The Truth About the New Year (part 4 in the revival series)

The New Year for some is a time to press the reset button.  Diets are started, resolutions made, work-out clothes and equipment purchased, and exercise classes started.  For others, the first of January is just another day since their “year” revolves around something entirely different such as a school calendar or even a financial calendar.  

Self-help folks and even those behind the pulpit look to the numerical imagery of our new year 2020, and equate it with the year to have 20/20 vision; changing your outlook, seeing things, or even yourself clearly, grasping a vision and focusing more on self, family, and God. 

But let’s look at the New Year through God’s word.  In all actually, His calendar new year and when the push of our “reset button” are two totally different times from when the Gregorian calendar designates our new beginning!  

Sidebar lesson:  - Exodus 12: 2 shows God’s introduction of His calendar to the Children of Israel. This calendar revolves around the cycle of the moon instead of the sun.  It also has specially designated days for collective worship called holy days (Leviticus 23),. The last three holy days which occur in the fall, Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) have an amazing spiritual and historical significance. It is at the start of Rosh Hashanah, also dubbed “the head of the year”, that our spiritual reset button should actually be pressed.  The three fall observances are marked by collective worship, reflection and repentance, and great celebration which occurs over a course of about three weeks.  God too, also numbers His years. Since each letter of the Hebraic alphabet has a numeric value and meaning of their own, with each year comes a new spiritual meaning.  (Seriously, when you have time study this for yourself. It’s awesome!)

So, back in October, God’s new year actually started!  This year is numbered 5780. It too is also the start of a new decade. However, the focus is not on our eyes and seeing, but on our mouths and speaking (80 signifies the mouth either open or shut, voice, speaking)!  In all actuality, the seeing decade was the last decade. It not that God has moved on and left that behind, but that He’s calling us to pay more attention to what He is saying (His voice) and learning when, where, and how to be His mouthpiece. 

So, are we just supposed to throw the whole 20/20 stuff out of the window? No! It is still important.  We always need to stop and take an account of how we’re doing, make changes and move on, so let’s break this thing down. 

God’s calendar says to focus on what is coming out of His mouth and ours.

Man’s calendar says to focus on seeing things clearly and perfectly.

God’s calendar says to listen for His voice and speak boldly about Him.

Man’s calendar says look intently and see things for what they really are. 

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

John 10:27

You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Matthew 5:14, 16

(Did you get the play on colors?  Blue and red make purple...)

If we start with hearing His voice, strengthening our relationship with Jesus through prayer (which is a two-way communication) and then follow obediently after Him, we will shine brightly as His light.  Aaaaaannnndd if we are shining brightly as His light, then those who do not follow Him can see the benefits of living for Jesus.

You see, it’s not really about us getting 20/20 vision.  This time, this new year, this new decade is about God’s people being able to be seen and recognized for being a set-apart people for God. 

What helps people see in the darkness of night?  The reflection of the sun off of a full moon.  That’s what we’re supposed to do.  We’re not the greater light. We’re not God. But we are, however,  supposed to shine in the darkness of this world reflecting His light. 

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.   

Ephesians 5:8

As this revival series (part1, part 2, part 3) comes to a close, I urge you to read through this collection of scriptures I got from my Sunday school book, and any others you can find, on how we can help those who cannot see Jesus clearly perfect their vision just looking through the lenses of our lives. How will the world know we’re not just good people, but that we are God’s people?

• By our fruits (lasting effective, seed-bearing work we do for God)     Matthew 7: 15-20      
• By our character                                                          Colossians 3:10-17
• By our confession of Jesus                                          1 John 4: 1-21
• By the Fruit of the Spirit in us                                    Galatians 5:22-25
• By following after Jesus (being obedient)                   John 10: 1-16, 27

Revival is the reset button of our hearts.
Press it.

Peace comes when we are the light of peace.
Unity comes when we are the light of unity.
Love comes when we are the light of love. 
Ask God to speak to you concerning you.
Ask Him to speak to you concerning how to pray for things that need to be changed around you.
 Listen for His voice.

Do what He says if you really want things to change.

Happy New You!!

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni 

A Prayer In and Beyond My Four Walls - (Part 3 in the revival series)

Some time back in October, I came across a prayer on a website that I frequent just about on a daily basis.  It’s called Bless Every Home.  This awesome website allows you to pray a daily prayer for your neighbors. The ultimate goal for this ministry is not just that you are praying for your neighbors, but that you are also caring for them and witnessing to them as well.  I urge you to check it out and sign up.

This prayer is based loosely on a prayer from that website. 

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

_{Isaiah 40: 5}

“In all things and in every home in my neighborhood” especially those whose children attend  _{name(s) of your neighborhood schools}, “reveal Yourself, Jesus, as Savior, Healer, Reconciler, and Restorer.” Prepare the hearts in every home to receive You upon Your revelation. 

Truth Jesus.  Silence the adversary.  We speak a muting of his voice and his agents of darkness in music, television, social media, and movies. 

Truth Jesus. We release Your truth to be manifested and preached in Your churches – all of the churches in this city.

Truth Jesus. We release Your truth to be manifested and spoken over all of the policies, laws, and decision making for our city and schools. 

Lord send a revival for us all!  

Forgive us for our role in what causes you grief about our city, our community, our church, and even our own family. Shine Your light of truth on our hearts so that we may see where we need to repent completely. 

 “Shine Your healing light in broken families, marriages, loneliness, abuse, illness, anxiety, fear, and everything else that is robbing my neighbors”, my family, my schools, my city and all of the homes and families within it of Your truth, love, and peace.  May we see what needs to be healed and made whole and be willing to do the work to activate the change.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Photo retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/309552174358917479/

Prayer for City Revival (Part 1 in revival series)

Lord God, send a revival to my city/county…

Refine Your churches. I call, in the Spirit, for a “cease and desist” of religious meetings in this city and release in Jesus’ name, assemblies filled with Your presence.

I call for, in Jesus’ name, a unification of the churches – across denominations, race, size, and status – “one new man” in Jesus Christ.

Lord God,  send a revival to my city/county. 

Unify Your people in every section of government, every school, every church, every civic league, our police force, our judicial system, our hospitals, clinics and EMS workers, our social service department…  

Let there be no place where Your people aren’t a unified light for You.

I call for, in the name of Jesus, the faculty and staff of every school who are called by Your Name, to unify themselves to establish Your authority over the enemy and his demons and adverse spirits at their schools and in the families and communities they serve.

I speak and release an angelic and the holy blood of Jesus hedge of protection around my family and all who take this stand.

Send Your Truth to the churches. Soften the hearts of the people. Open our eyes – heal our blindness to see people the way You see them.

Open our ears – heal our deafness so that we may hear AND obey Your voice.

Open our mouths – heal our muteness and stupor that we may speak Your love and truth.

Restore our movement – heal our lameness, weakness, and fatigue that we may walk with strength and purpose in Your will.

Revival starts with us.

Revival starts with me.

Lord Jesus, in Your mercy and grace, send a revival.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Day 30

Section 5: For Our Students

Join with us today and pray our prepared prayer on pages 51 and 52 from the FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EDUCATION free eBook or pray independently from our focus scripture, Psalm 78:4  and enjoy the accompanying song entitled, "The Latter Rain" by the Alvin Slaughter. 

Continue praying for the word of God to strengthen the family unit in this country. Pray for healing and restoration for the families of your students this school year.

A BETTER GENERATION

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.

Psalm 78:4 NLT

Dear Lord and Precious Father,

We praise You for being timeless. We thank You for being omnipresent and omniscient. Bless Your holy name for creating the family unit and having a place in Your heart for the fatherless and the widow. It is with great purpose that You have created "family". Each family You have knitted together is fearfully and wonderfully made and all their ordained days have already been written in Your book of destiny.

We understand that in praying for an educational revival in this country, we must also lay the family structure of this country on the altar before You. Forgive this country's disregard for what You have ordained as the sacred family unit. Forgive this country for every tv show, book, political view, religious acceptance and blind eye turned away from the Truth that has altered this country's foundational principles of family which were built on the Word of God.

As You empower us to restore the family unit to reflect Your will, turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children. As parents and grandparents read the Word of God, may they begin to speak to their children and grandchildren about the wonders of Your hands. Release the truth of Your goodness from the tongues of parents throughout this country. Teach parents to bless their children.

We declare that one generation will praise Your name to the next. This current generation and those that are rising up will be greater than those before them. They will acknowledge where their help comes from. They will declare Your wonders. They will meditate on Your goodness and they will boldly proclaim  Your existence in the hallways, classrooms, fields, courts, lecture halls, playgrounds, school buses, dorm rooms, cafeterias, locker rooms...where ever their feet go, their mouths will proclaim, "Jesus is Lord and He is the Way, the Truth and the Light."

This generation and those to follow will lift You up and You will draw all men unto You.

In Your great and holy name Jesus,

-Amen

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Day 28

Section 5: For Our Students

Join with us today and pray our prepared prayer on page 49 from the FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EDUCATION free eBook or pray independently from our focus scripture, Joel 2: 28 NKJV  and enjoy the accompanying song entitled, "Revival Fire Fall" by the Motor City Mass Choir. 

As you continue in prayer, lift up the children in your life who are being taught the Word of God. Ask the Lord to ignite their hearts with a passion for His presence. Pray that the power of the Holy Spirit anoint them to be as bold and courageous as Esther, dedicated to the Lord as the three Hebrew boys, as diligent and rewarded as Joseph and as influential as Daniel. Pray for their protection and strength as they carry the light of Jesus to their peers, family and teachers. 

BRING IT BACK

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Joel 2:28 NKJV

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for loving the world so much that You gave us Your only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. We thank You for being the Way, the Truth and the Life. We thank You for wanting all to come to You. We thank You for the love and compassion in which You gaze upon the children all around the world.

May the children of this land be encouraged to worship You while at school. May prayer be released back into education. From the lips of infants and children, Lord, You have ordained praise to silence the foe and the avenger.

We declare in the Name of Jesus, a desire for the children of the land to call on You in spirit and in truth. Show them the great wonders of Your great love. May they in turn testify of Your goodness to others.

Strengthen those children You have already called to be bold and stouthearted for You. Lace their language with Your praises and their actions with Your love. Protect them from or strengthen them through persecution and let them not be conformed to this world, but choose to stand out and be a light for You. May those whom You have mandated to lead, be filled with the anointing as You did for Daniel, David, Joseph and Esther.

May the desire for worshiping You start in their home. Turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and restore the foundation of family in this country. May the revival of prayer, one generation praising Your name to the next, be released today.

In Jesus’ name,

 - Amen