We are built to anticipate. Each of us already has a pretty full plate of anticipation about the rest of the year. If we are honest, I believe we will admit that we are continually anticipating what is ahead whether we are anticipating good or bad, productive or nonproductive, desired or undesirable. It is quite difficult to anticipate the provision or intervention of God if we are not looking to God and His Word, if our anticipation capacity is already filled with the negative or the false. Ps.145:15 (NKJV) “The eyes of all look expectantly to You…” Ps.145:15 (NET) “Everything looks to you in ANTICIPATION…”
Kathy — We have to have our minds renewed to think like our Father. A renewed mind equips us to walk in dominion because we are enabled to discern both what’s going on and what to allow in earth that aligns with “as in heaven”. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray “Father, Your will be done on earth as in heaven”, who knew how much the answer to that prayer would extensively involve sons and daughters? We are all involved in this heaven-to-earth process, and our starting posture is looking to Him.
God’s Word, God’s promises, God’s covenant with His people have not become void or suspended or even diminished. “Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.” (Isa.55:3, Amp) Panic and/or despair are nothing but wasted thoughts and emotions. Those people who walk uprightly before their God will be kept in the shadow of the Almighty. “For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Ps.84:11, Amp) Jehovah (“self-Existent”) is still Jehovah and remains all that He has ever been and His Word is still good and cannot be changed. “God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.” (Matt.5:18, Msg)
Kathy — If devils show up on our “radar” (awareness, discernment), we can take that as time for a throw down! Eph. 6:12, says “we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood” opponents, but it doesn’t just say, “We wrestle not”! In fact, it gives us a loud list of what we are wrestling: authorities and powers of darkness, master spiritswho are world rulers of darkness and spirit forces of wickedness in the supernatural realm. Wrestling is about forcing an opponent to the ground. In spiritual battles, this will involve using un-carnal, God-sanctioned weapons. In wrestling, the right move is the right weapon. We have moves like effectual prayer or declaration or decree or unique obedience or gifts of the Spirit or laying on of hands, coming in the opposite spirit and corporate agreement. If the confrontation isn’t a quick “one shot, one kill” and it becomes a laborious, wearisome show-down, remember also that wrestling involves refusing to go down. Even if lion’s breath is in your face and melting your nose hairs, don’t go down in discouragement and despair. You are not wrestling to go down and end up as a lion’s lunch. Texans were inspired by their battle cry, “Remember the Alamo.” Sons of God can cry, “Remember Daniel’s Den!” That was an awesome as-it-is-in-heaven, throw-down moment of heaven coming to earth. When the wrestling match is won, we dispossess and displace the enemy, take back what they stole and bring heaven’s order into the chaos and dysfunction they caused.
Kathy — With renewed minds we can think like our Father. Being transformed means we go through metamorphosis that changes our nature from the inside out to enable us for purpose. Walking in purpose we prove, or discern and allow what is God’s order and design. So, if a toxic atmosphere moves in like a fog, we can sense it and counter it. For example, if there is another shooting massacre, even while the media is just beginning their frenzy, we take a stand in our living room and declare, “No more.” We can be confident that agreement between heaven and earth in that moment will give God access to stop a domino effect before the power of the air can affect another crazed mind to stage a shooting. If toxic air moves in and touches our awareness, that tells us those spirits are close enough that we should touch back. There’s no reason to allow devils to freely do what they come to do. They may have squeezed in through a legal loophole, but their illegal agenda can’t stand in a face-off with sons/daughters of God legislating according to ‘as it is in heaven’!
As the people of God assemble today, may they be strengthened, encouraged, equipped and comforted by the gifts of Christ (Eph.4:11-12) and the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.14:3) for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Israel decided they were going back to Egypt because recollection of a physical past was all they had (Ex.16:3; Num.11:5). They couldn’t remember anything of a spiritual history because so many generations had wrestled through problems without spiritual wisdom or enablement. Start a spiritual history in your generation for the benefit of those to come. Ps.145:4, Amp — “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty and remarkable acts.”
Kathy — We have to remember that we are not here to conform to the age we live in, nor to its rules of engagement, nor to its course and flow, nor to its fashion and norms, nor to its anxieties and fears, nor to any other toxic influence in it’s atmosphere. It is the will of our Father that we live and move and have our being in Him, not in the pollution of ungodly agendas, hellish propaganda or cycling stupidity. We were not born to be pawns of the “prince of power of the air.” So we must refuse to be conformed to this world, (Rom 12:2), and instead be transformed by the renewing of our mind, in order to prove what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. Most of my years, I thought of that scripture as a personal challenge about my life. I knew I should not conform and just go with the flow around me, even in Bible College. I knew my thinking had to be like my Father’s, but the pivotal word in the KJV for me was prove. I thought that scripture was saying I needed to prove that I could muster up and measure up to God’s will. However, when I searched the definitions of the words in that verse, I discovered that being renewed in mind and being transformed is more about equipping than measuring up. The word prove there is a Greek word that means “to discern, to examine, to allow”. So, let me paraphrase Rom 12:2, We are transformed from the inside out when our thinking and feelings and reasoning and understanding are developed and no longer molded by the common or typical. We can then discern that which is beneficial to and that which is agreeable with and that which is acceptable in God’s design and original intent. So that scripture is not about us proving we can merit our Father’s approval. It is about being transformed by a renewing of our mind so that we think and live like a mature son or daughter that understands they are already approved by Father as well as equipped to discern and examine what’s going on in this age. Then a mature son or daughter allows and approves what aligns with as it is in heaven and participates with heaven coming to earth!
May the Lord turn situations completely around to your benefit. May the Lord shut the mouths of those who are attempting to hinder your progress and purpose and defeat their attempts. Awhile back we received a call about a man several of us have been agreeing with in prayer. For several years, several of his superiors had decided to prevent any promotions for him. They were hindering his being facilitated properly to get his job done, attempting to make him look bad. Some were jealous of his success in his projects. But, suddenly, the Lord turned the tables and they ended up apologizing to him and helping him! God is not finished with people or situations they create. Look for Him to turn it all around. “The upright shall see it and be glad, but all iniquity shall shut its mouth.” (Ps.107:42, Amp) “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” (Ps.97:10, NKJV)
Kathy — Let’s follow history beyond Goliath into the Middle Ages, (400AD to 1500AD). A guy with a complaint could start a fight and set the rules of engagement just by throwing a gauntlet (a heavy-duty glove) at someone’s feet. Under the sway of that age, you were then obligated to rules of engagement that required you to get a pole and a horse and risk your life in a joust! Supposedly that was all in the name of honor and dignity, though it sounds a bit more like pride and stupidity. For hundreds of years after jousting, there were duels from 1500-1900. This time, if a man slapped you in the face with a glove, you were obligated by the rules of engagement to risk dying or killing someone! Who made that Koolaid? Of course, the culture of that age made it the way of the world. When you consider the huge span of years in history, it begs the question: how does a foolish and destructive paradigm stay so consistent throughout different cultures over a span of centuries? The answer is not complex. We know who has been the consistent negative effect on cultures and we know who has mastered taking advantage of human nature, the prince of the power of the air. Eph. 2:2 says – you walked habitually following the course and fashion under the sway of the present age, following the prince of the power of the air. You were under the control of the demon spirit that is constantly at work. No matter what century, what culture, the same prince of the power of the air is constantly at work in every age and he uses the same methods.
If we do not get to promise because of our willingness to remain just this side of it, we end up accepting our present circumstances as an acceptable substitute. One of the defeating factors of living with that substitute long enough is that it can become preferred over the cost of actually getting to promise. But anything short of promise also falls short of glorifying God. 2Cor.1:20, TPT — “For all of God’s promises find their “yes” of fulfillment in him. And as his “yes” and our “amen” ascend to God, we bring him glory!”
Kathy — The whole scene between David and Goliath could have been on FOX news last week: “A false-god-worshiping foreigner intended to immigrate into the nation and rule the nation with his nation’s laws and gods. He fully intended to obligate another nation to serve him as an immigrant and make the immigrants’ dreams come true.” Sound familiar yet? We have to wonder why men keep allowing the enemy to set the rules of engagement. We have to question also why history keeps repeating itself and why the same influences keep showing up to sway history. Isa.54:13, TPT — “All your children will be taught by Yahweh, and great will be their peace and prosperity.”
As the people of God assemble today, may they be mindful of those who have suffered loss in shutdowns, business closures during the Covid crisis, the loss of loved ones, riots and recent hurricanes and for the effects of those crises upon America. May they pray for those who are hurting and those who have lost so much. And may they be thankful for the mercies of the Lord that are new every morning, for great is His faithfulness. ”For He has not despised nor detested the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He listened.” (Ps.22:24, Amp)
When we can look beyond today and see tomorrow, God will give us all we see and our children will benefit. “The Lord said to Abram…lift up your eyes from where you are…All the land you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” (Gen.13:14) We can break in our generation the things that have bound us so our children do not have to live under them.
Kathy — God’s plans for where we are going depend on our being who we need to be when we get there. That requires transformation, and transformation comes through trials. Let me say that more exactly: transformation comes through listening and learning His Ways in trials, which is the opposite of hardening the heart! Rom.12:2, Amp — “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
Anticipation is inevitable. The coming generation will anticipate something whether positive or negative. But what will they anticipate? One of the biggest favors we can do the coming generation is to build anticipation into them: anticipation for the intervention of God in their lives and in our nation. We must see beyond and we must help them to see beyond that which has been the norm in our nation and in impotent religion. Let’s help them to anticipate the unconventional which no previous generation has seen, to be what no generation has been. Mic.7:7- “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” We are praying you discover daily that you are looking beyond the ordinary and you are helping the coming generation to anticipate new possibilities.
Kathy — Every time we decide not to see God’s purpose in trials and we just continue to resent them, we’re hardening our hearts. In addition, by refusing to learn God’s ways and do things His way, we are refusing to reflect His image in this earth. That is refusing to glorify Him. 1Chron.16:11, CEV — “Trust the Lord and his mighty power. Worship him always.“
We must see tomorrow. We must see it as God sees it. Don’t adopt this age’s sense of hopelessness. It does not take God’s love or miracles into account. Do not be held in the grip of present circumstances but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.(Rom12:2) Get into the Word of God and get a new picture. Get God’s picture of things. Prov.23:18, TPT — “Your future is bright and filled with a living hope that will never fade away.”
Kathy — I think we sometimes mistake tenacity for faith. Tenacious means extreme persistence; relentless or enduring. Tenacity is awesome for getting and keeping the Word in our thinking so it can be an overriding priority in our lives, but tenacity is not faith. Tenacity is not our goal but it is a powerful element of getting to the goal. Our goal is faith, a confident, unshakeable knowing. If faith becomes a matter of tenacity and strain, we’ve simply stopped short of the goal. The mark of reaching and standing in faith is rest.
As the people of God assemble today may they see clearly and be equipped effectively for what is expected of them in this pivotal hour of our nation. Sons/daughters of the Kingdom become the answer to the groaning of creation which we read about in Rom.8:19,22. In the original language, groaning creation is pictured in such a way that it is expectantly stretching the neck to glimpse that which is beyond itself and beyond its present plight. That which creation is stretching its neck to see, or THOSE whom it is stretching its neck to see, are their hope of lifting them out of their hopeless plight.
If someone is a slave to something for a long time, it is difficult for them to see a picture in their mind of what being free is like. If we can’t see ourselves as anything but a slave to that thing that has mastery over us then we will maintain that slave mentality. “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are…” (Gen.13:14)
Kathy — In Heb.3:9-10, it goes on to tell us that when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they saw God do awesome works and miracles for them; yet they hardened their hearts and REFUSED to learn His ways. I’ve thought many times, ‘What was wrong with those people?’ But when I read it recently, I suddenly realized how simply we can harden our hearts. We just refuse to LISTEN to God during a trial! Ps.85:8, TPT — “Now I’ll listen carefully for your voice and wait to hear whatever you say. Let me hear your promise of peace—the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear. Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you.”
In October we are going up and out of dark places hand over hand on the three-cord rope of hope and promise and God’s faithfulness (Eccl.4:12—“a threefold cord is not quickly broken”). The joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh.8:10—“the joy of the Lord is your strength”) to reach and grasp and pull. His light and salvation (Ps.27:1—“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life”) are the bright glow of expectancy that we climb toward as we lift up our heads to where our help comes from (Ps.121:1).
Kathy — Don’t be stubborn when you are in a time of adversity, affliction or trouble, and you are feeling solitary, lonely, desolate and deserted, and you are feeling deprived of the aid and protection of others, or when you are feeling bereft. Bereft: “like a flock deserted by the shepherd or a woman neglected by her husband.” When you are in difficulties like these, don’t be stubborn. Don’t turn a deaf ear to God. Heb.3:7 —This is why the Holy Spirit says, “If only you would listen to his voice this day!”
