Tag: #victorystrategy

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Victory Strategy: Be Ready – Part 2

The Lord’s renewed eagles, His transformed ones are to be ready—which means to arise with a disposition of willingness and eagerness—for long-awaited promises to be fulfilled.

God is opening our eyes to see more life in our commitment of faith as He moves us forward in greater peace.

Luke 7:50 TPT tells us that “…Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith in me has given you life. Now you may leave and walk in the ways of peace.”

The Lord has impressed my heart that, because of breakthroughs in our commitment of faith, blessings that were once locked and bound will now be unlocked and loosed.

Those who were once bound in chains can now abound in hope, made stronger in their commitment of faith forward (Ro 15:13).

It’s time to see our holy fire re-ignite from a place of resting in The God of peace during this Isaiah 61 time, which is “The Year of The Lord’s Favor.”

Romans 16:24 TPT says, “May the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, continually rest upon you all.”

Especially for those who have been through character-building, it’s time to yield to “a harvest of righteousness and peace” (He 12:11 TPT).

God’s harvest blessings will come into maturity through us as a result of devoting dedicated time with Him, receiving His revelations, then working from a place of peaceful assurance—with no hindrance of anxiety—because we will know God more as trustworthy (Ga 5:22, 1 Jn 4:18). 

In this place of resting in God, He reveals more of Himself, releasing divine purpose and deeply moving us with His wisdom, understanding, strategy, knowledge and reverence (Is 11:2 ESV).

Revelation and peace work together for us to also know His ways more, to establish confidence in our walk and to bring heaven to earth. They offer us understanding of Him as what was, what is and what is to come. 

Have you experienced the sweet Presence of God like this lately?

Like Ruth laying at the feet of Boaz, after laboring, before her divine purpose was fulfilled?

Resting with God is where we see His perspective clearly. It’s where our lives make sense in regards to how He has brought and is bringing all the pieces of our journey together for His glory. It’s where we find significance. God will enable us to experience this deeper turning point, where His revelatory truths alleviate our fears and bring new life of peace and passion. A place of sweet restoration, where we feel more secure at home and “well provided for” (Ru 3:1; De 33:12).

It’s where God breaks through for us, for Kingdom’s sake (Ro 14:17).

For destiny (fulfilled promises).

Keeping our minds stayed upon The Lord, by His grace, is how we find peace.

Romans 8:6 TPT tells us, “For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.”

While resting at the feet of Jesus, our minds sync with His, so our feet can put changes in motion alongside Him. When we know Him at His feet, we experience Him fitting our feet with His peace as He reveals His plan to prosper us to bless others.

Resting in peace at Love’s (God’s) feet makes us ready.

Ephesians 6:15 ESV says, “and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

Being established in His peace is how we get to courageous.

In John 14:27 TPT, Jesus says, “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”

Constantly using our faith is how we live, rest and remain rooted in our faith (of His love). 

Ephesians 3:17 TPT tells us that “…by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.”

It’s time to be ready to go the distance and influence the earth anew, by His Spirit.

So, friends, pray with me if you will…

Lord, “illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace” (Lk 1:79). “…I’ll listen carefully for your voice and wait to hear whatever you say. Let me hear your promise of peace—the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear. Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you” (Ps 85:8 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

Amen.

“Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him…” (Ro 15:13 TPT)! “Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful” (Co 3:15 TPT).

“Finally, beloved friends…Live continually in peace, and God, the source of love and peace, will mingle with you” (2 Co 13:11 TPT).

Even in your long-awaited opportunities.

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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Victory Strategy: Be Ready – Part 1

The Lord showed me several Words of knowledge on October 26 and then added the revelation-understanding over the next four days. (In case you didn’t know, every title He gives me for every devotion is a Word of knowledge or a Word of wisdom in itself. It’s what He desires to highlight each week.) 

So, let’s begin…

1 John 5:4 NLT tells us, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”

We see here that victory comes by faith. And we know that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Ro 10:17). 

Therefore, we must be committed in our faith as Paul describes in Romans 16:19, which says: 

“I’m so happy when I think of you, because everyone knows the testimony of your deep commitment of faith. So, I want you to become scholars of all that is good and beautiful and stay pure and innocent when it comes to evil” (Ro 16:19 TPT).

In this scripture, “A deep commitment of faith” can be translated as “obedience of faith.”

“Obedience” here can be translated as “submission to what is heard” in “response to someone speaking” (Strong’s #5218).

“Commitment” can be defined as responsibility and loyalty in terms of “devotion or dedication, e.g., to a cause, person or relationship” (Encarta). Think Jesus. It can also mean a “previously planned engagement” or an “arrangement or activity that cannot be avoided” (Encarta). Or “an agreement or pledge to do something in the future” (Webster’s). Think Ephesians 2:10 and obeying God’s instructions, so that the good works He “prepared in advance for us to do” will come “full circle” (Strong’s #4043). “Commitment” can also mean to be “emotionally impelled,” which is to be driven or propelled (Webster’s, Dictionary.com). Think driven by love for God and His people.

So, in summary, in order to have a victorious faith walk, we must “hear” from The Lord and obey His instructions from a heart of love for Him and others.

The next Word is “strategy,” which is God’s perfect counsel.

Depending on God, like Joshua did as he fought and won battles in the Promised Land, is living in submission to God. This is the most powerful position in which to be; because it honors God and builds our faith forward, bringing glory to Him in the victory by His grace. 

If God let us win our way, He would not receive the glory. And we would build our kingdom, not His, which would ultimately fail; because it would not be built on the Rock. 

Victory God’s way is a challenging opportunity through our promised land, where we are tested in our faith and obedience. God will only take us as far as our love walk will allow, lest we die in the process.

So, by grace, we are to grow in God’s strength of humility (meekness) and self-control to be unprovoked by enemy opposition. This is where the anointing of Christ prevails through us to win nations for Him.

Romans 16:26 TPT reveals that the mystery of the gospel “is understood through the prophecies of the Scripture and by the decree of the eternal God. And it is now heard openly by all the nations, igniting within them a deep commitment of faith.”

This leads to our next point: 

Be Ready.

We are to be ready to share the gospel as Holy Spirit leads.

1 Peter 3:15 TPT says to “give reverent honor in your hearts to the Anointed One and treat him as the holy Master of your lives. And if anyone asks about the hope living within you, always be ready to explain your faith.”

To “be” can mean “an arising” or “rising up,” in the true sense of the Word by Holy Spirit to bring Him glory (Strong’s #7012). The opposite of this would be a false uprising of negative emotions—a provoke intended to manipulate us to fight in the flesh so that the enemy can “steal” our anointing. 

The Word “ready” has several meanings, including preparedness; but the meaning I believe The Lord is highlighting here is to have “forwardness of mind,” which is to be willing and eager in disposition (Strong’s#4288).

It’s important to be aware that, when our emotions are stirred up in conflict—as in provoked by enemy forces, our motivation can shift from the kind of willingness and eagerness that facilitates forward motion. Enemy provoke can cause us to get stuck, because God does not empower the flesh to fight our way and produce carnality. Instead, since motives matter, our love for God and others are to be our motivating force to produce good fruit and win battles. 

So, let’s be committed to the good fight of faith in the Promised Land, where dreams are fulfilled. May we rise up ready—in willingness and eagerness—to be found faithfully-obedient. May we put our hand to the plow and not look back. May we move closer to God forward. He’s up ahead waiting for us to come near and receive His blessing. The way there is trusting and obeying Him. He has a wave of redemption and anointing for us that will bring in the blessing by His Spirit as we agree with Him. 

Friends, there’s a lot more to this story. So, join me next week for Part 2 of Victory Strategy: Be Ready.

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

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Victory Strategy: Obedience – Part 2

One way God demonstrates His love for us is to give us victory over everything as we adhere to, rely on and trust in Him.

Romans 8:37 TPT tells us, “Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything!”

In Part 1 of this series, we learned that we receive this victory by faith-believing, which implies action.

So, we do have a part in our manifest victory.

We know that God is our source for victory based on Proverbs 21:31 TPT, which says, “ultimate victory comes from the Lord God.”

Psalm 20:7 TPT reiterates this by saying, “…Our boast is in the Lord our God, who makes us strong and gives us victory!”

Psalm 18:35 TPT tells us, “You empower me for victory with your wrap-around presence. Your power withinmakes me strong to subdue…”

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.”

Friends, at the point where we invite Jesus into our broken places, we begin to experience victory.

Just like the woman at the well, who invited Jesus to share His victory with her, she ran with beautiful feet to proclaim the good news to her people (Ro 10:15, Is 61:1).

This is important to remember as we receive nations as our inheritance and carry His glory to make His Name known. 

Like Esther, who pushed against all odds to help rescue a nation of people, Psalm 44:5 TPT assures us that “Through [His] glorious name and [His} awesome power we can push through to any victory and defeat every enemy.”

So, in His compassion for us, even the distress and oppression established against nations must bow in the Presence of our Perfect Lamb.

Isaiah 61:4 further reveals that, “…they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

As I sought The Lord on this topic, He impress my heart with a particular message, which is this:

Those who are willing to depart from abominations that produce ashes, the ones who open their eyes and their hearts to Him and become convinced by faith-believing, will move from (abomi)nations to their inheritance of nations (Is 44). 

Like the woman at the well, once we let Jesus into every chamber of our hearts, shame and disgrace will go. Then, we will run with beautiful feet to nations as an evangelist, strengthened and made victorious by Jesus, to share His compassion with our inheritance-nations, as in Isaiah 61:1 ESV, which says, 

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”

Lord, search our hearts (Ps 139:23-24)!

If there is any way in us that is displeasing, bring the conviction that leads us to repentance. 

Friends, we don’t want to miss this.

Unbelief feeds defeat. Strife is a snare and is rooted in a lack of true identity in Christ and a fear of man. Disrespect and defeat go hand in hand. They perpetuate a vicious trap. 

Proverbs 29:25 AMP reminds us that “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the Lord will be exalted and safe.”

So, we don’t have to abandon our place of rest to tend to someone else. 

This is important to remember as we move forward.

We can have compassion for others and not allow them to take advantage of our compassion and pull us down with them.

We can pray for others and put our full faith and trust in God alone to bring them up higher, based on their willingness. 

We can have respect for God’s process of sanctification, believing He will get them to maturity in Him, even as far as their full restoration in Heaven.

We can remain in a place of glorious victory-strength and extend grace to others, believing God is working as we interact and fulfill divine purpose.

Friends, when we love well, we bring life.

We respect others.

We must remember that we have been given a gift of victory, and that we fight from this place of victory, according to God’s Word.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 AMPC say, “But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,  For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ…”

I pray that we will live up to these promises. I pray that we will not give up and that we will run to our nations with beautiful feet. I pray that we will be finishers and that we will always remember the One who makes us victorious. 

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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Solid Foundation – Part 2

Ten days ago, The Lord highlighted the restoration of ruined cities to me (Is 61:4).

Three times. 

He then led me to Psalm 118:14-15 AMPC, which says, “The Lord is my Strength and Song; and He has become my Salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings of the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!”

Psalm 118:15 TPT says, “…My loud shouts of victory will echo throughout the land. For Yahweh’s right hand conquers valiantly!”

Holy Spirit also reminded me of Isaiah 9:6-7 TPT, which says…

The responsibility of complete dominion will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be: The Wonderful One! The Extraordinary Strategist! The Mighty God…Great and vast is his dominion. He will bring immeasurable peace and prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom to establish and uphold it by promoting justice and righteousness from this time forward and forevermore.

Friends, God is a finisher.

Even when circumstances look scattered, chaotic and impossible, God is sovereign and is still working to give ravaged places and even personal projects new life and bring them to a good, highly-purposed completion. 

He is never without a victory-strategy to bring greater restoration, making things better than before.

Even if we need an overhaul, it just means that our God is patient and will draw us nearer to make us more solid in Him. 

More solid like Him, the Foundation who laid His life down for us to live as “immoveable,” which means “will not budge.” And “stable,” which means unchangeable. And “steadfast,” which means “standing fast without buckling or giving way” (HELPS Word-studies).

“Mighty God” in Isaiah 9:7 means “the God of battle” and “Champion God” (TPT Bible study notes).

He will fight for us and never lose!

When God is in something, we can always trust Him to ultimately prove it to be victorious as we obey Him.

We must keep our faith in Him always, as He is seated in what He establishes and has a commitment to see us through.

What exactly is God igniting in you in this hour?

What is He leading you into?

How are you seeing Him touch your efforts?

What wonderful thing is The Wonderful One birthing through you for His Kingdom?

Verse 7 continues on, saying that God rules on the throne and over the kingdom “to establish and uphold it by promoting justice and righteousness.”

To “establish” here means to be set up, fixed, fitted, firm, made secure and enduring as we determine, with God, to be faithful.

As we rule and reign with Him, He sustains us, comforts us, refreshes us, strengthens us and stays our hearts with determination, truthfulness, right discretion and vindication that doesn’t quit. 

This is the God we serve. 

Never give up on His appointed times for justice.

They are solid ground that we can trust. 

God will not forget. 

Psalm 89:14 TPT assures us by saying, “Your glorious throne rests on a foundation of righteousness and just verdicts. Grace and truth are the attendants who go before you.”

Have you ever had an encounter with The Lord, where He reveals an important event up ahead for you that you know would be impossible without His intervention? Then He, not only confirms the event through two or three witnesses, but He consistently encourages you over time by revealing more and more bits until the event occurs?

By leading us in this “treasure hunt” style, God not only refreshes our hope, He awakens us more and more until the fullness of time for the event, where we fully mature to receive. 

We come to realize that The Lord had to go before us to set it up well in advance, because so many elements have to come into place over time in, not only our lives, but others.

All along, He leads us along a solid foundation of righteous character and conduct, further into vindication, as He sees it—justifiable.

This is a journey where we can trust Him implicitly as He leads us into His plan for righting wrongs.

Exponentially.

The Lord gave me a Word of wisdom in this regard, which is…

When we get honest and grow to a place of knowing better and fully forgiving, we receive better than what would have been.

This is a divine re-set as in Isaiah 22:20-23 by His grace and truth.

This is what is meant as surpassing victory, and it begins by believing the victorious work of the cross, our secure place.

Romans 8:37 AMPC tells us, “Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.”

Surpassing means “a large amount or high degree; exceeding, excelling, or extraordinary” (Dictionary.com). 

“Surpassing victory” means to “prevail mightily (Strong’s #5245) and to be “beyond conquer,” to the extent that we are “completely and overwhelmingly victorious” (HELPS Word-Studies).

I believe God, in His rich mercy and amazing grace, will do for the people and cities that turn to Him and prove to be uncompromising.

Revelation 3:21 AMPC assures us that “He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.”

“…Thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,  For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God…” (2 Co 2:14-15 AMPC).

To Him be the glory. 

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

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Captivity to Freedom – Part 1

To be in captivity means to be bound.

We can be held captive by sin or held captive without a cause, like Paul. But we can also be made captive in Jesus. 

Love, who is God, offers us a choice (1 Jn 4:16, 1 Co 6:12). 

Psalm 40:6 TPT calls His chosen ones “prisoners of love for life.”

Both Peter and Paul referred to themselves as bond servants to Christ (2 Pe 1:1, Ph 1:1), as those who lived willingly submitted to God’s authority, as they followed Jesus. They understood their lives were not their own and that living captive to Christ meant limitless, true liberty. 

Jesus offers us the highest form of liberty.

When Jesus sets us free from wrong captivity, we are made complete in Him (Ps 18:36).

Paul says in Galatians 5:1 TPT, “…the Anointed One has set us free—not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.”

Song of Songs 6:5 TPT tells us that God adores us, saying He is “…Overpowered by a glance, [His] ravished heart—undone. Held captive by [our] love, [He is] truly overcome! For [our] undying devotion to [Him] is the most yielded sacrifice.”

Friends, to be as captivated by God as He is by us is the best form of captivity.

Ephesians 4:8 TPT tells us, “…He ascends into the heavenly heights taking his many captured ones with him, and gifts were given to men.”

So, with Jesus, we ascend to heavenly heights and receive grace gifts for Kingdom purposes on earth, to the extent that we can finally reach “the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and [become] fully developed in the abundance of Christ” (Ep 4:13).

To be deeply in love with God helps us live out His heart’s desire for us. 

His best plan, even beyond ourselves.

Nothing is more satisfying than to know Him and walk with Him through the greatest adventure that is our life on earth, lifted by resurrected Jesus.

James 1:25 TPT assures us that “…those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do!”

Ephesians 1:3 TPT tells us that “Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!”

Friends, we are wrapped in Him as Love (Ps 32:10).

We are wrapped in His Presence (Ps 16:8).

We are wrapped in His Protection (Ps 140:6).

We are wrapped in His Arms of Faithfulness (Ps 91:4).

We are wrapped in His Glory (Ps 30:11).

We are wrapped in His Favor (Psalms 5:12).

Who wouldn’t want this?

Song of Songs 8:6 TPT offers us a victory strategy by saying, “Fasten me upon your heart as a seal of fire forevermore. This living, consuming flame will seal you as my prisoner of love. My passion is stronger than the chains of death and the grave, all consuming as the very flashes of fire from the burning heart of God. Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over your entire being.”

Since darkness cannot hold Jesus back, down, or out, when we live in agreement with Him, we can live above darkness too. We can live a higher (resurrected) life with Him in His grace and glory (Ac 2:24).

We can live enthroned with Him (Ep 2:6, Is 52:2).

Living in the freedom of divine captivation is a choice that’s ongoing as we remain close to God (Jn 15:4).

But what happens if we stray? What if we choose a sinful form of captivity (2 Pe3:17)?

There is grace for repentance. 

His truth will set us free (Jn 8:32), and He “… unveils truth wrapped in tender mercy” (Jn 1:17). 

His Word “can never be chained” (2 Ti 2:9).

2 Timothy 1:8 tells us that we “overcome every evil by the revelation of the power of God!

James 1:21 TPT tells us that “…with a sensitive spirit we absorb God’s Word, which has been implanted within our nature, for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us.”

So, when we wholeheartedly repent from the foolish way of false captivity, God will restore our destiny (Ps 85:1). 

Pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

“…You are the wrap-around God giving grace to me” (Ps 18:30). Thank You for loving me more than I know. I repent of all wrong captivity, and I forgive those who held me captive. I renounce all involvement in wrong captivity and close the door to darkness. I choose to receive Your liberty through Christ. I choose to wrap my heart tightly around the hope that lives within me, knowing that You always keep Your promises (He 10:23). Help me to continue to advance in strength with the truth wrapped around my heart as You carry out Your plans in my life (2 Ti 3:14). Thank You for holding me in Your grip of grace as You enable me to reign as a king in life, enjoying regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah” (Ro 5:17).

In His Holy Name, 

Amen.

And now, “I am contending for you that your hearts will be wrapped in the comfort of heaven and woven together into love’s fabric. This will give you access to all the riches of God as you experience the revelation of God’s great mystery—Christ” (Co 2:2).

Join me next week for Part 2 of Captivity to Freedom.

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