Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:6

6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

Are You Ready

Recently, the Lord reminded me of Revelation Chapter 2, where we read about the Church of Ephesus. When you read it you understand that they were a church that checked all the boxes, they hated wickedness, they were hard-working (Ministry). As far as walking out the Kingdom, we would have called them an awesome church, but the Lord notes their deficit: they had lost sight of the "why".  He says, "Remember your first love, go back and do the things you did at first, remember the depth from which you have been redeemed."   Why?   Because we can become so wrapped up in the what and lose sight of the why.    

We can be so prepared for the day of trouble, but what about the day of His return, the day that you face Him "face-to-face," are you ready?    Are you preparing for His return?   

The God Shot today is to get back to the "WHY" you do the "WHAT" for.    To return to your first love (Christ), to get your LAMPS ready (Matthew 25:1-13) so that on that day you are not found without your OIL, today you should be as challenged by this word from God as I am, to FAN the FLAME of your FAITH,  to stir your heart to do those things that will PREPARE you for His return.

Lord, you have gifted us time; it is precious (Psalm 90:12) let us use it all for your glory, let us not waste it, may we be in a ready state for your return, with arms wide, hearts prepared, lives that would bring you Glory, may our lamps be full and the light that you have placed in us not grow dim, breathe into our lives O' Lord, breathe in, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

1 Kings 9:3-4

3 And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 4 Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments,

Why It Matters

As I read these words in both this portion today and in 1 Chronicles, we would tend to think that when God gives His but... condition to this answer to prayer and He tells them if you turn away this place will be a byword, a proverb, that He is being harsh, but in reality you and I know that they do turn away, the temple is destroyed, but we also know that God knew this, that He already had a plan for redemption.   This really is the graciousness of God in that He is telling Solomon, telling Israel, that He wants their heart, not their buildings, not their sacrifices, their "heart."     This is why it matters...   This is about the relationship; first, God is speaking to His creation, Solomon, relationship; second, He is telling Solomon His heart, relationship; third, He is telling Solomon how to stay in relationship.

So today's God Shot is that He wants a relationship with you, that He hears you, that He is speaking to you today, that He is still saying the same things, that He wants your heart, He wants a people who are devoted to Him. (2 Chron 16:9).   He doesn't want your leftovers, your spare time; He wants authenticity, commitment, true hearts of worship.

Today I pray that we would guard our relationship with the Lord, that anything that has our attention would not compare to our heart after Him, that we would be a people who love God, pursue Him, His way, and as a result reap the blessings of that pursuit, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Psalm 146:5-9

5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever, 7 Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He [a]turns upside down.

What You Find In Him

In today's portion, we see the attributes of God, His strength, the hope we find in Him, His power, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His justice, His provision, His salvation.  Today we are reminded that the LORD has everything we need.    When I read this, I see Christ, I am reminded of how He opened my eyes, how He set me free, it is clear that the author has experienced this freedom too, and so from the rooftops he is declaring the goodness of God.

• True Hope (Verse 5)  

In Christ, we find true hope, not like the hope that the world promises.  For He is the creator of all things and has the power to give life, we have hope because "The Lord is our God."

• Faithful (Verse 6)

In Him we find faithfulness. He is Sempre Fidelis (Always Faithful). He will never let you down.  He is trustworthy in a world of uncertainty. He sure, a solid foundation, one you can stand on.

• Savior (Verses 7-9)

In Him we find salvation. He is my savior, who gave His life that I might have life eternal, who spared no cost to accomplish it.   While I was still lost, Christ died for me (Rom 5:8).   

Our God Shot today is to "remember," remember as revelation the depths from which we were saved, to remember our first love, to remember the day of our salvation, to remember that He has everything we need in this life, and His promise is life, and it more abundantly.

Lord, I thank you for the life I have in you, that you loved me when I was unlovable, that you paid the price for me, that I am purchased, redeemed, that I am free, that I have hope in you, that nothing can separate me from your love, today I am blessed because the Lord is my God, so I praise you in Jesus' name, Amen! 

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Today, in our portion, Solomon has an encounter with God; the bible says this is the second time that God has spoken to Solomon directly.  When someone calls you or writes a letter or an email, it still holds importance, but when it must be in person, it has weight.   Here the Lord gives Solomon the recipe for peace and blessing, for fruitfulness and success, a restored state.  The Lord lays out these four conditions: 

Four Conditions

1. Humble themselves:   To recognize their need for God, His strength, His power, His ability. Admitting need and submitting to God's authority.
2. Pray: Seeking God in honest communication.  Pouring ourselves out before Him.
3. Seek my face: Actively pursuing a deeper relationship with God rather than just asking for favors.
4. Turn from their wicked ways: Repenting (changing your mind), seeing from God's perspective, and changing directions, aligning with God's ways. 

Three Promises

1. Hear from heaven: God listens to the prayers of His people.
2. Forgive their sin: God pardons the transgressions of those who repent. Remembering them no more.
3. Heal their land: God restores and brings peace/wholeness/blessing and refreshing to the place we live, restoring us, renewing a right relationship. 

Today's God Shot is to be humble, to repent, which means to see from God's perspective, to have a changed mind, one that sees life through God's lens, to seek Him with all that is within you.

Lord, we are your people, the place in which you put your name. May our hearts always be humble, and our eyes always be set on you. May our ears be attentive to your voice and follow your leading, heal our land, restore us, refresh and renew us in this day, may we bring you honor in Jesus' name, Amen! 

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:

“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever,”

that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not [a] continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Tangible Presence

Today in our portion, I am reminded of the power of worship, how it has the power to draw the tangible presence of the Lord. In fact, Psalm 22:3 confirms this truth, "God inhabits the praises of His people." 

When you know this truth, you will never miss an opportunity to praise Him, to draw His presence.   It is why it always baffles me when people show up for Church at the end of worship, or why it takes 3 songs to shake the events of the morning off. Maybe it is because they have not encountered God in praise as I have experienced the power of praise.   

This Sunday was one of those moments I could sense the tangible presence of the Lord, and what I realized is that it was at that moment that I entered into true praise where it was Him-focused.   Our worship should always be like this, not because the music is good, not because it is what we are supposed to do, but simply because He is worthy of our praise.

These moments are not just for me; they are for you. Your Father wants to inhabit your praises too.

The God Shot today is to never miss an opportunity to praise Him, to have a moment with God, to enter into the Holy of Holies where HIS PRESENCE is tangible, where it fills the space you are in so greatly that you have to stop and just breathe.

Lord, let all of our praise look like this, let our hearts be full with praise, let our lips sing of your goodness, you deserve all the glory and praise and honor, and I praise you, let us always "enter into" your presence, enter in through the door of praise, let our worship be pleasing to you in Jesus' name, Amen!