Tag: #Isaiah35:4

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Beginning Anew

Recently, as I awakened one morning and looked out the window, I saw a clear sky over treetops in a way I never had before. This continued over the next few days. 

From the very first sunrise, our Lord began to speak to my heart. He revealed that these sunrises of new days are for those with child-like faith and wonder—those who have awakened to Holy Spirit’s revelations over the years. 

These beloved ones are beginning to come into the manifestations of their hearts desires, even greater than they imagined as a child. God has made their futures bright and is leading them now to continue to show them the way. They will see that the wilderness they once found themselves in has become the stepping stone to their expansive freedom.

God has come in with a consuming fire to burn up obstacles that once came against them—the same obstacles He didn’t cause but purposed and used to bring them higher in Him. “They have served their purpose,” says The Lord of Hosts. What used to plague them no longer will. They are free from what was sent to hold them back. They have been made strong in Him for such a time as this, beyond what they could see back then.

God’s fire will also help these beloved ones not look back. He has set them on a clear path at a new altitude and range with eagle clarity and focus, heading straight into His promises. Nothing below them concerns them, as God has broken them through into a beautiful new life that will honor Him in a new way. These beloved ones will experience His beauty of a new day and in a new area to them. 

Our Lord reminded me of a key scripture that He highlighted to me and that I clung to ten years ago, which is Song of Songs 2:13. It asks 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” (TPT version).

In this passage, the “signs” of His purpose and plans are described as “early.” The “vines of new life” are described as “budding.” But now, the day of destiny is right in front us. It’s in clear sight from a higher perspective. 

In this passage, the early signs have given way to the latter signs of right now, just before big-shift promises are made complete. Do you see these latter signs? Do you also realize that you still need to continue to come away with Him as you navigate the soar? For only in Him do we live and move and have our being.

In addition to this key scripture, Holy Spirit also highlighted Matthew 11:30 to me four times, confirming that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He’s revealing that much has been lifted off of His beloved ones to live and move again as He intended in Acts 17:28, which is to function forward, knowing our identity in Him. 

“It will be as though it never was,” says The Lord of Hosts regarding the pain of the past, “as you continue to step into My glorious future for you.”

The Lord then took me to Isaiah 35 to remind me of His glorious promises for His redeemed. As I re-read this chapter, He reminded me of specific promises that are about to come on the scene as He brings about big shifts. 

In verse 1, He speaks of the desert blossoming “like a rose” and rejoicing (Is 35:1)! He says in verse 2 that “Every dry and barren place will burst forth with abundant blossoms, dancing and spinning with delight!” He speaks of “magnificent beauty” and “awesome glory.” He cites “the beautiful grandeur” of Himself.

He goes to say in verse 4 that “He is breaking through to give you victory! He comes to avenge your enemies. With divine retribution, He comes to save you!” He says in verse 10 that “Ecstatic joy will overwhelm them; weariness and grief will disappear!”

All of this is for those who walk with God and have allowed Him to do deep work in them. I encourage you to read Isaiah 35 and jot down what Holy Spirit reveals to you, specifically, about His purposes and strategies forward. 

Pray with me if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for deliver us up out of former places into our futures. Please help us to continue to abide in You to produce as much fruit that pleases You. I trust You to navigate us all the way into Your completed promises. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen. 

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

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Private Selection

In mid-November, when I ask Holy Spirit to reveal what was on His heart to share, I saw, “Trust God for Private Selection.”

As I began to seek Him more and dig into this encouraging message, this is what I believe He would like for us to know:

Divinely Purposed

His key verse is Ephesians 1:11 TPT, which says, “Through our union with Christ we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart.”

So, we have been privately selected. Hand-picked. Carefully chosen. Especially gifted. And anointed to fulfill God’s callings and specific assignments with Him.

1 Peter 2:9 TPT reminds us of His identity and purpose for us, which is that we “…are God’s chosen treasure-—priests who are kings, a spiritual ‘nation’ set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.”

Therefore, we are to see and believe in ourselves as God does, in what He has put in us to accomplish, empowered by His grace. We are to trust Him in this and choose Him and His way for the entire race.

Private Selection Defined

In regards to “private selection,” according to Strong’s Concordance, the word private (#2398) means something just for you. Something uniquely one’s own that is due. It can even refer to a home or a business. The word selection (Strong’s #1980) means to look upon, to inspect, to examine, to choose, to employ and to provide.

Just as God has chosen us and align us privately in the secret place, He will bring forth the outward blessings—beginning with us as individuals, having been made a greater blessing to others. God will even reveal to us others who are full of His Spirit and wisdom and are fit to handle responsibilities forward as builders (Ac 6:3). Therefore, we are to go forth by faith in what God has chosen, including faith in ourselves as individuals, the unique path onto which He has called us and His choice of those who will accompany us (Jn 15:16).

Realize to Carry On

We must realize that what God carried us through previously, He will carry on through us, to do good works as we finish our course with Him (2 Co 9:8). Therefore, we must have faith for God’s entire plan.

We must also come into the awareness that what God enables us to do does not originate with us, but with Him, who works in parallels and cycles that are bigger than we know. Therefore, there is a level of respect and honor due to our King as we fulfill His purpose with Him (2 Sa 9:6).

We must realize that God gives us His power of authority as we submit to Him and His ways and as we respect others along the way. We must understand that, regardless of circumstance, God’s true authority will ultimately prevail.

Mephibosheth

Our Biblical example of this joyous reward is that of Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, in regards to being chosen by King David to sit and eat at his table as a son (2 Sa 9:11). God worked on Mephibosheth’s behalf privately, even before David received his coronation or table. Even though Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson, he was still privately selected. His selection was sealed in David’s heart when he made a private covenant with Jonathan (1 Sa 18:3-4, 23:18). As king, David looked upon Mephibosheth and sought him out to join him in his abundance as family, even though, for a time, envious Saul kept David from his family. David’s official invitation was just for Mephibosheth, a kind of lone prodigal by default, who had been carried through so much. It was time to officially feast at the king’s table to celebrate oneness (Ga 5:22-23).

This is an example of a manifest expression of God’s strength of kindness (1 Sa 23:16) and of Mephibosheth as an example of Isaiah 60:3 TPT, which says, “Nations will be attracted to your radiant light and kings to the sunrise-glory of your new day.

Your Blessed Feast

Friends, we feast at our King’s table as we align with Him by invitation. Just as God had a new day for Mephibosheth, He has a new-day table-story for each of us. One that is a perfect fit put into place by God. One to lift our status officially (2 Sa 9:12). One in which God will demonstrate His strength of kindness to us uniquely (2 Sa 9:1).

With old enemies held accountable and behind us now, He will place us in our seats alongside Him as He restores honor in families and in the land of our forefathers (1 Sa 18:2, 2 Sa 9:7, 1 Sa 20:16, Is 35:4). God will demonstrate His oneness, especially for those who have felt held back, less than and forgotten (1 Sa 19:1-2).

As kings and priests, He will extend us favor and expect us to extend it to others (1 Sa 23:16, 2 Sa 9:7). Therefore, expect God’s manifest best. Put your faith fully in His promises. Our costly seats are already reserved. It’s time to sit and sup with Him as family in a grand new way and place to us. It’s time to live a beautiful and satisfying life (Ro 12:2 TPT).

So, “…be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous…” (Ps 27:14 TPT)!

God has destined “you to become a beacon light for the nations and release salvation to the ends of the earth” (Ac 13:47 TPT)!

To God be all glory, honor and praise.

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

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Jesus The Victorious: Our Certain Win

What’s your idea of victory? Achieving all your goals in life? Beating your competitor? Or just trying to cross the finish line the best you can?

Friends, God has higher for you than any of this.

And higher begins with Him alone.

Psalm 24:10 TPT asks us, “…’Who is this King of Glory?’ He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts! Yes, he is the King of Glory!”

In two cases of persecution, Jesus identifies Himself as “Jesus the Victorious” (Acts 9:5, 22:8, Mk 1:24 TPT).

In these two particular situations, Jesus’ persecutors were a man in the synagogue possessed by an unclean spirit (Mk 1:24), and Saul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:5, Acts 22:8).

Notice here, that even in, and especially in the face of persecution, Jesus remains in His identity and authority over all.

After identifying Himself to these persecutors, Jesus swiftly delivered them from that which afflicted Him and held them back.

Jesus made them victorious over darkness.

He truly liberated them.

Lives changed.

Jesus set each of them free on a new path for His higher purposes beyond themselves.

By His Spirit, they became more like Him.

And many witnessed this.

Friends, God loves to give us victory (Ps 44:3, 149:4).

And we are desperate to identify with His Victorious Name.

Like Jesus, we can authoritatively wage war against persecution with His powerful Name. We can be certain to overcome evil from a position of victory that Christ won for us on the cross.

Just believe, and act accordingly.

This inheritance, through the grace of Jesus, is appropriated by His indwelling persuasiveness, which is His imparted faith to us.

1 John 5:4 TPT explains, “You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.”

But do we, like Jesus, always choose to apply our victory-power of faith, in the face of persecution? Or do we tolerate unnecessary affliction outside of God’s will? Do we suffer needlessly? Do we make it better or worse for ourselves and others?

Obedience to God is a factor—both in the amount of victory we receive, as well as in the timing thereof.

Abiding with The Lord and trusting Him as the Spirit of Wisdom is crucial in victorious decision-making.

Proverbs 4:9 TPT says, “You will be adorned with beauty and grace, and wisdom’s glory will wrap itself around you, making you victorious in the race.”

Psalm 118:13 TPT declares, “…I was ready to fall, but you helped me to triumph, and together we overcame them all.”

So we see here that victory is a joint effort that requires our participation.

2 Corinthians 2:14 TPT reveals, “God always makes his grace visible in Christ, who includes us as partners of his endless triumph. Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go.”

God’s prevailing Presence stands in victory over all, as He shares His love with us (Songs 7:7).

Therefore, even though we participate, our final Authority and Ruler over all, who is God, ultimately determines our level of increase (victory) (Ps 11:14).

Proverbs 21:31 TPT tells us, “You can do your best to prepare for the battle, but ultimate victory comes from the Lord God.”

God watches over us and sees the motives and actions of every heart.

He does everything He can, by His faithfulness, to sustain victory in our lives: God brings His salvation. He defends us and preserves us. He leads us into all truth. He protects our minds and hearts with the armor of truth and holiness. And He wraps His glory-presence, which is victory, around us as a protective shield (Eph 6:14; Ps 7:10; 18:35, 43).

Sometimes, we have to “push through” to victory by God’s Victorious Name, His Glorious Presence and awesome power to “defeat every enemy” (Ps 44:5).

Even during seasons of (long-suffering) endurance, God has purposed us to be victorious: to make us stronger in Him for His Kingdom purposes (Ps 55:22).

God, Himself, is enduring of life and time. He is everlasting. He offers Himself to us as the highest-ranking Source of perpetual strength. He is always with us and constantly intercedes for us. Even when our best prayer is a humble whisper, He rescues us from trouble.

Matthew 12:20 TPT assures us, “He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken. He will be gentle with the weak and feeble, until his victory releases justice.”

I love what Isaiah 35:4 TPT says, “…’Be strong and never afraid. Look, here comes your God! He is breaking through to give you victory! He comes to avenge your enemies. With divine retribution he comes to save you!’”

God’s desire is to bring us out better than before, to saturate us with His goodness (Ps 66:12).

Psalm 92:10 TPT affirms this by saying, “Your anointing has made me strong and mighty. You’ve empowered my life for triumph by pouring fresh oil over me.”

Song of Songs 6:10 TPT assures us by saying, “Look at you now— arising as the dayspring of the dawn, fair as the shining moon. Bright and brilliant as the sun in all its strength. Astonishing to behold as a majestic army waving banners of victory.”

Even death cannot conquer a believer in Christ (1 Cor 15:54-55). One way or another, death can only cause God’s lovers to rise higher in Him, as true life is restored.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your divine gift of victory and for bringing me victorious salvation through Your finished work at the cross. Thank You that Your victory releases justice on my behalf (Matt 12:20). I repent of operating in any and all doubt, hopelessness, and injustice that leads to defeat. I renounce every spirit of defeat and lies that the enemy has tried to bring. I command depression and oppression to depart from me now, in Jesus’ Mighty Name of Victory. And I call forth, the Spirit of the Living God to rise up in me to bring new life and fresh victorious hope (Heb 3:6). I declare that I am set free, truly liberated, and positioned in great freedom and abundance. I am victorious because of You. Thank You for growing me in victory (Ps 92:12). Thank you for protecting me and guiding me in victory. Thank You for helping me reign victorious going forward. Thank You, Lord, for Your love for me and for making me “more than a conqueror” over “every form of evil as a victorious soldier of Jesus, the Anointed One” (Ro 8:37, 2 Tim 2:3). My heart is Yours, Lord. With You, I know we can do this…victoriously. Amen.

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