Category: Video-Devotions

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Resurrection Life

In Holy Scripture, the Word “resurrection” is derived from the Greek and literally mean to “rise from the dead” and to “stand up again” (Strong’s (#386 – anastasis). Resurrection also has a figurative meaning, which is to be “raised to life again” by God’s truth and power.

Jesus is our first “resurrection and life.” He says in John 11:25 NLT that anyone who believes in Him “will live, even after dying.” So, we have this assurance of life that we walk in, no matter what.

My favorite resurrection life scripture is Romans 8:11 ESV, which says that “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

So, resurrection can reference the spirit, soul or body. It can mean that a loved one, who has passed on, can be raised to Heaven. It can mean that someone receives a breakthrough in their soul of God’s light of truth. Or it can mean that a person’s body parts are miraculously restored to functionality.

I believe God is about to overflow this life-giving power through us to facilitate dream-level restorations of relationships and miraculous physical healings (Je 33:6).

I believe we can expect for the hopes He restored in us to manifest in overflow in this season.

I believe that, as we keep the faith, draw near to Him and carefully walk with Him, we will experience His Word to us as an expression of His beautiful justice, especially in the areas we cannot make happen on our own.

Right now, our Lord is releasing affirmations to strengthen us, through revelations of His Word. He’s revealing more details of how to process the shifts into His Kingdom expansion before us. Faithfully walking out this path with Him will prove extraordinary.

Recently, Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, reminding me that we don’t have to worry about our lives or where He’s leading us (Lk 12:22). As He has in the past, He will cover us with His feathers (Ps 91:4).

Since, Jesus said in John 15:14, that we are His friends if we do what He commands, what do we have to fear?

It may happen, as it did with the early church in the Book of Acts, that there may be resistant ones, who will try, in vain, to stop the Spirit of God from moving. But, like the early disciples, we must remain close to God as our Life Source and go and do as He leads.

Remember, the wisdom of discernment is key in our new season. Holy Spirit will help us navigate foolishness (Pr 26:4-5). He will guide us and give us Words to speak when appropriate.

Remember, that our Lord is the One who lifts our heads high (Ps 3:3 NIV). So, we can agree with Him, as our Vinedresser, to faithfully lifts us, as branches, even when we cannot help ourselves.

We can know that God is bringing us into greater honor, as we continue to honor Him, and that He has prepared us well. It may feel risky, but God is in it with us, and His way is certain. So, no matter what, He will help us remain steadfast above any resistance (Jn 15:7).

Therefore, we cannot lose.

Also, since God does not reveal His plan for us, as individuals, to most other people, we can expect some to fall away who don’t align with the dramatic changes He will work in and through us.

There may also be those, whom God calls home to Heaven. There may be those in our inner circles, whom God will distance from us to work their assignments with Him. There may be those, like the Israelites in the wilderness, who won’t have the right heart to continue forward with us. There may be those who are jealous and envious, like the Pharisees and Sadducees. And there may be those who do not have the integrity of character, like Aiken or Judas.

Yet, we can cling to God, say a prayer for them, release them to Him and move forward anyway. Remember, God is taking us to higher places, so we can determine now to remain high with Him and not go low in the flesh. We can experience His justice when we put Him first in all things and not make idols out of those we are expected to release to His care.

If there is one lesson I’ve learned in life it’s that, when we go where God sends us and do what He instructs, He brings new life to our loved ones from whom He expected us to depart for a season. In His time, this resurrection life cycle will come around again, as He blesses us through these renewed relationships in a unique way.

So, we don’t have to confuse mourning with honor and eat the bread of mourners indefinitely. We can process through grief and celebrate their lives and their Godly impact they had here. We can let God heal our hearts, and move onward to accomplish our divine purpose for being where He sends us.

We can know that beloved believers, who depart from us, worship the same God we do and that God is safely keeping them in Glory as His stored-up treasures for us (He 12:22). We can remember that those who didn’t make it into this season on earth can see us from Heaven and are cheering us on. So, let’s give them reason to rejoice even more.

We are on a mission to bring life with God to earth as it is in Heaven, and they know this. God’s purpose is ours to apprehend in honor of Him and them. So, settle for nothing less, and God will settle us in our new, manifest promises.

To Him be all glory, honor and praise (Jn 15:8). Amen.

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

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Decision-Making Strategies

God can turn our lives around when we earnestly repent, which means to turn back to Him. And no one is too far gone.

God can regenerate dead things. We were dead in our sin, but He came down and rescued us through Jesus (Co 2:13).

Jesus even revived Lazarus, who was dead (Jn 11:43-44). And when He did, He restored all of life to him, including his relationships. Jesus brought those close to Lazarus to a new level of gratitude and awe. And He expanded their evangelical outreach.

Very recently, Holy Spirit revealed to me that He’s about to do some Lazarus revivals in people’s lives. As we continue to depend upon God, many will witness His miraculous hand bringing dead things to life again.

God has positioned us before some amazing new beginnings, so it’s important to make wise choices. Our willingness and decisions that align with Him help facilitate His strategies.

However, for anyone who thinks they can just live irresponsibly and God will erase the effects of their poor decisions by His grace, they are unaware of God’s law of reciprocity. God’s truth is that we reap what we sow.

Yes, when our beliefs and actions oppose God’s way, they will also return upon our own heads. When this happens, we can turn to God and He will be there to restore us. But perhaps you’ve figured out that God’s restoration often takes decades. So, who would want to live a messed-up life this long?

I’ve viewed countless videos and shows where guests talk about lousy decisions they’ve made and how God redeemed their lives over time; but not once have I heard any of them specifically say that they brought their consequences on themselves.

This is a blow to the ego to even consider that we brought “it” on ourselves. And that’s the whole point: The truth of humility breaks false pride—the same kind of pride that caused Heaven’s most glorious angel, Lucifer, to fall.

So, when we make ungodly decisions, we cannot point a finger at anyone else, lest we memorialize ourselves as victims, the very opposite of victorious. What we do to other people comes back to us. In this way, we can perpetuate a victim cycle of our own doing in our own lives.

Do you see how desperately in need of Jesus we are? And at some point, we must awaken to who and what our God is and intentionally commit to Him and His ways consistently.

I recall a time in my own life, many years ago, when I was experiencing a long, dark night of the soul season. I asked God what was at the root of it all. He revealed a few specific actions in a previous season that brought heaviness into my then current season. I listened to His still, small voice, as He clearly listed a few root causes to me, one by one. And I understood Him perfectly.

Yes, I repented of each sinful cause, but God’s restoration for me was slow, deep and consistent over time. He knows how to correct and restore lasting character in us, so we don’t keep making the same mistakes.

Anytime we think we can get away with doing life our way and still be blessed by God, we are mistaken. The result of living this way is powerlessness, because God and His power are not in it.

If we want to walk in the righteousness and justice of God, we must align with Him by being open vessels to Him and His ways, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. We must decide to follow Him in Spirit and truth. Anything less than faithfulness is sin and will prove to be fruitless (Ro 14:23).

If you look up the Word “fruitless,” you will find it’s actually a type of destitution. It occurs when we leave our very Life Source (who is God), out of our decisions. Simply put, our way alone will not profit much, if at all (Jn 6:63). Ever. So, basically, not yielding to God’s ways produces a very limited yield. In God’s eyes, it’s literally counted as a no good, lifeless waste. God’s Word clearly tells us that we are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Ho 4:6).

I love the command that our Lord spoke through Joshua, which is, “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped . . . and serve the Lord. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Jos 24:14-15 NIV).

So, our decisions matter. God cares and is watching. He longs for us to draw near to Him and live out His strategies, even for our own benefit. When we seek Him, He’s faithful to lavish us with His wisdom. He will be overjoyed that we want to work with Him. He will meet us there and share His best life with us and Himself as our greatest love.

To God be the glory.

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

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Keeping Secrets

I love that God reveals Himself and His secrets to us. I’ve learned that keeping them or sharing them depends on the wisdom of God in regards to purpose, people, approach and timing.

When I think of the secret that Mary, the mother of Jesus, carried and the responsibility of such divine purpose, I can barely imagine it. The life or death level of obedience that was required of her to deliver God’s big promise to the world amid threatening surroundings must’ve felt impossible at times. Not knowing exactly what would happen next, as she fled to safety, surely caused her to cling to God even more.

And, just like with Mary, God sometimes keeps details that threaten us from us.

In my own life, I’ve learned that God, in His kindness, will reveal elements of life to me to set my heart on His righteous expectations. It’s more than a holy gesture and an outreach of love. It’s His guidance for divine protection and provision to the point of life over death. It’s to help keep my focus on Him so I keep the faith and make righteous decisions amid chaos.

Even when Jesus grew up and began His ministry, as we know it in the mysterious Gospels, His identity was relatively hidden from the world until it was time for it to be fully revealed. Father God knew the impact and persecution His Son would have as He was increasingly presented to the world. Every marker was graciously timed and purposed.

Likewise, when God prepares us to enter into our destinies, He prepares us for new beginnings. Only after we’ve entered into a thing do we receive the sustaining grace to be developed and established in it. If you’ve ever gotten married, you know what I mean. It’s a process that happens progressively. This is why we feel like we don’t have all the answers to accomplish a thing at the forefront. It’s a trust walk above fear, where God reveals His secrets to us as we walk with Him. He also keeps secrets for a time along the way (Lk 24:16). But He has us the whole way.

When I think of Ruth, I’m reminded, especially of her courage to keep choosing life after death for a new beginning, to keep moving forward when all seemed lost. I think of the wise guidance God provided for her through Naomi and the faith it must’ve taken for her to keep believing, to keep heading into a new land to find a new life. I think of the growth and level of spiritual maturity it surely required and the days of gritty work. But the beauty of it all is that God graciously worked on her behalf the whole time to provide a kinsman-redeemer as she kept moving closer to Him daily.

Likewise, every day that we choose faith as we live our lives, God is working on our behalves to bring us into new life and greater life. As we trust Him and move with Him, He will show us which way to go, leading us to safety and fulfillment of His purpose alongside Him. The secrets we hold in our hearts fuel us. The ones He reveals to us in the secret place.

When I think of Esther, and how she risked her life approaching the king to save a nation of people. How so much was plotted against her and them. But how God took care of them all—protecting and working to give Esther overflow favor for her obedience, as she risked her life for divine purpose beyond herself.

When I drill down into Luke 8:17, I see the core of Esther’s story. The ESV says, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

The word “hidden” here means “secret parts, inward nature (character),” according to Strong’s (#2927). The word “secret” in this verse means stored up and treasured (Strong’s #614).

So, from the purposed time Esther entered into and served out her role as queen, God secretly developed her character, revealed His treasure and pierced the darkness with His light (Es 7:10). God’s priority was the purity of gold and it prevailed. So, where the mixture of Vashti was banished, Esther aligned with God and reigned victorious (Es 1:19, 8:15).

Like Esther and Ruth and Mary and Jesus, we can carry God’s secret plan and make decisions that align with His will (Ro 16:25 NLT). When we know God’s secret, we can rise in His strength of truth in the midst of impurities and let Him graciously work it all out for His Glory. And we can trust Him in the areas we don’t yet understand, remembering that He makes everything beautiful in its time (Ec 3:11).

Pray with me if you will . . .

Dear Lord,

Thank You for choosing me to carry Your purposed secrets. I embrace Your ways and choose to take courage to step out into Your Kingdom assignments for Your Glory. Help me to steward Your secrets wisely, with great honor to You. Thank You for revealing Your wisdom and “remarkable secrets” to me that I didn’t know about things to come (Jer 33:3 NLT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Decision Words

Recently, Holy Spirit showed me the Words “Decision Words” and “strategy traits” in visions. So, as I began to prayerfully research the Words, this is what He led me to see:  

A decision can be an act or a process but either way, discernment is involved in decision making, such as a judgment in a courtroom. Decision can also mean a determination of victory by a score and not a knock-out, such as in boxing. The Word “Decision” stems from a Latin word that literally means “a cutting off” (Dictionary.com).

I’ll pause here and say, if you’re into metaphors, like I am, you’re already beginning to see some of the interpretation.

In Holy Scripture, the Word “decision” can mean firmly decided (or fixed) by God (Job 14:5). It can mean “destined for completion” by God (Is 10:22 AMP). It can mean to act in agreement with and submission to God’s decisions in battle (2 Sa 5:24). And it can reference something that has been separated out or cut away as a distinction of what is and is not acceptable to God (Ex 11:7). 

According to Strong’s, decision means to “sharpen” or “point sharply.” it means “to be alert, to decide” and to “move” promptly.

When we think about it, isn’t this what the Word of God does for us? And aren’t we, as arrows, purposed to be alert and move swiftly to hit the mark?

Hebrews 4:12 NIV tells us that “… the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

I believe that God will continue to demonstrate His delineation of good from evil in nations and individuals to the point that He will allow His law of reciprocity to work as He completes a work in each (Joel 3:14, Ph 1:6). 

I believe we will see that God is just and merciful and has compassion on those He chooses, according Romans 9:14-18.

I believe there are those of faith and noble character, like Ruth, who will go forward and be aligned and re-mantled with a restored covenant inheritance, as God reinstates borders, priorities and provision for those who continue to walk with Him.

Therefore, for new life, it’s important to align our thoughts, attitudes and words with the mind of Christ and the Word of God, quickly discerning good from evil and making Godly decisions. According to Hebrews 5:4 AMP, our senses are trained by this practice.

There are powerful and purposed strategies Holy Spirit has already given to us and specifics that He is revealing now and forward. Like Naomi, who was a wise and enduring strategist, they will help keep us aligned with Him, as we keep step with Him.

So, for those whose character has been marked by God, it’s time to receive His plans for next assignments and draw them up. It’s time to make firm decisions to commit to them. Because God is turning up the spotlight on His people as beacons to multitudes. 

Holy Spirit highlighted Proverbs 12:22 TPT, which says, “Live in the truth and keep your promises, and the Lord will keep delighting in you…” Through our active faith is how we please Him. 

“You will be learning some new things as you go,” says The Lord. “But I will be with you and help you learn them fast.” 

So, as we step out to boldly carry them out, His power will work through us and He will reveal more. The sequence He showed me in this process is “Decisions, wisdom, strategy, management and victory” in this order. 

Also, we are to pray for God to give us the right words, to speak boldly and travel equipped, as described in Ephesians 6:11 NLT, which says, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”

God’s armor pieces for us are His “strategy traits.” His purposed plan and qualities, His direction and wisdom for victory in movements (Ep 6:13-19 NLT). 

In all of this, I am reminded of Romans 9:23 NIV, which asks, “What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory?”

Pray with me, if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for Your rich mercy and truth that brings change. Please reveal more of Your strategies to me and strengthen me to commit to them. Help me to walk closely with You, to align tactically and swiftly with You (2 Sa 5:24). Thank You for redeeming my life on earth as it is in Heaven, for delivering me into Your promise of a blessed future (Je 29:11).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

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

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A New Song

Lately, I’ve been caught up in a book by Pastor Jack Hayford titled, A New Time and A New Place: Practical Truth for Personal Growth from the Book of Ruth. 

Ruth has long been one of my favorite Bible characters. But as I read Pastor Jack’s commentary, I learned something I’d never seen, which is this: 

When Ruth’s late father-in-law (and Naomi’s late husband), Elimelech, departed with his family from Bethlehem in search of provision during a famine, by default, he departed from God’s provision. 

As the story goes, Bethlehem means “the house of Bread.” It was the area, in which God had ordained Elimelech to be blessed. But Elimelech didn’t trust God at His Word to provide during what seemed impossible. So, Elimelech sought provision his own way and went outside of God’s boundaries of blessing to Moab. And, like all unbelief (sin), his own actions ended in death.

God knew what would happen to this family. He saw their end and their new beginning; and He kept His best provision for them in Bethlehem the whole time.

In His mercy and grace, God had a new song for Elimelech’s survivors. As Pastor Jack puts it, God “seeks what was lost and redeems what was forsaken.”

So, God worked through Elimelech’s wife, Naomi, to turn her back to the “house of Bread,” and Ruth was determined to go with her. I believe God put that determination in Ruth, in part, to bless Naomi forward (Ru 4:17).

I also believe God worked in both of their hearts to prepare them long before this pivotal moment, because God will not have His people enter into a prepared, purposed place of blessing unprepared. 

His timing allows for preparation of hearts. 

Just like in 2 Timothy 2:21 TPT, I believe they were “prepared for every good work” God had for them and that He made them instruments for “honorable use.” 

In this light, I believe that, right now, God is clearly and outwardly delineating those, who have come away from what is dishonorable, and is aligning them for honorable use.

I believe God is leading His submitted ones, like Ruth and Naomi, to align with those who worship Him in truth, like Boaz, and that this is imminent (Is 58:7).

Song of Songs 2:10-13 TPT describe this calling poetically by saying:

The one I love calls to me:

Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling. 

Come away with me! 

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter has ended,

and the season of hiding is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth 

and left it bright with blossoming flowers. 

The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. 

I hear the cooing of doves in our land, 

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

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.

Naomi and Ruth hearkened to God’s call. 

Their heart-walk of true repentance unfolded one step at a time as they wisely stepped forward in faith, believing God still had provision in His house of Bread for them. They believed God’s Word and He ordered the steps of these prepared women right into their prepared setting (1 Co 2:9).

Their full-circle return to God’s way proved exponentially fruitful and went beyond themselves. This is what He has for us, too, when we return more fully to Him and His provision His way.

In Ruth and Naomi’s story, we see a commitment to obedience. And blessing was their reward. Their story lives on with a legacy that extends beyond even today. 

It’s marked by Isaiah 58:11 TPT, which says, “Yahweh will always guide you where to go and what to do. He will fill you with refreshment even when you are in a dry, difficult place. He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing.

Their story reminds us that survivors are to come away from their former existence into the new wine God has for them. It reminds us that He has bread beyond the bread of mourning. It reminds us that God offers us beauty for ashes and true life that will prove greater than man’s deadly reasonings and traditions. 

God has a whole, new family for those who do His will. But it requires integrity of heart, courage and forward movement in His time and wisdom on how to proceed.

It’s for every willing heart that says, “Yes, Lord.”

To God be the glory. 

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