Don't Defer your Hope!

This past Sunday, as I worshiped in church I felt the Lord say that I was only living on hope for tomorrow. It caught me off guard because I believed hope was good, but as I inquired, the Holy Spirit nudged and asked “ What if you only had today? What if none of the promises came to pass? Are you content with today?” I didn’t know how to react because based on these questions I found myself repenting and asking the Lord to forgive me if I placed all my hope in future expectations alone. Later this week, during a prophetic hour at our Ladies night, I received a word from a sister in Christ. “The banana is not dangerous” The L ord knows I will search out the matter and inquire, and so I did. Through scripture, he confirmed that banana’s represented a fruit of JOY and HOPE. It made so much sense now!

Proverbs 13:12 NIV Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

“Hope is not dangerous!” Deferring it is!

What He revealed is that Hope is not bad, and it’s definitely not dangerous to hope for tomorrow. It becomes a problem when all of our hopes are focused on only what the future may bring. Whether it’s hoping that things get better “one day” or that His promises come to pass, but “just not today”, we’ve used the future as a security blanket.

Matthew 6:34 NIV Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Many of us may have lost hope for today or have feared to even pray for the Lord to do it today. What if tomorrow doesn’t come? What if the promise or the prayer or the forgiveness is for today?

“Joy is not dangerous!" Deferring it Is!

Psalms 118:24 NKJV This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Despite our current circumstances, we have a reason to rejoice. The Lord has created a brand-new day filled with new hope, new mercy, new revelation, and new opportunities to pray and declare what He has placed over our lives.

Pray, expect, and receive today don't defer it till tomorrow!

FAITH DOES NOT EXPIRE

FAITH DOES NOT EXPIRE All throughout the bible, the Lord instructs his children to do continuous prophetic acts that I'm sure felt ridiculous to some.

(ex: To the Israelites he instructed to walk around Jericho once for 6 days then 7 on the seventh day.. Moses stretched over the young boy 3 times to resurrect him... and again to Moses to anoint the Tabernacle 7 times... just to name a few)

Some of us are giving up the first time around when the Lord's looking for those who despite the odds and despite the initial results, choose to remain faithful to his instruction...

I Believe the Lord is calling MANY to CONTINUE to fight the good fight!!

Don't STOP Believing!

Don't allow your Faith to Expire!

Don't stop FORGIVING!

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21‭-‬22 KJV

-Lisa Reyes Estrella

WAKE UP

Before going to sleep last night, I put my alarm to go off at 6:00am. I was sound asleep, when all of a sudden, I was wide awake thinking it was time to get up. It was only 2:00am and I was excited with the possibility of sleeping a bit more yet nervous that it would cause me to throw my sleep pattern off. After all, I had goals to accomplish the next day.

I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to get my attention. I felt the Lord say:

"Sometimes you get upset when things shift or look different from what you planned. Ever think that I want to get your attention or wake you up from your vision or slumber so that we can have a conversation? Let's talk! Are we good? Did I mess up your plan? Can we move past your expectations and think of a better way? What if I want to slow you down to reconsider or what if I don't want you to dream right now?"

These words hit me in an overwhelming way because I'm a visionary and I look forward to hearing and seeing what the Lord is doing.

I was led to Matthew 26:37-38

37When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can't you stay awake for just one hour? 38Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”

I believe the Lord is calling us to be intentional about hearing what's next... He's asking us to be vigilant and alert to HIS ALARM. The distractions of this world and even dreams we believe came from GOD are fighting for our attention depriving us of the real task.

My prayer is simple. Just like Samuel, may we be alert to HIS VOICE so that when he speaks we are able to say " Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10)

- Lisa Reyes Estrella