Tag: #Matthew6:33

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Authentic Heart

God’s Word wisely advises us to not be anxious about our lives in general (Lk 12:22). To not be anxious about tomorrow (Mt 6:34). To not even worry about what we will say (Mk 13:11). Or worry about how we will defend ourselves (Lk 12:11).

We strive to be daughters and sons after God’s own heart, like David, and to be courageously wholehearted, like Caleb. Because we know that God has given us the ability to move from anxiety to authenticity with His help as He constantly works on our behalves to bring us into wholeness.

So, how do we get from anxiety to authenticity to live out God’s abundant life for us as a battle of good over evil, light over darkness and Holy Spirit over flesh (Jn 10:10)?

His Word offers us a strategy against an anxious heart in Philippians 4:6 AMP, which says, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”

Therefore, God’s process to go from anxiety to authenticity is to pray and petition Him with gratitude. No matter what, everything we face in life can be willfully processed in this faithful attitude.

It begins with the heart of Jesus in us, His spiritually born-again ones, and ends in the fullness of victory when we return home to Heaven.

The middle involves diligently growing in holiness by increasingly receiving God’s virtuous characteristics and ways into our souls to become more like Him and see ourselves from His perspective so we can know and do His will.

Colossians 1:23 TPT wisely advises us to “…continue to advance in faith, assured of a firm foundation to grow upon. Never be shaken from the hope of the gospel you have believed in.”

So, our best life is firmly rooted in a foundation of faith in our One True God, on which we can choose to stand and trust that He and His ways will work out His goodness for us, no matter what comes and goes.

It’s a lifelong journey that includes a timeline of trusting God enough to give up lesser things and reach higher to become like Him; and partner with Him to fulfill His calling and complete specific divine assignments (Ma 25:21).

On the contrary, anxiety works with the enemy to facilitate lack. Anxiety is propelled by fear and rooted in lies. Acting out of fear and lies is the opposite of operating out of love and truth, which causes us to move in a wrong direction from what God originally intended.

Since we reap what we sow, living in lies grows weeds of falsehood, including insecurity and pretense. This pretense is a facade of sin that works against the powerful shield of faith Jesus died to give us. This sin produces death in various forms.

But we don’t have to bring trouble on ourselves. Proverbs 28:26 TPT says that “when you lean on the wisdom from above, you will have a way to escape the troubles of your own making.”

Therefore, we will come to know God’s abundant life as we choose Him as first priority in all things (Ma 6:33).

To do this, we must “set” our “minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Co 3:2 NIV). This means remaining in God’s Word and Spirit of Presence.

So, since we become what we worship and attract what we worship, our best life comes from worshipping the only authentic High God worthy of worship.

We don’t have to settle for less.

Our wise, truthful, eternally gracious and merciful God, who is Love Himself, is for us, not against us. He desires that we experience Him in such depth of relationship that we release false burdens and find perfect rest in our dependency on Him as our faithful source to meet all of our needs.

It’s not about figuring it out on our own, which would be self-reliant. Proverbs 28:26 TPT tells us that “self-confident know-it-alls will prove to be fools.”

And, we don’t have to step on others to achieve anything. This would involve a lack mentality.

Rather, it’s about humbling ourselves before God to agree with Him and partner with Him His way. It’s about exploring, with enthusiasm, His how as we journey with Him. We can enjoy the adventure when we believe Him at His Word.

We must remember that His very life covenant, for which He died, was to bless us—to enable us to receive greater life than we deserve or can even imagine on earth as it is in Heaven. It’s a choice we make every moment of every day.

He invites us to invite Him, as the source of faith in us, to prove out His faithfulness in all areas of our lives.

So, do you trust Him at His Word for this true flow of life?

If not, ask Holy Spirit to reveal what you are believing that is working counter to His best plan for you. Then repent of having believed that lie. Renounce it. Turn back To God and His truth. Decide to take courage and agree with Him above all else, no matter what. And walk out your best life with your best attitude in agreement with Him.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your love for us. We renounce all lies of the evil one and choose to agree with You. Thank You that Your Word is faithful and true. It does not return void. It will go forth to accomplish the purpose and mission You sent it out to do (Is 55:11).

Show us Your glory, Lord, and help us to “feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill” our “thoughts with heavenly realities…not with the distractions of the natural realm” (Co 3:2 TPT).

Help us to take courage and yield to Your spirit, not our flesh. Help us depend on You, not on our own understanding (Pr 3:5). Help us to see as You see, to walk with You and to dwell with You every moment of the day. Help us to experience complete freedom in Your truth as You continue to establish it in our lives.

Thank You, Lord, for Your grace upon grace for taking us from glory to glory, from victory to victory. Thank You that we don’t have to worry about our days ahead, because You are faithful to Your Word.

Have Your way, Lord. Get us precisely where You desire we be. For Your glory.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

And now, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Ro 15:13).

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

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Compromised Truth – Part 2

Compromised Truth leads to disrespect of self and others as we navigate through life our way. It’s an attack against God’s character of authenticity for us and, therefore, hinders blessings that come from stewarding God’s genuine nature in us.

We must put God first, cultivate an intimate relationship with Him and trust Him enough to make Him our supreme authority. We must hear God’s voice above all others, even above our communities with parents, spouses, bosses, friends, counselors, pastors, prophets, etc. If any people in our lives advise or expect us to do anything outside of God’s will, we can still choose God’s way. We can realize that even the well-meaning can operate in an opposing spirit to the life God has for us. Forgive them and move on.

We can choose to distance ourselves from opposing voices, if necessary, while coming closer to God. In cases where we cannot totally distance ourselves, such as in child-parent relationships or employee-boss relationships, we can still run to God in prayer, seek His protection and guidance, declare His truth over our lives and wait out greater freedom.

This is what twelve-year-old Jesus did in Luke 2:41-52 AMPC when He went and stayed in the temple of God for three days to pursue Father’s Presence, while His parents knew not where He was (vs 46). In the midst of His parents’ “custom” to visit Jerusalem, during the Passover season, young Jesus didn’t want to leave His spiritual feast. Jesus wasn’t afraid of the power of His True Father. He was drawn to Him. At the outset, Jesus chose this as His “necessary” high purpose and priority above returning home with His earthly parents (vs 42, 49). Verse 52 reveals the result of Jesus putting Father God first and pursuing His truth by saying, “And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.” 

In this light, when we pursue God as truth above all else, He increases His wisdom in us as He grows us to be wise, like Him. And He increases our favor with Him and man (Lk 2:52). This righteous priority translates into us experiencing the increased victory of salvation, even in our families, that Jesus died to give us on earth as it is in Heaven. Luke 2:51 says that Jesus’ “mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart” as He explained His whereabouts and purpose to her.  

I have learned that, as I have gone out to do the work our Lord sent me to do with Him, He has blessed my family and myself in eternal ways that only He could. So, like young Jesus, when we make Father God our eternal life source above all else, including family, we will see the fullness of life He has for us and others; andunderstand it, both in practical ways and through His Spirit of Revelation.

Jesus is our best family member and our greatest champion. He looks out for us in truth and glory. He says in John 14:2 AMPC that “In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.” 

Jesus desires that we live an authentic life abiding in Him. We do this by firmly deciding He, as part of the Holy Trinity, is Lord of our lives and determine to walk it out, not letting anyone or anything pull us away, including any other relationships.

As the world around us strives to get ahead, we must look to God and align with His truth, which is that He will give us the things He put in our hearts when we come to appreciate Him first, above all else (Matt 6:33). 

So, pray with me if you will:

Dear Lord, 

Your truth is better than anything. Thank You that it sets me free from decline, as I incline my heart toward You. I humbly turn to You and ask You to deliver me from unholy compromise. Rid me of fear, of masking Your truth and authenticity in me and of the unholy mixture of man’s ways. Help me rightly divide the truth and priority of Your prevailing Word. Help me walk in it and live out the fullness of life You have for me in the earth, as I learn to rest in You, while working alongside You. Help me to walk out Exodus 33:13 AMPC, which says, “…if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight…” Lord, help me to live in a way that glorifies you abundantly and enables me to experience Your wisdom and beauty in my life-journey with You (Ep 1:17). Thank You that I don’t have to be afraid but that I can trust You to help me live out Your life-plan for me, knowing that You judge fairly (De 3:16, 1 Pe 2:23).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

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Make Your Choices

God’s promises are full of life. Evergreen. They invite us to choose life daily (De 30:19, Pr 18:21). And increasingly so, because God is a builder.

King David said in Psalm 119 to “Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways” (verse 173 TPT). “Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your Word makes my pathway clear” (verse 105 TPT).

So, we must receive God’s Word and be definitive in our choices to stay on course for destiny purposes. We must firmly decide and stand on God’s faithful promises to deliver (redeem) us. His truth will set us free, and we can move forward joyfully.

Acts 2:28 NIV tells us that “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”

God has big plans for us. Plans He made before we were ever born. They are better than we can imagine, and they will happen in ways we do not fully know yet.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV reminds us by saying, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity…'”

It is joyous to choose our Savior—to exalt Him over sin’s separation (He 12:1). Trust and obedience in our Lord is our best “yes” that will lead to expressions of ultimate victory and honor.

To be sure, God has ways of getting us there when our hearts are inclined toward Him.

For me, an everyday action item turned unusual a few weeks before Christmas. Like countless others, I had made an online purchase, hoping it would be delivered intact and without delay. But about the time I expected the package to arrive, I received a phone call instead. Caller ID revealed the retailer from whom I had made the purchase. I had a sense they were calling because an issue arose. Sure enough, the polite woman on the other end was a supervisor, who explained that the package had taken a different route by mistake. I had prayed over the package from the beginning, as the contents were rare and no longer manufactured. The delay wasn’t a big issue for me, and I realized I had to trust God to help it arrive intact after taking a detour. The supervisor graciously offered to express mail the package to me and also include a $50 gift card toward a future purchase.

Sometimes, the unexpected is part of our total package as we follow Him. Sometimes, God makes situations better than they would have been.

God has taught me that we can settle for the faithful provision of Isaac, or we can expect His unexpected provision through Boaz—an add-on gift that God sees and knows and waits for the right time or season to release.

Sovereign God’s greater blessings are out front, up ahead and right before us. As we choose to do life His way, we will come into His greater blessings. We will receive them when God knows we are ready and when He is ready, according to His timing and way. God’s expressions of increase that were once hidden will be revealed. Until then, He tests our will and our loyalty to Him, even in our thoughts, attitudes and works.

We must be secure in knowing our true riches are found in Christ alone. He is our greatest Treasure, and we are His chosen treasure (1 Pe 2:9). All else is less, including our own ways. Let’s remember this as we go into 2022 with our eyes wide open to Him, seeking Him first as we faithfully step into what’s ahead. Let’s believe Him for all else to be added to us rightly by His Spirit, while we serve Him (Matt 6:33).

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your supernatural serendipity. May I be more like You reflected through Your daughter, Ruth. May I always be led by Your Holy Spirit and glean increasing blessings Your way so that my joy may be full and Your overflow can work through me to bless others. Thank You for growing me in faith, truth and love. Rid me of anything that tries to stand between us. Thank You for perfecting my path (2 Sa 22:33). Thank You for building and expanding me for Your glory. I trust in Your hand that strengthens me as part of Your body of Christ to be the light of the world.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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

Note: Ultimately, I did receive the package in record time with the contents intact, along with the $50 gift card, which was emailed to me right away. Praise God!

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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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Salvation: Riches & Treasures – Part 2

One morning, as I saw my husband off to work, I stood at the front doorway and watched a Corona delivery truck drive down the street. I noticed a crown symbol on the front of the truck. The Lord highlighted this to me. And so I inquired.

Holy Spirit reminded me that “Sin is not our portion. Salvation is.” 

Later, He led me to Psalm 149:4 NIV, which says, “For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.”

Victory in this scripture means salvation. (See the NASB version.)

And in Hebrew, this victory-salvation, this liberty is called Yeshua, which is also the Hebrew Name of Jesus (Strong’s #3444). 

Therefore, when we call on the Name of Jesus, we are calling on the victory-salvation that He is and that He offers (Pr 18:10). 

He is always available to adorn us with new life—inside and out. 

He is our treasure and we are His.

Treasure implies riches that are stored up.

We know He has treasure in Heaven for us but He, as our greatest treasure, also lives inside of us believers (Co 1:27). As we seek and obey Him, He will release more of Himself into our souls (mind, will, emotions), working out His victory-salvation in us and through us.

God aligns our minds with His helmet of salvation (life), the crown of victory-salvation, because whatever is on our minds can be produced (Pr 23:7).

Our lot is to be cast according to His way and His portion. Our lot is Love and all that He is (Ps 16:5, Ac 17:28). He doesn’t leave it to chance. He makes our victory-salvation certain. 

So, may we not compromise our blessings as we look to Him as our source. 

Always.

Several days after the Corona (crown) delivery truck drove by, The Lord led me to an article about a Christmas season “star” to appear in the night sky on December 21, when God’s two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are expected to align within 0.1 degree. This special “star,” as it debuts low in the sky on the shortest day of the year, is considered rare as it becomes the largest and nearest one in 800 years. It is expected to remain constantly bright, and not twinkle, given that it’s actually the conjunction (union) of two planets (not actual stars).

Metaphorically, this speaks of a cycle of new unity—the coming together to create something unusually spectacular for nations to see. Through God’s glory expressed in this cosmic event, I believe He is inspiring us and inviting us to come closer to Him and align with Him uncompromisingly, as to consistently shine brighter than we ever have in a short amount of time for His glory (Ps 19:1, 45:11, 97:6; Hab 3:3; Is 26:7 AMPC, Is 60:21 AMPC).

The Lord then highlighted two encouragements from His Word:

Proverbs 4:18 TPT, which says, “But the lovers of God walk on the highway of light, and their way shines brighter and brighter until they bring forth the perfect day.”

Isaiah 60:3 AMPC, which says, “And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

I believe these promises are for all believers, who will receive God’s truth and obey.

As I continued to study God’s Word, Holy Spirit revealed six steps to receiving His stored up treasures:

 It begins with asking:

Matthew 7:11 NLT –  “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

“Psalm 2:8 NIV – “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

Allow His light to shine in and through us as our Treasure:

Colossians 2:3 NLT – “In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Corinthians 4:7 NLT – “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

Matthew 5:26 NIV –  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The key to unlock this Treasure is the fear of The Lord:

Isaiah 33:6 NIV – “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.”

Psalm 85:9 AMPC – “Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land.” 

Go His way obediently:

Isaiah 2:2-3 AMPC – “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be [firmly] established as the highest of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths…’”

Matthew 6:33 NLT – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Stay the course:

Proverbs 3:5 NLT – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

Isaiah 26:3 AMPC –  “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”

Let Holy Spirit produce good fruit through us:

Luke 6:45 NLT – “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Isaiah 60:3 ESV – “And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

Friends, I look forward to gazing up at the Christmas “star” on December 21st with you as a remembrance of who God is, what He has done for us and what He will do forward. 

God has an extension and an expanse waiting to be received.

He longs to fulfill His promises.

What dreams have you long held in your hearts that go beyond yourselves?

What has God assigned to you right now?

How do you see your dreams progressing?

May I pray for you?

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, and for aligning our minds with the new life You offer us through Him. As we look up into Your night sky on December 21st, may we be reminded of You as our Creator and of Your Son as Your greatest gift to us, who came down. May You encourage each person reading or listening to this devotion to be closer to their dreams by giving them a special promise revealed to them by You in a personal way. May You give them good gifts for the asking, including nations (Matt 7:11, Ps 2:8). Thank You, Lord, for enabling them to receive Your very best and to walk consistently upright with You. Thank You, Lord, for being our very best promise, life and inheritance. Our certain victory-salvation for all times (Mi 7:7).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

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