Richard Rivera’s Post

Off the Throne! Today's Scripture: I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. - 1 Corinthians 15:31 Today's Word: The apostle Paul wrote nearly half the books in the New Testament. His missionary journeys and pioneering work for the gospel were amazing. He’s one of the heroes of faith. You would think that he was such a mature believer that he wouldn’t have to deal with issues of the flesh and say that with his mind he served the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Yet he said, “I die daily. Every day I take my flesh off the throne and put down carnal desires.” As with Paul, we all have areas where we’re letting the flesh dictate. If we would start dying daily, start walking by the Spirit, being willing to be uncomfortable, keeping our mouth closed, waiting with a good attitude, then many of the things that frustrate us now can be opportunities to grow. Don’t respond the same way you’ve been responding to your spouse for the last twenty years, being impatient, frustrated, argumentative. When you die daily, God can trust you with more influence, more favor, more resources. Are you winning the war within? Today’s Prayer: “Father, thank You for always calling me higher and to die daily to everything that keeps me from being my best. Help me to confront the areas where I struggle with the flesh wanting to rule. I believe that with Your help, I can overcome and be victorious. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”

It’s Not What You Think! Today's Scripture: But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. - 1 John 3:8 Today's Word: When Jesus came to the Earth, He went around doing good, healing people, showing mercy, but the religious leaders didn’t accept Him. Even though He had done no wrong, they falsely tried him, forced him to carry His own cross to be crucified. Hanging on the cross, He could have called angels to rescue Him, but He didn’t. He hung there for you and for me. The nails didn’t hold Him on the cross; love held Him on the cross. It was all a part of God’s plan to destroy the works of the enemy, the reason for which He came to Earth. Jesus went before us and crushed Satan’s head. He took away all His power. Now we can live a victorious life. Whatever you’re facing—trouble at work, a child who’s off course, mistakes you’ve made, guilt, condemnation—may be intimidating and seem harmful, but it’s not what you think. You can’t let fear or worry dominate. You just have to take steps forward and discover that Jesus has already gone before you and defeated those enemies. Today’s Prayer: “Father, thank You that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil, crushed his head, and broken his power. Thank You that no matter what the enemy sends against me, it’s not what it looks like. I believe that as I take steps forward, I will discover that they are already defeated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”

Expansion! Today's Scripture: So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. - 1 Samuel 30:4 Today's Word: First Samuel 30 records the greatest defeat David had ever suffered. He and his six hundred men returned from a mission only to find their city burned, their wives and children kidnapped by Amalekite bandits, and all their possessions stolen. Then David’s men started blaming him and talked about stoning him. It wasn’t fair that the wrong thing happened when David was doing the right thing. But God doesn’t promise that life will always be fair. It’s what we do in these unfair times that determines whether we get stuck and let it sour the rest of our lives or whether we move forward and see God expand us. What made David a champion is that he shook off the defeated mind-set and went forward to recover all that had been taken plus spoils from the bandits. He understood the principle that you have to get up when you’ve been knocked down and not use it as an excuse to stop. On the other side of the excuse is expansion, a new level of our destiny. Today’s Prayer: “Father, thank You that Your power to strengthen me in times of unfairness is greater than any force that comes against me. Thank You that I can put discouragement behind me and push forward in faith. I believe that expansion is coming—something greater, something better. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”