Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” with the point being that we should live with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
This is the main scripture we will be looking at this year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Today, we will also look at:
(1 Peter 5:5-7 TPT)
5 In the same way, the younger ones should willingly support the leadership of the elders. In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.
6 If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands.
7 Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Humility Attracts God’s Grace and Favor.
— Understand that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. It is about prioritizing God’s will over personal ambition.
— Acknowledge that pride can block the flow of God’s grace and favor, whereas humility opens the floodgates of heaven, allowing His blessings to multiply in your life. The text says God “multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.”
— See every opportunity to serve as a chance to demonstrate humility, remembering that Jesus Himself took on the nature of a servant. When you maintain the heart of a servant and simply want to do whatever the Lord leads you to do every day, you will be amazed at how God will multiply His grace and favor toward you.
— Remember, God actively resists the proud but gives grace generously to the humble; strive to live in a way that attracts, rather than repels, God’s grace.
— Cultivate a heart of humility by regularly reflecting on the greatness of God compared to our human limitations; this perspective invites God’s favor. It opens you up to the supernatural, where God does what you could never do, and He does it through you!
— Practicing humility involves recognizing the value and contributions of others and celebrating their successes as if they were your own. Not only will this help you develop as a leader, but you will also become a servant leader, where you lead people by serving them and honoring God at the same time.
— Embrace humility in prayer, approaching God with a heart that’s open and submissive to His will, knowing that this posture attracts divine favor and guidance. In prayer, you should be bold enough to stand before God while being humble enough to seek and accept His will above your own.
2. Resting in God’s Timing for Exaltation.
— Our text says, “If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands.”
— Acknowledge that God’s plan for your life includes seasons of preparation and waiting, which are essential for your growth and readiness for elevation.
— Remember, God’s timing is perfect, and He often uses waiting periods to develop character, patience, and perseverance in us.
— Understand that striving in your own strength to achieve success can lead to frustration and burnout. Instead, rest in the assurance of God’s perfect timing.
— Casting your cares on God is an act of faith and surrender, demonstrating your trust in His ability to care for you and fulfill His promises.
— Resting in God’s timing doesn’t mean inactivity. It involves actively pursuing His will and being content with where He has you now. Enjoy the NOW while you keep your heart open to the NEXT!
— God’s promise to exalt you in due time comes with a condition: humility and casting your cares on Him, signifying your trust in His sovereignty.
— Look to Biblical examples of those who waited on God’s timing, like Joseph and David, who saw God exalt them at the right time, following periods of trial, testing, and preparation. Don’t give up. GREATER IS COMING!
3. Finding Rest in Casting Cares on God.
— Our text says, “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.”
— Pouring out your worries and stress upon God is an invitation for Him to work in your life, demonstrating His care and provision for you as you trust Him.
— Understand that casting your cares on God is an act of releasing control, acknowledging that He is sovereign over every aspect of your life. When you are fully submitted and surrendered to God and completely open to doing whatever He leads you to do, God is responsible for the outcome. While you may not like this state, if you are a control freak, it is a safe place to be because God will never let you down.
— Experiencing God’s peace comes from trusting Him with your burdens, allowing His Spirit to bring rest to your soul.
— The act of casting cares on Him should be a continuous process, not a one-time event; daily surrender your worries to receive daily peace. This is much needed today in a world full of anxiety and mental health challenges.
— Remember, God tenderly cares for you, and His desire is for you to live free from the weight of anxiety and negative stress.
— Find encouragement in your community of faith (church) and scripture (meditating on the Word).
— Let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your heart and mind as you rest in His promises and care for you.
— One of the easiest ways to check if you are trusting God is to see if you can go to sleep in the middle of a storm. When life’s storms are raging and you are in a faith fight, your ability to sleep peacefully results from your trust and confidence in God!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I embrace humility as the pathway to Your grace and favor, knowing that when I decrease, You increase in my life.
I understand that pride is a barrier to Your favor, so I choose to walk in the humility that opens the door to Your favor and grace.
Father, I trust in Your perfect timing, believing that You will exalt me in due season as I remain humble and faithful.
I cast all my cares, worries, and stresses upon You, Lord, fully relying on Your tender care and provision.
I find rest in surrendering my ambitions and plans into Your hands, confident in Your promise to take care of me and lead me into Your best.
I am grateful for the peace that comes from trusting in You, which guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Father, thank You for the assurance that as I live a life of humility and dependence on You, I will experience the fullness of Your favor and blessings.
I declare that GREATER IS COMING for me because I choose to live each day saturated in Your favor and grace, anchored in humility and trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
