Scripture:

Genesis 35:7

There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

In Genesis 28, Jacob has an encounter with God just shortly after he flees from His brother, where he sees the heavens open and angels ascending and descending, and God speaks to him and tells him that he will not leave him until He fulfills the promise.   And here in Genesis 35, God speaks to Jacob again and tells him to go back and settle in Bethel (House of God), and Jacob here in the key verse, calls the place "El Bethel."  Two things here, one is God told Jacob and you and me that we should dwell in the "House of God," that is the place of worship, and then Jacob reminds us that we should be at "El Bethel," where we experience the revelation of God, where we can connect with Him. 

"Bethel" focuses on the place of worship, "El Bethel" emphasizes the God who revealed Himself there, highlighting a personal, relational connection between Jacob and the Creator.  So the application here is that you and I would live in a place of worship (Bethel) where we would allow the presence of God to change our lives, who we are, and that we should seek after (El Bethel) to be in a place of revelation, where we seek to connect with Him, hear from Him, be influenced by Him, to live in His purposes and plans so that we would be blessed in the land that He has placed us in.

My prayer today is that we would live in the presence of God here on earth, that we would pursue a personal relationship with Him, that we would seek His revelation (El Bethel) that our pursuit would be with all that is within us, that it would be transformational, that our lives would never be the same because of it, in Jesus' name, amen!

Scripture:

Genesis 28:15-1615 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

"Sempre Fidelis" 

It is our circumstances that steal our focus, leave us thinking that we are alone in our journey, the troubles of yesterday, the troubles of today, and what is ahead that is troubling us.   When we focus on them, we lose sight of the fact that we are not alone.   The good news is that we are never alone, and God is working out His purpose in our lives (Romans 8:28) for good.   And the good work He began in us, He will see to its completion (Philippians 1:6). His word promises that.   Even though the mess Jacob was in was his own doing, God still had a purpose for Jacob, and that is true with you and me. No matter what our past looks like, God has never lost His purpose in our lives, nor has He abandoned us or His good work, His promises for us.  Listen to the word of the Lord: "I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you." 

We should cling to that...

The application here is not to let your circumstances, whether created by you or life, or even someone else, cause you to lose a sense of God's presence in your life, His direction for your life, His purpose, and His promise for your life, for your future.   You are NOT alone, your PAST does not have to dictate your FUTURE, most importantly, GOD IS FAITHFUL (Sempre Fidelis)

Lord, we all know that we can get into messes, we can get off track, and lose sight of your presence in our circumstances, but today is a day to remember no matter where we are now, on the mountain top, or in the valley, I pray we would have a great sense of your presence, that we would know without question of your faithfulness, that your promises are still good for our lives, no matter the place we find ourselves, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Genesis 26:22

22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth,[a] saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

Issaic had dug two wells, and it says that the people of that place quarreled with him over it, saying it was theirs even after he did the work to restore it.  But then God takes him to a well named Rehoboth (Room). This is a reminder that sometimes we put effort into things, we do all the hard work, and it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere. Don't give up, because your efforts are not in vain. I really feel this is prophetic today.   Don't get discouraged when you hit difficulties, because God has a place for you to spread out, and an open space you can grow in, and be blessed in.  Your victory is just ahead of you. Don't give up now, this is day 40, and you are being tested, but day 41 is coming. 

When you are going in the right direction, doing the right things, but everything seems to not be working out, don't give up, this is a reminder that God has something for you ahead, a place you can grow, a place you can be blessed in, an open space, made for you to grow, flourish in, be blessed in.   It's coming, don't give up...

Lord thank you for causing this word, that like Romans 8:28 you are in the details working out things for our good, making a way in the desert, streams, places of we can flourish and grow in, places of expanse that we would glorify your name, make your name great, we thank you, in Jesus' name, Amen! 

Scripture:

Genesis 22:14

14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

"Jehovah-Jireh"

The Lord will "Provide."  Of all the names of God, this one, I believe, is one of the greatest and the most overlooked in its meaning.   Because when we think of provision, we tend to think of money, maybe even food or supplies.   But God "PROVIDES" all that we need... let that sink in for a moment, when He is your "PROVIDER," you will "LACK NOTHING."   That is what David was saying in Psalm 23:1.   You might miss it if you gloss over this verse, these phrases, "And to this day," which means this promise of God's provision still stands for you and me. He is still "Jireh," our provider.  And this statement: "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." 

When you are standing on the things of God, "The mountain of God."  Then there is nothing you can achieve, nothing that the Lord can not do; when He is in it, He will provide for it.  So don't lose hope today, for your provision is coming, because He is the provider, He is Jireh.

The application here is to invest in the Lord, seek His will, include Him in your plans, give your life over to Him, put your feet on His mountain, seek Him, and as you do, as you put yourself to the things of God, He will "PROVIDE."   Trust Him, stand on His mountain, know the Lord Jehovah-Jireh."

My prayer is that you would trust the Lord, that you would see Him in all that you do, that your plans would be set before Him, that  you would invite Him into everything you do and desire so that nothing you do is without Him, then you will begin to see Him as your Jireh, it is when we lean on Him that we see His provision, when we trust Him that we see He is faithful, Lord where you guide, we pray you would provide, and we rejoice because as Abraham said and to this day it is said: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."  So, in all that we trust you Lord, our Jireh, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Genesis 19:26

26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

"No Looking Back"

The dangers of looking back, reminiscing about our past is that we may end up falling back into them.  Jesus in (Luke 17:31–33) warns about being ready for His return, then He references lots wife.  James says it is our desires that drag us away, and that was true with Lot's wife; she was told not to look back, but her desire for her old life led to destruction.   Jesus said it is for "Freedom" we have been set free (Gal 5:1).  This is why we should always keep our eyes on the future we have because of what we are "Free From."  Not what we are free to do, see Lot's wife was free to look back, but here looking back ended in freezing everything in her life.   The enemy plans to "Kill, Steal & Destroy," and getting us to fall backwards would steal our future, kill our present, and destroy the victory we had.   

The application here is: "never look back", to press on, move forward in the freedom God has given you.   To seek the Kingdom in your life, to use your freedom to become everything that He intended you to be.   Our freedom is not what we are free to do, but rather what we are free from, and today we can learn from Lot's wife and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, fixed on the future He gave us, and pursue eternity, not earthly treasures.

Lord, I pray for those who are just barely out of their past, their circumstances, that they would have the strength and the wisdom to keep their eyes on you, on the future and the freedom you have provided, that they would become all that you intended them to be, in Jesus' name, Amen!