Tag Archives: wisdom

Holy Habitation

Take Heed to the Ministry

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“Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”” – ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

This verse was written specifically to Archippus. I’ve not researched him to see if we know anything about him, but we are not told specifics of him or his ministry here. All we see and know is it was important enough for Paul to write this word of encouragement, spurring Archippus on. This good word often catches my heart as from God to me, helping me consider my ways so as to finish the course in the things He has me doing.

Today, I read this encouragement in light of the focus to walk circumspectly, redeeming the time in wisdom, which is in accordance with the will of God (Eph. 5:15-17, NKJV), being filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects (Col. 1:9-12, NASB). The call to fulfill our ministry leads me to ask, in a generalized sense, what Colossians reveals to us as the will of God for us in ministering in His name. Rereading Colossians, here’s some things I found to consider.

“… Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. …We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”‬ ‭(1‬:‭23‬-‭24‬, ‭28‬-‭29‬)

Like Paul, each one of us is called to suffer for the Gospel in fulfilling the afflictions of Christ. We may not all be called to be preachers, teachers, and evangelists; but we are all called to “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). One way of suffering our flesh as Jesus did comes as we deny fear and any other hindrance that comes to obedience to God in sharing the Gospel message and God’s grace to us.

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”‬ ‭(2‬:‭7‬)

We are the hands and feet of God on earth. As we abide in Him and He in us, we are responsible to fulfill the afflictions of Christ as we daily take up our cross in self-denial to walk in the will and way of God. We continue Christ’s work of revealing the truth of the Father in our actions, reactions, and interactions as we deny fleshly impulses so that we may live in Christlikeness. We are not to represent ourselves and our own desires. We represent God, His will and His way.

One thing I have learned in my years of seeking after and serving God is that many people of the world know we are to be Christlike – though they don’t fully understand what that is. If I forget for one moment the Person of Christ that is to flow through me, they remember, and they catch every slip up, majoring on our humanness to the detriment of our godly example. And the Church of Christ gets the reputation of the hypocrisy the world sees.

In our daily living: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬)

In the workplace and places of community service or home care: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬)

Our walk of faith requires watchfulness for the purpose of maintaining a righteous life testimony. Praying for ourselves and for those of our fellowship is vital. We are called to devote ourselves to prayer, “keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” A specific hint as to how we are to pray is found in Paul’s encouragement to pray “that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,” that we “may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” (4:2-4)

Another hint in our praying for one another is seen in the example of Epaphras. There we learn to pray that we “may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” (4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬)‬‬

We are to conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Thus, we pray to be found faithful. (4:5)

Our speech is to be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that we will know how you should respond to each person.‬ Praying for God’s thoughts to direct and dictate our words is a good plan. (‭4‬:‭6‬)‬‬

Grace is God’s merciful love, set to build up in truth and empower in righteousness, not tear down in discord and destroy in corruption. A study of salt reveals a work of love that purifies, protects, preserves, and cleanses. This is the purpose and goal of our speech and a good hint as to how we are to pray.

Like the Jesus who is called Justus, we are to prove to be an encouragement to one another, and especially to those called to preach, teach, and evangelize, as they are on the frontlines, and often harshly judged. (‬‭4‬:‭11‬)‬‬

With these things in heart, I pray we each will be found faithful to take heed to the ministry which we have received in the Lord, that we may fulfill it. May we take up our cross daily and follow Jesus, The Christ. In Your name, Lord, make it so.

Holy Habitation

Indeed, Has God Said

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“but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” – Genesis 3:3 NASB1995

This is something that always catches my attention, because God did not tell Adam he couldn’t touch the tree or its fruit. Only not to eat its fruit (Genesis 2:16-17). This leaves me with the impression that Adam is the one who told Eve this rule. I can envision Adam, probably not having any understanding of death at this point, jerking Eve’s hand back as she reaches for a fruit from that fated tree, shouting, “No! God said to not eat from this tree. Don’t even touch it or you’ll die!” Eve, repeating what she was told, hints to the probability that she did not ask the Father about it for herself.

If Adam is the one who told Eve, and not God, I can see where that might have made her the easier prey for the serpent to approach. Seeing her with the fruit, having even eaten of it with no obvious consequences, would then have broken down Adam’s defenses.

When we embellish God’s word with incorrect emphasis, we open ourselves up to false understanding and become false teachers in the sharing of it. And when we fail to confirm what someone else tells us by going to God and His word for ourselves, we fall to sin in the practice of falsehood.

“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Holy Habitation

Called to Light

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We are called to walk in God’s Light and to be light in the earth. The true light pours forth from God, to us, and through us back to God and out to others. The light Jesus calls us to be moves in the will and way of God, desiring to please Him above self-will and man-pleasing.

The light we are called to produces

  • the fruit of The Word of God living and active in us,
  • the fruit of repentance,
  • the fruit of righteousness,
  • the fruit of good works,
  • the fruit of the Spirit of God,
  • the fruit of God’s Kingdom on earth,
    which is the bearing forth of Christlikeness.

If these things are not living, active, and growing in us, the light in us is the false light of darkness.

A profession of knowing Jesus, while not having this light visibly working in us is darkness – it is useless and accomplishes nothing good or of eternal value. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” -‬ Ephesians ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 12/17/23

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Jude 1:14-25 NKJV

“… These are inveterate {chronic} murmurers (grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life], going after their own desires [controlled by their passions]; their talk is boastful and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men’s persons and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles (the special messengers) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions–merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life. ….” – Jude 1:14-25 AMPC

Inveterate (murmurers) – Firmly and long established; deep-rooted. Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual: synonym: chronic.

Father, I don’t think I’m a grumbler – especially not habitually so. But if I, in any way or depth, am given over to grumbling and complaining, reveal this evil in me and deliver me from its grasp.

I do see that I tend to fall to the sin of giving compliments, not falsely – what I speak, I say out of true evaluation, but with the wrong motives of trying to get into another’s good graces, or trying to prove something they believe about me to be incorrect. This, too, is not out of a lie. The things the ones I think of in this do believe of me is a lie. But working to please them in proving them wrong is prideful. So forgive me this sin, O God, and prove righteousness and truth in me in ways they can rightly see. I rest my defense into Your capable Hands, for You see and know the truth of every heart.

Father, let me not be found an instigator of division, but use me to bring peace that unites from a position of righteous understanding. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 12/12/23

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“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Father, forgive me any gossip, slander, unkind, down trodding, etc., speech spoken at any time. Make me alert to such and quick to repent and apologize. Reveal to me anything that I need to make amends for and grant me wisdom in how to do so.

I love You. Help me rightly and truly love in Your name by word, deed, and thought. Let that which is in me be that which can flow forth to the glory of Your name as a loving testament revealing You in me. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 11/19/23

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“Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”” – John 8:28-29

Your Word is pure joy to my heart, Father. Even when it’s words convict me of sin, I rejoice, for that conviction reveals Your love that wants a pure relationship with me and desires I be holy as You are holy. I desire to know and walk in Your truths, so that I may know and walk with You. Grant me to love Your Word, abiding in that which makes me to know You and Your ways.

I pray to only speak Your true words, Father. Teach me, that I may have truth to speak. Show Yourself strong with and through me. Grant wise discernment of clear paths that I may consistently walk as pleases You at all times and in all things. As Jesus – our example for life – is, so I desire to be. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 11/17/23

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“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;” – Genesis 26:12-13 NKJV

Prosper us, Father, in our relationships – beginning and majoring in our relationship with You as First and Foremost, our most vital need and necessity. Increase us in fruit bearing that glorifies and honors You, bringing increase to Your Kingdom. As stewards of the manifold gifts of Your grace to us, prosper us in fulfilling Your purpose and plan. You give sufficient and beyond so that we have sufficient for every good deed. Grant us wisdom to know the good that rightly uses Your good gifts to us. May we walk as pleases You in all our ways, being found faithful and ready at Your coming, when we meet You face to face. In Jesus, amen.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – ‭‭III John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

2 Corinthians 9:8; Luke 6:38; John 15:1-8; 3 John 1:2

Holy Habitation

God’s Living, Life Giving Word

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“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 NASB1995

Thinking on this verse this morning, I couldn’t remember exactly how it’s worded, so I looked it up. As I think on it, I realize – maybe not for the first time – the significance of its parameters.

The Word of God is living and active. It’s timeless: useful to God for directing and instructing, inspiring and strengthening our lives now as much as it did those it was originally spoken to. God can highlight any portion of it to our hearts, giving wisdom for our now situations. It is as relevant and vital to life now as it was in the days it was lived out. It has the capacity to lift us out of death and depression, giving us all that is needful for an abundant life that glorifies and honors God, accomplishing His purpose with wisdom and grace. So how does it work? This verse tells us.

The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. It cuts to the quick of life as God’s Spirit highlights it to our hearts for our good, to inspire, teach, direct, reprove, and train in righteousness. It pierces our lives as far as the division of…

Soul and spirit: the soul is our mind – the way we think; our will – the desires and inclinations that dictate choice; and our emotions; all making us the unique individuals we are. Our spirit is that part of us that is eternal. It cannot be separated from that which makes us who we are and will live on after our flesh shell dies. The question is, where? There is an eternal destination we are responsible to choose before our physical flesh dies. We will either be with God for all eternity, or we will be doomed to separation from Him, given over to the hell that separation brings us to.

Joints and marrow: joints make full, functioning mobility possible. Without the joints, the body cannot move far quickly, nor accomplish much. Marrow is the factory for red blood cells, which are the oxygen carriers of our bodies. Oxygen is necessary for life. The breath of life cannot flow through our bodies without well functioning marrow. God’s Word keeps our spiritual and physical lives healthy and full of Life, able to function at full strength.

Rightly judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Without right thoughts within us, even our best intentions will fall short of God’s glory, which makes even our good to be sin in God’s economy. We cannot recognize when our good intentions are being misled and fed by wrong thinking and selfish motives without the instruction of God found in His Word.

We cannot live righteously on the earth apart from God. We learn of God and His ways through His Word. God transforms us to be and function at our best capacity, with adequate life-breath and full function, as we let His Word penetrate our lives and make us wholly holy, as He is holy.

I pray you find time everyday to be in God’s Word. It is our life breath. Since, in Christ, we live in the New Covenant found in the New Testament, this is the reading plan I recommend. Read 5 times through the New Testament in this fashion:

  • John through Revelation
  • Matthew, skip to Acts through Revelation
  • Mark, skip to Acts through Revelation
  • Luke, skip to Acts through Revelation
  • Matthew through Revelation
  • Then read Genesis through Revelation.
  • Repeat over and over again. The Word of God never gets old or obsolete. And there is always and forever greater depth of understanding to glean.

When a verse or passage makes your heart jump, don’t just read on as if nothing happened.

  • Pause over it.
  • Note the full context of the passage. Who? What? Where? When? And why?
  • Pray over it, asking for wisdom and understanding in its application to your life.
  • Make note of it.
  • Follow the references that are listed with it and note any of them that speak to your heart and need.
  • Look up definitions of words that stand out – both in a good language dictionary and a detailed Bible Word dictionary.
  • Note any insights found.
  • Memorize the verse or passage.
  • Write the verse or passage on a piece of paper. Put it in your pocket. Reread and meditate on these things throughout your day, asking God for His good seed to take root in the soil of a heart made ready to apply its truths to your life.

May the Lord bless you, through the reading of His Word, to have a glorious life.

“He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.” – Proverbs 10:17 NASB1995

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 11/9/23

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Mark 14

“Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” – Mark 14:37-38 NKJV

Father, thank You for pausing me here this morning, leading me to consider these words. As I do, it dawns on me that Jesus just told these with Him that they would fall away and deny Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then. He was warning them of what was coming to Him and that one of their number would betray Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then.

Father God, You call us to Yourself, giving us assignment in living and serving You. Living for You is bigger than our flesh can accomplish without Your work in us and cannot be done apart from You. The wisdom of this world, our very flesh, and demonic influences stand against us, set to draw us into falsehood and sin. If ever we need to be praying and seeking Your Face, it is now.

Here am I, O God. Teach me to pray fervently, just as Jesus did. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 11/5/23

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As I ask You, Father, if there’s any I haven’t forgiven, those used to put people intent on evil in authority, those leading us to the evil prevalent in our land today come to heart. I hate the evil, especially that which threatens the very life and wellbeing of our children and grandchildren. But I must forgive those who “do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I must forgive for my own sake as exemplifies You (Isaiah 43:25).

Here am I, O God. Forgive and cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit. The greatest evil ever done was the killing of the Lord of Glory, yet it was most necessary to the fulfillment of Your purposed plan. You are still working Your plan, O God. Make us faithful to trust You, who will bring good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).

You will make Your servants stand (Romans 14:4). May I be found standing firm in Christ, for it’s in His name and for Your glory that I pray, amen.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 10/23/23

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Jude 1:17-25 NASB1995

Every time we face something in life that appears impossible or tempts us away from faithfully following You; any time we sense Your call to a hard thing we aren’t sure we can do; with every opportunity to doubt or fear, a stone pops up to cause stumbling, making us stop, leading us to sin against You. Father, grant us faith to trust You that, in all You call us to and every opportunity You set before us, You are with us to move those stones or show us the path to removing their hindrance. When we walk with faith that fully trusts You, stones of stumbling get crushed under the Cornerstone of our faith, and we walk free to stand firm on the foundation of our victory in Christ. Increase our trust as we walk securely in The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Make us faithful to trust You more and obey You fully, especially in the hard places. IJA

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 10/9/23

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Thank You for the privilege of allowing me to know You as Abba, my loving, life giving, caring Father. Thank You for teaching Your daughter to trust Your love, which disciplines me for my eternal good and Your here and now and everlasting glory. May I be found faithful to turn quickly to Your truth and walk away from sin to the path of Your will done Your way. It is my greatest desire to follow and serve You. Grant me eyes to see, ears to hear, a mind to know, and a believing, understanding heart that gives way to a willing Spirit of obedience. In Jesus, Amen.

“And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done [held holy and revered] on earth as it is in heaven.” – Luke 11:2 AMPC

Hebrews 12:1-29 NKJV

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 8/5/23

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Thank You, Holy Presence, for being with me and in me. Thank You, Patēr, for granting me to house and know Your Holy Presence. Fill me up and spill me out. Continue to work in me this trust and assurance that powers me in these days. You truly are my first, most vital, and only true need and necessity. Thank You for allowing me to know and experience this truth. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation

Holy Ground Invites

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““After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning thorn bush. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. But the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them; come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’” – 7:30-34 NASB1995

“For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy.” — Exodus 29:37

“and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand. You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy.” — Exodus 30:28-29

That which touches that which is made holy by God is made holy. When God tells our hearts to remove our sandals, He is calling us to receive a holy anointing for His purposes.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 2/26/23

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“…since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” (11:11b)

Amen! Yes. By faith. By faith to trust You, O God, we please You. That faith that pleases You is settled on the Promise Keeper. Not the promise.

Father, we tend to view Your promises from a fleshly standpoint, aligning our hope with our own understanding and desire. We too readily fail to see with Your eyes and realize that You do far above all we can possibly think or ask.

When things don’t go the way we think it should, we believe You failed us and fall into despair. This is sure sign our faith is setting on the promise as we see it, not on trust in You who have the full answer, know the full truth, and always do what is best, accomplishing Your best good for all. Father, forgive me this, and grant me faith that is fully and truly based in You: Your who, Your do, Your will, way, plan, and purpose. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation

Two Plates

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I was praying about this day and the need to get things done. As I did, I told the Lord how weird I feel. I see a plate before me piled so high with things I need to do and get off my plate, but I can’t find focus there to get anything done. My focus is on a second plate that is empty and peaceful. Both plates beacon my attention and seem important.

As I pray, a flash of understanding hits my mind and excites my heart as The Father sets one thing on the empty plate in my mind. He tells my heart, “You don’t have to worry about the plate piled high. Just trust Me to serve you one thing at a time in due season. Together WE will empty both plates.”

Holy Habitation, Salvation

Choose Now

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Choose Now
Holy Habitation

Overeating vs. Biblical Gluttony

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I am truly enjoying the devotional study by Alisa Keaton, The Wellness Revelation, 40 Day Journey. She makes excellent points that are helping me turn my heart to a healthier lifestyle. However, I disagree with some points on day 9. Knowing many who teach this understanding of overeating being the biblical sin of gluttony, I give my opinion based on past studies years ago by people whose names escape me, but who foever changed my focus on this battleground.

On day 9, covering what the author calls the sin of gluttony: This teaching I take issue with. The dictionary definition of gluttony as overeating used in this devo is not the biblical view of gluttony.

In Bible days, people would come together for celebrations that lasted days and centered around a constant supply of food and drink. In the guise of celebrating, many would drink to drunkenness and eat until they were so full they couldn’t take another bite. But the glutton didn’t stop there. These would make themselves throw up, emptying the stomach specifically so that they could continue their gluttonous celebration. This is not the illness experienced by the person struggling with bulimia, but the sin of the party animal. This is gluttony.

There are many issues in our lives that can lead to our overeating: bad habits formed from childhood; emotions centered on self; sin or health issues that need to be discovered having nothing to do with gluttony. Overeating is more often out of bad habits like the tendency to eat too fast, or a symptom of unrecognized sin or some mental or physical health issue that needs to be addressed.

Focusing a person on a lesser definition of gluttony when that is not the underlying issue causes their focus on food to turn to a whole different level of struggle, with the wrong enemy of their flesh targeted. And the person fighting a false understanding of biblical gluttony, who cannot get control because of ignoring the underlying cause of their symptom of overeating, falls to feelings of defeat and gives up a fight they never truly engaged in because they were standing on a battle line that was never the issue.

To win the battle of the bulge, we must discern the true issues we as individuals need to address and point our arrows at that target. Lifestyle changes take time and there are many victories on the way to the desired goals. Find a habit or a trigger point in your life with food and drink. Start there. Win that hill, then move to the next habit, sin, or health issue and target that. Maintain possession of victories won while focusing on the next goal. Little by little, hill by hill, feel better and grow stronger.

By the grace of God, you and He together have got this.

The Wellness Revelation 40-Day Journey’. Check it out here:

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 8/8/22

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‭Genesis‬ ‭17:1-11‬ ‭‬‬ (read chapters 16-17)

“… You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:12-21‬ ‭‬‬

Thank You, Father, that You desire our heart – for us to be wholehearted toward You, practicing our faith through surrendered trust in Your faithfulness.

You have taught me that my faith can only stand firm on You when my focus is Your faithfulness. We too easily make our faith the god that determines our outcome. Faith to believe and trust You is important, for without faith, it is impossible to please You; but, as Your faithfulness did not stop because of Abram and Sarah’s faith that took a wrong turn, in their attempt to make their own way to the promise by using Hagar, so Your faithfulness will prove itself in us and our situations as we put the focus of our trust in You. You still kept Your word to Abraham. You – who know our hearts – will be found faithful by us.

It is Your faithfulness that must be our focus for our faith to stand in agreement and cooperate with You. I pray for discernment of Your promises, trust to take You at Your Word, and clear vision to follow Your lead as we keep our focus on Your faithfulness with earnest expectation and hope in You who will do it. You will accomplish Your Word. Not one tittle of Your word will fall or fail, for, however long the wait, You are faithful and will show Yourself strong. This I’ve seen. This I know of You. In You I trust. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation, Prayer

Morning Prayer: 7/13/22

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Torn and tattered, but still smiling.

What a beautiful mess. Thank You, Father, for the half inch of rain that allowed me to turn the sprinklers off last night. And even for the moisture from all that tiny hail that filled the lawn and crunched under my feet in last night’s video. What joy it is to step out into the beauty after the storm.

Thank You for the beauty after the storm and the picture of life carrying on that it gives. Thank You that out of destruction, much can be salvaged, and out of damage, strength reveals itself as restoration begins. Thank You for signs of Your protective cover.

Thank You that we can exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because Your love has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Thank You for Your faithfulness. I love You, Lord, and look forward to the future with You as we watch for the beauty You bring out of ashes.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:3-5‬‬‬
Last night’s video.

Holy Habitation

God’s Weapon

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“You caused sentence to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still– When God arose to [establish] judgment, to save all the meek and oppressed of the earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; the remainder of wrath shall You restrain and gird and arm Yourself with it.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭76:8-10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

To my understanding, this says that when we have righteous anger, anger fed by God’s anger over an evil, it is a praise to His ears. He restrains and dictates that anger for His purpose, arming Himself with it for His use.

Father, I’ve experienced righteous anger, restrained and used by You. Thank You for that experience. I surrender my anger to You and trust You to use me as You will, to deal with every evil. Make me Your victorious weapon against evil. In Jesus, amen.

Holy Habitation

To Each Generation

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“Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NASB

My dad often told stories of the WWII coupons and sacrifices made for the war effort. I wonder if they felt like I sometimes do in these days of empty shelves and troubled happenings.

Reading other seasons of difficulty in history, I realize that to each generation seems to come a season of wondering if this is the end of life as we know it, or if this is the day the clouds will finally part and the long awaited Christ appear. The thing is that we don’t know – and we won’t know until this, too, is history. All we know is what is right now.

We can’t sit and worry about tomorrow or let fear rule. We have to look at what we can do in each day to be ready to face whatever tomorrow brings. Being grateful for what we do have; gratitude for skills we have, or can obtain and share that mean the difference to our ability to survive: this attitude of gratitude is vital for our sanity and hope.

Without hope, we perish. So look at what is in our now with a survival attitude that includes a focus on gratitude. Prepare for what may be, and cling to hope that when our now is history, we will have faced it with courage, wisdom, and strength to light the way for the days of challenge in the lives of those who read the history we are making.

Holy Habitation

Loss of Love

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The death of a relationship is one of the hardest of deaths, for the person mourned is not gone from life, they are only gone from my life. It’s especially grievous when we don’t know why they left the relationship.

Sadly, refusal to address the issue causing the separation says a lot about the falsehood of the love in that relationship. True love cares enough to address issues. So someone walking away without a word as to why, with no effort to address the issue, is symptom of a lack of true love and caring.

So there is the real pain. I thought they loved and cared for me as I do for them, but I now know they didn’t. I’ve tried to reach out through multiple avenues, and they ignore it out of some perceived insult from me that I don’t know I did. It hurts, deeply. Intent to go where they live and try to see them face to face has been hindered, but that remains in my heart to do. However, it feels too late now.

Loss of what I thought we had is the pain. They don’t love me enough to tell me what I did so we can address the problem and heal the relationship. How do we heal that wound?

Jesus addressed rejection this way, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus forgave the rejection of those who refused His love; and He prayed for those who rejected Him to have God’s forgiveness. And! Jesus was and is ready to reestablish relationship whenever we call.

I love my friend. I wait for that friend to reach out, address the issue, and heal our wounds. I realize the loss in my life, and I am saddened. May our God bless and keep my friend. May my heart remain ready to reestablish relationship. For me, trust is the issue now. And that is truly sad.

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Great is Your Faithfulness

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“The LORD ’ S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭NASB‬‬)

As God is with us, so we are to be with our mates. Trust is vital to this BLESSed union.

Faithfulness begins with our thoughts toward each other. I have found with my husband that his every decision considers its effect on my life and future. He has long worked to set things up so that, if he goes Home to our Lord first, I am provided for and protected. I try to do the same for him.

Directing our thoughts to keep our mates in their rightful position in our lives and to establish and secure their futures is vital. It goes beyond keeping ourselves for them, alone. It considers their every need and our role in meeting it. This goes for you who are single, awaiting the revelation of your life partner from God. Your faithfulness to that mate starts now as you keep yourself for your future mate and do all you can to prepare a place and a future for that union.

Do an inventory of your faithfulness toward your mate, Love. Where do you need to adjust your thoughts and actions so as to increase faithfulness to them?

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Value Your Mate

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“For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.” (1 Peter 3:5-6 NASB)

It has long been recognized that a man’s greatest need from wife and children is respect and honor. A woman’s greatest need is affectionate love and a sense of security. And both need a sense of value. I believe that is why Peter calls women to an attitude of submission that trusts God’s use of her husband in his care for wife and family, not giving herself to fear, but praying for him. And, men, your wife’s need is why Paul speaks his instruction to you in Ephesians 5.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her…. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but NOURISHES and CHERISHES it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.” (Ephesians 5:25-30 NASB)

To cherish your wife is to value her. One very important way you value her is by listening to her counsel and considering her opinions. It is much easier for a woman to respect and follow the lead of her man when he helps her know her opinion is important, valued, and added to the basis for important decisions.

I cannot tell you the times my husband has let me know that my opinion helped him adjust course to a better decision. And there have been times he has changed my understanding or took a course of action I quickly saw was the better path choice. We work as one with God leading the way and it has grown a strong trust between us.

So, wives, we walk without fear by trusting God to direct our husbands, even if that direction goes against our opinion. Remember, your faith is in God, trusting Him to lead your man; and your prayers and encouragement should resource his success as a spiritual leader of your family.

A nurturing husband not only feeds his wife the affection, love, and appreciation she needs, but it also means to help your wife become her best and most productive self: helping her achieve goals that grow strength and ability in her, making her a capable person, secure and equipped for life. It does not keep her out of the loop, but makes sure she knows what is going on and why, so if anything happens to you, she can carry on in confidence.

In reality – though true, godly love flows unconditionally from who we are and respect is expected to be given as unto the Lord, these must flow freely both directions to work properly. The wife is not commanded to love her husband because the act of love comes easier to the female species. A man is not commanded to respect the wife, because respect is more readily expected and given as protocol by the male species. But both male and female need and desire love, respect, security, and to be valued.

Determine today, Beloved, to lift one another up through these practices toward each other and enjoy a strong marriage that will last forever and glorify God. If, however, your mate is not as God intends toward you, your concern is to be the mate God wants you to be while praying for your mate to be His ideal toward you. Don’t set your sites on your ideal (what you think that should look like), but God’s, asking Him for eyes to recognize His answers to your relational needs. Like me, you may well be amazed at the glory you find in your mate.

(1 Peter 3:1-2, 7-9 NASB)

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Born to Parents

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I believe God created children with ready-made, able to grow, called and equipped PARENTS instead of friends, because parenting is what a child needs.

A committed and caring parent loves the child enough to set an example that shows the child how to be. A child wants instant gratification, because they do not understand time or limits: they only know what they want. For those same reasons, they need instant consequences so they can grow to understand what they just did is unacceptable behavior, and what they do has an effect, good or bad, according to their behavior.

Discipline takes many forms, including training that helps them learn a better way of dealing with wants, desires, and emotions, but always gets to the root of the problem. It separates good from evil, right from wrong. It is not harsh, hard, and pressing; but works out of love and for the good of the child; not breaking the spirit, but lifting the soul to reach greater heights in becoming their best self.

A Christian parent, in the power and equipping of God’s Holy Spirit, is called and equipped to teach godly righteousness, respect for elders, the law and those who make and enforce it. Without raising children to first know and respect us as parents, following our godly teachings, and practicing obedience, they will have no understanding of authority or respect for government or government leaders and the laws made and enforced.

When we have no respect for parents, bosses, the leaders and law enforcement we see and live among, it is practically impossible to comprehend Him, the unseen One who is God, Father, Master, Lord, King, Judge, and Advocate. He may seem like a distant, uncaring, entity, that causes them to doubt He even exists.

Time comes for a healthy friendship with our grown children, but never at the expense of their need for a parent. To me, the greatest form of child abuse is to grow up never knowing the loving care and discipline of a committed mother and father, unafraid to parent their child. And the greatest travesty is to see a parent, overwhelmed by demanding, untrained, undisciplined, spoiled children, unable to tolerate being around them, and unashamed to unleash them on the world at large.

“Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 AMPC)

“But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17 AMPC)

“Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 AMPC)

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Understanding God’s Perspective

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Reading the plagues God sent against Egypt, seeing God harden Pharoah’s heart over and over, it would all seem mean spirited and vengeful. When we don’t realize all the issues involved, we miss the point. God always has good reason and purpose for all He does and allows. In Exodus 14:4, God makes that purpose very clear.

“And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display My glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. AFTER THIS THE EGYPTIANS WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.” (Exodus 14:4 NLT)

You see, Egyptians of the day worshipped many “gods”, including believing the one in the role of Pharoah to be a god. Each plague God sent was not to be mean to the people, but to bring down strongholds of demonic activity behind the false gods.

First Corinthians 10 makes it clear that the power behind false gods, power that makes the false believable, is demonic. Demons give life to the gods. They are bred and fed by demons. The blessings Egypt experienced were credited to one or more of these false gods. Demons don’t mind doing good to the people, giving them what they will, as long as it tricks them into following the false and missing the TRUE, hindering them from wanting The True God and His will.

Our finite minds see the plagues we read of or experience, and deem God to be harsh, hard, and pressing – or absent. We don’t see with understanding eyes the enemy of God and the battle raging between them and the army of God, a battle we are affected by. We don’t realize that God is in the storm and the storm has a purpose of eternal proportions.

Beloved, what is going on in your midst today? Could it be that God is kicking in doors and bringing down strongholds? Is it revealing issues you need to surrender to God’s Lordship? What will be your choice? Will you choose Him, or walk on the side of the hardened heart?

It wasn’t just the Egyptians that needed to recognize their false gods as counterfeits. Israel grew up in that society, and even as God delivered them, many still carried these falsehoods with them.

Like with Moses, God will make His purpose clear. The question is, will we be listening with hearts open and pliable to His will and purpose? Will we honor God as the One True God and Lord of all?

Read: Against the Gods of Egypt – The Invisible War: by Chuck Missler • July 1, 2000

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Desires Fulfilled

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Read this blessing of God to Abram, then consider the boast of Babel.

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”” (Genesis 12:1-3 NLT)

“Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”” (Genesis 11:4 NLT)

Do you see the similarities? The people of Babel wanted to settle down into a place of their own. They wanted to be a great nation of great renown. Then here comes Abram, following hard after God, and what does God promise to him? A territory of his own in which to settle down and grow into a great nation, with a name of great renown.

It begs the question: did God just pick something out of the blue to gift to Abram, or was this the deep desire of Abram’s heart? It was an obvious desire for the people of Babel. Was their desire wrong? What’s the difference between them and Abram? What do the answers to these questions say to us concerning our desires?

I believe God plant’s the seeds of His desire in all off us. The problem is what our minds and hearts do with those seeds. For example, God “wishes none to perish, but all to come to repentance.” The seed of desire for eternity is in most all of us. A desire for God resides there. Problem is in what feeds, nourishes, and waters that desire. Are we delving into Truth and searching for the Real with understanding that their is a Mind, a Power, greater than self to find and humbly tap into? Or do we see self or some other pathway as the solution?

God wanted the earth populated. He wanted all to find their place in the scheme of God’s plan. So He planted desires toward that end into the heart of humankind. I believe Babel was the result of God given desires being twisted by self-centered minds, aided by enemy potencies. They were working out of the wisdom of the flesh, the world, and the demonic. And fleshly weariness in the journey may well have been a factor. Seeing the area and liking what they saw, failing to seek God’s opinion and provision, they were willing to stop there rather than find the greater plan of God.

In Abram, on the other hand, we see the following:

“Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.” (Psalms 37:3-6 NASB)

I believe this call on Abram’s life and the desires in him began with his father, Terah. The journey to Canaan began in the heart and at the leading of Terah, indications being that he was, at the first, following God.

However, along the way, Terah’s son, Haran, died. When they reached the city named Haran, Terah settled there. One, well known Bible teacher, (I’m thinking it was Beth Moore, but don’t quote me on that because my brain is unsure), but that Bible teacher made the observation that Terah got stuck in Haran out of his grief over the passing of his son, Haran, and he could not make himself go on, so God passed the baton to Abram. I believe that is true.

The difference between the people of Babel and Abram is their seeking after God. Abram fed off of his desire to follow God over all other desires. His willingness to please God earned him the reward of a promise for his heart’s desire to be realized. All that the people of Babel wanted, Abram wanted to, and his heart toward God as first place made the difference.

God places desires in our hearts: desires for good, for future, and for hope. Seeking Him, chasing hard after Him, trusting His lead is key to seeing our desires fulfilled.

A blogger, using Proverbs 16:3, advises that once we commit to follow God, then, and only then, does God order our thoughts to direct our path to His desires being fulfilled in us (David Fischer). What’s the desires of Your heart, Beloved? A friend of mine often said it this way, “I know the desire. I’m seeking God to know what the journey to it’s fulfillment looks like” (Missionary Steve Cook). God will establish our thoughts to understand the ways and means as we first commit ourselves to Him and seek Him for it.

“Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3 NKJV)

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Dangerous Assumptions

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Read Genesis 3

Reading the account of the fall of mankind, my attention settles on the wording used in the discourse between Eve and the serpent-possessed. The serpent TRULY informs Eve that eating the fruit of the tree banned by God would give her “knowledge of good and evil.” To that, we are told that Eve sees “that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the WISDOM it would give her. …” (Genesis 3:6 NLT)

Note the false assumption. Satan knows how to use truth to lead us to false assumptions.

Knowledge is facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and GOOD JUDGMENT; the quality of being wise; THE SOUNDNESS OF AN ACTION OR DECISION WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATION of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

We can have knowledge, but have no clue where sound judgement in its application is concerned. That comes with growth and maturity in the practice of righteousness, which is truly found in God.

Little did Eve know that, with time, those daily walks with God in the garden, would have produced in her great knowledge WITH wisdom that flowed from continuous and growing relationship with the Father of all creation, who is righteousness, truth, and wisdom.

Beware of making assumptions, Beloved. Be sure in this New Year to spend time in God’s garden, getting His opinion on the things we think we know.

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Year End Reminder

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“But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NASB

The example of forgiveness given us by God is to forgive “for my own sake”, just as God did in Isaiah 43:25. In the midst of Israel’s sin, God chose to forgive for His own sake, and we are instructed to forgive as God forgives (Ephesians 4:32).

The main reason to forgive, expressed in this 2 Corinthians passage, is so that Satan cannot take advantage of the situation to do harm to the cause of Christ. Forgiveness “for my own sake” protects me from bitterness, anger, and a slew of other negative emotions that lead to my own sin against God, through lack of love, failure to trust God to tend to the offender, and other bad fruits born out of lack of forgiveness.

Our forgiveness does not free the offender from the consequences of their sin. It leaves those consequences to God, for Him to tend to, and frees us to go on with life, free of the influence those negative emotions can have on our bodies, minds, and souls. It frees us to live a life of peace that glorifies God and bears the fruit of righteousness.

Though forgiveness can aid in continuing relations with those we love, forgiveness does not mean we must maintain relationship with the offender. Bad company corrupts good morals, and wisdom let’s us know when we need to remove a person from our midst. Forgiveness simply lets go of the insult and let’s God tend to the offender.

What do you need to forgive today, surrendering it to God, so you can press forward in peace? Let’s not enter this New Year carrying burdensome, tattered, energy sapping baggage. Bow to God now, and lay it at His feet.

“‘Be still, cease striving, let be and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.” Psalms 46:10-11, (multiple versions)