I confess, hurry has been a huge undercurrent in my life. While I'm not sure where it started, I am sure of one thing: along the way, I became addicted to the adrenaline rush of hurry. Unfortunately, that's dangerous for my body, soul, and relationships. Sigh… In light of that, over the past 10 years, I've been seeking to let go of the constant feeling of being rushed. I'm not going to lie. It's not been easy, and I am not there yet.
As we usher in a new year, many of us naturally reflect on the past and plan for the future. For Christians, this season provides a profound opportunity to align our lives with God's will and seek Christ and His Kingdom with renewed passion. Let Matthew 6:33 serve as our guiding light: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." In this blog post, we'll explore practical and spiritual ways to prioritize Christ and the Kingdom as we embark on the journey of a new year.
Oh noooooo! Our Christmas tree fell over!! We bought our live tree last year. (1) Day One: We put up the lights and didn't like the way it looked. We took the lights down and bought some more to go add. (2) Day Two: Then we spent most of the day decorating and re-hanging the lights. Finally finished. The next morning our tree fell over – water all over the floor, strings of lights ridiculously tangled together, and favorite ornaments were smashed. (We had an 8' tree, and we put it on a little table because this is a high ceiling.
When I visited Egypt a few years ago, a pastor from a church in Cairo told me about an outreach he had organized in a rural community. Medical professionals from his church set up a clinic in a village and advertised that they would be providing free care. When the doctors and nurses arrived at the location, residents were already lined up for the complimentary consultations.
When we consider faith for healing, it is easy to isolate our "I believe" statements to just the healing part. I can absolutely believe that God is able to heal me, and desires to do so. But the Lord reminded me the other day, the kind of faith that results in "…your faith has made you well…" is the kind of faith that encompasses every part of our lives – not just our healing. It's the kind of faith that believes in His goodness and power in every detail of our journey.
I have always been a planner. I'm a goal-oriented person, so I like to have a plan and then check things off my list. However, over the years, I've learned an important lesson - ;life doesn't always go as planned! Whether it's a little plan or a big plan - your daily schedule or your career strategy - it can be disappointing if everything doesn't work out the way you had hoped. And many people fall apart when their plan falls apart.
Christians are always engaged in spiritual warfare. It's a personal fight of faith and a battle that goes on in our own minds. We need to recognize and acknowledge that we have a real enemy. Too many Christians are not aware of this fact; therefore, there is no resistance of the devil. There are demonic spirits watching us, waiting to find an entrance into our lives to harm and destroy us.
When we hear the phrase "DNA of Christ," it might sound metaphorical, but it captures a profound spiritual truth, that as believers, we carry the essence of Jesus within us. Through His death, resurrection, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we have become partakers of His divine nature. In John 3:3 (NIV), Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." This rebirth is not physical but spiritual. It signifies a transformation where our old sinful nature is replaced with the righteousness of Christ.
You have Kingdom authority through Jesus. But what does that mean? And if you have Kingdom authority, how do you activate or release it? In Hebrew, the word authority means "having dominion, the ability or power to do something based on a higher power, or to multiply." The Bible is clear that you are given Kingdom authority through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
There is a sound of awakening being heard across our land. The sound of a trumpet, beckoning the body of Christ to awaken and position itself for a move of the Holy Spirit in this critical hour. The Lord is calling for the body of Christ to stir, arise and synchronize with the Holy Spirit to bring transformation to this generation. We're living in chaotic times, and our world is experiencing rapid, extreme changes, and radical behavior in all walks of life. Unpredictable events are becoming the norm, and we're at a crossroad as a nation.
