Have you ever had a verse “jump out at you”? Have you ever been reading and praying and it seems like a passage or a verse or even a phrase is highlighted in neon for you by the Holy Spirit? Now I admit, this certainly does not happen every time I read the Bible, and actually I don’t think it’s supposed to happen every time. But when it does I’ve learned to pay attention. More often than not those times are marked in my journal with the accompanying thoughts and stirrings in my soul that happen as God breathes freshly on His Word. Sometimes the Spirit is bringing gentle correction. Sometimes He brings fresh understanding of a circumstance. Sometimes He pours comforting oil of healing on a raw place in my emotions. Sometimes He brings new promises for my tomorrows as he ministers healing to my yesterdays.
There is much stirring me in this new season. Some things I can shout from the mountaintops. Some things are guiding prayerful planning for an approaching New Year and beyond. Some things I am guarding close to my heart. But above all, I am paying attention. I am attending to the Word of the Lord and His stirrings in my heart. Good thing, don’t you think?
In that spirit, let me share a couple of verses and some understanding that were impressed on me as I was reading last week.
“….the snare has been broken and we have escaped.”
-Psalm 124:7b (NIV)
If you are even casually aware of our circumstances you are aware that this has been a hard few years on many levels for me and my family and for our Church. Certainly in those difficult times, allowed by Jesus for our benefit and His glory, there have been snares laid by the adversary in an attempt to destroy us. Jesus is saying “the snare has been broken and we have escaped!” I rejoice!
“The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous…”
-Psalm 125:3a (NIV)
Just as surely as the tribes of Benjamin and Judah had specific marked territory that “belonged” to them, so you and I and your ministry and this Church have “territory” that is ours by God’s gift. And just as surely as Israel had to evict “giants”, so we have battles to possess inheritance that is ours by gift. Now as then, the promise rings, “wherever the sole of your foot treads I have given you”. A scepter speaks of kingdom, and the kingdom of darkness always wars against that which has been given to us. Here is the Lord’s promise, that though he has made the attempt, the scepter of the wicked will not remain over our given territory!
Rejoice with me as you move with confidence into this new season that is upon us.
Marching forward,
There is much stirring me in this new season. Some things I can shout from the mountaintops. Some things are guiding prayerful planning for an approaching New Year and beyond. Some things I am guarding close to my heart. But above all, I am paying attention. I am attending to the Word of the Lord and His stirrings in my heart. Good thing, don’t you think?
In that spirit, let me share a couple of verses and some understanding that were impressed on me as I was reading last week.
“….the snare has been broken and we have escaped.”
-Psalm 124:7b (NIV)
If you are even casually aware of our circumstances you are aware that this has been a hard few years on many levels for me and my family and for our Church. Certainly in those difficult times, allowed by Jesus for our benefit and His glory, there have been snares laid by the adversary in an attempt to destroy us. Jesus is saying “the snare has been broken and we have escaped!” I rejoice!
“The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous…”
-Psalm 125:3a (NIV)
Just as surely as the tribes of Benjamin and Judah had specific marked territory that “belonged” to them, so you and I and your ministry and this Church have “territory” that is ours by God’s gift. And just as surely as Israel had to evict “giants”, so we have battles to possess inheritance that is ours by gift. Now as then, the promise rings, “wherever the sole of your foot treads I have given you”. A scepter speaks of kingdom, and the kingdom of darkness always wars against that which has been given to us. Here is the Lord’s promise, that though he has made the attempt, the scepter of the wicked will not remain over our given territory!
Rejoice with me as you move with confidence into this new season that is upon us.
Marching forward,
Pastor Tom
