Tag: #Romans12:2TPT

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Selfless Voice

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I read Christmas advent books into January and Valentine’s Day. This year, there’s one I’ve gotten stuck on . . . in a good way. It’s Pastor Rick Warren’s The Purpose of Christmas.

About midway through, there’s a brief chapter titled, Jesus Came to Save You from Sin and Yourself. 

For me, this says it all. At least right now. 

You see, God has been highlighting selfishness to me lately. And, if you’ve known Jesus for any measure of time, you know that we have to give up to go up. 

We’re always a work in progress. The transformation never ends. Just when we feel like we’ve overcome some major area of resistance, Holy Spirit shows us something else. I feel like I live in daily repentance. And that’s a good thing. 

Before I even began reading this book, right around Christmastime, Holy Spirit had me write a devotion titled, New Order, with “Order” being my key prophetic Word from Him for 2023. So now, as I walk out this physical transformation, I’m realizing, even more, the transformation He’s doing in me. 

And so, it goes, as I work to bring my house into a new order, He’s working in me as His house, His temple. And just like a piece of furniture that needs to be pulled out and cleaned behind, He’s exposing another area and layer of selfishness that has to go. 

I’ve had to discipline myself to not neglect His house as I’ve tended to my own. Holy Spirit spoke to me clearly, several months ago, saying, “Don’t put your house before Me.” I sensed in my spirit that something was coming up ahead, where I needed to have my mind set on what was most important to Him. He knows it’s easy for us to let priorities get messy during transformations, especially for those of us who tend to be task focused.

We know surrendering to Him means that we have to lay down our own ways. 

So, now when surfaces and spaces are made messier in the midst of establishing new order, I’ve had to block out the mess long enough to focus on Him; and make myself sit and be quiet right in the middle of the mess. It has been seriously slowing my natural, hurried pace, but it’s obvious to me that He’s bringing me into a greater Martha-Mary balance and, ultimately, peace.

Holy Spirit confirmed all of this in His Word:

First, in John 14:15 TPT, He says, “Loving me empowers you to obey my commands.”

And secondly, in Matthew 16:24 TPT, which says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways.'”

Recently, I wrote in my journal that “I need to please God above what pleases me.” Sometimes, we need to be reminded of this and realize what following Him looks like for where we are now. This leads to a key element, which is discernment.

The verse Holy Spirit highlighted to me in this regard is Romans 12:2 TPT, which says, “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

For me, this means to stop occupying myself with activities that focus my mind on anything less important, especially social media and news briefs during work breaks. Some of the images and stories I see there have proved to be distractions in my mind in the sense that they shift my focus off of God and onto pop culture. And since we know that we become what we focus on, this kind of “little thing” has the power to shift us off course over time. So, it’s really not a small thing when we give it too much influence in our minds.

But when God’s selfless voice is the loudest in our heads, He transforms our thinking to align with His. Only in this place of His Presence and Word can we rightly discern what pleases Him most. It’s how we’ll be able to walk with Him, obey Him, follow Him, and live for Him in this new order of life.

He promises it will prove to be more beautiful and satisfying than we could ever do our way. His way is and will always be superior to ours and, graciously, for our benefit. 

So, pray with me if you will . . . 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for the new life You have for me. I know that remaining close to You is everything. Therefore, let Your voice be the dominant one in my life, so that I remain aligned with You and speak Your true Words for Your greater purposes. Help me to quickly respond to You. And keep me under Your protection. 

In Jesus’ Mighty Name, 

Amen. 

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

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Rebellion vs. Redemption

We know that God sent His only begotten Son to save us from our rebellion: to recover us, restore us, cure us and make us well (Jn 3:17). To have relationship with Him as our Redeemer.  

One of the most prominent ways I’m seeing Him work right now is in the area of relationships in that He is miraculously redeeming them.

I’m referring to healthy relationships He desires us to experience for His higher purposes. I’m talking about close relationships with family and friends from whom we may have lived at a distance for a time. Maybe even years.

God is bringing them back around again. He is restoring them as He has grown each individual. And this time, they will prove better than before as He reveals more of His purpose to do good works for His Kingdom. Together.

As we go forth, we will sense and know God’s purpose in it all.

He will even reveal the work He has done in individuals to show others He has redeemed them. He will go so far as to have the redeemed ones help the wronged ones in a way that only they can. And in all of this, God will humble hearts.

He has been building powerhouses of individuals, who have allowed Him to work within them. And now, He’s aligning them with others to create a strong, outward bond for His good pleasure and for expanded Kingdom work. This could only happen, as He has renewed their minds and hearts individually.

He has made them lasting for relationships that will last (Jn 15:16).

Gone are the old rebellious ways of the past, as He converges us closer to the pinnacle of purpose than we’ve ever been. It hasn’t peaked yet. We’re just getting started. There’s so much more forward.

And it won’t be just about one event, even if the one event is a big one. There will be a multiplicity. A string of events, where one will affect the other. Not in a ripple effect, per se, where the impact fades, but in a sequence of separate events, impacted by the ones before.

God has greater glory and broader expansion He can entrust to us now, as we’ve learned to trust Him more.

Perhaps you’ve noticed Him rearranging your surroundings, instructing you to “go this way,” helping you to not miss His promises. Perhaps you’ve begun a new project that you cannot finish yourself. And now, He’s bringing in the help you need. Or maybe, He’s promoting you into your heart’s desire—progressing you with honor to your new, next assignment.

Watch for relationships to be restored in the midst. He will warm our hearts with old ones made new and sustainable. He will position us to put into practice the work He’s done in us. He will strengthen us with new-found relationships.

His methods may prove serendipitous. Suddenly, a door will close and another one will open. Then another and another. And one of the most beautiful elements in it all is His redemptive strength of truth.

We will bear witness to a lovely view of His strength as we see it work on our behalves in new areas (Ro 12:2 TPT). It will pour through us to connect with others fearlessly to accomplish tasks. We will experience the deep development He once did now work on our behalves outwardly. We will see His victory in our lives in new ways as He does, by His grace-work, what we didn’t see as possible earlier in life.

This reminds me of the redemptive work in Jericho, using Rahab’s cord in which two Israeli spies ultimately took hold of the cord not easily broken for greater freedom (Jos 2:15, 18; Ec 4:12).

What looked impossible proved accessible in a cyclical process when the two spies returned to impact this fortified city and rescue Rahab and her family (Jos 6:17, 22-23, 25).

So, get ready for fortresses to crumble and for our Way Maker to reveal Himself in ways that will shock, awe and amaze. We can expect a whole new outcome, as it won’t be like before. God is bringing us into position right now, where we will experience breakthrough after breakthrough. Connection after connection. Wholeness. Fluidity. And an abundance of blessing.

Pray with me, if you will…

Dear Lord,

Thank You for redeeming us so Your redemption can flow through us. Thank You for restoring Your fountain of life in our souls so we can flow in Your river of power to impact progress. Thank You for taking us to new places to accomplish Your will. Thank You for producing lasting fruit through us for Your glory. May we please You in all we do.

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.