Provision

"For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." -- Matthew 6:8

Have you ever received a bonus or an unexpected gift of money and the very next day your car breaks down or the washing machine quits? Most of us would look at that extra money as money we can spend in whatever way we want, but I challenge you to think about it in a different way. Your Father knows what you need in advance and He has an uncanny way of sending the provision before the precipitating event. God also uses His children to get blessings to others. The next time you receive an unexpected windfall, stop and give thanks, and then ask God where the need is.

Burning Ones

"Our God is a consuming fire." -- Hebrews 12:29

Burning Ones, Jesus Culture

Here inside your presence
I'm taken by the wonder of You
Here inside your glory
We give our lives fully to You

We cry holy, holy Are You
Your love it burns inside
Our hearts are satisfied by You
Your love is all we want
Is why we ask for more of You

Holy, holy are You
Our hearts are burning
burning for You
we cry holy, holy are You
Our hearts are burning
burning for You

We are your burning ones
We are consumed by You
We set our lives apart
We are consumed by You

So let this love be like a fire
let our lives be like a flame
Feel us souls with Your desire
Let our passion bring You fame

Wisdom

"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." -- Proverbs 4:7

Satan doesn't tell you up front that he's going to tempt you to sin. He builds it in steps. He also doesn't tell you if you trip on the step you may fall all the way down the stairs. Get wisdom. It is supreme.

Daily Bread

"Give us this day our daily bread." -- Matthew 6:11

I saw a quote about motivation this morning and it got me thinking about prayer. Here's the quote: 

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily." -- Zig Ziglar

Prayer is our daily bread and I recommend it daily, hourly, minute by minute, breath by breath.

Neck Attire

"Don't ever forget kindness and truth. Wear them like a necklace. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet. Then you will be respected and will please both God and people." -- Proverbs 3:3

We often take great care in picking out our accessories -- whether it be a necklace or a tie. Proverbs 3:3 instructs us to take greater care of kindness and truth. Never forget them; make them part of your daily attire; then you will be well-dressed for all occasions.

Navigate

"Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God." -- Isaiah 50:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." -- Proverbs 18:10

When you are stumbling in darkness (whether it be due to affliction or misery or something else), you can run to the name of the LORD and be safe. The phrase "trust in the LORD" means to navigate toward the light, which is the name of the LORD. Trust in the name of the LORD; not in yourself, nor in any creature, but in the LORD Himself; in the perfections of His nature, His mercy, His grace, and His goodness; in the name of the LORD, which is a strong tower, and in whom is salvation; in Christ, in whom the name of the LORD is, and whose name is the LORD our Righteousness; and to trust in Him, when in the dark, is a glorious act of faith; this is believing in hope against hope.

So, what is it you need today:

If healing, navigate toward Jehovah Rapha, The Lord Our Healer

If provision, navigate toward Jehovah Jireh, The Lord That Provides

If protection and guidance, navigate toward Jehovah Rohi, The Lord Our Shepherd

If victory in battle, navigate toward Jehovah Nissi, The Lord Our Banner
If pardon, Jehovah Tsidkenu, The Lord Our Righteousness

If cleansing, navigate toward Jehovah Mekadesh, The Lord Who Sanctifies
If security, navigate toward Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is There

If peace, navigate toward Jehovah Shalom, The God of Our Peace

Everything you need is in Him and in His name!

Excerpt from the song, Because of Who You Are (Judy Jacobs)

Because of who You are, I give you glory

Because of who You are, I give you praise

Because of who You are, I will lift my voice and say

Lord I worship You, because of who you are

 

Jehovah Jireh, you're my Provider
Jehovah Nissi, you reign in victory
Jehovah Shalom, you're my Prince of Peace

Jehovah Rapha, when I'm sick in my body you're my Healer
Jehovah Shammah, you're always with me

Jehovah Sabaoth, you're my strong deliverer

Because of who You are, I give you glory
Because of who You are, I give you praise
Lord it's because of who You are, I will lift my voice and say
You are worthy Lord, I worship you
Lord I worship You, because of who you are

This blog inspired from Shawn Baker's message, "The Eternal God and His Eternal Work"

http://www.oxfordcog.com

Drip Drip

"Let my words drip like dew, like gentle rain on grass, like showers on green plants." -- Deuteronomy 32:2

"My eyes drip [with tears] to God." -- Job 16:20

About a year ago I attended a session at Cincinnati House of Prayer. The guest speaker was Terri Terry from IHOP-KC (author of Silent Songs of Worship: God's Tabernacle Within Us). During her teaching she asked us to participate in a powerful exercise. She asked each of us to begin knocking on our chair and to continue knocking for one whole minute. When finished she said now, that's the equivalent of a continuous prayer movement. Your prayers should be a constant drip drip drip, filling the "bucket" in heaven and when that bucket is full it shall tip over and pour out the answers, the blessings, and the provisions.

Never stop praying because every prayer "drip" counts and you may just be one small drip away from tipping the bucket.

Leadership

"But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant." - Matthew 20:26

If you are a true leader you will not need to recruit followers. True leaders follow hard after Christ. They don't worry about building a flock of people to follow after them. Become a servant of Christ and the rest will fall into place.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." -- Augustine

"True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you." -- Oswald Sanders

Message

"Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message." -- Malcom Muggeridge

There is a message around every corner. God is speaking -- all day [and night] every day, every hour, every minute. 

I love how God speaks. I love that my daughter recognizes how God speaks. I love that just this week while we were in the middle of a text conversation, she asked me a question, and God beat me to the answer! Just as I was typing the same response, the television program in the background began singing the answer. You just gotta fall in love with the Creator every time that happens. And I'd just bet it happens more than we pay attention to; more than we know; and more than we can fathom.

Pete Repeat

"For God speaks once, Yes twice, though man pays no attention." -- Job 33:14

When my girls were younger they had a toy parrot called Pete, the Repeat Parrot. They received hours of enjoyment from pressing the button, speaking a phrase, and listening to Pete repeat it back to them. I was reminded of that toy during a prayer meeting last evening. God speaks once and even repeats Himself and yet man pays no attention.

When we press in we hear God more clearly and having heard His heart we become an echo of the very sound of heaven.

Today's prayer: "May thy kingdom come. May thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. May my life become an echo, a repeating, of all that You are! Amen."