Matthew 5:12 - The Risk Of Great Prophecy
Step 1: Pray. Select.
Today, it is a bit challenging to pinpoint where or what triggered the phrase “Beautitudes” to come to mind during my prayer time. I had heard the word mentioned in passing during a sermon a few days ago, and the Holy Spirit wanted me to take note, but otherwise I didn’t have a clue why the word “Beautitudes” was brought front and center today.
As I read through the entire chapter, Matthew 5:12 caught my attention. I decided to start my journey there, friends, so I moved on to Step 2.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Step 3: Re-Write
With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here are the personalized sentence(s) that came alive in my heart.
Jennifer, be exceedingly glad, great is your reward, who were before you.
If you are doing this alongside me today, add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.
Step 4: Visualize
As I meditate on the words from the Holy Spirit today, I think about how many prophets in the Bible have gone before us, risking and sacrificing everything they have to pass down the history and teachings of Jesus to save our generation and our souls, in which we are living right now. Previously, many prophets lost their lives defending the Kingdom, and here I sit, writing about His word in the comfort of my home, safe and able to publish my thoughts and share them with anyone who seeks to read. I believe we often underestimate the cost of the freedom we currently have. I believe we underestimate the power of the instruction housed in the word.
The crazy part about our freedom is that even though the Lord sent his son to be crucified on our behalf, he still doesn’t demand that we choose him. He remains true to his word of providing free will to choose him. He doesn’t guilt us, hold us down, or even condemn us if we wander away from him at times. He continually pours into us through love, so we want to stay close and give him all we have. We have a prime example of operating in unconditional love.
He is confident that our nature will long for the right things above any glittering thing on Earth, and eventually turn towards his light and his merciful nature. It is only a matter of time. This is the opposite of ruling from an oppressive mindset. Which, in the end, are you actually ruling at all if the people under you are only there because you chained them to you and forced them to serve you? It is a lie, which is a mirror of the enemy’s nature.
I have a question in my mind, so I proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The requests/questions that came to mind are:
Holy Spirit, where inside of my body can I feel secure like Jesus, knowing in the end my Father will deliver. Where is the place beyond all my understanding?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Here is the answer I received:
”It is different for everyone. But you know that when you are going against your nature, there is a place in your body where you start to feel resistance. You are moving against the wind, inside of rising waves, to your next destination. God is a God of peace and flow, and when you are met with opposition, you have two options: pray or be still. If you choose to pray, you must wait for an answer before moving forward. If you are still, then you must wait for an answer as well. All roads lead to being still and knowing that I AM THE LORD. There is no one above me. I can move mountains or change the tides. The winds and the waves all bow down to me. Every knee must bow. This includes your adversaries. You must wait upon me to guide you and show you the way. There is no exception. This is the way of the Kingdom. If you move in this way, I can take you to places that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard. Open your heart to me, and I will fill you with a peace beyond understanding that will sustain you in the waiting. The prophets have gone before you and told you the truth. Read my word and believe my promises. I am still on the throne. So don’t worry, be exceedingly glad at all times. I will bring you joy beyond measure, and you will experience my presence for the remaining days of your life if you trust me and believe my son.”
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
I come to you humbly, bending a knee to your throne and your ways. You are so much greater than I can ever imagine, and you can do far exceeding and abundantly more than I could ever know.
Help me to wait on you at all times so I can move with you, rather than against you. Let me practice patience, which will produce trust in the long term and honor your ways as Jesus did.
I am a mere mortal, but you have sent prophets to increase our understanding. Thank you for having them write it down and make it plain so we have a roadmap to your heart and the Kingdom.
In Jesus' mighty name, I pray and seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus - Amen.
Step 8: Share. Testify
If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we would love to hear how God works in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.
Conclusion:
Friends, let’s trust that the Lord is guiding us, since He has proven time and again to send us present help through His prophecies and the teachings of the Gospels, as revealed through Jesus.
Let us be exceedingly glad as a reward for what the Lord has already done and will do in the future.
Let us remember the value of our freedom to choose the Lord, even after Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
Most importantly, let us honor those who risked considerably by living out the teachings of Jesus and his humble ways. His way is the only way! So, let's continue to pass down the good word for generations to come.
God bless you. See you soon!
