Position Yourself
Step Away From Activity
This week I have been reading the Book of Matthew in the New Testament. In Chapter 14, Jesus, moved with compassion, tells the people to sit down on the grass to be fed. It is in sitting that activity slows. Instead of being the activity you become more open to receiving. Just as natural digestion is enhanced when seated and quiet so is the consuming of spiritual nourishment.
To deeply connect with the Lord requires stillness on your part. It requires a seated position in the spirit. I am not saying you cannot connect with God while kneeling or walking or throughout the activities of your day. I am just noting that when Jesus came to feed the people He ‘commanded’ them to sit to be fed. To nourish yourself in Him and receive His impartation, sit down.
Let’s Break It Down
He commanded them to sit down on the grass. Sit down and rest in the soft place of His grace.
He looked up to heaven. Keep your eyes focused up on Him and not on your circumstance for He is the power in your situation. Your situation is not the power over you unless you allow it.
He took the loaves and fish (nourishment). He knows the food you need-daily manna-the bread of life.
He blessed it. He will bless every situation in His time and turn all around for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
He broke it. When there is relationship with Him as your provider, He will break you to multiply you for His Kingdom purpose.
He gave the loaves to the disciples. He will give you, as His follower, your daily bread sufficient for each day.
The disciples gave to the multitudes. As His follower, you are called to take Him to the people. You are His vehicle today to reach a dying world, whether that is a global or local assignment.
They all ate and were filled. When you come to His table, you are filled with His Spirit to go forth for Him.
There were twelve baskets full of fragments. When you are full of His Spirit, His gifts of the Spirit, you spill over to others and multiply His Kingdom.
Those who had eaten were men, women, and children. He is no respecter of persons. He comes to feed all who seek Him.
How Full Are You?
After they ate and were filled there were twelve baskets of fragments that remained from the original five loaves and two fish that fed “about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Imagine the miracle of feeding such a vast number of people with only an initial five loaves and two fish. Imagine what miracle He has for you if you will only sit with Him.
When you allow your spirit to be filled to overflow that makes you a vessel that He can use to pour out and into others. When you are filled you lack nothing in the spirit. Your heart (and it is always a heart issue) rests in His peace beyond understanding. Your heart beats in rhythm with His heart of compassion for all you encounter.
Sit down. Take the time to sit with the Lord and in ministering to Him let Him minister to you. Just as He fed the multitude He will feed you to overflow if you will let Him. If you think you do not have the time, make the time while you are able. He is ever faithful and He is ever present. As the times we live in become more chaotic it is critical to ‘sit down’ and take nourishment to be filled to go forward. Never forget that you are here ‘for such a time as this!’ To be able to move and stay Kingdom in these times you must take time to ‘sit down’ with the King.
Sit down on the grass. Let Him bless you. Let Him break you. Let Him multiply you for His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Learn Him. Learn His ways. Learn His character. In the knowledge of Him, be fortified. Do not faint on the way to your destiny in Him.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tomorrow we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. day in the United States of America. Dr. King profoundly contributed to the shaping of this Nation in the 1950’s and 1960’s. King was an American Baptist minister and civil rights leader. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless prayer and work for peace in the tumultuous times in which he lived. What is often forgotten is his belief in non-violence. He actually went to India in 1959 to meet with Prime Minister Nehru and to study the passive resistance practices of Mahatma Gandhi. King’s dream for America included equality in employment. It was never for a hand out society.
In his famous “I Have a Dream,” speech, he said, “We must ever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force…I have a dream that every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together…when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.’”
Go to the following link and read the entire speech: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1951-/martin-luther-kings-i-have-a-dream-speech-august-28-1963.php It is as profound today as the day he spoke. To watch the speech in its entirety go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0yP4aLyq1g May we all “conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.”
It Is Never Too Late!
If you have not yet made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart, do it now. Do not wait another minute. Speak to Him from your heart (for it is always a heart issue). Tell Him you have fallen short in your life. Sincerely apologize for your sins. Ask Him to cleanse you and come into your heart and be Lord over your life. From this moment forward let His Spirit guide you along the narrow road that leads to everlasting life.
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” ~Jesus, Revelation 3:20
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” ~Jesus, Matthew 7:7
“Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes…they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” ~Matthew 14:19-21
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.” ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“…at times I have felt that I could no longer bear such a heavy burden, and was tempted to retreat to a more quiet and serene life. But every time such a temptation appeared, something came to strengthen and sustain my determination…God has been profoundly real to me…In the midst of outer dangers I have felt an inner calm.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr., The Everything Martin Luther King Jr. Book, Jessica McElrath
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father God, We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to set us free. Thank You for the newness of this year. As we stand on the threshold let us take hold of Your Commission to each of us ‘for such a time as this. Grace us to sit often at the feet of Jesus and partake of His banquet. Let us be ever faithful to be doers of Your Word and not just hearers. Strengthen and deepen our relationship with Jesus so we can be used to bring Your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. May we each “conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.”
Let us look forward with anticipation for Your plan for each life this year. Keep us ever present to hear Your voice as You lead and direct our steps. Lead us by Your light to Your perfect will in each of our lives Great is Your faithfulness, oh God! We thank You that You keep Your hand on America. Forgive our sin and heal our land that we will remain One Nation Under God. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.
A Prayer Request
Please join us in prayer, covering the issues listed in this link: https://drmicheleburke.org/esthers-warriors-ministry/
May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. We continue to pray for truth to prevail concerning Benghazi and all issues as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour. #Pray for America.
SEEK: Stay Equipped, Empowered, Kingdom focused!