LACE UP - the Tefflin
WE ARE IN A MOMENTUM SHIFT IN HUMAN HISTORY.
- Not just a moment. Not just a shift in technology.
- This is a paradigm shift that will define generations.
- This is bigger than the printing press. Bigger than the industrial revolution.
History will look back on these years and say:”There was life before AI… and life after.”
We are living in an era of drones and deception.
UFOs and uncertainty.
Deep fakes and delusions.
Reality itself is under siege.
- Half the videos you see—fires in LA, animals collapsing in the streets—fabricated, designed to provoke fear, confusion, and control.
We are drowning in headlines but starving for truth. - No one knows what’s real, what’s safe, what’s dangerous.
And when chaos rises, humanity defaults to two extremes:
- Anxiety—gripped by fear, reacting to every headline.
- Apathy—”Well, nothing I do matters… might as well go along with the flow.”
Apathy always leads to Anxiety.
Because sooner or later, reality comes knocking—and you realize you don’t know what to believe, who to trust, or how to move forward.
EVERYONE eventually runs to God with their problems.
And thank God we can! He welcomes us. He listens. He answers.
The Holy Spirit is saying something deeper in this season:
“My people must not just bring Me their problems… they must let Me change their process.”
- This is not just an era of innovation—it is an era of prophetic living.
- Hearing. Discerning. Moving in step with the Holy Spirit.
- Not just for success. For survival.
If you do not have the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding you… YOU WILL BE PREY.
So let me ask you: When the world throws chaos at you, what’s your process?
- Do you speculate?
- Do you complain?
- Do you scramble for a solution?
- And THEN—maybe—do you pray?
Prayer was never meant to be the last step of your process—it was meant to be the first.
The Church must wake up!
We are stepping into a season where prophetic clarity is not optional—it is essential.
YOU CANNOT BE SPIRIT-LED IF PRAYER IS YOUR LAST RESORT.
John 16:13
13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth… He will tell you what is yet to come.
- “Is that headline true?” - Did you pray about it?
- “Is that opportunity from God?” - Do you have peace about it?
Because here’s the problem: We treat the Holy Spirit like a Swiss Army knife instead of a Person.
When chaos comes, we think, “Time to flip on the ‘discernment’ tool and hope for the best!”
The Holy Spirit is not a tool. He is not an “it.” He is a HE.
- He is your Counselor, your Guide, your Strategist.
- He does not just want to give you answers - He wants to have a conversation.
So TALK!
S: Often.
S: Quickly.
S: All the time.
S: LACE UP!
- The time for passive Christianity is over.
- The time for prophetic movement is now.
When I first received this word for 2025… the Holy Spirit showed me shoes, gloves and this leather strap. I knew about it… but I hadn’t really researched about it….
Hebrew leather strap and box called TEFFLIN…
- used in times of great prayer…
- BOX IS FILLED WITH THE WORD… USED TO KEEP THIS IN MIND.
- supposed to go over the top of your head…
- STRAPS REPRESENT WHAT WOULD GUIDE AN ANIMAL…
- tied around the finger where your main artery would be that goes directly to your heart.
This is not just a ritual. This is a prophetic picture of covenant.
When God binds you to Him, He is not just saying you will go to Heaven one day…
He wants to guide your head and lead your heart.
Here is the revelation hidden in the numbers:
- 400 (Tav): Covenant, cross, truth, perfection, sign, seal.
- 80 (Pey): Mouth, speak, declare, open.
- 30 (Lamed): Rod, authority, teaching, instruction.
- 50 (Nun): Action, movement, life.
THIS COVENANT GIVES YOU WHAT TO SAY TO OPERATE IN AUTHORITY IN EVERY ACTION.
That is what “lacing up” is all about.
It is walking in step with Him.
Philippians 4:6
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
care-ful = FULL OF ANXIETY
The enemy doesn’t need to overwhelm you with NEWS HEADLINES… OR MAJOR catastrophes
— He just needs to get you to indulge in small stressors.
Look at the instruction:
1️⃣ Prayer – Conversation with God.
2️⃣ Supplication – Asking for His help.
3️⃣ Thanksgiving – Gratitude for what He’s already done.
ALL THREE are needed for a real relationship.
Think about marriage.
If all I do is ask my wife for things but never have conversation or gratitude, that’s not a relationship.
If all I do is talk to her, but never ask for her help or express thanks, she won’t know what I need.
If all I do is say thank you but never talk or ask, she’ll feel used—like a tool instead of a person.
And then one day, I want to be close to her, but she doesn’t feel close to me.
“Of course we talk! We talk about the kids’ schedules, the finances, what needs to happen next week!”
No, we never talked. I talked TO her. But I never talked WITH her.
🚨 Are we doing the same thing to God? 🚨
Are we having conversations with Him? Or are we just listing demands?
Some of my best moments with God were simple:
“How was Your day, God?”“What are You thinking about?”“How do You feel about this?”
And some of my worst?
“GOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDD!!! I NEED YOU TO FIX THIS NOW!!!”
Peace does not come from demanding.
Peace comes from:✅ Conversation✅ Asking✅ Gratitude
ARE WE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD…
OR ARE WE TALKING TO GOD?
- BEFORE THE TEFFLIN IS PLACED ON YOUR ARM…
- IT IS PLACED AROUND YOUR HEAD…
Before we ever bring God our problems, we need to bring Him our thoughts.
Because if the enemy can control your thoughts, he does not need to control your actions - your thoughts will lead you there on their own.
That is why the Tefillin is not just strapped to the hand—it is placed on the forehead.
👉 The Word stays in front of your mind.
👉 Truth is what shapes your perspective.
👉 Your thoughts submit before your actions ever take form.
- Before we rush into reaction—before we try to fix, fight, or figure it out—we must first submit our thoughts to God.
- Because what fills your mind will fuel your response..
1. THE BANDING (around the head)
Real prayer
We don’t just give God our problems—we give Him our thoughts first.
Because if we try to figure things out on our own and only bring Him what we can’t fix, that’s not co-laboring—that’s crisis management.
🛑 STOP treating God like an emergency contact.
✅ START treating Him like a co-laborer in every thought and every moment.
1 Corinthians 3:9
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WORK “WITH” SOMEONE?!
See, we are called to work WITH God, not after we’ve exhausted ourselves without Him.
So often, we do things backward:
❌ We try in our own strength until we fail.
❌ We pray only when we’re desperate.
❌ We give Him our problems instead of our process.
- You need God.
- You need angels.
- And you need YOU to show up in faith.
Too many believers are drowning in the consequences of their own delayed prayers.
We wait until life is unraveling before we finally turn to God—just like some people ignore wisdom, dismiss accountability, and only show up to their pastor when life is in pieces, expecting a one-hour fix.
We can’t keep letting God be the last step in our process.
He has to be first.
S: FIRST!
Living laced up… is going quick and first to prayer.
2 Corinthians 10:5
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
What fills your mind will fuel your response.
How? How do we bring every thought to the obedience of Christ??
CHANGE THE PROCESS!
(put Jesus first - he throws out the bad ones… gives me the good ones.)
BECAUSE He is first in the process… AS I THINK IT - I involve him first…
AS i get the news report - I INVOLVE HIM FIRST!
S: BE QUICK TO PRAY!
Before you react—
Before you spiral—
Before you plan—
Bring it to Him first!
When you hear a bad report—pray first.
When worry rises—pray first.
When you don’t know what to do—pray first.
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
“I’ll have peace… when GOD shows me the solution…
I’ll have peace… when it’s evident to work out…”
No! Peace comes from the conversation with God, not the solution you think you need.
I NEED TO PRAY ABOUT WHAT I’M THINKING ABOUT…
GUARD:
MY MIND = my thoughts…
MY HEART = my emotions.
- “I just feel like” - hold on… did you give that to God before you complained, contemplated, condemned, countered?
- Some people feel like you’re allowed to let your emtions control your life.
- “I’M SO HURT” - okay… what’s your first task? what’s the first thing you do?
I’M NOT SAYING YOU WON’T BE HURT! ~ I’M SAYING STOP LETTING GOD BE AT THE END OF YOUR PROCESS!
We can’t pray our way out of feelings while allowing our thoughts to run wild.
We can’t claim peace while feeding anxiety.
v. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Whatsoever is true… how do I know anymore?
Tefflin ~ A conversation with God where you allow Him to use your heart and mind.
- (THE BOX) WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY…
- (THE STRAP) HOW ARE YOU LEADING ME…
S: LACE UP!
I MEAN GO TO PRAYER FIRST ~ GO TO GOD FIRST - QUICKLY…
YOU MAY GO TO HIM WITH YOUR PROBLEMS…
BUT HE WANTS TO BE FIRST IN YOUR PROCESS
This is not a passive process—it’s an intentional decision to let God’s voice be louder than your thoughts, your emotions, or the noise of the world.
Colossians 3:2 Amp
2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].
“set” = not set it and forget it.
“SET YOUR MIND AND KEEP FOCUSED HABITUALLY” “set your affections in KJV” - GREEK = phroneó - to regulate and moderate from within.
“things of Heaven” - Greeek - ANO - things of the Heavenly dimention.
YOU HAVE AN ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES OF ANOTHER DIMENTION AND DEMAND THAT THEY HAPPEN HERE!
“THINK ABOUT THE THINGS OF HEAVEN”…. WHY?
Meditation creates access points FOR Heaven’s realities to be displayed.
HEBREW MEDIDTATE = TO MUTTER…
it’s talking… it’s conversation…
Lacing up in prayer isn’t just about starting with God—it’s about staying with Him.
It’s not a one-time action but a continual rhythm.
2. THE BRAIDING -
(tie it 7 times)
we don’t stop short; we pray until the process is finished.
Until our thoughts are fully surrendered. Until our hearts are aligned.
Until heaven’s reality invades our earthly circumstances.
Because real prayer isn’t just a moment in the morning —it’s a rhythm to life.
7 is important…
Seven is the number of completion. Not infinity. Completion.
- Seven times around Jericho – They didn’t stop after one lap. They kept going until God said, Now!
- Seven dips in the river for Naaman – The healing wasn’t partial. It wasn’t incomplete. He was made whole when the process was finished.
- How many times do I forgive? Seventy times seven! – Because forgiveness is a process, not just a moment.
- You may need to wake up every morning and say - “I FORGIVE SO AND SO…” and may feel nothing different.
- do it the next day… let’s say it takes 70 days… eventually - it’s gonna stick.
Ephesians 6:18
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Living laced up means you involve Him quicker in the process, so you don’t wait until the weight is unbearable BEFORE YOU PRAY!
DON’T LEET THE STORM BUILD BEFORE YOU CALL ON HIM.
DON’T LET THE PRESSURE MOUNT BEFORE YOU INVITE HIM.
Prayer = open conversation between you and God.
- prayer is NOT an incantation…
- prayer is NOT a declaration…
- prayer is NOT a bargaining tool…
IT’S AN OPEN CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND GOD!
A TIME THAT I STOPPED SAYING “AMEN”. (not that it’s bad… but I unerstood it as “the end”… I’ll get to you later…)
~ ~ ~ WE SOMETIMES GET JUST SHORT OF PRAYING… ~ ~ ~
Stop throwing around “Oh my God” as an exclamation. Instead, turn it into a petition.
Instead of saying, “Oh my God, what am I going to do?” Say, “God, what do You want me to do?”
Instead of saying, “Oh my God, I can’t handle this!” Say, “God, handle this with me.”
Instead of saying, “Oh my God, did she really say that!” Say, “God, you heard it. Help me respond through you.”
I said BRAIDING instead of wrapping for a reason…
- He’s not looking for robotic obedience.
- He’s not trying to strip you of your personality.
- He’s not asking you to lose yourself.
He’s asking you to co-labor.
That means He wraps His mind around yours.
He weaves His will through your desires.
He takes your identity, your heart, your thoughts—and braids them together with His.
CO-LABORING is… He wraps His mind around mine.
He wants to know the desires of my heart… and He weaves his will through it.
Psalm 37:4
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart
“Delight” in the Hebrew is = (look up what that is in the Hebrew and connect it to this prophetically)
That word delight in Hebrew?
It is ‘anag’ – and it means to be soft, pliable, delicate, responsive.
God isn’t saying, “I’ll give you whatever you want.”
He’s saying, “Let your heart be soft. Let Me shape your desires.
Let Me weave My will into yours—so that what you long for is what I have been planning to give.”
Because when your heart is braided with His…
YOU WON’T JUST BE PRAYING… YOU’LL BE PARTNERING!
Just like the braiding weaves our desires with His, the binding secures what we’ve committed to.
3. THE BINDING
A braid is flexible, but a knot holds firm. When we pray, we aren’t just weaving God into our lives—we are binding ourselves to His truth, His promises, and His presence. The tefillin isn’t just wrapped; it’s tied with intentional knots, securing the Word of God to the mind and the hand—our thoughts and our actions. Because prayer isn’t just about feeling connected to God in the moment; it’s about being bound to Him so tightly that nothing can shake us loose. When life pulls, when trials press, when distractions try to unravel us, the binding holds.
Psalm 56:9 TPT - “The very moment I call to you for a father’s help the tide of battle turns and my enemies flee. This one thing I know : God is on my side!”
IT IS THE BINDING THAT REMINDS US THAT WE CAN GO TO HIM!
IT’S THE BINDING THAT REMINDS US OF WHO HE IS SO THAT WE GO TO HIM FIRST!
IT IS THE BINDING THAT REMINDS US TO RUN TO HIM!
But why don’t we?
- This isn’t important enough… / I’m not important enough…
- This is my fault anyway…
- I feel awkward talking about this to Him…
Yet, God Himself commanded us to bind His words as a sign upon us:
Deuteronomy 6:8
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
The very knots of the tefillin declare who He is:
- On the head: A knot shaped like the letter Shin (ש)
- On the arm: Knots forming Dalet (ד) and Yod (י)
Together, they spell Shaddai—”God Almighty.” ALL-SUFFICIENT.
A knot is a secure thing—it doesn’t let go.
WHEN THINGS GET CRAZY… OUR FOUNDATION IS KNOWING THAT WE ARE HIS.
- Protector – He holds us when we feel weak.
- All-Powerful – He is bigger than what we face.
- Peace – He calms the storms inside AND outside of us.
Proverbs 3:3
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Love (chesed) is steadfast, covenantal love—God’s unwavering commitment.
Faithfulness (emet) is truth, integrity, and loyalty—He never fails.
Bind them around your neck—it’s a hug. When you feel alone, when you feel abandoned, He is holding you close.
Write them on your heart—not with ink, but engraved. It’s not temporary; it’s permanent.
When your heart is broken, when you forget who you are—
Remember: “I am loved. I am held. I am His.”
People overcomplicate prayer.
We’ve done it a disservice by making it feel deeper, harder, more mystical than it really is.
That’s what religion does.
Prayer isn’t a ritual. It’s not a performance. It’s not about saying the right words or feeling a certain way.
It’s simply talking with God.
- That means we don’t just sit in a room, listening to worship music, and call it “spending time in prayer.” No—prayer is a conversation. It’s interaction. It’s binding ourselves to Him, weaving Him into our daily rhythms, and making Him our first response—not our last resort.
That’s why we MUST LEARN to make it a priority.
Before our feet hit the ground, we say something. We invite Him into our day. We lace up before we step out.
But here’s the most beautiful part: God loves your presence more than you love His.
Zephaniah 3:17
17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.
Think about that.
- God rejoices over you. He is glad to be with you.
- God quiets you with His love. He holds you in His embrace.
- God sings over you—loudly. He is excited for this time together.
There have been times I’ve come to prayer dry, tired, cranky. And in those moments, I’ve realized something that changed everything: God wants this time with me even more than I do.
So don’t go to prayer to find God. Go to prayer to be with Him.
And if you miss your time in prayer? Don’t feel guilty. Feel hungry.
Lace up. Be quick to pray.
Extra
Joshua 8:
This is Joshua and the battle of A.I. - didn’t think that was in the Bible did you?
A.I. was a different battle then Jericho…
In Jericho God said march around, shout and the walls will come down.
- IN A.I. God said - I’m going to give you strategy and a spear.
GOD GAVE A STRATEGY - you will defeat AI from an area no one expected.
Joshua 8:10 - 19
10 Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel.
11 All the fighting men who were with Joshua marched in front of the town and camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the town.
12 That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town.
13 So they stationed the main army north of the town and the ambush west of the town. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.
THEY WILL CHASE AND YELL AND RUN AT YOU - but not realize they are empowering an ambush.
14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn’t realize there was an ambush behind the town.
15 Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten.
16 Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the town.
17 There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the town was left wide open.
GOD GIVES YOU A SPEAR - Notice… not a staff like Moses. // The STAFF was worship… the SPEAR is declaration and decision.
18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you.” Joshua did as he was commanded.
19 As soon as Joshua gave this signal, all the men in ambush jumped up from their position and poured into the town. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.
GOD GAVE JOSHUA A PROCESS:
- be quick to listen to me, hear me, follow me…
- I’ll give you a different way of thinking…
- you’ll see the fight different…
- you’ll take the favor for your own.