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New Life – Part 3

Our Lord spoke to my heart recently, revealing that He is bringing us into overflow as we remain on the narrow path He has set us on—the path that requires our focus, time and co-labor with Him.

He revealed to me that, where we have walked a narrow path in the past in terms of our commitment of heart and discipline that led to tangible success by His grace, this new path is one He will use to facilitate greater measure as we continue to obey Him.

As we walk this narrow path with Him, our Lord will prepare us for our years ahead by tempering us now for the things He will bring around again and make new to us.

Right now, He is giving us time and space to setting some things, refine us and align us. Along this current, new path, He is offering us grace to recover when we mess up in the form of another opportunity to get it right.

In all of this training, He will offer us His very best, and those who refuse to settle for less will receive it.

As we progress with Him, the word “first” is key. First as in first-rate. Our Lord is lifting us above areas where we have settled for second and even felt second in the past by extending us grace to catch up and not lag behind anymore in thought, expectation, deed and relationship.

As we have sought God first, made Him our center and followed Him, our Lord has been establishing us in first place all along. As we continue to come up higher, and as He continues to work His standard of righteousness in and through us, He will also put first-rate surprises in our hands, and He will release us into manifest first-place positions in new areas as He does the impossible by His grace working on our behalf.

I believe this is all leading up to a time, that’s just a few years in front of us, a year of Jubilee, where many people’s lives will pivot dramatically as our Lord brings important changes and shifts us into high gear, enabling us to receive greater, next-level blessings and to give more blessings—bigger and better than we ever have.

God has redemption rainbows for us, where we enter into the divine promises that await us with new life—the overflowing, abundant life. Our glorious rewards for enduring storms (Ro 8:17).

When the time comes, we can expect to see more redemption established in our lives. This will include a new circle of people, a new direction, a new destination. Some elements will be old things made new by God over time and reconnected to us as covenant connections.

God is building us right now by training us to wait for the right things, the promised things, including timing, people and opportunities. He is working to settle some things and build a strong foundation so we can be made stable forward. He is using small things to illuminate our weaknesses for the purpose of running to Him for the strength of His righteousness. His desire is to sustain us for greater.

He will be specific in His instructions to us as we walk this journey with Him. Just like our Ruth and Naomi story from Parts 1 and 2 of this series, where Naomi’s homeland was made new to her as she came around again, faith, hope and love never let go of her in the journey.

1 Corinthians 13:8 AMP reminds us that “Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]…”

Those who have walked a narrow path with Him before know that the aloneness with God in the assignment will prove peaceful, empowering and priceless. We must remember that it isn’t solely about us. Once we arrive at our destination, there will be an outflow, an expanse that will bless multitudes.

So, friends, what form of redemption is God working in you right now to strengthen you for a greater future?

What does He have stored up just for you?

What directives has He given you to receive these blessings?

What is He releasing now into your hands that will help position you?

For Ruth, it was wheat in a field that she would soon own. Ruth went from being a foreigner to being invited to being married to being a landowner and then a mom. She and Naomi were a family restored and expanded, progressively united in old positions and in an old place—all made new to them.

God made it right again for them and even better than before, as they pressed forward to their finish line.

Psalm 92:13-14 TPT says, “You’ve transplanted them into your heavenly courtyard, where they are thriving before you, for in your presence they will still overflow and be anointed. Even in their old age they will stay fresh, bearing luscious fruit and abiding faithfully.”

God is doing the same for us today. He is making us a reflection of His goodness and able to sustain greater blessings. (Is 46:4). As we commit to abide in Him, He promises we will see the fruit. He has provided timelines and markers along the way.

Jesus says in Mark 1:15 TPT, “…It is time for God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel!'”

So, friends, let’s keep pace with our Lord and win this race.

To God be the glory.

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

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New Life – Part 2

Colossians 1:6 TPT says, “…Every believer of this good news bears the fruit of eternal life as they experience the reality of God’s grace.”

“For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now he is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption” (1 Co 1:30 TPT).

So, as we remain close to our Lord in Word and Spirit, as we focus on the eternal and extend our faith for new life, God’s Spirit-life in us will be imparted into our souls. By His Spirit, He will nourish us toward the outward fulfillment of His abundant new life for us (2 Co 4:18, Jn 10:10).

We are bound to God’s righteousness and, therefore, His abundance as we choose to obey Him.

Romans 11:18 TPT reminds us that we owe our lives to the root that supports us. He alone is our life source.

Our key scriptures for this series are Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT, which instructs us to “Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.”

In this verse, to “unwrap” means to discover, to find.

So, just like Naomi and Ruth discovered new life as they came into agreement with God’s leading, so can we. 

As they went forth together in faith, hope and love, Ruth discovered new life with Boaz. And Naomi discovered new life through the gift of a son. Through their journey of faith, God built and established their new lives. He even made that which was old to Naomi—meaning her homeland—new again to her.

But even before this manifest renewal, Ruth followed God’s wisdom through Naomi. And Naomi stepped forth, encouraged by Ruth, out of the death of bitterness into God’s greater goodness.

Ruth, who reflected new life to Naomi, didn’t give up on her in her bitterness, just like God doesn’t give up on us when we feel like we’re in a dead place.

Ruth wisely obeyed God’s wisdom and received the new life God had for her as her faith manifested in the form of marrying Boaz. Then she gave it back to Naomi generously in the form of a new son.

Proverbs 11:25 reminds us that “Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.”

God gave life generously to Ruth and Naomi through each other in different ways.

These two wise women abided with their life-giving God and lived fruitfully again as a family restored in Naomi’s homeland.

So, we see here that, no matter what we’ve been through, God doesn’t leave us at dead! He is Creator of our life cycle, Master at making all things new. We need only to trust Him and put righteous action to our faith.

We need to depend on God’s new life in us in order to continue onward and work optimally.

Jeremiah 17:7 AMP says, “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD And whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.”

Colossians 3:16 TPT says, “Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom…”

Therefore, we must continue to feed on God’s Word, which imparts continual life and keeps us aligned with Him in every way, enabling us to experience a renewed mind and abundant life—all free from sin’s power (1 Co 2:16, 2 Co 5:17, Ro 6).

I believe “…it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to” us (Ep 4:23 TPT).

I believe it’s time to shed old wine skins and align with God by faith and action, to be more fully alive and step out into the new that God has for us with greater clarity.

I believe God may give us flashes of understanding about former people and situations, so we can more easily release them to Him (2 Co 10:4).

I believe God is freeing us from fixations on wrong things and offering us grace to move forward more fully with Him to become more established in His new life for us as master overcomers, who rule from the root, to the foundation to the ascended life with Christ.

I believe God is inviting us up higher by giving us opportunities with new people in new arenas to practice what He instilled in our souls in the last season for righteous decision-making, having been trained by patience, having expressed gratitude and having been led by peace.

I also believe it’s important to keep pace with our Lord as He has assigned us, so we can better receive His fulfillment coming into place just ahead (Ac 20:24 TPT).

Our focus and faith must be on and in Him.

Let’s remember Ruth, who reflected new life and was an example of 2 Timothy 2:22 TPT, which says, “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.”

As we run for a crown of life (1 Co 9:25) into our new glory with our Lord, let’s also remember God’s Word in Song of Songs 2:13 TPT, in which He asks and instructs us, “Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, ‘There is change in the air.’ Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me.”

Join me next week for Part 3 of New Life.

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

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New Life – Part 1

Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT invites us to “Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.”

These verses are part of the living Word of God that impart wisdom for new life as we listen to and receive from Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite Bible examples of new life is the story of Naomi and Ruth.

Their story involves the Good News (Gospel) of grace helping them move forward from bitterness to love, from death to new life.

These wise women understood that their deceased husbands were seeds planted and that God had more redemption and resurrection life for themselves on earth (1 Co 15:36).

In His wisdom, God led them to return to Naomi’s homeland of Bethlehem. He was about to make what was once old, new for them. Their journey was purposed for abundance in ways they had yet to discover.

So, by faith, these wise women relocated from a dead end into a new beginning. And like them, when we walk by faith and not by sight, we receive God’s (zóopoieó) life into our souls (Strong’s #2227). This is a quickening that aligns us to live with God, not just for Him.

Ephesians 3:17 TPT says that “…by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.”

Many of us have tasted bitterness like Naomi. We may have even had to intentionally choose to rejoice above pain so that the bitterness would not take root in our souls (Ga 5:17). Like Naomi, we may have had to keep believing God’s root and foundation of love above the resistance of bitterness until it passed from us completely.

For Naomi, the moment she made the faithful decision to go and return home was the moment new life was put into motion for her (Strong’s #72).

As for younger Ruth, she was wise to trust Naomi’s decision and accompany her.

Metaphorically, Ruth represents victorious love not letting go of us in our darkest hour, guiding us further into the light of Christ, blessing us with every good thing we need, even when our current situation looks otherwise hopeless.

Youthful Ruth represents hope against hope to believe we will experience God’s promise of new life and a good ending.

These wise women understood that life wasn’t over for them, that God would make it better than before and that it was a whole new beginning.

So, friends, what new thing is God doing in your life?

New can reference time, as in a new season. It can mean youthful or even born again, as it pertains to people; or fresh as it pertains to things, including development or opportunity. It can also mean new in quality, as in innovation. It can reference form, as in unused, unworn or superior to what it succeeds. It can reference substance, as in uncommon or unheard of. New can reference a recent discovery. (Strong’s #3501, #2537).

Like Ruth and Naomi, we can walk in this uncommon faith for God’s fresh start and renewal of life (Strong’s # 2538).

We can discover our best lives yet.

We can experience a new way of life by Holy Spirit’s leading and training (Strong’s #72).

We can model our lives by love and endurance.

Faith in our Lord, who is our Life-Giver, aligns us with His fresh vision and new life (Lk 18:42).

In Matthew 11:29 TPT, Jesus says, “Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.”

Ephesians 4:24 TPT reminds us “to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.”

So, friends, we can trust Him for the transformation that brings new life and rest with Him in the process. Because God has more life for us ahead. He’s just beginning to set us on a new path. And He desires to establish us in better over bitter by His love.

“Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you,” according to Ephesians 4:23 TPT.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your fresh grace that offers new opportunities and new life to me. Where there has been upset, please give me a re-set and make my life upright. I invite You to straighten and clear out my pathways—spirit, soul and body—to align me more with You, as You cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Where there has been runaway failure, please help me to return home to You, knowing You will make what’s old new again. Help me to take hold of courage and run with You in victory. Help me take actions that foster life. Thank You for loving me enough to escort me into better.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

Join me next week for Part 2 of New Life.

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

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Sweet Moments

Within four days, very recently, our family laid two very special aunts to rest. All of my many aunts were like second mothers to me growing up. Each one was unique and strong and poured their very best into my young life. And each one inspired me to do the same.

As my large, extended family came together for these homegoing services, I was reminded to look for God’s beauty in everything: the tears, the memories, the flowers, the love through so many hearts and the legacy through these two aunts, who are also mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives and daughters.

In this, death’s bitter moments were made sweet by God.

“Sweet” can mean “good” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance #2896a).

As in His invitation to “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him” (Ps 34:8 NLT)!

The Word “good” in this verse means “pleasant” and “agreeable” (Strong’s 2896a).

Psalm 34:10 NKJV reminds us that “…those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Here, the Word “good” means “benefit” and “welfare” (Strong’s 2896b) as well as “happiness” and “prosperity” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance).

So, when we seek God, agree with His truth and ways and take refuge in Him, we will experience sweet moments of life that include His good benefits, no matter what our hearts’ desperation.

“Moment” is defined by Dictionary.com as “a particular time or period of success” It can mean a “stage” of a “course of events.” And It factors in importance and effects, such as consequences or rewards.

Proverbs 14:14 TPT assures us that “a good person receives a sweet reward.”

“Moment” can mean “day” in relation to “point of time” So, as we call out to Him and receive His moment-by-moment provision for victory, He can shift us from darkness to light instantly (Ps 138:3 TPT).

In this way, sweet moments magnify God and His Name. Sweet moments are victory in action.

As we release our pain to Christ and agree with His sweetness or goodness every moment, we align with His victory above darkness progressively to the point of completion, knowing He’ll use our circumstances for the good of His Kingdom. (Ga 5:22).

At my aunts’ homegoing services, God aligned my family on a new level of reconnection. He touched our hearts to override any absences or differences with His outpouring of what’s most important: Love.

To be more aligned with the heart of God is what my aunts would want.

God’s way above it all.

His truth.

His prevailing Presence and presentation of victory over death.

Psalm 34:7 NKJV tells us that “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.”

So, we never have to fear death or unpleasantries when we remain close to sweet Jesus. His Spirit of truth and grace is stronger and empowers us in any situation, even when loved ones cross over into eternity.

In Psalm 138:7 TPT, King David says, “By your mighty power I can walk through any devastation and you will keep me alive reviving me.” In verse three, he says, “At the very moment I called out to you, you answered me! You strengthened me deep within my soul and breathed fresh courage into me.”

Friends, we can face any difficulty when we are filled afresh with God’s Spirit above being full of ourselves.

We can rejoice and come up higher, according to Psalm 24:7 TPT, which says, “So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you doorways of eternity! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you.”

Friends, we can rise and remain living in the ascended life Jesus died to give us by trusting and obeying Him to make our moments sweet.

So, let’s look to His every rainbow promise that bridges us to His fulfillment, as we abide with Him for every sweet moment.

Pray with me, if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your heart of love that brings Your people together. Help me to remain in Your truth, to abide in You in all things. Please “Give me revelation about the meaning of your ways so I can enjoy the reward of following them fully” (Ps 119:33 TPT). Help me to choose Your righteousness over my own ways and reap the benefits of Your rewards. Thank You for Your sweet and fruitful moments in my life. I pray that You will multiply them.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

And now, I declare that “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him” (Ps 28:7 AMPC).

To God be the glory.

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

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Decision Making

God is our Savior in all things, even in our time. He is our Time-Saver. He redeems time, bringing His strength and beauty of efficiency into our divine purposes and assignments.

We need His perspective, so we can cooperate with Him in righteous decision making.

God has ultimate solutions for us that bring victory in His promises to us. His perfect solutions invite us to trust Him, submit to His ways above our own, build our faith and impact other peoples’ lives.

Godly decision making is purposed to know Him more, make Him known more and release our divine destiny in the process. In this, God will work out our victory-salvation, helping us to walk out His redemption for our lives here on earth.

As we remain close to Him, we cannot lose.

Hearing from God, patiently trusting Him and acting out of His wisdom are necessary for making right decisions (Pr 21:5, 28:25 TPT).

Proverbs 2:6-9 TPT tell us that “Wisdom is a gift from a generous God, and every word he speaks is full of revelation and becomes a fountain of understanding within you. For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom made accessible to his godly ones. He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways, protecting and guarding you as you choose what is right. Then you will discover all that is just, proper, and fair, and be empowered to make the right decisions as you walk into your destiny.”

Whole-hearted obedience is another key factor.

Joshua had many decisions to make as he and his troops warred to take dominion in the Promised Land. He had to take courage and hear unique strategies from God for each battle. He couldn’t lean on his own understanding (Pr 3:5). He had to hear from God and trust His perfect faithfulness implicitly each step of the way.

Just like God provided daily manna for the Israelites in the dessert, that was good only for a single day, so too was Joshua dependent upon God for daily life in resistant territory. Life was extended to him (and his troops) as he listened and carefully obeyed. In this, God developed great trust of heart and courage in Joshua as His prime leader.

Likewise, God offers us newness of life as we progress with Him, even as He prunes dead things from us that were once good in past seasons but that will not serve us well forward.

When we do it God’s way, and give Him our dis-appointments, He gives us His divine appointments.

Proverbs 28:25 TPT tells us “To make rash, hasty decisions shows that you are not trusting the Lord. But when you rely totally on God, you will still act carefully and prudently.”

Avoiding mistakes can save us time, pain and even life at the outset (Josh 7).

Proverbs 21:5 TPT says that “Brilliant ideas pay off and bring you prosperity, but making hasty, impatient decisions will only lead to financial loss.”

Still, even in this, God can use our hard-learned lessons to reveal His truth, develop us in character and give us a mercy-testimony of His goodness when we circle back to Him.

His grace is enough (Ja 1:5 TPT).

Here are some points to consider as we make Godly decisions forward in this new season:

Prioritize God as most valuable and honorable in regards to heart, time and task.

Keep hope anchored in Him as a firm foundation.

Intentionally choose to operate in faith, not fear.

Ask Him to reveal His timeline and way in specific assignments and tasks.

Yes, count the costs of decisions, which can help bring clarity, be conscious to not over analyze.

Pray unceasingly and follow His lead daily, even if it doesn’t make sense to us.

Expect God’s best, even if it comes in ways and through people we don’t expect.

When we make decisions God’s way, we will surely walk in victory. We will break through to another level when we trust God and receive and act on His invitation to come up higher with Him.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for drawing my heart “into understanding” as I listen to You (Pr 23:19 TPT).

“Teach me how to make good decisions, and give me revelation-light, for I believe in your commands” (Ps 119:66 TPT).

Thank You for growing me in Your wisdom that empowers me “to make right decisions” (Pr 23:19 TPT).

Help me to honor You in all my decision making, as I “constantly seek” Your kingdom and righteousness (Ma 6:33).

Thank You for giving me all I need (Ma 6:33).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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