AM. Tell them I AM has sent me to you. That is my name forever."

God was simply telling Moses that He was beyond description and comprehension. His authority was unquestionable. He was dependable and faithful and all that the Israelites needed to do was simply to trust Him! He exists as the I AM. He is without past, present or future. He WAS yesterday; HE IS today, and HE WILL BE tomorrow. HE IS the I AM. 

The Great I AM remains the same. He is faithful and sufficient for our every need. In every situation, HE IS. No matter what we face; God reminds us that He is the I AM. I AM WHO I AM -- 
I AM your peace; I AM your Healer. I AM your Provider. I AM your Redeemer. I AM your bread of life. I AM your Protector. I AM sufficient for your every need. I AM WHO I AM.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that you are the I AM. Please help me to remember at all times that all I ever need to know is that YOU ARE the I AM. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/08/divine-assurance-i-will-be-with-you Sat, 08 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/08/divine-assurance-i-will-be-with-you

The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out...and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them...and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey...So now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
And God said, "I will be with you." Exodus 3:7-12

When I was growing up as a child, my dad had a sign at our house which read: "God Sees, God Knows, God Hears." We used to say among ourselves as kids that we couldn't get away with anything because God sees, God knows and God hears."
Scripture also makes it clear (Hebrews 4:13) that "nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." 

After four hundred years of slavery in Egypt, God said to Moses: "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt...I am concerned about their suffering...I have come down to rescue them...into a land flowing with milk and honey."
It is true: It took a very long time. But still: God heard, God saw, God knew."

My heart is arrested by three things as I reflect over God's exchange with Moses:
First, God sees every pain and suffering we go through as His children and He is concerned about it. As we cry out to God under the weight of whatever pain or suffering we might be encountering, He is moved to do something about it. So, be assured that God will do something about your situation. Don't ever stop crying out to Him. God sees.

Second, God's plan to redeem us out of our suffering would bring us into a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey. So, as you cry out to the LORD, have a spirit of expectation that the end of the journey is a glorious one. There is a good and spacious land ahead of you.

Third, God needs partners to rescue His people out of the suppressive hands of the Enemy. Like Moses, God might tap us on the shoulder for some tasks for which we might feel woefully inadequate. We might feel as though we neither have the physical strength, aptitude, resources or even the sheer emotional wherewithal to undertake the task. So, we ask, "Who am I to go…"

God's answer is: "I will be with you." God is with you every step of the way. Don't give up!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for the assurance that you are with me on the journey. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/07/do-you-still-doubt-god-s-love Fri, 07 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/07/do-you-still-doubt-god-s-love

Like our ancestors, we have sinned. We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly! Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the LORD's miraculous deeds. They soon forgot His many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against Him at the Red Sea. Even so, He saved them to defend the honor of His name and to demonstrate His mighty power. He commanded the Red Sea to dry up. He led Israel across the sea as if it were a desert. He rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes. Then the water returned and covered their enemies; not one of them survived. Then His people believed His promises. Then they sang His praise. Psalm 106:6-12.

"They rebelled against Him at the Red Sea. Even so, He saved them to defend the honor of His name…He rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes."
The people of God dealt treacherously with Him. They forgot His many acts of kindness to them. They forgot the miracles in Egypt. They forgot how He rescued them from the bondage of Egyptian slavery and yet God showed them nothing but kindness. He saved them out of the hands of their enemies to defend the honor of His name. 

What a demonstration of love! Even in the face of extreme rebellion and ingratitude, God showed mercy, grace, and love to His children. Indeed, it is because of His mercies that we are not consumed, His compassions never fail. They are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.

So, do you still doubt God's love? Do you still doubt that His love is measureless? 
Let this passage of scripture remove every trace of doubt that you have about God's unbridled love for His children. His love is simply measureless. It comes without fail even in our rebellion and wickedness. May this God of compassion be ever praised. From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same, may His praises never depart from our lips!

PRAYER:
Father, how can we say thanks for all the things you do for us? How can we find adequate words to express our gratitude? Even in our rebellion, your love never fails to cover us. You are truly a God of measureless love. Thank you Father; thank you Jesus; thank you Holy Spirit. May our lips never cease to praise you. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/06/may-you-encounter-the-god-of-the-burning-bush Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/06/may-you-encounter-the-god-of-the-burning-bush

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight -- why the bush does not burn up."
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."
"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."...At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:1-6.

It was another ordinary day for Moses in the desert after fleeing from Egypt for murder.
Forty years had passed by since he traded the clothes of a Prince in Egypt for that of an ordinary shepherd in the desert. He really had nothing to his name because he did not even possess his own flocks. 

Did he have any hope of a different future? Did he ever reflect on what life must have been like if he had continued to live like a prince in Egypt? Did he regret trying to save his fellow Hebrew from the hand of the Egyptian he murdered? Was the sacrifice worth it?
Did God have any plans for him? Or had the God of his fathers forgotten about him?

The ways of God are beyond our finite understanding. One day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day in His sight. That ordinary day was about to change into one of Moses' most unforgettable days. He was about to encounter the God of the burning bush who had been waiting for forty years. Moses was about to enter holy grounds and divine purposes!
Everything changed when he encountered the God of the burning bush.

Maybe like Moses, you are wondering what the future holds. Are you wondering if the desert is all there is to your life? The answer is: No, God has more for you. The desert is not your final destination. God could be preparing to give you your own burning bush encounter.
May you encounter the God of the burning bush soon.

PRAYER:
Prayer: Father, I know you have wonderful plans for me even in what currently seems like a desert experience. I wait in expectation for the unfolding of those plans. I know I am about to encounter you soon. Thank you, Father. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/05/may-god-exceed-your-expectations Wed, 05 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/05/may-god-exceed-your-expectations

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20

I am not sure of what you might be grappling with today. I am not sure of what unmet needs you may have. I am not sure of what unfulfilled visions and expectations you may be pondering over.  I am not sure of how long you may have been waiting for the answer to your prayer. I may not even be able to relate to the pain of whatever disappointments you might have encountered. I am not sure of how long you have been shedding tears before the Lord. But the Lord knows and He understands how you feel.

God's word declares in Proverbs 13:12 that "hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. The Holy Spirit of God who dwells in you knows that long delays can bring discouragement to the heart; but when dreams are fulfilled, it brings life and joy. God is not unaware of how you feel.

As God on earth, Jesus experienced all there is for humanity to experience. Hebrews 4:15 says "we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses."
Because Jesus has a first-hand experience of our needs and feelings, the Bible says we should "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Be encouraged as you go before the Lord. He is able to do much more than we could ever imagine. He is able to exceed our expectations by doing "exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think." God did exceedingly abundantly for Joseph when He moved him overnight out of the depressive prison and made him Prime Minister of Egypt. God is able to do the same for you. God has not changed. His faithfulness remains the same.

May God surprise you. May He do exceedingly abundantly above all that you are asking from Him. May God exceed your expectations!

PRAYER:
Lord, thank you that you are able to do much more than I could ever ask of you. I am trusting you to exceed my expectations in every area of my life. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/04/one-step-of-faith Tue, 04 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/04/one-step-of-faith

Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every Hebrew boy that is born, you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that she was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe...She saw the basket among the reeds...she opened it and saw the baby…This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said. Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?"...So the girl went and got the baby's mother. Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse her for me and I will pay you."... 
When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son, she named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water." Exodus 1:22-2:10

What if Moses' mother had not recognized that Moses "was a fine child"? What if she had not risked her life and that of her entire family to hide Moses for three months? The dangers were real: another jealous mother who had lost her own son could have reported her to the Egyptian authorities! Imagine the stress on the family as they did everything to hide the secret! After three months, it was time to let go and the child was released to his destiny on the waters of the Nile.

But God was at work all along. God had it all figured out. God brought Pharaoh's daughter on the scene to rescue the child and Moses' mother was paid to nurse the child! There was undeniable divine orchestration, provision, timing, and protection.

What I find fascinating in all this is the statement about Moses' parents in Hebrews 11:23; "By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict."
That was the crucial starting point: the realization by the parents that there was something unique about Moses. They risked their lives by faith and God honored their faith. But what if they had not taken that one step of faith?

Question: Could it be that there is a person, an opportunity or a situation before you which is "no ordinary person, opportunity or situation?" What would God do if you embraced and gave it your all by faith? One step of faith is all God requires.

PRAYER:
Lord, please help me to take that one step of faith. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/03/can-god-count-on-you Mon, 03 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/03/can-god-count-on-you

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives whose names were Shiphrah and Puah "when you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."
The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"
The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.

Pharaoh had an agenda: To diminish and possibly eliminate the people of God. The most direct way to do that was to eliminate life at infancy: Don't let the male infants see the light of day; kill them at birth! Pharaoh was counting on the Hebrew midwives to help carry out his murderous plan. The midwives, however, feared God and refused to murder the baby boys.

When confronted by Pharaoh, they gave an answer that could only have been inspired by divine wisdom: "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." As a result of their God-fearing stance, God looked with favor on the midwives and rewarded them. God could count on the midwives. They used their careers to serve God's purposes.

Our professions and careers, must ultimately serve the purposes of God's kingdom. There are times when we are enticed by superiors to become part of decisions and actions that are contrary to what is right before God. Those can be challenging and trying moments for our livelihood and careers. Do we get roped in because of the fear of economic losses and possible jeopardizing of our careers? Or do we take a stand for what is right and trust God to see us through? Can God count on us for His Kingdom agenda?

The Hebrew midwives took a stand for God. They stood against evil and God blessed, protected and rewarded them. Can God count on you to take a stand for His agenda? Taking a stand for the divine agenda is never easy but the reward is ultimately immeasurable. It is a practical expression of our faith in the Living God. It is a sign of our trust in God. God Himself says in Isaiah 49:23, "...those who hope in me will not be disappointed." When God counts on you, you can count on His blessing and protection. Can God count on you?

PRAYER:
Father, I ask for grace for the times ahead. Help me to be steadfast in my faith so that you can count on me to take a stand for your purposes. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/02/if-god-be-for-you-who-can-be-against-you Sun, 02 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/02/if-god-be-for-you-who-can-be-against-you

Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. "Look, he said to his people. The Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous, and when war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave our country.
So they put slave masters over them with forced labor and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and they worked them ruthlessly. Exodus 1:8–14 NIV

Through Joseph, God had spared Egypt from destruction during a harsh famine. As a result, Joseph's family came to dwell in Egypt and God richly prospered and multiplied them. But the blessings did not go unnoticed. Years later, Pharaoh felt so threatened by the prosperity of the Israelites that they started oppressing them and using them as slaves. "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites…"

The blessings of God do not go unnoticed by the Enemy. Divine favor is certain to attract fierce attacks and opposition from the Adversary. Satan took notice of the blessings of Job and salivated over the opportunity to attack and destroy him. Joseph's brothers noticed the favor of God upon his life and left him in a pit to die. Saul noticed the anointing and favor of God on David and he hunted him down day and night to destroy him. Daniel's colleagues noticed God's favor on him and they plotted and had him thrown in a lion's den. Herod heard about the birth of King Jesus and killed every baby two years and under in Bethlehem, hoping to get rid of Jesus.

Divine favor attracts persecution. The blessings on your life are a treat to the Enemy, but if God be for you, who can be against you? God will protect and rescue you. He rescued Job. He rescued Joseph. He rescued David. He rescued Daniel. The eyes of the Lord are upon you. He will show Himself strong on your behalf. Don't be afraid if your blessings are attracting attacks and opposition. If God be for you, who can be against you? The more you are attacked, the more you will multiply and spread.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for your favor upon my life. Please give me the strength to endure, persevere and overcome every form of oppression from the Enemy. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/01/may-you-flourish-like-a-palm-tree Sat, 01 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/08/01/may-you-flourish-like-a-palm-tree

You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.
My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the route of my wicked foes. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 
Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him." Psalm 92:10-15.

As you step out today:
May God exalt your horn like that of a wild ox.
May fine oils be poured on you.
May your eyes see the defeat of your enemies.
May your adversaries become your advocates.
May God fight all your battles for you.
May God route your enemies before you.
When your enemies come one way, may they flee seven ways. 
May God cause you to flourish like the Palm tree.
May the work of your hands be blessed.
May you be a sought after person in your calling and profession.
May your feet be firmly planted in the house of our God.
May God use you as a Kingdom-Builder for His glory.
May you live to a ripe old age. 
May divine health be your portion.
Even in your old age, may you continue to flourish.
May you always stay fresh and green.
May your lips continually praise the Lord.
May no blemish taint your testimony for Jesus.
May your life be a continual pleasing sacrifice to God.

Amen.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for each of these blessings. I receive them into my life for your glory. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/31/cleaning-up-is-never-easy Fri, 31 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/31/cleaning-up-is-never-easy

The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring."  Genesis 20:8-13

Cleaning up is never easy. Sometimes our homes are left unkempt for long periods of time and we are faced with the long and arduous task of cleaning up. Sometimes our teenage children leave their rooms a total mess with all kinds of things hidden in strategic places. With threats of punishment and loss of some privileges, they are compelled to reluctantly clean up their messy rooms. With stern unsmiling faces, parents pop in as inspectors to approve or disapprove of the quality of the cleaning. Cleanup is never easy. When we keep putting it off, our environment gets junky and much more difficult to clean up.

Our lives need periodic examination and clean up. Sometimes the choices we make can bring lots of junk into our lives. Things can get so messy that cleaning up can bring untold hardships and pain. But when left unattended to, the consequences get more and more ghastly.

Abraham and Sarah created a mess when Abraham accepted Sarah's proposal to have a child with her slave, Hagar. First, Hagar started disrespecting Sarah when she got pregnant. Sarah retaliated by maltreating her. She ran away and only returned when God instructed her to do so.  Next, Hagar's son Ishmael mocked Sarah when she was rejoicing over the birth of Isaac. This time, God agreed with Sarah that Hagar and her son had to leave for good. Sarah was right. Abraham was being distracted from his destiny by the drama surrounding Hagar and Ishmael. This was a painful thing for Abraham, "because it concerned his son." God, however, assured Abraham that there was no need to worry. He would bless Ishmael because he was Abraham's son as well. Abraham listened and God kept His promise.

There are times when the mess we create can be so overwhelming that it takes divine intervention to clean it up. Those moments can be painful. Sometimes relationships have to be let go as part of the cleanup. Sometimes certain dear things must be let go. But in the end, listening to God always pays off. It gives us the opportunity for a fresh start and the chance to refocus on our destiny. Cleanup is never easy, but the payoff is worth it.

PRAYER:
Search me, O God, and shine your light on any area of my life that needs to be cleaned up. Help me to submit and not to resist as you clean me up. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/30/hold-on-you-will-be-laughing-soon Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/30/hold-on-you-will-be-laughing-soon

Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.  . . . Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."  . . . "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." Genesis 21:1-7

Waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise is never easy. Doubts might set in and you might experience a crisis of faith.
There was a time when Abraham was unsure if God was ever going to come through and he gave in to Sarah's idea of having a child by her slave girl. Ishmael was the result, and a lot of chaos ensued. Abraham eventually drove Hagar and Ishmael out of the house to restore peace.

There was also a time when Abraham said to God, "You have given me no children and so a slave born in my household is going to be my heir." But God assured him that a child from his own loins was going to inherit him. God settled it with a covenant. That was a turning point for Abraham. Abraham believed the LORD and held unto his faith.

Only a year before the birth of Isaac, God assured Abraham that the promise was now due but Sarah laughed when she overheard the conversation because she thought it was ridiculously impossible! But exactly a year later, her laughter of disbelief was turned into a laughter of joy. In her own words: "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?"

So hold on, God has not forgotten about you. Your Isaac is coming. 
Your laughter of disbelief will soon become a laughter of joy. Those who laughed at you will soon be laughing with you in celebration as you give praises to God. 
Hold on, you will be laughing soon! 

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that no matter how long it takes, You always fulfill Your promise. I am confident that my mouth will soon be filled with laughter. I wait in expectation for that moment. Amen. 

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/29/blessed-by-divine-associations Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/29/blessed-by-divine-associations

So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar.  . . .
One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children . . .   Let's get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father." . . . 
So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites . . .  The younger daughter also had a son . . . he is the father of the Ammonites of today. Genesis 19:29-38

There are times when it becomes obvious that our lives have been particularly blessed because we became connected or associated with certain individuals. Lot's life is one such example. His uncle, Abraham took him along when God called Abraham out of his hometown. Abraham was ordained to be blessed by God and Lot became blessed by his association with Abraham. Lot became so blessed that he had to move away from Abraham because the land could not contain their livestock and other possessions together.

When Lot was given the opportunity by Abraham to move, he selfishly chose the most fertile land and left the "seemingly infertile land" to Abraham. But God continued to prosper Abraham because God, not the fertility of the land, was the source of Abraham's blessing. Lot ran into many difficulties after parting from Abraham, but Abraham always came to his rescue. In fact, Lot's life was spared when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because "He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived."

Abraham was constantly building altars and calling upon the LORD, but there is no such indication on the part of Lot. Lot was blessed because he was under the spiritual covering of Abraham. It is probably fair to say that Lot's life started going downhill after he left Abraham's household. He went to live in a sinful environment which was eventually destroyed by God. His family line was preserved through incest with his daughters. Lot's disassociation from Abraham was as a result of a quarrel.

How we handle our "divine associations" does matter. Lot's separation from Abraham was due to a quarrel over material possessions. When God blesses our lives through people, we must be careful to handle those divine associations well. Parting might be inevitable at some point. But the way we part from those divine vessels, who have been used by God as a covering and blessing for our lives, does matter. Please think about it!

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the people you have used to bless my life. Please help me never to take those relationships for granted but to show godly gratitude at all times. Amen.

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