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Solid Ground

Has anyone else seen the recently-released Elvis movie? My husband and I saw it and I was glad I did.

The movie revealed a hardscrabble side of Elvis’ story that many, including myself, didn’t know in detail. At times, it was painful to watch, wondering how anyone could endure such extremes.

Viewing it from a Biblical perspective enabled me to see how the enemy tried relentlessly to work poverty and lack throughout this man’s life to gain ground…to steal, kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10).

God alone is our Holy Ground, our Solid Rock, our Solid Gold, our Dominion. He owns it all and is above it all. With Him everything He is and wills for us is possible. With Him, we don’t have to do it our way or the world’s way. We don’t have to depend on fools.

God’s truth in Psalm 23:1 TPT tells us that “Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.”

God instructs us in 2 Timothy 2:22 TPT to “Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts.”

So, obedience to His instructions is how we can “stand on level ground” as we praise Him in the “great congregation” (Ps 26:12 NIV).

It’s only when we distance ourselves, lose sight of Him as our captivation and go our own way to put other things above Him (instead of in submission to Him) that we set ourselves on a trajectory that misses God’s best. Disobedience, even sins of our youth, can cause us to get caught up in enemy snares and miss longevity’s blessings (De 30:19).

If we don’t return to God through heartfelt repentance, we can miss God’s best life for us to the point of sin overtaking us, which always leads to some sort of death, possibly even physical.

This truth can be found in Romans 8:13 TPT, which says that “For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die. But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.”

On earth, the kind of end God desires for us to come to is the end of ourselves—our selfishness, lusts of the flesh, all else that doesn’t please God.

Because God is with us, we can hit the wall of our wrongdoings and be awakened to new life as He reveals to us the error of our ways. In our moments of true confession, He can meet us with revelation, where we can come to recognize the only good thing in us at all, is Him and His virtue of goodness—nothing of our own.

This is the beginning of our deeper awareness of our greater freedom in Christ. This gracious revelation makes our dependence upon Him clearer and motivates us to be more obedient with a grateful heart.

God’s truth is that He exalts the humble, which are those who live in submission to Him. So, sometimes, our best prayer is, “Lord, fix me. Get me where You desire I be.”

Colossians 3:2 NIV warns us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Chapter 3 goes on to advise us to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Co 3:5-6 NIV)

The NIV study note for verse 6 clarifies that the wrath of God comes “on those who are disobedient.”

Still, God will offer us turning points before it’s too late. He may gently work through others before we hit the wall.

Psalm 40:2 TPT reminds us that “He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.”

To be sure, God has a higher life for each of us.

Do you remember the story of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:3)? When Jesus bent over and wrote in the dust on the ground with His finger in John 8:8? The Word “ground” in this scripture means “standing-place” (Strong’s #1093). It is the place where we lay it all at His feet and stand with Him on solid ground. It’s the place where we live out destiny in preparation for eternity.

As Jesus wrote for the woman caught in adultery, He changed her story by giving her a new beginning and a new directive, a true life to be lived—reflective of His mercy and grace—to go and “sin no more” (Jn 8:11).

She could continue with her new life on God’s ascended way for her, because He gave her directives along with His grace-power to fulfill them. He lifted her out of her low-life stupor without condemnation (1 Co 15:34).

I believe that as this woman was set free by Christ, she came to know Psalm 55:22 TPT, which says, “So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.”

I believe she knew that Jesus was where Heaven meets earth and that He loved her more than anyone else could (Jn 3:16-17, 1 Jn 2:15).

I wonder whether Elvis ever knew these truths beyond where his talent took him.

When God restores our lives, He restores our dignity, integrity and beauty. Heaviness falls away as we enter His weighty glory. Unchained, we find true answers and walk to a new melody. This is His promise of His grace, without which we would never make it in the land.

Truth always comes as we trust God, and it’s best if it comes sooner than later. Let’s not make deals with the devil (1 Jn 2:16). Let’s take it all to The Lord and follow His lead, so we can keep truly ascending and not get caught in a trap with no way out.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for releasing me into Your best plan for me. “See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way—the path that brings me back to you” (Ps 139:24 TPT). Help me put my trust in You. Whatever has gotten out of control in my life, help me bring it into submission to You. And “Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say” (Ps 51:12 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Healing Dreams

Sometimes, when we have suffered a long time, like Joseph, a dream can make all the difference. A dream can minister the comfort of hope. Acting on it can unlock our destinies and bring fullness of joy.

Remember the dream Joseph had early in his life? Where God revealed to him the good outcome of his hardship?

Well, fast forward to when God put Joseph in front of Pharaoh to interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. What we see here is a Divine set-up for Joseph to interpret someone else’s dream before his own dream came true. And of all people, God chose Pharaoh, the earthly governing authority who kept Joseph and his dream locked away. But the deeper truth here is that both of them held each other’s keys to unlock their destinies.

Pharaoh needed a favor and so did Joseph. But if Joseph’s heart hadn’t been right in the eyes of God, he would not have interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. And if Pharaoh hadn’t humbled himself to receive the interpretation through his prisoner, Joseph, he would have had a very different story.

So, we see here that, when Joseph brought life to Pharaoh’s dream by interpreting it, this unlocked his own dream. The dream interpretation turned the key of destiny that set Joseph free from where he had been. It opened up his own new beginning for a new path (Ps 119:32).

What’s important to see here is that God’s heart extends beyond us to others we feel may not be so deserving. In this case, God expressed His grace through both Joseph and Pharaoh, as God’s heart was to feed not only His blessed Israelites but also His beloved Egyptians.

Just like with Joseph, God will often position an unlikely person in our lives who holds the key to unlock our dreams and destinies. When we grow to have a right heart toward them, beyond judgment into triumphant mercy, to the extent that we become willing to first help them unlock their dream, God breaks open our own dream-come-true. 

This is the virtue and law of reciprocity that is part of maturing, strengthening and transforming us as Christ-like. It is for our benefit, even though it doesn’t initially feel fair to our selfish nature.

It’s a way God humbles us to position us for promotion.

It’s a way we experience the fullness of our healing as joy floods us.

As our breakthroughs come, even through unexpected key holders, we experience the freedom to get unstuck as God extends His grace to the humble.

We can imagine the challenge of Joseph having to overcome feelings of being controlled by this authority figure before he could walk in greater authority. And we can understand this higher walk with God as we honor both Him and the one He chose to hold and turn our keys.

Clearly, prideful dishonor must go as we submit to God’s ways.

I have experienced this in my life on a couple of occasions. One of them being in the area of book publishing:

There was a woman, with whom I worked, who desired to publish a book and sought an editor. She asked me if I would do the job.

I knew this woman had no experience in writing or book publishing and that she was not a strong believer. She believed in Jesus but also believed in other practices that were not of Him.

Even so, I realized that, in His rich mercy, our Lord will bless whomever He chooses. So, I prayed about editing her manuscript.

At that time in my life, I didn’t understand that this situation was a set-up from God. I felt frustrated because it seemed I wasn’t being blessed in this area.

Still, I felt like God desired I do the job. So, I soldiered up and did a thorough edit. In the process, I discovered that, as I helped this woman break through into her dream-come-true, God grew me in humility.

Just a few years later, our Lord extended His grace further to see to it that my first book was published. This proved to be the beginning of my formal ministry structure.

So, friends, God doesn’t stop short and He never forgets. Our blessings begin when we align with Him and are extended when we work with Him to bless others.

What God did for Joseph, He will do for us.

Wherever you are in your journey, remember you are always victorious in Christ. You are continually growing higher as you align with Him. And you will accomplish your destiny with God if you honor Him and don’t give up.

So, Lord, please have mercy upon us and bring Your healing by helping us realize our dreams-come-true. For Your glory.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Shame To Glory

God is constantly working on our behalves to reposition us into the manifestation of the work He did in us during the last season.

So, as He has swept away our ashes, He will lift us into His higher beauty. As He has taken our mourning, He will lift us into dancing. As He has removed our shame, He will lift us into His greater glory.

God will give us opportunities to apply His wisdom as we stand on His Word above all else.

He will make our days brighter as we continue to reach out to those in need with compassion (Is 58:8).

And in all of this, He will help us know, even more, the treasure He made us to be as we continue to grow in Him and behold Him as our greatest Treasure.

Just as Ruth encountered God’s serendipity as she entered into her new domain, so too can we expect surprises along the way.

Ruth experienced a string of suddenlies: A trail that led her, built her and prevailed for her. A path that produced more than enough for her. So much so that God was able to overflow new life to her beloved, grieving Naomi.

Imagine rewards like this!

Ruth came to understand Psalm 116:11 ESV, which says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Ruth came to understand that, for her worst, most painful ending, God had a new, bright beginning just for her.

As she sought God forward in her desperation and followed His best wisdom, Ruth stepped into her greatest blessings yet—the restoration of a Godly family and all the inheritance that it comes with.

Isaiah 61:7 NLT is a key scripture here. It says, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

The Word shame (Strong’s #1322) here means “confusion” and is linked with idolatry. It refers to shame as a feeling, a condition and its cause.

We know that confusion leads to instability and that we do not serve a God of confusion but a God of truth, certain hope and a firm foundation.

So, for every false cloak of shame the enemy tried to force on us previously, God will give us double-portion honor as we have laid down idols and chosen His path instead (Ps 109:29). He will give us rejoice for confusion (Is 61:7 KJV). He will restore double blessings for whatever blessings we forfeited previously (Is 61:7 AMP).

Another part of God’s restoration plan is to deal with all who oppressed us.

Zephaniah 3:19 NLT says, “And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.

So, as we continue to focus on our Lord and walk out His restoration plan for us, He will take care of business behind us.

We won’t have to look back.

We can leave it all to God.

I like how Job’s friend, Zophar, says it so poetically in Job 11:13-20 NIV:

Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You that, as we walk with You, Your abundance, honor and glory are our rear guard, according to Isaiah 58:8. Thank You that there is no shame as we continue to turn to You and Your ways. Thank You that, as you resurrect us and redeem our lives daily by Your grace, we are made stronger in You to share Your great compassion with others without shame. Thank You for a harvest of joy for those who sowed tears (Ps 126:5).

Help us to receive Your wisdom and not be wise in our own eyes, since You allow disappointment, disgrace and disempowerment for the foolishly self-reliant (Ro 10:11 AMPC). Help us to trust in You and know that You and Your ways are enough.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Arise, Daughters

Nearly three weeks ago, during Holy Communion late one evening, our Lord showed me a vision of Himself as a Lion wearing a crown. This Lion was standing and waiting with me in a dark cave. Suddenly, the door of the cave opened and light streamed in. Holy Spirit gave me the understanding that this majestic Lion was ready to be publicly presented and displayed.

This was the end of the vision.

What our Lord impressed in my spirit was that there are those of us who have felt we have been in a cave for a long time. Whether it be due to preparation or grief or fear or exhaustion or all the above.

But now, Holy Spirit is revealing that it’s time to follow our King of Glory out of the cave and share Him with the world in bright new ways. It’s time for the One, who has been there all along, to shine anew. It’s time for us to arise as His daughters and sons and let the glory of our Lord radiate to nations through us. It’s time to display His victory-salvation in our lives on another level and invite others to dwell with Him. It’s time to follow His lead as He spotlights Himself.

There is a grace—a holy ease and favor—upon us for this. God is restoring us to outward expressions of awesome wonder for the divine purpose of captivating others.

Our key scripture here is Isaiah 60:1 AMPC, which says, “ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! [Zech. 8:23.]”

Sometimes, when we go through long seasons of hardship, it can feel easy to forget that, as we have gone deeper with God to recover, His glory isn’t being shared through us as much as it is being shared with us. But we are in a time now, where God’s deep work in us has been completed for the purpose it was intended.

The season has shifted into a new one in which His glory will shine brighter than ever through us to a world that desperately needs to see Him.

Isaiah 60:2-4 TPT describes this repositioning and repurpose by saying:

Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth and thick gloom covers the nations, but Yahweh arises upon you and the brightness of his glory appears over you! Nations will be attracted to your radiant light and kings to the sunrise-glory of your new day! Lift up your eyes higher! Look all around you and believe, for your sons are returning from far away and your daughters are being tenderly carried home. Watch as they all gather together, eager to come back to you!

Just as God has restored us, He desires to restore them through His redemption. And we get to be part of it. God may have new places and platforms for us and may even relocate many.

Although it will be a process, it won’t be overly difficult. We can expect to experience His beauty and peace on new levels, from the moment we enter in. We can expect to be awed and amazed by Him in new ways as He takes us to extraordinary settings that we do not deserve.

By pure grace, God will get us there, as He continues to give good gifts to His children, even the ones we don’t deserve.

This is God revealing His heart for us as in Romans 8:28 AMPC, which says, “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.”

We are stepping into God’s new plan, His new grace place as He has taken all the pieces and done something good with them. And we will not be alone. The same Lion that was with us in the dark cave is the same Lion that will be with us in the new, bright shining place.

What we thought was lost and gone forever will prove to reveal itself as a new beginning as God returns us to the beautiful desires of our hearts made manifest in grand, new ways.

This new place is a greater expanse that required a narrow walk. And it will not disappoint. It offers peace and fullness of joy as our Lord dwells with us there to pour out to many.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for believing in us and not abandoning us, both in the cave and in public arenas. Both have been places of captivation because of You. Help us to continue to realize that, as we go, we grow in You. May it all be according to Your will as we follow You.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

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Justice: Legend & Legacy – Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, God highlighted that living justly is to live wise-heartedly, intelligently, skillfully and artfully and that doing so releases fresh beauty (chakam – Strong’s #2450).

Part 2 focuses on the faith factor.

Our key scripture is Hebrews 10:38 NKJV, which says that “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

The Word “just” (dikaios – Strong’s #1342) in this scripture means those who are approved and acceptable by faith, according to God. It means believers, whose faith is in God’s entirety—His identity, character and actions.

God’s standard is justice, to which we are transformed by faith and grace (Ro 12:2). In so doing, we build wholeness in our souls that will be expressed outwardly.

We will know this by God’s revealed wisdom.

Romans 1:17 TPT tells us that “This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith…”

So, faith in God empowers us to live a just life, which is a wise—intelligent, skillful and beautiful life—in agreement with Him.

This faith in us is God’s faith in us, not something we conjure up. It is the substance of things hoped for, the title deed of what will surely come to pass as our inheritance. A guarantee.

Proverbs 1:23 TPT expresses this by asking us, “…Don’t you know that I’m ready to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you and bring to you the revelation of my words that will make your heart wise?”

God has wisdom to release to us to help us live out our high purposes. So, it’s important to invest dedicated time with Him. God has tangible forms of justice, such as rewards, recompenses and restoration to give to us. So, it’s important to process all the way through what is necessary with God and not waste our growing pains.

Even though the process can feel long and difficult to our flesh, every time we move forward, we build justice into our souls and plant seeds of justice for generations.

Every time we move forward, we come up higher. We are lifted as we grow in grace and wisdom and faith as God reveals both a legend and a legacy of powerful blessing that honors Him, honors us and honors others. We are being strengthened in our Lord, which pleases Him and makes us more useful for greater exploits.

God calls us to go live in His light and sing His praises, not be confined under a bush. We are to blaze a trail with Him, touching others as He leads to set captives free so they, too, can live a captivating life and pass it on. This is freedom. This is true justice expressed as divine inheritance for those whose faith is in God.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your gift of Justice, who is Your Son Himself and for life that comes by active faith in You (Ga 3:11).

Have mercy on us, Lord (Ps 86:3).

We desire to live a life of shalom wholeness, full of love, power and soundness of mind (2 Ti 1:7).

Your Word says that if we keep trusting in You, do what is right in Your eyes and fix our hearts on Your promises, we will dwell in the land and feast on Your faithfulness” (Ps 37:3 TPT).

So, help us discern truth from falsehood (1 Jn 4:6).

Help us to listen to Your Word of Truth and respond to it, so that it will always become like poetry written and fulfilled by our lives (Ja 1:22, Ro 2:13).

Open our eyes even more to see the benefits of Your ways (Ps 103:2, Mt 5:8).

Help us to live a just life by faith, where we experience Your blessings of justice in every area of our lives (He 10:38).

Help us to trust You as our Source, the One who brings it to pass (Ps 37:5).

Help us remember that Your burden is light and to remain in the light, leaving the heavy lifting to You (Mt 11:30, Ps 55:22).

Help us to not stray from Your will but remain in our lanes with our eyes fixed on You, the Perfecter of our faith (He 12:2).

Help us to remain confident that we will experience Your goodness in the land of the living (Ps 27:13, 116:9).

Help us to please You above all else by choosing Your righteousness and justice always (He 11:6).

Thank You, Lord, that You are the Rewarder of those who diligently seek You (He 11:6).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope” (Ro 15:13 TPT)!

To God be the glory.

This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.