Category: Salvation

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Light—The Other Armor: A Daylight Saving Time Reminder You May Not Have Expected

Is your armor complete?

When we think of armor, Ephesians 6 often comes to mind. But what about Romans 13:12? The MEV reveals, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us take off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Could it be that our armor, as described in various versions of Ephesians 6:11, 13, is not full, whole or complete without the radiant light of Romans 13:12?

Jesus is the “light of the world,” and so are we (Jn. 8:12, Mt. 5:14). There is no darkness in Him at all, and the enemy cannot comprehend light (1 Jn. 1:5, Jn. 1:5). So when we don the wrap-around light of Christ, the enemy is confounded (Ps. 104:2, Da. 2:22, Jo. 10:10).

What a position of strength!

Evil can’t get in (Ps. 91:7)!

As armor, light is about stripping off our sinful flesh and putting on the sinless character of Jesus (Light) for a faith-filled lifestyle of holy worship, honor, and strength by grace.

That’s victorious living.

Ephesians 6:10 TPT reveals, “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 TPT reveals, “For God, who said, ‘Let brilliant light shine out of darkness,’ is the one who has cascaded his light into us—the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ.”

March 10, the beginning of Daylight Saving Time this year, is a great time to remind us of these truths.

Consider these metaphors for Daylight Saving Time, a kind of first fruit shift, remembering ten (Eph. 10, Jo. 10:10, March 10) as the Biblical number for restoration. (I believe this year can prove out double-portion victory.):

  1. Light saves us.
  2. Our flesh sacrifices sleep.
  3. It forces us to wake up sooner.
  4. This shift in time causes an inner reset.
  5. Only a remnant of people are in the zone.
  6. At the end of the day, we experience more light.

Song of Songs 2:13 TPT reveals, “Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, ‘There is change in the air.’ Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me.”

God is the igniter of both consuming fire and glory. Because He loves us, His consuming fire burns off the dross in us that hinders our destiny with Him. His glorious and tangible Presence visits us in worship, to fill us and surround us with His peace, love and revelation. Both flames of passion can burn simultaneously during trials and tribulation.

He’s that smart.

He’s that powerful.

He’s that big.

2 Corinthians 3:18 TPT reveals, “We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Psalms 50:23 TPT reveals, “The life that pleases me is a life lived in the gratitude of grace, always choosing to walk with me in what is right. This is the sacrifice I desire from you. If you do this, more of my salvation will unfold for you.”

God is calling us to awaken and accelerate with Him at this time. Are you willing to sync with Him as your accelerant, as He brings darkness to light (Ps. 18:28, 2 Sam. 22:29)? Are you willing to trust Him and be clothed in His greater anointing (Gal 3:27)?

With whom will you choose to align yourself? The Father of lights (Ja. 1:17)? Or the father of lies (Jn. 8:44)?

Psalm 105:4 TPT directs us to “Seek more of his strength! Seek more of him! Let’s always be seeking the light of his face.”

Romans 50:1-2 TPT reveals, “The God of gods, the mighty Lord himself, has spoken! He shouts out over all the people of the earth in every brilliant sunrise and every beautiful sunset, saying, ‘Listen to me!’ God’s glory-light shines out of the Zion-realm with the radiance of perfect beauty.

Although longer days are upon us, our time on earth gets shorter every day. It’s time to step up, show gratitude to God and keep our promises to Him (Ps. 50:14). It’s time to come into more of His light of salvation … and sanctification, for His glory.

This article graciously appeared on Charisma.com March 8, 2019.

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Never Give Up

I am loving hearing so many preachers share fresh messages of transformation, over inspiration these days: revealing the “how to,” not solely the precepts that help us along our path of righteousness.

I have long awaited. Maybe you have, too.

Surely, we are in a “suddenly” mode of breakthroughs for our lives, having experienced incremental advances for a long time. I see points of breakthrough converging in my life in five major areas, which I will share in later posts.

For now, I feel led to share a story about John…

John was someone my husband, Glynn, worked with for a few years. During their first year, Glynn would occasionally share nuggets of concern with me about John and ask me to pray for his salvation.

I did.

John became even more personal to me the following year, when he transferred to a different job site and invited Glynn to join him.

Glynn did join him, and I followed to make a temporary home for us.

Newly positioned, I was able to finally meet John in person. A bar was the only place John was willing to semi-socialize. So, while he hid away in a few different dark bars in-between hospital visits, Glynn and I met him twice.

Since no place is too dark for Jesus to shine His light, it’s what Jesus would have done.

John had been diagnosed with cancer, and his prognosis wasn’t good.

I saw John in passing at the new job site occasionally.

From the first moment I met him, God showed me a lot for the purpose of knowing better what to pray. Each time thereafter, my heart felt more ignited to press in for John.

Because I KNEW IN MY SPIRIT I was on divine assignment, no matter how resistant John was outwardly toward God (or my outreach), I was determined to not give up praying for him.

Stay on the path of your divine assignment.

No. Matter. What.

God had set my heart on Him in this regard.

I soon met John’s wife Stacy, who was a believer with a few serious health issues of her own.

I prayerfully and secretly met with Stacy. She didn’t have anyone else, locally, to help her. We were all new in town, and God had opened a door for me to reach out.

Over time, I saw incremental improvements in both John and Stacy. John even allowed Glynn to pray over him in the hospital a couple of times. We did the same for Stacy, who was greatly willing.

Sadly, within a couple of years, both John and Stacy passed into eternity. First Stacy, then John months later.

Just before John passed, I felt an urgency to press into God for him like never before. I would ask Glynn for updates on John’s health and his willingness toward salvation. But the reports were mostly negative. Still, I held onto hope that God would turn John’s heart, even if it was in his final moments on earth, alone with God.

Only God knows what people say to Him during their final breaths.

When we received word that John had passed, we wept. Glynn and I both loved John, as God had graciously put compassion in our hearts for him.

I felt a great desire for resolve rise up in my heart concerning John’s salvation. I had to hear from my Lord on the matter. I needed a confirmation directly from Him. I believed in my spirit all the prayer God had me pray would not return void, that God would never disappoint.

Still . . .

I NEEDED IT TO BE SETTLED IN MY SOUL ON A LEVEL THAT ONLY GOD HIMSELF COULD SATISFY, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING JOHN. I NEEDED CLOSURE.

So, for privacy sake, Glynn and I drove to a nearby park in an open field. We sat in our vehicle and prayed. I asked The Lord to show us a sign that John had been saved. I asked God to show me a rainbow RIGHT NOW as a sign that our beloved John made it to Heaven.

God’s revealed promise.

IMMEDIATELY AND SUDDENLY, through our windshield, we looked up to see the gray rainclouds above us break open. TWO RAINBOWS appeared!

Our hearts wept as we thanked God and rejoiced over John’s salvation!

It has been a couple of years since John’s passing. Every time I think of him now, I feel elated for him, for where he is, and for what God did for him. I know in my spirit and in my heart that John is rejoicing in Heaven, too.

I hope this story encourages you to willingly and eagerly agree with God when He puts someone on your heart to pray in their salvation. I hope you will willingly and eagerly set your heart on God and never give up, believing and pressing in for them until God’s time to release you.

We can trust God to bring to fruition the seeds of prayer He moves us to pray, even for the most impossible people.

His mercy triumphs over judgment to everlasting.

Be encouraged!

To God be the glory!

“Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!” -Psalm 27:14 TPT

“Everyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.”  -Romans 10:11 TPT

“Go and rescue the perishing! Be their savior! Why would you stand back and watch them stagger to their death? And why would you say, “But it’s none of my business’? The One who knows you completely and judges your every motive is also the keeper of souls—and not just yours! He sees through your excuses and holds you responsible for failing to help those whose lives are threatened.” -Proverbs 24:11-12 TPT