1 John 5:14-16 (New King James Version)

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

As you spend time in daily prayer and communion with the Lord, I want to encourage you to be reminded that through the power of the cross and the shed blood of Jesus Christ you can be completely and entirely confident in Him. Because we are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness, we can boldly approach the Father and ask anything according to His will.

I am so thankful that we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that when we pray and petition the Father in Jesus’ name and according to His will, He hears us and that His answer is always “Yes, and Amen”!

What a wonderful and faithful God He is!

Sharon Tinsley

Proverbs 3:3-6
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

There was a season in my life when I was desperate and felt betrayed by God. Life was not turning out the way my carnal mind thought is should have. I felt alone and forgotten. I drove my car out to an abandoned field and screamed all my anger to God. I was going to make him remember me and the things He had promised me. When I couldn’t scream anymore I cried. When I couldn’t cry anymore, I drove myself back home. I really accomplished a lot . Two weeks later I found myself in complete brokenness and resurrendered my hopes and dreams to God. In that moment, He gave me a vision: I was standing in a dry hot barren land at the edge of a cliff. Below me were rocks and in front of me was vast emptiness. I stepped off the cliff and suddenly my foot landed on a solid surface. I couldn’t see anything holding me up but I was standing on something firm. I took another step and another. It looked like I was walking on air. As I walked, I looked behind me and beneath me. The sand and rocks that were once there were now covered by grass separated by a clear running stream. I saw trees come to life and flowers bloom. The heat disappeared and I could feel a gentle breeze. There was beauty all around me.

Sometimes Life doesn’t happen the way we planned. Many times I want to take control and fix things myself. I think, “Well, if this person would just do this, then everything would be fine!” But the real test of a person’s character is how they react to Life’s circumstances. My father would often, and occasionally still does : ), tell me, “Kendra, God cares more about your reaction then the action done to you.” One has a choice of exhausting themselves as they defend their name and maneuver their dreams to fit their own ideals or one can rest in the knowledge that God is a faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love Him (Deuteronomy 7:9). I am learning that I can walk down any stormy path as long as I know He is my guide. Things may not always happen the way I think they should but if they always did, I might miss incredible opportunities of growth and intimacy with my Maker. So, what do you do in the middle of an unpredictable storm? Love. Love others with a righteous love while offering them grace. Lean not on your own understanding, rather let your actions reflect Christ and watch as He provides you favor and clears the chaos from your path. Then, all you have to do is admire His beauty.

Kendra Kelly Dean

And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

I am indeed a lover of God! I have been through many things in my life both good and bad. Through it all I can see the hand of God keeping and blessing me, though I’m not perfect…The scripture didn’t say “All things work together for good for the perfect” but to those who love God and are the called.. I also believe that I have a purpose by which I am called to fulfill! So I look at losing my parents at an early age, being touched by the wrong hands as a child, feeling like the black sheep, and all my success in life.. You mean all that’s working together for my good?? All means all!

I pray that you realize that no matter what you’re going through… it’s all going to work in your favor!!

Chuck Bethany

Scripture: Psalms 139: 23-24

( Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out
anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. )

Today and everyday this is on my heart. The enemy never takes a holiday, so I never assume that
I know so much about the Lord that the enemy can’t get to me. Often times God’s children let their guard down and become ineffective or less effective for the work of the kingdom. I’ve sure experienced this in my life. Have you ever been called on to help someone with something they’re dealing with, but you were so wounded inside you couldn’t answer the call. Here we are in a time that’s on a fast track to a world wide spiritual and natural tusami so to speak. Now more than ever the world desperately needs the Children of Light to let a dying world know about the risen saviour Jesus Christ and the honor of being His disciple. And while God has designed the various forms of media to ensure that his Kingdom shall go forth, it did not stop our individual God given assignment of making disciples of all men. At the same time God’s people are too weak, too scared, uninformed, over-informed, faith waining and lost in the hustle and bustle of life.

Too many are bitter, broken, rude, callous, angry, depressed and passionless. How can we accomplish this God given assignment when we are not ready? Scripture records that; “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. So who are you going to believe, the world 0r the WORD?

Take the time to “Remember” all the good you know about the Lord, how you met Him, what He’s already done for you and those around you. And most of all the sacrifice Christ made on that cross at Calvary. The “Blood” He shed for you and me. Realize the price He paid and don’t stop thinking about it until you are ready to present your body a living sacrifice for the work of His Kingdom! (Selah) Then sit with “YOU” and do the crucial intimacy work ( in-too-me-see ). Repent for everything in your being that does not honor God. Allow God to show you what’s ailing your spirit man and be reconciled to the arms of our Heavenly Father. And do not forget to forgive others and yourself, for this is a special key to peaceful living. Let the Holy Spirit heal you everywhere you hurt! Then, “soldier of the cross”, report for duty and don’t look back! God has need of you and He will absolutely make you a vessel worthy of greater measures of his power. Stand on the Word of God, walk in the way of Christ,leaning not to your own understanding, living with the mind of Christ and see how God will work in you and through your life.

God Bless You & Yours…..Benita

The day I last questioned if I would fail or succeed in this faith walk we’re in, my father-in-law called us out of the blue with no knowledge of difficulties we were going through and told us God had awakened him in the night and given him this scripture to give to us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

If God would do that for me…wake someone from their sleep to call me in my time of trial to give me a message of hope and encouragement…I have to believe that He meant every word of promise.
And no matter what the circumstance or trial He has decided I go through, that He has planned for me to prosper; He has planned my future!!!

If you can only wrap your mind around this one promise in His word…He has planned your future!!! He doesn’t intend for you to fail He intends for you to prosper and not to harm you.

I hope you understand that you can build from where you are right now on this foundation:
HE HAS PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE…

Bobby Binion, Jr.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.

Are there things in your life right now that are not as you would like them to be? It may be a physical condition, it may be a financial situation, it may be a relationship that has gone bad.

God has an expected end for you, one of peace and not evil. Use the “eye of FAITH” to focus on the promises of God, not the natural eye of the flesh that will root you like a tree to your current circumstances.

It takes diligence to “Renew Your Mind”, to constantly know that God is for you, and that no weapon formed against you will prosper. Use your faith in God who thinks you are AWESOME has your best interest in His plan.

Let me recommend “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen, a great little book that is easy to read, not very long, and will build your faith.

Prove me now in this, and I will open the windows of heaven.

Ric Norris
Daystar Drummer

When my husband and I were engaged to be married he shared a scripture with me. I’ll never forget it. We were in the prayer room at Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee. He opened the Bible to Philippians 1:6 and read, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” He said this will be our scripture. I’ve had many beginnings in my life – starting first grade, going to college, getting married, having children…you get the picture. But the ultimate beginning was when I accepted Jesus Christ. God BEGAN a GOOD work in me, and it didn’t stop there. The words “has begun” implies that something started and will continue until we get to heaven.

I wish I could say I’ve always had it together, always made the right choices, never made a mistake…but I can’t. But I can say that God will continue to work in me, through me and for me. I’m reminded of the song I used to sing in children’s church. “He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.” That means as we walk this road through life’s journey, we can be confident that God will use every detour, delay and dead-end to take us to our destiny!

Tonya Taylor

Phillippians chapter 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

Do you ever look at the people on Daystar and think we just pretend to be happy? That’s it’s kinda fake? And if we really are happy, it’s only because we’re living the high life because we must have everything we want – that we must because we’re on TV?

I can’t try to prove that I go through as many hardships as anybody because I’ll be the first to admit I live a very blessed life. I Always have. I haven’t yet experienced the death of anyone really close, I haven’t ever been seriously Ill or injured, I’ve never experienced real hunger, and I have a beautiful wife and son… You may think it’s easier for me to “rejoice always” but since Paul said it twice, it’s probably pretty important for all believers. What does it really mean to rejoice in the Lord?

I know that storms will come. But I rest assured in the fact that God will supply all my needs. I think of all the good things God has given me as material for building a strong ship to weather those storms. Life itself is a gift from God, and any hardships I’ve experienced pale in comparison to the grace that has been given me. We need to rejoice “in the Lord” and not merely because of a comfortable life.
When storms come, however, and it’s hard to be happy, look to the Lord– He can do what you can’t, and in this we begin to know what it means to “Rejoice in the Lord.”

Noel Johnston

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

In 1998, my faith was tested.

I knew that it was time to walk a different path, but I also was aware that the results could be disastrous.

The Lord had been speaking to me softly for a long time about going back into music full time, this time would be different. He wanted me to devote my time and talent exclusively to Him. In the past, I had worked and made a living in the night clubs. I knew this path was not where he wanted me to walk.
I did not know how I could make a living in Christian music. I had two young daughters and a wife to support. I did not want them to suffer because of a bad decision.

We did have some difficult times financially, especially in the beginning. But in the end, we never paid our bills late or missed a tithe. God is and was my manager. He provided so many opportunities in places I would have never dreamed.

Looking back years later, I know that this was a crucial time for spiritual growth. It bonded our family closer together and provided a testimony for others.

Our faith was tested, but we continued to look forward and not back. — Dan Castillo

Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite scripture.

It basically says that God has a plan for you and that He wants to give you a future and a hope. Isn’t that amazing? I think it’s important for everyone to know this and to experience God’s plan for their life. For me, it started when I wrote a letter to the Lord at twenty years of age. I basically surrendered my gifts, talents and abilities to the One who created me. I told God that I wanted to be in His perfect will for my life. I tell the story in my new book “Surrender All” and really, the rest is history. I had no idea what God’s plan entailed for me but it has been an amazing ride with lots of twists and turns along the way and God’s unwavering faithfulness.

I married my wonderful husband, joined him in ministry, began the journey of Christian television, had three beautiful children and now a worldwide television network that reaches around the world. You’ll have to get the book to hear the whole story but my word of encouragement to you today is to know that God has a plan for your life and it’s never too late.

Surrender all to him and you’ll never be the same. — Joni

Psalms 91:1

HE, who dwells in the secret place of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.

For a time in our life, when our boys were young, we lived in a small town just outside of Gary Indiana called Miller Beach. This was in a not so good area, but it was our only option at the time .One night we had just gone to bed when I felt the need to pray over our home, as I began to pray, it began to thunder and lightning violently. I began to pray Psalms 91 over our home and over us and was able to go to sleep with peace.

The next night we arrived back to our house after church to see that our house had been robbed and ransacked, immediately I felt the Holy Spirit say they were going to do this last night but God sent the storm to keep them away. Thank You God for your protection!

I have often prayed this passage over my family in troubled times and it has been a source of great peace. Whatever storm may be in your life today, remember the Almighty has you resting in His hands…

Michelle Binion

I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Ten years ago when God opened a door for me to come and work at Daystar, it was a really big transition time. I moved away from my family, my friends, my church…everything that was secure and comforting to me. Even though I knew I was in God’s perfect will, there were still moments when anxiety and uncertainty would come to try and cause me to retreat. In those times, I would often find myself leaning on the scriptures and finding comfort in the precious promises from God’s Word. Knowing that God cared for me pushed me past all of the obstacles in my way. My life is truly a testimony of God’s faithfulness!

In moments when life is uncertain, may you find comfort in knowing that you are not walking alone. God is with you every step of your journey. So today, I encourage you to cast your cares on Him because He truly cares for you!