Daily Devotions

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Thoughts Abounding from God’s Truth

MELISSA — Truth and relationship with the Lord is about your meditations, thoughts, words, prayers. Are your thoughts and prayers abounding from God’s truth or the latest from Fox, CNN, Facebook, or Twitter? A safe and healthy place from which to operate your day is praying in tongues throughout. It’s the perfect prayer not swayed by national or family events. It’s the perfect prayer not swayed by the soul. In fact, don’t limit it to that. You may think you’re praying about what is concerning at the moment, but the Spirit prays what needs to be prayed at the moment whether it be for that particular situation or something completely different. Thank God that type of prayer cannot be touched by soulish fears and desires. That is exactly why it is perfect! God knew what He was doing when He gave us such a gift. Yes, I’d say it’s for today. My thought, the soul might say otherwise because it can’t control it. Ok, I’ll just leave that right there and wrap this up. It’s time to call on Him. It’s time to see great and mighty things. It’s time to be great and mighty things.

Obligation and Wisdom

KATHY—Obligation is the binding power of a promise, a vow, a contract or a law, but it is also the binding force of civility and kindness.  That makes obligation a strategic weapon against Christians.  I stood on the sidewalk waiting for Marty.  I had leftover donuts in a box under my arm.  A homeless woman was walking toward me.  Kindness immediately bid me to give them to her, yet I felt a check in my spirit.  I learned later that while it would have been a kindness, it would not have been wisdom.  There was a ministry for the homeless in that very block that met their needs on a daily basis. There were signs setting the order of how and when such ministry was appropriate.  The order was for protection of the homeless so they would not break city rules.  I would have been encouraging that woman to get out of the set order, which would eventually disqualify her for the ministry that sustained her there. We must be wise the remainder of this year and budget our efforts as diligently as our pocket books.

On the Basis of Faith in the Name of JESUS

As the people of God assemble today may they, in unified chorus, lift up their voices and praise and proclaim the name of JESUS. May they see the manifested Christ in salvations, healings and deliverances. May they be raised up in faith and hope to declare that Name for many, inside the building and outside the building, to be strengthened and restored spirit, soul and body. In Acts 3:16 Peter declared: ”And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of JESUS which has strengthened this man…”

Power of the Name of Jesus

In the next few days and weeks I believe you will find the name of Jesus to be very powerful in your life and your environment — if you will call upon His name, “Jesus”, see Him heal, watch as He delivers others out of impossible strongholds of bondage and fear. Say His name and see how marvelously He delivers you from the threat of harm, even from bullies. The children’s ministers at our church have taught them to say, “The name of Jesus is my super power”. In Acts 3:16 Peter declared: ”And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man…” (Acts 3:16, Amp) We are praying you discover daily more of the power of the name of Jesus in your life.

Soul-Perspective

MELISSA—Simply put, we don’t get to determine what the answer must be when we call on Jehovah. That kind of determination is a prescription for indigestion. Why? Because we are working from a very limited soul-perspective of the situation with even more limited soul-solutions. This kind of limitation focuses on the impossible rather than the God of the impossible. He not only sees the problem, but where it came from and He sees the best solution for the complete fix. That right there is the kind of “great and mighty” answer we are truly looking for.

A Person Who Prays

KATHY—I knew an older gentleman who was called to be an intercessor and that calling was confirmed through a prophetic word.  He had not recognized the calling, nor could he receive the word, because of his definition of an intercessor.  His belief was that an intercessor was a person who prayed for many hours every day.  His experience indicated that was neither his lifestyle nor his desire; so, he could not believe he could ever be an intercessor.   After a conversation with a discerning friend, he discovered intercession is not bound to one particular lifestyle and he opened his heart to the call of God.  His misunderstanding had been keeping him from fulfillment and effectual purpose for years.  Discernment is about seeing a difference that will make a difference.  Discernment turns the light on so we can take action and make adjustments.  

Turned From Reviling Faith

May the people of God pray and may God Almighty redeem people who are working hard against the cause of Christ and turn them so that they preach Christ, and then promote and facilitate that which they once tried to  destroy.  ”…He who used to persecute us is now proclaiming the very faith he once reviled and which he set out to ruin and tried with all his might to destroy.” (Gal.1:23, Amp)

I Will Answer

MELISSA — Let’s look at “Call to me and I will answer you” through a modern American paradigm: I call on the Lord and He will answer – I will tell Him what I need and He will give it to me because He is a loving God. You know, kind of like curbside grocery delivery. I took the time to get my list together and I took the time to call about this list. Now, it’s on Him to deliver!  I’m afraid we North Americans operate out of an entitled mindset not only in our relationship with earthlings, but also in our relationship with God. If I call on Him then ________ (insert pre-determined answer here). The problem with an entitled relationship with God is where the entitlement is rooted. If it is rooted in the Spirit, according to the covenant, then it will put you in a posture of dominion. If, however, it is rooted in the soul then it will hold you in a victimized defensive posture. The soul will keep you chained out of reach of God’s original intent which is indeed dominion. Or said another way, the soul will keep you from being heaven on earth.

A Word That Conflicts?

KATHY—Does God ever send us a word that conflicts with our personal beliefs?  Yes.  It’s not that God is out to upset our apple cart.  It is that He loves us too much to let us continue finding security in our beliefs that are tainted by error, warped by experience or hindered by misunderstanding.  These things will leave us at dead ends, frustrated and unfulfilled at some point in our destiny, and He loves us too much to simply allow that. But when our compassionate Father confrontations those carefully guarded systems, we have three major resources to set and confirm our course: the Word, godly counsel and discernment.