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Surrounding Wisdom – Part 2

God has been delivering His people out from under clouds of darkness into His marvelous light to declare His praise (Ro 13:11-14, Lk 11:33-36 TPT, Ep 5:8-21, 1 Jn 1:5-7).

Psalm 71:15 AMPC says, “My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know.”

God has used the longsuffering many endured in previous seasons to develop wisdom in them, posturing them for longstanding for the benefit of others (Ps 72:17).

1 John 1:7 TPT tells us, “…if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.”

God’s chosen will continue to grow in His wisdom as Jesus Himself grew in wisdom (Lk 2:40, 52).

These wise ones can attest to Psalm 84:11 TPT, which says, “For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!”

Drawn to the Spirit of Wisdom, like wise men, God’s chosen get to share His wisdom: their new gift of life, how to live it and its “powerful moral result” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary).

And, as these wise ones go forth, The Spirit of Wisdom shields them, enlightens them and provides for them.

Wisdom can be defined as “the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action;…discernment, or insight” (Dictionary.com). Some synonyms are: good judgment, clear thinking, discernment, solidity, understanding, balance, prudence, knowledge, foresight, intelligence and caution (Thesaurus.com). 

Wisdom is a gift from God. It is protective, powerful and creative as part of the nature of God. Wisdom can come through experience, revelation or both. It equips the saints of God with an advantage. Even the otherwise disadvantaged can be set on high by knowing and acting in The Spirit of Wisdom.

The word “surrounding,” as in surrounding wisdom, means “the act of encircling or enclosing” (Dictionary.com). Some synonyms are: girding up, encompassing, throughout, insolating, protecting and neutralizing (Thesaurus.com).

1 Corinthians 1:24-25 MSG tell us that “Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny…Human strength can’t begin to compete…”

“The gospel of Jesus Christ was both the power of God and the wisdom of God,” since Jesus is the life and the way—God’s truth (Tyndale Bible Dictionary). 

1 Corinthians 1:30 TPT says, “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.”

Part of God’s good news is that He “will make holiness bloom” (Ps 132:18 TPT)!

The Lord is blooming holiness for those who have humbled themselves in a Job journey, remained faithful in the transformation process and come out as pure gold—full of His glory, shinning brighter than ever, grateful (Jo 23:10).

Psalm 66:10 TPT says, “O Lord, we have passed through your fire; like precious metal made pure, you’ve proved us, perfected us, and made us holy.”

1 Peter 2:9 MSG says, “…you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”

As the Lord highlights His especially radiant ones, others will see them in a new light. Relationships will be reconciled more deeply, because others will be drawn to Jesus in their hearts with His hand upon them (2 Co 5:20). 

Many will come to The Lord, as He makes everything beautiful in His time (Ec 3:11).

James 3:13, 17-18 TPT offer strategy and truth forward. They say, “If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise…the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.”

1 Corinthians 1:31 TPT reminds us that “…If anyone boasts, let him only boast in all that the Lord has done!”

I believe it’s time for true justice and prosperity to reign and that we will see an increase of wise rulers take their seats in the land (Ps 72).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name. 

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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Surrounding Wisdom – Part 1

The Lord revealed to me that He is bringing His people into a new light, free from last season strongholds that blocked them from receiving greater revelations of God and once twisted communication with others. 

God has opened a portal of breakthrough, and this is a new beginning for them. 

Where there has been an appreciation of The Spirit of Wisdom, The Lord is delivering His beloved from their long-suffering into a “surrounding wisdom.”

Those who have come into God’s truth and made Him their center, will now be favorably highlighted on centerstage in their divinely-assigned areas of influence.

To be light.

To share the same revival we have received.

We must remember that we are blessed to be a blessing (Ps 72:17). 

Saved to experience God and do good works as led by His Spirit of Wisdom (Ex 31:1-11).

Deuteronomy 4:6-8 NLT remind us that God will sustain His beloved people before nations as a shining witness to His Great Name and Kingdom, as we continue to carefully obey His commands in this promised land. These verses say:

Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him? And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?

As The Lord delivered our hearts from strongholds of false pride, He postured us to receive His clarity and intelligent understanding on a new level with an outward purpose: to draw others to Him.

King Solomon understood this Kingdom-building effect.

1 Kings 4:29 MSG tells us that “God gave Solomon wisdom—the deepest of understanding and the largest of hearts. There was nothing beyond him, nothing he couldn’t handle…He became famous among all the surrounding nations…Sent by kings from all over the earth who had heard of his reputation, people came from far and near to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.”

The wisdom that God gave Solomon showcased God. It “outclassed the vaunted wisdom of wise men of the East, outshone the famous wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone…He created 3,000 proverbs; his songs added up to 1,005. He knew all about plants, from the huge cedar that grows in Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows in the cracks of a wall. He understood everything about animals and birds, reptiles and fish” (1 Ki 4:29 MSG).

God’s wisdom is a gift that gives His people—the ones who will steward it well—a favorable advantage.

Proverbs 12:28 TPT tells us that “Abundant life is discovered by walking in righteousness.”

The Spirit of Wisdom leads us into abundant life, drawing us closer to our resurrected Lord and His ways.

God alone made Solomon’s heart righteous, famous and wealthy to expand His Kingdom on earth by drawing others to Him.

Jesus was our perfect example. 

Isaiah 11:1-3 AMPC say, “AND THERE shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit. [Isa. 4:2; Matt. 2:23; Rev. 5:5; 22:16.] And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him–the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord–And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord…”

Moses and Joshua received and operated in this same Spirit of Wisdom.

Deuteronomy 34:9 AMPC tells us, “And Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him; so the Israelites listened to him and did as the Lord commanded Moses.”

So, we see here that the Spirit of Wisdom is linked with obedience for all followers, including leaders. Godly wisdom is what holds an obedient army together as we enter into and occupy our promised land by His dominant Spirit.

So, friends, my prayer for you is Ephesians 1:17-19 AMPC, which say, “[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”

To God be the glory.

Join me next week for Part 2 of Surrounding Wisdom.

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

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Keepsake Revival

When I think of a keepsake, I think of a cherished memento that brings a remembrance of what we hold dear, like people close to our hearts or special events, such as a wedding or birthing.

Dictionary.com defines keepsake as “anything kept, or given to be kept, as a token of friendship or affection; remembrance.” Some synonyms of keepsake are: favor, reminder, memorial, symbol and token (Thesaurus.com).

When searched in an online Bible, “keepsake” is associated with the word “token.”

Token in Hebrew, can mean a promise or a solemn pledge, such as words spoken from God’s heart or in the form of a sign of covenant, such a rainbow or a circumcision (Strong’s #226-oth).

Token in Greek means to have, hold or possess (Strong’s #2192-echó).

This brings to mind wedding vows and rings—symbols of covenant, where the bride is given to have and to hold, to possess God’s promises.

In seeking The Lord about “keepsake revival,” the message He revealed to me was this:

As we come more deeply in relationship with God, He will bring revival to family members we hold dear in our hearts and revival of our relationship with them. God’s desire is to re-set and re-establish family legacy for everyone’s benefit, including building next generations. God’s desire is to revive family members from false beliefs and dead ways as they reconcile more deeply with Him, then each other. The Lord will bring new life with a new perspective to old hearts and young attitudes. 

During visits with these family members, He will break open communication with one another to give us deeper understanding, lighter hearts and new memories we’ve longed for—a clearer connection, a refreshing. In doing so, God is giving us a “token of grace” (a keepsake) and a “second experience of grace” (2 Co 5:17) to hold in our hearts as treasure of His goodness. 

We will experience a renewed love and joy toward one another as we experience a distinctive before and after difference that will strengthen individual relationships and the family overall. It can happen to the extent that painful pasts will be washed away as if they never occurred. 

For those family members who are not so close, God is bringing reform that will foster deep reconciliation with Him and repair with us that will impress us with awesome wonder, knowing God alone brought the restoration.

I believe David experienced this when his family members met him in the cave of Adullam, where he was strengthened (fortified and multiplied) before moving closer to his promise of coronation (1 Sa 22:1-5). 

Let’s remember that God offers redemption and fruitfulness to even the hardest cases, like some of us. 

Think Jacob.

Psalm 44:4 NIV says, “You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.”

No one is too difficult for God to reach.

Hosea 12:3-6, 13 NLT reflect on Jacob’s journey. They say, “Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him—the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, the LORD is his name! So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him…the LORD brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt and…they were protected.”

God did the impossible with Jacob. The Lord enabled Jacob to come to the end of himself, then reconcile with The Lord, then reconcile with his brother, Esau (Ge 32:24).

This is God’s order of reconciliation.

And now, it’s our time to do the same.

We can extend the heart of gracious Esau and Christ, simply out of His overwhelming joy and a desire to not cause more pain.

We can experience the rich mercy of forgiveness as family prodigals reconcile with God and us. 

We can experience “better” in the form of a keepsake revival forward that God promises to extend beyond us (Ge 33:4-5).

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV assure us that “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 

May we be compelled by Christ’s love (2 Co 5:14) to minister reconciliation from a Spirit of Grace, being available to meet with family members as led by Holy Spirit. 

May we minister according to Isaiah 43:18, which reminds us to “Forget the former things;” and “not dwell on the past.” 

May we see that God is “doing a new thing.” And as it “springs up,” let us “perceive it” (Is 43:18).

Like Esau and King David, let us not stop short in the challenges, because victory is assured, just as it was for Jacob.

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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Obedience Strategy: Signposts – Part 2

One day, as I prayed for a prominent evangelist, The Lord showed me a vision in my mind’s eye. This evangelist was driving alone in his car along a four-lane divided highway. He was moving at a steady pace with his eyes straightforward; and there were no other cars on the road. 

Suddenly, he came upon a roadblock—an orange and white striped barricade—just before the end of the asphalt. 

He stopped and pondered.

Then he backed up and turned onto an access ramp that he seemed to miss before. This access ramp led him onto a superhighway with many lanes.

Within seconds, the evangelist merged onto a new path with countless other travelers—all heading in the same direction and moving at a much higher speed than before. 

This superhighway was a perfect fit for the evangelist. He was happier in this momentum.

So, friends, what accelerated path does God have for you in this hour?

The Lord reveals His way to us so we can know and obey Him more for our benefit and the benefit of His Kingdom.

There is an inherent value in obedience. Where there is obedience, there is an alignment of authority, order and power—first inwardly, then outwardly.

Psalm 119:117 TPT says, “Lift me up and I will be safe. Empower me to live every moment in the light of your ways.”

Psalm 119:72 TPT says, “The words you speak to me are worth more than all the riches and wealth in the whole world!”

God’s revealed Words are “joyous treasure” when we love Him (Ps 119:111).

They are our heritage.

As we obey the revelation-understanding of God’s precepts, we become increasingly established in His ways to assert power over evil and take dominion—by His dominant Spirit.

Consider Joshua and Caleb, who were best known for their careful obedience and wholeheartedness, respectively.

These two leaders understood they needed to first reconcile with God’s truth before stepping out in great exploits.

They understood God’s Word to be a life guide to fruitfulness.

They understood God’s commands to be boundless and limitless and their adherence to them to be a requirement for Kingdom expanse (Ps 119:96). 

They understood “the regenerating power of God’s Word” works as a life preserver against degenerate forces, enabling them to overrule and accomplish divine purpose (1 Pe 1:23 NSFL Bible note; Is 55:11). 

They understood that to live and not die in battle, to be successful and prosper, to receive the fulfillment of God’s promise, they had to believe (cling to, rely on, trust in) God. They also had to yield the fullness of their hearts, their will to God at every signpost—His revealed and enduring commands for miraculous victory.

Joshua and Caleb knew there was protection in obedience and that they couldn’t lose when they obeyed God’s unique strategies for each battle.

From the beginning, The Lord instructed Joshua by saying (Joshua 1:7-8 MSG):

Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.”

So, friends, our prayer should be “Make me passionate and wholehearted to fulfill your every wish, so that I’ll never have to be ashamed of myself” (Psalm 119:80 TPT).

Every shared strategy from God to His beloved is a beacon that leads to an expanded manifest victory. We experience this when we abide in The Lord.

John 15:7 TPT says, “But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done.”

God’s straight teachings affect the flow of life we receive. And our every step in light will be a step toward greater wisdom (Ps 19:7, 119:105, 107).

Proverbs 8:33-35 TPT reveal this by saying, “Listen to my counsel, for my instruction will enlighten you. You’ll be wise not to ignore it. If you wait at wisdom’s doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I’ll say. For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord.”

So, for our sake and the sake of the Kingdom of God at large, let Psalm 119:56 NIV be our prayer. It says, “This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.”

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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Obedience Strategy: Signposts – Part 1

A few months ago, my husband and I were faced with a pivotal decision. 

So, I pressed God for an answer, because our timeline was short. 

What should we do? Should we do this? Or should we do that?

God answered my prayer by showing me a vision of a road block in front of the way He directed us to go three years earlier. I could clearly see in my mind’s eye a barricade in front of a road with the Words “LIMITED TIME” printed over the scene.

God made His will clear to me that we were no longer to go that way and that the time for that track was over (Ps 119:110). 

God had something new. 

So, in continuing to seek and follow Him, we ultimately discovered He had a more beautiful, even loftier place for us than three years ago.

Friends, what better place does God have for you in this hour? What new beginning?

What is His next step for you?

Psalm 28:7 TPT says, “…When I fully trust in you, help is on the way.”

God’s way is a sure path of life, shielding us from every danger (Ps 119:25, 37, 114).

His signposts are revelatory clues that He uses to bring clarity and help direct us along His best path. When we know God intimately, we know His voice in ways that align with His Word (Jn 10:27). We have eyes to see and ears to hear His truth (Matt 13:16, Ac 28:27 AMP).

Our level of obedience to His ways largely determines the level of life we experience on earth.

Abundant life is there for those who choose to receive it (Pr 11:19 TPT). 

God promises!

And it’s for His glory.

Psalm 31:19 NIV says, “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

When we love God deeply, we revere Him, run to Him, and put His everlasting Word before us. When we know Him, we trust that He will authoritatively direct and establish us in His will and ways as we set our hearts upon Him.

He is the Word, and He is Love (Jn 1:1, 1 Jn 4:16).

Revelation of His Word is His light of understanding to us. This revelation-understanding is the signpost that guides us to our next step (Ps 119:97, 100).

Psalm 119:140 TPT tells us, “all Your promises glow with fire.”

So, just like the pillar of fire (and a cloud) that guided the Israelites closer to their promised land, God’s illuminated Word guides us into His promises to us as we set our whole hearts on Him and seek Him for understanding (Ps 119:130, 2, 80).

Righteous God goes before us and shows us the way, according to His Word (De 1:32-33).

He reveals these secrets to us not only so we can have an understanding heart, but so we can obey Him (Ps 119:34). This postures us to favorably complete assignments and receive enduring rewards to better help others.

When we love God more than anything (or anyone) else, we will follow Him more than those other things.

Friends, that’s when life gets amazing.

Psalm 119:127 TPT says, “Truly, your message of truth means more to me than a vault filled with the purest gold.”

Psalm 119:129 TPT tells us, “Your marvelous words are living miracles; no wonder I long to obey everything you say.”

So, God’s Word as miraculous, valuable treasure makes us wiser than our enemies and protects us (Ps 119:98, 92-94).

Holy Spirit teaches us along His straightforward way and directs the flow of our lives by His teachings.

Proverbs 21:21 TPT tells us, “The lovers of God who chase after righteousness will find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction.”

Conversely, compromise of His Word diminishes life.

So, we are to look for and obey God’s signposts of illuminated Word passionately, setting them ever before us.(Ps 119:130-131).

We are to be like the psalmist in Psalm 119:112, who determined in his heart to “fully and forever” obey whatever God said.

Friends, the more we come into alignment with God’s Word, the more we come to experience the revelation of His heart and the increased flow of His power to help others.

Proverbs 11:30 TPT tells us “…a life lived loving God bears lasting fruit, for the one who is truly wise wins souls.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 TPT say, “Generosity brings prosperity, but withholding from charity brings poverty. 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.”

Friends, these are spiritual laws that work on our behalf and prove true in our lives.

So, do you love and trust God at His Word? Are you willing to follow Him and His ways?

If so, in light of all this, our prayer should be Psalm 119:29-32 MSG, which reads:

Barricade the road that goes nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere, I post your road signs at every curve and corner. I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; God, don’t let me down! I’ll run the course you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

Friends, join me next week for Part 2 of Obedience Strategy: Sign Posts.

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