Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth

It’s a new month, and for many, the phrase "Happy New Month" has become a common greeting, often devoid of true meaning. For others, however, the start of a new month brings with it anticipation and specific expectations for what they want to see and experience.

But what do you want to see this month?

This past Monday at precisely 12:47 AM, I felt a quickening in my spirit while I was still asleep. It was as though I was gently tapped and prompted, "Onos, wake up and start praying immediately." The moment the quickening came, I was fully awake. I hadn’t even realized it was the start of a new month until I began to pray, and then it dawned on me — this was the exact time the Holy Spirit often wakes me up in the middle of the night.

As we enter each new month, let us make it a habit to seek God’s face for the month ahead. God is always ready to set the pace for a new reality in our lives. He desires that we seek Him at the start of every new month. Yes, God does not speak to us based on the calendar months because He exists outside of time, but He relates to us according to the seasons in our lives. When we seek His face and align ourselves with Him, He reveals His thoughts to us and brings His reality into our lives. This is evident in His Word, as spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)
"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

God is ready to do a new thing for us in this new month, but we must first seek His face. Seeking His face helps us avoid potential troubles that have yet to unfold. It prepares us and keeps us aligned with God’s will for what the new month holds.

So, when the new month begins, don’t just offer a generic “Happy New Month” to others. Let your greeting come from a place of conviction, grounded in God’s Word. Be vigilant, for our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. May we not fall into his traps in Jesus' name. Amen.

Stay revived!

More Than Conquerors: Embracing God’s Triumph in Our Lives

The term "more than conquerors" is one that many of us are familiar with, but not everyone truly understands its profound meaning as described in Scripture. God's plan for our lives is for us to live triumphantly. However, this victory is not automatic. While giving our lives to Christ makes us children of God and secures our redemption, we must also come to a place of total reliance on Him to live out our identity as conquerors.

As we walk through daily life, it's easy to become distracted by worries and challenges that make us look or feel insignificant. But we must take a moment to pause, reflect, and search within ourselves. There is untapped potential waiting to be discovered, potential that can only be unlocked when we choose to fully rely on God's plan. We often get caught up in the "normal" routine of life, forgetting that God has promised something far greater. He has a life for us filled with hope, purpose, and anticipation, where we can confidently step into His promises for us.

Romans 8:37 declares, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Long before we fully realized it, God loved us and declared us conquerors. He is a faithful God who desires for us to come into the full realization of our rights and privileges in Him. In doing so, we will come to understand the depth of what He has prepared for those who overcome the world.

In Revelation 3:5 MSG, we are reminded that, “The victorious one will, like them, be dressed in white. I will not blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” 

This victory, secured by Christ, is not just about overcoming life's challenges; it's about securing our place in the eternal victory parade. When we walk in the power of God’s victory, He celebrates us as overcomers, our names forever etched in the Book of Life.

God rejoices when we overcome, not just as individuals but as His redeemed children. The sacrifice of Jesus was not merely a ceremonial cleansing; it was the redemption of mankind and our introduction to the life He has prepared for us in Him. Through His death, He offers us a life of victory, purpose, and fulfillment.

Perhaps you’ve felt defeated, weary, or stuck. Maybe you've been waiting for a breakthrough that hasn't come yet. Let me remind you that there is a life found in Jesus—a life that introduces us to boundless possibilities. All we need to do is let Him in and allow Him to take the lead in our lives. The victory that Jesus offers is not just a future promise; it is available to us today.

So, take a deep breath, trust in God's plan, and walk confidently as more than a conqueror, because in Christ, we are destined for victory

Stay revived!

Gratitude: For We Still Have Joy

What happens when you lift up the weights but still face the problem? I've noticed this as I commit to visiting the spiritual gym; the devil doesn't give up easily and isn't planning on giving up on you. But here's the thing: it's a double intensity. The devil might be committed to marking an "X" on you, but God is also committed to helping you grow healthy muscles.

We've talked about praying for everything, every little detail, but today, we're approaching the gym with a different approach: the way of gratitude. We're flipping the pages of the year's first quarter, in our hearts and entering His presence with joy and praise.

Lately, the enemy has been trying to lay siege on my joy. But we can choose to approach God not from the depth of our feelings but from a place of honor. We can declare that the Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever. So, we say, "Lord, we are grateful."

Beloved, the rain you might have waited out for might have become a season of hardship. But you know what should still be intact? Your joy, my joy. You can say this loudly to yourself: "My joy is still intact."

It's difficult to speak of having joy when you look at your physical circumstances and hear the mocking laughter saying, "I thought you said your God watches your back." Most times, our replies aren't automatic because we're still processing our pain. I get stuck in those moments too, but I've learned that nothing is responsible for my joy except God.

You can declare solely that "Lord, I am grateful that my joy is still intact. I have joy in my heart, and for this, I am so grateful." This gratitude we feel and express today isn't for anything except joy, even if we don't feel it. Because you don't need to feel it to declare it. You can boldly say, "Lord, I am grateful that You hear my prayers, and I am thankful that joy isn't far from me."

So, when we lift up the weights daily and search for evidence, see your joy as the best gift for diligently seeking Him.

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LIFTED WEIGHTS?

I'm not an athletic person, but whenever I notice the food I eat getting stored as fat in my belly, that's when I decide to go to the gym or engage in a workout session, which sometimes doesn't last more than a week.

I woke up yesterday feeling quite sad and exhausted. This feeling lasted until the evening when I spoke to a loved one about it. She recommended, "Why don't you pray in tongues for a while?" I did, and immediately I started engaging my spirit. I felt lighter and more joyful. She called it "weights." I had called it a "heaviness," and as I thought about it, I realized that it was indeed a weight that lay heavy on my chest and wouldn't go away until I exercised my spiritual self.

Just like not being committed to physical exercise, we also display a lack of commitment in our spiritual lives. The enemy sneaks in and replaces our anticipation of forthcoming events, like interviews or doctor's appointments, with weights.

Instead of feeling heavy-hearted throughout the day, we can lift these weights. Just as exercising burns excess fat, leaving us with what we need, we can spiritually exercise to lift our burdens.

As God says, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). We can choose to arm ourselves with scripture and go to God to take away the burdens that threaten our peace of mind.

Are you anxious? Pray in the Holy Ghost. Is your marriage troubled? Pray in the Holy Ghost. Do you have a major decision to make? Engage with the Holy Ghost.

The world is filled with weights, and as long as we live, we'll constantly face heavy burdens. But the truth is, we have a God who is a champion in lifting weights and burdens.

I felt relieved after praying, and even if I had stopped immediately, I felt okay. God wants us to know that a healthy emotional lifestyle can be achieved not just once, but by constantly submitting our feelings to Him. Just as we maintain a physical lifestyle by regularly exercising, we can maintain a healthy emotional lifestyle by regularly seeking God.

Do you desire to enroll in this session of weight lifters? You won't just be lifting your weights; you'll be lifting those of your family as well. In God's words, "Come! 

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.