LACE UP - running shoes
January 5, 2025

GOD IS RELEASING FAVOR ON THE FAITHFUL!

Exodus 12:11
“In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.”

When God’s glory invades an atmosphere -
SUDDENLY everything has the potential to change!

2025 is a year of suddenlies, divine moments, quick change opportunities.

“Suddenly” appears in the Bible at least 87 times—and every time, it is tied to a moment when God interrupted the ordinary with the extraordinary.

In the same way, 2025 will be a year of sudden moments of acceleration, opportunities, and breakthroughs.

GLORY in Hebrew is KABOD = it means a weight.

Matthew 24:44 - 47
44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

This is not just talking about Jesus’ return.

Jesus will show up in a moment you do not expect ~ in your EVERYDAY LIFE!
A miracle moment will happen when you least expect it.

THE PHRASE FOR 2025 FOR FAITH4LIFE CHURCH IS: “LACE UP!”
The Holy Spirit is sounding the alarm: BE READY!

2 Timothy 4:2
2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

INSTANT = LACE UP!

THIS IS A YEAR OF SUDDENLIES!

  • GOD WILL NOT FORCE YOU TO STEP INTO AN OPEN DOOR.
  • THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT PUSH YOU INTO A GOD-OPPORTUNITY

IF YOU ARE NOT REMAINING…

  • “INSTANT”
  • “LACED UP”
  • “READY TO ACT”
  • “SPEAK”
  • “MOVE”, “ETC.”

….YOU WILL MISS THE OPEN DOORS, SUDDEN MIRACLES, MANIFESTATIONS THAT GOD SETS BEFORE YOU!

I received this word on New Year’s morning around 3am...

  • “Lace up! The time to prepare is now, for I am working behind the scenes, arranging divine appointments and setting open doors before you. But hear this: an unprepared heart will miss the moment of opportunity.”
  • Your readiness determines your ability to seize what I am setting before you.
  • The opportunities I provide require more than just willingness—they require preparation.

  • Preparation Precedes Provision: My provision often awaits your preparation.
    When you prepare in faith, you create the capacity to receive!

Seeds of faith, discipline, and surrender will bear fruit in this season,
Seeds of neglect, procrastination, or apathy yield only barren ground.

  • Your preparation is not just about you.
    It is about the people waiting on the other side of your obedience.
    Just as a soldier laces their boots before marching into battle, you must prepare for the spiritual assignments I have for you.
  • There are lives waiting to be touched, prayers waiting to be answered, and miracles waiting to be released through your readiness.

Do not prepare for the race ~ PREPARE for THE FINISH LINE!

~~ BE EVER READY, EVER SET, EVER LEANING IN…~~

1 Corinthians 9:24 - 25 MSG
You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

IF GOD’S PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE,
HE WOULD NEVER SEND YOU A COMFORTER
!

There is an HONOR and a COST to being a disciple.

GOD’S FAVOR = is not for your

.
GOD’S FAVOR = meant to THE NORM!

GOD DOES NOT GIVE YOU HIS

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE -
HE GIVES YOU HIS FAVOR SO YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH HIS .

Ephesians 6:15
15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Your spirital armor is not complete unless your feet are IN PREPARATION MODE!

~ HOW TO LACE UP TO RUN ~

There are several ways professional runners tie their shoes before a race.
The Runner’s Knot adds stability and prevents unnecessary movement that can cause blisters.

1. You create loops in the second to last eyelets in the shoe…
2. Lace the laces back through it and tighten… IT KEEPS YOUR HEEL FROM SLIPPING!
3. Loop = keeps the knot tight. It allows you to turn quickly and your heel not slip.

(IN THE RUNNERS KNOT THERE IS A LOOP AND A CRISS CROSS.)

L –

WITH A LEAN - the loop we create in the runners knot.

Isaiah 55:3
3 Incline
your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

THIS IS THE POSTURE WE ARE CALLED TO BE IN EVERY DAY.

Tell yourself “GET READY, GET SET…” ~ Listen for the GO!

It is actively tuning your heart and mind to what the Holy Spirit is saying:

  • “Lean” means dependency.

GOD NEEDS PEOPLE who are quick to hear and quick to follow,

THERE HAS TO BE A YES HOLY SPIRIT! On our mouths and hearts

  • To be ready for God’s call, you must develop the of listening with intentionality, leaning in to hear His voice.

Not only is there a loop in the runners knot… there is a criss cross…
THAT MEANS THERE ARE TWO SIDES WORKING TOGETHER….

James 2:26
26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Meaning that God will be there to support you - but your action of faith is needed too.
GOD PLANS ON USING YOU TO GET HIS WILL DONE ON EARTH…

A =

IN FAITH IMMEDIATELY - the criss cross in the runners knot.

LACED UP FAITH = YOU SAID IT, I WILL DO IT!

  • IF GOD SAYS TO SPEAK - YOU SPEAK IMMEDIATELY
  • IF GOD SAYS TO GIVE - YOU GIVE IMMEDIATELY
  • IF GOD SAYS TO SHOUT! - ON IT
  • IF GOD SAYS TO JUMP ~ YOU’VE GOT IT!

PEOPLE WHO ARE LACED UP ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF “

”…

Acts 2:1 - 3
1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

When God says GO - we need to already have a “YES GOD!” on our lips.

That house was the loop and the criss cross!

YOU NEED TO ACT IN

!!!

Colossians 3:16 - 17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

WORD - lego - a word…
DEED - ergon - an action!
NAME - oonama - the authority and character!

  • IF THE WORD IS IN YOU RICHLY…
    YOU WILL RESPOND WITH AN ACTION - A WORD - A DANCE - A RUN - A SHOUT!

  • IN JESUS’ AUTHORITY AND CHARACTER ~ I AM WALKING IN MY SUDDENLY!

  • IN JESUS’ AUTHORITY AND CHARACTER ~ I AM GOING TO SEE THE MANIFESTATION!

C -

TO CONSISTENCY - you double knot ~ CONSISTENTLY FOCUS ON HIM

A runner does not train sporadically; they build daily habits.

2 Corinthians 3:18
18
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

WE CAN SEE AND REFLECT!

  • STOP TRYING TO QUIT SWEARING ~ focus on consistently speaking what the Holy Spirit is saying.
  • STOP TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT ~ consistently ask the Holy Spirit to be involved in your meal selection!
  • STOP TRYING TO NOT BE ANGRY ~ consistently thank God that you operate in His peace!
  • STOP TRYING TO NOT DO THINGS ~ CONSISTENTLY SEE AND REFLECT!

WHEN YOU FOCUS ON YOU ~ YOU ARE GOING FRUSTRATE YOURSELF.

  • DO NOT PRAY MORE… PRAY CONSISTENTLY ~ not to get the right answer but to seek His face consistently.
  • DO NOT READ THE WORD MORE… READ CONSISTENTLY ~ not to check off your list of to-do’s but to understand Him more
  • DO NOT GO TO CHURCH MORE… GO CONSISTENTLY ~ not to feel better about yourself but to be used by Him.

The frequency of SUDDENLIES is directly connected to CONSISTENT application to the elementary things.

E -

WITH EXCELLENCE

~~ Holy Spirit said: ~~
“I am redefining Excellence for my people this year - because many people confused excellence with perfection…”

YOU SAY - “THIS NEEDS TO BE PERFECT”
HE SAYS - “THIS NEEDS MY PRESENCE”

Colossians 3:23
23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men;

Excellence reflects your trust in God’s ability to work through you.

L - LISTEN WITH A LEAN
A - ACT IMMEDIATELY
C - CONSISTENTLY FOCUS ON HIM
E - EXECUTE WITH EXCELLENCE

Suddenlies are coming… LACE UP!

RUN EVERYDAY LIKE A RACE YOU KNOW YOU WILL WIN.