A God Given Vision

May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.  Psalm 20:4

Has the LORD placed upon your heart a strong desire – a vision – a call to action?  What did you do?  When we walk closely with our Savior and LORD, He will often place in our heart a call to action.  But before we take action, there are things which we must do. 

When our LORD gives us a vision – a calling, He never leaves us in the dark.  We are blessed to have His Holy Word to guide us as we navigate this calling upon our lives.  God has blessed us with the indwelling Holy Spirit to ignite our spirit as we bring to fruition this vision He has given us.  We must be in continual pray in regards to this calling, seeking God’s leading.  

Has God placed a vision upon your heart?  Has He placed a desire to start a new ministry, a Bible Study in your home, or a prayer group among co-workers?  In the Book of Nehemiah, God placed a vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem upon Nehemiah’s heart.  It began as a burden for the condition of the Holy City, Jerusalem.  The vision to rebuild the walls of the city immediately led to prayer, seeking God for His will and His guidance.  When we realize that God is placing a vision in our hearts, our first response should be to pray, seeking the face of God.  Proverbs 16:9 – A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.  Allow God to determine the steps you are to take as you carry out your God given vision.

Notice in Chapter 2 of Nehemiah that Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem and makes preparations to rebuild the city walls.  Just as God blessed Nehemiah with boldness, wisdom, and knowledge to rally the Israelites to assist in rebuilding the walls of the Holy City, He will bless us if we seek His face and walk in His ways.  When God reveals to you a vision, a call to action, ask Him for wisdom.  James 1:5 – Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.  If this is a God’s given desire, He will not withhold His wisdom as you carry forth this vision.  Seek Him, pray for godly wisdom. 

Know that when Almighty God places a vision upon your heart and you start walking the path God is leading you down, opposition will arise.  In Nehemiah 4, we see that Nehemiah and the Israelites were faced with opposition as they proceeded to build the walls of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah 4:1-2 – When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious.  He mocked the Jews before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria, and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing?  Can they restore it by themselves?  Will they offer sacrifices?  Will they ever finish it?  Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from mounds of rubble?”  Opposition and cruel words from others may hurt but if Almighty God has blessed you with a call, a vision, you must keep your focus on Him and the task at hand.  Believe as Nehemiah and the Israelites believed, “Our God will fight for us.” – Nehemiah 4:20.  Then follow the example of the Israelites – “So we continued the work.” – Nehemiah 4:21.

Dear Heavenly Father, when You place upon our hearts a calling, a vision; help us to be faithful.  We know LORD you are there to empower us and provide for our every need.  Help us to be faithful to carry forth the vision You have blessed us with.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

Weep, Mourn, and Pray

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept.  I mourned for a number of days fasting and praying before God of heaven.  Nehemiah 1:4

If we live long enough, there will come a time when we will be receive devastating news.  This news will break our hearts and will place us in a position where we may not know what to do.  We may feel as if there is no place to turn.  Let us not be deceived.  We do have someone to turn to.  Our family and friends are wonderful but where do we turn first?  Who do we turn to first?

We read in the Book of Nehemiah that Nehemiah had received some devastating news.  Nehemiah 1:3 – They said to me, “The remnant in the province who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace.  Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down and its gates have been burned.”  Nehemiah received news that greatly unsettled his soul.  Has there ever been a time that the news you received unsettled your soul?  Nehemiah was greatly concerned about Jerusalem because it was the Jews’ holy city.  It was his homeland, even though he was living in Babylon because of the Jews’ captivity. 

Your devastating news may not come in the form of your homeland being in disarray but it could come in the form of a diagnosis, a family crisis, a release from a job, or an end to a relationship.  Devastating news comes in all forms to all people.  We see in Scripture that immediately after hearing the news, Nehemiah wept, he mourned, fasted, and prayed.  He sought out no one else other than Almighty God. 

What will we do when difficult news is delivered?  Before our news ever arrives, our LORD knows.  Job 34:21 – For His eyes watch over a man’s steps and He observes all his steps.  Our God is omniscient and desires for us to yield to him in our brokenness, in our heartache.  Weep, mourn, and fast, but most importantly, go to your knees in prayer to God.  Psalm 34:17 tells us The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears…..

So when the difficult news comes, and it will; what will you do?  Let’s do as Nehemiah did.  Take  time at first to weep, mourn, fast, and pray.  Then listen to the voice of God as He directs your path. 

Dear Heavenly Father, we know this journey can be difficult.  I pray we will seek Your will and directions in prayer as Nehemiah chose to do.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

Lukewarm

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish that you were cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.  Revelation 3:15-16

Our Savior and LORD knows all.  He knows our hearts, our motives, and our deeds.  What does Jesus see when He searches your heart?  What do your motives and your deeds reveal to Christ?  When Jesus looks at our very souls, does He see someone who loves Him dearly and is motivated by their love for Him or does He see someone who is lukewarm. 

A lukewarm Christian is indifferent and apathetic.  They are satisfied with going to church and having “their” spiritual desires met.  They go through the religious motions, so to speak.  A lukewarm Christian may share the Gospel Message but only when it is convenient for them.  They are halfhearted in their commitment to Jesus, to prayer, and to the reading of His Word.

In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus is addressing the church in Laodicea.  He considered the spiritual worthiness of the church nauseating – “I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.”  I wonder when Jesus looks at the heart of our church, how does He view her spiritual worthiness?  How does Jesus Christ, my Savior and LORD, view my personal spiritual worthiness?  Am I living the life of a lukewarm Christian? 

The study of Scripture reveals that the rapture of the church (believers) could take place at any moment and after that the seven year Tribulation will begin.  Study the book of Revelation and you will see the horrific events that will take place during the Tribulation period.  Just the thought of this horrific time period should cause urgency in our spirit.  Lukewarm churches and Christians must put repent of their apathy and turn to God for strength and guidance to carry the Plan of Salvation to the world. 

The believers in Laodicea thought that their material possessions were a sign of God’s blessing upon their lives.  Their wealth lead to their arrogance and caused them to be completely blind to the fact that they were spiritually wretched and blind.  Revelation 3:17 – Because you say, ‘I am rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.  We must remember that no matter how much we possess, how much money we make, or how educated we are, we have nothing if we don’t have a vital relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our possessions and achievements are valueless compared to an everlasting future with Jesus Christ in His Heavenly Kingdom. 

Jesus was calling the church at Laodicea to repent.  He told the church if they continued as they were, indifferent in their relationship to Him, He would discipline them.  Revelation 3:19 – As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline.  So be committed and repent.  If we are living the life as a lukewarm Christian, a life of apathy, it is time we turn to our LORD and repent.  Prayerfully ask Almighty God to reignite our zeal for our Savior and LORD. 

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for not being totally devoted and surrendered to You.  Help us to realize that this world is truly temporal and fleeting.  I pray we turn our eyes to the eternal.  Empower us LORD.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

Almighty God Knows Our Hearts and Our Deeds

I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.  Jeremiah 17:10

Our Savior and LORD knows our hearts.  He knows whether we serve out of our love for Him or if we serve out of selfish motives and selfish desires.  In Revelations 3:7-11, we see Jesus Christ addressing the church in Philadelphia.  He tells them in verse 8 - "I know your deeds."  We may be able to hide our true motives and deeds from others, but never will we be able to hide our true motives and deeds from our Savior and LORD.  Scripture reveals to us that our actions flow from what is truly in our hearts.  What does Jesus see in your heart today?  

Our motives, efforts, and works should flow out of our love for our LORD and our desire to bring Him all honor, glory, and praise.  We must at all times keep our hearts in check and keep ourselves humbled before our LORD or pride will enter our lives.  Prayerfully ask God to reveal your true heart.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it - Proverbs 4:23

When we see Almighty God for who He truly is, "holy and true" - verse 7, we are able to see ourselves as we truly are; nothing without Him; a sinner saved by grace.  Without the anointing and strength provided by our LORD, we will be unable to send treasures to Heaven.  Matthew 6:20 - But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  Our motives, efforts, and works which we do out of our selfish desires and for selfish gain will be worthless and will never enter Heaven's gate. 

We read in Revelation 3:10 Jesus commending the church in Philadelphia for "enduring patiently."  This church was able to endure patiently because they had built the foundation of their lives on Jesus Christ.  Where have you built your foundation?  All earthly things will pass away.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever - 1 John 2:17.  When we build our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, we will be able to endure patiently the many things which we will encounter as we travel towards our Heavenly Home.

There will come a day when all our motives and all our deeds will be brought to light.  They will be revealed as done unto our LORD or for selfish gain.  When the day comes, will your motives and your deeds reveal that your ultimate desire was to bring honor and glory to Almighty God?  1 Corinthians 4:5 - He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.  At that time each will receive their praise from God. 

Just as the church at Philadelphia kept the commands of Christ and continued to endure as they traveled toward their Heavenly Home, we must do the same.  Let us set our minds on things above, on eternity.  We must place Heaven's priorities into daily practice.  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things - Colossians 3:1-2.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Words and Your guidance.  Help us LORD to desire to place our minds on things above - things of eternal value.  Anoint us to serve You out of our love for You, precious LORD.  I pray that our words and our deeds bring You honor, glory, and praise.  In Jesus Name I Pray...Amen.

Distracted By Acts of Service

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!"  Luke 10:40

In Luke 10:38-42, we read the account of two women and the choices they made when Jesus visited their home.  Martha chose to be busy with her acts of service and Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus.  She desired to listen to the Living Word.  Scripture tells us that Martha was distracted.  She allowed her busyness (acts of service) to take away from precious time she could be spending with Jesus, the Messiah.  She wasn't doing anything bad, but she had allowed other things to take priority over spending time in the presence of her LORD.  Prayerfully search your heart. Have you become as Martha and allowed your acts of service to take priority over spending intimate time in God’s presence?

When you and I become distracted by our acts of service, we will miss divine moments with our Savior and LORD.  He desires an intimate, personal relationship before all else.  God has things He desires to reveal to us when we spend time in His presence.  The busyness of our acts of service can drown out the voice of our LORD if we are not careful to place our time with Him as a priority in our lives.  Our acts of service must have the anointing of our LORD, and without spending time in His presence, we will not have the anointing and the strength which Almighty God provides for His children. 

Examine your life today.  What are your priorities?  What Martha was doing wasn't bad, but it wasn't what was best.  Jesus told Martha, "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" - Luke 10:42.  Nothing or no one can take away what Almighty God provides you during the intimate time you spend in His presence.  Lamentations 3:25 - The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.  As you spend time in the presence of your Savior and LORD, you begin to grow in your faith walk.  The fruit of the spirit becomes evident in your life.  This enables us to carry out our acts of service in a worshipful manner that will bring honor and glory to our Savior and LORD. 

We demonstrate our love and devotion for our LORD by spending time in His presence.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength - Deuteronomy 6:5.  Spending time in God's presence, reading His Word and praying, provides us with a peace that is unexplainable.  Spending time in the presence of Almighty God will increase our faith and provide us with joy.  We will never come to a place in our faith walk where we will regret the time we spend with our LORD. 

I encourage you today - do not choose just what is good.  Choose what is best.  First spend time in the presence of your Savior and LORD and then allow everything else to flow from your intimate, personal relationship with Him.  Make sure your relationship with your Heavenly Father takes precedence over your acts of service. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that our personal time in Your presence will be a priority in our lives.  Help us LORD to choose what is best.  Anoint us to live a life that brings You honor, glory, and praise.  In Jesus Name I pray.....Amen.

Get Moving

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the Israelites to move on.  Exodus 14:15

There are often times when we know where God is leading us.  We know God's will and what He is calling us to step out and do.  Well, why then do we wait?  Why do we refuse to step out and follow where our LORD is leading?  Often we will continue to seek God's guidance to postpone doing what He is leading us to do.  I encourage you today to be brave.  Step up and walk in the will of Almighty God.  When we seek Him for His guidance and lean on Him to provide our strength, we will be walking in the very will of our LORD.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand - Isaiah 41:10.

We read in Exodus 14 that the Israelites had come to the Red Sea with angry Egyptians in hot pursuit.  At God's instruction, Moses was leading the Israelites out of slavery into freedom.  They came to the Red Sea, which was a very large obstacle in their path, and began to cry out and complain.  Exodus 14: 10-11 - As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.  They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.  They said to Moses, "Was it because there were not graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?"  The Israelites viewed their obstacle bigger than their God.  How often do we view the obstacles we encounter bigger than our LORD? 

God is calling us out.  He is calling us out to live in freedom.  He desires to bless us with an abundant life but we have to step out and walk in obedience and faith.  John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  Life in Jesus Christ is lived on a higher plane because of His forgiveness, love, and guidance.

 As we walk in obedience to our calling, we will encounter obstacles along the path.  Know this; Almighty God has it all under control.  We can trust Him.  Let's not give into complaining and to fear as the Israelites did, but let us hold tightly to the memories of God's past faithfulness knowing that He will be faithful in our present situation.  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect your from the evil one - 2 Thessalonians 3:3.

Today may be the day that God is telling many of us, just as He told the Israelites, "move on" - Exodus 14:15.  You sought His guidance.  You know what God is calling you to do.  Be brave and move on and live your life bringing honor and glory to Almighty God.  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you - Deuteronomy 31:6.

Dear Heavenly Father, take away our fear.  Help us to walk in obedience to Your calling.  Please forgive us when we continue to question Your will after You have clearly given us guidance.  Help us to live a life boldly glorifying You.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

Men and Women of God

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  1 Peter 1:22-23

We seem to be living in a world that has lost its way.  Selfishness abounds.  Everyone is more concerned with their opinions and their feeling, rather than what the Word of God teaches.  It is time that those truly committed to Jesus Christ step up and be the leaders that Almighty God is calling them to be.  Christian men and women must set the example of how to live a godly life in an ungodly world.

 

Godly men need to step up and be the spiritual leaders in their families.  Joshua vowed that he and his household would serve Almighty God.  No matter what idols the people chose to worship and follow, Joshua recognized that there was only one true God deserving of his worship.  Joshua 24:15 - But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.  Parents, take a definite stand for God.  Lead your family in the ways of the LORD.  Regardless of the way the world goes, commit to Almighty God. 

 

Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ recognize His voice.  Are you listening to the voice of your Savior and LORD?  Scripture reveals to us that those who belong to Christ listen to His voice.  John 10:27 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  Almighty God continually speaks to us through His Word.  Are you listening or have you allowed the voices of this world to drowned out the voice of your Savior and LORD.  Not only are we to listen to the voice of our LORD, but we are to be obedient.  Isaiah 30:21 - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."  God doesn't leave us in the dark.  We have His precious Holy Word to give us direction, encouragement, and hope, as we journey towards our Heavenly Home.

 

Men and women of God willingly make themselves available to be used by God.  In Matthew 4:19-22 we see Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John away from their productive trade to be productive spiritually.  These men didn't make excuses.  They left at once and followed Jesus.  Matthew 4:19-20 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  At once they left their nets and followed him.  What excuses are you making why you can't serve your Savior and LORD?  There is no excuse good enough.  God doesn't need capability, He needs availability.  Men and woman of God will be available when He calls. 

 

Men and women of God follow after Him with a pure heart.  As we live our lives, we should be becoming more and more like Christ each day.  This is a process that will not be complete until we see our Savior and LORD face-to-face.  We should seek to have a pure heart, to live our lives bringing glory and honor to our LORD.  1John 3:3 - All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 

 

Men and women of God must continually pray for our LORD to place a deep desire in our heart to live a pure life.  Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  A pure life will point those who are lost to God's saving grace.  When we are living from a pure heart, we are not living our lives for selfish gain; we are living to bring honor and glory to the only One deserving honor and glory - Jesus Christ. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to live a life that brings You all honor, glory, and praise.  Father as we read Your Holy Word, speak clearly to us so that we can live a life of obedience.  I pray we will follow where You lead.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.