Tag: #buildHisKingdom

Posted on

Doors of Opportunity – Part 1

A couple of weeks ago, on Friday, June 5, I met my husband at a building supply store to look at new front doors.

It was his idea. 

A long overdue project for our fixer-upper.

I joked that this event was date night and what an odd date it was. 

But I was glad to be there, looking at doors in person, as well as in a printed catalog.

Truth be told, I knew in my heart this situation was symbolic of a time for a new beginning. 

Off with the old and on with the new.

But we needed more than a door.

We also needed a new door frame and side panels. 

We walked through a number of door frames that were pre-set—some with doors attached and some without. 

The frames were clustered together and facing every direction.

The doors were made of various materials and came in various colors.

The prices ranged.

Which one to choose?

There can only be one.

But which one was the perfect fit?

We know that not every opportunity is of God.

We know that Jesus is the supreme Door of reconciliation and that He opens and closes doors of opportunity at His will to facilitate new life forward (Jn 10:7). 

We also know that a gate, which is a type of door, is a symbol of power and authority, and that God promises us that we will possess the gates of our enemies (Ge 22:17).

We know that this dominion is best lived out by following God’s pre-determined plan for us, which is our divine destiny.

Even the drive to and from the building supply company was filled with so much symbolism it was almost overwhelming.

The Lord reminded me of routes He took me along in my past, when I was much younger, that led me to earlier assignments. 

He showed me signs, like road names and train tracks; and He caused me to know that crucial elements were cycling around again, but in a bigger way with greater impact. 

I did not expect to see this on my Friday night “date.”

But when I pondered and prayed about all these metaphors, this is what I believe The Lord revealed…

We are at the new door. The old is behind us and we are to ascend with Him into the new. It’s what we’ve been waiting for, and it will be way better than what we originally thought.

God has positioned us to enter into this new “fitting” time and place that is an honorable space; one where longstanding dreams will be fulfilled as we build in co-labor with Him, our source and supplier of grace.

It’s a time of joy—even in our co-labor of these divine assignments—as God’s anointing flows to help bring to pass the promises He put in our hearts long ago.

God’s fluid holy ease will help us every step of the way as we begin to enter into this new decade, where some of our greatest desires will be fulfilled. 

These are legacy-level assignments for which God has leveled mountains of resistance and opened up a new framework of opportunity to enable us to enter through.

And just like a door has to be shimmed to make for a secure and lasting fit, God has made a way in this fitting time for us to experience a perfect fit that will stand the test of time as we rely on Him and do our part. 

As necessary, God will give us the sidebar space and a margin of time to complete our divine projects.

By pruning off branches and rooting out weeds from previous years, God has made a way for this refinement unity and manifest fruit to come into place externally and extend far and wide, beyond a single assignment, or generation or place (Ps 18:19). 

Now, free from burdens of the past, all has been made brand new to build His Kingdom with Him and fill the earth with His glory. 

Right now, God has opened the way (door) of increased provision, resulting in exponential impact.

His sons and daughters have pulled into port and are about to make an exchange of gold to then be brought out and shared with nations. 

Right now, God is opening doors to expose, in greater measure, both darkness and light. It’s part of His expanded Presence in the earth that will continue to increase (Ps 18:19). 

So, God will bring darkness to light, while simultaneously turning up the light on those who have been faithfully walking in His light.

God is taking down the strongman and exalting His sons and daughters.

Who are His sons and daughters?

Those who are led by Holy Spirit. 

Jesus, in His rich mercy, will also bring about reform and repair to the repentant. He can and will stand in the threshold of darkness on our behalf.

The Lord led me to Psalm 78 to reveal that, even for those who have felt like there’s too much water under the bridge, that it’s too late and too messed up, that their dreams don’t seem possible anymore, there is more ahead. 

He highlighted verses 23-27 (TPT), which say:

Still he spoke on their behalf and the skies opened up; the windows of heaven poured out food, the mercy bread-manna. The grain of grace fell from the clouds. Humans ate angels’ food—the meal of the mighty ones. His grace gave them more than enough! The heavenly winds of miracle power blew in their favor and food rained down upon them…

I believe The Lord is revealing that His provision will come supernaturally, not by our own doing or what we could’ve, would’ve or should’ve done in the past. The only thing that God is done with in our lives is regret. 

We need only to trust and obey and believe and receive His mighty truth. 

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You that You are my Gateway and my Lord of Breakthrough (Is 28:21, Sa 5:20). To enter through You is to experience unlimited life, freedom, and satisfaction (Jn 10:9). I hand over all of my broken pieces and regret to You. I repent of my sins and invite You to be Lord of my whole life, nothing withheld. I trust that You will deliver me into inner and outer wholeness. I choose to rely on You, Lord, to adhere to You and trust in Your power to save me. Please give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your will and way. Guide me into all truth for Your glory. I trust in Your grace provision to do it. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen

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

Posted on

Obstacles or Opportunities – Part 1

When seasons change, so do opportunities.

Opportunity, according to Strong’s, means “a due measure,” and “a fixed and definite period, a time, season.”

“A fitting time” (Strong’s).

Webster’s defines opportunity as, “a favorable juncture of circumstances” and “a good chance for advancement or progress.”

Some synonyms for “opportunity” are liberty, freedom and one’s turn (Dictionary.com).

But opportunity can also mean “a place” (Strong’s).

So, hold this “place,” and I’ll come back to it.

The Lord showed me the word “op-port-unity” in three sections, like this:

Op – which can be an abbreviation for “optical” and also for the word, “opus,” which means to creatively produce.

Port – which can mean a place of exchange, including redemption, truth for lies and blessings for lesser things in general.

Unity – which can mean union with Jesus and solidarity to serve others.

What creative work does God see to produce through you?

Through those who will build His Kingdom in this opportune season?

Where will He assign you?

What exchanges will occur?

The Lord led me to these five strategy scriptures:

Galatians 5:13 TPT says, “Beloved ones, God has called us to live a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit. But don’t view this wonderful freedom as an opportunity to set up a base of operations in the natural realm. Freedom means that we become so completely free of self-indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do.”

Galatians 6:10 AMPC says, “So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].”

Hebrews 13:16 TPT says, “We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart.”

2 Peter 3:15 TPT says, “And keep in mind that our Lord’s extraordinary patience simply means more opportunity for salvation…”

James 4:17 TPT warns us, “So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin.”

So, to summarize, God revealed this five-point strategy for the extraordinary opportunities His faithful followers are about to step into:

  1. Live in true freedom.
  2. Reach out in solidarity to be a blessing to others.
  3. Show mercy to the poor and do acts of kindness to others.
  4. Patiently expect more opportunity for salvations.
  5. Do the right thing and don’t refrain.

What will this strategy look like for you in your unique divine assignments?

As I continued researching, The Lord seemed to hone in on the word “port.”

Then He led me to find a golden nugget: A deeper look at the French derivative, “opportune,” which means “suitable for a purpose or occurring at just the right time.” It’s from the Latin word, “opportunus,” which means “favorable (used of the wind).” It’s derived from a Latin phrase that means “coming toward port” (Encarta).

The Lord was revealing that it’s time for the favorable wind of Holy Spirit to breathe on His redeemed vessels and bring us into port for divine exchange.

This port is a place of opportunity, as I mentioned earlier.

The word “exchange” means “to give up (something) for something else;” to “change for another” (Dictionary.com).

What change does God desire to bring us into?

What trade would He like to make?

Are there obstacles we need to lay down?

As saints, we know about the great exchange of Jesus’ atonement for our sins, bringing us into union with Him as our port-ion and growing us from glory to glory.

We know about the beautiful trading ships of Tarshish that sailed into port “bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks” for King Solomon (1 Ki 10:22), as well as back out of port carrying hammered silver (Je 10:9).

But we also know that those same ships of Tarshish were destroyed, and trade halted swiftly, due to prideful obstacles. (Is 2:16, Ez 27:25-27).

So, in all of this, we see, metaphorically, that Holy Spirit (wind) blows favorably on us as His vessels to remain on course and advance us into the port (an opportune place for a rich exchange) that He has planned (and has even imagined) for us. In this, we can see that we need to yield our will fully to Him in order to bear more good fruit by His Spirit.

There can be no false pride or other idols, lest the port be closed to us.

Therefore, the questions are:

Are we ready for the opportune exchanges as God furthers us into His new season?

Are we ready to come to a place of greater authenticity to be a greater blessing to God’s Kingdom?

If our minds have been renewed and our hearts made pure. If we have firmly decided to keep God as our first love throughout the journey. Then we know that the port of exchange will remain open to us.

So, friends, let’s call on The Lord in prayer as He releases His promises to us.

We can ask Him to enable us to receive all He has for us for His glory. We can ask Him to help us walk out His strategy in this season for His Name’s sake. We can pray for His perfect wisdom to be released in us. And we can thank Him for the harvest before us.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Join me next week for Part 2 of Obstacles or Opportunity.

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