Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 2)

DEVOTIONAL:

Reading inspirational books written by believers in Christ can impart to us decades of learning and experience from believers who walk with God! We are mentored, corrected, motivated and jump-started by their insights into wisdom received from God, and the results as they walked a life of faith. Connecting with them connects us to God. A book is the next best thing to a live or video teaching. Authors become your personal spiritual coach! (John 21:25, Revelation 1:11, 3 John 2)

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for the wisdom You have imparted to men and women of God, and that I can learn from the insight and experience of others. I set my mind to receive from You through anointed inspirational books and devotionals. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Veronica Winston’s revised and expanded, 125 Simple Ways to Connect with God. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Reading Inspirational Books appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)

DEVOTIONAL:

Sowing the Word is taking a specific Bible verse, memorizing it, meditating it, getting it deep in our hearts and flooding our minds until it becomes so real that it begins to manifest in our lives. The sower sows the Word, and the entire Kingdom of God is based on this principle. As you sleep, that seed is growing into a harvest, even if you do not know how! It’s God’s miracle of increase. We sow with the expectation of producing that harvest. (Mark 4:14–32, Luke 8:11, 15)

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for all of the wonderful promises in Your Word. Guide me by Your Spirit  to meditate a specific scripture that You want to manifest in my life today. I sow that word with expectation that it will produce a harvest. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Veronica Winston’s revised and expanded, 125 Simple Ways to Connect with God. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Sowing the Word appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. (Psalm 4:4)

DEVOTIONAL:

Communing with God is a heartfelt intimate conversation (spoken or silent) with God, where His peaceful presence is distinctly felt in your innermost being. You are peacefully focused on Him and on what He is revealing to you. Please, let the inner “energizer bunny” slow down periodically to refresh and regroup. Our daily connecting with God serves to recalibrate our inner man (from life’s potholes) to realign with heaven’s purposes and plans. (Isaiah 26:9, Psalm 4:4)

PRAYER:

Dear Father, I purpose in my heart to be still before You today and spend time connecting with You in a deeper way than ever before. Help me to shut out life’s distractions and focus on your purposes and plans. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Veronica Winston’s revised and expanded, 125 Simple Ways to Connect with God. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Communing with God appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)

DEVOTIONAL:

Praying conversational prayer is perhaps the simplest and most common way of praying that people are familiar with. It is just talking to God, asking Him to move in the earth on behalf of others or for yourself. This is one way we can be “praying always” (Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 1:3). Hebrews 11:6 says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Our time of prayer (which is never in vain) can transform an unfulfilled life to one of power and glory to impact nations. (Matthew 6:6, Isaiah 55)

PRAYER:

Dear God, I am so blessed to be able to talk to you like a friend because that’s who you are—my Best Friend! Thank you for always being understanding and patient with me. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Veronica Winston’s revised and expanded, 125 Simple Ways to Connect with God. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Praying Conversational Prayer appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

DEVOTIONAL:

Paul discovered how to get victory over the desires of the flesh. He was confident in the grace that was within him. Grace is not only what it took to get us saved, but grace is also a divine influence upon the heart or spirit of man.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 

We must learn to appropriate God’s grace. His grace is there for us, to give us strength to endure situations without falling short, as we are going for the high calling. We are called by God to live holy, and according to Scripture, we can do this!

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you that when I am going through something (you might want to name a problem or situation you’re facing right now), that Your grace is sufficient. Your grace gives me the strength to get through this, In the power of Your grace, I will be victorious! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s mini-book, The Power of Grace. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post God’s Grace Is Sufficient appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1 NLT)

DEVOTIONAL:

From this week’s theme verse, Romans 12:1, we see that it’s not unreasonable that these things are requested of us. Paul goes on to say in verses 2 and 3, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;”  

Here is where people get confused. It didn’t say, “Don’t think highly;” it just said, “Don’t think more highly.” That’s what’s wrong with some folks. Because they don’t think much of themselves, they treat other folks like they think of their own selves, and they end up dogging everybody. You should think highly of yourself. That means no more low self-esteem. If God had gathered up all the gold in the world, it still would not have been enough to pay for your redemption. He had to give His own Son’s life.

A Rolls Royce, diamonds, corporate jets, or 14-bedroom mansions could not even come close to the value of one person’s life. This is why some folks have trouble believing God for a nice vacation and first-class accommodations. They don’t think highly of themselves. They don’t see themselves the way God sees them.

How valuable are you to God? Genesis 1:27 tells us we are made in God’s image. And, in the New Testament, it says this, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

PRAYER:

Dear God, I praise You and give You glory for making man in Your own image. And I thank You that I am Your masterpiece in Christ Jesus. By faith, I walk in all of the good things You have planned for my life even from the foundation of the earth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s mini-book, The Power of Grace. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Your Body Belongs to God appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before… (Philippians 3:13)

DEVOTIONAL:

Paul knew what it meant to forget things. Remember that he was the one hauling off the Jews who had confessed Christ. He had put them in jail and even had some of them killed. So, Paul had quite a past. He did it because he was blind. That’s what spiritual blindness can do to a person.

The devil has blinded the minds of them that do not believe. So, before he can steal, kill, and destroy, he comes to blind people’s minds. He has blinded many people’s minds today in terms of who they are, or what God has planned for their lives, or how they can even live.

The way that you get people’s eyes open is through the light of the glorious gospel, or the truth. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31–32).

Friend, whatever you may have done in the past, God extends His grace to you today just like he did the Apostle Paul. Jesus paid the price for your forgiveness—Receive it! Forget the past and move forward to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

Dear God, You know everything about me and yet You love me. Because of Your amazing grace, I can forget the past, forget all shame, and move forward to fulfill the divine destiny You have planned for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s mini-book, The Power of Grace. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Forgetting the Past appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. (1 Peter 1:15 AMPC)

DEVOTIONAL:

If you are a Christian, there’s no need to tell you that the flow of society has been headed in a direction contrary to truth and righteousness. Never has any generation in the history of our nation been so far removed from the heritage of faith that has been passed down through the ages. But, never before has there been a greater opportunity for the Body of Christ to be the glorious Church, operating in the fullness of God’s anointing, to bring in the greatest harvest of souls and wealth that the earth has ever seen.

It’s time to rise up to the high calling of God, and let your Christian walk be a light for this present generation. Many are crying out for role models who are living proof that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him; men and women who succeed based on their integrity, strength of character, and unwillingness to jeopardize all they have worked for because “the pleasures of sin [is] for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

It is only with God’s help, through the Holy Spirit and God’s anointed Word, that we can rise above the lifestyles of the world to live clean in an unclean world. There is a power at our disposal that is accessible by faith that will undergird us and strengthen us to run this Christian race and make it to the finish line. That power, my friends, is the power of grace. 

PRAYER:

Dear God, I thank You for giving me Your divine grace and power to live as light in a dark world. I know it is only with Your help that I can accomplish what You’ve given me to do, and I thank You for empowering me to operate in the fullness of Your anointing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s mini-book, The Power of Grace. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Rise Up to the High Calling of God appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. (Judges 6:12)

DEVOTIONAL:

Are you trying to qualify yourself? Do you find your thoughts arguing back and forth? Don’t cave in to discouragement and think, “Well, I didn’t finish this,” or “I didn’t finish that.” Do you remember when the angel came to Gideon? The angel called Gideon a “mighty man of valor!”

Gideon said, “Who? Me? Right there, he began to disqualify himself. He said, “Wait a minute. You don’t know. My family is one of the poorest families in the tribe. I don’t have much education. I don’t learn easily like most people. I’m the least among my own brethren.” 

You can see that Gideon’s view of himself really didn’t make any difference to the call of God on his life. God has a plan. He has preprogrammed a marvelous plan for your life. Do you hear what I’m saying to you? And His plan includes you living on earth like you were in heaven. God has no plan for you to be poor or in any way unworthy of your calling.

God knew what kind of potential was in Gideon, and He knows what kind of potential is in you!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I repent of believing and saying anything about myself that is contrary to who You made me…who Your Word says I am…what Your Word says I can have…and what Your Word says I can do. I praise You for Your marvelous plan for my life. I am a mighty man (or woman) of valor! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s book, Training for Reigning. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post Qualified to Reign appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. (Proverbs 13:22)

DEVOTIONAL:

There is provision that has been lying there, and even when God tells us to do something, we look at it and we begin to look at the cost. We bring the cost of this thing down, down, down until we can reasonably figure out how we can work for it or how we can get enough people together to make it happen. 

Leave it alone! We need to receive what God tells us He’s going to do on the level that He gave it to us.

I’m saying that God is lavish. He is extravagant. Your desire for nice things didn’t come from you. It is the nature of God in you. Look around the throne of God! There is nothing cheap around there. There is gold. There are diamonds. I’m saying it’s time for heaven to come to earth. Now, for you to receive it, you cannot appeal to your senses. Because senses always bring human limitations and you must go beyond your human limitations. 

Why? God wants you to receive it by grace through faith. Remember, you can’t pay for anything that comes out of heaven. God’s plan for the Church is not for us to hoard things as some people have done in the world, but to be distribution centers for God to eradicate systemic poverty in the world.

Are you ready to receive God’s extravagant blessings that He’s stored up for you?

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I am believing You for (Name something you have been praying about.). Thank you for Your extravagant blessing, and help me to recognize Your provision. I declare right now that I will no longer limit You with small thinking, but rather, I receive what You tell me You’re going to do on the level that You give it to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Dr. Bill Winston’s book, Training for Reigning. Order this amazing book today!

Listen to this devotional here.

The post God Is Extravagant appeared first on Bill Winston Ministries - Devotions.