The Psalms are full of declarations of praise and thanksgiving, even when the author was in extremely difficult circumstances. In the same way, we are called to live lives that lift thanks to God regardless of our situation. God has provided everything needed for victory: His grace, His love, His mercy, His blood. The things He doesn't provide are praise, thanks and worship - that is our job. Thank Him in everything and watch Him change you!

Society often gives us the idea that love is a feeling, so we end up only living a life of love when we feel a certain way. In contrast, God IS love. Straight after the commandment to love Him, we are commanded to love each other. Love is a choice. It is a higher calling. And God has wired us so that loving other people brings joy to our hearts.

Many of us settle in a place that we consider “good enough”. Sometimes a barrier to the next great thing that God has for us is the good thing that we have already. Sometimes we settle in a place of tolerable healing instead of letting God transform us from glory to glory. Jesus wants us to continually come to Him with a hunger and desire for more of Him to be revealed in our lives. Don't stay in the land of “Good Enough”!

The Spirit of God comes upon all believers to adopt us and enable us to cry out “Abba, Father”. He also baptises us and empowers us to live a supernatural life. At it's very core, Christianity rests on the supernatural – the Son of God entering the world through a virgin birth, living a miraculous life, and rising from death! We must enter into this supernatural life by being filled constantly by the Holy Spirit.

God tells us that He is enthroned on the praises of His people, and that Heaven is His throne, but He also asks, “Who will prepare a place for me?”. We all prepare a place for Him within us, but often we try to make this place fit around our fears, doubts, misconceptions and desires. How big is throne that you have built for God within you?

In Psalm 21, David says that he has been made “most blessed forever”, and “exceeding glad in His presence”. No matter the circumstances, we are most blessed, because we are surrounded by the presence of the Living God. We must engage our hearts, minds and spirits with His presence, because He has everything that we could ever need. Every doubt must be answered with “Yes, but God...”!

In 1 Corinthians we are told to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that we would prophesy. The prophetic word draws unbelievers to God, believers to their destiny and God's realities into our lives. This gifting can be unlocked and activated in each person, who is empowered by the Holy Spirit to break the containment that the enemy tries to put on people.

God's favour is given as a spiritual impartation to believers. When He bestows His favour on us, everything changes. We need this favour to accomplish the great plans that He has for our lives, as well as to walk in assurance, peace and power. We need to know what God's favour is, how He releases it, and how to steward it responsibly.

The only direction in the Kingdom of God is forward, towards the incredible plans that He has for us. One day when Jesus was walking through Jerusalem, the woman with the issue of blood grabbed the hem of His garment in expectation of healing and a change of season. God doesn't respond to need, He responds to faith. As with the lady in this passage of Scripture, we must come to God in expectation and hunger so we can be thrust into the next season that He has for us.

Jabbok is where Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord, and means "a place of passing over". It is a place to empty yourself and pour yourself out before the Lord. Often we walk in a place of partial surrender, but God calls us to lay everything down before Him - even those secret things that we have tried to hide. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of full and glorious surrender.