Then Elijah said to King Ahab, “Now go eat and drink. A heavy rain is coming.” ⁴² So King Ahab went to eat. At the same time Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. At the top of the mountain, Elijah bent down. He put his head between his knees. ⁴³ Then Elijah said to his servant, “Go up higher and look toward the sea.”

The servant went and looked. He came back and said, “I saw nothing.” Elijah told him to go look again. This happened seven times. ⁴⁴ The seventh time, the servant came back and said, “I saw a small cloud the size of a man’s fist that was coming in from the sea.”

Elijah told the servant, “Go tell King Ahab to get his chariot ready and go home now. If he does not leave now, the rain will stop him.” I Kings 18:41-44

“That’s impossible!” How many times have you heard those words in your lifetime? I got to the place where I stopped sharing my dreams and goals with people because of those words. I’ve heard it all; “You’re not educated enough.” “You don’t have the right connections.” “You don’t have the money.””You’re not smart enough.” I call these people, dream thieves. They base their belief on this worlds system and not Gods.

I love the verse in Luke 1:37, “For with God, NOTHING will be impossible.” Perhaps that’s why I never give up, because my dream didn’t come from me, it came from God and with Him there is simply nothing that comes remotely close to impossible.

Joseph had a dream, but he only saw part of it. God saved a whole nation by using his ‘impossible’ dream to put him as 2nd in command of the most powerful nation on earth. David was a nobody, stuck tending sheep, hidden from everyone, but God said he would be king and he was. Gideon was the least of his family, hidden in where they stomp the grapes, trying to harvest enough wheat to not starve to death, but God found him there and talked him into trusting in Him for a huge win.

You may be stuck in an obscure job where no one sees you, be faithful in what you’re doing because you serve a God who is faithful to dreamers. Your dream will always be larger than your ability. God wants you to trust in Him, not yourself. Be open to His plans. Be flexible and moveable. Regardless of how it looks, keep saying these words, “For with God, Nothing will be impossible.”

Father, I’m so glad I’ve learned to trust you. I may not see the end, but you knew the end from the beginning. You’re all knowing, all seeing and all powerful. You will do what you’ve said you would do. You’re constantly watching over your word and it hasn’t moved! I will continue doing, continue trusting so that when you need me, you’ll find me right where you told me to stay. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

That uncomfortable pressure you feel when it’s time to leave a place and move on. You no longer feel you belong. Like when you left home to get married and you go back for a visit. It’s good to be there, but you no longer have the sense of ‘belonging’ anymore. They’ve re-purposed your old room, moved on with their lifestyle, no longer do they live their lives revolved around you.

John 14:1-4, Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

This world is not our home, we’re simply here on assignment. Consider it a very temporary one. You can still enjoy the visit, forge relationships, share meals, even marry and have children, but your final destination is a house Jesus is preparing for us. There will always be a room there that is your own. Never re-purposed.

Today as you go about your Fathers business, keep your eyes and ears open for your next assignment, but don’t allow the things of this world be what keeps you here. We are not of this world. Let’s do life for God so that when it’s time, we’ll be welcomed back where are real home is and enjoy the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

‘Promises, promises, that’s all I ever get!’ Don’t remember who said that, but it seemed as I was doing my study this morning, it popped into my head as if someone was actually speaking it to me. Someone has been promised something but has yet to see the results come to pass and you’re weary of waiting! Hold on to your britches, things are about to get interesting!

As I was reading this morning, I ran across Jeremiah 1:11-12; The word of the Lord came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

As I read it, I felt the Lord say, “Don’t ever forget who the watcher is.” Once He says it, it’s a done deal and he actually watches over it to perform it.  The word perform, according to Dictionary.com, means to carry into effect or fulfill. That means simply, it’s a process, but once it’s spoken, He will see it through to the end. Sometimes healing is a process, but God will carry through until it’s done. He has to, it’s His word and he honors his word above his name.

Years ago I heard the Lord say to me, “Keep your eyes on me!” I smiled at that statement and told him, if I always have my eyes on you, I will run into things. He came back with, “I will direct your steps.” As I pondered him watching over his word this morning, I realized that if I keep my eyes on him, seek his face, do what he tells me to do, at the right time, the perfect time, I will see the salvation of the Lord. There’s no need for ME to watch over his word; HE is.

I will trust in you Father, and continue to do what you lead me to do, everyday. I’m not going to concern myself with when or how, I simply know you’re perfectly able to take care of it all by yourself. I will rest in the knowledge that you are God and are the rewarder of those who diligently seek you. It’s my knowledge of you that keeps me at peace as I trust you completely. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen

Matthew 6:31-34 ERV; “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.

It’s hard to think about two separate things at the same time. I remember sitting in a meeting once and the pastor said to count from 1-10 in your head. Right in the middle he said, think about a pink elephant. Now, what happened to your counting? It stopped. No matter how hard you try, you cannot think of two things at once. If you’re mind is on God, thinking of His great grace and mercy, thanking him for what he has provided for you and the devil throws a thought in there, it’s your choice what you’re going to focus on.

The next time the cares of this life threaten to steal your peace and joy, interrupt those thoughts by speaking out loud the Word of God. When symptoms come on your body, speak the Word to them and begin to take communion, remembering the blood that was shed for your healing and salvation. God always responds to your faith in Him and His Word.

Father, I thank you that you’ve provided everything I need. The only thing I need to do is seek your face. If I do what you created me to do, you will take care of me because that’s your job. I won’t worry about what’s next, I’ll simply speak to that mountain and it will be removed. You gave me your peace and joy and I will purpose to stay and make my home there. As long as I have breath, I will worship you. It’s in Jesus name, Amen.

Have you ever prayed so long for something that you felt like heaven had been locked and your voice was merely bouncing off the door? That you had done something so horribly wrong that God couldn’t forgive you and that this was your punishment?

There was a woman found in I Samuel 1, who was barren and her name was Hannah. To make matters worse, her husband had another wife (I can’t imagine!) who was blessed with children and would constantly make jabs at her (Again, can’t imagine!). Not only was her womb closed but so was heaven, until this one day…….

Verses 9-18; One evening after supper, when they were at Shiloh, Hannah went over to the Tabernacle. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance. ¹⁰ She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

¹¹ And she made this vow: “O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he’ll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut.”

^12-13 Eli noticed her mouth moving as she was praying silently and, hearing no sound, thought she had been drinking.

¹⁴ “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your bottle.”

^15-16 “Oh no, sir!” she replied, “I’m not drunk! But I am very sad and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Please don’t think that I am just some drunken bum!”

¹⁷ “In that case,” Eli said, “cheer up! May the Lord of Israel grant you your petition, whatever it is!”

¹⁸ “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed, and went happily back, and began to take her meals again.

So after the man of God had wrongfully accused her of being drunk, he didn’t ask what she was praying about, he just said, ‘May the Lord grant you your petition, whatever it is.’ Please take note that Hannah didn’t get her panties in a wad and leave the church because of what Eli said to her. No, she explained herself, because offended people don’t get answers! (another devotion someday)

Okay now, I’m fixin to show you why Hannah got what she requested of the Lord because it’s found in verse 18, “Thank you, sir!” she exclaimed, and went happily back, and began to take her meals again. She went in fasting, poured her heart out, got agreement, than with joy in her heart she went and ate. In her mind, it was already done! She hadn’t yet slept with her husband. She hadn’t missed her first period. She believed the Word of the Lord and ACTED like it was already done.

Somebody had received a bad report from the doctor. Someone has been turned down for every job they’ve applied for. Someone has been told they will never get married. Whatever you’ve been told, if it’s not God’s Word, it’s just not true. Hear the Word of the Lord today! His report says, you are healed! His report says, He’s your supply! His report says, whoever finds a wife, finds a good thing. God is for marriage and if you believe God and act like it’s already done, you will have it. Stop focusing on how long and start believing the Word of the Lord.

Father, you said that when we’ve done all we can do, stand. So today we purpose to stand on your promises, to be filled with joy for we shall reap if we don’t grow weary and faint. Every good and perfect gift is from you so we rejoice in what you’ve provided. Now let’s eat! AMEN!

Did you know that regardless of how you act or how many times you fail, God still loves you? He does! You see, each time he looks at you, he sees you through the blood of Jesus. That’s right. It’s not what you do that makes you forgiven, it’s what HE did. You may act crazy at times but Jesus never did. And who stands between you and the Father? Jesus.

It seems almost unbelievable, right? We find it impossible to believe because we’re not God and MOST of us don’t have his nature to love unconditionally and forgive completely, but that’s what makes Him God and us, us. It’s kind of like being the recipient of a vast treasure that you had nothing to do with making. You simply have to receive it. He is God, and God never breaks a promise.

Romans 3:3-4 TLB; True, some of them were unfaithful, but just because they broke their promises to God, does that mean God will break his promises?  Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. Do you remember what the book of Psalms says about this? That God’s words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them.

Healing, like forgiveness is not based on what you’ve done but what He’s done. Access to God’s promises are not based on what you’ve done, but what He’s done. Provision is not based on what you’ve done but what He’s done. Do you get the picture? You may as well accept the fact that everything promised is a done deal and just receive it because God’s words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them.

Father, I receive! Every promise-mine! I take them all right now in Jesus’ name. By His blood I’m a joint heir with Christ. I thank you for Your faithfulness to keep the promises given. I don’t have to work for it, you freely give them all to me. Today I rest in You and Your ability to show the world that You are God and there is no one like You in all the earth. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Luke 9: 26-27 TLB; “When I, the Messiah, come in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels, I will be ashamed then of all who are ashamed of me and of my words now. But this is the simple truth—some of you who are standing here right now will not die until you have seen the Kingdom of God.”

I used to read this scripture and think, all of them died before they saw the Kingdom of God, because the Kingdom of God is heaven, right? Wrong. Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven. In Luke 17:20-21, He told the Pharisees, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country.’ For the Kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus also taught that to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven, you must be least. It’s the poor in spirit who see God. It’s being like a child. It’s humility. It’s seeking God with all your heart. It’s right motives. It’s like being a treasure hunter so you can give it all away. It’s planting a tree so that others can enjoy the shade and fruit from it. It’s peace and joy. It’s everything that this world is not.

And last but certainly not least, the story found in Matthew 25:14-29, of a man traveling to a distant land, calling his servants to him and distributing talents. Expecting them to actually do something with them, he found that one had buried his because he was afraid. This one servant did not know his Father. He had heard things ‘about’ God but didn’t truly ‘know’ God. So he not only lost what was given to him, but he was cast from the very presence of God.

My dear remnant friend, it’s not about leadership, it’s about servant-ship. It’s not about obtaining wealth, it’s about distributing wealth. It’s about becoming a servant like Jesus. He washed feet, he healed ALL, he cooked fish, he fed thousands, he gave his life, he took back what the enemy had stolen, he gave us the keys. Be remnant, set apart, followers of Jesus by knowing who lives in you and letting him do with you as he sees fit.

I Peter 2:21-23 Erv; This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did: “He never sinned, and he never told a lie. People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly.

It’s so easy to return in kind, give what’s due, sow what’s been sown. What’s hard is, doing right regardless of the wrong. As humans, we struggle with this principle, but we must remember that this is a worldly principle; doing what’s been done to you. Gods ways tell us to take the high road. To love regardless because love covers a multitude of sin.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about something someone did to her that was so childish. My flesh said, retaliate! and I gave her some very colorful ways of doing so. We laughed, which is something that was needed, however all weekend it’s played out in my head, “That’s not what love does.”

Sometimes love is not how our flesh wants to do it. Ok, that’s NEVER how our flesh wants to do it! But we don’t live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. We can’t react like we want to. We must react like HE wants us to. When our flesh wants something that badly, we must not give into it’s desires, regardless of how good it would feel to do it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We simply cannot do it in our flesh, it’s impossible. We can try and try and try all day, and never achieve this act of true love. But when we admit, “I cannot, but You already did!”, we are no longer depending on our ability to do right. We are fully depending on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Then it no longer becomes us that does the right thing, but Jesus who already did the right thing for us.

Doesn’t that relieve the pressure? That’s what His sacrifice was meant to do. Take the pressure off us and apply it to Jesus on the cross, once and for all. Forever a complete work. So than what Paul said makes sense, “It’s no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.” Let’s allow Christ full and free reign in us this week.

Growing up, my dad would come into our rooms, flip the light switch on and say, “Rise & shine! It’s daylight in the swamp!” This was always followed by our groans and complaints. Such a rude awakening! He’s been gone since 1967 and as annoying as that was, I would give anything to hear those words once again.

This morning, I seem to hear the same thing in my spirit, ‘Rise and shine!’ It’s a wake-up call to come and visit with the Maker, the Father of lights, the Lord of lords. Yes, that’s you! Wake up. There’s a time for sleep and slumber, but there’s a time to shake it off and come spend time with your creator.

Psalm 108:1-2 Msg says, “ I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a God-song: “Wake, soul! Wake, lute! Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

You see David didn’t wait till he felt ready, he made himself ready. He told his spirit it was ready to sing and raise up a song to the Lord. Think about it; how much better is it when your children excitedly enter your room asking, “Is it time to go yet?” Excited to spend the day with you.

When was the last time you were excited about spending time with God? The last time you turned off your phone, sat down with your bible and allowed the Psalms to speak your heart and minister to the Lord. It’s been all about you for way too long, don’t you think it’s time to focus on Him? To offer yourself and your service to the King? Let’s make this day different than the rest.

Father, if not us, than who will worship you? I will not let the rocks cry out in my place. I will worship, I will give you the praise with all my heart. I will bow down and adore you. It’s me, Lord! Can’t wait to do this day together with You. My help and strength come from You and I rely and trust steadfastly in Your grace and wisdom this day. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.