This may not come across as a typical Christmas message but I believe it is a message that will be a needed one for 2025.
As I reflect on 2024 there is an interesting theme that keeps coming to mind. Hang in there with me as I work up to the point.
I have had many people bless me with their trust over the years. Trust means A LOT to me – as it does for most people. Trust opens the doors for the ability to serve AND to receive. This verse, spoken by Jesus, tells of this:
7 “Ask, and it WILL be given to you; seek, and you WILL find; knock, and it WILL be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it WILL be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
Sounds like some big promises. If you trust/believe the words of Jesus, you can and should bank everything on these verses. It is exciting to see people asking, seeking, and knocking. To see them receive, find, and have things opened up to them. That is God’s heart for people – it flows from His deep love for us all.
I think back to having our first baby, and I think I asked a gazillion questions, sought HARD after wise counsel, and nearly knocked some seasoned mother’s doors right off their hinges…ok, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But I am sure some of you remember a time and the extent you went just to get some help, answers, open doors.
Before having children, I remember thinking, “I WILL BE [insert conviction of heart], as a mother”. Many of you may be able to share in the same sentiment. And, in all honesty, I did not hold fast to EVERYTHING I promised myself I would do, or hold fast to everything that I declared I would be like or act on. Yes, many things were said from a position of immaturity and a need to receive from others’ experience in mothering.
HOWEVER, despite my lack of understanding and beginner experience, years ago (especially, before having children), I have been thinking on what I valued, trusted, and believed, during that time – what meant a lot to me, and what I KNEW was true.
I find it interesting thinking back to the days of my inexperience and expressing specific thoughts. Thoughts of convictions for my future, as a young person, with MUCH passion in my heart. I would feel extremely annoyed when adults would say, “well, that’s nice honey. BUT, you never know what you will actually do until you are faced with [enter commonly spoken situations adults face]”.
As an adult (for just a few years now…wink), I understand why these things were said, and with the almost warning tone they were said with. BUT, as a grown woman, married for 22 years, with one adult child, and three teens; I have SOME things I would like to say. I had a beautiful revelation of who Jesus was as a young person and it stuck! I KNEW who I could trust – Jesus! And do you know what? That revelation and young determination helped me to become the mom, wife, and woman of God that I am today.
My husband and I have the privilege of helping, guiding, pouring into, and leading multiple beautiful people – we value these hearts and are incredibly honored to be part of their lives. I have heard a number of people say to me, “Wow! YOU have done an amazing job raising your kids.” Annnnnd, I always point them to the need for Jesus as their Savior AND the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit, who desires to be our ultimate HELP. I could NOT have done it without HIM! Ask our 18-year-old son, he’s got stories that will make you laugh, cry, and want to connect with the Holy Spirit right now.
Here, I have the platform to expand on this. If you want to know my secret. The same attitude that came from the revelation of knowing God’s word, that healed my body from years of sickness and disease, is the attitude and posture of my heart towards the life I lead (and continue to) as a wife, a mom, and a woman of God. The revelation came at different times and for different reasons, but it was still ABOUT REVELATION.
I KNOW that a VERY BIG part of my ability to parent and raise children was my strong, trust, and pre-determination to hang onto Jesus and what He said.
determination
/dĭ-tûr″mə-nā′shən/
noun
- Firmness of purpose; resolve. (Ie. Approached the task with determination.)
- A fixed intention or resolution. (Ie. Returned to school with a determination to finish.)
- The ascertaining or fixing of the quantity, quality, position, or character of something. (Ie. A determination of the ship’s longitude; a determination of the universe’s mass.)
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
Pre-determination is deciding ahead of time where you draw the line. It is a pre-practice of life before it happens. It is saying, “I WILL…and I WON’T…”. It is knowing who your enemy is, and who your enemy is NOT. It is advancing in your life with an attitude of “no matter what”. It is a choice to stand firm, to stay fixed, to have GRIT – all in the face of adversity, trials, and especially temptations.
During labour, I remember that I had to pre-determine, that I would focus and breath through the process. I knew that the past nine months of pregnancy was preparation for this moment and having been prepped, as much as a woman can be, I needed to stand in a state of pre-determination. I would NEVER choose to just go through something like labour with out the goodness coming at the end. What woman would?
I determined ahead of time, that I was going to give it my all. I certainly approached labour with a determination! To the point where I would and could imagine myself holding our new baby, rocking him to sleep, teaching him things, and so much more. But it didn’t come from myself. It came from someone greater than me.
This past summer, we had a beautiful time travelling with friends from Colorado through Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Tennessee, and onto Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan, before getting to the Canadian border. What an adventure! It came with a pre-determination that we were going to make it to Canada, and we did! And, just on time. Praise God!
The trip we experienced returning to Canada was preparing us for what was to come on the return trip to Colorado, seven weeks later. We had multiple challenges to face, new environments, situations to stand in our authority, and times to remember to be led by the Lord instead of trying to lead the journey ourselves.
During our time back in Ontario we were blessed to spend time with family and friends, pack up more belongings, organize paperwork, complete ministry assignments that we were on, wrap up work, and plan for our next steps.
It was a season that we had to have a pre-determined attitude for relationships, time, health, promises, position, and each other. Why? Because we grew physically tired. There were SO MANY things to decided, take care of, figure out, and plan…in very little time. We were SO grateful for those that encouraged us, lent a hand, spoke life, and provided love through so many ways, but most importantly prayer.
When the enemy threw multiple different tactics at us, in a short period of time, we CHOSE to step forward anyways.
When the enemy threw multiple different tactics at us, in a short period of time, we CHOSE to step forward anyways. There were days that were extremely challenging to remember our position, especially when we were exhausted. When the time came to pack up and travel again – we felt a bit of whiplash. We originally thought we would have had more time with family and friends, to travel and enjoy the journey back to Colorado; however, it turned out we needed to get back sooner than we thought. Our plans needed to be released and we had to pack up and just go. It felt awkward and sudden, but we knew it was time – there was an attitude of resolve and peace even in the challenge.
As we travelled back, we encountered provision in the most beautiful ways. There was ease and access at times, there was wisdom that was not anything we can claim as our own, there was always food and water, driving was shared between three of us (not just two), there were safe places to park and sleep, storms were miraculously avoided, and the RV held together on some VERY rough roads. There was grace!
I want to be incredibly real here. That trip back and our initial stages of being in Colorado were not easy…AT. ALL.
Something I tell our kids often is, “if you want to reap good things, you need to sow good things.” That is not a passive mindset. In fact, you have to fight for these things. But the question is, can you recognize what you are fighting for? Do you even have a hard line in the sand? Is there a lion inside that will roar in the face of adversity and push through no matter what? Even a quiet ‘no’ or ‘yes’ can be that fight, that line, that lion.
I can assure you, that the people you see in life who have legitimate, truthful, joy and peace, are those who have fought for it. Sometimes that fight is as simple as saying ‘yes’ to the good and ‘no’ to the bad. They pre-determine where they will go and where they will not.
You see the fight that we are truly fighting isn’t against flesh and blood.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
This is where we get tangled up in the wrong thing. Our job as children of God (in our marriages, as parents, protecting singleness, etc) is not to get side tracked with fear, distracted by what we see with our physical eyes, comparing ourselves to others, or intimidated by numbers (that goes for anything, including finances).
There is an amazing story in the Old Testament about a King names Jehoshaphat. Read this account in 2 Chronicles 20:1-29. Or watch this:
What I LOVE about Jehoshaphat is that he KNEW who to go to in times of trouble because he trusted God and the people trusted him. He pre-determined that, as far as he was concerned, the kingdom of Judah was serving God! And look what happened! The battle was fought for him.
Please understand, that doesn’t mean he didn’t do ANYTHING. What he DID was call out to God in a time of distress.
12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
2 Chronicles 20:12
“We do not know what to do, BUT our eyes are on you.” That sounds like pre-determining, drawing a line in the sand, trusting, asking, seeking, knocking.
And what is the answer?
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
Um, wow.
God does not negate the fact that there was a VAST army. He acknowledges it! However, He tells King Jehoshaphat – who asked, sought, and knocked – do not be afraid OR discouraged. Like, don’t even let your mind go there. Basically, it ain’t your problem, at ALL! Let me deal with them. He asks them to what? Take up your POSITIONS, STAND FIRM, and SEE the deliverance the Lord WILL GIVE YOU. So, it wasn’t that they had NOTHING to do. They were called to do SOMETHING.
YOU TOO have positions, remember them, STAND FIRM in them. Then, with obedience comes a promise.
I do believe that God was calling them to believe and see ahead of time. Just like a pregnant woman seeing ahead of time the blessing of life that she KNOWS is inside, imagining what it will be like to hold, kiss, protect, and love on her infant child.
But God does NOT STOP there. He says, again, DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. He is making a point here. In the face of adversity, times that seem impossible, moments of utter distraction from what is good and life giving…DON’T choose fear, anxiety, discouragement, troubling thoughts, etc. He reminds them that He will be with them! He reminds them that they will NOT have to fight this battle. HELLO!
This account absolutely amazes me. It reminds me of what my role is. STAND FIRM in Romans 8:16!
Jehoshaphat, before he goes on to speak to his people and tells them what to do, he shows them.
With his face to the ground, he worshipped God. He set the example. And what is awesome here, is that the living example of the King produced more worship:
19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
Not all, but some, rose up and praised the Lord. How? With a VERY LOUD VOICE! Some translations say, with a VERY LOUD SHOUT!
They didn’t stop there.
The next morning, they are reminded by King Jehoshaphat to have faith. AGAIN, believe in what you cannot yet physically see, but what you know in your heart to be true. He appoints men to sing at the very front of the group. These men are going out to face the enemy…as the very first point of contact:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
At. The. Front! These men would be the first to be killed but they are saying these ten words with confidence. Why? Because they are looking to someone who has already determined in his heart who is worth trusting, who is worth fighting with and for, and who truly loves them.
I love this part:
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
You can read the rest of the story, which I highly recommend, but this is the part that caught my attention. As they began to sing and praise, literally during their singing and praising God, He handled it ALL for them!!! COME ON!!!
How often, in the face of trouble, reports of evil set against us, anxious thoughts, uncertainty, or upcoming challenges, do we take the steps of Jehoshaphat? He wasn’t emotionless. He was alarmed, fearful, terrified! But I love how the Amplified reminds us right at the beginning in verse 3:
3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
2 Chronicles 20:3
He set himself [determinedly, as his VITAL NEED] to seek the lord! YES!!!
So what are the things to do a heart check on? What were the priorities to set a pre-determined attitude on?
- Relationship – King Jehoshaphat desired to honor God through his faith and trust in Him. He saw the one TRUE GOD as his vital need.
- ASK God – before belly aching, complaining, talking to everyone else, worrying, getting caught up in your thoughts – who do your words go to first?
- Set your priorities, pre-determine what you will and won’t do AHEAD of time. Draw the line in the sand before the battle even comes.
- Acknowledging who is ALMIGHTY – it is NOT us in our flesh, our own thinking, our own plans.
- Remember the now, New Covenant, we get to choose salvation by Jesus’ blood! We hold the authority! The temple is inside us now. (verse 9)
- Worship is powerful – Use it with praise and thanksgiving before all things! It will fight the battle for you! Trust that! Others will see!
- Receive – there is so much that He wants to abundantly bless you with! Provision for all your needs, more than you can imagine.
- Recognize who gives you the victory – give thanks!
- Let peace reign – Others will know those that have a revelation of their position. Word will spread. Peace can be on all sides, if you let it!
At the end of this account, not only did this battle complete dissolve before they even crested the hill to see their enemy territory, but they were GIVEN SO MUCH for their heart posture. They sowed good seed. They reaped the abundance that God intended for His people. And then, they lived in peace.
If you want peace today, in your life, your family, your friend groups, your marriage, your parenting, take note of this amazing account. Jehoshaphat kept his eyes on the right thing – Yahweh – the ONE and TRUE God. He was privileged to lead others into victory because of this.
Remember that today, we do not need to seek out a physical temple to call on God the Father, Yaweh, for help from war, plague, or famine as in this Old Testament account. We can choose Jesus. He came to fulfill what was missing. Believe on His name and you will be saved (John 3:16-17) and receive the gift of the ultimate Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Romans 8:26). It is as simple as calling on the name of Jesus and asking for the Holy Spirit to come and live in you.
This is all pointing to the best gift of all. The freedom from sin and death, through the blood of Jesus. His resurrection power to break the chains of death, sickness, hurt, bondage, and more. He became the bridging gap to redeem us back to our loving Heavenly Father! And after His death, Jesus, leaving us to go be with His Father and sending us the Holy Spirit. Why? So that we can spread the BEST NEWS EVER – FREEDOM and RELATIONSHIP – and experience Abundant Life today! Amen!
I put this before you, pre-determine to take your position with Jesus. Stand firm on His word and Let the Holy Spirit lead you to see ALL that He has for you this coming year. You won’t be disappointed!
Happy New Year!
Love, The Bakers
