Last week I had reason to think about the power and effects of covenants and agreements we make with others.  The following is a reflection of some of my thoughts on this.

​Covenants are powerful things and there are others who spiritually know a lot more than I do about them, but I wanted to increase your awareness of them.  Many of us will be making big changes in our lives in the days ahead, some of us signing up for new businesses, properties, partnerships, friendships, commitments to organisations and community groups.

We usually think of a covenant in a legal sense e.g. agree by lease, deed, or other legal contract. Then there is biblical covenant i.e. an agreement which brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. The Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David.  There are also I believe, 'informal' covenants we can enter into out of naivety e.g. pricking our thumbs as childhood friends and swearing to never be parted, or swearing to a friend or family member that we will look after them forever.  There can be ungodly covenants that our ancestors have entered into, both natural, spiritual or demonic that stay on our bloodlines and affect the fullness of all that we are meant to receive from the Father.  

​There is a theme for this next decade that carries the words 2020 vision, clarity, focus, no longer distracted and healing.  It is a decade of God's people entering into and operating from a place of rest.  For many of us being focused and staying that way is a challenge.  Not all of us are naturally good at it, nor are we good at organisation, planning and being disciplined. I want to introduce to you some challenges and tips to help us keep our focus and clarity.  The coming year will see many of us healed and released into new ministries, assignments and purpose and we will need to learn some new skills to steward this well. 

(I am using The Passion Translation, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 for this article).

God loves an hilarious giver (2 Cor 9:7).  When I was a baby christian one of God's principles that He impressed deeply upon me was that of helping the poor, and being a generous giver.  I was barely a year old in my walk when He opened up 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 to me and revealed how generous His heart was and that it is His desire that ours be like that also. For me these two chapters reflect an attitude of heart we should strive for in all of our giving, however and to whomever we give.  (I am not going to address the tithing question in here. If you're a tither do it with a generous spirited heart attitude).