SCRIPTURE:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what comparison-contrasts I see here?
1.   What it is to be in need – What it is to have plenty
2.   Well fed – Hungry
3.   Living in plenty – Living in Want

Observations:
I asked myself what is the repetition here?
'I' is used 4 different times:
1. 'I know' (2)
2. I have learned
3. I can

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of the comparisons-contrasts here?
I found it very significant because whatever the circumstances, Paul is able to be content as shared in yesterday's devotional but also Paul is also able to endure through any circumstances and say "I can do everything  through Him who gives me strength"

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. Regardless of what I am facing, I need to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ by claiming His promises to receive the strength He gives so I can do everything He asks me to do.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H:
Philippians 4:13 has been one of my favorite verses to keep claiming and apply in my life. I remember one time when I had an exam in Psychiatry and the Law how overwhelmed I was until I claimed this promise and studied. Jesus gave me the strength to go through most of the book for the cumulative exam that was worth 66% of my grade. By His strength, I studied and took the exam and got an 'A' in the class. This is only one example and there have been many.

Just this past week, I needed help at the activities fair and asked the Lord to be with me next to me to help me. Even though I was tabling by myself, I knew the Lord was there helping me. I was able to get about 140 names of those who showed interest in different capacities. It was all the Lord's doing for giving me strength. What is fascinating is that the strength we receive from the Lord is for all situations as we see Paul share with the Philippians. I saw Paul experience the strength of the Lord in his direst situations. I know Christ's strength is there for me to do everything He wants me to do! It is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I can do all He asks me to do. His strength will be there for you too. Praise the Lord!

I ask you now dear friend, where do you need strength in life?
Dear friend,  I do not know where you need strength right now but Jesus does. With the help of the Lord Jesus, you can do what you are called to do! Yes, you can! The Lord Jesus will give you the strength to do what He has asked you to do! You do not have to feel you do not have the strength because it is in His strength, you can scale any wall! Whatever you are facing , you do not have to face it alone but you can have the Lord’s strength to get you through and you can get through.

Yes, friend you can get through. I know you can get through.

You maybe facing a difficult test, a difficult relationship, a difficult career, etc but you are not alone. Jesus wants to take you by the hand and lead you. He will get you through and you can do everything through Him who will give you the strength. Anything Jesus wants for you, you can be assured it will happen in His time. That is exciting to know and we can rejoice in that.

Isn’t that amazing friend?
You can have the strength of the Lord who created Heaven and earth. He will carry you through for there is no problem too big that He cannot handle!

If He created the world and all in it, won't He not care for you?

Jesus will care for you and for me that is awesome to know!

Even in the direst circumstances, we have a Savior who loves us and looks after us. After everything Paul has been through he is able to tell the Philippians that he can do all things through Christ who gives Him strength. It is not human strength but supernatural God-given strength.

I believe you and I can experience that too. Jesus offers His promises to you too! Yes, He does! May you depend on the Lord who trains you and gives you His strength! Amen!

"Savior Today Reassures Everyone Now Giving Tactical Help! (S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H)/”Where do you need strength in life?”

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, thank you for helping me learn no matter what Paul was facing, he was able to depend on your strength. That is so cool to know Jesus. You offer us your strength! While we are weak you are strong. You train our hands for battle and bring us through. This means a lot to me Lord. Help me please to claim your promises and seek you with my whole heart. Oh Lord, I pray for the one who is going through turmoil right now. You know Lord exactly what they are faced with and you see them in their pain. Please Lord Jesus intervene and help them. Thank you for your goodness and we can seek after you. Lord thanks for answering our prayers and listening to them! Please forgive us our sins and come into our life and make our life into what you want it to be. Whatever your will, please give us the willingness and strength to bear it even as Paul bore through what he was faced with as he turned to you. Thank you Jesus!  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!