Presumption
Prov.16:9 “We should make plans—counting on God to direct us” [TLB, with emphasis].
We should make plans but we should also count on God for direction. When you ask God to help you plan, what you are saying in other words is, “let Your blessing be on the plan” and that is a different thing all together. Always start with God in the picture. It is unwise to first paint the picture and then bring it to God. It is like filling the jar and then bringing it to Him. You have to leave it empty so He can fill it; so that He can direct your steps.
Defer To Him
Prov.16:9 “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
The second step to confidently face the future is to avoid the two mistakes highlighted in James 4:13-17 [please read]. The first mistake is planning without God. Someone says and I agree, “The best way to predict the future is to plan”. Yes, God expects us to plan. When you are creating the future, you are planning. But the easiest way to ruin that future you are creating is to plan without God.
Proper Perspective
Deut.18:9 “…be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations… 10 For example, …fortune-telling …sorcery …interpret omens …witchcraft, …cast spells 11…mediums or psychics… 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…” [with emphasis]
God says anyone whether pastors, prophets, evangelist, apostles, believer, non-believer, whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord. The fact that people throw a cloak of Pentecostalism over fortune telling does not change it from divination as far as heaven is concerned and heaven detests it. Deut.18:13 “But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.” Let your ears hear what the Spirit is saying.
Domain Based II
1 Cor.2:10 “But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit”
The information in the spirit realm is divided into two categories – the public domain and the private domain of God. Information in the public realm is accessible to everyone that can connect to it. The information that is not accessible is the secret things of God. The only people that have access to it are the friends of God, people that can lean in to God and get it. When I realized that information exists in the public and private domain, I went to God and petitioned that my files be removed from the public domain except maybe my name. For some people their whole life is in the public domain.
Domain Based I
Matt.6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today” [Voice]
You are not accountable for what you do not know. As far as God has hidden it, you are not accountable for it; so relax! Before you start worrying about what you do not know, the question is what have you done about the things you know? It is the things you know, the things already revealed that God will hold you accountable for. The things that God has spoken to your spirit, what have you done about it? Act on those things and stop worrying about what God has not revealed. Deal with what He has revealed and watch Him reveal much more.
Future Peace
Ecc.8:7 “For no one knows what is going to happen, so who can warn him before it does?” [Voice]
Human beings have an innate desire to know the future. This is why we have so many people predicting the future. Every year, different people come up with predictions of what the year holds. The business people come up with business predictions and anyone that has anything to do with anything spiritual, comes up with its own predictions. There are a lot of confusing and contradicting predictions out there because everybody just wants to have a say about what will happen in the future.
Use Me
Ps.145:5 Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on your wonders.
6 Your marvelous doings are headline news; I could write a book full of the details of your greatness” [MSG]
Mary obviously knew the Word. Most of the words in Mary’s song were direct quotes from the Old Testament [Luke 1:46-55]. She knew and wrote God’s Word by heart. The more you know God’s Word, the less you worry. The less you know God’s Word, the more you worry. If you are filled with worry, it is an indication of your knowledge of God and of His Word. Your assignment today is to memorize one scripture a week. You can start with one a week and then grow to one a day. There are a lot of websites that can help you do that; one of them is dailybiblepromise.com.
Your Focus
Luke 1: 46 “Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord! 47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator! 48 For though I’m God’s humble servant, God has noticed me. Now and forever, I will be considered blessed by all generations” [Voice].
The closing thought from yesterday’s devotion was that Mary’s response to what will scare most of us was to praise God. Mary is teaching us that when you do not know what to do and the situation looks hopeless, look up – lift up your eyes. God, your salvation is here. Sometimes people are unable to relate with the characters in the Bible. So I will share a true story with you today so you will know that it is possible to rejoice even in uncertain situations.
Key
Luke 1: 46 “…Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me”
Do not live an ordinary life and do not be afraid of God using you. A lot of you reading this today are really powerful but you cannot continue to do nothing. I pray that you will change today, in Jesus Name. You need to stretch yourself even in your giving. You cannot continue to give only what you are comfortable with; stretch yourself! If you only give what is comfortable then how can you see the miraculous? I always stretch my giving. There were seasons in my life that my wife thought I was crazy but now we are on the same page in giving. As a church, we always stretch our giving.
Step Out
Luke 1: 38 “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her”
Miracles only happen outside of your comfort zone. I think you should write that down. Miracles happen only outside of your comfort zone. Miracles do not happen in your comfort zone. Take fasting for instance; each time I have to wait on God, I am deliberate about pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Do you know that it is possible to fast and remain in your comfort zone? And nothing would have shifted. You have to always push yourself out of the comfort zone because that is where miracles happen.
Some people are too complacent. They will kick and fight against anything that attempts to take them out of their comfort zone. Guess what? If you want to see the miraculous Read the rest of this entry
