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Decision Making

A couple of weeks ago, our Lord gave me a song as soon as I awakened. It was Christopher Cross’ Sailing, produced by Stormie O’Martian’s husband, Michael, over four decades ago.

This song has special meaning to my heart.

To this day, it reminds me of my countless escapes to the city dock in Historic Annapolis, during some stressful teen and young adult years.

Sometimes, God will bring a remembrance of beauty to encourage us where we are now and for the narrow passage through which we are about to navigate before the blessed expanse. He will bring flashbacks to remind us how He revealed Himself then and that what He did for us long ago, He will do again.

All of this is to awaken us to His grace-power for a moment in time, as He brings to pass the desires He put in our hearts. The way we perceive it will determine how well we will receive it—Him and His offerings as our best blessings throughout the journey.

Holy Spirit is setting us up for victory right now by giving us a heads-up and inviting us to align our wills and perspectives with His. The way we think and process His will determines the quality of our experiences.

The day before I heard Sailing in the Spirit, our Lord also revealed the numbers 444 and 555 to me, as well as the title of this devotion in a Word-vision. I experienced a supernatural joy that God is about to break open doors of opportunity that are favorable by His grace. And within two days, He confirmed it four times.

These favorable opportunities will require wise decision-making. And the best wisdom to make the best decisions comes from on high. We need to consult The Decision Maker who knows everything and willingly reveals the wisdom we need in advance for the best possible outcome (Ja 1:5).

He highlighted Luke 11:9-10 TPT, which says, “So it is with your prayers. Ask and you’ll receive. Seek and you’ll discover. Knock on heaven’s door, and it will one day open for you. Every persistent person will receive what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.”

I believe Holy Spirit is revealing that for many, their “one day” is right before them; and He is reminding them to walk closely with Him to make righteous, destiny-fulfilling decisions.

This is not a time to lean on our own understanding any step of the way, because God is doing a new thing. Therefore, we must seek Him to enter into the new He has for us, lest we drift off course and cause delay.

Holy Spirit revealed to me that the winds are favorable to guide us and empower us in the direction of His righteousness along His course as we enter in. No storm will stand against these winds, because He is the dominant wind in this voyage.

“It will be good,” says The Lord of Hosts. Even in the journey, we can experience His constant goodness.

In the past, where we may have felt tossed to and fro as we have ventured out with Him, it will be different this time because He has restored us deeply. He has built us for what’s just before us and we will succeed. We will have a fresh perspective, and we will see our manifest restoration of youth like the eagle’s.

We will experience an updraft in the best way.

I remember many years ago, when I lived on an island, just off the coast of Annapolis, I would drive across the Chesapeake Bay bridge and see seagulls float on the updraft above the rails.

God is making our way light and His boundaries are good. He is making a way for us to go over this time—to see above, fly over and experience smooth sailing as we choose Him and His wisdom throughout the transitions, the connections and the new places we are crossing into.

We don’t have to worry whether we’re doing enough. We can enjoy the preparation He did beforehand and His constant grace at work on our behalves as He breathes on us forward.

I never knew Christopher Cross was inspired to write Sailing as he ventured out with a friend during his teen years to escape hardship until I researched it for this devotion. This song is more anointed than I realized when I first heard it. Now I know why I was so drawn to it decades ago. It makes me grateful for new eyes through which to find God in the midst and align with Him to live more in His liberty.

These are the passages from Christopher Cross’ song that speak to me most:

Believe me.

Sailing takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be.

Just a dream and the wind to carry me.

And soon I will be free.

Won’t you believe me?

Ironically (and prophetically), just four months before this song was released, Christopher’s song, Ride Like the Wind was released. And four years after Sailing was released, his song, Words of Wisdom was released. (Yes, we receive more wisdom on the backend, too.)

Sailing received three Grammy awards for “Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Arrangement of the Year” (Wikipedia.com). This helped Christopher Cross win the Best New Artist award and other accolades. It even broke open a new genre of music (yacht rock).

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for being The Wind in our sails. We say yes to Your invitation to help us navigate Your processes into greater liberty. Help us to receive and walk in Your wisdom. Help us see as You do and receive all You have for us. Blow on our canvas and take us where You desire we be. Thank You for Your favorable wind and for You as our most beautiful blessing. May it all be according to Your will.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Trade Winds

Trade winds are east winds and there are many scriptures about how God uses them.

But first, when we look at these two Words separately, we see that east is derived from a Word that means forefront (Strong’s #6921, qadim). And wind means breath and spirit that can give life or a violent exhale (Strong’s #7307, ruach).

So, this wind can empower courage, inspiration and strength of mind and heart. Or it can express anger, wrath and grief. It can reveal goodness and expose evil simultaneously.

One commentary says the east (trade) winds are often violent and scorching and come from a desert (Brown-Driver-Briggs).

In Holy Scripture, God allows the east winds to:

Scatter (Jer 18:17)

Shatter (Ps 48:7)

Shrivel (Ge 41:27)

Sweep out (Job 27:21)

Drive out (Is 27:8)

Dry up, break off (Ez 19:12)

Wreck (Ez 27:26)

Wither, thin, blight (Ge 41:6, 23)

Parch, violently accuse (Job 15:2)

Plunder (Ho 13:15 AMPC; here Assyria is called the East Wind)

Poison (Am 4:9)

Bring locusts (Ex 10:13)

Yes, bring locusts!

Exodus 10:13 AMPC says that “Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night; when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”

God also used east winds to allowed a famine in the land. We see it in Genesis 41:27 AMPC, where Joseph says to Pharaoh, “And the seven thin and ill favored cows that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears [of grain], blighted and shriveled by the east wind; they are seven years of hunger and famine.”

What’s interesting here is that, with the famine, came God’s solution through Joseph that even went beyond Egypt.

So, with all this, we see that east winds are what God has used historically to bring a shift—to clean house from strongholds and restore order and freedom for His people. East winds are a tactical force that God simultaneously uses in spiritual battles to push back darkness and clear the path of victory for His faithful people.

Just like with the Israelites, described in Psalm 78, those living unrepentant lives (of bondage) must turn to The Lord and go His way to survive the east winds.

As I pursued God for this message, I believe Holy Spirit revealed to me that there is an east wind coming across the USA that is divinely-purposed to clear a path for His people to be set free from oppressive alignments and rise to the forefront. This same east wind that will cleanse Kingdom domains from evil will be the same east wind that accelerates God’s faithful people.

This new alignment is a type of revival.

God is expressing definition in this hour as this east wind blows through. He asks, “Did I not put My laws in your minds and write them on your hearts?” 

We must be ready for this defining moment by deciding whose side we’re on. We must turn from selfishness, stubbornness and rebellion. We must be awake and intentional in Kingdom efforts.

The Lord also showed me the Word “mill” in a Word-vision. I sensed a few interpretations:

First, no longer can we mill around “aimlessly, slowly or confusedly, as a herd of cattle” (Dictionary.com). It’s time to trade up. It’s time to decide this day whom we will serve, as this trade wind will prove to be God’s dividing line that will reveal His sheep from goats as individuals as well as nations.

Secondly, I sensed that God will expose more about international trade and give us wisdom and opportunity to spearhead and develop big and small shifts that will cause His people to excel, especially in work arenas.

As God re-ignites their dreams, these people can receive His invitation to head further into freedom by working together to pursue their hearts’ desires. God gave me the understanding that they will overcome limitations of the past with Christ-mindedness.

Thirdly, I sensed that there are specific regions and towns in the USA that will recapture manufacturing for God’s glory. I saw “East Tennessee” in a Word-vision. God highlighted this area but I sensed there will be an outpouring and an overflow that will affect outlying areas as well. “Be ready for new opportunities,” says The Lord of Hosts, “Be available. This is what I have been re-ordering you for.”

Fourthly, there are even those whom God is calling back into manufacturing. Those who thought they had to accept retirement. God has recompense for these wise and willing ones. He is inviting them into new opportunities to experience a fullness of joy in this area that they once missed. “This time,” says The Lord of Hosts, “will be different.”

You thought it was over, but God has a new beginning for you, a type of revival that will cause you to have a good ending. A better ending that will re-set your posterity.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for bringing us into greater truth and freedom. Please help us to be on the right side of your trade (east) winds. Bring any conviction that leads us to repentance. Get our minds and hearts right with You. Show us Your merciful provision. Order our steps. And reveal Your wisdom to help us get into position to receive Your fullness of joy in this season.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Domain Name

In good and evil, names are directly linked with identity and domain. Domain being a field of action, thought or influence, as well as a realm or range of personal knowledge and/or governed territory (Dictionary.com).

Names reveal direction, purpose and unique character.

We see name changes in Holy Scripture that reflect transformation, like Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel and Saul to Paul (Ge 17:5, 35:10; Ac 13:9).

Name changes are linked with experiencing a change of heart and/or a way of life. They reveal God’s redemption for His people, His nations—from setting us up to raising us up to manifesting the expansion of His Kingdom through us. 

When we know and apply the Name of Jesus, we can take dominion as He wills. This must be rooted in love, as He put His laws in our minds and wrote them on our hearts to influence us to act accordingly (He 8:10). When we fully yield to Him, He expands His covenant of victory-salvation in and through us on earth. 

Alternatively, acting on sinful flesh weakens us. Therefore, pretense has to go as we are made stronger in Him. Pretense is anything that is not of God, such as lies, indulgences, addictions and even priorities that are out of order, according to Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV reminds us that Jesus said, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”

Romans chapter 8 has a lot to say about the opposing domains of flesh and spirit. In verse 13 TPT Paul says, “For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die. But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.”

Yes, we grow in grace, love and insight that enables us to choose excellence and be filled with His fruits of righteousness  (Phil 1:9-11). Yes, God takes us from glory to glory. And yes, when we know better, He expects us to do better. As we seek Him, He will invite us higher. 

Living in His domain of truth, love and overflow is a choice.

So, we are to serve God faithfully, as one after God’s own heart, and let His power flow through us as His delegated authority to take dominion for His Kingdom.

Acts 3:16 reminds us that “It is the faith that comes through believing in Jesus’ Name that has made the crippled man walk right in front of your eyes!”

God sets us up to help fulfill His Gospel. Obedience unto God is everything, as we prove our trust in Him as our Source for life, given even through wise strategy in life or death situations. This is how Moses and Joshua knew God in pivotal moments of Kingdom expansion.

We serve God on earth out of the complete victory Jesus already won for us. It’s a matter of choice to believe and take courage to do it His way above our own, the latter of which always leads to less than His best life for us.

So, let’s be reminded of John 10:10 TPT, which says, “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”

Pray with me if you will…

“Our Beloved Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your name be the center on which our lives turn” (Matt 6:9 TPT). 

Thank You that You are the living God, who endures forever, that Your kingdom will never be destroyed and that Your dominion will never end (Da 6:26).

Thank You for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the Kingdom of the Son You love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Co 1:13-14 NIV).

We choose to humble ourselves unto Your will and ways to experience Your expansion through us. Help us rest in Your love and please You.

Thank You for enabling us to let go of lesser comforts that weaken us spirit, soul and body, as we reach for You as our true Source of comfort, love and strength. 

Restore and revive our lives. Open before us the right path and lead us along in Your footsteps of righteousness so that we can bring honor to Your name (Ps 23:3 TPT).

Thank You for Your delegated authority, Your power to act on Your Word by Your Name and see miracles come to pass on earth as it is in Heaven.

And help us to live with You every moment in Your house, beholding Your marvelous beauty, filled with awe, delighting in Your glory and grace (Ps 27:4 TPT).

In Jesus’ Name above all names, 

Amen.

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

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Seen Well

Right now, God is releasing grace to end our torment and destruction from the last season by bringing us into more of His understanding and truth of what happened.

This fresh perspective offers us greater peace and freedom, as Holy Spirit removes our confusion and un-resolve. In doing so, He’s restoring, preparing and enabling us to move full circle into locations and relationships better and wiser. To move into the new life that He promised. And to pour out His living water through us.

God works to unclog the deep wells of our understanding in different ways.

For example, He gave understanding directly to the suffering prophet, Jeremiah, saying, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it” (Je 1:12 AMP). 

In this verse, to have seen (Strong’s #7200) means that Holy Spirit opens our eyes of understanding and gives us sure access to experience and display whatever He reveals to us. This is a key promise, as His governing spiritual laws are set in place to work on our behalves. 

In Acts 8:25-40, the curious and worshipful Ethiopian man, who worked as the minister of finance for the queen of his country, gained understanding through a disciple of Christ.

God sent him Philip, to “walk alongside” him in his journey and help him understand more about the Gospel of grace to the point where he could more fully accept it (vs 29). 

This happened while the man read passages from Isaiah 53, which say:

He was led away to the slaughter like a lamb to be offered. He was like a lamb that is silent before those who sheared him—he never even opened his mouth. In his lowliness justice was stripped away from him. And who could fully express his struggles? For his life was taken from the earth (Ac 8:32-33 TPT; Isaiah 53:7-8).

The Lord touched the Ethiopian man’s heart and sent him Philip, who led him to his confession of faith, baptism and indwelling of Holy Spirit (vs 36-38). 

Acts 8:39 TPT tells us that “The man never saw Philip again and that he returned to Ethiopia full of great joy.” 

So, the complete work of Jesus gave this man a new beginning, as he sought to understand Jesus more, while he traveled full circle, back to the physical location from where he came. 

This is our Gospel of Hope, which is certain to be fulfilled (vs 25).

We can only imagine the reach this man had when he returned to his nation. I wonder how he influenced Ethiopia’s Queen Candace (vs 27).

As in this man’s story, once the door of Christ is opened, Holy Spirit brings understanding, which, by invitation, lifts us out of frustrating limitations into a new attitude. So, we can be freer in Christ and with Christ to run and help others, like Philip.

Jesus is the God of Justice, who gives us beauty for ashes to build His Kingdom, beginning with our salvation. And when we seek Him for greater understanding, He’ll bring it. 

When we receive greater understanding, we can know our Lord better and do better for His Kingdom. 

As a well of understanding, we become fortified to overcome our previous lack of knowledge that worked against us to destroy (Ho 4:6; Is 5:13). And we are re-positioned for rivers of living water to flow through us outwardly.

For the Ethiopian man, it came in the form of a disciple of Jesus, who was directed by The Lord’s angel (Ac 8:26).

For Jeremiah, understanding was given directly by the Word of God (Je 1:4-19).

And God will do the same for us. 

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for seeing us and our needs and for sharing Your Spirit of Understanding that knows all things. You command us to get perfect understanding with truth, discernment and wisdom as in Proverbs 4:5. Therefore, we seek You for understanding and invite You to open the eyes of our hearts to see what You would have us see and know right now. What gift of understanding would You like us to experience and display for Your glory? Open Your deep well of understanding Your truths to us, Lord. Help us to apply it and carry out Your mission wisely. Help our unbelief. Thank You for leading us from our certain hope in You to complete fulfillment. Thank You for helping us overcome our lack of knowledge that destroys, thus ending our torment. Thank You for purposely growing us in the knowledge of You and Your Kingdom. May Your rivers of living water pour out of us like a flood at Your will as You order our steps.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

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

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Complete Definition

On the morning of October 11, 2022, three days before our Lord relocated me out of state, He gave me this Word. It’s not solely for me but also for those who are willing to hear and receive it by faith. Here is the Word:

We are in a time where those who know Christ as their true power and authority will excel even more. Everyday citizens of Heaven on earth will see God’s explosive power and authority manifest in healings, miracles and deliverances instantaneously and in great measure.

Where the enemy has tried to push back authority in our streets as a visual to intimidate My righteous ones, says The Lord of Hosts, I AM revealing Myself in full-on power and authority through my aligned ones in a rising, the scale of which this world hasn’t seen.

To My people, says The Lord, when the stones start to be thrown, know that Heaven will break open for you even more as conversions happen all around you. Many of the most desperate people, who are caught in impossible snares, will acknowledge My grace and receive freedom.

Those empowered with My truth and love will come on the scene courageously, stand for what is right in My eyes, reach out to others and see it manifest. They will be a witness to those who have deep un-resolve in their hearts toward authority—the ones who exalted their false ways out of fear and envy, says The Lord. As a result, many who didn’t know better will come to know Me and live. Others will self-destruct in their stubbornness.

There is a definitive line between good and evil, says The Lord. I have drawn it and am making it known again. People must choose this day whom they will serve–darkness or light. For I have raised a standard. More than ever, the world will see black and white in a new way. For there is no in-between, says The Lord. To those who are bent towards destruction, there will be no more grace for in-between. It is not about you. It is about Me. It is not about race. It is about running your race with Me. It is not about who is right. It is about My righteousness, says The Lord of Hosts. I AM exalting My righteousness on the earth.

My higher standard will be even more obvious as I make Myself known to this world on a heart level, both to individuals and at large. I will send My beacon-people to those in need of true authority. They will bring the deliverance needed to those who are willing. This move will not be a stretching, like in times past, says The Lord, but will include My righteous expectations and involve a series of definitive and deliberate choices they will now have to make. It will happen in rapid succession. Once choice after the other, they will have to decide whose side they are on: Mine or theirs. Mine or the evil one’s.

Gone is the grace, for those who know better, to torment others. For time is short, says The Lord. Decide this day whom you will serve and live or die by your choices of grace or no grace, as there will be no more in-between allowed for those who know what to do. For I AM cleaning My houses, says the Lord of Hosts. I AM delivering, re-aligning, re-ordering and re-assigning My people. This is a time of honor and exaltation. This is time for Me to be exalted in the earth through those who have aligned with Me as their Love and Truth, their Power and Authority.

Have I not taught you? asks The Lord. Have I not trained you? There has been grace for you to learn a thing. And now, I AM adding speed. I AM increasing velocity to enable you, who choose Me, to soar. Just as My Word does not return void, My straight arrows will hit the mark in this season, as I have restored and equipped them to do so.

This is a time of lift. So, continue to lift Me up in your praises and be lifted. Watch for and experience My joy permeate your entire being, says The Lord. For I come in fullness of Spirit to deliver My promises to My beloved. Watch and see the goodness I do, for you will see My glory fill the earth in a new and fresh way that will awe My beloved and win souls for My glory.

Friends, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Word that exalts Your nations. Thank You for freeing Your beloved from man’s snares. We choose to hold onto You as You bring Your willing ones where You desire we be at this time. Thank You for remembering us, as You continually go before us and make a way that would be otherwise impossible. We choose to trust You now and forever.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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