Grace Upon Grace

Some time ago, during quiet time, our Lord revealed to me that He is pouring out His grace on those of us who prioritize His Spirit of Grace first—not solely in our hearts, but also in regards to our time and tasks.

It’s so easy to pick up our to-do lists first, but God desires to take us beyond our goals and accomplishments. He desires to breath on our daily lives to lighten our load and help us move forward with Him in greatness by His Spirit.

Romans 8:6 TPT reminds us that “… the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.”

So, as we trust the Spirit of Grace and relinquish the dis-grace of our own priorities, we can receive more of His grace-power.

Psalm 73:26 TPT is quick to remind us of Him as our power source by saying, “Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace. But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever you’re all I need!”

Here’s something else to keep in mind: Since one of the definitions of grace is “ease” (Strong’s #5543), when we feel un-easy about something, it could very well be that God’s grace is lifting off of that something and onto something else. In this way, He will invite us to trust Him and move forward with Him, not wanting us to miss His best.

When faced with this kind of transition, and we feel uncertain as to whether it’s God or the enemy or even us, we can lay the issue on the altar, and ask our Lord to make it crystal clear.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I awakened to receive immediate, specific instruction from Holy Spirit regarding three concerns I had been praying about. God made it very clear to me that He had a better fit for me in each of these three situations and He revealed next steps.

This is one way that we abide in Him during transitions.

In these situations, I’ve learned that any dis-appointments will fall away to divine appointments of destiny when we obey Him; and the dis-grace of lesser things will give way to His grace of abundant life.

We can choose to hold onto John 1:16 NLT, which says, “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”

Obedience to His Spirit enables God’s radiance in us to shine brighter. Obedient lovers of God will become more of a reflection of Him to make an even greater mark with Him for Kingdom’s sake.

So, as we choose to come increasingly into His light, God can accelerate us (Ep 2:7).

During moments of God’s gracious outpouring, He can make it as easy as 1-2-3 for us when we yield to Him (1 Pe 1:23). We can experience greater peace and grow under His refuge as we taste and see that our Lord is good in new ways to us (Ps 34:8).

Many have already moved on from former things into the awestruck wonder of God’s grace-power. They are realizing the beginnings of His higher life for them.

Some are even now coming into the “Never have I ever” phase. This is a Word-phrase our Lord revealed to me very recently that describes pinnacles of His goodness. He’s bringing His lovers into moments, situations and things that are brand-new-to-us, first-time-ever, unique, serendipitous and beautiful (as in appropriately and perfectly fitting; lovely). Experiences of the goodness of God that will stop us in our tracks, leave us in awestruck-wonder, thinking and saying, “Never have I ever!” This means places, opportunities and things, which we will know only God led us to receive. This includes gifts that are part of His preparation to build us for our promised greater blessings just ahead, especially in the next four years.

Many are in the place of Amos 9:13-15 MSG, which says, “‘Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.’ God’s Decree. ‘Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people Israel: They’ll rebuild their ruined cities. They’ll plant vineyards and drink good wine…’ God, your God, says so.”

So, friends, let’s continue to put on His new nature as He grows us upward. Let’s remember Ephesians 4:23-25 AMPC, which says, “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.”

In our dependence on Him, let’s reflect His strength of grace wherever He guides (Ps 84:7).

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You that You and Your grace are enough (Jn 1:16).

Thank You for helping me walk out Philippians 3:12–14 TPT, which says, “…I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me His own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.”

“Now all glory to” You, Lord, “who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ep 3:20 NLT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

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

Faith Time – Part 2

The Lord revealed to me that He is completing some assignments to bring His beloved into a higher perspective—one where wholeness resides—a beautiful, anticipated end to longings of the heart (1 Co 15:24). 

The image He gave to me was of a choir director bringing a choir to the close of an impactful song, where the glorious power of harmony comes to a punctuated end to position us anew. 

God is opening doors to places of beauty, revealing His greater goodness, the abundance of John 10:10. And there is such deep appreciation of these manifest opportunities, because they have felt like a long time coming. 

God has been breaking us into these places step-by-step, giving us a new perspective little-by-little; and in so doing, has increasingly made us insiders.

Suddenly, where we used to walk and wonder what it would be like to be in “that” position—in “that“ company, in “that” home or family or on “that” level—God is fulfilling a multiplicity of promises that He placed in our hearts. 

He is turning our reality.

Instead of being on the outside looking in, in a moment, we will find ourselves positioned on the inside looking out. With deep calm and gratitude in our hearts. 

We will experience a gentle exhale of “finally.”

God is bringing us onto His mountain to experience the solidity of His holiness, His glory and goodness. We will experience what we have prayed for for so long.

As we continue to fasten the gaze of our hearts on God, He will re-seat us higher with a firewall of protection around us (Ze 2:5).

Zechariah 2:5 NLT says, “And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.”

Psalm 91:9-10 MSG say, “Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.”

So, friends, in God bringing us up higher, things that used to pull us down will not even phase us. They will simply become a nonissue.

Drive-bys intended to harm will turn into by-passes as evil is turned away.

Are you willing to exercise the faith God put in you for His resurrection life to stream like a fountain upward and out of you?

If so, we must remember, too, that as we transition into these higher places with God’s perspective, we have to entrust Him, as our rear guard, with what’s behind us (Is 52:12).  

We must believe, by faith, as we take hairpin turns with Him, that He has better forward.

It’s time. And it’s right in front of us. 

We can renounce all lies of the evil one and continue forward, no matter what. Because when our assignments are complete, evil departs from those assignments (1 Co 15:24, 1 Sa 30-31).

Here are a few Bible characters who took a hairpin turn toward God and His will and, as a result, received a great harvest of restoration:

Ruth and Naomi, who returned to Naomi’s beloved Bethlehem (and God), received the security of a new husband and a new son, respectively (Ruth 1:16, 4:13-17).

Elijah, who sought God on Mt. Horeb when he was greatly troubled, heard from God; then returned the way he came, with a fresh victory-strategy and three new assignments from God that were destined for victorious outcomes (1 Ki 19:15-18).

David, who sought God before returning to Ziklag, the place of his assignment, recovered all (1 Sa 29:4; 30:3, 8, 18-20). Then, immediately afterward, when he shared his plunder generously, the evil assignment against him (through Saul) cancelled out (1 Sa 30:21-31; 1 Sa 31).

Notice, in each of these Bible character’s lives, their livelihoods were threatened. But they were led by The Lord into exponential new life; and they became conduits of new life for others.

Each of these Bible characters chose to seek God and a path of victory. 

Life didn’t end in tragedy, even though the enemy of their souls would have them believe otherwise. They kept going until they received their manifest victory.

They were surrounded by large and wide-open doorways of opportunity. They had to make pivotal decisions in a moment that would set their course higher in resurrection life. 

This should encourage us to make room for God’s truth and grace when making life-impacting decisions. He will be faithful.

Everywhere God leads us, we can walk on higher ground, because of the higher level of holiness God has brought us into by His Spirit and His dominant strength over His promises to us. 

The way these Bible characters got there was to turn to God first to seek and know His will for themselves and their circumstances. Then walk it out.

Their steps for a victorious outcome could be summarized like this…

  1. Seek God. Receive His strategy. Take the path of victory by obediently walking out your assignment, His way, until it’s complete. 
  2. When the fiercest part of the battle is over, do the right thing and share your plunder-blessings with others. Despite opposition.
  3. The attacks that come against you will be cancelled out when your assignment is completed in victory. In other words, the stronghold against you and your assignment will be broken. So, no matter what, don’t stop until you cross the finish line.

Friends, it’s time for God’s multiple promises to come into fruition in our lives.

And, not just one promise, but many over time, especially in the next five to six years.

By the dominant strength of His Spirit, our Lord is bringing them into place.

We will see them come to pass when we open our eyes and see it God’s way. Then choose to believe by faith for our longtime heart’s desires to come into fruition beginning right now. And exercise our faith to move forward, trusting and relying upon God (Jn 3:16, 3:36).

Psalm 34:8 MSG says, “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.”

Friends, let us taste and see and come to know that God is better than we’ve ever known.

It’s time to receive God’s priority and perspective that He has waited patiently for us to grow into.

So, if you’re willing…

  • Look up (to seek His heart and face). 
  • See Heaven above earthly things, even above the practical things He used to help build you so far along the way. 
  • Receive Him as the true revealer of mysteries who fortifies you. 
  • Praise Him for His rich mercy and patience, which He has also gifted to you as the fruit of His Spirit. 

He is wonderful, awesome God!

Lord, thank You for changing our perspective to see more of You and Your goodness in our lives. Enable us to receive all you have for us as we trust in You (Jn 3:16, 3:36; 1 Co 2:5). In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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