Harvest & Blessings ...Week 6

The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.  May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
 -Psalm 67:6-7

Week One: harvest and manifestation
Week Two:  blessings and shiningWeek Three:  known and spread salvation 
Week Four: praise and presence Week Five:  joy and guidance
Week Six: harvest and blessings

As we close out this Lenten journey together, we end where we began:  harvest!  I truly believe that this last week of our Lenten journey should be the most transformative.  It is during this week (including Holy Week) that we should feel the manifestation of God's promises over our lives.  We are getting closer and closer to the cross.

This week, I challenge you to journal.  It does not have to be formal.  Start a note on your phone or device.  Examine the promises and expectations that you have developed and heard from God in this season and leading up to it. Intentionally pray for the harvest of those blessings.  I believe this final week of Lent will remind us that God will indeed "bless us still".  God is not done in our lives.  God is not done in your life.  No matter how long you have waited on God to do something different OR make a change OR show you the way...God is not done.  Not only is God not done, God intends to bless you still!  So write it down now.  I mean really...take note of it.  I truly believe this Resurrection season is going to bring glory to God in such a major way that we will not even be able to remember praying for some of the things we have been praying for.  So, take note!  That testimony is going to be powerful!!!

Bless us still, Lord!

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

What harvest am I expecting from God?
Why am I afraid to wait?
Why am I afraid of God's blessings?
What is keeping me from receiving, fully, his grace?

 How can I help to make God known through what I do?
What has God done that provokes me to praise?
How can my praise inspire others to praise?
What song reminds me that God is guiding me?
What areas do I see God moving in my life already?
Am I ready for the harvest?

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for the promise that you are not done.  Bless us still!  We await the cross with expectation of the Resurrection harvest.  There are so many things that we have to be thankful for, but we are ever clear that you are not done yet.  Humble us on the journey to write so that we have a testimony that brings you glory.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Joy & Guidance ...Week 5

May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. -Psalm 67:4

We began this journey to the cross with the goal of harvest and manifestation.  We realized that the benefit is blessings and shining, but the reason is because of the need to make God known and spread salvation.  Last week, we affirmed that this shifts us into praise and presence. Now, it is time for us to receive joy and guidance!

Verse 4 says:

May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.

The Lenten journey reminds us, as we walk with Christ to the cross, that we are never alone.  In fact, God is not only with us-God is guiding us. This week, I challenge us to find a song of joy that we can sing and/or listen to whenever we get distracted by what is going on around us.  Even in the deprivation of the Lenten season, we can be assured that God is guiding us with equity.  Our name, background, educational status, or church affiliation cannot keep us away from the kindness and consistency of God's guidance.  Therefore, let us be glad and sing for joy!

Look around and see how God is guiding those who you meet along the journey or even those who are serving as accountability partners for you.  Guess what? The same way God is guiding them, God desires to guide you.  So, let's yield and accept God's guidance in this season and the seasons to come.

Thank God for the joy in knowing God is guiding us!

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

What harvest am I expecting from God?
Why am I afraid to wait?
Why am I afraid of God's blessings?
What is keeping me from receiving, fully, his grace?

 How can I help to make God known through what I do?
What has God done that provokes me to praise?
How can my praise inspire others to praise?
What song reminds me that God is guiding me?

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, thank you for directing our path.  We are so grateful that as we journey with Jesus to the cross, You are walking in front of us just as you did for Jesus.  So, we receive the joy that comes in knowing we are never alone.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Praise & Presence: Week Four

Praise & Presence ...Week 4

May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you. -Psalm 67:3

Now that we have made our way through week three, we must continue to press our way into the presence of God during this Lenten season.  It is tempting at this point to either get slack or completely fall off.  As a matter of fact, I challenge you to check in with some friends to make sure they are still with us on the journey.  Read and re-read the past week's devotions and begin to piece the messages of encouragement together.

We began this journey to the cross off with the goal of harvest and manifestation.  We realized that the benefit is blessings and shining, but the reason is because of the need to make God known and spread salvation.  So, week four shifts us into praise and presence!

Verse 3 says:

May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.

Our Lenten journey should bring us to a place of praise and presence.  Ok, let me say it a little differently.  If we have been earnestly seeking God during this Lenten season, then God has assured us that He is with us.  It may be as subtle as waking up just before the alarm clock or as grand as avoiding the car accident.  God has been present!  God has not only been present in keeping us safe, but if we have been listening...we will agree that God has been speaking!  The acknowledgement of God's presence can provoke us to praise (say thanks) to God!  In our praise, the Psalmist then says "May ALL the peoples praise you".

This is another week of inspiration!  Our praise of God will inspire others to do the same.  As I said last week:  As each of us seek to be an inspiration, someone will also inspire us.  This will then become the scripture living before us that all people will praise God.

Remember, the Lenten season is not just about our individual growth but corporate growth as well.  Let's praise in God's presence!

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

What harvest am I expecting from God?
Why am I afraid to wait?
Why am I afraid of God's blessings?
What is keeping me from receiving, fully, his grace?

 How can I help to make God known through what I do?What has God done that provokes me to praise?
How can my praise inspire others to praise?

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, thank you for the assurance of your presence in our daily lives.  As we journey through this Lenten season, we could get discouraged or distracted; however, we truly want to walk in your will for our lives.  We seek you for the inspiration to praise so that we can be an inspiration for others to do the same.  We honor you and thank you for everything that you continue to do in our lives.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Known & Salvation ...Week 3

...so that your ways may be knownon earth, your salvation among all nations. -Psalm 67:2

Wow...Week 3!  It's already here, and I do not know about your journey, but I must admit it has not been easy.  In fact, does it feel like everyday there is a challenge?  Sometimes, the challenge is small and sometimes it is large.  Well, welcome to Lent!  Remember, we are making an intentional effort to draw closer to God.  In order to draw closer to God, the relationship is often tested.  Without testing, we cannot reveal what we really know. So, get excited...week three is the time to show what we know!

Psalm 67 begins:  May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us...

This first verse gave us something to look forward to: blessings and shining! Verse 1 is motivation.  We all need a little motivation every now and then.  However, verse 1 is not the complete thought.  Verse 2 gives us the "why":

so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

 

Say it with me: It's not about us.  It's about Jesus!  

I absolutely loved that song, and I believe it is fitting for week 3 of our Lenten journey together.  God has indeed promised to give us blessings and shine; however, God is not doing for us to boast on ourselves or gain notoriety during the Lenten season.  God has a specific goal in mind:  to be known on earth and for God's salvation to be among all nations.

During week 3, we must take ourselves and our selfish ambition out of the picture.  We are not participating in this Lenten season for people to recognize us.  We want people to come to recognize Jesus in us.  As others see Jesus in us, they will come to know Jesus for themselves.  This is really what Lent is about in the first place-Jesus preparing to reveal himself to the world.

So, come on!  Take the challenge with me to be better every single day as we progress through this season.  Each and every day attempt to inspire someone else on their walk with Christ.  As each of us seek to be an inspiration, someone will also inspire us.  Then, we will in fact fulfill the Psalmist's desire to make God's ways known and God's salvation desired among all the earth.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

What harvest am I expecting from God?
Why am I afraid to wait?
Why am I afraid of God's blessings?
What is keeping me from receiving, fully, his grace?

How can I help to make God known through what I do?
 

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Gracious God, thank you for allowing us to be intentional in our seeking you during this season of Lent.  As we do so, help us to truly pick up behaviors and language that will aid in others coming to know you for themselves.  We thank you for the promise of blessings and shining.  Please keep us focused on the purpose behind it all so that we will fulfill your desire through our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings & Shining ...Week 2

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us.  -Psalm 67:1

Here we are already at the second week of our Lenten experience, and many of us have been challenged every step of the way.  Perhaps, the fasting has not gone as smoothly as you have hoped or LIFE HAPPENED!  You know? Work stuff. Family stuff. Church stuff. Body stuff.  I know you don't want to hear it, but I must say it anyway: GOOD!  It's LENT!  The entire premise of this season is for you and I to grow closer to God.  In order to grow closer to God, we must experience circumstances that challenge the relationship.  It is in the survival of those circumstances that we have the realization of harvest & manifestation.  Remember from week one:

You cannot bless yourself better than God blesses you!  So, wait!  Trust God.  Over these next 40 days, let us consecrate ourselves with expectation of a great harvest...a great manifestation!

Psalm 67 will guide us throughout this Lenten journey.  So, let's take it from the top:  May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us.

This is the driving force for week two.  It's a request of God for US!  Remember, this Lenten journey is indeed about your relationship with God... your closeness with God... your spiritual growth.  However, WE are in this thing together!  Therefore, as we seek harvest and manifestation, we begin by acknowledging that we don't deserve it. Whew!  That's a relief!!! If God providing a harvest and manifestation was dependent upon what you and I get right and deserve, then this Lenten season may stop shy of Easter joy!  However, it is depending completely on God being gracious.  As God is gracious, the Psalmist requests two things:  blessings and shining!

I challenge us to focus on the blessings of God and the way God makes his face shine on us instead of looking for human approval and presence.  God's blessings will outlast the applauds and the putdowns.  God's blessings will outlast the fear and the courage.  God's blessings will outlast the very thing that has you weighed down in this Lenten season-whether a tough decision or a lifelong desire.  God will be gracious to us!  God will bless us!  God will make his face shine on us!

So, go ahead and expect it on your way to harvest and manifestation: blessings and shining!  Let God brag on God through his blessings in your life.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

What harvest am I expecting from God?
Why am I afraid to wait?
Why am I afraid of God's blessings?
What is keeping me from receiving, fully, his grace?

 
CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  This week, help us to trust the promise that you are gracious.  Because You are gracious, help us to be more aware of your blessings and the way you make your face shine on us.  God, we know that we are not worthy, but we ask that you cast out the fears of receiving your blessings so that we can receive fully your grace in our lives.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Harvest & Manifestation ...Week 1

The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.  -Psalm 67:6 

I truly believe that 2018 is the year of GREAT Things!  Under this conviction, God continues to promise manifestation.  But what does it really mean to declare that we will experience manifestation as a result of our Lenten journey?

Manifestation is different from expectation.  Manifestation is expectation realized.  Manifestation is G.R.E.A.T. (Gain Real Experiences And Testimonies)!  In other words, God intends to allow us to actually experience God's promises to and for our lives.  God intends to give us opportunities to share our testimonies about circumstances and realities that were once possibilities and dreams.

This year's Lenten season and devotional focus is designed especially for believers who have been earnestly seeking God and wondering if the answers/visions/goals/dreams/promises will actually come to pass in the here and now!  The answer is YES!  Psalm 67:6 affirms this: The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.

A harvest is manifestation created from that which was once just a seed.  The smallest seeds often create the greatest harvest!  So, why underestimate the harvest of the Lord.  "God, our God, blesses us"!  You cannot bless yourself better than God blesses you!  So, wait!  Trust God.  Over these next 40 days, let us consecrate ourselves with expectation of a great harvest...a great manifestation!

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

What harvest am I expecting from God?
Why am I afraid to wait?

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  We recognize that we need preparation for the glory that You will reveal in our lives.  Help us to daily seek you over the first 7 days of this Lenten season.  Help us to hear you as you reveal the promise of manifestation and a great harvest. Help us to trust you while we wait.  In Jesus' name, Amen.