Jeremiah 29:11 – “ For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” NASB

Today, my heart is overflowing with Hope!    

When we read about Israel’s bandage in Babylon in the writings of Jeremiah, the promise of God in the power of verse eleven skyrockets.  In exile and in a state of hopelessness, God reminded them to remember His promise and purpose.   In difficulty, they could Hope.

Jeremiah 31:21 told them to set up road marks and guideposts and set their hearts on the highway to victory. “Set up for yourself road marks, place for yourself guideposts; direct your mind to the highway, the way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, return to these your cities.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34 brings us the Promise of the New Covenant. In Romans 5, Paul reminds us that this life is a life of faith.   Justification by faith brings peace.  Then, in 5:2, he says something amazing, yet not.

Through faith in Jesus, we obtain our Introduction by faith into God’s Grace.  This is the Introduction, not the completion.  Casual acquaintance that can lead to covenantal intimacy.  Introduction is the door to the fullness.   But we have to walk through the door.  It is not saved to sit, soak, and sour but to Grow into the full measure in Christ.

Then, he introduces the dastardly subject of afflictions, troubles, trials, and difficulties.  Afflictions bring about (not produce) but bring perseverance into the mix.   Perseverance is a walked-out experience.

• Perseverance results in proven character.  Tried holiness, tested sanctification, and trustworthiness. 
• Proven characters result in the birth of hope in the heart.
• Hope will not put us to shame. 

That is an interesting statement.  Here, we find full assurance, no discredit, and vindication.  There is more, but all this is produced because of God’s Love poured out within our hearts.

Alan Jackson has a country song – “Ain’t Got Trouble Now.”  One line says – “Ain’t got troubles now.  Had ’em before, and I’ll have some more, but I Ain’t got troubles now.”  In Jesus, our trials become doorways to growth and victory.   We tend to fight, resist, grumble, complain, and woe is me.  But, if we understood that in Christ, there are times of trial and that through Him, they make us strong and whole, we would not just cede to them but use them to grow and glow.

We are people of Hope for whom God has plans for good.  We are people of perseverance, hope, and proven character who are never put to shame because we are people of The Name!

Our Covenant is one of eternal Hope.  So, rejoice that you are counted worthy to endure hardship for His Name.  Embrace the work of maturity through the trials and become a person of faith.  You are loved by God and entered the door to His immeasurable grace through faith.  You can overcome this because you are an overcomer.

May the Overcomer of Overcomers enable you to walk in victory today! 

Mark 16:19-20 – “So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. NASB

As I prayed, I heard the question, “Do you wonder or do wonders?”  

I quickly realized that Mark 16 was to be my focus and target.  I realized that I have sometimes wondered when I see signs and wonders.  I 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…” [Emphasis mine] The question in 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 or a delayed response is the best response.   Sometimes, just wait, and instruction and revelation will follow.  Just wait.

Let Us Consider Some 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 is where we often fall short. 

• In Jesus’ Name. 

It is not a magic formula but the key to unlock the door.  It is our pass key.

• The Action.

Cast out demons.  Speak with or in 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). Those who heard Jesus say this expected it to become a 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 to everyone who believed.

Mark 16:20 – “And they went out and preached…”   A Basic Requirement is to go out where those things are present and then preach (testify). “Preached In EVERY PLACE…AND our Lord HELPED then and STRENGTHENED their words BY the miracles which they performed. “[Emphasis mine]

• Who helped?  The Lord.
• Who performed the miracles?  They did.

It was Christ in them!  It was the Word of God in them!  The Spirit in them compelled them!   The Believed.  The question for us is, “Do we truly believe?”

I find nowhere in Scripture where preaching and working miracles is relegated to a special group of ministers or super saints.   It is everyone who believes!   Therefore, 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 encourage you to take baby steps if need be, but decide. Today, no more wondering about wonders, but have wonders follow you everywhere.

May the Lord be with you and transform you from Wondering to doing Wonders in the Name of Jesus!

Ezekiel 47:1 – “Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.” 

Ezekiel 47 is revelatory.   In a vision, the prophet saw the Temple.  From under the side of the temple, water was flowing Eastward.  That signifies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.   It came from the altar.   The altar is both the place of petition and submission or sacrifice.   It represents the heart of God.

The progress of involvement was gradual.   First, ankle-deep water.  There was awareness but no significant change in anointing or power.  Then, knee-deep water.  There was more awareness, but still no significant change.  It involves obedience and pressing on and in. Then, up to the loins in water.  Now, understanding and change comes.  The current is strong enough that a conscious effort has to be made not to get swept away.  Then, full involvement and the full impact came when he moved into the unswimmable deep waters.  He is totally consumed!

That is where the power lies.  The angel took him back to the bank.  He had been immersed in the river (Holy Spirit).  Now, on the bank, he can take this anointing and impact his surroundings.   He saw what he had not seen. 

On the banks are trees.   Think of the river in Revelation, where the trees line the banks, and healing is in them.   The trees grow with tap roots in the river, and their fruit brings life and healing.  Then, he was told what the river was doing.  It flows to the sea and makes the stagnant, fresh, and pure, life-giving.

What God has for us cannot be experienced by life as usual.  It demands a change of focus and surrender of All Dreams and Plans to God.  Our Isaacs must be placed on the altar.   Casual or occasional wading in the stream will not produce what we need.  We must press in until we are Totally Immersed in the water (Holy Spirit).  Will that make us religious fanatics?  Probably, in the eyes of others.

• Will that cost us relationally?  Probably because some consider that investment in God is unnecessary and too much.  
• Will it cost us financially?  Possibly because our purpose & pursuit will shift from us to the Kingdom.

The question is, “Do we want to have what the Book of Acts Church had?”  Do we want to heal the sick, raise the dead, set free those in bondage, and win multitudes for God?   Yes?  Then, we have to get in the river.   Will that solve the issues we now face?  NO!  It will possibly increase the attacks we encounter.

This Last Days move and harvest will enable us to see families saved, churches rescued, cities impacted, and the powers of darkness defeated.   How much do we want it?  We can have All we want.

We must decide, like Daniel, that we will not defile ourselves with the world.   Like Daniel, God will honor that with His presence, power, and provision.  I want it more than life!  I am tired of the devil’s destruction and want the Kingdom of God to be manifested Now, here, in me and you!

May the Lord help you to get into the Water of the Spirit and become immersed in His fullness.

Daniel 10:1 – “Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.”  NASB

The Idea of “Persistence” deeply impacted my consciousness as I read, prayed, and pondered the Word today.  The familiar account of Gabriel coming to Daniel is revelatory.

Daniel had been fasting and praying with no seeming breakthrough.   I have been there!  The heavens seemed lined with brass, and my prayers ascended no higher than my lips—no response from God. 

I have had times when I grew weary and concluded that it was not God’s will and changed focus.  Most of those times, I knew that was not the right approach.  I have also had times when I persisted and refused to quit.  God did what God does.  He dealt with me and my needs.

Gabriel made a powerful statement.   He said, “…from day one, WHEN you set your heart to know God’s purpose and understand, YOU WERE HEARD!” [Emphasis mine] The immediate thought would be, if I were heard on Day One, why has it taken three weeks for the answer to come? 

Gabriel explained the reality that sometimes prayers do not get an immediate answer, which is satanic opposition.  Had Daniel not persisted, Gabriel, the messenger, would not have come.

In Luke 11, Jesus reemphasized the Power of Persistence.  The parable of the need to feed a guest after normal hours provides revelation and encouragement for Persistence!  He said that even if the friend would not respond on the strength of friendship, he would due to persistence.

We cannot twist God’s arm of reluctance by Persistence.   But persistence solidifies the depth of need in our hearts and demonstrates an unwillingness to fail.

Luke 11:9-10 gives us the progression and value of Persistence.

• ASK – Have not because we ask not.
• SEEK—It is difficult to find what you are not looking for, and if you find it, how would you know it if you were not seeking it?
• KNOCK – The implementation is beating on the door, not just timidly or passively tapping on it. 
• URGENCY with PERSISTENCE overcomes doubt and fear and lays hold of the Promise.

Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Be not weary in well-doing…  in due season harvest comes IF we persist.”

• How important is the matter to you?
• How important is being ONE with God to you?
• How important is knowing you are walking in God’s purposes to you?

The first factor should be God’s will.  Before we begin the prayer of persistence, we should pray the prayer of submission.  Knowing we are on solid ground biblically, then refuse to give up.

• If you fail, get up; next time, determine you will not give up. 
• If you are uncertain about your biblical footing in the request, Persist.
• If you are sure, Persist.
• If you discover you are asking outside His purposes, Repent.
• Then, seek His will and Persist.

The bottom line is always to be a person of unrelenting Persistence.

I encouraged you to make this declaration – “I Will Not Quit!”  You will be surprised at what happens in your heart and mind.  What is in your heart will soon be in your hand.

May the Lord watch over you and inspire you to persist as you pursue His purposes for your life and the Kingdom!

Hosea 4:12 – “My people ask counsel of their own imagination… “

Often in my daily reading, musing, praying, and pondering the Word I am reading, I hear intriguing whispers and challenges by the Holy Spirit. They are often just for me, but sometimes for others as well. Today, I heard and saw something that will captivate my thoughts for days as I attempt to unravel the incredible revelation I believe is contained within.

In Hosea 4:12 – “My people ask counsel of their own imagination…” He said that would lead to a spirit of whoredom (not sexual but spiritual) and would lead away from God.  Is the imagination bad?  Not at all, but if we focus on what we want to be the truth rather than what is truth, we will allow our imaginations to concoct scenarios and realities foreign to reality and God’s purposes for our lives. That is dangerous and can be deadly.

Hosea 10:7 reinforces that idea: “AND My people are inclined to backslide from Me; THOUGH they shall call to God, they will take counsel together, (the flesh again), AND none at all would exalt Him.”  If we make what we want to be truth and reality our guide, we will move farther and farther away from God.

The Bible speaks of calling those things that “be not” as though they were. Some seem to be attempting to call those things that are as though they are not. They have a desire, a preference, a wish, a hope (in the natural), and they allow their imaginations to create a world where what they want to be reality is reality.

In that condition, they become deceived and believe everything that supports what they want to be true. What we need to do is allow the Holy Spirit to enable us to use our imaginations to see what God says and what He is doing rather than creating a world we want that is not what He has purposed.

Imagination is good and an ability God gave us. Allowing the Holy Spirit to enable us to see God’s Purposes and Promises is valuable and rewarding. If we allow the self to create a world to satisfy our own fleshly desires or a world where what we want to be reality, then it is counterproductive and dangerous.

As believers, we have two choices—trust ourselves or trust God! We are God’s heirs and joint heirs with Jesus. He owns it all and has made us co-owners. Therefore, we can either live as if the bequeathal has transpired or as spiritual paupers. We can live in the false vision of deserving or not deserving and miss God’s incredible graciousness. Why not live as He declares, more than Conquerors?

Today, I am challenged to cease living as a beggar and try to earn God’s favor, live as an heir, and know that it is not what I deserve but His Grace and Goodness that provides for me. I Choose to Live victoriously and desire to Live with No Sense of Lack because He lacks nothing, and I am His.

May the God of Peace guard your hearts today and lead you to new places of victory!

Malachi 1:6-8 – “‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ ⁷ You are presenting defiled ^[i]food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’ ⁸ But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts.

In Malachi, God began by asking a chastening and challenging question: “A son honors his father, and a slave his master.”  Then, he came to the point. He took their own words and challenged them—and he still does today.

God said, “If, as you declare, I am your Father, where is the honor you should be giving me?”  He was not looking for words but the commitment of heart and obedience.   Words have power but can be empty if the heart is not in the words.  They continually said the words but kept back their hearts.

Next, He said, “You call me Lord (master); IF I am, then why don’t you have fear and respect for Me?”  They were dumbfounded.   After all, they attended church and said all the right things, wasn’t that what was required?

Defiled food on the altar.  What is that?   It is giving God second best and leftovers.  Spare Change (money and heart).  Tipping living.  They were allowing the profane to thrive and not shutting it out.  Feasting at tables, they should be overturned.   God accepts no offering that is not pure (whole-heart commitment).

In Malachi 2:17, God said, “You have wearied Me with your words.”  His statement is penetrating, “You say evil is good, and everybody and everything is okay.”  Calling evil good and good evil incurs God’s disfavor, not blessing.   

Chapter 3 reveals that the tithe is more than just the tithe. It is about obedience, commitment, love, faith, and revelation.  God invites us to put Him to the test and prove to ourselves and the world His faithfulness. Obedience in faith produces an open heaven.  The blessings promised are “until it is Beyond Enough.”  Beyond enough indicates abundance and even lavishness. 

Then, He promises that the devourer will be rebuked and restrained.   What you have and do is protected from corruption.   That means you have pure offerings that invoke more blessings and greater protection.   It becomes a perpetual cycle.  For His Glory.   Money is not the object; God is.  Fulfilling the purposes of God is.  The harvest is.  Functioning in power is.

Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight of faith through the personal prophecies he had received.  He later spoke of imparted gifts through the laying on of hands and prophecy.  We have a commission, and Malachi reveals a pathway to God’s person, provision, and power.  Timothy shows how to function in that.

I heard in my spirit: “Give Me Your Whole Self, all you are and have, and I will give you Myself, all that I am and have.  I will open heaven, and NOTHING will be impossible or withheld from you.”  What is our part?  Obedience and faith.   We must train ourselves to expect God’s promises to become realities Now!

GOD will not receive superficial offerings but will bless and multiply pure-hearted offerings.  Therefore, we need to speak to our problems.  We are to speak the Word of God to them.  Give God your best, and He will do the rest.

May the Lord of Hosts guard and guide you today in your new journey of Faith and Victory!

Jonah 4:1 – “But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry.”

We may deny it, but many have been angry with or at God.   It may be latent and seething beneath the surface if it is there.  The account of Jonah is an example.   After he finally fulfilled God’s directive, Jonah got mad because God didn’t smash the Ninivites like a bug.  (Jonah 4:1) 

Jonah didn’t like what happened, so he went to sulk in seclusion.  Sometimes, isolating ourselves is a revelation that there is disappointment and even anger toward the Lord beneath the surface.  Why?   Often, we deem that He failed us or, in Jonah’s case, embarrassed him.  Jonah was upset that his prophecy had not happened.   It may result from desiring something and God not doing what we wanted, at least not like we wanted it done.

Jonah went to sulk, and God supernaturally grew a plant to shade him.   Then, to add insult to injury, God sent a worm and killed the plant.  Jonah became furious.  God asked, “Jonah, do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” Jonah said, “You bet I do.  I have reason to be angry, even if it kills me.”

God used that as an object lesson to expose the root of his anger. 

Jonah 9:10-11 He laid it all out.  Jonah had compassion on a plant he had no investment in but not a city filled with people over 120,000 who were innocent.   God asked, “If the plant deserved compassion, shouldn’t people as well?”  In that, he was bringing Jonah to face the reality that his anger was because he didn’t get what he wanted when he wanted it and how he wanted it. 

We cling to our disappointments and let seething anger bubble beneath the surface.   If we realize that anger, hurt, pain, disappointment, and perpetual sorrow of the heart can be signs of latent anger toward God, we discover the doorway to freedom. 

God Never fails! His ways are higher than ours; sometimes, He acts or doesn’t act.  He knows what we don’t know.  He sees what we can’t see.  If we truly trust Him, rather than becoming angry, we would rejoice, knowing that even when we don’t know and can’t see, He is doing it for the overall good.

I frequently ask myself if there is any hidden anger in my heart toward God.  Are the disappointments roots of hidden bitterness?  Does the past bind me, or am I free to be who He has designed?  Do I truly trust Him, even when I disagree with Him?

My prayer for myself is, “Lord, purge all hidden or open anger from my heart.   Purge what I call disappointment but is anger from me.  Make me free to be who You called me to be.”  As Job said, “Even if You were to slay me, I will trust You.”

When all anger is gone, true freedom comes, new doors open, and new paths are revealed.   We get stuck because we hold on to hurts (anger).  Today is the day to become totally free.  This is for me, but embrace it if it resonates with you.

May the Lord be with you, enabling you to release any hidden anger and walk into His total freedom today!

Daniel 11

My prayers are for peace, power, prosperity, and revelation to be experienced daily.   I ask God to enable you to embrace life fully and move into the next phase of His plan for you.  That divine encounter will lead you deeper into the kingdom realm.  That joy will overflow your heart, and your eyes will see the miraculous and live the kingdom’s manifestation in a greater measure.  God’s plan and purpose is to free us from the torment of earthly cares.

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word, something from Daniel 11 gripped my heart.   Daniel 11 and the first part of 12 speak of the Antichrist and the rapture of God’s people going home. 

But that is not what gripped my heart.   Daniel 11:24 reveals something that transcends this time in the Last Days and speaks to any time.  In a time of tranquility (ease & calm), he will enter the richest parts of the realm…”  When we are at ease, we often let down our guard, and through subtlety, the enemy comes sneakily to capture and deceive.

He comes to the richest part or most treasured part or the part with the greatest potential and seeks to subvert God’s purpose and divert our attention.  We let down our guard in ease, success, productivity, and prosperity.  In difficulty, we tend to pray with focus and purpose.  In trouble, we either restore our confidence and focus on God or embrace “woe me.”

In tranquility, we forget about the enemy.  The most dangerous time spiritually is when we are at ease.  That is why we must always focus on God.  He must be kept in the forefront of our minds and hearts.

We are more than conquerors but easily defeated if we fail to be vigilant, armed, and equipped.

In times of ease, we tend to focus on ourselves. If we let down our guard and an attack comes, we panic. To avoid panic, we must remain vigilant in difficulty and in ease. Ease is for rest and refueling for the war, not to become idle.

Beware, your adversary, the devil, is a sneaky snake.  Resist him by focusing on God.  Give him no opportunity.   Our hearts will be filled with something.   It will be God or self.  Life is not about us. It is about the kingdom.  Nothing stays the same, and we move from one phase to the next.  Life is day by day, and each new day is to be lived to the fullest.  What we focus on consumes us, equipping us or opening us to deception.

Be victorious.  Be joyous.  Be focused.   It is your heritage!  May today’s victory be extravagant, and your peace be powerful!

Ephesians 1:3 – “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

Here, the apostle Paul begins with a powerful, sometimes overlooked statement—a revelation that changes perspective. He said that the Father, through Jesus, “Has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

Notice that the tense is past tense, “has.” It is done.  Why do we not have them evident all the time?  They are done IN the heavenly places.  Where do we see ourselves?  In earthly places, right?

We have All or Every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly places but operate in earthly places.   That is a problem.  How do we tap into what IS in the heavenly places while living in earthly places?  Having a consciousness of the reality of those blessings is vital.  Having a modified or renewed mind is necessary.  

We must think with God’s mind, which is only possible through the Holy Spirit.  We take our thoughts captive and focus on God through His Word, Covenant, and Promises.   We think of life, reality, and ourselves as He thinks.  It is not a natural occurrence.

Ephesians 1:17-22 demands deeper study.  God desires to give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.   But more than just a gift, it is in His Full Knowledge!  Whoa, Nellie, who has that?

God’s desire for us is to have the eyes of our hearts enlightened.   The heart has eyes!  Next, let us know what the Hope of His calling is.   I do not hope to be called.  Not our calling but His!   Why Jesus came to earth.   Also, He desires that we know the Riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints (us). 

We must be aware of what we mean to God and what we provide for God!   We need to know, see, and embrace the Surpassing Greatness of His power toward us.  Deity indwells us!

Now, back to the blessings IN heavenly places and how to access them.

Ephesians 1:20-23 reveals the place Jesus occupies in the heavens.  We are in Him and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places.   (Ephesians 2:6).

If your blessings or possessions are in one place and you are in another, they are yours, theoretically, not experientially.   But if you are where they are, you have them in reality.

Our problem is that we make spiritual things super mysterious.  God says, “You have this and that; it is done.”  But only if we learn to access them.  We access them through agreement with God and understanding that we are in Christ, seated in the very place where the blessings are.

Let us allow the Holy Spirit to help us change our understanding.   Transform our minds and develop the spiritual eyes in our hearts and minds through discipline to see, say, believe, and live what He says.  Let us determine that we are going to guard against stinkin’ thinkin’ and begin to think God’s thoughts.   They are in the Word.

Remember that in Jesus, you have no lack except lack of sight. The devil blinds our minds and causes us to think one-dimensionally, but God wants us to tap into His realm and bring what is to where we are. Thy Kingdom come…

Today is the day to rethink our thinking and replace flawed, limited earthly logic with God’s person, power, and promises.

Victory is yours.  Look for it!  May God’s Best pursue you relentlessly today and every day!