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As the natural world shifts from one season to another, we are reminded of the profound changes that also occur in the spiritual realm. Just as the earth moves through cycles of growth, harvest, and rest, so too does our spiritual journey. God uses the natural changes in seasons to mirror the shifts He desires to bring about in our hearts and lives. Now, more than ever, God is calling His people to seek His presence and be transformed by His glory.
The Hebrew new year 5785 begins at sundown, Oct. 2, and we enter the month of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew religious calendar and the first month on the Hebrew civil calendar. This is why it is called "head of the year." Tishri is noted for three fall feasts. They are the Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah, which begins on the first of Tishri, or Oct. 2, at sundown; then Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, which begins at sundown Oct. 11 and runs through sundown Oct. 12; and then Feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles which begins at sundown Oct. 16 through Oct. 23.
Do you know you're stronger than you think? Do you know God has placed a holy determination inside you—an ability to handle things that come your way and never give up? We all have dreams, and we all experience times in life when we feel like throwing in the towel. Or we say a quick prayer and hope everything will just magically change. However, only wishing for things or situations in life to get better or to be different does not bring change or results.
As Timothy oversaw the church in Ephesus, Paul exhorted him to "fan into flame the gift of God" (2 Tim. 1:6b, NIV). Despite this, within a generation, the church in Ephesus faced a stern rebuke from Jesus for abandoning its first love, with the only remedy being a return to its initial deeds (Rev. 2:2-5). How did this once-thriving community lose its fervor? Perhaps it grew too comfortable, relying on its robust infrastructure, sound doctrine and well-organized systems.
A curious thing happened after Moses constructed the ancient tabernacle in the Sinai desert. First, Aaron made sacrifices for the sins of the people; then fire fell from heaven and consumed the offering. Then, Leviticus 9:24b (NASB 1995) says, "when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces." And God told Moses that the priests were to keep this supernatural fire burning perpetually. A similar thing happened when Solomon built a permanent temple in Jerusalem. After the construction was finished, Solomon prayed and dedicated the building to the Lord. Suddenly fire came from heaven and consumed the offerings.
You never forget the feeling of sorrow and loss that occurs when someone close to you dies. I loved my father dearly. When he passed away in 1991, it took me weeks to get beyond the initial impact of grief and mourning. Each day when I awoke, that sense of loss would hit me again as I thought, "My daddy is dead." He was a wonderful father and grandfather. I am thankful that we had the opportunity to make so many wonderful memories together. His life was indeed a celebration. Though I knew Dad was with the Lord, his absence from this life left a void that took awhile to get over.
I want to share a word that the Lord gave me some time ago. It was about the countless women who have been called to powerful ministries, making a significant impact in Gods kingdom. Most of these women endured immense pain and affliction in their lives, yet they remained strong and steadfast in their faith, and unwavering in their devotion to Jesus. Katherine Kuhlman once said: "The anointing will cost you everything, but it's worth it"
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 KJV Today, I want you to read the parable of the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). As you read, keep in mind that this son utterly rejected and completely humiliated and dishonored his father, then only returned home when he remembered that even his father's hired servants had more food than he did!
In Part 1 we began to address what so many face, but rarely, if ever, speak of: "Why does it seem like so much of my prayer must be missing the target? What am I doing wrong? I believe the Bible and I'm praying in faith. Why isn't it being answered accordingly?" We answered by illustrating the extent to which we, God's very own, tend to be much more transactional than relational, more accustomed and attuned to 'doing life' by mechanisms which eliminate the necessity of being 'in the moment.' Punch a few buttons, or speak a few words, and "the whole world" opens to you, but can't this be at the expense of your "own soul?" As Jesus said: "what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mt.16:26).
There are a lot of challenges and dangers in our world today. As we continue to encounter an increasing number of challenges, there is the question of how we will be able to survive? I submit to you that the answer lies in unyielding prayer. Consistent prayer is essential for maintaining our connection with God. Prayer is a powerful weapon that can help us overcome the challenges we face. It can help us to find strength and courage to tackle these challenges, and it can also help us to stay focused on our goals and to persevere in times of difficulty. Prayer is an important part of our survival toolkit.
