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A brand-new year can be exciting when we consider possibilities. But sometimes, when we’re faced with unfinished business, another year of expectations can make it feel hard to begin again.

When we find ourselves in the midst of extended projects, we need to remember that we are not defeated because God’s grace has not ended. The calendar or clock didn’t stop just because we have more to do. So, there’s no need for disappointment, because there’s grace for catching up (Ps 27:14 TPT).

God, in His perfection, will meet us right in the midst of our loose ends, to show Himself as peace and grace and compassion—the Shepherd who comes to lead us out into the clearing for the time we’re in.

He’s right there, revealing Himself as light, every morning, waiting for us to surrender our anxiety and delight in Him (Ps 46:10 TPT). He’s there in our afternoon praise breaks, to share His Sabbath rest with us from intense tasks.

Jesus’ heart is to dazzle us with the “radiance of God’s splendor” (He 1:3 TPT, Ps 80:1 TPT).

To offer Himself above worldly distraction.

To lift us, where the enemy has lied to us.

To open our eyes to find our security more in Him (above ourselves) as He keeps His promises ever before us.

Some of us are in need of a miracle of time to catch up. And there is grace for this as we show up and follow His instructions.

All of us are in need of God’s unlimited forgiveness like He extended to the servant in Matthew 18:26 TPT, in which the servant says, “Please be patient with me. Just give me more time and I will repay you all that I owe.”

Friends, God is offering us deliverance and has been all along. He has just waited for us to see and know that we needed Him more than we initially thought.

He is extending His triple grace to break through our impossible circumstances, level our mountains and carry us further along. He is doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves and just about wore ourselves out trying (Ps 55:22 TPT).

Could it be that our worse debt was the weight of self-reliance?

God is extending his promise of Matthew 18:27 TPT to us, which says that “Upon hearing his pleas, the king had compassion on his servant, and released him, and forgave his entire debt.”

God knows we are on an unfamiliar path and are prone to wandering from His ways. He sees our efforts and offers us His strength of grace in our weakness (Is 40:29). He knows it has felt hard for us to extend faith in some areas of the process. He knows it’s easier to settle for enemy lies when we are tired. He knows we can get caught up in feel-good comforts more than plowing through hard tasks diligently.

One of the reasons the journey has felt so hard is because it’s not about a single breakthrough project. It’s about groundbreaking for more projects to come forward. This first one is as much for training purposes as it is for anything else. If we will stick it out, it will prove to be more impactful than we knew from the start. It’s huge, but it’s not impossible with God, especially when we understand that light and multiplicity increase as we move forward with Him (Is 53:11 TPT).

So, if you feel like you’re stuck in a hole with no way out, then know our God of hope is joining you there to lead you upward and make it beautiful again.

It’s not over, and He hasn’t given up on you. Rather, God has made a way for you to overcome and finish well with Him. He would not have assigned you to a plan without helping you through it all, even in the pitfalls we can get ourselves into.

So, rise and shake off the hopelessness. Pick up the project again and meet God there. He will show you how He will bring it together in ways you did not know or see earlier. He will make it clearer and much easier now. He’s waiting for you to trust Him to make Himself known greater than before.

The key scripture our Lord highlighted to me is Mark 4:23 TPT, which says, “If you understand what I’m saying, you need to respond!”

Here are twelve more scriptures Holy Spirit highlighted to share with those who find themselves in this situation:

  1. “…God’s lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One” (Ro 6:23 TPT).
  2. “My revelation-truth is a gift to you, so remain faithful to my instruction” (Pr 4:2 TPT).
  3. “Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you” (Ep 4:23 TPT).
  4. “Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions” (Pr 4:25 TPT).
  5. “Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness” (Pr 4:27 TPT).
  6. “Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the devil, an opportunity to manipulate you” (Ep 4:27 TPT)!
  7. “Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others” (Co 3:23 TPT).
  8. “Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being” (Pr 4:22 TPT).
  9. “O God-Enthroned in heaven, I lift my eyes toward you in worship” (Ps 123:1 TPT).
  10. “…We look to you, our God, with passionate longing to please you and discover more of your mercy and grace” (Ps 123:2 TPT).
  11. “We acknowledge you as our Provider of all we need each day” (Ma 6:11 TPT).
  12. “Today, these Scriptures came true in front of you'” (Lk 4:21 TPT).

Pray with me if you will…

Mighty God,

Thank You for Your compassion. I repent of indifference and inaction. Thank You for redeeming me fully—my timeline in my assignments, my path and all of my brokenness (Ps 139:24 TPT). Thank You for aligning me for victory every single time I run to You. Thank You for lightening my load and making me a more faithful steward like You. May I always remember that You will make a way in my impossibilities and that Your heart for me is love. Thank You for the glorious gift of finishing strong with You as I pick up my assignment (cross) and begin again (Mk 8:34 TPT). And believing You are the God of Jacob, who fights for me (Ps 46:11 TPT).

In Jesus’ Holy Name.

Amen.

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

Obedience Strategy: Confidence in God – Part 1

Nearly two weeks ago, on the morning of October 5, 2020 (hours before President Trump returned from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), The Lord showed me a vision of a big, bold eagle high in the sky.

It expanded as I continued to gaze. 

Behind the eagle were several curly contrails, depicting strength and velocity. 

When I asked The Lord what this represented, He showed me the Word “America.” 

He impressed my heart with the understanding that the USA is making a powerful comeback by His fire and wind and that He is making it happen swiftly. 

The scripture The Lord gave to me was Psalm 103:5 TPT, which says, “You satisfy my every desire with good things. You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again like a flying eagle in the sky!”

The AMPC version says, “Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]! [Isa. 40:31.]”

God will continue to raise up His yielded (and trusted) ones for His glory.  

God reminded me that He looks for those to bless and that He is about to re-seat them in new, impactful roles. 

For those who have lost jobs, especially due to this year’s economic crisis, this is good news. 

God is turning circumstances. As His yielded ones continue to rise spiritually, they will be met with offers—some coming through a trickle-down effect—both spiritually and naturally. 

The Lord reminded me that much provision is on the other side of defeating the enemy of the soul. 

Think spoils—rewards for overcoming—done God’s way (2 Co 10:3). 

Biblically, it happened for David and for Joshua and Caleb, each of whom outgrew the purpose of their enemies, which was to drive them closer to God to accomplish His mission with Him.

God’s training arenas were their own families and communities.

These wholehearted leaders learned to hold onto God’s promises until they became their outward reality.

These leaders learned to overcome their enemies by trusting God to give them unique strategies and grace-power for each battle as they obeyed Him (2 Co 10:3).

They learned to step forth with God and take dominion by their obedience to His instruction.

Likewise, when we run to God in trust and reliance—our hearts made willing to receive the seeds of His Word as truth—God can produce exponential fruit through us to the point of outward multiplicity. 

This strong, intimate connection with God is one of dwelling in the blessed, fertile life—authentically living above lesser things—by the power of Holy Spirit.

We must come to know that God has us in an ascended position, able to receive His manifest blessings on an above-and-beyond level. 

We know He has our best interest at heart.

We know His compassion.

And we trust Him implicitly as Mercy and Justice on our behalf. 

This is the beginning of expanded living that goes beyond what we’ve known to reach others.

And it’s done by His Spirit.

It’s what Jabez prayed for in 1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV, which says, “‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain’…”

We can sync with God in Word and deed: Obedience to the heart of God, confidently remembering what He has already done for us and expecting Him to do more through us. 

We can know that He caught and carries us. 

Deuteronomy 32:11 NASB says, “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spreads His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.”

Exodus 19:4 NLT says, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

Isaiah 40:29, 31 ESV say, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

God is lifting us to arise and advance. He is restoring honor within our nation and among His people.

He is manifesting God-size dreams. 

Are you in position to receive God’s finest blessings?

If you’re not there yet, you can choose to ask God for a fresh perspective (to see as He sees). 

You can trust God and let Him carry you to a place of freedom and strength. 

You can put your confidence fully in Him, as your sufficiency comes from Him (Philippians 4:13). 

His way is a sure win. 

Romans 15:13 NIV says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

To God be the glory.

Join me next week for Part 2 of Obedience Strategy: Confidence in God.

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