Into The Deep - Christian Inspirational Articles and Photography

INSPIRATION 2018

by Susan Rose

The Season to Decree

9/25/18

"Today is a good day for decrees!" That is exactly what the Lord said when I first woke on a recent morning.

He spoke this to me primarily regarding physical ailments. As we grow older, they seem to increase in number and severity. The world says these disorders are natural and should be expected. But God once said clearly to me, “You don’t have to accept these things.” His voice of direction to me is profusely backed up in the Word.

Because the world despises us, our Father wants to make a grand display of His love for us through healing:

Jeremiah 30:17 - “For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds,” says the Lord, “because they have called you an outcast, saying, 'This is Zion, whom no one seeks after and for whom no one cares!' ”

Let’s honor and bless the Lord by receiving His heart of healing for us. Let’s open wide the gates for His truth and glory to flow. Yes! Today is a good day for us to decree! We can start with health, then move on to relationships, finances, and the harvest of souls.

Later in the day, after posting the previous words on Facebook (everything up to this point), I decided to open my notebook of visions. I wanted to decree the personal messages and promises the Lord had given me. (When I speak of visions, I’m referring to the vivid mental images I’ve received from God during times of prayer. I write the vision in a spiral notebook as I receive it.) My notebook is over an inch thick with computer printouts of visions dated back to 1996. I also have a notebook of dreams, though not quite as many because when the visions began to increase, then the dreams began to decrease.

I planned to decree promises from the Word, but this day I was focused on decreeing the promises that had come through visions. The notebook was laying open on the bed in my guest room. Before God instructed me to decree, I had been reading through it backwards, praying over the words from the most recent—which I consider most relevant—back to the oldest words from 22 years ago. I had worked back to 5/4/17, to a vision I had titled “Painting My World.” I was thrilled to see that the vision was about the power of “decree.” I knew this was not coincidental. Here is how I typed the vision to save and refer to:

Painting My World! – 5/4/17

Dear Lord, I feel that I’m right at the brink of something new. A few days ago, You whispered that “it’s within your reach.” Today, I’m physically tired (from yard work) and very frustrated because of the years of waiting. I want to “touch the hem of Your garment” so the barren areas in my life will be healed. Please tell me what I need to hear regarding these things. Is there anything I need to do or simply to know?

I see the outline of a five-pointed star—like the one in a Bible designating a messianic prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. Now I see circle outlines. They are small—maybe the size of a green pea. I see purple liquid flowing into the area where the star and circles are. This purple liquid makes me think of paint.

Interpretation:

The stars are what God wants for my life.

The circles represent domains that I’m responsible for—spheres of dominion.

The purple paint is God’s will. Purple is the color of royalty—particularly priests.

Lord, are You telling me (reminding me) to paint my world through prophetic decree?

I see a stream of purple paint flowing into a concave area to form a pond. Then I see several man-made fountains spraying upward all over the pond. (Yes!)

Interpretation:

The stream of purple paint is God’s will. It's flowing into a reservoir (the pond).

The fountains spraying upward are my decrees.

I see a very large round white boulder roll down a hill and splash into the pond. It rests in the center of the pond. The purple pond is now displaced to cover a larger area.

Interpretation:

The large white boulder is God. When I decree His Word and His will, He comes to be in the center of it, to perform it perfectly.

Do I wish I had totally "gotten with the program" when God first brought the subject of decrees to my attention? Certainly! But He used the passing of time to prepare me for success in this endeavor. Just knowing about something didn't mean I was ready to walk effectively in it. The Lord knows our deficiencies, and He patiently transforms us. I think He watches with adoration as we learn to crawl, and walk—and finally to run. Apparently, God has made me ready to decree.

Now to sum this up, I believe God is saying we’re in a season when "decrees of His will" are major tools of change that He's given us. We're responsible to pray and decree for our families as well as for other portions of our domain. And as always, Earth is our training ground for what lies ahead in eternity.

Thank You, Lord, for Your tremendous, bountiful love! Thank You for speaking clearly to me and to all who will listen for Your voice. We want to move forward in Your kingdom. We want our lives to be a blessing to You.

God Always Keeps His Word

9/19/18

"You only have a problem if I cannot be trusted." That was the message God impressed upon me as I woke from an afternoon nap. I’m sharing this today to encourage those of you who may be afraid.

For each of us, the needs of life (apart from needing God) can be divided into three major categories—health, finances, and relationships. There are certainly subcategories, but I believe they all fit under the three main umbrellas.

We usually get to deal with one, two, or all three of these “major categories” during any given season. I have been blessed with the challenge of dealing with all three areas at the current time. My health issues are all minor, except for one that will require surgery if God doesn’t intervene. My finances can be described as “right on the edge.” My family relationships have been under heavy enemy fire, and damage has been sustained.

The good news for me is that God has given me glorious personal promises in each of these areas.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE PERSONAL PROMISES FROM THE LORD, PLEASE DRAW NEAR TO HIM UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THESE TREASURES FROM HIS HEART.

Before I even knew about a particular health matter, God graciously gave me a vision of me being healed from head to toe. The vision focused on the most worrisome issue, so when it arose about a year later, I had that beautiful promise to fall back on. Whenever the enemy pokes me with his “stick of fear,” I can lean on God’s word to me. The issue with finances is exactly the same. On April 5, 2008, the Lord revealed His plan to me for “prosperity.” (That was a glorious day!) This plan is beyond exciting, and God has confirmed it many times. Now, when my little boat begins to rock, I remember the promise of great provision, and I REST in it. Regarding my family, the Lord has assured me repeatedly, in numerous ways, that my dearest ones will be saved and that love will be restored.

God said, “You ONLY have a problem if I cannot be trusted.” Well I know He CAN be trusted because He is completely and perfectly faithful. Having lifetime experience with God’s character is helpful, but His Word is even better:
.
He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield - Psalm 91:4.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful - Hebrews 10:23.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? - Numbers 23:19.

Dear Lord, I'm so very thankful for the personal promises you've given me over the years. Combined with Your Word, these promises have lifted me high above the storms of life. My fears have been calmed, and my wounds have been healed. Lord, please help us all to hear and see and know what is in Your heart for us.

The Beautiful Mind of Christ

7/18/18

For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT.

Every born-again Christian has been given the beautiful mind of Christ. When the Spirit of God comes to live in our hearts, He also inhabits our minds.

I love the fact that God “thinks in me.” I find this more concrete and easy to understand than the rather intangible fact of His Spirit dwelling in me. These two realities can’t be separated, but I get really excited when hearing His thoughts.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God – John 1:1 NKJV.

Because the Word was and is God, then it stands to reason that the mind of Christ is filled with scripture—often reminding us of truth to fit our current need. When we have read and understood a particular scripture, God may retrieve it from our subconscious memory, even years later, and lovingly hand it to us as a gift in our time of need. He may even put a specific “spin” on its application that we would not have perceived on our own.

The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple – Psalm 119:130 AMPC.

Each one of us is simple-minded without the presence of God. Apart from Him, our intellect is like a scrap of paper tossed in the wind. But joined with God, we have mental and spiritual genius. We soon understand that all negative thoughts are noisy, discordant trespassers. We find that ignoring them sharpens our focus on the power and goodness of our Creator. We begin hearing the symphonies of His Word and the melodies of His heart. Here are a few examples:

Revelation: The mind of Christ imparts revelation, and this leads to understanding. His thoughts come to us like refreshing drops of rain on a hot afternoon. Being quite different than our own human reasoning, the mentality of God carries vibrant life. All of a sudden, we “know.” We are enlightened and helped by God’s powerful disclosure. The more we expect this, the more we will experience it.

Inspiration: The brilliant thoughts of our mighty God provide inspiration. We’re given words of encouragement for ourselves and others, as well as helpful ideas to put into action. Creativity is unleashed! The mind and heart of the Lord stir up His fire in our thoughts and emotions. Now we can manifest His love to the hurting world around us.

Protection: As a mighty “secret weapon,” the indwelling thoughts of God work to protect us. A few days ago, just before bedtime, the Lord prompted me to check the cruise control on my car. This after-market accessory drains the battery if it’s switched on for too long, especially if my car isn’t being driven. Sure enough, the cruise control was on, so I turned it off and thanked God for the timely reminder. This kept me from missing a morning appointment. Our great and mighty Lord cares about the little things. It’s always good to listen because the issue at hand may turn out to be quite large. We may have swallowed a poisonous lie, and God is offering His antidote of truth.

Knowing God: Over time, connection to the mind of our Lord is how we get to know Him. His wise and loving thoughts are a window into His heart. We can choose to heed His voice—to drink deeply from the well of His beauty and love. This helps us to love Him in return by receiving, obeying, thanking, and praising Him. He gave us His all, so let us do the same.

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything – 2 Timothy 2:7 ESV.

Thank You, Lord, for the priceless gift of Your mind. Thank You for the endless depth of Treasure that You are. Let us never forget Your gift or take Your presence for granted. Help us to stay in this secret place of intimacy throughout our days—never turning aside.

Intangible Treasure

3/31/18

In recent months, I’ve found myself thanking God repeatedly for the hope He’s given to me. This has led me to think of other dynamic but intangible gifts that God has been generous with. Let’s take a look at the unseen treasures of faith, courage and hope.

FAITH – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible – Hebrews 11:1-3 NKJV.

It all begins when we’re saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8). Then we “hear by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), and faith begins to grow.

Faith is a multi-faceted marvel, and it’s called by many names—trust, belief, and confidence, to name a few.
Faith begins small but arrives on the scene with much excitement. Sometimes the exuberance gets it wedged in tight places, but these challenges help it mature.
The frustration, discontent, and pain of this world are all good fuels that put faith in a higher gear. Earth is a training ground where we grow from “faith to faith” (Romans 1:17) and thereby from “glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The main source of our faith is the Word of God. The Word IS God (John 1:1), so our foundation is rock solid. The Word is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer (2 Samuel 22:2).

Even with a mile-long list of bullet points, faith must be tested to come fully alive. To move through its strange and beautiful passageways, we’re asked to lay down our life as we’ve known it thus far. Leaving our comfort zone far behind, faith requires that we submit unreservedly to God’s Word. When snarling “giants of the land” lurch at us from the shadows, we learn to slay them with a gleaming sword of Truth. When at times we feel the ground shake, we'll run to our Rock to hold on tight—to Him and His comforting words. The invisible, untouchable treasure of faith remains “intangible,” but its value to us is growing exponentially. Obviously, faith has a learning curve that is often harsh and steep, but this vibrant realm is where transformation and healing abide.

COURAGE – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go – Joshua 1:9 NKJV.

Faith begets courage. I believe it’s a package deal. This "deal" is only possible because God is our Foundation. When we believe a particular Word of the Lord, we’re enabled to step boldly in that direction—though we always have a choice. (God commands us to be brave, but He doesn't force us.) With every courageous step, we’re strengthened even more because we see the power of the Word at work—released by our obedience.

In the midst of a trial, we may not think about courage. Most often we're praying for more faith, and we’re asking God to be strong on our behalf. But personal courage is a requirement. It's a vital response to the challenges we face. If we find it running low, we simply need to ask for more.

HOPE – Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you – Zechariah 9:12 NKJV.

Just like faith, our hope rests squarely on God’s Word and on His character. Hope in the goodness of God inspires vision for the future. Dreams from the heart of the Lord are conceived within us because of a hopeful environment. But even when hope is dashed to bits on the sharp rocks of testing, it will become whole again if it's based on Truth and revived with courage. Just a fragment of hope can pull you back into the peaceful province where high expectations reign.

Hope may be unseen—fully concealed from untrained eyes. But it is mighty and relentless. It will hold us captive for a lifetime if that is required.

We thank You, Lord, for blessing us with faith, courage, hope, and other intangible wealth. Victory flows freely through these divine channels. You have equipped us with tools and weapons of unsurpassable excellence. Please give us continued revelation regarding their use. Please sharpen our vision and our hearing. Let our work be always pleasing to You.

Heaven on Earth

2/5/18

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven…

– Luke 11:1-2 NKJV.

Recently, “the Lord’s prayer” came into my mind. Then God proceeded to give me revelation. I received an expanded understanding of Jesus' old, familiar words, Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

THE REVELATION: Beautiful realities of Heaven can thrive and grow right here on Earth TODAY, just as gloriously as we’ve imagined them to be in the eternity ahead. And this is God's will! It's what He wants us to pray for!

In most of our imaginations, we see Heaven as a place of perfection. There is no sin, no pain, and no fear. All forms of love are in full bloom. The Presence of God saturates the atmosphere. But we have mistakenly limited these perfections to a time ahead when we all have departed from this life on Earth.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” entered my mind as if seen through God’s eyes—as if felt by His heart. Instantly, I knew that God wants family relationships completely transformed, and He wants this done NOW. No longer should this be a goal that is never fully reached. It is something God wants, and it’s something He will have—if only we will believe and do the necessary warfare of worship, prayer, and decree. This applies to any aspect of life on Earth that is damaged. Illness, poverty, and oppression should not exist for Christians today. Neither should strongholds of sin such as pride, anger, unforgiveness, lying, and fear. God wants these harmful things eliminated. It's up to us to faithfully wage war, whether it's for ourselves or on behalf of others.

We must take these words from the Lord’s prayer literally because “Heaven on Earth” is clearly the will of God—embedded deeply in His heart. He is greatly blessed by watching His sons and daughters take authority and bring this to pass for Him.

In opposition to our holy God, the father of lies has convinced many that we have to accept things just as they are in this fallen world. The powers of darkness even say it's God's will for us to endure division, illness, and poverty—that these are the cross we've been asked to bear. But Jesus died on the cross to give us wholeness, freedom, and complete authority here on Earth. He won an absolute victory over evil. As children of God, we're expected to gather the spoils. We take everything the enemy has stolen, and more.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places – Ephesians 6:12 NKJV.

Walking in authority is a growth process. The problems we face, no matter how painful or frightening, are opportunities to learn that we're the ones in charge. Negative circumstances are never the “final word.”
Arming ourselves with the Word of God, we can deflect every enemy lie. Fear will not gain a foothold to paralyze or derail us from God’s purpose.
God responds to every step of faith we take.
Our mission need not take a lifetime. We should view the fullness of God’s kingdom as being the everyday norm.
Believing in Heaven coming to Earth is the same as believing in miracles. Bundles of miracles! The time for this has come.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us – Romans 5:5 NKJV.

Earth is our training ground for eternity ahead. As we near the end of this age, we can expect victory upon victory. We should look forward to outbursts of Heaven all over the Earth—first on a personal level, then in our families, neighborhoods, and farther.

Dear Lord, we thank You for this powerful, uplifting truth and the wonderful grace that delivers it. It is a beautiful view into Your heart. Thank You for filling our hearts with Your love. You are the foundation of all we do—of all that we are.