One Thing

Luke 18:18-22 "Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’ ” The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young. When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

There are many people, like the rich man in this story. They have one thing they are holding on to that is keeping them from eternal life. One thing that they are unwilling to surrender to Jesus and that one thing is going to take them to hell. What about you, what is your one thing? You know you need Jesus, you know that he is the only way to heaven, you know that how you are living is destroying your life but you keep holding on to that one thing. The enemy has lied to you and told you that you can not live without that one thing. he has told you that you can not quit and there is no hope for you.

But here is the Good News, all you have to do is be willing to let Go and God will take it from you. Surrender is the key to eternal life, when you surrender everything to God, he will take away the sin and fill you with his grace and love. He will empower you by his spirit to live a victorious life full of his glory. But you must be willing to let go of that one thing and surrender everything to him. When you open your hand to let go, you also open your heart and let Jesus in. Once he comes in everything changes and you will find yourself infused with life from above.

The Key to Life

Deuteronomy 30:20 "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life"

The key to life is loving God and fruit of love is obedience. Without obedience there is no love. When a husband and wife obey their wedding vows, their obedience is the fruit of their love. When they disobey their wedding vows, it shows a lack of love. Love is the fuel that produces obedience in our lives.

Obedience birthed out of love brings joy and increases intimacy. Obedience birthed out of fear brings resentment and causes division. That is why God said, the key to life is loving God. If you love God you will obey him and it will produce joy and deepen the intimacy of your relationship with God. If you obey God because you fear him, you will resent God and every act of obedience will drive a wedge between you and The Lord.

According to Proverbs 8:13 the fear of The Lord causes you to hate what God hates and according to John 14:15 the love of God causes you to obey God. We run from sin because we fear God and we obey God because we love him. This is the key to life.

Who's Driving?

Leviticus 20:22-23 “You must keep all my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice; otherwise the land to which I am bringing you as your new home will vomit you out. 23 Do not live according to the customs of the people I am driving out before you. It is because they do these shameful things that I detest them"

Sin drives us out of the land of promise and allows others to possess what was once ours. God told the children of Israel that the reason he was driving out the inhabitants of the land was because of the detestable things they were doing. Then he warns them to obey his decrees/regulations and not to live according to the customs of those being driven out of the land, because if they do the land will vomit them out.

Righteous living stabilizes our lives and our future, but sinful living causes us to be displaced and constantly moving. There is a very distinct difference between being on a journey to a desired destination and being a restless wanderer never knowing what tomorrow may bring. The difference is what moves you, those on a journey of faith are moved by the Spirit of God and a desire to do his will. Wanderer's on the other hand are moved by circumstance, situations and the repercussions of their sin. The Hittites and the other inhabitants of the land were moved because of their sin, the Israelites were being moved by the will of God. How about you? What moves you, what causes you to change directions and make life changing decisions? Is it the pressure of sin and wrong choices or is it the Spirit of God and his will for your life?

Never Alone

2 Timothy 4:16-17 "The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death"

I was reminded this morning, that on Valentines Day there are many people who will be alone or at least feel alone. Unfortunately holidays like Valentines has an amazing way of making people that are single, not in a relationship or those who are unable to be with their spouse, to feel like they are all alone and unloved. But nothing could be further from the truth! If you are a Christian then you are never alone, Paul in the scripture above talks about going before a judge, being tried for his faith and everyone abandoned him, no one came with him but he says "The Lord stood with me and gave me strength."

This is my prayer today for every person who feels alone. I pray that your eyes would be opened to The Lord Who Stands With You and will never leave you and that he will give you strength to do his will. I bind the spirit of loneliness and break its power from off your life and I release his peace and presence to fill your life. I also pray that God would bring godly people into your life and that he would give you the desires of your heart as you live a life that pleases him. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Defining Marks

Proverbs 9:7-9 "Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. 8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more."

One of the most defining marks that separates the wise man from the fool is how they receive correction, instruction and teaching. A wise man receives them all and eagerly applies what he has learned so that he can become wiser. The fool however doesn't receive any of it. He gets angry and actually attacks the person that is trying to help him.

So what about you? How do you receive correction, instruction and teaching? How you answer this question will reveal the true condition of your heart, do you accept correction, instruction and teaching or reject it by blaming others and making excuses? Are you a wise man or a fool?

The Standard

Exodus 15:25-26 "It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 16:19/27-28 "Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. 27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?"

God told Moses that he was going to set a standard for the people of Israel to live by and that the standard would be a test of their faithfulness to God. Every time the children of Israel violated the standard that God set for them, they revealed the true condition of their heart. They loved what God was doing for them, but they didn't love God.

Unfortunately there are many in the Church today who love what God does for them but they don't love God. I know that sounds like a harsh statement but the proof is in the pudding. When you look at how many professing Christians are living their lives, they profess with their mouths but their lives deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They say the right things but live the wrong way. "I love God but I support homosexual marriage", "I love God but I support the murder of unborn babies", "I love God but every decision I make is based on money", "I love God but I just don't have time to be involved in the local church", "I love God but I have no concern for the eternal souls of men, that is the preachers job", I love God but don't ask me to make any sacrifices for the kingdom of God", "I love God but I am my own person and I do my own thing" and the list goes on and on.

Jesus said you would know a tree by its fruits not its profession. The standards of the word of God don't make us righteous, we are made righteous through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and him alone. But the standards of the word do reveal our heart and help us and others to see if we really do love God or love what God does for us. How you respond to the standards of the word of God reveal whether you are faithful to God or just milking God for what you can get from him.

But standards apply not only to your relationship with God but also with those in leadership over you. Standards are test, they test our faithfulness to one who sets the standard. Standards reveal a persons heart toward their leader, those who buck the standard don't have the leaders heart, therefore they don't have the leaders back.

Every pastor/leader should have standards in place that line up with the word of God and the vision of the house. These standards not only protect the people that you have been called to lead, but it reveals the heart of the people and shows the position of their heart to you the leader. Someone that continually bucks the standard does not qualify to be in a leadership position because they don't have your heart.

Now understand that their is a difference someone who has legitimate questions and concern and someone who bucks the standard. The one with legitimate questions ask their questions and move on, the one who bucks the standard is always challenging the way you do things or what you are asking them to do. Standards are test, that reveal people's hearts, if you are a leader and you don't have standards in place then I encourage you to get before God and set a standard for ministry and leadership in your church or ministry. These standards safeguard your people and your own heart.

Staying In Faith

Matthew 14:29-31 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

It's not enough to step out in faith, we must walk by faith every step of the way. Many times like Peter we start out in faith, but because of circumstances and people we get hurt, discouraged or betrayed and begin to doubt. We must guard our faith and be relentless in protecting the only thing that can empower us to do the impossible.

So how do we continue on in faith, when it seems like everything around us is trying to get us to doubt and give up. The answer is Focus; we have stay focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith., we have to stay focused on our mission and the calling of God upon our lives and we have to stay focused on those things that have eternal value.

Life is filled with distractions and problems, and we can not bury our heads in the sand. We have to deal with distractions and problems, but dealing with them and being consumed by them are two totally different things. As a Pastor my life is filled with problems and challenges and my job is to help my church and our people work through those challenges and come out on the others side with the victory that Jesus has for us. Dealing with problems and challenges is apart of life, but we must refuse to be consumed by them and allow them to steal our focus.

Continuing in faith is the result of a determined focus, everyday we must take time to reset our focus at the feet of Jesus, we must remind ourselves of what we have been called to do and we must remember that it is always about the eternal souls of men. These three things help us to finish the race and complete the course, staying in faith and doing the impossible.

The Avenger

Let me go ahead and confess that I loved the Avengers movie and I am a fan. Of all the Avengers I like Captain America the best. He represents integrity, truth and justice and he acknowledged that there is only one true God. Which brings us to the point of this message today, there is only one true God and He Is The Ultimate Avenger!

David tells us in Psalm 9:12 "For he (God) who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted." God avenges the blood of the innocent and helpless, he hears the cries of the afflicted. The dictionary defines an avenger as one who takes vengeance for or on behalf of another. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:30 "vengeance is mine, I will repay, says The Lord"

Our world is filled with injustice and our systems of law and justice, though the best in the world, still has flaws. Many times in our lives we see and experience the injustice of sin, corruption and deception. As people lie, deceive, destroy and even kill the innocent.

In these times of injustice many people want to blame God; why didn't he intervene, why didn't he do something to stop the injustice. But he has, he has given us as humans authority and liberty to govern ourselves and make our own decisions and choices. The free will of man is a gift from God that brings blessings and curses based upon the choices of man.

But God has placed a check and balance system into his creation. One day all humanity will stand before almighty God and he will avenge the injustice of man with the righteous justice of God. The Avenger as David said, does not ignore the cries of the afflicted, he will bring justice for all!

A Leaf of Hope

Five years ago for Christmas my B.B.(beautiful bride) as I affectionately call her, gave me a framed picture of us, (me still sporting the mustache that I wore for so long) with this devotional that she had written. As I was doing my quiet time this morning I was reminded of her gift and I wanted to share it with you.

"A Leaf of Hope"
Genesis 8:11 "When the dove returned to him (Noah) in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth"

Noah would have been happy to have the dove, but to have the leaf! This leaf was more than foliage; this was promise. The dove brought more than a piece of a tree; it brought hope. For isn't that what hope is? Hope is an olive leaf - evidence of dry land after a flood.

Don't we love the olive leafs of life? And the people who bring them? When a husband comforts his wife and cares for her during difficult times. When a wife encourages her husband, when it seems like the world is against him. When a friend calls just to let you know they care. When a stranger does something kind, or when you read a scripture that you have read many times but the Holy Spirit brings it to life at just the right moment.

Take some time today to look around for the olive leafs of hope, but also to thank God for the people in your life who bring them. God is faithful and just because you can not see the dry land doesn't mean it is not there. There is a dove on your way and he has an olive leaf in his mouth, just for you!

American Idol Trap

Proverbs 29:5 "To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet."

I have to admit that my favorite part of American Idol is the Auditions at the beginning of the season. It amazes me how many people think they can sing, when is reality they are horrible singers. When I read this scripture this morning in my quiet time I immediately thought about American Idol Auditions. "To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet", how many of those people auditioning had their family and friends flatter them with lies about their singing ability. Their flattery became a trap, it set them up for failure.

Now I wonder how many times we have been guilty of flattering our friends by telling them what they wanted to hear, instead of telling them the truth. The truth about their attitudes, their actions, their decisions or their choices. We think we are being kind but in reality we are setting a trap for them. We are setting them up for failure because we are unwilling to speak the truth in love. Which is the way truth is intended to be spoken.

When we are honest with people because we love them and want the best for their lives, we help them succeed. When we are unwilling to be honest with people, when they ask our opinion or advice we lay a trap for them and actually keep them from future success. When we are confronted with truth, we are empowered to change and grow, lies only push us faster down the wrong road. This morning make a decision to "speak the truth in love" and help your friends succeed in life and fulfill God's calling upon their lives.

The Key To Growth

Psalms 111:10  "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! "

Davis said, all who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. It is obedience that produces growth. If you want to grow in the wisdom of God and your understanding of his will for your life, then obey what you already know and you will grow.

To many Christians are not obeying what they already know and they are not growing. Their Christian life has become stale and stagnant and many blame God. But the problem is not God, it's your lack of obedience. The more obedient you are, the more you will grow and the more exciting your walk of faith will be. Remember we don't grow because of what we know, we grow because we are willing to go and do what we know. Obedience produces Growth!

The Most Powerful Person On The Planet

Jeremiah 1:18-19 "For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land- the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. 19  They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

When we do what God has called us to do and walk the path that he has laid out for our lives, something amazing happens. We, like Jeremiah become like a city that can not be captured. The most powerful person on the planet is the person that is doing what God called them to do. That person, if their heart stays right with God becomes an unstoppable force, that is able to stand against anyone and win the battle. The issue is not will there be resistance, there will be resistance and usually a lot of it. But the issue is, can you win the battle and the answer is yes, if you stay true to what God has called you to do. There is no obstacle that you can not overcome and no enemy that you can not defeat if you are doing what God called you to do.

Getting Un-Stuck

Proverbs 23:6-7 "Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; for as he thinks in his heart so is he. "Eat and Drink" he says to you, but his heart is not with you"

In this scripture Solomon gives us a great revelation about the connection between our heart and our mouth. He uses the example of a miser, who says "eat and drink" but in his heart he really doesn't want you to eat or drink anything, because he is a stingy miser. Solomon then declares "for as he thinks in his heart so is he". He is teaching us that our words have no value unless our hearts mean or believe what our mouth says.

I believe in the power of confession, death and life are in the power of our tongue. I believe that we can have what we say and that we have not because we ask not. But I also believe that as Romans 10 teaches us, we must believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth in order to experience what God has for us.

So here lies the struggle for many people, they never change their confession because in their hearts they lack faith. When they speak in faith about their lives they feel like a hypocrite because they know in their hearts they don't really believe anything good is going to happen to them. So they are stuck between what they want to happen and what they really believe will happen.

Romans 10:17 says "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". The way to change the heart is to change the mouth, we renew our minds with the word of God and as we speak Gods word over our lives it releases faith into our hearts. You got born again because you heard the truth of the gospel and it released faith into your heart to believe. Then out of your belief you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you were saved.

You can not sit around and wait for your pastor to preach the right sermon for your need. You have to go to the word of God and find out what God says about your situation; then begin to speak the word over your life. As you speak his word and declare his truth over your life, faith comes. You start out with a declaration of faith but as it releases faith in your heart, your declaration becomes a confession of faith. Now you believe what you are saying and your words have power and what you say begins to come to pass. Why? Because as a man thinks in his heart so is he.

The Real Danger

Psalms 55:10 "Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city."

Eleven years ago our nation was invaded by terrorist, who took the lives of precious Americans. Today we remember those lost and those who rose up to rebuild and restore what our enemies tried to take from us. Today we pray for the families who lost their loved ones and we honor the everyday heroes who came to the rescue.

In Psalms 55:10 David speaks about his city, he says "it's walls are patrolled day and night against invaders", but he recognizes an even greater danger than the invaders from without. He says "but the real danger is wickedness within the city." Today we remember 9-11 and we understand the threat of terrorist attack, but the greatest threat against America is not foreign invasion, it is wickedness within our nation. When God is so far removed from our lives and our hearts that he has to be amended into the Democratic Party Convention, then our nation is in trouble. When same sex marriage is not only supported but celebrated in the White House and even in some so called churches, then our nation is in trouble. When unborn babies are killed and now our Government wants us to pay for it, then our nation is in trouble. When the pornography industry is a billion dollar business, then our nation is in trouble.

The greatest threat against American is not a foreign invasion, it is spiritual and moral decay. Today as we remember and honor those who died and served during 9-11, let us also pray for this nation. May we rise up as our nation did on 9-11 and say we need God in America Again! And may we, the proud citizens of this great country return to God in spirit and truth! God Bless America!

Your Bucket

Proverbs 10:24 "The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted"

Fear and Faith are both spiritual seeds that will produce a harvest. Fear is an open door to the enemy that allows him to steal, kill and destroy. Faith is an open door to God that allows him to bless your life and fulfill your hopes and desires.

Fear and Faith are both choices that we make. Will you choose to believe the report of the enemy, your circumstances or your flesh or will you choose to believe the promise of God and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. 

Fear and Faith produce results, they manifest in the flesh what is established in your heart. Fear and Faith are spiritual buckets that draw out what is in the well of your heart. If you want to change the outcome of your life then you have to change the bucket that you are lowering into the well of your heart. If you lower the bucket of faith it will draw out the well spring of life that God has placed within you. 

A Fresh Work

Ezekiel 33:12-20 “Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. 13  When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. 14  And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 15  For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. 16  None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live. 17  “Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right. 18  For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die. 19  But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live. 20  O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’ But I judge each of you according to your deeds.”

Many people in our Churches are filled with the same mentality as the children of Israel. They thought God was being unfair, because they were suffering for their current behavior. They thought that because they had done righteous acts in the past that it somehow covered the unrighteous acts of today. But they had to learn the hard way that the righteous acts of yesterday do not cover or condone the wicked acts of today. We will be rewarded according to our deeds.

We have too many Christians that talk about what they used to do for God, but they are currently disengaged from the work of the Kingdom and many are living lives of compromise. Stop talking about what you used to do and start doing a fresh work of righteousness. Our churches and our culture need to experience a fresh work of righteousness in our land.

The greatest testimony is not a testimony of yesterday's glory but the greatest testimonies are the ones that declare what God is doing now. It is the fresh work of righteousness that transforms a culture and creates an undeniable witness for Jesus Christ. If your story is a story of yesterday's glory, then reengage your heart and your hands to the work of God that is before you and let's allow God to produce a fresh work of righteousness, Today!

Good Is Not Good Enough

Psalms 37:29-31 "The godly will possess the land and will live there forever. 30  The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. 31 They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path."

This scripture gives us insight into the characteristics of the godly and the benefits of living a life that pleases God. The godly possess the land and live their forever, this teaches us that godliness produces a generational blessing, that leaves an inheritance to our children's children.

The godly offer good counsel, they teach right from wrong. This shows us that the godly have influence in their society, they are sought after for counsel and they teach others the difference between right and wrong. Godly people are not afraid to draw a line in the sand and define right and wrong.

They have made God's law their own, the godly are submitted to God, his ways become their ways. They are powerful leaders because they are submitted followers. Their feet will never slip from his path. Their paths are secure and their future is bright. The godly prosper and succeed when others fall by the way side because their feet are firmly planted on God's path.

So what about you, does this scripture define your life. Are you passing down a generational blessing, are you an individual of influence taking a stand on the issues of our day, are you submitted to God's laws? We all can falter and fail along they way, but let's make a refocused commitment to be Godly. Our world is full of good people who go along and get along but our world needs Godly People who will reestablish the truths of God and turn our culture back to Jesus Christ. Good is not good enough, God calls us to be Godly.

Common Ground

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."

Paul said he did everything he could to save people from hell and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. He tried as the NLT says " to find common ground", common ground is a place connection not a place of compromise. Jesus was a friend of sinners but he didn't sin or compromise to reach sinners and neither should we. Our world doesn't need churches that look like, smell like and act like the world. Our world needs to experience the presence and power of God to change their lives. Our culture is recklessly headed toward hell and we the Church should be doing everything we can to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.

Many times the common ground of connection is their place of need. The great thing about the message of Jesus Christ is that no matter what a persons need is, Jesus is the answer. When you begin to talk to people about their problems, struggles and disappointments you move to a common ground, because people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Once they realize that you care, then the doorway of their heart is opened to message of Jesus Christ. Every time you meet a need (common ground) it opens the door to sow a seed (share the gospel).

Sounds of Revival

Ezra 3:12-13 "But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. 13  The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance."

What a beautiful picture of a multi generational effort. The young and old worked together to rebuild the temple, to restore God's house. This scripture not only gives us a picture of all generations working together for the Glory of God.

But it gives us insight into what I believe to be the sounds of revival, which are the sounds of weeping and joy mingled together. When our hearts break over the condition of our nation and the souls of men and when we rejoice over one life that is changed for the glory of God. Weeping and joy mingled together produce the harvest of God. Psalms 126:5-6 "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."

May the sounds of weeping and joy fill our Churches, may the sound of weeping fill our alters as genuine repentance and godly sorrow produce salvation. May our alters be stained with the tears of those who war in the spirit through prayer and fasting for their families, communities and nation. May the shout of joy fill our sanctuaries as we worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Celebrating who he is and what he has done in our lives as the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!

Supernatural Set Up

2 Kings 8:1-6 "Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.” 2  So the woman did as the man of God instructed. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. After the famine ended she returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to see the king about getting back her house and land. 4  As she came in, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king had just said, “Tell me some stories about the great things Elisha has done.” 5  And Gehazi was telling the king about the time Elisha had brought a boy back to life. At that very moment, the mother of the boy walked in to make her appeal to the king about her house and land. “Look, my lord the king!” Gehazi exclaimed. “Here is the woman now, and this is her son-the very one Elisha brought back to life!” 6  “Is this true?” the king asked her. And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence." God will set you up. Like the widow woman as she returned home to make her appeal to the king. The Bible says "at that very moment" or it could have said at the time set up by God, because she had been set up for good. God desired to restore everything she had lost including any profits made off her land while she was gone. Proverbs says the steps of a good man/woman are ordered by the Lord. God will set you up for good. He wants to restore all that you have lost with extra packed on top. Think about all the "at that very moment" moments you have had in your life. How many times have you been in the right place at the right time and connected with the right person. Those moments are not the result of chance, they are the result of God. He has set you up for good. If you have ever wonder why it is so important to be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, you don't have to wonder any more. You need to be obedient to the Holy Spirit because God is trying to set you up, he wants to restore everything the enemy has stolen and he wants to connect you with the right people, give you the right job and prosper you beyond your wildest dreams. God is trying to set you up and when we are obedient to the simple promptings of the Spirit we will be at the right place, at the right time and meet the right people, because it is a "supernatural set up."