This is the Year!

Last Sunday I woke up really early in the morning and the Lord began speaking to me. He said to make a declaration of Psalm 118:24 over the whole year of 2015.

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭24‬ NKJV)

I often declare this verse in the morning as I’m just getting up or leaving to go about my day. My days are not without trials but with declaring this verse it helps me keep my anchor of hope in Christ, no matter what the day may bring.

The cool thing about this verse is the use of “we.” It’s not just a declaration for myself but for my family and the whole body of Christ.

So join me in prophesying into the year ahead:

This is the year the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Ruins Come to Life

“Desire is insatiable as death, but He who filleth all in all can fill it.” -Charles Spurgeon

There is a special attribute to the Kingdom of God that I fear many Christians forget or are just unaware of. When seeking first the Kingdom we often get wrapped up in external activities but: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭20-21‬ NKJV)

For years I was not a Christian and sought to fill the desires of my soul with worldly, temporary pleasures (two of the big ones being alcohol and pornography). After becoming a Christian I had a constant struggle between this old man and the new creation that I had become. My flesh would still desire worldly things and in an attempt to earn holiness I would go on streaks of self-denial. These never lasted very long and sent me into a whirlwind of identity struggle.

The problem is that I was looking outward, instead of inward. Focusing on outward self-denial of the flesh actually makes your fleshly desires grow. Phrases like “murder your flesh” are thrown around but according to scripture I’m a new creation and my old man is already dead!

I did not find freedom until I learned to turn inward to Christ in me, the hope of glory. It is there that I find all I am looking for and become delighted in the Lord. It is there that God does the work from the inside out and uproots the hidden leaven planted by the principalities of darkness in our earlier years.

If you seek breakthrough do not strive towards anything but knowing Christ in you the hope of glory. It is there that all deliverance comes.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭8‬ NKJV)

The Best Benefits Package

It’s not always easy following the Lord, but it’s always worth it. We are all called to full-time ministry no matter what your vocation may be. We are called to love like Jesus did and to be His hands and feet. Sometimes this means doing the exact opposite of what society seems to be doing around us. This can be a hard job, we face trials, tribulations, persecution and spiritual warfare, but it is always worth it. Our job comes with the best benefits package known to man and in this I rejoice!

I hear people talking about how it’s hard to be a Christian and a struggle, but honestly it’s not hard when we have heaven’s perspective. It’s only hard when we look at things from the world’s perspective. His glory far outweighs anything we may face in this life. Knowing Him makes my life complete and gives me a fulfillment that I can’t find anywhere else. This is why Paul was able to write encouraging letters like Philippians while in chains and it is for this reason that James said to rejoice in every trial.

Blessed be the Lord who preserves the righteous! This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!