Contents

1WildernessBeforeInheritance

2WhoisYourGod?

3God’sGotAPlan

4ThePowerofPraise

5IntimacyinWorship

6NoWind.NoRain,JustWater

7WaterintheWilderness

Chapter1

WildernessBeforeInheritance

JehoramthesonofAhabbegantoreignoverIsraelinSamariatheeighteenthyearofJehoshaphatkingofJudah,andreignedtwelveyears.AndhewroughtevilinthesightoftheLORD;butnotlikehisfather,andlikehismother: for he put away the image ofBaal that his father hadmade. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son ofNebat,whichmadeIsraeltosin;hedepartednottherefrom.AndMeshakingofMoabwasasheepmaster,andrendereduntothekingofIsraelanhundredthousandlambs,andanhundredthousandrams,withthewool.Butitcametopass,whenAhabwasdead,thatthekingofMoabrebelledagainst the king of Israel.And king Jehoramwent out of Samaria thesame time, and numbered all Israel. And he went and sent toJehoshaphatthekingofJudah,saying,ThekingofMoabhathrebelledagainstme:wiltthougowithmeagainstMoabtobattle?Andhesaid,Iwillgoup:Iamasthouart,mypeopleasthypeople,andmyhorsesasthyhorses.Andhesaid,Whichwayshallwegoup?Andheanswered,ThewaythroughthewildernessofEdom.

2Kings3:1-8

Whenyouspeakof thewilderness,yourmind immediately imaginesadryplacewherenothinggreengrows.Everythinginthewildernessisbrownand unappealing to the eye. The environment of the wilderness is notbrightenedwithanycolor.Everythinginthewildernesshasadapteditselftoliveinthistypeofclimate.Rarelydoesitraininthewildernessandwhenitdoes,plantsstorethemoisturetheyneedbecausethereisnoguaranteewhenitwillrainagain.Whenwearegoingthroughourwildernessexperience,wemustbelikethetreesandtheotheranimalsofthewilderness.Wemustlearntoadaptourfaithtothechallengesawildernessbrings.

Theanimals in thewildernesshave learned to travel andhuntatnightbecause it is cooler at night. Spiritually, we toomust learn to find a placewhere theLordcanminister tous inourwilderness. It isaplacewhereHe

can give us instruction about what to do next. Like the trees that store upwater,uncertainofwhenitwillrainagain,wemuststoreupHisWordinourhearts.Manyofusarelivinginthewildernessforvariousreasons.

Thewildernessisaplaceofdying,whereallthethingsthatcauseyoutostumbleinyourwalkwithGodarekilled.Ifyouhaveeverwatchedamoviewherepeopledaredtoenterthewilderness,withlittleornounderstandingoflifeinthewilderness,theyoftendidnotsurvivethere.Sincetheyhadnoonetohelporadvisethem,theytriedtofighttheelementsintheirownstrength.

Likewise, many of us have been in the wilderness and we have triedunsuccessfullytofightthebattleinourownstrength.Yousee,thewildernessisaplacewhereGodsays,“IfinallyhaveyouinaplacewhereIcanspeaktoyou.”BecauseJehoramwasunpreparedforlifeinthewilderness,heneededsomeone who knew something about the wilderness. Hence, he asked forJehoshaphat’shelp.

Donotbe fooled into thinking thatyoucaneverbe fullyprepared forlifeinthewilderness.Sometimes,Godleadsusabruptlyintothewilderness.Hemighthavebeen trying togetyou tocometoHimor togetyou to takeyour spiritual lifemore seriously.PerhapsHehas been trying to drawyourattentiontothecallHehasplacedinyourlife.

It is indeed a gamble that theLord takes onus forHeknows thatHecannotandwillnotoverrideourwill.ButHealsoknowsthat it is trulyourdesiretodoHiswill.EventheworstsinnerisinwardlydrawntoGodevenifhedoesnotserveHim.

GodlovesyousomuchthatHeiswillingtotakejustthattypeofriskonyou.Heknows thatyoumayeither serveHimor rejectHim.Youmaysay,“Lord,whereverYoulead,Iwillfollow,eventhroughthewilderness.”Oryoumaydecidetosay,“Ican’tdealwiththis.Ithoughtlifewouldbebetterthanthis.Iquit.”

ButGodknowsthatwemustbetriedinthefiresothatwecanbecomeaspureasgold.Godbringsus into thewilderness toperfectour faith.Youcannothaveallpleasurewithoutpain,neithercanyouenjoyonlygoodtimeswithout adversity. Your faith is perfected in the furnace of affliction andadversity.There is somethingaboutgoing throughdilemmasandcrises thatbringus to theplacewherewediscover thingsaboutGodwhichwewouldnothaveknownunderothercircumstances.

ThesinsinJehoram’slifepreventedhimfromwalkingwithGodlikehe

should have.His relationshipwithGodwas superficial.However,when hegot in troubleheneededGodasafireescape.HecalledonGodonlywhenthingsweregoingbad.Inessence,hewantedtouseGodashisservant,ratherthanserveGod.HewasinterestedinGodonlyifGodservedhisownselfishpurpose.

ManyofushavetriedtouseGodforpersonalgain.WeviewGodasaspiritualSantaClauswhoisthereatoureverywhim,onewhowillbringusgiftsandpresentsthatarebeyondourreach.TheonlytimewetalkwithHimiswhenweneedsomethingfromHim.

Ifalovedonebecomesterminallyill,weimmediatelycallonHim.Wearereadytobeatdownthepastor’sdoorsothathecanprayforus,orwecallonthesaintsandimploretheirspiritualprayerandsupport.But,forsome,assoon as the problem is over, what happens?We slump right back into thebacksliddenstatewewereinbeforetheproblemjoltedustopray.Thatiswhymanyofusareconstantlyinproblems.

Godisfullyawareofthesadfactthatshouldwehaveallourneedsmet,wewillnever seekHimwith all our hearts.Like the children of Israel,wetend to become arrogant, prideful, and forget the fact that we must fullyacknowledgeGodintimesofprosperityandadversity.

Jehoramwasprettysmart,andheknewsomethingaboutGod.Realizingthat he did not have a sound relationship with the Lord, he courted thefriendshipofonewhodid.HesaidtoJehoshaphat,kingofJudah,“IhavegottogoouttofightandIwantyoutofightwithme.”

Jehoshaphat replied, “If you aregoing towar, Iwill gowithyou.Mypeopleareyourpeople.I’mgoingtoassumetheresponsibilityofgettingyouthevictoryandallmycaptainsandallmywarriorsareatyourdisposal.”Thenextquestionwashowtogoaboutit.

TheyhadtoseekthemindofGodonthematter.Oneoftheservantsofthe king of Israel told Jehoshaphat about Elisha who had the word of theLord.Jehoshaphat,Jehoram,and thekingofEdomtherefore traveled toseeElisha,theprophet.

And Elisha said unto the King of Israel,What have I to do withthee?get thee to theprophets of thy father, and to theprophets of thymother…. As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely,wereitnotthatIregardthepresenceofJehoshaphatthekingofJudah,I

wouldnotlooktowardthee,norseethee.

2Kings3:13-14

Sometimes,wearesoobsessedwithourdestinationthatweforgetthatwemustgothroughvariousphasestogetthere.Forexample,whenawomanispregnant,itisapparenttoallthatsheiscarryingababy.Afterthebabyisborn, all we see is a beautiful baby. We forget that there is a process ofbringing that baby into the world—a process that is painful for both themotherandthechild.

Forthemother,itistheprocessofpushingthisnewdelicatelifeoutofher bodywhere it has lived snugly for nine long, peacefulmonths. For thebaby, it is the process of being pushed into a place that it perceives to beunfriendly and cold, very different from the home it had occupied for ninemonths.

Just like the baby in its mother’s womb, we may have to let go ofsomethingthathasbecomepartofus.WearealwaysconfessingthatwewanttheperfectwillofGodforourlives,butwemustnotforgetthefactthatwemust conquer the obstacles that stand in the way of our future success inwhichGod’sultimatewillisrealized.

King Jehoshaphat asked the question, “How shall we go up againstMoabtogetvictory?”Theunexpectedanswerwas,“YouhavetogothroughthewildernessofEdomtogetthevictory.”

My friend, if you want to get the victory, youmust be willing to gothroughthewilderness.Iwanttoreiteratethisfact:itisnotalwayseasytogetthevictorybecauseitbelongstotheothersideofthewilderness.Youmustbewilling to go through a little time of abasement, confusion, adversity, andevenoppositionbeforeyouarriveatyourdestination.

Manymaythinkthatitisunfairtogothroughthisphase.Butyousee,itis the wilderness that weeds out the saints from the “ain’ts.” It is thewilderness thatweedsoutpeoplewho reallywant todo something forGodfrom peoplewho just have amomentary, superficial,mundane relationshipwithHim.Itisthewildernessthatmakesahypocritebackupandsay,“Ican’ttake it anymore.”Thewilderness,God’s killing field,willweed out all theimpostorsbecausetheycannotsurvivetheadversityofthewilderness.

Iwant towarnyou thatyouwillhave togo through thewilderness toattain the will of God for your life. The wilderness teaches us to stand; it

teachesustocastourcaresuponHim.ItteachesustorelyandtotallydependonHimforlifesupport,becauseweknowindueseasonweshallreapifwefaintnot.

Some of us cannot handle the smallest problems. We feel that thehardships placed on our path indicate thatGod either has forsaken us or ispunishing us for some sin we have committed. The devil has successfullyemployedthatlietodeterusfromseekingtheheavenlyFather.Donotforamomentthinkthatyoucandoitonyourown.Youwillfailwoefully.

RememberJoshuaandCaleb.HadtheytriedtoenterthePromiseLandon their own strength or cognizance, they would have perished in thewilderness.Evenwhen life in thewilderness becamedull and unappealing,theydidnotstopseekingGodneitherdidtheyceasetorelyonHisguidance.LikeJoshuaandCaleb,wemustbepersistentinfaitheveninthewildernesswhereproblemsareattheirpeak.

Thegreatestbattlethatwefacewhileweareinthewildernessistheonebetweenthenewandtheoldman.TheoldmanthatGodistryingtokillinthewilderness refuses to die. It wants to resurrect old hurts and old problems.But, as new creatures in Christ Jesus, we must put the old man to death.Despite the situations you are facing, youmust constantly remind yourselfthatyouareanewcreatureandtheoldmanisDEAD!

Chapter2

WhoisYourGod?Jesus answered and said, unto him … It is written thou shalt

worshiptheLordthyGod,andhimonlyshaltthouserve.

Luke4:8b

MyGodistheAlphaandtheOmega,theBeginningandtheEnd.ThereisnothingtoohardforHim.ThereisnothingHecannothandle.BecauseweknowwhoweareinChristJesusandwhatwemeantoourheavenlyFather,Satan tries to discourage us. He tries to use sickness, financial problems,familystress,andanythingandeverythingyoucanthinkoftoincapacitateus.Thequestionyoumustaskyourselfis,“WhoismyGod?WhomdoIserve?”Thenanswerthequestion,“MyGodisthewayMaker.”TheBiblesaysthatifGodbeforus,whocanbeagainstus?(Romans8:31).

Godissorealinmyinwardman.Hehasnotonlywashedawayallmysins,butHehasfilledmycupwithHislovesothatmycupbubblesover.Heis the Lover of my soul; He is the Answer to my every need; He is myBurden-Bearer.Maybeyouarethekindofpersonwhocanhandleeverythingthatcomesyourway,but Ican’t.However, Iknowsomeonewho isable totakeit.HisnameisJesusChrist.

Theenemyfightsthosewhoknowwhotheyareandwhosetheyare.TheBibleaffirmsthatGodisfaithful(1Cor.1:9).TheWordofGodstates,“ButtousthereisbutoneGod,theFather,ofwhomareallthings,andweinhim;andoneLordJesusChrist,bywhomareall things,andwebyhim”(1Cor.8:6).

Are you aware that the more the enemy fights you, the greater theindicationthatblessingsareontheway?YoumustbecognizantofthisfactasaChristian.Ifyoudonotknowthataboutlife,youcannotmakeit.Youhavegottoknowthatitisbecauseyouareonthevergeofamiraclethatthedevilisfightingyou.Heisfightingyousohardbecauseyouaregettingcloser toyourdeliverance,andthecloseryouget,thegreaterthestruggle.

Ifyouholdoutalittlewhilelonger,God’sgoingtogiveyouthevictoryin every circumstance of your life. I am learning to be encouragedwhen Imeetwithobstaclesbecause I see themasan indicationofa freshmoveofGodinmylife.

When people ask you who your God is, how do you respond?Withconfidence,yourshouldersheldhigh,andasmileonyourfaceyoucansay,“HeiseverythingIwilleverneed.HeismyFather,theCreatorofheavenandearth,andtheOnewhosustainstheuniverse.HeisJehovah,theIamthat Iam.”

Chapter3

God’sGotAPlanWhenyouareinthewilderness,youmustfindoutwhattheplanofGod

isforyou.Youcannotrelyonanyoneelse’splan.OnlyaplanfromGodwillsufficeinthewilderness.

Godhasnotpromisedthatyouwillnotgothroughhardship,neitherhasHe promised that youwill not experience adversity. But listen to what Hesays:“Whenyoupass throughthewaters, Iwillbewithyou.Whenyougothroughtheflood,I’llbethere.Shouldyouhavetogothroughfire,Iwillbethere.As Iwaswith Shadrach,Meshach, andAbednego, sowill I bewithyou.IwillbethefourthOneinthefurnace.”

IamverygratefulthattheLord’sbeenwalkingwithmealltheseyears.IsaythisnotbecauseIhavenotbeenthroughanything,orthatIhavenotfacedvariouschallengesanddarkmomentsinlife,butIdorecognizethattheLordhasbeen the fourthOne in the fiery furnace.Hehasprotectedme from thescorchingoftheflames.Whenthepressureandtheflamesseemedasiftheywouldengulfme,Hiswordsofassurancewouldcomfortme.

TherearemanywhowouldhavelosttheirmindhadtheLordnotbeenon their side. They would have gone crazy and lost control, but the Lordcomfortedthemintheirdarkesthour.Itisnotthatwedidnotgothroughthewildernessbutwhenwewentthroughit,Godwaswithus.Godwillbewithyouwhenmama,daddy,sister,andbrotherleave.Whenthefolksyouthoughtwouldbewithyoualltheway,walkoutofthedoor,Godsays,“Lo,Iamwithyoualwaysevenuntotheendsoftheworld.”

YouneednotfearthewildernessifyoutakeGodwithyoueverywhereyougo.ImusttakeHimwithmeeverywhereIgo,orelseIwouldfallonmyface.ItrulyneedtheLordforIcannotfunctionwithoutHim.IneedHiminthemorning;IneedHiminthenoonday;IneedHimwhenthesunisdown.Ineed Him to runmy business; I need Him to teachme how to be a goodfather;IneedHimtobeagoodhusband.Don’tyoutrytobeanythingwithoutGod,becauseyouwillnotsucceed.

Theenemymaycometodiscourageyou.HemaywhispertoyourmindthatGodwillnothelpyouor thatyoumighthavecommittedahorriblesinthathasbroughtGod’swrathonyou.SatanthinksthathecatchestheLordbysurprise.But,oh,ishewrong!GodisaGodofplans.HeisaGodoforder.Asthe God who knows all things, He is never surprised by the attack of theenemy.While theenemyisplanninghisstrategies,Godhasalreadymadeacounterplanforhim.Hehasalreadymadeawayofescapeforyou.Yes,youmusttrustHim.

Peter asked theLord Jesus if he could joinHimon the sea.After theLordtoldhimtocome,PetergotoutoftheboatandwalkedontheseauntilhetookhiseyesoffofJesus.

Maybeyouare in troublerightnow.Maybeyouarereadingthisbook,trying tofindanswers toyoursituation.Maybeyouhavebeen trying torunyour lifewithoutGodoryouhavebeen trying todealwithyourwildernesswithoutGod’shelp.Youmaybeconvincedyouknowwhatyouaredoingandthat you are not obligated to listen to anyone. Be careful, for pride comesbeforeafall.Myfriend,youdoneedGod.YouneedHimtohelpyoutoholdyourmindtogether.

You need Him when you are at the breaking point and people havedisappointedyou.NobodyelsebutGodwillgetupwithyouat3:00a.m.andholdyou inHisarms.NobodyelsebutGodcancomfortyouwhenyouaredepressed.OnlyGod can supernaturally soothe your nerves and quell yourworries.OnlyHecangiveyouthatpeacethatpassesallunderstanding.WhentheScripturetalksaboutthepeacethatpassesallunderstanding,itreferstoapeacethat isanointed.Whenpeople lookatyoursituation,andthenlookatyou,theywillbeconfused.Theywillsay,“Whyishesopeaceful?Doesn’therealize that he has nothing? Everything he had is gone. Why is he sopeaceful?” It is simply theGod-given peace that you enjoy.Try it.Believeme,youwill like it.Godsays,“It’sgoing tobeall right.Just trustMe, justleanonMe,andlooktoMefortotaldeliverance.”

Youmightnotbeabletoseehowitwillworkout,butyou’vegottotrustthatbeforeitisallover,God’sgoingtogiveyouthevictory.Yousee,God’sgotaplan!

Chapter4

ThePowerofPraiseIwillbless theLordatall times:hispraise shall continuallybe in

mymouth.MysoulshallmakeherboastintheLORD:thehumbleshallhearthereof,andbeglad.OmagnifytheLordwithme,andletusexalthisnametogether.IsoughttheLord,andheheardme,anddeliveredmefromallmyfears.Theylookeduntohim,andwerelightened:andtheirfaceswerenotashamed.

Psalms34:1-5

Praise is magnifying and exalting the Lord in our hearts. Praise isglorifying theLordwith the fruitofour lips.Whenwebegin topraiseGodwithallourheart,welosesightofthemagnitudeofourproblemsaswegainavisionofthegreatnessofourLord.

InordertotrulypraiseGod,wemustlearntogobeyondourselvesandour human limitations. Many times when the enemies of Israel encampedaround them, God told Joshua to send out the tribe of Judah first. Judahmeans praise. Judah marched before the enemies of Israel, armed withnothingbutinstrumentsofpraise.

WhenthetribeofJudahbegantopraiseGodwiththeirwholeheart,Godset ambushes among the enemy and confused them. The same principlehappens in thespirit realm.Whenwereallybegin topraiseGod,ourpraiseconfoundstheenemy,anddemonicforcesbegintowithdrawtheirpowerandinfluence.

Forthoughwewalkinthefleshwedonotwaraftertheflesh:(Fortheweaponsofourwarfarearenot carnal,butmighty throughGod tothepullingdownofstrongholds;)

Castingdownimaginations,andeveryhighthingthatexaltethitselfagainsttheknowledgeofGod,andbringingintocaptivityeverythoughttotheobedienceofChrist.

2Cor.10:3-5

Praiseandworshipisthemostprofoundwayofexpressingourlovetothe Father. God loves to be praised and worshiped. However, in order topraise God, we must understand the power that praise and worship wield.Praiseandworshipcanbreakdemonicstrongholdsthathaveboundus.

PraiseandtheWordofGodareabletopulldownstrongholds.Thereispower in praise andworship.Let us pause here to examine this concept ofpraiseasaweaponagainstspiritualstrongholds.

First,letusdefinestrongholds.Strongholdsareroadblocksorstumblingblocks that prevent God’s people from truly releasing themselves in praiseandworshiptoGod.Therearemanystrongholds,butwewilltalkaboutonlyone.Theerectionofstrongholdstakeplaceinourthoughtprocess.

Forexample,supposeyouwerevisitinganewchurch

where theirmethod of praise andworship is somewhat different fromyours. Immediately, yourmind tells you that theirway iswrong, or,worsestill,thattheyarenotsaved.Thisisastronghold.RememberthatastrongholdisabeliefsystemthatiscontrarytowhatGod’sWordsays.Yousee,inthiscase, your church has spoken against being too expressive in worship andpraise.Tothempraiseandworshipdoesnothavetobeloudandnoisy.

I have noticed that many people in the church do not know how toworshiporpraise theFather.Wegetnervouswhen someoneduring servicegetstooloudandstartstoworshipGoddifferentlyfromournormalstyle.Wewant toworshipGod in lowvoices,and that’sonlyonSundaymornings inour lofty buildings. We must appear “respectable.” But in the clubs, or atbaseball and football games, the same people will yell and make as muchnoise as they can without getting the least bit nervous or losing their“respectability.”

TheLordlovestohearuspraiseHisholynameanddoesn’tgetnervouswhenweeitherbecometooloudortooquiet.ItiswewhodiscriminateabouthowtopraiseGod.Wemustbeverycautiousaboutthisareaofourlives.Ifwe allow Satan to build up strongholds, we createmore roadblocks in ourmindsthatpreventusfrompraisingGodfreely.Someoneoncesaid,“Afreeperson is a dangerous person because he does not allow anyone to dictatewhathesaysordoesexcepttheLord!”

OncethebelieversunderstandhowSatanusesstrongholdstokeepthem

fromreleasingthemselvesinpraiseandworship, theyarebetterpreparedtouse their weapons of praise and worship. Someone once said, “We mustunderstand that the area of thought is both the first and final battlefield. Itbeginswiththemindbeforeitgoestoanyotherarea.”Hence,Satanfightsusinourmindstosuchgreatextent.

WhatisPraise?

Praise is replacing your thoughts and the enemy’s thoughts with thethoughts of God. TheWord of God, the Name of Jesus, and the Blood ofJesusareweaponsofGodthattransformandchangeourthoughts.Althoughmany people may not realize this truth, a tremendous amount of power isreleasedwhenpraiseisofferedtoGod.Alltoooftenwetakethisweaponforgranted.ImaginewhatDavidfeltashecomposedhispsalms.WhenyoutakeGod’sthoughtsandenterintopraise,youbecomelikeabatteringramagainstthestrongholdsthatSatanhaserectedinyourmind.

Anotherstrongholdthatwemustpulldownistheideathatthebelievershould look sad andgloomywhenever he is going through a difficult time.Wethinkthatthedevilishavinghisheydaywithus,usinguslikeadustrag.This ought not to be. We must speak God’s Word over the state of ouremotions. It is indeedpossible tochange thestateofyourmindthroughtheWordofGod.Satantriestodestroyyouthroughyourmind.AllowtheLordtodirectyou.

HaveyoueverheardthevoiceofGodthroughthethickofthenightandthereby you get your victory? It wasn’t because youwere smart; it wasn’tbecauseyouweretaught;itwasn’tbecauseyouweresogood,butitcamejustbecauseyou learned tosay,“Lord, I loveYou, IpraiseYou. I’min trouble,but I still loveYou. I have trials, but I still loveYou. I don’t feelwell thismorning,but I still loveYou. I havebills I can’t pay, but I still loveYou.”Davidsaid,“IwillblesstheLordatalltimes.”

MusicandPraise

Butnowbringmeaminstrel.Anditcametopass,whentheminstrelplayed,thatthehandofthelordcameuponhim.

2Kings3:15

Elisharequestedamusicianbecausehesawtheneedformusic.Wetooneed some music in the church. Music can change attitudes and emotionswithin us. It has the ability to mold and shape thoughts. We have an

assortment of instruments—drums, tambourines, organs, and pianos. Oneking obtained the victory just because he had an orchestra with him. Themusicians of the temple of the Lord played musical instruments until theenemyofIsraelbecameconfusedandstartedkillingoneanother.

God lovesmusic. He said, “If youwantMe tomove, playMe somemusic.GetMesomebodywhohasaninstrument.”WhenSaulwaspossessedwithdemons,

David played his harp until the demons left Saul. There is somethingabouttheanointedmusicoftheHolySpirit.

Anointed music will drive out demons, trouble, and sickness. That iswhyyoumustbeverycarefulaboutthetypeofmusicthatyouallowtoenteryoursoul for ithasagreateffectonyour innerman(spiritman).Getsomeanointedandpowerfulmusic.Ifyouwantyourbodytobehealed,getsomemusic that speaks healing into your body. Elisha said, “Get me somebodywhowill playme a song.”TheBible says thatwhen theminstrel began toplay,theWordoftheLordbegantoflowoutofElisha’smouth.

Don’tyouallowanyonetotakeyoursongfromyourlips.Youmaylosefriends,butdon’t loseyoursong.Youmightnotsingwell in thehearingofotherpeople,butkeepyoursong.Youmightcroaklikeafrog,butkeepyoursong.Davidsaid,“MakeajoyfulnoiseuntoGod,allyelands”(Psalm66:1).Pauldemonstratedthatifyouhaveasong,youcansingyourwayoutofthejail. If you have a song, you can encourage yourself. Even when there isnobodyaroundtoencourageyou,andyoufeelallalone, ifyouhaveasongyoucanencourageyourselfintheLord.

GodwillmovewhenyoustartpraisingHim.Whenyoustart topraiseGod, He will come in the middle of your drought, in the middle of yourwilderness,andinthemiddleofyourdryplace,andsay,“I’vegotaplan!”

Chapter5

IntimacyinWorshipThou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou

serve.

Matthew4:10

Whateverweworship iswhatwe ultimatelywill end up serving.Ournaturedemandsthatweworshipsomething.Whatweworshipisuptous.

Butthehourcometh,andnow is,when the trueworshippers shallworshiptheFatherinspiritandintruth:fortheFatherseekethsuchtoworshiphim.

John4:23

To experience trueworship youmust first develop a relationshipwiththeFather.Allrelationshipsaredependentupongoodcommunication.Forusas believers, prayer is the means of communicating with the Father. Thisrelationshipcanbelikenedtothatofamanandhiswife.Thereisthesenseofintimacy, closeness, and oneness. It is the closeness that you should neversharewithanyoneelse.

Whenamanandawomanfirstgetmarried,theirrelationshipisnewandexists on that level of looking deeply into each other’s eyes. This is thehoneymoon stage. At this stage, each worships the ground that the otherwalkson.Theirfocusisoneachother.But,astimegoeson,thehoneydriesalittleandthemoonbeginstoloseitsluster.Thenewnessintheirrelationshipbeginstowearoff,givingwaytoadifferentdimensionintheirrelationship.

Theybegintoknoweachotheronamoreintimatelevel.Theycanfeeleachother’shurtsanddesires.Theyavoidwhatwillhurtorjeopardizetheircloseness. They don’t hide anything, rather, they express their feelings inconfidence and trust. They trust each other with their weaknesses andshortcomings, confident that theywillnotbeusedagainst them.This is thekindofdesirethattheLordwantsustoenjoywithHim,acloserelationship

thatleadstointimateworship.

There are different kinds of gods we may find ourselves bowing to.Someofusworshipourchildren.Someworshipmoney.Someworshipsin.Someworshipthemselveswhileothersworshipalltypesofthings:paycheck,reputation,etc.

Have you ever observed a Christian who recently got saved? HeworshipsGodwith a deep gratitude for his salvation.The first stage in theromanceofamanandwomanisoftenreferredtoasinfatuation.Thisisalsotypical of the first stage of our relationship with Christ. The dictionarydescribes infatuation as “to behave foolishly, to inspire with foolish andunreasoning love or attachment.” However, as wemature in the Lord, thistype of attraction takes on a new and higher dimension. Infatuation, likeromance,operatesmoreon feelings than reality,on theexternal thanon theinternal.It ismorefleetingthanstable,moreinconsistent thanconstant.Butthe mature love is consistent because it is based on commitment.Commitment(covenant)iswhatsustainsanylastingandstablerelationship.

When aman first falls in lovewith awoman, itmight have been herbeautyandfigure thatattractedhim.Butafter themarriage,whenhewakesupinthemorningtobadbreath,hairrollers,orabodythathasbirthedtwoorthreechildren, infatuationgoesout thewindow. It isneither infatuationnorromancethatkeepshimcominghome,butthecommitmenttothevowthathemadeatthealtarthatsustainstherelationship.

Thesamecommitmentmustdefineour relationshipwith theLord.WemustgraduatefromthepointwherewepraiseandworshipGodonlyforwhatHe does for us. We must praise Him for who He is. Our worship musttranscendasuperficialexpressionthatisdependentonourfeelingsalone.Wemustdeveloparelationshipthatisconsistenteveninthemidstoftrials.ThetrialsshoulddeepenourrelationshipwiththeLord,notweakenit.

WildernessexperienceswillmatureourrelationshipwiththeLordtothedegree that ourworship is expressednot only externallyby the fruit of ourlips in praise, but also our love for Him expressed through our continualobedience. It is the obedience that flows from the heart, freely withoutcoercion.

Chapter6

NoWind,NoRain,JustWaterFor thussaith theLord,Yeshallnot seewind,neithershallyesee

rain:yetthatvalleyshallbefilledwithwater.

2Kings3:17

Canyoustillbelievethispromiseafterallyouhavebeenthrough—aftersufferingandbeingdeprivedofwindsandrain?GodsaidHeisgoingtogiveyouthewater.SincethekingofMoabdidnotseerain,heapparentlydidnotexpect toseewater.Andwhenhecameupon themountain top,and lookeddownin thevalley, theraysof thesunon thewatergave theappearanceofblood.Hethoughtitwasthebloodofhisenemies.Herandowntheretokillthem,butwhathethoughtwasbloodwasjustwater.

Someofyoushouldhavebeendeadandlonggone,butGodsawyourbloodandsentyou thewater.Youcouldhavediedofspiritualdehydration,butHedidnotsendwindorrain,justwater.Youcouldhavegivenup,butyoudidnotgiveup.Icouldhavepassedout,butIamnotout.Thereiswaterinmy family, water in my relationships, water in my church, water in mypreaching, water in my business, water in my home, water in my career,water,water,water,water—watereverywhere.

Therearesomepeopleinthewildernesswhodon’thaveanywateryet,and unless they have someone to minister to them as Elisha ministered toJehoshaphat and Jehoram, they will die in the wilderness without water.Someonemustpreachthegospeluntiltheirdryareasaremadewet.Youdon’thavetogiveup,youdon’thavetogivein,youdon’thavetoquit.GodsaidHewillfillthosedryareasofyourlifewithwater.

Ifyouhavebeengoingthoughdryplacesandwildernessforalongtime,Godissaying,“Digsomeditches,becauseI’mgettingreadytoblessyouandyourlatterdayisgoingtobegreaterthanyourformerday.”Godwillfilltheditches inyourhomesandmarriageswithwater.To theditchesof finances,Godsays,“Iwillfill themwithwater.”Totheditchesofyouremotions,Hesays, “Get your mind ready, get your attitude right, get your heart fixed,

becausewhenIopenupthewindowsofheavenIamgoingtopouryououtablessingthatyouwillnothaveroomenoughtoreceive.”

Itisablessingthatwillbepresseddown,shakentogether,andrunningover. Are you ready for the blessing? Some people may be thinking ofquitting,butdon’tquit.Themomentthatyouarereadytothrowinthetowel,whenyouthinkyoucannottakeitanymore,itisthenthatGodwillsendyouHisblessing.DonotallowSatantodiscourageyouandthusdepriveyouofGod’sblessing.Thedevilisaliarandthefatheroflies.

God repeats, “Dig ditches in your valley. Get ready! You have beensufferingforalongtime,butIamgettingreadytoblessyou.Iwantyoutodigditchesandgetready.Assoonasyouareready,theanswerwillbethere.”Whentheanswercomes,itisgoingtocomeinthespiritandnotintheflesh.Oncetheditcheshavebeendug,therewillbenowarningorsign,noclouds,nowinds,notevenrain,justwater.

Inthenaturalwhenitisabouttorain,onecantellbythewindandtheclouds,butGodissaying,“I’mgoingtosendyouablessingthathasnosign,anditwillnothaveanywarning.Everythingmaybestagnant,butIamgoingtomoveinthemidstofyourstagnation.JustbecauseyoudonotseeanywinddoesnotmeanthatIamnotgettingreadytoblessyou.Getready!”

Youmight lookupandnotseeanysign in theclimate.Maybeyoudonot see the clouds forming in the sky. I knowyou are use to lightning, butthere might not be any. I know that you are use to thunder before theoutpouring, but youmay not hear the thunder.Theremight not bewind. Itmightnotevenrain,butjustbecausethereisnowind,norrain,doesnotmeanthattherewon’tbewater.

YoumustknowthatGodisgoingtoblessyou.Idon’tcareifthewindisnotblowingorthethunderisnotsounding,youmustknowthatGodcannotlie. If He has promised to bless you, then He will bless you. If He haspromisedtodeliveryou,thenHewilldeliveryou.IfHehaspromisedtobringyouout, thenHeisable.TheLordismorethanable.Nowind,norain,buttherewillstillbeblessingwithoutwarning.Youmustexpecttheblessingtocome.

WhenGodwasreadytosendtheflood,HedidnotjustsendwaterdownonNoah.TheBiblesaysthatHebrokeupthecisternsofthedeep,andwaterstartedcomingupoutoftheground(Genesis7:11).Yes,waterstartedcomingoutofthedryplaces.

Doyouhaveanydryplaces?God is saying that iswhere thewater isgoingtocomefrom.Haveyouhadstruggles inanyareasofyour life?Godsaysthatiswherethewaterisgoingtocomefrom.Doyouhavefrustrations?GodsaysHeisgoingtosendthewateroutofyourpainandagony.

Maybe thewater is trickling at first.Haveyouever said, “I’mgettingsomething,butthatisnotenough.IambetterthanwhatIusedtobe,butIstilldon’thave thatbreakthrough. Iamnotsaying thatyouarenotblessingme,Lord, but something is missing out of my blessings. I am getting a littlemoisture”?ButGodistellingyounowtowaitonHim.Youmustlearnhowtowait.ItistheythatwaitupontheLordwhosestrengthGodwillrenew.

TheWordofGodsaystowait.Waitevenwhenitseemsthatnothingishappening.Waitwhileyouareinthemidstofthewilderness,whenthereisnosignofwater.Wait on the perfect timingofGod.Remember thatHehas aplan.Hehasnotforsakenyoueventhoughthedevilmighthavegivenyoutheimpression thatHehas.Asyouwait, theLordsays, “Mountupwithwingslike eagles, run anddon’t beweary,walk anddon’t faint because that littledripofwateristurningintoatrickle,andthetricklewillturnintoastream,andthestreamwillturnintoacreek,thecreekisgoingtoturnintoalake,andthelakeisgoingtoturnintoariver.AndOutofyourbelly,astheWordsays,willflowriversoflivingwater”(John7:38).

Godwill send you somewater thatwill comeout of yourwilderness,andwhenitcomes,itwillbemorethanenough.Ifyoudonothavewind,donotworry. Ifyoudonot see rain,donotbeperturbed.God is stillgoing togiveyouthewater.IfyouwanttheoutpouringofGod’sSpirit,waitforHim.Godwillsendyouwaterinyourdryplaces.Godwillsendthewaterrightintoyourpersonalwilderness.

Chapter7

WaterintheWildernessAnd all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from

the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to thecommandmentoftheLORD,andpitchedinRephidim:andthere

wasnowaterforthepeopletodrink…Andthepeoplethirstedforwater;andthepeoplemurmuredagainstMoses,andsaid,WhereforeisthisthatthouhastbroughtusupoutofEgypt,tokillusandourchildrenand our cattle with thirst?… And the LORD said untoMoses, Go onbeforethepeople,andtakewiththeeoftheeldersofIsrael;andthyrod,wherewiththousmotest theriver, take in thinehand,andgo.Behold, IwillstandbeforetheethereupontherockinHoreb;andthoushallsmitetherock,andthereshallcomewateroutofit,thatthepeoplemaydrink.AndMosesdidsointhesightoftheeldersofIsrael.

Exodus17:1,3,5,6

Thereiswaterinthewilderness.Ifyouaregoingthroughthedryplaces,isitnotwonderfultoknowthatGodisacooldrinkwhileinahotandthirstyland?Whenyourunoutofwater,runoutoffriends,runoutofideas,andrunout of plans, God says, “You are going through a tough time, but do notworry;Ihaveaplan.”

Godhasawayofescape.Idonotknowwhatwildernessyouaregoingthrough,butIdoknowthismuchaboutGod:Hewillstepintothemiddleofthewildernessofyourdilemma.Heisnotconfinedtothechurchbuilding.HeisalsoGodinyourwilderness.

Hewillcomeintoyourhouse.Hewillcomeonyourjob.Hewill takecareofyou.Haveyouever foundyourselfpraisingGod in thecar, and thepraisereachesaheightwheretearswellupinyoureyes,andyouknowyoumust stop thecar for fear thatyoumighthit someone?Haveyoubeen inasituationwhereyouareworshipingGod,andpeoplearoundyouthoughtthatyouweretalkingtoyourself?

HastheLordevervisitedyouinanawkwardplace,suchasthebusstopor a subway, where you really do not have the freedom to praise God?However,thepraisegotsohighwithinyouthatittookeverymuscleofyourwillpowertokeepquiet.

IenjoybeingbymyselfwithGod.IfIshouttooloudinpublic,andthepeoplegetnervous,Icannotbeveryfree.ButwhenIamalone,IcancallonGodasloudasIwant,andIcancryaslongandasloudasIwanttocry.IfIwanttotapmyfoot,Icantapmyfoot.IfIfeellikemoaning,Icanliedownandmoanwithoutthefearthatsomeoneiscommentingaboutit.WhenIwavemyhands,Heunderstands.

Youmaybeinadryplacewherethereisnowater.Oryoumaybeinthewildernessorinadeepvalley,butremember,Godprovideswaterinthedryplaces.

WhenIwasinArizonalastyearonapreachingtour,Ihadachancetoseeadry riverbed.As Iwalkeddown into thedry riverbed, I sensed inmyspirit that the Lord was ministering to me. Once there was water in theriverbed, but now it hadgonedry.Yet, you could tell that there used to bewater there, but due to the dryness in the atmosphere, it haddriedup. It isamazingthatthesunwasabletoevaporatethatmuchwater.Therockscouldstillbeseenatthebottomoftheriverbed.Yetnolifeexistedthere.

Unfortunately,thisisthewaysomechurchesaretoday.Thereoncewaswater in these churches. There used to be some glory in their midst. Thechurchusedtobespirituallyalive,butnowthereisnosignoflife.

Aprincipleneedstobeunderscoredhere.Iftheriverdriedupoverhere,thenyoumustgooverthere.Ifyouaregoingthroughadrytimeinyourlife,then youmust findwater. If you do not find somewater, youwill be likethoseanimalsthatdiedwithoutwater.

IamconsciousofthefactthatIneedsomewatereveryhouroftheday.IamnotinneedofsomeonewhowouldbeatmeovertheheadwiththeWordjusttomakemefeelbad,butIdoneedsomeonewhocantellmethatIcanmakeit.IneedsomeonetotellmethatGodismydeliverer,thatHeismyJoyin the midst of sorrow, that He is my Healer, the OneWhomakes a waywherethereseemstobenone.

IneedsomeonetotellmeHeisastrongTower,thatHeistheDoctorinthesickroom,theLawyerinthecourtroom,andtheWaterinthewilderness.Godsays,“ThisiswhatIwantyoutodowhileyouarestilldowninthedry

riverbed:digditchesinyourvalley.”NowitmayhavebeenenoughforGodtofillyourriverbed,butGodsaysHeisgoingtoblessyoumuchmorethantheriverbedcancontain.

God says, “You had better begin to dig those ditches in the riverbed,becausewhat you need is not deep enough forMy supply, andwhen I dobless you, My blessing is going to be so much greater than your presentcapacitytoreceive.Sodigsomeditchesfortheoutpouring.Contrarytohowbleakanddistraughtthesituationmaybeorhowdevastatingthetrialorcrisis,rememberMypromise:Iwillprovidewaterinthewilderness.