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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 8th

📖 My enemies, don't be glad because of my troubles! I may have fallen, but I will get up; I may be sitting in the dark, but the Lord is my light. —Micah 7:8 CEV  

When we get knocked down, we must get back up. The Bible tells us that, "a just man falls seven times and rises up again" (Proverbs 24:16). Sometimes in life, challenges come. Things can happen that are unexpected. Challenges may happen in your marriage. You may have a wayward child. You may lose your job. The devil may attack us in many ways. When he knocks you down, you must get back up. There's nothing wrong with getting knocked down; the problem is when we stay down. God expects for us to not only get up, but He also expects us fight back. We don't fight for twelve rounds; we fight until we win. The devil should get tired of seeing us get up. We must get up. We have the Greater One on the inside of us, and He won't let you stay down. He will remind you that you are more than a conqueror. He will give you the strategy. He will lead and guide you to victory. Remember II Corinthians 2:14, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ". 

#theGreaterOne #vcccharlotte #victory #devotional #theWord    

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 7th

📖 Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)— [which will bring you] unto life eternal. 
—Jude 1:21 AMPC 

We must keep ourselves in the love of God. Regardless of the challenges we face, we must continue to walk in love. It does not matter who likes us or dislikes us; we must love everyone. Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). Satan wants to keep your faith from working because he knows that faith is what defeats him. It is the shield of faith that quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The love of God enables us to love people the way that God loves them. It may not be easy, but it is doable. Guard your emotions. Don't allow them to control you. Your emotions will cause you to think that you can't forgive, but you can. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. It may seem impossible, but guard and keep yourselves in the love of God. God will never tell you to do something that you were not capable of doing. 

#loveofGod #vcccharlotte #mercy #devotional #eternallife   

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 6th

📖 Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. 
—Philippians 2:14-16 The Message 

As believers, we should stand out. There should be a difference between the way we act and the way the world acts. Our responses to trials and tribulations should be different. Christians should be a breath of fresh air. We don’t complain like the world. We walk with a different spirit. As believers, there is a difference in our countenance. Our job is to provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. As Christians, we are God’s ambassadors. We carry the light giving Message wherever we go. Not only do we carry the Message, but we must also live the Message. We are living proof that Jesus is alive and His Word is true.  

#standout #vcccharlotte #different #devotional  

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 5th

📖 And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and have a heavy and awkward tongue. ⎯Exodus 4:10 AMPC

Have you ever felt insignificant? Have you ever felt as if you did not have enough talent or ability to walk out the vision that God has placed on the inside of you? Moses gave God one excuse after another on why He could not be Israels' deliverer. We must understand that God knows us inside and out. He knows our shortcomings, and He knows our faults. God knows our strengths and our weaknesses. If God has called us, then that means that He has equipped us. The things we may not know, God knows how to get that information to us. God even told Moses that He would teach Him what to say (v. 12). God knows what He is doing. When He selected you, He did not make a mistake. God believes in you and if He believes in you, then you should believe in you. You have the goods. Just walk with God every day and see what He does with your life. You can be all that God desires for you to be. You can have all that God wants you to have. 

#GodKnowsUs #devotional #vcccharlotte #listentoGod #verseoftheday

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 3rd

📖 Then I said to them, You see the bad situation we are in—how Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a disgrace. 

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me for good, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build! So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said, What is this thing you are doing? Will you rebel against the king? 

I answered them, The God of heaven will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem. 
—Nehemiah 2:17-20 AMPC 

No matter how things may look, you can rebuild your life. It doesn’t matter what storms you might face. It doesn’t matter what obstacles you must overcome; God can make it better. Nehemiah had taken up the task of rebuilding the wall. There were people who ridiculed and criticized the project. There was the threat of people coming to destroy their efforts. Nehemiah knew that the Hand of God was with them. He knew that the God of Heaven would prosper and protect them. They would eventually rebuild the wall, and the people would recommit themselves to God and His Word. As impossible as things look, the first step must be to rise and build. You must get started. The lepers asked each other a question in II Kings chapter seven- “Why are we sitting here until we die”? (v3) You don’t have to be great to start, but you cannot be great until you get started. With God involved, it will be better than it was before. 

#rebuild #HandofGod #vcccharlotte #devotional

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 2nd

📖 So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?" He said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” —Exodus 4:2-5 NKJV

When pursuing the will of God, we must understand the importance of trusting in Him. He may ask you to do something that isn’t what you normally do. He may ask you to do something that will cause you to have to overcome fear and anxiety. Moses was obviously afraid of the snake, but God told him to pick it up by its tail. Moses had a decision to make. He was either going to let fear control him, or he was going to obey God. Moses chose to obey God, and the snake turned into a stick. We must be willing to obey and trust God no matter what. God wants us to become totally dependent upon Him. As we obey His orders and commands, we will develop an unshakeable confidence in Him. One that will help us to fulfill the will of God for our lives. 

#trustinGod #pursue #devotional #vcccharlotte #confidence

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | October 1st

📖 Neither give place to the devil. —Ephesians 4:27 1599 Geneva Bible 

If we don’t give the devil access, he can’t get to us. The devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy us. He cannot defeat us if we never give him place. Don’t give the devil an opening in your life. If someone upsets you, forgive them. If someone offends you, forgive that person. Guard your eyes. Guard your ears. Guard your heart. An insect will find a way to get into your house. They will crawl under the door. They will find an opening somewhere outside that will allow them to come inside the house. Sometimes we have to tell our children to close the front door because we don’t want to let a fly in. We must be just as vigilant when it comes to keeping the devil out. Keep him out of your health. Keep him out of your finances. Keep him out of your marriage. Don’t give him any place in any area of your life. Do not give place to the devil. 

#theWord #vcccharlotte #noplace #devotional  

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 30th

📖 Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually. —III John 2 Holman Christian Standard Bible  

God has never changed His mind when it comes to His will for our lives. God desires for us to prosper in every area of our lives. He desires us to walk in divine health. He also wants us to prosper spiritually as well. God sent Jesus so that we can enjoy all these blessings in our lives. Jesus came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The abundant life includes divine health, divine wealth, and our names being written in the lamb’s book of life. Prosperity without a relationship with Jesus is not a prosperous life. Do you remember when Jesus asked, “What is it if a man gains the whole world and loses his soul”? A person is not prosperous just because they own a lot of things. Jesus is the key to our prosperity. Jesus became poor so that we may be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses (Matthew 8:17). Jesus completed His mission. We must now take possession of what belongs to us. It’s not enough for us to know about it. We must make the decision that we will walk in it. Prosperity is ours. Healing is ours. Will you take what is yours today? 

#christian #vcccharlotte #prosperity #devotional #healing 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 29th

📖 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake. —2 Samuel 5:12 AMPC 

David was a gift sent by God to be a blessing to the people. He recognized that God had sent him for the benefit of the people. God’s people are to be a blessing to the world. We are His ambassadors and His representatives. When God sends us to a company, a job, a school, or an organization, we are a gift sent to them. Daniel was a gift to the people even though he was in captivity. He was a blessing to every king that he served under. Jephthah was a gift to the people. Nehemiah was a gift to the people. These men were leaders and helped to bring freedom and restoration to their respective people. Organizations should get better because of us. Sinners should desire the kingdom of God because of how we carry ourselves. We must understand that God sends us to have influence. This should not cause us to walk in pride. This should cause us to walk in humility because we have been chosen by God to represent Him. We did not choose ourselves. It is humbling to know that the God of the universe has chosen us to be His representatives. What a sobering thought! 

#God’speople #vcccharlotte #blessings #devotional #representatives 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 26th

📖 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 

This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 
—I Samuel 17: 45-47 KJV

When David faced Goliath, He did not brag about his skills with a slingshot. He did not talk about his experience with the shepherd’s staff. He did not refer to any earthly weapons. David leaned on God’s ability and not his own. David was coming in the Name of the Lord of hosts, not his own. He was not fighting to make a name for himself, he was fighting so that the earth would know that there is a God in Israel. David knew that the battle was not his but the Lord’s. We could learn a thing or two from David. When the devil attacks, we cannot rely on our intellect or our resources. We must fight with the resources of Heaven. We must fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons. We fight with the Word of God, the Name of Jesus, and with the whole armor of God. We fight from a place of victory. We fight knowing that the battle is the Lord’s. When we fight the way David fought, we can expect to win the way that he won. The battle is not ours; the battle is the Lord’s. 

#spiritualwarfare #devotional #vcccharlotte #davidandgoliath

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 25th

📖 So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go. 

So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name. 

Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah). 
—Acts 5:40-42 AMPC 

What would you do in this situation? Would you have cried the blues? Would you have complained? The apostles were doing the Lord’s work. They were healing the people and setting them free from demonic oppression. These men were beaten and told not to preach anymore in the Name of Jesus. The apostles were not a bunch of cowards. They were not pushovers. They were not moved by what happened to them. These men rejoiced even after they were flogged. They continued to teach and preach the Word of God after they were told not to. The apostles were committed to carrying out the Great Commission. They were committed to the cause of Christ. God should expect nothing less from us. We rejoice when we are persecuted. We live the life of a Christian, regardless of the cost. We are not moved by the threats of men. If God be for us, who can be against us? 

#committed #vcccharlotte #wearenotmoved #devotionals 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 24th

📖 Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. 

—Hebrews 12:1-3 AMPC 

The devil would love for us to get off track and not finish our race. We cannot allow that to happen. We must put off the things that will hinder us from giving our best. We must get sin out of our lives, and we must run our race with patience. Not only must we run with patience, but we must be willing to endure some things. We must endure every attack of the wicked one, knowing that he is defeated, and we have the victory. Lastly, we have to guard our minds. We cannot allow trials and tribulations to wear us down until we faint in our minds. Having done all to stand, we must continue to stand. We can finish our course. We can run the race that God has set before us. If we do not allow ourselves to get distracted, we can be all that God wants us to be and accomplish all that God wants us to accomplish.  

#accomplishyourgoals #vcccharlotte #runyourrace #devotional

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 23rd

📖 John replied, “God in heaven appoints each man’s work.” 
—John 3:27 The Living Bible 

What type of business are you in? Isn’t this a common question? Upon meeting a stranger, one of the first things we want to know is what they do for a living. Instead of asking what they do for a living, maybe the question should be asked, “Are you doing the work that God has appointed you?” A person may be successful in their field of endeavor, but are they in the field that God has selected for them? Are they doing the work appointed by God or are they doing the work they appointed for themselves? People select their occupation for many different reasons. Some are in their field because of the income it pays. Some are in their field because of the benefits. We want to be where God wants us to be because God knows what is best for lives. True success is in being in the will of God. We should constantly examine our lives and make sure we are in line with God. We want to be doing the work appointed by the God in heaven. 

#truesuccess #vcccharlotte #theLord’swork #devotional #God’sbest

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 22nd

📖 I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child, Onesimus [meaning profitable], whom I have begotten [in the faith] while a captive in these chains. 

Once he was unprofitable to you, but now he is indeed profitable to you as well as to me. 

I am sending him back to you in his own person, [and it is like sending] my very heart. 
—Philemon 1:10-12 AMPC 

The good thing about people is that they can change. One can be unprofitable one day, and over time, they can change and become an asset. People can grow up. They can mature. They can become a better version of themselves over time. That is why we have to be patient with people. That is why we extend grace. People can make mistakes as they mature. We must be patient with people the way God is patient with us. God is long suffering. We must be the same. There are examples all throughout the Bible of people who changed over time. John Mark was an example. In Acts 13, he left Paul after an encounter with a sorcerer. In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement because Paul did not want John Mark to accompany them anymore on their missionary journeys.  Notice the change that took place with Paul concerning John Mark in II Timothy 4:11: “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Paul, at that time, requested John Mark's presence because he had become profitable for ministry. There was a change in John Mark’s life. God had brought him to a place where he was ready for ministry. God will do the same for us. Don’t focus on what you are now. Focus on what you can become. You can become a vessel, fit for the Master’s use. 

#focus #vcccharlotte #patience #devotional #grace 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 21st

📖 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. 

So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. 

—2 Timothy 2:20-21 AMPC 

What type of vessel would you like to be? A vessel of gold? What about silver? The good news is that it is not up to God to determine what type of vessels we will become. That responsibility is on us. We must cleanse ourselves from contaminating and corrupting influences. We must examine our lives and see what we need to remove to live a life that is pleasing unto God.  As we walk with God and fellowship with Him, He will show us the things that we need to get rid of. Sometimes being in His presence will burn up the things that need to be removed from our lives. God’s Word is another tool God uses to shape and mold us. His Word reveals what is displeasing to Him and shows us how we are supposed to live. God’s Word is like fire (Jeremiah 5:14). It will burn things out of us and purge us. If we hearken to His Word and spend time in His presence, we can become consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. 

#Godlyinfluences #vcccharlotte #cleanse #devotional #fellowshipwithGod

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 19th

📖 Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again. This time he had to go through Samaria. —John 4:3-4 CEV 

The Jewish people avoided going through Samaria because they disliked the Samaritans. The Samaritans were considered a “half-breed” because they had mixed Jewish and gentile blood. Jesus had to go through Samaria. God loves everyone and wanted the Samaritans to know the Messiah. Jesus encountered a woman at the well and after telling her all of her “business”, she went and told the town about the man she met at the well. Because of the woman’s encounter with Jesus, many in the village believed in Jesus. We must follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, even when it seems uncomfortable. We must follow God when it goes against our thinking. God is smarter than us, and He knows the outcome if we will simply obey. Let’s get into a rhythm of obedience. Let’s hear and do. We must hear from God and do what He wants us to do. 

#obedience #vcccharlotte #followGod #devotional  

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 18th

📖 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.” —Mark 10:41-45 The Message 

Two of Jesus’ disciples requested to sit on the right and left side of Jesus when He established His kingdom here on the earth. They wanted a position of greatness. Jesus eventually gave them a key to greatness. He told them that if they wanted to be great, they must first be willing to serve. Jesus even gave Himself as an example when He told the disciples that he did not come to be served, He came to serve. God has a purpose and a plan for all our lives. Regardless of how big the plan is, the plan is not self-serving. The plan is not to elevate you. You may be elevated in the eyes of the people, but the plan is ultimately to help people.  

God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus. Jesus was treated like a king (and rightfully so, He is the king of kings) and yet He came to serve the people. God sent His best, and His best came to serve. We should follow His example. We have been sent into this world, equipped with gifts and talents that will be a blessing to humanity. Don’t keep them to yourself. Don’t be selfish. The world is waiting on the manifestation of the sons of God. The world is waiting on you! 

#greatness #vcccharlotte #followHisexample #devotional 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 17th

📖 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 
—Ecclesiastes 5:19 The New Living Translation   

Did you notice in this Scripture what a gift from God looks like? It doesn’t say that poverty and lack is a gift from God. It doesn’t say that sickness is a gift from God. Wealth and health are the examples given of what a gift from God looks like. This Scripture sounds like James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights”. God is a good God. All throughout the Word of God we see the Word of God portray God as a good Father who wants to bless His children with good things. He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalms 35:27). He gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Jesus even told us that it was His Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). Jesus also told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (clothes, food, provision, etc.) will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). Let us never lose sight of this fact: God is a good God, and the devil is a bad devil.  

#giftfromGod #vcccharlotte #prosperity #devotional  

 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 16th

📖 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, 

Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him and shall bless themselves by him? 

For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him. 
—Genesis 18:17-19 AMPC 

What an honor for Abraham. He was referred to as a servant and a friend of God. Imagine being called a friend of God. I believe that is what God would like to call all of us, both servant and friend. God wants us to have the attitude of a servant, but He also wants us to develop a friendship with Him. God wants obedience. God wants us to heed His commandments and to get into a rhythm of obedience. At the same time, He wants to fellowship with us. He desires to let us in on what He is doing on the earth. He wants to give us insight into His plans for our lives. Isaiah 1:19 NIV says “if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land”. Willingness shows trust. I am willing to do something because of who asked me. When God the Father asks us to do something, we should do it with joy and enthusiasm, because we know that He would not ask us to do something that is harmful. We are obedient because of reverence and respect. You put the two together and you can see why God would want to bestow His blessings upon us. God wants friendship and He wants obedience. Both are keys to experiencing His goodness and all the things that He has promised us. 

#friendship #vcccharlotte #servant #devotional #goodnessofGod 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL | September 15th

📖 Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). 
—Psalm 55:22 AMPC

We all have issues in life, and things that may trouble us. However, when we face these situations, we must cast our burdens on the Lord. We were not created to carry burdens and cares. When things seem like they are too much for us, it is not on us to try to figure out a solution. We are to give our problems to God and allow Him to take care of it. God is smarter than us. He is wiser than us. He has the solution to every problem. God wants us to live our lives care-free. It’s His desire to sustain us. When we release the weight of our problems to Him, we can expect Him to sustain us. We can never be moved when we look to God. When we release our issues to God, we know that He will not fail us. He told us that He would never leave us nor forsake us. That means we can expect victory every time. He will not let us fall. 

#iamvictory #dailydevotional #castyourburdens #vcccharlotte

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