Genesis 1:1-2; In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

A friend and I were talking about the power of God a few days ago and she mentioned this verse which we’re all familiar with and pointed out that the Spirit of God was hovering, had been hovering, but nothing changed even though the Holy Spirit was present. Verse 3 says; Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. So what activated the Holy Spirit? God’s spoken word.

I may feel the Holy Spirit stirring inside of me, prompting me to speak, but if I don’t speak, things stay unchanged. My expectations may be right, my frame of mind may be positive, but the word is what is active and powerful. Jeremiah 1:12 tells us that the He is alive and active, watching over His Word to perform it. Hebrews 4:12 in the Amplified says it so well; For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Today, let’s not allow the Holy Spirit to just hover over us, but let’s give Him a job to do by speaking. Let’s call those things that are not as though they are. Let’s be the speaking spirits we were created to be create. The world is waiting for us to speak out healing, peace, love and salvation. They’re looking for the creative, restorative power of God to be evident in the sons of God. It’s our time. It’s time for the church to be the church.

Father, I’m excited that you made me to be like You. I see in Your Word that when You spoke, it came to pass. I have the same Holy Spirit in me to do what You sent me into the world to do, so I ask You would guard my heart and my mind so that I may listen and speak what You instruct me to. May I be productive today in everything I say that my words would yield fruit for Your kingdom. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

Romans 5:1-5 Voice; Since we have been acquitted and made right through faith, we are able to experience true and lasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King.  Jesus leads us into a place of radical grace where we are able to celebrate the hope of experiencing God’s glory.  And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance,  which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness.  And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.

What a refreshing passage this is to me. I think I’ve read it in 5 translations just to get a feel for what the author was expressing. I settled on this one simply because it spoke to me. The word, ‘acquitted’ was a resounding gavel on a judges desk as I was cleared of all charges, walked free from a guilty verdict and a death sentence. In exchange, I was given true and lasting peace with God through Jesus my Liberating King. But He didn’t stop there. No, He then brings me outside the courtroom into a place of radical grace or undeserved favor. It’s like trading a jail cell for a mansion, fully paid for and fully furnished. And as if that would be too much, He then fully furnishes it and staffs it with servants, chefs and gardeners.

All the things I’ve been through has made me who I am today. It’s shaped my life, my character, made me a better person, one who is thankful, grateful because the hand of the Lord was always on me even when I didn’t feel it or see it. I constantly anticipate what God has planned next. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve inspecting the gifts under the tree only to find out that they all have my name on them. Although I know I can’t open them yet, I know that the Holy Spirit has gifts for me that I’ve not yet unwrapped but I know they’re there and I know I’ll get to unwrap them soon. He did it all because of love.

Let me close with verses 3-5 from the Message Bible;  There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Oh Father, I round up all the containers I have in the house in anticipation for the fullness of Your blessing. How extravagant You are. You lavish on me such gifts, so much love, mercy and that grace, wow. I’m in serious debt to You, yet even that You canceled out. You knew I could never pay for all of this so You stamped ‘PAID IN FULL’ on it all then tossed it in the incinerator to be obliterated forever. There is not enough time to tell You how grateful I am but suffice it to say this, I will forever remember and be in constant praise to Your name so that my life my cause others to do the same. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Psalm 95:1-5 NASB; O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land.

As I read this passage I thought to myself, why is it that people don’t worship everyday like they do on Sundays? It’s like we step foot out of the church and lose our voices! Personally, I love to worship everywhere; in the shower, in the car, sitting at my desk, sometimes while I’m laying in my bed. Most definitely in my dreams! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken in the night with a song looping through my head….loudly….ah, but my soul does sing!

How can it not! When I think of all the Lord has done for me it makes my soul want to sing, shout and dance. I feel sorry for those who have no hope after this life is finished. There is so much more. This life is merely a practice run to see what we will do with what He’s given us. Why not lift up our hands? Why not lift up our voices? Go ahead! Right now, where you are. Give God some praise.

Father, I sing a song of love to you. You are my King, my love, I make a melody, a psalm today to you. You’re my healer, provider, protector, banner, warrior. Everything I have is Yours and I freely give it to You. Your peace and presence is with me today. I walk in Your grace, I swim in Your love. Mountains move out of Your way. You clear the path so I may walk unhindered. You order my steps. I am secure. May my song be a sweet offering to Your ears today and may it never end. It’s in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

John 6:11-13,  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

Can you even imagine being one of the disciples that day? Think about it, they knew that there were only 5 barley loaves and two fish. They watched as Jesus blessed and broke it and handed each of them a piece who in turn went and distributed it to the 5000 men seated in the grass. Imagine breaking off a piece of bread, handing it to someone, looking back at the bread and it was the same size. They kept breaking and giving, breaking and giving, breaking and giving.

That’s not even the most astounding part; think about the fact that 12 men fed 5000. Hey, back in the day, I worked as a waitress and even on my busiest day, I never served 1000 and I was exhausted. That’s roughly 416 people each, not including women and children. AND they took up 12 baskets of leftovers, so they had to buss their own tables! Perhaps the leftovers were their tip for serving? Jesus said that a workman is worthy of his hire! We are never told where the baskets went but I like to think that the evangelistic Jesus team ate the leftovers for several days afterwards.

We are also disciples of Jesus Christ and each time we serve, He blesses us. Each time we give, He blesses us. We can’t stop giving! There is an inexhaustible supply! I remember recently God told me to reach in my wallet and instead of giving my usual $20 to my stylist, give $40. Fleetingly I thought, that’s all I have but no problem, I will give it for You, Father. Upon arriving home, I realized that I was to have lunch with my sister that day and had no money left. I heard the Lord say, open your wallet and see so I did. There was a crisp $20 bill in there. Leftovers! Oh praise God!

Matthew 10:8, Jesus sent his disciples and said, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” We should have this attitude with our money, our time, our gift, our service-freely give. The supply will dry up if you don’t continue to give. Perhaps we ought to think about what we have in our hands to give instead of, I can’t give because I need it for something else.

Father, You are our everlasting supply. Everything we need is in us because You placed it there. You said You give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Every time You ask me to give money, time, food, I will give it because there is plenty more where that came from. You never run out. You are my resource. My name is on Your bank account and whenever I need something, all I have to do is ask of You and You will give it to me. Your love for me, I freely give it because the more I give, the more I get back. I ask that this day, I remember the leftovers I have in my basket to give from. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Joshua 3:5; And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

This word sanctify actually means; to make holy, to free from sin or purify, to consecrate. In Exodus 19:14 it says that Moses sanctified the people and they washed their clothes. In John 17:19, Jesus said that “for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” Which brings to mind John 8:31-32 where Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I hear so many people say that they want to see signs, wonders and miracles now, just like Jesus did, but they seem unwilling to read the Word, come apart and separate themselves from the world and find out what that truly means. Jesus set us free from sin. He sanctified or set us apart, redeemed us from the curse so that we would walk in this truth and actually be His disciples. What was it Jesus sent the disciples out to do? Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, freely you’ve received, freely give. Remember that? Then what’s wrong with us? Why aren’t we doing this?

Stop waiting for someone else to do it and set yourself apart before the Lord and ask Him to use you now, today! You are the body of Christ! Start acting like it and be love instead of hate. Be healing instead of hurting. Bring hope instead of doom, gloom and despair. Use your own mouth and allow the Word to come out of it to encourage the broken and bring back the lost. Stop making excuses as to why you can’t. You’re only one belief away from a miracle for someone.

Father, you called us out of darkness into your glorious light. You sanctified us by the blood of Jesus and the living Word that is in us. We are Your sons and daughters, carriers of the oil of the Holy Spirit, moving on this earth so that Your glory may be seen. We ask that You invade our space, move away the hindrances and anything that stands in the way of us doing what You need us to do where we live. May our focus be on You today and not on our circumstances or the situations we face because there is nothing too hard for You. We commit to be doers and not just hearers. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

Psalm 119:165, Those who love your teachings will find true peace. Nothing can make them fall.

Ah the joy of knowing. Knowledge definitely takes fear away and brings a peace. Have you ever freaked out about not having enough? For instance, you invite some friends to a small party and they ‘surprise’ you by bringing 8 other people. You speed dial Domino’s Pizza and the knowledge that more is coming brings peace.

Perhaps your bank account can’t handle the pile of bills in front of you. As you’re opening the mail, there’s an unexpected check that takes care of everything you need to pay. That knowledge brings peace, right? Well, the same is true about God’s Word. When you love reading and knowing His teachings, you have true peace, the kind that holds you up when your world is upside down.

Still not convinced? When you face lack and Philippians 4:19 comes to mind, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” that brings peace. You put your trust in His ability to keep His Word. When you’re in a crisis and don’t think you’ll make it, 2 Corinthians 12:9 comes to mind, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” If I didn’t love His Word enough to read it and store it in my heart, I would have nothing to draw from when I need it.

It’s like having those 8 extra people show up and your refrigerators empty and you don’t have the phone number to Domino’s. But when you know the truth, it sets you free. Remember when Jesus took the little lunch and fed 5000? You can take what you have, ask the Lord to bless it and it will feed your 8 extra guests and have leftovers. Nothing is too hard for the God who loves you.

Father, thank you for giving me a love for Your Word. Remember when I just didn’t want to read it? I liked any other kind of book but the Bible just didn’t interest me. Then one day I asked you to give me a hunger for Your Word and You did. Wow! It’s the best book ever written! I never knew it would end up being a resource for everything I would ever need in life. It goes beyond a good read, I couldn’t live without it. I’m thankful it’s hidden in my heart. If the actual book were taken away, I could close my eyes and remember because Your Spirit leads me into all truth. It’s always in my heart and in my mouth, this great treasure stored in earthen vessels. May everyone reading this today ask for a hunger for Your Word and when the receive it, may their lives be forever changed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Psalm 46:10-11 Amp; Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Ever been in a storm that you thought would never end? Perhaps you’re in one right now. The wind is howling, the rain is beating down on you and it looks like no relief is in sight. That’s the time when you need to close your eyes and be still and think about how much bigger God is than what you’re facing. To exalt Him, worship His name and sing a song unto Him means that you’re placing Him above the storm in and around you. What you focus on gains strength.

That sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Yet that is what the Psalmist is saying in these verses. Whatever you’re going through is small in comparison to God. He is with us, our refuge and strong tower. He created everything, why not trust Him with this? Trusting in yourself has gotten you nowhere so far. Perhaps it’s time to surrender and place it in His hands.

Father, my hope and strength is only found in you. I rely on You today to calm the storm I face and surround me with the peace that only Your presence can bring. I magnify You, because when I do, everything else seems so very small. You are well able to keep what I commit unto You. It’s in Jesus name I pray. Amen

The word contradict is defined; a declaration of the opposite or contrary, a statement that is at variance with itself, the act of going against; opposition; denial.

Have you ever noticed that the bible is full of seemingly contradictions? Stay with me just a minute while I give a few examples; David was anointed the next king of Israel and went back to tending sheep. Abraham was promised a child but given a barren wife. Noah was told to build a boat when it had never rained, ever! Joseph was given dreams then sold into slavery. Are you tracking with me?

There are times when promises given don’t line up with circumstances experienced. When was David king of Israel, when he took the throne or when he was anointed? It was when he was anointed, right? Just because things don’t look like they’re happening, doesn’t stop the outcome from happening. Jesus spoke to a healthy looking fig tree to shrivel up at the roots because he couldn’t get fruit from it. A few days later they walked past the same tree and it was dead.

God doesn’t contradict Himself, there’s always a process to every promise. If you’re standing in faith for something you’ve been promised, keep standing. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it hasn’t already happened. Mark 9:23 says,“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The problem isn’t with our promise, the problem is with our belief.

Abraham believed God and look what happened to Him? He had his son with his barren wife, it was just a journey between promise and manifestation. Noah built his boat and the rain came years later, saving his family and a host of animals. David continued tending his sheep until the day he slew Goliath. He too went through a years of preparation, learning to hear Gods voice and obey made him one of the greatest kings in history. Jesus, the king of kings came from Davids lineage. Josephs dreams came to pass but it was after years of slavery and jail time. He never doubted the prophetic dreams God had given him, but rather stayed faithful to his morals and principles, allowing God to prepare him to rule and save his nation.

We may not understand the process but God only asks you to believe and trust Him. Can you do that? If so, then stop being discouraged with what you’re going through. Keep your eyes on a faithful God who is able to do exceedingly greater things than your little mind can comprehend. Don’t get stuck! Push your way through this. Remember, there is a real devil who wants nothing more than for you to give up and quit. Stop speaking what you see and speak the promise. Get your praise on and remind the devil that you serve a mighty and faithful God.

Thank you Father for always keeping Your promises to me. What a journey! All the twists and turns, the ups and downs sometimes makes me dizzy, but You are always before me, leading and guiding me each step of the way. How can I not trust You? When all is said and done I want others to know You as I do, a loving and faithful Father. So as I begin this day, I make this declaration that “He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it!” In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Matthew 6:10 NASV; Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Revelation 11:15 ASV; And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.

In Matthew, Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray and he clearly said to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Ever stop and think about those words? What does it mean to pray that? What would the world look like if it was the same on earth as it is in heaven? Here are a couple of thoughts to get you thinking this morning.

1. There is no sickness, death or lack in heaven.
2. God rules with His Words and His Word cannot return empty or broken.

My take on this is that this prayer was never meant to be a repetitious prayer that we pray just for the sake of repeating what Jesus prayed. No, this was an important part of our daily proclamation into the earth so that the earth would hear our words and respond to them just as it did when God first spoke and created the earth. We should be using our authority to call those things that be not as though they are, not the other way around. I’d rather read the Word and pray accordingly than to watch the news and talk about what it ‘looks’ like. Shame on us for not directing our words to be world changers instead of doom proclaimers.

Someday, that 7th angel is going to sound off and many voices will cry out, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord”. Wouldn’t it be nice if we began to speak that word today. Let’s begin proclaiming, “Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Christians rise up! Take your place throughout the earth. Lets pray as Jesus taught us. Stop ‘turn or burn’ and begin proclaiming ‘breakthrough, revival, latter rain’. Let’s go out and declare ‘peace, love, hope and joy’ instead of ‘discourse, hate, hopelessness and sorrow’.

Father, I declare that Your kingdom come, Your will be done here in my city, in my home, my family and my community. I ask that Your people who are called by Your name would take the time to ask You what they should be saying to make a difference. Instead of passing judgement, may they begin lifting our leaders before you, praying for our pastors instead of bashing them. May they forgive, it’s what You taught us to do. You said to love one another, bless those who curse you and pray for those who dispitefully uses you. Oh Father, show us Your face that we may reflect Your glory in the earth. It’s in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

How easy it is to complain that the weekend is over and we have to go to work! Easy until you read this from Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:24-29;  Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip.  Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost killed with rocks. Three times I was in ships that were wrecked, and one of those times I spent the night and the next day in the sea.  In my constant traveling I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, and from people who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger from people who pretend to be believers but are not. I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes.  And there are many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. I worry about each group of believers every day.  I feel weak every time another person is weak. I feel deeply upset every time another person is led into sin.

When life is ‘hard’, this seems to put things in perspective for me. My little aches and pains, my petty complaints, all pale in comparison to what Paul went through bringing the good news of the gospel to his world. I don’t believe I have suffered for the sake of the gospel. Oh, I’m not saying I didn’t suffer or haven’t gone through anything at all, I have indeed! But I’ve never been captured and put in prison for my faith. I’ve never been beaten, never once gone down on a ship, obviously never been without food! I wonder how many of us would last if we had to endure any of these things? Would we ‘count it all joy’?

What are we afraid of? Sharing the pure and simple truth that Jesus saves not only from sin, but from sickness, disease, poverty and lack should be the greatest gift we could share with those around us. It’s not something to be hidden or kept secret. Rather it’s something to be shouted from the highest mountain into the lowest valley of hopeless and despair. “Jesus loves you! Yes He does! Jesus loves you and gave His life so you could live free and have hope!” Yet we walk through life focused on ourselves, our needs, our pains and problems. Wishing it was Saturday not Monday. Wishing we didn’t have to go to work. We should be so thankful for the opportunity. We have the answer inside of us and hold it back for fear of ridicule and harassment.

Father, as I begin another week, please help me not to be so focused on ‘me’ that I lose sight of others. Most importantly, that I remember I am not my own, I’ve been bought by a price to dear to ever repay, I am Yours and Yours alone. I’m thankful for all you’ve provided for me for You always meet my needs. Just the fact that I’m alive and free from bondage is enough, but You have made me to rule and reign in life and adopted me as Your own daughter. I will hold my head high and remember what You’ve given me access to. I will share the message of love with others so that they too can be adopted and join our family. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen