Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “prayer

Not Conformed to This World

Melissa G.—“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 1:33.  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!


Dream Symbols

KATHY—Symbols many times have a general or universal or common or typical meaning, and you can find such meanings in books, internet, etc.  The Bible is a good starting place.  Here’s an example, in general, snakes are not a good thing and basically symbolize a threat against the future, as did the serpent in the garden of Eden.  That being established, then we pursue the specifics to know if the snake represents a person, a particular plot or plan, a deception, a devil, etc.  Often, when you discover the meaning of a symbol in your own dream, it will likely have that meaning if it shows up in another dream.  This is one way we learn the language of our dreams. There is no closed list on symbols because people have unique experiences in life to pull from.  A rainbow could represent a promise in general but mean something dark to people of certain cultures.  When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, God had spoken about the future in symbolic pictures.  The skinny cows pointed to a famine that was coming and the seven cows in his dream indicated it was coming in seven years.  However, if a farmer or rancher dreams of skinny cows, it may be a warning to re-vaccinate because Hoof and Mouth disease is in the area.  The number “7″ is not always going to be about years either.  If you are on a search about meanings in numbers, one good resource is E.W. Bullinger’s book Numbers in Scripture.  The number “7″ in his book indicates a God-completed thing.  Since symbols can be specific to the setting or the message of a dream, you see why we need to develop an ear to hear the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, so we learn that Holy Spirit “click” that confirms an insight.


Sin and Pain

What happens when people are in chaos? What happens when people are in pain? One time I hurt my lower back very badly. I was lying there in the bed crying and groaning because I was in such tremendous pain. Emotional pain as well as physical pain can cause great agony in someone’s life. In Rom.8:19,22 the Bible talks about the earth groaning, creation groaning because creation is suffering from the pain of sin. In sin is that which is outside the order of God. When God gave us the Ten Commandments, He didn’t give us the Ten Commandments so He could be a mean old Father. Some people see Him just yelling “Thou shall not do this. Thou shall not do that. Thou shalt sit still and do nothing”. That’s not why God gave us the Ten Commandments. Why do you think God said, “Thou shall not commit adultery”? There would be no sexual disease if there were no adultery or fornication. Marriages and whole families would not be destroyed. If we stay inside God’s order, if we stay inside the safe boundaries that God sets there is righteousness, peace and joy. When we get outside of the lines and the boundaries, there is pain.


One Who Makes a Difference

MELISSA—What is a heavenly Change-Agent? It’s one who makes a difference wherever they are because they carry Heaven in them.  When I say Heaven, I mean one who carries the original intent of God wherever they go.  What is God’s original intent? Heaven on earth, a Kingdom without end (Luke 1:31-33).  The difference between our Change-Agents and the ones making the news right now is that we cause life, healing, peace, hope, restoration—not death and destruction!  


How do You Narrow Down a Symbol

KATHY—How do we know if a dream is symbolic?  Sometimes, it is definitely obvious right up front that a dream is not literal, like if your cat is driving your car.  (And no matter how smart your cat is, cats can’t get a driver’s license!)  On a side note, symbols may be personal because of how they fit in your experiences and frame of reference.  Case in point, if I dreamed a cat was driving my car, that would be a clear telegram for me that I am being soul-led rather than Spirit-led because a strong mindset is driving my thinking and behavior.  I would know that because in my symbols discoveries through the years, cats represent strong mindsets, preset opinions and intense attitudes.  However, a cat can represent something completely different to other people, like cats may represent companionship or home security because they kill mice, etc.  So symbolism begs the question: ‘How do you narrow down what a symbol means in a dream?’  The answer is that you develop an ear to hear a Holy Spirit “click” that turns the light on in your understanding and confirms the correct thinking.


Pentecost – Power to BE and DO

As the people of God assemble today may they yield to the baptizing presence and power of Holy Spirit so that He might be upon them because He has anointed them to preach the good news to the poor, He has sent them to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly]. (Lk.4:18-19) It was at least the equivalent of a Boeing 747 landing in the middle of downtown Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost at 9:00 in the morning. And since they had no point of reference for such a “tempest blast” they became quite perplexed (unable to grasp something clearly or to think logically and decisively about something), cf.Acts 2:6,7,12. There was no warning that a Mighty manifestation would blast them suddenly into the miraculous church age where signs and wonders would “follow them that believe” (Mk.16:17). Believers were PRAYING like their Lord had commanded them in the PLACE He had commanded them to RECEIVE what He had commanded them (Lk.24:49) so that they could DO what He had commanded them.


Rejoice and be Increased

This is the day the Lord has made so… I will rejoice and be increased in it. Ps.115:14,Amp—”May the Lord give you [great] increase, You and your children.”


Much More Intense

MELISSA—As a heads up I want to say, we really haven’t seen anything yet. Things will get much more intense, bizarre and shocking in the days and years ahead. We need to realize we are being called out of the grave but the grave does not want to let go! Going from death to life is a spiritual matter; and self-help, reasoning and logic can’t make that happen. Only the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead can make that happen (Rom. 8:11). So, to say it in a different way: things will get much more spiritual in the days and years ahead. We are going to see some stuff. We are going to be involved in some stuff. We need to know WHO we are and that is what this onslaught is teaching us. We are sons and daughters of the King, made in His image to see evil removed from and His Kingdom settled on this earth.    HOLD.


Possibilities That Symbolize in Dreams

KATHY—Someone dreamed that birds were covering their house. A good question would be, “Is the dream literal or symbolic?” In this case, it was not literal. A search for possibilities of what birds could symbolize would be the next step, and then consideration of those options until a meaning clicks with you or bears witness and brings clarity to the dream.   For example, when I think of birds being symbolic, my first thought is a bird can represent gossip, as in “a little bird told me.” If your co-workers or neighbors or family are really into gossip, then perhaps the dream is a heads-up to be on guard so that gossip doesn’t get into your thinking and opinions and cause you trouble.  This is an illustration also of how a simple dream can be powerful equipping when we understand the information being passed on to us.


From Chaos to Order

MARTY—If you want to find out what disorder is like in your life, all you have to do is sin. Sin will bring disorder to your life. I have seen sin destroy homes because of adultery. I have seen many lives destroyed because of drugs, alcohol, perversion. There is a price to pay for rejecting the government, order, of Yahweh.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without order. It was without form (Gen.1:2). But Holy Spirit hovered over the earth and brought order. Jn.3:16, “For God so loved the world [i.e., His created order] that He gave His only begotten Son.” Why? Because that order He created was set into chaos by man’s sin. So God wanted His order back. He knew His order was best and chaos was destructive. His order is righteousness and peace and joy (Rom.14:17). So He gave His only begotten Son. Why? So that all of this chaos could be brought back into order. Only Jesus can bring the chaos of the world back into order.


The Big Picture and the Good News

MELISSA—Here’s the good news of the big picture, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” (Ps. 24:1) He is not going to abandon His creation. He is going to fully possess this earth and He is going to do that through His sons/daughters. This is seriously the time to step out of the chaos to see what’s happening. He is exposing, tearing down, uprooting and dealing with evil. When you see the big picture it changes your perspective in the heat of the battle. This world is not being destroyed, it’s being turned right-side up, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” (Is. 65:17)


Misunderstanding in Dreams and Visions

KATHY—Misunderstanding about thinking literally and symbolically is one of the biggest reasons we misunderstand communications in dreams or visions and that can then leave us totally confused and missing the point. Literal means “real with no hidden meanings and nothing to be de-coded”.  What you see is what you get.   For example, if you dream birds are covering your house and the dream is a literal message, you need to find ways to keep birds off your roof before you have a mess.  The dream would be a heads-up for your benefit in future.  Symbolic means not real and a detail represents something other than itself.  In that case, the birds aren’t really birds but they represent something else in the air or atmosphere or surroundings.  Landing on your roof top or your high place would be your head and/or mind.  So the message would be to guard your mind and thinking from something in the atmosphere trying to land and have presence or influence in you.


Stretching our Curtains

As the people of God assemble today, may the Presence of the Holy Spirit working with the Word enable us to “stretch our curtains and lengthen our tent cords” so that we will “break forth” and our “offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.” (Isa.54:1-4)


Approaching the Halfway Mark

MARTY–We are approaching the halfway mark of 2024 after many of us committed ourselves to a course with more effective focus for a new year. Some are finding that starting on course is a great deal easier than staying the course. The admirable intentions we begin with may fall prey to the wily snares of unexpected interruptions, discouragement, self-pity and life obligations. Starting on course and staying the course may prove to be very costly. But the loss of that which would never be gained is inestimable.   Phil.3:13,TPT—I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this;  however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. 14 I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.


Be Prepared for the Onslaught

MELISSA—When the Lord said to pray we be prepared for the onslaught we did, and then His instruction came to hold. What this instruction has shown me is “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’  says the Lord of Hosts.” (Zech. 4:6) This cannot be handled or fixed by our might or power. We are at the place where all of our self-help, strength, reasoning and logic have absolutely no power against this onslaught. What we are experiencing is what has been fueling the problems in lives and society and it has been hidden behind the scenes until now. This is a spiritual war and this is only the beginning. 


Sometimes Symbolic, Sometimes Literal

KATHY—When Father God does get our attention and communicates, we can be confident that He wants us to pursue full understanding.  The process I described of coming to see clearly concerning the number 1111, is just one example of how to search until you get to clarity.  I honestly expected that particular search to lead to a symbolic insight, yet it turned out to be a literal number of a chapter and verse.  Then that literal number became a symbol of encouragement for me, (and it still is every time I see it).  I’m emphasizing the difference between thinking literally and symbolically because one of the biggest reasons we misunderstand communications in dreams or visions is that we think details are literal when they are symbolic, or visa-versa.  That kind of  misunderstanding can then leave us totally confused and missing the point.


Run to the Rock

This is the day the Lord has made so…   I will rejoice and run to the Rock in it.
Ps.18:2,Amp—“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.”


From the Midst of the Onslaught

MELISSA—I’m not writing this from that place on the other side of a battle looking back over it. I’m writing from the midst of the onslaught. Also, I am not writing this from a place of despair!  The Lord does not give us insight like this to warn us to get ready to be beaten up and hope we can hold on to make it out alive. He gives us this kind of insight because He is doing something in the middle of it. There is something major shifting. An onslaught such as this proves something major is shifting! An enemy does not attack when it has you subdued and controlled. An enemy attacks when it’s control is being overturned. That is exactly where we are.


The Holy Spirit is Unlimited

KATHY—The Holy Spirit has unlimited ways to communicate with us when He is transferring God-glimpses or God-insights. For example, a couple of years ago, I kept seeing the number 1111.  It got my attention so frequently that I could not help but wonder why.  For months I noticed it everywhere, on TV, billboards, addresses, digital clocks, in a dream, on a license plate, etc.  So I pursued an understanding of its significance.  At first, I considered that it might be a time or date, but that never jelled.  I asked the Lord for wisdom.  His wisdom is defined in Strong’s Concordance as sage advice, the act of interpreting dreams and the ability to discover the meaning of a mysterious number or vision. In answer to my request, a thought I’d not had came to me and sent me on a search of the eleventh chapter of every book of the Bible, and I found the answer in Luke 11:11, “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?” Suddenly I understood the Lord was letting me know that particular scripture was a telegram for me.  He was reminding me that He is my Father and He knows my heart’s desire and petitions.  Beyond that He was letting me know that He will answer my long-term petitions and His answers will not be a disappointment!  So that 11:11 was an awesome communication from my Father that lifted my head and heart.


Fruitful All Year

As the people of God assemble today, may they be infused with Holy Spirit power to be fruitful all the year ahead.  May vision and empowerment come to each one.  I pray that the fruit our Lord gives you and your church this year will be like the net the disciples had to call for help to draw in.  May there be such a bounty that the net would be near bursting with the catch. May your net be strong and hold.  “So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and[though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn.” (Jn.21:11, Amp)


That Certain Sound

If the trumpet not sound certain….  How will the coming generation know that it is possible to expect the victories of the Lord in their generation if the present generation sound woes and bemoan times gone past? “If the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?” (1Co.14:8)  But we will shout unto the Lord for the victories He is bringing upon us. In Josh.6 the victorious shout of the people causes insurmountable walls to tumble down. God turned the halting, struggling steps of four lepers into the sound of chariots, horses and a great army (2K. 7:6).  So the Syrians arose and fled (v.7) and left their tents, horses, donkeys and the whole camp of provisions.


HOLD

MELISSA—Recently on a Sunday morning I was getting ready for church and asked the Lord what I needed to pray over the service that day and I clearly heard, “Prepare us for the onslaught.” I instantly had a sense that there are challenges coming to those of us that have been in the church for a while, challenges that will try to knock us off of our foundation in Christ. I literally heard the question being asked, “Is what I have believed my whole life even true?” I shared this with those in my Pastor’s office before service. During worship Pastor asked me to share this and then he followed up with having the congregation take hands all across the room. He proceeded to say, “Hold. Hold. Hold,” and then he said,  “This is the stance we have to take in the days ahead.” This could not have been more accurate instruction. Within the following weeks lives began to erupt like a volcano. There was a moment in the midst of it all I was reminded of what I’d heard and realized I’d thought it was going to come from outside, but it started from the inside first. My Pastor’s words started ringing in my head, “HOLD.” This instruction brought peace and stability.


Holy Spirit and Communication

KATHY—The meaning of communication istransferring information or passing along meaning”.  Communication is complete when that information or meaning is received and understood.  One dictionary put it like this, “A line of communication connects people and places to purpose and function.”  The Holy Spirit has unlimited ways to communicate with us.  When He is transferring God-glimpses or God-insights or God-moments or God-downloads or God-deposits or God-discoveries, He may use dreams or visions or prophecies or events or experiences or people, etc.  It might be just a nuance, a momentary feeling or a passing thought that signals us to be God-aware because there’s communication incoming.  Or, we can be prompted from a memory or a conversation or the words of a song or an ad in a magazine or a number on a door!  I’m talking about when unique details ping our radar and they are meant to get our attention so we’ll look for incoming insight.


Wilderness Experience

MARTIN–It’s OK to take a wilderness experience into the promised land but it’s not OK to take a wilderness heart into promise. (Just ask Achan; Judges Chapter 7.) What we don’t leave in the wilderness, trips us up in the promise. What we don’t get over today, overcomes us tomorrow!