Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Whether it is a shout for help or a shout for joy, we know that it is not why we shout, when we shout, or what we shout. It is to WHOM we shout that makes all the difference!

We do not cry out to some unnamed cosmic force that is limited in strength. We do not plead with a disinterested power with no compassion for our plight.

We shout to the Creator of the universe, the One Who spoke the heavens and earth into existence. We shout to the One Who fashioned each one of us uniquely in our mother’s womb, Who knows the exact number of hairs on our heads, Who has designed our divine destinies, Who has been working on our behalf since the day we took our first breath.

He gently challenges us to call to Him – shout out – and He assures us that He will answer. Not only will He respond, but He will reveal wondrous mysteries to us – things that were once hidden, that we were not able to comprehend.

When we shout to God, He moves heaven and earth for us. We lift our hearts and our shouts to the King of kings and Lord of lords. And HE makes all the difference.

Blessing: 

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Sometimes, our “Hallelujah!” breaks out with ease. We remember what God has done for us in the past. We see all of the wonderful things He is doing in our present, and we anticipate sunny days ahead.

When the storms come or the unthinkable occurs, our natural inclination is to fall silent, to shut in our shout. However, our shout for joy is not based on our circumstances. They change in a moment. Our emotions waver wildly. Our moods swing with our situation.

Our joy, though, is not a byproduct of circumstances. Fullness of joy is found in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). If He abides inside of us, His joy – no matter what the situation – resides deep in our spirits.

In our season of need, we remember the Lord is our Shepherd; we shall not want. In our season of trouble, we sense His presence as we walk through the very shadow of death; His nearness comforts us. In our season of confusion, we find clarity in our Light and Salvation; we have no reason to fear.

Everything in our world need not be perfect before we shout for joy. In our very core, we recognize the fullness of God and His all-sufficiency to meet whatever it is we face. From that absolute certainty, our shout of joy erupts.

Blessing: 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

When we are overwhelmed, God is our safe place to hide. When we are in the grip of a crisis, He stands ready to assist. His ear is attuned to our shout for help.

In the middle of a storm, Jesus came walking on the water towards the disciples’ boat. Peter was the only apostle who had the courage to get out of the boat and walk towards Him. In a blink, he was drowning in waves he had been walking over moments before. As the sea crashed over his head, Peter shouted a short and powerful prayer, “Lord, save me!”

His desperation caused him to be blunt. Our humble “God, I need you” pulls Him into our situation. We will never be independent of Him, and grace says that we have no need to be. God wants us. His eyes are on us, and His ears are open to our cries.

If you are surrounded on every side, if you are going under for the last time, shout to Jesus for help. Your desperation may cause you to be blunt. Your despair may cause you to be bold in your request. But even as the cry is torn from the depths of your spirit, He will be there, leaning over with hand outstretched to catch hold of you.

Blessing: 

Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound… and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you…

For six days, the Israelites walked around Jericho in silence. On day seven, it was time to shout!

When the horn blew, God instructed them to raise a mighty shout. They heard shofars all the time – summoning them to the temple or rousing them to battle, but this horn was different.

Every fifty years, this horn blasted in the Year of Jubilee. Every debt was erased for every Israelite. Possessions were returned, and land reverted to its original owner. Joyful freedom – a chance to start over!

Their battle shout was the sound of restoration. Righteousness had returned to the Promised Land. Yesterday’s slaves were converted into soldiers in the army of God. No longer Pharaoh’s stepping stones or wanderers in the wilderness!

Our shout of restoration came at Calvary. The moment that every Scripture was fulfilled and every debt was paid. When He took the stripes for our healing, when His crown of thorns exalted us to royalty, when He was bruised for our transgressions, when His nails set us free, Jesus lifted up His voice to cry, “It is finished!”

Your shouting day is on the horizon. When the horn blasts, God will serve your enemy an eviction notice. Your shout will unleash the victory!

Blessing: 

He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

Jerusalem was abuzz with the question: “Who is this?” Who was this humble man riding on a donkey amid a cheering crowd?

Some waved Him off; it’s just the son of Joseph and Mary. Others shrugged; He is just another prophet from Galilee. Still others saw Him as their rebel hero arriving to overthrow their oppressors.

Earlier, when Jesus posed this question to the disciples, Peter did not mince words: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” How do we respond when others sense the Spirit of God in us and inquire, “Who is this?”

Do we make our faith something bland and boring? Do we portray Him as something they can ignore or do we proclaim Him in a way that they can never forget?

Because He is risen, we are alive. When we did not deserve it, He forgave us and showed us mercy. When we were alone, He called us His friends. When we were weak, He was strong. When we were abandoned, He showed Himself faithful and true. When we were in trouble, He was there beside us. There is no one like Him.

Who do you say that He is?

Blessing: 

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Jesus is coming again! We can lose sight of this fact in the here and now directly in front of us, but every day brings us closer to His return. In the same way that He ascended to heaven after His resurrection, He will return again.

As the Day approaches, we will see signs and wonders: fire, blood, wars, and earthquakes. People will love themselves and their money. They will be disobedient and despisers of good, boasters and blasphemers, unholy and unloving.

But in the last days, He also will pour out His Spirit on all people. Sons and daughters will prophesy. Young men will see visions, and old men will dream dreams. Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. When we see these signs, we will rejoice for our Bridegroom is on the way!

Instead of a Suffering Servant, He will return as a conquering King. With a shout and the blast of a trumpet, He will descend.

No crowds will clamor for His crucifixion. No corrupt powers will sentence Him to execution. On that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Our King is coming back!

Blessing: 

The entirety of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

All Scripture is God-breathed – inspired by Him – and is profitable for conviction, correction, and instruction. It re-sets the direction of our lives and teaches us to live in a manner pleasing to Him.

Our sophisticated world expresses skepticism about the veracity of the Bible; many even disregard the verses they choose not to believe. The Psalmist makes it clear though: all of His Word is true.

He always keeps His word. Always. Scholars count over 1200 prophesies in the Bible. Over 400 of those prophesies pointed to the coming Messiah. His life and death perfectly fulfilled every single one. Over 3000 promises beckon in the Scriptures. You can stand on every one.

The grass may wither, the flower may fade, but the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Every jot, every tittle, every comma, every period, every letter, every line, every word on every page will all be fulfilled. God has magnified His Word above His name (Psalm 138:2) and watches over it to be certain that it is fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:12).

The Word has been mocked by cynics, dissected by unbelievers, and diluted by frauds. Yet, for all the abuse it has taken, it still endures as a testament to His faithfulness. It is the whole truth of God.

Blessing: 

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

The atmosphere was electric! Jesus came riding a donkey into Jerusalem on His way to the temple. The frenzied crowd threw down their robes across His path. Others waved branches as they shouted exuberantly, “Hosanna!”

Was this true worship? Because a mere few days later, this same crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” This was not the Savior that they expected.

Jesus had confronted the Romans and the corrupt Jewish leaders; in Him was a political opportunity to overthrow their oppressors. Jesus took two fish and five loaves to feed 5000; in Him was unlimited resources. He restored Lazarus from the dead; in Him was the ability to raise up their wounded. They could not lose in a battle with Rome!

When their hero was arrested, their “worship” quickly disintegrated into contempt. If He could not give what they demanded, He was dead to them. They wanted Jesus to give them what they desired – not to give Him what He wanted. It begs the question of why we worship.

Do we worship Jesus for the blessings that He gives? Or, do we offer up genuine praise? Does our adoration pour from a true heart of gratitude? Do we bring to Jesus what He requires? Let us bow down before our Maker to worship Him in spirit and truth.

Blessing: 

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Jesus is alive! In the middle of busy, complicated days, we often need a reminder. He lives to redeem our lives from destruction, to declare the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to deliver the oppressed.

Two thousand years ago, His enemies crucified Him at Calvary. But three days later, He rose – victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Because of Him, we boldly proclaim, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (I Corinthians 15:55)

After His resurrection, He walked the earth for forty days showing Himself alive “by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). Then, He ascended into heaven to sit in power at the right hand of God. All angels, powers, and authorities have been made subject to Him.

And there, He intercedes for us. He does not rest or sleep. He watches over us, filling us up with His power and His presence. Whenever two or more of us get together in His name, there He is right in the middle.

Take a moment to inhale the wonder of Him – as near as your breath. Close your eyes and see Him there at the Father’s elbow – continuing to plead your cause. All around us, He is at work. He lives!

Blessing: