What is Holding You Back

Warriors Arise: February 1, 2022

Luke 19:1-5 (NKJV) Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

The favor of God is something you and I have been given. God chooses to invite us to dine with Him. Not only does He prepare a table for us, but He wants us to enjoy our time with Him. He wants our enemies to be miserable watching Him commune with us. If that wasn't enough, God anoints your head with oil. It isn't just a little dab of oil. It is like a cup running over. The favor of God is upon you and I. He desires for each one of us to live with the favor, strength, and peace of knowing who we are and Whose we are. We are God's favored child. He delights in you and in me. He wants the very best for you and me. He desires for you and I to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. If you didn't begin dwelling in the house of the Lord when you made Jesus your Lord and Savior, then start dwelling in the house of the Lord today. These are three amazing promises from God that reveal you are favored.

Psalms 23:5-6 (NKJV)

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

Too many times push ourselves back from the table because we are not ready to dine with God. We are not ready for Him to share with great and wondrous things we do not know and cannot comprehend without the impartation of His understanding.

Why won't you sit at God's table?

What is holding you back?

Why won't you allow God to anoint you?

What is holding you back?

Why won't you dwell in the house of the Lord forever? Keep in mind, forever starts when you have confessed your sin and made Jesus your Lord and Savior.

What is holding you back from dwelling in the house of the Lord?

I do not know where the Lord found you; but He will find you. He found Zacchaeus in the Sycamore tree, he found a woman at the well, he found Peter in a boat, he found the sick, the lame, the blind, the possessed and they are all healed and delivered. He found a young man in a coffin. He reached in and touched the young man and he lived. Maybe you feel you are dead; you are numb to all that is going on. Life has been difficult and dealt you a rough hand to play. But God, steps in and says, "You will live today. I will take You to green pastures. I will restore your soul, redeem the time, and rescue you from the clutches of the enemy. I will spread My wings out to protect you and take you to safety. I will carry you." Would you believe Him?

Deuteronomy 32:10-11 (NKJV)

“He found him in a desert land

And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;

He encircled him, He instructed him,

He kept him as the apple of His eye.

11 As an eagle stirs up its nest,

Hovers over its young,

Spreading out its wings, taking them up,

Carrying them on its wings,

Zacchaeus received the favor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus could have remained in the Sycamore tree. He could have said, "All I wanted to do was see you." But he didn't. Zacchaeus had a choice and he chose to commune with Jesus and His disciples. He could have said, "Sure, you can come but it would be too taxing to bring in your disciples too. What about you? Will you choose to commune with Jesus? Would you fellowship with His disciples, His people, His church?

Father, I come before You now, surrendering to Your invitation. I need You in my life. You are willing to be with me, commune with me, socialize with me. You want to be seen with me. I pray I would have courage to step into your offer and take the time to commune with You. I pray I would have the generosity to provide for You. Even though everything I have comes from You, I know You only ask for 10% but I want to be willing to give so much more. I pray You would open my eyes. I want to see my value from Your perspective. I want to live life to the fullest and know You are for me. Even when I find my decisions have lead me to the wilderness You will come to me and carry me out as one on wings of an eagle. I am ready with my yes. I will come down and open my house to You and Your people in Jesus name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.