Proverbs 3:5-6 ERV; Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.  With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.

Walt and I were just talking about this last night; the art of ‘free fall trust’. You know, when you’re out on a limb and the devil comes along with a chain saw, cuts the limb off close to the tree and the limb stays up because you’ve chosen to trust in the Lord. Seems like God is after our last bit of reserve. He keeps asking me to let go and just do it, but my reasoning and logic is hanging on for dear life. Since when do I play it safe? I’ve always been a risk taker! 

Trust is easy to say to someone when you have nothing to lose, but the act of trusting when it comes to yourself, now that’s a whole different beast of burden. Matthew 19:21, Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all that you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me!” WHAT? Jesus, did you hear what you just said? How’s that going to work? You’re asking me to give all my money to someone who obviously doesn’t know how to manage their money, is that really wise? I think I just saw Jesus smile. What he meant was this; you can’t follow me if something else holds your heart. If money holds your heart, you won’t let it go to follow Jesus and Jesus can’t rule your heart if it’s already being ruled by something else.

Here’s the crazy thing, you could be poor or rich, it could be $5 or $5 million, but if the Lord asks you to give it and you hesitate, you have been tested and He knows who rules your heart. Jesus told us you can’t serve both God and money and that’s how you know who you serve. Money is merely a tool to build Gods Kingdom and the more you yield it to Him, the greater your blessing. If you’re looking for the ‘windows of heaven’ blessing to be poured over your life, you must first pass the test. There’s only room for one throne in your heart and it must be ruled by God. Joint heirs with Christ, seated in heavenly places must begin with the test. It’s funny how we ‘know’ the voice of God and hear clearly, but when He asks us to give up something we love, we question whether we heard His voice or not. 

You’ll never twist my arm and make me give, Father. I know it must be a heart thing that carry’s me to this next level of trust. I always thought I was a giver, but you’ve revealed that I’m a ‘safe’ giver, not a ‘free fall’ giver. You will always provide avenues to test me until you have all of me and not just a part. Your Word promises that you will supply all my needs according to YOUR vast supply, not mine. Where mine is limited, yours is limitless. You’ve given me full access, placed my name on the account, you even deposited your most precious gift, so I give you full access to my account as well. Do with it according to your pleasure. Let me know the thrill of free falling trust.

Matthew 28:16-20 NLV; Then the eleven followers went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw Jesus, they worshiped Him. But some did not believe.  Jesus came and said to them, “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

Just prior to these verses, Jesus had re-entered the earth and appeared to the two Mary’s, telling them to let his friends know to meet him in Galilee just as He had told them. Can you even imagine? When they saw Jesus, they worshiped Him, but what amazes me is the very next sentence, “But some did not believe.” He’s standing right in front of them but some didn’t believe. How is that even possible? That kind of negates the theory, ‘seeing is believing,’ doesn’t it!

I had planned on going into another train of thought here, but I can’t seem to dismiss this. I suddenly got a picture of the world today; there will always be those that regardless of the signs, they will choose to not believe. Let me take this a little bit further if I may. Notice that those who went to the mountain were the 11 remaining followers, His close friends. ‘But some did not believe!” WHAT? Wait a minute. He told them what would happen and it did. He told them he would rise again, and he did. Yet some of them, even after seeing Jesus standing in front of them didn’t believe?

What about you? When Jesus stands before you, will you believe? You say, ‘Yes! Of course I will!” The whole nation of Israel missed Him the first time because they expected Him to come as a King, not as a baby. Most of us don’t even get the fact that the Spirit of God lives in us making us children of God. They don’t even know their real authority. They constantly believe the lies of the enemy who comes to steal their identity. We are servants of the greatest Servant of all, Jesus. His last command to us was to make disciples, but are we? Do we take serious the commands of the Lord?

Father, I believe! Help my unbelief. Any part of doubt that dwells in me, remove it. I want to live my life in a way that breeds disciples, reproducing more servants to follow in your footsteps. Oh my Lord and my God, I fall at your feet in worship this morning. May I be ready for your return, not empty handed, but may I bring to you many other believers who are servants too. Busy doing what You did when you walked the earth. Never afraid or living as less than you designed me to be. Fully trusting in who You are in me. Amen.

Matthew 6:25-34 NLV; “I tell you this: Do not worry about your life. Do not worry about what you are going to eat and drink. Do not worry about what you are going to wear. Is not life more important than food? Is not the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds in the sky. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They do not put grain into a building to keep. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important than the birds?  Which of you can make himself a little taller by worrying?  Why should you worry about clothes? Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. But I tell you that Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass of the field. It lives today and is burned in the stove tomorrow. How much more will He give you clothes? You have so little faith!  Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’  The people who do not know God are looking for all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all these things.  First of all, look for the holy nation of God. Be right with Him. All these other things will be given to you also.  Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its own worries. The troubles we have in a day are enough for one day.”

I don’t know about anyone else, but I needed this reminder today. It’s funny how thoughts flood your mind in the middle of the night. ‘How am I going to pay for this? Where is the money coming from for that?’ Father, I thank you that you’re my provider so I cast this onto you. ‘You can keep casting, but it will come back to you! You still have to figure it out!’ I thank you Father when I cast my cares on you, they stay with you. I thank you that you give me wisdom in everything I face. I also thank you that you give your children sweet sleep. Since you’re taking care of this, I’m going to rest in your faithfulness.

I love how Jesus pointed out how much the Father cares for and clothes the flowers and grass. Everything we have need of has already been provided for us. Father, thank you! I will be thankful for your provision and that I don’t have to think about it. My eyes are on you and you direct my steps. You show me the path clearly before me. You provide seed to the sower, so I will always have plenty to give to others. Because I give, and my focus is outward not inward, you will continually bless me, pressed down, shaken together and running over will men give to me.

I thank you Father for extreme favor in everything I do. In my job, you bless the work of my hands and give me continual wisdom. Money comes wherever I am employed. You bless those who bless your people. Therefore I thank you for raises, bonuses and increase on every side. Thank you that people give to us and don’t even know why, but are prompted to bless us because of your great love for us. Your Word says that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the just, so I thank you for the transfer coming into our account. All our debts are paid in full, not because of who we are, but because of whose we are. 

Not for greed or selfish ambition, but totally and completely for building Your Kingdom. We turn our hearts toward you today, oh God. We earnestly seek your face and listen closely to your voice. We won’t turn to the left or right but keep our eyes steadfastly on you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

James 1:5 NLV  If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.

I was asked to set up electronic billing for a physicians office years ago. The first thing that went through my mind was, I can do this with Gods help. The next thought that shot that one down was, you have never done anything like this before, you don’t have the experience, knowledge or wisdom for it. Don’t be a fool! You will fail! I decided not to listen to the 2nd voice and go with the first one. A few days later, I walked into a room with the main computer, a phone, a small desk and an extremely large book. As the door closed behind me, panic set in. I opened the book and was instantly overwhelmed. Oh God, I cried out. What have I gotten myself into?

Suddenly I heard a small voice say, “Pick up the phone and call their tech support.” In less then 10 minutes, he walked me through a few steps and I sent a test file. What I learned was this; the system had already been set up, he just couldn’t get anyone to activate it. In two weeks, the office received a check for $43,000 for a years worth of claims that had never been filed. One of the doctors ran up to me, showed me the check, hugged me and asked, “Do you walk on water?” To which I replied, “No, but I know the one who does and He is the one who has done this thing.”

I don’t know about you, but I need to ask this every minute of every day. If I had tried to figure that out myself, it would have taken weeks to do it.  Mans wisdom is foolish to God. God’s wisdom seems foolish to man. The outcome of God’s wisdom is amazing. I choose God.

Whatever you’re dealing with today, I know the one who holds the answer. Just don’t expect it to come in the way you think because it won’t. God loves for us to trust him, remember, it’s all about relationship and discovery. Today, discover that God loves you and wants to help you solve every problem you encounter, large and small. There is nothing too difficult for Him. He’s the same God who rolled back the Red Sea, placed a beautiful rainbow of promise in the sky, and constantly finds new ways to lavish love on us. We are simply to ask for wisdom and trust for the answer. You won’t find it in many books, but you will find it in one.

Genesis 3:8-10 NLV; Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening. The man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man. He said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And the man said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden. I was afraid because I was without clothes. So I hid myself.”

Picture this, if you will, every day, God the Father would come to the Garden to walk and talk with Adam. It was a long standing appointment just to enjoy each others company. They could have been talking about anything at all, but the thought of strolling through the garden with Father thrills me. They were friends. I think of my own daughters and the fun we have together, sharing God, talking about His faithfulness, sharing stories of the grand kids, laughing about this and that, walking the beach together, talking about everything and nothing at all. 

Then on a day just like any other day, God comes down to find Adam and calls his name but can’t find him. “Adam, where are you?” Like the game we used to play when we were children, hide and seek, but this was no game, was it. Adam peeks from behind the tree he is hiding and said the saddest words ever heard, “I heard you coming and I was afraid.” Can you even imagine the loss? I’m sure we’ve all experienced similar woundings in our lifetime. Phoning a friend who refuses your call and you have no idea what has happened to ruin such a beautiful friendship. Why is it that satan goes after the voices in our lives that cause us to grow and mature? What is he so afraid of.

So God has tried all these years to speak to us, to spend time communing with us and enjoying fellowship with us but we’re afraid. He just wants to be our friend, but we’re too busy. He longs to lead us into all truth, to guide us along the steep cliffs and rocky paths, to make our way prosperous and give us good success, but we won’t take the time to meet with him just once a day. He’s left us a book to read about himself, yet we’re too occupied with our jobs and ministries, our children and their social events to include him. We simply don’t have time. In hopes of creating a need for Him, he allows trials and events to pressure us into calling out to Him, but instead we shake our fists and call Him a liar.

Oh Father, for all the distractions, the busyness, the navigating of life without you, I’m so sorry! I don’t want a day to go by without walking and talking with you. What a giant waste of time my life has been. Only the time in your presence has been of any value. You said that your sheep hear your voice and another they will not follow? Well here is one sheep who will follow you and hear your voice. Please forgive my waywardness, my stubbornness, my lack of focus. My heart cries out to you, come and be with me. I will not leave this place until I hear your voice. I love you my Father. “I love you my daughter. Come to me. Let me take your heavy burdens and give you my rest.”

When I was much younger, I daydreamed a lot. There were times when my world of make believe was a place where I retreated from reality long enough to feel good. The only bad thing about doing this is, sometimes you get confused as to what is real and what is not, so the more time you spend in your dreams, the more reality escapes you. At some point, I made the choice to live in the ‘real’ world with ‘real’ people and learn to navigate my wild imagination, but even now, I find that if I don’t harness my thoughts, I feel the tug in my mind to make the leap back, just for a little while.

God created us with imaginations, good ones that is. He gave us the  ability to dream, to create, set goals, to speak what we see in our dreams. It’s a gift, really. Einstein had a wild imagination. Ben Franklin imagined he could harness electricity! Reinhard Bonnke imagined great revivals in Africa, claiming the whole continent for Jesus. Billy Graham thought it possible to take the gospel to the world. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without vision, people perish.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. That took imagination, vision and the ability to call those things that hadn’t yet manifested, to be. We are created in His image and likeness, to dream, to create, to speak. What we listen to, read or watch, helps to form our imaginations and visions. We can create good things or bad things simply by changing what we feed our mind. I Corinthians 13:11 says; “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways.” 

II Corinthians 10:5 says; “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” One translation says casting down imaginations. It’s a struggle to think right things. It’s a battle of sorts that all of us face, but God has equipped us with a way to guard our heart and mind. He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

Father, help us to keep our minds on you today. To think of your goodness, your greatness, your ways that are higher than our ways. You long to take our thoughts and make them Your own so that you can do great and mighty miracles in the earth through us. Your reality is the only reality I need. I can escape to your throne room, spend time in your presence, laugh with you and dance before you. You’re more real than anything I’ve ever imagined. Nothing is impossible for You.

John 2:1-10 ERV; Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there.  Jesus and his followers were also invited.  At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” Jesus answered, “Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work.”  His mother said to the servants, “Do what he tells you.”  There were six large stone waterpots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies. Each one held about 20 or 30 gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them to the top.  Then he said to them, “Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast.” So they did what he said. Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. He called the bridegroom  and said to him, “People always serve the best wine first. Later, when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now.”

As I read this beautiful first public miracle that Jesus did, the very last statement struck my heart; “But you have saved the best wine until now.” Joel 2:28-29 came to my mind; “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.  In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.” If you continue reading in Joel, you’ll see that God is talking about the last days. Why is it that God saves the best for last? And why servants, men and women alike?

Don’t you think it odd that God choses the foolish things of this earth to confound the wise? Don’t you think it odd that God doesn’t use wise men, men of renown? Capable, trained warriors to win battles? The wealthy to win the nations? Why does God do things like that? So He will receive the glory. God will always use humble, servant-hearted men and women to usher in His last great move on the earth. Jesus made himself a servant though He was the son of God. He harnessed his power until the appointed time. He didn’t come to make a name for himself, but to make known the love of His Father. 

Father, as we drink of your wine and eat of your bread, may we not do it to make a name for ourselves but to show everyone the way to your love. You alone are worthy of the glory. May we not drunk, but filled with your Spirit so that you may lead us into all truth. We will not hoard this gift, but as we’ve freely received, so will we freely give. In these last days, may we be recipients of what you are doing in the earth, for your honor and glory. Amen

Have you ever faced a situation that reeked of ‘impossible’? You know, the smell of hopelessness and helplessness, where life has dealt you one blow after another and you’re down for the count. You come to a fork in the road, one way leads to your miracle, but you’re just not sure which way the right way is. Am I talking to anyone this morning? 

Psalm 27:1-3 says; Lord, you are my Light and my Savior, so why should I be afraid of anyone? The Lord is where my life is safe, so I will be afraid of no one! Evil people might attack me. They might try to destroy my body. Yes, my enemies might attack me and try to destroy me, but they will stumble and fall.  Even if an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid. Even if people attack me in war, I will trust in the Lord.

David cried out in a declaration of faith, “You are my Light and my Savior, so why should I be afraid of anyone?”  Whenever we face the biggest most impossible situation, we just need to stop and make this our prayer. Yes you’re under attack right now, but declare the outcome at the beginning. It reminds me of Ezekiel when God took him to the valley of dry bones, made him walk among them so he could see how impossible it looked, only to ask him if the bones could live. Then God told him to speak life into the bones.

Whatever you’re facing must bow to the Spirit of God in you. Speak to it! I know it feels foolish, but God uses foolish things to astound the wise. Unexplainable, that’s how He gets the glory. Ask the Lord what He would have you say and then say it. He may ask you to laugh; do it. He may ask you to shout out praises to His Name; just do it. What? Remember Jericho? You think what you face is bigger than those walls were? Formidable is still formidable regardless of what you face.

God, you are so much bigger than anything and you’re on MY side. No wonder Elijah didn’t fear when the army came to kill him. He could see in his spirit that those you had sent to rescue him were far greater than what he faced. I see the walls crumbling that my friends are facing today. I see giants scattering in every direction. Just as David said in verse 14, “Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help.” Waiting is the most difficult part of the process, but continue to remind the enemy who wins! The battle belongs to the Lord, now rest in that promise and rejoice until your miracle is manifested.

Ephesians 6:14a; Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

I was looking at a soldier dressed in armor and I noticed something; the belt was actually an apron with weights on the bottom to hold it in place. As I observed this, I heard the Lord speak to my spirit, “Do you know what the apron was meant to protect? It was meant to protect the seed of the men who wore it. Without seed, there is no reproduction. The enemy is always after the seed because it cuts off any chance of victory in the future.”

Needless to say, my mind exploded with such a revelation of the importance of the seed of our words. Every spring begins with planting seed and every summer and fall ends with harvest. Those are the busiest times for farmers, preparing the land for the seed, planting the seed, then when it’s come to fullness, harvesting the seed. What many of us don’t know is that during the growing time, the farmer has to watch that tares don’t choke the crop, make sure it has sufficient water for optimal harvest. You can’t just plant and walk away, you must be ever watchful because even deer can steal the harvest by eating your profits. A whole herd can do more damage than you know, that’s why hunting season is vitally important to keep the population down.

In the same manner, we must watch over the Word thats been planted in our hearts. When God gives us a promise, we must put on the belt or apron of truth, because if you think for a moment that the devil is going to sit back and allow your Word to grow without challenging it, you’re sorely mistaken. Don’t think you’re so special that your seed is not at risk. Even Jesus was put to a test after his fast. “If you are the Son of God….”, and Jesus always answered him with the Word. Why? Because that’s how we produce fruit.

Isaiah 55:11 shows us how it works; “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Do you see that? Every word is a seed, it’s meant to reproduce after itself.  Bad words, bad fruit; Good words, good fruit. But it doesn’t just happen-BAM! Fruit! No, there is a season of growth and maturity, and during that season we must water the Word, fertilize the Word, protect the Word and make sure that no one eats our profit.

I truly believe that this season is the longest, most difficult part of farming; waiting. But just as a farmer knows that harvest is indeed coming, we also must remember that our harvest on our seed is coming. Some of us need to pray for crop failure because what we’ve planted hasn’t been very good. But remember Jesus said that some will reap 30 fold, some 60 fold and some 100 fold? I believe that is up to us. Have you been watching and waiting or just waiting? Have you been watching your words, protecting your seed or has discouragement brought defeat, and weariness, a spirit of laziness.

Ephesians 1:16-18 ERV; That is why I always remember you in my prayers and thank God for you. I have done this ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.  I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better. I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious.