Daily Devotions

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A Prison of Offense

KATHY–Blame and self-pity are big signals that anger is in residence.  BLAME builds a prison of offense and/or condemnation around you.  Forgiveness is the ONLY key to that prison.  We must watch for BLAME in our thinking and our conversations.  “Self-Pity” is a big signal that anger is unresolved:  “I was hurt,” usually justifies anger rather than resolves it.  Just like a person who justifies their actions has not repented of them, rehearsing the hurts is refusing to let go of offense.  It is blocking the CHANGE needed.  Being “hurt” is “tails” and “BLAME”  is “heads” of the same coin.  We can start with “heads” and describe the action of the offender; or cut to the result, “tails,” and describe the offense taken.

The Lord do a Work in You

(2Thess.1:11-12, Msg) May the Lord do a life-work in you before the end of this week. May it be a work that will settle something, that will loose something, that will open up something, that will thrill your soul and cause your spirit to soar. May it be a part of your present victories and your future accomplishments. “…we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.”

Agreement and Effectual Prayer

KATHY—Agreement with God in intercession results in effectual prayer.  I believe we will see more and more results of effectual, strategic prayer through the remainder of this year in the Body of Christ because I believe more believers are convinced of the priority of praying — and praying in alignment with the will of God.  Like a construction crew, prayer builds a door or bridge for God’s will into this earthly realm and the more faith and agreement, the more comprehensive the access and impact of our awesome God.  So, may we be diligent to pray when the Holy Spirit prompts; for when God adds our small part to the others He stirs to prayer, the pieces come together into a God-design that brings His will to earth as it is in heaven.  Amen!

Not Pawns and Slaves

As the people of God assemble today may they realize they are not pawns and slaves to demographics that so many willingly give in to as mandatory but are chosen to succeed in the purpose for which the Lord of heaven and earth has called them no matter the forces of current events that seem to pressure most into demographic molds/agendas of “correctness”. Eph.3:20, Amp — “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,” Eph.1:18, ESV — “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” Eph.2:10, ESV — “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Where is a Hero When you Need One?

We hear awesome stories and testimonies and we long for those extraordinary, even miraculous things to happen for us. When I was child and frightened, I longed for a fearless, strong, undefeated hero to rush in and come to my rescue. Do you find yourself asking, “Where is a hero when you need one?” Perhaps a little different tack on this subject would be more help than merely wishing. Rom.10:8,Msg—“So what exactly was Moses saying? The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching.” We can choose to either wish and complain or we can search out, learn and memorize scriptural ammunition to use in the fight. Isa.49:2,CEV—“He made my words pierce like a sharp sword or a pointed arrow; He kept me safely hidden in the palm of His hand.”  Rev.1:16, KJV—“And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…”.

Substandard Life to Premium Life

MELISSA — It is all starting to make sense why this awakening is so intense.  We have the opportunity to move from a substandard life to a premium life if we will embrace this alarm and not press the snooze button! This moment really is an invitation to something incredible.  This is an invitation to enter into and function from the fear of the Lord for the sake of the Kingdom and for His glory.  I really like the sound of that.  I really want to live that.

The Will of God and Prayer

KATHY—Praying our own opinions and judgments can become religious witchcraft.  If we pray anyone’s preferences, opinions, frustrations or agenda instead of God’s will, prayer becomes an attempt to impose one person’s will on another and that is the essence of witchcraft.  We must seek, NOT assume, the will of God before we pray.  Then we must let His will be confirmed by His Word and character and principles, not our preferences or justifications or prejudices.

Leaning and Hoping

This is the day the Lord has made so…    I will rejoice and be glad because I am able to lean on the Lord and hope confidently in the Rock all day long. (Isa26:4)  Isa.26:4 “So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. (Amp)

Listen Diligently

MELISSA—As the people of God, what do we need to be watching, listening for and heeding? Watch for creativity and ideas being unleashed that will produce finances, answers, healing, refuge and change in hearts. Deut.28 sounds like we won’t miss creativity and ideas “if” we listen diligently to the voice of the Lord our God, being watchful to do all His commandments.

Prayer Affected by Opinion and Judgment

KATHY—God help us all if intercession is ever based on deserving or sinlessness!  And God help us as intercessors that we never pray, or refuse to pray, based on our opinion or judgment of others.  Help us Lord not to ever allow opinions to override obedience.  Neither let our opinions be so loud that they deafen us to obedience!