Happy New Year! Blessings to everyone who continues your journey of exploration with Trumpets of Tirzah! I am so elated to see how the Lord will teach and equip us with each month’s theme this year. For those who followed us last year on our journey of numbers, you learned how God speaks in amazing ways and truly brings everything together. His ways are perfect. He knows exactly what each of us needs. This year, take notes on what we will be studying each month. I assure you that by the end of the year, you will see a beautiful personal tapestry of how the Lord uses these messages to speak, inspire, equip and prepare you to handle whatever comes your way.
This year, my prayer for you is that, as you engage with our blogs, listen to the podcast and join us for church, the Father will speak deep into your heart. May He awaken every part of the Truth of Jesus and His Word for your life. Before you continue reading, I want you to pause and close your eyes. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you up afresh. Ask Him to open your eyes and ears to His voice, allowing Him to teach you. Inhale and exhale deeply. Embrace the goodness of the Lord and let’s dine with Him. Let expectations rise. Let your faith rise within you, as you anticipate the new thing God has for you this year. Trust in your heavenly Father, His ways are higher.
Colossians 1:16-17
For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity and for Him. And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]
Bread. It looks very simple. If you didn’t know the glorious taste of fresh bread, by the looks of it you could quite possibly pass it up for something more visually appealing. Bread, although simple in appearance, is a profound thing. Bread gives you strength. Bread gives you energy. Bread can even sustain you and make you feel fuller longer. The saying, “breaking bread” has a two-fold meaning. It can mean you are sharing bread or a meal with others, or at other times it can mean distributing food to those in need. I thought about bread and the importance of breaking bread with our friends and family. I believe the strategic key for believers is laid out clearly in scripture and helps guide us on how we should conduct our lives. I believe that something supernatural unlocks, as we live according to the word from the book of Acts 2:42 which says, “They were continually and faithfully devoted themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.”
As we open our hearts, our homes and our tables to those around us, something begins to shift as we become knitted together. Encouragement flows, laughter bubbles up and love pours out around the table. God's presence permeates and He becomes the focus. I encourage you to be the catalyst for connection in the lives of the people around you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, so you know who you should invite into your life and allow them to dine with you. Break bread with them and together, share the goodness of the Bread of Life. We are not meant to navigate through life alone.
Let’s ask the Father to give us His perspective. Then we'll be able to take a new perspective with the people around us, to see them how the Father sees them. May we love well in this season. May we live with courage and unashamed for King Jesus. May we have the boldness to love like Jesus. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with fresh compassion and give us a new perspective of our lives with those in it. Some of you may need to ask the Lord to bring those He wants into your community. Others may need to pray and ask the Lord to direct them to a godly community. Acts 2:46-47 tells us, when we live in harmony, it is worship. Breaking bread with one another is more than a meal. It is about coming together with Jesus, Who is our Bread, in the center of it all. He is our connecting factor. In Him, we are one. Let the spirit of togetherness produce the overflow of gladness in you. May you be filled with generosity in this season and flow with compassion for those around you.
We acknowledge that Jesus is the Bread of Life. We see this in John 6:35, this is after Jesus feeds the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves. It is important to remember this miraculous multiplication of provision. Jesus, the spiritual Bread, He is more important than anything in this world. He is even more important than the physical food that our body needs. Jesus is the Bread of Life and He is all you and I will ever need. In John 6:31 it says, “Our Fathers ate manna in the wilderness; as it written [in Scripture], He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.” Let the words of Jesus remind you that in Him you have all that you will ever need. No matter how much the world shakes, you will find everything you need in Him. Take a moment to pause and close your eyes. Ask the Lord to release fresh manna in your life. Ask for the miraculous multiplication to break loose in your life and your surroundings. Lord, release fresh faith upon all who read this.
John 6:35
Jesus replied to them, "I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]."
My challenge to you this month is to do what scripture says. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, it gives us a model to live by. It says, “But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” This means it is necessary to take a personal examination of our lives with the Holy Spirit. Allowing Him to reveal anything that needs to be revealed. You might find yourself needing to repent, forgive or surrender to the Lord. This is the posture we need to have in daily life. We can come boldly with full confidence before our good and perfect heavenly Father. He is worthy of living a holy life. A pleasing life that brings Him glory in every way. Hear me when I say it is not about perfectionism, it is simply living in step in all ways with Him. Allow Him to shape and mold you in this season. I hope you are encouraged! I pray that you realize you have access to the provision of unending Bread of Life and His name is Jesus. When you partake of this daily bread, your life is transformed and you cannot remain the same.
Let's Pray:
Lord, may our lives begin to reflect You in every way. I receive from You daily. May our lives be a pleasing aroma to You and to those who live around us. May our lives produce a heavenly fragrance of heavenly bread. We give You permission to change everything in us and around us. Have Your Way Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Declaration:
I will trust in Jesus in 2024 like never before. I will remain steadfast. I am a vessel of the Lord ready to be used. I will flourish and thrive this year. I will be a reflection of Jesus in all that I do.
Scriptures to meditation on:
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seeds for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love].
Matthew 4:4
Jesus says, “It is written and forever remains written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”