Daily Devotions

Latest

FEAR CAUSES US TO LOSE FOCUS

The hand of God is moving. Recently, as I was praying about all the predictions, estimations and concerns coming in over the internet I had a vision of a hand moving and very active. It was moving people from one location to another. It was moving money and buildings and equipment here and there. As I watched this busy hand I realized that a veil was beginning to form between the busy hand and myself. Finally I could not see anything the hand was doing. The Lord spoke to my heart that the reason so many of His people are losing heart is because their fears and despair have formed a curtain between them and what His hand is doing. His hand is still moving and working but some can’t see it because of what they have allowed in the forefront of their thoughts and considerations.

Abundant Life and Shocking Moments

MELISSA—Awakening is two sided: God’s glory manifesting and evil being exposed and annihilated. While each of us walk in discovery of abundant life, we also should expect some shocking moments ahead. For there is evil to be confronted and it won’t simply be exposed and then just left alone. No, it has to be dealt with by the Awakened.  The term “shock and awe” comes to mind. This revitalization that is happening to us is arming us with weapons and authority that, I dare say, we’ve never walked in.  We have been progressing through levels of awakening for a while now, but it’s about to get real in each of us, maybe for the first time.  

When the Adam Bomb Went Off

KATHY–Any genuine God-awakening will generate relationship because God’s plan from the very beginning in the garden was first and foremost, relationship.  He fully intended then and still intends for us to be His Sons and Daughters.  Our Father in heaven created Adam in His image, as an offspring carries the likeness of their father. God then met with Adam daily as a son in training.  That’s relationship.  Adam was getting to know his Father’s heart so that he could steward earth according to His Father’s design and desire, and all was going well until the “Adam-bomb”.  What the Adam-bomb damaged above all else was relationship.  Of course then, the Good News is that Jesus, the last Adam, came to be the Way, the Truth and the Life to restore relationship (Jn.14:6).  A God awakening draws people into relationship with the Father as it restores identity and position and purpose and a future legacy.  That restoration ripples into a family, a community, a business and beyond. That’s how God-awakenings ignite revival.  We’re not talking the impossible dream but rather the plan of God.  And if God’s plan seems absolutely impossible and unreachable in the present darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places of our nation and world, then consider that as evidence that we are at the point of an Awakening!

Hearing Ear and Seeing Eye

As the people of God assemble today may they truly worship the awesome Almighty God Who has made their eyes to see and their ears to hear. May they receive clearing of the eyes and opened ears to see and hear what the Lord God is doing in this time when so many are fearful and discouraged. May they take bold steps forward while trusting in Him Who never leaves nor forsakes His own. Prov.20::12,Amp–“The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the Lord has made both of them.”

Sons, Daughters and Stewardship

Taking time and effort to assess what is being thrust upon our eyes and ears as information to act upon, because of what is perceived to be happening in the present and looming in the near future is part of our stewardship as sons and daughters of faithful Father God. It is time to come to balance and one of the best ways to do that is to realize who God is in this hour. His throne is not and cannot be shaken. His plan has not changed nor has He throttled back on His purposes in this earth. There are no oil spills on the carpet around His throne (as tell-tale signs of disasters) and there are no fault lines running through the floor. Eph.13:8-9a—“Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace…”

A Brand New Timeline

MELISSA–Over the last couple of days I have realized how much my thinking is changing.  You know that life timeline running in your subconscious? The one where, you don’t even realize, you have presupposed thoughts of how your life may go? Well, just the other day I came to the realization that mine has a ton of influence from the aforementioned agendized societal norms. This timeline has been so governed by what we’ve seen instead of what is coming.  All of a sudden I saw a clean whiteboard and knew that meant that my timeline is brand new! I’m not limited to the expectations of a life built while I was asleep at the wheel! I am now free to live in His abundance which means being a living expression of His Kingdom on this earth. This is such revitalizing news! THIS – IS – AWAKENING, and it’s for all of us. 

Witnessing the Manifestation of the Kingdom

KATHY–Mary’s experience in the first chapter of Luke is a vivid example of awakening. The angel Gabriel came from standing in the presence of God to make Mary aware of God’s plan.  As a Jewish girl, Mary had heard that God would send the Messiah to earth, but when Gabriel explained she was part of that plan, he turned a light on for her to a never-before-in-history, unique awareness!  And she responded to Gabriel’s declaration and revelation with,  “Be it unto me according to your word.”  With that response Mary stepped into a life-changing awakening, a world-changing awakening.  In fact, it was the beginning of the Greatest Awakening in history and one that has never stopped rippling through history.  Neither did it ever stop rippling through Mary’s life.  Her awakening ushered her into the Kingdom of God as she watched her son grow and heard Him teach about God and His Kingdom.  She saw Jesus operating in Kingdom authority by ruling over nature when He spoke to the storm and when He walked on water.  She saw Him take dominion over evil spirits and sickness and even death.  In real time, Mary witnessed the Kingdom of God manifesting in the earth.  Simultaneously, there was an awakening going on inside Mary that connected her to her identity, her purpose and her position in destiny and established her as chosen and affirmed by her Father God.  Awakening brought her into a Father/Daughter relationship.

WEIGH AND JUDGE

We are in a time when there is a great need to weigh matters and judge words rather than just taking everything that we hear and zealously trying to get it to fit into our theology and our eschatology. There are even some folks who are willing to adjust their theology to get it to fit words coming from voices that are continually predicting near events even though many of them have not come to pass. Some of those people and their words are finding acceptance because of what seems to be widespread fear and despair. If someone is in fear or suspicion, they can find a word that will accommodate it. (Let’s start a new fad: Let’s all go to the Word of God to interpret the Word of God instead of going to the news!)

Embracing Norms

MELISSA–My eyes are being opened to how far below par we have been living when God’s intention all along has been for us to reside above par. This awakening is exposing agendas that have been built to lull us and control us.  These agendas use normal everyday things we allow in our lives because it’s a “norm” in society.  There are things like pop culture, entertainment, news and standards that we call wisdom when in reality it’s man’s wisdom.  Side note: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of [true] wisdom where man’s wisdom comes from fearing everything else.  One fear leads to life abundantly and the other leads to an early grave. I have been guilty of living a life embracing man’s wisdom and society’s norms and I’ve noticed a whole lot of ineffectualness.  We have been progressing through levels of awakening for a while now, but it’s about to get real in each of us, maybe for the first time. 

Awareness and Response

KATHY—When I mention Kingdom in this article, I am speaking of God’s rule or government, power, authority and order. I am referring to the rule of Almighty God that is eternal, ever-present and everlasting and that will always express His original intent and purpose. The term “awakening” includes two parts, awareness and response. Just as we really don’t know we are asleep until we wake up, neither do we realize we are unaware of something until we become aware of it. So awareness is the first step toward awakening.  Just as you can be aware it’s time to get up and go to work but doze off again, a genuine awakening doesn’t happen until you get up and go to work. So the second part of awakening is response or participation or follow-up on your awareness. An awakening of any kind involves both awareness and response.