Category: Video-Devotions

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Obedience Strategy: Confidence in God – Part 2

Proverbs 29:25 TPT tells us, “Fear and intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place.”

God has been unclogging pipes and straightening out kinks in us as He continues to bring us into the clear flow of His Spirit, rising from within as a fountain of life.

He doesn’t want us to miss our best season yet. 

Just as apostle Peter’s story didn’t end in foolishness and false pride, ours doesn’t have to either. 

Like Peter, we have the option to choose the multiplicity of extraordinary covenant blessings.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 MSG tells us, “You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand.”

It’s time to cast our life-line into the river. 

And it’s just the beginning. 

How do I know this?

Early in the morning of October 7, 2020, The Lord gave me a dream:

In the dream, I stood across from my husband near a river’s edge. The expression on his face was one of delightful anticipation, as he held a fishing pole up on its base with one hand. His other hand held out the end of the line, which was tied to a freshly-baited hook. We stood ready to cast the line into the river. 

The revelation-understanding The Lord gave to me about this dream was this, which applies to my husband and I, as well as others: 

What used to adversely bait us, doesn’t anymore. 

God has flipped the script on the enemy: He has gloriously baited the hook of His gospel with His light andplaced it our hearts and hands to share. 

It’s now time to cast this life-line into the river to reel in treasure.

The fishermen who have honored God as first and center will receive His first-rate opportunities for first-fruit blessings (Je 17:7 MSG). 

When the harvest is reeled in, it will come with the added benefit of God’s finest salvation-provision to further build His Kingdom (Ze 9:12). 

Having been delivered into more of His light of truth, are you ready to trust God to stretch forth the light and life He gave you to build His Kingdom in new ways? 

God’s Glory-Presence is available, and He has an anointing just for you and your assignment (Ep 2:10).

Ephesians 2:10 TPT tells us, “We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!”

Do you know God as your Treasure?

Have you learned to honor Him in confident obedience (Matt 17:4-5)?

If you seek God with all your heart and obey Him, you have received revelation that opened your eyes of understanding to sow and receive Heaven’s best.

Like Peter, who once believed he was God’s favorite, later realized he was favored by grace to bestow blessings to others (Ac 10:33-35).

If you dwell with God, you have been transformed by the same Glorious Gospel with which you can more deeply and authentically reach others.

Like Peter, who initially lacked faith to cast out a demon from a boy, later walked in such faith and power that people were healed as his shadow fell upon them when he passed by (Matt 17:15-20, Ac 5:15-16). 

If you submit to God, you have been brought into obedience to go wherever God sends you and do whatever He reveals to you—depending upon Him, even if it’s unusual—to fulfill your divine destiny.

Like Peter, who once led a fishing trip without Jesus, later cast his net into the sea upon Jesus’ instruction to receive an overwhelming first-time, first-rate harvest that he was stretched to contain (Jn 21:3, 6, 11).

Friends, if God has carried you through a season of 1 Peter training, and you have passed your tests, it’s your time and your turn to receive more of God’s finest blessings.

Where you remained with Glorious God in the midst of Egypt and the wilderness and passed the humility and wisdom tests, you are being lifted by Him now in new, tangible ways (Ps 40:2). God delivered you and reversed your direction more toward His promises. Now, it’s time for His greatness in you to advance through you with greater impact to fulfill them. 

It’s time to cast your life-line to others. 

It’s time to put it out there.

Pray with me, if you will…

Lord, Thank You for Your goodness. Thank you for delivering us from captivity and adorning us with Your beauty. Thank You for carrying us through the last season so that You can now carry out Your instructions through and with us with greater impact (Matt 17:27). Thank You for open doors of opportunity. May our thoughts continue to be Your thoughts (Pr 16:3). As we cast our lines into Your waters, may Your harvest come in miraculously as we continue to honor You (Ps 31:24). Thank You, Lord, for giving us a loving heart made ready, like Peter, and a loving heart made determined, like King David in Psalm 119:65-68, 111-112 TPT, which say:

Your extravagant kindness to me makes me want to follow your words even more! Teach me how to make good decisions, and give me revelation-light, for I believe in your commands. Before I was humbled I used to always wander astray, but now I see the wisdom of your words. Everything you do is beautiful, flowing from your goodness; teach me the power of your wonderful words! Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. I have determined in my heart to obey whatever you say, fully and forever!

To Your Glory, Lord.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

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

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Obedience Strategy: Confidence in God – Part 1

Nearly two weeks ago, on the morning of October 5, 2020 (hours before President Trump returned from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), The Lord showed me a vision of a big, bold eagle high in the sky.

It expanded as I continued to gaze. 

Behind the eagle were several curly contrails, depicting strength and velocity. 

When I asked The Lord what this represented, He showed me the Word “America.” 

He impressed my heart with the understanding that the USA is making a powerful comeback by His fire and wind and that He is making it happen swiftly. 

The scripture The Lord gave to me was Psalm 103:5 TPT, which says, “You satisfy my every desire with good things. You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again like a flying eagle in the sky!”

The AMPC version says, “Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]! [Isa. 40:31.]”

God will continue to raise up His yielded (and trusted) ones for His glory.  

God reminded me that He looks for those to bless and that He is about to re-seat them in new, impactful roles. 

For those who have lost jobs, especially due to this year’s economic crisis, this is good news. 

God is turning circumstances. As His yielded ones continue to rise spiritually, they will be met with offers—some coming through a trickle-down effect—both spiritually and naturally. 

The Lord reminded me that much provision is on the other side of defeating the enemy of the soul. 

Think spoils—rewards for overcoming—done God’s way (2 Co 10:3). 

Biblically, it happened for David and for Joshua and Caleb, each of whom outgrew the purpose of their enemies, which was to drive them closer to God to accomplish His mission with Him.

God’s training arenas were their own families and communities.

These wholehearted leaders learned to hold onto God’s promises until they became their outward reality.

These leaders learned to overcome their enemies by trusting God to give them unique strategies and grace-power for each battle as they obeyed Him (2 Co 10:3).

They learned to step forth with God and take dominion by their obedience to His instruction.

Likewise, when we run to God in trust and reliance—our hearts made willing to receive the seeds of His Word as truth—God can produce exponential fruit through us to the point of outward multiplicity. 

This strong, intimate connection with God is one of dwelling in the blessed, fertile life—authentically living above lesser things—by the power of Holy Spirit.

We must come to know that God has us in an ascended position, able to receive His manifest blessings on an above-and-beyond level. 

We know He has our best interest at heart.

We know His compassion.

And we trust Him implicitly as Mercy and Justice on our behalf. 

This is the beginning of expanded living that goes beyond what we’ve known to reach others.

And it’s done by His Spirit.

It’s what Jabez prayed for in 1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV, which says, “‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain’…”

We can sync with God in Word and deed: Obedience to the heart of God, confidently remembering what He has already done for us and expecting Him to do more through us. 

We can know that He caught and carries us. 

Deuteronomy 32:11 NASB says, “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spreads His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.”

Exodus 19:4 NLT says, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

Isaiah 40:29, 31 ESV say, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

God is lifting us to arise and advance. He is restoring honor within our nation and among His people.

He is manifesting God-size dreams. 

Are you in position to receive God’s finest blessings?

If you’re not there yet, you can choose to ask God for a fresh perspective (to see as He sees). 

You can trust God and let Him carry you to a place of freedom and strength. 

You can put your confidence fully in Him, as your sufficiency comes from Him (Philippians 4:13). 

His way is a sure win. 

Romans 15:13 NIV says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

To God be the glory.

Join me next week for Part 2 of Obedience Strategy: Confidence in God.

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

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Fire Arising – Part 2

What is God revealing to you now?

Proverbs 30:5 NKJV says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”

God’s Word brings a truth test, intended to infuse His Spirit of Truth more into souls who will trust Him to receive and live out His truth. 

God is love, and His Words have the power to purify us as fire: Consuming fire to eliminate confusion brought on by a mixture of enemy lies. And passion-fire as we run to Him in tests to experience His deliverance and become more established in His higher order. 

God proves Himself as a shield to those who respond to Him in love. As He produces greater righteousness and holiness in our lives, we see His goodness blossom (Ps 66:12). Our eyes are opened to see as He sees from a higher level. 

Luke 1:78 NLT says, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us.”

Friends, our vagabond season is over.

The Lord has new assignments now to bring greater prosperity to His Kingdom (Ze 9:12).

They’re springing up. Do you see them (Is 43:19)?

As we continue to seek The Lord, his resurrection life flows outward as it continues to propel us upward. It has the power to produce fruit as luxuries and refined gifts as Holy Spirit has refined us inwardly.

Tangible expressions of His beauty, even in little things. 

Proverbs 22:17 TPT instructs us to “Listen carefully and open your heart. Drink in the wise revelation that I impart.”

God has new instructions and new blessings for us in this season.

He may give us night dreams or day visions for new inventions or even divine intelligence beyond ourselves to complete an assignment.

Are you open to His Spirit? Are you ready to move forward and do the work in full submission to Him to have His full anointing?

God anticipates our steps of faith-obedience.

So, friends, be ready to prove out a life of blessing above a life of past consequence—nothing missing, nothing broken—as The Lord’s water of repentance has washed us and we continue to sync with Him in greater wholeness.

Matthew 3:11 AMPC says, “I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He…will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

So, there is more fruit to be realized just ahead.

And, as we go, we must also remember that God is the one empowering us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT tells us that “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

Philippians 4:13 AMPC reminds us that “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].”

God has more glory before us than we’ve ever experienced in our past. So, we must remain in the race and rise in our hearts to take the next step as He fires the gun forward.

To arise means to stand up and abide with God (Strong’s #6965). It means to “awaken” and “to come into being, action, or notice; originate; appear; spring up.” It means to “proceed,” to “ascend.” (Dictionary.com). It means to mount up like eagles above past storms to produce good results by His Spirit (Is 40:31).

Friends, it’s time to “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]” (Is 60:1).

It’s time for the mega shifts for which God has enabled us. 

It’s time to arise and take our place before and alongside our King as in Esther 8:4 NIV, which says, “Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.”

Friends, God as made us beautiful—fitting and appropriate for such a time as this. He sees us as such. He has extended an invitation of abundance to us, even beyond ourselves to impassion others. 

It’s our time for God’s deeply personal promises to us to begin to manifest. Look around. Open your eyes to see the restoration of little luxuries in your life and be encouraged. God’s manifest promises will snowball from here as we obey His instructions. 

God has brought us through fire and flood to “bring us out better than we were before, saturated with His goodness” (Ps 66:12). He has “brought us out into a place of abundance.”

Friends, let’s believe Him at His truth. 

Let’s take courage and run with Him.

Let’s hearken to Song of Songs 2:10 TPT, which says, “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.”

To God be the glory. 

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

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Fire Arising – Part 1

I’m seeing fires that God started years ago, through individuals, now ignite others. Godly passion and wisdom rising through them in a new framework—streamlined, hyper-focused, targeted to make impact, like a pinpointed laser. 

Transformative, like lightning.

Whatever is thought, happens.

Whatever is spoken, happens. 

This fire is expanding as God breathes on it.  

Evil cannot stand against it as His glory-filled women and men run to fulfill their assignments with Him.

2 Samuel 10:12 NIV instructs us to “Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

Those whom God tempered behind closed doors against all kinds of false fires—by coming into His truth, avoiding strife, standing their ground, asserting the fruit of self-control and remaining in God’s Word and glory—were made ready to emerge now. 

They are God’s Ruths, Esthers and Deborahs.

His special forces developed in the secret place.

His purified, enlightened and transformed ones (2 Co 3:18).

His baptized with fire ones (Ma 3:11), made more beautiful for such a time as this (Ec 3:11).

His prepared and proven ones who carry divine purpose and power beyond themselves (Ja 1:3).

They let God do the work in them that He knew needed to be done.

They believed God, humbled themselves unto Him and received their divine exaltation (Philippians 3:14).

They came to know higher as their inheritance. 

Luke 17:21 AMPC says, “…behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].”

Ephesians 2:6 AMPC says, “…He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”

2 Corinthians 5:20 TPT says, “We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world…”

So, these good stewards—these Ruths, Esthers and Deborahs—are now ready for sudden shifts, pivotal moments that make history and set (establish) legacy that glorifies God for all time.

These frontline leaders have been trained to not jump the gun but remain in unison with God, synchronized with His power and authority for greatest impact. 

To “be ready” means to remain in a prepared state. To be pre-set, one command away from go time, like a runner in a ready position at the starting blocks. 

To “be” means to live, as in ready mode, filled with the resurrection life of Jesus, that enables them to take their rightful position—ascended and enthroned to rule over lesser things. To “be” means to “occupy a place or position,” (Dictionary.com) as in continuing to belong to God—spirit, soul and body—and remain where He has called and assigned them—dominating by His glory.

“Ready” means to be “completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use” (Dictionary.com). It means to be “willing.” To be “prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.” To be “prompt or quick in action, performance,  manifestation, etc.” It means to be “inclined; disposed,” and “in such a condition as to be imminent; likely at any moment.” It means to be “immediately available for use.” To be “present or convenient.” To be “equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose.” 

God’s Ruths, Esthers and Deborahs operate and remain in ready mode to act on a moment’s notice when signaled, synced with the new thing God is doing.

Their hearts are filled with the light of Christ that extinguishes darkness.

They press through fear, full of courage to go and make a difference for the better wherever God commands them to go. 

They know God is with them and that they are favored by God to win through faithful obedience to His Spirit.

They mirror Christ’s image as in 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC, which says, “And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 AMPC says, “For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [Gen. 1:3.]”

Are you one of these glory carriers?

If you aren’t there yet, you can become one as you surrender your life—your will and ways—to God daily and let Him ready you by His transforming light.

He offers us an open-door opportunity.

Join me next week for Part 2 of Fire Arising.

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

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Surrounding Wisdom – Part 2

God has been delivering His people out from under clouds of darkness into His marvelous light to declare His praise (Ro 13:11-14, Lk 11:33-36 TPT, Ep 5:8-21, 1 Jn 1:5-7).

Psalm 71:15 AMPC says, “My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know.”

God has used the longsuffering many endured in previous seasons to develop wisdom in them, posturing them for longstanding for the benefit of others (Ps 72:17).

1 John 1:7 TPT tells us, “…if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.”

God’s chosen will continue to grow in His wisdom as Jesus Himself grew in wisdom (Lk 2:40, 52).

These wise ones can attest to Psalm 84:11 TPT, which says, “For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!”

Drawn to the Spirit of Wisdom, like wise men, God’s chosen get to share His wisdom: their new gift of life, how to live it and its “powerful moral result” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary).

And, as these wise ones go forth, The Spirit of Wisdom shields them, enlightens them and provides for them.

Wisdom can be defined as “the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action;…discernment, or insight” (Dictionary.com). Some synonyms are: good judgment, clear thinking, discernment, solidity, understanding, balance, prudence, knowledge, foresight, intelligence and caution (Thesaurus.com). 

Wisdom is a gift from God. It is protective, powerful and creative as part of the nature of God. Wisdom can come through experience, revelation or both. It equips the saints of God with an advantage. Even the otherwise disadvantaged can be set on high by knowing and acting in The Spirit of Wisdom.

The word “surrounding,” as in surrounding wisdom, means “the act of encircling or enclosing” (Dictionary.com). Some synonyms are: girding up, encompassing, throughout, insolating, protecting and neutralizing (Thesaurus.com).

1 Corinthians 1:24-25 MSG tell us that “Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny…Human strength can’t begin to compete…”

“The gospel of Jesus Christ was both the power of God and the wisdom of God,” since Jesus is the life and the way—God’s truth (Tyndale Bible Dictionary). 

1 Corinthians 1:30 TPT says, “For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now he is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption.”

Part of God’s good news is that He “will make holiness bloom” (Ps 132:18 TPT)!

The Lord is blooming holiness for those who have humbled themselves in a Job journey, remained faithful in the transformation process and come out as pure gold—full of His glory, shinning brighter than ever, grateful (Jo 23:10).

Psalm 66:10 TPT says, “O Lord, we have passed through your fire; like precious metal made pure, you’ve proved us, perfected us, and made us holy.”

1 Peter 2:9 MSG says, “…you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”

As the Lord highlights His especially radiant ones, others will see them in a new light. Relationships will be reconciled more deeply, because others will be drawn to Jesus in their hearts with His hand upon them (2 Co 5:20). 

Many will come to The Lord, as He makes everything beautiful in His time (Ec 3:11).

James 3:13, 17-18 TPT offer strategy and truth forward. They say, “If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise…the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.”

1 Corinthians 1:31 TPT reminds us that “…If anyone boasts, let him only boast in all that the Lord has done!”

I believe it’s time for true justice and prosperity to reign and that we will see an increase of wise rulers take their seats in the land (Ps 72).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name. 

To God be the glory. 

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