Tag: #Ephesians6:15TPT

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Alert Messages

How is God getting your attention to help you stay on track with your mission this season?

For me, He has highlighted a couple of key relationships and reminded me to remain steady and keep in touch. Both of these relationships embody my past, present and future, symbolically, in different ways. There are key heritage elements to them that God is bringing around again to fulfill Divine purpose.

Acts 20:31 TPT tells us to “be alert and discerning.” To be alert means to be “watchful and ready” (Encarta). To be “clear-headed and responsive.” God’s alerts are intended to strengthen us. Ephesians 6:15 TPT says to “Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.”

God knows there is a lot going in our lives. He doesn’t want us to be distracted and miss sudden moments of opportunity for protection and blessing (Mk 13:36). No, He desires we be awake and attentive to His guidance.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 TPT reveals a strategy by saying that we “stay alert and clearheaded by placing the breastplate of faith and love over our hearts, and a helmet of the hope of salvation over our thoughts.”

1 Peter 1:13 TPT affirms this by saying, “…prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you.”

Not only is Holy Spirit highlighting key relationships, He is also extending grace to grow. He enabled me to see and experience a glimpse of something He forewarned me about recently. I believe He’s building me up to face more of the same just ahead in greater measure.

In these ways, and many others, God protects us and works His new-wine plan to establish right priorities that bless our lives. He knows the stronger we are in Him, the better equipped we will be to follow through with His directives, especially when challenges come.

God desires that we be alert and “overcome every form of evil” (2 Ti 4:5). 1 Peter 5:8 TPT reminds us to “Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.”

I love that God has a beautiful future for each of us, one to prosper us, not to harm us (Je 29:11). Psalm 112:7 TPT confirms this by saying, “They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith.”

I believe that God is making old things new again, especially concerning families and that which is important to them. I believe that, as these family’s souls continue to prosper, they will be lifted into more redeemed settings—a Godlier atmosphere in Spirit and physical form. Many are relocating to places that reflect their heart’s desires. Some are returning to their roots. Others are moving to more peaceful neighborhoods.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 AMP reminds us that “to whom God has given riches and possessions, He has also given the power and ability to enjoy them and to receive [this as] his [allotted] portion and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God [to him].”

I believe God is working to share His beauty of riches with us in many forms to demonstrate and instill His goodness. Also, I’ve noticed that, as we come closer to God, His grace increases and brings it all to fruition (1 Pe 1:13).

This was true of Naomi and Ruth and their new extended family, how God swiftly restored them, in Naomi’s homeland, after suffering loss. It was also true for King Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, who was restored to the King’s table through King David. A purposed solidity occurred for these families, a type of permanence and holy establishment.

I believe God is calling us farther into manifest, righteous legacy and is showing us that there is no place like a Heavenly home to be experienced and shared. I believe God is bringing this around to continue to pour out in new ways. And with all this going on, He reminds us to keep His instructions and encourages our preparation by alerting us.

Was there a time in your last season when God specifically instructed you to not look back? He did for me. That’s because He had us heading into a new season we’re now in. So, what do you see as you look around? I see beauty and opportunity. I see new life.

Matthew 7:11 TPT asks us, “…how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

We thank You for all of the ways You alert us to stay on track with You. Help us to continue to walk with You in every way. Help us to not drop anything that’s important to Your heart and plan for us. Help us to “remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that” we believe (1 Co 16:13). Help us to be “mighty and full of courage.” Help us to be strong in Your Spirit above our flesh (Matt 26:41). Thank You for Your beauty of Spirit and form. Thank You for Your good gifts, even the gift of spoils. Thank You for teaching us the way we should go on the narrow path with You (Ps 32:8). May we experience it and use it for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Reset Challenge

The Birds

Three weeks ago, I heard three individual birds sing on three different days. Where we live downtown, this is highly unusual, especially this time of year. 

On the first day, I was working at my desk in the 2 a.m. hour. The birdsong was coming from across the street. I looked out the window but didn’t see a bird in the darkness. Nonetheless, it stopped me in my tracks as I so enjoyed the sweet melody in the stillness of this early morning hour. 

On the second day, a bird sang again, early in the morning, just outside my bedroom window. It awakened me but I didn’t see the bird this time either. However, I enjoyed the melody nonetheless. 

On the third day, in the 7 a.m. hour, while making my bed, I heard a bird sing again, just outside the bedroom window again. This time, I looked out and saw her. It was a little brown bird perched on the branch of a perfectly symmetrical, but leafless, tree alone, singing with her whole heart. Her voice was loud, crystal clear, and her melody was indescribably beautiful. 

Each of these three times, I knew God sent the bird(s) to praise Him and to minister pure sweetness to my heart, which prompted me to praise Him along with them (Rev 4:11 TPT). I knew I was not alone, and I sensed there was more to it. So, I asked Holy Spirit what else He desired I see and know. 

Three Scriptures

First, He highlighted three scriptures. They are:

Luke 1:45 TPT, which says, “Great favor rests upon you, for you have believed every word spoken to you from the Lord.”

Then Psalm 55:22 TPT, which says, “So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.”

And lastly, Psalm 72:7 TPT, which says, “In the days of his reign the righteous will spring forth with the abundance of peace and prosperity forevermore.” 

The Message

Holy Spirit then showed me a Word-vision, in which I saw “A New Day” spelled out. As He continued to build His message, this is what I believe it to be for anyone with whom it resonates:

It’s time for your whole heart to awaken and arise with your eyes wide open on Me to receive more of My new glorious day I have brought you to (Is 60). You have seen the beginnings of the manifestations of my greater promises. But there is much more in magnitude (excellence) that is very near. I require you to tangibly receive it as I bring you into it. In other words, there won’t be time for you to process long. I have given you that grace in the past in order to prepare you, in every way necessary, for the now that you see happening. It’s show time, daughter, which is the time I show up for you and align you physically into these greater promises. It’s time for you to receive them in manifest form, to fully step into them with your trust in Me, and not just dream about them anymore. It’s time for your heart to sing again as I make your dreams come true. It may feel like it’s happening fast and, in your face at times, but know that this is My doing and that you are ready. It’s not too much for you to absorb, because I revealed to you what would come to pass well ahead of time and even gave you wisdom and guidance in advance to help you advance now. So, you know what I AM doing and what you are to do. Just continue to faithfully follow My lead, and I will continue to reveal to you how to navigate, even more intricately, this new glorious place that I will continue to bring you into. Remember, I AM with you. I AM God and you cannot fail when you remain close to Me. So, keep stepping with Me, because I AM with you all the way. Remain in this life-giving place with Me, because it’s My time for you to reign with Me in greater, manifest ways and places that will make your heart sing again.

The Challenge

So, friends, God is commanding our attention. In this hour of shift, He is perfecting our hearts to align with His as we receive His invitation to stand alert and march forward with Him (Ep 6:15 TPT). Herein lies our challenge. Are we willing to let go of any old mind-sets, habits and schedules that would burden us in order to take on the new He requires of us? Are we willing to move onward in relationship with Him as light?

We know that God’s best requires a narrow path. And this narrow path may require some resets of attitude and actions of us in order to sustain the fullness of joy in God’s promises. His way of truth is the only way.

Divine resets begin in the heart and are purposed to help establish God’s holy and righteous intent for us in the earth. They are a necessary part of our growth process as they help strengthen us in Him to receive more of His blessings to be a blessing and to build His Kingdom.

So, for those who are willing, pray with me…

Dear Lord, 

Thank You that “You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness…You have laid your hand on me” for victory (Ps 139:5 TPT)! You say that by constantly using my faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside of me, and the resting place of Your love will become the very source and root of my life (Ep 3:17). You say that then I will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude (excellence) of Your astonishing love in all its dimensions (Ep 3:18).

So, Lord, I believe You at Your Word, and I invite You to get me there. Reset my heart to rest in You as You show me the way along Your narrow path. I choose to trust You in this strengthening process.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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