“And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30
What a sad scripture. This always breaks my heart to know that there are so few in the world who will take time out of their busyness and do what God asks of them.
Who among us will stand in the gap, pray for this land that God would not destroy it, build up a standard of values and morals to pass on to future generations? Everyday He asks, everyday we turn away. For those who don’t, thank you!
I constantly hear people say that our nation is in such a horrible state of affairs, yet they refuse to intercede and pray for God to not just heal our land, but that He won’t destroy it. Don’t complain about things you’re not willing to pray about.
It doesn’t take an army, it only takes you being willing to stand in the gap. You may not be able to change everything or everyone, but you can change you.
The Lord answered me, “Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read. Habakuk 2:2 ERV
Why do you think that writing something down is so important? It’s an argument not easily won in our household. I’m married to a list person. For as far back as I can remember, Walt has always walked around with a small spiral notebook and pen, tucked neatly in his shirt pocket. The fact is, if I bought him a new shirt and it didn’t have a front pocket in it, I had to return it for one that did.
That list thing, doesn’t work for everyone. I can make a list and forget where I put it. I can make a grocery list, take it to the store and forget to look at it. It takes more than making a list, it takes forming good habits as well. Walt created habits based on his need to remember multiple tasks because of his job.
Evidently God knew Habakuk well because He instructed him to write it clearly on a sign so the message would be easy to read. When God speaks to me, I think I’ll never forget it, but time and circumstances dictate otherwise.
I know based on God’s Word that He is my healer. But let sickness come and BAM! That Word is the last thing you think on. Why? Because a bad diagnosis screams loudly, much louder than the truth you know inside.
That is one of the reasons I believe it’s necessary to write it down so that I have it before my face when I need it. I don’t need to talk about it, I just need to know He is with me, taking me through it one step at a time.
It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” Romans 1:16-17 Message
All of the people Jesus encountered were just going about their business, living life as they had always done. Some under oppression, some in fear, some bound by sickness and poverty, but all of that changed for those who paid attention to His message and followed Him. It was unusual, at best. They were hearing words of life, hope and love. An unconditional love that threatened their very existence. What would happen to their ‘normal’ lives if they followed Him?
What about you? What would happen to your life if Jesus came to you and said, “Follow me!” Would you respond with, ‘Wait until I retire ’or ‘I need to take care of my parents first’ or ‘I have no talent or gift’. Or would you just follow and trust Him to equip you with what you needed, to do what He’s asked you to do? He has heard every excuse in the book, yet He keeps asking, “Will you forsake everything, pick up your cross and follow me?”
Let me be clear on something; this call to follow will involve sacrifice, rejection, humiliation and heartache, but its reward is, unconditional love, forgiveness, power to overcome, provision and eternal life. His peace and joy will be your guard. You will gain fellowship with God on a deeper level then you could ever imagine. Your faith will grow exponentially as you learn to trust in the unseen rather than what you see in the natural.
Here’s the jarring truth; He’s already called you and equipped you. He’s only waiting on you to lay down your ‘normal’ life for His Kingdom. How long will you keep Him waiting, till you get strong enough to lift your cross? You can’t wait until all your ducks are in a row or your 401K get’s big enough to support you. It won’t get easier if you wait, it will only be harder to let go. Your excuses will turn into complacency, which will turn into procrastination, which equates to disobedience.
Father, may we burn with passion for Your purpose, a passion for souls. The things that make us uncomfortable are the very things You’ve called us to. You didn’t go to the rich and well fed, You went to the poor, the lost and the hurting. You weren’t concerned with who would fund the Great Commission. You even told the disciples not to take anything with them, that You would provide everything they needed. What’s wrong with us? Do we think You’ve changed? Become poor or needy? Are we so accustomed to providing for ourselves that we no longer know how to be dependent on You? Forgive us for our selfish ambition and lack of compassion. We will follow You and know that You’re in us. We will trust You so that we can really live. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 NASB
Another version says, “Be still” but the message is clear; STOP TRYING TO DO IT YOURSELF!
God must be in a perpetual head shaking mode as He watches us from above. It’s as if I hear Him say, “There she goes again! I give her a nail and she’s hunting for something to hammer it in with. If she’d just wait, I’d bring someone to her that has a hammer.”
It’s almost laughable when you read it like that. Perhaps we don’t want to look foolish holding our nail, answering questions about our nail so we try to hide it, make it less conspicuous to those around us. By the time the hammer arrives and the purpose is revealed, we’ve already made some sort of jewelry out of it.
Be still! He has a plan for that thing in your life that makes no sense to you right now. He has a plan for it! Be still! Just be faithful reading His word, cuddling up in His presence and being still with Him. Watch and see what He does while you’re there being still. You’ll be changed!
Oh YES LORD! Change me and I will be forever changed. I am yours, I will listen, I will obey. Great and mighty deliverer, you have ordered each of my steps and connected me to your own body that I may be a part of you and your plan. So as I wait, reveal yourself to me.
Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there. Proverbs 16:9 TPT
Have you ever met someone who had their entire life planned out? I should rephrase that; Have you ever met someone who thought they had their entire life planned out? You can definitely make plans and everybody needs to have one, but how you get there may boggle your mind.
I remember attending a seminar one time where they had us grab a empty piece of paper and write down our goals. I sat there for some time thinking. You see, I’m a thinker, but sometimes thinking is not enough. Give me a problem and I’m pretty sure I can come pretty close to finding a solution if given the right amount of time and answers. But a goal?
I remember my high school guidance counselor asking what I wanted to be when I grew up? What? I have to grow up? My answer was that I wanted to be a wife and a mother, two of the greatest callings in life. I didn’t realize how much work that would entail though. Back then, I just wanted something easy, something to glide though life without taking college courses.
It’s really too bad there weren’t courses on how to be a wife and mother. It wasn’t until 7 years into my marriage and a close call with divorce, that I discovered there were actually books I could read on how to be not only a good wife, but the best wife. I made it my goal to not just be one, but to mentor how to keep it real, fight fair and build a long lasting marriage.
I’ve found that most people who have been married over 20 years, survived by going through some hard times and jumping through some pretty big obstacles to get there. I’m not foolish enough to think everyone can make if they try. It takes two to tango, not just one.
I’ll say this though, we had God in our marriage and it was still hard. But we planned to make it and left room for Him to lead our steps to the finish line. It wasn’t my goal to go through so much struggle, but neither one of us would quit and next month we celebrate 46 years. Not wedded bliss by a long shot, but with a deep faith in the God who we trusted with our steps.
One day, Jesus came to be baptized along with all the others. As he was consumed with the spirit of prayer, the heavenly realm ripped open above him and the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove and landed on him. Then God’s audible voice was heard, saying, “My Son, you are my beloved one. Through you I am fulfilled.” Luke 3:21&22 TPT
Baptism is being immersed and what better way then to be soaked in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Two things happen; you are made clean and everything is washed away. Emptied of all, you become a recipient of everything He has for you. He fills you with His strength, peace, love, mercy, and grace.
When you allow yourself to be completely empty, it’s not you who ministers, but Christ ministers through you. That’s why when you stand before man relying on God, Holy Spirit fills your mouth to say the right thing at the right time, a just right word in a just right season.
So let’s get our morning right. Let’s not come asking, rather empty of need and offer our seed.
All my worship is Yours this morning, Father. My heart overflows with love for You. Gracious, faithful, all knowing, all powerful, holy and mighty God. Saturate me. Wash over me. Fill me up with more of You. I’m not satisfied with visiting You at church once or twice a week. I must have more of You! Without You, I am incapable, but with You, I can do all things.
I plug into You, my Power source this morning. I will be sensitive to Your voice leading and directing. Yes, thats right, You direct my life, not me. I am a member of Your body but You are the head.
And God-Enthroned spoke to me and said, “Consider this! I am making everything to be new and fresh. Write down at once all that I have told you, because each word is trustworthy and dependable.” Revelation 21:5 TPT
Wouldn’t you love to have a fresh start? Just wipe away the past and begin all over again? Well, that actually did happen to me when I chose to believe in Jesus. He wiped my slate clean and made me new. It was at that point that my life truly began. That’s why Jesus said you must be ‘born-again’, it was not a physical rebirth, but a spiritual one.
A new beginning simply means I’m ready to let go of what was and focus on what is to come. I can’t take my old mindset with me into new Beginningsville. When my new birth began, I had to recognize who my Father was and how I wanted to be like Him. I had to shake off who I was and adapt to my new status, adopted daughter of the King.
Every morning when I rise, I thank God for a new beginning. It’s a new day, what happened yesterday won’t repeat itself unless I allow it. I expect God to show up again, I expect provision, I expect health, I expect blessings, I expect protection. I expect that I shall have what I believe in my heart and speak with my mouth.
I expect the devil to be stay defeated, because what Jesus did once, doesn’t have to be repeated over and over and over. I expect you to read this and say, OMG, will she stop going on and on already! LOL It’s ok! I expect not everyone gets me but I expect God will.
Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. I Chronicles 14:13-16
Here’s the lesson: 1. When faced with great opposition the first thing I should do is ask God what my next move should be. 2. I should listen and follow instruction carefully. 3. Give God the credit because the victory I experience belongs to Him.
Until I learn these very important steps, I will not walk in the victory God wants for me. I must rely on Him, always. When I begin thinking I can do it alone, I will end up lonely. When I am dependent on Him, I remain hidden in him, surrounded by His glory and victory is assured.
Whatever I face, I will face it with You, Lord. I am never alone, You are always with me according to Your Word. You said that if I seek You I will find you so I’m seeking You with all my heart, soul and mind.
Your Words were, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you.” It’s You who desire to give good gifts to me and I desire to ask for and receive them. Every good and perfect gift comes from You, Lord, so I give You thanks for direction, for wisdom and guidance.
Today is going to be the best day ever because You will be glorified in all I do, all I say, all I type. Victory belongs to the King and I stand with Him.
Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity and their children will inherit the Promised Land. Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant. Ps 25:12-14
The definition of fear is; awe, respect, reverence or veneration. When we speak of Gods goodness & have deep respect for Him, its fearing the Lord. Suffice it to say that those who fear the Lord talk constantly of His goodness, mercy and grace. They have first hand knowledge of His Word and His Name and when they speak of Him, it’s deeply personal.
Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as my Lord!To truly know him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap. It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace him as Lord in all of his greatness. Philippians 3:7-8 TPT
Paul was a Jew who kept every precept of the law. He was a leader and a scholar who ended up persecuting the church of Jesus Christ because he thought he was doing the right thing. But one day he had a life altering experience, he was blinded so that he could see.
I see so many people today who are wandering around, doing what their pastor says they should, but having no experience with the God who came to show us truth and set us free. Why would you want to have relationship with God through a person, when He invites us to sit at His feet and talk with Him one on one?
Paul thought that what he learned from man was enough until he experienced the eye-opening revelation of Jesus Christ. There are a whole lot of leaders that could use that today. They sit in their place of power, telling people what they should do, when they wouldn’t know the truth if it come and bite them on the foot.
Let’s begin to pray for all our leaders, that they may be struck blind so they can see. That they would have no where to go but to turn their eyes on Jesus. To have a heart change that will change our nation and our world.
remnantposts by sandy gregory 