How’s your career path going? oh, not quite what you expected? I’ve been reflecting on some great advice I received from a mentor who held up his hand and said, “See my hand?” (and he ran a pencil up and down the path from his thumb to each finger and finally the pinkie.) That’s how you reach convergence in your career – by traveling the peaks and valleys of opportunity and the school of hard knocks.

I’ll have to say that’s true of most careers. It certainly is true of my journey to a successful Director of a Corporate Learning Center. I relish the accomplishments of creating and managing a state-of-the art corporate learning center that impacted the lives of thousands of people. That was convergence of dreams, goals and fulfillment in my career at the time. That high didn’t come without lots of peaks and valleys, figuring out processes, learning how to deliver against ridiculous timelines, and creatively aligning resources to fill a gap. And those valley’s of opportunity are the places where the greatest lessons were learned. Writing about this gives me joy because I’m hoping you can learn from my valleys! BITS of Wisdom for the Crossroads is compiled from day-in-the life experiences on my journey.

I challenge you to share a lesson from one of your valleys and I’ll send you a free copy of the book. Just email me your lesson in a 3 paragraph description of: 1. the challenge you encountered; 2. the solution you came up with 3. The lesson you would share with others.

I encourage you today not to quit too soon; I believe your best days are ahead of you if you should choose to live them. Look up, reflect on what can be done instead of what cannot be done, find a solution and be part of the Good News for those around you.

Linda Fields

http://lindafieldsintl.blogspot.com/

³You said there would be joy in the letting go. You said there would be joy in the laying down. You said there would be joy in the giving up my rights.
And now I see. Your River it rushes to the lowest place. Let Your River flow. Come and rush over me. I¹ve gotta go lower, lower. I¹ve gotta go deeper, deepr. I¹ve gotta get to the wells of joy. I¹ve gotta dig for the wells of joy!² ¬ Laura Hackett

These words penetrated the core of my being as I let go of everything I¹ve been clinging to in life and embraced the fullness of joy found only in God¹s presence!

Do you wonder about the purpose of life? Is it to fulfill some grand business venture or leave behind a family legacy? When we stand before the Lord how will He measure the success of our lives? Will God consider our wealth, our accomplishments, or our children? What is the standard He will use to determine our eternal inheritance? What must we do to hear those words, ³Well done good and faithful servant²?

Paul gave us the answer when he showed us the most excellent way: LOVE.
Absolutely nothing we attain in this life will remain for eternity except this one heart motive. The evaluation of our entire life will come down to this one question, ³Have you learned to love?² What is this love? It is patient (long-suffering) and kind; it is not envious, boastful, or self-seeking! I have spent most of my life absorbed with my Self! The other day my roommate pointed out that we have a much greater burden to rally prayer for issues that affect us personally. So are we willing to look out for the interests of others and consider their needs as more important than our own?

Jesus showed us the greatest love of all in laying down His life for us. Are we willing to love by ³suffering-long² with Jesus? He died for the joy of having each of us as His inheritance. That¹s how we experience ³joy in the letting go² and ³in the giving up our rights². His river of pleasure rushes to the lowest place of humility. We must be emptied of ourselves so that we might be filled to overflowing with His Spirit. Like John the Baptist our role is to decrease so that Jesus might increase.

As I participated in a small group discussion about 1 Corinthians 13 I became acquainted once again with my love deficit. Afterward a friend challenged me to ³let go² of the things I was clinging to. On my way home I decided to stop by the renewal services taking place at the International House of Prayer where the Holy Spirit had begun to move powerfully setting people free of self-hatred, eating disorders, and addictions, as well as healing people both emotionally and physically. Upon entering the celebration Jesus encountered my heart with ³joy in the letting go.² I danced around with such freedom and excitement! When I stopped for a moment to enjoy His love I began to sway like a weeping willow tree in the wind. As I leaned back to one side I heard Him speak to my heart, ³Do not lean on your own understanding.²

During the course of the next few days the Lord continued to do a work in my heart to purge my selfish ambition. I remember saying over and over, ³Lord, help me to suffer long with You. Your people shall be my people.² Various manifestations of God¹s presence occurred as He continued to realign my heart and motives with His. At one point I repeated, ³More of You and less of me,² over and over. The Lord reminded me that the one who fears is not made perfect in love because perfect love casts out fear.
God is doing a deep work in my heart to deliver me from fear, perfect me in love, help me let go, and teach me to love as He loves. Later I told Jesus, ³Not my will but Yours be done. I don¹t want my own way any more. I want Yours!² I committed my heart again to fulfill the greatest two commandments of loving Him and others. As I surrender to the Master Potter He is truly transforming my heart to rid me of selfish motives and reshapes my priorities. I find myself growing in His love, becoming more conscious of others¹ needs, and actively seeking to prefer the interests of others above my own. I share my experience to remind myself of the things God is doing to change my heart and as a testimony to others of how He humbles His people to fashion vessels of honor equipped to carry His glory to the nations!

May the Lord reshape us on His potter¹s wheel as we surrender our control to Him. May He carve out a place of humility and empty us of ourselves so that we may be filled to overflowing with His love. Let us decrease so that He may increase. There is joy in the letting go. Let¹s get to those wells of joy!

- Chérie Blair
www.uniquedove.com

SCRIPTURE
“…but God is the builder of everything.” – Hebrews 3:4

BLOG
There have been many times this week I have felt as though my life has been “under construction.” Literally, our office has been in a remodel project for almost three weeks straight, which has had me working remotely from home. You can imagine the disaster there! After so much traveling the last six months, I feel like I have that yellow “Do Not Cross” tape running across my mind to prohibit any new projects or commitments from popping up.

Being that it’s tax season, many of you are looking at the track record of last year while simultaneously looking to the future to see what the Lord has in store. Your lives are also under some construction. If you are like me, the winter months always bring times of introspection where I can give myself a check up from the neck up. In the midst of this, it’s important for us to maintain the right prospective and keep our eyes fixed on the Lord. Otherwise, the mundane tasks of these winter months can easily get us down.

This morning, as I sat down to work on our new budget for the next fiscal year, I was presented with a divine invitation from the Lord to see His face in the midst of crunching numbers and asking for wisdom on how to plan. Reaching in my desk at home, I pulled out a marker and paper and started writing various faces of God (aspects of His character) on each sheet. Posting them on the wall in front of my desk I began to verbally proclaim those faces over the next year’s budget.

You are the GOD WHO LOVES BUSINESS.

You are the GOD WHO DELIGHTS IN PRODUCTIVITY

You are a MASTER BUILDER

You are the DEDICATED GOD who believes in my success

As soon as I began, the atmosphere of my home office began to change. I used those little phrases as a launching pad to set my heart on a 15 minute journey in the middle of my morning.

As I proclaimed, the way I saw the budget shifted and I started to see the face of Jesus in the midst of the project! In addition, I started getting insight into a better way to do the budget and use the finances the Lord had provided. The “DO NOT CROSS” signs over my heart began to fall off and were replaced with the professions of His faces that I was declaring out loud. This shifted not only my spirit, but also the circumstances I was in and the way I was performing on the job.

I would challenge you, whether you work from home, an office, or are sitting in a cubical to do the same. In the midst of the construction of life, let’s declare the faces of God and watch the way He shows Himself as the God of Fruitful Labor. Who knows what might happen if we declare His face over our taxes.

- Kris Edler :: Operations Director

Scripture Focus
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV

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What does it mean to be “holy”?

Often holiness is viewed as religious. Many people cringe at the word thinking they must somehow achieve perfection by their own efforts. Our hope lies not in our ability to attain righteousness but in the grace given us through Jesus Christ. We were redeemed from our empty way of life by the precious blood of this pure and spotless Lamb.

We have been bought with a price. Our life is no longer our own. We have been shown a love that’s real, a love that never ends. Jesus laid down His life for us so that we would no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf.

And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. – 2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV

Our sinful flesh has been crucified with Him making us new creatures. Our former way of life is history (2 Cor. 5:17). Christ now lives in us. This being the case it is possible for us to “be holy as He is holy” so long as our lives remain fully surrendered to the Lord.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 NKJV

As our Bible study group discussed this topic from 1 Peter 1:13-15 someone highlighted the portion of text that says we are to “live as strangers here.” Perhaps this is the key to becoming holy.

When visiting another country we are considered foreigners. Cultural practices, customs, clothing, food, and many other facets of life are different than those of our home country. In order to live a “strangers” on the earth we must become “foreigners” to this worldly culture. We must see life on earth as different than the norm and live according to the customs of our eternal home. In order to do so we must learn what it looks like to be citizens of a heavenly country.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There has to be something different taking place in heaven for Jesus to emphasize this prayer for a heavenly Kingdom to be manifest on earth. Well, what exactly is going on in heaven? Jesus, the Great High Priest, is standing at the right hand of the Father daily interceding on our behalf. Elders cast their crowns at His feet. Living creatures full of eyes fix their gaze toward the One seated on the throne (Rev. 4). Night and day the echo resounds, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Angles sing, “Glory to God in the highest!” There is a river producing life and fruit continuously. Intercession, rejoicing, worship, and healing abound. This is just a glimpse into our heavenly culture. Do we know where we come from?

How interesting that when the Israelites entered the Promise Land they were not to intermarry or integrate the culture of the nations they conquered. We enter this world as babies straight from the hands of our heavenly Creator. All to quickly we adapt to a new culture and find ourselves integrated into the customs of this foreign land.

If we are to “be holy as He is holy” we must be reprogrammed. This is why Peter tells us, “Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled.” We prepare our minds by reading the Bible and meditating on the Word of God. We have been brainwashed to believe that this foreign earthly culture is normal, which is why we must continually wash ourselves with the water of God’s Word. Once we discover the truth of our original culture we must exercise self-control to restrain from participating in common practices we see others, even believers, engaged in. We are simply strangers on the earth (Heb. 11:10-16). His commands are our roadmap to holy living.

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. – Psalm 119:19 NIV

To be holy is to be set apart from the culture of this world. Let us commit our hearts to live counter-culturally and remember that heaven is our home!

– Chérie Blair (www.uniquedove.com)

Scripture Focus
2 Chronicles 16:9 (New American Standard Bible)

9″For (A)the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those (B)whose heart is completely His….

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Have you ever looked through a crowd for a really good friend or loved one? You scan the faces looking for that special friend, or family member, or that husband or wife? And then, your eyes finally land on the person you were looking for. I experience such a great feeling of satisfaction when I connect with the people who know me, who are for me. Don’t you?

I was just meditating on one of my favorite verses, II Chronicles 16:9, this morning. The wording ‘strongly support’ has captivated my attention and I must go deeper into this concept that it may become reality. Won’t you join me on this little yet profound excursion?

Let’s go to the beginning of this verse, or this ‘gift of God’ I should say (read it above or look it up). So, God is looking for me …. God in heaven has eyes, oh wow. His eyes are actively searching, looking and reaching across the earth to find those of us who have given Him our hearts. Oh, wait a minute, our WHOLE hearts. Hmmm… the phrase is “those whose hearts is completely His.” Ok, this is big. God of the universe is trying to find me; He’s not ignoring me, He wants to find me wanting Him to find me. Uhhhhh, ok more coffee, more Holy Spirit needed.

Ok, got the coffee. Now let’s pray, “Come Holy Spirit, and teach us this wonderful truth.”

So how amazing is this, the Lord God is looking for ones such as me, such as you, who have said, “I want to be totally YOURS God, no holding back.” I want to say that out loud. Say it with me out loud for the record before God and the angels. “I am totally belonging to God with my whole heart!” Oh what a privilege, diving into God with everything within me. This is an amazing step to take. Interesting how we thought we had already given over everything, but yet need to do it again. The heart is deceitful and we trick ourselves into thinking we haven’t budged at all only to find we’ve moved away from Him.

So God finds me right here (not just looking across the room, but searching across the earth) and says, “I love it when you give yourself completely to Me! I want to support you with my strength. I want to strongly support you. So get ready. Here come my big arms around you! Here comes my Holy Spirit to comfort you and teach you! Here I come to bring strength in your weakness.” I’m reminded of a friend who says, “God just loves to show up and show off!”

I love this God! Are you amazed? Are you encouraged? Are you free from a divided heart again?! Are you blown away that the God of heaven says, “I love that woman! Or I love that man! Because their hearts are mine, I will move heaven and earth to come to them.” He speaks directly and says, “Linda (put your name here) I respond to your wholehearted love for Me by coming to you to 1. sustain you, 2. hold you up, 3. provide for you and 4. bolster you, 5. cheer you on, 6. substantiate you and 7. confirm you, 8. even back you up.”

What you are experiencing is the power of proclamation prayer! Give the gift of proclamation by writing out prayers for friends to include in your New Year’s greetings. This is my prayer for you:

Prayer
Oh God, thank you for showing up to your friends whose hearts are completely yours. Teach us to speak of you and live with you in ways that make others jealous to be in the very heart of God. Thank you for seeing us, even searching the earth for us, and coming to us with strong support. We love you with all of our hearts.

The ACTS Prayer Journal is a wonderful tool for men and women in the busy marketplace with 50 ready templates for personalizing scripture in prayer. www.lindafieldsinc.org > Resources tab

Daniel 11:32 = “…Those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.”

The Excellent Spirit of Daniel Produced in Prayer

Kris Edler :: Director of Operations

Lately, my heart has become zealous to see believers set the standard in the marketplace, industry and in education. My heart has been burning to see marketplace believers established in the place of prayer, because I know first hand the practical result of a life in prayer. Not only does it give me an excellent spirit as I stand before the Lord, but it also causes me to have a spirit of excellence as I perform in the marketplace.

As a high school teacher, I often have the opportunity of watching the study habits of my students. Some students really are natural at writing, studying and school work, while other students really have to strive to make the grade. One of the observations I have made the last few years for my students is the radical affect of prayer on their academic life. For them, it transforms the most boring homework assignment into a time of communion with God.

Since our school, The Daniel Academy, is located in Kansas City, MO we encourage each of our students and families to spend time in the Prayer Room at the International House of Prayer. For our students, the Prayer Room is not only a place to worship, read the Bible, pray and commune with the Lord… it’s also a place to study and do homework. Think about it. What better place to study and grow in knowledge than standing in the counsel of the Lord? Talk about anointed academics!

A few months ago, I challenged my students to really take their education before the Lord and give themselves to a 30-day fast. Each student was encouraged to “stop asking and begging from God” and start adoring the Lord for a period of thirty days. It’s not wrong to ask God for things, because He obviously gave us permission to do so. However, there are times that we beg Him so much, we exalt our problems over His ability to save us. We have the natural tendency to make our issues larger than the God who rescues us from them.

So, these students made a thirty-day shift in the way they prayed. For example, instead of asking Got to give them money, they would pray, “Jesus, You are my great Provider.” Instead of asking God to heal their sick body, they would pray, “Father, You are my Healer and take care of my soul.” This transformation of prayer changed the way they related to the Lord in a dramatic way. In addition, and to my surprise, it had a profound impact on their performance in the classroom.

The change was almost immediate. One evening in the Prayer Room, I saw a student praying over his homework assignment. He was stuck on a math problem and started to verbally declare, “God, you are Wisdom and the giver of understanding. You are a God of intelligence who has knit my brain together.” This young adult was adoring Jesus in the midst of his math assignment! Lo and behold, I asked him later if he noticed a difference and he said, “Mr. Edler, I am starting to understand math better. This type of prayer in changing the way that I learn.”

This young man is a picture of what the Lord does to every area of our life when we remain in the place of prayer. If this is the affect that prayer had on a high school student, I can’t help but wonder what would happen for business people as they spend time in the Prayer Rooms across the earth and stand in the counsel of the Lord.

What would happen for a mayor of a city if he stood before the Lord on behalf of his people?

What would happen if investors began declaring who God is as their Provider? Would it affect the way they invest? Would the Lord tell them investing secrets?

Would medicine be transformed if physicians started to declare God as Healer before they went in to perform surgery?

Would college students have an easier exam season if they fasted and prayed before they took their tests?

Prayer
Jesus, you are the God of wisdom and understanding. As I stand in your counsel, I seek to look deep into your eyes. Would you open up my heart as I stand in the place of prayer? Would you give me divine strategies for the tasks on my schedule today? You are the giver of knowledge and I trust You as the God who sees and cares about me. Jesus, I love you and want to cultivate a spirit of excellence AND an excellent spirit.

We are watching. Why? We believe in Santa Claus.

There is another Man clothed in red and white. He is described as white and ruddy (Song 5:10). We celebrate His birth on this day called Christmas. He came first as a humble Child, but He will come again as a mighty King wearing a robe dipped in blood. His name is the Word of God (Rev 19:13). Are we watching for His procession from heaven to earth? Soon Jesus will split the sky with His return, not on a sleigh led by reindeer, but on the clouds of heaven surrounded by a host of angels (Matt. 26:64; 16:27).

It’s true, He has a list and He’s checking it twice, and He’s going to find out whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. When He evaluates your life will He find you’ve been naughty or nice? The Father has treasures in store for His children. His Son will come bearing these gifts. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matt. 16:27). When Jesus returns He will judge the earth. Those who despise the Word of God will be destroyed, but the righteous will be rewarded (Prov. 13:13; Psalm 58:11). For this reason He says, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches” (Rev. 16:15). Are we eagerly anticipating His coming?

Let us watch. Why? We believe in Jesus Christ.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” – Revelation 22:12

Merry CHRISTmas!

Chérie Blair
www.uniquedove.com

I recall another occasion when the multitudes did not head the Word of the Lord. In Noah’s day God warned of a coming flood. As Noah labored for a hundred years building a boat to protect all those who would enter from the coming storm, the people laughed. I can imagine them saying, “Noah, you’re wasting your time! Where is this rain of yours?” Even those who did not outwardly mock did so by the way they lived, going about life as usual, oblivious of the impending doom.

Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be with the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:36-39). Many scoffers will arise in that day saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3-4). Just as it was in the days of Noah they will say, “Where is this so called Reign?” Some will openly scorn and ridicule those who prepare for the Lord’s return; others will do so by their actions. They will eat, drink, and be merry, mindful of earthly circumstances but asleep to urgency of the hour.

Elijah also prophesied the sound of heavy rain. He told his servant to look toward the sea, but six times he went and came back saying, “There is nothing.” The seventh time he reported a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea. Soon the sky grew black with clouds, the wind stirred, and heavy rain came (1 King 18:41-45).

Beloved, Jesus’ Reign is coming! Lift up your eyes. He is returning soon. Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. For a long while we could not see them, and even now they may only seem like the size of a man’s hand, but the sky will grow black quickly. Jesus told us to discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3). He tells us to watch and pray, to stand in the counsel of the Lord, to mark and perceive His words. We must not to be like the foolish virgins but like the wise and buy oil now while our Bridegroom is delayed. Only those who are ready will go in with Him to the wedding. If we wait until we hear His call it will be too late. Therefore, since we do not know when Jesus is returning, He tells us to watch (Matthew 25:1-13).

The Lord told Isaiah to prophecy. He asked, “What shall I cry?” The Lord replied, “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it … The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:6-8). God’s word is true. Jesus is coming. Are we ready? Are we spending our time on things of eternal purpose or things that fade away like the flowers of the field?

Beloved, when the Son of Man returns will He find faith in our hearts? Do we believe He is coming again? What are we doing to prepare the way for His return? I don’t want to be like those who did not recognize His first coming. I don’t want to be like those who fall asleep. I don’t want to walk according to my own ways. I don’t want to waste my time. This life only lasts a moment. It is but a vapor. I don’t want to waste it. I want to watch and pray with Him. I believe He is coming to shake the heavens and the earth. I need His grace to watch and pray. I want to be a voice. I want to be a messenger. I want to be a voice preparing the way of the Lord. I believe that He is coming again. I don’t want to be like the scoffers. I want to hasten the day of His coming. I want to be found with oil in my lamp. I want to be found watching and waiting, ready to go out to meet our Bridegroom. I don’t want to waste my time as I wait here in this wilderness. I want to be a voice like John the Baptist crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

Let us not sleep. Let us be sober. Let us be watchful and alert. The day of the Lord is at hand. He will come just as He promised. When the Son of Man returns, let us be found watching, eagerly awaiting His appearing. Surely He will come like a thief, taking many by surprise. Let us be wise and prepare the way of the Lord.

Beware of the scoffing spirit. It comes upon us subtly. We may not laugh out loud, but in our hearts we do not believe. We do not recognize the signs. We squander our time. So many hours wasted. What vanity! So much time spent on things that have no eternal significance. Who will be found wise and faithful on that day? Watch therefore and be ready for the Lord is coming at an hour we do not expect (Matthew 24:42-45).

Do you believe He is coming? What are you doing to prepare the way for His return?

Chérie Blair
www.uniquedove.com

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”

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As I reading this passage about the baptism of Jesus followed by the Father’s confession, “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased,” I begin to ask questions. What does it look like to please the Father? What makes Him smile? What about the life of Jesus up until that point attracted the Father’s delight?

Up to this point, Jesus had not been released into public ministry. He had worked at home as a carpenter. The seemingly most important part of Jesus’ life, and most written about, were the years spent in public ministry culminating in His propitiation of our sins by death on a cross and resurrection from the dead. However, I would argue that the years spent before this pleased the heart of God just as much.

As I asked these questions, the Lord began to reveal to me how Jesus walked in relationship and constant communion with the Father. In Luke 2:46-49 we see even at the age of twelve Jesus was only concerned with that which His Father had for Him. I imagine Jesus making furniture for many years, but all the while growing in wisdom and love for God because He set His heart to commune with and know His Father God above all (Luke 2:52). This heart posture carried over into His busiest ministry days to the point where He would always withdraw to seek His Father’s heart. The delight that Jesus felt from the father never originated in what He could do for God, but rather was an overflow of walking with the Father in holiness and obedience. In everything, He sought obedience and to convey the heart of God. (Philippians 2:8 and John 5:19)

Just as Jesus walked, we can walk today. From the college student to the stay at home mom, this very relationship with the Father is available to us through Jesus; to daily be satisfied by communing with God. Romans 8:16-17 tells us, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” We have been brought near and can approach the throne of God boldly. This is the Father’s desire; that we would love Him. How can we love someone we do not know? The affections of God are not based upon what we can do for Him, but rather the relationship we have with Him as a son or daughter. He desires daily relationship. He desires nearness to our every mind’s thought and every heart’s intent.

I encourage you today to begin to walk with God in the midst of your day as Jesus walked in constant communion on the Earth. Let Him in to your thoughts, school work, job, and every desire. He will meet you in every way. He will sustain your heart. This is His desire, to be involved in your life. I will leave you with a prayer from Jesus, “That they all may be one, as You, Father are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us…”

Prayer

Father this is our heart’s desire; to know you and be near to your heart. What are you thinking and what are you feeling? We want to love you with all obedience. We want to be holy as you are holy. Give grace to our hearts today as we commune with you. Show us what it means to be children of God. Thank You Father. We love You!

By Jay Caple :: Production Manager IHOP-KC Global Prayer Room

Do you ever feel like a little pawn on a giant chessboard in this game of life?

The good news is that God is the ultimate Chess King! He knows how to play on multiple dimensions simultaneously at least a thousand moves ahead. His divine strategy causes us to move our pieces into the right spaces at the right time to accomplish His purposes without violating our free will. Of course we must submit to play according to His rules in order for everything to work out in our favor!

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28 NKJV

I had just been writing about this chess revelation and thanking the Lord for the way He strategically orchestrates every detail of our lives when I was suddenly faced with a potentially frustrating situation. My tire was flat! Monday was coming to a close and I still had an evening meeting to attend but I was stranded at work. Believe it or not, my response reflected my earlier meditation. I remained completely unshaken as I evaluated my options:

1. Call AAA (and wait 45 min for help to arrive)

2. Do it myself

I had never actually changed a flat tire by myself, but I had helped (or rather watched) someone else change one before. I considered the fact that I would be participating in a disaster simulation with CRI (Crisis Response International) at the end of the week and thought, “If I can’t change a flat tire, how can I respond to a real crisis?” Since I was in a parking lot rather than the side of a freeway and wearing pants with comfortable shoes instead of a skirt and high heels, I said to the Lord, “Let’s change this tire together. Show me how!” I got the jack properly placed but my vehicle did not come equipped with a suitable tool to turn the crank. I was also having trouble unlocking the spare from the back of my KIA … sooooo, I asked a gentleman getting into his car just to help me figure out the lock on the spare tire.

Long story short, the guy stayed to help, we changed the flat, and I got a lead for some possible graphic design work. I then drove to Sam’s Club, got my flat repaired along with all my tires rotated and balanced for free, and was able to encourage a friend not to look at any circumstance as inconvenient. While waiting I read some of Joyce Meyer’s book “Battlefield of the Mind”. The subheading posed a question, “Trial or Inconvenience?” Fortunately, I managed to keep the right perspective. The whole affair only put me an hour behind schedule and I still made it to my meeting on time. Not to mention I had the opportunity to “work with the Holy Spirit” as Joyce described. Well, I’m glad I passed this test of patient endurance.

My response to a situation the previous week was not so glorious. I was just going along adoring the Lord when all of a sudden it hit like a nuclear bomb dropped by an enemy aircraft flying under radar … DESPAIR … that wicked foe of my soul! I was just rising up from the rubble of a previous explosion when I came crashing down again, this time because a potential prospect graciously informed me he was “not interested.” I barely knew what hit me. Wow! Entering the Promise Land requires victory on multiple fronts in numerous battles with heavy opposition. But though a righteous woman falls seven times she gets back up. So moving right along, I picked myself up out of that ash heap of despair by focusing my thoughts once again on adoring God. That’s when I began to see Him as the Divine Chess Champion.

God is intricately involved in every detail of our lives. There is no such thing as coincidence. I am trusting in His perfect leadership to guide me into the right position at the right time with the right people to fulfill His Kingdom purposes. I will not lose heart because I believe I will see the Lord’s goodness.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13 NKJV

I am confident that Jesus will get this little “pawn” across the chess board of life and turn me into a beautiful queen. After all, our Beloved is the King of all kings!

– Chérie Blair (www.uniquedove.com)

Marketplace Awakening from The Hope Broadcast on Vimeo.