DEPTH

Stay in the Fire

Posted on by Jackie Joanne

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 The Passion Translation

12–13 The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder. 14 If his work stands the test of fire, he will be rewarded. 

What substance am I made of?Is it clay or sand? Is it stone or mud? Is it brick or wood?

Our substance is cultivated over a long period of time, through different seasons and trials that may be only known to few.  When situations strike and it looks like they will knock us out but we stay in the boxing court till the fight is over. That in itself is a win, that’s part of the glory.

This scripture has been and continues to be very alive in my life. I have to constantly remind myself of this when I get the blows from this world. Usually, foundation can be tested by a tremor or earthquake. If it withstands the tremor, it’s good. But if it withstands the earthquake, then it is excellent quality, was mixed in the right ratios and laid down to precision.

That hard season, that tough time, those tears and emotions that no one sees, don’t allow it to take you out. Flow with Him and His glow will soon show on you. The fire has got to test the workmanship. Let’s allow ourselves to go through the fire knowing He that’s in us is greater than the world and is not knocked down by fire. 

Fire

Blazing fire doesn’t just burn, it consumes.  Let it consume all of me till all that’s left is the perfect vessel, the perfect workmanship. Often times we ask God to set us on fire for Him but we don’r realize that the fire will first burn everything that’s unlike Him causing us to ache and desire Him all at the same time.

Don’t quit friend. Build the relationship, stay in the fire and let your workmanship be proven.

PRAYER:

Father, I desire to be more like you and I thank you that even when the fire burns you’re right with me. The fire will not take me out but will build intimacy between me and you so much so that all I want to do is be at your feet. I want you as my reward and I thank you for giving me you. I love you father. In Jesus name, Amen!

IN THE WILDERNESS; YET TENDER…

Posted on by Jackie Joanne

Isaiah 53:1

‘He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground.”

 A tender plant from the dry ground. Dry grounds produce thorny plants like cactus that have adaptations of living in the wilderness with minimal supply of water. What are the chances? How then can we have tender plants from the wilderness?

In the middle of a sun scorched land should be exhaustion but instead there’s blossoming. Why? Because that’s the standard that Christ set and as He is so are we in this world.

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When it’s hot and dry

When the sun shines and there are no signs of the rain

When it’s hard and tough

When I am caught up in between two rocks

When my emotions are in a pit

When I really don’t feel like it

That’s when I thrive! Because it’s in my nature, it’s in my DNA. If Christ demonstrated it then it’s my reality!

Instead of wondering why it’s so tough, I should get my praise dance on and get ready for the tender plant from the dry ground!

Coz I am a new breed! Christ’s breed!

 

SOMEBODY CALL 911

Posted on by Jackie Joanne

Psalms 91:1……911

‘He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.’

 Where is the secret place? The secret place is definitely not a geographical location. Is it the place of seeking God with all your heart till you find Him? Is it the place of obedience? Or is it the place of rest? These questions have been running through my mind for years now…

The secret place is the place of revelation. I believe revelation is in several stages and though the secret place does not change, depending my level of revelation, the secret place could be more intimate in different seasons of my life.

When Christ died and rose again, the work was finished! In this work we find redemption; the total package which guarantees health, wealth and protection! If God freely gave these things to us, all we need to do is receive them! Why then do we need to be in the secret place to get protection according to our ‘911’ scripture?

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Because the secret place is the place of redemption! It’s the place of salvation. A parent protects his children at all cost; and God is not any different. But we become His sons by accepting Christ as our savior. It’s all tied up to the cross; it’s in the cross! The finished work.

However, once we have a personal relationship with Christ then we desire Christ more and more. We develop a deeper relationship. The secret place does not change but our mindset shifts, our desire for deeper increases.

PRAYER

I wanna be more intimate than I ever was before. Although I know I am guaranteed of your love, protection and care; I wanna know you more. I want the secret place to be so personal and ‘secret’ to me that I long for you every hour not taking for granted the things that I have freely received by virtue of being your child!

Intimacy

Posted on by Jackie Joanne

Genesis 2:7

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

 

It’s amazing how God starts the journey of intimacy from the very beginning. He had the option of speaking man into existence just like He did with the rest of His creation. But he began by showing us what intimacy should look like. “He formed man from the dust of the ground.” He took his time to form/mold man because this creation would be a special piece to Him. He invested His creativity in establishing a relationship even before man existed.

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He shows us how invested He is with His special creation. He wanted to take time and form him, he wanted to be ‘hands-on’ to feel more involved with him because that’s the perfect relationship. That’s the reason He created us. For intimacy and communion.

‘He breathed into his nostrils.’ Picture this. After molding and shaping man, he breathed into him. What an act of intimacy! He did not breathe into every creation, He breathed into man creating relationship right from the beginning. Look at how intimate He is; how He desires intimacy! He shows us how our relationship should look like with Him. The ultimate sign of depth!

PRAYER:

Daddy, I love you. I desire you just like you desire me. I want to be intimate with you. I want to enjoy close relationship, communion and depth with you just like you intended from the very beginning. I want to love you with all of me. I am because you are; I exist to have a relationship with you. I acknowledge this today as I get deeper with you. Amen.