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Watch The Stars At Night

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. ~ Genesis 21:15-21

Ishmael and Hagar were out in the beating sun. They were hot and dehydrated. Ishmael couldn’t go on anymore, so Hagar completely gave up. She set her son down under a bush and walked far enough away so that she didn’t have to watch him die. The moment she set him down to die was the moment she completely gave up all hope, and she spiritually died.

Where hope abounds, there is life, but the minute that hope is snuffed out, death comes. Hagar’s hopelessness wasn’t the beginning though, that’s not where she started. Hagar started with discouragement, then that led to sadness, then that led to depression. When depression proved too hard to battle anymore, complete and utter hopelessness overcame her, and her spiritual self died.

It doesn’t say that God placed a well there. It doesn’t say God caused a well to spring up for Hagar. It says God opened her eyes to see the well that was already there. Hagar’s hopelessness caused her to miss the very thing she needed to stay alive. It caused her to almost miss her saving grace.

It’s always darkest right before the dawn; that’s why when things get really dark, and you feel like you can’t take it anymore, you have to look for the light and focus on it. God will never allow us to just walk through completely hopeless situations where there is not even a glimpse of light to hold on to. Look at the night sky. No matter how dark it gets, the moon and the stars still shine in the sky, giving us the hope that the night can never prevail over the day because soon the sun will rise again, and the night will have to retreat until dusk.

When things get dark, we can’t give in and lose our spiritual sight. We have to hold onto the light so that when we get to our well, we can see it and rejoice.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Watch The Stars At Night.

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Consecrate Them

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. ~ Genesis 21:15-21

Hagar and Ishmael were just thrown out of the house of Abraham. They were trekking through the wilderness when they couldn’t go anymore. So, Hagar set her son down and went far enough where she didn’t have to watch him die, but God heard the cries of the boy. Though Hagar was older and no doubt wiser, God didn’t hear her cries. He heard the cries of the boy.

God honored the boy and was with the boy because of his father, Abraham. It could be because Abraham circumcised him under God’s covenant. It could just be because God promised Abraham he would be a great nation. What we know for sure is that God was with Ishmael because of Abraham.

How many of us today can say that God shows mercy to our children because we are a friend of God? Or that God hears the cries of our children because we are so close to God? We have to build a relationship so strong with the LORD that when our children are out of our sight and in physical or spiritual danger, their cries can be heard from God. That even if they don’t know they are in danger, the Holy Spirit cries out to the Father on their behalf.

We have to raise our children with the love and the fear of God, that they understand what it means to dwell in His presence and seek His face. So they understand right from wrong. So that God may dwell with them even when they are grown. Now is the time to teach them how to pray, worship, and fast. We have to teach the ways of righteousness them before the world can corrupt them and then wonder where it all went wrong. Make a stand to consecrate your children in the LORD, that even when they are old, they will still abide in His love.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Consecrate Them.

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Don’t Be In Dread

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” 18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” ~ Exodus 20:17-19

The people of Israel were just brought out of the land of Egypt, where they had been slaves for 400 years. God rescued them with signs and wonders not even Pharaoh’s magicians could imitate. When they were hungry, they received manna from Heaven, and quail dropped out of the sky. A Pillar of Cloud guarded and led them by day, while a Pillar of Fire guarded and led them by night. The LORD even sent His Son in the form of a rock so that the people could receive water. The LORD was with the People of Israel everywhere they went, yet when they saw the Nephilim fear found a way in, and they forgot all of God’s promises for them.

Fear is paralyzing and abusive. It will deceive you with looks and feelings vs. facts and Truth. The LORD is greater than all our fear, yet if we go by looks alone, the giants will seem greater than our God. We can’t allow any fear into our hearts because fear only needs to get its toe in the door to completely consume you. Don’t believe its lies for fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Be In Dread.

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Prepare Your Household

1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” ~ Genesis 35:1-3

When Jacob was preparing to go before the LORD, he didn’t just have himself spiritually prepared. He made sure his entire household was spiritually prepared. He told them to get rid of their pagan gods and purify themselves because Jacob understood that even if everybody may not be there because they were under his roof, they were under him. So, he had to make sure that they weren’t bringing a curse on Jacob or his household.

Today, we are fooled by the lie that our actions only affect us, but that’s not true. One man’s actions brought a curse on all of Israel. One man’s actions caused his entire family to be swallowed up into the earth. Our actions affect those around us, and other people’s actions affect us. When we invite someone into our home, we have to be careful that they aren’t bringing anything that could but a chasm between God and us.

We have to separate our household and our spiritual lives from the world and its darkness. We have to make sure we have nothing in our lives that can give the Devil legal right in our lives or keep our prayers from being heard by God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prepare Your Household.

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Refresh Your Memory

1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” ~ Genesis 35:1-3

Jacob knew who God was. God had called him. God was with Jacob the full twenty years he was with Laban. Jacob even physically wrestled with God. Yet, God reminded Jacob of who He is and what He had done for him.

Even though we know who God is, we still need a reminder. We need a refresher, lest we forget His goodness and mercy. Lest we forget all that He has done for us. Lest we face an enemy that seems too great for God to handle.

We all need reminding of who God is, not just for us, but for spirits around us that try to separate us from Him. When God went before Moses, He didn’t just silently go before him. God shouted His own name and all He had done for Moses and the people of Israel. When we refresh our minds and the atmosphere of who God is, there is a shift in the air. Fear turns to courage. Grief turns to joy. Weakness turns to strength. And faith abounds richly.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Refresh Your Memory.

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Rejoice in Our Great Hope

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

The world is a way different place today than it was yesterday. Things are changing daily. Our money is being devalued daily, causing prices to skyrocket. Christians are being persecuted around the world. Pastors and Christians are facing possible jail sentences for preaching the word of God that does not line up with the pushed narrative.

Life, in general, is getting harder and harder. It feels like we are being hard-pressed and forced into a corner. Well, I’m here to tell you that you might feel that way, but Jesus will not allow you to be crushed. He said He will never leave us and that He’s given us the hope of Him coming back for us. Therefore, we do not despair.

And the best of all, He will not let our enemies destroy us. They may persecute us. They may throw us in jail. They may confiscate our property. They may even kill us, but God will not let them destroy us. So, rejoice, for we have a great hope in the LORD.

LORD God, help me to rejoice in all situations. Help me to see the good in the bad, the joy in the despair, the light in the darkness. Help me to focus on Your plan for my life and not on the world or the things of the world. Strengthen me in my weakness, oh LORD God, and fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit that I might be able to stand on Your promises and in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Keep an Eye on the Future

17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!” 19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.” ~ Genesis 17:17-19

The LORD told Abraham that Sarah would give birth to a son, but Abraham laughed to himself in disbelief. Immediately after, God tells Abraham the name of his son, Isaac. Isaac apparently means ‘He laughs.’ And if we think about it, Isaac didn’t really seem to do much… sure, he’s one of the forefathers of the faith, but he didn’t do all that Abraham did or even what Jacob did. Isaac almost feels like a blur… I wonder if Abraham hadn’t have laughed but believed wholeheartedly, Isaac would have received a different name with a more purposeful role as a forefather of the faith.

The sins of the father may not rest on the children, meaning that the child will not die on behalf of the father’s sins, but the father’s sins will, without doubt, affect the children. This is why we have so many generational curses because what we do today affects those who live tomorrow.

Let’s take a quick look at Isaac again. He made the same exact mistakes of his father, Abraham, in regards to lying about his wife. He didn’t learn from his father’s mistakes. Isaac loved Esau most, and he didn’t see that the call was for Jacob. Even in his old age, Isaac was easily tricked by his wife and son, Jacob. A lot of what he did, or what he is remembered for, seems to be laughable, but even in all of that, you can still the mighty hand of God upon him.

God was with him when he had a problem with Abimelech and his people. God was with him when he married Rebekah and when he needed comforting after his mother’s death. God was without a doubt with Isaac, and this is because of Abraham’s relationship with God. Abraham’s relationship with God was so close and true that God continued that relationship with Isaac.

What we do and how we react to our circumstances will impact and affect our children, even if we don’t think it will. So, make a conscious effort to always have the future in mind as we live in the present.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Keep an Eye on the Future.

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Follow Behind The LORD

5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” ~ Exodus 34:5-7

When the LORD called Moses, He didn’t call him, tell him what to do, then send him out alone unprotected with no help. No, instead, the LORD God Himself got off of His throne and went before Moses, declaring His name and character. God didn’t just leave Moses alone; He went before him, clearing the way. And our God does not change. Therefore, if He went before Moses, He will go before each and every one of us.

We don’t fight the good fight alone. Jesus already fought the fight and won. He overcame so that we can also overcome through Him. The LORD has gone before us, declaring His name and all He has done for us. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have to fight anymore; Moses still had to go behind the LORD and do all that the LORD commanded him. Therefore, we still have to work and run the race until Jesus comes back for us but be encouraged for the LORD Himself dwells with us and in us. He is the one who helps us fight our battles. We are not alone.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Follow Behind the LORD.

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Inspect The Work

42 So the people of Israel followed all of the LORD’s instructions to Moses. 43 Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them. ~ Exodus 39:42-43

Moses didn’t just take the people’s word for it; he went and inspected all they had done to make sure that it met the standards the LORD God had set for them. He didn’t let anything be subpar, or make excuses for the people of Israel, so why do we today? We make so many excuses for fellow Christians that don’t reach the standards of God Almighty.

We’ve become so afraid to offend the world that we’ve lulled ourselves into a spiritual sleep that we can’t even differentiate between good and evil anymore. We no longer even know what the instructions of the LORD God are. We’ve lost sight of who God created us to be. We’ve lost sight of the mark that He has set for us to reach.

But it’s not too late to wake up. It’s not too late to aim for the mark. We can still wake up and run the race that has been set out before us. All you have to do is pray this prayer.

Dear LORD, please awaken the sleeping spirit within me. Replace my heart of stone with a heart of flesh that my heart might break for what breaks Yours. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might be able to live a life holy and pleasing to You. Lead me in the path of righteousness for the sake of Your name, that all may see the change in me and give You glory and honor. Teach me, LORD, to love You the way You deserve. Teach me to love people the way You love me, that I might not fear the world, but that I might win souls for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Prophesy to the Breath

9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. ~ Ezekiel 37:9-10

Ezekiel had already prophesied to the dry bones. There was already flesh and tendons on the bones. There was an army. It looked good to the natural eye. They were once dry bones; now they’re an army. But they had no breath. They had the appearance of life, but they were dead.

A lot of times, this is when we stop praying. This is the time when things start to look good again, when things are going right, and we stop when we have the appearance of the army, not realizing that the army is useless without breath. We stop praying when things begin to change, and all seems to be going good. We don’t take it to the next level. We don’t take that next step and prophesy to the breath. Because we have the body, but what good is a body without breath?

When things begin to go good, don’t stop praying. That’s the time to press in even deeper because if we can continue praying in the good, then we can see the favor of God truly pour out on us and all that we prophesy and pray over. We declare the good things that God has promised us even when things are going our way so that when trials and tribulations come, we have a mighty army filled with breath to fight against the enemy, not just a dead army that looks the part but has no breath.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prophesy to the Breath.

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