Daily Devotions

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Unresolved Anger Undermines Joy

KATHY—Unresolved anger can become a driving force, a passion, an energy that can seem good and productive, while it undermines like termites until the core of character, integrity, hope and joy of life is eaten away.  Unresolved anger can become depression, fear, sickness and even a pattern of failure.  I know a young lady whose anger at criticism and injustice as a child kept her grieving.  She became a prisoner of her focus.  Because she could not take her eyes off of her victimization, she remained a victim, actually positioning herself for more criticism and injustice.  Resolving her anger was the release from the pattern.

Peace That you are Redeemed

Your Home #18 – May you carry in you the deep peace and knowledge that you are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and may everyone in your home be saved and have that same peace.  “They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.” (Acts 16:31, CEV)

Don’t Stay on the Defense

MELISSA—The initial hit from the enemy might require you to go on the defense, but you never stay there.  I will explain this in a tactical way.  I took self-defense classes for a number of years. One of my instructors recently said, “We teach you to defend yourself one time.  We will never teach you to stay in a defensive position.  You must counter, control, and finish the fight.”  Well, my goodness.  What strategy!  After you defend yourself one time from your enemy’s attack you then strike back with the weapons and skill God has given you. You can’t stay just in the defensive position. You propel forward because He already set up your counter measures and you are well armed and able!  What are your counter measures?  Number one: Scripture. Number two: your Holy Spirit-breathed prophetic words.  Other than that, whatever God has personally set up for you.  Ask Him to show you and open your eyes to see!  Don’t get bogged down in the fear of it. Look for His provision because it is already there. Isaiah 54:17 — “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” is not an afterthought.  It is solid forethought!

When Self-Image Takes a Hit

Kathy — When our self-image takes a hit, it is tempting to feel so fragmented that we stop functioning.  If we do, then condemnation seeps in and tries to “kill” our relationship with our Father and tries to “steal” our sense of worth and tries to destroy our self-government.  Condemnation is one of the most lethal weapons the devil uses because it carries a mixture of truth and lie that is particularly toxic.  Condemnation’s first punch is usually true, like “You know you messed up. You’re guilty.”   However, it’s second punch is a poisonous lie like, “There is no way out, no healing for a messed up self-image.  There is no way to redeem value that was lost and no restoration of broken boundaries.”  Those lies should make you want to spit, grab hold of the truth of who you are in Christ and march straight at the enemy with intent to overcome.
(This is an excerpt from Kathy’s article “Seeing Us The Way God Sees Us“ which was published in SEEC Magazine [Marty and Kathy’s ministry magazine]. Marty & Kathy Gabler invite you to read their articles in the latest issue of SEEC Magazine.
CLICK HERE to read SEEC Magazine

Dissipating Changlessness

As the people of God assemble today may all impression and/or delusion of sameness and changelessness dissipate like a mist in the face of the truths and reality of the Word of God—that Word which changes not but changes people and circumstances.
“I want a walk in the country, I want a cabin in the woods.  I’m desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.” (Ps.55:8, Msg)

The Hand of the Lord Moving

May we see the hand of the Lord moving everywhere we look today. May we see His possibilities. May we consider the supremacy and viability of His Word in each situation and declare that supremacy and viability.

What does the Kingdom on Earth Look Like?

MELISSA—I heard this question asked recently, “What does the Kingdom of God manifest on earth look like?” The answer: YOU doing your part. Hey, the Kingdom is advancing without an end in sight. We can either watch it pass by, or we can jump in the middle of the motion.

Getting out of Bounds on a Shortcut

KATHY–The third thing the devil did was offer Jesus a way to get what He came after by getting out of bounds on a shortcut.  Satan offered to not oppose Him and give Him the kingdoms of this world (Rev. 11:15).  Jesus knew the kingdoms of the world were to be His, but He knew better than to worship Satan to get them.  Jesus was a mature son of strong character, and He was so intent upon obedience and self-government, that He couldn’t be tempted by success any other way.  Adam and Eve did fall for the temptation to get out of bounds and reach beyond the will of God.  Then, evidently, they did not truly repent because they passed on the “thinking of their heart” to the next generation.  Cain reached outside God’s boundaries with a sacrifice that wasn’t acceptable.  Then his self-worth plummeted and his self-government completely toppled when he murdered his brother.

Just as You Sent Me

In the Gospel of John17:18 Jesus was praying. He said, Holy Father, I am sending forth my disciples as You sent me, just as You sent me. You remember what Jesus did in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Everywhere He went, people were changed. Their circumstances were changed. Their lives were changed. People who were dying started living. People who were lame and crippled were suddenly made whole. People who were blind could see. People who were demonized and cutting their flesh and treating their bodies cruelly were suddenly at peace enjoying righteousness, peace and joy. Jesus prayed, “Father, as you sent Me, so send I my disciples—Just as you sent Me”.

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!