As Joshua prepared the children of Israel to cross over the Jordan river into the promised land, God instructed Joshua that the Levitical Priests should go before the army with the ark on their shoulders. The priests are worshippers, singers and musicians and were the designated carriers of the presence of God. “Joshua also instructed the people to consecrate themselves as the Lord would do wonders among them” (Joshua 3:5). Joshua also told the people, that as soon as they saw the ark of the covenant of the Lord, being carried by the Priests, that they should set out and follow them.

“and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), The waters coming down from above rose up in a heap very far away and the waters flowing down to the sea was completely cut off; and the people passed over opposite Jericho” (Joshua 3:15-16). What is amazing for me to read, is that the Priests did not wait for the waters to be cut off before stepping forward. They stepped forward in faith and as they moved, God dried up the water. They were acting on the evidence of faith not seen.

It is interesting for me the significance which the Levites held in the Old Testament. We also see at other times in scripture, where the worshippers and singers went ahead of an army going into battle. Their worship in advance showed their confidence in God to bring victory. We maintain the understanding that the presence of the Lord goes ahead of us, to secure victory as our worship and praise situates us within the presence of God. Praise is an act of gratitude towards God for his goodness and faithfulness. “to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified” (Isaiah‬ ‭61:3‬).

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This stillness which the Psalmist refers to is waiting before God in his presence and listening to his voice for direction. The idea of being still can seem counterproductive when we aim to accomplish a goal. How does it make sense to wait and do nothing? “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬).

We gain strength from coming before God to pray and waiting in his presence. We sometimes rush to pick up the phone when we have a problem and Google is our main source of reference for many things. For many of us prayer is the last resort after we have exhausted every other option.

Meditation has developed an orientation to Eastern religions and the Christian Church does not always emphasize stillness and solace before God. We approach God in prayer with many words and an anxious heart and very often never listen. It is important to pour out our hearts to God and to bring our petitions to him. It is even more important to practice being still in his presence, waiting for his response and listening for his leading.

God speaks to Prophets, Pastors and ministers but he also speaks to anyone who will make themselves available to listen. When we daily practice coming before God in repentance, worship and prayer and practice waiting in his presence then he will reveal himself to us. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

God is always speaking. Will you listen and can you hear his voice? His voice brings peace, comfort and assurance. Be still and listen for his leading.

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Another version of that scripture states, that those who love to talk, reap the consequences of what they say. We’ve all heard of self-fulfilling prophecy and in some instances, we may say that we are simply being realistic or pragmatic. I believe that the contrasting view, is optimism and avoiding negativity. I don’t know about you, but sitting around talking about sad stories and the sorry state of the world, creates feelings of depression and doom.

There are spiritual laws that govern the universe including the law of confession. “You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways” (Job 22: 28). “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

Let us arise each morning to command our day and our week and decree what will manifest. We can use spiritual principles grounded in the word of God and we declare the promises in the word over our lives. We declare that although we feel weak, that we are strong in Christ Jesus. We are rich because our father owns the wealth of the world. We are victorious because we place our trust and confidence in God and while we worship, God fights our battles. We are the righteousness of God, head and not the tail, above and not beneath. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

We use our words to declare, not what we can see, but by faith those things that we cannot see and watch them manifest. “Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed” (Romans 4:17).

LeSpeak life to whatever seems dead in your life. Use your words to decree and declare what must come into existence. Use your words to shape your life and destiny. “Son of man, can these bones live? Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord’” (Ezekiel 37:3-4)!

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After Jesus’s ascension, Peter and the other apostles preached about Jesus and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They also laid hands on the sick so that they recovered. There was a man in Acts 3 who was lame from birth who sat at the gate of the temple to beg. Peter and John commanded the man to be healed in the name of Jesus Christ and he was healed.

This miracle caused quite a stirring among the people who gathered around Peter and John in amazement. They used this opportunity to teach the people about Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead. The religious leaders at the time were greatly distressed about this. They had ordered Jesus’s death as a way to stop people from believing in him. And here were the apostles teaching about Jesus and performing miracles in his name.

Peter and John were arrested and threatened by the religious rulers and told not to speak anymore of Jesus. So when Peter and John left the prison, they gathered with other believers and prayed to God for boldness to continue to proclaim the gospel. They also prayed for power to heal the sick and to continue to perform signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.

I believe that the apostles prayers were so bold that it shook the very foundation of the place where they were meeting. These men were not merely praying for God to bless them or to meet their needs. They were praying to be filled with power from on high to proclaim the gospel and to bring healing, deliverance and freedom. I imagine that their prayers ushered in a double portion of God’s presence, power and anointing.

I pray that our prayers will be bold enough to shake the cities and towns where we live. That the Holy Spirit’s power will be so tangible in our lives that a major shift will take place in our churches, our homes and places of employment. God we pray for a shaking.

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Paul’s exhortation to the church in Ephesus was to remain alert and persistent in prayer. He encouraged them to pray for each other and to constantly lift each other up to God. I believe that our relationships would be a lot better, if we prayed about the things that we don’t like about each other, rather than talk and complain about them.

Most marriages would be better off, if spouses prayed about the things they don’t like about each other. Constantly talking about what irritates us can translate into nagging, complaining or fault finding.“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James‬ ‭5:16‬).

I believe that as we pray, God transforms the person that we pray for and he also does a work in us and offers grace, to deal with the things that we pray about. Our relationships will then improve, because if we care enough to pray, then that is the best place to start. We have to guard against resentment and bitterness, which can easily spring up even in the healthiest relationships. There are times when speaking the truth in love, is helpful and a healthy way to improve relationships. At other times when talking does not seem to help, then it is time to pray.

Praying reduces anxiety and it helps us to surrender our cares to God, with the recognition that we are powerless to change others. We pray and God will convict and transform us and the ones we pray for. God honours unity and he is invested in the health and vitality of our relationships, but we have to go to him in prayer. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:17‬).

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It is God who created the earth and everything in it. Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ, as Lord and saviour have been adopted into the family of God. “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18).

As dear children of God we ask him for what we need, to supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). God owns everything and when he created us he gave us dominion and authority over everything.

Satan took that authority when he caused Adam and Eve to fall into sin. Jesus Christ came to earth, died and rose again and took back from the devil the keys of death and hell. Christ’s death, burial and resurrection signalled our redemption to God. The word redeemed is to gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment. Through Jesus Christ we regained the authority given to Adam before the fall.

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven he called his disciples and told them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Christ then delegated that power and authority to us. That is the story of our redemption to God. And with that redemption comes authority to decree a thing and it shall be established (Job 22:28).

Do not let the enemy bombard you with fear, guilt and doubt. Change your language and your expectations, of what God can do in your life. God will grant you the desires of your heart. Search yourself and ensure that your desires line up with God’s will and purpose. You develop an understanding of his will, through the study and understanding of the word. As long as your desire is not birthed through envy and covetousness and it lines up with the word of God, then it will be granted unto you.

Ask God for what you want. Stand on his word and on his promises and continue to decree what you want to be established. We are not beggars; it is our entitlement. Once you confess your faults, God forgives you and he does not hold your sins against you. The promises in the word belong to us, so if God promised it, then you can surely have it.

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Abundance refers to rich and satisfying, having all that you need and not lacking in anything. This is the life that Jesus wants for his children and promised when he came to give his life for us. God has a good and perfect plan for us. The devil also has his own plan and his work is to rob us of what God has in store for us. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. But Christ came that we may have a good life where we lack nothing.

When we live a life that is completely surrendered to God, he orders our steps and He delights in our ways (Psalm 37:23). The Lord will also make perfect everything that concerns us (Psalm 138:8). Our desires for good things, signals the plans of God for us and yes God wants us to have good things. He wants us to live a good and satisfying life. A life where we feel complete and fulfilled. It is when we sit between two positions where we sometimes struggle.

When we stay connected to God, he renews our strength and daily loads us with blessings. Goodness and mercy follows us everyday of our lives. Everything we need is in Christ Jesus and he supplies all of our needs according to his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). Living for God is not mundane and full of boredom and hardship. In fact it is the only way to have a full and complete life. If you want to have a satisfying life, submit to God who has all that we need and he will make our joy complete.

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I once heard about a treatment called forgiveness therapy, for people who have unexplained illnesses. Doctors have confirmed that unforgiveness is linked to some lifestyle diseases. It is amazing when science confirms what was written in scripture years ago. Although most scientists will not affirm scripture, we see traces of the truth in psychology and other medical disciplines. God revealed this to Daniel in the Old Testament and we see this manifesting today. “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel‬ ‭12:4‬).

God asks us to bear with one another, because we recognise that it is likely that we will offend others. We appreciate that we also have weaknesses and the capacity to make mistakes. We have to acknowledge that despite our mistakes and failures that God has forgiven us. So as God forgives us, we extend that forgiveness to others. “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬).

The requirement for us to receive forgiveness from God is to forgive others and God warns us that our prayers will not be heard unless we forgive. Hurting people hurt people and most people who are nasty have their own share of troubles. I suppose some people need our sympathy and insight into what is causing them to hurt. Jesus commands us to love our enemies and to also pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

God knows that the task of forgiveness is not an easy one, which is why his advice to Peter was seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). We don’t always score great marks on the forgiveness test and it is a constant struggle to ensure that we stay in grace. We have to pray for those who persecute us, because it is the only way to ensure that we do not harbour hate. If we hate and do not forgive then we are no better than the person who did wrong to us. Bitterness, hurt and hate are contagious and the only way to keep these poisons from getting inside of us and staying free is to forgive. Make a list of the persons who have offended you, pray for them and bless them. Where possible, there are also people who we have offended and need to make restitution.

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew‬ ‭5:23-24‬).

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We see in the book of Daniel, where the people of Israel and Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon. Others had been scattered into other countries, following the overthrow of Israel by the King of Babylon. Daniel was an upright man and he and other skilled Jews, were taken to Babylon to be used for the King’s service.

Daniel prospered and excelled in Babylon despite being in captivity because he walked in the favour of the Lord. Daniel also had the ability to interpret dreams and visions that even the greatest magicians in the land could not interpret (Daniel 5:12). Despite Daniel’s excellence he experienced many trials and prosecution as others were jealous of his success (Daniel 6).

Then in chapter 9 Daniel spent 21 days in fasting and prayer to ask God to deliver his people. At the start of his fast Daniel cried out to God and confessed the sins of his people. Daniel recognised that some of the challenges that he had experienced and was experiencing was as a result of the sins of his ancestors.

There are some challenges and battles that we find ourselves in the middle of, due to mistakes made by our parents, grandparents and great grandparents. God is faithful to forgive and he has promised, “The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel‬ ‭18:20‬).

Once we repent and renounce the former works of the past, then we can walk in the freedom and favour of the Lord. In this season let us cry out to God in repentance for our country and our nation and trust in God to heal our land. Confess your sins, renounce every work of darkness and accept God’s forgiveness.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

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Throughout 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and Ezra 1-6, we see where God stirred up the heart of Cyrus, the Persian King to support the Jews to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Cyrus was known for his domination and he successfully conquered major kingdoms and territories. This included Babylon where the children of Israel had been taken captive.

Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and it was his declaration which resulted in the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem. “Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.” (Ezra 1:7)

Isaiah speaks of Cyrus as being anointed by God to subdue kingdoms, to displace kings and to open doors and gates. God also promised to go before Cyrus and remove all obstacles and allow an easy passage for him. God’s promise was also to bless Cyrus with great wealth in order for him to complete the assignment which he had set before him. “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.” (Isaiah 45:3)

All of this God did to demonstrate his power and might and to show that he can use whoever he chooses. If it was up to us, there are many people who we would disqualify, due to their origin or our measure of their standard of holiness. It was God who chose Cyrus who did not even know him. God blessed Cyrus and gave him victory over many nations and kingdoms. The wealth that Cyrus accumulated was then used to support the restoration, realignment and restructure of Jerusalem.

“I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the Lord of hosts.”
‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭45:13‬)

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