Perception of the Enemy

[S] Acts 24:5 --
For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

[O] If one man can stir up the whole world, that is actually pretty powerful if you think about it.  There are a few people in the past who's shaken the world -- some good and some bad ways -- but definitely not many are in this category.  Jesus was a God and yet as a full human being He was labeled by the Jewish leaders as the one who stir the whole world.  It is actually an honor to be known as such a person by the enemy because if they feel threatened that means God is on our side.

[A] As I read this comment by the Jewish leaders, I was meditating on how my life is currently viewed by the enemy.  Will they feel threatened by my vision and passion to live for God and to carry out His plans here on earth without being distracted by all sorts of things crowding my life?  Will my family treasure Jesus at the core like a rock that will not shake us apart?  Will my church be the "hurricane" poised to sweep through the local region and further?

[P] Dear Jesus, make me, my family, and my church be known like You in this passage by our enemy.  I ask that Your Spirit seal the focus and strength to carry on Your wonderful plans here and to keep our eyes on You at all time.  In Your name.  Amen.

Divide and Conquer

[S] Nehemiah 7:66-69 --
The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337; and they had 245 male and female singers. Their horses were 736; their mules, 245; their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.

[O] The immeasurable task of rebuilding the fallen wall of Jerusalem was not accomplished by a chosen few but by everyone taking ownership of their small portions to completion.  At end of the day, it was close to 50,000 people collaborating under the leadership of Nehemiah, rebuilt the wall.  Even the animals used were over 8,000.

[A] In both of my personal life (family, work) and my ministry involvement have run across mountains of load and burden and as I reflect on Nehemiah's journey of managing his own mountains lay ahead of him, I am strengthened and my soul replenished to move forward by divide-and-conquering instead of trying to take them all on by myself.  It is going to take deeper and intimate devotion with Jesus every day as well as taking the highest priority items and work on them one by one, at my current point it is my family's needs.  Some parts of the walls of my family have crumpled down and need to do some restoration works.  There's been simply too much going on and so I need a time out to re-assess, restore, and rebound (move forward).

[P] Dear Jesus, thank You for prompting me to take a time out now to re-balance my responsibilities in life and the calling You have for me.  I want to move my fulcrum toward my family and as I do that please shower down Your glorious grace while allowing my sensitivity to Your voice so I would clearly see, hear, and follow Your ways.  In Your precious name.  Amen.

Hear the Trumpet Sound

[S] Nehemiah 4:20 -- Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" (NIV)

[O] Something about this proclamation has power to bring a community of believers together. When that trumpet sounds in some ways for the people to recognize that it is time to unite to stand up for God's calling.

[A] Will I hear and recognize the trumpet sound? This depends on how much I am in sync with His Word and Spirit every day. I have been reading the Word daily but journaling was sparse which weakened my ability to dig deeper into God's heart for me.

[P] Dear God, please forgive my laziness and cover me under your grace to fill me with Your calling. I need more of Your abundant life in me so may not run dry as I minister to others while knowing that You are working in the midst of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Angel's Strengthening Visit

[S] Luke 22:43 -- An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (NIV)

[O] God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus during His time of agony and challenge ofHis facing the road to Calvary. God will send angels to pull us up when we are down and under.

[A] Even Jesus had an angel minister to Him to strengthen up from the tough circumstance He was in. Two takeaways for me: 1) trust in God who will send His angel to lift me up of I need to be; 2) ask for His angel to make a visit to strengthen me.

[P] Dear God, You know where I am right now.  You know how much strength I need.  Would you please send Your angel to lift me up?  In Jesus' name.  Amen.