True Miracles Rising – Part 3

Just like with the early disciples, God sets us up to watch others receive miracles for our training and the development of our faith in Him (Jn 9:3). But He also has miracles for us personally.

One way He delivers us out of self-reliance into trusting Him more to work His grace on our behalves is to experience His powerful Presence. He watches us and knows where and when we especially need Him. He will invite us to come away from our work to simply praise and worship Him. When He calls us away, His timing is perfect. It may not feel convenient in the moment to those of us who are focused and efficiency-minded, but God’s invitation is not to be regarded as a distraction or a waste of time. But rather as our miraculous solution to ultimately excel at our assignments and expand His Kingdom by His Spirit as He presents Himself (1 Co 14:22 TPT). In this way, God humbles us and resets our focus on Him as the Mighty One, who is higher than our struggles. He reminds us that He loves us and is our all-powerful, enthroned King—our burden-bearer and solution giver—the only One who can lift us beyond our limitations. In these praise and worship breaks, God’s Glory invades our present circumstances and brings our much-needed change miraculously.

Saint Paul, through whom God did many miracles, experienced a physical jail break; and those around him spiritual conversions when the Spirit of Salvation visited Him while praising God (Ac 16:24-36, 19:11).

Believing in God is everything (Matt 13:58 TPT).

Jesus says in John 14:12 TPT, “I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!”

Saint Peter miraculously heal a paralyzed man and raise a dead woman back to life, like Jesus did, as Holy Spirit worked through him (Ac 9:32-41).

“Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same—yesterday, today, and forever” (He 13:8 TPT). Therefore, He can work through us in the power of creative miracles when we as His disciple-learners walk closely with Him.

Miracles are purposed to expand God’s Kingdom—inwardly to strengthen His people in Him and outwardly to expand reach, as news of miracles travels fast (Lk 7:17). The working of miracles results in the uniting of believers and the multiplying of them.

Acts 5:12-16 TPT says:

The apostles performed many signs, wonders, and miracles among the people. And the believers were wonderfully united as they met regularly in the temple courts in the area known as Solomon’s Porch. No one dared harm them, for everyone held them in high regard. Continually more and more people believed in the Lord and were added to their number—great crowds of both men and women. In fact, when people knew Peter was going to walk by, they carried the sick out to the streets and laid them down on cots and mats, knowing the incredible power emanating from him would overshadow them and heal them. Great numbers of people swarmed into Jerusalem from the nearby villages. They brought with them the sick and those troubled by demons—and everyone was healed!

God’s love for us is everlasting. His merciful miracles are rich. “Everything he does is full of splendor and beauty! Each miracle demonstrates his eternal perfection” (Ps 111:3 TPT). Even His “marvelous words are living miracles” (Ps 119:129 TPT). This is why we must speak life-giving words. It’s why we long to obey Him, to align with His way (Jn 14:15 TPT).

In fact, we will never fulfill our destinies without God’s miraculous intervention in our lives. Psalm 71:6 TPT says, “It was you who supported me from the day I was born, loving me, helping me through my life’s journey. You’ve made me into a miracle; no wonder I trust you and praise you forever! Many marvel at my success, but I know it is all because of you, my mighty protector!”

Friends, we are to “Praise him for his mighty miracles! Praise him for his magnificent greatness” (Ps 150:2 TPT)! Who could ever praise Him enough (Ps 106:2 TPT)?

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

“…You are my soul’s celebration. How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness you’ve done for me” (Ps 103:2 (TPT)? I “give thanks to the only miracle-working God” (Ps 136:4 TPT)! “Open my eyes to see the miracle-wonders hidden in Scripture” (Ps 119:18 TPT). May “I remember all your wonders of old” (Ps 77:11 TPT). Empower me to be a miracle-worker by Your Spirit for Your glory. “Let us see your miracles again, and let the rising generation see the glorious wonders you’re famous for” (Ps 90:16 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

Goodness of God – Part 2

Jesus is our good news. He is the Word, and every Word out of His mouth—written and revealed—is an expression of His goodness (Strong’s #2097).

He calls us to “…Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous” (Ro 12:9 TPT). To “hold on to what is good” (1 Th 5:21).

We can experience God’s goodness of new (eternal) life when we call upon His Name and walk in agreement with Him (Ro 10:13).

James 1:17 TPT reminds us of His faithful and complete grace being worked out in our lives by saying, “Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.”

I love how King David expresses His praise for our Lord in this regard by saying, “What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens! Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over. For the Lord, Yahweh, rescues us from the ways of death many times” (Ps 68:19-20 TPT). “Yahweh,” he sings, “you are my soul’s celebration. How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness you’ve done for me” (Ps 103:2 TPT)?

Life is always about glorifying God. Even in the midst of what we endure, redemption rules. Our God made us conquerors in advance, and faith is our “standard of measurement” (1 Jn 4:4, Ro 12:3 TPT). So, let the redeemed say so.

I believe we are in a special time of redemption—a time where we will see greater forms of prosperity pursue “the God-lover,” those who responded to God’s Word by clinging to it and keeping it dear as they endured difficult circumstances in faith. I believe God will bless them outwardly in many ways, as a reflection and a fulfilling of John 10:10 and John 15:5 abundant life (Pr 13:21, Lk 8:15).

Psalm 84:11 AMP assures us that “…the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Romans 8:31-34 NIV asks us, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

His higher, eternal life flows from righteousness and justice by grace as God’s people submit to Him by His life-giving faith and do not surrender to evil out of fear (Is 32:1-2 TPT).

1 John 4:18 AMP reminds us that “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].”

Nothing can separate us from this perfect, unlimited love as we trust God to protect and bless us (Ro 8:38-39, Pr 30:5).

Romans 8:37 TPT affirms this by saying, “Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!”

I love what Moses said to Joshua before Joshua was about to enter into God’s greater promises. Moses said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (De 31:7-8 ESV).

I love how God is with us where we are and also out in front of us simultaneously, waiting for us to step further into the unique destiny He has for each of us.

God is our Commander of Angel Armies, a shield. He protects us, delivers us, spares us, and rescues us, “just as a bird hovers over its nest to protect its young” (Is 31:5 TPT).

In this way, He has been traversing us through former places into His greater promises. He has been fortifying and guiding us as He purifies our souls. Safely crossing us over into a more advantageous position that requires us to follow Him even more closely.

So, let’s always reach for Him. Living life in the fullness of God without compromise is where the higher life is. He desires to bless us with His stores. So, let’s choose Him and His standards and ways above lesser ones and prove victorious. Let’s think honorably and do good (2 Co 8:21, 13:7; He 13:16).

Remember 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” (Pr 11:25 TPT).

So, Lord,

Help us to be Your hands and feet. Help us to “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” Your “heart” (He 13:16 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

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