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New Life – Part 2

Colossians 1:6 TPT says, “…Every believer of this good news bears the fruit of eternal life as they experience the reality of God’s grace.”

“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” (1 Co 1:30 TPT).

So, as we remain close to our Lord in Word and Spirit, as we focus on the eternal and extend our faith for new life, God’s Spirit-life in us will be imparted into our souls. By His Spirit, He will nourish us toward the outward fulfillment of His abundant new life for us (2 Co 4:18, Jn 10:10).

We are bound to God’s righteousness and, therefore, His abundance as we choose to obey Him.

Romans 11:18 TPT reminds us that we owe our lives to the root that supports us. He alone is our life source.

Our key scriptures for this series are Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT, which instructs us to “Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.”

In this verse, to “unwrap” means to discover, to find.

So, just like Naomi and Ruth discovered new life as they came into agreement with God’s leading, so can we. 

As they went forth together in faith, hope and love, Ruth discovered new life with Boaz. And Naomi discovered new life through the gift of a son. Through their journey of faith, God built and established their new lives. He even made that which was old to Naomi—meaning her homeland—new again to her.

But even before this manifest renewal, Ruth followed God’s wisdom through Naomi. And Naomi stepped forth, encouraged by Ruth, out of the death of bitterness into God’s greater goodness.

Ruth, who reflected new life to Naomi, didn’t give up on her in her bitterness, just like God doesn’t give up on us when we feel like we’re in a dead place.

Ruth wisely obeyed God’s wisdom and received the new life God had for her as her faith manifested in the form of marrying Boaz. Then she gave it back to Naomi generously in the form of a new son.

Proverbs 11:25 reminds us that “Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.”

God gave life generously to Ruth and Naomi through each other in different ways.

These two wise women abided with their life-giving God and lived fruitfully again as a family restored in Naomi’s homeland.

So, we see here that, no matter what we’ve been through, God doesn’t leave us at dead! He is Creator of our life cycle, Master at making all things new. We need only to trust Him and put righteous action to our faith.

We need to depend on God’s new life in us in order to continue onward and work optimally.

Jeremiah 17:7 AMP says, “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD And whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.”

Colossians 3:16 TPT says, “Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom…”

Therefore, we must continue to feed on God’s Word, which imparts continual life and keeps us aligned with Him in every way, enabling us to experience a renewed mind and abundant life—all free from sin’s power (1 Co 2:16, 2 Co 5:17, Ro 6).

I believe “…it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to” us (Ep 4:23 TPT).

I believe it’s time to shed old wine skins and align with God by faith and action, to be more fully alive and step out into the new that God has for us with greater clarity.

I believe God may give us flashes of understanding about former people and situations, so we can more easily release them to Him (2 Co 10:4).

I believe God is freeing us from fixations on wrong things and offering us grace to move forward more fully with Him to become more established in His new life for us as master overcomers, who rule from the root, to the foundation to the ascended life with Christ.

I believe God is inviting us up higher by giving us opportunities with new people in new arenas to practice what He instilled in our souls in the last season for righteous decision-making, having been trained by patience, having expressed gratitude and having been led by peace.

I also believe it’s important to keep pace with our Lord as He has assigned us, so we can better receive His fulfillment coming into place just ahead (Ac 20:24 TPT).

Our focus and faith must be on and in Him.

Let’s remember Ruth, who reflected new life and was an example of 2 Timothy 2:22 TPT, which says, “Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts.”

As we run for a crown of life (1 Co 9:25) into our new glory with our Lord, let’s also remember God’s Word in Song of Songs 2:13 TPT, in which He asks and instructs 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.”

Join me next week for Part 3 of New Life.

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

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New Life – Part 1

Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT invites us to “Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.”

These verses are part of the living Word of God that impart wisdom for new life as we listen to and receive from Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite Bible examples of new life is the story of Naomi and Ruth.

Their story involves the Good News (Gospel) of grace helping them move forward from bitterness to love, from death to new life.

These wise women understood that their deceased husbands were seeds planted and that God had more redemption and resurrection life for themselves on earth (1 Co 15:36).

In His wisdom, God led them to return to Naomi’s homeland of Bethlehem. He was about to make what was once old, new for them. Their journey was purposed for abundance in ways they had yet to discover.

So, by faith, these wise women relocated from a dead end into a new beginning. And like them, when we walk by faith and not by sight, we receive God’s (zóopoieó) life into our souls (Strong’s #2227). This is a quickening that aligns us to live with God, not just for Him.

Ephesians 3:17 TPT says that “…by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.”

Many of us have tasted bitterness like Naomi. We may have even had to intentionally choose to rejoice above pain so that the bitterness would not take root in our souls (Ga 5:17). Like Naomi, we may have had to keep believing God’s root and foundation of love above the resistance of bitterness until it passed from us completely.

For Naomi, the moment she made the faithful decision to go and return home was the moment new life was put into motion for her (Strong’s #72).

As for younger Ruth, she was wise to trust Naomi’s decision and accompany her.

Metaphorically, Ruth represents victorious love not letting go of us in our darkest hour, guiding us further into the light of Christ, blessing us with every good thing we need, even when our current situation looks otherwise hopeless.

Youthful Ruth represents hope against hope to believe we will experience God’s promise of new life and a good ending.

These wise women understood that life wasn’t over for them, that God would make it better than before and that it was a whole new beginning.

So, friends, what new thing is God doing in your life?

New can reference time, as in a new season. It can mean youthful or even born again, as it pertains to people; or fresh as it pertains to things, including development or opportunity. It can also mean new in quality, as in innovation. It can reference form, as in unused, unworn or superior to what it succeeds. It can reference substance, as in uncommon or unheard of. New can reference a recent discovery. (Strong’s #3501, #2537).

Like Ruth and Naomi, we can walk in this uncommon faith for God’s fresh start and renewal of life (Strong’s # 2538).

We can discover our best lives yet.

We can experience a new way of life by Holy Spirit’s leading and training (Strong’s #72).

We can model our lives by love and endurance.

Faith in our Lord, who is our Life-Giver, aligns us with His fresh vision and new life (Lk 18:42).

In Matthew 11:29 TPT, Jesus says, “Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.”

Ephesians 4:24 TPT reminds us “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.”

So, friends, we can trust Him for the transformation that brings new life and rest with Him in the process. Because God has more life for us ahead. He’s just beginning to set us on a new path. And He desires to establish us in better over bitter by His love.

“Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you,” according to Ephesians 4:23 TPT.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your fresh grace that offers new opportunities and new life to me. Where there has been upset, please give me a re-set and make my life upright. I invite You to straighten and clear out my pathways—spirit, soul and body—to align me more with You, as You cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Where there has been runaway failure, please help me to return home to You, knowing You will make what’s old new again. Help me to take hold of courage and run with You in victory. Help me take actions that foster life. Thank You for loving me enough to escort me into better.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

Join me next week for Part 2 of New Life.

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

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Sweet Moments

Within four days, very recently, our family laid two very special aunts to rest. All of my many aunts were like second mothers to me growing up. Each one was unique and strong and poured their very best into my young life. And each one inspired me to do the same.

As my large, extended family came together for these homegoing services, I was reminded to look for God’s beauty in everything: the tears, the memories, the flowers, the love through so many hearts and the legacy through these two aunts, who are also mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives and daughters.

In this, death’s bitter moments were made sweet by God.

“Sweet” can mean “good” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance #2896a).

As in His invitation to “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him” (Ps 34:8 NLT)!

The Word “good” in this verse means “pleasant” and “agreeable” (Strong’s 2896a).

Psalm 34:10 NKJV reminds us that “…those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Here, the Word “good” means “benefit” and “welfare” (Strong’s 2896b) as well as “happiness” and “prosperity” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance).

So, when we seek God, agree with His truth and ways and take refuge in Him, we will experience sweet moments of life that include His good benefits, no matter what our hearts’ desperation.

“Moment” is defined by Dictionary.com as “a particular time or period of success” It can mean a “stage” of a “course of events.” And It factors in importance and effects, such as consequences or rewards.

Proverbs 14:14 TPT assures us that “a good person receives a sweet reward.”

“Moment” can mean “day” in relation to “point of time” So, as we call out to Him and receive His moment-by-moment provision for victory, He can shift us from darkness to light instantly (Ps 138:3 TPT).

In this way, sweet moments magnify God and His Name. Sweet moments are victory in action.

As we release our pain to Christ and agree with His sweetness or goodness every moment, we align with His victory above darkness progressively to the point of completion, knowing He’ll use our circumstances for the good of His Kingdom. (Ga 5:22).

At my aunts’ homegoing services, God aligned my family on a new level of reconnection. He touched our hearts to override any absences or differences with His outpouring of what’s most important: Love.

To be more aligned with the heart of God is what my aunts would want.

God’s way above it all.

His truth.

His prevailing Presence and presentation of victory over death.

Psalm 34:7 NKJV tells us that “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.”

So, we never have to fear death or unpleasantries when we remain close to sweet Jesus. His Spirit of truth and grace is stronger and empowers us in any situation, even when loved ones cross over into eternity.

In Psalm 138:7 TPT, King David says, “By your mighty power I can walk through any devastation and you will keep me alive reviving me.” In verse three, he says, “At the very moment I called out to you, you answered me! You strengthened me deep within my soul and breathed fresh courage into me.”

Friends, we can face any difficulty when we are filled afresh with God’s Spirit above being full of ourselves.

We can rejoice and come up higher, according to Psalm 24:7 TPT, which says, “So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you doorways of eternity! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you.”

Friends, we can rise and remain living in the ascended life Jesus died to give us by trusting and obeying Him to make our moments sweet.

So, let’s look to His every rainbow promise that bridges us to His fulfillment, as we abide with Him for every sweet moment.

Pray with me, if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your heart of love that brings Your people together. Help me to remain in Your truth, to abide in You in all things. Please “Give me revelation about the meaning of your ways so I can enjoy the reward of following them fully” (Ps 119:33 TPT). Help me to choose Your righteousness over my own ways and reap the benefits of Your rewards. Thank You for Your sweet and fruitful moments in my life. I pray that You will multiply them.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

And now, I declare that “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him” (Ps 28:7 AMPC).

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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Decision Making

God is our Savior in all things, even in our time. He is our Time-Saver. He redeems time, bringing His strength and beauty of efficiency into our divine purposes and assignments.

We need His perspective, so we can cooperate with Him in righteous decision making.

God has ultimate solutions for us that bring victory in His promises to us. His perfect solutions invite us to trust Him, submit to His ways above our own, build our faith and impact other peoples’ lives.

Godly decision making is purposed to know Him more, make Him known more and release our divine destiny in the process. In this, God will work out our victory-salvation, helping us to walk out His redemption for our lives here on earth.

As we remain close to Him, we cannot lose.

Hearing from God, patiently trusting Him and acting out of His wisdom are necessary for making right decisions (Pr 21:5, 28:25 TPT).

Proverbs 2:6-9 TPT tell us that “Wisdom is a gift from a generous God, and every word he speaks is full of revelation and becomes a fountain of understanding within you. For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom made accessible to his godly ones. He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways, protecting and guarding you as you choose what is right. Then you will discover all that is just, proper, and fair, and be empowered to make the right decisions as you walk into your destiny.”

Whole-hearted obedience is another key factor.

Joshua had many decisions to make as he and his troops warred to take dominion in the Promised Land. He had to take courage and hear unique strategies from God for each battle. He couldn’t lean on his own understanding (Pr 3:5). He had to hear from God and trust His perfect faithfulness implicitly each step of the way.

Just like God provided daily manna for the Israelites in the dessert, that was good only for a single day, so too was Joshua dependent upon God for daily life in resistant territory. Life was extended to him (and his troops) as he listened and carefully obeyed. In this, God developed great trust of heart and courage in Joshua as His prime leader.

Likewise, God offers us newness of life as we progress with Him, even as He prunes dead things from us that were once good in past seasons but that will not serve us well forward.

When we do it God’s way, and give Him our dis-appointments, He gives us His divine appointments.

Proverbs 28:25 TPT tells us “To make rash, hasty decisions shows that you are not trusting the Lord. But when you rely totally on God, you will still act carefully and prudently.”

Avoiding mistakes can save us time, pain and even life at the outset (Josh 7).

Proverbs 21:5 TPT says that “Brilliant ideas pay off and bring you prosperity, but making hasty, impatient decisions will only lead to financial loss.”

Still, even in this, God can use our hard-learned lessons to reveal His truth, develop us in character and give us a mercy-testimony of His goodness when we circle back to Him.

His grace is enough (Ja 1:5 TPT).

Here are some points to consider as we make Godly decisions forward in this new season:

Prioritize God as most valuable and honorable in regards to heart, time and task.

Keep hope anchored in Him as a firm foundation.

Intentionally choose to operate in faith, not fear.

Ask Him to reveal His timeline and way in specific assignments and tasks.

Yes, count the costs of decisions, which can help bring clarity, be conscious to not over analyze.

Pray unceasingly and follow His lead daily, even if it doesn’t make sense to us.

Expect God’s best, even if it comes in ways and through people we don’t expect.

When we make decisions God’s way, we will surely walk in victory. We will break through to another level when we trust God and receive and act on His invitation to come up higher with Him.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for drawing my heart “into understanding” as I listen to You (Pr 23:19 TPT).

“Teach me how to make good decisions, and give me revelation-light, for I believe in your commands” (Ps 119:66 TPT).

Thank You for growing me in Your wisdom that empowers me “to make right decisions” (Pr 23:19 TPT).

Help me to honor You in all my decision making, as I “constantly seek” Your kingdom and righteousness (Ma 6:33).

Thank You for giving me all I need (Ma 6:33).

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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Grace Upon Grace

Some time ago, during quiet time, our Lord revealed to me that He is pouring out His grace on those of us who prioritize His Spirit of Grace first—not solely in our hearts, but also in regards to our time and tasks.

It’s so easy to pick up our to-do lists first, but God desires to take us beyond our goals and accomplishments. He desires to breath on our daily lives to lighten our load and help us move forward with Him in greatness by His Spirit.

Romans 8:6 TPT reminds us that “… the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.”

So, as we trust the Spirit of Grace and relinquish the dis-grace of our own priorities, we can receive more of His grace-power.

Psalm 73:26 TPT is quick to remind us of Him as our power source by saying, “Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace. But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever you’re all I need!”

Here’s something else to keep in mind: Since one of the definitions of grace is “ease” (Strong’s #5543), when we feel un-easy about something, it could very well be that God’s grace is lifting off of that something and onto something else. In this way, He will invite us to trust Him and move forward with Him, not wanting us to miss His best.

When faced with this kind of transition, and we feel uncertain as to whether it’s God or the enemy or even us, we can lay the issue on the altar, and ask our Lord to make it crystal clear.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I awakened to receive immediate, specific instruction from Holy Spirit regarding three concerns I had been praying about. God made it very clear to me that He had a better fit for me in each of these three situations and He revealed next steps.

This is one way that we abide in Him during transitions.

In these situations, I’ve learned that any dis-appointments will fall away to divine appointments of destiny when we obey Him; and the dis-grace of lesser things will give way to His grace of abundant life.

We can choose to hold onto John 1:16 NLT, which says, “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”

Obedience to His Spirit enables God’s radiance in us to shine brighter. Obedient lovers of God will become more of a reflection of Him to make an even greater mark with Him for Kingdom’s sake.

So, as we choose to come increasingly into His light, God can accelerate us (Ep 2:7).

During moments of God’s gracious outpouring, He can make it as easy as 1-2-3 for us when we yield to Him (1 Pe 1:23). We can experience greater peace and grow under His refuge as we taste and see that our Lord is good in new ways to us (Ps 34:8).

Many have already moved on from former things into the awestruck wonder of God’s grace-power. They are realizing the beginnings of His higher life for them.

Some are even now coming into the “Never have I ever” phase. This is a Word-phrase our Lord revealed to me very recently that describes pinnacles of His goodness. He’s bringing His lovers into moments, situations and things that are brand-new-to-us, first-time-ever, unique, serendipitous and beautiful (as in appropriately and perfectly fitting; lovely). Experiences of the goodness of God that will stop us in our tracks, leave us in awestruck-wonder, thinking and saying, “Never have I ever!” This means places, opportunities and things, which we will know only God led us to receive. This includes gifts that are part of His preparation to build us for our promised greater blessings just ahead, especially in the next four years.

Many are in the place of Amos 9:13-15 MSG, which says, “‘Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.’ God’s Decree. ‘Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people Israel: They’ll rebuild their ruined cities. They’ll plant vineyards and drink good wine…’ God, your God, says so.”

So, friends, let’s continue to put on His new nature as He grows us upward. Let’s remember Ephesians 4:23-25 AMPC, which says, “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.”

In our dependence on Him, let’s reflect His strength of grace wherever He guides (Ps 84:7).

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You that You and Your grace are enough (Jn 1:16).

Thank You for helping me walk out Philippians 3:12–14 TPT, which says, “…I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me His own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.”

“Now all glory to” You, Lord, “who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ep 3:20 NLT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

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