Crossing Over 1-17-05

Monday, January 17, 2005 -- Morning by Morning Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Rock and my Fortress. I stand secure in You. Let the steady strength of Your presence fill my soul as we begin a new day together. ... "Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the Israelites, and they came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over" -- Joshua 3.1. Lord, You have said this is a year of advance for Your people and Your kingdom. Stir in our hearts to rise early, to seek Your face, to listen for Your voice. Like Joshua and those he led into the land of promise, we "have not passed this way before" -- Joshua 3.4. Only as we learn to hear Your voice with increasing sensitivity and sense Your leading with increasing confidence will we be able to cross over into this next phase of the journey. As we follow You, we will advance. As we advance in You, the Kingdom of God will be made manifest with increasing glory throughout the earth. As You commanded Joshua and his people to prepare for the advance, so You command us: "Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you" -- Joshua 3.5. Though You have been merciful and gracious in times past, we cannot go forward into this next dimension of the Kingdom without being sanctified. The nearness and intensity of Your presence in our midst is increasing as we advance, and our flesh cannot stand in Your presence. "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" -- Romans 8.6. We must be sanctified by the purifying fires of Your Holy Spirit, Who consumes our flesh and empties us of ourselves, that we may be filled with the fullness of Your presence. As You advance in us, we will advance in Your Kingdom; and Your Kingdom will advance through us. Then we will see You do wonders among us -- wonders like the world and the church have never seen -- the wonders of a holy God manifesting the power and the presence of His Kingdom through His holy people. Continually sanctify us as we cross over into the land of promise. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com God bless you!