Shalom my friends! I hope your new year has started off with a new focus and an excitement of the new things to come. I’ve been pretty excited myself, but at the same time, it’s been a press! Usually, the things that God has given us to possess, doesn’t come without a fight! Those “ites” (Joshua 3:10) aren’t going to just jump up with joy and leave your allotted territory.

It’s time to possess through the press! It’s time to use those faith muscles that God has given to us and press!!! One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in Philippians 3:12-14 , where Paul emphasized how he took a hold of his calling and pressed towards his goal to obtain the prize of the high calling that was ordained for him through Christ.

In the Greek, the word press means to put to flight, run swiftly, to press on: figuratively of one who is in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal, and to pursue (in a hostile manner). I like that! In the dictionary, the word press also means to move into position by exerting continuous physical force. We move into position to receive by exerting our faith. The Bible says we are to fight the good fight of faith! But there’s another element of faith we must remember that will make our faith fruitful. It is actually a spiritual law.

Let’s see what Paul said in Galatians 5:6, “Faith worketh by love.” Wow! Faith works through love which means when there’s an absence of love, faith cannot work the way God intended it to. Here’s another reference of scripture, actually a whole chapter dedicated to this spiritual law that is found in 1 Corinthians 13. It lists the attributes of love as well as what happens when love is not in operation.

Your gifts, your faith, your good works…if it is not done in love, Paul said you are nothing. Ouch! That may seem harsh, but God wanted us to know this spiritual law so we can apply it, bless others with it, and also benefit from it.

Recently, I prayed for the Lord to give me some direction that would include some declarations to speak over this new year. I wanted to add my faith to what I heard and press into aligning with His purposes for me and my household. His answer to me came in a way that I didn’t expect. It was in the form of a question, “How’s your love tank?” I was like, what? And at the same time, I knew exactly what He meant. Instead of giving me what I wanted to hear, He redirected me to the root cause of what could keep me from receiving the very thing that I asked for. The thing that I would add my faith to.

I can pray and make all the declarations that I want, but if I am not walking in love, the faith I use, is unfruitful, it is nothing! And again, without love, our faith won’t function as He intended it to. God wants to do exceedingly abundantly all that we can think of or hope for this year. The Lord wants us fruitful in our faith so we lack nothing!

Ask God, He will show you. And if it’s truly a love issue, ask Him to help you, even to heal you. Because for some of us, it may not be the easiest thing to love because of past hurts or pain that we have experienced. Maybe it was a loved one that hurt you, or a co-worker that betrayed you. Through Yeshua, we’re empowered to forgive, overcome and walk in love. We just need to submit our hearts to Him and to the love of God that’s already inside of us.

If you’re having a hard time believing or tapping into His love that is inside of you, Say this after me, ” the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5). Keep saying it until you believe it. I also recommend speaking the attributes of love that is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Personify it. I’ll give an example: I am patient, I am kind, I do not envy, I do not boast,..I’m not rude…I’m not easily angered and I keep no record of wrongs…”

God cares more about your heart than anything else. He would rather you go through a dry season in order to show you your heart as He did with Israel in the wilderness. He’s a good good Father and doesn’t want us stuck in an old pattern or mindset that can keep you from truly loving others as He has loved us! He wants us free to love and free to receive all that He has for us!

Until next time, the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His face continually shine upon you and give you much shalom, and may His love that is inside of us forever change our hearts for His glory! Amen!

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7

Big hugs and Shalom!

Ellen (Brucha)