Matthew 9:17 - Stretched With Abundance
Step 1: Pray. Select.
Today is the beginning of a new week, and I woke up to a praise report from a friend in my church group chat. Get ready for God to show up in unexpected ways. Be on watch for his goodness everywhere you go!
Today's scripture comes from a word the Holy Spirit had been tugging on me about since last night. As I read a few scriptures referencing wineskins, I landed on Matthew 9:17, which spoke to me today.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
Matthew 9:17 - Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
After reading the scripture three times, the following words pulled at my heart:
Put New Wine
Into New Wineskins
Both Are Preserved
Step 3: Re-Write
Adding my name to the front and with a focus on the words that stood out, here is the sentence(s) I came up with for today:
Jennifer, put new wine into new wineskins, both are preserved.
Step 4: Visualize
I picture a red liquid pouring into a large white sack of what appears to be an animal hyde. The sack is clean and pure, with no blemishes, and rather large.
The red liquid is coming from an unknown source I can't see, filling it up.
The skin begins to absorb the liquid, slowly turning it from white to red. The substance starts to stretch due to the weight of holding the liquid, but it somehow sustains from the moisture while allowing it to expand. Now slightly oversaturated, a few droplets begin seeping out of the bottom through the skin and onto the floor, where it hangs.
I am reminded of the overflow that drips down when we walk closely with Jesus and his teachings. He steadily expands our knowledge beyond the natural, supernaturally if you will, leading to miracles, signs, and wonders for everyone around us to see. We don't need to say a word or shout at the work he is doing within since anyone can see who encounters this wineskin; Jesus is presently working and filling us up daily with everything we need.
Let's fill up with the word, expanding our understanding so we are stretched with an overabundance of wisdom that drops onto the world with the sweet fragrance of the wine or teachings of Jesus.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The main question(s) that came to mind were:
Holy Spirit, how do I keep the wine flowing?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
"Keep walking with Jesus daily, and he will guide you. The disciples spent time with Jesus, getting to know him and absorbing his teachings. After he was not here physically, they were forever changed, and their body was filled with his spirit, allowing them to carry out the knowledge of the savior for the world to be saved. Don't be afraid to fill up with as much of his knowledge as possible, for his knowledge is a river that will never run dry. Remember Jesus was the living water; your body is predominantly made up of water, but whatever your body cannot contain, take in your spirit, which has an infinite capacity. Do not limit yourself; he will reveal all things in due time as he continues to pour into the physical and spiritual. He will not break you but knows what you can handle and will keep you quenched and never thirsty again."
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
I need to expand my thinking and trust that if I let the Holy Spirit fill me up, he will know the steady pour for me to handle. I just need to keep trusting and staying close, and once I have reached my maximum capacity, whatever I have will drip gently onto others in need.
God, let me be strong and courageous so that I can be all that you have created me to be. Let me stop hiding and trust that what you have waiting for me is good, and you will be pleased since you created me for a time such as this.
I will have my two witnesses pray today for the courage to let my light fully shine. I trust that whatever knowledge I gain and share will be enough or make a difference according to God's plan, but let me only share it in the way that he sees fit. Let me never get ahead of him, and let me honor him with what he has put inside of me.
If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.
Step 8: Share. Testify
I have a praise report or mini-testimony to share today. Yesterday, I struggled with whether I was on the right track with writing and choosing to make this career change.
Yesterday, while in church, my pastor wrote his message, which had three main points that were printed out last Friday. However, when he was speaking on Sunday, he said the Holy Spirit told him he had to deliver a fourth point. His point was for the people to know the Holy Spirit and his infinite wisdom intimately. He went on for a bit about the importance of people communing with the Holy Spirit, and I was blown away because I had not told him I launched this website.
I marveled at the timely encouragement the Holy Spirit provided to keep going since my prayer is also for people to know the Holy Spirit intimately. It was the wind beneath my wings, telling me to keep writing and not give up.
Friends, keep going with whatever God has put on your heart, even if you think no one is watching. Know that God is watching, without a doubt.
If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.
Don't forget to Spread hope and share HERE if you have a miracle or testimony. We want to see how God is working in your life!
Conclusion:
Today, go forward and be open to being filled up with the sweet wisdom of Jesus.
Let him fill you until you overflow with all the blessings and anointing he knows you can handle.
Don't be afraid of what you can carry. He knows how to stretch you to hold more than you imagined.
Walk with Jesus daily, know him and his word, and be honored that he is available anytime you call.
Stay safe, and let your light shine brighter than ever today!
God bless you.
