Why not How, Who not What

S - Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 17-19, 21 (NLT): "For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. "The LORD did not choose you and lavish his love on you because you were larger or greater than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! It was simply because the LORD loves you, and because he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such amazing power from your slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands. … Perhaps you will think to yourselves, `How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?' But don't be afraid of them! Just remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. Remember the great terrors the LORD your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the amazing power he used when he brought you out of Egypt. The LORD your God will use this same power against the people you fear. … "No, do not be afraid of those nations, for the LORD your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God."

O - When facing new, challenging and/or threatening territory the Lord gives his people some specific and essential points of focus. They are:
1. We belong to the Lord as his own special treasure.

2. He loves us because he loves us.

3. He is faithful to the thousandth generation.

4. Do not worry about the 'how's'.

5. Do not be afraid of the powerful.

6. Remember who the Lord is (nothing is too difficult, impossible or too wonderful for him).

7. Remember what we have seen him do with our own eyes.

All of this is wrapped in the very formidable reality of "Do not be afraid … for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God."

A - I woke up from dreams unsettling into thoughts disturbing. The very limited nature of my life is being squeezed by the impersonal and the personal pressures of a fallen and hostile world. In this same world the Lord presents me with a promise land future and a call to daily recalibrate according to who he is not what this world currently presents. These seven facets of reality are reality … he calls me to himself to primarily believe, to take him at his word and then to live out loud the confidence his person inspires and requires. The only place or platform I have for reality is today while it is called today. Today I am his and he is mine unto his nearness, greatness and love.

P - Warrior God,

Thank you for fighting for us and for calling us to join you in all that you are doing. You are forever tender toward us and ruthless toward the enemy. Today, only while it is called today, can I live out loud the reality of who you are and engage the purposes you have determined. Lord, I believe. Lord, I welcome you and your promises. Lord, I ask for new wineskins, mulberry trees in the ocean and for that which is too wonderful for me. I ask for open heavens, open doors and your open purse. I yield to your awesome brilliance, limitless power and your extreme goodness.

Steve