OUR STEPS WILL EITHER POSSESS OR DISPOSSESS THE LAND

Proverbs 4:10-13
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
NIV

Was meditating on "our steps" we take everyday. It was something I thought of in hearing of all the chaos in France right now. And then for some reason, I thought on the OCCUPY that was part of the news back five + years ago.

In Proverbs 4, we are told that God's wisdom will guide us along straight paths, and when we walk, our steps will not be hampered ( hindered ). We are also told that when we run, we will not stumble for when we hold on to instruction, and do not let go, that instruction, that Wisdom from God will guard our life when we guard the instruction.

GOD has a place for us. I know I write on this a lot, but I have gotten some more insight on it in the last few days. Thinking of our grand-daughter and her activities, her parents saw the steps she took to possess where she lived. If you remember, her father, showed her as a baby and then a toddler what was hers as her parents provided a healthy home for them all. She already owned it, it was hers, and it is where she lived as a small child. Then as she started walking and talking, she went into soccer and swimming lessons. That is a  place that she now possesses! Every place she has marked out with her foot is hers and no one can take that from her. She was instructed in soccer and in swimming and she can do both. Is she the expert? No, not yet, but she has the opportunity to grow in a greater skill in these if she continues in them. They are both good and health to her body in the form of exercise!

We too, can gain greater skill in taking instruction from our Father in heaven. We too, can possess that place where our steps take us. But will they be for the fruitful, life-giving instruction of God or will it be of the devil kind of instruction, who desires to kill, steal and destroy?

Acts 5:25-42

"Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." 

33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God." 40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. 

NKJV

In obeying God and His instructions we walk in a place that may mean much adversity like we see for Peter and the other apostles in chapter 5 of the book of Acts. Please read it for yourself, especially to see how God cares for His own. It was noted by Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law, that "if what ( Peter and the others ) were doing was of God, you cannot overthrow it......lest you be found fighting against God."

 What is of God will continue! It may mean much adversity and much intentional harm, but God is greater. And if He really lives in us........then He should be ruling this body by His Word of truth.

Where do we occupy today? Can it be the safe place or is that which we are determined to stay just because we like the notoriety? Is where we occupying bringing glory to God or to ourselves? Of late, you see some men or even women lose their jobs, and in the light of their dismissal you find them so lost, for their identity was in that job. Sad but true, and many truly lose sight of what is truth and right  by ending up in despair and such depression they can no longer make right decisions for their god was the job!
I remember my husband had the desire to learn as much as he could as in a trade occupation. He had opportunities open to him to not only weld but also operate many machines, like cranes, and see how the cold weather as well as the hot temps might hinder production in coal mines. He had many opportunities to take extra classes and he seized all that he could back in those early days to manage a dam site today. He took steps to possess a place. Was not sure where he was headed with it, but he knew was to master them!

Proverbs 16:9

9 A man's heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps. 

NKJV

God is bound by His Word. He cannot lie, and He will not go against what He has already placed for us to come to. That place we are to possess is by His Word. In His plan, it has nothing to do with wickedness, but in grace, truth, and love. But wanting our own way, and doing our own thing causes us much harm, and even death.

People like the avenues of communicating today. Yet in all those I see, there is much danger. There is not the formal eye to eye and face to face communication of decades ago. Today, it is just a text or a quick "tweet". In giving this much thought, I am surprised how some handle their employees' Work Evaluation. Of course, this writing context is in regard to those teachers, bosses, those in any management positions and even in regard to business owners, that one to one contact would be important.
 In regard to meeting eye to eye, we can express our heartfelt questions and answers in regard to either our work or even work within school as in the Parent/Teacher Conferences. In reality though, if we only send a text to "Well Done" and the person needs some work in some areas, are we not adding to their defeat in life? Some folks just do not like communication at all. They are content with the five minute e-mail explanation, the 30 second tweet or such else to communicate.

In posting a comment in regards to something important as a job or a student's work record, would not a more formal of meet and greet over this thing so important to maybe the life of the job, or maintaining school attendance.
There is so much that probably should be said but is left undone because we "decided to text" or "tweet" someone about how they are doing. I think of the applying for a job today and online. I am not sure if that is just a way to weed them (the applicant's) out that may not fit the job. I know that I liked going for those interviews and meeting with people face to face. In meeting one on one, you find their real heart on the job they are trying to fill. You find the real heart of those teaching your children at school. You find the real heart of those you might attend church with.

Going back to our grand-daughter, I think of how different her life would be if her parents just texted, " well done " with a HAPPY FACE on it! If there was correction by just texting.........the sad, grumpy face would not work!

In doing that they would be shortening their commitment time, that being in her face, and showing her what the life in God is really about. They must show her daily how her steps will possess that land God has planned for her! In society today, we surely see those who have not had the face to face with parents and those who really care. We have seen the effects of a 30 second text sent at the wrong time as in many young and middle aged getting into terrible car wrecks. Please understand that this is my opinion. I think Jesus liked getting out among them and looking into their eyes and watching their body movements as He spoke truth. I think He liked getting involved and letting them know He really cared for them.

In this age of this kind of communication we can surely see that people can maintain a low - key commitment and almost no responsibility to anyone. It is like the elusive unicorn. In sending a text once or twice to someone does not mean that anyone will really know us? It is not commitment and it is not possessing a place in society. Commitment is time and money.

I believe that those who post their page are posting the "fake" person. The real you or me is the one who lives and breathes and acts out at home where no one sees. In that posting of our thoughts from a heart not guarding the instruction of God can surely lead us down to a place thinking we really have a voice when we really do not have one.  We can write it out and expand on it, and then at one point, one day comes when we grab that megaphone (horn) and gather those who think as we think. But is it of truth? Is it something that will last? For truly God desires to keep His own safe! So are our hearts one with HIM? Do we delight in Him or we salivating for our fifteen minutes of fame!

Communication is awesome! It is truly needed in the amount of people who cover this earth. But my thoughts are, if God desires this technology, will we see where sin might abound more and see our own glory and not God's glory?

Our pastor likes us sitting down together to meet and talk. It is his desire that we know one another. It is his desire that "like Jesus" we too communicate face to face. We did it during the summer at the park during an actual service time. We circled our chairs and faced each other. We also have come to eat together after a service time of Word and worship. We get to know the neighbor. We get to know how to pray for them and see them succeed, not by voicing loudly over a "megaphone", but actually speaking what is in their heart that comes from God. It may be in bits and pieces..........but God can restore those who are broken. God can cause restoration to come, when we start out slow, possessing our steps as the individual and then as the child of the Most High God. Our boundaries should be those that God placed at the foundation of this world.
We too, should look back at the Ten Commandments and realize God has it all in hand when we choose to follow and guard His instruction and know that He has given us the land..............that no man can take from us. Amen!

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
NIV ( list found in Exodus  20 )

In closing: I think about Adam when he was formed by God. God brought him into the garden and to work there with his hands. He called Adam to name the animals. Adam was not created to just sit and let others work for him, but he was created to have the relationship with God and live life to the full! It was the place already prepared for him, much like the place prepared for our grand-daughter and even our own. It was the place prepared to start enjoying life with a family and with others.

Ah, but sin came into the garden. Adam did not guard the instruction given him!  Our grand-child did not come to sit and observe, she came to participate in life. She did not come to sit on her laurels and not work for she certainly has her chores to do within the home. And in the right time, she will go to college, she will work at a job.  She came to learn and possess land.
We must guard that instruction given to us. In seeing our grand-child grow in God, I expect her to be taking those steps to continue having a healthy body, learning an instrument that will bring praise to God, see her teach the parables of Jesus and see her become all that God has destined her to be. She is possessing the land. May God be glorified!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

RIGHT NOW ..........What is in YOUR HEART & What will it BRING TO YOU?

Deuteronomy 31:1-6...............31:1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.' 3 "The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said. 4 And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
NKJV

Know anyone who is 120 years old? I have never met anyone who has lived to be that age. I have seen a few men and women on the news who have made the mark well over 100 years of age and many were in wheel chairs. That is not the way I would like to live my life in the latter years in or from a wheel chair.

Moses knew he was about to die. He could not cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. In the passage above, he gives encouragement and instruction to those who would go into the new land. He tells them that the LORD your God will pass over before you. He will do to those who stand in the Promised Land to be like Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. He tells Israel to be strong and of good courage. Do not fear nor be afraid of them for the LORD your God, is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

CONFRONTATION! Interesting that the instruction Moses gives is that the Lord is with us, and the LORD will do to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land. We are told that the LORD will give them over to us, that we may do to them according to every commandment. Sounds like somebody has to have someone close up time with those who we disagree with and need out of the land we are possessing. Is that not right?

Well that is a lot to take in. Okay, the land has kings who "occupy" and we have a God who goes with us. But we are to do to those kings according to every commandment which God has commanded us to do!

Ever try to go into the new land to "occupy" and the "king" who occupies will not go willingly? Yikes! Problem on the horizon!

Deuteronomy 32:45-47................45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 and He said to them: "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe--all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess."  NKJV

AND BY THIS WORD YOU SHALL PROLONG YOUR DAYS IN THE LAND......TO POSSESS!!!

Moses told the people to "set their hearts on all the words which was testified by himself and he commanded that the children of the people were to observe----all the words of this law. (the Word of God) By this word, our days are to be prolonged " in the land we are to possess."
Our days are to be prolonged:

to be unceasing
to be expanded
to be continued

Deuteronomy 6:6-9...............6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. NKJV

Setting that Word on our hearts and our children's heart is mentioned here in Deuteronomy 6.  We are to talk "the Word of God".

1. we do this in sitting in the house

2. walking outside or on our way

3. right before bed, when we are going to lie down to sleep

4. rising up, like at breakfast time

5. a sign on your hand

6. as frontlets, to keep before our eyes

7. written on the doorpost of our house and gates

It appears we need to be active in seeing that Word being spoken all day and into the night!

Reading the Word to our children is paramount. We have the opportunity to read it to our grand-child. She is ready to read it and has the help of some awesome aids today like her Kindle tablet. 

I like the part about sitting in the house. Imagine with the T.V. off,  and talking the Word of God with your children or grand-children!  What if we as adults, talked with our own parents or grand-parents if they are alive today, about the Word of God?

That sitting in the house might be as a family around the dinner table and enjoying some good food from the produce brought in from the store and good food from the Lord, that God-breathed word to fill us with His supernatural power!

 That walking outside or on our way could be driving somewhere or even taking a walk out-of-doors. Right before bed is always a good time to reflect on the goodness of God for that day and find the scripture passages or verses that line up with what we just experienced in seeing God that day in our lives. Reflection of what we are believing for in God always take first place at our house in the evening hours right before bed-time. 
That breakfast one is a serious one when you might send your child or grand-child off to school or vacation Bible school. They need a good breakfast..not just an instant drink mixture in milk.....to break the fast from overnight sleep and then be given some Word of life that will add to them and their day. That sign in the hand to me could be the Bible in your hand in either the actual book Bible or on your I-Pad or I-phone. I also like leaving notes from a sticky note pad on my desk or sometimes on the refrigerator the scripture verse I am believing for at the time. That doorpost and gates is one we have had. We had been given a wall-hanging from Numbers 6 and the blessing:

Numbers 6:24-26...........24 "'"The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '  NIV

Some coming out or going in, we see the scripture written for our benefit.

Our days can be those like the people of Israel. Each of us may be moving into some new territory. We may be going to another level in the music industry, or sending a small child off to school for the first time. We may be taking on a new promotion in the workplace that requires different dressing and different kind of schedule. The leaders in the business place may be different than those of our family or previous work place.
We may be leaving a job after many years of work and service for a company or we may be taking over a new ministry, but one thing remains the same. We each have been given the Word of God to know that life comes from it and it alone. Jesus came to set captives from this world and see His kingdom come! Jesus fulfilled the Law and Prophets. 

JESUS WAS THE WORD MANIFESTED! EVEN MORE SO, SHOULD WE NOT CELEBRATE AND DANCE BEFORE THE  KING WHO  WAS, IS, AND IS TO COME!
He is the Word and He backs up His Word every time I speak it, declare it, sing it, announce it, and yell it out! I then see it manifested in my life! (Just take a look at the blog titled "High Risk")

WE stand, believing for a long life in the land promised to us. But we get there by believing, and having a trust that God is for us just as what has been given, written for our benefit, that we hold onto the commands of God. We speak in truth, and deal in truth. We look out for others in love, but we also know God has His plan for us as well. We take that Word and speak. We take that Word and believe, move and take the place we are to stand. And we continue to use that Word till we see it come to pass in our lives.

We may not have children yet, and may not even be married, but we have the future before us. It is one that hold life or death for us. That future is a choice of living for God or dying to the world.  

We take the Word and tread on the "enemy"! We keep that Word morning, noon and night. We keep that Word for ourselves, for our children, grand-children and even for aging parents who may be moving pass the 80 year old mark. We look on in faith in the Word that delivers us to peace!

Wherever we walk today, wherever we stand, we take the Word of God and speak it like never before. We speak and say what the Lord has said about us and we expect to have our days prolonged and live in the land promised to our fathers and to us. Today, let us take up the Word and truly live for God.............looking like Him, ............sounding like Him,............and seeing the supernatural performed in our lives. Amen!

Was spending time with our grand-child over the weekend and one thing I noticed was we could do the Kindle thing and watch one of the Bible stories, with the reading parts or just the action parts. We could talk about it and either laugh or just take a serious moment on what we had just seen, heard and watched before our eyes. After a couple hours of reading some different books together, our grand-daughter wanted to pull up a story line on the Kindle. It was something about these three young ladies turning into mermaids when their feet touched the water. I asked her, "Why would you want to live out someone else's life that is probably not real, when you can take an active part in your own life."  Well, her dad was listening to what I asked her, and he agreed. I had continued to think about that today.  Why should we not want to take that an "active part in our lives" to see that long life that brings many years to us? Why would we not want to participate with God and see His best for us in the land of the living? So again I ask, "What is your life( your heart) right now and what will it bring to you? Will you live long and prosper or will you die suddenly at a young age and never see God's plan He has just for you? What will it bring to you today? Are you believing for long life with a healthy body or are you just expecting the sick one will get you through? Are we believing to be of an influence to other's or are we just wanting to catch that next episode of our favorite show on Tuesday nights?

I do not know about you, but I want to take an "active part" and say, meditate, know and share that Word of God that brings life so I can live long!
A CONFRONTATION WILL COME! Does not matter if it is with your son or daughter's teacher at school in regard to their six week assessment, the report on the medical test the Dr. just took, wanting to sale some property, a person wanting to cancel the contract you have with a company, that yearly job review and you have a new supervisor, or you are up for promotion, but the job is two thousand miles away in Podunck, Nowhere! Yes, confrontation will come. How will we possess that already occupied land?

Father, today we pray in Jesus' name. He was the Word manifested! We know the land YOU have promised to us has kings who "occupy" and we have a God who goes with us. Today help us to do to those kings according to every commandment which God has commanded us to do!

No problem is too big for YOU Father!
We desire to take an "active part" in confessing that powerful Word into our lives so that we have prolonged lives. Today,  like the prophets before us, we speak the words of God. We declare to others the words given to us in the "secret place". We pray for the love walk toward family members, associates at work, for our neighbors and those we pray for as we take possession in the new land YOU have given to us!

In the name of Jesus we withstand the enemy; firm in the faith. Today we thank You that YOU have empowered us through our union with YOU. We draw on that strength from YOU [a strength which Your boundless might provides], Your strength causes us to be steadfast and trustworthy.
 May our walk be dominated by our love for You. Father, we bless and pray for those who persecute us....those who are cruel in their attitude toward us. We bless and do not curse. Therefore our love abounds yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. We approve things that are excellent. We are sincere without offense till the day of Christ. We are filled with the fruits of righteousness.

We ask help in seeing and knowing that gain of the world's treasures (Matt. 6:19-21) will lose the Father's spiritual treasures. And all of this world's treasures are not enough to purchase one's eternal life.

We surrender everything to YOU today. We deny self today so that we can keep our spiritual man growing, and to keep hearing YOU in the Word THAT YOU speak to us.

Thank You for hearing us as we pray.......we choose an active role in YOUR plan for our lives. Amen!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV