EXPECTATIONS/EXPECTANCY

I know that you always tell people to expect nothing from people because if they do, they will face disappointment.  Then you add, "Expect everything from Me and you will never be disappointed.

As you face this new year, I want you to expect everything of Me.  I am the One Who gives good gifts to mankind and I always have good thoughts toward you.

Jeremiah wrote, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11)." When you abide in Me, My Word, and My love this next year, you can expect new appointments in the Spirit and no disappointments.

JEREMIAH 29:11

THINGS

After the gift giving to celebrate My birthday is over, you usually have your mind on things that you received.  Where will you place them in your home and how will you use those many things?

Since you are soon entering your new year, I want you to focus on the things I have given you. Isaiah wrote: "O LORD, You are my God.  I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth (Isaiah 25:1)."

Isaiah also wrote: Sing to the LORD; for He has done excellent things: this is known in all the earth (Isaiah 12:5)." When you review how I sustained you through the hard trials of past years, you will want to sing with thanksgiving for My faithfulness and My truths.

ISAIAH 25:1, 12:5

CONSIDER

Many call the teaching I did on the mountain "The Sermon on the Mount." Others call this teaching, "The Beatitudes." A major part of My teaching was about what people think about or what people consider is important.

Solomon wrote, "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:a)." You will easily discover what idols may crowd Me out of your life by considering what you think about daily.  

I taught those listening to take no thought for their basic needs such as clothing, food and drink.  I even urged them to take no thought for tomorrow. I exhorted them to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all their basic needs would be met. What are you considering today?

PROVERBS 23a; MATTHEW 6:24-34

ENTER

Not everyone who says to Me LORD, LORD will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but the one who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 

The highest form of worship is doing My will.  So many ask how they can know My Father's will.  My servant Paul wrote that the way to know My will is to present your body as a living sacrifice and refuse to conform to this world.

My Word is My will and as you abide in My Word, you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  My will is that you abide in Me, abide in My Word, and abide in My love.  When you do this, I will not only give you the will to do My will, but I will also give you the way to do My will daily.  I am the way.

MATTHEW 17:21L ROMANS 12:1-2; PHILIPIANS 2:13

OPRESSION

You live in a day when My enemy is attempting to keep people oppressed under leaders who are far from righteous in their actions. His goal is to especially oppress and persecute those who are righteous in My sight.

The good news is that even in the midst of living in an oppressed society, you can have My peace, My power, and My joy because you are established in My righteousness.  

Satan can touch your self-righteousness, but if you have been made righteous by believing in Me and receiving the cleansing of My blood, you will always be far from oppression.  When you received Me as your LORD and Savior, you entered My kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in My Spirit.

ISAIAH 54:14; ROMANS 7:14

BIRTHS

The shepherds were the first to receive the news of My birth. They were also watching for births.  It was the season for lambs to be born.  That night they would see Me, the lamb of God, just after My birth.

The Angel of the LORD told them that I would be wrapped in swaddling clothes.  The shepherds had spent most of the night wrapping new born lambs in swaddling clothes.

They were the first to lay eyes on Me as a baby.  They did not fully understand Who I was and why I had been born, but they would soon learn that I came to die so that they could one day have Me birthed in their hearts.

LUKE 2:8-14

NIGHT

It is the night before Christmas, and I know you have fond memories of the many Christmas Eves that you spent with your family.

It is fitting that you are having record cold where you live because the eve before I was born was also very cold.  It was not a cold night in December, however.  I was born the day after a cold night at the end of March. It was during the lambing season when lambs are born, and that is why the shepherds were keeping their flocks by night.

Today I am born in hearts all over the world. Yes, when people receive Me as their LORD and Savior, I am born in their hearts. My light always shines brightest in the dark. Pray for many to receive My light into their hearts.

JOHN 11:10