Job 22:28, You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. Isaiah 45:19, I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

This morning I heard the Lord say, “It’s time to take your stand and begin to declare the things I’ve spoken; the things I’ve shown you must be spoken aloud. For only as you make declarations will it be established in the heavens and on the earth, it will come to pass.”

I’ve heard so many people say, “I don’t believe there are any prophets in the earth today.” My friend, each time you declare, “Jesus is coming soon!” you are prophesying the coming of the Lord. When you declare, “Kingdom come! Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” you are coming into agreement with what God has spoken. If you read the Word, commune with God and get His direction, you are qualified to be a mouthpiece for God. Jesus said that we are to be His witnesses. That requires opening our mouth and speaking what the Spirit of God is saying.

There are times when I’m in prayer and the Spirit will tell me to say something. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but hey, who am I but a servant of the Lord. I don’t have to see it to believe it. I just need to speak what he tells me to and let Him carry it out. You may think me crazy, but I don’t care much about what you think, I’m here to please the Lord. Opinions are like arm pits, they stink! Keep yours to yourself and you just focus on doing what God wants you to do.

Does God have to answer to man? I think not! We so often want to see the whole plan before we make a move to believe or speak, but that’s not how any of this works. It’s by faith, Abraham left all that was familiar and launched out on a journey that began a nation. It’s by faith, Moses went before Pharaoh and told him to let God’s people go. It was by faith, David took up 5 smooth stones and killed the giant. It was by faith, Mary received the seed of God and gave birth to the Messiah.

God is looking for someone who will declare what He says in the earth. Will it be you? He said, “You will declare a thing it it will be established for you.” YOU!

Father, I thank you that by the blood of Jesus, I am saved, healed, delivered and provided for. I thank you that your promises to me are yes and amen. Every place the soles of my feet will walk has been given to me. Souls are being added daily to your Kingdom. I walk in the authority Jesus gave to me when he took the keys of death, hell and the grave from satan and placed him under my feet. No weapon formed against me will prosper and every tongue that rises against me in judgement, you will condemn it. I am your servant, which means my life is not my own, I am bought with a price, therefore I will glorify you in my body.

As I go about my day today, may my words be Your Words. May I use my mouth to declare and agree with Your Word, not the opinion of man. Wake our hearts today to be mindful of what we speak. May we be salt and light in the world as you created us to be. It’s in Jesus’ Name and for Your glory, Amen.

Joshua 1:1-9, After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:  “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The word courage is defined; the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.  Middle English states, “What is in ones mind or thoughts.” The word ‘strong’ isn’t just about physical strength, but strength of mind.  My thoughts on this is that God was telling Joshua to fortify his mind and trust completely in His ability to deliver on His promises.

Think about it for just a moment if you will. Let’s say your car breaks down and you have no money to get it fixed. Fear sets in, right? You begin to think, “What am I going to do? How will I get to work? Where will the money come from? My credit is shot!” Why does that happen? Because your trust was in something that is gone-money. But say your mind was fortified, strong and trusted completely in God. How would this same scenario play out then? “Father, I thank you that your Word says that You supply all my needs according to your riches, not mine. Thank you that you give me wisdom and favor in everything I face. There is nothing too hard for you.

“I thank you for my car, but I’m not dependent on that as my source. You alone are my Provider and my heart trusts in You. Nothing is too hard for you! You are a God of Your Word and I thank you that my steps are ordered by You. You take great delight in the plans You have for me. Great will be my peace and undisturbed composure. Even when the world falls apart around me, my hope is in You. Thank you for your provision in every area of my life. You are my Father, thank You for loving me.”

Do you see that? Our fear comes from our inability to control of fix things. But our God is well able to keep what we commit to Him. When we place all of our trust in Him instead of searching for this way and that way, this man or that man, this doctor or that doctor, this bank or that bank, we are transferring the control to someone much bigger then we are.

Father, make me strong in Your Word and courageous to trust in You. I will always fail if I try to do it all myself, but You never fail. Thanks for speaking to my heart this morning. I love to listen to Your voice, it’s music to my ears. It calms and soothes my spirit, teaches me truth and shows me the right paths to take. Without You I would be lost with no course or purpose. I owe you everything. I am Yours, Jesus. Amen

Esther 4:13-16, And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.  For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:  “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

One of my favorite stories in the bible, for sure! I love how throughout history, God delivered His people when they cried out to Him. If you’ve never read this book, it’s a must read. This is a beautiful story of a girl who was taken from her home, forced to be prepared for the Kings harem, chosen as queen, then used of God to save the Jews from an evil plot. Since we are in the days when Jews everywhere are celebrating Purim, I wanted to read this story again this morning to give better understanding. What I didn’t expect is the following statement from the Lord this morning.

God has placed you where you are for a specific purpose. It’s not by chance you are in this job, this city, this church, this home. God has elevated you to the position you are in right now, for His Kingdom, not your own. What will you do with what He has called you to do? What if it costs you everything? What if He places at your disposal more wealth then you’ve ever seen? Will you still be faithful? Will you keep before you first and foremost, the desires of your God? Can He trust you with what He’s about to take you to?

Father, my heart is set on you, your purpose, your Kingdom. Jesus only did Your will, not his own. Your will was to deliver us from the wicked plan of our enemy who wanted to keep us in bondage, to kill us and rob us of the authority You had given us. Father, I ask that Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. I submit myself, my will and my wants to You. It’s You I am here for. It’s You who has placed me where I am. If I have found favor in Your sight, use me to satisfy your needs today. I give You complete access to everything I have and everything that I am. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

I John 3:18 GNT; My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

How do you show love in action? By helping others in anyway you can. Jesus said that if you have the resources but merely say, “I’ll pray for you,” and go on your way, that’s not love. Anyone can ‘say’ they care, but to really care, you help alleviate the suffering. Jesus didn’t say to do it all yourself, no, we are to affect our own sphere of influence, those around us, the ones God places in our path to see how we’ll respond.

He didn’t say, “Wait until you win the lottery or are fully vested,” He simply said to put action to your words and love like God does. Kingdom says, “I’ll give while I have little,” but the world says, “I’ll wait till I have more.” My friend, if you have that attitude, you will never have enough to give nor will God bless what little you have. What you do with the little actually determines the blessings on what remains.

In Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Did you see that? What are you using as a measure to give. If you use a spoon, a spoon will be used to bless you back with, but if you use a dump truck, look out, the blessing could bury you alive.

Father, may I be observant today to be a blessing to someone. Sometimes I miss opportunities that you place smack dab in front of my face. I can be so self absorbed at times, but give me another chance to put action to my words. I want to walk in your footsteps and be a giving and loving daughter. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Isaiah 58:13-14 GNT;  The Lord says, “If you treat the Sabbath as sacred and do not pursue your own interests on that day; if you value my holy day and honor it by not traveling, working, or talking idly on that day,  then you will find the joy that comes from serving me. I will make you honored all over the world, and you will enjoy the land I gave to your ancestor, Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

When I was growing up, the only thing open on Sunday was a few gas stations. No one worked on Sundays because saved and unsaved alike were treated to a day when you actually rested. Factories were closed. Stores were closed. There weren’t even restaurants open on Sunday so that families could enjoy dinner together at home. Even Christians today who attend church on Sundays, enjoy a meal out at the favorite eatery at the expense of cooks, waitresses and busboys who work on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath to you may be Saturday or Sunday, depending on your faith, but regardless, it’s a day that we should be giving wholly to the Lord. I wonder what would happen to us as a family, as a city or a nation, if we were to revert back to this old practice. Well, this passage says we will find joy that comes from serving Him and will be honored all over the world and enjoy the land He has given us. So few people truly take the time to enjoy what they have. They are always after more money, bigger homes, more things, better clothing, the latest technology, a smarter smart phone.

Father, I am satisfied with you. Forgive me for not honoring the entire Sabbath day and setting it apart for you alone. I have been guilty of doing things that pleasure me, not things that pleasure you. One day. It’s all you’ve asked for and I am squeezing it into a few hours of that day when I gather together in church with other believers. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to enjoy your presence the entire day. To minister to you from sun up to sunset. It’s to you and for your glory I ask this, in Jesus’ Name. Amen

I Kings 17:8-16;  Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,  “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”  So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”  And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.  For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”

So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate formany days.  The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of theLord which He spoke by Elijah.

This story is one of many in the bible that shows what happens when we put God first. Bringing our tithe to the Lord isn’t because God needs our money, it’s simply returning to Him what is already His. If we don’t, we become thieves, using what wasn’t meant for us to keep. This widow woman knew how God worked. She knew of Gods deliverance and provision to the children of Israel, so when the prophet of God was sent to her and asked for a cake first, she recognized it as an avenue for God to take care of her and her boys.

When we always put God first at our own expense, He will trust us with more than enough. TD Jakes says it like this, “The principle is in the priority; if you don’t master it, you’ll always want.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to just bring my tithes because it’s what God requires, I want to add to it an offering out of the knowledge that God can do more with the little I have then I ever could. I don’t want to live life focused on my little, I want to live life focused on His vast supply.

Oh Father, the tenth is yours and I freely give that to you, but you can’t bless me on what is yours, you bless me out of my own supply. You’re after being master of my heart and if I”m stingy, you can’t bless me. That’s why you said that if I have it to give and don’t, I’ve missed it. You always give me opportunities to bless others, you’re just waiting to see what I’ll do with it. If I have food and feed the needy first, you love that. If I have a room and someone needs a place to stay, even temporarily, you see that as a seed. If I hang on tightly to what I have, it will be taken from me and given to someone else you can trust, but when I give it to you first, it opens the windows of heaven to pour out a ‘more than enough’ supply.

By surrendering my bank account to you, it gives you access to what is mine so that you can give me access to all that is yours. I will not be a hoarder, I will be a philanthropist for you, giving where you tell me to give, when you tell me to give it. If I do this with my own money, you will trust me with more. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

“On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”  If you were raised in church as I was, you’ll recognize that old hymn. But do you understand the meaning of it?

I Samuel 2:2; “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.”

I’ve never been mountain climbing, nor do I know much about it, but I do know there are many types of rock. I remember studying rocks in school when I was young, collecting them and examining them. There are rocks like sandstone, that will actually crumble. There are rocks that can crush other rocks. But there is one Rock that when all other rocks fail, will remain; God, the rock of our salvation. When we build on Him, we will never be moved.

As many of you listen to the news and hear all the turmoil going on around you, I hope that you will remember that when you make God your foundation, His promise to you is that you will not be moved. All through the Word, you’ll find that when you really know who God is and that you are His children and heirs to the promises, these things are not meant to cause you to fear, but to trust more deeply in God. Sometimes we’re tested to see if we’re going to stay on the Rock or jump off. It’s a no brainer, right? Stay on the Rock! But you’d be surprised how many people allow fear to drive them into unstable situations because they trust more in what they see then what they know.

Friend, we must know our God and completely trust in Him. When you don’t get your miracle when you thought you should have, stand on the Rock. When the deadline has come and gone and your mind is screaming, “THIS ISN’T WORKING!”, stand on the Rock your provider. When the doctors report says the opposite of what you’re believing for, stand on the Rock your healer. The earth may quake around you, but when you’re standing on the Rock, you will not be moved. It’s so important that you get this.

“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

Father, in the middle of my immense storm, may I remember this truth and not move myself from the safety of your arms. It’s in your mighty, precious name I pray, Amen.

Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT; Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hold tightly without wavering. That word waver means;become unsteady; begin to fail or give way; to feel or show doubt, indecision, etc.; vacillate. James 1:6 says, “But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” Does this describe you in life? Wavering is a bad thing! Where is our focus? What have we been thinking on?

These are verses I have kept very close to my heart, because there are times when a really bad storm comes along and threatens to blow me away, to shake the foundation of my faith. But there is one thing I want to say to you this morning, when God is your foundation and the focus of your trust, nothing, absolutely nothing can shake that. It reminds me of Psalm 91 which is my proclamation each day. He is my place of safety, my God in whom I place my complete trust and total confidence. He is faithful. He will keep me safe. He will be my shield and tower. I won’t be afraid! I will see it with my eyes but it won’t come near me, nor my husband, nor may children, nor my children’s children. Everything around me may fall apart, but I will be safe in the arms of God.

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” I know of whole lot of people that don’t go to church. They make every excuse in the book why they don’t, but let me tell you this, the church is a meeting place where we’re encouraged and encourage others. The time is short and Jesus is coming soon. Being part of a body is how God designed us to operate. A finger would not just look silly all by itself, but it would become dead and useless. Connect that finger to a hand and it has purpose. Find your place and encourage one another.

Father, I’m thankful for the body you have connected me to. I will be a healthy part of that body and do what you’ve called me to do. I will eat my daily bread, the Word you’ve spoken to me, and drink the blood of Jesus Christ, His DNA that makes me righteous and gives me access to You. I will be a viable giver, not a hoarder, seeding into others so that You may reap a great harvest when you return for us. My eyes, my thoughts and my hope will remain on you, author and finisher of my faith. It’s in Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Proverbs 17:9 Voice; Those who forgive faults foster love, but those who repeatedly recall them ruin relationships.

Have you ever sat with a friend who constantly rehearses the wounding they’ve received from others? They sing their own, “Somebody done somebody wrong” song, creating new verses each time they tell their story. You try to change the subject, but the song is stuck in their head and they just don’t seem to be able to shake it. We all do it at times, especially when it’s fresh in our minds and the pain in our hearts won’t go away.

I love this verse because it shows there is a flip side; you can foster love instead. That word foster is defined as; to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage, to bring up, raise, or rear; to care for or cherish. It’s all about focus, isn’t it? What you nurture will grow. If you nurture hurt, it will grow and become an ugly albatross, but if you nurture love, it will be a crown of glory to those who wear it.

Philippians 4:8-9 comes to mind and I love it in this translations; “Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.  Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me—do it—and the God of peace will walk with you.” So when we keep our minds on lovely things, the God of peace will walk with us. If we were to memorize these two verses and actually do them, they would change our lives and attitudes.

Lets begin to foster love, not hurt. To find the good in others and not focus on their faults. Change always begins with ‘me’. Me is the only one I have control of. I can change myself but I can’t change others, that is the Holy Spirits job. It’s time to look in the mirror and ask the Holy Spirit to clean house so that the light in us isn’t hindered by filthy glass. We can make a bigger difference by not opening our mouth and just allowing Love to do it’s perfect work.

Father, I have spent too much time rehearsing the bad and not focusing on the good, and it’s clouded my judgement, my thoughts and words. Forgive me. May my focus be more on You and what you’ve done for me, how you’ve set me free, forgiven me and washed me. Oh God, just the thought of your love makes me melt like snow before a fire. One thing you’ve required of me and that is to love. Love you with all my heart and my neighbor as myself. The only way I can love like that is to allow your love to channel through me to others. The more I surrender to you, the more I enable you to work through me. Here I am. May I be an explosion of love that messes up everyone I meet. It’s in Jesus’ Name I ask this. Amen

Psalm 117 Voice; Praise the Eternal, all nations. Raise your voices, all people. For His unfailing love is great, and it is intended for us, and His faithfulness to His promises knows no end. Praise the Eternal!

What a way to start the day! Praising the Lord who is worthy! Raising our voices (at least our inner voices) to worship and give Him praise. You know what? I went through and read this in 14 different translations and it reads just about the same, but as I read it, something just welled up inside of me. Praise isn’t just a nice thing to do, it’s what we were created to do. When you lift up or exalt the name of Jesus, you are placing His name above all other things. Every mountain is brought low and every valley will be lifted. In other words, it puts things in order or perspective.

That second part, “For His unfailing love is great, and it is intended for us,” oh my. His constant, unfailing love is great. How great? It’s higher, deeper and wider than any love we’ve ever known here on earth. It’s not only great but it is intended for us. That word, intended means; to design or mean for a particular purpose, use, recipient, etc. His love was designed or meant specifically for us.

Last but certainly not least, “and His faithfulness to His promises knows no end.” Doesn’t that make you want to jump up, spin around and scream like a little girl (or boy). What a gift! Everything He has promised us, every promise in the Book, knows no end. It just keeps going and going and going, forever and ever, eternally. Get it? Hallelujah! No wonder this Psalm was so short. What more could he say to that?

Father, my heart is overwhelmed with love for you. It’s one thing to have a husband, children, grandchildren and friends who love me, but your love was intentional. You set your sights on me, specifically me. You pursued me like a treasure hunter, sparing nothing, no cost too great, no sacrifice too large to have me. I am yours. Intentionally loved by you and loving you, an exchange of the deepest, most fervent love. I can’t keep this love to myself! I must share it with those who feel unloved, that they may know you as I know you. I set my eyes on you today. Your Kingdom of Love come on the earth as it is in Heaven. It’s in the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen