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.