by Dr. Dora Washington, Founder & Executive Director

Matthew 9:27-30 NLT

“After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

The two blind men came to Jesus calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Some translations say they were told to be quiet, but the more the people tried to quiet them, the louder they called.

This is one of my favorite stories because of its ironies. The first irony is they were blind men, but they were the only ones to see Jesus. The other irony is they believed Jesus could heal them, but Jesus tested their faith anyway.

What’s the point? The point is these men came to Jesus because they believed and yet He left them blind until they persevered. They kept going. They didn’t give up. Wherever Jesus went, they went because Jesus had something they wanted – Healing.

Notice, He did not heal them when they first called on Him, but because of their faith and persistence, He healed them. They wouldn’t quit become they knew He could and would heal them.

Do you believe Jesus can heal you? If so, take a lesson from the two blind men and go after the Healer. Don’t stop until you are healed! Keep calling.

Prayer

Lord, I’m calling You today! Have mercy on me, Son of David.

Declaration

I will keep calling until Jesus heals me. I believe and I know He can do this.

Devotional by Shaneice Thomas, 2020 graduate of Tower of Hope Academy

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 NRSV

In this passage Paul begs the people to lead a life worthy of their calling.

Many consider a “calling” to be a position. The calling is a posture. It is the way we carry ourselves. It is a call to lead a life that glorifies God in our conduct.

Paul mentions four very important principles:  Humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

When we are filled with God’s Spirit then we exhibit the characteristics of His Spirit. This is what draws people to God.

The walk must match the talk or it makes the work of Jesus a waste. Make every effort to walk worthy of your calling. Don’t waste His work.

Devotional by Shaquia Reed, 2018 graduate of Tower of Hope Academy

Hebrews 10:35-39, James 1:1-6, 12

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our faith, trust, and confidence in God are the most powerful weapons we have! Faith pleases God and our faith is access to the abundant life God promised us.

That is why the enemy brings fear by way of circumstances to cause us to fall away from our faith— our believing and speaking what God says in His word. The just live by this faith.

But God has instilled in us and restored in us the ability to persevere and be patient. As we persevere and patiently wait for His promise to come to pass in our lives, He is maturing us spiritually and emotionally (giving us wisdom, discernment, strategies, and discipline).

GOD’s word says that we are blessed for remaining steadfast. When trials come we will receive what He promised if we hold fast to our faith.

Declaration:
I am steadfast in faith
I will persevere
I will be rewarded
I will not fear

Devotional by Tiffany Solomon Stewart, Tower of Hope Academy Student

Keeping our minds in line with the truth of who God says we are is tough work. Paul used battle language to describe it, taking thoughts “captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Thankfully, our Father, who wants us to live in the truth of who we are, sent Someone to help us. He is closer than close—He lives inside of us. He is God’s very own Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus called Him “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17). He can help us recognize and live in the truth, if we ask Him and position our hearts tenderly to respond to His promptings.

Jesus gave us this insight into who the Holy Spirit is: “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).  Jesus told us that His Spirit will guide us into all truth. He is in us, but He is also connected to the Father and Son because He tells us “what he hears.”

So, as you walk through life in tandem with Him, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the Truth. Ask Him to help you hear the Truth He hears. Since He lives inside of you and is also connected to Heaven, there is no one better to guide you to think in line with the Truth. Ask Him for heavenly downloads. God showed His intention with you by moving in closer than close. He wants to be your friend. Ask Him to help you live in light of this heavenly closeness.

Prayer
Father thank You for a new day! Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, talk with, and comfort me. I want to have and build a relationship with You Lord. Please help me to lean on the Holy Spirit more and more in my daily life and decisions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Declaration
I am a child of God!

Devotional by Christian Wilgus, 2019 graduate of Tower of Hope Academy

“For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse declares that God watches over your path. He has always watched over your path. Every terrible thing you’ve experienced, He has watched over you. So today reflect on the difficult things you have endured and know that the Almighty Powerful God watched over you.

Even through your darkest days, imagine God stretching out His Hand and saying “That’s enough” to satan.

The enemy has always been on a leash and he can only go so far. Today we thank God for what didn’t happen. What He protected you from.

You are chosen by God to do His great and mighty purpose and so many people didn’t make it through what you’ve been through.

This verse gives us confidence for the present. If the enemy couldn’t take you out then, he surely can’t stop you now. You were born for greatness and will do great and mighty things for the kingdom of God.
Confidently declare, God watches over my path and I will never be shaken!

Devotional by Shaquia Reed, 2018 graduate of Tower of Hope Academy

Romans 8:31-39 NLT

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

As the Scripture says, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No matter what we have faced in life, we are overcomers because He loves us.

No matter who has harmed us, rejected us, accused us, broken us, abused us or stolen from us, GOD provides for us the path of an overcomer. It’s His LOVE.

Declare: I can forgive the unforgivable,

love the unlovable,

overcome the unimaginable,

and triumph gloriously because He loves me and He is for me!