Pastor Art Barrett
New Life Christian Fellowship
Mark 1:15 “At last the time has come!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!”
Remember that “hell hotel” experience, walls so thin and the people in the next room so loud you laid awake thinking, “They’ll breakthrough any minute!” Recall walking onto that frozen body of water to the place the icy barrier between you and the watery kingdom below is so thin you freeze in place, suddenly detecting crystalized fractures darting every direction. At that thin place ‘breakthrough’ is at hand, two worlds now segregated, near integration.
“The Kingdom of God is near,” says Jesus! There are moments that get our attention, where opportunity taken or forsaken will change our lives. In those moments we stand at a “thin place,” the boundaries of kingdom of this world are ready to give way as the Kingdom of Heaven on the other side presses for “Breakthrough.”
Too long, the “Kingdom of God” stood a mystery, distanced from me. Jesus teaches me pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth the way it is done in heaven.” Heaven is where the rule and reign is done perfectly, no sin, no sorrow, pain, sickness, death or devil. Jesus makes it simple, “the Kingdom is at hand,” it is within my touch. I am at a “thin place,” the reign of the King is fixed to breakthrough into my life.
How Lord? “Turn from your sins,” think differently. I must get God’s mind on my direction and action. Then “believe,” put the weight of my life’s action and direction on what God has spoke. Lord, I accept the invitation to think differently, let me hear your voice. Lord for this one moment, I accept the challenge to live in this moment according to Your word. The degree I do, I truly discover the “Good News!” I can live “on earth,” in this moment, “as it is in heaven.” It’s the joy of following Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus. “At last the time has come.” I accept the invitation and challenge of discipleship to live with others seeking Kingdom values and to extend those values to ones my life touches. One moment at a time I yield to you King Jesus hearing your voice, I think differently and in faith take the next step forward. I relish this moment. Breakthrough. Amen
Thanks Art! I love the image of the thin ice. A great reminder to be in the moment for God’s purposes, not my own. To be awake and intentional in seeing the Kingdom at hand and saying, “Lord, i am listening and will choose to be obedient in the moment.” i pray i would not miss His Kairos moments and then, i would tell His story! 🙂 Peace
“I CAN live on earth, in this moment, as it is in heaven.” Lord, some days it is easier than others to live, think and walk in a way that screams “as it is in heaven.” Every day – several times a day I must resubmit my life to You. I must set my will aside, my way of thinking and purposefully ask You to help me see Your face – Your heart. I desperately long to walk with You and represent – to be an ambassador of heaven. Lord, help me this day to live in such a way that Your kingdom can breakthrough into my life and spill out in abundance. Amen
I accept the challenge to live differently, I want to be clay in the potter’s hand,molded to what pleases His eyes and formed in ways I would have never imagined in Christ.
I see how it would be easy to do the quick fix rather than go thru the character change of who I should be in Christ-it can be so hard and painfully long depending how long it takes me to realize it’s all for me to grow closer and stronger for God’s Kingdom and to share those around me save unsave not by words but by the way I surrender all my stress,hurt and pain to the feet of Jesus.
I love that we Have ilent to fill our cups and start our day-I have been directly spoken to almost every time I clicked on and read the devotions.
God bless my fellow shoulders and keep your shields up in season and out of season.
I love being reminded that we, as His children, can refresh our opportunity to bring Heaven to earth any time, as often as needed, through changing our thinking to line up with our Lord’s who stands eternally with His arms open for us. Thank you Pastor Art for your words and example.
Not giving up on my journey is what sets me apart, at the same time I also know how easily I can and do struggle to stay on God’s plan. So many little things are there to trip me up. I keep praying though and will stay committed to where I need to go.