Lately I’ve been pondering the idea of giving God our highest praise and thanksgiving.

Also, I’m pondering the desire for freedom and breakthrough. For instance, when we pray, and we keep “hitting the wall.” Or, we seek God and it seems more things are happening that hold us back from reaching our dreams or the things we are seeking him for, and we continue waiting. I asked God last fall in a big way to answer my questions. And, in the Father’s fashion he led me to a few stories in his word. He didn’t give me the answer or the bottom line. He simply pointed me to His book, and sent me on a fun scavenger hunt.

I think he secretly enjoys me seeking after him and just waiting for the breadcrumbs to fall. I secretly enjoy it too.

It’s quite an adventure living from revelation to revelation. It’s like binging on my favorite series, somedays I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the next episode. And the answers I find, constantly lead me to a major cliff hanger and I can’t wait for the next!!He keeps drawing me into 2 stories about my BIG, BOLD request. “How do we break through these walls and get our prayers answered???”

— 1st — Think about the children of Israel accessing the Promise Land after their 40 year wait wandering around the desert. (The whole book of Exodus.) Millions were waiting but never received the prize because of their grumbling/murmuring (not being grateful) and complaining (talking bad about their present conditions, being poor in spirit, even though their every need was met.) yikes!

— 2nd — Look at Solomon how he built an extravagant and most splendid temple for the presence of the Lord. The sacrifice he made, giving THANKS and burnt offerings to the Lord, is truly like none other in history. Keith researched this for me on Sunday and found the total amount of sacrifices (cattle, sheep and goats) totaled 144,000. Wow

What a grand display of honor to God! To welcome his presence into this new, most beautiful and holy place. They gave the sacrifice of OFFERINGS and PRAISE for over 7 days, saying “His Love Endures Forever!” And on the eighth day, the Lord appeared to Solomon and told him, “I have heard you,” and then the Lord said these words:

“….When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚 among my people, 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, who are called by my name, will 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 themselves and 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙮 and seek my face and 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨, then,
𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷,            
and      
𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓼𝓲𝓷                     
and will …                         
𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭.”
— 2 Chronicles 7

Jesus paid the ultimate sin sacrifice, so that no more blood sacrifices are needed, thank you, God! He made a way for us! He gave his life for our life! For our true freedom! But he also left his words, written in blood for how we can make a way through life now, too. He left an incredible instruction book for life!

It’s pretty clear if we personally want to access the things of heaven, it starts with PRAISE and giving THANKS.

(Psalm 100:4) I don’t know about you, but many times my prayers begin with, “Oh God, please help me, I need you, come quickly!!!”

Because once again, I’ve found myself in a mess without Him.

And secondly, it’s clear in Solomon’s story, there’s a way for us to access the things of heaven on behalf of our land (our nation), when we find ourselves suffering. He says: Humble ourselves, PRAY, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.

And lastly, is the one that concerns me the most, it’s clear from the story of the Promise Land, there’s a way to obtain that glorious land of freedom, flowing with mail and honey, and a way to NOT obtain it.

Complaining, Murmuring & Grumbling, will always cancel out our ticket to FREEDOM.

And, its my desire to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I desire to live in the nation blessed by God and full of His presence. For our freedom and our future, would you join with me seeking God and in doing these things, and worship him with me? This is my prayer and petition process beginning today:

— Offer Praise to God!!!

— Give God our Highest Praise!!

— Thank Jesus for his sacrifice

— Thank Jesus for his presence and provision. Thank him for our daily bread and pouring out his river’s of living water and never leaving us alone.

—Humble yourself, bow down before the King of Kings

—Seek His Face. Press into his presence, and just wait in that place

— PRAY! You know what to do.

— Repent for everything that comes to your mind. Ask for God to forgive you, and repent on behalf of yourself, your family and our nation.

—Turn from wicked ways. This may mean God asks you to fast, or turn off something that you know you no longer need to do. Lay it down. Sacrifice it. Make a big declaration to God, “I’m doing this for you!”He will hear YOU!  He will hear US!!He will SPEAK!!And He will open the gates of heaven, we will walk past the once locked gates, we will enter into His courts, we will enter intohis presence, and God will Heal our Land. I’m believing.