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Faith Believing

It seems quite a few icons have passed into eternity recently. At least some we felt like we knew, if even at a distance. We could see their famous lives play out, beautifully at times. 

The one I’m most inspired by is Pastor Jack Hayford. He was a father figure to me from afar. I began listening to his radio broadcasts in 1979 on my drivetime to work. I was captured by the truths he spoke and impressed by the conviction with which he spoke them. He was someone I wanted to know better. Someone from whom I wanted to hear more. 

And then there was Franco Harris and Lisa Marie Presley. I didn’t know either of them personally, but I did serve Mr. Harris once when I worked as a flight attendant decades ago. I remember him as strong, kind and well-mannered. Ms. Presley, I had never met but I admired her beauty, her voice and her musical legacy. I prayed for her and her family.

I fought sadness in my heart when these people passed. It’s times like this, when our world changes as we know it, that I’m reminded we serve a faithful God. He is gracious beyond what we can comprehend, rich in mercy and reaches people and places we cannot. He is our only hope.

Holy Spirit always leads me when I pass through grief, encouraging my heart along the way. He often reveals to me when a loved one—or even a public figure—needs prayer or is about to pass into eternity. But this was not the case with these three people.

However, a few years back, when a relative was about to pass, Holy Spirit showed me a vision of their face late one night. I didn’t know exactly what was wrong. It just felt urgent. So, I immediately began to pray. 

When this person passed, I wondered if they knew Jesus; because I never knew their testimony. I never saw them attend church. So, in my quest for peace, I sought an answer from God. 

Holy Spirit showed me a vision of a simple, narrow cross lying flat on the ground. Then, in an instant, the cross stood up straight. My heart felt overwhelmed with gratitude, because I understood that God raised up a cross for my beloved relative. 

In time, Holy Spirit confirmed this to me with His Word in Ephesians 2:6 AMP, which says, “And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus.”

I was reminded that all that is required of us to enter into Heaven with God is our belief by faith in His grace through Messiah Jesus. 

We don’t often know what people hold in their hearts or say in their final moments. We don’t often hear their most intimate prayers or their deepest cries for help. But we can know God who does. And He can settle our souls with one revelation.

Lately, a few have come to me for private prayer in their profound losses. They’ve sought God to help their hearts along. Sometimes, He works over time. Sometimes, He works in a moment. But through it all, we can know that our best place with Him is up and forward. 

God has more life ahead for His grieving ones and the saints that have gone before us. Thankfully, He offers us an invitation to keep looking up, not behind. Yes, we have cherished memories. But divine restoration awaits us. First, in our hearts with Him. Then with others up ahead. This gives us hope.

We don’t have to get trapped in pain. We can grieve through someone’s passing and not camp there too long. 

When I consider Lisa Marie Presley, I remember myself, having lost a loved one at an early age and not knowing how to process through it God’s way.

I didn’t experience peace in this regard until years later, when I came to know God more and finally decided to trust Him enough to give Him all the pain and loss. Only then, did God begin to heal my heart. 

It has been decades since then, and I can honestly say that I can remember the loss but the pain has no effect now. It doesn’t hold me back from being and doing what God has for me in my life. 

He is the only One who can heal a soul this well. There is no honor in the unwillingness to release painful loss to the One who gives and takes away. We can choose to see and live as He wills—in the scope of eternity with so much more around us and forward. In this place of hope, it can be made well with our souls. 

So, pray with me if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for Your sacrifice to heal my heart. Thank You for Your promise of restoration. I willingly give You all the grief of my loss. I willingly lay, at the foot of the cross, my way of coping. I willingly trust You with my loved ones who have gone before me. I ask You to remove all the pain from my heart and make it whole again. 

I realize that You, Lord, are full of compassion and no one has suffered more than Your Son. So, please help me to look up to You and receive Your abundant life for me under Your great cloud of witnesses, who are alive with You (He 12:1). 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen. 

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

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Heart Filled

A heart of faith-filled promises produces a heart full of gratitude (Ep 3:17). 

As God reveals His ways and purposes to us in the transition of His promises we’ve held in our hearts, we can expect Him to awaken us to a deeper gratitude of His how, what and why. 

I believe many will be astounded as He surprises us with His revealed mysteries of how He will fulfill His promises to us. Herein lies the treasure of deep gratitude.

Luke 8:10 TPT reminds us that we “have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God’s kingdom realm.”

As our souls are impacted by His methods, we must keep giving every opposition to Him—all heaviness of fear, loss and false responsibility. As we submit to His ways and delight in Him, our souls will awaken to more of His rich, abiding love (Ep 3:18).

We can come into agreement with His truth of Psalm 119:24 TPT, which says, “Your commandments are my counselors; your Word is my light and delight!”

Recently, I saw “Light is might” in a Word-vision. The sense I had in my spirit was that God is bringing about life-changing lift as His light of promise is fulfilled in ways that only He can (Ep 3:16). And His mighty ways will not fit into anyone’s box (Ep 3:20). 

Our strength in the midst of transition is the focused mind of Christ, our willing obedience and the joyful delight of His high purpose in His outpouring of greater goodness. Oh, to know Him more in the breakthroughs!

2 Peter 1:3 TLB says, “For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!”

Isaiah 26:3 TLB says, “He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!”

So, our declaration can be “My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory! Even my body will rest confident and secure” (Ps 16:9 TPT).

We must receive God’s perspective and hold to His truth as His best for us, even if it means letting go of former things. When we do this, we can receive His new things to operate in His greater abundance forward. 

One of the beauties of John 10:10 is that He leads the ones He made stable into another level of abundant life. 

Right now, God is extending invitations to us daily to come closer to Him and go deeper with Him to receive the revelation understanding we need to remain solid in the transition.

Proverbs 25:3 TPT reminds us that “The heart of a king is full of understanding, like the heavens are high and the ocean is deep.”

We know that we do not walk alone in deep places and that He is with us and will reveal Himself to us. It can also help to know that others will be transitioning too and that many on the side of where we’re heading have an anointing to pray us through. 

So, we can ask God to order our steps to receive through them. But our best, most fitting counsel will come directly from Holy Spirit to us. Because, when it comes directly from Him, we don’t have to strain to understand and we tend not to doubt. 

His revelations are lightbulb moments that surpass our own thinking. He makes our testimonies unique as He brings us into more of what’s new to us. 

As we seek Him and find Him in the midst, He’ll be there to lift our heads and hearts to see and know as He does. He will help us continue to follow Him with childlike faith that accesses miracles of new life along our Divine destinies. 

Much will happen as He shifts our perspectives to see His workings His way—both old and new. Our knowledge of things past will ascend to a higher viewpoint to cause us to be open to the changes He’ll bring in our lives. What we thought we knew before, we will now begin to see as Divinely purposed. And it will make sense to us.

Proverbs 23:15 TPT says, “My beloved child, when your heart is full of wisdom, my heart is full of gladness.” 

And isn’t this what we desire most? To please Him. To honor Him. To remain steadfast and make wise decisions that reflect His Heavenly nature on the earth.

Pray with me if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for the light of life You’ve given me and for restoring my appreciation of the journey. Help me to continue to fight “an excellent fight” and keep “my heart full of faith” (2 Tim 4:7 TPT). Help me to continue to receive Your truth that produces freedom and deep gratitude toward You for who You are and what You’re doing in my life. May “my heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory” (Ps 16:9 TPT)! Thank You for helping me live in Your abundance.

To You, Lord, be all glory, honor and praise. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen. 

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

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Beginning Anew

Recently, as I awakened one morning and looked out the window, I saw a clear sky over treetops in a way I never had before. This continued over the next few days. 

From the very first sunrise, our Lord began to speak to my heart. He revealed that these sunrises of new days are for those with child-like faith and wonder—those who have awakened to Holy Spirit’s revelations over the years. 

These beloved ones are beginning to come into the manifestations of their hearts desires, even greater than they imagined as a child. God has made their futures bright and is leading them now to continue to show them the way. They will see that the wilderness they once found themselves in has become the stepping stone to their expansive freedom.

God has come in with a consuming fire to burn up obstacles that once came against them—the same obstacles He didn’t cause but purposed and used to bring them higher in Him. “They have served their purpose,” says The Lord of Hosts. What used to plague them no longer will. They are free from what was sent to hold them back. They have been made strong in Him for such a time as this, beyond what they could see back then.

God’s fire will also help these beloved ones not look back. He has set them on a clear path at a new altitude and range with eagle clarity and focus, heading straight into His promises. Nothing below them concerns them, as God has broken them through into a beautiful new life that will honor Him in a new way. These beloved ones will experience His beauty of a new day and in a new area to them. 

Our Lord reminded me of a key scripture that He highlighted to me and that I clung to ten years ago, which is Song of Songs 2:13. It asks us, “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” (TPT version).

In this passage, the “signs” of His purpose and plans are described as “early.” The “vines of new life” are described as “budding.” But now, the day of destiny is right in front us. It’s in clear sight from a higher perspective. 

In this passage, the early signs have given way to the latter signs of right now, just before big-shift promises are made complete. Do you see these latter signs? Do you also realize that you still need to continue to come away with Him as you navigate the soar? For only in Him do we live and move and have our being.

In addition to this key scripture, Holy Spirit also highlighted Matthew 11:30 to me four times, confirming that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He’s revealing that much has been lifted off of His beloved ones to live and move again as He intended in Acts 17:28, which is to function forward, knowing our identity in Him. 

“It will be as though it never was,” says The Lord of Hosts regarding the pain of the past, “as you continue to step into My glorious future for you.”

The Lord then took me to Isaiah 35 to remind me of His glorious promises for His redeemed. As I re-read this chapter, He reminded me of specific promises that are about to come on the scene as He brings about big shifts. 

In verse 1, He speaks of the desert blossoming “like a rose” and rejoicing (Is 35:1)! He says in verse 2 that “Every dry and barren place will burst forth with abundant blossoms, dancing and spinning with delight!” He speaks of “magnificent beauty” and “awesome glory.” He cites “the beautiful grandeur” of Himself.

He goes to say in verse 4 that “He is breaking through to give you victory! He comes to avenge your enemies. With divine retribution, He comes to save you!” He says in verse 10 that “Ecstatic joy will overwhelm them; weariness and grief will disappear!”

All of this is for those who walk with God and have allowed Him to do deep work in them. I encourage you to read Isaiah 35 and jot down what Holy Spirit reveals to you, specifically, about His purposes and strategies forward. 

Pray with me if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for deliver us up out of former places into our futures. Please help us to continue to abide in You to produce as much fruit that pleases You. I trust You to navigate us all the way into Your completed promises. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen. 

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

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New Order

Recently, I watched an interview with Candace Cameron Bure, in which she said our Lord gave her a Word for 2023. The Word was “Joy.” 

This brought to mind someone close to me, who also does the same—asks our Lord for a single Word for the new year. 

And so, I decided to do it, too, one morning. Immediately, Holy Spirit showed me the Word “Order” in a Word-vision. 

I wasn’t surprised, because it’s what He has me doing right now. Also, I’ve been realizing that the work of bringing order is going to take some time. 

Right now, order for me looks like reorganizing and repairing my home space in preparation for big shifts ahead. With this new order, God is making my load light, as in Matthew 11:30. 

He is our God of order.

Order pleases God. It is His desire and nature. It is His wisdom. It is harmonious and facilitates the proper function and sequence of purpose, change and time.

Order is the state or condition of a thing (Webster’s). Right order is often the result of obedience, submission and walking with Him. 

Order is what Jesus trained His disciples in and what He left for us to awaken to and practice in our unique circumstances as we seek more of Him in our midst. 

According to Holy Scripture, order reflects discipline and commitment of our faith in God (Co 2:5). It reveals our position of dignity, rank and character (Strong’s #5010). It can be an arrangement in time that expresses a position of fashion, quality and style that generally depends on one’s God-given talents, experiences and resources (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).  

Order is a verb.

I think of order mostly as a verb, since it’s a dynamic, ever changing framework, into which blessings fit as we grow. Order doesn’t prevent us from coloring outside of the lines in expressions of creativity. But rather creates boundaries that facilitate our enjoyment of God’s goodness as He continually expands it in our lives.

So, for me, order is pretty exciting. And those who have a gift of administration may enjoy the organization element of it, too. But for others, order may not feel so extraordinary. 

Here’s how it can benefit you . . . 

Since order is linked with authority in governing, to bring order is to be aligned with authority over that which God places in our stewardship. Therefore, order is an invitation to synchronicity and increased efficiency with God. 

Order is a kind of expression of being the head and not the tail. To reign with God victoriously, void of the downward pull of confusion. 

New order comes with a purposed grace to actually help facilitate space for God’s newness in our lives. 

Re-order comes with mercy, relative to how God has grown us and where He’s calling us. It’s an invitation to come up higher and reign in peace, knowing He has purposed our endeavors. 

We can have purpose without peace, but when we do, this should awaken us to the need for more order. God will show us the way as we walk with Him in faith.

As our capacity of blessings changes, order must correspond to facilitate peace. Therefore, building order facilitates the flow of life, freeing us to be available. 

Beautiful Order

1 Corinthians 14:40 TPT instructs us to do “all things in a beautiful and orderly way.” Here, the Word “beautiful” means respectful and “with the right design” (TPT study note). 

Over the years, God has restored many back to His “right design.” And He fiercely safeguards this righteous order from those who would try to tear it down through disrespect and discouragement (1 Co 5:11). He invites His restored ones to participate in greater expressions of His right order outwardly.

Lift & Shift

Several years ago, Holy Spirit said to me very clearly, “Get your house in order.” Thankfully, He gave me the understanding of what He meant. He was bringing about a big shift, and He desired that heavy burdens of the extraneous be lifted from me. 

So, with His directive, my husband and I began at the foundation level (garage and basement) of our home and made our way to the attic to clean out items that needed to go. We went through plastic tubs, drawers, cabinets and closets. It took us a year-and-a-half. 

When we finished, God moved us out of state into new roles of blessing, where we remained for eight years.

Now, here we are again: cleaning out, storing and re-storing—bringing new order to the level that pleases God for another big shift forward.

Pray with me if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for bringing a better order into our lives. Since order is a beautiful facilitation of new life for us, bring it on. Thank You for helping us make room for all things new that are of You for us right now and forward. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name. 

Amen. 

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

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Successful Ways

When God is with us in our endeavors, we succeed. This awakens fear in our enemies and love in those we lead. 

David is an example. 

1 Samuel 18:14-16 NIV say that “In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.”

So, the key to success is submission to God. Where’s there’s faithfulness, there’s a powerful synchronicity in relationship that includes honor and grace-favor.

Proverbs 3:3-4 TPT say, “Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught. Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart. That’s how you will find favor and understanding with both God and men—you will gain the reputation of living life well” (Strong’s #7922).

We simply cannot lose when we trust and obey God.

Joshua is another example. He was known for his careful obedience. 

God’s instruction to him was “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful” (Jos 1:8 AMP).

The Word “successful” (Strong’s # 7919) here means to be prudent, to gain understanding, which is to build Godly wisdom, insight, discernment and intelligence. 

Right now, I’m seeing God bring a trail of in-road connections that will support us through some big shifts just in front of us. These connections will help us by warming and strengthening our hearts for new levels of work beyond. 

God is revealing His truth and promises in ways that will get through to us. He’s helping our attitudes along by perfecting us. He’s making us into sharp, swift instruments as we continue to align with His Word. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 TPT are key. They say, “And he has taught you to let go of the lifestyle of the ancient man, the old self-life, which was corrupted by sinful and deceitful desires that spring from delusions. Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.” 

He is fashioning us to flourish even more. He is changing our anointings.

We’ll find a new boldness that’s rooted in His true strength and power. Gone will be the hard-heartedness of our pasts. As un-resolve continues to be uprooted, no longer will we attract more pain.

Since we become what we behold, Holy Spirit will cause us to release residual falsehoods that once kept us bound. 

Where the enemy intended to bind us by blinding us, the curse will be reversed when we come into more of His truth. Former wounds will be bound and wholeness will prevail.

Where truth is restored, integrity is restored. Wisdom becomes a joy as we are reset to succeed in areas where God can trust us with more. 

This kind of deliverance is, in itself, a type of success, where we prevail over that which once hindered us and our inherent promises by driving out ungodliness and taking possession of what God says is ours (Strong’s#3423). 

We see this in David’s mission and in Joshua’s, where they constantly overcame that which tried to overcome them. 

They built victories into their lives by first dwelling in it.

Willing to lay all down for His Kingdom, they were made strong in our Lord. They understood that their blessings came with persecutions (Mk 10:30). Yet, they were still faithful.

They depended on God for unique strategies that grew them to know Him and honor Him more. They fought their way through opposition and fulfilled their uncommon purposes with these divine strategy. 

They understood God’s priority and timing. They knew when to rise and where to establish. They knew what to accomplish and how to endure. They knew how to take a stand (Strong’s #6965). And they trusted God to lead them. 

They learned along the way by reaching for God to lead them beyond themselves. They experienced incremental successes that led up to the fulfillment of God’s big promises. And we can do the same. 

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for being with us along our journeys of rebuilding (Ne 2:20). Thank You for making us successful, for enabling us to dwell in Your victory and for causing us to advance and prosper (Ne 1:11; Strong’s #6743). Show us Your ways, Lord. Give us Your wisdom and help us receive it and apply it all along Your paths for us. For Your Kingdom’s sake.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

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