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who are you?

8/14/2018

You are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. (Psalm 22:9-10)

Have you experienced wondering who that person is inside of you? Have you had moments when you felt you didn't even know who you are? You are not alone. I've been there myself, just like so many other people. And I continue to discover myself each day.

Everything you know about yourself is what was formed in your mind that are mostly from other people. What your parents said about you ... what your friends thought of you ... what you heard other people say -- all these have been received by your mind. The thing is, the mind does not always filter. What your mind receives, your heart feels, and most of the time the heart takes over and validates the negative things your mind has received. Once the heart is hurt, two things can happen: (1) it feels defeated and creates labels such as "you are a loser", "you are no good", "you are ugly", etc.; or (2) it defends itself and goes the opposite extreme, creating labels such as: "people are just haters", "they are jealous of me", "I don't care about what they think," etc. The first one leads to inferiority complex, depression, and isolation; the second one leads to rebellion, superiority complex, and anger.

Which one were you ... which one are you still?

You will not discover who you are with all these labels still attached to you, otherwise you will simply cover it up until the day it resurfaces again.

A woman for instance who has labeled herself 'ugly' and overcame this through make-up will look at herself in the mirror saying, "I am beautiful". However, because of that label still attached to her, she will one day see her self in the mirror and still feel ugly.

To discover yourself means going back to who God created you to be from the day you were born.

You are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.

I want you to read that verse above over and over again. Say it to God Himself. Speak to your Father and say this.

Do you realize what this means? God is the One who took you from your mother's womb and placed you at your mother's breasts. You were a tiny little baby who knew nothing, yet you knew how to suck your mother's breasts because God was with you. You were a vulnerable little baby, yet you survived because God was with you. From your mother's womb, God has been your Father. He has been with you, watching you all these years. And even during those years when you walked away from Him because you chose to do those things that He told you not to, He was still there waiting for you to return. Even during those times when you blamed Him for what happened to you, even if you were the one who walked away from Him, He was still there receiving every hurtful word you have said to Him. Even during those times when you didn't want to think about Him, He was still there thinking about you. Until now He is waiting ... waiting to reveal Himself to you ... waiting to reveal you to yourself.

You will never know who you really are outside of knowing who created you. How can you know "you" if you do not know your Father? You were created in His image and likeness, yet, if you do not know Him, you will not even begin to see who you really are.

"Come My child and let me show you who you are. Come and look into My eyes ... the mirror where you will see a reflection of you. Come and let Me show you how beautiful I have created you to be. Come and let Me reveal My heart to you, so you can also see the heart I have placed inside of you. This will be a beautiful journey, I promise you. Let me show you who you really are."

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WILL YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND?

7/23/2018

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

A lady came to me recently, wanting answers to her questions. I asked her, "Do we really need to know? Will we even understand?" She said, "Yes I want to understand. I want to know what I am doing wrong and what I need to do right." Her response made me realize how we all are. We all want to know why and what, more so when we are waiting for an answer, a relief, a miracle, and a manifestation from God.

The Holy Spirit began to show me a very clear analogy between a parent and a young child. The parent has been saving money for her child's future, without the kid knowing it. Every extra money she gets, she saves for his future, instead of buying him the toys that he wants to have. One day, as they were in the store, the kid pointed to a toy that all his friends have, begging his mom to buy it for him. It pained the mom to say no. The kid said, "Mom, do you even love me? All I am asking for is this toy." The mom hugged her little boy but the little boy walked away crying.

The Lord then asked me, "Tell me, if that mother explained to her little boy what she was trying to do, will he even understand?"

Hebrews 11:6 says that "without faith, it is impossible to please God." It doesn't say, "without understanding, it is impossible to please God." Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence not seen by the physical eye. If I were to add to this, I will say that faith is believing in God and what He says even if we do not understand. This is what the Scripture above means, "Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding."

Hear the message of the Spirit of the Living God for you.

"My child, all I want from you is your trust in Me. All I want from you is to believe that I am a good God, and that I have your best interests at heart. I want you to trust Me with all your heart, not half of your heart. I want you to trust Me wholeheartedly, not only when you understand what I am doing, or when things are doing well for you the way you want it. Your mind is your biggest hindrance to this love that I want to smother you with. Your mind argues with Me. Your mind leads you to thoughts that are against My very nature. Cast those thoughts down and submit them to Me. Lean not on your own understanding. In the midst of your misunderstanding and loss, tell Me you love Me. Proclaim and declare who I am. Do you even realize that this is more for you than it is for Me? I want you to worship Me not so much for me but for you. Worshiping Me brings you to My level, so you can see Me more clearly. Worshiping Me clears those carnal thoughts away. Acknowledge Me in everything, even those things that you do not understand. Instead of asking Me why, and getting disappointed when you do not get the answer, acknowledge My sovereignty. Each time you do this, your paths get straightened, and you fall right back in My lane. Do not try to figure Me out or figure out what I am doing. If I do not reveal to you, then you are not supposed to know, until the right time. Can you trust that I am sovereign? Can you respect that I am All Knowing? When you begin to see who I AM, you will find healing and experience refreshing. Then, you will forget to even ask why. This is when breakthroughs happen.

You come to Me not seeking for Me but seeking for an answer. And even when you hear Me, just because it is not working, you continue to find answers, even going to other people. When you hear exactly the same message I've been revealing to you, you say, 'this is not right', and you move on to the next.

My child, it doesn't work this way. Only when you find your rest in My sovereignty ... only when you confidently believe that I know what I am doing ... only when you stop caring whether you understand or not ... only then will you even experience the breakthrough that you have been waiting for. You won't even be longing for the breakthrough anymore. The healing and refreshing you will experience will be more than enough for you. Then, the breakthrough happens naturally."

This is what happened to Joseph. He waited to get out of the pit, hoping that the cupbearer will tell Pharaoh about Joseph interpreting his dream. He waited and waited. He got tired waiting. He tried figuring out why and didn't find the answer. He finally gave up asking and simply remained where he was. This was where the healing took place. This was where he stopped asking and began to trust in God with ALL HIS HEART. He didn't care anymore. He was content on being with God, even if he was in the pit. Then, the breakthrough happened.

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they QUICKLY brought him out of the pit. (Genesis 41:14)

Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put gold chain about his neck. (verse 42)

"I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

All these happened in a matter of hours. The BREAKTHROUGH came SUDDENLY and QUICKLY.

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THE PUSH OF FAITH

7/18/2018

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For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

My child, I know how tired you are. I see how you are trying and how you are getting weary. I see your tears, and how you are desperately waiting for Me. You ask me "when", and here is My answer for you.

Where I am bringing you requires a higher level of faith. The faith you had last season is only for that season. Until I increase your faith, you will not be ready for what I am going to do for and through you. Remember that WITHOUT FAITH, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE ME. Don't you want to be more pleasing to Me?

Each time you feel afraid, know that I am exposing something from you that I am taking away from you. You do not need any hindrance to the blessing that I am about to pour into your life.

Yes, I promised to bless you. Yes, I promised to give you what you have been praying for. Yet, this is not going to manifest in the natural realm without the PUSH of FAITH.

This PUSH stands for Persistence ... Utterance ... Surrender ... and Hope.

You need to persist in your faith, regardless of what you see in the natural. You need to utter and speak My Word over your situation. You need to surrender to the process of discipline and training. You need to hope and wait with joyful expectancy.

This is the formula. You need to PUSH in FAITH.

I am building you up in faith because FAITH activates what is in the supernatural down to the natural. I am building you up in faith because I am pleased with you.

Where I am taking you is the same place I have taken those who have made it to the HALL OF FAITH.

Fear not, My child. Keep pushing. You are almost there.

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the work of your hands

7/5/2018

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When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

As my instrumental worship music was playing today, I opened my back door to smell the fresh morning scent. I looked up and saw a little glimpse of the sun making its presence known. The hint of its light created such beautiful mixture of colors that looked like a painting. The sky began to look like a canvas to me. I began to worship God from the depths of my spirit and soul. I was captivated not only by the beauty of His creation, but by His perfection.

When God created the world, He already saw everything in His mind. He spoke it and it came to existence. It is like a painter who already sees a picture in his mind of what he wants to paint. The brush is God's voice; the paint are His Words. As He spoke, the words were released like shades of different colors painting a blank canvas.

This is how He created you. He saw you in your unformed being and put you in your mother's womb. He saw you before He spoke you into being. He chose the best colors and painted them so perfectly and beautifully.

Everything about you -- every single detail was perfectly painted by God. It is a masterpiece. When He made you, He "saw that it was good." The enemy also saw that "it was good", and he hated it. He did everything he could to make you ugly. Yet, he can only do so much. In God's great love for you, He came down to save you. He gave up His life for you. He died for you so He can bring you back and restore you to His original plan ... the way He created you.

The devil could not destroy God's painting. He splashed other colors on it ... very dark and gloomy colors. He scraped the canvas to make it look worthless. Yet, the Master Artist took back the painting. He did not only restore it but used those dark colors to blend with the colors He created. He put it back on display for everyone to see. And those who saw it marveled. Some could not believe how something worthless can be priceless. Others didn't have a clue what that painting went through.

No matter how broken you are ... no matter how worthless you feel ... no matter how ashamed you are, I want you to remember one thing. Your creator created you perfectly. He chose you and handpicked you. You wouldn't be reading this devotional today if not for that. Know that you are chosen. Because you are chosen, I want you to know that just like your Father, you can speak His words into your life. You can use His Words like painting, releasing beautiful colors on your canvas, yourself. Speak His Words into your life to negate and cancel every ill spoken word released to you by the enemy. Erase those lies by speaking God's truth. Do this everyday and you will see how you, God's beautiful creation, will be restored back to the way He created it.

Today, look at yourself in the mirror and say, "God created me perfectly and beautifully. I am a masterpiece created by the Master Artist, the creator of the universe. I will be restored back to His original plan."

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DEEP CALLS TO DEEP

7/4/2018

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Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life (Psalm 42:7-8).

Do you remember your most intimate moment with Jesus? Do you remember that time when you were so desperate for Him? Do you remember that day and season when you were most drawn to Him? Weren't those desperate times due to something that was hurtful, fearful, or something that caught you by surprise? Perhaps your husband left you. Perhaps you discovered that your husband or boyfriend was cheating on you. Perhaps your daughter walked away or your son went to prison. Perhaps you lost your house or your job. Perhaps you lost a family member to cancer. Whatever it was, those days when you felt grief and pain were days that made you more desperate for Jesus and the presence of His Spirit.

Yet, when days are going smoothly ... when bills are being paid on time ... when there is extra money to enjoy the luxuries in life ... when everybody is healthy ... when your marriage seems perfect ... when everything seems peaceful, it then becomes easy to forget about that intimacy with Jesus. He is again pushed aside "until the next emergency".

Just as a kid will choose candy over vegetables, women by nature will choose the more attractive stuff --make-up, clothes, shoes, hair, nails, home decor, perfume, etc. over spending that intimate time with Jesus. It is so easy to get distracted with things that are "important". It takes less effort and sound more exciting to dial your phone and call a friend than to stay in the presence of God and wait for Him. Yet, when all else fails, it becomes easy to run to Him and call upon His name.

DEEP CALLS TO DEEP.

The depth of our pain makes us cry out to Him in anguish and desperation. Our hurts make us seek for His depth ... for the depth of His love, His touch, His presence.

Those who have been in the depths of sorrow and have found joy in Jesus have found the value of this SECRET PLACE in Him. Those who have been tired of going down the same path and have cried out from the depths of their soul for the depth of His heart and have experienced His glory continue to remain in that SECRET PLACE.

Those who have found this SECRET PLACE knows that in this place, no boundaries exists.

God can take you to the depths of His thoughts and emotions ... to the depths of His understanding ... to the depths of His love. His depth is deeper than any wounds you have -- healing every crevice of your broken heart. His depth is deeper than any knowledge you have -- renewing your mind and lining up your thoughts to His perfect will.

Those who have been in this SECRET PLACE are like the "merchant" described by Jesus as the one who found the FINE PEARL and sold everything else he had.

Nobody finds a FINE PEARL without diving deep.

"Come, My child, and let me take you into the depths of My Living Water. Let go of everything and let My waves wash away every hurt you feel. Let's dive deep together and let me take you away from the cares and worries of the world. As we go deeper, you will hear the sound of those voices lesser and lesser. All you will hear is My voice echoing underwater. Let Me show you things you have never seen before. Let Me take you to My realm."

If you haven't found that secret place, I ask you today to let the depths of your problem or situation make you cry out to the depths of His love. And once you've found that place, don't ever let go.

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fresh morning dew

7/3/2018

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Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As the droplets on the fresh grass And as the showers on the herb (Deuteronomy 32:2).

There I was, preparing my coffee and getting ready to enter His Throne Room. This is my daily routine. After my husband leaves for work very early in the morning, I get ready to meet My King.

As I was preparing my coffee, thoughts began to run in my mind -- thoughts of daily duties and responsibilities that instantly weighed down my soul. I walked over to where my candle was and lit it. Thoughts were still running in my mind. I was even thinking how to present it before My King. I turned off all the lights and turned my instrumental prophetic worship music on.

As the first few notes played, I felt like I was snapped out of my realm into His realm. A heavy but light weight covered me. Soft wind began to blow on my face as my whole body was blanketed in the most comfortable feeling I can ever imagine. I began to sing and worship Him, with words that were not simply mine but His. Tears ran down my cheeks as I was engulfed in the beauty of His holiness.

I walked over to the back door and opened the blinds. It was still a little bit dark but I could see the clearness of the sky and the stillness of the trees. I opened the door to feel the cool air. It was the smell of fresh air in the morning ... the smell of fresh dew.

All the carnal thoughts I had prior to entering His Throne Room dissipated in the air. His presence was stronger than my fears. His love melted away all my worries. His "being" was greater than all my fleeting desires.

This is where He wants to take us each day. He wants to give us His fresh dew that is new every morning. He may not answer your prayers right away, but He wants you to experience Him and His realm. He wants to take you out of this world and bring you to His world. He wants to take away all the things that do not even matter, because only JESUS matters. He wants to get us to that place, so that we can transcend beyond our situations.

In His presence, I feel speechless. In His presence, there is no place to complain because His love melts away anything that does not give glory unto His holy name. I don't even have to try to bite my tongue or to control myself. Everything that is of 'the flesh' simply dissipates in the presence of His Spirit.

"My child," I hear the Spirit of God saying, "You are worried about so many things. Don't you know that I already know your needs before you even think of it? I know it is not easy, so come to Me. Let Me bring you out of your situation and show you what I see. Come and I will show you things you do not have a clue about. Come and I will give you something greater than all your prayers combined. I am longing to reveal more to you. I am longing to make Myself known. I am longing to refresh you with My fresh dew. I am waiting for you."

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new wine for new wineskins

7/2/2018

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And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.

When God gives you a promise, He gives it from His realm -- the supernatural realm. Once He has released it, "it is finished" in His realm. The manifestation of that promise from His realm to our natural realm is a process that depends on several factors. One of these factors is your readiness to receive it. You may think you are because of the need you feel and see. The question is: how ready are you?

"I can't pour new wine in old wineskins," I hear the Spirit of the Lord say. "What I released for you from My realm is new and fresh. Yet, there is no new wineskin where it can be poured into. This is why the manifestation of My promise has not translated to the natural. You do not have your new wineskin ready. You are still relying on old ways of doing things, old patterns of thinking and behavior, old habits. What you think is a new wineskin is not new. You simply tried to clean the old one. The residues are there.

I can't pour My new wine into a contaminated vessel. My new wine is pure and holy. I can't pour My new wine in a vessel that is broken. I can't pour My new wine in a vessel that is not strong and sturdy.

Prepare your new wineskin for me and you will see the outpouring of My new wine. Cleanse your heart and purify your thoughts. Let me uproot your deep-seated issues. Let me heal you. Only then will you be able to create a new wineskin. Only then will I be able to pour My new wine in your new wineskin.

Come to Me, My child, and let me purify you. Let Me lead you beside the still and restful waters where I will restore your soul. Instead of stressing yourself out asking Me for blessings, come sit at My feet and simply enjoy My presence. Come to Me, My child, and let Me heal you. As you get filled by My Spirit, you will not even ask for anything else but Me. You will begin to see a new wineskin that is ready for My new wine."

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SOLID GOLD

6/28/2018

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These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7

This verse above is simply a guide in your daily devotion. What I wrote is my personal revelation from the Holy Spirit, and which I want to encourage you with. I suggest you read the whole chapter of 1 Peter 1 and receive your personal revelation as well.

As I was laid prostrate before His presence, I glanced at my forearms as my hands were clasped together. They looked shiny … and golden. I then heard His voice in my mind saying, “I am solidifying you like gold.”

I began to research how a gold is solidified. This is what I do when the Holy Spirit imparts something to me during my deep worship; I seek for more.

It took a while before I found something that really spoke to my spirit. Here is what it says about solid gold.

Solid gold is produced by refining mined gold to a high purity and then processing it into a final shape by melting and forming (https://www.quora.com/What-is-solid-gold-How-is-solid-gold-made).

From here, I went on and researched how to determine the solidity of gold. I watched a video that showed three ways to test if something is of solid gold or not: color test, thermo conductivity test, and particle test.

All tests measure one thing – the consistency of gold: the color test for the color; the thermo conductivity test for the compatibility of the outer and inner surface; the particle test for the consistency of gold particles as compared to other particles in it.

“I WILL SOLIDIFY YOU AS GOLD”. I kept repeating these words in my mind, the way the Holy Spirit spoke it to me. He did not say, “I will refine you.” He said, “I will solidify you.”

While purifying refers to cleansing and healing, solidifying refers to establishing consistency and integrity.

God does not only want to purify you, but to solidify you. He wants to create a testimony in you that will weather the storms in your life. He wants you to be able to stand strong in the midst of trials. He wants you to be a witness of His full restoration, something that will stand the test of time. He wants a SOLID PRODUCT that will prove its value in whatever way it is tested.

Are you getting weary waiting for His promise for you? Are you wondering when He is going to release you? Are you questioning why He is allowing you to be in a pinch? Are you thinking that He has forgotten about you? Do you feel like He has suspended you on air? Have you been waiting for Him to rescue you from your situation?

Take courage, My child,” I hear Him say. “I am solidifying you like gold. I am producing in you a product that will continue proving its value, no matter how it is tested. What I am doing to you is so much bigger than what you are asking for. All you see is your present situation … your personal life. What I see is My story … the building of My kingdom here on earth.

I have chosen you not as an earthly vessel but a golden vessel … and a solid gold at that. You are not just gold-plated. You are chosen to be solid pure gold. If you will continue to endure the process, you will see the result not only once … not only in your lifetime … not only in this world. You will see the result endure for eternity.

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who are you?

WILL YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND?

THE PUSH OF FAITH

the work of your hands

DEEP CALLS TO DEEP

fresh morning dew

new wine for new wineskins

SOLID GOLD

lisa maki

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