Category: Video-Devotions

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Shame To Glory

God is constantly working on our behalves to reposition us into the manifestation of the work He did in us during the last season.

So, as He has swept away our ashes, He will lift us into His higher beauty. As He has taken our mourning, He will lift us into dancing. As He has removed our shame, He will lift us into His greater glory.

God will give us opportunities to apply His wisdom as we stand on His Word above all else.

He will make our days brighter as we continue to reach out to those in need with compassion (Is 58:8).

And in all of this, He will help us know, even more, the treasure He made us to be as we continue to grow in Him and behold Him as our greatest Treasure.

Just as Ruth encountered God’s serendipity as she entered into her new domain, so too can we expect surprises along the way.

Ruth experienced a string of suddenlies: A trail that led her, built her and prevailed for her. A path that produced more than enough for her. So much so that God was able to overflow new life to her beloved, grieving Naomi.

Imagine rewards like this!

Ruth came to understand Psalm 116:11 ESV, which says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Ruth came to understand that, for her worst, most painful ending, God had a new, bright beginning just for her.

As she sought God forward in her desperation and followed His best wisdom, Ruth stepped into her greatest blessings yet—the restoration of a Godly family and all the inheritance that it comes with.

Isaiah 61:7 NLT is a key scripture here. It says, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

The Word shame (Strong’s #1322) here means “confusion” and is linked with idolatry. It refers to shame as a feeling, a condition and its cause.

We know that confusion leads to instability and that we do not serve a God of confusion but a God of truth, certain hope and a firm foundation.

So, for every false cloak of shame the enemy tried to force on us previously, God will give us double-portion honor as we have laid down idols and chosen His path instead (Ps 109:29). He will give us rejoice for confusion (Is 61:7 KJV). He will restore double blessings for whatever blessings we forfeited previously (Is 61:7 AMP).

Another part of God’s restoration plan is to deal with all who oppressed us.

Zephaniah 3:19 NLT says, “And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.

So, as we continue to focus on our Lord and walk out His restoration plan for us, He will take care of business behind us.

We won’t have to look back.

We can leave it all to God.

I like how Job’s friend, Zophar, says it so poetically in Job 11:13-20 NIV:

Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You that, as we walk with You, Your abundance, honor and glory are our rear guard, according to Isaiah 58:8. Thank You that there is no shame as we continue to turn to You and Your ways. Thank You that, as you resurrect us and redeem our lives daily by Your grace, we are made stronger in You to share Your great compassion with others without shame. Thank You for a harvest of joy for those who sowed tears (Ps 126:5).

Help us to receive Your wisdom and not be wise in our own eyes, since You allow disappointment, disgrace and disempowerment for the foolishly self-reliant (Ro 10:11 AMPC). Help us to trust in You and know that You and Your ways are enough.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Arise, Daughters

Nearly three weeks ago, during Holy Communion late one evening, our Lord showed me a vision of Himself as a Lion wearing a crown. This Lion was standing and waiting with me in a dark cave. Suddenly, the door of the cave opened and light streamed in. Holy Spirit gave me the understanding that this majestic Lion was ready to be publicly presented and displayed.

This was the end of the vision.

What our Lord impressed in my spirit was that there are those of us who have felt we have been in a cave for a long time. Whether it be due to preparation or grief or fear or exhaustion or all the above.

But now, Holy Spirit is revealing that it’s time to follow our King of Glory out of the cave and share Him with the world in bright new ways. It’s time for the One, who has been there all along, to shine anew. It’s time for us to arise as His daughters and sons and let the glory of our Lord radiate to nations through us. It’s time to display His victory-salvation in our lives on another level and invite others to dwell with Him. It’s time to follow His lead as He spotlights Himself.

There is a grace—a holy ease and favor—upon us for this. God is restoring us to outward expressions of awesome wonder for the divine purpose of captivating others.

Our key scripture here is Isaiah 60:1 AMPC, which says, “ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! [Zech. 8:23.]”

Sometimes, when we go through long seasons of hardship, it can feel easy to forget that, as we have gone deeper with God to recover, His glory isn’t being shared through us as much as it is being shared with us. But we are in a time now, where God’s deep work in us has been completed for the purpose it was intended.

The season has shifted into a new one in which His glory will shine brighter than ever through us to a world that desperately needs to see Him.

Isaiah 60:2-4 TPT describes this repositioning and repurpose by saying:

Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth and thick gloom covers the nations, but Yahweh arises upon you and the brightness of his glory appears over you! Nations will be attracted to your radiant light and kings to the sunrise-glory of your new day! Lift up your eyes higher! Look all around you and believe, for your sons are returning from far away and your daughters are being tenderly carried home. Watch as they all gather together, eager to come back to you!

Just as God has restored us, He desires to restore them through His redemption. And we get to be part of it. God may have new places and platforms for us and may even relocate many.

Although it will be a process, it won’t be overly difficult. We can expect to experience His beauty and peace on new levels, from the moment we enter in. We can expect to be awed and amazed by Him in new ways as He takes us to extraordinary settings that we do not deserve.

By pure grace, God will get us there, as He continues to give good gifts to His children, even the ones we don’t deserve.

This is God revealing His heart for us as in Romans 8:28 AMPC, which says, “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.”

We are stepping into God’s new plan, His new grace place as He has taken all the pieces and done something good with them. And we will not be alone. The same Lion that was with us in the dark cave is the same Lion that will be with us in the new, bright shining place.

What we thought was lost and gone forever will prove to reveal itself as a new beginning as God returns us to the beautiful desires of our hearts made manifest in grand, new ways.

This new place is a greater expanse that required a narrow walk. And it will not disappoint. It offers peace and fullness of joy as our Lord dwells with us there to pour out to many.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for believing in us and not abandoning us, both in the cave and in public arenas. Both have been places of captivation because of You. Help us to continue to realize that, as we go, we grow in You. May it all be according to Your will as we follow You.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Justice: Legend & Legacy – Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, God highlighted that living justly is to live wise-heartedly, intelligently, skillfully and artfully and that doing so releases fresh beauty (chakam – Strong’s #2450).

Part 2 focuses on the faith factor.

Our key scripture is Hebrews 10:38 NKJV, which says that “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

The Word “just” (dikaios – Strong’s #1342) in this scripture means those who are approved and acceptable by faith, according to God. It means believers, whose faith is in God’s entirety—His identity, character and actions.

God’s standard is justice, to which we are transformed by faith and grace (Ro 12:2). In so doing, we build wholeness in our souls that will be expressed outwardly.

We will know this by God’s revealed wisdom.

Romans 1:17 TPT tells us that “This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith…”

So, faith in God empowers us to live a just life, which is a wise—intelligent, skillful and beautiful life—in agreement with Him.

This faith in us is God’s faith in us, not something we conjure up. It is the substance of things hoped for, the title deed of what will surely come to pass as our inheritance. A guarantee.

Proverbs 1:23 TPT expresses this by asking us, “…Don’t you know that I’m ready to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you and bring to you the revelation of my words that will make your heart wise?”

God has wisdom to release to us to help us live out our high purposes. So, it’s important to invest dedicated time with Him. God has tangible forms of justice, such as rewards, recompenses and restoration to give to us. So, it’s important to process all the way through what is necessary with God and not waste our growing pains.

Even though the process can feel long and difficult to our flesh, every time we move forward, we build justice into our souls and plant seeds of justice for generations.

Every time we move forward, we come up higher. We are lifted as we grow in grace and wisdom and faith as God reveals both a legend and a legacy of powerful blessing that honors Him, honors us and honors others. We are being strengthened in our Lord, which pleases Him and makes us more useful for greater exploits.

God calls us to go live in His light and sing His praises, not be confined under a bush. We are to blaze a trail with Him, touching others as He leads to set captives free so they, too, can live a captivating life and pass it on. This is freedom. This is true justice expressed as divine inheritance for those whose faith is in God.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your gift of Justice, who is Your Son Himself and for life that comes by active faith in You (Ga 3:11).

Have mercy on us, Lord (Ps 86:3).

We desire to live a life of shalom wholeness, full of love, power and soundness of mind (2 Ti 1:7).

Your Word says that if we keep trusting in You, do what is right in Your eyes and fix our hearts on Your promises, we will dwell in the land and feast on Your faithfulness” (Ps 37:3 TPT).

So, help us discern truth from falsehood (1 Jn 4:6).

Help us to listen to Your Word of Truth and respond to it, so that it will always become like poetry written and fulfilled by our lives (Ja 1:22, Ro 2:13).

Open our eyes even more to see the benefits of Your ways (Ps 103:2, Mt 5:8).

Help us to live a just life by faith, where we experience Your blessings of justice in every area of our lives (He 10:38).

Help us to trust You as our Source, the One who brings it to pass (Ps 37:5).

Help us remember that Your burden is light and to remain in the light, leaving the heavy lifting to You (Mt 11:30, Ps 55:22).

Help us to not stray from Your will but remain in our lanes with our eyes fixed on You, the Perfecter of our faith (He 12:2).

Help us to remain confident that we will experience Your goodness in the land of the living (Ps 27:13, 116:9).

Help us to please You above all else by choosing Your righteousness and justice always (He 11:6).

Thank You, Lord, that You are the Rewarder of those who diligently seek You (He 11:6).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope” (Ro 15:13 TPT)!

To God be the glory.

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

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Justice: Legend & Legacy – Part 1

One of the great blessings God gives us is justice. It is a covenant benefit, provided by Jesus’ sacrifice. When we receive He, who is our Justice, we receive it. In daily life here on earth, we will see divine justice come into place when we do things God’s way, not ours.

Just like with other virtues, such as faith, wisdom and grace, we can sow seeds of justice and grow in justice. So, if we desire to experience a God-level justice in our lives, we need to have a heart for Him and follow through in His ways. 

In this way, it’s possible, with God, to build a strong foundation of justice in our lives, as justice and righteousness are pillars of God’s throne (Ps 89:14). This said, it isn’t about rules. It’s about what’s right in God’s eyes.

The Word for justice in Hebrew (chakam) can mean wise or wise-hearted, intelligent, skillful or artful (Strong’s#2450). So, we see here that there is wisdom in justice and acting justly and that doing so releases fresh beauty.

Conversely, to act unjustly (foolishly) brings punishment (Pr 11:21, 19:9).

Therefore, when we experience an injustice, it’s important to ask our Lord, “What would You have me see and know in this?” It is possible God is using injustice to get our attention to repent of something we’re unaware of. It’s possible He is extending an invitation to us to come up higher and know Him and His ways better.

In this way, justice can be mapped out, so we can see our pathway more clearly. God will reveal His legend to us for the asking so we can walk out His best legacy—one He offers us as an inheritance (Ps 37:23). 

Divine justice is an expression of God’s goodness. It isn’t about what we deserve. It’s about His love for us and His spiritual laws at work on our behalves. 

This is why we sometimes see others getting blessed when we know about something unjust they have done. Their time of pressing may not have come yet. But their own actions will confront them in God’s way and time. 

Our Heavenly Father is faithful, no matter what we or others do. 

Just a couple of weeks ago, I did a small personal business transaction with a woman who proved to be unscrupulous in attitude and process. Earlier that same day, Holy Spirit revealed to me how to handle the situation by instructing me to not get bound up in the enemy’s snare through this woman. 

But when it all came down, I felt I had to stand for truth and warn others. Only this was not what God desired I do. My way seemed right. But God’s way was higher and involved not even engaging in the battle at all. In other words, I was to let it go and trust God to deal with it for me. 

This is not to suggest that we shouldn’t speak up as led by Holy Spirit. But there are times, like this, when we should pray, not engage in the provoke, and hand it over to God to fight it entirely.

God knows when the enemy tries to use people to provoke us into battles. These battles have consequences, because they are not initiated by our Lord. Any battle God does not send us into with a battle strategy is not from Him. It’s a provoke from the evil one designed to catch us up and away from all things Godly.

These are enemy attacks purposed to adversely affect our joy and momentum. They are designed to bind and destroy God’s abundance and fulfilled promises in our lives, especially when the time of manifestation is very near. It’s one of the devil’s finish-line strategies. 

However, even when we don’t get it completely right, God doesn’t leave us or forsake us. His mercies are new each day and they trump judgment. Therefore, God will use this type of test to grow us toward greater freedom on new levels and areas. He will invite us to lay down our limited views of His righteousness and justice and receive His true perspective and actions for the situation. 

Thankfully, God offers us an escape when we get ourselves into a bind. He’s that good to us.

Interestingly, shortly after this situation took place, I was at a local thrift store and saw three wood gavels laying on a shelf. Each one was a different size: small, medium and large. I smiled, because I knew God was showing me a pictorial of how He was working by growing me in His truth and justice and reminding me that He will take care of my situation.

So, how have you experienced God growing you in justice? Are you seeing and acting in His ways?

God has big, manifest blessings for us to grow into, even blessings of recompense. We don’t want to miss them by standing in our own way. We can choose to trust Him by faith and do the right and just thing.

So, pray with me, if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for helping us to stay on the path that You have commanded us to follow. So that we will live long and prosperous lives in the land we are about to enter and occupy (De 5:33).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

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

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Wisdom Strategy – Part 2

A couple of weeks ago, the moment I awakened, our Lord spoke to me saying, “You can use your bubble wrap to move or to cocoon yourself. Don’t get wrapped up.”

I understood exactly what He meant. And don’t you love it when God gives us the understanding with His Word in such a clever way that helps us overcome in the beginning of a new day?

To be sure, God is not only in the macro, He’s in the micro.

He knows what’s on our to do lists. He can forewarn us so we don’t get stuck on a single action item, where the enemy of our lives can try to drain our valuable time and energy that results in frustration and a feeling of defeat. This can be especially true in areas where we have impending deadlines and feel weary at the outset or feel that we have insufficient time or resources.

Since dread works to oppose hope, in pressing moments, we must remember that God always offers us balance and that His powerful mercy and grace will help us beyond our own abilities. Our God works to resolve unfinished business. And oftentimes, in the end, we realize our situations aren’t as bad as they seemed.

For me, I had returned from a long weekend away and was faced with a few impending deadlines. In fact, two of them were on the very day God spoke His wise Words to me. One of them was what I perceived as a very unpleasant task that needed immediate resolution. Another involved an ongoing project of packing up our home.

But what’s most important to remember is that our deadlines are part of our timelines. And our timelines are tied to our Lifeline, who is our Lord Jesus. He is our Hope and Peace. He is our Mercy and Grace. And He is faithful to move on our behalves.

An advantage God gave me, in addition to His wise Words on this particular morning, came in the fresh perspective I experienced when I returned home from my weekend away. I felt rejuvenated with a new energy for organizing and cleaning up piles of boxes and wrapping supplies. It all seemed much more manageable after I returned.

We know that transitions are messy. But God has a way of helping us see what needs to be tackled first in an effort to get on top and keep us ready. He doesn’t want us to feel bound up in what can look like a mountain before us but is really a small thing to God that He will help us through.

So, after I shared time with Him on this particular morning, praying and reading what He instructed me to read, I picked up my phone to see that the impending deadline that I was least looking forward to dealing with had improved.

I was reminded of James 1:17 AMP, which says that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].”

Also, Hebrews 13:21 AMP, which says that God will “equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ…”

I knew faithful God was at work on my behalf. I knew that choosing to prioritize Him and dwell with Him helped my attitude and trumped the dread that the enemy tried to bring.

My most immediate deadline was resolved by the end of the day. And I didn’t have to do anything. God’s favor just lifted the yoke of it all for me (Is 10:27).

I was reminded that life is our portion every time and that God will always offer us a way of escape that works when we believe Him and follow through in His ways.

It’s important to remember, while in the midst, that our story isn’t over. And, just like God builds us in faith and grows us in grace, He also strengthens us in His wisdom in small ways to advance us.

The enemy may try to set traps for us in an effort to hinder us from progressing into all God has for us in our next assignments. But God will offer us an advantage by revealing His wisdom in both our simplest and most complex issues.

James 1:5 TPT reminds us that “if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.”

Therefore, sometimes, our best prayer can be, “Lord, help me get through this. Show me the way. Give me Your wisdom on this.”

Sometimes, we need to take a moment to resolve in our hearts and declare that we are not defeated but destined for victory with faithful God. Then choose to walk in it every moment, knowing we’ll receive that for which we believe when we put our faith wholly in Him (Mt 8:13).

To God be the glory.

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