Daily Devotions

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We Are Not Alone

KATHY GABLER–The truth is we are not alone, nor are we powerless.  In 2Chronicles 20, God’s people did not know what to do, so they looked to the Lord, (vs.12).  Then in verse 14:  Then the Spirit of the Lord in their midst came upon Jahaziel and He said not to fear nor be terrified of the face of this huge enemy. It is God’s war. Go after them but you won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand and watch GOD’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly for GOD is with you.  Then they knelt down bowing their faces to the ground worshiping GOD.  Some stood to their feet to praise GOD, and they praised at the top of their lungs! As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Believe firmly in GOD, your God, and your lives will be firm! Believe in your prophets and you’ll come out on top!” .

October is for Putting Things Behind Us

Marty—October is for putting things behind us. Just like we are in the tenth month of the year and the winter of this year is already behind us and the spring of this year is already behind us and the summer of this year is already behind us, we are putting disappointments, failures and lost opportunities behind us. We are not going to continue looking back at the past but turn around and face the future with its possibilities and its hopes.  Isaiah 43:18-19,GW—Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago.  19   I am going to do something new.  It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.”   Isa.14:27—“The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?”   Isa.46:10—“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Don’t Lean on Your Own Understanding

MELISSA GABLER–Continuing on thoughts from Prov.3, we are about to be exposed to things we don’t have a reference for. So it’s time to prepare, and here are ways to do that: 1) Prov. 3:5-8 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. *It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” This is the antidote to rationalism which is based in our own understanding. Take note that not leaning on our own understanding and wisdom brings health (see v. 8 above)! Get in the word and trust the Holy Spirit to reveal what you need to know.
2) Isaiah 11:1-2 is about Jesus and what He operated in. We need to operate in these like Jesus did, so ask for these daily: Spirit of the sovereign Lord, wisdom, knowledge, counsel, might, understanding and the fear of the Lord.
3) Have a handful of go-to Scriptures on hand if you don’t already. These may shift with the season you’re in.

4) Be aware of doubt, unbelief, skepticism and rationalism in your life. Catch it and counter it with truth in the word as the Holy Spirit leads.
5) Watch out for materialism and self-focus.  They are bait to draw you into a fruitless and dark place.
6) Pay attention to your entertainment choices. There is a lot of evil infiltrating the airwaves, and what we allow to entertain us is what we are giving access to our lives and household.
7) Consider fasting … more.
8) Take time to worship. Get past the song, and worship the One Who is worthy!
9) Watch your confession.  What is coming out of your mouth? Is it life or agreement with death?
10) Lastly, Pray. In. Tongues.

Solitary and Lonely

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!”

Filled With the Knowledge of Him

Marty—As the people of God assemble today may they be filled with the knowledge of Him who is moving by His hand in the affairs of men. May they be encouraged and filled with faith that their Mighty God is actively moving people into situations that are advantageous for acts of righteousness to penetrate into the cultures of all nations. And may they realize their praying is significant and integral to it all.      “. . .and you will learn that the High God rules over human kingdoms and that He arranges all kingdom affairs.” (Dan.4:25, Msg)

I SEE THAT!

Marty Gabler—I see that! When we hear something or read something and say “I see that” are we “seeing” only in the sense of ocular recognition or mental consent or are we seeing in the sense of perception for the purpose of application? Are we simply stating that we can see a true fact or does it actually mean that we can see the value of that truth for our lives and are willing to act on it?  Prov.1:1-2 (21st CKJV) ”The [purpose of the] proverbs [is] 2 to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.”  May we perceive God’s truth, embrace it and act on it. We are praying you discover daily that you are seeing and embracing God’s truths that lead to abundant life. 

A Vision of God Massaging a Heart

MELISSA—In one part of a vision God gave me (posted 9-23-22) I saw God’s hand began to massage a heart. In another part I saw 2 rows of white Roman columns as far as the eye could see. The columns I saw in the vision represented the church as we’ve known it, and this scene was looking to the West where the sun sets. The sun is setting on old traditional structures of the church. After the columns fell I began to hear a heartbeat.  It got so loud that the earth shook.  I looked back at the hole where the heart transplant was taking place, and with every beat of this new heart horrible black creatures began frantically crawling out of the hole.  Every beat drove more hordes out only for them to disintegrate as they tried to run.  A white light began filling the space that was once full of black slime and I heard “Ruach”.  Ruach means: spirit, wind, breathe (ex. Isaiah 11:2) and it was filling the pitch-black core of this nation. Once more I looked back toward the West where the columns had fallen and they were no longer there. In their place was lush greenery that was growing and I heard, Isa. 43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Bad Words-Bad Atmosphere

KATHY GABLER—Do we set a bad atmosphere with our thoughts or emotions or words, or does the atmosphere hunt us down to dictate our thoughts or emotions or words?  I believe the answer is both.  We certainly have the ability to create an atmosphere for ourselves and everyone around us.  One person’s impatience in a waiting room can have everyone tense and walking on eggshells in a matter of seconds.  One person’s panic can clear a room.  Our expectations, meditations, fears or our mouthing against self can fill the air until it is lethal.  However, not only people are able to condition an atmosphere.  The devil is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph.2:2) for a reason.  He is skilled at blowing in a foul wind to influence people and situations.  The Old Testament word “ruach” is translated “spirit” most often, but it means “wind” or “breath”.  In the New Testament, the same word is “pneuma”.  A spirit or wind can carry a contradiction to the will of God into an atmosphere by blowing in a lie or fear or threat or opinion or accusation, etc.   The air becomes its infected storage place so that it can affect and influence thoughts and feelings when it finds an advantage, an open window.   Just as we breathe in air unconsciously, we can also come under the influence of what’s in the air  unconsciously.   It can become an influence over our emotions and thoughts and decisions. Prov.12:18,TPT—Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt. But the words of the wise soothe and heal.”

An Open Door Worth Pressing Through

Marty—There is a door open before us and we are called to press through. 1Corinthians 16:9-10 “There is a wide-open door for a great work…”  There is something worth pressing through to on the other side. It is a day-by-day pressing. The matter of walking with the Lord and trusting the Lord is day in and day out (Deut.5:33). We are pressing and shall press through because the pressing is leading to another level, to things in God and God’s Kingdom agenda that we have never seen or experienced.

Things we Don’t Have a Reference For

Melissa Gabler—We have been living in a very toxic bubble here in America. By toxic I mean everything we’ve already talked about and more, but that toxic bubble has popped and we are about to be exposed to things we don’t have a reference for. So it’s time to prepare, and here are ways to do that: 1) Prov. 3:5-8 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. *It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” This is the antidote to rationalism which is based in our own understanding. Take note that not leaning on our own understanding and wisdom brings health (see v. 8 above)! Get in the word and trust the Holy Spirit to reveal what you need to know.