I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:
"Empty yourselves! So I can do a new thing in you! Empty yourselves! So I can pour out My Spirit and My power in you! Empty yourselves! So I can do a miracle in you!"
Indeed, when you come to God, you cannot come to God already full (i.e. full of your own selves, full of your own flesh, or with the 'I-know-it-all' attitude). God cannot pour out something new in you, unless and until you empty yourselves!
Let me use an analogy of a cup. If the cup is already full of murky liquid, and someone pours fresh water into it, the fresh water will spill out! But if the cup is emptied of the murky liquid, and someone pours fresh water into it, the fresh water will fill the cup to the brim!
The same it is with us. If we are already so full of ourselves, God's Spirit, power, and miracle cannot fill us. Of course, it isn't because He doesn't want to fill us, but because we have become the hindrance by not 'letting go' of those 'murky liquids'!
What are some of the 'murky liquids' that we need to empty ourselves of?
Pride, ego, selfish ambition, jealousy, lust, greed, bitterness, unforgiveness, sorrow, worry, anxiety, fear, and the list goes on.
Whatever your 'murky liquid' may be, this is the time to empty it from your cup! So that God can pour 'fresh water' into you! Because He wants to do a new thing in you, and do a miracle in you!
And here's the practical part. Say, the next time your mind is full of worry (worry about your future, worry about your job, worry about your health, worry about your finance), don't entertain that thought any longer, lest it will 'expand' and 'go wild'! And don't let it stay or linger! Not even a second! In other words, turn the cup upside down! Empty it immediately! And fill it with God's Word and God's Spirit instead! Declare to yourself: "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!" (Philippians 4:19) Declare this verse aloud! Over and over again! Till your cup is so full of it! And that is how you fill your cup with 'fresh water'!
People of God, this is the time to declare your best is yet to come, and your miracle is coming your way! Believe and receive! Just as Jesus turned water to wine for the banquet host those days (John 2:1-11), He can do the same for you, whatever your situation may be! It is interesting to notice that only when the host ran out of their own wine (i.e. came to a point of 'emptiness') that Jesus began to do His miracle! And mind you, the new wine is much better than the old wine! Hallelujah!
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Aligning with Him, His will, and His Word
I heard the Lord say these words for this new season:
"Align! Align! This is the key word for this new season. Align with Me! Align with My will! Align with My Word! Not with your flesh! This is also a key time to pray, just as the disciples prayed in the upper room! Your prayers will launch you into where I have planned for you to be, and what I have planned for you to do!"
Proverbs 16:3-4 (ESV) says, 'Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established'; and Psalm 37:5 (NKJV) says, 'Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass'.
The word 'commit' in both verses here is 'gawlal' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'roll off onto, align'. See the word 'align' here? In other words, the Scripture says as you 'align your work to His work' and 'align your way to His way', you'll see what you do be established, and the Lord shall bring it to pass (make it happen)!
The next question one may ask is, "What does the word 'align' actually mean?"
If you look at Merriam-Webster dictionary, 'to align' is 'to bring into line, to place (or arrange) things in a straight line, to come into precise adjustment or correct relative position'.
I will explain this word 'align' using 'car' as analogy for your 'life'. Just as a car has its 'lifespan', you have a 'lifespan' too! Just as a car needs to refuel, you need to refuel too! I can go on and on for this analogy. But I shall get to the point now: Just as a car needs 'tire alignment', you need a 'tire alignment' too!
Why do you need a 'tire alignment'?
- for smoother ride ahead of you;
- help tires perform properly;
- help tires last longer;
- improve handling of the car;
- keep the car from pulling into one direction.
How do I know if I need a 'tire alignment'?
- your car pulling to the left or right;
- your steering wheel is off center (when you drive straight);
- steering wheel vibration (making it uncomfortable to drive).
Further notes:
'Tire alignment' is actually an adjustment of a car's suspension (the system of springs and shock absorbers that connects a car to its tires). It is NOT an adjustment of the tires themselves. It is an adjustment of the angle of the tires, which will affect how the tires make contact with the road.
And there I have explained it! If a 'car' speaks of your 'life', then the 'tires' speaks of your 'hands' and 'feet', i.e. 'the works you put your hands on', and 'the places you set your feet on'!
As you can see from the notes above, 'tire alignment' is NOT an adjustment of the tires themselves, but instead, it is an adjustment of a car's suspension that connects a car to its tires! In other words, it is an adjustment in the inside of you! What is 'adjusted' in the inside will in turn bring the right effects in the outside!
For a 'smoother ride' (or for your works to be done properly, and the effects to last longer), there will be times you need an 'alignment'! People of God, the time is NOW!
And the key to your alignment with God is none other than PRAYER! Indeed, this is a crucial time for such! Be it for your life, ministry, career, business, or even nation!
Acts 1:12-14 says, 'Then they (the apostles) returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying... These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (seeking, asking, entreating God)...'
After seeing Jesus ascending toward heaven (Acts 1:9-10), the apostles returned to Jerusalem and went into the upper room where they were staying. Joined by the others, they spent time praying - waiting on the Lord and aligning themselves with the Lord!
You may ask, "What does praying have to do with aligning?"
Praying has everything to do with aligning! When you are praying, you are aligning with His will and His Word! You are praying His will to be done! You are praying according to what His Word says! You see, prayer without aligning with the Lord is no prayer at all!
And that's what the apostles and disciples of Jesus did! Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the Lord began to move in unprecedented ways! He poured out His Spirit in ways never seen before! (Acts 2:1-4)
As for the apostles and disciples of Jesus, their launching time had come! From there, they went forth with boldness, sharing the Good News wherever the Spirit of the Lord lead them! They never looked back since!
People of God, likewise, your prayers in this time and season will launch you into where He has planned for you to be, and what He has planned for you to do, moving forward. And yes, even in unprecedented ways! Prepare for your launching time!
"Align! Align! This is the key word for this new season. Align with Me! Align with My will! Align with My Word! Not with your flesh! This is also a key time to pray, just as the disciples prayed in the upper room! Your prayers will launch you into where I have planned for you to be, and what I have planned for you to do!"
Proverbs 16:3-4 (ESV) says, 'Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established'; and Psalm 37:5 (NKJV) says, 'Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass'.
The word 'commit' in both verses here is 'gawlal' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'roll off onto, align'. See the word 'align' here? In other words, the Scripture says as you 'align your work to His work' and 'align your way to His way', you'll see what you do be established, and the Lord shall bring it to pass (make it happen)!
The next question one may ask is, "What does the word 'align' actually mean?"
If you look at Merriam-Webster dictionary, 'to align' is 'to bring into line, to place (or arrange) things in a straight line, to come into precise adjustment or correct relative position'.
I will explain this word 'align' using 'car' as analogy for your 'life'. Just as a car has its 'lifespan', you have a 'lifespan' too! Just as a car needs to refuel, you need to refuel too! I can go on and on for this analogy. But I shall get to the point now: Just as a car needs 'tire alignment', you need a 'tire alignment' too!
Why do you need a 'tire alignment'?
- for smoother ride ahead of you;
- help tires perform properly;
- help tires last longer;
- improve handling of the car;
- keep the car from pulling into one direction.
How do I know if I need a 'tire alignment'?
- your car pulling to the left or right;
- your steering wheel is off center (when you drive straight);
- steering wheel vibration (making it uncomfortable to drive).
Further notes:
'Tire alignment' is actually an adjustment of a car's suspension (the system of springs and shock absorbers that connects a car to its tires). It is NOT an adjustment of the tires themselves. It is an adjustment of the angle of the tires, which will affect how the tires make contact with the road.
And there I have explained it! If a 'car' speaks of your 'life', then the 'tires' speaks of your 'hands' and 'feet', i.e. 'the works you put your hands on', and 'the places you set your feet on'!
As you can see from the notes above, 'tire alignment' is NOT an adjustment of the tires themselves, but instead, it is an adjustment of a car's suspension that connects a car to its tires! In other words, it is an adjustment in the inside of you! What is 'adjusted' in the inside will in turn bring the right effects in the outside!
For a 'smoother ride' (or for your works to be done properly, and the effects to last longer), there will be times you need an 'alignment'! People of God, the time is NOW!
And the key to your alignment with God is none other than PRAYER! Indeed, this is a crucial time for such! Be it for your life, ministry, career, business, or even nation!
Acts 1:12-14 says, 'Then they (the apostles) returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying... These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (seeking, asking, entreating God)...'
After seeing Jesus ascending toward heaven (Acts 1:9-10), the apostles returned to Jerusalem and went into the upper room where they were staying. Joined by the others, they spent time praying - waiting on the Lord and aligning themselves with the Lord!
You may ask, "What does praying have to do with aligning?"
Praying has everything to do with aligning! When you are praying, you are aligning with His will and His Word! You are praying His will to be done! You are praying according to what His Word says! You see, prayer without aligning with the Lord is no prayer at all!
And that's what the apostles and disciples of Jesus did! Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the Lord began to move in unprecedented ways! He poured out His Spirit in ways never seen before! (Acts 2:1-4)
As for the apostles and disciples of Jesus, their launching time had come! From there, they went forth with boldness, sharing the Good News wherever the Spirit of the Lord lead them! They never looked back since!
People of God, likewise, your prayers in this time and season will launch you into where He has planned for you to be, and what He has planned for you to do, moving forward. And yes, even in unprecedented ways! Prepare for your launching time!
Sunday, May 6, 2018
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills"
Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV): I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The word 'help' here is 'ezer' in Hebrew, from the word 'azar', meaning 'to surround, to protect, to aid us (against the enemy)'. This psalm was written by David, and many bible scholars believe it was written in a time of battle, when he crucially needed the Lord's help.
The 'hills' here refers to 'the hills in Jerusalem', specifically the hill in which God's temple was built, also known as Mount Moriah. It was here that the Lord provided Abraham a ram as burnt offering, instead of him having to sacrifice his own son Isaac! In Genesis 22:13-14, the Scripture says, 'Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide'.
See the words 'lifted his eyes' here? Very interesting! Both David and Abraham lifted their eyes! Where to? For David, he lifted his eyes to Mount Moriah, where The-Lord-Will-Provide! For Abraham, he lifted his eyes and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, a 'picture' of Jesus Christ Himself! A thicket plant, by the way, is a thorny plant, and the root word for 'thicket' in Hebrew is 'sawbak', literally meaning 'to entwine'. In John 19:2, the Scripture says, 'And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head'! Indeed, Jesus wore the crown of thorns, so that you can now wear the crown of glory!
I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:
"I am the Lord your help, when you cry out to Me! Look not at your past mistakes or regrets, but look to Me! Look not at your surroundings, but look to Me! Look not at what's happening in your battlefield, but look to Me! For I am a God who hears and answers your cries. Look to My holy hills, from where comes your help, and watch how I will provide!"
People of God, whatever 'battle' you may be facing at the moment (be it in your health, in your finance, or in any other area of your life), look not at those past mistakes or regrets of yours (the 'I could have', 'I should have', or 'I would have'), and look not at all those troubles around you, but instead, lift up your eyes and look to Him - The Lord who is your Help and Provider! The Lord who crowns you with His glory!
The word 'help' here is 'ezer' in Hebrew, from the word 'azar', meaning 'to surround, to protect, to aid us (against the enemy)'. This psalm was written by David, and many bible scholars believe it was written in a time of battle, when he crucially needed the Lord's help.
The 'hills' here refers to 'the hills in Jerusalem', specifically the hill in which God's temple was built, also known as Mount Moriah. It was here that the Lord provided Abraham a ram as burnt offering, instead of him having to sacrifice his own son Isaac! In Genesis 22:13-14, the Scripture says, 'Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide'.
See the words 'lifted his eyes' here? Very interesting! Both David and Abraham lifted their eyes! Where to? For David, he lifted his eyes to Mount Moriah, where The-Lord-Will-Provide! For Abraham, he lifted his eyes and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, a 'picture' of Jesus Christ Himself! A thicket plant, by the way, is a thorny plant, and the root word for 'thicket' in Hebrew is 'sawbak', literally meaning 'to entwine'. In John 19:2, the Scripture says, 'And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head'! Indeed, Jesus wore the crown of thorns, so that you can now wear the crown of glory!
I heard and released these words from the Lord recently:
"I am the Lord your help, when you cry out to Me! Look not at your past mistakes or regrets, but look to Me! Look not at your surroundings, but look to Me! Look not at what's happening in your battlefield, but look to Me! For I am a God who hears and answers your cries. Look to My holy hills, from where comes your help, and watch how I will provide!"
People of God, whatever 'battle' you may be facing at the moment (be it in your health, in your finance, or in any other area of your life), look not at those past mistakes or regrets of yours (the 'I could have', 'I should have', or 'I would have'), and look not at all those troubles around you, but instead, lift up your eyes and look to Him - The Lord who is your Help and Provider! The Lord who crowns you with His glory!
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