Beloved Saints, a glorious year is upon us in 2022!
Though global winds churn the seas around us, a glorious pearl has been tossed upon the shores of the waiting Church, if we have the faith to open its treasure.
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9) and the Lord has graciously released three keys to the Body of Christ that we may stay steady, strong and courageous throughout 2022! The Lord promised in Isaiah 66:2, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My Word”, therefore, being humble, contrite and trembling at His Word are critical keys to sustain our connection with the Lover of our soul in 2022.
To rest and reign with Him, our pursuit must be strategic and diligent to advance the Gospel in His Holy Name, so let us look closely, like the Wise Men peering into the Heavens, at these three instructions:
Humility:
Humility causes Heaven to draw near. Never before have we needed the Lord more than at this juncture in time. The enemy, with his sly ancient tricks, continually sets up believers with disappointment and heartache that pride may manifest. God opposes the proud (James 4:6). The devil wants God to fight us for our pride, rather than see us humbly draw near to God. In 2022, we must flee from pride at all cost.
Let us monitor our hearts closely in this season. As humility is found inside the believer, so too, offence is painfully nurtured in the absence of humility. Don’t find yourself at the altar of God while you harbour anger, resentment or criticism against your brother or sister. Instead, forgive one another from your heart. In 2022, we must resist the enemy. In joy, let us worship Almighty God for what He is doing in our midst!
Humility thrives when we recognize the gift of our shepherds, those leaders who pastor our souls and keep us far from the worldly traits of arrogance, indignation and independence. The humility to be corrected, led and molded by those whom the Lord has given to lead us will keep us steady in 2022. When we intentionally value the family of God, honouring one another in love, doing everything before the Lord, love and peace triumph as we choose to comfort one another (2 Cor. 13:11). As we honour those whom the Lord has given, may our love be in deed, not just words.
Contrition (A Contrite heart):
When King David sinned against God and man, in Psalm 51:7, he cried, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
More awful than the sinner who sins is the saint who lives with no remorse for their sin!
Like King David, may we too, cry out to the Lord with fervency, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your Presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit!” (Ps. 51:10-12).
Let us quickly repent when we choose the world and fail to live in the grace and holiness of our God. May our devotion to King Jesus so encompass our standards, that every moment we guard our hearts. When we sin, may we cry out for His mercy, without familiarity, just deep gratitude to God that He hears and forgives.
Contrite hearts open our ears to hear His very heartbeat. May we enjoy this privilege and daily seek His Face and His Mercy in 2022!
Tremble at His Word
Prophet Daniel, when he peered into the various times and seasons in which we currently live, determinedly set himself to fasting and prayer. Heaven responded with visitation, announcing, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words” (Daniel 10:12).
In 2022, we must tremble at His Word like Daniel! May we fear the Lord and obey His commands with reverent understanding, not just as knowers of the Word, but doers. Our destiny is determined by our obedience to His instructions! Our authority on earth is directly connected to our reverence and submission to His Word! May we shake at the Voice of God, as Daniel did upon his encounter with the Lord. As bondservants of Jesus Christ, in confidence in HIs love, let us glorify God by our obedience to His Word.
May 2022 find us on our knees with the Word before us, day by day at the leading of the Holy Spirit!
2022 will be defined by our humility and fear of the Lord! (See this powerful Word on reigning as Kings and Priests here.)
With prayerful petition for His mercy, may the Lord look and hear our cry!
Dear GTH Readers, we joyfully invite you to our Revive Nations Global Church Family Crossover Night! On December 31st , please join us at 10 pm EST. To join our RNGC Family online, simply register at revivenations.tv to receive your zoom link. We look forward to celebrating this special night with you and your loved ones!