Can you imagine changing the course of your day in only three minutes? Scripture promises that His mercies are new every morning. When you wake up, or before you leave the house, take three minutes to declare God's favor and freedom over your life. We encourage you to get a second copy of 3-Minute Mornings to bless a friend or family member.
Today's Word: MAY 03, 2024
The Syrian army had surrounded the city of Samaria, cut off the Israelites’ food and water supply. Just when it looked like the people would starve to death, the prophet Elisha spoke today’s Scripture with its promise of a sudden abundance of food and supplies. One of the main leaders replied what most of the people were thinking, “Elisha, that’s impossible. Even if God opened the windows of Heaven that couldn’t happen.” But by way of a miraculous intervention, that is exactly what happened. You may not see how your situation could ever change. How could God reverse the trouble in your marriage or your finances? It doesn’t look possible in the natural, but God is supernatural. He has ways of reversing what looks permanent that we’ve never thought of. One touch of God’s favor and suddenly things shift in your favor, in your finances, in your children, in your health, in your relationships. This is a new day. God is doing a new thing. Don’t talk yourself out of your miracle. Be a believer and not a doubter.
When you dare to believe and speak God's blessings and promises, your words will put you on a path to better health, abundance, success and new levels of your destiny. Discover how the words you speak can unlock the life you were designed to live.
The Garden of Gethsemane is an olive garden in East Jerusalem. The word Gethsemane means “a place of pressing.” Here workers put olives into a press and squeezed out the valuable olive oil under great pressure. It’s not a coincidence that before Jesus went to the cross and rose from the dead, He had to go through the Garden of Gethsemane. That’s where He was so overwhelmed, so distressed knowing what He was about to face on the cross, that His sweat became like drops of blood. He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38). He had this season of suffering that He had to endure and pass the test.
We celebrate the resurrection, but the real victory was won in Gethsemane. That’s where He refused to give up despite the coming betrayal, the unjust trial and beatings, the suffering on the cross, and the bearing of our sins. He was squeezed under great pressure, but He made this decision: “Father, not My will but Your will be done” (Matthew 26:39). He showed that real victory is not won in public; it’s won in private. It’s what you do in your Gethsemane, when you’re taking the treatment, when your child is off course, when your dream is delayed.
The apostle Paul says, “I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). You can’t have a resurrection without some suffering. You have to have a strong will, a made-up mind, a warrior mentality. “I will not give up and start complaining, blaming, doubting, or worrying. I know that on the other side of this suffering is the power of the resurrection.” On the other side, there’s healing, abundance, divine connections, new levels. The pressing and suffering is not permanent. It’s not how your story ends. Gethsemane is for a season. It’s designed for you to pass through so you can come into the power, the fullness, the abundance that God has in store.
But the enemy would love for us to get stuck in Gethsemane. “God, why? Why did this door close? Why is this taking so long?” You can’t reach your destiny without being pressured, squeezed, and having thoughts tell you that it’s never going to work out and God has forgotten about you. The fact that you feel the pressure is a sign that a resurrection is coming. You wouldn’t be in Gethsemane if you weren’t close to something amazing—doors opening that you never dreamed would open, business tracking you down, the right people showing up, healing from what looks impossible. You keep doing the right thing when it’s hard, and you’re about to see the power of the resurrection.
READ BLOG ENTRYDelays, detours, and disappointments come to us all. We worked hard, but our nets are empty. We did the right thing, but other people were unfair. Now we’ve caught nothing. That’s not the end of your story. Those are tests. Through faith and patience, you inherit the promises. You have the faith.
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