When you cross your arms, you always do it the same way. It feels strange to intentionally put the other arm on top. You didn’t decide which arm goes where. You simply started doing it that way once upon a time and that’s what has become automatic. Most of your life runs on autopilot just like that.
Your future is in the hands of your habits not your hopes. We want instant results in any given moment in time, but every promise has a process!
1 Timothy 4:7-16 “…discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (keeping yourself spiritually fit) 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come… 13 devote yourself to Scripture… 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you… 15 Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them… 16 Pay close attention to and concentrate on your personal development… AMP
But what about grace? The Apostle Paul goes on to speak of being strengthened and empowered by grace in every believer’s life.
2 Timothy 2:1 Be strong (constantly strengthened) and empowered in the grace that is (to be found only) in Christ Jesus. AMP
We’re saved by grace found only in Christ. Just because you’re saved doesn’t mean you’ve grown strong spiritually.
The Apostle Paul goes on to explain diligence in the faith pointing to farmers, soldiers and athletes. All three require diligent preparation and purposeful advancement.
Supernatural strength comes from a consecrated pursuit of God. Spending time in prayer awakens your listening ear. Reading God’s word strengthens and sustains your stride (Ps 119:11)
Abraham received his promise in scripture “after these things” tithed to Melchizedek. The same with Solomon when God visited him asking what he wanted and he chose correctly – this moment was the result of worshipful giving.
Something supernatural is released in our lives when we simply obey the heart of the Lord. This looks different in every person’s life, and this looks different in every stage of life.
We’ve celebrated our daughter, Lexi’s healing. Last month we were traveling around the UK ministering. People there have known Lexi for years and have had to accommodate severe food allergies so when I started sharing this two years ago many knew it firsthand. This time after I spoke people were coming for prayer but not to me. They wanted the golden child to pray for them. It really was a miracle!
The night she was baptized she actually had been dealing with a food reaction. The rash was there when she got into the baptism tank and it was completely gone after being baptized. It was a beautiful moment!
What most people don’t know is this moment in time was the result of a season of consecration that unlocked something supernatural. Lexi’s story to tell but I can tell you she responded to God’s direction to change music she listened to, books she was reading, and entertainment in general.
So often I talk to people about what they’re filling their minds with in today’s world and the response is far more about defending preferences than considering what may grieve the heart of the Lord.
1 Timothy 4:7-16 “…discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (keeping yourself spiritually fit) 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come… 13 devote yourself to Scripture… 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you… 15 Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them… 16 Pay close attention to and concentrate on your personal development… AMP
This doesn’t sound like a person that wants to make excuses about what they like and don’t like. She could have justified and excused it all because it wasn’t convenient and it wasn’t her preference. Instead, she decided to step into a lifestyle of consecration for several months before being baptized in obedience to the Lord.
Stop justifying and excusing anything the Lord may be asking you to give him in the pursuit of a deeper place of consecration. It’s time to step into supernatural dimensions!!!!
Every year we begin the year with forty days of fasting and prayer. Begin asking the Holy Spirit to give you direction of what that is supposed to look like in your life.
We are entering the hour of the awakened church. The greatest miracle the world will ever witness will be the mobilization of the entire body of Christ as living stones, the priesthood of all believers!
GP2RL: Revisit last week’s challenge to seriously consider how you can create margin in your time, energy and money as part of your consecrated pursuit of God.
