Tag: #Matthew7:11

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Give Away: Challenge To Victory – Part 1

“What did I do to deserve this?” was the question Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance two weeks ago. He reminded me that, nearly two decades ago, these were my words to Him as He began to lead me through a ten-year, ten-month season of tribulation.

But God didn’t just bring this remembrance to my mind. He also brought a corresponding revelation for right now. In other words, Holy Spirit redefined this now rhetorical question. He was doing a new thing with an old thing.

In a flash of understanding, He revealed the answer to this question for this season to be “nothing,” meaning I have done nothing to deserve the great blessing of His recompense that He is now about to flood into my life.

Holy Spirit helped me to know, beyond a hint of doubt, that His goodness is not based on anything I’ve done—good or bad.

And, friends, this is not just for me.

God loves to give good gifts to His children (Mt 711). His transformed ones are on the cusp of outward multiplicity like they have never experienced. I’m talking about shock, awe and wonder of God’s unconditional blessings beyond what they have never known. I’m talking about the blessings of God that cause them to gasp as our Lord presents His finest, serendipitous, dream-come-true gifts to them in tangible form.

The Word I believe Holy Spirit revealed to me is this…

Painful, undeserved experiences and times are now coming full circle as God continues to deliver His inwardly transformed ones into His manifest goodness of recompense, reward and justice. These gifts will be hundredfold as described in Mark 10:30 and illustrated in the “Book of Ruth.” These blessings will be so over and above what they can think or imagine, they will wonder, “What did I do to deserve this?”

Where they were blindsided by the enemy in past times, and even tried to cover up the ugly parts, God worked the whole time to restore their foundations and erect a holy fortress for them that would prove serendipitous forward. As they continue to walk with Almighty God, they will now be blindsided by His gloriously beautiful and undeserved recompenses for every time they were blindsided by the enemy (Psalm 37:4-6, 61:2-4, 91:1-2).

Where their deeds were once returned on their own heads in the past, the renewed minds of God’s conformed ones can expect to receive a different harvest this time (Ob 1:15). Their deep inward transformation is now producing outward beauty. And some of their best rewards will be unexpected, as God gives them something over and above what they can share with others.

God is completing their mourning-to-dancing and ashes-to-beauty cycles in tangible ways as they continue to walk with Him by faith in His glory. What once felt like a Joshua and Caleb story of battle after battle, our God is giving the dominion of Jericho to them in a physical, manifest way. And it’s just the beginning. God has enabled them to claim victory after victory and will now do it manifestly, as His insight in them comes into physical sight. This is the beginning of His expanse of goodness restored in their lives (Ge 1).

God is giving them the things of old made new with promises that reflect His character and ways, satisfying them in abundance as they have kept their eyes on Him. Examples may be inherited land, restored houses, family members coming home spiritually and physically. God reuniting former things in new form for new beginnings.

It’s time for the beautiful and appropriate blessings of Ecclesiastes 3:11 to begin to manifest. The Amplified version says, “He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.”

Now is a time where God’s conformed ones will receive a string of profound, life-changing, breakthrough, manifest, unconditional covenant blessings as a result of receiving the overflow of His grace upon grace, as in John 1:16 TPT, which says, “from the overflow of his fullness we received grace heaped upon more grace!”

These blessings will happen “on the heels of the other,” as described in Amos 9:13 MSG. “So fast your head will swim…you won’t be able to keep up.”

As God’s conformed ones find themselves living in the evidence of a state of “only God could have done this,” they will be positioned in new, highlighted roles as witnesses of the goodness, the victory and the glory of The Lord God Almighty.

Friends, it’s not finished until it manifests.

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for getting Your people unstuck and receiving Your manifest blessings by Your grace of transformation and manifestation. Thank You for Your good gifts that You give to Your children. Thank You for revealing Your true character in the process, by showing us that it’s only by Your grace that You enable us to receive Your beautiful gifts. We, Lord, are eternally grateful beyond what we can adequately describe. Thank You for helping us to remain in You as we continue to walk with You into blessings we cannot contain for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

Friends, join me next week for Part 2 of Give Away: Challenge to Victory.

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

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Goodness of God – Part 1

God is good no matter what we experience or do, even when we operate in self-justified sin. But, as we look to His beauty and trust and obey Him, we can see His goodness progressively in our lives.

He will fulfill His divine promises to us and bring us into abundance as we follow our Good Shepherd (Jesus) and do life His way (Jn 10:11).

Deuteronomy 30:8-9 NLT says that when we obey Him, “The LORD your God will then make you successful in everything you do…”

So, if you are a person who has a hard time depending on anyone, the good news is that you can always count on God, even when people fail you, because He is faithful to His Word.

Psalm 107:9 TPT assures us of this by saying, “How he satisfies the souls of thirsty ones and fills the hungry with goodness!”

God invites us to feast at His table, to partake in all He has for us—His fruit of Spirit and earthly inheritance as He wills.

There is no shortage in God’s Kingdom. He gives good gifts to His children who ask, and those gifts are always better than what we think we want on demand (Matt 7:11).

Many already know this truth and shine with praises to God as loving Father.

Psalm 89:1 TPT says, “This forever-song I sing of the gentle love of God! Young and old alike will hear about your faithful, steadfast love—never failing!”

“For he has conquered us with his great love, and his kindness has melted our hearts. His faithfulness lasts forever, and he will never fail you” (Ps 117:2 TPT).

Psalm 52:1 ESV reminds us that “The steadfast love of God endures all the day.”

It is from this enduring, everlasting love that His goodness prevails.

God’s goodness is His intrinsic moral excellence (Strong’s #19). This Fruit of the Spirit in us is what enables us to do good. It’s what makes us useful and well-fit for Kingdom purposes and is void of harshness (Strong’s #5544). God’s goodness is full of benefit and is for our welfare (Strong’s #2896).

God’s Word is filled with His goodness. His (good news) gospel is more than the first four books of the Bible. Every Word from His Spirit is gospel—written and revealed—because His Word brings life to us when we receive His invitation for all He desires to give us by faith.

God has been carrying us through opposition into our land of Promise. The Word Holy Spirit gave to me in early September was “traverse.” He has been traversing us, as in defending us and moving us along by His amazing grace-power.

People who share in God’s heart of love, especially get to participate in His victory of goodness. Those who learned to fight in the Spirit, above the flesh, are now being delivered into their promises. As they learned to trust and believe that God’s power carries weight and that they don’t have to add any false weight of harshness (Ro 12:21).

1 Corinthians 2:9 AMPC says, “…What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isa. 64:4; 65:17.]”

Even if you don’t feel like you are on the winning edge right now, you are still one of these people as you turn your heart toward God.

2 Corinthians 7:10 TPT tells us that “God designed us to feel remorse over sin in order to produce repentance that leads to victory. This leaves us with no regrets. But the sorrow of the world works death.”

God assures us of this victory promise in Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV, which says, “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

As we trust God for our bright future He has stored up for us, waiting to be released, He offers us a key strategy in Isaiah 41:10 TPT, which says, “Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with My victorious right hand.”

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You that You love me enough to not leave me in a lifetime of harsh regret. Thank You that Your written Word offers me examples of Your righteous goodness and that, by Your Spirit, You will deliver me into it fully. This day, I hand You my sorrows. I confess my selfish wrongdoing and turn toward You to restore my life. You say in Psalm 6:4 TPT that when I turn to You that You will “rescue my life because I know Your faithful love will never fail me.” So, I am asking You to rescue and restore my life to Your higher place of holiness, filled with abundant blessings. I surrender my ways to Yours and invite You to do that which only You can do in me, for me and through me.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

Now, “May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope” (Ro 15:13 AMPC).

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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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.