Leviticus 27:30, “Every tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.”

Malachi 3:10-12, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground;
neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed:
for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Matthew 5;17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Hello OTP family!! We are in that season again where the topic of giving is at the forefront of the minds of many. I wanted to share some information that may work to clarify the issue. However, before we jump into it I wanted to advise you to consider the information provided prayerfully and ask God to speak further to your heart on this topic. Remember obedience is always better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

First Things First: What is a Tithe and Why do we give it?

Tithe is a set rate of 10% of your income. It is the priority as it is a “first fruit” offering and is the baseline of Biblical giving.

Offering is secondary contributions made out of extra generosity.

Giving an offering does not replace the obligation of tithes. This also includes your gifts to charities and those in need.

Purpose: Tithes typically fund the daily operations of the church. Tithes are used for facility upkeep and salaries. Offerings are most often designated for specific campaigns such as special building fund, missions, or outside charities.

Tithe and offering is God’s blessing plan for the believer. Jesus tells us to give and it shall be given unto us…(see Luke 6:38).

It illuminates the believers ability to walk in obedience to God’s word (even when to disobey in this area is temptation the enemy uses against us repeatedly). It also shows us that living on that blessed 90% is far easier than attempting to live on a cursed 100%. When we fail in this area it can feel as though our pockets have a whole where our money seems to fall through.

God instructs the church to use the tithes so that “there may be meat in mine house“ making it clear what is the function of the tithe. He does not allow us as givers to provide direction to the church on how it should be used. It is understood that when we attend a church we have a responsibility to the upkeep of it.

Scripture references for tithes: Malachi 3:10-12 | for offering: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9.

Even though offering is secondary to the tithe, it is extremely important to the walk of the believer. We are instructed to be a cheerful giver.

When we walk in obedience we can do as Malachi instructs – to prove God to see that he will open the windows of heaven and pour out the blessings we need.

Giving premise: We give freely and generously from our own resources. When we do this from a pure heart God steps in and freely and generously gives back to use from His own resources in return.

Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Popular Arguments Used Against Giving:

Conflict 1: Tithing was Old Testament, but “giving” is instruction by Jesus in the New Testament.

Many say that when Jesus came he did away with the tithe and just commanded that we should give. However, Jesus told us in Matthew 5:17, that he did not come to do away with the law, but he came to fulfill it.

Jesus confirmed he came to (1) complete their ultimate purpose, (2) embody their teachings, and (3) accomplish the prophecies pointing toward Him rather than erasing them.

The giving of tithes was not abolished Jesus did however, provide clarification.

Jesus spoke to the attitudes many had surrounding giving. Judging those who would give what they considered inferior to their own giving. Many wanted to be seen giving greatly, but in their heart they only wanted the accolades that came with being seen and did not care how impactful their gift was.

In Luke 11:42 and Matthew 23:23, Jesus acknowledge the giving of tithes, but rebuke them because they paid more attention to the giving of the tithes, but neglected other important issues such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Jesus told them these you out to have done (referring to the tithe) without neglecting the others. He affirmed that tithing should not be abandoned, but it should never replace a heart of mercy and justice.

Conflict 2: I have to tithe AND give a “worthy” offering? You’re asking too much.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Here we see that HOW we give will also determine HOW we receive. We should give with generosity. BUT we are to purpose in our heart what we will give. This giving is something personal between you and God alone. You give what you have determined in advance and not allow anyone make you feel ashamed of the gift even if it is less that what they may be asking for.

God is the only one who can see your heart. Don’t be fooled by what it looks like others are able to give. Be happy with what God has placed in your hands to give, and give it cheerfully. That is a gift between you and God alone. Yes, you may be able to give more, but God is looking for the gift you purposed in your heart. Review this scripture carefully. Yes, you can change your mind regarding the gift, but God is looking at your heart surrounding your gift.

Conflict 3: Pastors/Preachers are taking money to enrich their pockets while the congregation still suffer need.

Unfortunately, there are some false prophets out there – the Bible warns us about them. We are advised to use our spiritual discernment and know who they are. But that does not take away our responsibility of tithing/giving if we remain joined to that ministry. We give as we are instructed to give by the Bible. We still have to walk in obedience to God.

Additionally, we are not allowed to dictate how our tithe/offering will be used. We must leave that to God to judge and deal with anyone who would mishandle these gifts. It may seem that people will get away with it, but this is only a temporary illusion. They will still have to answer for any wrongs committed against God and his people.

I will say if you feel you are joined to any ministry where you have no confidence in the pastor in this regard you should pray about it and pray for that pastor. God is able to work on the hearts of his people. When God calls you to be joined to a ministry we can only separate when God gives us leave to do so.

Other Scriptures to review:

Old Testament

-Proverbs 3:9

-Numbers 18:21

-Genesis 28:22

New Testament

-1 Corinthians 16:2

-Mark 12:41-44

-Matthew 18:12

My Prayer

Lord help me to give from a pure heart. Help me to give freely and generously. I know this is your will for me. Forgive me, I pray, for every time I failed to give. For every time I failed to pay tithes out of fear of loss. Help me to walk in faith and obedience always. In Jesus name, amen.

Have a blessed day! And as always, please like and subscribe for more content. Your comments are always welcome.

Psalms 145: 2, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”

Hello OTP Family!! I am excited because I feel that God is in the midst of doing something great that will blow my mind!! Because God is so amazing what he does for one He can do it for all. He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Wealth, power, or family background do not make someone more special or favored by God. So, if God is working on my behalf He is also working for you too!!

The real tricky part of this realization is waiting for God to bring your miracle to pass.

Most of the time we become anxious when waiting on God to work or move on our behalf. The scripture says it like this: be Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

Here are some steps to help you patiently wait on God:

Practical Steps to Wait in Faith

• Continue faithful daily duties: Keep doing what God already placed in front of you instead of freezing your life.
• Pray without ceasing: Pour out your honest frustrations and keep communication open with God.
• Immerse yourself in Scripture: Anchor your mind in God’s past faithfulness and unchanging promises.
• Worship through the struggle: Shift your focus from your current delay to the greatness and character of God.
• Resist the urge to force outcomes: Stop trying to rescue yourself through anxious or fleshly shortcuts.

My favorite is worship. For me, worship takes the focus off me and puts it solely on God. It also affords me the opportunity to lose myself in God’s great presence. It’s an opportunity to recharge, refresh and renew. I can recharge my faith, refresh my perspective, and renew my mind all through God’s awesome presence.

Confessions is another wonderful tool at our disposal as well. We must be careful with what we speak because our words have power. With them we speak our world into fruition. We have to train ourselves not to speak contrary to very things for which we are trust God to bring to pass. For example, when believing God for healing, we should not constantly talk about how sick we are or how bad we feel. We should constantly speak by faith our good health and healing.

What about you?

What do you need from God?

How do you feel in your spirit? Can you feel that God is doing great things for you?

Stretch out on faith and believe Him for what you previously considered a pipe dream or just to big to realistically go after.

God is Amazing!! And he is still doing amazing things for his people.

Do not be afraid to go after and receive exactly what God has promised you.

Have a blessed night.

Prayer Requests?

Email us at: OTP.Ministries1@gmail.com

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Nahum 1:7 NIV, “The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,”

Hello OTP family!! I just wanted to share some good news – in a day where you may have had bad news, challenges, or troubles. Know that the Lord Is Good and He is on your side.

This evening before you lay your head on your pillow to rest – take some time to say thank you to God! The hard times did not end you. You still have breath in your body, a sound mind, and an opportunity to end the day on a good note. You can let the enemy know he did not defeat you and God is still reigning in your life. End the day on a praise – giving God the glory!

Why?

– Because the Lord is Good!

– Because He is your refuge (you are safe from trouble).

– Because He cares for you because you trust in Him

– Because of His goodness you know that you are not alone. You do not have to fight on your own strength because he is with you and strengthens you to do all things (Philippians 4:13).

Tonight as you rest (and you will rest and have sweet sleep in Jesus’ name) be comforted by this word.

Yes, there are times when the struggle tries to rob you of your ability to trust him. do not give into this. Instead, lean into him and build up your self in your most holy faith (Jude 1:20). You have to be proactive is your walk with God and battle in the spirit. Do not allow yourself to wallow in these unproductive thoughts. Instead strengthen your self in praise and worship.

Ephesians 6: 10-11 NIV, The Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

What a faithful and mighty God we serve that he provides us with everything we need to be successful in our walk with Him. We have access to the equipment and tools. We must decide to make daily use of them. But once we make the choice and stick to it the joy that comes with it will strengthen us continually.

Again I encourage you to say a great big ‘Thank You’ to God. He is worthy of it, this is true. But the true benefit belongs to you. In your praise, you are exchanging your heaviness for His peace and security.

Have a blessed night and enjoy your time of praise and worship with God!

Prayer requests?

Email us at: OTP.Ministries1@gmail.com

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Mark 4:24 NIV, “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”

Hello OTP Family!! I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time scrolling on my phone (way too much time – if I’m being honest). Because our smart phones are minicomputers, we have access to more information (24 hours a day) than what is necessary or beneficial to our souls/spirits. Most of this information is depressing or designed to keep our outer man busy to the point where we do not recognize that this information if boring into our subconscious mind and trying to find its way into our very heart. After prolonged exposure we begin to change the way we think, act and react. We become desensitized to violence and sexual amorality. 

Some will argue that this is progress. That a lot of good can come from such immediate access to information. That I would not disagree. But as with anything we do need to approach this access from the standpoint of temperance. We need to exercise self-control regarding what we access, when we access, and for how long we will access the information. We must also be prepared to due ‘due diligence’ on the information accessed because ‘fake news’ is real. Everything we see online we cannot take it as truth or real. AI has shown us that this is such a true statement. AI can take what is fake look so real and reasonable that we must do what the bible says and begin to operate in the spirit of Godly discernment.

Guard Your Ears

Why? Because what you hear comes with roots. If we do not carefully consider what we hear that information can take root in our heart and propel us toward challenges and troubles that we would not otherwise have to battle. 

Just a little consideration of the source can save our peace.

Just like we will not allow just anyone (influence) into our physical homes. That’s why we have video doorbells. We need to see who is trying to access our homes. We must be just as diligent when it comes to what comes into this physical body via our ears (and our eyes too!). 

Looking at Mark 4:24, we need to consider what we hear. Not just the hearing of a thing, but also what impact we allow that information to have on us. We are warned that if we keep allowing these ungodly influences to reign in our bodies we will get more of the same added to us. Conversely, if we limit or remove these, and allow the goodness of God to rule in us, that will also be multiplied to us as well.

Encouragement

Mindfulness activity time. Check in with yourself. Evaluate where you are right now. Consider – have you allowed certain influences to reign unchecked in your life? Have these influences changed how you think, react or feel about certain topics? If so, carefully consider – is this a good change? Is it biblically sound, with a foundation that is based in the word of God? Or have you allowed these influences to direct you toward compromise that supports secular agenda?

Other than God, no one knows you better than you do yourself. Only you can honestly answer these questions. 

I encourage you to prayerfully consider these questions. Then allow God to direct your steps moving forward. Let us all repent and be spiritually clean together.

Prayer Time

Pray with me…

Lord, I submit my body (especially ears and eyes) to you as instruments of righteousness. Everything that I am is yours. When I face temptation, help me look for your way of escape instead of trying to defeat this temptation on my own strength.

Help me to submit to your voice as you speak ‘that’s enough’ to my spirit during my scrolling time. Help me to find other ways to occupy my time and my mind that will bring glory to your name. 

Lord, I believe you for this and thank you for your assistance in advance. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 Have a blessed day OTP family!!

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Ephesians 6:10, 11, 15, “10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 15. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Hello OTP Family!! Today has been a challenging day, but yet one still full of blessings and the mercies of God. I was constantly reminded of the peace of God. How precious it is and how we need to “hold on” to that Godly peace placed in our hands directly by God. That perfect peace that allows his children to not be troubled or afraid. But we must hold our peace (at times) and hold on to our peace always.

Let’s talk about peace.

According to the dictionary peace is described as:

Peace fundamentally refers to a state of security, calmness, and harmony, characterized by the absence of war, violence, or mental stress. It spans from global harmony between nations to personal tranquility within an individual. 

Peace is typically categorized into several dimensions: 

• Global & Societal: The absence of war, hostility, or civil disorder. It is often formalized through treaties and maintained by law, civil order, and mutual respect. 
• Interpersonal: Harmonious relationships free from conflict, arguments, and tension. 
• Inner Peace: A psychological or spiritual state of serenity, balance, and acceptance. It represents freedom from oppressive thoughts, anxiety, or emotional turmoil. 

The word originates from the Latin word pax and is the equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom (which also embodies concepts of wholeness, completeness, and well-being).

Biblically speaking, peace is described as:

In the Bible, peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is a holistic state of completeness, soundness, and well-being. Rooted in the original Hebrew shalom and Greek eirene, biblical peace signifies restored relationships, prosperity, and the active presence of God in the midst of chaos. 

The Two Pillars of Biblical Peace

1. Shalom (Old Testament)

• Meaning: Completeness, wholeness, and harmony.
• Usage: It refers to things being in their proper, intended order. For example, perfectly fitted stones without cracks, or complete payment of a debt.
• Focus: Shalom involves relationships between individuals, nations, and God, all operating in perfect harmony and mutual benefit. 

2. Eirene (New Testament)

• Meaning: Tranquility, quietness, and unity.
• Usage: It builds on shalom and is often used to describe reconciliation—such as two opposing parties coming together to form a “whole” again.
• Focus: Primarily, it denotes the inner calm and confidence Christians have through a restored relationship with God. 

Dimensions of Peace:

• Peace with God: The fundamental belief that, through Christ, the barrier of sin is removed, restoring your broken relationship with the Creator (Romans 5:1). 
• The Peace of God: An inner tranquility and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that guards your heart and mind against anxiety, even during difficult circumstances (Philippians 4:7). 
• Peace with Others: The active pursuit of reconciliation, unity, and justice among people, acting as “peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). 

Let’s also take a look at “hold.”

The Bible speaks of holding your peace as to keep silent, stop worrying, and trust God. Rather than a demand to simply “shut up,” it is an invitation to exercise self-control, let go of panic, and rely on God’s deliverance during chaotic moments.

– Resting in God’s battles: When the Israelites panicked at the Red Sea, Moses told them to “fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13-14). Here, holding your peace means surrendering your anxiety and trusting God to fight on your behalf. 

– Exercising wisdom and restraint: The Book of Proverbs suggests that staying silent is often a sign of wisdom. Proverbs 17:28 states, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding”

For the believer, it is the opportunity to express to God that we do trust him and take him at his word. It is an act of faith and love toward God. We always have the option to take things in our own hands and act out. But the end of this way only provides momentary satisfaction. Right behind that minor satisfaction, comes guilt, shame and embarrassment. Ultimately, we will find ourselves in a much worse state than before we put our own hands (or mouth) to the situation. Holding our peace in this way, we are ensured the victory. However, moving without self-control is a sign of spiritual immaturity.

There is another perspective of “holding” our peace that I would like to explore.

The word hold primarily functions as a verb meaning to grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms.

In the John 14:27, Jesus clearly explains that he is leaving His peace with us. That is mind blowing and amazing! Consider this, that same level of calm confidence that Jesus showed at all times was due to the peace he had from the Father. Knowing that God had his back, he had no cause for concern. He spoke what he heard from the Father (for he was there with Him from the beginning (See John 1-14). That same source of calm confidence he has left with us. We just have to hold on to it.

In Ephesians, we see and are encouraged to put on the whole armor of God daily. The foundation of this armor is peace. Our feet are to be shod with the gospel of peace. This means where ever we walk, we are to walk in peace. Whatever room or space you enter the peace of God is coming with you. If you walk into a room where it seems chaos is reigning, we should allow that peace of God room to work because we carried it is with us.

We must ‘hold on” to this peace. We must guard it and never let it go. I say this because there are times where the troubles and situations we find ourselves in can sometimes challenge this peace and cause us to lose our grip on it. Making sure we are fully dressed in our armor daily will help us keep this in mind. Also, we must constantly speak peace over our lives, our situations, and our concerns. We must also speak peace over our homes, automobiles, and places of employment. I even speak peace over my children and their homes and situations. I walk in peace so every where I go, peace comes with me.

Hold on to the peace that God has given you. Hold your peace in your situations and allow God room to work on your behalf. God has your back and he will not let you down. We don’t have to worry or stress. We can love and trust God enough to take him at his word. This is peace at its finest.

Is this easy? No, but is not impossible.

Does this take practice? Yes, every day.

Will you fail at times regarding your peace? Yes. But the more you mindfully practice holding peace and holding on to your peace, the better you get.

My prayer for us all is that we continually walk in peace. That we recognize when the enemy is attacking our peace. That we recognize when it is time to go into spiritual warfare to protect our peace. That we take comfort in knowing that God is with us and has our back, continually, without fail.

Have a blessed night.

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Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

1 Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Hello OTP family and friends! Today I wanted to talk about relationships. Specifically, your relationship with God (but it is also appropriate to be applied to all intimate relationships). Every relationship must move beyond lip service – the things we say, to action – the things we believe and do.  This movement will begin with your confession or rather changing the things we say. Because how we speak is a mirror of our relationship(s). How you speak about the people you are involved with will show health of your relationship.

Changing the things we say will impact what you believe and reveal the way forward (actions to take).

Let’s take a quick look at the tabernacle from the Old Testament:

The Three Layers of Biblical Tabernacles and Temples

The Outer Court, Inner Court, and Holy of Holies represent the three sacred zones of the ancient Hebrew Tabernacle and Temple. Access became strictly more exclusive as one moved deeper into the presence of God. 

1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that now – after Jesus’s loving sacrifice at calvary’s cross, and ushered in the Holy Ghost in Acts, now we are His tabernacle. He seeks to dwell in us. However, even with this our relationship with God can resemble this same zone structure. Now, the intimacy of this relationship we have with God flows from Outer Court, Inner Court, and Holy of Holies.

An Outer Court relationship (The “Acquaintance” Zone). Casual friendships, professional colleagues, and social acquaintances. These people have access to your public life but are not permitted into your private struggles, secrets, or deepest emotions. 

In context to our topic – it describes a foundational, introductory phase of faith. It is characterized by approaching God through sacrifice, thanksgiving, and obedience to basic truths, but remaining at a distance rather than experiencing deep, intimate communion.

An Inner Court relationship (The “Close Circle” Zone). Close friends and family. These individuals have earned your trust, understand your values, and share significant moments with you, but still may not know the deepest, most vulnerable parts of your inner.

In context to our topic – represents a lifestyle of deep, personal intimacy. Moving past superficial faith, it signifies entering intoGod’s immediate presence, where the mind, will, and emotions are transformed through dedicated prayer, honest devotion, and consecrated living.

Holy of Holies relationship (The “Intimate” Zone). Your absolute most intimate connections (like a spouse or a few deeply trusted confidants). They see your authentic self, your fears, and your dreams. 

In context to our topic – the ultimate level of spiritual intimacy. In the ancient biblical Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies was the innermost sanctuary housing the Ark of the Covenant, where God’s tangible presence dwelt and only the High Priest could enter once a year. 

I wanted to post both definition and context as a visual aid to see what type of relationship you have with God. Is God an Acquaintance to you? Is God just in your close circle?  Or is your relationship with God truly intimate? This is a perfect opportunity for self-reflection. Are you pleased with your relationship with God? Is God pleased? Or has he been urging you closer, to develop a deeper relationship with him?

Testing Your Confession

Now that we have some insight into relationship zones, let’slook at how we speak. There is a difference between knowing a thing and owning a thing.

The difference between knowing and owning lies in the transition from passive awareness to active internalization. Knowing means you possess information or recognize a fact;while owning means you have integrated that knowledge into your character, habits, or actions through experience. 

Knowing

Nature: Theoretical and objective

Source: gathered from the outside (books, lectures observation).

Focus: memorizing facts and data.

Result: you can explain the concept.

Owning

Nature: Experimental and deeply objective.

Source: earned from the inside (personal failure, practice application).

Focus: internalizing principles (they become second nature).

Result: you can consistently execute or live the concept.

 In relationships, especially intimate ones, if they are to be strong and enduring, we must move beyond knowing to owning. We must understand that when it comes to receiving anything from God our faith requires us to make this transition. Making this transition will change the way we speak/talk.

Example: God is a healer. This represents a fact that most believers know to be true from a surface level. God is my healer. This represents owning. The believer owns the fact and makes it personal. Transition from awareness of God’s ability to actively accepting that God has already done it by faith.

To fully receive anything, we must be ready to actively internalize the gift. This includes how we view the gift, which impacts how we speak of it. We must own it as a fact and not some intangible possibility. The ‘a’ and ‘my’ are two very small words but they carry a huge impact. It is called unconscious speaking (hidden mental processes, underlying emotions, and instincts express themselves). What you feel in your heart is exactly what is going to come out of your mouth. Pay attention to what you say. It will show you things you are not aware of. Its honestly – your truth. But it does not have to be set in stone. You can make the transition.

These two small words reflect your position in the relationship with God. Are you in an Outer court relationship? Or are you in an Inner Court relationship with God? In the outer court, you know a great many things. You have good understanding. In other words, you can talk-the-talk, and for the most part you believe it. Sounds good but has little actual substance. When the time of testing comes, it can be hard to remain steadfast in your confession. This is ‘a’ mentality. 

In the Inner Court you are all about walking by faith. You speak the work by faith, you decree and declare – with a goal of possessing what you need. You speak strong words of faith and can stand when a time of testing comes. But the transition from owning to receiving is still not yet quite fully realized. Why, because the pull to be closer to God is constantly there. This causes the believe to move toward the next level – the Holy of Holies. This is ‘my’ mentality.

In the Holy of Holies this is true intimacy. This is the place of deep and abiding love where you reverence and worship God. This is the place where you practice the presence of God. Where your heart is open to hear and receive from God. Although we don’t dwell here permanently, we do visit it quite frequently. The more we do so, the easier it is to maintain an Inner Court life. This solidifies our ability to receive from God – even when the enemy fights against you with all that he has – your confession remains strong and unshakable – this is ‘mine’because God gave it to me! This is ‘my’ mentality!

Lesson Summary

We must be cognizant of how we speak, of what we say, because it reveals what we truly believe/feel in our hearts. It reveals where we are in our relationship with God and with people. Do we speak kindly or harshly with people? Do we speak with love or with contempt? Are our words peppered with grace? Or do we speak without regard to how the words are received?

What we say to and about people reveals how we feel about them.

What we say when speak faith or about God reveals the relationship we have with him. 

My prayer for us all is that we strive for an Inner Court relationship with God. A relationship that changes the very fabric of our lives so that the life we live shows the power and love of the God we serve.

Have a blessed day!

Psalms 100 – A PSALM OF PRAISE.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Hello OTP Family and Friends!! I wanted to talk about the power of praise, gratitude and being thankful to God. The Bible says in Psalms 22:3 that God inhabits the praises of his people. Armed with this understanding it puts a different spin on praise. It sheds a light on when/where we can practice this attitude of thankfulness.

Let’s take a moment to look at the words used in Psalms 100:

• Joyful (noise)
• Gladness (and singing)
• (Come to him with) thanksgiving and praise.
• Be thankful (and bless) or worship

Now let’s add some definitions to help further understand the Psalmists intention…

Joyful is a deep, enduring state of gladness, strength, and inner peace that is rooted in God‘s character and promises.

Gladness is spiritual delight and cheerful satisfaction rooted in God’s presence, favor, and redemptive work.

Thanksgiving is the active, worshipful expression of gratitude and praise to God for his character, provision and redemptive acts.

Thankful is a natural response to God‘s steadfast love, grace, and eternal salvation.

Worship is the act of describing worth, honor, and reverence to God.

Just a little bit of these “ingredients” in your daily diet will feed your soul and strengthen your mind and body.

The best part is that an outward show is not needed. These ingredients can be inward thoughts, small whispers or audible. They do not need to be grand gestures. However, whenever you have the space and time I would give it all the “noise” and emotion I can. This way is a huge stress reliever.

So today, practice incorporating just a little bit of Psalms 100 into your day. Feel the impact of appreciation to God on your day and comment with the results.

My prayer for you is that your day be truly blessed.

Philippians 4;13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Thessalonians 5:19, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Hello OTP family!! I just wanted to say a great big THANK YOU to you all for your support. I received notification that my posts have reached 50+ countries!

I am thankful to God that this ministry is embraced by so many. I trust that the word of God has greatly impacted your lives as well.

As always, your comments and prayers are greatly appreciated. Thank you to all our subscribers you have know idea what a blessing you have been.

We will continue to share the Good News (gospel of Jesus Christ) as God leads.

Thanks again and have a blessed night!

Esther 1:12, “But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.”

Esther 2:5, “Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;”

Hello OTP family! Today I wanted to reflect on God’s masterful skills orchestration and planning. Understanding how God works as a wheel in the middle of a wheel (Ezekiel chapter 1). Revealing His omnipresence, omniscience, and supreme authority in what seems like insignificant details of our story, but are actually divinely ordered steps that take us where He needs us to be.

The origin story of Esther may be widely known to Christians everywhere, but I wanted to take a quick look at Queen Vashti. In truth, if not for Vashti’s decision to say no to the King, there would be no Queen Esther.

I am sure that when Vashti woke up that fateful morning she did not consider that it would be her last day as Queen. But her decision was crucial for God’s plan.

The Bible does not go into detail about why Vashti came to feel the way she did about appearing before the King and the many princes that were attending the celebration. It does not explain if she had concerns about her safely, dignity, or respect in that room. The only details provided was that it was a room full of drunken men. Speaking from a woman’s point of view, I can certainly understand if she did have concerns. However, all we do know is that she refused to go.

Her refusal was like a match thrown on a pile of kindling. It started a fire among all men that concerned them enough that they pushed the King to make a decree that would offer protection against any other woman who would dare to act disrespectfully towards their own husbands. This decision caused Vashti to lose her crown and to be banished from the King’s presence forever.

We don’t know what Vashti felt about the punishment as the story does not reveal that. We don’t know her fate after her banishment. What we do know is that the door was now opened for someone to take her place.

Look at how God worked His plan was to orchestrate things to facilitate Israel’s freedom:

• Vashti had to be removed.
• Mordecai had to be in the right place to recognize the opportunity for his adopted daughter.
• Esther had to be the type of woman who could capture the heart of the King. Truthfully, not just the king. She first needed to find favor with the keeper of the women.
• Esther needed to be made Queen.

Let’s consider these steps further. They involved so much in-depth planning by God.

• He had to get Vashti to the place where she willingly disobeyed the king.
• Mordecai needed to be in or to have the position to hear the plan.
• How many things had to occur that would require Mordecai to adopt Esther?
• What influences were required to make Esther into the right type of woman needed in this situation? Imagine the impact of life experiences needed to form her into this great woman of God?

This highlights the power and planning of God.

It also brings our own lives into focus. Yes, terrible things may have happened in our lives. No, I am not saying that God planned them for you. What I am saying is that God is able to take those things and still shape us into who he needs us to be – for His glory! Horrible things do not remove us from being used by God to help deliver His people. They actually make us better equipped to compel his people from a point of pain. Pain that has been transformed into strength because God has delivered and brought us through it!

Don’t allow the circumstances of your life thus far hold you back from the place(s) God is trying to take you to. God knows you are uniquely qualified for the job. You just need to see it in you too. Or at the very least not fight against the pull of God. Just go with it. I promise you it will be worth it.

Vashti or Esther? Each had a specific and important role to play to bring God’s will to pass.

Understand that God has a plan for each of us. Let’s decide to trust him even when we don’t see it, know it, or fully believe it. God is still God and He has never failed us.

We can depend on Him!!

Have a blessed day.

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Hello OTP family!! It’s Monday again and I wanted to offer you so encouragement to keep going.

Remember to keep moving. Keep operating within the call and anointing on your life.

Understand that the 90% of the time your ministry will be outside of the church. As the great commission is to go OUT into the highway and hedges and compel men to come (Luke 14:23). We must work where the need is!

You got this, because God is on your side!

Have a blessed day.