EQUIPPED FOR MORE
Equipping our spirit, soul, & body
to be all God created us to be

It is written: “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” Gen 3:3

 

Therefore: I won’t eat, if I don’t first touch. I won’t speak unkind words, if I don’t first think of them. I won’t take what’s not mine, if I truly believe and trust God to supply my needs. So the proverbial line of sin that I don’t want to cross actually needs to be backed up a bit. 

 

 

It is written: “He (God) looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.” Ex 2:25

 

Therefore: I can rest assured that God’s timing is perfect, even when it makes no sense to me. I can relax, let go of all fear, anxiety, frustration, disappointment, and just bask in God’s peace and perfect timing.

 

 

It is written: “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!” Ex 14:15

 

Therefore: There may be times to just “do”. After seeing the hand of God; knowing His plans; knowing His Character; knowing His abilities; knowing His will, just do whatever it takes to do what He’s been telling you to do. 

 

 

It is written: “I will speak only the message that the LORD puts in my mouth” Num 23:12

 

Therefore: When I prophesy to others I will not add to it my own thoughts. And I certainly won’t tell them what I think they need to hear, passing it off as a Word from the Lord.  I rely fully on Holy Spirit to give me the message, and if He doesn’t, I won’t speak.

 

 

It is written: Choose some men, and arm them to fight the LORD’s war of revenge against Median.” Num 31:3

 

Therefore: Even though the Lord has promised victory, I must arm myself and train myself to fight for that which is rightfully mine. I must cross that line out of safety and into the battlefield if I am to win. Just as the Israelites were “given the land by God” they still had to fight to possess it.

 

 

It is written: “ If you do not serve the Lord your God with JOY and ENTHUSIASM for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. Deut 28:47-48

 

Therefore: I guess I better take a good look at how thankful I am for what God has given me. I also think Joy and enthusiasm will become a part of my everyday wardrobe. 

 

 

It is written: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deut 31:6

 

Therefore: When I am doing what the Lord has led me to do, it is just a waste of time thinking it can’t be done. It’s just a waste of time fretting about my inabilities.  With God on my side, anything He asks of me can be done.

 

 

It is written: “So the Israelites examined their (the Hivites) food, but they did not consult the Lord.” (therefore being deceived and making a bad decision) Joshua 9:14

 

Therefore: Even if everything looks like the truth in the natural, I must continually be in relationship to hear God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit speak the real truth to me. So the old saying “if is looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck” may not always be true.

 

 

It is written: “I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.” Judges 2:21-22

 

Therefore: Is it possible that the Lord has allowed or even placed, difficult and challenging people or situations in my life to test me. Am I passing those tests? Could it be that I just need to fall on my knees and repent for previous disobedience? Or possibly, just sit in His presence and allow Him to strengthen me as I journey on. 

 

 

It is written: “But Samson told his father, “Get her (a Philistine girl) for me! She looks good to me.” His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.” Judges 14: 3-4

 

Therefore: I must remind myself that I rarely see the big picture. Situations that I may be too quick to judge may in fact be, God creating opportunities that He can work through.

 

It is written: “ And Samuel told him (Saul), “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel.  And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and …… .”1 Sam 15:17-18

 

Therefore: I must not think little of myself. I am the leader, teacher, mother, grandmother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, etc. of people that God has anointed, or chosen for me to influence. When He sends me on a mission, I will, I must obey completely. Others lives may be impacted by my obedience, or disobedience to the Lord.   

 

 

It is written: “Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.” 1 Sam 15:24

 

Therefore: I will fear God more than I fear others. I will care more about what God desires of me, than what people might think about me.

 

 

 It is written: “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies…” 1 Sam 17:45

 

Therefore: The Name of Jesus is my greatest weapon to fight against those coming against me, whether in the natural or the spiritual realm.

 

 

It is written: “All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. BUT God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.” 2 Sam 14:14

 

Therefore: I am baffled at the thought that the God of the universe would devise a way to bring me back to him if I ever get separated. How awesome is that? How comforting to know that my loved ones who have gone astray are not forgotten by God. Right now He has a plan in place to bring them back. Hallelujah!

 

 

It is written: “You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.” 2 Sam 22:40

 

Therefore: No matter what my battle is, no matter how long my battle lasts, I can be assured that my Father has armed me with the strength to endure, and the strength to win.

 

 

It is written: “The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord.” 1 Kings 8:11

 

Therefore:  I ask Lord for Your glorious presence to fill me, Your temple. I ask that it be so thick and glorious that I cannot continue whatever I was doing. I ask for this often as I grow in intimacy with you.

 

 

It is written: “I am a prophet, too, just as you (a man of God) are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: … But the old man was lying. 1 Kings 13:18

 

Therefore: Just because an older, seemingly wiser, prophet tells me something, I will not automatically believe him. I will trust obey what God tell me. I may take the advice of the other person to the Lord for discussion, but I will not automatically assume they hear the Lord’s voice more accurately than I do.

 

 

It is written: “They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God.” Neh 9:3

 

Therefore: I will not complain when church goes a little long. I will embrace the times when Holy Spirit shows up, and shakes things up a bit.

 

 

It is written: “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25

 

Therefore: At my first glimpse of fear or anguish I will take as long as necessary to surrender it all to the Lord. As I grow in intimacy with Jesus, the ability to trust Him with absolutely everything and everyone, becomes more possible.  

 

 

It is written: “When Job prayed for his “friends”, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact the LORD gave him twice as much as before!” Job 4210

 

Therefore: When the Lord asks me to pray for so called “friends” (with friends like Jobs, you don’t need enemies.) When he asked me to pray for, or do something that I might shutter at the thought of, it may just be the prayer that will bring my healing, or my breakthrough.

 

 

It is written: “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.” Ps 5:11

 

Therefore: When I need protection over what the world throws at me, I will rejoice with singing, praising and worshiping Jesus. I will allow my worship to be my warfare. As I do, the Lord’s protection covers me like a warm, fuzzy blanket, dipped in joy.

 

 

It is written: “Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.” Ps 16:5

 

Therefore: I will drink from my cup of blessings continuously throughout the day. As it flows down my throat and into my body it brings You Jesus, and Your love, joy, peace, hope, healing, freedom and so much more. As I feel my spirit, soul or body beginning to be parched and dry I will drink again, and again, and again.

 

 

It is written: “You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. Ps 17:3

 

Therefore: Since what comes out of my mouth is birthed in my thoughts and heart, I purpose to meditate on Jesus Christ alone. I will marinate my thoughts in the love of Jesus until they are ready to be spoken aloud.

 

 

It is written: “I am praying to You because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.” Ps 17:6

 

Therefore: I will not allow my situation to bring fear, doubt, worry, frustration, or anxiety. Once God hears me, He will answer. And I can trust that His response and His timing will be perfect.  

 

 

It is written: “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.” Ps 25:4&5

 

Therefore: It’s God’s responsibility to show, to point, to lead, and to teach me the right path. It’s my responsibility to have such an intimate relationship with Him that I hear what He has to say and do it; and it’s my responsibility to put my hope in Him continuously throughout the day 24/7.

 

 

It is written: “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” Ps 26:2

 

Therefore: Lord, I give you permission to put me on trial, to cross-examine me, to test my motives and my heart. Lord whatever does not please You, bring to my attention and teach me how to change.

 

 

It is written: “My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me.”    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Ps 27:8

 

Therefore: I will listen with my heart; I will respond with my heart.

 

 

It is written: “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” Ps 32:3-4

 

Therefore: I will quickly confess my sin, I will quickly repent, as often as necessary. I will hold nothing back from the Lord. I will also ask Holy Spirit to show me any un-confessed sin that I may have hidden away, deep down within my soul.

 

 

It is written: “Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Ps 32:5

 

Therefore: I hold nothing back, I confess my sins. Then I open my arms and receive God’s forgiveness, I receive His beauty and peace that come, as quickly as guilt and shame leave.

 

 

It is written: “ The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. For When He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command.” Ps 33:6&9

 

Therefore: Because I am made in the image of God, my words have power. I speak and blessings, or curses, are being released. I may not see the manifestation of my words see immediately as God did, but nonetheless they are out there, and they have power. So I choose carefully how I speak about myself and others.

 

 

It is written: “Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord RESCUES them when they are in trouble. The Lord PROTECTS them and keeps them alive. He gives them PROSPERITY in the land and RESCUES them from their enemies. The Lord NURSES them when they are sick and RESTORES them to HEALTH.” Ps 41:1-3

 

Therefore: God cares about the poor, and they obviously have so much to offer me. It just makes sense to stop and give them something: love, time, a blessing, a hug, a prayer, a chance to meet Jesus, or whatever God is telling me.

 

 

It is written: “But (despite the turmoil, discouragement, grief, oppression, etc.) each day the LORD pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs.” Ps 42:8

 

Therefore: When life seems unbearable I will start my day the evening before. During the night, while I lay in bed, I will sing praises to my Lord. While I toss and turn throughout the night, my thoughts will go towards Jesus. Then, when morning comes, I will come before my Lord and wait as He pours His unfailing love all over me. I will allow it to penetrate my spirit, soul and body. Then I am ready to start my day.

 

 

It is written: “I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Ps 66:17&18

 

Therefore: As I come before the Lord, broken, and in desperate need of help, I take a moment to ask Him: “Is there any sin I need to confess?” If so, I confess it, right here right now. I do not want to hold on to it for even a minute. And all the while I'm confessing, I’m praising God. And, while I’m waiting and discussing my situation with Him, I never stop praising Him.

 

 

It is written: Sing praises to God and to His name! Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD – rejoice in His presence! Ps 68:4

 

Therefore: Today I will sing to my Lord, I will sing loudly and not care what anyone thinks. Today as I rest in His presence, I will rejoice. What a great day I will have, singing praises and rejoicing in the presence of my Lord. And since I carry His presence everywhere I go, I will be rejoicing all day long.

 

It is written: “If you make the LORD your refuge. If you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.” Ps 91:9-12

 

Therefore: If it’s up to me to make God my refuge, shelter, safe haven, protection; just how do I do this? By building a life of intimacy, trust, and faith. Just as a child feels totally protected in mom or dad’s arms, so I can feel totally protected in Abba’s arms. The enemy may come and give me a good beating from time to time, but he will not conquer me. I surrender daily to the protection of God and His mighty angels. 

 

 

It is written: “It is good to proclaim Your unfailing love in the morning, Your faithfulness in the evening,” Ps 92:2

 

Therefore: I'm going to choose to start my mornings off by proclaiming, announcing, declaring God’s love for me, and thanking Him for it. Then before I go to sleep I’m going to proclaim, announce, and declare His faithfulness. I will thank Him for faithfully being with me all day long, for being a part of every situation in my life. I think I’m going to have a really blessed day.

 

 

It is written: “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” Ps 91:4

 

Therefore: I will ponder what it must mean to the LORD to have me say to Him “You thrill me”. How would if feel if my kids were to say that to me? Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face. If this becomes difficult to say from time to time, I’ll just ask God to open my eyes and my heart to the many ways He thrills me everyday.

 

 

It is written: “I will be careful to live a blameless life – when will You come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. Ps 101:2 

 

Therefore: What I do behind closed doors matters. That is the real me. How do I act when no one is looking? How do I talk to myself, my kids, my parents, my spouse?  What do I watch on TV, the computer? I choose to be the same behind closed doors as I am in public. 

 

 

It is written: “They bruised his (Joseph’s) feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.” Ps 105:18-19 

 

Therefore: I can pretty much count on the LORD testing my character during the difficult, challenging times, as he did with Joseph. It’s easy for my character to shine when my dreams are fulfilled, but what about the journey along the way. I have to trust and have faith that God’s timing is perfect. And while on my journey, as I allow His love to flow in me and out of me, I will be developing a godly character. I will be ready when His timing, His dreams, and my character, come together to fulfill His purpose. 

 

 

It is written: “Though the LORD is great, He cares for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud.” Psalm138:6s 

 

Therefore: I will constantly be aware of my thoughts, my attitude, and my actions. I continually ask Holy Spirit to show me when pride starts creeping into my life; I want no part of it. Then I repent quickly, and clothe myself with humility.  

 

It is written: “I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn. Psalm 142:2&3 

 

Therefore: When I am distraught with life I will turn to Jesus first. He knows me better than anyone else, He alone knows what path I should take. Then, if needed, I will ask Him if it’s ok to talk to one or two of my friends, to share my concerns, my complaints. If I sense it’s ok with Him, I will share with my special friends. Not for the purpose of gossip, but for comfort, encouragement and Godly wisdom. 

 

 

It is written: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23&24 

 

Therefore: I give God permission to inspect every part of my being; my thoughts, attitude, responses, decisions, words, gestures, etc. behind closed doors and in public. I welcome the correction of the Lord without taking offense. I welcome the opportunity to show Him my love and commitment by repenting and choosing to make changes. I choose to walk on the path that He has set before me, with love, joy, peace, faith, freedom and a pure heart. 

 

 

It is written: “Accept my prayer as incense offered to You, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.” Psalm 141:2 

 

Therefore: I want my prayers, my conversations with God, to be a sweet aroma reaching up to His nostrils. I want Him to look forward to the atmosphere that my prayers bring to Him. I also want to raise my hands often to Him, not caring what anyone might think of me. I am offering Him all of me, total surrendered to all of Him. 

 

 

It is written: “I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for You as parched lands thirsts for rain.” Psalm 143:6 

 

Therefore: I don’t just pray to God, I pray totally surrendered to Him. Trusting Him with my deepest concerns and needs. I don’t just pray to God and then forget Him. I thirst for Him; I seek Him; I go after Him; I cling to Him as if He were the only one with a bottle of water after running a marathon without water (not that I ever did, but you get the picture).  I will thirst for Him as a newborn baby thirsts for his or her needs to be met. 

 

 

It is written: “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting in you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.” Psalm 143:8a 

 

Therefore: I will set aside time in the morning to hear from God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. I will not be in a hurry and I will not do all the talking. I will listen; I will listen as They tell me how much They love me. I will listen as They teach me about Their Word. I will listen as They share Their plans for my day. I will listen and trust what I hear, knowing that Their words will line up with Their Word. Then I will be obedient, because I know that They have my best interest in mind. 

 

 

It is written: “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” Psalm 143:10 

 

Therefore: I come before you Lord, teachable and willing to learn. I yearn to know and follow Your Word, Your plans for my life. I yearn to walk in the love that You’ve called me to walk in. I keep my eyes, ears and total being focused on Holy Spirit, depending on Him every minute of every day. I may go two steps forward and one step back at times, but forward I will go. 

 

 

It is written: “Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.” Psalm 144:1 

 

Therefore: I will find out what my weapons are, and I will train myself to use them. I will train my hands to worship, to praise, to pray, to dance, to play an instrument, to hug, to love, to serve. I will teach my fingers to hang on tightly to the truth of who I am in Christ. I will hang on tightly to the power and authority that I walk in as a child of the King. I will hang on tightly to the fact that “greater is He who is in me, than He who is in the world” John 4:4 

 

 

It is written: “Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about Your righteousness. They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom; they will give examples of Your power. They will tell about Your mighty deeds, and about the majesty and glory of Your reign.” Psalm 145:7, 11,12 

 

Therefore: The next time I get together with friends, family, or co-workers I will resist the urge to gripe, complain, or gossip. I will resist the tendency to take offense, criticize or judge. Instead, I will share about the goodness of God in my life. The joy that I walk in with will radiate the love and righteousness of God. And if I don’t see or experience any of God’s goodness, righteousness, glory, power, mighty deeds, or majesty in my life, I will seek a more intimate relationship with Him. I will pray that my eyes and heart be opened to all that He does and is in my life. 

 

 

It is written: “Praise the LORD! How good to sing praises to our God. How delightful and how fitting!” Psalm 147:1 

 

Therefore: Today I choose to praise Jesus with my singing. Maybe I will sing in the spirit, which I love and is so easy for me. Maybe, like my husband, I will make up new words of praise to familiar songs. Maybe, God will show me a new way of praising Him in song. No matter how I do it, it brings joy to my heart and to His. It’s hard to be grumpy when I sing praises to my Lord. 

 

 

It is written: “He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse, or in human might. No, the LORD’s delight in in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love.” Psalm 147: 10-11 

 

Therefore: It is a waste of my time and of His to continually try and make things happen in my own strength. God is not impressed or pleased with how much I can get done in one day, one week, or one month. He takes delight when I come to Him, trusting Him, wanting to know Him more intimately, fearing and honoring Him for who He is. 

 

 

It is written: “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.” Prov 11:24

 

Therefore: I choose to walk in my rightful place as a daughter (or son) of the King, where there is no limit to my ability to give. I will give my love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, time, money, spiritual gifting, encouragement, compassion, last cup of sugar, or ??? on a daily basis. Whereas a slave, or orphan never knows when he or she will receive more, a child of the King does.

 

 

It is written: “ The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Prov 11:25

 

Therefore: Although it’s easy to be generous and refreshing to others when I’m having a really good day, on those days when I’m feeling down and disheartened it’s hard. So I will chose to walk in the opposite spirit on those down days. I will encourage others, bless others, and love others. Then I will sit on Papa’s lap and He will refresh me.

 

 

It is written: “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” Prov 12:1

 

Therefore: Although in my microwave life I tend to want things now, to know things now, to learn things now, to accomplish things now, and to be the best now. It takes discipline to learn new things and habits. I will change my attitude about discipline; I will look at it as a positive thing, and not as a negative. I will look at correction as a possibility of helping me become a better me.

 

 

It is written: “The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.” Prov 12:6

 

Therefore: I will live my life as a godly example to others. I will think before I speak. I will choose words that bring life, encouragement, comfort, peace, and are truthful.  Whether anyone can hear me or not, I will not be guilty of allowing my words to bring death to anyone.

 

 

It is written: “ A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like a cancer in the bones.” Prov 14:30

 

Therefore: I will surrender to Jesus all jealousy, fear, stress, offenses, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, arrogance, and anything else that separates me from His peace. I will not even allow myself to think on these things for even a moment; they are kicked out within the first 2-3 seconds.

 

 

It is written: “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” Prov 15:1

 

Therefore: I will think before I speak; I will choose my words wisely. This does not mean that I’m immune to how others speak to me; it does not mean that I stand by and allow someone to verbally (or physically) abuse me. It means that I (with Holy Spirit’s help), choose to answer with a gentle, calm voice. It means that I’ve developed such an intimate relationship with God that His righteousness, peace and joy consume me.

 

 

It is written: “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” Prov 15:30

 

Therefore: When I have trouble finding my happy face I have a choice to make. I can stay where I’m at, or I can sit and listen to worship music and allow God’s presence of joy to fill me to overflowing. Or, if that option is not available, I can just go to the restroom, my desk, or my car, sit down and breathe Him in. Breathe in His love, peace and joy. Soon my insides are so full of His joy that it starts to leak out of my eyes, my cheeks, and the corners of my mouth. Now my happy face is back, and it’s contagious. 

  

 

It is written: “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.” Prov 16:2

 

Therefore: I will not rely on my own definition of purity. I will continually ask God to examine me and allow me to see my thoughts, words, actions, decisions, and motives through His eyes. I look forward to any correction He brings, and I am quick to repent, restore, and walk in a new level of purity.

 

 

It is written: “ The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” Prov 20:24

 

Therefore: I will resist the need to know all of next year’s plans today. I will resist the need to plan every detail of my day, week, life. I will follow the leading of Holy Spirit even when I don’t see the big picture. I will trust Jesus as bumps, turns, and dentures take their place in my life.

 

 

It is written: “The LORD’S light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.” Prov 20:27

 

Therefore: I set aside time to be alone with Jesus. I ask Him to shine His light in every area of my being. I ask Him to expose any impure thoughts, actions, or motives. Then I confess, repent, and allow Jesus to wash me clean. I determine in my heart to do this often.

 

 

It is written: “Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.” Prov 20:28

 

Therefore: I will rule my kingdom (home, work, kids, area of influence) in love and not fear. My security comes from loving Jesus, loving others, and loving myself.

 

 

It is written: “The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.” Prov 20:29

 

Therefore: I will rejoice in my age, my gray hair, my wrinkles, and my slower moving body. I will embrace the wisdom that I’ve gained in my many years of life, and of sitting with Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for decades. I will take time to teach the young who are willing to listen.

 

 

It is written: “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Prov 25:28

 

Therefore: I will stop waiting for God to supernaturally change things, or undesirable habits that I have control over. I will buckle down, use the God given sense, discipline and strength He gave me, and start making the needed changes in my life.

 

 

It is written: “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.” Prov 26:2

 

Therefore:  I declare that all curses, spells, hexes, or hateful words directed at me or my family will not be allowed to land on us. They will fall to the ground dead, unfulfilled and evaporate there.

 

 

It is written: “When she (or he) speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instruction with kindness. Prov 31:26

 

Therefore: Whether I’m talking to my spouse, parents, kids, the person behind the cash register, or I’m put in that leadership position where I am the one telling people what to do, I will choose my words wisely. I will speak with kindness; I will correct with kindness; and I will help with kindness. When they just don’t seem to understand what I am saying, I will pause and ask God to help me choose the correct words, bathed in kindness, so that they do understand.

 

 

It is written: “Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?” Is 2:22

 

Therefore: My first instinct in every situation needs to be to consult Jesus, trust Jesus, and then obey Jesus. Even though He uses humans many times as a part of my every day life, it’s Him I need to ultimately trust.

 

 

It is written: “So My people will go into exile far away because they do not know Me.” Is. 5:13a

 

Therefore: It means a lot to God that I get to know Him. I do this by spending time in His word, discussing it with Him, I do this by talking to Him throughout the day, as if He were right beside me, because He really is. Sometimes I just sit and ask Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit to tell me something about Themselves, and then I listen and write it down. My greatest desire is to really know God in a deep, personal, and intimate way.

 

 

It is written: “ In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.” Is 26:1

 

Therefore: My salvation; my total surrender; my trust in Jesus and my worship are my security, strength, and weapon against the enemy.  

 

 

It is written: “you will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Is 26:3

 

Therefore: Just as when I’m driving my car my eyes are fixed on the road ahead of me, my thoughts will stay fixed on Jesus. And even though I may take my eyes off the road to look at something else, it’s only for a few seconds. And even though I can do multiple things while driving, I’m constantly looking at the road.  And as I keep my thoughts fixed on Jesus, it becomes easier to trust Him in all things. And as I trust Him in all things, peace just naturally comes.

 

 

It is written: “And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” Is 29:13

 

Therefore: Through intimacy with Jesus I desire to worship Him in spirit and truth. I will keep my heart in check and not allow religious spirits to creep in. I will not dishonor God by pretending to worship and love Him, while harboring hate, apathy, unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, etc. When religious spirits creep in I repent quickly, embrace forgiveness and then worship.

 

 

It is written: “What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.” Is 31:1

 

Therefore: My ultimate trust will be in my LORD, not my job, government, welfare, family, military, insurance, savings, retirement, social security, etc. All of these are part of life, yes, but my security, trust and faith must remain in Jesus.  

 

 

It is written: “That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.” Is 37:36

 

Therefore: I will not fear about the condition of my country. I will do my part and pray, vote, help change the laws, or whatever God tells me to do. But I will not fear! My God is quite capable of wiping out the enemy whenever He chooses, and I choose to trust in Him.

 

 

It is written: “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” Is 40:29.

 

Therefore: I am not a victim of my circumstances, there will be no wallowing for me. I will grab hold of that shred of power and that fragment of strength that the Lord offers. As I hold on, that power and strength grow into a mighty fortress. Now I walk in the fullness of God’s power and His strength. I can do anything He calls me to do.

 

 

It is written: “I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have equipped you (Cyrus) for battle, though you don’t even know me, Is 45:5. I will rise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions. Is 45:13

 

Therefore: God’s chosen one for a particular task may not be a Christian, a republican, or someone who I think is best equipped for the job. God can and does use anyone He chooses to fulfill His purposes. My part is to trust, pray, support, bless, and not to criticize, gossip, or curse. 

 

 

It is written: “But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Is 53:5

 

Therefore:  I can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus wants me whole and healed. Even when I don’t always see the manifestations, the fact is, it’s mine. He died for me (and you) to be whole and healed. I will proclaim it, I will believe it, I will trust in His Word.

 

 

It is written: “The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the LROD. Therefore, they fall completely, and their flocks are scattered.” Jer 10:21

 

Therefore: No matter how far I’ve come in life, how many classes I’ve taken, or how many degrees I might have, my number on source of wisdom must come from the Lord. I must never think that I’ve “arrived” and no longer need to seek Him for wisdom, direction, understanding, intimacy, presence, and just pure delight.

 

 

It is written: “So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.” Jer 10:24

 

Therefore: I come before Abba, my Heavenly Father often, asking Him to please correct me when I get off track. I actually look forward to it, knowing He does it out of love. And His goal in doing so is to make me more like Himself, which is my goal also.

 

 

It is written: “When I discovered Your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight,” Jer 15:16

 

Therefore: I will not take my Bible for granted (all 10 of them), or my computer, where I have access to dozens of different translations. I will treat God’s Word as a delicious delicacy, enjoying every bite. I will savor it, delight in it, devour it, and keep coming back for more. I will treat it as my most treasured possession. 

 

 

It is written: “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.” Jer 17:7

 

Therefore: I have absolutely no fear of the present or the future. Between all the miracles mentioned in the Bible, to all the personal testimonies I’ve experienced or heard about, my God can do anything. If I’m supposed to be alive, I will be alive, period. If God wants to take me, well hallelujah, that’s ok too. My responsibility is total surrender, trust, hope, and confidence in Jesus.

 

 

It is written: “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jer 17:10

 

Therefore: Nothing is hidden from God. Not my secret thoughts and actions, not my neighbor’s, not my boss’s, not the government. When God examines MY heart, I want Him to find a heart full of love, just like His. Lord, show me when my heart starts to differ from Yours and need a tune-up.

 

 

It is written: “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.” Jer 18:5

 

Therefore: There’s no place I’d rather be then in my Father’s hands. Whether I’m in need of discipline, correction, guidance, protection, healing, wisdom, or whatever. Lord, you have my permission to mold me and remold me whenever You want. 

 

 

It is written: “Why was I (Jeremiah) ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.” Jer 20:18

 

Therefore: When I’m having those rare moments where I wonder just what am I doing here on planet earth, am I doing any good, because it sure doesn’t look like it? It may seem like everyone is against me, and maybe they are. BUT, if I’m totally surrendered and obedient to God, I can trust Him, He does have a plan and He is using me. I don’t have to see the big picture, I just have to trust Him, and I do.

 

 

It is written: “Have any of these prophets been in the LORD’s presence to hear what He is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen?” Jer. 23:18

 

Therefore: It is God’s desire for me to sit in His presence and listen to what He has to say. Sometimes I become impatient with God because He isn’t speaking quickly enough for me. But then I remind myself that He is worth the wait. Really, can anything be more important than hearing and obeying the voice of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit? I don’t think so!

 

 

It is written: “For I know the plan I have for you, says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11

 

Therefore: In spite of what my circumstances look like, God is on my side and He has a plan for me. His plan most likely includes me falling totally in love with Jesus Christ, surrendered, obedient and trusting in His Word. More than likely the sooner I get the whole surrendered, obedient, trusting, repenting, giving and loving myself and others down, the sooner I will see God’s plan for my life unfolding.

 

It is written: “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.” Jer 29:13

 

Therefore: Even though God seems like a mystery at times, He wants me to know Him, to have an intimate relationship with Him. But it doesn’t just happen; I have to spend time wholeheartedly seeking to know Him on a deeper level. This takes time and there’s no getting around it. You could say it’s life consuming. He rewards me as I seek to know and understand Him more today than I did yesterday, last week, or last year. Actually, it’s so easy and so worth it.

 

 

It is written: “I am the LORD, the God of all the people of the world. Is anything too hard for Me?” Jer 32:27

 

Therefore: Absolutely nothing is too hard or impossible for God. He is quite aware of my circumstances. He is quite aware of what is going on in the world I live in. Nothing is getting past Him. When I don’t understand why He’s not doing “something” about whatever concerns me, I just rely on trusting Him, period. I do my part; I sit with Him, talk with Him, surrender to be used by Him, and obey anything I hear from Him.

 

 

It is written: “Even though I (God) diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey.” Jer 32:33

 

Therefore: There’s an old saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”. Just as true, “You can make a child go to school, but you can’t make him learn”. It is the desire of God’s heart to teach me what He wants me to learn. It is the desire of my heart to learn and obey. Lord, I desperately desire to learn all that You want to teach me.

 

 

It is written: “And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship Me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.” Jer 32:39

 

Therefore: How exciting that God’s one purpose for “us” is to worship Him. And absolutely no one can keep us from doing that. Worship has to go beyond our Sunday church service and penetrate every aspect of our lives. My life, my destiny, and my purpose depend on, and are affected by my worship. But not only my life, but also my family, children, grandchildren, and all generations to come. What an awesome inheritance I can leave through my worship.

 

 

It is written: “ And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship Me, and they will never leave Me.” Jer 32:40

 

Therefore: Lord, I receive on behalf of myself, and my family, Your desire for covenant with us. Thank you for all the good You do for us. And Lord, I ask that You activate the desire that You put in our hearts to worship You, especially to those who don’t know You yet.

 

 

It is written: “Ask Me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. “ Jer 33:3

 

Therefore: I sit with Jesus, relaxed, and not hurried. I type “Lord, what do you want to say to me today?”  I know He looks forward to talking to me, just as I look forward to talking with my kids. Then I write down what He says, and we talk about it. It’s incredible how He always has something to say. Sometimes it’s something funny; sometimes it makes me cry because it’s so personal and passionate. His words are always loving, especially when I need a bit of correction. 

 

 

It is written: “Ten days later the LORD gave His reply to Jeremiah.” Jer 42:7

 

Therefore: I may have to wait 10 days, 10 months, or even 10 years to hear God’s particular response to certain prayer request. But I am confident again that His timing is perfect. It doesn’t mean He didn’t hear me, or doesn’t care. It always means He loves me, and He has a plan already set in motion.

 

 

It is written: “ I will certainly bring my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, here to Egypt. 

 

Therefore: God can use anyone as His “servant”, to fulfill His purposes.  So instead of criticizing the many government officials in office that I don’t care for, I choose to pray for them, and ask God to use them as His servants, to fulfill His purposes.  

 

It is written: “Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive.” Jer 48:6

 

Therefore: I will not allow any thing or anyone other than Jesus to captivate my heart. I will not be in bondage to the things of this world. And even though God has given me gifts, talents, blessings and favor, my trust is in Him alone. I will trust in and worship the creator, not the created.

 

 

It is written: “Cursed are those who refuse to do the LORD’s work, who hold back their swords from shedding blood!” Jer 48:10

 

Therefore: I will do whatever the LORD tells me to do, even if it means getting my hands dirty. Thankfully I am living under the new covenant where the emphasis is love.  And thankfully my sword is the Word of God, which is all about loving the hell out of people, not hitting them over the head with it.

 

 

It is written: “ So now I (God) wail for Moab; yes, I will mourn for Moab. My heart is broken for the men of Kir-hareseth.” Jer 48:31

 

Therefore: Even though there are consequences for sin, and judgment will come, it still breaks God’s heart to do it. It’s like when we discipline our kids and say, “this is going to hurt me more than it does you”. No kid ever believes it, until they become a parent themselves. God, I am so sorry for the times I’ve disappointed you; the times I’ve made you cry; and the times I’ve broken your heart. The desire of my heart is total obedience. Thank you Jesus for second and third chances. Thank you for loving me through this journey called life.

 

 

It is written: “For the LORD has inspired (stirred up the spirit of) the kings of the Medes to march against Babylon and destroy her.” Jer 51:11

 

Therefore: I pray that God would inspire my spirit to love Him more the way He desires to be loved, to inspire my family members to do the same.  I pray God that you would inspire those in positions of power and authority to make Godly choices.  

 

 

 It is written: “ I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease, Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!”. Lam 3:20-24

 

Therefore: No matter how awful a season in my life may be, my hope will always be in my God. I will dare to hope in the His love, in His mercies, in His faithfulness and in my inheritance and child of the King.

 

 

It is written: “The LORD is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. So it is good to wait quietly for the salvation (deliverance, help, victory) from the LORD.” Lam 3: 25-26

 

Therefore: When things seem to be overwhelming and completely out of control I go to my secret place. I sit and wait quietly before the Lord. I surrender EVERYTHING to Him. I repent of anything He brings to mind that needs to be taken care of. I remind myself that Jesus is for me; He’s on my side.  And then I wait, and sometimes I wait some more. And then He shows up and fills me with His amazing love. And then I know I can make it through my day, my week, my season set before me.

 

 

 It is written: “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.” Ez 16:49

 

Therefore: I need to redefine my belief of why God destroyed Sodom. Sexual sin, any sexual sin is wrong, yes, absolutely. But is it right up there with pride, overeating, and laziness, apparently so. I am reminded of Matt 7:5 “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” Lord forgive me, for I have sinned! Please bring to my attention anytime, ANY sin, starts to entice me. And may I not be so wrapped up in my own life that I forget the needs of others.

 

 

It is written: “ They wouldn’t obey My regulations even though obedience would have given them life.” Ez 20:13

 

Therefore: Obedience brings life. It’s not a punishment, a burden, or inconvenience when you love Jesus. Sometimes it takes more courage, guts, embarrassment, discomfort, etc. to obey than it takes to rebel. But obedience is life, it’s success, it’s love, and it’s so worth it.

 

 

 It is written: “Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself. Ez 33:7-9

 

Therefore: I must ask the Lord if He’s made me a watchman. If so, I better take that responsibility very seriously.

 

 

 It is written: “ And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.” Ez 43:12

 

Therefore: I am reminded that now I am the temple. Hmmm.  Lord you have permission to bring to my attention anytime your temple, my body, is in need of purification.

 

 

It is written: “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel to rescue His servants who trusted in Him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” Dan 3:28

 

Therefore: When I trust in my God totally, not knowing what the outcome might be, lives can be changed. Someone can go from wanting me dead to praising my God. My obedience, my total surrender, and trusting God in everything, is how I choose to live my life.

 

 

It is written: “He rescues and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Dan 6:27

 

Therefore: No matter what my circumstances look like, it God wants me alive, I will live. I don’t need to fear injustice, stupidity, arrogance, or just plain evil. If I die, I go see Jesus, and start the first day of the rest of my eternity with Him. If I live, He still has plans for me, and I will continue to serve Him with total devotion.

 

 

It is written: “The moment you began praying, a command was given….” Dan 9:23

 

Therefore: My prayers are not empty, void of any substance. Even though I may not see with my physical eyes what is going in in the spiritual world; every word, every prayer I speak is full of life. A command is given; angels are given assignments, and God’s perfect timing for my prayers are activated. 

 

 

It is written: “She doesn’t realize it was I (God) who gave her everything she has – the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal.” Hosea 2:8 

 

Therefore: All that I have that is good, is from God. From the breath that I breathe to the house that I live in, and everything in between. But what do I do with the gifts that God gives me? Do I use them to bring Him glory, someone else, or to satisfy my own fleshly desires? Every minute of every day I have choices to make. I choose to bring Him glory. Do I succeed every minute of every day? Absolutely not! But I repent, He forgives, and next time, hopefully, I make a better choice.

 

 

It is written: “But then I will win her back again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.” Hosea 2:14 

 

Therefore: I just love reading this verse. God’s desire is to speak to me, to guide me, and to correct me with tender loving words, and I am so thankful for that. It sure beats the guilt, shame, and condemnation from the enemy. But I also do my part by taking His corrections and making the necessary changes.

 

 

It is written: “My people are being destroyed because they don’t know Me.” Hosea 4:6

 

Therefore: It behooves me to get to know God the Father, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit. How? The same way I get to know anyone else. I can read about them and learn some things; I can spend quality time with them and learn a whole lot more. And, I can be joined at the hip with them, never leaving their side. And, unlike with human beings, when I’m with Them, I never need my space, or time to just be alone.

 

 

It is written: “ Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely a the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3

 

Therefore: God wants me to know Him; He wants to, and will respond to my love for Him. He is patiently waiting for me to press in to knowing Him on a deeper level. I give my time and my energy to the things and people I love the most. He has to be my first priority; He has to be at the top of my list. I can’t allow myself to bump Him into second or third place, and really, the choice is mine.

 

 

It is written: “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know Me more than I want burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

 

Therefore: Love trumps everything. Intimacy with The Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit trumps everything. And, as I’ve learned from Heidi Baker “love looks like something”. Love is a verb, not just an emotion. Today I choose to love.

 

 

 It is written: “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” Joel 1:13

 

 

Therefore: Talk is cheap, even outward actions are cheap. It’s my heart that God wants to get a hold of; It’s my heart that reveals the real me. It’s my heart that I give to my God, my Jesus, and my Holy Spirit. Every minute of every day my heart belongs to them.

 

 

It is written: “For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals His thoughts to mankind.” Amos 4:13a

 

Therefore: I just marvel at the idea that God wants to share His thoughts with me. Life must never get to busy that I don’t have time to listen when God, Jesus or Holy Spirit has something on their mind and want to share it with me.

 

 

It is written: “I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.    I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” Amos 5:21-24

 

Therefore: God doesn’t care about outward appearances, He doesn’t care if I look and act like a Christian. He cares about my heart; He cares about what I do and how I act when no one is looking. 

 

 

It is written: “But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel’.” Amos 7:14-15

 

Therefore: It’s God who qualifies me to do what He’s called me to do. I do not depend on my training, education, or lack there of, to say if I’m qualified or not. All I need God’s “go ahead”, mixed with faith and trust, and I'm qualified enough.

 

 

It is written: “ People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the LORD’s word.” Amos 8:12-13

 

Therefore: Once exposed to the voice of God, I am forever changed. Even if I wanted God to just be silent as they did in the day of Amos, and if He really did, life would be miserable. God’s Word, whether written, or verbal is vital to my survival. He created me (and you) with the need to hear Him and for intimacy. It brings life and health to every part of my body.

 

 

It is written: The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

 

Therefore: No matter what happens, God is good, period!  He is my go to person when trouble comes. He loves it when I trust Him no matter what. Trusting God is a choice, it is cultivated from a life of intimacy. As I have journeyed with God He has proven trustworthy in the little things, so when the big things comes, the things that make so sense, the foundation of faith has been built and will not crumble. 

 

 

It is written: “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

 

Therefore: Even though ______________, yet I will rejoice! Even though ______________, yet I will rejoice! Even though ______________, yet I will rejoice in the LORD!  

 

 

It is written: “For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and starts. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too.” Zephaniah 1:5

 

Therefore: God does not tolerate sharing His worship with anyone or anything. I can’t worship Allah and Jehovah; I can’t worship money and Jehovah; I can’t worship fame, prestige, TV, sports, religion, or my spouse and Jehovah. I can only worship Jehovah God!

 

 

It is written: “And I will destroy those who used to worship Me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD’s guidance or seek My blessings.” Zephaniah 1:6 

 

Therefore: I can go to the Lord confidently, knowing He wants me to ask for guidance, so He can give it to me; knowing He has blessings that He wants me to seek out, just so He can bless me. 

 

 

It is written: “So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,” Haggai 1:14

 

Therefore: Oh Lord, spark my enthusiasm; spark the enthusiasm of believers everywhere. I want to be more enthusiastic about You, who You are and what You’re up to than anything else. I want to be enthusiastic about loving and serving you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

 

 

  It is written: “But now the LORD says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua …. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.” Haggai 2:4-5

 

Therefore: God wants me strong, He wants my body physically capable of doing anything He calls me to do. I receive that in Jesus name.  And I have the extra blessing of having God’s Spirit in me, not just around me. So when He says “do not be afraid”, I will have peace flowing through my body.

 

 

It is written: “ Look at what was happening to you before you began to lay the foundation of the LORD’s Temple (before you started to obey Me). I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn….But from this day onward I will bless you.” Haggai 2:35 & 19b

 

Therefore: God starts blessings as soon as I start obeying. That blessing may not be visible until the end of the harvest when I bring in a bumper crop; it may not be visible when I’m in the midst of laboring in doing what He’s called me to do. But God’s timing for blessings is perfect, and He loves to bless His children.   

 

 

It is written: “Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple’s destruction, as we have done for so many years?” Zec 7:3 “…was it really for Me (God) that you were fasting? “ zec 7:5 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.” Zec 7:8-10

 

Therefore:  I must ask myself, what are my motives behind “what I do for the Lord”? It seems that so much of the time He just wants me to love, to show love, to be love. And just be nice.

 

 

 

It is written: “Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.” Zech 9:12

 

Therefore: Jesus is my safety, He is my hope. How awesome that God wants to give me two blessings for each of my troubles. Lord, I receive Your blessings today. Thank you for being such a generous Savior.

 

 

 It is written: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.” Mal 3:16

 

Therefore: How exciting to think that when I get together with friends, and we talk about God and how awesome He is, He’s always listening. I wonder if our names get written every time we get together with others and talk about God. How cool would it be to have a scroll with my name splattered everywhere because I love to talk about God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit so much. And to think that every time my name is written, it’s in God’s presence. I can just see Him as a proud Papa saying, “Ah, there’s her name again”.

 

 

It is written: "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.” Mal 4:2

 

Therefore: I do my part on a daily basis; I love, I fear, and I respect the name of Yahweh.    Now I reach up and receive the healing in Your wings, and now I receive Your freedom.

 

 

It is written: “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.” Ez 16:49

 

Therefore: When I think of why God destroyed Sodom my mind will no longer go to sexual sin alone. Much closer to home is pride, gluttony, and laziness. Lord, please forgive me as I have walked in these areas more often than I’d like to admit. Please get my attention any way necessary when You see me headed towards these sins that you detest. 

 

 

It is written: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” Matt 3:8

 

Therefore: Repent is more than a word. It’s like “love”. If I say I love my mother, father, spouse, siblings, children, etc., yet verbally abuse them, mistreat them, lie to them, etc., it’s not love. I can call it love, but it just plain isn’t. So when I “repent” of any sin that creeps into my life, things need to happen, change needs to take place. It’s doesn’t mean I never slip up again, it just means if I do; I repent again and draw even closer to Jesus.

 

 

It is written: “Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” Matt 3:10

 

Therefore: Sometimes good fruit is quite noticeable, like when evangelists lead thousands of people to Jesus, or hundreds of people are healed at a revival. But I think there’s a lot of good fruit that we may never see; fruit that comes from a blessing, a hug, a prayer, a random act of kindness.  I give God permission to prune me so that I will produce abundant fruit, whether I ever see it or not.

 

 

It is written: “I (John) baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone (Jesus) is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matt 3:11

 

Therefore: I just recently got a grasp of what the fire represents here: God’s presence, passion and purity.

 

 

It is written: “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Matt 3:17

 

Therefore: What a way for God to introduce Jesus to the world. He had yet to heal the sick, raise the dead, or cast out demons. God doesn’t love me for what I do; He loves me for who I am, His beloved daughter (or son). I love Him back, not because of what He can do for me, but because of who He is. He alone is worthy of all my love, devotion, surrender, praise and worship.

 

 

It is written: “But Jesus told him (Satan)! No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” Matt 4:4-5

 

Therefore: I have to know God’s Word. It’s my arsenal to fight the enemy, and it’s nourishment to my spirit, soul and body. With modern technology it’s easy to look up scripture on my phone or computer, but sometimes there’s just not time. I have to be prepared, I have to know God’s Word, and I have to know His character. 

 

 

It is written:  “ the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” Matt 4:16 

 

Therefore: Just as Jesus’ light went into dark places, so can mine. As I allow God’s love, joy, peace, hope, glory, and light to flow into and out of me, people’s lives can be changed. I’ve been deep down in a cave where it was pitch black, where I could not see my hand in front of my face. All it took was one match to bring light into that cave. And all it takes is one person so full of Jesus to light up a whole room, city, state, nation.