Was with a friend tonight and had a chance to get some prayer in. We were reviewing what we had been giving from last year and trying to put together an ‘agenda’ for this new year.
As we started, I was really glad the Lord took over, because I do a lousy job trying to figure out things on my own. To be completely honest, having faith without being prayed up… ‘connected to the Lord’ is simply not my forte. I am indeed grateful that He ‘took the wheel’.
The word ‘EXPECT’ seemed to blaze like a big sign in the sky.
I would like to start by saying, this verse did not pop into mind
Mark 11:23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
I wish I could write on this blog and say it did…but in reality, this verse was the one that seemed to convey my true thoughts..
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Friends, sometimes the ‘weakness part’ to mountain relocation seems a bit more realistic than
how do you want Mt. Mobile shipped, ground or same day air…
I had to be totally honest with Him, the Spirit was moving and did not want to miss ‘the connection’.
Lord, I hear this every year-Expect-Faith to move mountains…and I know this Word can be from You…but it’s just difficult to have faith when it seems so long to have Your promises move like the Word says they can move. I truly believe the church will someday come together and move mountains (Jn. 14;12), it’s just-over time-honestly Lord…there can be a lot more setbacks that verified victories.
He was slow to answer…it’s like He wanted to show me…I am not upset at what you are saying. I just felt a compassion and a patience…like, I truly Understand.
He agreed, this message is spoken one way or another, every year. I also felt He understood, many of us feel ‘outside’ these great annual promises. It was like He wanted to help those feeling ‘outside’ of these yearly pronouncements.
He gave me a nudge of understanding about ‘our weakness’, mentioned above. Bill, that’s why it is sooo important to ‘abide in Me’ (Jn. 15:4-5). There are times when we may not ‘feel’ the Spirits presence (and still persevere), but when you abide in Me…I can put My faith in you (Phil. 4:13, Lk. 18:27)
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
I really want you to ‘Expect’ for this year. He then mentioned different things many of us have prayed and hoped for….each time using the word ‘Expect this’ in the months to come. Every time He mentioned ‘Expect’ in a different area, the ‘Expectancy’ grew stronger and stronger. He Pointed to this spiritual truth…and I felt, Yes Lord, You really can do this. Then another truth…time and time again, when ‘HE SPOKE IT’ there was a living hope come alive-doubt seemed to vanish and faith became an assurance of what He can do. I was being transferred to the circle of ‘this really can happen in 2016. 🙂
I thought, Wow Lord, You really do want us to ‘Expect’ this year, and you will implant faith-hope as needed (1 Pet. 1:3).
The compassion I felt from Him was to those who feel ‘outside the circle’ of promises given every year. He soo wants you to know, He can put you right inside His love and blessing for this new season of life that has been given to you. It was the ‘nobodies’, those who seem left out that He chose ‘first-over all’. Before Jesus blessed anyone, He blessed these.
Matthew 5:2-4 and he began to teach them. He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
For those outside the circle- He literally is seeking you out first. He laid out His ministry for those poor in spirit, mourning-those thirsting for the living hope in their lives. Praise God!
I won’t say it ‘may’ take sacrifice, but ‘will’ take sacrifice- that the beauty of it.
From the cross, Jesus experienced joy because He realized His suffering would bring everlasting blessings to us. Glory forever without end. We respond and surrendering the earthly things because we value these true eternal treasures.
Hebrews 12:2 who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He made it clear to me, that the Biblical tools given to us need to be applied, like speaking these promises, continually exercising the written truths from His scriptures and believing in the Word. It’s the ‘abiding in Him’ however that brings the glorious gifts from heaven and makes it a reality on earth. Matt. 19:26
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
You are not left out if you do not understand how to use all the tools. The Father in heaven understands, He just wants you too sincerely go to Him-yes continually dwell with Him.
It always starts by Seeking Him with ‘all’ our heart (Jerm. 29:13). Fellowshipping with other believers (Heb. 10:24-25) is so important, and with the help of the internet, we can review true men and women of God…who put Him first.
See works and videos by Leonard Ravenhill, Smith Wigglesworth, Heidi Baker, Todd White to name a few.
Feel free to contact me on this contact page and browse any info on this web site. May you be blessed in our ‘fresh start’ for 2016. 🙂
For those of you who would like to know Jesus personally, for the first time, please link to the picture below and use the contact page to get connected with other believers .
God bless you as you pursue His truth.