I had a revelation recently that really reset my heart.

I had been really struggling with fear.  Fear of the future and all it holds, or doesn’t.  Fear of my kids not walking with God.  Fear of, just a lot of different things.  When I realized that fear was attempting to get into the driver’s seat of my life, I stopped and asked God, “Where did this all begin? When did I walk away from faith and fall into fear?”  Immediately, He showed me that I had turned away from childlike faith.  I saw (in my mind) a child and the way they always just imagine everything is and will continue to be fine.  I saw this same child playing and laughing without a care in the world.  I was that child.  He showed me that I had forgotten how important it was to deliberately walk in childlike faith.  He said, “You stopped believing Me, and the good things I’ve told you.”

Oh God, please forgive me.  Never again let disappointment or my fear of man cause me to fall out of childlike faith in You.  I do trust You.  I do believe You.  I’m so sorry.

Prayer Moment: Today’s message is short by design.  I hope that you will read and soak up the following Psalm.  Ask God to restore your childlike faith and expectation of Him.  He longs to meet you right where you are today.  If you are willing, give Him permission to meet with you and fill you once again with that childlike wonder and awe of Who He is and what He can do.

 

I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.  Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!  Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me.  I saw only trouble and sorrow.  Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!”  How kind the Lord is!  How good He is!  So merciful, this God of ours!  The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me.  Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.  He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.  And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live on earth!  I believed in You, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.”  In my anxiety I cried out to You, “These people are all liars!”  What can I offer the Lord for all He has done for me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.  I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all His people.  The Lord cares deeply when His loved ones die.  O Lord, I am Your servant; yes, I am Your servant, born into Your household; You have freed me from my chains.  I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.  I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people- in the house of the Lord in the heart of Jerusalem.  Praise the Lord!  Psalm 116

 

Years ago, in a moment of powerful worship, I sang out about a clarion call.  I knew that word came from God because I had no clue what it meant.  I kept singing, “This is my clarion call!! This is my clarion call!! Rise up warriors!! Rise up!!”  Later, when I looked it up, I found this:

Clarion Call: a strongly expressed demand or request for action.

How cool is that?!  When I was worshiping in a place consumed by the Holy Spirit, His call was released through my mouth, while I was completely unaware of what I was saying.  I just knew it was God.

Right now, this is my clarion call to you.  It’s time to stand.  Stand firm and unwavering in the face of the many evils we see being revealed.  This is a season where God, in His mercy is allowing us to see many motives within our government, churches, social groups, etc.  And many of these motives are not good.  It’s time to wake up!  Open our eyes to the spiritual battles that are being waged all around us.  The time of sitting and waiting has ended, and we must stand firm.  Our country and our families deserve that much from us, at least.

We are in a unique moment.  Abortion has the potential of being abolished.  That’s right, ended completely!  Our borders are being fortified and it makes not only us safer, but all those who wish to come into this blessed country.  Don’t be deceived.  Our family units have been under attack by the enemy, but he will fail.  The plans of the enemy have been woven deep into the fabric of our country, but it’s not too late.  It is not too late for redemption to come.  It’s not too late to stand firm.  We must be covered with our helmet of salvation, so we don’t fall prey to the many twisted thoughts the enemy is trying to fool people with.  We must wear the breastplate of righteousness, so our hearts are protected and not pulled by emotion instead of truth.  We must wear the belt of truth, so we don’t lose sight of what God really did say and what He didn’t.  We must have our shield of faith, at the ready.  Always soaking in God’s truth so we can extinguish every arrow the enemy throws at us.  And our feet must be ready.  For far too long the contented church has only longed to be still, and there is a time for that.  But as scripture tells us, there is a time for everything.  A time for peace and a time for war.  We are in that war, whether we like it or not.  For such a time as this we have all been created.  None of us is alive during this time, by accident.  We must stand.

Prayer Moment:  Regardless of whether you and I agree on all things political, we can surely agree that this great tension in America is happening.  We can’t avoid it.  I encourage you to take time today and ask God how and for what He would have you stand and fight.  The time is now.  The call has been made.  God be with you.

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.  I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.  Joel 2:28-32

 

The other day, I was on a long drive and had a lot of time to just think and I heard God say, “You are set up.” And in a kind of caddy way, I replied, “Set up for an upset.”  God said, “You’re set up for an up step, and you are also set up for an upset.”

He went on to say that my family and I are set up to upset the enemies plans to destroy us.  He was releasing another measure of faith and boldness over me with the revelation that He is still very much involved in what is going on with us and, furthermore, that He intends to use all of what’s been happening, to upset the enemy.

When I heard God say, “Set up for an up step.”  I immediately saw the word “step” and the “T” was a cross, and it leaned over and made a step up for me, He said that Jesus was my step up.  I cannot fail.  Our family cannot fail.  We have been set up.

I’m going to be honest, we have become so weary in the waiting and walking this out that these positive words sometimes hit a very tender and partly numb place.  We’ve received so many positive words from God but have yet to see so many of them come to pass yet.  I have to wrestle to not let disappointment begin to temper my thoughts and jade my outlook.  I still have such a certainty in my soul and spirit.  I am fully confident that God will indeed come through.  He will bring to pass all that He has spoken and promised.  I fully believe that, so in the moments when my humanity threatens to outvoice my faith, I intentionally bathe my mind in truth.

Prayer Moment:  Today I challenge you to revisit prophetic words or encouragements that you’ve received in the past.  Go to the ones that you have yet to see come to pass and place your hand on them and thank God that they have been brought to fulfillment.  Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it’s not “done”.  God has already written the story of your life, and if He has released a word over you, then He has already seen it completed.  We are all just waiting to see with our own eyes what the Father has already worked out.  Do you believe Him?

 

Who has gone up to heaven and come down?  Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?  Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?  Who has established all the ends of the earth?  What is his name, and the name of his son?  Tell me if you know!  Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.  Proverbs 30: 4-6

The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.  Psalm 33:11-12

Here we are on Sunday again, and I am again led to have you meditate on a portion of scripture.

The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.  In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.  But the wicked will perish:  The Lord’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish – vanish like smoke.  The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those He curses will be cut off.  If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm, though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.  I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.  They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.  Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.  For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.  Psalm 37:18-29

 

I seem to always run across these types of scriptures when walking through a valley.  It’s like God shining down on me and reminding me that we will make it through this and to remember to even be generous in the hard times, because that generosity carries eternal reward.  Our family has sought to do just that.  We have been continuing to give above and beyond our tithe during this lean time and we have been continuing to give of our time and talents both within the church and outside of it.  All these things are done not so we can brag, but to ensure that we never become a slave to our circumstance and so we always remember Who our Provider truly is. Even in the lean times we can partner with abundance and turn away from the poverty spirit.  When we look to God alone to provide our provision, then we can rest assured that we will always have more than enough.

Prayer Moment:  Take time to re-read the above portion of scripture.  What does it mean to you personally?  Journal your heart.  Ask God to partner with you as you read and to highlight any part that He wants you to really hear from Him today.  That scripture is ripe with promise.  Be blessed and be a blessing today. You are loved.

 

I’ve noticed that sometimes people who hold leadership positions or who are influencers of some type, are the last people to ask for help, or to acknowledge that they too are broken people who are navigating life by the grace of God just like everybody else.  Not me though, from the start of this devotional writing journey and honestly, throughout all my walk with God, I’ve made a point of simply being honest.  I know, because God has shown me, that transparency is one of my greatest strengths and weapons against the enemy.  I know that sometimes I need help.  I know that without God I am completely helpless.  I know who I am.

When God named this series of devotionals “Deeper”, I knew that meant that He was about to move into some really deep places within my heart and I had to be willing to deal with some really hard things, all the while sharing about the journey and being very honest about it all.  That has proven to be so very true.

During the week I had, where the enemy was attacking me directly and God even told me I was under attack, I told Chris that I felt like I should get a SOZO session.  SOZO is a type of heart healing prayer.  I reached out to Bethel Church’s Transformation Center and scheduled a skype session and had it last Saturday.  It was amazing.  God really moved in places inside of me that I didn’t even know I still needed healing.  These were places that I’ve prayed through previously, but God is gracious and He knows how much we can handle during each time of healing, so sometimes an old wound must be revisited a couple of times just to lend healing to every different facet of the heart.  I ended the session receiving some really great and encouraging words straight from God.  And was once again reminded that if I want to continue to mature in my faith and as a person, then I must ALWAYS be willing to surrender to the hand of healing and revealing in my life.

Prayer Moment:  Do you remain open to God’s hand of heart and emotional healing in your life?  Have you hit a point where you think, “I’m good, I don’t need any vulnerable healing because I’ve grown past that?”  If that’s how you feel, then I still encourage you to really dig deep into this moment, and like a child, ask, “Daddy, do I need to seek out more heart healing?”  Allow God to be honest with you.  Allow yourself to be honest.  Maybe you’ve never had heart healing.  If that’s you and you would like to receive more information, then please reach out to me and I can direct you to a couple of different methods so you can find what works best for you.

God, I ask You to reveal to me any and every part of my heart that is not fully healed.  God, I don’t want to live out any belief that is hinged on a lie.  Reveal to me where I have believed a lie and now hold it as a truth.  I only want to believe You, God.  I surrender to You once again.  Move in me and grow me into the person You designed me to become.  I am Yours. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.  Psalm 125:1-2

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.  Psalm 34:10

Recently, I had an exchange with God, where I asked Him if I was worth it.  He took my face in His hands and said, “You are worth it all.”  This thought struck me so soundly, the God Who I worship and Who is worthy of all praise, was telling me that I am worth it all.  A few days later, as I worshiped at my piano, I began to sing, “You are worthy of it all”  and in that moment I could hear God (in my heart) singing back over me, “You are worth it all.”  It’s becoming a welcomed theme in my life right now. There’s nothing like worshiping God and then hearing Him love you right back.

But isn’t it true?  He does think that each and every one of us was worth it all.  We were worth Him creating Adam and Eve and walking out their fall from grace.  We were worth Him reaching out to Noah and having him build an arc so that one day we would exist.  We were worth having His one and only Son, Jesus, die on that cross.  We were worth it all.  All the troubles and trials and even betrayals.

Let that thought sink in for a minute.

You are worth it all.

Now that you are aware of His thoughts about you, there is no room for talking bad about yourself anymore.  There is no room for you to think the world might have been better if you never existed.  No room for you to think your purpose is too small to matter.  No, now is the time to think big and small.  What do I mean?  I mean, place no limits on what God can and will do inside of you and through you, meanwhile being diligent and faithful in all the small things you’re living out right now.  Sometimes, it’s the most seemingly insignificant parts of our life that leave the greatest impact on other’s lives, and the world around us.

Being faithful in the small things, so God knows He can trust you with more.

Prayer Moment:  God, no matter how big or small my life and ministry will be, I want it to be full of You.  I want the weight of Your glory to consume all that I do.  Fall on me now.  Fill me anew.  Light my fire again and let it rage like an inferno for You.  Whether I end up influencing presidents and kings, or simply ministering to my family and friends, let me take it all seriously enough to leave a legacy for Your kingdom.  Use me as you will.  I am willing.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.  Isaiah 50:4

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Psalm 32:8

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  Luke 16:10

The other day as I was running, I suddenly felt God all around me and He said, “You’re learning the secret to being content.”

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through Him Who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13

In that moment I heard the above verse in my mind.  It is absolutely true, I have been learning this secret.  I am learning that no matter what my bank account says, the most important thing is for me to remember that as I am walking in the direction God has pointed me, and living in the exact home that He led us to and made very clear was for us, and as our children are in the school He wants them to be in, and basically our whole lives are set up the way they are because we have lived out one instruction or leading after another…He WILL provide for all of it.  He gave it, and He will make a way for it.  There is so much comfort to be found in knowing this.

Allowing God to lead you through life and giving Him the final say in all of your decisions, builds into your life a failsafe.

Failsafe: Unlikely or unable to fail.

As we have been walking surrendered for many years now, I have learned more and more every single day, to rely completely on God.  So yes, I am content right now.  I don’t whine and complain about not being able to afford this or that, instead, I ask God to help me find the fullness in each day.  It’s become a comforting and stabilizing practice.  We are really enjoying life right now.  And if I ever begin to feel anxiety or fear knocking, I stop and refocus my heart and mind on these truths…God is my Provider, and in Him I have more than enough.  I repeat this over and over again, especially in moments of fear.  This practice has led to a reservoir of peace that I have not ever known before.

Prayer Moment:  God, teach me to be content no matter what my circumstances are.  Show me how to find Your fullness in every day.  Thank You for being a trustworthy Father and Provider.  Thank You for lavishing Your blessings upon us every day and in many different ways.  Keep me in perfect peace as my mind is steadfast upon You.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

One day while I was running at the track, I heard the Lord very clearly speak to my heart, “My provision transcends the earths”

In other words, He was saying to me, that no matter what is going on in our government or city or field of work, He will provide.  He was encouraging me to step out in faith and boldly believe for Him to move mightily within our finances and work etc.  I no longer find myself subject to the temperature of this earth.  As I am connected to my Heavenly Father, I can trust Him to release more than enough of everything over our lives.  More than enough finances, yes, but also more than enough of His Spirit and opportunity to be used for His kingdom and friendships and opportunities for all the good things.

He is the God of more than enough.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”  Now He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  2 Corinthians 9:8-11

The more I break up with the thoughts of poverty all around me, whether it’s poverty of finance or spirit, I find more and more freedom in my current moment.  I am abounding in love.  I am full of wholeness.  I am overflowing with the goodness of God.  He Who has led me this far, will not leave me now.

We must choose to trust God.  It’s a deliberate decision.  It’s not something that just happens.  It’s an act of war.  Fighting the enemy who speaks defeat, fear and death over you.  When you stand firm and repeat truth in the face of his lies, he must flee.

Prayer Moment: Do you believe this?  God has never left you or forsaken you in the past, therefore, you can rest assured that whatever situation you find yourself in right now, He will pull you through.  It’s a fact.  You can lean on this fact when you feel all your strength has drained.  You can protect your mind from the lies of the enemy by reciting this promise over yourself and wearing it like a helmet.  The helmet of salvation.  God is Your salvation, in every way possible.  Will you choose this path today?

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.  Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.  Isaiah 32:18-20

Lately, I have really enjoyed reading and meditating on one or two Psalms every morning.  I will read one and then read it again once or twice, then I will write out parts of it and what situation in my life or the life of another, that I’m praying it over.  It’s become something I look forward to each and every morning.  Even though I have read through all the Psalms many times over the years, I am still amazed at how “new” they seem each time.  It’s amazing how I find new promises every morning.  Here’s one that I have found repeated in many different chapters of Psalms…..

He delivers us in His righteousness, not ours.

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in Your righteousness.  Psalm 31:1

Vindicate me in Your righteousness, O Lord, my God; do not let them gloat over me.  Psalm 35:24

Continue Your love to those who know You, Your righteousness to the upright in heart.  Psalm 36:10

In our Christian walk, many of us strive to have a kind of righteousness that God will reward with blessing, and while that is a good and noble goal, there is also a facet of relying on His righteousness to set us free.  In truth, none of us carries a righteousness apart from God.  It is His righteousness that covers our sins and makes it possible for us to be sons and daughters of God.  Why is it, then, that we often abandon that reality and begin to rely on our own good deeds and “holiness” when walking out the day to day trials of life?

As my family and I have been facing needs of many kinds lately, God has gone out of His way to infuse within me the fact that He holds the righteousness that leads to breakthrough.  It’s in His righteousness that I’m rescued, not my own.

This takes a lot of the pressure off.  I was finding myself trying, often in my own strength, to be “good” enough to position myself for His blessings.  He obviously didn’t like that because He has day by day been reinforcing the fact that He is my All in All.  He is the righteousness I need.

This is not to say I shouldn’t live a wise and prudent life, or practice self-control.  Of course I should, but what I am saying is, I will never be righteous on my own.  He is righteousness within me.  It reminds me of this verse.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-  not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

and

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.  It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

Prayer Moment: God, I ask You to keep me in a very clear perspective, that You are my absolute source.  I already have Your affection.  It’s not something that I earn.  So, when I approach You let it be in full confidence and understanding of Who You truly are, and that all things are possible, not because I am perfect, but because You are.  In Jesus name, Amen.

As I have been walking out the busyness of life with a family of six, I have learned a lot about not being subject to my calendar.  I have learned that my calendar is subject to the timing of Holy Spirit.  As Sunday comes and I see Monday is imminent, I used to find myself feeling anxious and honestly stressed over the amount of daily obligations that we have.  I refuse to live with feelings like that, so I began to press in and ask God to renew that part of my mind.  I asked Him to help me embrace Mondays and the newness that each week brings.  He has done just that.

It’s such a relief to lay my schedule down at His feet and wake up each morning saying, “God, I give my busy schedule to You.  Show me how to walk out Your tempo for this day.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  Proverbs 19:21

In their heart’s humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.  Proverbs 16:9

With these verses in mind, I have learned to surrender my day and its timing to God, and you cannot imagine the exponential peace I have found in that practice.

Prayer Moment:  I am keeping today’s devotional short because I want you to take time to pull out your calendar for the week and look at it, then place a hand on it and pray, “God, I surrender my time to You.  I ask You for pockets of rest in the busyness of each day.  Help me to remember that my worth is not determined by how busy I am.  Help me to see things that I am doing that aren’t necessary, but cause busyness in my life.  Show me any areas where I am striving to be busy to either avoid dealing with something or to feel important.  My worth is determined by You.  You say I am worth it, so I lay aside earthly striving and busyness and embrace a holy tempo.  Give me tricks and strategies and fore planning to make even the busiest of days more peaceful, and on the days that seem to never end, I ask You for an extra dose of grace to add a boost to my step and my attitude so that I can be the blessing You desire me to be.  I am Yours, and I surrender my steps to You.  Write Yourself into my week.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

I would love to hear how this devo challenges you or helps bless you and your family, so feel free to comment.  Your comment could just spread more blessing to others!