“It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Several days ago the Lord said this to me, “You cannot fight today’s battle with yesterdays battle plan.”

When He said that, it kind of startled me, because I was not thinking about being in a battle. But I’ve learned the Father knows best and He knows how to get to us exactly what we need.

And if it’s not for you or me at the time it may be for us in the future or it will be for somebody else. 

I quickly wrote down what He said and I’ve been thinking about that. I would encourage you, if you are not doing this already, to write down things the Lord speaks to you about.

“You cannot fight today’s battle with yesterday’s battle plan.”

We must hear from him! Often we go about planning and strategizing with yesterday’s plan having not checked with Him.

I’ve been in enough planning meetings over the years and I’ve heard comments such as, well what we used before worked, it’s proved itself, why not? Why reinvent the wheel?

I’ve said that before myself but I have since learned God may want to do something entirely different!

Be flexible with God!

What’s wrong with this picture as far as God‘s plans are concerned? Just because it worked that way before, may not be the way God wants it done now.

He’s very particular you know! He knows the end from the beginning! He knows what will work and what won’t!

So instead of developing the plan and asking God to bless it why not go to Him first to get 
His plan! And if it’s His plan it’s blessed and anointed.

Jesus did not do anything while He was here on earth, that the Father had not instructed Him to say or do. And it would be wise for you and I to do the same!

“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:49‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Here are two different strategies used by Jesus with the same outcome. Strategies that came directly from His Father.

Look at these two examples of two blind men whom Jesus healed differently:

“Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:22-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus spit on his eyes then laid hands on his eyes (He didn’t pray!) And asked him what he saw. The man didn’t see clearly and then Jesus laid hands on his eyes again. The man’s eyesight was restored.

“Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:35-43‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In this instance Jesus spoke to the man, “receive your sight your faith has made you well.” 

Both blind men were healed and received their sight but in each instance Jesus handled it differently.

It’s so very important that we hear what God wants us to do and then do exactly He says to do, exactly the way He says to do it.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As I was praying about what to share in this devotional I heard  the Lord say, that many of My children have felt overwhelmed at times.  It wasn't an audible voice but it was in an inward witness. He said they are burdened because of all the difficulties they face.

God has the answer to everyone of our problems. 

Stuff happens in life like the washer has quit working, more bills than money, kids are sick and the husband got laid off from his job. And we wonder could things-possibly get any worse. And they do!

We get a phone call saying that one of our family members has been diagnosed with an incurable disease and the doctor says there is no hope.

Wow it’s like the devil is piling on!

What to do?

Today's Scripture tells us exactly what we are to do!  We are to go to Him, with boldness and confidence (because we are His kids) asking for His help, He will give it!

Remember, God will get us through every issue that you and I face, if we leave ALL of our worries with Him.

“Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Glory to God!  Leave them with Him!

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

I am so grateful for all that God has in store for us. Not just because it’s a brand new year, but because that’s the way He is.

He wants you to be well taken care of! As you read through the Scriptures you will see that He is in the business of piling on the blessings. He piles them on so that you can be a vessel of blessing to many others.

Oh He may ask you to give up something, but it is always to get something else to you.

​What He gives is always better than what we have and it’s always much more than you could possibly imagine.

In today’s Scripture God says, “I am doing a new thing...”

I like new! God is doing new things in your life.

Expect to see these manifested in your life. New horizons, new opportunities, new vision, new provision, new territories, new connections, new life and new strength.

He also says, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

When I think about Him making a way in the wilderness, I see Him clearing the way for you to walk and live. Even though it’s a wilderness He has a way through. Other translations say, “He makes a road...”

Glory to God!

And not only that, but He will provide a river of water in the midst of a dry land. That river is a river that brings refreshing, life giving and sustaining power to you. Thank You Lord!

Oh our Good Father will certainly take good care of us each and every day!

God is making a way through any wilderness you may encounter and He is refreshing you as you go. Be refreshed in Him today!

​“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

As I was thinking about today’s Scripture I was reminded how often I have failed to do this.

It reminds me of those times when I purchased something, you know one of those things that states on the package, some assembly required. 

Well you lay all the pieces out on the floor and it looks like a giant jigsaw puzzle. And there is that proverbial bag of screws, pegs, nuts and bolts, and another gizmo's.

In my early years my first inclination was to set aside the instructions and try to put that thing together. Well that usually ended up with me being frustrated, the thing not being assembled correctly, and THEN I would go to the instructions. 

I didn’t have to go through that at all!

Today’s Scripture says that we should “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him...”

Not committing and not trusting our works to him is like me not reading those instructions. It will always end in futility!

That’s scripture goes on to say, if we have committed everything to Him, “He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.”

You and I cannot afford to not go to Him first and seek out His will and mind regarding the matter.

One thing I do know, is that if we do what the Word says we are to do, we can expect to see the results of what the Word says will happen.

Happy New Year to you and your family! Linda and I pray that this New Year would be a GREAT YEAR and an AMAZING YEAR, filled with all that God has promised to you in His Word!

Many people start off their New Year with resolutions. Things that they resolve, that they purpose to do, during the New Year. They resolve to be nicer, more caring, save more money, take a vacation, lose weight, etc. All those things are good but what might we resolve to do concerning the things of God?

I heard the Lord the say, First things first! 

What Jesus offered is not a suggestion or something that we might try to do. But Jesus, the Master Himself, commanded us that this was something we were to do. 

God first! His plan and priorities, His business, His things. God first!

I would encourage you in this New Year, with God’s help, to seek putting Him first in all that you do. His plans and priorities, His business and His things for your life.

When we do that everything else is taken care of!