January 30, 2024

This past Saturday we concluded our annual fast with an exciting evening of worshiping the Lord and sharing testimonies, revelations, and mutual encouragement. This is one of my favorite meetings each year because everyone comes ready to share and full of excitement for the Kingdom. I can’t help but believe that every gathering of the church should carry such anticipation and eagerness as this meeting. Wouldn’t that be amazing?! Even first time guests felt drawn and welcomed to participate. You can watch the meeting by clicking HERE.

My wife’s word for 2024 is “advance”. After the meeting, we were driving home in separate cars and an oncoming car turned into her and totaled her vehicle in a horrible collision. By the grace of God, she and the other driver walked away from the incident. But isn’t it interesting that the Lord spoke to her, “Advance.” And then she declared her word to the congregation, and the first thing the enemy sets out to do is knock her off the road and halt her advance. She and I had no fear during or after the accident and she has no residue of trauma because the Lord has already declared advance and she will advance through Jesus, no matter what the enemy attempts to throw in her path. He is powerless to stop what the Lord has set in motion. Thank You, Jesus!

As we move forward from the fast, keep pursuing His presence! Don’t pull back. Don’t fall back into pre-fast routines. PURSUE!

My word for this year is “selfless”. This past Saturday morning the Spirit spoke to me, saying, “Seek My Face and serve My body.” Everything in me groaned, “Yes, Lord!”

I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;”
my inner being responded, “Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.”
Psalms 27:8 TPT

The first and most important priority for each of us right now is JESUS CHRIST and knowing Him intimately. We pursue His word, His heart, His face, and His presence, counting everything else in this life as inferior and secondary.

This coming Saturday, I plan to share what I believe the Lord is revealing to us from the January 1 earthquake in Japan. My wife and I were in Japan when this earthquake shook the nation, and we both immediately knew the Spirit of God had a message in the midst of the shaking. A shaking is hitting the nations and the church, and this shaking is only going to intensify as we approach the return of Jesus. There are many things we SHOULD do, but one thing that we MUST: seek the face of the Lord.

Pursuing His presence!
Matt