Daily Devotions

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Diligence or Trust?

Melissa — Some of us have confused trust with diligence.  By “diligence” I mean we handle, fixate on, and stay worried about a problem until it’s fixed.  That is nowhere in the definition of trust.  It’s not only the opposite of trust, but it is seething with dysfunction and disease.  A lack of trust is one of our worst enemies.  We might be blaming things on the devil that are really a lack of trust in our own lives.  I’m sure the devil doesn’t mind when we blame him for such things because it makes his job easier.

Which Aggressor?

In Lk 10:18 satan is thrown down from heaven. Demons quake in fear in Mk 1:24 and beg to be left alone when confronted by Jesus. It is contrary to the theme of the Kingdom of God in the experience of Jesus and his disciples as actually experiencing violence at the hands of spirits. God is the Aggressor and evil is on the retreat. I think that maybe we should keep all this in mind as we go to intercession and declarations over our families, churches and nation.

Father’s Plan not Voided

Kathy Gabler — Having  a damaged self-image, a shattered self-worth or a failed self-government, does not void our Father’s love or intent, nor His good plans for us!  If we learn to think in our hearts like that, that truth will free us up to walk in destiny and keep us from giving up before we become all God had in mind that we were born to be.  Father, may my life glorify you to the fullest extent.  Let me see me as You see me.  Cause me to value as You value.  Grace me to live honoring Your boundaries for my life.  May I live in the truth and may it be not only my freedom, but also my legacy.

Trust

Melissa — As of late my meditation topic has been Trust.  You know: “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.” It should be a natural byproduct of being a believer. I thought so until God asked me if I trusted Him.  Of course… wait, do I?! That’s an answer I thought was sure at this point in my life.  The amazing thing is in that moment, trust made sense for the first time.  All of a sudden there was a relief in my core that I’m not sure I have ever felt.  Without Him saying a word, there was an understanding that actually trusting God meant to actually let go of needing to know the process of getting to an answer. 

(An excerpt from one of Melissa’s messages at a past DVP ; MELISSA will be leading us in a Worship Encounter and speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY <> September 10-12, 2021.) All information for DVP2021 is at martygabler.com/dvp/.)

Run the Race Worth Running

As the people of God assemble today let us pray that, in coming days, they shun the distractions of culture and the lies of the evil one and “strip off every unnecessary weight and those sins that easily and cleverly entangle us, so that we can persistently run the race” that is worth running. The great cloud of witnesses surround us and our Great Intercessor is at the right hand of God on high praying for our victory! (Heb.12:11)

Conflict and Defeat

On the subject of conflict, it is the Kingdom of God which attacks the kingdom of satan. Whenever Jesus speaks of the conflict with satan and his demons, it is always in terms of their defeat. In Matt. 12:29 the strong man who is guarding his house is overcome by Someone who is stronger.
(Marty will be leading, speaking, prophesying at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2021. There is no charge to attend. DVP2021 will be held September 10-12 at Grace Church Willis,TX. All information for DVP2021 may be found at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2021.

What Gets Bigger Than God?

Kathy — Consider David. His self-government completely crashed as he committed big time sin that had big time consequences. Most people would have crawled in a hole to eat worms and die (especially after a big prophet exposed it all), but David took personal responsibility and owned his mess.  That positioned him to repent (2Sam.12:13). He didn’t act like Adam and try to hide after he sinned.  Neither did he spend the rest of his life cowering as unworthy or continually seeking reassurance that God still accepted him.  No, in fact, after he repented, he begged God to change His plan and spare the child born out of adultery.  Who would have the nerve to ask God for mercy at this point?  Even after his self-image took a big hit publicly, David didn’t allow condemnation to seep in the cracks.  It wasn’t that he was a simple-minded optimist, nor was he thinking in terms of deserving this, he  was  simply convinced God loved him.  None of David’s mess-ups ever got bigger to him than God.  He remained “a man after God’s own heart,” who continued to see himself as a son just like God did. That’s relationship.  That’s a strong family bond and some awesome sonship!
(Kathy will be speaking at Dreams Visions Prophecy – Sept.10-12 – Grace Church Willis)

When a Nugget Pops up

Melissa Gabler — Have you ever had times when a revelatory nugget pops up, then within days you hear the same nugget from other sources? That’s been happening as of late and I’m learning to pay attention to those! Following is one such instance that has been not only ringing in my ear, but answering some of those seemingly unanswerable questions.
While in conversation this was quoted to me from a book, “God hides some things for specific times so that the enemy cannot destroy them.” That stuck with me, and a couple of days later I read a quote from someone else that was expressing the exact same thought! Well, that really hit me between the eyes, especially because these came from trusted sources. It was an “Are you listening?” moment.
I began meditating on God hiding something for a specific time, and it felt like this statement began filling cracks in my understanding. If God cloaks something for a time, it is not only to hide it from the devil and his destructive minions, but it is also to hide it from our own self-sabotage. Yes, the devil and self-sabotage are two different things. However, the devil LOVES stoking the flames of self-sabotage! All we have to do is let our fears and concerns fall out of our mouths like kindling for the enemy’s threatening bonfire. So many times we make the devil’s job so easy.

Unembracing Personal Experience

Like Jesus, a Kingdom mentality puts us (1) where we are supposed to be, (2) knowing who we are, (3) what authority we have and (4) what we are supposed to be doing. Jesus did not allow evil to determine or alter His plans or actions. For some, being delivered from evil will be as simple as unembracing personal experience and embracing what God says you can be and what you can do. Jn.18:37

Into New Norms

kg-brenham-1-31-21bKathy – I have sensed for several months that the Body of Christ is in an important time of transition into new norms.  One of the new norms I believe we can expect is strategic dreams that equip us for the purposes of God.  I consider strategic dreams to be those timely telegrams that confirm direction or give instruction or release insight and understanding for a mandate and call to action.   (Kathy will be speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY CONFERENCE 2021.  All info is at martygabler.com/dvp/)