2 Chronicles 5:13-14 – “In unison, when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, ¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”

As I read, prayed, pondered, and considered the Word, a reminder came to the forefront of my consciousness.

God’s Presence!  In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, we have the details of what happened at the dedication of the temple.   (Keep this in your mind; our bodies are the temple of the Lord.)

They began to worship and praise God with singing and with Thanksgiving. They sang or chanted, “For He is good; for His mercy endures forever…”  At that moment, the glory cloud filled the house.  The Shekinah Glory was so powerful and prevalent that the priest could not stand to minister.   The house of the Lord (type of us) was filled with the brightness of His Glory!

2 Chronicles 7:1 informs us that after Solomon had finished praying, FIRE (type of the Holy Spirit) came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.

God manifests Himself when we truly worship Him with hearts of praise, thanksgiving, and prayer.   If we want a continual consciousness of and visitation by God, we have a key to receive.

Ephesians 5:18-21 – ”And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  New English Translation (NET)

“And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead, be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.  ¹⁹ And your hearts will overflow with a joyful song to the Lord. Keep speaking to each other with words of Scripture, singing the Psalms with praises and spontaneous songs given by the Spirit!  ²⁰ Always give thanks to Father God for every person he brings into your life in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹ And out of your reverence for Christ, be supportive of each other in love.”  The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Key – – Sing to yourselves!   Speak to your inner person with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (songs of worship and in the Spirit).  Sing and make melody with your heart to the Lord.   Give thanks ALWAYS for EVERYTHING in the name of Jesus!   I think of the song “I’ve Got Confidence.”   In good times and bad, remember God’s faithfulness and worship Him. 

We need God 24/7/365, not just in crisis. Having God’s presence ALL THE TIME is the only way to truly live. He is not a “break in case of emergency” tool. He is God, the LIVING GOD, and His eyes are on the righteous, looking for opportunities to bless.

Do you want God’s Presence 24/7/365?  Then, praise, worship, thanksgiving, and prayer are continual activities of your day.

Genesis 24:10-15 – “Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and he went with all kinds of good things of his master’s in his hand. So, he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. ¹¹ And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when the women go out to draw water. ¹² And he said, “O Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please cause this to happen before me today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. ¹³ Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; ¹⁴ now may it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels to drink also’—may she be the one whom You have decided for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.” ¹⁵ And before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, was coming out with her jar on her shoulder.”  LSB

We need to consider specificity in prayer and how that relates to faith.  In Genesis 24, we have the prayer of Abraham’s servant regarding the wife he was commissioned to bring to Isaac.  The specificity of the prayer is important.   He even told God where he was and who was around him.  He asked for specifics.  Our petitions need to become extremely specific.  God is a God of detail.

The Book of Acts reveals the incredible journey of the apostles and the fledgling church.  They were people of intense prayer as they waited in obedience to Jesus’ command to tarry.  They did not know the dynamics of what awaited, but they waited in prayer.

The result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit produced an attitude of confidence that Nothing Was Impossible with God or for them.  In Acts 3, Peter and John encountered the lame man at Gate Beautiful.  Something specific caught my attention.   Peter’s words, “Look at us,” brought hope to the beggar.  Then his words deflated him.  “I don’t have any money…” 

What Peter did next was amazing.   He declared healing in Jesus’ name.  I am convinced that had he done what we have done, no healing would have transpired at times.  We declare, pray, and walk away.  Peter extended his hand to the cripple and pulled him to his feet.  “As he pulled the man to his feet, suddenly power surged into his crippled feet and ankles.”  Healing transpired! 

In Acts 2:16, Peter explains to the people that faith in Jesus’ name caused the healing.  The question that we need to address is, who had the faith? 

• Was it the lame man?   That does not seem to be indicated in this account. 
• Was it Peter and John?  They appear to be the ones manifesting faith for healing. 

Peter declared what (healing) and by whom (Jesus), then acted on his faith, and healing occurred. 

Specificity in prayer coupled with definitive corresponding action brought about the miracle. 

• Do we fall short in specificity?
• Do we fail to boldly declare God’s promises? 
• Do we walk away without acting on our declaration of God’s promises without acting in faith?

Specific prayer has an element of risk.  Bold faith has an element of risk.  We could fail and suffer embarrassment in the eyes of people.  I’ve heard the argument that if we dared and failed, it would bring discredit to God and then allow timidity to prevail. That is a flawed argument!

Let’s be bold and specific in our prayers, fearless in claiming God’s promises, and dare to fail.  Peter was so filled with the Holy Spirit that they put the sick along his path, expecting them to be healed by the power of God emanating from him.  Lord, make me so full of You that the power and love of God can be felt and experienced when I walk by.

I hate the devil’s works.  Jesus came to destroy them and has authorized us to use His name and power to overcome them.   Expect a miracle!  God is the God of the Impossible!

May the God of the Impossible manifest Himself in you and to you today!

John 11:39 – “Roll Away the Stone.”  

As I read, prayed, and considered the Word, I was, once again, amazed at how one word can set in motion incredible revelation and provide immeasurable peace.

In the Gospel of John, the account revealed the incredible harshness of self-righteousness.  The woman (not the couple) caught in the act of adultery exposed the callousness of the self-righteous heart.  Jesus did not condone the act but followed the law that required the testimony of two eyewitnesses.   He forgave her, revealing the Father’s heart to forgive and restore.

Later, in Chapter 8, He made a gripping statement.  John 8:29 – “…for I only do that which delights His (the Father) heart.”  As I read that, I was crushed.   I immediately recalled the extensive list of times I had not delighted His heart flooded my consciousness.   No wonder Jesus walked in a constant flow of power.  He walked in perpetual submission, and His heart was continually pure. 

Jesus Never focused on Himself.   He Never sought His rights.  He sought to Delight the Father.   Oh, that I walked there all the time.  Lord, help me be that man.

In the account of raising Lazarus from the dead, I saw something a little different than previously.   It was not the power that Jesus displayed.  It was in His command just before the miracle.   It was twofold.

Jesus said in John 11:39 – “Roll Away the Stone.”   Yes, that was a natural necessity for the miracle, but that is not what flooded my heart. The Stone was whatever prevented the miraculous.   We need the stones of obstruction removed to experience God’s power.  What are those stones?  Anything that does not bring delight to the Father’s heart.

Removing the obstacle gave Lazarus the freedom to emerge into life. 

• What keeps us from being Who God says we are? 
• What causes us to question, doubt, hesitate, and live limited lives?  Those Stones must be rolled away. 
• HOW? 

I cannot give you a formula, but I can offer you a pathway to peace.  Set your heart always to seek to delight the Father’s heart.  Put off the things that block your path and put on those things that delight Him: love, forgiveness, joy, gentleness, and forgiveness. Then, become one who continually worships and praises Him. 

• Seek Him, not just what He provides materially, but who He Is!  
• Seek Him.  Let Him fill your heart so full that you overflow. 

Then, you, too, can experience the abundant Life Jesus lived and came to give.  You can receive the Kingdom and all that it offers.  You can have the Blessing of Abraham actively manifested in your daily life.  I want that, and I desire that for you.

May the peace and power of God cover you like a warm blanket on a cold winter night!

Genesis 18:11-14 – “Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a son, when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time, I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”  LSB

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word, the idea of faith, sight, and obedience flooded my heart.   In Genesis 18, when God told Abraham that Sarah would have a child, Sarah overheard them and laughed.

The biblical chronology reveals that she was 90 years old. In verse 12, she said to herself, “After I am worn out (90), shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” The angel of the Lord addressed her doubt and laughter.  Then, he asked the key question, “Is anything too difficult for Yahweh?”

That’s the KEY to everything.  That issue must be settled before the harvest of faith can be realized.

• First, believe God can.
• Then, believe God will.
• As We Believe He is, then believe He will; faith blossoms, and the fruit becomes a reality.

In John Chapter 20, we see the power of seeing as a faith trigger.   Peter and John ran to the empty tomb (v.8).  John looked into the empty tomb and saw the burial clothes and the face covering in a separate place. “…after one look, he believed!”   That view exploded in his heart, and faith was released.

His heart was now conditioned to receive the message Mary Magdalene would bring.  Jesus said (v.17) that the Father was now her Father, and their Father, and their God!   The New Covenant was now in force, and salvation had come.  The new family line was birthed, and the Body of Christ was now!

Thomas doubted because he did not see. Later, when he saw, he believed. We need to see with our hearts to believe and receive.  The first issue is not believing for what we are praying for but believing that Nothing is Impossible for God!   If we believe that truth from our hearts and are totally persuaded of that, then faith rises and produces the desired fruit.  Sometimes, we think He can but are not sure He will.   We feel unworthy, so we doubt.   We leave room for failure or lack.

If we genuinely believe that nothing is impossible for God and believe He has impeccable integrity, we then expect what He says to become a manifested reality.

First, ask ourselves, “Can He Do It? Can He Be Trusted?”   If we answered Yes, then faith is the natural result.  That is one of the reasons the followers of Jesus saw miracles.  They were fully convinced God could and that He never lied.  Therefore, they lived with expectation.  We need to become people who have persuaded expectations.

I pray that the Lord will inspire you to see with your spirit, believe in your heart, and bring you fullness of faith! 

Isaiah 40:28-31 – ” Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired.   His Understanding is Unreachable. 29. He gives power to the weary, and to him who lacks vigor, He increases might.  30. Though youths grow weary and tired, and choice young men stumble badly, 31. YET those who hope in Yahweh WILL gain new power; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “DO NOT FEAR, for I am with you; DO NOT anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will make you mighty, surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you by My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:18 – “I WILL OPEN rivers on bare heights and springs in the midst of valleys; I WILL make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land fountains of water.”

Isaiah 43:1b-3a – “DO NOT FEAR, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!  2. WHEN you pass through the waters, I WILL be with you; AND through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  WHEN you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, NOR will the flame burn you.  3. FOR I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…:

Isaiah 43:18-19 – “DO NOT REMEMBER the former things, NOR carefully consider things past. 19. Behold, I will do something new; NOW it will spring forth: will you know it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 44:2 – “Thus says Yahweh who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you…”

I know that is a lot of scripture for a short daily devotional, but I believe it is necessary for what the Lord wants to convey to us today. As I read, prayed, and pondered the words of Isaiah, the prophet, I felt that I was to simply relate God’s words without a lot of commentary.

Let the Lord say to you what He desires in this.  The message to me may differ from what you hear, but there is a message for you.  Receive it. Believe it? Embrace it and seize the day!

The problems in America and the world are not political but spiritual.   The church must not let its voice, authority, and power be silenced and suppressed. We have the message of hope.  We have weapons of warfare to pull down strongholds.

• Our commission is to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers, set captives free, proclaim the gospel, and make disciples.

• We are to be on God’s side, and His side is clearly revealed in His Word. 

Therefore, we must know the word, know the God of the word, and love like He loves.  We are to love Him and people, not our comfort or convenience.  If we want to be free, we must set people free.  We cannot set people free if we are not free.

We are informed in Scripture that it is for freedom that we have been set free.  We are to be bold as lions in proclaiming the gospel; that word must have power backing it up and validating it.  Simply, we must Be who He says we are and Totally Committed to Him!  Let us begin to soar like the eagle spiritually and live abundantly.

May the incredibleness of God flood your consciousness, and may you become emboldened to be who He has declared you to be!