Dream Big: Daily Rhythms for a Year of Surprises

On the last Sunday of the year, a call rose to enter the new year with holy expectation: a year of surprises under the steady goodness of God. Without treating God as a “crystal ball,” the charge was to discern the times, refuse offense, and guard alignment with Jesus for the sake of unity and revival. In the Hebrew calendar framing of 5786, offense and distraction were identified as a global tactic against kingdom destiny, and the counter-move was clear: make exuberant declarations of faith, renounce religious control, press into the higher calling, and—when necessary—wait on the Lord. This posture carried into corporate prayer, asking for God’s presence, courage, and surprising reversals that work all things together for good.

Worship opened space for testimonies of healing in Jesus’ name, reinforcing that the atmosphere of His presence restores bodies without striving. Communion anchored the church in the sufficiency of the cross: His broken body for wholeness, His blood for life on earth as it is in heaven, His promises irrevocable, His love inseparable. Remembering that every day is already written in His book gave confidence for a future God has already provided for in Christ.

Then the community dared to dream: justice and accountability in public life, debt relief and wealth stewarded for kingdom, family restoration, prodigals returning, regional awakening in a historically barren corridor, and even the bold hope that a billion-soul harvest could spark here. The invitation was to co-labor with God, not simply survive His plan. Joshua’s audacity—asking the sun to stand still—modeled that God delights to respond when His people ask big. No one is too late; Moses began at 80. Hence, a holy discontent with smallness was urged: God’s mercies—His covenant love—are new every morning, and His language over believers mirrors His language over His Son.

Practical rhythms for a transformed year followed: Scripture as living seed (Spirit-led, not rule-driven), prayer that listens as much as it asks, and worship that reorients the soul and even rewires the brain—especially when cultivated privately. Further, believers were urged to “be being filled” with the Spirit—living yoked to God’s pace and presence, not sprinting ahead or lagging behind. Gratitude in all seasons, honest fellowship with believers, and spoken declarations that let the Word dwell richly rounded out a path toward daily dependence. With a 21-day fast, weekly prayer nights, and corporate intercession ahead, the charge was simple and strong: dream with God, align rhythms with His presence, and expect the impossible to become the starting place of Jesus.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Resist offense; contend for unity Offense and distraction are strategic tools to dislodge people from their God-given alignments and stall revival. The counter-formation is costly but clear: press into a higher call when it’s uncomfortable, renounce religious control, and make bold declarations of faith. Unity isn’t niceness; it’s spiritual protection and catalytic power for the Spirit’s work. Waiting becomes worship when trust is the posture. [10:51]
• 2. Dream big; co-labor with God God invites audacious participation, not passive survival. Joshua asked for the sun to stand still—and Scripture notes God listened to a man—so ask for what reflects His heart. No one is late to the story; Moses began at 80. Holy discontent with smallness is not ingratitude—it’s fidelity to God’s extravagant intentions. [73:50]
• 3. Scripture, prayer, worship—daily rhythms Let Scripture be seed, not a chore—follow the Spirit’s emphasis rather than a rigid regimen. Prayer must mature beyond crisis management into listening that anticipates answers before problems arrive. Worship reorients identity and even reshapes neural pathways, especially when practiced privately and reinforced corporately. These rhythms don’t earn favor; they keep life connected to the Source. [81:05]
• 4. Live yoked to the Spirit daily “Be being filled” means continuous dependence, not occasional refills. Yoked to Christ, pace and direction belong to Him—running ahead brings strain, lagging behind brings drag. Returning daily to “give us this day our daily bread” keeps reliance fresh and practical. Abiding isn’t complex; it’s consent to stay connected. [113:34]
• 5. Give thanks; walk with others; declare truth Gratitude in hard seasons is commanded because it shifts atmosphere and opens the heart to grace. Honest fellowship dismantles isolation and accelerates transformation. Let the Word dwell richly by speaking it—declarations train the tongue to agree with God. What fills you will eventually shape what forms from you. [119:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:47] - Discerning the times, not a crystal ball
• [07:26] - Praying into a year of surprises
• [10:51] - 5786: resist offense, pursue alignment
• [12:20] - Expectation and presence for the new year
• [36:27] - Healing breaks out in worship
• [51:20] - Communion: body and blood, our wholeness
• [61:15] - Daring hopes for the year ahead
• [72:15] - Dreaming and co-laboring with God
• [81:05] - Rhythms: Word, prayer, worship
• [93:10] - Learning silence and listening prayer
• [104:51] - Worship that reorients and transforms
• [111:55] - Yoked to the Spirit, daily dependence
• [124:00] - 21-day fast and corporate prayer
• [128:17] - Closing prayer and commissioning

Bible reading

- Joshua 10:12-14

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

- John 15:4-5

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

- Ephesians 5:18

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Observation questions

1. In Joshua 10:12-14, what exactly did Joshua ask God to do, and how did God respond in that moment of battle?
2. In John 15:4-5, what images does Jesus use to describe our relationship with Him, and what can we do (or not do) apart from Him?
3. Ephesians 5:18 uses a present, continuous command. What is the command, and what does that suggest about how often believers need the Spirit’s filling?
4. Name three specific “dreams” that were voiced for the days ahead (e.g., justice and accountability, debt relief, family restoration, prodigals returning, regional awakening, bold evangelism). What thread do they share? [01:01:31]

Interpretation questions

1. Joshua 10 highlights a moment when “God listened to a man.” What does that imply about bold, heart-aligned requests today, and where is the line between audacity and presumption? [01:13:50]
2. If abiding in Jesus (John 15:4-5) is the only path to real fruit, how might running ahead of God or lagging behind Him affect a believer’s peace and productivity? Consider the yoke picture. [01:53:34]
3. If offense and distraction are strategies to knock believers out of alignment and stall unity and revival, why is offense spiritually dangerous, and what is the counter-formation? [10:51]
4. “Be being filled” (Ephesians 5:18) suggests a continual posture. What daily rhythms or choices most help a believer live that way, especially in light of “give us this day our daily bread”? [01:58:21]

Application questions

1. Where are you currently tempted to carry an offense? What would it look like this week to refuse offense, renounce control, and make faith-filled declarations instead? [10:51]
2. What is one “sun-stand-still” request you will ask God for this year that reflects His heart (family restoration, justice, prodigals, regional awakening, provision, healing)? What one step will you take to co-labor with Him in it? [01:13:50]
3. Let Scripture be seed, not a chore: which one verse will you keep before your eyes this week (mirror, phone background, car dash), and how will you let it “dwell richly” by speaking it out loud? [01:27:55]
4. How will you practice listening prayer daily? Try setting a small timer (2–5 minutes) to be quiet before the Lord and jot what you sense. What time and place will you choose? [01:35:39]
5. What two simple practices will help you worship privately this week (e.g., one song in the morning, a gratitude playlist on a walk)? What one commitment will you make to worship with others regularly for shared transformation? [01:45:24]
6. In what area of life are you out of step—either sprinting ahead or dragging behind? What one change will help you match Jesus’ pace so you’re “yoked” to Him in that area? [01:53:34]
7. Where will you give thanks “in all seasons” right now, and who (outside your immediate family) will you invite into your real life this month for honest fellowship and prayer? Choose names and a date. [02:00:39]