I looked up this word as I heard God speak it to me, and was shocked when I saw one portion of the definition.  It read: Recalibrate:  Calibrate (something) again or differently.  “the sensors had to be recalibrated”.

It was the portion in quotes that rocked me.  The sensors.  Can you see the spiritual parallels just parading to the fore-front of this example?

God is calling us to a season of recalibration.  As a church, His church, we have lost some of our bearings.  It’s not surprising given the way we are all inundated with information these days, some true and some not and worse still, some half true.  I think the half true sections are the most damaging, because they can begin to confuse our senses.

Just today as I was on facebook, I saw a new ad that Planned Parenthood is using.  In this ad they start with a picture of a baby and talk about choice.  How could they?!  The justice portion of my spirit was in an uproar at the blatant hypocrisy, then I saw what they were truly trying to do.  They are coming out as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  They fear they are losing ground in America, as they should be, and in that panic, they are attempting to put forth their greatest deception ever.  You may be saying, “Who would believe them?”  Well, the young people certainly will in many cases because they often see a portion of good in something and then decide that outweighs any negative.  They aren’t yet capable of seeing a fuller picture, it’s not their fault, they are just young and still naïve to the depths of deception that the world will go to, and honestly, I think some of it is they are more trusting in their youth.  Again, not a bad thing, but something the enemy loves to pounce on and manipulate so later on after he has used them to sabotage the earth, he will be their accuser as well, and the cycle continues.

This is a season to see good for good and evil for evil.  God is Light and in Him is NO darkness.  None.  So that kinda rules out all the “gray area” we love to talk about.

Lord, recalibrate my heart.  Show me where I have been led astray and teach me Your ways that I may not sin against You.  My desire is to follow You all my days, help me to stay on Your path.  Increase my sensitivity.  Let me feel Your gentlest nudge.  Let me be acutely aware of any darkness.  Help me to not walk in agreement with half-truths.  I want only Your Truth.  Oh Spirit of Truth, protect me from the great deceptions being played out over the earth right now.  Hide me away in Your Spirit that I can be a beacon of Your Light and uncompromising Truth.  You alone are worthy.  Thank You that I will see Your goodness.  I surrender, in Jesus name. Amen.

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you:  God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all.  1 John 1:5

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

Meanwhile His disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”  But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  Then His disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought Him food?”  “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”                 John 4:31-34

Is it possible to fast and be so focused and consumed with listening and reacting to the Father, that you don’t even realize you’re hungry?  I believe it is.  In fact, I know it is because I have experienced it in the past.

One time in particular comes to mind right now.  Before I had adopted my oldest child, and when we were hearing God speak to us about how my adopting him could even happen, God told me to fast on a certain day.  I had never fasted before, but I immediately agreed.  That day as I fasted, I was not hungry.  I was so consumed with Him that nothing else mattered.  That fast ended up lasting for three days, and was still to this date, my most memorable and amazing fast.

Here’s what I know about fasting.  If God instructs you to do so, then He will sustain you in amazing ways, but if you decide to do it for any other erroneous reason, it will be. So. Hard.

What He instructs, He provides grace for, but when we move on our own behalf and in our own strength or to manipulate God, well, it’s never good.

God spoke to me about writing this devotional post on fasting.  I didn’t even know that was the direction He was leading when He first began to speak the above verses to my heart, but here we are.  He works in mysterious and wonderful ways, that’s for certain.  That’s why I can say, I will be fasting on the day this devotional is posted.  I will take time to really focus my spirit on His and listen with extra diligence.  I invite you to do the same.  I invite you to fast with me and I can’t wait to hear what transpires in your day!  Please share with me if amazing things happen.  I would love to hear the confirmation of His word to me, and love to see you experiencing more of Him.

God, today I surrender my body to You.  As I walk out this day without eating, let me instead be fed by Your Spirit.  Lord, increase my awareness of You and give me courage to listen and obey when You instruct me.  Above all, I want to honor You even with my body, so here I am.  Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.  In Jesus name, amen.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.  The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  Matthew 4:1-4

As I walk out the life of a believer who is sold out and totally in love with God, I know that worship is one of the most important and necessary parts of this relationship.  Countless times, I’ve noticed a majority of the church not participating in worship.  I even watch as they appear bored, and I think to myself, “How is this possible?”  When you’ve experienced the fulness of worship, how could you want anything less?

I have seen God in visions during worship.  I have watched as angels surrounded the room and danced and twirled among us.  I have seen God minister to others as I sing a song that I know He is using to reach their heart.  I have watched the Lion roar over the room.  I have been lifted up into the Heaven during worship and I’ve seen the great assembly worshiping in unison with me and all of our focus and affection was on the Father.  How could people not want to be a part of that?

One of the greatest tragedies, in my eyes, is for a person…much less a believer….to never truly experience the power and the majesty of real worship.

It has nothing to do with where you are, or who is leading, or if the lights are on or turned down low.  It has to do with the position of your heart, and that position must be open.

If you have felt worship unfurl a set of wings on your back and found yourself soaring in a flying dance with the Father, then you too would never want to stop.  You too, would want to do all you could do to lead others to that same place.  At least, that’s how I feel.

Worship gives me wings.

Worship is when I am truly living out my purpose on this earth.  Bringing glory to the Father.

Will you set your heart to worship this week?

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day.  Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deed among all peoples.  For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.  For all gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place.  Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; bring an offering and come before Him.  Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.  Tremble before Him, all the earth!  The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.  Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”                          1 Chronicles 16:23-31

Recently, I went to the doctor so they could investigate an issue I’ve been having, and while I was there they decided to do a procedure.  The after-effect was that I was unable to sit upright, and I could definitely not run.  I was in bed for two days in pain and on the third day when I returned to the Dr for a follow-up, we determined that an outpatient surgery would be necessary.  With no running in between…..

Now, I am well aware that to some of you this means nothing, but to a person who runs five days every single week, without fail, this is huge.  So much of my mental well being benefits from this daily dose of endorphins, and I want to stay fit, and the cardio part of it helps me as a singer……and if you’ve read many of my devotionals then you know, God speaks to me frequently during my runs.

So, this afternoon as I sat down and felt pouty, I asked myself a question, “What does a runner do when they can’t run?”

My first thought was, “Well, nothing but feel disappointed.”

Then I realized I was settling into a defeated mentality, and that’s not allowed in my life.  Not. At. All.

If I am in a short season of not being able to run, then I need to purposefully modify other areas of my life to fill in the gap.  To let the rest of my lifestyle rally around this missing piece so that I don’t fall apart.

First, I will not believe the lie that says, “I will never be able to run again.”  And instead of walking in agreement with that lie, I will walk in victory by finding another physical outlet.

Second, I will not believe the lie that I will get fat from not being able to run.  That’s not true.  To walk in agreement with the truth, I will modify my diet in small ways and release myself to a season of rest.  We all need small breaks from time to time anyway, this is just assuring that I will truly rest.

Third, I will increase my devotional/quiet time and worship alone more to ensure that I continue to hear God even while we’re not running together.  He speaks all the time, I just need to make sure I continue to have “free time” with my brain.  That was the beauty of running for me anyway, it was a time to be in neutral and just listen.

Do you see how this can apply to your life?  We are not called to be victims of circumstance, rather we are more than conquerors.  So, no matter what life throws your way, decide to be actively working to maintain closeness to God and willingness to be a victor, not a victim.  You can do it!!!

But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

 

 

This morning, I encourage you to spend time soaking in God’s Presence.  Have you ever soaked in Him before?  Do you know what that means?

Well, it is as simple as sitting in silence and just being still before the Lord, or playing light worship music and sitting and focusing your heart and mind on Him.

The Bible instructs us to meditate…which isn’t the scary new age thing that the world has perverted it into.  As with most things the enemy does, he took something sacred and slanted it toward the wrong focus.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn how to spend time quietly focused on Him.

But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law, day and night.  Psalm 1:2

Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.  Psalm 4:4

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

I believe one reason the enemy wanted to steal the idea of meditation is because he doesn’t desire us to be still because then we just might hear God speak to us.  When he realized he couldn’t fully steal it, then he perverted it into a time when a person thinks only of themselves, not God.

But we can take back this sacred time.  Bringing our hearts and minds into a firm focus on God Almighty.

Won’t you give Him this time today?

Find a quiet place and focus all your mind and heart on our Holy Creator.  He loves you so.

I would love to hear from you if He speaks to you during this quiet soaking time

On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night.  Psalm 63:6

I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.  Psalm 119:15

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises.              Psalm 119:148

 

Lately, I’ve had several encounters with affection that had previously hit a dead spot inside of my heart.  For years now, I have prayed God would awaken that spot inside of me.  I couldn’t fully identify the location of the numbness, but I knew it was there.

I noticed that even though I seem to crave positive affirmation, when it is delivered, it hits a blank space.  That is, it did, until a couple of weeks ago.

Recently, my father came to me and spoke some words I have longed to hear from a father for a long time.  Only this time when he spoke, I forced myself to continue to make eye contact with him and internally told God that I would receive this affection.

Something began to stir inside of me.

Soon after, when Chris took me away for the weekend, he lavished me with affection in words and actions, and instead of pushing away, I constantly reminded myself to receive.

Another piece stirred inside.

This week, I have continually reminded myself that God has a deep affection for me and I have worked to maintain eye contact with Him and to truly listen to Him.  He loves you too.

God, awaken me.  Move over any numb places I have inside and bring them to life.  I want to fully experience Your love and one way to do so is to be ALIVE.  Bring me back to life.  I am Yours.  In Jesus name, Amen.

I encourage you to take some time today, close your eyes and ask God to reveal any numb places you have inside.  Will you invite Him into those places?  What is it like to feel again?  Praise Him as you feel Him moving in previously dead places.

God, bring me back to You.  Lamentations 5:21

God, pick up the pieces.  Put me back together again.  You are my praise!  Jeremiah 17:14

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith 1 John 5:14

 

 

I have noticed how hard it is to let love in sometimes.  Do you ever have a kind word spoken to you only to shrug it off?  Do you struggle to hear positive affirmation?  Do you think it’s humble to do so?

It’s not.

Over the years, I have wondered why I seemed to struggle with this very thing, but I’ve discovered it stems from fear.  The fear can probably take many forms, but for me it was fear of disappointment.  I never quite believed people when they spoke nice words to me.  Instead, I would process it through suspicion.  I would wonder if they had an angle or wanted something from me.  I was never fully convinced that they were in fact, telling the truth.

This came from some deep-seated disappointment in my heart.  But God didn’t create me to be unable to receive His affection or word of encouragement.  As His daughter, I am designed to receive His love in all forms.

So, even though I still didn’t feel different, I began to simply thank others when they praised or encouraged me.  I began to train my mind and heart to receive encouragement.  I began to see that God would speak His encouragement to me, through others words.  I now look beyond the person in front of me and to the One Who I know loves me without fail.

People who love to encourage, feel loved when others receive that love.  This is also true, so why would I sabotage their love language because I have a complex.  A simple thank you accompanied with a smile, can make the other persons day.

So I encourage, and challenge you today….if someone pays you a compliment, simply say, “Thank you” and smile.  Don’t talk your way out of the compliment or shrug it off.  Just receive it for what it’s worth.

God loves you.  He goes to great lengths to demonstrate that love.  Just receive it.

And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  1 John 4:16

There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  1 John 4:18

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8

I mentioned before that Chris and I took a weekend without the kids.  I know to some people, the idea of leaving kids behind and stealing away together is selfish or unnecessary.  But one of my passions is to affirm to people the true importance of the marriage over the family.  As with most people, Chris and I have a high value for family.  We have and continue to make many sacrifices and deliberate steps to ensure our home is loving and steady.  One of the ways we do this is for them to see that Chris and I continue to place each other first.  My kids grow in confidence as they see Chris and I walk out a loving relationship.

When Chris and I were young in marriage, I realized just how easy it was to let life run away with my time.  It’s easier to simply devote myself wholly to my kids and forsake my “first love”.  The one I started the family with in the first place.  Without him, there would be no “us”.

I also observed other marriages, I would notice when it seemed hard for a married couple to remain happily wed once the distraction of children had left the home.  Sometimes, a married couple uses the children as a buffer of sorts.  That buffer can be used to cover years and years of bitterness and disappointment.  They can be used to avoid change in our own hearts.  But it was never meant to be this way.  God didn’t give us family so we could avoid His hand working in the beautiful soil of our hearts.  No, He wanted the whole process of relationship and walking through the unfolding of life to refine us.  He wants to use it to reflect His love onto the earth.  Marriage is about a man and wife, first and foremost.

Can you see how this parallels with our walk with Jesus?

So often we can become far more distracted and concerned with everyone else’s needs and forsake our own growth.  We were never meant to stop evolving in His Presence.  His mercies are new every morning.  The fact that He said this, convinces me that I will need new mercy every day.

Time away with God makes me stronger.

In the same way I steal away with Chris, I should steal away with God.  With the same intentionality that I sow into my marriage, I should sow into my First Love.  Without Him there would be nothing else.

God, continually draw my heart to Yours.  Like a magnet, draw me always toward Your Presence.  I surrender to Your hand in my life, once again.  Mold me.  I am Yours, in Jesus name, amen.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.  Psalm 61:2

Last weekend, I had arranged for my mom to take my kids for the weekend.  I knew Chris and I needed the time to relax and reconnect.  Life gets so busy and a marriage relationship takes intentionality.  I was really looking forward to spending time with him at our home resting.  I had no big plans, just being together.  During the night before my mom was to take the kids, I woke up and felt a nudge to check what time it was.  When I looked at my phone the time read, 3:33.  Immediately, I felt God saying, “I am about to really bless you.”  I began praising Him in my mind and singing of His goodness as I fell back to sleep.

That morning as I was preparing breakfast, Chris announced that he wanted to take me out for an overnight trip to Dallas, TX.  I had no idea he was even thinking in this direction.  It felt like such a blessing.  The thrifty side of me immediately began crunching numbers and thinking, “It would be far cheaper to stay at home.”  But because of my 3:33 wake-up call with God, I knew my answer should be yes.  I knew He was trying to bless me, I only needed to let Him.

I spent the days after that 3:33 wake-up call actively looking for ways He wanted to bless me.  It was a delightful exercise.  I have carried that into today.  Even though I had to have an unexpected procedure done yesterday, I have found His blessing in every part of it.  He has blessed me with a husband who truly cares for me and has gone above and beyond to keep family life going like normal during my down-time.  My body is healing and that is also a blessing.  I have a job that I can work from home.  Praise Jesus for that!  Every day and in many different ways, I can see His blessings unfolding over my life.

I used to spend my time worrying about the bad things that could happen, now I am intentionally looking for good.

Won’t you take time today to look for the good in your life?  Take an inventory of large and small blessings that surround your life.  The evidences of His Presence caring for you.  He loves you.  He cares for you.

I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising Him.  I will praise Him for what He has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!  Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness; let us praise His name together!  I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me; He freed me from all my fears.  The oppressed look to Him and are glad; they will never be disappointed.  The helpless call to Him, and He answers; He saves them from all their troubles.  His angel guards those who honor the Lord and rescues them from danger.  Find out for yourself how good the Lord is.  Happy are those who find safety with Him.  Honor the Lord, all His people; those who obey Him have all they need.  Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good.  Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the Lord.  Would you like to enjoy life?  Do you want long life and happiness?  Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies.  Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart.  The Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; but He opposes who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten.  The righteous call to the Lord, and He listens; He rescues them from all their troubles.  Psalm 34:1-17

So, given what we read yesterday, how should we conduct ourselves?

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”   Isaiah 30:15a

This is a far cry from what we see most people doing.  But God is not concerned with popular or “normal”.  He stays the same, from everlasting to everlasting.  He is steady.  He is that still small Voice.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord,” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquakes; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.  1 Kings 19:11-12

There are moments when we hear His voice and it leads us out into the world to declare, but there are other moments when He draws us back and upon hearing Him our response is to be one of humility and quiet trust.

In a world that is telling us to constantly “do” and “be” more, our salvation is found in repentance and rest.  In a world that screams and demands “rights”, we are to find strength in quietness and trust.

One thing that always remains the same though, we should always be looking for His heart.   Where is He showing you His heart today?  When you see His heart somewhere or moving over something, that’s where you should be focused.  Don’t ever discount that.  Don’t ever fall into the belief that He only moves in certain places, on the contrary, He can move in ALL places.  We must be willing to go anywhere.  To do anything, including being still.  We’ve grown so accustomed to “doing”, that I believe many of us have forgotten how to be still.  Myself included.

In fact, God recently convicted me of this and I have been practicing stillness.  It’s an inside job.  And when things happen that make me want to dash into the flurry, I remind myself Who is on the throne and where salvation comes from.

In Christ alone, my Hope is found.

God, You alone are my hope.  Forgive me for any time I have let media or others rob me of my peace.  I know it’s up to me to avoid those pitfalls.  I am Yours and I know You are for me, so I will not fear.  I know that my success in life is not based on who is in political office or what I see with my eyes.  I know that the unseen is more real than anything else.  This world is not my home, Your heart is.  Help me to continue to rest within Your heart.  Hope is never lost when You are present.