"Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
2 Peter 1:4
Yahweh has given us so many precious promises. Through what? Look back to the last verse--through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. We participate in the divine nature, we mystically become part of Him, by simply understanding just how great He is. By having the true knowledge of that. Knowledge really is power!
"Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God..."
Reception, belief, true knowledge--all these things go hand in hand. What it means to have a renewed mind (Ephesians 4:23) and realize just how well you already know Him! It's comforting to know that you are a daughter, or that you are a son.
God's promises give us the power of participation, the power of holy pleasure. There is a belonging in the family of God, in the nature of God. It's just as natural as could be. (1 Cor. 15:46 and context)
I've been praying for two major things for a while now. One, that I would feel the way my Heavenly Father feels about every situation, and two, that everything I say would be soaked in His Love. These are just a small facet of the divine nature.
See, when you are partaking of His promises, in His goodness, the temptations of the world "grow strangely dim". The burdens, the sorrows, the sin--all those things can be swallowed up (1 Cor. 15:54). They can lose their place in your awareness and in your mind.
You are free to be free, you are free to be constantly joyful, you are free to never worry again. You are free to be like Jesus was on the earth (1 John 4:17), always experiencing perfect love. In 2016, let's all tap into that.
Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Friday, January 1, 2016
Friday, January 9, 2015
Snapshot: He Crowns Us
A few days I saw in a vision a purple crown. It made me think...sometimes Vanessa wears a crown like this around the house for fun. I realized God was telling me something. In the past, crowns have represented the way that God makes us heirs.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" Romans 8:16-17
There is a stunning difference between where we're at and were God wants to take us. God wants to crown us from within the depth of his riches(Romans 11:33). Once we have died with Christ by the Holy Spirit, we can then share in His Glory. God wants to crown us with good things--peace, favor and success. It's a new season, so let's renew our minds and accept the goodness of God given to us.
This is hard to imagine for some! I know that for me, it sure has been in the past. So let's turn to the Word for encouragement. After all, Faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:8-10
If we are one with God, we will not want anything else. Either God will satisfy our pure desires, or He will eliminate our impure ones. We will not see a single thing that we think highly of that God will not eventually allow us to attain. We will be able to partake of His Glory at that point, because His Glory will be the only thing we desire! That's when He crowns us. That's when we receive more and more and more, because He knows that we will respond by giving it right back to Him.
Confirmed: A few days ago, a word called, "The Lord is crowning the Year--Do Not Take Off Your Crown!" was released on the Elijah list. In it, I found a confirmation that really sealed the meaning of the crown visions. Below is an excerpt, in italics...
To be crowned means to be set apart and consecrated for a high position. This is a year for higher positioning. Promotion and exaltation comes from the Lord, and He is exalting the humble ones. I see many being promoted to higher assignments in the Body of Christ. I see other Believers being promoted into "decision-making" seats in society.
God is rewarding openly those who have sown in secret. There will be sudden shifts and sudden promotions. People will be adorned with stunning influence. Get ready. Your season can change in a day. Be mentally limber. Be able to let go of the old quickly and embrace change readily.
"Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once – and everywhere you look, blessings!" Amos 9:13 MSG
Your promotion will produce personal chaos. This is a blessing and not a curse. Know that if God is with you, you won't fail. He will give you the grace to re-calibrate and rebalance. Cling to God tightly and press forward anyway. Don't return to the familiar or the comfortable. The cloud has moved. His grace is now found in the new place and not the old.
The Spirit of wisdom is being released to all those stepping into this year's crowning. Those who are wise will shine like stars! It's time to shine and be seen. All glory to Jesus Christ as this generation shines bright and makes His name famous. He has crowned the year – do not take off your crown.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" Romans 8:16-17
There is a stunning difference between where we're at and were God wants to take us. God wants to crown us from within the depth of his riches(Romans 11:33). Once we have died with Christ by the Holy Spirit, we can then share in His Glory. God wants to crown us with good things--peace, favor and success. It's a new season, so let's renew our minds and accept the goodness of God given to us.
This is hard to imagine for some! I know that for me, it sure has been in the past. So let's turn to the Word for encouragement. After all, Faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:8-10
If we are one with God, we will not want anything else. Either God will satisfy our pure desires, or He will eliminate our impure ones. We will not see a single thing that we think highly of that God will not eventually allow us to attain. We will be able to partake of His Glory at that point, because His Glory will be the only thing we desire! That's when He crowns us. That's when we receive more and more and more, because He knows that we will respond by giving it right back to Him.
Confirmed: A few days ago, a word called, "The Lord is crowning the Year--Do Not Take Off Your Crown!" was released on the Elijah list. In it, I found a confirmation that really sealed the meaning of the crown visions. Below is an excerpt, in italics...
To be crowned means to be set apart and consecrated for a high position. This is a year for higher positioning. Promotion and exaltation comes from the Lord, and He is exalting the humble ones. I see many being promoted to higher assignments in the Body of Christ. I see other Believers being promoted into "decision-making" seats in society.
God is rewarding openly those who have sown in secret. There will be sudden shifts and sudden promotions. People will be adorned with stunning influence. Get ready. Your season can change in a day. Be mentally limber. Be able to let go of the old quickly and embrace change readily.
"Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once – and everywhere you look, blessings!" Amos 9:13 MSG
Your promotion will produce personal chaos. This is a blessing and not a curse. Know that if God is with you, you won't fail. He will give you the grace to re-calibrate and rebalance. Cling to God tightly and press forward anyway. Don't return to the familiar or the comfortable. The cloud has moved. His grace is now found in the new place and not the old.
The Spirit of wisdom is being released to all those stepping into this year's crowning. Those who are wise will shine like stars! It's time to shine and be seen. All glory to Jesus Christ as this generation shines bright and makes His name famous. He has crowned the year – do not take off your crown.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
New Year, New You: Returning and Rest
For 2015, God gave me three thematic topics. This is the third of three posts on the New Year. The other two themes are "Focus" and "Being a servant". I'll admit, these may appear like pretty basic topics. But they're exactly what we need. These things will bring us closer to God. They will lead us to "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). And that's what leads to more! That's what leads to signs and wonders; healings, and operating in the supernatural. The three topics God gave me for this New Year are designed to get us out of the way so He can work, so He can work through us.
Now onto the third topic, which is "returning and rest". This will be a short post--let's look at a few verses about God's rest. I'm not going to comment on them--let's just meditate and soak in the Word. Make these verses your standard for this year. Everything is accelerating these days, both good things and bad. Even the Kingdom is accelerating, and it is still suffering violence (Matthew 11:12), like it did in Jesus' day. To abide in Him means to become undistracted by these things, and that calls for entering into His Rest. This is what He desires, and He has told us how to do it:
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
"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, but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29
"So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11
Now onto the third topic, which is "returning and rest". This will be a short post--let's look at a few verses about God's rest. I'm not going to comment on them--let's just meditate and soak in the Word. Make these verses your standard for this year. Everything is accelerating these days, both good things and bad. Even the Kingdom is accelerating, and it is still suffering violence (Matthew 11:12), like it did in Jesus' day. To abide in Him means to become undistracted by these things, and that calls for entering into His Rest. This is what He desires, and He has told us how to do it:
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
"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, but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29
"So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11
Saturday, January 3, 2015
New Year, New You: Focus on God
As believers, we need to focus our efforts on God. We need to live for His Glory. We need to live for what He stands for. We need to be fixated on the Kingdom.
I was seeking the Lord on themes for 2015, and I this is one of the themes He gave me. I also believe it's the most important.
"But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
Seeking God before our own interests is a command. And it's been given for our own good! The reality of the Kingdom of Heaven is more fantastic, more important, than anything else we could run after. The reality of salvation is more important than anything else. And the possibility of friendship with Jesus is more important than anything else. So we need to seek the things that matter. We need to seek His Kingdom before He allows us to find it.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8
When we are seeking Him, our thoughts will reveal it. We will think about God, Heaven, and how we can accommodate His desires on the earth. We will naturally follow the advice of James seen above. We will become pure and go from strength to strength (Psalms 84:7). We will feel the power of His Victory. When we focus on Him, we will share in His passions. We will devote our talents to God, and He will give us the desires of our heart.
Focusing on our Lord will always keep us safe. Those who put their hope in Him will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23). If we focus on Him, He will deliver us. Let's look to Him and be saved. Let's look entirely at Him, and do so in faith. Let's know that our redeemer lives (Job 19:25).
When we focus on God, we our minds will be renewed. We will know the Father's heart for our lives, and we will experience the surety of our calling. We won't be limited by mere religion, putting God in a box, nor will we subscribe to the wisdom of the world. Instead we will become more and more separated from the world! And this is a requirement if we are to hear clearly from God.
So let's seek Him first. Then let's fulfill His commission--the Kingdom and the righteousness will follow. Let's advance His causes. Remember that the desire to share His salvation with the lost is already in you. If it's not, then to some extent you have stifled the Holy Spirit. Don't live in old desires and selfishness any more! Instead look to Him and obey as He takes you to the fullness of salvation. Keep seeking as He saves every single aspect of your life! Thank Him for His goodness, and believe that He is worth focusing on.
Confirmed: Right after writing this post, a commercial for power tools came on. It was quickened to me to have 'True value behind every project'. This takes focusing on Him and a pure heart.
I was seeking the Lord on themes for 2015, and I this is one of the themes He gave me. I also believe it's the most important.
"But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
Seeking God before our own interests is a command. And it's been given for our own good! The reality of the Kingdom of Heaven is more fantastic, more important, than anything else we could run after. The reality of salvation is more important than anything else. And the possibility of friendship with Jesus is more important than anything else. So we need to seek the things that matter. We need to seek His Kingdom before He allows us to find it.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8
When we are seeking Him, our thoughts will reveal it. We will think about God, Heaven, and how we can accommodate His desires on the earth. We will naturally follow the advice of James seen above. We will become pure and go from strength to strength (Psalms 84:7). We will feel the power of His Victory. When we focus on Him, we will share in His passions. We will devote our talents to God, and He will give us the desires of our heart.
Focusing on our Lord will always keep us safe. Those who put their hope in Him will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23). If we focus on Him, He will deliver us. Let's look to Him and be saved. Let's look entirely at Him, and do so in faith. Let's know that our redeemer lives (Job 19:25).
When we focus on God, we our minds will be renewed. We will know the Father's heart for our lives, and we will experience the surety of our calling. We won't be limited by mere religion, putting God in a box, nor will we subscribe to the wisdom of the world. Instead we will become more and more separated from the world! And this is a requirement if we are to hear clearly from God.
So let's seek Him first. Then let's fulfill His commission--the Kingdom and the righteousness will follow. Let's advance His causes. Remember that the desire to share His salvation with the lost is already in you. If it's not, then to some extent you have stifled the Holy Spirit. Don't live in old desires and selfishness any more! Instead look to Him and obey as He takes you to the fullness of salvation. Keep seeking as He saves every single aspect of your life! Thank Him for His goodness, and believe that He is worth focusing on.
Confirmed: Right after writing this post, a commercial for power tools came on. It was quickened to me to have 'True value behind every project'. This takes focusing on Him and a pure heart.
New Year, New You: Become a Servant
What is the second thing God directed me to for the New year? Let's consider how important it is to be a servant. Are you willing? Jesus was.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
Even our master became a servant. Even He became a friend of the unpopular and lowly. Do you want to be like Him? Jesus, build our Love. To be a servant and do so joyfully, we need to have His Love. We need to have it lit up within us. We need to have it light us up.
Once we focus on Him, we have fulfilled the first five commandments. We have loved Him with everything! So let's allow Him to take us further. Let's love our neighbor as ourselves. Let's become servants.
When Jesus saw people in need and oppressed, He was moved with compassion. We need to be the same way. Our desires need to be spent on God, and then on giving Him to others. Jesus said, "feed my sheep". Do you love Him? Then bear fruit and obey Him. Let's all feed His sheep (John 21:17).
God wants to save His people from any evils, and He wants to bless them forever (Psalms 28:9). Will you join Him in the work that He's given Himself since before time? He will accomplish His purposes regardless. Don't you want to partner with Him? It takes loving and being loved to truly serve. But these love exchanges testify to our true identities--as the sons and daughters of God. Let's serve accordingly.
God wants to give you His passions. Jesus is the most passionate One in the universe. He has more than enough passion for you, and He has more than enough passion to give you. Allow it to compel you. Allow it to give you humility. Allow His love to give you unconditional thankfulness. Allow serving others for His purposes to become pure joy.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
Even our master became a servant. Even He became a friend of the unpopular and lowly. Do you want to be like Him? Jesus, build our Love. To be a servant and do so joyfully, we need to have His Love. We need to have it lit up within us. We need to have it light us up.
Once we focus on Him, we have fulfilled the first five commandments. We have loved Him with everything! So let's allow Him to take us further. Let's love our neighbor as ourselves. Let's become servants.
When Jesus saw people in need and oppressed, He was moved with compassion. We need to be the same way. Our desires need to be spent on God, and then on giving Him to others. Jesus said, "feed my sheep". Do you love Him? Then bear fruit and obey Him. Let's all feed His sheep (John 21:17).
God wants to save His people from any evils, and He wants to bless them forever (Psalms 28:9). Will you join Him in the work that He's given Himself since before time? He will accomplish His purposes regardless. Don't you want to partner with Him? It takes loving and being loved to truly serve. But these love exchanges testify to our true identities--as the sons and daughters of God. Let's serve accordingly.
God wants to give you His passions. Jesus is the most passionate One in the universe. He has more than enough passion for you, and He has more than enough passion to give you. Allow it to compel you. Allow it to give you humility. Allow His love to give you unconditional thankfulness. Allow serving others for His purposes to become pure joy.
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