LJB Ministries, Auckland (2026)

23/08/2026

Grace for Today

Day 17 - Freedom in Forgiveness

Key Scripture

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Reflection

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. I know what it is like to look back and wish I had made different choices. There are things in my own life I would change if I could. But I have learned that continually punishing myself cannot change my past. It only keeps me bound to something Jesus has already set me free from.

Romans 8:1 tells us that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Not less condemnation. Not condemnation until we have suffered long enough to make up for what we did. No condemnation.

The Bible says:

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

Through Jesus, our transgressions have been removed!

Maybe today there is something you have carried for far too long. You have confessed it. You have repented. God has forgiven you, but you have never truly released yourself from it.

Today, receive His forgiveness.

You are not who you were.
You are forgiven.
You are restored.
And because of Jesus, you are set free.

Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who took my sin and shame upon Himself at the cross so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Forgive me for the times I have continued to condemn myself for things You have already forgiven. Help me to stop looking back at who I was and to see myself through the truth of Your Word.

Thank You that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Today, I choose to receive Your forgiveness, and I release the guilt and shame I have been carrying. Today, I choose to live in the freedom Jesus gave me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Today’s Practice

Declare aloud:

“I receive God’s forgiveness. My past does not define me. There is no condemnation for me in Christ Jesus. I am forgiven, restored, and free.”

17/08/2026

Grace for today

Day 16 – Called and Chosen

Key Scripture

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:14 (NIV)

Reflection

I remember when the Lord first called me to start writing. I was afraid and felt completely unequipped. I had done well in English at school, but I would never have considered myself an author, and definitely not a teacher with the limited theological knowledge I had at the time.

But I said yes.

I didn’t have the tools or the knowledge, but I had a willing heart. I began spending time in God’s Word, studying and allowing the Holy Spirit to personally teach and guide me.

God reminded me that it is “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).

Step by step, He began equipping me for what He had called me to do. Today, I am writing my third book, with many more still on my heart.

Looking back, I can see that God wasn’t waiting for me to become qualified before He called me. His Word says that “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Maybe God is calling you to something today that feels bigger than you. Perhaps you are looking at what you don’t have—the experience, knowledge, confidence, resources or ability—and wondering how you could possibly do it.

You don’t need everything before you say yes.

Jesus tells us that faith even “as small as a mustard seed” can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). God is simply asking you to trust Him with the next step.

You bring your yes. God brings what you need.

Where God calls, He will equip. Where He leads, His grace will go before you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You have called me according to Your purpose and grace.

When I feel afraid or unequipped, remind me that I don’t have to rely on my own strength. Holy Spirit, teach me, guide me and equip me for everything You are calling me to do.

Give me the faith and courage to say yes, trusting that You will provide everything I need along the way.

Today, I choose You and I choose to follow where You lead.

In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen.

Today’s Practice

Read 2 Timothy 1:9 and Zechariah 4:6. Ask God: “What are You asking me to say yes to today?”

Declare:
“I am chosen and qualified because of Jesus. I don’t need to have everything I need before I say yes. Where God calls me, He will equip me.”

13/08/2026

Grace for today

Day 15 – Anchored in Grace

Key Scripture

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Reflection

There are seasons when life feels like a storm. The circumstances around us may feel uncertain, the pressure may be relentless, and we can find ourselves trying desperately to hold everything together.

Our natural response is often to try harder. We carry more, plan more, worry more and attempt to fix what feels beyond our control. But God never intended for us to navigate the storms of life in our own strength.

He gives us something far greater—His grace.

The Greek word for grace, charis, speaks of God’s favour and His active work in our lives. Grace is not simply something we received when we were saved; it is God sustaining, strengthening and carrying us every day.

Paul discovered this when he pleaded with God to remove the difficulty he was facing. God’s answer was:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

God was reminding Paul that he did not need to have enough strength of his own. God’s grace was enough.

Acts 27 gives us a beautiful picture of what this can look like. During a violent storm at sea, those aboard Paul’s ship “dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight” (Acts 27:29).

The anchors did not stop the storm.
They did not calm the waves.
They held the ship steady until daylight came.

Sometimes God changes our circumstances, but sometimes His grace holds us steady while we walk through them.

When you feel overwhelmed, you do not have to pretend you are strong. You do not have to have every answer or fix everything yourself. Your weakness is not the absence of God’s power—it can become the very place where you learn to depend upon it.

Hebrews 6:19 tells us:

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Whatever you are facing today, anchor yourself in God. Release what you have been trying to carry in your own strength and trust the One who holds you.

The storm may still be raging, but you are not drifting.

His grace is enough.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for me and that Your power is made perfect in my weakness.

Forgive me for the times I have tried to carry everything in my own strength. When I feel overwhelmed, afraid or uncertain, remind me that I do not have to have all the answers or hold everything together.

Today I choose to anchor myself in You. Help me to release what I cannot control and trust in Your strength, Your faithfulness and Your grace.

Thank You that even when the storm around me has not changed, You are holding me steady.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Today’s Practice

1. Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Ask God to show you where you have been relying on your own strength.
1. Release one thing you are trying to control.
Place it into God’s hands in prayer and choose to trust Him with the outcome.
1. Declare aloud:
“God’s grace is sufficient for me. I am anchored in Him, and He will hold me steady.”

09/08/2026

Grace for today

Day 14 – God’s Masterpiece

Key Scripture

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Reflection

Have you ever looked at a beautiful painting or an incredible piece of art and wondered how much care and attention went into creating it?

Every brushstroke is intentional. Some layers are bright and beautiful, while others seem messy or even out of place. Yet the artist can already see the finished masterpiece, even while the painting is still unfolding.

The Greek word used in Ephesians 2:10 for masterpiece is poiēma, meaning something beautifully crafted with purpose. You are God’s masterpiece, created by God with intention and purpose.

But sometimes we can lose sight of that truth. We begin to define ourselves by our mistakes, our weaknesses, what we have achieved, or even what others have said about us. Yet none of these things determine who we are.

Your identity begins with your Creator.

Genesis 1:27 tells us that we were created in the image of God. Your worth is not determined by your performance, your past, or how the world sees you. You bear the image of the One who created you.

Like a masterpiece, you are not ordinary or without purpose. You are the work of God’s hands, intentionally created and uniquely made. There is no one else exactly like you, and you do not need to compare yourself with anyone else to determine your worth.

Today, when you look at yourself, remember whose workmanship you are.

You are God’s masterpiece.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that I am Your masterpiece, created in Your image with intention and purpose.

Forgive me for the times I have allowed my mistakes, my weaknesses, my achievements, or the opinions of others to define how I see myself.

Help me to see myself through the truth of Your Word. When I am tempted to compare myself to others or question my worth, remind me that I am the work of Your hands, uniquely made by You.

Today I choose to believe what You say about me and remember that I am Your masterpiece.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Practice

1. Read Ephesians 2:10 and Genesis 1:27 aloud.
2. Declare throughout the day:
“I am God’s masterpiece. I am created in His image with intention and purpose.”

02/08/2026

Grace for today

Day 13 – Chosen and Loved

Key Scripture
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

Reflection
Every one of us longs to know that we are loved, accepted, and chosen. Yet so often we allow our value to be determined by the opinions of others, our successes, or even our failures. God's love is not like human love. It is perfect, constant, and unchanging.

The Hebrew phrase ahavat olam speaks of a love that is eternal, unending, and unchanging. It has no beginning and no end because it flows from the very character of God. Because God never changes, His love never changes. As God declares in Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change.” His love for you is not based on your performance but on who He is.

Before you ever chose Him, He chose you. Before you ever loved Him, He loved you. Through Jesus, God demonstrated the fullness of that love by giving His Son so that you could be forgiven, restored, and welcomed into His family.

There will be days when you don't feel lovable. There will be moments when you wonder if you've disappointed God too many times. But His love is not sustained by your strength. It is upheld by His faithfulness. Nothing you face today, no mistake from your past, no fear about your future, and no circumstance around you can separate you from the love of Christ.

Today, stop trying to earn what God has already freely given.

Rest in this truth:

You are chosen. You are deeply loved. You belong to Him.

Prayer
Heavenly Father,

Thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Thank You that Your love never changes because You never change. Thank You for choosing me, calling me Your own, and making me Your child through Jesus.

Help me to stop trying to earn Your acceptance and to rest confidently in who I am in You. When fear, shame, or insecurity tries to tell me otherwise, remind me that nothing can separate me from Your love.

Today I choose to receive Your love, walk in Your grace, and live with confidence, knowing that I am chosen, deeply loved, and forever Yours.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Practice

• Meditate on Romans 8:38–39 (AMP):

“For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38–39 (AMP)

• Declare aloud:

“I am chosen. I am deeply loved. I belong to God, and nothing and no one can separate me from His love.”

30/07/2026

Grace for today

Day 12 – Redeemed and Restored

Key Scripture
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Reflection
God has declared you a new creation in Christ, fully forgiven, made righteous, and surrounded by His grace. One of the hardest parts of our journey of faith can be accepting the forgiveness that God has already freely given us.

Sometimes we continue carrying guilt and shame long after Jesus has already set us free. This can be especially difficult when our past has left emotional wounds in our own hearts and in the hearts of those we love. We wish we could go back and change what happened, but the past cannot be rewritten.

The enemy knows this, and he uses those memories to keep us in bo***ge. He whispers:

"You should've known better."

"You don't deserve healing."

"You failed them."

"You'll never move beyond your past."

But God's Word declares a greater truth:

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, your sins have been washed clean, and there is now no condemnation for those who belong to Him.

The moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you became a new creation.

Jesus didn't come simply to forgive your sins, He came to set you free. As you receive His forgiveness, allow His love and grace to lift every burden of guilt and fill your heart with His perfect peace.

His grace does not erase the past, but through His love and His grace, it no longer defines you.

When God looks at you, He doesn't see your failures. He sees His beloved child, forgiven, redeemed, restored, and deeply loved.

Your past is not your identity, Jesus is.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who through the cross redeemed me and set me free. Thank You that because of His sacrifice I am forgiven, made new, and I stand with no condemnation because I am in Christ Jesus.

Help me to let go of every burden of guilt, shame, and regret that I continue to carry. Teach me to see myself the way You see me, not through the failures of my past, but through the finished work of Jesus.

Fill my heart with the assurance of Your love. Help me to walk in the freedom You have already given me, knowing that my identity is found in You alone.

In Jesus' mighty name,

Amen.

Today's Practice
1. Speak Your Identity Aloud

Declare:
"I am forgiven, redeemed, and made new. My past does not define me, and Jesus does."

1. Release One Memory
Write down one moment from your past that still carries weight.

Pray over it, then declare:

"This no longer defines me."

Tear up the paper as an act of surrender, leaving that burden with Jesus and choosing to walk forward in the freedom He has given you.

27/07/2026

Grace for Today

Day 11 – Clothed in His Righteousness

Key Scripture
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)

Reflection
Throughout the Bible, garments represented far more than clothing. They reflected a person's identity, status, authority, and belonging. Kings wore royal robes, priests wore holy garments, and sons were given robes that publicly declared they belonged to the family. What someone wore revealed who they were.

That is exactly what Isaiah is declaring in this powerful passage.

When God clothes you with garments of salvation and covers you with a robe of righteousness, it is no small statement or symbolic act. It is God giving you a completely new identity in Christ. Through Christ, He gives you a new status before Him, not because of anything you have done, but because of everything Jesus has done.

Perhaps you've spent years carrying guilt over your past. Maybe you've wondered if you've done enough to please God, or you've found yourself trying to earn His love through your own efforts. If that's you, hear this today: that is not the Father's heart for you.

Through Christ, you have been made new, washed white as snow, forgiven, accepted, and adopted as God's beloved child. You are no longer defined by your past, your failures, or your sin. Your identity is now found in Him.

Just as a robe completely covers the person wearing it, Jesus' righteousness completely covers you. You are not partially accepted or conditionally loved. Because of Jesus, you are fully accepted by your heavenly Father.

This doesn't mean we have a free pass to sin. Rather, when we truly understand who we are in Christ, our hearts begin to change. We don't obey God because we are trying to earn His love, we obey because we have already received it. We love Him because He first loved us, and we trust that His ways are good.

Today, lay down every burden of guilt, shame, and striving at the feet of Jesus. Stop trying to earn what He has already accomplished through the finished work of the cross. Rest in the assurance that you are forgiven, accepted, deeply loved, and forever clothed in His righteousness.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for clothing me with garments of salvation and covering me with the robe of Your righteousness. Thank You that my identity is no longer found in my past, my failures, or my own efforts, but in Jesus Christ.

Thank You that I never have to earn Your love or strive for Your acceptance. Because of Jesus, I am forgiven, accepted, and welcomed into Your family as Your beloved child.

Help me to lay down every burden of guilt, shame, and striving. Teach me to rest in the finished work of the cross and to live each day from the security of knowing who I am in You.

May my life reflect the new identity You have given me, and may everything I do bring glory to You.

In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Today's Practice

Whenever guilt, shame, or feelings of unworthiness try to creep into your heart today, pause and declare this truth:

“I am clothed in Christ's righteousness. I am fully forgiven, completely accepted, deeply loved, and I belong to God.”

23/07/2026

Grace for Today

Day 10 – God Is Faithful

Key Scripture
“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. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Reflection
There are seasons when life feels uncertain. Plans change, prayers seem unanswered, and the future feels unclear. In those moments, we can feel alone and wonder where God is.

Yet God's faithfulness has never depended on our circumstances. It has never depended on how we feel or what we can see. He goes before us, He is with us, and His faithfulness flows from His unchanging nature. He remains faithful not because of what happens around us, but because of who He is.

Perhaps you're waiting for God to move. Perhaps you're believing for healing, restoration, provision, or direction. Whatever season you find yourself in, God is the one constant you can always depend on. He is with you, and He will remain faithful through whatever lies ahead.

Today, rest in the confidence that your heavenly Father is with you. Whatever you face, you do not face it alone. Rest in His presence, trust in His promises, and know that He is faithful.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You go before me and make my crooked paths straight. Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank You, Jesus, for interceding for me, and thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your wisdom, guidance, and comfort.

Today I declare breakthrough over my life and every circumstance I face. Today I choose to rest on Your promises and in Your faithfulness, knowing that You are working in every situation according to Your perfect will.

In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Today's Practice
Whenever you find yourself worrying about something you cannot control today, pause for a moment and remind yourself:

“God is faithful. He is with me, and He personally goes before me. Today I choose to stand on His truth, not on the circumstances around me.”

Carry that truth with you throughout the day, allowing His faithfulness to give you peace, confidence, and hope.

22/07/2026

Grace for today

Day 9 – Resting in His Grace

Key Scripture

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Reflection

Grace isn’t something we receive once at salvation and then leave behind. It is the covering we are invited to rest under every day. Yet so often, we begin our journey trusting in God’s grace, only to drift back into relying on our own strength. We try to carry every burden, solve every problem, and control every outcome.

The Greek word for grace is charis, meaning undeserved favour, kindness, and divine enablement. Grace is more than God’s forgiveness, it is His strength at work within us, enabling us to live the life He has called us to live. The Hebrew word ḥēn speaks of favour freely given, reminding us that God’s kindness is a gift, not something we achieve through our own efforts.

Life will always bring challenges. There will be seasons when relationships are difficult, finances are uncertain, our health is tested, or circumstances feel completely beyond our control. Our natural response is often to work harder, worry more, or try to fix everything ourselves. But the more tightly we hold on, the more exhausted we become.

God never asked us to carry those burdens alone.

Resting in His grace means living from a place of surrender and faith, trusting that God’s power is greater than our weakness, His wisdom is higher than our understanding, and His faithfulness is constant even when life feels uncertain. We can release what we cannot control into His hands, knowing that He is already at work and that His love for us never changes.

Today, lay down every burden you’ve been carrying, surrender what you cannot control, and rest in God’s grace. His power is made perfect in your weakness, and His grace will always be enough.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your grace is not only what saved me, but what sustains me every day. Forgive me for the times I rely on my own strength instead of resting in Yours.

Today I surrender every burden, every worry, and every situation I cannot control into Your hands. Fill my heart with Your peace and help me to trust Your perfect timing and unfailing faithfulness.

Teach me to rest in Your grace, knowing that Your power is made perfect in my weakness and that Your grace will always be enough.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen.

Today’s Practice

Whenever you find yourself worrying or trying to control a situation today, pause and pray:

“Father, I surrender this to You. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for me. I choose to trust You, rest in Your promises, and rely on Your strength instead of my own.”

20/07/2026

Grace for Today

Day 8 – Abiding in His Love

Key Scripture
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. John 15:9 (NLT)

Reflection
One of the deepest desires of every heart is to know that we are deeply loved, fully accepted, and enough.

Yet so often we seek our worth in our achievements, the approval of others, or how well we think we're doing. When we fall short, we can begin to question our identity and wonder if we are enough.

Jesus reminds us of a powerful truth.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me.”

Pause and let those words sink in.

The same perfect, unconditional love that the Father has for Jesus is the very love Jesus has for you. He chose you and appointed you before you even knew Him, and He calls you to remain in His love.

To remain means to stay, dwell, and rest in Him. It is choosing each day to believe what God says about you instead of listening to the voices of fear, comparison, rejection, or insecurity.

Before you ever chose Him, He chose you.

Before you accomplished anything, He loved you.

Before you even knew Him, He called you His own.

When we truly understand that we are already loved and already chosen, everything changes. We stop striving to prove our worth and begin living from the security of our identity as God's children.

Today, rest in this truth:

You are not trying to become someone God can love.

You are already deeply loved, completely accepted, and wonderfully chosen through Jesus Christ.

Prayer
Heavenly Father,

Thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Thank You that I never have to earn Your acceptance or prove my worth to You. Thank You that before I ever chose You, You chose me and called me Your own.

Help me to remain in Your love today. When insecurity, comparison, or fear tries to steal my identity, remind me that I am Your beloved child. Teach me to rest in Your presence and live confidently from the truth of who I am in Christ.

In Jesus' mighty name I pray,

Amen.

Today's Practice
1. Read John 15:1–17, taking time to simply soak in the incredible love God has for you through Jesus.

2. Throughout today, remind yourself of this truth:

“I am deeply loved by God. I am chosen by Him. My identity is secure in Christ, and I am enough because I belong to Him.”

LJB Ministries

23/08/2026

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