Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “1 Thessalonians 4:17

Rejoicing for the Nation

rejoicingpeople1“This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps.118:24)  On this passage Clarke basically says that since the Lord has called us to triumph, this is the day He has appointed for that purpose. He seems to be claiming it for himself, as should we—this time period, this season, even this very day is the day of our triumphing in Christ. This is rejoicing for what the Lord had done for the nation. V.23 “This is the Lord’s doing.” Now, as then, mere man does not have the answers for our nation. Let us lift our voices to the throne of God that we may rejoice in what Jehovah has done in our nation. Rejoice and be glad!


 


Not Shrink Back

Hopefully, we will not shrink back and think we can opt out of choosing to respond to our Lord’s “Come on” (Matt.14:29). If we refuse to cooperate shrinkawayfromwith God’s intent stirring within us, there will be repercussions. For one, not moving forward in God’s direction can leave us to simply become a victim of our present circumstances instead of changing them.  For another, we get cheated out of destiny and fulfillment that would make our lifetime bring glory to God.  For another, we suffer the consequences of disobedience, (which are too varied and numerous to list here.)  Believe it or not, just like it was hard for Jonah to fight cooperating with God, it is not easy for a son to ignore or defy the cry of a son’s heart.
(This excerpt is from the article “Bid Me Come” written by Kathy Gabler.)


 


Part of Something Bigger

firebucketwaterYou are part of something that is bigger than you are and it is still standing and it is still advancing. (1) The wall is still standing. You and I may only be small pebbles in its makeup but we are part of that wall. (2) You and I may not be Gideon but we are part of that which does not consider the odds. We consider Him who has called us.  (3) You and I may not be the whole bucket of water that is being thrown on the fire but we are drops that are putting out flames. (Heb.12:3, GW) “Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.”  We are praying you discover daily that you are part of something bigger than you are. (Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day.)


 


Prayers and Partnership for the Nation

As you consider your musings throughout the day, as you hear news broadcasts and partake in discussions about current events, may the Lord usagodshandsencourage you for the future of our nation and your vital part in assuring that future. May you be encouraged that your prayers and partnership are significant in His workings in America. May you receive His assurance that you shall not be moved out of purpose nor off the foundation of God Almighty. Let’s claim (Ps.46:5) “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:  God shall help her, and that right early.” Also (Ps.62:6) “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” We are praying you discover daily that God is your defense.   (Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day. www.txpraise.com)


 


USA at a Tipping Point

The people of God already have a King and Redeemer and no politician can replace Him. Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God is our redeemer and Messiah. “We have had conservative presidents but not one has called the nation to a fast. Conservativism will not replace godliness.” (D. Gentry) worldtippingpointAnd while mentioning conservativism, consider a poignant measure on the future of the matter: “The weakened Republican Party will not be successful in opposing important policy shifts. It will be engaged in an internal ideological struggle. Its main question will be the extent to which it can continue to accommodate the ideas of its religious faction and yet expand its base to appeal to a broad coalition who sees the religious right as the albatross around the neck of the party.” (S.Soleyn) We are standing at a tipping point in this nation that we have not quite approached to date and, for the most part, are not even aware of. The Church was never meant to place itself or its hope in the hands of political parties, candidates or governing or judicial entities created by men. The Church will only function the way it was created and ordained to function, standing on the foundation of the rule of God, that is, Kingdom principles. When the king of Sodom opened his arms wide to include Abraham in the economy of his own kingdom, Abraham quickly re- sponded: Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ (Gen.14:22-23) You become a lackey for the one who fills your pocket and they never let you forget they are the one that did it. (Excerpt from Marty’s article “What is Going On?”)


 


Harassment Cut Off

holdinghanddownI had three more promptings to pray, “Hands off,” in the weeks that followed.  On one occasion, I had a vision as I prayed and I actually saw hands falling off at the wrist.  I quickly said, “Lord, I was not thinking so viciously.  That’s not my fault!”  However, the vision was not about any person being maimed, it was simply assurance that not only was the interference and harassment being stopped, but the ability to continue to interfere and harass was being cut off in that matter also.  Thank you, Father.
(This is the eleventh excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


 


Prayer to Heal the Land

prayflaghandsAs the people of God assemble today, may they join hearts and minds and prayer and persevere for the purposes of God in our nation. May they lift their voices together and cry out for a turning to righteousness and the healing of this land.
”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chron.7:14, KJV)


 


First Things First

putfirstthingsThere are people and things that are continually vying for our attention and our loyalty. How often have we allowed the little things to tempt us, distract us and hinder us? How far up on the list have we let “minor” items inch toward “major” positions in recent years? Habits, indulgences and expenditures tend to creep ever upward among priorities and can eventually press biblically-based convictions out of position.  May the Lord help us to keep things in the order that the wisdom of biblical values would put them. (Matt.8:22, Msg) Jesus said, “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life.” We are praying you discover daily that you are keeping Christ at the head of the list of things that are important and worth living for.   (Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day.)
www.txpraise.com


 


Original Intent Still in View

(Kathy) Another interesting thing happened that same week we realized it was time for old patterns to be broken: an eagle flew by Melissa’s window.  eaglelookingawayAn eagle symbolizes God’s perspective, a prophetic view that reaches beyond what we can see and feel.  That eagle pierced the current conditions and atmosphere as a  prophetic reminder that God’s original intent is still in view and no wars on the brink or patterns of interruption will keep it from coming to pass.  That is the second eagle she has seen while looking out a window this year.  The number “two” indicates a matter that is already determined by God and will soon come to pass. (Gen 41:32) It is pure encouragement to know God doesn’t forget His original intent and that He intends to bring it to pass!
(This is the tenth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


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Bid Me Come

When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he cried out, “Bid me come.” (Matt.14:28) That “BID me COME” is in the heart of all of us.  JESUS is saying to us too, “COME ON!”  There is no need for us to live a watered-down version of what God had in mind for our lifetime.  We don’t have to leave a wimpy heritage.  Fear may try to hold us in the boat but there is a stronger force at work.  There is a heart’s cry, “Lord, BID me COME.”  There will be times that the cry of “BID me COME” stirs in our breast and we have a choice to respond to Jesus.  We are praying you discover daily that Jesus is bidding you to come walk with Him in victory. (Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day.)


 


Harassment Shut Out

(Kathy) As a second witness to a time for these old patterns to be broken, a call came with a prophetic word for us, “The door of the ark is about to close.”  Marty said that word meant that harassment and interference was getting shut out and God’s provision and strategy shut in, making us ready to move forward.  As I went to record and date that word, for some reason I wrote, 6/15/92.  I was shocked that year seemed to come, not to mind but to my fingers!  It made me suspect the pattern of delay and deferral that is breaking has been at work in our lives for 24 years.  Again, it is time for long-term sieges to end!
(This is the ninth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


 


Encouragement Toward Improvement

When a person criticizes someone else it opens a flood door of past criticisms to rush in one after another that seem to confirm the assessment.  The enemy takes advantage and takes a toll on the person’s value, purpose and vulnerability. Then shutdown and withdrawal are two major temptations for that person. Let us be careful not to criticize and let us steel ourselves against the effects of criticism whether they be about us or another person. (Rom.2:1, Msg) “…Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.” Let’s encourage one another toward improvement. We are praying you discover daily that words of encouragement out-number criticisms.
(Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day.)


 


An End to Old Patterns

pencilerasing(Kathy) I perceive it is time for overused weapons (interference and harassment) to backfire.  Also, it is time for sieges to end and old patterns of defeat to be broken. We have been equipped with wisdom and awareness to refuse to be conditioned for delay and disappointment.  A new thought for me is that the way to win some wars is to end them!  Many wars lose their presence and meaning when we refuse to allow them to go inside our attitude and condition our life.  Shutting them out shuts them down.
(This is the eighth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


 


Performing What He Promised

As the people of God assemble today, may they dwell on the God Who plans and Whose plans never fail. May they worship and look to the One who is greater than any politician and Who keeps His promises. Not only does He make promises but He is able to keep them.
”and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Rom.4:21, NKJV)


 


Month of Revealing

November will be the month of revealing. The things that are hidden have not all been brought to light yet. There is more to come. The news will be worth watching over the next four days. Lies will fall apart like a crack in the ice. The spiderweb effect will spread and gain momentum until they have nothing to hold them together. We will keep our minds fixed on God’s eternal Word and purposes and He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness. Corruption has an expiration date.
“Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.” (Ps.119:77-78, Msg)


 


Equipping Discovery

(Kathy) Interference hits circumstances with intent to rob or sabotage.  Harassment aims for emotions and attitudes. Both are ultimately aiming to handtoeyeslookingkeep us from crossing thresholds and getting to fulfillment. Interference usually becomes obvious at some point, but harassment often needs to be discerned, especially if it is to be countered before it contaminates. Interference and harassment are nothing new but their pattern of targeting crucial thresholds is an equipping discovery that brings focus and clarity.
(This is the seventh excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


“Advancing The Kingdom” — Kathy’s message from the SEEC
Kingdom Conference (52 min.)
Click link below to listen:
http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2014-05-04T04_57_51-07_00


Pleasant Memories

memoriescouplesunMay sights, sounds and smells bring back to you pleasant memories. May those remembrances serve as witnesses to you of what is yet to come. May your heart and mind be filled with all the good things our good God has done in His Word and may you thrill with the possibilities for your tomorrows. May you see them coming on the horizon and may you embrace them in near days.
”Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as you do it, you’ll say, ‘Give thanks to God. Call out his name. Ask him anything! Shout to the nations, tell them what he’s done, spread the news of his great reputation!’” (Isa.12:3-4, Msg)


 


Harassment and Coincidence

While writing this article, I was interrupted by the insurance lady. When I went back to the computer, this article file would not open again!  Finally, after many attempts and maneuvers, it opened. Then, in broad daylight, a roach ran up the slick metal tube leg of my TV tray and on to my computer fightingroachscreen!  You have to know me to fully appreciate the adrenaline implosion and the level of harassment that bodacious devil represented! (At that point I figured I must be on the verge of divulging one of hell’s favorite operations with this threshold interference ploy!) Of course, I had to stop writing to vacuum under everything that could be moved and then exterminate the house to build up enough nerve to go back to the computer.  It was frustrating and the thought actually passed through my mind to put the whole subject down and walk away, but I suddenly realized the timing of this personal-harassment-roach was not a random coincidence! When I could breathe normally and was over my terror, I realized personal harassment and interference are like a double-barrel shot gun.  Interference works on circumstances and harassment works on us.  Both are fighting dirty in an attempt to condition our thinking and attitudes and opinions and conclusions with the ultimate goal of taking advantage of our superpower which is agreement.
(This is the sixth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


 


What is Going On?

A question I have heard asked repeatedly over the last few months is: “What is going on?” There is a sudden dawning upon people and nations that manshouldersshrugthings are not the way they used to be while there is an underlying desire within the breast of the typical person for things to go back to the way they were in spite of the ever-present fear that they won’t. Even if you could get back to “the good old days” you would find them woefully inadequate in their revelation and application for today. Current events are not just the result of bad politics or bad politicians. They were not left in charge. An apostolic order for accommodating and advancing the Kingdom of God in the earth was the design when Jesus ascended to the right hand of Majesty on High (Acts 1:3). Things, therefore, must shake and adjust so that the nations might come into correct order.


 


Hands Off!

(Kathy) Realizing interference was deliberately used as a weapon of delay and disappointment explained a parade of experiences from the past for me, but I am declaring that pattern will no longer parade through my life like a norm.  I wanted to ask the Lord why He allows this type of cunning keephandsoffinterference, but I suspect it might be sons rather than Father allowing such operations to continue.  So, I rephrased my question, “Lord, what do we do about interference that contradicts us when we are at key thresholds?” The answer I heard was, “Pray this way, ‘HANDS OFF’”. That sounded strange to me and I wondered if I really could pray that way or if I had misunderstood.  Then I found those exact words in The Message, Psa 105:14, “He permitted no one to abuse them. He told kings to keep their HANDS OFF!”  So, I prayed confidently, “HANDS OFF!”  That was a step of progress but the lesson was not over.
(This is the fifth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


 


To Know His Will

sunlightworshipAs the people of God assemble today, may they be lifted above the din and disturbing racket of the turmoil in the atmosphere of our nation. May their hearts and minds be drawn to the Lord Most High and His never-failing Word that shows His faithfulness to those who trust in Him and may their hearts be reassured that their God has a plan.
”And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth. (Acts 22:14, Amp)


 


The Word is Alive and Active

If you know someone who is living outside the Kingdom of God but they have been taught a scripture or two, take hope, for that Word is alive and Two Edged Swordactive and sharp (Heb.4:12). Once the Word is in them, it cannot be extracted. They may presently be yielding more and more to their soul drives than they do to the Word but the Word penetrates between soul and spirit and our job is to pray they will respond to the life of the Word at those moments when there is a cleaving between the soul and the spirit. Sins of the flesh, crime, even prison cannot nullify or extract the Word of God. We are praying you discover daily that the Word of God is alive and active in your life. (Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day.)


 


Patterns and Expectations

patterndrawingThe purpose of the pattern of a prevailing spirit showing up at threshold moments is to thwart times of fulfillment or transition and purpose. If the hits of a prevailing spirit become a life pattern, that spirit often remains unchallenged because it is hidden in familiarity.  Patterns that are familiar mold our expectations which become unconscious agreement. That is why people find Murphy’s Law comforting.  Their expectations agree with the pattern that whatever can go wrong will.
(This is the fourth excerpt from Kathy Gabler’s article “Hands Off!“. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)


 


Shine More

Rest is not giving up and flopping down on the ground. It’s not sitting down and doing nothing. Inactivity is resignation to opposition. After recent events in this nation, we must not stop assembling ourselves, must not stop giving, must not stop shining. It is time to pray more, assemble ourselves more, give more and shine more in the light of our Lord’s love. It just might become contagious. (Isa.60:1) “Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!” We are praying you discover daily that the glory of the Lord is shining on you and through you. (Marty’s Daily Discovery as heard on TEXAS PRAISE RADIO at the bottom of the hour 24 hours/day.)


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