“Give us today our daily bread…” – Jesus in Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11:3 –

Every December I like to take time to reflect on the previous year; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Before the year’s sunset, I review moments so that they become my memory stones.

I look back so that I can remember the goodness and faithfulness of God and the kindness of people. After reflecting, I create a gratitude list so that I can step into the New Year with a thankful heart and not carry the troubles of yesterday with me into today.

As I reflect over the year, I sense the word for 2023 is “fresh daily bread.” How can we receive fresh bread daily? This is exactly what Jesus talks about in Matthew 6:11 and in Luke 11.

In Luke 11:1, the disciples ask, “Jesus, teach us how to pray…” In the following verses, Jesus teaches about praying to our Heavenly Father, for His Kingdom and will, and finally for fresh daily bread.

Everything that Jesus needed on a daily basis first came from his heavenly Father.

In other words, the secret to Jesus’ life is that he received something from his heavenly Father every day in order to give and pour it out to others around him.

This reminds me of the story of Elisha and the widow with olive oil. She cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 

Her circumstances overwhelmed her. She was desperate and rightfully so. Her feelings were true but it wasn’t the truth.

2 Kings 4: 1-7 says, “Elisha asks her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” The widow responds, ” Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few. Then you shall come in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour into all these containers; and you shall set aside what is full.” So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they began bringing the containers to her, and she poured the oil.  When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he said to her, “There are no more containers.” Then the oil stopped. So she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

She took the little she had, found empty vessels to pour into, and filled them to the brim. Miraculously, the oil did not run out. It only stopped as there were no more empty vessels. Imagine if she had found more empty vessels. Her own provision was found in providing for others.  

Whatever you are facing this coming year that feels impossible, I want to challenge you to do exactly what Jesus instructed his disciples to do in Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11. Ask your heavenly Father to give you what you need on a daily basis. Your needs and prayers should lead you into a place of total trust in God. And take what you have, even if only a mustard seed of faith, and what you have received from the Father and find people, empty vessels, to pour into. 

This is key to receiving your own oil. 

Take a moment to watch my latest podcast where I share more about vision for 2023 and receiving fresh daily bread from our Father in heaven. You can also listen to the episode on Charisma Podcast Network.

Proverbs 4 tells us to love wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:24 tells us that Jesus is the wisdom of God.

My favorite part of the Christmas story is about the three WISE men. I have always been inspired by how they looked and searched for Jesus for many years before his birth.

The wise men never stopped looking and searching for Jesus. And ultimately the Bible shares that they were filled with joy when they found him. They brought gifts and bowed down and worshipped him. 

It is wise to continue to search for and be overwhelmed by Jesus. Every moment of every day. God’s greatest gift is his love gift to humanity; Jesus Christ. The wise men brought extravagant gifts to Jesus. They recognized that Jesus was God’s love gift to humanity. 

The provision shared in John 3:16 is what Christmas is really all about! “God gave his only begotten son…” God gave a gift that can only be received. Not achieved.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God offers the gift of his son as an act of sacrificial love. Later in the verse, Jesus ascribes everlasting life to “… whoever believes in me…” God’s great plan is for all of humanity to be immersed in his love, believe in Jesus, and live with the assurance of everlasting life that can only be found in his son. Love for all, assurance for all, provision for all. 

Many years ago, a prominent Muslim leader received this love gift. As he encountered the Father’s love, tears streamed down his face. He began to recognize a God who is love and who is good. After receiving this love gift, the Muslim leader was healed in his mind and body and received hope for a better future.

God wants to give everyone this love gift. Specifically, God wants to give you this gift! It has changed my life and a million other lives. Will you receive it?

This Christmas, ask yourself, “Who can I bring God’s love gift to as a result of the savior’s birth?” 

Jesus is God’s love gift. 

As you gather with your family and friends this holiday season, how can you extravagantly represent God’s love that brings transformation to people? Remember to stay overwhelmed by Jesus and his love for you. And overwhelm your family with your love for them.

 

Much love, 

Leif Hetland

Keep watching the nations around you, and you will be astonished at what you see. I am going to do something that you will not believe when you hear about it. – Habakkuk 1:5

What does it look like to disciple nations? And what does a nation look like that’s been discipled properly? Perhaps systemic poverty would be gone. Perhaps people would live peaceful lives and live in abundance, and families would thrive in that culture.

It’s not a dream. It’s not a utopian society. It’s completely possible in a Kingdom culture, and it’s what God desires for the nations.

Often the greed of dictators or other corrupt leaders is predicated upon the lie that there isn’t enough for everyone. If I give you enough, then I won’t be able to live in abundance, and I won’t be happy. It’s one of the great lies of our day. We see it all over the world in politics, among warring tribes… even in the church sometimes.

But what does Kingdom culture look like? It comes from family. We teach others as a family and lead others into encounters with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever your job may be, you live your life and impact your area of influence by bringing Heaven to earth.

 Cuba is Changing

One of the greatest examples I’ve seen of discipleship changing culture happened in Cuba. 21 years ago, a group of people in the persecuted church found an old VHS cassette tape of my teachings and reached out. When I first met them, I could feel the darkness of their society. They felt heavy and oppressed, living like orphans in secret under the heavy hand of communism.

Sometimes we feel like we’re living in darkness, and then we go to a truly dark place. It makes us thankful for where we live…

We taught the Cuban church for years about the Kingdom; taught them to adopt a Heavenly vision; see others through the eyes of Christ; and recognize who they are in Jesus. Their entire worldview shifted. It was amazing! Suddenly they’re saying, “Wow, there’s all this darkness; let’s bring in some light!” Suddenly they’re talking about what they’re for rather than what they’re against. Instead of blaming the government because we don’t have this and that, let’s do something about it.

And they did. They cleaned up the streets, gave away basic necessities, and shared the good news of the Gospel. It’s bringing transformation.

Out of their abundance, they even let the communist government borrow their chairs for one of their events. Our worldview used to be us vs. them, but now it’s about loving every area of society. They’re starting to influence the nation rather than being influenced by it. They’re capturing the heart of their good Father. And there’s some of the most extravagant worship in Cuba now. It’s truly amazing.

So How Can You Disciple Nations?

It’s easy to see evil in the world today. From the atrocities of the past in Cuba, Rwanda, and Cambodia, to the current atrocities in Syria, Sudan, and Libya, believers are asking God to do something about it. But He has called US to do something. He said that all authority has been given to you. If that’s true, then how much authority has been given to the devil? He only has what we give him. And if we keep it, then he doesn’t have the authority to destroy nations.

Here’s the key: you only have authority over what you love. If you’re intimate with God and love other people as you love yourself—and as God loves them—then you’re unstoppable. We need a convergence of love, power, and wisdom. This propels us to take action; to do something rather than spending our time protesting and complaining.

We need reformation, because it transforms culture; and you need Kingdom culture to change anything on earth.

Hans Nielsen Hauge is one of Norway’s heroes who created Kingdom culture when it was the poorest country in Europe—such that people would eat tree bark to survive! While many were just surviving under the gospel of salvation, one man had an encounter with the Holy Spirit while plowing his fields. His worldview changed. He started to love his country and the people in it, which brought his authority.

Hans Nielsen Hauge started the concept behind the 7 spheres of influence. Now that his worldview changed, Father God opened his eyes to see solutions in every sphere of society where he only saw problems before. People can’t read and write? No problem, he thought. I can just ski across mountains to start reading plans in remote villages. And sure enough, he did just that, and even started a plan to ensure everyone could receive a Bible.

No marketplace? No problem! The Lord showed him how to start businesses in communities to boost the economy. Hans Nielsen Hauge believed that every Norwegian is valuable, which means you treat them with high value, and it changes them. He even wrote books that influenced the way people were thinking; books about morals, the judicial system, and responding in love. The country was influenced by his actions after he died. A constitution was written, a business school was constructed, and people lived with a new worldview that they mattered and could live in abundance.

Change your Worldview

Everything you’re thinking about comes from an idea, whether good, bad, or neutral. Every idea has a worldview attached to it, which causes you to view things through certain glasses. Worldviews also have spirits attached to them. The killing fields in Cambodia started with a worldview attached to communism. What if we kill all the educated people? Everyone who disagrees with us? So there’s no competition. This led to a horrific genocide.

But there’s nothing God can’t redeem. When people step in to disciple nations, with a love for Cambodia and its people… the environment changes.

God loves both the victims and the victimizers. The people responsible for the world’s greatest atrocities are victims themselves, bound by the devil and brainwashed by his lies. They, too, need to know the truth. If we don’t disciple them, the devil will do it.

I’ve been blessed to witness what happens when victimizers receive forgiveness from their Father and step into their identity. During my last visit to Cambodia, the victims and victimizers came together in worship, miracles broke out, and people were healed!

Step up and get out!

God wants nations to experience how loved they are by Him. Every nation exists for a reason, and has a redemptive gift—one that’s supposed to reflect Heaven on earth. We want nations to look how God intended from the beginning. So what needs to take place to change the future?

What does Kingdom culture look like in arts and media? When we’re dealing with addictions and poverty? It impacts and changes every issue we face today. When you love and disciple others, they start to love their country, and it starts a chain reaction. Do you hate your leaders? Or your country? Practice love so you will have the authority to influence the influencers. Practice love, power, and wisdom and change the nations.

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Join us this Christmas in giving Jesus the greatest gift! We are raising $30,000 USD to continue providing relief to the Kingdom family in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Cuba. You can give a one-time or recurring tax-deductible gift by clicking here.

 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:16-18 

When I read this verse, I wonder, is there any space of time we shouldn’t give thanks? Is there any moment when I should allow anguish to quench my gratitude? Should I express gratitude in an ideal situation? What is all? Well, all means all. This means when the family is doing well, the kids are behaving, job promotions arise, bonuses are given, as well as when loved ones receive heartbreaking diagnoses, or when disappointment and grief are knocking at our door. All circumstances. 

The letter was written to the beloved church in Thessalonica. Like much of the early church in the East, they were in the midst of persecution and were being encouraged by the Apostle Paul. They believed in the ways of Jesus and their belief made them a target for God’s presence. Jesus said this would happen to believers and yet, Paul admonishes them to make a conscious choice, that if their situation has any effect on them, it should be that they “Rejoice always…in all circumstances give thanks.”

Right now, the thought passes my mind. Our Savior, our beloved, in the true Hebraic way breaking bread to give thanks at the last supper. He knew what He was about to do. He understood the cup of suffering would not pass from Him. He also knew that we would be eternally joined to Him, yet He offered His thanks. Beautiful Jesus passes the bread to the ones who would leave him on this night of His betrayal. This was it. He’s sitting there with the one who would turn Him over to the Roman guard and yet, His pattern of thanksgiving did not escape Him at this moment. His commitment to His disciples and the feasts of memorial for how God rescued Israel during the Passover was not shaken. He was preparing a feast for us in the middle of His last feast before the Cross. He spent time with his friends and loved them until the end. He was making a glorious way for us. May we always remember where thanksgiving precedes us and may we be grateful for our God is with us in everything through the ever-present Holy Spirit and He has overcome the world. 

The psalmist pens “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4) We are instructed in our relationship with the Lord to remember thanksgiving. It’s our offering as we enter His presence. It’s a gift we bring into the presence of our King because He is good and His mercy endures forever! (Psalms 100:5)

Gratitude has a way of helping us focus on what really matters and connecting us to the ones we love. In Jewish culture, there is a practice called “Hakarat Hatov” which means recognizing the good. It is the Hebrew word for gratitude! When I am recognizing the good that I have experienced, it lifts my eyes above the natural and connects us with our Father. 

With all of the bad news we are presented with in society, I pray that you will find rest in Jesus and recall all of the goodness of God in your life, with your family and loved ones. From all of us at Leif Hetland Ministries, we wish you a happy and joyful Thanksgiving season.

 

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Join us at Global Mission Awareness during our end-of-year giving campaign during the holiday season. Click here to give a donation that helps us provide ongoing relief to the Kingdom family in Pakistan, Cuba, Afghanistan, and Mozambique.

Many years ago, I was at one of our healing meetings in Pakistan when a Pakistani woman came up to me. She had been healed at one of the meetings and for the first time, she experienced the love of God, the light of God and the goodness of God. Her husband, who had died a year earlier, never experienced those things. He died in the darkness of hatred, an enemy of so many and for so long. As the joy of her new life subsided, a seriousness came over her.

“How long have you known about this Jesus?” she asked.

I hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, I’m from Norway, and we’ve known about Him for some 1,000 years.”

“And you?”

“Me, I’ve known Him most of my life, since I was eight.”

She paused, then asked a question I’ll never forget. “Why didn’t you come sooner? If you had just come a year sooner, my husband might have come to know this Jesus, might have been healed by Him, and I would not be a widow.” As she spoke, I realized that what she said could be the epitaph on the tombstones of millions of Muslims and unreached people around the world.

“Why didn’t you come sooner?” The question chiseled itself into my memory. I’ll never forget that moment, and I will never forget her.

People often ask me what compels me to go to the darkest places, to the people who have never heard about Jesus. Jesus told His disciples to go to the far reaches of the world, sharing the love of God with everyone. It didn’t matter whether they were Muslim or Jew, man or woman, slave or free. When we don’t show up and let the light of God shine through us, darkness rules. When we don’t show up and let the love of God show through us, hatred rules. When we don’t show up and let the goodness of God spill from us, evil rules.

This story of the Pakistani woman and the millions like her are the reason I choose to love my neighbor and the reason I am willing to go to the darkest of places to reach those who need to know a love that looks like Jesus. This is what compels me and stirs me every morning when I wake up.

 

To partner with our kingdom family as we reach the unreached click here. Visit www.globalmissionawareness.com for more information on our involvement in the nations!

I cried to God in my distress and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears! Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come.  Your faces will glisten with glory.  You’ll never wear that shame-face again. – Psalm 34:4-5 TPT

What do you do when life transition strikes again and you have major decisions to face?

Sure, you’ve been in a familiar place but the crossroads may look different and there are no street signs in sight. Even though each road looks the same now, they will have starkly different destinations once you pass the horizon. How do you receive lenses of clarity so you can have the confidence to pick a direction and have the courage you need to meet whatever lies beyond your vision?

MEMORY STONES

First, you’ll want to look at where you have come from. Look at the memory stones you’ve created with the Father and bask in His presence. Perhaps there were ‘Goliaths’ you had to face. When you look back you may see His goodness and faithfulness; that He was carrying you, even when you didn’t choose Him. Even when the victory didn’t come overnight. These times are what have produced character in you. Looking back will fill you with gratitude!

Papa God has taken the circumstances that would have defined us in a negative way and caused them to be points of victory; places from which we see our destiny and what He has laid before us. Now clarity is coming!

PRESENT HELP

As we travel on this journey through the valley of decision we can become very aware of the fact that we do not have the whole picture – that we don’t know what we don’t know and we do have blind spots. 

The good thing is that we can always ask for help from the community of believers the Lord has placed in our lives for this season who are there to cheer us on, encourage us and to help us to see the blind spots. Sometimes the blind spots can be areas from the past that we need not carry into the future on this new road the Father is so graciously calling us to. 

Here are some powerful questions we can use to check our hearts and minds:

• Have I allowed the Holy Spirit to burn up all the failures from my past? All the bad things that happened to me?
• What am I focusing on right now? My present focus needs to realign with God’s view of myself and the world around me. See what he sees, feel what he feels, and say what he says.
• Is there any fear about my future? Fear is a major factor that removes clarity. Ask God to take it from you, and see what He has to give you in return.

Taking inventory of our hearts with the Father will help us to have the permission, direction and courage to go where we need to go and remove any possible distractions!

FUTURE GLORY

From the place of identity, in confidence we can lean into the reality that Father God trusts us to co-labor with Him as His friend and confidant (John 15:15). We can move forward understanding that the Father is wanting to do this with us! 

God has so graciously given us Himself as a faithful companion and leads us by the voice of the Holy Spirit. We have the comforter, counselor and navigator with us at all times–the Spirit of adoption keeping us secure in our sonship throughout this journey of life. 

Knowing that the Father is with us, supporting us, giving understanding releases a grace to do the impossible and to move into uncharted territory. The pressure is off and we can rest knowing that He has us.

Like the sons of Isaachar, we have access to the Father’s vision beyond our seeing and knowing. In the place of sonship, we can receive wisdom to know ‘what time it is’ in our life and what we should be aware of on this path. Coming to alignment with the Father is the place where we rule and reign from in the season of transition. We come in to see what He sees in every area of our lives. We hear His voice and sense His pleasure. 

This is the place of clarity.

Where are you finding His sight today? What courageous things do you sense God leading you to do?

Whatever it is, remember that He is for you!

No one is exempt from crisis. In every stage of our life, we face some kind of crisis. Do I eat the one marshmallow now or wait so I can have two instead? The yellow shirt or the red one? A course in natural science or economics? Operation or chemotherapy. Oftentimes what we learn and who we become have been dramatically shaped and influenced by the crisis we go through. How we respond to them is crucial in navigating and thriving in life.

The COVID-19 pandemic had become more than just a global health issue. It brought about a very extensive dilemma that’s disrupted and shaken institutions, economies, and governments to the core. Most individuals now have faced prolonged isolation and disconnection due to quarantine rules and travel bans. The uncertainty brought by this crisis marked an increase in suicide rate as more people are prone to suffer mental health issues as anxiety and fear permeate their everyday existence.

Right now nations are facing crises. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused the world to watch in tension. Mozambique and the surrounding areas have experienced insurgence. Cuba has seen people that are suffering without supplies. Countless people in Haiti are facing oppression. The United States have seemed like a divided nation where people’s polarizations have caused deep unrest. 

Where threat, fear and tragedy become the norm of life, hopelessness thrives.

Our sense of harmony and peace is always connected to our ability to be in control. We always feel safe inside our own bubble.  When we lose control over our situation and the solution is nowhere to be found, we feel helpless. When we feel helpless, hopelessness follows.

Hopelessness kills. It dulls our creativity, dampens our passion, stifles our faith and sabotages our freedom.

Ultimately, we feel imprisoned and become a victim of our circumstance. It’s a hard place to be in unless our heart attitude and perspective change. Hopelessness, like a dark cloud, engulfs us and causes our perspective to skew towards what could go wrong, instead of to hope – to have a positive expectation that something will turn out right. 

Hope is more than a wish.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

Commonly, our understanding of hope is synonymous to a wish. It is to wish for, to expect a fulfillment of a desire. Its strength is in the person’s intensity of desiring. However, biblical hope is different. It is the confident expectation of what God has promised therefore its strength is in His faithfulness.

Hope makes us alive. While hopelessness kills our reason for living, hope empowers us to live it out. Our faith soars where our hope flourishes. So, whatever happens, we have to cultivate hope. The starting point is: hope in the LORD!

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why are you disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 43:5

Nowadays, people tend to desire, desire, desire, get, get, get. Social media, sadly, has become the platform for this unending ‘wishing’ frenzy as insecurity, jealousy and pride escalate.  FOMO, the fear-of-missing-out pushes people to the place of utter discouragement and disillusionment. When our hope is anchored in what we desire, what we are planning to do, what we wish to happen, we are bound to experience sickness of the heart. It is the kind of hope with an empty assurance, an expectation void of faith.

True hope on the other hand is one that’s anchored on God – in His nature. Our God is faithful and true to His promises. We hope not in the things that we see or what we are able to control but on things that are eternal, on God Himself.

From a sick heart to tree of life

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

From this verse we understand that having our desires fulfilled is a matter of delighting in God first – making Him our greatest desire and devotion. And our desires that are rooted in God, once fulfilled, become a life-giving tree (Proverbs 13:12) for others. Our stories, testimonies and history with God are the fruits of the tree from which others can feed on and find their healing from their struggles of helplessness and hopelessness. Once I heard from a person I respect, “The person with the greatest hope is the person with the most influence.” At the end of the day, we influence others to the measure of our hope.

Christ is our Hope

Finally, hope is not just a mere optimistic expectation. Hope is a person- Jesus Christ.  Paul exhorts us that there is a mystery hidden for ages but now is revealed: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). With this truth we are assured that our present-future is glorious despite the challenges and uncertainties ahead. Our hope is anchored in the Eternal Christ.  With this reality, we can be instruments of glory in the midst of this darkness and our God-stories become life-giving fruits for others who are hungry and desperate to taste and see God’s goodness. Our lives filled with hope can become a beacon pointing others to the Eternal Hope, Jesus.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

(2 Chronicles 20: 1-30)

Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. (verse1)

Destruction was staring at King Jehoshaphat when he received the news. A great multitude was coming to make war with the tribe of Judah. Just a few months back, he was in a similar battle where he narrowly escaped with his life. Now this.  An impossibly inescapable situation. The odds were stacked against the people of God. The battle was about to break and the hearts of the people were in fear.  This is one of those moments when God reveals His strength and power in and through His people.  Defeat was sure, but certainly not with God.

King Jehoshaphat was afraid. But he refused to give in to fear. He’s been in similar situations before. He knew exactly what to do – he turned his face towards God. He called for a fast all throughout Judah. You don’t go hungry before a battle, do you? This is utter foolishness in the eyes of the enemy. But this is exactly where and how hope arises in the hearts of the humble totally dependent on God.

Hope is knowing that God gives power to the powerless.

There are times in life we feel like we are aimlessly drifting through a dark long tunnel without end. Sometimes we find ourselves pressed and pushed to a corner with no way out.  Crushed in all sides, we feel trapped and drained. If we allow it, fear will finally take us to the pit of helplessness and resignation.

Fear becomes real when we make it the ultimate reality. The people of God, however, have a far greater truth that confronts and silences fear. It may appear foolish to bend our knees and cry out to the heavens when we can already hear the bombs exploding and gunfire at a distance. Going to war with fasting is a sure recipe for defeat even before the battle starts. Yet, Jehoshaphat turned his heart to seek the Lord and God answered. When we choose to turn toward Him, knowing that we are helpless, we are posturing ourselves to experience His power invading our hearts and circumstances.

The king stood in the assembly, full of faith, as he boldly recounted God’s history and covenant with His people. He remembered the battle where he could have gotten killed and how God delivered him. A horde pursued to kill him mistaking him for the king of Israel. But he cried to God and the Lord saved him. He knew his God. He had experienced His faithfulness through tough times. Knowing your God always position you to a place of hope. Remembering what He has done, your testimonies, others’ testimonies, will inspire you to desire more and believe for more.

Hope is remembering Who God is and our history with Him.

Hope allows us to see our situation from His perspective and through His faithfulness. Jehoshaphat anchored his hope in God and His covenant with His people that He had consistently displayed through His mighty deeds. Those who steward the testimonies of God and keep them close to their hearts, possess a deeper sense of hope and confidence. Even in the face of danger, nothing can change and challenge the faithfulness of God. This is the assurance and the bedrock of our victory.

Hope is standing our ground and fixing our eyes on God alone.

O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” (verse12)

King Jehoshaphat shows us that in everything, perspective matters.  We don’t always know what to do but we can always keep our eyes fixed on God.  There are times when we have to wait for His instructions. There are times we have to take action because He has already spoken the Word.  At all times, we need to hear Him and see His face despite our external circumstances. King David said it this way, “One thing, I have asked of the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4). The moment we see His face and hear His voice, our circumstances pale in the revelation of His greatness and glory. In life, what overwhelms us will shape us.  To cultivate hope, we have to turn our gaze to Him and be overwhelmed by His goodness.

Hope arise as we hear His Voice.

“Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. (verse15)

The Word of God releases faith and supernatural courage. War is at hand. There’s no other option but to face it. But first things first – seek the face of God. Through a prophet, God declared that the battle is His’ not theirs. Yet He wants them to witness it and be part of the unfolding of His faithfulness and power. “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out and face them, for the Lord is with you” (verse 17). This is hope, knowing that God was with them. Even when they are surrounded by the enemy or thrown in the fiercest battle, His presence surrounds them and the victory is guaranteed.

When the prophet finished speaking, the king and all of the people bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord.  The sons of Levites led all to sing praises to God with a loud voice.  Worship is both an act of surrender and celebration. Bowing down our hearts before the Almighty is a sign of humility and trust in who He is and acknowledging that He is all in all in our lives. Hope knows that once He has spoken, it is done!

Hope arise in the place of worship.

We can only arise in hope when we learn to bend our knees. Before His majesty and glory, we see our circumstances bow down to His will. Our battles are won first in the secret place where we surrender everything to the Victorious One.

They went to war with the ‘praisers’ and worshippers at the forefront singing “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Our greatest weapon of hope in the midst of impossible situation is knowing and declaring that He is good and His love endures forever. Fear has no place in the heart that is full of love and praises to Him Who is good and faithful.

Remember the wall of Jericho? A massive wall where 4 chariots can race on top, crumbled in a moment, not with a 21^st century nuclear bomb, but with a shout from the people of God. The power of God was released in an act of obedience. They declared that God has given them the city, and so it was done.  Something supernatural happens when our prayers and our declarations are in alignment with the heart of God and His nature.

As the dust settled, there was not one single arrow shot nor swords unsheathed. It was God’s battle, indeed. The people of Judah arrived in the wilderness to see the enemies totally wiped out. The only job left was to collect the spoils of war.  To describe the spoils as too much is an understatement; it took them three days to collect anything of use or precious. Oftentimes, our abundance is made available when we choose to stand up and confront our circumstances armed with the goodness of God.

Hope arise when we turn our eyes on Him.

Hope arise when we bend our knees.

Hope arise when we praise His name.

Hope arise when we see God’s lovingkindness.

Let your hope arise.