2 Corinthians 2:9 – “This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine — these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.” 

Today is a gift from God, and behind the veil, there are many untapped blessings to be gleaned from the events of the day!

Somebody said, “I’m a glass-half-full person.” Another said, “I’m a glass-half-empty person.” I said, “Whether the glass is half empty or half full, there is room for more, so why not open your hearts to the Lord and let Him fill your glass?”   I pray that we will become artesian wells from which His Spirit, love, mercy, peace, and power flow! Let us be demonstrations of Him to the world and each other!

In prayer, I was reminded of the Song “Too Much to Gain to Lose.” The Holy Spirit drove something into my heart in the second verse as I sang the old song in worship.

I’ve crossed the hot, burning desert.

And I’ve struggled the right road to choose.

But somewhere up ahead, I see cool clear water.

And defeat is one word I don’t use.

That last line is what gripped my heart, and I heard in my spirit God telling me – Do Not Use the Word Defeat!  You are more than a conqueror through Jesus. All things are possible with God, and you are in Him, and He is in you; therefore, all things are possible to you – Just Believe!

I feel ashamed of the times I have either thought or expressed defeat in something I was facing. I feel ashamed of the times I have envisioned failure rather than success. I repent and set my heart to eliminate that word from my spiritual vocabulary and focus on the Promises of God. I want to focus on His Person and Power and begin to see myself as Who He Made Me to Be, and I Declare that is who I am!

I pray that the Lord will inspire us to reject defeat and focus on His ability to Do All Things All of the Time! I pray that He will deposit in our hearts His Word so powerfully that defeat is not even considered, no matter what we face.

Remember that God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent.  If He has declared it, and He has, It Will Be!  It will be “IF” we will believe, receive, and obey!

We do not earn things from God, but He does honor faith and obedience! He desires to give us the Kingdom and meet ALL our needs from His abundance! Jesus came to save, heal, and deliver!

Receive from Him what you need today.   Have a fantastic day!

2 Kings 19:14-16 – “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. ¹⁵ And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. ¹⁶ Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word, the word “Dependence” filled my heart.

The king, Hezekiah, was facing potential annihilation by a powerful enemy. The Lord turned back the enemy, but an emissary sent letters of threat to him. The letters were so disturbing that Hezekiah was filled with fear. He took the letters (a symbol of the problem) to the altar and spread them before God.

Hezekiah took his burdens to the Lord. His prayer was, “Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”  That’s the key to everything: Take it to God. Acknowledge our lack of knowledge, wisdom, and power. Focus on God.

Our Focus must be God.  If we look at the problem, we empower it and open the door to fear and futility in relying on our ability or human strength.  We tend to take it to the Lord and confess our inability, but instead of having our eyes on Him, we take it with us. Then we say, “I took it to the Lord, but nothing happened.” That’s right: We took it to Him and then took it from Him.

What we place before God must stay in His hands.  Only as we look through or past the problem to Him and ‘Depend” on Him fully do we walk in the full provision and power of the Finished Work of Jesus.

Remember the words of the apostle Paul, “But my God shall supply ALL your needs according to HIS glory.”  If He needs your help, He will tell you.  Trust Him and walk in “Dependence” trusting Him.  He does not lie and will not fail.

Rejoice!  Then, Rejoice, and then Rejoice!  Victory is your heritage, a testament to your faith and reliance on God.    Have a fantastic day; it is your day to enjoy new victories!

(It Determines Why You Are Here!)

1 Kings 18:41 – “Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.”

My prayer is that your day will be refreshing, rewarding, revealing, and filled with God’s perfect peace.   What a mighty God we serve!  As I read, prayed, pondered, and meditated on God, His Word, purpose, and life, I was invigorated with hope.

I love reading about Elijah and his complete obedience to God.  However, we sometimes forget he was subject to human frailty like the rest of us.  The encounter on Mt. Carmel with Jezebel’s prophets was incredible.  Then, the little, tiny cloud brought his declaration. “I hear the sound of abundance of rain. “

When Jezebel heard what had happened, she issued her vitriolic threat.  Elijah was terrified.   What?  God moved twice in a mighty supernatural demonstration, and he let this woman frighten him enough that he went and hid!  Wow!  Man of faith and power, right?

In hiding, God comes to him and asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  He wasn’t asking about geography.   God manifested Himself in the still, small, quiet voice and asked again, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Our focus MUST always be on God, nothing else.  If we listen to other voices, we forget Who God is and who we are in Him.  If we keep our eyes on Him, we have no fear because His presence drives out doubt. 

The disciples were hiding after Jesus was crucified because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus came to them and said, “Peace be with you.”   When Jesus is near, there is peace. So, I ask what He asked: “Why are you here?”

We have been called, commissioned, anointed, and empowered to do the work He has called us to do.  That’s why you are here!  Therefore, IF we are in fear, know He is near! 

We are here to destroy the works of the devil.  We are here to set captives free.  We are here to bind the strong man.  We are here to bring the kingdom to earth. 

Therefore, stop hiding and reject fear.  That is not who we are!  Have a fantastic day in Jesus; this is Victory Day for the Overcomers!

1 Kings 3:5 – “In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what I should give to you.”

I am praying for each of you to have a wonderful day filled with the peace of God, provision, protection, and power.  Those are the earmarks of God’s desire for you.  Walk in them with expectation!

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God (written and spoken), a powerful truth caught my attention and is now capturing my heart.  Solomon’s response to God’s question or statement in 1 Kings 3 is revelatory and instructional.

God said, “Ask that which I should give you.”   Imagine that open door from God.  You tell Me (God) what you want. If this were you, “What would you have asked for?”   So often, we get the cart before the horse.  We seek money before ministry and plan what we will do when.  We seek position before the development of character.   We seek knowledge before pursuing the purpose. 

Solomon made a simple but revealing request.   It revealed the heart of a servant.   In verse nine, we read, “Give me an understanding heart to judge, discernment to know the difference between good and evil.”   He saw his responsibility as immense, and his purpose was to serve. In serving, he would fulfill God’s purpose for his life. God gave him what he asked for and what he did not ask for.   God seldom entrusts riches, honor, and position before He develops the heart.   We force our way in, to our own ruin.

The example of Jesus at the Last Supper reveals the same.  Service is first.   But not just outward acts. It is from the heart.   It defines the person and purpose. (John 13).

God’s plan is for us to walk in fullness in every way.   Power, protection, provision, peace, and purpose are our destiny.   But those blessings will destroy us Unless we get the heart right first.

It is vital that we Seek First Kingdom and His Righteousness; Then – All These Things Come to Us! The Heart is First!   The Lord has been impressing upon me the importance of knowing why we want what we want.  Hidden motives are deceptive.

“Father, Your promise is the Kingdom and abundant life.  Help us to realize that it is first the heart, then the rest.  Please help us get our hearts right First!   Help to remember First the Heart!  Amen.”

Have a fantastic day; this is your day to be victorious!

Numbers 9:15-16 – “Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle until morning. ¹⁶ So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.”

Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has come and is waiting to guard, guide, and bless you. Today is your day to enjoy God’s greatness and His Incredible Provisions!

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word this morning, the overwhelming sense of need and desire for God’s covering, anointing, and guidance filled my entire being.

In the wilderness, Israel learned the first principles of this truth. God’s cloud of covering settled over the tabernacle as they erected it. It appeared as a cloud during the day and a blazing fire of protection at night. They never moved UNTIL the cloud moved. That should always be our pattern: “Follow the Cloud.”

The Cloud (covering, anointing, guidance) will enable us to live in this world but not become absorbed with it. We become influences rather than those influenced. We become agents of change, not those being changed or conformed to it. We are enabled to live with “undivided hearts.”

Testing comes to everyone, with no exceptions. But, if we have God’s covering, anointed by His Grace and Glory, and led by His Spirit (cloud) testing, it benefits us, making us stronger and wiser.

I love this rendering of 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial, God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring out of it victoriously.”

God, through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, has provided us with covering, anointing, and guidance. What we must learn to do is embrace the cloud and follow the cloud every moment of every day of our lives.

Obedience to His guidance leads us into His Place of Promise! Victory is only an obedience away!

Have a fantastic day; it is your day to shine in Jesus!