Category: Hiding His Word
New Wine
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. ~ Matthew 9:14-17
On Tuesday nights, I usually attend an online Bible Study and prayer meeting with some friends from all over the world. Last night we read Matthew 9:14-17 about new cloth on old garments and new wine in old wine bottles.
The following statement was made by the one leading the study. “New bottles (new wine skins) for the new wine is about the next and the new season. You can’t keep everything of the old season when God is taking you into the new. God wants you to lay it all down, and He will take away whatever is necessary so that the new wine is His best wine.”
I felt it was a Word straight from God’s heart into mine.
Then today, as I looked up this scripture, this song, “New Wine,” came up. I have listened to it all day and pondered it. Now, I share it here – as a devotion and a prayer—one of the most personal songs I have ever shared.
“So make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me!”
~ Brooke Ligertwood
My Seven
Yesterday I was challenged to get into the Word and seek the Lord for seven verses to stand on in the midst of the trials and circumstance of my life. Now verses! Living Words to declare over my current situation that God has given to me. They may be different tomorrow, but for tomorrow’s troubles there is also a Word. As the Lord challenged me, I then challenged others. Here are my seven with headings related to my circumstances (and a few notes for context).
Isaiah 26:3 (Peace)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: cause he trusteth in thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (Loneliness)
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Note: What a strange season. I guess we all face times of loneliness and I do as well. Mine are sometimes very intense and seem to come out of nowhere. Years ago, God told me when this happens to go to those that are lonelier than I. I started visiting the nursing home residents and shut-ins of our church and it was life changing. Maybe now it is time to pray for someone else or make a few calls. It surely is a time to declare this verse over my life.
Exodus 15:26 (Health and Healing)
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Genesis 26:1, 12. (Sowing and Reaping)
26:1 – And there was a famine in the Land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
26:12 – Then Isaac sowed in that land, and receive in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.
Note: These two verses I counted as one. In Genesis 26 there was a famine in the land but when Isaac sowed in the time of this trial, THAT SAME YEAR he was blessed an hundredfold. Wow! What a season we are living in to sow and to reap.
Jeremiah 29:11 (God’s thoughts about me)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Philippians 1:6 (God will complete His work in me)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 4:9 (God is with me; Peace)
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Note: I intentionally started this and end it with a verse about “peace.” No matter what I deal with presently, I want to be a peaceful (peace filled) woman of God with God’s peace flowing out of my life. Please grant it, Lord…In Jesus Name! Amen!!!
You Will Arise
This prophetic word by Marsha Burns is very good and encouraging…but that last paragraph…WOW! It spoke volumes into my spirit.
Prophetic Direction:
“You Will Arise to a New Level of Overcoming'”
by: Marsha Burns, Kremmling, CO
The Lord says, “You will arise to a new level of overcoming. You have already begun to see patterns in your life that have consistently opened the door to the enemy’s work against you. These patterns will become increasingly apparent as you progress and punish disobedience with your obedience. Rejoice in this process.
“Your struggle is not over, but if you look back you can see that victory has come more speedily than in times past. This is because you have learned to release your anger and bitterness and have refused the victim position. You will continue to rise up to defeat the enemy more effectively as you choose to exercise your faith in Me to bring you through.
“Do not be afraid of unknown challenges that lie ahead. You cannot fight the battle until you see the enemy and discover his method of attack. Rest in the assurance that My grace is sufficient, and that I will bring you through to victory as you yield to the leading of My Spirit,” says the Lord.
Luke 12:11-12, “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
“This, indeed, is a season when you discover, in greater dimension, the power to overcome every obstacle. Old mindsets that bring defeat to you will become crystal clear. It will be like suddenly awakening from a dream to see the absolute reality of your existence and spiritual dominance.
High Place of Discernment
“I am lifting you up to a high place, spiritually, where you can see the valley below with great clarity. You will no longer see the world and people around you with natural eyes, but you will see through eyes of discernment that penetrate through the veil that separates flesh and spirit.
“Be prepared to have the eyes of your understanding enlightened. I will cause you to grasp the wisdom of things you have not been able to comprehend. This will enable you to overcome obstacles and walk in confidence and victory.
“You have already had significant breakthroughs in understanding how the spirit realm affects your body and soul, but I tell you honestly that your level of comprehension is not even half of what you will come to know and grasp. Every new revelation will become your possession and strengthen you.
“If you ask anything in My name, according to My will, I will do it. I will teach you and show you, by My Spirit, the difference between what you want, according to your carnal nature, and what My will is. It will be a divine separation of soul and spirit. Yield yourself completely to this process.”
Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
I Am Your Pilot
“Things have not worked out exactly as you expected. This is because you cannot see the end from the beginning. I have designed it to be this way so that you can be built up in faith and know that I am with you to direct you along your path to destiny. Take delight in the fact that I am your Pilot, and I will maneuver you through even the most dire straits.
“Don’t miss or overlook opportunities that look small and insignificant by looking too far out and focusing on the big picture. I have great things in store for you, but you must not despise the days of small beginnings.”
Job 8:7, “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.”
“I say, establish clear boundaries and reorder your priorities so that My blessings can flow like a river – uninterrupted. The temptation will be to create your own blessings and to depend on your own strength to accomplish your desires, but I hold all power over Heaven and Earth. Depend on Me to cause you to be fruitful. Your accomplishments are of a temporary nature, but what I produce in you is everlasting.
“Your most difficult days are behind you. You have endured much and been strengthened by your perseverance. Truly you are stronger now than you have ever been. Your faith has been tested through many trials and tribulations, and you have come through in victory. I count your faithfulness as righteous.
You’ve Come a Long Way!
“You’ve come a long way, but you have not yet gone as far as you can go. The possibilities for your life have not been exhausted. On the contrary, you will be surprised and delighted at what I have in store for you. But, you will have to hold your own dreams and desires loosely to allow My will to manifest, so that you can receive the best that I have for you,” says the Lord. “Trust Me!”
“Prepare to be stretched, but know that you will not be challenged beyond your ability to accomplish what is set before you. Trust Me for strength to overcome and endure. It is true that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
“Those things in your life that seem to have been fragmented or left undone will now be brought to a conclusion as the door to the past is shut and a new and exciting door is opening before you. Rejoice in this time of new life and hope.
Breaking the Chains
“I am taking you, step by step, through the things that have consistently made you stumble and lose heart. It will be like breaking the chains, one link at a time, so that you can see clearly the nature of the bondage, and you will never again be ensnared as in days gone by. Rejoice in a new level of liberty,” says the Lord. (Photo via Pixabay)
“There have been times in your life when you have swung between two poles, one of ultra hope and blessing and the other abject poverty and hopelessness. If you will yield to the work of My Spirit along these lines, I will bring you from extreme ups and downs to a plateau of spiritual reality and faith. For certainly I am the Author and Finisher of your faith, and I will establish you on this level ground.
“Refuse to allow the enemy to use condemnation to remove you from the flow of revelation by the Spirit. His tactics won’t be anything new. Expect the same old lies that bring guilt, shame, and rejection – but now I will give you greater capacity to see quickly and deal with the attacks, so that your times of oppression will be immediately cut off, like awakening from a bad dream.
“I am releasing healing in you that will wash away the rejection and failures from the past and equip you to go forth with wisdom and endurance. Let go of the labels that have been assigned to you by various people and circumstances, for I call you My beloved.
Open Doors
“Prepare to make some of the most important decisions of your life as I present opportunities that you could never have imagined. You are Mine, and My plan is to establish you and bless you in ways that will remove even the vaguest remembrance of past disappointments and struggles.
“I will open doors before you, and you will behold new vistas and prospects for the future that you really never dreamed of. And, I will bring you by a way that you have not known, and make your feet like hinds’ feet that will enable you to navigate even the most difficult of paths. You will scramble up the craggiest places as though they were level ground, because I am with you to make the crooked places straight and the rough places smooth.
“You will have choices to make in the days ahead that have the potential to change the landscape of your life, forever. Seek Me for wisdom, and choose wisely. If you ask for wisdom, I will certainly give it to you.
“In this season you must recapture the gifting and flow that you once embraced. In the passage of time and circumstances you lost confidence, but now is the time when you can reclaim what was rightfully yours from the beginning. You cannot go back to the old manifestation of your gift, because it had to become like a seed that fell to the ground and died in order to take root and grow up in you to produce fruit for this time. Be open and yielded,” says the Lord.
Choices, Choices
“He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” ~ Psalms 103:7
In Psalm 103:7 we see two different things regarding two different groups of people. You have to decide if you are going to be a part of the Moses group, or part of the children of Israel group.
God showed His ways to Moses. Moses knew how things worked; how things came about. He knew how to cooperate and initiate with what God’s plans were. He knew God’s ways because God Himself made them known and He used Moses to help create His purposes on earth.
God showed His acts to the children of Israel. The Israelites watched it all happen, sometimes from a distance. They were very blessed – the blessing to see miracles take place and to feel the peripheral power of the miracles that Moses walked in. Yes, they were blessed but they were not a part of walking hand-in-hand with God to make something altogether glorious and impossible happen on the earth.
Remember the story where Moses was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments. He was with God on the mountain. The mountains rumbled and the children of Israel heard that and saw that. Moses came walking down and his face shown like the sun. The Israelites told him to get away from them and go back up the mountain because the glory of God on him scared them. THAT is the difference between knowing the ways of God and being at the heart of what He is doing as opposed to just being a part of seeing the acts of God and feeling the peripheral power of His presence.
In the Old Testament Moses was the leader and the people were the congregation or the followers. That was the order God set into place. But in the New Testament, once Jesus came and died for us, we were given personal access to our Father in Heaven and we were given the opportunity for a personal relationship with Him. You don’t have to go through a leader to be with God and to know God. You have access! You!!!
That blessing though comes with a choice. You can take what God has made available and draw closer to Him, walk with Him, know God and His ways. You can be a part of the move of God happening today. Or, you can remain in what may seem the safer place – on the outside seeing the miracles, hearing the testimonies, and being inspired in what God is doing but content to continue where you are and in what you are doing.
God made His ways known to Moses and to the children of Israel His acts. Are you a ways person or an action person? The choice is yours!
Go in Peace!
Such a beautiful morning on my back porch. The gardenias smell so good. I can watch the cars pass by, people walking and getting their exercise, walking their dogs. I can hear neighbors greeting each other as their paths cross and the birds singing their morning songs. There is a breeze and at least for this hour it feels wonderful.
Such a beautiful morning. But the main reason I am out here is to spend time with God, in His Word, and in prayer. In His Presence is fullness of JOY (Psalm 16:11) and no matter what is going on in the world, in my heart and my world this morning, I feel truly joyful.
I woke up with this song on my heart and this passage of scripture before me during my morning devotions. God bless you all as you go forth into your world and whatever this day holds for you. Every word of the song is my prayer for you!
-Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
-For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
-Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
-Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
-Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
-And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
-Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
-Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
-For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
~ Psalms 37:1-9
In the Closet
Below is an excerpt taken from a little booklet titled Helps to Holiness. Such a great teaching tonight by the author, S.L. Brengle, about waiting on the Lord.
Here I sit trying to honor our President’s request that we stay in so we can “flatten the curve” of the spread of this coronavirus. Here in the confines of my home though I am not alone… it is truly in this special place (my little prayer closet) that it is just me and God. There is no one to draw from, no one to compete with, no one for me to distract or to be distracted by. And still, even here, with God as my only companion and source, it is so hard to wait on Him.
But this was encouraging to me and made me search my heart.
David said, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.” (Ps. 62:5); and again he declares: “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His name do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning” (Ps. 130:5); and he sends out this ringing exhortation and note of encouragement to you and me: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Ps. 27:14).
The secret of all failures, and of all true success, is hidden in the attitude of the soul in its private walk with God. The man who courageously waits on God is bound to succeed. He cannot fail. To other men he may appear for the present to fail, but in the end they will see what he knew all the time: that God was with him, making him, in spite of all appearances, “a prosperous man.”
Jesus puts the secret into these words: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:6).
Know, then, that all failure has its beginning in the closet, in neglecting to wait on God until filled with wisdom, clothed with power, and all on fire with love.
~ S.L. Brengle, Helps to Holiness
What does it mean to wait?
Wait – to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens; to remain neglected for a time; to be postponed or delayed; to be available or in readiness.
Looking at those definitions, I can easily find the reasons I have such a hard time. Over the last years, I have become a person that loves to do and to go. We can fill our lives with many things. Even very good things things can become a hinderance when we allow them to keep our bodies and our minds occupied at all times. The first day I deliberately stayed home, all I wanted to do was go, go, go though I had no where to go and needed nothing. Obviously I don’t like “remaining neglected” for any amount of time. Does anyone?
So how then do we wait?
By God’s grace and by making a deliberate decision to press in to the waiting.
I have to get in the posture and attitude of waiting. Oh yes, it will be so much easier to move on toward the next sight or sound in the adjacent room. It will be easy to jump on Facebook or Twitter and lose an hour or two there…but the moment I give in, I know I will begin that same old descent that leads to discouragement.
What will be the benefits of waiting?
WISDOM, POWER, FIRE with LOVE!
Give me the grace to wait upon You, Lord…in Jesus Name. Amen!
A Good Reason To Fast
A good reason to put fasting alongside your prayers!
Matthew 17:14-21
The Heavenly Calling
HEBREWS 3:1-6
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
What does it mean to Partake –
to take or have a part or share along with others; participate (usually followed by in )
to receive, take, or have a share or portion (usually followed by of)
to have something of the nature or character (usually followed by of)
What is this heavenly calling?
This heavenly calling is intercession.
Why do I believe the heavenly calling is intercession?
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ~ Hebrews 7:25
Other words that struck me –
If – a condition, requirement, or stipulation
Confidence – full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing
Rejoicing – the feeling or the expression of joy.
Hope – the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best
