Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:3 

The kingdom of God is the dominion of heaven and everything it has to offer, including resources, blessings, and relational communion with our Heavenly Father. In the beginning God wanted man to have immediate access to all these things. 

When sin was introduced, these “things” began to push God out of His place in the human heart. God’s gifts now take the place of God and this is a destructive substitution. When Jesus called His disciples he said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever will save his life for my sake shall find it.” 

The blessed ones who get to possess the Kingdom are those who have rid themselves of every external thing that has rooted in their hearts which possesses them and takes Lordship apart from Jesus. These are the “poor in spirit”. It is an inward state of the heart that parallels the outward circumstances. They are no longer slaves to things. In this place of being free from all sense of possessing, they yet possess all things. “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

God used Abraham powerfully to bless the nations because he lifted his head to respond to the Voice in obedience by surrendering Isaac on the altar. He was a man wholly surrendered, utterly obedient, and a man who possessed nothing. He had to sacrifice His most precious possession, His son. Everything is safe which we commit to God in trust and surrender, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed. 

What are the things that take the place in our hearts where God was meant to reign and rule? Name things and people specifically one by one, our gifts, talents, and abilities. This is painful, hard and scary but when Jesus takes His place on the thrones of our hearts, He will no longer need to rival our affections and attention but will then draw us into a deeper place of intimacy and dependency on Him. We will experience a fullness and blessed security knowing that in possessing nothing, we possess everything and it is all safe in His hands.

- Carly Andrews

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
2 Corinthians 5:21

Augustine was one of the greatest theologians of all time. He was a wild, intemperate, immoral youth. In spite of his mother's pleadings and prayers, he grew worse instead of better. 

But one day he had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that transformed his life. His restlessness and the practice of sin disappeared. He became one of the great saints of all time. John Newton was a slave trader on the west coast of Africa. One day in a storm at sea he met Jesus Christ. He went back to England and became an Anglican clergyman. He wrote scores of hymns, one of which has become the modern popular song, "Amazing Grace." 

This what Christ can do for anyone who puts his trust in Him.

Prayer for the day
Your amazing grace transformed even my unworthy life-I love You, Lord Jesus

- Writing of Billy Graham

If you ever found yourself in a position of doubt, perceiving to have heard from God yet at the same time wondering whether you have truly heard from God, take heart! You are probably not alone. Have you been called to be courageous in a certain endeavor in your current season? 

When Moses passed on, Joshua was appointed by God as the next leader and given a vision to lead his people. God did not just give Joshua the vision; God assured Joshua His presence and told him to be “strong and courageous” multiple times! 

In order for Joshua to walk into this victory, the “condition” is that Joshua meditates on God’s words. In essence, what God was asking Joshua to do was to renew his mind by feeding on His truth - the kingdom reality. This “condition” is set down by God not for His sake but for Joshua’s sake – that he may not be fearful or discouraged but be strong and courageous in the knowledge of the Lord God who will never leave nor forsake Him but is sovereign in all things.

When you have full understanding of just who backs you up, your entire outlook in life will be transformed: Procrastination into action, reluctance into courage, and worry into peace. Joshua became courageous simply by knowing whom he belongs to. When tasked by God to lead, Joshua did not ask, “You sure, God? Give me the long term business plan for this before I start!”

Joshua seemingly knew the next step and in faith he stepped out and commanded the people. Joshua heard, and responded.

When God calls you out into the water, He has already made provision for you to walk on water. Just look to Him; yes there is a chance where you may drown and be called crazy… but what if you succeed? What could you achieve, change, impact, or transform in this world? Perhaps this is the answer to your seeking: Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God will neither leave you nor forsake you. 

Deutoronomy 31: 8
The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

- Elizabeth Tan

Daniel's heart was filled with God's love for His work and kingdom, and his prayers were the mightiest forces of his time. Through them God gave to him the restoration of Israel to their own land, and the acknowledgment by the rulers of the world of the God of whom he testified and for whom he lived.

There is a beautiful promise in Psalm 37: Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He shall give You the desires of Your heart (v.4). It is, perhaps, legitimate to translate this as meaning not only the fulfillment of our desires, but even the inspiration of our desires, the in-breathing of God's thoughts into us so that our prayers shall be in accord with His will and bring back to us the unfailing answer of His mighty providence.

Teach me Your thoughts, 0 God! Show me Your divine plan; Save me from all my plans and works, And lead me into Your's.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

- A. Simpson

A young boy was wailing at one of the aisles of a store one day. He wailed to the point of irritating some of the store’s patron. Embarrassed at the commotion, the boy's mother explained to passing patrons that her son did not understand that he would be getting the bicycle he wanted, because all he saw was a boxed cardboard and not the bicycle. The boy continued to wail as he held on the display bicycle tightly; not willing to let go.

We may smile at the boy thinking, “If only he knows what is inside the box,” but aren’t we all like that? Too often, I wished for my ways, my timing, I threw tantrums and wondered why God have forsaken me and of course, remain disappointed till I get what I want. 

Oh if only we could cultivate a heart of hope assured that His blessings are surely to happen though all we could see is a “boxed cardboard.” May we be assured that the Lord who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us has our best intention in His heart and will graciously give when we ask Him.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

- Irene Soon

Pray that you may know God’s will. Strive to live in an attitude of prayer. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will. Rejoicing, praying continually, and giving thanks puts you in the active hub of God’s will. If you only pray when you’re desperate for answers, your receptors will be rusty and your impressions nebulous at best. Regular communication with God sharpens your senses and fine–tunes your ability to distinguish His voice from all the rest. ‘Teach me to do Your will…my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.’ (Psalm 143:10)

Seek God, and He will smooth the path for you. Receive the counsel of others for confirmation, not necessarily direction.Paul said, ‘When God…called me…I did not consult any man.’ (Galatians 1:15–16) Only embrace other people’s advice when it agrees with God’s Word and the Spirit’s leading. Friends can be a source of confirmation, but not revelation but most of all, pray that you may know God’s will, let it be a daily communion between you and the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will.

- Bob Gass (Word for Today)

We often have friends, family, relative or workmates who we do life with. We may tell them what's been happening in our day, what's going on in our lives, we may share jokes, or we let them in on problems we go through, or even our deepest secrets.

We have the wonderful freedom of spending time praying or talking to God anytime, anywhere. But often we do forget that God too wants to confide in us. He wants to share His wisdom, treasures, secrets and mysteries. He wants for us to know what it means to have an intimate, eternal or covenant relationship with Him! Let's make room to hear Him in our lives!

Psalm‬ ‭25‬:‭14‬ The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 

- Jo Voon-