Obedience Strategy: Signposts – Part 1

A few months ago, my husband and I were faced with a pivotal decision. 

So, I pressed God for an answer, because our timeline was short. 

What should we do? Should we do this? Or should we do that?

God answered my prayer by showing me a vision of a road block in front of the way He directed us to go three years earlier. I could clearly see in my mind’s eye a barricade in front of a road with the Words “LIMITED TIME” printed over the scene.

God made His will clear to me that we were no longer to go that way and that the time for that track was over (Ps 119:110). 

God had something new. 

So, in continuing to seek and follow Him, we ultimately discovered He had a more beautiful, even loftier place for us than three years ago.

Friends, what better place does God have for you in this hour? What new beginning?

What is His next step for you?

Psalm 28:7 TPT says, “…When I fully trust in you, help is on the way.”

God’s way is a sure path of life, shielding us from every danger (Ps 119:25, 37, 114).

His signposts are revelatory clues that He uses to bring clarity and help direct us along His best path. When we know God intimately, we know His voice in ways that align with His Word (Jn 10:27). We have eyes to see and ears to hear His truth (Matt 13:16, Ac 28:27 AMP).

Our level of obedience to His ways largely determines the level of life we experience on earth.

Abundant life is there for those who choose to receive it (Pr 11:19 TPT). 

God promises!

And it’s for His glory.

Psalm 31:19 NIV says, “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

When we love God deeply, we revere Him, run to Him, and put His everlasting Word before us. When we know Him, we trust that He will authoritatively direct and establish us in His will and ways as we set our hearts upon Him.

He is the Word, and He is Love (Jn 1:1, 1 Jn 4:16).

Revelation of His Word is His light of understanding to us. This revelation-understanding is the signpost that guides us to our next step (Ps 119:97, 100).

Psalm 119:140 TPT tells us, “all Your promises glow with fire.”

So, just like the pillar of fire (and a cloud) that guided the Israelites closer to their promised land, God’s illuminated Word guides us into His promises to us as we set our whole hearts on Him and seek Him for understanding (Ps 119:130, 2, 80).

Righteous God goes before us and shows us the way, according to His Word (De 1:32-33).

He reveals these secrets to us not only so we can have an understanding heart, but so we can obey Him (Ps 119:34). This postures us to favorably complete assignments and receive enduring rewards to better help others.

When we love God more than anything (or anyone) else, we will follow Him more than those other things.

Friends, that’s when life gets amazing.

Psalm 119:127 TPT says, “Truly, your message of truth means more to me than a vault filled with the purest gold.”

Psalm 119:129 TPT tells us, “Your marvelous words are living miracles; no wonder I long to obey everything you say.”

So, God’s Word as miraculous, valuable treasure makes us wiser than our enemies and protects us (Ps 119:98, 92-94).

Holy Spirit teaches us along His straightforward way and directs the flow of our lives by His teachings.

Proverbs 21:21 TPT tells us, “The lovers of God who chase after righteousness will find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction.”

Conversely, compromise of His Word diminishes life.

So, we are to look for and obey God’s signposts of illuminated Word passionately, setting them ever before us.(Ps 119:130-131).

We are to be like the psalmist in Psalm 119:112, who determined in his heart to “fully and forever” obey whatever God said.

Friends, the more we come into alignment with God’s Word, the more we come to experience the revelation of His heart and the increased flow of His power to help others.

Proverbs 11:30 TPT tells us “…a life lived loving God bears lasting fruit, for the one who is truly wise wins souls.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 TPT say, “Generosity brings prosperity, but withholding from charity brings poverty. 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.”

Friends, these are spiritual laws that work on our behalf and prove true in our lives.

So, do you love and trust God at His Word? Are you willing to follow Him and His ways?

If so, in light of all this, our prayer should be Psalm 119:29-32 MSG, which reads:

Barricade the road that goes nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner. I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; God, don’t let me down! I’ll run the course you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

Friends, join me next week for Part 2 of Obedience Strategy: Sign Posts.

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

Intimacy With God: Our Perfect Union

As His beloved daughters and sons we are betrothed to, in covenant with, and enthroned with our King (Eph 1:14, 2:6).

Ephesians 1:14 TPT says, “He is given to us like an engagement ring is given to a bride, as the first installment of what’s coming! He is our hope-promise of a future inheritance which seals us until we have all of redemption’s promises and experience complete freedom—all for the supreme glory and honor of God!”

Ephesians 2:5-6 AMPC say, “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…and He raised us up together with Him, and made us sit down together, [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”

John 15:4 TPT adds, “So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.”

Friends, The Lord’s certain hope inside of us gives us confidence to experience extraordinary levels of intimacy with Him on earth and in Heaven (Heb 7:19)!

1 John 4:16 TPT tells us, “We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them.”

So as His lovers, we are imbued with God’s loyal love, His passion of life and victory (Pr 3:3, Is 11:2).

As we abide with God, which means to be enthroned with Him (in covenant), we are able to fulfill His supreme commandment to “Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you” (Matt 22:37).

God offers us a full spectrum of covenant (His fully-affirmed, set agreement) benefits, as He makes us dwell in safety and confident trust, even when we walk through the valley with Him (Ps 4:8, 23:4).

Here’s a list of what we can experience while in close fellowship with Him:

Loyal love (Is 11:2)
Tender love (Ps 138:2)
Astonishing, extravagant and inclusive love (Eph 3:18)
Endless love (Ro 5:5, Jn 17:26)
Rich mercy (Eph 2:4)
Forgiveness (Col 2:13)
Salvation (Ro 10:1, 9; Acts 4:12)
Full salvation (Eph 4:30)
Rebirth (Jn 3:3)
Regeneration (Titus 3:5)
Redemption (Eph 1:7)
Christ in us (Col 1:26-27)
The One who is true (1 Jn 5:20).
The only true God and sent Son (Jn 17:3)
True holiness (Ro 6:22, Eph 4:30)
Compassion (Eph 2:4)
Gentleness of heart (Gal 5:22)
Goodness and kindness (1 Pe 2:3)
Constant companionship (De 31:8)
Perceiving the Lord (Acts 9:27)
Knowing Lord Jesus (Phil 3:1)
Intimate knowledge of God (1 Jn 4:7)
Intimacy with God (Heb 7:19)
Knowing God in His fullness (Col 1:10)
Complete oneness (Phil 3:11)
Perfect unity (Jn 17:23)
Co-glorification (Ro 8:17)
Glory and unity (Jn 17:22)
God’s plans for our lives (Ps 25:4)
Partnership with His divine nature (2 Pe 1:4)
Full revelation of the hope of his calling (Eph 1:18)
Full inheritance of the Kingdom (Matt 25:34)
Fulfillment of the promise (Heb 4:6)
Reality of God’s grace (Col 1:6)
All that grace has lavished upon us (1 Cor 2:12)
Marvelous light (1 Pe 2:9)
Life-giving light (Jn 8:12)
New life (Ro 6:4)
True life (Mk 8:35, Heb 10:39)
Living truth (Ps 138:2)
Flowing fountain of life (Ps 36:9)
Overcoming life (2 Tim 2:10)
Life and deliverance (Matt 10:22, 24:13)
Deliverance from oppression (1 Sam 10:18)
Dying to sin (Ro 6:11)
Resurrection life (Eph 2:5, Ro 6:5)
Overflowing power of His resurrection working in us (Phil 3:10)
Ascension (Eph 2:6, Col 3:1)
Exaltation (Matt 23:12)
Healing and wholeness (Is 53:5)
Life, freedom and satisfaction (Jn 10:9)
Complete freedom (Eph 1:14)
Complete satisfaction (Pr 19:23)
Abundant life (Pr 11:19)
Overwhelming abundance (Phil 4:2)
Harvest (Gal 6:8)
Everlasting life (2 Tim 3:15)
Eternal life (Jn 6:40, Acts 13:48)
Blessings (Ps 144:15, Ja 1:12, 25)
Favor (Ps 112:2)
Delight of our Master (Matt 25:21)
Prevailing faith (Gal 5:22)
Faith-rest (Heb 4:10-11)
Confident rest (Heb 4:3)
Full and complete rest (Heb 4:9)
Joy (Jn 15:11)
Joyous mercies (Ps 34:8)
Joyous delight (Jn 17:13)
Happiness (Jn 13:17)
Bliss (Matt 5:8)
Maturity of God’s Word (1 Pe 2:2)
Perfect understanding (insight, discernment) (Is 11:2)
Revelation (knowledge from God) (Is 11:2)
Revelation of God’s great mystery—Christ (Col 2:2)
Wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17)
Insight into hidden truths and mysteries of Heaven’s Kingdom (Matt 11:13)
Wise strategy (guidance) (Ps 31:3, Is 11:2)
Extraordinary wisdom (skill) (Is 11:2)
Prophecy (Is 11:2)
Dreams from God (Acts 2:17)
Spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:8-10)
His defense (Ex 14:14)
His Protection (Ps 91:2)
His wrap-around Presence (Ps 16:8)
Constant intercession (Ro 8:26-27, 34)
Peace for resolution (Phil 4:7, Gal 5:22)
Strength through God (1 Cor 1:6)
Self-control and strength of spirit (2 Pe 1:6, Gal 5:22)
Immeasurable greatness of God’s power (Eph 1:19)
Mighty power (warrior) (Is 11:2)
Confidence never shaken (Ps 16:8)
Fearless confidence (Pr 10:9)
Patience that endures (Gal 5:22)
Victory (1 Jn 5:4, Rev 2:28, 3:5)
Reward (Pr 28:10)
Justice (Is 42:3)

We can also experience:

The cross of Jesus (Lk 14:27, Matt 16:24, Ro 6:6)
Trouble and sorrows (Jn 16:33)
Comfort for suffering (2 Cor 1:5)
Suffering with blessing (1 Peter 3:14)
Suffering victoriously (2 Cor 1:6)
Glory after suffering (Lk 24:26)
Every kind of pressure (2 Cor 4:8)
Bearable testing (1 Cor 10:13)
Persecution (2 Tim 3:12)
Heaven’s Kingdom for persecution (Matt 5:10)
Extravagant generosity as a result of severe tribulation (2 Cor 8:2)

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, As your beloved, thank You for Your love for me. Thank You for Your gift of intimacy. Please grow me in intimacy and truth. Help me remain (abide) in You (1 Jn 2:4). Please help me to walk closely with You every moment and receive Your full inheritance.

“Let my passion for life be restored” on new levels, “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).

Thank You for prospering and excelling me “in every season by serving” You, because I’m assured that my union with You “makes our labor productive with fruit that endures” (1 Cor 15:58).

Thank You for bringing life and victory in my heart and life through Your Word and Spirit to establish Your Kingdom!

“…For just one day of intimacy with you is like a thousand days of joy rolled into one” (Ps 84:10)!

May it all be for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

Now, “…to all the holy believers who have been united to Jesus as beloved followers of the Messiah. May God, our true Father, release upon your lives the riches of his kind favor and heavenly peace through the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One” (Col 1:1 TPT).

“I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him” (Eph 1:17 TPT).

I pray that you will crave and seek above all else “the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace.” I pray that you will “live” your “life so close to him that he takes pleasure in” your “every prayer” (Ps 27:4 TPT ).

To God be the glory.

In Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

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