Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “celebrate

God is in the City

MARTY GABLER—As the people of God assemble today, may they know within their hearts and shout with their voices that God is in the city and though the waves toss and roar, they shall not destroy for the voice of God is greater. (Jer.5:22, Amp) ”Do you not fear and reverence Me? says the Lord. Do you not tremble before Me? I placed the sand for the boundary of the sea, a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass and by an everlasting ordinance beyond which it cannot go? And though the waves of the sea toss and shake themselves, yet they cannot prevail [against the feeble grains of sand which God has ordained by nature to be sufficient for His purpose]; though [the billows] roar, yet they cannot pass over that [barrier]. [Is not such a God to be reverently feared and worshiped?]”


It is Not Over

MARTY GABLER—May you realize right through the haze of doubt and shortcomings and delays that it is not over for you and the purpose that God has put in you. May you come to realize today that the God who does not give up has not given up on you and getting you to destiny. Father God does not give up and does not stop moving by the power of His mighty hand.   ”The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (Ps.138:8, NKJV)


Trust Keeps the Door Open

MELISSA GABLER—Trust keeps the door open to dwell in His presence.  We stay around those we trust.  Ps.84:11 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Trust is the gateway to God’s intentions for us, equipping, protection, grace, favor and all good things.  It makes sense that the summation of this Psalm is, “O Lord of hosts, How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You.” On top of being born to trust, these are compelling reasons to do so.


A Maturing Season

Kathy Gabler—Father God is initiating a maturing season that will bring forth mature sons who get mature results for the Glory of their Father.  When I read 2Co 10:3-6, this is what it says to me:  For though we are flesh and blood, when it comes to war we are not limited to physical frailties, human nature or human passions.  For the weapons and tools of our warfare are not fettered by mere human motives and passions with temporal effects.  Rather, we dismantle the powers of darkness by pulling down their conniving efforts to block our knowing God and His instruction that will cause us to prevail.  As we learn to pierce the piece God points out, we will see God-results.  Like our example, we will learn to merely do what He says do and watch God happen.


Key for Being Awake

Melissa Gabler — Here is a key for being awake, “If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Prov. 2:3-6)  When we wake up we have to have insight and understanding to be able to navigate what God is doing in this earth. How thrilling is it that we get to be alive for this?  We just need to accept the invitation to be a part of what Father is doing.  Gotta say, I accept even though I don’t even know what all is next.  I’m just waking up to a whole new world, waiting for my eyes to clear up so I can see it!    


The Kingdom is in Effect

KATHY GABLER—His Kingdom has already been in effect, now is in effect and will be in effect always.  That contradicts that silent someday that would keep the Kingdom of God out of reach during our lifetime, or keep “righteousness and peace and joy” in His presence only a future, someday realization (Rom 14:17).  How messed up is it to think that righteousness, peace and joy are unreachable until you die?  That thinking would make “Thy Kingdom come” a death request.  Could we get any more perversely opposite to the heart of God than that?  Could we deny His New Covenant provision any louder than that?  If we think that His Kingdom (meaning His rule and His order) cannot come into earth now when we pray, is it any wonder that manifestations of His power show up piecemeal rather than bulk, or sporadically rather than continually?  Poor God.  When His stewards on earth think like that, they only accidentally stumble into agreement that opens the earth to God’s will in the now.


Praying and Looking for Major Events

Marty Gabler—As the people of God assemble today may they see that May is the month to pray for and begin looking for major events to take place in our nation that will affect the future of our families and churches and freedoms. Rom.8:21—“That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”


May you go Over the Top

MARTY GABLER—May you go over the top and beyond what you have hoped for in gaining victory in your life, your health, your finances and your calling. May you not just get up to ground level but soar beyond any measure you have known heretofore.  ”It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; GREAT AND BEYOND MEASURE IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS.  The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” (Lam.3:22-24, Amp)


Lack of Trust is Enemy

MELISSA GABLER—Some of us have confused trust with diligence.  By “diligence” I mean we handle, fixate on, and stay worried about a problem until it’s fixed.  That is nowhere in the definition of trust.  It’s not only the opposite of trust, but it is seething with dysfunction and disease.  A lack of trust is one of our worst enemies.  We might be blaming things on the devil that are really a lack of trust in our own lives.  I’m sure the devil doesn’t mind when we blame him for such things because it makes his job easier.


The Kingdom of God is not Made of Things

MARTY GABLER—Rom 14:17 for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (NAS)  The Kingdom of God is not made of things that give us life in our natural flesh. The Kingdom of God, true riches, are beyond the natural; that is why it is righteousness, peace and joy “in the Holy Spirit.” The presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the only way for the display and function of those necessities which are beyond the natural. Yet it still remains from the principle of Scripture that there is some testing and proving going on to see if we might be trusted with true riches. There are those things in this present age which await transaction and that transaction can only come about with the Transacting Power of true riches. Testing and proving is a dynamic characteristic of the Kingdom of God for those who would “be about their Father’s business.”


True Riches Beyond the Natural

MARTY GABLER—Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (NAS)  The Kingdom of God is not made of things that give us life in our natural flesh. The Kingdom of God, true riches, are beyond the natural; that is why it is righteousness, peace and joy “in the Holy Spirit.” The presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the only way for the display and function of those necessities which are beyond the natural. Yet it still remains from the principle of Scripture that there is some testing and proving going on to see if we might be trusted with true riches. There are those things in this present age which await transaction and that transaction can only come about with the Transacting Power of true riches. Testing and proving is a dynamic characteristic of the Kingdom of God for those who would “be about their Father’s business.”


Life is a Choice

KATHY GABLER—Since choice can be an automatic reflex, we must train ourselves to CHOOSE  LIFE.  Of course, re-training ourselves is not a stroll in the park.  Re-training is never easy because we can’t take down-time to work on it.  Re-training happens during real-life problems that just can’t be scheduled.  They never come at a good time. Hell’s attacks are never fair.  It is very difficult to contradict your emotions, especially when you’ve cried enough to salt a creek and used enough Kleenex to rub your nose right off your face.  How do you choose life when you are dealing with relationship issues with someone who won’t even try?  How do you choose life when you’re weary because you’ve already made that choice for months, for years, yet you are still smothering in changelessness?  It’s difficult to choose life, again and again, when you’re still in the grip of pain and it’s taunting you daily. But in spite of difficulty we must CHOOSE LIFE in order to bring CHANGE in our lifetime.


Let go of Condemnation

MARTY GABLER—As the people of God assemble today, may they let go of every ounce of condemnation that they may be able to freely speak or act in the King’s behalf at any given moment. May they graciously encourage one another to walk free of the memories and accusations associated with past actions and begin to rejoice as a horse let out of the stall.  “THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.” (Rom 8:1, Amp)


Good Times and Times of Celebration

MARTY GABLER–In days to come, as you walk before God Most High in the light of His Word and trust in Him, may our beneficent Father grant you good times, happy times and times of celebration. May you look to the future expecting to see the goodness of God in your life and the lives of your family. Don’t be defeated by what appears to be on the horizon. Don’t be disheartened by rumors and every story that finds flight on the fancy of someone’s fears or imagination. May our merciful Father God send delightful surprises your way and grant you good times, happy times and times of celebration. (2Chron.6:41b, Msg) “…let your holy people celebrate goodness…” We are praying you discover daily God’s goodness working in your life.


Prove the Good

Melissa Gabler — “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) That’s a Change-Agent’s life right there.  We PROVE the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.  How? By changing our thought habits.  We meditate on God’s will, His original intent for this earth.  We stop fixating on the enemy’s war around us by realizing his war has intensified because he is feeling the pressure of this never-ending Kingdom in Luke 1.  We turn our thoughts toward that powerful fact.  We engage in power, love, and a sound mind by dumping fear-thoughts that have wreaked havoc (2 Timothy 1:7).  This is all possible in our lifetime!


Broader Concept of the Lord’s Prayer

Kathy Gabler — While the most common understanding of prayer is an appeal or petition, I think The Lord’s Prayer illustrates a broader concept of prayer.  I see it as a prayer of alignment with God’s Word and will and character, or a declaration of agreement with God’s order and principles and intent.  If I viewed The Lord’s Prayer only as a petition, it would seem to be a formal format of how to properly ask for basic necessities.   While there is nothing wrong with that, I think there is more life in it and more relationship demonstrated in His model prayer.  This prayer takes on more dimension when it comes from a motive and priority to pray as sons who know and reflect their Father.


The Word of God Can’t be Extracted

MARTY GABLER—If you know someone who is living outside the Kingdom of God but they have had the Word preached to them or they have been taught a scripture or two, take hope, for that Word is alive and active. 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 that Word.


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BE VIGILANT


Overlook Patterns or Confront Them?

KATHY GABLER—Do we overlook destructive behavior and negative emotional patterns that may sabotage a loved one or confront them?  There is no pat answer.  The place to start is prayer.  One prayer I have seen God answer many times is, “Lord, please change them or change me so your peace can cover this relationship.”  We can trust His wisdom and His faithfulness to address the problems in wise timing.  What we cannot do with behavior or personality issues is fight fire with fire.  Fighting negative behavior with negative behavior is using a carnal weapon that does not pull down strongholds.  Nor will any good fruit come from confronting others out of frustration rather than love.  While we should not presume to confront without God’s instruction, neither should we be too cowardly to talk it out if He so directs.  We can be confident that the place to start is prayer.  Then we follow God’s instructions and timing to a God-outcome of healthy and meaningful and fulfilling relationships.


Resurrection and Present Fact

MARTY GABLER—As the people of God assemble today may they rejoice in the resurrection of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.  If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day?
Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25) Jn.11:23—“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”


Jesus Conquered

Marty Gabler—Found this quote in my notes:  “Jesus did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.”   ”… I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).” (Rev.1:18, Amp)


How do you Know if What you are Hearing is God?

Melissa Gabler– How do you know if what you are hearing is God? Well, does it line up with His word? For instance, murder and adultery… not God! Also, He trains you to hear Him. “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.” (Proverbs 2:12) Sometimes we train ourselves to ignore the prophetic lifestyle because we don’t want to be weird. This really is an epic life we are meant to live — not fairytale or fantasy, but epic. Why epic? Unlike fairytale or fantasy that denote magic, rainbows and butterflies, and other-worldly superhumans, “epic” denotes work, grit, fight, humans living their destiny and winning. So, don’t ignore His training. Don’t ignore that relationship.


No Blackmail

KATHY GABLER–As we persevere through trials God will not be manipulated or blackmailed or bribed into shortening the time needed to mature our character. Ps.66:8-9 says that He holds our lives in his hands and He holds our feet to the path. Evidently, God not only intends for us to outlive the heat of trials, He intends it to transform us on our way through it. 


May Your Home be a Safe Place

Marty Gabler–May your home be a a safe place to move around. May your home and yard be a fall-free zone and may angels lift up your feet lest you dash them against a stone. ”He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.” (Ps.91:11-12, Msg)