Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “history

Only Love

MLKDr. Martin Luther King —
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness,
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate,
only love can do that.” 


Guarding our Tongue

tonguehandholdWhile we are contending (Deut.2:24) for the word of the Lord over our lives and our nation, we must keep a guard on our tongue (Js.3:5) so that what it says lines up with what God has said (Jn.12:49). Like a farmer who works in his harvest and watches over his harvest, we cannot check out of the on-going process, lest we suffer crop failure.


Prayer and What Prayer is Not

Kathy — As we read Matthew 6 and Luke 10, we find Jesus teaching the disciples to Pray one anotherpray.  The verses leading up to the actual prayer reveal firstly what prayer is not.  Prayer is not practicing your righteousness before men.  Prayer is not using surplus words trying to cover your bases.  Prayer is not from any motive that would manipulate God or man.  Then, Jesus gives directions to His disciples on how to communicate with the Father.  His instruction becomes a model for us known as “The Lord’s Prayer”.


Thoughts Above Ours

Sun blue skyAlmighty God’s thoughts and ways are far above ours. We must needs pray for and prepare ourselves for Father’s thoughts and ways at this time. We must apply faith, positive attitudes and industrious minds to adjust to the unconventional of our times. God can use desperate conditions to open our eyes to see the facilitation available in unconventional people and unconventional opportunities (Ex.16:4-17; 1K.27:7-16; Josh.2:1-15; Isa.45:1-13; Acts 16:30-34).


What the Locusts Ate

SwarmingLocustsAs the people of God assemble today may they look for all that the locusts have destroyed to be returned to them. May they speak expectantly to one another of the Word of God and His promises and look forward into days to come to bring Father’s promise of restoration. Joel 2:25a, Amp — “And I will compensate you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”


Chaos Before Manifestation

LightAndDarkThe shift from where we are to the manifestation of the declared word will likely include, what appears to us to be, chaos. Yet, in spite of the appearances of the present, we must fully, faithfully and without fail contend for the word of the Lord. (Heb.10:23)


Rising Above the Peril

There were several people who were washed off of a walkway into a swollen river in a flood. They were floating along with the current and just able to keep their heads above the water while growing weaker and weaker with every panicked HoldRopeHandsstroke and gulp of filthy water. Several of them were crying out in great fear and voicing the obvious aspects of peril they were in, crying out about the rushing water, the great amount of debris, the likelihood of drowning. One man, however, was not focusing on the dangerous aspects of floating debris. He was constantly looking for something big enough to grab hold of and use for flotation. He was constantly aware of what the dangerous current was bringing that might be useful in the present circumstances. When a large tree branch came floating along, he grabbed hold of it and rode it to a place where it lodged against a protrusion of land that jutted out into the river. He was then able to climb out of the danger which had, only moments earlier, threatened his life. The tree branch was a possible threat like the other debris but the man believed he could use the flotsam that present dynamics sent his way to better improve his position. He came out unscathed because, while aware of the various dangerous aspects, he chose to focus on what he might apply to rise above the peril.


Catalysts for Change

PotFireKathy — In Acts 6, Stephen was openly demonstrating the Kingdom with signs, wonders and miracles among the people. Rather than realizing that God was using this young man as a catalyst to continue the powerful changes that Jesus had begun, they were angered by this catalyst and decided to remove it. May God help us not to reject the catalysts for change He is raising up in 2020.


Solutions to Present Challenges

Those trying/challenging circumstances that made a pronounced entrance into the LookingAheadLadderhistory books in the early part of the 20th Century drove some to excel. They also enabled some who had certain knowledge, skill-sets, personality wiring, and creativity to get traction in spite of the slippery pavement of uncertainty. For those who will stand on tiptoe and stretch their neck to look beyond fears, immediate obstacles and predictions based on limited knowledge, there will always be solutions and vision waiting that can be applied to present challenges.

 


Better Together

HorsesPullTogetherAn essential principle of God is that “two are better than one” (Ecc.l4:9). In the remainder of 2020 people of God will partner for effect. One shall set a 1000 to flight but two shall set 10,000 to flight. “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it shall be done for them…”(Matt.18:19). God is going to use small groups to defeat mighty opposition. We will commit to defeat together what we cannot overcome alone. It’s God’s Word. 


Unconventional Solutions

Current events in each generation will place unrelenting demands upon that generation to see that there are possibilities, people and resources that can be ThinkingMindfultrained, modified and applied to the challenges unique to and inherited by that generation. Since we have never seen anything like the current events in our lifetime, or anyone else’s lifetime, we take hope that the God who brought solutions to Israel and used those solutions to keep covenant with them is the same God who is the Enabler of His people today to bring help and unconventional solutions to the challenges of this generation and the ones to come. “But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deut.8:18, NASB)


Filled and Overflowing

As the people of God assemble today, may they be filled and overflowing with His flamesgrace and His empowering Holy Spirit and hope like they were at Pentecost and may His Spirit overflow into every area of their lives and into the areas of responsibility they have and the relationships they have. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4, KJV) “May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!” (Rom.15:13, Msg)


Declare in Spite of it All

700-01185565Things you feel prompted of the Holy Spirit to declare may seem out of place or impossible in the face of present circumstances and contradiction. When you are in a season of shifting, those things you declare will not likely seem attainable until the shift is complete. When God’s hand is moving, you can’t predict the future by present defeats. Ask Abraham, Joseph, David. Declare in spite of circumstances. (Rom.10:8)


Declare in the Face of Contradictions

The word “declare” means: manifest, announce; making something known Declare1emphatically, openly or formally; to make known, sometimes in the face of actual or potential contradiction. The people of God are not on earth to just observe events but to make declarations in keeping with the character of our God, right in the face of those things that contradict the righteousness of God. We will not keep silent. 1Chron.16:24, Amp — “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples.”


Our Redeemer Restores

Kathy Gabler — Holy Scripture says that Jehovah will restore what the locusts have eaten. (Joel 2:25) He will make up for those times that no matter how many bugs you locustkilled, they kept coming.  He will restore those years it took to fight and endure the swarming  circumstances.   He will make up for the time it took for circumstances to consistently strip away your strength and hope.  He will make up for all those mornings when the sunrise woke up the dread in your soul again and circumstances continued to devour your day and your future.  He will make up for the months and years that opposition smothered you and circumstances robbed you through changelessness. He is, indeed, your Redeemer!


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Trust and Momentum

FB Snippet KG Trust


Unconventional War

There was an Army general in 1898 who wanted to disband the Rough Riders Teddy Roosevelt had organized before they could even get on a boat to Cuba because so PeopleLookForwardmany things about them were unconventional in comparison to conventional Army methodology. When the captain of the Rough Riders was required by a general to give a description of his fighting unit, he said, “They are the most unconventional men you have ever seen.” At that point the general began speaking of disbanding the company and requiring them to walk back to the western states from Florida. When their captain asked the general what his particular objection was the red-faced officer doubled up both fists and yelled, “I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime!” The captain responded, “Sir, that’s because nothing like this has ever happened in your lifetime” to which the general had to eventually concede. He needed an unconventional fighting unit to fight an unconventional war.


New Beginning

ManPraiseSunriseKathy — Being born again offers us a new beginning. Our salvation brings another opportunity to be equipped for life as we gain identity and affirmation through healthy fathering. What was not experienced in our natural sonship can be established in our spiritual sonship. These essentials get established as we think differently and become mature sons, overcoming everything that opposes God’s plans for our lives. Gal.4:6-7


The Unconventional and Comfort Zones

Throughout history there have been people die while standing on their convention because it was their convention and anything else was, therefore, unacceptable for consideration. In the early 20th Century young women were flying solo in single engine aircraft from East Coast to West Coast. There were stodgy old farmers walking behind a plow and mule who would look up at the plane, disgustedly shake their head and declare, “If God would’ve meant for man to fly, He would have given WrightBrothershim wings!” The very thought of possibly using something unconventional like a flying machine to advance the Kingdom of God in the earth was as foreign to those old unimaginative minds as the thought of the Red Sea splitting to deliver Israel and advance them to the promised land was to the Israelites. Instead of possibly seeing God as the source of inventiveness that, for the first time in history, was bringing reality to a most unconventional yet efficient means of travel, it was viewed as people taking unnecessary risks and playing around wasting time and money when they could have a real job like walking around behind a mule all day. Determination to resist the unconventional at any cost will not only hold back the resistant individual but may cause him to influence others into abandoning their dreams and creativity which would impact future generations and vision. One may ask oneself, “When I reached my comfort level and began living my routine within the bounds of my preferences, did God then cancel all further dreams, visions and inventiveness regardless of the needs and challenges of coming generations?” Is our only requisite that our comfort zones not get jostled?


Trust and Move

RoadForwardArrowAs the people of God assemble today may they trust in the Lord and encourage one another to trust so that each one moves into the momentum of Father’s answer and gets us on the road to His outcome. Ps.9:10, TPT — “May everyone who knows your mercy keep putting their trust in you, for they can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you.”


Obedience and Submission

Pray-kneelingKathy — Obedience should be the truest expression of submission, respect and honor in a mature son. Satan offered Jesus a quick way to the kingdoms of this world. Jesus was a mature son and so intent upon obedience that He couldn’t be tempted by success on an easier path. Satan could not get Jesus to focus on what He could do instead of who He was. That is mature character. Jn.10:18


Conventional and Unconventional

Convention: “a rule, method, or practice established by usage; custom; accepted usage, especially as a standard of procedure.” One label that fits Jesus very well is congregation praying“unconventional”. “There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like yours.” (Ps.86:8; also Jer.10:6; 1Sam.2:2; Deut.33:26; Ps.74:12; Job 5:9) Jesus’ disciples had observed Jesus praying and had observed the impacting redemptive results He got when He spoke to nature, disease and demons. When they asked Him to teach them to pray, He told them that they should ask for that which is in heaven to be moved into the earth (Matt.6:10). Needless to say, that which is conventional in heaven (God’s will) is going to be unconventional by earth’s standards, practices, methods, rules and usage. And yet, that is what our Lord instructed us to ask for.


Because we Trust the Lord

Kathy — They had called out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayers because they trusted him, (1Chron. 5:20).  There’s a lot of reasons we cry YellingAtSkyout to God during battle.  Pain, fear, offense, anger, pity, grief and hopelessness are some understandable causes for a “cry out”, but if we park on any of those causes, the battle can become a stalled storm we cannot see beyond.  If we sit in neutral gear feeling helpless, the siege continues to smother. Crying out in “park” or “neutral” gear and racing the motor and burning fuel doesn’t get us anywhere.  But if we cry out because we trust the Lord to hear, to care and to do something, we shift into a gear to move forward.  Trust moves us into the momentum of His answer and gets us on the road to His outcome. 


Keep Mercy and Truth

ManPrayLookUpMay your heart keep Jehovah’s commandments. May they give you long life, good years and peace. May you be diligent to keep mercy and truth near you. Fasten them around your neck so that you are continually reminded of them and so they stay close and ready to apply. May you find favor and much success in the sight of God and people. (Prov.3:1-4)