The Central Moment

Throwing our left-overs at God ultimately has consequences -- both for his glory and our thriving. Let’s not rob him of our best and end up with less than what we started with.

It takes work to keep first things first. Priorities are worth fighting for -- especially God’s priorities. Yet God’s Spirit takes over when Jesus is put first.

Jesus often referred to himself as ‘the son of man’ even though he was the Son of God. The Old Testament prophet Daniel is our reference point for understanding this.

Can dead bones live? Can ruined places be restored? Can our hungry hearts be filled? May God’s Spirit breathe on us again!

What do we do when we realize that God loves people that we may not particularly like? Those are the times when our prejudices must die and God’s love must find root in our hearts again.

Just like a diamond sparkles most brilliantly against a darkened background, God’s brightest promises sometimes come at the most unlikely and undeserving times in our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord.

God would want to raise up a generation of prophetic destiny to lead the church into its potential. Like Josiah, a generation that is not crippled by cynicism but hungry for God and courageous for his purposes in the earth.

We all know that it is easier to start well than it is to finish well. But what about God’s capacity to help us end well when we have not started well?

If there was ever a ‘formula for success,’ Hezekiah found it and lived it. Whether in business, family life, ministry or career building, these two keys are indispensable.

Prayer and praise are a potent combination in our lives. God responds, demonic powers flee and the Lord takes our battles into his own hands.

When we come to Christ we walk into a spiritual windfall -- forgiveness, healing, freedom, joy, anointing and purpose. But may we not keep it to ourselves!

We may feel culturally outmuscled and outnumbered by the world’s influences, but there is a greater One in us than whatever might be around us. His name is Jesus -- the commander of the hosts of Heaven!

“He will fill your heart today to overflowing. As the Lord commandeth you, ‘Bring your vessels, not a few;’ He will fill your heart today to overflowing with the Holy Ghost and power.” (Lelia N. Morris, 1862-1929)

A double portion of God’s anointing and power is for those who remain undeterred and hungry for it. May what came upon Elisha come upon us today by the power of the Holy Spirit!

There is a decision that each one of us must make that God cannot make for us. Even though that decision may need reaffirming from time to time, God is always faithful to reveal himself and make clear the way.

God’s purpose has always been to set his presence among us. “Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place,” Solomon prayed. Today, in Christ, the presence of the Lord finds its dwelling place in our lives -- both individually and collectively as his church.

The way of wisdom is God’s way for our lives. It is a gift from God to us. And when we seek wisdom like we would buried treasure, we run right into God himself.

In spite of our spiritual victories, no one is exempt from potentially life-destroying temptation. Sexual temptation, in particular, has been a threat to men and women of God throughout history. Is there hope?

God made a promise 3000 years ago that he is still keeping. At the center of it is freedom from the past, strength for the present and hope amid the uncertainties of the future -- all because of Jesus, the Eternal King!

There is no limit to what God can do through us when he is with us. We are baptized in the Holy Spirit because God’s power can accomplish what we cannot. God’s Spirit can bring the ‘more and more’ in our lives.

While being chased and hunted down, David learned to cry out to God. It shaped a spirituality within him that we can benefit from and even imitate ourselves.

We all love underdog stories when the underdog wins. But in our spiritual battles, we are not to look at ourselves as the champions. God sent the real Champion to win the battles we could never win.

We need to stop fighting ourselves. There is no use in wearing Saul’s armor and trying to be like others. God has apportioned to each one of us unique grace and gifting. Walk in it and let God use you!

God is always preparing us for something. There is a strategy to the sovereign seasons that the Lord allows us to walk through. Facing obstacles in the obscure seasons of our lives can make us resilient and strong in the public seasons.

Our mentoring of children, teenagers and younger adults cannot be optional. The Lord is always raising up new, young generations of leaders upon whom he puts his Spirit and through whom he takes his church into the future.