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I Need You

During quiet time, Holy Spirit revealed to me that there’s coming a time when His beloved will need to know Him as their strength in new ways. 

As God continues to bring shifts into our lives, He would have us recognize and acknowledge our need for Him. Holy Spirit especially highlighted the Word “NEED” in capital letters, as we believe Him for greater things.

All of the Biblical definitions of the Word need involve elements of measure and time. They can reference:

  • What is suitable, fit, convenient, advantageous, enough.
  • What is indispensable, required, essential, intimate, right, proper.
  • What is pressing, distressing, compelling.
  • Even what is indebted—what is owed.
  • Or simply needing more of something.

Chase Him

Holy Spirit also revealed that we are to synchronize our voices with His and chase Him.

Yes, chase.

He highlighted several verses, including this one in particular: Psalm 34:10 TPT, where King David sings, “…those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing.” 

Ironically, the Word “lack” in this verse is transliterated from a Hebrew Word that’s spelled “chaser.”

According to Strong’s, this Hebrew Word (chaser) means to “be abated, bereave, decrease, cause to fail, have lack, make lower, want” (Strong’s #2637). It can reference the loss of a loved one or a change in status. It can mean to want something that feels withheld, even in regards to worth.

Like King David, when we find ourselves in a time of need, we can cry out to God to meet them (Ps 34:4, 15). He assures us in Psalm 84:11 ESV that He “is a sun and shield;” and that He “bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” 

Matthew 7:11 assures us that God gives “good things to those who ask him!”

In Matthew 7:7-8 TPT, Jesus says, “Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.”

Don’t Worry

Jesus also reminds us to forsake our worries and not chase after material needs, like unbelievers do (Mt 6:31-32). He asks us in Matthew 6:27 TPT “So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life?” Then, He offers us a strategy in Matthew 6:33-34 TPT which says, “So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Paul also reminds us in Philippians 4:6 TPT by saying, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life.” 

Synchronizing Voice

Especially in a time of need, we must remember that God’s voice is a “synchronizing voice,” meaning it perfectly times sound with action.

God says through the prophet Isaiah in 66:2, “But there is one my eyes are drawn to: the humble one, the tender one, the trembling one who lives in awe of all I say.”

King David offers us an encouraging strategy in Psalm 34:12-13 TPT by saying, “Do you want to live a long, good life, enjoying the beauty that fills each day? Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words to come from your mouth.” In Psalm 34:9 TPT he reminds us to “Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy! For all who fear him will feast with plenty.”

We can intentionally choose to agree with Him in Word and action. We can speak what He says and see mountains move and provision come. We can even experience a “miraculous escape” (Ps 34).

Grace is Necessary

His Spirit of Grace is necessary and works to help our voice align with His and fulfill our needs.

Hebrews 4:16 TPT says, “So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.”

In 2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT, Paul says, “Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything —every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.”

God’s grace is also necessary to fulfill the needs of others through us. Holy Spirit impressed my heart many years ago that He’s raising up His beloved ones who have a great desire to give to others. Many will find themselves in positions to do so in this new season.

In this light, Jesus reminds us how to give in Matthew 6:2-4 NIV by saying, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Pray with me if you will . . . 

Holy God,

Thank You for Your grace of provision.

We need You every step of the way to accomplish Your plan for us.

“Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need Your help” (Ps 86:1 NLT).

Thank You that “Your wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to [me] through Jesus Christ” (Php 4:7 TPT).

To You be all glory, honor and praise.

Amen.

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

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Timeline Devotion

In six to nine months, we’ll begin to see the discreet things that Holy Spirit revealed to us come into place rapidly. There’s a momentum that cannot be stopped with sudden shifts included. 

God’s prepared ones will know what to do, because they’ve been listening and obeying Him incrementally over time. They have been devoted to Him in His timeline for a long time and, therefore, will prove strong in His life plan for them.

Those who have committed to Him in the secret place have a sense of what’s to come. So, they won’t be surprised. They will be delighted in their new freedoms. And they’ll fit perfectly into their new normal, because God will meet them in His tangible, holy expectations. 

For these devoted ones, it will feel like an awesome finale and a whole new beginning. A relief will wash over them. 

But for the misaligned, it may feel shocking, even though they thought they were prepared. They may be blindsided or feel dumbfounded because their thoughts are not His and they have gone their own way. Those who remain won’t know what to do and will experience desperation. 

It’s a good time to pray about what’s to come—both personally and outside of ourselves. It’s a good time to be ready to share Jesus in ways that we never have. It’s a good time to be ready to meet “unexpected” needs as they present themselves. 

We can have our houses in order to be ready and available as the head, not the tail, to minister reconciliation and meet practical needs from a place of strength in Jesus to those hurting around us. 

We see this happening right now, especially in war-torn countries—how allies and border nations help refugees. Likewise, there are a lot of spiritual refugees who won’t have a clue about what’s next or right in the eyes of God in many situations. They will have exhausted their own arsenals of intellect. They won’t know what to do and will be ripe for the new thing God desires for their lives. 

And you and I can be the hands and feet of Jesus that meet the willing and bring change of direction to their lives.

How exciting is this?!

It’s largely why we’re here: To invite others into relationship with Jesus. It may not be pretty but it will be joyous. It may not even feel familiar but it will extend God’s Kingdom family. And it will reset beauty in us all. 

About five years ago, Holy Spirit revealed to me there would be massive shifts coming up that would feel unpleasant but, processed in alignment with Him, they would prove freeing. To go through these shifts properly and victoriously would require a commitment to Him and His ways. There will be no room or time for knee-jerk reactions, only obedience to His revealed will because they will happen so swiftly, one after the other. 

This mega transition will be an expanse of major life-changing events for many. But those who walk closely with The Lord will be ready. It will not throw them off course but free them to continue in the will of God in areas in which they previously felt bound. 

A lot will be swirling around them in the world, and even in their personal worlds, but they will know precisely what to do, where to go and how to do it, because they have already been advised in the secret place and will continue to be led by Holy Spirit. 

They will not be afraid because God’s direction has been made familiar to them by now. So, they will operate in faith and in Godspeed, as their normal. God will be with them all the way, even meeting them in their new destinations that will be refined for them and their aligned descendants to flourish.

This will be a time of clear decision, where many will get off the proverbial fence. There will be delineations and demarcations. It will not be church as usual, as powerless churches will be left in the dust, bypassed as God’s anointed ones do the true work of Christ, which is the Great Commission.

In the midst, there will be rich rewards for God’s beloved saints who walk out  righteousness, for those who move with Him and in Him as in Acts 17:28. There will be no regrets as they are delivered forward into the long awaited, manifest promises of God. 

And we all have the option to be one of them as we submit to God more deeply in this exciting time just before us.

So, Dear Lord, 

We need You and we trust You to help us. 

To You 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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Sound Mind

To have a sound mind is to have a disciplined mind. A sound mind knows God, knows His principles, hears from Him in any situation, and submits to Him in obedience for His purposes.

One commentary describes sound-mindedness as “safe-minded, issuing in prudent (“sensible”) behavior that ‘fits’ a situation, i.e., aptly acting out God’s will by doing what He calls sound reasoning” (HELPS Word-studies).

This definition is referenced in 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJ, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Sound-mindedness is from a root word that means “truly moderate” and “discreet” or “chaste” (Strong’s#4998). 

This root word can be traced one more level down into two Greek words: One being sozo, which means wholeness of life, and can specifically mean to save, heal, rescue and deliver out of danger, destruction and the penalty and peril of sin (Strong’s #4982). The other root word (phrén) references a person’s thought process, understanding or, more specifically, their “inner outlook (mind-set, insight) that regulates outward behavior” (HELPS Word-studies, Strong’s #5424).

Sound-mindedness as self-control is, in fact, a fruit of The Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:23, against which “there is no law.” And we do grow in it over time.

This fruit is a mastery within one’s self that can flow outwardly, only by the power of Holy Spirit through a submitted vessel.

So, to have a sound mind is to have a mind that is synced with the life of Holy Spirit inwardly in our thoughts and outwardly in our speech and actions, which is the safest place to be because it’s life-giving. 

God’s truth is that all born-again believers have sound-mindedness in them and are capable of behaving in life-giving ways inasmuch as they grow in Him.

What’s interesting is the sequence of words used in 2 Timothy 1:7, which are those of power, love and then a sound mind. This sequence clearly reveals God’s order and way in which He moves in and through His chosen vessels: First with power. Then in love. Then with a sound mind. All three are necessary and work together in this order to bring blessing. 

We may need to press through the first part of 2 Timothy 1:7, which is to overcome any opposition of fear, timidity, cowardice or cringing that’s not of God. 

Knowing this helps set our minds rightly on Him and His way to experience His power, love and sound-mindedness in demonstrations. Sometimes, we have to intentionally choose to get past it and let it become our new normal in new circumstances and assignments as He calls us all up higher. 

A Biblical example of this would be how Peter and John behaved when they encountered the lame man in Acts 3:4-7 and then interacted with the crowd in verse 16. 

The New King James Version says, “And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”

Here, as a vessel of deliverance, Peter acted in a manner of confident boldness, not in the least bit of fear, and even in front of a crowd on Solomon’s porch.

He spoke God’s truth to the crowd as a teacher in Acts 3:16 when he said, “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” 

This kind of soundness means wholeness, completeness and divine health (Strong’s #3647). So, this was a faith-filled demonstration of true sound-mindedness with a purpose and tangible result of resurrection life (Ro 8:11).

And this is precisely what can happen and more when we walk with Holy Spirit in life-giving sound-mindedness. This is how a fountain of blessing comes through a life lived out with Him as our Lord.

Solomon himself reminds us of this wisdom in Proverbs 14:30 MSG, which says, “A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.”

So, Lord, 

We thank You for inviting us up higher. Please do that which only You can do, and make us vessels of your power, love and sound-mindedness. For Your glory and even for our own benefit and the benefit of others as in Psalm 103.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

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

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Life Restoration

As I sought The Lord’s heart for what He would like to share this week, I saw some key Words in visions, as usual. And I sensed in my spirit that, for some, who have been working diligently to tie up loose ends in a handful of areas, you will be packing it up very soon to then pull up your tent pegs and cross over. 

Also, I believe Holy Spirit has a Word of caution for these diligent ones to be careful in their pace and to pay attention to details in your circumstances. They are important and will have a lasting impact on your own mission and others you’re trying to reach. 

So, be careful to not get too tired or scramble so quickly that you overlook seemingly small things that can potentially prove to work against your purpose. 

Many of us may have known people (or have been people) who have unintentionally sabotaged purpose, because they have moved so fast they didn’t take time to make sure the details were accurate and in order. 

I believe Holy Spirit would say to you that you don’t have to move in haste, as He has gone before you to prepare the way and is also present as your rear guard. He is with you all the way. And just as He has prepared you, He has prepared what He’s sending you into.

You don’t have to worry. You just need to be awake, be wise and be careful in your progression.

I feel led to share a brief personal testimony here:

Many years ago, when our Lord brought me into a life-changing assignment, He sent an angel to me early on, who shared four keys to help me navigate my impossible promise. One of those keys was careful obedience. 

As I searched out “careful obedience,” in Holy Scripture, and walked further into my new journey, it became clear that my big, new assignment, my fulfilled promise required a Joshua level of courage and obedience.

This may sound strange to some, but God will absolutely send us into a promised land, where our assignments are over our heads—ones we cannot even survive without a close alignment with Him.

He will lead us into areas that are entirely new to us, where we will have to depend on His voice and promptings to succeed. Our obedience to His directives will link us to His phenomenal blessings. 

Remember, God desires to bless us beyond where we’ve been. And going back is not an option.

For many, blessing will feel like deliverance from suffering and favor over unfairness as they step out. They will experience God fighting on their side in new ways as He brings them into big shifts of outward restoration.

This leads into the next point Holy Spirit revealed to me, which is that the assignment you are about to step into is purposed to be life-giving for you, too! 

Some may not have considered this, because of such a long season of preparation in the wilderness. But that preparation was a “come away” for the assignments that are now opening up. And God’s invitation to step out now is not only into your mission, it’s your personal exodus into a better life outwardly.

Remember, the wilderness was not a place of captivity. It was an intimate cocoon for inward transformation and preparation. A protected place to be captivated by God and strengthened by Him through revelations of His truth and divine downloads of strategy for right now.

So, as you step forward into your newness, which is your time of great rescue and visible restoration, be confident in God and what He grew you into. Because, the same God that you came to count on in your cocoon is the same God you can lean on now. 

Remember to continue to seek Him and choose His wisdom forward, because what is and is to come will look different than before. But He remains your constant. 

Remember that God gave Joshua a new strategy for each battle. So, Joshua was able to grow in his careful obedience to experience outward victory battle-by-battle. 

And, just like Joshua, this is a time of Isaiah 49:25 TPT, where we can experience God’s fight on our behalves to be expressed outwardly. At the same time, we can experience Psalm 30:1 TPT, where He will bring us into an outward restoration above our enemies to the extend that our joy is made full.

So, it’s time to experience new expressions of God’s reign of authority and rain of blessings in our lives. And it’s time to finally experience the joy of the visible fruit of endurance, in which we were steeped.

To God be the glory.

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

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Idleness & Idolatry – Part 2

Closely related to idleness is idolatry. The common letter that begins both of these words is “I.” If you look up “I” in Vine’s dictionary, you will see that it means “ego,” something we all need to submit to The Great I AM.

Idolatry

All levels of idolatry involve exhorting our selfish ways above Holy Spirit—knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore, this makes the practice of idolatry a sin of pride that results in low-level living.

When people turn away from God and worship false gods (that can include our own mindsets), they become slaves “to the depraved ideas idols represent…and thereby, to divers lusts,” according to Vine’s. It can be “traced to lack of the acknowledgement of God and of gratitude to Him.”

What we especially need to know about idolatry, in a practical sense, is that it’s a bondage that leads to captivity of the soul, where idolaters bear little or no fruit (Is 46:2). We need to know that, in troubled times, idols will not help: They never answer or save. And they are powerless to do so (Is 46:8). 

Isaiah 44:9 TPT says that “Idol-makers amount to nothing, and the things they treasure can do no one any good. They are witnesses with blind eyes who know nothing; they will be disgraced.” In verse 11, God says idol-worshippers will be “terrified” and “put to shame.”

According to Isaiah 45:20 TPT, worshipping idols results in receiving no revelation knowledge. This is the very opposite of what Jesus came to do, which is to open our blind eyes to Him!

Knowing all of this, we can easily see that the enemy tries to use idolatry to make our efforts fruitless and disgraceful (Jn 15:5). Remember that fruitlessness is a definition of idleness (Strong’s #692). And dis-gracefulness is disempowerment, because anything dis-graceful lacks the grace-power of God. 

If you or I have felt bound up, blind, shamed, terrified or powerless, we need to ask Holy Spirit to reveal any idols in our hearts to us so we can renounce them. God tells how to renounce idols in Isaiah 46:9, saying, “Acknowledge that I am God, and there is no other.” 

The Word that came forth for this message is this:

Idolatry will look different forward. As God shifts His people into bigger, we must be especially careful to not make idols out of our pasts. Do not let memories, soul ties, fears or traumas interrupt faith for the future. We will be tested to not look back to ungodly things.

Michal

As an example, Holy Spirit highlighted Saul’s daughter, Michal, and how she was triggered when she saw King David’s wild dance (2 Sa 6:16). Her unfaithful action of attacking David’s heart and spirit proved to be the opposite of Queen Esther coming before her king, prepared and in submission to God.

Michal was un-submitted to both God and David after they both brought her into promotion. Her reaction, when she saw her king dance for his King, revealed the unfaithfulness in her own heart toward both. As a result, she was not blessed in her household (2 Sa 6:20-23).

Michal still needed to grow in faith for the new things God was doing, even though she was already seated in her promotion. 

So, as in Michal’s story, our faithfulness is key. We are to be captivated by Jesus alone, keeping our eyes on higher, renouncing all ties with lesser behaviors and un-glorified things that aren’t worth our time, energy or entanglement, including our own limited opinions.

God, in His rich mercy, has brought His righteousness closer to us all through Jesus. He is about to “break the powers of wickedness” and promote His faithful ones, who cry out to Him (Ps 75:10 TPT). He is about to make them powerful as they praise Him. He will strengthen His faithful ones by His measureless grace—those who leave all of their cares and anxieties at His feet (Ps 55:2 TPT). And choose His higher way of joy.

So, pray with me, if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

I turn to You and acknowledge that You are God and there is no other.

Thank You for bringing Your righteousness closer to me through Jesus for Your glory (Is 48:11 TPT).

I choose gratitude and invite You to search my heart and reveal to me any areas where I have participated in idleness or idolatry, including stubbornness and covetousness.

I renounce all forms of prideful idleness and idolatry and command these spirits to depart from me now. I break the enemy’s plots against me and choose Your plan today, Lord. 

Thank You for restoring my heart to wholeness and my mind to soundness. Thank You for setting me free, so I can walk in Your blessing to be a blessing.  

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen. 

Now, I declare the blessing of Isaiah 45:8 TPT over you, which is to “Shower down righteousness, O heavens above. Let the clouds drip with deliverance! Let earth’s womb open and bear salvation’s fruit, with righteousness rising up beside it!” You, “Yahweh, have created all of them!”

And I declare, according to Isaiah 61:11 TPT, that “In the same way the earth produces its crops and seeds spring up in a garden, so will the Lord Yahweh cause righteousness and praise to blossom before all the nations!”

To Him be all glory, honor and praise!

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