Today we concentrate on God’s plan for our lives’ everything else is secondary. Because we focus this way, our steps are ordered, our lives freed to reflect excellence of purpose today and trust in the Lord’s plan for tomorrow.  

If we run ahead of Him, the physical body and psyche may not be able to keep up. From a perspective of peace of heart and mind, reaching too far ahead can trouble the mind, undermine peace, and steal joy that comforts the heart and fuels much-needed strength!

So instead of shifting from plan to plan we choose instead to focus on the priorities God places in our hearts . . . our orders for today!  Jesus lived this way. He ministered this way. For us too, God’s presence in our midst is all we need to maintain peace today while projecting hope for tomorrow. His Presence means our lives are so ordered that we rest, wisely using those portions received today and expecting increase by faith for tomorrow.

Stay focused.

Amen.

Matthew 6:24-33

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing . . . And who is sufficient for these things? . . . we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2Corinthians 1:14-17)

In the early church a leader’s conduct was critical to the foundation being laid; for the sake of a strong future, Church leaders were responsible to set the example for new and maturing converts to follow. In that context, Paul encouraged the believers to follow him as he followed the Lord—possibly the greatest simultaneous expression of strength and humility we could ask for and a solid example for us to follow.

Applying the principle, we observe godly qualities in those who lead and are not only blessed by their example but also motivated to achieve the standard they live since, humanly speaking, we learn more by example than almost any other way. It’s why when those we esteem fall short of the mark it produces a particular burden for everyone involved as we realize afresh that without the Lord none of us have sufficiency for the complex day in which we live.

On the positive side, new resolve often results from a mistake or misstep—resolve for greater integrity, commitment to right order personally, and determination to imitate the Lord so others see His example through us. Central to the idea of leading by example is our responsibility to forgive the person whose example did not hold true. Because we forgive the best day is ahead, not behind, and unexpected strength will be gained in spite of despite something so wrong.

The words of the hymn say it well—lifting our expectations to believe again, to trust and hope again: “Lead on O King Eternal! We follow . . .”

Amen!

2Corinthians 1:14-17 | 1 Corinthians 11:1 | Romans 3:23

Rules and culture do not determine who will possess Godly authority. God alone establishes His authority through whomever He chooses; He manifests His love through those available for the mission, stirring their hearts for divine purpose and speaking clear direction to them.

Think for instance of those at the wedding in Cana the day Jesus’ miracle ministry began. Mary was a catalyst in setting the stage, exhorting Jesus to intervene when a shortage occurred in provisions for guests of the feast and instructing the servants to assist him . . . “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Mary obviously had sufficient authority in her demeanor or tone of voice; otherwise workers of that day and culture would ignore instruction from a woman. The servants’ role was important too, their actions necessary to the miracle of the water pots. Had they ignored Mary’s lead, would water have been turned into wine that day?

Authority speaks – when we hear it we recognize it.
Authority speaks – whatever He says to you, do it! 

Amen.

Philippians 2:13 | John 2

The sound of the Lord’s procession is passing through the land!

That God’s power is resident in the lives and condition of mankind has been questioned but the matter is settled among those hungering for spiritual reality . . . those who know the Almighty God, Immanuel—God with us! Their stories unfold, and the moving of God’s Spirit transforms to realize the manifest presence of God.

Controversy over the possibility of His presence is a distinctive, an entitlement of sorts to areas that were off-limits before we learned about His Spirit, when much of what we knew was resistant to the present-with-us God.

But now, the sound of passionate prayer and symphonies of worship have ushered His presence right past the religion-police and into the heart of the city; the spirit of the dance brings deliverance for families of the entire city—freedom from the bondage of generations.

As He comes the sound turns the controversy and He declares a controversy of his own. The noise is heard across the whole earth, for God has a controversy with the nations and has begun to plead with all flesh, calling them out of the valley of decision!

Amen.

2Corinthians 2:14 | Psalm 68:24 | Isaiah 45:22-23 | Romans 14:11 | Philippians 2:9-11 | Jeremiah 25:30-31 | Joel 3:16

An assault on true spiritual authority has arrived with a vengeance. But for divine intervention the future of righteous leadership would be bleak, a revival of awakening impossible. If it were not for the Lord . . . who is on our side . . . godly nations would be overthrown, authority in the church would melt into rigidity, and ordained authority in the home would dismantle under false authority’s seducing spirits.

However, at the center of the onslaught of twisted and iniquitous activity there is a firewall—a resting place for believers, carved out by the Lord and established as the gold standard among those who are fiery hot in prayer, possess wisdom beyond natural explanation and who operate far above the chaos.

Christianity’s household of faith is a true, spiritual house. Strengthened from within through the word of his power, we are the Lord’s possession on assignment with His authority; therefore, the nation-breaker is overthrown and the home-wrecker exposed along with all related iniquity – that is, all habitual, generational and twisted behavior.

Today gather your family, take communion together and pray:
Lord, we receive fresh bread and new wine for our home. We pray for a strong anointing to announce victory against the giants that threaten the peace of our home and like David, we run toward that battle, armed with authority “in the name of the Lord!”

We declare the name of the Lord over our home concerning tests to the authority established here, and we declare strength and leading by the counsel of the Lord ahead of every test!  In the areas of our God-given authority we declare Isaiah 59:19; that we see clearly above confusion, execute authority over the enemy, and invite the presence of Almighty God to lead and instruct us!

Amen.

Isaiah 124;2 | Psalm 124:2 | Daniel 11:32-33 | Psalm 37:25 | 1 Kings 21 | Ephesians 1:19 | Hebrews 1:3 | Ephesians 2:6 (also Eph 1:3, 1:20, 3:10) | Genesis 1:5

Within every nation are seeds of both greatness and downfall. Today in every nation many are shifting, moved for reasons of divine purpose and alignment. What began as breaking birthed greatness. Redeemed men from every tribe and tongue join strength to pray . . . for an awakening, for redemption!

Virtue undergirds greatness and assures the future. God blesses a righteous people but unrighteousness locks Him out. A standard is raised and each voice joins in. The voice of one speaks in the midst of any nation in peril, any people in despair. The voice begins to rumble and more voices join in—beneath the surface, beyond the status quo.

Father, I decree Your strength against every threat to my nation and people. I decree my nation will not break under deceptive influence but will rather be strengthened with truth and virtue . . . that what You speak concerning us, You will bring to pass. I ask that destructive plans be found out and replaced with Your plan, and that the divine purposes of Your heart for my nation be established:

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—or all its strength, it cannot save you. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.” (Psalm 33:13-19, NLT)

Lord, I release my faith for voices to surface everywhere, a crescendo of prophetic declarations, declaring as one, Kingdom of God come! Will of God be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

Amen!

Psalm 33:13-19 | Psalm 33:8-22

She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. (Proverbs 31:15)

One Bible use of the word portion means the following: a prescribed task, prescribed portion, prescribed limit, an enactment, decree or ordinance, an action prescribed for oneself as in resolve; a specific decree or law in general, a condition or decree, a civil enactment prescribed by God – a statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.

The Proverbs woman instructed her household, giving her servants portions, or tasks, each morning. In a similar way we have been given God-given talents and creativity, portions from Him, assignments and tasks that carry a corresponding mandate to utilize those wisely, be available to lead in those areas if necessary and train others when the opportunity arises.

As worshippers . . . we have the Lord as our portion, another use of the word that means we are joined to Him because of His goodness to us—He is our portion, our reward. The relationship makes all the difference; we are not servants but sons!

As sons . . . we are stewards of the Kingdom through the portions God has given. Today, declare new strength and resolve for proper use of your time and talents. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct the use of your time and help you guard your choices to preserve the best stewardship of the treasure within. Make a list of those you are impacting now. Make a second list of those who are waiting! See the destiny involved—theirs and yours. Enlarge your vision. Get portions and go!

Amen.

Proverbs 31:15 | Ref: Strong’s Concordance Proverbs 31:15
Psalm 73:26 | Ref: Strong’s Concordance Psalm 73:26

Wisdom is stored in the lives of those who understand that wisdom is not something they generate on their own, but that true wisdom comes only from the Lord. This divine wisdom is a gift to benefit all mankind and is a storehouse, on call and ready for those in need of proven wisdom.

You and I are containers of the Lord in many ways as we “carry” Him into every detail of our day. When we show up, He shows up; when we speak, He speaks with wisdom graced to stand up to the test and carry the day. His words, spoken through us, are “spirit and life to those who find them,” revealing answers and uncovering truth that may have been hidden.

You are a container of God’s wisdom. The Holy Spirit orders and refines the words you speak so that the storehouse of right and timely words is opened for those He sends you to. The wisdom of this age is not good enough; but in every area of life, the Lord has His people who speak His truth, going forth into the new day.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13

Amen.

If I ponder or dwell on something I obviously believe what I am thinking has merit. Along with the logical flow of those thoughts and all they bring to bear upon my life, the impact of my thought life produces a composite of the things I think about, and probably meditate upon, and eventually those thoughts become powerful enough to establish or change what I believe to be true.

When we entertain obsessive thoughts that contradict the central tenets of our faith, it is possible to miss the contradiction and follow through with choices that undermine faith and dishonor God. And though some people feel justified, even entitled, to present their contradiction as truth, they also miss the snare that comes with it. They really do not have a problem presenting as truth what actually is the fruit of their own meditation—a result of their own obsessive thoughts. Whew!

God can change that kind of habitual carelessness; He will deliver us if we ask and, by His Spirit, sever the connections to those things in the process. He targets our affection for, or sympathy toward, thoughts that run amuck since, if we have practiced them over a period of time, it will be difficult to see or admit and we become sympathetic with the very thing God wants to cut off. Whew again!

We ought to govern our thought life this way: “Whatsoever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, and praiseworthy (we are to) think on these things.” Paul said, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Thoughts become belief and determine the way we will go. As we discipline our thoughts, the fruit of peace rewards that alignment. Selah! Philippians 4:8-9

Amen.

Today we pray for the Kingdom to come and for the will of our Lord to be done. With expectation in every fiber of our body, soul and spirit, we lean into the Holy Spirit’s leading and prepare for the day. We are called to it!

Prophetically we see the Kingdom—the power and glory of God. Those who are Spirit-inspired follow divine prompting with unction and the witness of the Spirit. The spiritual man is born from above, trained in the secret place and brought into each new season, “even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Religious men think it foolish to trust in God and obey Him completely, yet the spiritual man does not flinch nor yield at all to such pride; instead, with wisdom and confident strength of spirit, he presses and continues discerning the times in order to take the day!

Amen.

2Corinthians 3:18 |Matthew 6:10 | 2Timothy 3:16-17 | Hebrews 11:8 | Psalm 10:12-13