Daily Devotions

Archive for September, 2020

Don’t be Stubborn

Kathy — Don’t be stubborn when you are in a time of adversity, affliction or trouble, and you are feeling solitary, lonely, desolate and deserted, and you are feeling deprived of the aid and protection of others, or when you are feeling bereft. Bereft: “like a flock deserted by the shepherd or a woman neglected by her husband.” When you are in difficulties like these, don’t be stubborn. Don’t turn a deaf ear to God. Heb.3:7 —This is why the Holy Spirit says, “If only you would listen to his voice this day!”


God’s Mercies New Every Morning

Rather than trust God for courage to walk out one day at a time relying on Him for daily supply, the Israelites resigned themselves to sliding back into the old faithless rut (Ex.3:7). A lot of folks find it difficult to trust that God’s mercies are, indeed, “new every morning.” (Lam.3:22-23) We want a guarantee of comfort by having it all before we step out of the boat. Jesus said pray, “give us our daily bread.” (Matt.6:11)


As God Leads

Kathy — We can repent of putting preference above obedience and of failing to honor God’s set-in leaders, with all their warts and bruises. We can either pray for their imperfections or we can refuse to team up as God leads and then we can just march around Isolation Mountain again! The only thing more dangerous than giving into the temptation to undermine God’s spiritual authority is believing you could never do that! Rom.13:7, KJV – “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”


Present Facts

As the people of God assemble today they must beware of reaching a point where they are merely dwelling on just the present facts. “Such and such” circumstances/factors may be the present facts but they are not the conclusion of the matter. In the Bible, present facts and final conclusions always looked very different from one another. Phil.1:6 — “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”


Continue to Knock

Kathy — Continue to ask, seek and knock. With every knock there is progress. If our agenda becomes more important than obeying God and learning His ways, we get out of sync with God, with spiritual Leadership and with the Body of Christ. When we get out of sync, we are likely to usurp spiritual authority and get out of God’s blessing thereby giving the enemy a foothold in the Body of Christ. Rest in God’s TIMING. 1Sam.15:22 — “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.”


Fleeing in Seven Ways

The disciples confronted the storm on the lake but Jesus contradicted it with peace. When Jesus said to His disciples that He had been given all authority in heaven and on earth and then commissioned them to disciple nations, that was the announcement that believers had now become the embodiment of the Kingdom like He was. We have the same authority and power to contradict darkness. Deut.28:7 –“The Lord will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way, but flee before you seven ways.”


What Price Immediate Relief?

What are you willing to pay for immediate relief? Israel desired to return to slavery after being freed at their own request (Ex.3:7,9). The main concern was immediate relief. Esau was hungry, so he traded his birthright for immediate relief. We may find it necessary to deal with a rumbling stomach or uncomfortable surroundings for a period of time to get to promise. Ex.3:7-9, Amp – “The Lord said, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their pain and suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand (power) of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land [that is] good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]—to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.”


TIMING

Kathy — Since God in His wisdom is never just developing a ministry, He is more importantly processing the character of His children. TIMING is both about answering prayer building relationship character in the Pray-er. TIMING is about God intricately working and making progress in people circumstances to manifest His answer. Therefore we dare not become weary in well doing fail to ask, seek knock.Gal.6:9, TPT — “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!”


Too Wise to Act Irrationally

Some hyper-zealous folks would have us believe that the reason we don’t have more “thanks” to give is because we just don’t have enough faith… like… they do. Let us remember that though we don’t get everything we think we should when we pray, God is too wise to act irrationally and too compassionate to be cruel. Great is His faithfulness Lam.3:22-24 — “It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. 24 ‘The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,’ says my soul; ‘Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.’”


Substandard or Premium

Melissa — Look at this, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) The first half of this verse is substandard and the second half is premium. I am always drawn to that word “might” in this passage. That tells me abundant life is not a guarantee.  It’s not a guarantee to those that are asleep because their life is ruled by substandard, unclean fear.  If we don’t wake up we can’t operate in the abundance.


True Grit

As the people of God assemble today may they be infused with true grit and be inspired to be willing to go the distance many others are not; be willing to face what many others are not; be willing to resist what many others are not; be willing to do what many others are not. May each one be infused with determination for the King and His Kingdom that is born of higher stuff than mere stubbornness. Rom.12:11-12, TPT — “Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him. 12 Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.”


No Weapon Formed

Melissa — While thinking about recent events I had to deal with, the scripture Isaiah 54:17 “no weapon formed against you will prosper” came up again. This time, however, I saw it differently. I think a lot of times this is used as a defensive scripture when really it is an offensive scripture. God equips us for the weapon BEFORE, not after, it is formed against us. The reason the weapon doesn’t prosper is because He already set countermeasures in place prior to its launch. He already equipped you with everything necessary to walk out of this battle in tact. That, my friends, is an offensive scripture loaded for battle!


Deception of Isolation

Kathy — The deception of isolation keeps intercessors from relating to or edifying others.The design of isolation is to counterfeit INTIMACY. The danger of isolation is that wrong motivations thrive like hothouse plants; so, some end up “Old Eccentrics” instead of “Awesome Intercessors. ” Having prayer partners is not just a good idea, it is wisdom for the refining and strengthening process of maturing intercession. Eccl.4:12, Msg — “By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”


Regional Prayer

Marty, Kathy and Melissa will be ministering at Abundant Life in Carthage,TX with Pastor Betty Wills on Sunday 9-20-20 at 10:00am. Also, at 5:00pm there will be a regional meeting of intercessors and prophets at Abundant Life.


Adjusting to Promise

After following Moses out and being freed from such a prolonged miserable ordeal, Israel was willing to return to their former situation because they had now come up against unconventional circumstances. They resisted adjusting to the freedoms and responsibilities of promise. It takes courage to sail beyond the familiar harbor in order to possess and share the riches beyond the next horizon. Lk.15:17-18, Amp — “But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.”


Relationship Rather Than Recluse

Kathy — Satan desires to isolate and separate intercessors to intimidate them. Relationship defines but isolation blurs identity and allows weaknesses to remain unconfronted. Isolation can make the intercessor introspective, constantly dealing with self and be baited into agreement and develop a sense of unworthiness which can override our believer’s authority in Christ and defeat the intercessor’s call to prayer. Prov.18:1, TPT — “An unfriendly person isolates himself and seems to care only about his own issues. For his contempt of sound judgment makes him a recluse.”


God was Just Wondering

Of all the things God could possibly wonder about, the Bible tells us He was wondering where His interceding people were. Isa. 59:16—“And He saw that there was no man and wondered…” (“wondered” 8074  shamem- to be desolate, to be appalled, to stun, to stupefy; to be deflowered, to be deserted, to be appalled, causing horror [Brown-Driver-Briggs]). Could it actually be that this God who loved Israel so much felt “deserted” or that the Arbiter of the universe was actually “stunned” or maybe even “stupefied” that people who knew His precepts and had heard His voice so clearly through His prophets could possibly leave His beloved Israel uncovered from lack of prayer? While we have a great host of people who want to speak for God and prophesy (some eagerly volunteering to prophesy judgment and doom), where are those falling on their face and interceding? 1Tim 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, FIRST OF ALL, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” (KJV).


Retained by Faith

Kathy — Experiences that reach beyond the natural can only be retained by faith. Have you received a powerful prophetic word that you were confident would change your life, but the sameness of your days drained that confidence until you could not even remember the word? We can write off the whole experience in the name of “normalcy and the real world” or we can allow the experience to bring insight and change. Ps.119:105, TPT — “Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of Your Word makes my pathway clear.”


Shadow and Light

As the people of God assemble today may they be encouraged that He Who is the Truth is bringing the light of truth to bear upon the false, the lies, the attempts at misdirection in both sight and sound in what is reported and purported as facts in national news. May the people of God know that He is nudging workers of darkness out of their shadows and truth will be coming forth in coming months that will cause works of unrighteousness to point back at their perpetrators so that justice may be served and those who have been recipients of injustice may be avenged. Job 34:2-23, Msg — ““He has his eyes on every man and woman. He doesn’t miss a trick. There is no night dark enough, no shadow deep enough, to hide those who do evil. God doesn’t need to gather any more evidence; their sin is an open-and-shut case.”


Entangled in the Present

Pharaoh said, “Israel is entangled in the wilderness” (Ex.14:3) and used it as an excuse to attack. “Entangled” means: involved. They were so worried with rocks, washouts, bushes and their present circumstances that they began to forget about the freedom on the other side of the wilderness. Defeats will linger in our lives as long as we take no measure to change and are willing to live with them (remain entangled). Gal.5:13, Amp — “For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.”


Strategic Dream

Kathy — A friend called with a strategic dream that was an answer to her prayer. She has been in a on-going trial at work and is weary of the situation. She asked God if she could leave the situation. In her dream she was a nurse in an emergency room and she was tending to three patients. A doctor walked in and she was relieved to see him because she knew he was a trustworthy doctor. He told her to go get something and she was walking quickly down a long hall. A door opened in the hall and a lady walked out. In the dream she realized it was angel. The angel beckoned her to come with her. But she knew the care for the three patients must be finished first, so she asked the angel if she could check with her tomorrow. The angel answered yes and walked back through a door which disappeared as it closed.
The trustworthy doctor was the Great Physician coming on the scene to intervene. That is why she knew Him and was so glad to see Him. Often, as in this case, a hall represents transition or moving from one place to another, one opportunity to another. She was encouraged to realize that He had given her instructions to enter a transition time, and allowed her to glimpse a new door, an opportunity divinely provided. Her sense of integrity kept her there to finish with the three patients. The three patients symbolized the three years of trial of her “patience” with her co-worker. She actually passed a test of character when she chose not to go through the door and to stay until finished because “three” also is significant of completing a divine process and purpose. And as the angel said, there will be another divine opportunity when the time is right.—Kathy (Kathy Gabler will be speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2017 – September 22-24 at Grace Int. Church just north of Houston. 936-856-2455)


DVP 2020

Gathering together to hear God for our Families
our Nation and our Future.

Grace Church Willis, just north of Houston off I-45N.
CLICK HERE to see all information for DVP2020.


Angelic Company

Melissa — In days to come we will realize we have massive amounts of help from a God-created angelic company.  It’s time to be aware that God has created an angelic army doing His will on this earth right now.  It’s time we realized we are intended to network with them because they know our destiny and it is their job to help us get there.  Just like Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6, it is time for our eyes to be opened to this partnership God intended.  By the end of 2020 we will look back in amazement at what He has done and where we are. So, go ahead and ANTICIPATE the inevitable, supernatural intervention of God! (MELISSA will be leading us in a Worship Encounter and speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY <> September 11-13, 2020.)
CLICK HERE for all DVP2020 information.


Angels Sent to Intervene

My niece dreamed that she was in her kitchen sautéing some onions.  Her dad, who had passed away the previous year, stood in the doorway of her kitchen.  Scrunching his nose at the strong odor he asked her, “What is that smell?”  She answered that it was just onions frying.  He shook his head and said, “No, that smells like gas.”  As soon as he said the word “gas,” she awoke and sat up in bed.  Immediately she smelled the gas.  Running to the kitchen she found a burner which had not been completely shut off.  The gas fumes had slowly been filling the house since supper earlier that evening.  

Her Heavenly Father sent special forces to her rescue.  Like a Navy Seal Special Ops, the dream was a timely intervention behind the scenes to stop an explosive attack before it reached success.  Who but God could dispatch the exact messenger who would represent the authority and particular skills needed to bring her to a wake up call. The messenger was in her earthly father’s likeness not only to represent trustworthy and sound counsel, but her earthly father had also been a fire chief for years!  

The angels on assignment came in her dream to bring an un-carnal weapon for her victory.  Many people have had similar dreams and experiences and I’m sure some have experienced angelic intervention without realizing it.  I believe we can expect even more reports of God sending angels from His arsenal to intervene in the affairs of men in days ahead.

(This is an excerpt from Chapter One of Kathy’s book “The Heart of Dreams” ** KATHY is speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2020  Sept.11-13)
CLICK HERE for all information about DVP2020.