by Anthony Skinner
Start your year with a renewed and energized focus. Join Anthony Skinner in an immersive 21-day prayer and meditation experience, and connect deeply with God and yourself as he guides you through deep breathing, ignites your imagination, shares poignant stories, asks curious questions, and leads you in listening prayer.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/22/2023
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January 21, 2024
<p dir="ltr"><strong>PROLOGUE</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>We have spent 21 days in centering prayer, focusing our attentions and affections on God. What a precious time it has been. The nearness of God is surely for our good. The kindness of the Lord truly leads us to repentance. The steadfast love of God and his beautiful presence is transformative. Taking time to behold him really does change us. He is with us always. And His steadfast love endures forever.</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SCRIPTURE</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Esther 4:14 “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>DEVOTIONAL</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The scripture in Esther 4:14 is in reference to God positioning Queen Esther (Queen of Persia) in a place of influence so that she could speak up for the Jews who couldn’t speak for themselves. Her obedience to “her” moment in history actually saved her people from being destroyed.<strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Yesterday, in the United States it was Martin Luther King Day. On this day we celebrate and think upon a life of one who lived and died to work for the Kingdom of God to be established on earth through racial equality.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr. King’s life was an example of a life lived “for such a time as this.” He said, “I have a dream.” And he did. That black and white and red and brown and jew and gentile and boy and girl and all God’s children would live together in peace and unity. But the authority of his conviction was on the fact that his dream was originally God’s dream. Dr. King knew what was right. He knew who God was and what God loves and hates. Dr. King knew when he fought for the kingdom of God, he was moving within the will of his loving father and God was with him. He was acting as a prophet, priest, and king, to co-labor with God - to establish “thy kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.” He had confidence to go up against oppression because God hates injustice and robbery.</p> <p dir="ltr">You are also a prophet, priest, and king. And you were chosen to be alive “for such a time as this.” It is no mistake that you have been brought to this day, to this hour. Your age, your race, your background and lineage, your skill set, your personality, your story - it is all part of this moment. God is wanting to establish and increase his kingdom of peace and love inside of you and establish it on the earth through you.</p> <p dir="ltr">You may not be called to do something extraordinary in man’s eyes. You may not get the recognition of man. You may never step on a podium or stage. In fact, you may not be called to do it in ways that bring attention to anyone but your loving Father in heaven. Or you may be called to risk reputation, financial stability, the comforts of daily living, and even risk your life. These things are between you and God.</p> <p dir="ltr">But what is known is this. God is sovereign. God is good. God is with you always. You are secure in God’s love. You are already seen. You are already known. You are already important, and valuable, and irreplaceable to God.</p> <p dir="ltr">God’s call to us not about comparison. We all belong. We all have a place. We do not need to earn God’s love or man’s praise. There is no need to be bullied by the values of a broken world, by what man sees as valuable or productive. And we all have good works to do that were set out before the foundation of the world.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is a call to step into your <a href= "http://time...each/">time...each</a> <a href= "http://day...saying/">day...saying</a> yes to the love of God for yourself and <a href="http://others...and/">others...and</a> the purposes of God that he has for <a href= "http://you...daily...for/">you...daily...for</a> such a time as this.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>REFLECTION</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Where have I said yes to dreaming with God?</p> <p dir="ltr">Where have I said no to dreaming with God? Why?</p> <p dir="ltr">Where have I said yes to living a life of “for such a time as this”?</p> <p dir="ltr">Where have I said no to living a life of “for such a time as this”? Why?</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>PRAYER</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">God wake me up to my design. Wake me up to why you have created me for this place and this time in history. Help me to embrace your dreams!</p> <p> </p>
January 20, 2024
<p dir="ltr"><strong>SCRIPTURE</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Revelation 7:9-10 “I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb...And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’”</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>DEVOTION</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Imagine this scene: A crowd with people from every nation, every tribe, every people, every language, all standing in front of the throne, joyfully worshipping at the top of their lungs. That scene sounds like the most electrifying, exciting, chaotic, joyful, unified display of life.</p> <p dir="ltr">How did John know they were from different tribes, tongues, nations, and people groups? He knew because he could see it and hear it! It was a joyful celebration of different people with different languages, colors, and expressions of praise. </p> <p dir="ltr">There were differences of all kinds, but they had something in common. They had all been bought with a price and brought into the family of God. They had been redeemed and restored and made whole. And they were unified in who deserved their affection and praise.</p> <p dir="ltr">When we talk of heaven, we often speak as if we will be changed into someone other than who we are. But that is not what happens in heaven. The Kingdom of God is about completion. It is about restoration. It is about returning everything to the original plan - God’s original dream!!! </p> <p dir="ltr">Of course, where sin and trauma and illness and evil of all kinds have twisted us and marred the original design God had for us - that will be removed forever. But Jesus did not come to turn us into someone else. Jesus came to bring us into OUR fullness.</p> <p dir="ltr">We also imagine that the harmony in heaven will result from us all being the same. But that is not what John saw around the throne. No, he saw a vast multitude of diversity. God’s perfect will allows us to be uniquely different but unified under him. </p> <p dir="ltr">That is heaven. Everyone is different in size, shape, color, and background but everyone is the same in the spirit of adoption - one God, one King, one Lord, one Father, one Savior. No need to compete for attention or control for security. Instead, in the Kingdom, everyone is satisfied in God’s love and able to fully celebrate and honor the beauty and uniqueness of all God’s children.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>QUESTIONS</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Am I afraid of people who are different than me? What differences make me the most uncomfortable? Ask God why. Talk to God. Let him transform your thinking through His kindness.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>PRAYER</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">God, you came to restore me. You came to reconcile all things to yourself. Give me eyes to see your original design for me. Give me the heart to embrace and even celebrate the differences in race, color, personality, and nationality of others. Exchange my fears for your peace. Teach me to love as you love. </p> <p> </p>
January 19, 2024
<p dir="ltr"><strong>SCRIPTURE</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Acts 4:32 “They shared everything they had.”</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>DEVOTIONAL</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“And all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32)<strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Where could such generosity come from? To hold all things in common and see resources as something to be freely shared and given away? To be in one heart and mind and enjoy every minute of it!<strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Acts 4:32 is fruit from experiencing the presence and belonging of God. His presence and belonging reveal the knowledge of God and who we are in him. </p> <p dir="ltr">Because we have a secure seat at God’s table, we are forever free of having to watch our backs or prove ourselves. Instead of being orphans, we are now sons and daughters! We are seen. We are known. We are loved. We are safe. We can bring justice to places by sharing our resources and giving them to all who need them. We can invite others to find their secure seat beside us.</p> <p dir="ltr">The mind of Christ is limitless and vast, with creative and redemptive solutions to all problems. The resources of God are without ration or short supply. The power of the Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead and gave Him authority over heaven and earth and under the earth is now living inside of you. He conquered death, turned to us, and said, “Don’t be scared. Go do what you saw me do on earth. I am with you through the ages.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Let’s remove the boulders of oppression for individuals and systems and prepare the way for the Lord! Let’s create justice with the resources of our faith, our time, our reputation, our connections, our creativity, our favor, our skills, our wisdom, our finances, and our compassion. We have access to the power of God for creative miracles and solutions. So, press into your Good Father and find where He wants you to co-labor with Him. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>QUESTION</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We are kings and co-heirs with Christ in His kingdom. He has asked us to do what we see the Father doing and to bring His kingdom to earth. What part of the kingdom is God asking you to share? Do you struggle with hoarding blessings, or do you freely share God’s blessings with others, knowing that you have a limitless supply of God’s goodness?</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>PRAYER</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">God deliver me from an “orphan spirit”, from an attitude of lack. Help me see where you are calling me to be an ambassador of heaven and share the blessings of heaven.</p> <p> </p>
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