2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate…”

I am praying that God’s overflowing grace will manifest in everything you do.  May the crooked places be made straight and all obstacles obliterated.   May discernment be your garment and love your covering.

The download from the Holy Spirit was overwhelming as I read, prayed, pondered, and considered the Word. Now, I am trying to draw out of all that is filling my heart and present the specific thing I feel I am to share. That is a daunting task!

In 2 Corinthians 6:16b, we have the incredible promise of God to make us His home or habitation. He promised to be our God. That blows my mind when I allow the incredibleness of that truth to enter my consciousness. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, we have the call, command, and invitation, “Come out from among them and be separate…” Not isolationism but separation (sanctification).

That was at the heart of God’s directive to Israel in Numbers 33:50-56. He told them to dispossess the occupants that occupied their place of promise. They were to destroy the idols and places of worship. The warning was, “If you don’t, THEN…” They will be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. That was only half of it, for in verse 56 – “And it will be as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.”

There can be no cohabitation with sin and rebellion. The children of Israel were the carriers of the Seed of Redemption. We are the fruit of Redemption. Neither they nor we can co-mingle with sin or rebellion.

The Last Days will be characterized by deception, demanding that we be inordinately tolerant and inclusive. God wants everyone to be saved. Salvation is incredibly costly, and though grace is free, it is not cheap.

Be Holy because I Am Holy is not a suggestion but a life-saving directive. In God, we have Life!  As we become one with Him and He fills us completely, we become lights to the world and channels through which He can love and bless others. We are His love letters to people. Some see Dear John letters, not love letters. Our heritage is Hope and to bring Hope to others!

Today, we need to heed the directive of Deuteronomy 2:3 – “You have circled this mountain (whatever that is in your life) long enough, NOW turn north (symbolic of head toward the Promise.)”

This is day one of your new victorious life in ALL THINGS!  Rejoice, be glad, and embrace the promises of God!

2 Corinthians 1:6 – “If troubles weigh us down, that just means that we will receive even more comfort to pass on to you for your deliverance! For the comfort pouring into us empowers us to bring comfort to you. And with this comfort upholding you, you can endure victoriously the same suffering we experience.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated upon the Word, something unshakable gripped my heart in Numbers 23 and the story of Balaam and Balak. Balaam made a powerful declaration “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent; has He not said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not establish it?” (v. 19).

He spoke absolutes! 

• God is… that is the first principle of life.
• God is not a man… He is other than us, not limited but unlimited.
• God’s words (promises or commands) are done before they are heard.

We need to grasp those absolutes.   If we do, we can embrace the revelation of suffering, difficulty, and trial Paul revealed in 2 Corinthians.

2 Cor. 1:6 – Is a Game Changer!  That attitude and perspective make it impossible to fail but guarantee a victorious attitude in every situation.   In verse 9, Paul reveals the true lesson of trials in our lives. “It HAS taught us to lose all faith in ourselves and to place our trust in the God who raises from the dead.”   We need to shift our focus from self and receive God’s Grace!

In 2 Cor. 4:7-18 his discourse gives a clear, simple pattern and mindset for continual victory.   Troubles are temporary, but Grace is eternal. Our difficulties empower us to empower others to endure with hope.

In verse 13, he gives a needed revelation: “First I believed, then I spoke.”  Notice the order. It is first believing, then speaking, or declaring. It is not declaring trying to believe.  He is not saying it to convince himself, others, or God. It is declaring because we have believed.

Our focus shifts from what we see, the temporal earthly to the invisible eternal.  If we focus on God’s promise, not our seemingly present reality, we will walk in a victory otherwise impossible, and trials will shipwreck us.

We need to embrace the absolutes and realize the value of trials, the power of grace, and the reality of God’s kingdom realm. We need to shift our focus from living in absorbed self-centeredness and desire to be poured out for Him. In that place, His power and provision are released in a dynamic beyond our dreams.

It’s available to you!  Seize the Promise and the Day and Rejoice in Jesus.  Today is your day to shine in God’s Grace and Provision!

Galatians 5:1 – “At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.”

I had someone ask me, “Are you always this optimistic?”   I said, No, sometimes I am even more optimistic because I believe God’s Word, I believe God, and I believe that I am more than a conqueror! Does that mean I never have a bad moment? NOPE!   It means I refuse to let that bad moment become a day!

It would be easy to sit in the corner, cover my head, and be sad, but that is not what God desires or what I want to do!   I have been a participant in the gloom and doom, woe-is-me society, and I resigned my membership! I realized that it was literally killing me and robbing me of all joy and hope.

Today, I declare that I Am Free!   I Am Free in Jesus!  I am an Heir of God and a Joint Heir with Jesus.   I have been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings and declared more than a conqueror through Jesus! My LORD completely defeated the devil and stripped him of his authority over me, so I AM FREE!

I pray that the Lord will help us see the truth of the Cross and embrace the fullness of the victory won there!

If we see the Cross and what Jesus did, we are FREE!  We can forgive like God.  We can love like God.   We can live a life of anticipation and expectancy.  If we shift our focus from ourselves, our needs, desires, problems, and difficulties (me, my, mine), we rejoin the society from which we resigned.    Refuse to focus on yourself, ignoring the needs of others!

• I believe that God is telling the Truth and that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
• I believe He has forgiven my sins, and I am born again.
• I believe that Heaven is real, that Jesus is preparing a place for me to spend eternity with Him, and that He is coming back Just Like He Said!
• I believe that my commission and mission are to reach the lost, see the captive set free, see the sick healed, and strengthen the lives of those who believe.
• I believe that God can do all things, and so can I because He said I could through Jesus.

Why shouldn’t we be optimistic?  We have read the last chapter of the Bible and know that we win!   If we know Jesus as our savior, we get to spend eternity with Him.

Have a wonderful day in Jesus. This is your day to rise, shine, and be victorious!  His Promises never fail, and He never abandons us!  Rejoice!

Romans 15:1-2 – “We then who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not seek to please ourselves. 2. Let everyone one of us please his neighbor in good and constructive ways.”

Good morning, everyone! What a day to be alive and enjoy the richness of God’s Person, Peace, Purpose, and Power! This is the day the Lord has made, and we have the opportunity to rejoice, be glad, and uncover many hidden blessings awaiting us. So I say rejoice, and again, I say rejoice!

Are we selfish and self-centered? I don’t know, are we? Do we look for opportunities to bless others? Do we think about what might be in it for us when we do things or decide not to do them? Do we love our neighbors as ourselves?

Someone once said, “If I love my neighbor as myself, I would probably be the stuffings out of them because I hate myself.” I understand that people sometimes get down on themselves and have a negative self-image, but most want the best for themselves. Therefore, if I want what is best for me, then should I not also desire that for others? Love has the power to transform, giving us hope and optimism for a better future.

Sometimes, the things that cost us nothing are the things that mean the most to others. It might be a smile, a kind word, a prayer, or encouragement. Sometimes, just lend an ear and listen without judging, commenting, or critiquing. These small acts of kindness have a profound impact, making us feel empowered and impactful.

When I think of what Jesus has done for me, it is impossible for me to ignore the needs of others. I find myself in the same condition as Peter when he addressed the lame man at the temple. I do not have gold and silver, but I have confidence in Jesus, and I can pray, encourage, and love you.

I can do things that cost me nothing materially but may have eternal value for others, so I seek God’s help to enable me and inspire me to do them.

Today would be a fantastic day to ask God to show us those who we can bless of those who cross our paths. Someone said, “You are the only gospel some people will ever read; what is the gospel according to you?”

I want to be a manifestation of Jesus to others. I know that I have flaws and deficiencies, and sometimes, I am the one needing help, but I want people to see Jesus when they see me. Not that I am perfect, far from it, but that I love Him with all my heart, and He is my everything!

Have a fantastic day, and as you bless others, you will be blessed. Luke 6:38 will become a reality in your life in a powerful way!