Luke 6:38 – “Give, and IT will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down (compacted), shaken together (removing the air pockets), running over (abundance), WILL BE poured into your lap.  FOR the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”

In athletics, frequently someone will say about a player, “He has the “it” factor.”   Nobody knows for sure what “it” is, but they know when someone has “it.”   However, the “It” factor takes a different form in matters of the kingdom of God.

Today, I am praying for the abundant life Jesus brings to be fully realized in each of our lives.   God’s Abundant Life transcends possessions, accomplishments, or anything natural.   

• It is a life lived in calm assurance.
• It is peace and rest.
• It is rejoicing and joy.
• It is a life lived with a forward look, not a backward look.
• It is a now life in union with Him.

I was reminded of a principle of life that the Holy Spirit taught me years ago.   That principle is found in Luke 6:38.   The principle is also connected to the widow, who gave her two coins in contrast to the rich.  She gave out of her need or lack.   They gave out of their abundance.

The principle is – “Give to your need or give what you need.”

I recalled having a broken foot and had to use crutches to walk.  I preached, and people came for healing prayer.  The visual was troubling.  I was supported by crutches, laying hands on people for healing; some were healed.   Like Peter at the Gate Beautiful, I gave what I had: faith for others.  In praying for others, I was healed.

I learned and demonstrated this principle in life.  When I was in financial need, I would pray, find someone in financial need, and give out of my need, and God’s faithfulness never failed.

When I was lonely, discouraged, and depressed, I would look for someone in that state and encourage them, and God’s faithfulness never failed.   I have learned to practice in a practical way, Luke 6:38.   I gave what I needed, and IT (what I needed) came back to me in abundance.

The Holy Spirit taught me that I could not remain in a state or condition of heart and mind and fulfill God’s purposes.   Life was to be lived, and if I remained in a condition rather than moving forward toward His purposes, I was being selfish and focusing on myself.  My life was given to be given in service.

I can focus on me, or I can focus on the kingdom.  In focusing on the kingdom and others, this world and its offerings have no hold on me.  I become free to live, love, and serve.  I become rich on the inside and live with no sense of lack because God has no lack, and I can trust His Promises.

Luke 6:38 is a key to abundant living and is only minorly focused on the material or money.

Therefore, I pray that you will have a phenomenal day and an overflow of thanksgiving!

John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

As I read, prayed, and considered the Word of God today, two words filled my heart and mind – STAY ALERT!  That came from Mark 13, where Jesus was speaking about the Last Days.

We cannot focus on God and self at the same time.   We cannot cast all our care(s) on Him and fret over them at the same time.    If we focus on ourselves, our desires, our rights, our needs, our fears, or our pains, we are unable to focus on Him for our total deliverance.

Paul said, “The life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.” John the Baptist said, “I must decrease, but He must increase.”  We cannot live the abundant life rooted in the limited life of the flesh.

Staying alert requires several things.   We must see Him as the LORD.   We must see life as a mission that is only secondarily about us.   We must believe that He has prepared a place for us and is coming back for us. We must decide that nothing in this life can be allowed to hold our hearts. We must totally surrender to Him.    Selfishness and self are like leaven; they permeate the entire being, and we focus on us, not Him and our mission and commission.

Staying Alert is staying focused!   Staying Alert is dying to self.   Staying Alert requires constant communion with Him!   The Abundant Life becomes a Limited Life if we lose focus and fail to remain alert and watchful. If we lose focus, we will become distracted and divert our focus from Him and His purpose to us, what we feel, what we desire, and what we think we need or even deserve.

Jesus said that to be His disciple, we had to stop being our own disciple. We must “Die to Self,” not focus on and feed the self.   Those who Stay Alert will be like the five wise virgins; they are always ready!  Those who Stay Alert will walk free of the shackles of self and selfishness.

LORD, help us to totally give ourselves to You and be free! Those who enjoy the victorious, abundant life Jesus promised are those who Stay Alert, so Stay Alert!

May today bring you abundance in life that enables you to live to the fullest in His promises!

Exodus 23:20-23 – “I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. 21 Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my Name is in him. 22 But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries. 23 For my angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them completely.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, something in Exodus 23 captured my thoughts and drew me to a powerful promise and covenant provision of God.

Exodus 23:20-26 reveals something we relegate to Israel and fail to see this as a provision for believers.  What is that?  Angelic guidance and protection.

God told Moses, “I am going to send an angel before you to PROTECT you as you journey AND to BRING YOU INTO THE PLACE that I have prepared.”   The instructions were, ‘ Obey him, and do all I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries. ‘ God promised to bless their food and water AND remove sickness from them.

I contend that God’s desire for believers is reflected in this promise to Israel to lead them to their place of promise.   I refer to Psalm 91 and the Psalmist’s portrayal of this truth for those who follow God.

This promise is for those who make their abode in God.   Living so near to God, they are in His shadow.   He is their stronghold and shelter, and they trust Him completely in all things and at all times.  The outworking of that condition and position is assurance protection and the banishment of fear.

Psalm 91:11-12 – “For He will order His angels to protect you in all that you do.” They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not slip on a stone.”

He continues with incredible promises, which include answered prayers, rescue in trouble, fullness of life and longevity, and entrance into the fullness of God.

We are given promises, and God dispatches angels to help us reach that place of promise!   Yet, we live with no concept or expectation of that provision.  The result is that we walk out from under that protection.   Let’s live expecting angelic guidance and protection.  They respond to the Word.

Lord, send your angels to guard and guide each one today!

Exodus 15:24-26 – “So the people murmured against Moses, saying, “What can we drink?” ²⁵ He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When Moses threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the Lord made for them a binding ordinance, and there he tested them. ²⁶ He said, “If you will diligently obey the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the Lord, am your healer.”

The world is in turmoil, and hate is prevalent, but God’s love is consistently constant and complete. Regardless of the circumstances, know that God loves you!

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, something from the book of Exodus burst forth in my heart.   Jesus!   Yes, Jesus!   No, He is not mentioned specifically, but Moses’s act in response to the Israelites’ complaints reflects Him and His impact on us.

The waters of Marah, also known as Marah (meaning “bitter” or “undrinkable”), were bitter and undrinkable. God showed Moses a tree (some renderings refer to it as a branch).   Jesus is referred to as The Branch.   Moses threw the tree or branch into the bitter waters, and they were transformed.   Jesus is The Branch, and His presence sweetens the bitter waters of life.

A key is in the verse that follows that event. Exodus 15:26 – “If you will diligently (will and diligently are keys) obey the LORD your God AND do what is right in His sight (another key element – His sight), AND pay attention to His commandments, AND keep all His statutes, THEN all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I the LORD, am your healer.”

This is the Old Covenant, and we have a better Covenant established on better promises through Jesus.   God has done His part.   We must do ours.   No, we cannot earn it, but obedience is a necessary element. God cannot bless disobedience and rebellion.  But desires to lavishly bless obedience.

When Jesus is in our lives, life is sweeter!   All the problems won’t disappear, but His presence makes life sweet, even in trials, because He is there.

One biblical scholar noted regarding this event and the tree, ‘God created all things with healing properties, including our bodies.’ Jesus leads us to health and wholeness, and Jesus is our source of health and wholeness.

Do you have bitter waters in your life?   Let Jesus be the ingredient that sweetens them!   Diligently obey and give heed to the Word of God. Keep His commandments, live by His revealed precepts, and watch God manifest Himself as THE I AM!

May the sweetness of Jesus in you make the waters of your life potable.