"Jesus Still Heals"

(click on image for a full-sized view to read)

As I was seeking the Lord on the morning of January 5th, He clearly spoke, "Jesus Still Heals", and then began to speak to me the word and devotional study above, along with the correlating Scriptures which relate to the healing virtue found through our Lord Jesus Christ.  These are only but a few verses that speak of God's promises to us and the healing He supplies.

(Note:  I thought I was only going to post what you see above from January 5th, but sensed the Lord had more to say.  So, I've made the following addition:)

I do not share this with you as if I have it altogether, or have yet realized complete healing in my own life.  But I, like Daniel’s friends, stand in the midst of the fiery furnace, with my eyes on and trust in the fourth who is with me in the fire – Jesus, the Living Word, my Deliverer, my Healer, my God, and the Rock on which I stand!

As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered the king, so too do I echo the same to enemies who threaten me with destruction, and I declare, “…we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”  (Daniel 3:16-18)  For whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.  (Romans 14:8)   The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells within us.  (Romans 8:11)  Hallelujah!

Standing in the midst of such dire circumstances these men gave testimony to a faithful Father and demonstrated their unwavering faith before all who stood and watched.  The Lord ultimately delivered His servants unharmed, and Nebuchadnezzar praised the Lord and made a decree that none should speak against their God.
(Daniel 3:19-30)

I love the end of this story which states in Daniel 3:30, "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon."

Though many of us have suffered a long time, even as the woman with the issue of blood, and enemies appear to be insurmountably large and intimidating like the 90-foot golden image Nebuchadnezzar erected, know, our God is greater!

As we stand strong, abiding in the Lord, trusting Him wholeheartedly, I believe there is a fresh anointing and new found strength falling upon the people of God and, promotions in the Spirit.  After all, He is the One who takes us from glory to glory!  He does not leave us where we are!

I for one am remembering that the word, "salvation" means wholeness, and that is in every way - mind, body, soul and spirit.  It is He Who sends His word to heal and to deliver us from all of our destructions.  (Psalm 107:20)

Satan attempts to weaken us, confuse us, silence us, shame and isolate us.  He attempts to blind us, paralyze us, steal our song, and rob us of our destinies.  By whatever means possible, the enemy seeks to delay us, water us down, or render us ineffective.

But even as the Spirit of the Lord touched Peter’s mother-in-law to lift her infirmity, and she IMMEDIATELY arose and continued to serve, so too do I declare a renewal, a refreshing, a deliverance and revival of the people of God, those filled with great faith and hope in our God, those reenergized by His Spirit as we hold to Him and His promises.

The Lord has not turned a blind eye, but the God of all compassion, mercy and grace has looked upon the afflictions of His people, and extends His hand to bring us through.  He is the One who arms us with strength for every battle, teaching our hands to make war, so that our arms may bend a bow of bronze.  Those things that the enemy has meant for evil, God would turn into good.  (Genesis 50:20)

Though the enemy comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, our Defender, the Good Shepherd, Christ the Lord, has come to give us life, and that more abundantly! (John 10:10)

We take the authority God has given, wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, as He steadies us, strengthens us, keeps us, and walks beside us, bringing us the victory that is ours through His Son.

I believe Jesus still heals!  May His healing virtue touch you today and bring you life, and that more abundantly!


Scripture Meditation:
Matthew, chapter 8
Matthew, chapter 9
Psalm, chapter 18
Hebrews 13:8
2 Corinthians 1:20
2 Samuel 9:6-8
2 Samuel 9:11
Isaiah 54:17
Isaiah 53:4-5
Malachi 4:2

"Humility"

(Click on picture for a full-sized view)

I found myself remembering and going back to a piece, “Humility”, I created in 2015.  Our Christian walk is a process, a place of discovery, and a journey where there is always room for more of the goodness, humility and character of Christ to be formed in us.   

Our God is a faithful, merciful, loving Father who graciously grants to us the gift of repentance that we may humble ourselves before Him, giving over those areas where change is still needed in our lives and where He would continue to bring growth and maturity.   I'm so grateful He doesn't leave me where I am, and neither does He condemn, but forgives.

I have nothing and can do nothing of any significant or lasting value apart from my Father in Heaven.  He continues to teach me to be completely reliant upon Him and content in all things as I wait upon Him for His most perfect will and timing.   

As I yield myself and my will to God, trusting Him, walking with Him, waiting upon Him, crucifying the flesh, there is a peace and a joy that fills me; one that only He can give as I am submitted to Him and His authority over my life.  It is here that we walk in great power and authority, reflecting the face of God as we are bowed down before Him.

I pray the Lord to open our eyes to the enemy tactics, often subtle, that would attempt to apply pressure, divert our attention and direction, as he tempts with the alluring lies he spins and empty promises he makes, that will only devastate and yield no good thing.

May we deny every lust of the flesh and the enticements of this world, to fully embrace Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light; our sole purpose and greatest desire, that One thing, to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, to behold His beauty, and to inquire in His temple in the place of holy intimacy with Him.  (Psalm 27:4)

I thank You, Lord, that I am fully known by you, every part, and that You make Yourself known to me.  I thank You for the purity of heart and transformation You bring about as You cleanse by the washing of the water of Your Word, forming us fresh and anew.

Scripture Meditation:
John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.
Romans 12:1-3 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Psalm 100:3 - Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Matthew 23:6-12 - They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’  But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.  Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.  And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.  But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
1 Peter 5:6 - Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…
Luke 14:7-11 - So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:  “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.  But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’  Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Psalm 131:1-2 - Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty.  Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.  Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Acts 20:19 - …serving the Lord with all humility…

"Love Never Fails"

"How Beautiful Are The Feet"

(Click on picture for a full-sized view)

Who will go for Us?  Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord, Your disciple, to send.
There was the sound of many waters, "How beautiful are the feet
Of those who bring glad tidings, the Gospel to preach."
They went out to every nation to baptize and teach
Casting their nets, launching out into the deep.
Where once they were unfruitful they now heard the Lord speak
They obeyed His command, they fell at His feet.
Forsaking all, they followed, their work was not in vain
In fact, their nets were breaking in the place where Jesus reigns.
The body worked together, each one in their place at the net
Operating in their giftings, astonished at the catch.
For some it meant crossing an ocean, while for others it meant crossing the street
Seizing opportunities before them, God's laborers were raised up to reap
A great and mighty harvest, they put their hands to the plow
Even for such a time as this, you are here, the time is now.
For the Lord our God is faithful, every purpose in Him is fulfilled
Forgive, where we've toiled for nothing, we bow at Your word for Your will.
For there are those hungry and thirsty, those who are bound and are weak
And so we go in the authority He's given, all our trust in the Lord to complete.

Scripture Meditation:

Isaiah 6:8 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Then I said, “Here am I!  Send me.”

Romans 10:14-15 - How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?   And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,  who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Amen.

Luke 5:4-11 - When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men.”   So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
1 Corinthians 12:1-31
Luke 9:62 - But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 10:2 - Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Esther 4:14 -  For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

"The Blessings of Obedience"

We are those who are blessed, our barns overflow
We are God's special people, we go where He goes.
His Word we obey, His truths, our delight
Strong in the Lord, every foe put to flight.
We are blessed in the city, blessed in the field
He grants a good harvest, abundance to yield.
He blesses our children and all that we do
In that which He's given, for Christ we pursue.
We lend to many nations but to none do we owe
God blesses our storehouse, we're on top not below.
We carefully listen and do not turn away
To the left or the right but we choose His way.
Refreshing rains fall and water our land
Father keeps every promise as we follow His commands.

(Inspired by, Deuteronomy 28:1-14)