THINK VICTORY! HE GOES BEFORE ME!

HE GOES BEFORE ME

"And the Lord ... He it is that doth go before me; He will be with me, neither forsake me; fear not, neither be dismayed." Deut. 31:8

Today I have a pivotal meeting that could very well chart the course for our future residential women's ministry. Last week I journaled with you about this, and shared that while it was exciting, it was a stretching time for me. Well today will be one of those stretching times for me as I will be doing something I have never done before. Really stretching!
Big time stretching.

But praise God, He already KNOWS all the details. My son Zach raises chickens and ducks. At 3:00 AM this morning, Jan woke me up because those chickens were making a racket. We got out of bed and went down to check it out. They were fine! We climbed back into bed and Jan was out like a light but I laid there wide awake and was beginning to get anxious about the events of today.

I decided to just use that time to talk to the Lord about my concerns and ask for His direction. Remember the verse I shared last week, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21.
Well I claimed that verse for today and prayed that God would give me a sign - a clear direction from His lips to my ears so that it would be totally clear which way to walk in this situation. By faith, I thanked Him and asked that He would confirm this in my quiet time this morning.

I almost started laughing when I read today's reading from STREAMS IN THE DESERT:

"Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." Isaiah 7:11

"Make your petition deep, O heart of mine. Your God can do MUCH MORE than you can ask; Launch out on the Divine, draw from HIS love-filled store. Trust Him in everything; Begin today, and find the joy that comes when JESUS has HIS way. We must continue to PRAY and 'WAIT FOR THE LORD." (Isaiah 8:17) until we hear the sound of His mighty rain. There is no reason why we should not ask for great things. Without a doubt, we will receive them if we ask in faith, having the COURAGE to wait with patient perseverance for Him and meanwhile doing those things that are within our power to do.

It is not within our power to create the wind or to change its direction, but we can raise our sails to catch it when it comes. We do not create electricity, yet we can tap into it with a wire that will conduct it, allowing it to work. We do not control God's Spirit, but we can place ourselves before the Lord out of obedience to what He has called us to do, and we will come under the influence and power of His mighty breath.

Can't the same great wonders be done today that were done many years ago? Where is the God of Elijah? He is waiting for today's Elijah to call on Him. The greatest Old or New Testament saints who ever lived were on a level that is quite within our reach. The same spiritual force that was available to them, and the energy that enabled them to become spiritual heroes, are also available to us.

If we exhibit the same faith, hope, and love they exhibited, we will achieve miracles as great as theirs. A simple prayer from our mouths will be powerful enough to call down from heaven God's gracious dew or the melting fire of His Spirit, just as the words from Elijah's mouth called down literal rain and fire. All that is required is to speak the words with the same complete assurance of faith which he spoke!"

Wow! The Lord spoke to my heart this morning. I can't wait to share with you how this all unfolds. If you think of me today, pray for this meeting at 11:00 AM! Thanks, Lord, for speaking to my heart today.

Great quote: A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. "You have lost an arm in the great cause," he said. "No," said the soldier with a smile. "I didn't lose it - I gave it." In that same way, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it purposefully. Anonymous