We face things today that place a demand on our entire being as we focus on the present situation in its context. Unfortunately however, the crux of the matter may have little to do with today’s situation; it may relate more to something earlier—something hidden which means the chances of working through to find the end of that rope are not as good. Hidden things are hard to address.

Abram began his journey. He aimed for a land the Lord had revealed to Him—that’s good. Along the way he turned toward Egypt, anticipating supply from that land, perhaps a lapse of confidence in the God He was following—not good.

It’s one reason why discipleship is so helpful: Being accountable to others who are Godly saves us—primarily from ourselves! Being accountable provides counsel for the things we know to seek help for; it provides a miracle-rescue in times when we are clueless that it is the problem back there that now finds its voice, a torment and provocation so that we shoot at everything that moves, determined to cast the blame.

Hagar did not go away; God did not let her. Today’s situation is not as severe probably as Abram’s but  recognition and repentance will turn the unhappy ending that is surely coming, and will certainly inoculate you against poor decisions on tap today.

Amen.

Genesis 13:1-4
Genesis 16
Psalm 1
Psalm 51

The Christmas season is precious. We embrace the giving of gifts in the way that we can, creating new memories and traditions to build over time and making each year more special. There may be a sprinkling of scrooge attitudes but for most the season’s warmth motivates us no matter what our situation.

Each Christmas there are friends whose lives are different this year – a loss or struggle, or maybe something unfair that humanly cannot be restored. These are the friends we gather around most – to support and comfort, and to remind that when the Lord allows a door to close, He has already begun to open another.

As covenant sons and daughters of the LORD we remember Psalm 105: His judgments are working and bring justice into the center of our lives; He remembers His covenant forever and the word HE commands concerning us can never stop!

To belong to the LORD and have His hand upon our lives is greater than sadness or disappointment, greater also than any exaltation. It is the highest condition and the position from which we look into the season as a fortunate time of blessing.

This season belongs to the LORD and to His people. From our vantage point we take this opportune time to change yesterday’s clothes for new ones – a birthing time! We embrace newness with all the anointing joy God places upon new things while giving to others of what we do have—actually, a wealth!

Oh come; let us adore Him – Christ the LORD.

Amen.

Psalm 105

A special star led the way for magi, wise men from ancient Persia. For months they searched the Judean hills until, following the star, their search ended at Joseph’s house. They found a young child, son of Joseph the carpenter and Mary, a teen-aged mother. Perceiving the child’s significance, the wise men bowed in worship, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the parents—a wealth of provision the parents would need to survive their flight from those who would seek to destroy their son.

“…and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was… On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:9-15, NIV)

Each Christmas we celebrate and remember the wise men from the East – led by a star and warned in a dream; how much more those today who are filled with God’s own Spirit also possess His divine wisdom to interpret signs, and understand visions and dreams? The Lord’s covenant people—wisest of the wise, able to instruct many!

Let’s Pray
Father, I ask today for Your gifts of revelation. As you empowered men and women in the Bible, Lord also speak to me! I ask for Your signs and wonders to be a reality in my life. I ask You for dreams and visions and the gift of interpretation. Lord, I, too, bow in worship before the One whose intervention in my life has been supernatural from the start; I, too, bring my best gift. I bring my life! Amen.

Numbers 24:17
Matthew 2:9-15, NIV

We are blessed by those who are gifted prophetically as they pray, write, teach, lead, administrate, govern . . . but a few of the ways God’s prophetic people minister. Those who do not YET believe in present day prophetic ministry may find such evidence hard to believe but you and I are blessed when our prophetic friends enrich our lives through the words they speak and the boldness of faith they demonstrate. Moses, even in HIS day, understood the principle: “Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!”  Also, the Apostle Paul taught New Testament believers, “desire earnestly to prophesy.”

The tenacity of those who are gifted prophetically are a blessing as they uniquely implement change and encourage right order. Thank God! What WOULD we do without them?

(Numbers 11:29 NKJV)
I Corinthians 14:39

Discouragement as a force has developed in the atmosphere, affecting even those in highest levels of authority. Positioned in the spiritual atmosphere of specific areas, discouragement impacts the heart and vision wanes under its influence.

Principle: The entrance of negative spiritual forces includes a spiritual strategy that builds upon loss, the fear of loss, or imagines loss. When that happens, from the highest levels right down to the individual level, something “wrong-spirited” has entered and builds upon overwhelmingly negative circumstances. The ultimate threat of discouragement is that if self pity and doubt are not (quickly) addressed with courage, these wrong influences will make decisions for us.

Setting: There are times when thinking and choices gravitate strongly to a center other than God, until an overriding negative force takes over the very atmosphere. When this happens a door opens to something we would not have predicted and those seasoned in spiritual matters will tell you that door must be closed, quickly!

Solution: Every person is responsible for a personal share in the larger picture. If spirits of discouragement are influencing us as a group, say on a national level, those in every sector have authority within their sector to stop the influence. The cumulative effect then would be that with every joint supplying, peace is restored with nothing missing, nothing broken.

“And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me (Nehemiah 4:14-18 NKJV).”

Amen.

Meditating in God’s Word as the way we remove wrong thoughts from the mind, replacing them with biblical thoughts so that our conversation and all that we say gives voice to thoughts of life and peace above everything else: And in His law he meditates day and night.

“Psalm 1:2 — meditates, hagah (hah-gah); Strong’s Concordance #1897: To reflect; to moan, to mutter; to ponder; to make a quiet sound such as sighing; to meditate or contemplate something as one repeats the words. Hagah is something quite unlike the English “meditation,” which may be mental exercise only. In Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them in a soft, donning sound, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. From this tradition comes a specialized type of Jewish prayer called “davening,” that is, reciting texts, praying intense prayers, or getting lost in communion with God while bowing or rocking back and forth. Evidently, this dynamic form of meditation-prayer goes back to David’s time.” (The Spirit Filled Life Bible, New King James Version, Jack W. Hayford, General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, pgs. 753-754)

Those pursuing a pop culture or religious expression did not discover meditation but have only applied this wonderful instrument of blessing meant for God’s people to methods and spiritual pursuits He never intended—actually, He forbids most of them. Wrong forms of meditation do not reflect true spirituality which comes from relationship with Almighty God through Jesus
Christ.

For those who are His people, the LORD offers knowledge and wisdom through His Word—through its meditation and study—writing it upon the heart and producing a whole list of good things, benefits derived from meditating in His Word.

Amen.

Psalm 1