Creflo Dollar Ministries
One Ministry, One Church, One Message Worldwide
One Ministry, One Church, One Message Worldwide
Would you like to read the Word daily, but don’t know how to begin? Reading our Daily Devotionals is a good way to develop the habit of studying the scriptures. Visit this page to find a scripture for every day of the year, complete with practical advice for applying the principles to your everyday life. It is possible to enjoy reading the Bible. Simply set time aside each day, and soon daily Bible reading will become a lifestyle!
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).
Our soul is our mind, which we use to think, feel, reason, and choose for ourselves. When we meditate on the Word of God and let it percolate through us, we eventually begin to notice that we are thinking differently than before. When we confess the Word, we speak the truth.
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19).
The law of Moses, which focused on self-effort, had the effect of constantly reminding the people of their sins. It magnified their sense of guilt and made it impossible for them to obey all the commandments. Jesus, the perfect mediator between God and man, came to release the people from bondage to self-effort and guilt.
“But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:9, 10, 13, NLT).
When we are with others who are unaware of the freedoms resulting from a life of grace, we must be careful that our actions do not violate their conscience. We must not inadvertently cause another person to do something they consider sinful out of guilt, simply because they see us doing it. Putting others first is important.
“Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; so shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9, 10, AMPC).
Giving is a way we acknowledge and honor God in the area of our finances. This allows us to lay hold of what grace has made available to us.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
Financial giving is an act of faith. To trust something is to confidently lean on it and rely on it. We must not rely on money, because it is unreliable and can fail us at any time. Whether in money or our own understanding, it’s a mistake to trust in anything other than God.
“He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
To be successful givers, we must avoid getting distracted by whatever is going on around us. Focusing on the wrong things can actually persuade us not to give.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5).
Financial giving is a vital part of being a Christian, but it’s not always easy or convenient to give. The world operates by a different value system, and it puts pressure on us not to give at the very times we need to. Being faithful in giving always pays off.
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3, NKJV).
The foundation of every edifice, and everything we do in life, is always the most important part; without a solid foundation, anything is bound to crumble and fall. God offers us a foundation based in His righteousness, and when we accept it, we’ll have His security and strength.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We are made perfect and sinless through Jesus Christ, who was the ultimate sacrifice for us. This promise of holiness and sanctification is by faith, and only manifests itself in our lives if we believe it.
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13).
When our identity is based on our behavior or on the world’s constantly-changing standards, we will always be confused about who we really are. When it’s based in Christ, our actions do not determine who we are. Our identity is permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit, and it can never be revoked.
“And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Genesis 39:2, 3).
We don’t have to possess all the fancy external trappings of the world to be prosperous. When Joseph was sold as a slave, he had absolutely nothing, yet he still prospered. This was because God was with him.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever” (2 Corinthians 9:8, 9).
Real prosperity is defined by how much we give away, not how much we keep for ourselves. It is not about meeting our own personal needs, but about meeting the needs of others.
“And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all” (Genesis 14:20).
After Abram defeated his enemies in battle, he immediately acknowledged who was ultimately responsible for his victory, and he gave out of gratitude and thanksgiving. As Christians, having the same reflex action in our giving blesses us as well as others.
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16, 17).
Under the old covenant when the people lived under the law of Moses, they were required to rest on the Sabbath day. This was a foreshadowing of Christ. Now that we are under the covenant of grace, Jesus Himself is our Sabbath and our rest.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4, NKJV).
Joy comes from what we know, and when we consider all that the finished works of Jesus has made available to us, we feel that joy. When we encounter situations that test our faith, putting patience to work helps us to endure and overcome what defeats others. This type of patience builds character.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35, 36).
Resting in the finished works of Jesus requires patience, and it positions us to receive the manifestations. Patience isn’t simply “putting up with” adversity, but confidently persevering and remaining the same until we see results.
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in His way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass” (Psalm 37:7).
We were not created to operate out of stress or worry, but out of rest. Just like rubber blocks electricity, our doubt and anxiety block any manifestations of what God wants us to experience.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
God will not work on our behalf if we are laboring to make things happen through our self-efforts. He will only go to work when we rest in Him. This involves trusting and relying on Him to produce the kind of results and manifestations of which we are incapable on our own.
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23, NLT).
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct His steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful” (Proverbs 29:18, NLT).
