Daily Devotions

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Stretching our Curtains

As the people of God assemble today, may the Presence of the Holy Spirit working with the Word enable us to “stretch our curtains and lengthen our tent cords” so that we will “break forth” and our “offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.” (Isa.54:1-4)

Approaching the Halfway Mark

MARTY–We are approaching the halfway mark of 2024 after many of us committed ourselves to a course with more effective focus for a new year. Some are finding that starting on course is a great deal easier than staying the course. The admirable intentions we begin with may fall prey to the wily snares of unexpected interruptions, discouragement, self-pity and life obligations. Starting on course and staying the course may prove to be very costly. But the loss of that which would never be gained is inestimable.   Phil.3:13,TPT—I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this;  however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. 14 I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.

Be Prepared for the Onslaught

MELISSA—When the Lord said to pray we be prepared for the onslaught we did, and then His instruction came to hold. What this instruction has shown me is “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’  says the Lord of Hosts.” (Zech. 4:6) This cannot be handled or fixed by our might or power. We are at the place where all of our self-help, strength, reasoning and logic have absolutely no power against this onslaught. What we are experiencing is what has been fueling the problems in lives and society and it has been hidden behind the scenes until now. This is a spiritual war and this is only the beginning. 

Sometimes Symbolic, Sometimes Literal

KATHY—When Father God does get our attention and communicates, we can be confident that He wants us to pursue full understanding.  The process I described of coming to see clearly concerning the number 1111, is just one example of how to search until you get to clarity.  I honestly expected that particular search to lead to a symbolic insight, yet it turned out to be a literal number of a chapter and verse.  Then that literal number became a symbol of encouragement for me, (and it still is every time I see it).  I’m emphasizing the difference between thinking literally and symbolically because one of the biggest reasons we misunderstand communications in dreams or visions is that we think details are literal when they are symbolic, or visa-versa.  That kind of  misunderstanding can then leave us totally confused and missing the point.

Run to the Rock

This is the day the Lord has made so…   I will rejoice and run to the Rock in it.
Ps.18:2,Amp—“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.”

From the Midst of the Onslaught

MELISSA—I’m not writing this from that place on the other side of a battle looking back over it. I’m writing from the midst of the onslaught. Also, I am not writing this from a place of despair!  The Lord does not give us insight like this to warn us to get ready to be beaten up and hope we can hold on to make it out alive. He gives us this kind of insight because He is doing something in the middle of it. There is something major shifting. An onslaught such as this proves something major is shifting! An enemy does not attack when it has you subdued and controlled. An enemy attacks when it’s control is being overturned. That is exactly where we are.

The Holy Spirit is Unlimited

KATHY—The Holy Spirit has unlimited ways to communicate with us when He is transferring God-glimpses or God-insights. For example, a couple of years ago, I kept seeing the number 1111.  It got my attention so frequently that I could not help but wonder why.  For months I noticed it everywhere, on TV, billboards, addresses, digital clocks, in a dream, on a license plate, etc.  So I pursued an understanding of its significance.  At first, I considered that it might be a time or date, but that never jelled.  I asked the Lord for wisdom.  His wisdom is defined in Strong’s Concordance as sage advice, the act of interpreting dreams and the ability to discover the meaning of a mysterious number or vision. In answer to my request, a thought I’d not had came to me and sent me on a search of the eleventh chapter of every book of the Bible, and I found the answer in Luke 11:11, “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?” Suddenly I understood the Lord was letting me know that particular scripture was a telegram for me.  He was reminding me that He is my Father and He knows my heart’s desire and petitions.  Beyond that He was letting me know that He will answer my long-term petitions and His answers will not be a disappointment!  So that 11:11 was an awesome communication from my Father that lifted my head and heart.

Fruitful All Year

As the people of God assemble today, may they be infused with Holy Spirit power to be fruitful all the year ahead.  May vision and empowerment come to each one.  I pray that the fruit our Lord gives you and your church this year will be like the net the disciples had to call for help to draw in.  May there be such a bounty that the net would be near bursting with the catch. May your net be strong and hold.  “So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and[though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn.” (Jn.21:11, Amp)

That Certain Sound

If the trumpet not sound certain….  How will the coming generation know that it is possible to expect the victories of the Lord in their generation if the present generation sound woes and bemoan times gone past? “If the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?” (1Co.14:8)  But we will shout unto the Lord for the victories He is bringing upon us. In Josh.6 the victorious shout of the people causes insurmountable walls to tumble down. God turned the halting, struggling steps of four lepers into the sound of chariots, horses and a great army (2K. 7:6).  So the Syrians arose and fled (v.7) and left their tents, horses, donkeys and the whole camp of provisions.

HOLD

MELISSA—Recently on a Sunday morning I was getting ready for church and asked the Lord what I needed to pray over the service that day and I clearly heard, “Prepare us for the onslaught.” I instantly had a sense that there are challenges coming to those of us that have been in the church for a while, challenges that will try to knock us off of our foundation in Christ. I literally heard the question being asked, “Is what I have believed my whole life even true?” I shared this with those in my Pastor’s office before service. During worship Pastor asked me to share this and then he followed up with having the congregation take hands all across the room. He proceeded to say, “Hold. Hold. Hold,” and then he said,  “This is the stance we have to take in the days ahead.” This could not have been more accurate instruction. Within the following weeks lives began to erupt like a volcano. There was a moment in the midst of it all I was reminded of what I’d heard and realized I’d thought it was going to come from outside, but it started from the inside first. My Pastor’s words started ringing in my head, “HOLD.” This instruction brought peace and stability.