Excel in Christ

Inviting in God’s presence

There seems to be something electric about an atmosphere of worship.  Every month my church throws a service called “Habitation”.  This service is always over the top. It’s kind of hard to describe because it is as if God Himself comes down and joins us in all His glory and manifested presence.  It’s almost a tangible feeling as if you could literally see and feel Him all around us.  Don’t get me wrong the regular week end church services are great and each person appears to be connecting with our Father in their own unique individual way.   There is just something different about going to this service though.  

Just think about it for a minute. During a regular weekend church service you have a whole slew of people from different religious backgrounds and different levels of interest in participating and being engaged in the service itself.  Example: I have always heard some people say, “I only come just to avoid an argument with my wife” or, “My mom forces me to come to church”.   These types of attitudes in my opinion grieve The Holy Spirit.  While there are many people on “fire” for The Lord, there are a large handful that are just going there to appease someone else or for false motives.  This is one of the reasons why I think Habitation is so unique.  First of all because it is not your regular “weekly church service you attend”. It’s as if all the people who are pumped up and on fire to see the Lord gather together and can feel safe in expressing their own unique individual forms of worship to their Dad “God”.  To put it in a more simplistic way; It’s a place where I can truly feel free to worship God the way He intended me to worship Him.

There are many different ways that we can invite God into our presence but I feel that one of the most dynamic and moving environments to do so is in a group of Fired up believers “Such as the Habitation service”.  Now God is a dynamic God so there is no one way that is right or wrong “to prevent legalism”.

So here are some things that I have noticed when God shows up in a BIG way. 

1. We start in an atmosphere of welcoming God’s presence

• This can be done in your own unique way “silent prayer, praising Him corporately, singing to Him and speaking declaring His promises, etc.” The list goes on and on.

    2. Have an extended time of Song and Worship

• I find singing is a way of celebrating with Him. There are so many different worship songs that describe the awesomeness of our God and how His mercies endure forever.

   3.  Kneeling or lying prostrate before our King

• There is something about humbling yourself that removes you from the throne and places Him where He deserves to be.  Let God be the Lord of your life, let Him know you are humbled and you want His will and purposes for your life.

These are just some simple techniques that I feel really touch the heart of God. It can be done individually or in a corporate environment with a group of believers.  My challenge to you in your prayer groups or in your churches would be to really press in and seek Him with your whole heart. Let’s not focus on what “others are thinking of us” and really, I mean really begin to love on the Father that has given us so many things. He is worthy of our praise from now until the end of days.

I pray a blessing of extra supernatural faith over you. I pray that God would show up in your worship in such a unique way that you can be assured He hears you and that He loves you.  I pray that you feel His love with you through out your week, especially as we enter into this season of remembering Christ’s birth. I ask that The Lord would remind you of His sacrifice continually and that He not let you astray and draw you in closely, continually, and constantly.

I Love you truly,

In Him,

Arthur

Looking to the future by remembering the past

Problems of the present seem to cloud our perceptions of God.   For example, if you were diagnosed with a serious illness you would ask God, “Why did this happen to me?  What did I do wrong that caused this plague to enter into my life? What sin have I committed against you?”   It becomes far to easy to enter into a sense of hopelessness when we are in the heat of the battle.  I would like to propose to you a shifted way of thinking.  The next time some struggle enters into your life, remind yourself, “Look how far God has carried me.  He has delivered me from “X”.  He has freed me from “X”.  He has increased my “X”.  He has strengthened my “X”.   You fill in the blanks.  When we look back and celebrate the victories that God has accomplished in our lives and rejoice with Him and praise Him for all that He has done, our current struggles seem to diminish.

Why does this happen you ask?  It is because when you release the joy of worship and praise over the accomplishments that He has done on your behalf, it is as if the atmosphere changes around us.  It allows the Holy Spirit an opportunity to become active and dynamic in our lives.  It allows Him full reign to come in and address your issues because you have entered into worship and thanked Him for all that he has done.   

My challenge to you would be, the next time you are in a situation and the mountain you’re facing seems unsurpassable. Regardless recall all the good things God has done in your life and rejoice and welcome him.  Then declare His promises over the area you are struggling and stand in faith knowing He has your best in mind.  Always praise Him and thank Him regardless of the outcome.

I pray and hope you are encouraged and that you find a time today to celebrate with God and invite His presence into your daily routines.  He loves you more than you will ever know.  I love you,  In Jesus name!

Time to shed those Lb’s!

Evotion 3/10/11

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March 10

Today’s Reading:  Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 12:1-27

Today’s Thoughts: Can We Know His Thoughts?

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

Truly we, as believers, can know His plans before they happen. Many times, we hear others say, “I knew that was going to happen.” But how easy it is to say that after the fact! God is saying that we can know before.

I learned early in my walk with the Lord to be quiet before Him. I would read a Scripture passage until I felt God was speaking to me. I would determine that the Lord was speaking because the verse would seem special in some way, applicable in some way or I considered the verse to be a new thought. I would just stop and ponder and pray it back to God, asking Him to make His message clear to me for the day. In the quietness, the Lord would speak to my heart. It would start as an impression at first. I would pray about it and ask God questions about the impression until His wisdom became “louder or firmer” than my thoughts, questions and distractions. Next, I would step out in faith and test the message. If it is the Lord, He would confirm it through bringing it to pass or giving me similar messages through His Word or others.

Today, I pray this verse to the Lord, knowing that He will reveal His plan to me because I long to be His servant and want to live in His will. God is faithful and if you ask, He will answer. If you learn to be still, He will speak. If you listen, He will reveal His plan. After years of relating to the Lord like this, you will then know that you know His will before the fact, for He promises that He does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. So the first step is to find outif you are His servant.

Evotion 3/9/11

Brian & Kelly,

March 9

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 11:19-33

Today’s Thoughts: Because of Who He is

The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 7:7-8

Moses reminds the children of Israel that it was not because of anything they had done to be chosen as His people. God had made a covenant with Abraham and promised him that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars. God showed Abraham the land in which they would dwell. God also told Abraham that his descendents would have dark years of bondage. It would be several hundred years later before the Israelites would actually enter the Promised Land. But by the end of this appointed time, they consisted of twelve tribes and millions of people. God knew the end from the beginning. He knew how vast a nation they would be. He set His love on them because He is love, not because of who they were or what they did.

By God’s great mercy and grace, He chooses us today. He loves us beyond our understanding. He has plans for us beyond our imaginations, not because of whowe are but because of WhoHe is. When we begin to appreciate God’s character, then we can begin to rest in Him. We cannot earn rewards by impressing God with our works. We can never be good enough or do enough good deeds. In reality, it is not about us at all. It is all about God. Everything God does, He does because He is God. God is love. God is righteous. God is faithful. God is perfect in every way. God is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present. God cannot be anything but who He is. Therefore, God will nevernot love us. God will neverlet us down. God can never go against His own character.

The Bible clearly teaches us God’s character. When we spend time in His Word, we learn more and more about Who He is. We learn of His activities throughout history and how He dealt with the people. We are given amazing insight into His plans and purposes through His prophets. We learn of His never changing love and faithfulness in ways that pierce our hearts. And most of all, we learn of how He transacted His covenant of love to us  by sending His Son to die on a cross so we could inherit the land He has for us. As the song goes, “Not because of who I am, but because of what You’ve done, not because of what I’ve done, but because of Who You are.” We need to get to know who the Lord is and who He wants to be in your life today.

Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit. Daily Disciples Ministries makes a difference for the kingdom of God by teaching and training believers how to be in God’s Word, how to pray and how to walk with Jesus every day, as His daily disciple.

Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.

Evotion: 3/8/11

Brian & Kelly,

March 8

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 4-6; Mark 11:1-18

Today’s Thoughts: Stop to Hear His Voice

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  

Which way? This way or that way? Today, there are so many paths we can follow. We have the advice of our family, friends, the media and then there is our own instinct. But how do we know the right way? How do we discern which way is really best for us?

The other day, I counseled a woman who was convinced that she was doing God’s will by serving the church. She gave of herself, her finances, and her time. She experienced the Lord’s help as He gave her great ideas and even multiplied her time to keep going. But, soon, she came to me full of bitterness, disillusioned by the people and the staff. She felt confused and angry. She asked questions like, “How could this be God’s way? How could they so disregard her following the Lord? And where was He in their actions?”

We ask the same questions, “Which way Lord? What is Your will, Lord?” and then we follow the direction He gives. But sometimes, we find ourselves angry and resentful. How come? What happens? Frequently, God answers our prayer and uses us and guides us. However, once He has shown us what He wants, frequently we stop asking for further wisdom and counsel and just go on our own way in the name of the Lord. This verse talks about God speaking from behind us. And why would God need to speak from behind us unless we have run ahead of Him? So often, He leads us to a certain place, position, or calling, then we run ahead. When we run ahead, we lose His way and make it our way. That is what happened to my friend who was seeking counsel. She knew that the Lord had one job for her to do. When that job was completed and very blessed, she determined in her heart to do more. More wasn’t asked of her by the church or by the Lord. And it is because of the “more” that she grew angry. God now called to her from behind to lead her forward in a new direction or way to walk.

God is faithful. He will lead you and answer you when you call out to Him. Just remember to keep asking continually as you proceed. Always follow His leading. If you begin to experience anger, bitterness and judgmental thoughts, you have probably run ahead of God. Stop until you can hear His voice from behind you.  He will lead you back into His way and help you to walk in it.

Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit. Daily Disciples Ministries makes a difference for the kingdom of God by teaching and training believers how to be in God’s Word, how to pray and how to walk with Jesus every day, as His daily disciple.

Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.

Evotion 3/7/11

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March 7

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 1-3; Mark 10:32-52

Today’s Thoughts: A Blind Man’s Prayer Request

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:47

In Mark 10:46-53, Jesus left the city with a large crowd following close behind. Most likely this crowd was creating a great deal of noise and excitement. A blind man begging for help would be sensitive to hear the activities as the people scuffled by.  It is amazing that a blind beggar would know about “Jesus of Nazareth” and somehow would know that Jesus could help him. The blind man cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” While Jesus walked on earth, He answered that kind of prayer frequently. It must have been music in our Savior’s ears, because that is why Jesus came, to grant mercy to blind beggars like you and me. Jesus stopped, called to him and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” This man could have asked for money or help with some other desperate need, but instead he asked specifically for his sight. Jesus said that his faith healed him as the beggar immediately received his sight.

There are many situations and circumstances in our lives where we are blind to the will of God. But how many of us cry out to God for mercy?  How many of us really bring our specific need to the Savior to ask for His touch? Too many times, we are faithless to ask for what we really want. Too many times, we hear that Jesus is near but are apprehensive to call out to Him. This blind beggar received what he asked for. This blind beggar knew that Jesus could touch him and change him. He did not hold back but yelled into a crowd full of people. Jesus says in Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”We need to take Jesus at His word. We need to understand that God desires to grant mercy and He wants us (the spiritually blind) to see. Are you in need of His mercy today? Tell Jesus what You want Him to do for you…tell Him that you need Him today. Just think, it is not necessary to yell or push through a crowd - He is just a prayer away.