Posts

Posted on

Speak To Me

One of my favorite Christian songs during quiet moments with God has become Kari Jobe’s Speak To Me. As the lyrics go, she sings, “Speak to me. I’m listening.”

I’ve noticed, as I incline my ear to God in moments of solitude, He reveals glimpses of how He’s working on my behalf. He gives me revelation, highlights a scripture and shows me signs all around.

How about you?

One evening, very recently, as I drove out of the church parking lot, I noticed the sky. It was mostly clear but partly cloudy. The setting sun was still streaming through the few clouds. One particular cloud was dark. It was small and in the distance. Rain poured from it. I thanked God for His amazing beauty, then I drove down the hill toward home.

When I exited off the interstate onto a street a few blocks away from where I live, God met me with a big beautiful rainbow. I was awestruck! What was also special to my heart was that He showed me an end of the rainbow. There it was, reaching all the way down below the treetops onto level ground along the roadside. From there, it peaked up into the clouds. Then, as I turned the corner toward home, I could easily see the other side, which reached over and above where I currently live.

I knew this to be God’s sign of promise to me, showing me that it extended well beyond where I was.

I knew our Lord was encouraging me forward along my journey.

So, how is God encouraging you, comforting you and building you up, as in 1 Corinthians 14:3?

Sometimes, as we work in our daily routines, we just need to come away and look up to see signs that God is moving us beyond where we are. We need a fresh reminder that He’s faithfully advancing us in ways that align with His destiny for us. We need to see that He’s still pleased with us and that He has far more for us as He ends some current assignments.

Sometimes, we need to look up and realize that, as we have faithfully co-labored with Him, He has brought us into agreement with Him and His provision even more.

We need to see that He has grown us and that He still has us on His track.

We need to be encouraged that He is still working out everything according to His plan, despite how we feel sometimes, especially halfway through an assignment or toward the end.

Sometimes, we just need a sign, a symbol, a Word, a moment of connection that ignites fresh hope in our hearts.

As we release that which our Lord has led us to let go of, we long to be assured that we will experience a Joseph ending, while walking through a Ruth transition.

In Ruth 3:18 ESV, Naomi said to Ruth, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

God’s strategy of wisdom, spoken through Naomi, was Ruth’s rainbow, uplifting her heart to see beyond where she was actively engaged to an even bigger engagement. I wonder if Ruth ever saw any actual rainbows while she worked to glean the very field she would soon own. Nonetheless, Ruth believed and was encouraged to set her expectations accordingly to receive God’s promise.

Interestingly, in this verse, Naomi says to wait; but in the same sentence, she says the matter will be settled “today.” So, we see here that God is doing a swift work on Ruth’s behalf.

Friends, where are you in your current assignments? Are you toward the middle or the end of its timeline? Do you feel you’ve been running for a while and need a fresh infilling from our Spirit of Grace?

God’s Word says we will receive that which we believe and that which we decide, according to His will (Ma 21:21, Jo 22:28, 1 Sa 9:6).

Job 22:28 NLT says, “You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you.”

So, in light of all this, maybe it’s a good time to come away with our Lord and receive an encouragement. Share your heart with Him, and let Him bring it in a way that amazes you. He loves you and longs to do so.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the assignments You have given me. Thank You for encouraging me along the way to completion. Open my eyes to see beyond where I am in this moment. Give me an undeniable sign of Your promise to me. Spirit of Grace, fill me with fresh hope that will lift my heart, mind and body above weariness as I work and wait with You. Enable me to believe and receive, in my soul, all the joy you have for me. Thank You for alone time with You and for Your angels on assignment that help me (Ps 91:11). Thank you for freeing me from that which once dogged me and for filling me with awestruck wonder (2 Pe 2:22). Thank You for a closer connection with You that proves strong and victorious above all else.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

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

Posted on

Time For A Change – Part 2

God has not only shifted us into new alignments and assignments in this new season, He is now working through us to bring swift change beyond us. He is bringing darkness to light, sweeping out ungodly attitudes and even gatekeepers from positions in business.

I have witnessed our Lord, who sees it all, weeding gardens and cleaning houses in businesses; while He strengthens and continues to prosper those committed to working His way. 

This is John 10:10 playing out to the point of harvest on both sides, revealing life and lack.

God is purging evil workers (Phil 3:2). And we are instrumental.

Giants will fall. 

Jezebels will be thrown down.

False kings (like Saul) will come to the end of themselves.

It’s time for the Davids and Esthers and Josephs to ascend in position by God’s prevailing spirit of victory-salvation.

Friends, this is jailbreak time, where the light of truth gets laid bare on the table to be dealt with (Acts 5:19-21, 16:26, 16:37).

1 Corinthians 4:5 TPT says, “…he will bring all that is hidden in darkness to light and unveil every secret motive of everyone’s heart. Then, when the whole truth is known, each will receive praise from God.”

It’s time for greater manifest victory, and God is behind it, in it and on it. So, do your part, and watch the hand of our Lord move mightily through you. 

Get ready to see the greater boldness He instilled in you during past times of consecration to now roar like never before! Be on guard, ready to cross over from lack into provision, to be birthed into more of the manifest value of your identity and inheritance—in multiple areas over time.

As God’s instrument, the initial provoke that comes to you will be an alert that you are on task and on mission for higher breakthrough. Remember to tread carefully, led by Holy Spirit. As God intervenes through you, you will receive your reward that has been stored up, waiting for you, while those with unyielded hearts will receive what God has stored up for them (Ro 2:5). 

When Holy conviction invites you into a turning point for the better, stand up and speak truth to improve your situations and surroundings (Is 45:19 TPT). Be the breakthrough instrument God uses for your benefit and that of others. 

Romans 2:6 says, “For: He will give to each one in return for what he has done.” Verse 16 says that God will judge “the hidden secrets of people’s hearts. And their response to the gospel…will be the standard of judgment used in that day.”

In other words, God will allow the standard that evildoers set to produce the harvest they chose in their lives. And He is moving swiftly.

We are in a harvest of the manifest fruit of the heart. Therefore, those who lived by their own standards above God’s will now reap the consequences they chose. While others, who grew higher with our Lord, will reap and enjoy His Holy rewards.

Both have the opportunity to process their circumstances God’s way.

For God’s people, it’s time to come out on top! 

God’s appointed time of light has come, and it’s just the beginning. Our Lord revealed to me that we can expect to see even bolder manifestations of big shifts over the next three years.

We are living out these pivotal moments of truth right now and forward. God is turning situations in our favor as we step up, speak up and do the work in His strength, led by His Spirit. 

So, don’t hold back, and don’t back down. Stand firm, rise and witness God move on your behalf. Be awed and amazed as you see swift results, which is our new normal. 

He will do it. 

He will break those long-standing strongholds and end our longsuffering. Because it’s time to emerge boldly from the consecration, while remaining deeply rooted in Him as He takes us higher. 

We will emerge stronger in our Lord, empowered as an elevated force to go and do the work before us by His Spirit on new levels. 

We will come to know Him and His blessings even more. 

We will see this freedom extended even throughout our physical bodies. What the enemy tried to hide and work in darkness is now being exposed, uprooted and chains broken, as we receive God’s revealed ways of gracious healing.

Our secret scriptures to hold onto is Isaiah 45:5-6 TPT, which say, “…I will strengthen you for victory, even though you do not intimately know who I am. Yet through you everyone will know who I really am…”

“In that day, Lord Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies, will be a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty for the remnant of his people. He will be a Spirit of justice for judges to render right decisions. And he will be strength and bravery for those who turn back the battle at the gate” (Is 28:5-6 TPT).

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You that “in You I find righteousness and strength…” In You, I “will triumph and shine” (Is 45:24-25 TPT)! You are not a God of chaos, so come and reconcile the pretty prose of 1 Corinthians 13 in our petty mess of today. Lord of our breakthrough, I trust Your spirit to break the chain reactions that have bound me, as I declare victory-salvation over every place in my life (Is 28:21). I thank You for helping me live out the benefits of Isaiah 45:19 TPT, which says, “…speak the truth and declare to you what is right!” Lord, You say in Isaiah 45:23 TPT that in Your “…own name, this word sent from my mouth in righteousness will not return unfulfilled…” So, my expectation is that You will do what You say and deliver Your people accordingly. Help me to get my part right as I partner with You to enter into new places. Thank You for ordering my steps and for rescuing us all for Your glory. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name. 

Amen.

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

Posted on

Time For A Change – Part 1

One of the ways God speaks to me is by giving me a revelatory nugget here and there over time that ultimately converges into a clarified message—a bigger picture of what He’s doing (Pr 20:24 TPT). I think of it as trail mix on a treasure hunt that leads to a prize—the realization of His transforming and eternal love in my life and in others’ (1 Co 13:13).

Does He speak to you like this, too?

I believe one of His purposes in doing so is to prompt us to dig deeper in prayer and Word for the fullness of His revelation—the unique and complete experience of a particular promise to us. Also, to gently lead us into the manifestation of His new and higher place for us without overwhelming us, especially where ungodly strongholds have been intact for what feels like a long time. 

For months, God has been highlighting Wilson Phillips’ song, Release Me. Then, for weeks, He highlighted the folk-pop hit, California Dreamin’, written and recorded by John and Michelle Phillips, Chynna Phillips’ parents. (Chynna is the lead singer of Wilson Phillips.)

All the while, Holy Spirit was highlighting darkness-to-light scriptures as well as messages about His anointing being hindered by adverse attitudes of the heart. 

I soon began to realize He was showcasing something about the area of family. Namely, that He is bringing change for the better and that it is time to see the impossible manifest.

God is answering prayers, especially concerning breakthrough restoration of our closest relationships. He is setting our souls free from toxic entanglements as we have intertwined ourselves increasingly with Him. 

God is manifesting what He has been helping us work through all along. We will experience the desires of our hearts in this area—more of His gift of love as seen in our closest relationships, even some of the ones God completely separated us from and others with whom we’ve had to set strong boundaries for a season.

If there is someone in our lives we have forgiven and for whom we have prayed, someone we have resolved in our hearts as much as we feel we can, someone with whom we have been patient beyond what we thought we could, know that God is giving us increased breakthrough with this person and that we will surely see Him do it.

God is unshackling us from the mockery of prideful legalism into His lovely grace so we can experience Him in this power we’ve never known on this level in this area. God will reveal Himself as our Spirit of Grace, who can and will do much to make up for times past as we continue to submit to Him.

Over time, as we have released hard-heartedness to God and have been made stronger in Him and His ways, He has delivered us and is now manifesting divine health in our relationships by His transforming love. 

God is the only One who can cleanse hearts and re-set these relationships. 

We need only to follow Him.

In so doing, we will see honor restored, respect for one another. 

As God has healed and matured us, we will come to know others in a new way. As past pain is swept away by our Lord, it will be replaced by His peace that surpasses understanding. 

No more will longtime festering wounds control these long-term relationships. 

Where God has been in the messy middle, we will witness Him having worked it out well in the end for a new beginning. We will come into a new understanding, with God and the others, as we submit to His authority in stewarding these relationships His way. 

We will discover it was part of His plan all along.

Love, which is ongoing and everlasting, will prove strong as God has aligned us to experience Love’s breakthrough and deep roots over time. Love will take us higher and broader over time as it now has freedom to grow in this area. 

It’s time to celebrate these beautiful (timely) changes (Ro 12:15-16). Yes, even in these beginning stages. For it is surely happening. We can praise God as He continues to complete the work in us and bring us together in a new and greater light.

You have stayed the course. Now, it’s time to experience the manifest victory in this area. It’s time to see and know the reflections of His creative, transforming love, where He makes all things beautiful in their time. 

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for getting me to higher ground. Thank You that Your unfailing love delivers me from cycles of defeat. You know all the intimate details of my relationships. You have been with me through it all. Thank You that You protected me, that pain is not my portion and that You have now made a way for new beginnings. Thank You for restoring hope, confidence and trust as I remained on the righteous path with You (Job 8:13-14 ESV). Thank You for replacing roots of fear with Your perfect love. Thank You for softened hearts and shifting cycles of un-resolve into redemption. Thank You for helping me to rebound with honor. Thank You for giving me fresh vision and expressions of Your love as I continue to run Your race for me. Thank You for helping me to see others as You do and know You even more. Thank You for continuing to lead me into greater new beginnings in my relationships. For all this, I am grateful and look forward to moving on with them under Your guidance.  

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

Posted on

Beautiful Life – Part 3

I am seeing God turn ashes to beauty in my life in every facet big and small as He brings us out of the Coronavirus cocoon. And it’s happening swiftly!

Oppressive weights have lifted. New doors have opened. New beginnings are manifesting. All as beauty.

Even some old things are made new…with more to come!

Are you experiencing this, too?

Recently, God showed me the Word “Distribute” in a Word-vision. He revealed to me that we have entered into a stage of “distribution.” 

About a week later, I was reading 1 Corinthians 12 in the TPT version as part of a homework assignment from my new church. And there, I saw the Word “distribute” four times. So, I dug deeper.

According to Helps Word Study, “distribute” in 1 Corinthians 12 means to “apportion (assign), by the choice of a superior; to divide” spiritual gifts for the purpose of confirming the Word of God, expanding His Kingdom and establishing His righteousness—on earth (1 Co 12:7 TPT study note).

1 Corinthians 12 verses 6 and 11 TPT say, “The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he energizes and activates them. Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as he chooses for each believer.”

So, we see here that to “distribute” is the first step in Holy Spirit’s empowerment process to accomplish His three-fold purpose of making beautiful Him known in the world in a variety of ways.

This brings us to another definition of the Word “distribute” in regards to the miracle Jesus did (after thanksgiving) in John 6:11, when He distributed the loaves and fishes to those who were seated. 

In this verse, according to Strong’s (# 1239), the Word “distribute” means to divide, to offer, to give throughout a crowd, to hand over, to deliver over as to a successor.

Doesn’t this remind you of Jesus offering Himself up to be our greatest gift, as well as delivering His Word and Spirit to us to become His living, empowered successors?

Psalms 111:3 TPT says, “Everything he does is full of splendor and beauty! Each miracle demonstrates his eternal perfection.”

Titus 2:14 TPT says, “He sacrificed himself for us that he might purchase our freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for himself a people who are his very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in his eyes.”

So, the message is clear: our Lord is inviting us to be empowered as conduits of His miraculous provision to then go and do what He did and even greater exploits as we trust and obey Him.  

1 Corinthians 12:31 TPT says, “…now I will show you a superior way to live that is beyond comparison!”

The Amplified Classic version expands this by commanding us to “…earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all–love].”

Ironically, our Lord led me to this very scripture the morning before He led me to church, where I received my homework assignment. 

God has an intentional plan to work against division as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:25 by setting us up to “look after…others with mutual concern.”

So, as we go to serve others, according to His leading, He will continue to take care of what concerns us and also reward us.

Holy Spirit is bringing us out of hibernation more empowered and setting is us on a new trajectory that leads to an explosive convergence—the manifestations of His big promises to us—the fruit of dreams come true (Pr 21:21 TPT). 

Big ones. 

Ones for which He has prepared us over time.

Not only will this happen for us but also for those He reaches through us by His Spirit.

Are you ready for His manifest miracles?

Ephesians 5:27 TPT reminds us “All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.”

So, no matter what’s going on in our lives, we can choose to move toward His beauty—His justice, honor and praise—and express it outwardly. Remaining in intimacy with Him is key.

We can experience His Glory-Presence and offer, activate and operate in miracles for Kingdom purposes as He leads—all by His Spirit and for His Glory.

Psalms 149:4 TPT says, “For he enjoys his faithful lovers. He adorns the humble with his beauty, and he loves to give them victory.”

Jesus lives a victorious life that He extends to us and through us. So, His greatest beauty is found in the true life of victory-salvation He has offered to us. When we walk in it, we will experience a more beautiful reality. There is no greater adventure. 

Colossians 4:12 TPT encourages us to “…grow and mature, standing complete and perfect in the beauty of God’s plan for your lives…”

1 Corinthians 13:13 TPT reminds us that ” above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for making us complete in Christ (Co 2:10). Thank You that we can lift up our “heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as]” our “redemption is drawing near” (Lk 21:28). Thank You for being our Spirit of Justice, who works on our behalf to bring beauty out of ashes (Is 28). I invite you to equip and empower me in any way that delights You. Thank You for activating Your gifts in me and for operating them through me. Thank You for teaching us Your Word and ways (Ps 119:68, Ep 4:29, 2 Th 2:17, Pr 10:29). Fill our hearts with your “beautiful intentions” (1 Jn 3:22). Here I am, Lord. Send me for Your glory. I trust in You.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

Posted on

Beautiful Life – Part 2

Perspective determines a lot in regards to experiencing a beautiful life. We’ve heard the adage, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

So, what are we beholding?

Since, our choices largely hinge on our vision and thoughts, it’s important to renew our minds with what our Lord regards as beautiful.

Proverbs 15:30 TPT says, “Eyes that focus on what is beautiful bring joy to the heart, and hearing a good report refreshes and strengthens the inner being.”

Philippians 4:8 TPT says, “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”

Even Dictionary.com defines beautiful as “possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about…” Beautiful thoughts and speech are examples. 

To be sure, God is our “crown of glory and a diadem of beauty for the remnant of his people” (Is 28:5 TPT). He is our Spirit of justice and our strength and bravery (Is 28:6 TPT).

I recall a moment years ago, where someone, who had lost a relative, approached me and asked questions. This woman, who was a leader in her church, seemed to not understand why her relative, whom she regarded as beautiful and good, was taken before others, whom she regarded as not so beautiful or good. While I appreciated her honesty and trust, I couldn’t help notice that her focus was clearly on her relative’s beauty and goodness, not God’s.

Very recently, our Lord gave me a deeper level of understanding on the matter, revealing that If He had spared the beautiful and good relative from passing into eternity, it would have been nice for the remaining family in a way. But some glory would have likely been attributed to that beautiful relative for their goodness. 

However, when God miraculously spares someone thought to be not so good or beautiful in behavior, God gets the full glory for His rich mercy. Not the person. What the person gets is an expression of God’s love as rich mercy, which softens their heart toward Him. They know they don’t deserve it, and they attribute their life to God’s merciful miracles. In this way, they become a living testament to God’s mercy, power and love, which showcases Him alone.

But when we make it about ourselves, our strengths limit God in our lives. Our submission to Him as our “beautiful strength” in our weaknesses invites His grace-strength to work on our behalf beyond our abilities (Ps 92:15 TPT). This is where God gets the greater glory and we are made grateful. It’s where He works out His redemption in our lives to make them even more beautiful.

What the good and beautiful believers get as they go on to be with our Lord is a Heavenly life of merciful and gracious redemption, which they don’t deserve either.

So, through Christ alone, we experience a more beautiful life with Him shinning most brightly, as we worship Him. 

Our Spirit of grace offers us a Holy ease, so we don’t have to overwork and wear ourselves out early. He will share His wisdom and insight to help us. Our worst enemy is trying too hard to do it our way. Instead, let’s be lovers of God, who seek Him, find Him and lead others to Him (SS 6:1).

Galatians 6:8 TPT says, “The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.”

So, pray with me, if you will, from Holy Scripture… 

Dear Lord, 

We bless Your “beautiful Name” (Ps 45:11, 100:4 TPT).

Thank You for seeing us as beautiful, rescuing us and bringing us into a beautiful broad place (Ps 18:19 TPT).

“O Lord our God, let your sweet beauty rest upon us. Come work with us, and then our works will endure; you will give us success in all we do” (Ps 90:17 TPT).

“Let me share in the wealth and beauty of all your devoted lovers, rejoice with your nation in all their joys, and let me share in the glory you give to your chosen ones” (Ps 106:5 TPT).

“Our hearts bubble over as we celebrate the fame of your marvelous beauty, bringing bliss to our hearts. We shout with ecstatic joy over your breakthrough for us” (Ps 145:7 TPT).

“Everything I am will praise and bless the Lord! O Lord, my God, your greatness takes my breath away, overwhelming me by your majesty, beauty, and splendor” (Ps 104:1 TPT)!

Like meditating on Your Word, may we lift up praise to You “from dawn to dusk,” from “sunrise-brilliance to sunset-beauty” (Ps 113:3 TPT)!

Help us “to be teachers of beautiful things” (Titus 2:3 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen.

Friends, there’s even more that you won’t want to miss. So, join me next week for Part 3 of Beautiful Life.

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