I have always enjoyed waking early in the morning to watch the sun rise and closing the day with the sun setting. Watching the light begin to pierce the darkness of night gives a rush of excitement. Hues of midnight blue begin to soften to greyish purple. Then as the light intensifies the colors shift to deep fuchsia, rich coral and finally a golden luster ignites the mountainside behind our home. A new day begins. A new day is dawning before my eyes and it creates an exhilaration and expectation of being handed a new page or a clean slate upon which to write a new story. Each day dawns, affirming the promise of God that His mercies are new and fresh every morning. No matter what happened the day before, good or bad; whether I failed or succeeded, the day would end and another would awaken with new possibilities.
“It is because of the LORD’S lovingkindness we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions (mercies) never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP. (Emphasis mine).
I purchased my first computer in 1985 when PCs began to become available to individuals and homes. My first computer was an IBM and it ran on the DOS system of programming. I had a daisy print wheel printer and only one font was available. They have evolved into amazing machines that one can hold in their lap, connect to world-wide sites and produce volumes of work in moments instead of days. It has been an amazing journey.
What I love about computers is the option of re-setting or re-booting it with the touch of a button. Early computers became challenged with graphics and programs that pushed the limits of memory and power. The computer would lock up and the only solution was to re-set its operating system to a day prior to the breakdown where it was performing at optimum capability. God gives us that incredible opportunity every day to re-set or re-boot our lives by confessing out mistakes, sins or failures and beginning again, leaving the past behind us. His delete button erases our mistakes and He gives us a clean new document upon which to write.
Israel had a history of successes and failures. Studying the Old Testament of the Bible we discover that Israel vacillated between faithfulness to God and rebellion to His commandments. Often their allegiance would wane depending on the leadership in place. There were good and righteous kings which led the people toward the Lord. This created blessing in the land and the nation walked in the favor of God. It caused other nations to fear them because the power of God was with them and they prospered in all they did. Other kings were corrupt and wicked and they led the people astray causing destruction, captivity and slavery. They were under the curses of rebellion and their only hope was repentance before God and man.
The Lord would always offer His people a way out. He made available to them a re-boot button of repentance which re-set their momentum to a time when all was right and prosperous. The tide flows in nations backwards and forwards as mankind tries to rule his own life. When a nation strays from the Lord, it moves backward continuing a downward spiral until something changes the momentum. That something is repentance.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 declares: “If I shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence and plague among My people, and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Today, Vice President elect Mike Pence will lay his hand on the Holy Bible touching the 2 Chronicles 7:14 scripture as he takes his oath of office. Franklin Graham led prayer and repentance rallies in each of our 50 states last year. Many such meetings have been held in various cities across America as well as in Washington D.C. for over two decades praying and interceding for our nation. When the people of God turn their hearts back to the Lord and repent, God hears their prayers and gives them a promise of healing and restoration.
Isaiah 60:1-2 proclaims, “ARISE [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you. For in fact, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you.”
No man is perfect except Christ Jesus, but when our hearts become open to the Lord and we allow His will to flow through us it will strongly affect others. Where God intervenes, we will become the recipients of His blessing and favor if we continue to seek His face and remain humble and repentant.
The Son is rising upon us and His glory will be seen in us. His bride will begin to shine in His glory and the light of His glory will pierce the darkness like never before. Revival is on the way and we will have the opportunity to participate in what God is doing while being a witness to others. This will be the year His Glory and Splendor. His Majesty and Power will begin to be revealed at a greater level. He will be seen and known like never before. Psalm 96:6,9 explain, “Splendor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; Tremble [in submissive wonder] before Him, all the earth.”
1 Chronicles 29:11 declares, “Yours Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours Lord, is the Kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.”
It is a new day. The time of “spiritual depression” is ending and the Son is rising. A new era is dawning and everyone is invited to come and enter in to His glory. Those who will enter in are of a humble and contrite heart (pure in heart), for without it, no one will see the LORD. (See Matthew 5:8). Look for His majesty and splendor in unexpected places. When we find it, we, too will begin to shine like Him. It is truly a new day!
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