Matthew 25:14-15 – “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one, he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 

I have discovered that sometimes, we are fearful to do things because of the unknown, unfamiliar, and uncertainty.  We like comfort zones.  I have had people tell me that they do not like sameness, but when a disruption to their routine occurred, they were distraught and filled with anxiety.   Sameness is safe for many, and traversing uncharted territory is not appealing.

I have discovered, and the Lord is teaching me, that unless I am willing to trust Him completely, I will muddle through my life of sameness and never achieve His purposes.  I will be like the servant given one talent and, out of fear and uncertainty, do nothing with it. 

According to Matthew 25, each servant was given “According to their ability.”   That is a powerful revelation.   God does not expect us to perform what someone with greater or different abilities does.  He expects us to take what He has given us and use it without fear.  If we use what He has been given, it will grow. 

Heaven’s rewards will not be based on quantity but on obedience.    I am convinced that some serving in seeming obscurity will receive greater rewards in heaven than those well-known and doing great exploits.  I reflect on when Jesus sat at the treasury and watched people put in their offerings.  The little woman with two mites or two copper coins, according to Jesus, gave more than those who put in large sums. 

She gave out of her lack, they of their abundance.  The LORD looks at what is left rather than what is given.  That is true in money, time, energy, ability, etc.  If we only expend a little of what we have to expend, are we being good stewards and obedient servants?  He wants us to trust Him wholeheartedly and use what He has given us. 

Today, I pray that the LORD will help us fully use the gifts, talents, abilities, and opportunities He has given us for service.  Lord, help us fulfill Your purposes for our lives and refuse to compare ourselves to anyone else.  Help us to be Who you made us and purposed us to be.  Please help us be a vessel you can use and use as you choose.   Thank you!  Amen!

God bless you, and have a fantastic day in Jesus!

Lamentations 3:21-23 – “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: ²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; ³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

It is not an infrequent experience, but the Lord rattled my cage powerfully as I read and prayed.   He took me to the Book of Jeremiah’s Lamentations, Chapter 3.  If you read it, I believe you will see the message that probably resonates with every person’s heart and speaks to a mindset we all have likely had or have.

Jeremiah gave a lengthy list of troubles.   He lamented that God had abandoned him, leaving him to blow like a rag in the wind.  He saw no answers, only troubles.

Then, in Lamentations 3:21-23, the light comes on for the prophet.  He called to his remembrance something that restored his Hope in God!  He saw and refreshed in his heart that God’s kindness Never ceases, and His mercies Never fail.  Wow!  What a reminder.

He continued, “Those are new or renewed Every Morning!”   He rehearsed in his heart and mind the Great Faithfulness of God!  That is an exercise that will get your heart pumping.

In Lamentations 3:33, he made an incredible statement that should grip our hearts like a vice.  “For He (God) does not afflict Willingly…”  Wow!   If God allows afflictions to come, there is a situation that drove Him to it.   It is not what He prefers.  He prefers obedience.

Then, in Lamentations 3:40-41, we have the answer.  “Let us search and try our ways…”  Who searches and tries them?  We do!  “And turn again to the LORD…”   But we argue, “I haven’t turned away.”  Well, something opened the door.  If we are pure in heart, God is unrighteous in allowing it to come. 

We know that God is never unrighteous.   Please hear me; I am not saying trouble is always evidence that we are in rebellion.  However, the Bible tells us that a curse cannot land on us without legal ground.   Self-examination is a good thing to ensure the pureness of the heart.

Lamentations 3:21 – “Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in heaven.”

Mark 3:27 – “No man can enter into a strong man’s house and plunder his goods Unless he first binds the strong man, and Then he plunders his house.”

I ask that you consider that in two directions.   Consider it as us binding and us being bound.  We have authority.   We need purity to operate in the fullness of His power, and His mercies are renewed daily.   So, we are pure through Him, not what we do in our own strength.  We are overcomers, He said it.

Today is Victory Day for you!  See, believe, receive, and begin to be it!

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, Faith, Patience, Persistence, and Delay became my focused meditation.   True biblical faith is patient and persistent. It is undeterred by delay.  Is that descriptive of us?  Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t for most of us.  Frequently, we are impatient, and impatience is the enemy of biblical faith.

In Exodus 32, Moses was on the mountain with God.   The people’s fear and lack of understanding of who God is caused them to become impatient when Moses’ return was delayed beyond their patience.   They convinced Aaron to lead them in rebellion and idolatry without much difficulty.

God sent Moses back to deal with the problem.  Exodus 32:19 reveals that when Moses saw the idol and idol worship, “his anger burned hot.”   Does rebellion against God (in us or others) make us angry?  If we get angry at sin, we will deal with it through righteous intercession and example.

Hebrews 11, the great Faith chapter of the New Testament, gives some powerful revelations.   In Hebrews 11:11, Sarah’s Faith embraced God’s miracle power. “For the authority of her Faith rested in the One who made the promise, AND she TAPPED INTO His faithfulness.” [Emphasis added]

Hebrews 11:34b – “Faith sparked courage within them, AND they became mighty warriors in battle, PULLING armies from another realm into the battle.”

Hebrews 11:39 states that these lived in hope without seeing fulfillment but never gave up. They persisted through the delay. “But now God has invited us to live in something better than what they had—faith’s fullness!”

Faith trusts God’s integrity and persists, reaches into the heavenly realm, and draws it into this realm.   Faith is not asking and passively sitting back and waiting. It is waiting in persistent prayer and affirmation of the promise. It is aggressive, not passive. It refuses to be dissuaded because God promised.  Therefore, it is done, so patience rules the heart. Our impatience reveals a lack of trust in God’s integrity and our selfishness.

Our objective is to submit everything to God, tap into His resources, and draw angels into the mix. God’s promises are as certain as God Himself. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. So please Him. He never fails, even when we do.

Have a faith-filled day, relaxing in His presence!

Jeremiah 51:15 – “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.”

A few months back, at precisely 3:15 a.m., I took my little dog Kyra outside.  A small bunny was in the yard, and a small possum was under the peach tree.  She was apprehensive and cautious.   She slowly went to see, and the possum climbed the tree.  It was an unfamiliar sight that caused her to be uneasy and careful.

As I read, prayed, and pondered Jeremiah, I thought about her reaction.  We sometimes are not cautious when we should be and apprehensive when we should not be.  That which is outside our comfort zone troubles us.  The unknown is often frightening. Our journey of life is filled with the unknown.  Most have experienced such uncertainty that they feel that God is light-years away.  They feel alone and even abandoned.

The declaration concerning Israel in Jeremiah 51:5 is applicable to us.   It says that Israel and Judah were not bereaved of their God, Even Though their land was filled with wickedness.  Is that not a picture of today?  But God is still with us, and we have no reason to be fearful or hesitant.

Jeremiah 51:15 reminds us that He is the creator of everything.   Jeremiah 51:19 is applicable.  Our portion is not like the world; God is our portion.  That is the reason we can banish all fear and trepidation.

We must avoid being like the servant given one talent.  Fear, uncertainty, and hesitancy cost him everything.  Take what God has graced you with and use it.  In using it, it multiplies and pleases God.  He does not ask us to do what is beyond our ability.   He does not compare us to others who are more capable.   He only asks for faithfulness.

We can be like little Kyra and overly cautious because we are facing something unknown and new or trusting.  Never reckless but bold in Him.  He never fails.  Another may be doing great exploits, and we are serving in obscurity.  The reward in heaven will not be based on quantity but on faithfulness and obedience.  

Never allow the uncertainty of the unknown to hinder your willingness to obey.   Either God is our keeper, or He is not.

Have a victorious, bold day in Jesus!

Mark 16:15-18 – “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

A challenge came to my heart as I prayed, read, pondered, and mused on the Word. The challenge came as a question: “Do you wonder or do wonders?”

Mark 16 is my focus and target today!   When I see signs and wonders, I have sometimes wondered why all believers (me included) do not consistently walk in that reality.  Why do we not consistently see the manifestation of these wonders in our lives?

It simply says, “AND wonders WILL FOLLOW those who believe…”   The question to my heart was, “Do you truly believe?”  Before I could respond, the follow-up came, “Where is the manifestation in your life?” I have learned that sometimes, no response is the best response. Sometimes, wait, and instruction and revelation will follow. Just wait.

The key elements or requirements:

• Believe. Believe what?

Believe that Jesus is the Christ and Savior.   Believe that God never lies.  Believe that these wonders are designed to accompany my words and deeds.   That’s where we often fall short.   In Jesus’ Name is not a magic formula, but the key to unlocking the door. It is our pass key.

• Actions – Consider some of them.

Cast out demons.   Speak with or in new tongues.   Have authority over snakes (Aramaic idiom for enemies).   No harm from poison (that covers every danger).  Lay hands on the sick and heal them. (Not just pray but bring the healer into the equation and heal).

I realize that those hearing this expected it to be a realized reality in their lives All the Time!   We talk about God showing up and great things happening.  They took God with them everywhere, all the time, and Acted on the Word.

• This was not a word to preachers but everyone who believes.
  
  Mark 16:20 – “And they went out and preached…”   The requirement is to go where those things are present and then preach (testify).

They “Preached in Every Place… AND our Lord Helped them and Strengthened their words by the miracles which they performed.”

Who helped?    The Lord did!    Who performed the miracles?  They did!    It was Christ in them.   It was the Word in them.   It was the Spirit in them that compelled them.  They Believed.   Do we truly believe?

Nowhere in Scripture is preaching and working miracles relegated to a particular group of ministers or super saints. It is Everyone Who Believes!

This is your day to exercise your spiritual authority, flex your spiritual muscles, and Be and Do what He said.  Either God is a liar, or this is our heritage. God is not a liar.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will challenge our hearts to take baby steps, if need be, but that we will decide today that there will be no more wondering about wonders but that wonders will follow you everywhere.

Rejoice in your heritage and walk victoriously today and every day!