Daily Devotions

Latest

Storms and God-Ordained Days

Melissa — Even though the sky is clearing there may be a storm or two that pop up as we head into the God ordained days ahead. No worries though, the storms have to “be still” and bow to the intention of God Almighty. In prayer the other night I heard this after it came out of my mouth, “Your Kingdom is over this nation and you are releasing another increment upon us.” What if we are that increment?! What if we are the stealth measures He is putting in place to release a deeper increment of His Kingdom on this earth? Me thinks we are!  (Melissa will be leading worship and speaking at KINGDOM CONGRESS 2022 March 2-4. Church No.: 936-856-2455. All info: martygabler.com)

Hearts of Expectancy

As the people of God assemble today may His people have a sense of the more that is to come of His purposes and His outpourings. May the hope of receiving and participating fill their hearts with expectancy. “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary–we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Rom.5:5, Msg)

In This for the Long Haul

Isa.46:9, Msg — “Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—incomparable, irreplaceable— 10 From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, ‘I’M IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL, I’LL DO EXACTLY WHAT I SET OUT TO DO,’ 11 Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I’ve said it, and I’ll most certainly do it. I’ve planned it, so it’s as good as done. 12 “Now listen to me: You’re a hardheaded bunch and hard to help. 13 I’M READY TO HELP YOU RIGHT NOW. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn’t on hold. I’m putting salvation to work in Zion now, and glory in Israel.”

Soul-Conflicts

Kathy — Soul-conflicts cause ulcers rather than faith. An “ulcer of the soul” is inflammation like agitation, offense, irritation, anger, fear, etc. A wound of the soul is from our history or experience. Neither of those is the starting place for effectual prayer because “ulcers” and wounds can keep us from seeing from God’s perspective. A timely example is that it cripples our faith to pray for our nation if we think God will not interrupt hell’s assignments against our nation. Since 2021 is part of our watch, we can anticipate God’s intervention in our nation this year as we pray and neutralize contradictions that influence daily.

Truth and Relationship

Melissa — Truth and relationship with the Lord is about your meditations, thoughts, words, prayers. Are your thoughts and prayers abounding from His truth or the latest from Fox, CNN, Facebook, or Twitter? A safe and healthy place from which to operate your day is praying in tongues throughout. It’s the perfect prayer not swayed by national or family events. It’s the perfect prayer not swayed by the soul. In fact, don’t limit it to that. You may think you’re praying about what is concerning at the moment, but the Spirit prays what needs to be prayed at the moment whether it be for that particular situation or something completely different. Thank God that type of prayer cannot be touched by soulish fears and desires. That is exactly why it is perfect! God knew what He was doing when He gave us such a gift. Yes, I’d say it’s for today. My thought, the soul might say otherwise because it can’t control it. Ok, I’ll just leave that right there and wrap this up. It’s time to call on Him. It’s time to see great and mighty things. It’s time to be great and mighty things.

Threats, Predictions and Precautions

There are all manner of threats, predictions and precautions concerning present perils and the “need for wisdom” in future ministry considerations. While many are calling for such wisdom to be applied in this hour, somewhere a cry should also be going forth for some amount of determination (Eph.6:13-“stand firm”) to be applied. Where is it written that authority is given to events of certain times in history or to evil persons of those times to become the master decision-makers for all of us, especially those who were acknowledging and embracing a divine destiny before these threatening perils and persons started doing their destructive deeds? Job 5:12, Amp — “He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.” God will partner with His people who pray and declare His purposes in the nation and “He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.” (Job 5:12, Amplified)

Unique Participation

Kathy — According to the way you as an individual process and function, God knows how to make things clear to you. Then the way you participate in His Kingdom coming to earth will likely be unique, something that I nor anyone else but you would ever do. The Kingdom lifestyle, bottom line, is basic obedience that facilitates God’s will and influence and power and purpose coming into a life or a town or a situation or a church or a business or a family, etc. There is no way to list all the unexpected turns or varying ways that obedience may be walked out. We have a friend who took care of her household diligently for years. At the same time, she cared for many others with her gift of hospitality and ran her own business. I’m sure she did not foresee her part in the Kingdom of God on earth would also include raising and sowing into the lives of three small step-grandchildren even after she transitioned into widowhood. Her story is a vivid example of the unpredictable uniquenesses of living a Kingdom lifestyle and seeing the will of God done on earth as in heaven. There is literally nothing like it and nothing with more God-infused fulfillment. 

Mighty Things and Relationship

Melissa — It’s going to take loving the Truth (which is a Person—THE Person) to see great and mighty things for which an earth is groaning (Romans 8:17-19). It’s going to take some calling on that Person which requires relationship, not curbside pickup. And relationship takes time, time out of your day. This does not mean you have to set aside hours and hours every day. That is not a bad thing if that’s where you are currently, or a season you are headed into. Other than that, a relationship is all day everyday.

Limitless Jehovah God

As the people of God assemble today may they worship and trust in the limitless Jehovah God who is the God of heaven and of earth. May they hear of and speak of His unbounded power and authority to act in their behalf no matter what is seemingly solidifying to bring about their defeat. Jer.32:17—“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

Cornelius at the Door

Kathy — There are times Father positions us for a mandate with something as obvious as a Cornelius at the door. A man knocked on our door one Sunday afternoon. Marty answered the door and the man introduced himself as a retired policeman from San Antonio who had moved into our neighborhood a few years earlier. He told Marty he had heard that we were ministers and waited for confirmation. When Marty answered yes, he proceeded to lay out a plan he had. He said there were several elderly and sick people in our neighborhood that could not attend church. He was concerned that his friends needed teaching and prayer and ministry but explained that he was raised in a non-evangelical denomination and didn’t know anything about the Bible. He told Marty that he would like to gather some people in the pool pavilion if Marty would come and preach to them! This was nothing we had ever seen coming, but our participation was clear and doable.