The most important thought of any day is the first one.

Why? Because thoughts are cumulative and progressive. They are paths that we set out on that take us to a destination. Where do you want to end up? The journey of a thousand minutes, a thousand hours, a thousand days begins with a single thought.

Ps 149 is one of my favorite psalms, and one I begin my days with often. Why? Two reasons. First, it is positive - it is firmly planted in praise, worship and declaration. Second, it calls me to my task - it is the psalm of a Kingdom warrior.

In the Old Testament paradigm, that means that I am going to take on the enemies of Jehovah today and establish the Kingdom. God’s enemies are toast, because God is in me, and I have the honor, the ability, and the grace to end their influence on the planet. That is the way of a Kingdom warrior.

In the New Covenant mindset, that means that because of the Life of Jesus the Warrior that is in me, I will fight the good fight of faith that will change atmospheres, release the Joy, and shine the Light and Life of the Kingdom in every situation that I am in. I am “more than a conqueror” as I walk in the faith that “is the victory that overcomes the world.” The result is not dead bodies, but dead bodies touched by Life as I establish the rule of Heaven in my appointed place on the earth.

How does such a day begin? How does a Kingdom warrior wake up? Look at verse 5.

“Let the godly exult in glory, let them shout for joy upon their beds! Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”

When I gradually come to consciousness in the early morning (sometimes the middle of the night), and I am aware that I am awake, I declare the Name, “Jesus!” Jesus, being Lord of All, is the first Name, the first Word on my lips. What I have found is that because of the spiritually powerful nature of that Name, my spirit stirs to life. The mist of darkness fades, the cobwebs are brushed away, and my mind becomes alert. I am ready to live. And the first thought, my first choice of the day is relational. I call on the One Who Lives, the One Who is always with me. "When I am awake, I am still with You!" (Ps 139:18). As I voice my worship and declaration, I figuratively step into the cockpit of my race car and I am ready to travel. “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

As my “engine” begins to warm up, I feel the rumble of my motor – my spirit - and my mind starts to engage. I realize that another day on the planet is about to begin. I grab my Joy! and shout – figuratively – the highest praises of God that I can reach. Silently, for my wife’s sake, J I energetically declare the Greatness, the Goodness, and the Kindness of the God Who has brought me through another night, and Who has prepared for me another beautiful day at the racetrack.

Having warmed up my “engine”, by the time my feet hit the carpet and I grab my clothes and head to my prayer place, I am alive and rejoicing with the fact that the Kingdom has come in power and glory, and I am going to see it today with my own eyes! Sword in hand, I step into another day’s journey, ready to clear the land of darkness by shining my Light, the Light of Jesus Who is in me, Who has overcome all death, and Who reigns in power, today, here and now.

The wonderful thing? Verse 9:

“This honor – glory, majesty, splendor – have ALL His saints.”

The call to rule and reign as a warrior of the Kingdom is a call for every believer. The grace to overcome any and every obstacle that our day may present is available to all of us. The power is God’s, and the humility of our need actually puts us in the perfect place to receive, reveal and release His power in our circumstances. When that happens, the Glory is all His. What we could never have done by our own effort has been done perfectly!

So, what do you think? Are you awake yet? It is time for every Kingdom warrior to wake up and live the Kingdom Life. Let’s take this land and fill it with the Love, and Life and Joy of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What will that look like? “Another day in Paradise!”

Have a great Kingdom day!

“Awake sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (Eph 5:14)

You know what I love about transformed people? It isn’t about them. Teachers, worship leaders, cup-of-cold-water givers, whatever. Made-like-Jesus men and women give what they have, be who they are – and there is no hook. They need nothing from you or me. No money, no “I like you”…nothing. They only want to give. What they have - which is wonderful - they got for nothing, so they give it away without cost.

Mature men and women are secure in the Joy of being Loved. They like being themselves! They no longer compare or compete. They have overcome rejection, and rest in the delight of self-acceptance, and others-acceptance. They are secure “in the bosom of the Father” (Jn 1:18) and from that Place they are infinitely generous. “God so loved…that He gave.” (3:16) Love gives.

That kind of grace comes straight from the Heart of the One Who is “full of Grace and Truth”. Life is no longer about production, it is about Relationship, one Relationship. And because that is where they live, and that is who they are, everywhere they go they brilliantly manifest Who Father Is. “And they marveled at the Grace that was coming out of His mouth.” (4:22)

Ah, we are all on the path, aren’t we? Well, if I can love you a little more purely today, if I can give to you a little more freely, if I can help you to see just how wonderful a made-in-His-image human being you are today…then I will go to sleep tonight a happy man.

I hope you have a wonderful, I-know-I-am-Loved day!

I got together with David this morning for some sweet fellowship time, early. He was quiet, subdued. I could tell that something deep, something profound was going on with him.

I’ve known David a long time. I respect him above all my other friends. David has a heart for God more than any man that I have ever met. He breathes hunger and thirst. His heart beats passion. And the result? The blessing, the affirmation of God is so obvious on his life. He is a blessed man.

We have gathered so many times, early in the morning, to sing and shout and rejoice; to seek, to share, to pray - all of the normal expressions and experiences of being fellow God-seekers in this incredible life He has birthed us into.

But this morning it was different. All of that - the matters of the kingdom, the grandeur of the court, the victory celebrations, the normal challenges of being a king over a thriving nation – this morning…, it was like all of that didn’t even exist. This morning I saw deeply into David’s heart, into the control center, the core of his being, to where he lives within himself - how he really is.

What I saw was not King David - leader, warrior, husband and father - even though on the surface David is all of these things. No, what I saw… was a child, a freshly weaned child, leaning against his mother’s chest, held in her lap, peaceful and content. I sat there in awe as I realized that at the center of David’s being, at the core of his existence, where he lived within himself… he was a child of God, deeply loved and held.

As I marveled at what I was perceiving, David, softly, began to speak:

“Lord, my heart is not proud. My eyes are not busily roving around, surveying my holdings. I have no need to control anything in my life. There are so many things that are way beyond me - I don’t need to understand everything.

I am so thankful that I can come here to be with You. I have shushed and quieted my mind. My soul is no longer like a nursing child; those needs are met in other ways. Now I simply want to be with You, loved and held. This morning... I am your deeply loved child.”

And then I heard David quietly whisper, “Oh Israel, join me here in this place of trust and faith, this place of total rest. Put all of your hopes onto Him - now, and forever.” (Ps 131)

We stopped talking at that point. No more words needed to be said. It was communion time, rest time, relationship time. The kingdom could wait. The day would begin soon enough, and there would be grace for it. But for now, it was God-time.

How long we stayed there, I don’t know. Time evaporated. We absorbed the love of the Father until Time returned, and then we peacefully set out on our day. But something inside of me has stayed there. I am there even now. Thankfully I never have to leave.

Tomorrow morning, will you join us?

“No one has ever seen God. But Jesus, who lives in the bosom of the Father…He reveals Him to us.” John 1:18

I found myself this morning on a path with pilgrims who were journeying to Jerusalem for the feast. (Psalm 130) Here is what they were singing:

“Oh God, I find myself alone again, and vulnerable. The emptiness I feel, the sense of isolation is deep. It threatens to swallow me up and take me to a hopeless place. From here, from this hole, I reach out to You. Can You hear me? Do Your eyes see me today?

If what I am feeling right now is about my sins, then there is no hope for me, because I am a mess. Truly, no one can stand up under Divine scrutiny.

No. That is not what this is about. This is about me going deeper into my Relationship with You. If this is about sin, and my ability to be good?!…, then it is “game over” for me. But for all of that - my sin, my brokenness - You have given me the Blood, and the Cross, so that I can continue in this process. This is not about judgment, or my destruction. This is about me getting to know You at a deeper level, and coming into a more Real, more True Relationship. This is ALL about Relationship.

So, I am taking all of my dark emotions, my borderline depression and the sense of potential judgment - and letting it go. Instead, I am shifting my focus towards You. I stare into the emptiness, because I know that if I do, I will eventually begin to see the form of the Creator of emptiness, and feel the Hand that holds all of this together.

I am counting on You, Father. I am pushing out the borders of my trust. I am opening the door of my heart so that Hope can come in. I know that when You do, one Word from You will change it all. Those who wait for the sun to come up, right on schedule, have no idea of how I wait for this, for Your Rising. You follow no schedule, but Your coming is more reliable than the timing of this morning’s dawn.

So, fellow journeyers, let us all reaffirm our trust in the Lord today. His Love for us has not, and will not waver. He can fix anything, so that we can all continue to grow into the complete fulfillment of our eternal destiny. He is eternally committed to make that happen, for each one of us – we are ALL precious.

God, our Father, is going to get what He set out at the Beginning to get – all of our hearts in a deep, real, and eternal Love Relationship - our Love just…like…..His.”