Speak Life To Your Next Step (2)

Are you content to live in the least part of His will for your life? What happened to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh? (Numbers 32) The 2 ½ tribes of Israel chose to settle on the east bank of the Jordan river instead of going WEST across the Jordon into the Promised Land. Moses finally did say to them, “If you will go fight along with your brothers, to take the Promise land, God will still bless you.”

There’s something within every born-again believer’s DNA that wants “ALL of His Will” for their life. Why did they not want to go WEST across the Jordon River? Why would they settle in the EAST, the least of Gods best for their lives?

They were attracted to what they saw on the east of the Jordon before they went across the Jordon. That’s where the 10 spies went wrong; they saw the giants and said, “We are but grasshoppers in their sight.” Paul says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

When my wife and I came to Jacksonville 32 years ago, we first saw a 45-year-old dilapidated building falling apart and our flesh said, “Really, this is bad, why would anybody want to come here?”

But deep down in our spirit, we knew we were supposed to come to Jacksonville, Florida. It would have been easy to settle for something less with comfort, a good paycheck, and ease. But God wanted to train us for ministry with some tough-places where He would stretch our faith. Yes, where we would learn to appreciate our wins and losses in the journey.

In the beginning, rats and mice running through my feet while preaching one Sunday night, something within me said, we will press through this and WIN.

Chose today to never give in to less than Gods Best for your life. God is bigger than any doubt, devil or discouraging season in your life. Press on WEST to Gods BEST for your life. You will be glad you did.

Speak Life To Your Next Step

In my devotion this morning I saw something I’ve never seen. Israel was moving with excitement toward the Promised Land, but something derailed them along the way. When Moses sent out 12 men to spy out the land, they were told to check out the people and the land.

For some reason, those 2 things took them "40 long days." Why did it take them so long to see if the people were strong or weak and to see if the land was lean or fat? “WHY?”

Every day that went by only increased the doubts about going into the Promised Land.  The longer they thought about it, meditated on it, dreamed about it in the night; the majority convinced themselves we are not able to win in this struggle.

What was the last thing Moses told the 12 leaders? “Be of good courage and bring the fruit of the land back.” Only two of them held their courage and took it to heart. The other 10 leaders said, “We are not able to go in the land, for they are stronger than we are.”

Since when did they get themselves out of Egypt? Did they cause a plague to come on Egypt? Did they turn the waters to blood? When did they bring frogs, lice, and darkness on the land? When did they split open the Red Sea and walk across on dry ground and watch their enemy drown? Somehow instead of seeing God fighting for them, they forgot who got them where they were.

God said, “Because you took “40 days” to choose your NEXT STEP, you will now wander 40 years in the wilderness. One year for every day.” Be cautious in your waiting that God is building your faith with courage instead of allowing the enemy to tear apart your courage with doubt. That will keep you from The Promises of God. Let God Speak Life into your next step then YOU will see His Promises like Joshua and Caleb.

God Heard It

Choose today to “Speak life.” Be cautious about what comes out of your mouth each day. God heard Israel when they complained about the manna that He brought every morning. They said, “We miss Egypt our past.” We can all become delusional and speak death if we're not careful.

God doesn't take it lightly when we whine about our situation. God heard Aaron and Miriam complain about Moses marrying the Cushite woman. Leprosy came upon Moses sister and she was shut out of the camp for seven days. Death and life are in the tongue. (Prov 18:21) For he that will love life and see GOOD DAYS, let him refrain his tongue from evil. (1Peter 3:10)

Twelve spies were sent out by Moses to prepare Israel to go into the Promised Land. Ten of them came back saying, "We are not able to go into the land." It was their conclusion that said, "There are giants in the land and we're not able to go in.” (Numbers 13)

Guess what, their words brought death to their future and dying in the wilderness. What conclusion have you come up with? Speak it and it can take root and become reality.

When and what ten men spoke, “Deadly Words” it became their reality. Only Joshua and Caleb said, "We are more than able to go up into the land and possess it." Speak life and watch God show you His great wonders before your eyes. Today “fight off” deadly doubts and defeat and you too will go in with faith and possess His great promises for your life.

Steady My Feet

In my devotion this morning I read where David said, “He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. Psalm 40:2b

In the last 2 trading days, our financial markets on the Dow fell more than 1800 points. Uncertainty is in the news and financial analyst will give their opinions. History and experience show that these times can lead to panic and some will give in to their emotions created from fear. Choose today like David said in his own times of uncertainty, “Steady me as I walk along.”

DJ Burrell, one of my dear friends who served as our Penn Florida financial treasure in the A/G for 33 years, said in a prior season of uncertainty, “Danny in these times you have to have nerves of steel.” That is so true and DJ knew the one who really gets any of us through anything; the God who steadies our feet and causes us to not give way to panic and fear. Regardless if your situation today is your finances, your health, you’re marriage, your kids, or your job?

Listen to Gods Word and His wisdom will teach each of us not to live with panic, worry, anxiety or fear, but rather CONFIDENCE in His hand that will never fail us nor let us down or let us go. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:6

The Lord Is my Light

David said, “ Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Ps 23:4

Is your heart still heavy and despondent over your struggle? Has your difficulty turned into your worst nightmare? Look up, God saw your ordeal coming before you did. Nothing catches God by surprise. But He does admonish us to walk through the tough places instead of believing that you’re going to live there the rest of your life.

Too many camps out and build a staying place in the valley instead of walking through it. God never intended for us to live there. God always makes a way for us to pass through those tough places.

David was in a tough place with the death threats of a jealous King Saul, but God was using those hard places to make David the man of God he was created to be. So how did David make it as Saul made 21 attempts to kill him?

David said, The Lord is my shepherd, He also declared, “The Lord is my helper, my deliverer, my Redeemer, my anointing, my restorer, my light and my salvation. He is my fortress, my rock, my song,” Just to mention a few, Have you declared those same promises for your own life?

If you want to beat living in the valley, make a strong declaration today that the same God that was with David is with you as well. Declare this day, The Lord is my light and my salvation.