Embracing God's Timing: The cruciality of timing in fulfillment of God's Agenda.

Have you ever felt rushed to fulfill God’s calling, only to be stopped in your tracks? What if the key to fulfilling your purpose is learning to wait?

In our fast-paced world, it can be difficult to accept that sometimes the best thing we can do is wait.

A few years ago, the Lord placed a word in my spirit to start a prayer chain network. During that time, I tried every possible way to begin, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see myself making it happen. So, I let the idea go. Then, last year, the Holy Spirit spoke to me again concerning something else, saying, "Start a blog" I was surprised because I had never once considered doing such a thing. If someone had told me I would do this, I would have said, "It can't be me."

When I received the word, I acted on it immediately. I know myself well enough to recognize that when I procrastinate on instructions, I often fail to follow through. So, as soon as I received the word, I began the blog. Since then, the Lord has continually given me instructions about what He wants me to share. Some days, it feels like He’s simply watching, waiting to see if I will post. But I’ve realized that as I write, it often feels as though the words aren’t coming from me.

For every instruction the Lord gives, He also provides the ability, the enablement, and the resources needed to fulfill it.

Romans 8:30 (NIV)
"And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified."

Yes, He has predestined you for the task He has assigned you, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right time to start. In God’s plan, timing is crucial. When we rush ahead of His timing, it can lead to setbacks, and in those moments, we may even question whether we truly heard from God.

You should never feel pressured to act outside of God’s timing. In the journey we are on, we must wait. During these moments of waiting, the Lord sharpens us, justifies us, and strengthens us. We should not be in a hurry to start, because when we do, God may take His hand off our efforts and simply watch us.

During the waiting time, God works on our hearts, our character, and our entire being. He builds and equips us spiritually, ensuring that we are ready and prepared for His use. God doesn’t just raise anyone; He doesn’t pour out His gifts on us for us to rush forward like a tornado, only to stop halfway or fall short.

Many of us have abandoned our assignments halfway because we started before God’s timing. Most of us weren’t patient enough to be fully equipped for what lay ahead. Friend, our assignments are unique to each of us, and only God determines when we are truly ready. You cannot compare your timing with anyone else’s. In His perfect time, He will make it happen. And when that time comes, you will start with ease because you will be fully equipped for what He has set before you.

It’s time to return to our Creator, ask for His forgiveness and help, and seek grace to wait in the Potter's furnace until we are equipped and ready for His use.

Stay revived!

The Strategy of the 300-Men.

God does not need abundance or crowds to give a victory; He only needs 300 men. This 300-man is a figurative number representing the right people, as seen in Gideon's battle with the Midianites.

There are 300 men for every season, assignment, and victory. Confidence in God was the strategy the Lord set out to teach Gideon, a reminder that Yahweh can achieve anything regardless of number, qualification, or location.

God has set a divine strategy, and He is revealing it to men and women today: "Put your trust in Me." Trust is built despite fear or confusion about the path ahead. If God led us only through paths we understand and can navigate on our own, we would never come to recognize His significance in our lives.

Those waters that appear strange and difficult are God's way of saying, "I want you to give Me the right to steer this boat. I promise you a safe landing, but it can only happen if I give the directions." God lays down the standards to set us off, but rest assured, He will bring us to our desired destination. This is the way God speaks to us.

Will you still choose the strategy of the Midianites that has already been defeated by God, or will you trust God to give you intel on the enemy’s camp?

The very first thing that Gideon did was "he saw"; he saw the crowd:

Judges 7:11 (ESV): "Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp."

Judges 7:12 (ESV): "And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance."

The abundance of soldiers and warriors would have overwhelmed him if he had simply seen and walked away. He might have looked at the vast army and retreated, thinking of his own small camp. But if this walk had ended with just "sight," Gideon would not have been able to build strength in God's strategy.

God wanted him to hear; He wanted to give him insight into what the enemies thought about him.

There are moments when God doesn’t want us to simply rely on what we see; He wants us to step into the realm of hearing. Our sight can be deceptive and create a false impression of the enemy. But when Gideon continued his walk, he heard:

Judges 7:13-14 (ESV): "When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, ‘Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.’ And his comrade answered, ‘This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.’"

Judges 7:15 (ESV): "As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped..."

Gideon received strength only when he heard. It’s not just our sight, but our ears that must be quickened, so that we will always hear what is needed to build the courage and strength to thrive in God’s strategy.

We are getting the victory because we have heard. We have heard what God’s Word has said concerning sickness, failure, rejection, barrenness, and so on. In courage, we claim our victory.

Today, we have heard and rise in obedience to God’s strategy.

Stay revived!

By Guest Writer.

"The Burden of Prayer: Partnering with God for His Purpose"

Some time ago, I felt a burden in my heart to pray. It was as though there was a weight in my spirit urging me to pray. As I began to pray, I realized I was relieved, and the burden became lighter. However, As time went on it continued to grow stronger, leading me to a place of consistent and longer prayers. 

This was the burden of prayer—God’s burden to intercede, even when I feel there is nothing wrong. It is a pressing desire for revival to be stirred up, for God's children to be restored to their rightful place, and for Jesus to be glorified. There is a hunger in mankind that only the Lord can satisfy. It is a yearning that cannot be filled with food or anything else, but only through the knowledge of the Lord. When God wants to use a man, He places burdens on him and watches and hopes eagerly that man is able to read these signs. The burdens of the Lord stir us into our God-given roles on the earth.

As we go about our daily activities, we should ask ourselves: What burdens are we bearing? What relevance do we have to God’s Kingdom? Are we children of God who are always asking for miracles but not seeking the Miracle Worker Himself?

When the Lord places burdens on us and we begin to act on them, we create a portal for the manifestation of His will. When we step into our roles as God's burden-bearers, we begin to seek to see and hear from him on a daily and the burdens of the Lord are not grievous.

Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV):
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

When we invite the Lord into our daily lives and routines, and as we desire His ways, we begin to partner with Him daily. He starts to place burdens in our hearts. Until we act on what He has placed there, we feel a pressing need to do something. We sense this urgency. But when we carry out these tasks, we feel a sense of peace. These burdens the Lord gives us are accompanied by His help and grace to carry them out.

When the Lord invests His time in placing burdens on our hearts, these burdens are for our shaping and for Jesus to be glorified. As we fulfill them, we are slowly transformed into the image of our God.

Stay Revived!

When Expectations Don’t Match Reality: How to Handle Life’s Challenges.

We’ve all been there—when what we expect doesn’t align with what we experience. In those moments, it can feel as though everything is falling apart just when we thought things were finally coming together. So, what do we do when we’re on the brink of receiving our breakthrough, only to be met with disappointment?

I recently spoke with a friend who had gone through a similar experience. She attended a job interview, was accepted for the role, and was eager to start. However, when she arrived at the job on Monday, the employer changed the terms of the agreement and asked for something entirely different from what was initially promised. As a result, she had to reject the role, leaving her feeling frustrated and confused.

This scenario is one many of us can relate to. When we’re on the verge of receiving our testimony or breakthrough, the enemy often tries to disrupt it, sowing seeds of doubt and discouragement. The enemy’s goal is to make us feel inadequate, to erode our confidence in God’s plan for us, even in the face of opposition.

Life’s challenges don’t come with a timetable, so it’s impossible to know when they’ll strike or how to prepare for them. Sometimes, encouragement can feel like an empty cliché. When we’re left to face the harsh realities of life, it’s easy to slip into sadness or even depression.

Psalm 23:5 (KJV) reminds us of God’s provision in the midst of our struggles:

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

When I reflect on this verse, I’m struck by the four profound promises of what the Lord intends to do for us. As children of God, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that we shouldn’t have to struggle or face difficulties, assuming we’ll receive everything we want effortlessly. But we must remember that even David, who was known as a man after God’s own heart, faced immense challenges. He experienced moments of loss, doubt, and fear, but he was always encouraged and strengthened by God’s promises.

God has prepared a table for us, even in the presence of our enemies. This doesn’t just mean physical sustenance; it signifies spiritual provision, protection, and empowerment, even when things seem uncertain. God doesn’t invest His time in us for us to fail or remain stagnant. His desire is for us to thrive, even in the face of challenges. These obstacles are not meant to break us but to refine us, and He has already made provision for us to navigate through them.

When we face trials, it’s important to take time to recharge and refocus. Lean into God’s promises and remind yourself that He has equipped you with everything you need to overcome. Step into each day with the assurance that He is with you, and that His grace and strength will carry you through every challenge.

Stay revived!