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! 

Scripture:

Genesis 16:13

13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[a] the One who sees me.”

"El Roi" 

Ever feel like no one "sees you?"  That you and your problems are invisible, that you are alone in your trouble, your circumstance, your struggle.   We have all felt like this, but again, this is a ploy of the enemy to make you think you are alone, disconnected from God and His powerful presence, but this is a reminder that has never been true.  Hagar is the only woman, in fact, the only person to give God a name, "El Roi,"  the God who sees me.   

Listen, this story is a reminder that even though you might think you are insignificant and not seen, not heard, not important.  You are, and the God of the Universe sees you.

Let's summarize the story:

Hagar is a pregnant slave girl brought into a plan that is broken (sin) because it is trying to play God, help God along, running ahead of Him.  She is alone in her situation, now alone in the desert without anything or anywhere to go, but that is where God met her, because, even though your situation makes you feel insignificant, alone, and abandoned, God has never left you or abandoned you, and as Hagar came to know the God who sees you.  You and I can rest assured, He is still "El Roi," the God who sees us, Emmanuel, the God who is with us.

The application here is to remind yourself when the struggle is real, that God is with you, that He is still "El Roi" the God who sees you, is with you in your circumstances, working on your behalf, changing the outcome.   Where God is, everything changes, everything is better, He has our best in His sight, He is working for our good (Romans 8:28.) 

I pray that we would have a greater sense of His presence, no matter where today finds us, no matter what struggle we are in, that we would find comfort in that He is with us, working on our behalf, working for our good, working to change the outcome, trust Him, know that He is "El Roi," the God who sees you, Emmanual the God who is "With You."  In Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Job 38:2

Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?

"His Way is Better"

As the Father of 3 Beautiful Children and 9 Grandchildren, I know a little about them. One of the funny phenomena is when they are young, mom and dad are the smartest people in the room, they are the source of wisdom, but somewhere around 12-13, you somehow lose your brain, or at least they think you do. Somehow, they become the smartest people in the room, knowing better than you; they take their lives into their own hands.  When I read these words, I am reminded of how life without Christ is taking my life, my future, into my own hands, and when I gave my life to Christ is about slowly giving it back... let that sink in...  What I discovered is His way is better, He knows, and I should trust Him.

Simple or not so simple: "His way is Better."   

I should give in to the process of giving my life over to His control, His care, I should seek His wisdom not my own, I should follow His path, pursue His purpose in my life.   Because He knit me together, He put the stars in place, He breathed life into all that we see and experience, and "His way is better."

Lord, let us all surrender to the process of giving our lives back to you, to your care and control, to your purpose and plan. May we find strength, and peace, and joy, and most importantly, life and life more abundant, in Jesus' name, Amen!