Many of us think that to be updated with everything with what’s going on around us is the first thing that we should do as soon as we wake up. I am not saying we shouldn’t be currently informed. What I’m saying is that we should know our priorities and what is most beneficial to us. His Word says, “All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].” (1 Corinthians 10:23 AMPC)

Every single day of our lives is precious. It is made for His purpose that is meant to be lived by us and through us. “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24). See! Day in and day out we declare this or maybe sing this, but have we really thought of what kind of day THE LORD HAS MADE? Hmmmmm … this may be very simple, yet thought-provoking. Are we just going to live our lives like no Sovereign One is in charge of it? Or are we here to “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all our hearts and minds and do not rely on our own insight or understanding. In all our ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain our paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC)

Our trust in the Lord is founded on how much we know Him as we meditate on His Word day and night, breathed and revealed to us by Holy Spirit. His Word becomes experiential as the Holy Spirit unveils our eyes to witness His Word becoming flesh.

We can only go as far as we know. We cannot trust anyone we do not know and that clearly depicts our earthly lives. How much more with the One we do not see? It surely takes faith to know and trust the Lord, for whoever would come near to God must and necessarily believe that He exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out. Mind you, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). So, why not get a daily dose of His Word that comes with daily loads of benefits?

There is no limit to how much you and I would desire to know Him. He is inexhaustible. But our knowledge of Him will make us strong and enable us to do exploits, and He takes us line upon line, precept upon precept, revelation upon revelation, from faith to faith, from glory to glory.

“The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32b)

We live because He speaks. Indeed, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. His language may vary from each one of us, but one thing is for sure, He speaks to us in ways that only our spirits can receive as the Holy Spirit reveals them to us. It may not be an audible voice, but by mere breathing upon waking up is more than enough to acknowledge Him that THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

I had some experiences marked with emphasis that gave me life lessons and are still true to today. I am a person who does not like to be late. I do not like to be rushed. But I am very much willing to set my alarm early enough to prepare. Yet, there are times when it just couldn’t be avoided. Argghhhhh!!!! I noticed that when this happened, my mind and heart were not ready to go out and face the chaotic world with confidence … hahaha! When oppositions came, a lot of times my decisions were not at best. When I was caught off guard by something undesirable, I easily got distracted and disappointed. But, one thing for sure is that, our God is a God of many chances. He is forever gracious and merciful. When I call upon Him as I purposely go for a toilet break that many times become my praise break, prayer break, reconnection break, or what I call my 33:3 BREAK (‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:3) , He faithfully comes and embraces me with His presence that resets everything back with His perfect peace. Thanks be to God.

On the other hand, when I do my morning devotion, communing with the Lord at the onset of the day, it sets the tenor of my day like no other. Yes, I have noticed the massive difference. I purposely stay in His presence until my heart is settled in peace because He has spoken, and then I go out, armed with His peace.

This morning was an awesome one. As we all know, the news of this virus once again became wild after the break due to many gatherings. But, this cannot stop us from doing our vital errands. We cannot let this world rule over us. We cannot be subject to fear that paralyzes us. We who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. We are supposed to frame our world with our words that come from His Living Word. We are to BE what His word says for us to BE, the head and not the tail, above and not underneath. We are flesh of Christ’s flesh. We are bone of His bone. All we need to do is BE and we are already winning. Yes, we do our protocols and the necessary precautions, but there is more to our protection that the Lord has in store for us.

The Holy Spirit always comforts us with His confident assuring presence. As He goes with us, He gives us rest, He gives us success and He sees our daily journey to the end. He reminds us that He Who is in us is greater. The Blood of Jesus Christ is our hedge of protection that although the enemy’s weapon, this virus, is present, we are to be fully persuaded that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. He gave me a vision of myself walking with the full armor of God on, the Helmet of Salvation, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shield of Faith, the Belt of Truth, the Sandals of Peace and the Sword of our spirits which is the Word of God. Oh wow … we may look like it in the spirit realm then. In addition, we are clothed with Jesus’ Robe of Righteousness and our garments of praise. He is wall of fire around us and the glory within us that anything that is not of Him that comes near us cannot prevail. His Word says, “God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17 NLT). You and I are set apart for His use, and when we heed His voice and do what He is speaking, we are founded on the Rock of Revelation that Jesus is the Son of the Living God Who gave us the victory over the enemy by His finished work at the cross and we become unshakable.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the windst blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7: 24-27)

Doing His Word at times does not take physical action. It may be that what His Word declares us to BE, believe and BE! The revelation that we have about our heavenly identity speaks mightily, for it is in our BEING that begets our DOING.

We fight a good fight of faith and the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. The Word is the Sword of our spirits. It is our weapon that is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It not by our might, not by our power, but by the Spirit of God.

Let us be reminded that the One Who is in us, with us and for us is GREATER! Who dare be against us? Great indeed is the Lord and is worthy of our praise. So, why not “submit ourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes.  If we do, he will run away in failure.” (James 4:7 Voice)

When my morning devotion was done, my heart was ready.

But, we do not stop just because we have done it first thing in the morning. We have the whole day to explore and experience what He has spoken as we acknowledge Him in all of our ways. As we know, He busies Himself with our every step.

In our day’s journey, setting the tenor of our day, does not only benefit us, but it surely affects those around us. The fruit of our connectedness with Holy Spirit are displayed in our lives as we are the branches, we are the fruit hangers that anyone near us can partake and seeds are planted into their hearts without our conscious knowledge of it, but Holy Spirit knows.

At the end of the day, we have so much to be thankful for. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and those influenced by us tasted and seen the same. Indeed, BLESSED is the man who trusts in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

“TRUST in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” (Psalm 37:3)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great and steadfast love for me that is unwavering and unfailing. Thank You that You delight in making all Your goodness and mercy hunt me down and overtake me. Jesus, thank You for being my Lord and Savior, my Deliverer, my Healer, my Restorer, my Good Shepherd Who always leads me and lets me lie down in green pastures in the abundance of Your Grace and Truth. Thank You, Holy Spirit, my Comforter and my Helper in my time of need. You never cease to amaze me by unveiling my eyes to see the truth of Who Jesus is and His finished work and who I am before the eyes of our Heavenly Father as His forever beloved. Amen!

Photo Credits: Babette Arriola; NZ